Things change and time goes on.

You might not be ready, but you have to learn to go with the flow. My senior year of high school has been met with a lot of struggle. But, instead of letting it bring me down, I learned to stand strong. I learned to be confident and to not let “the fear of striking out keep [me] from playing the game”.

Looking back on my senior year, this is what I think about:

This year I lost my papa. We were never that close, but he always supported me. Whenever I accomplished anything in my life, he would always tell me how proud of me he was. He was always there, and I couldn’t wait for him to see me walk across the stage. He might not be there in person, but I know that he will be looking down on me smiling on everything that I have done.

This year, I learned that the people in my life that mean the most are the people that stick by my side no matter the situation I am in. I learned who my true friends are, who I could come to when I have a problem. I know that these friends will be with me through my good and bad times and I couldn’t thank them enough for everything they have done for me because I know these are the friends I will have for life. They are more like family to me then friends.

This year I have learned that family is most important. They are the ones that have been with me since day one and they will be here until the very last day. They are there for every birthday, every accomplishment, all the hard times and without them I wouldn’t have made it to where I am right now. They are the ones that make all this possible for me, they are the reason I will be attending the University of South Carolina next fall.

This year has not been what I pictured in my head when I started high school of what senior year would be like but looking back on the year I realize something, that no matter what has happened this year I have grown, I have learned, and I am surrounded by people that will always have my back.