Disclaimer: This will be my final entry. I'm thinking that xanga is kind of a high school thing so i'm going to leave at just that. So I'm pretty much gonna cover all my bases, but I‘m not gonna go into specific people because that’s just boring if you‘re not them and you already know or I‘ve told the special people what I think of them. It’s pretty long so sorry about that, but hopefully you’ll get something out of it. Stick around, relax, and enjoy the ride.

This is it! If you thought that graduation and the last day of school were the final days of your high school career, the final days of summer, really are. We start off with a clean slate within the next couple weeks. There’s been a lot of change in the past four years in everybody, but in four years there’s going be an even greater change. Going into college as mature teenagers, for the most part, and coming out adults who are ready to start careers and/or families. Crazy if you think about it, which you’ll soon find out I have way overdone.

High School… amazing what those two simple words mean. In the dictionary the words represent a building. But if that’s all it is to you, then you’ve been wasting some valuable time. It’s people, events, and even more importantly it’s an idea. Only 4 years, but we’ll remember them forever. I’ve had the happiest, saddest, easiest, and hardest years of my life within that time. When it comes to education, no one will remember when or how they learned something, but it’s the life lessons that are important about it that will stick with us.

*Volleyball< most spirited fans, Mr. Park Hill, Relay for Life*

I’ll always remember the sports, cuz that’s what I did. Going to camps in the summer as a kid and seeing how big and skilled some of the players were made me think, ‘How can I ever do that? Theres no way I can play at that level. These guys are serious’. As the competition increased I continually found myself still making the teams to my amazement. But naturally as the more talented players moved away, decided that smoking weed was more important or quit because they didn’t want to put in the effort anymore I found myself moving up in the ranks. Then BAM I’m thrown in as a junior and achieve the greatest accomplishment in high school football, and all of a sudden it’s senior year and I’m a varsity starter in two sports. “ Feels like I’m just getting started. Where did the time go?”

*Football State Champs! Homecoming, Graduation*

Different people have told me their thoughts on what high school really is. My dad said he never saw too much of his high school class after graduation and he could care less. Other people have married their high school sweetheart (don’t have to worry about that). Another said something to me that made good sense. She said, ‘if you enjoyed what you did in high school, then you will miss it. If you walked out the doors and felt like you were leaving something behind, then you’ll miss it.’ I think I’ll miss it.

*Courtwarming, Basketball and Jaskinia‘s ‘Shot‘, Assemblies*

On the other side of the sports spectrum, it’s going to be weird walking into a gym for a basketball game or down the bleachers for a football game at PH from now on. It’ll almost be like watching little kids play in ‘your’ place. I guess it’s all part of growing up. Even though I’ll be moving on to bigger and better things I’ll always have a respect for PH. Even though those kids are in ‘my’ place I’ll being watching and wishing that I could suit up just one more time.

*Drumline< awesome, Spirit Week, Parties or at least the search of one*

I think that’s what makes high school so great. You get to watch people you’ve known for ten years grow up and change. We get to see the clean cut kid in middle school turn into a gothic outcast, not so cool girls get into the ‘in crowd’, and the dumb jock go out with someone you’d never imagine. Only in high school…

*Rivalries with PHS, Tournaments, Sweethearts and Heartbreaks*

That leads me to the Class of 2005. Many have criticized our class since the first day we walked into PH saying that there’s not too much potential out of this class. Like many classes before us, and possibly after us, we weren’t as close to the class above and below us. Our class wasn’t known for it’s parties, school spirit, or unity. As some of us have found out, some of those people that we looked up to because they had some of these qualities in classes before us haven’t turned out to be very successful so far. I’m thinking that maybe, just maybe, the ‘o5’ might just be one of the best classes to graduate from PH in awhile. We’ve won, we’ve lost. Good times and the bad. All kinds of different people and personalities. As weird as it sounds, the Class of ‘05, or Class of ’09 however you look at it, seems to have a pretty good future.

*Prom, Friends, Powderpuffing*

We’ve lost two of our best, and that did something to us that we’ve never experienced before. None of us knew how to handle something like that, but we came together and did the best we could to be there for each other. It brought out the best in us, helped us grow up, and showed us what really was important, life. Some people don’t really know how it is to really lose your best friend, not just move away, not talk to them anymore or get into a fight with them, but have the reality hit you that you’ll never get to see the most awesome person you’ve ever met again and hopefully most of you never will. Even now I remember everything about the day before and day after like it was yesterday. There’s always that fear that you’ll get another late night call like that again. But I guess you can’t live your life fearful of that call. Looking back they taught us what high school and more importantly life is all about.

*The shine of the hardwood floor and the glow of the stadium lights*

Friends come in all shapes and sizes. Teammates, classmates, teachers, co-workers, family. They all seem to blend together in that time of our lives. They’re probably the most important type of relationship at this time. For those that have been there for the whole journey and those that are just now entering the picture, we’re truly grateful. True friendships need no effort in preserving, while others need a lot. This is the time of our lives when we will be closest to most friends and that’s pretty much a guarantee. Where would we be without them though, to have the good times with, share in the happiness, and take part in those unforgettable moments together.

*Legacies, Pranks, and Stories*

High school was a blast! I wouldn’t trade it and all it’s memories and lessons for anything. I can only hope that I miss college as much in four years because that will mean that it was all worth the while. Looking back I can’t regret too much, except for enjoying it more, soaking up the moment. That’s what it’s all about. You’ve got to keep pedaling forward, keeping your eyes on the road ahead, while at the same time enjoying the music and the air conditioning blowing in your face, but always checking the past in your mirror to remind you of the lessons you’ve learned. It’s all about the ride!

See ya later, because sometimes goodbyes really are for good.