Four Years Ago...

Four years ago we stepped into high school, individuals seeking to do well, to find our identity, to find our best friend. We opened our lockers for the first time, looked at our schedules, thought about how great it was to be finally in high school. Four years ago we met our best friend, four years ago, we couldn't wait to get older.

Three years ago we stepped into high school no longer the lowly freshman. Still individuals searching for themselves, looking to fit in, wanting to achieve something. We followed our daily routines, expanded our circle of friends, and talked about parties. Three years ago we made a new best friend, went to sweet sixteens, thought we were too mature for school dances. Three years ago we couldn't wait to get older.

Two years ago we became upper classmen. We got our licenses, started driving out on weekends. Two years ago we realized who our true friends were and cherished the times we spent with them. We found where we fit in, yet still seemed to be looking for something else. Two years ago we started talking about college, thinking it was still so far away. We took our first SATs, got our rings, and realized that time really does fly. But two years ago we still couldn't wait to get older.

One year ago we entered the school as seniors and we had senioritis before classes even resumed. Everything we did was the last: our last homecoming pep rally, our last time in Clark Stadium, our last time to dance on the field. One year ago we took our time together for granted, we went to party after party on the weekend, we rebelled, and we learned. One year ago, we still had the same best friend and cherished time spent with them. We started applying to college, far and near. We got accepted, we got rejected, we found exactly where we wanted to go. We realized that we would no longer have the comfort of hoe within a year.

Now, we finally realize that we could have waited to get older. We realize that time has somehow slipped away and soon we will be saying goodbye. Saying goodbye to our friends, our family, our home. Maybe for a short time, maybe forever. Soon we will go to our senior prom, graduate, sit for the last time with everyone. It is the last time we will all be together. Now we are getting excited about starting over, getting sad about what we will leave behind, getting anxious to move on. Now we realize just how important our best friends are, and now we wish we could be younger. Now we face having to say goodbye.

In one year we will return as different people. We will have experienced dorm life, ate campus food, met new friends. We will have joined a club, maybe a sorority, done something new. We will still be searching for our identity. We will have picked majors, changed majors, passed and failed at things we tried. Yet one thing will still remain. In one year, we will still have that same best friend. Maybe since kindergarten, maybe since drill team, maybe a college roommate. That person can be found in new friends and old. Without them, we would have nothing. Four years brought change. Friendship held us strong when things were shaky, in good times and bad, in laughter and tears, through boyfriends, bad grades, family problems, and love, our friends showed us that time was worth enjoying. With them, we wanted to grow up so quickly. Now they are the only ones with whom we will remain forever young.