As the spring semester drew to a close, a familiar nervousness filled the halls, and this time, not because of finals.
For the class of 2025, the bittersweet reality of departure began to settle in. The memories, friendships, heartbreaks, late nights, early mornings, tough choices, and all the little moments began to flood the minds of many. As graduation approached, many prepared to officially sign out of high school and into their futures.
However, certain lessons high school taught will forever be remembered as defining moments that shaped the lives and characters of many individuals. It’s these moments that will not be left behind in high school halls but cherished for the rest of their lives. Reflecting upon these memories, several seniors reflected on the pivitol lessons that shaped their journeys within the walls of McAllen Memorial High School.
Looking at the big picture all the time can sometimes shield a person from the small yet significant lessons life can bring. Taylor Anzaldua said, “Appreciating the time I have and being conscious in the moment is a lot simpler than it seems. However, more often than not, I got lost in the day-to-day cycle, and in turn, ended up with regrets and lost opportunities to create memories and achieve personal goals.”
During the final stretch of high school, Anzaldua understands more than ever the importance of this lesson. “I’ve truly learned to appreciate every moment I have with friends, teachers, and peers… You only have one high school experience, so lock down, take it all in, and have fun at every available opportunity.”
Along with appreciating every moment, measuring your priorities and maintaining that balance is key to a successful social life and academic standing, JP Garza said, “During my freshman year, it was tough to keep up with everything since it was after Covid, this big adjustment allowed me to learn how to create time for everything and set my priorities straight.”
Looking back, Garza developed a healthy routine to maintain his school work and social life “After practice, I’d do my homework and then reserve time for my friends on the weekend, and that created a healthy school life balance.”
Even with the growth of a constant school schedule, the feeling of discomfort will be a lesson taught, Camille Reynolds said, “Whether it was stepping into leadership roles on my drill teams, navigating challenging academic work, or learning to speak up for myself, I realized that pushing fear and uncertainty helped me become more confident and resilient…”
Besides the overwhelming feeling of discomfort in moments, acting alone is not the key; rather, experiencing the discomfort with others is a possible solution, Reynolds said, “You don’t have to go through anything alone. These experiences shaped not only my high school journey but also the person I’m becoming.”
As these seniors embark on their varied journeys, take their personal experiences as a message and reminder that the true lessons of high school can not be found in textbooks or test scores. The true measurement of one’s character is in the resilience, kindness, independence, hard work, and wisdom displayed or learned throughout these formative years of adolescence that can guide oneself through the trials and tribulations that the future will undoubtedly bring.
