It’s true what they tell you: high school goes by way too fast. It’s been four years and it feels like just yesterday my mom dropped me off at Woodstock, well, my first day of school.

I walked through a massive group of seniors dressed in their hippie attire yelling “GO 1-2!” and into a school of new opportunities and old traditions. KHS has given me four years of incredible memories, and believe it or not, I still don’t know the lunch schedule.

I could tell you about how the single best decision I made in high school was joining The Kirkwood Call (it’s true, KHS journalism does amazing things). Or I could tell you about how doing theater and playing other characters on stage helped me find myself (cliché but also undeniably true). Or how my incredible group of friends saved my sanity on several occasions (see: To the GM (p. 17)). But I think I’ll use this space to say a few words to some people I couldn’t have made it through high school without.

First of all to my mom and dad: you were right. Whatever it was, you were always right (that was harder than I thought), and I love you. To the rest of my family: thank you for the unconditional love and support. To the Class of 2015: it has been a fun ride. And I know at least one of you is bound to be famous, so I’d really like to meet Emma Watson if you could pull a few strings. To The Kirkwood Call family: you are all talented, dedicated, wonderful people. Thank you for letting me be your print editor and for sometimes laughing at my jokes. To the KHS faculty: thank you for all the guidance and knowledge you gave me and no thank you for all the parking tickets. To my best friend Claire and her family: thank you for all the Capri Suns. Also, thanks for treating me like a Johnson. To Mr. Eden: thank you for everything. Especially for always offering reassuring encouragement and advice. Also for the M&Ms. To Mrs. Sweesy: thank you for your positivity and kind heart. To the 10 greatest girls I know: thank you for the laughs and all the memories. I love you all, and I am looking forward to each of your weddings. Long live the group message.

My life is better because of you all. And I know I am ready for the next stage of my life because of the support and guidance I received from each of you. So thank you for making my Kirkwood High School experience one-of-a-kind.