Last week I completed my “drive thru” graduation, and with that tradition concluded, it finally feels official: I’m done with high school. It’s a weird time to be graduating, but here we are.

As I prepare to move on to college, I’ve noticed that it’s really easy to romanticize the past. And this current quarantine situation only makes it easier to look back at these last four years in an overly sentimental way — which I definitely have been guilty of.

Given this tendency, I organized a list back in early February of all the things that I will and won’t miss about high school. Since I was still in school at this point, my perspective wasn’t affected by the post-graduation glamorization of memories. Here are some points that I think provide an accurate portrayal of both the ups and downs of my high school experience.

Things I won't miss:

1. Bathroom passes (and needing permission to go to the restroom in general). The passes themselves are so gross and unhygienic. The whole concept makes me feel crude and childlike, needing a special pass just to use the restroom. I really appreciated the few teachers that had a “just go” policy, which I’m glad will be the norm at college.

2. Being forced to handwrite essays and certain assignments. It just doesn’t seem realistic to me to require handwritten work, especially since more things are moving digital. I always preferred typing because of its speed and the ease of revision (and reordering).

3. A weird lack of “library culture.” I’m not sure how else to describe this. In college and in the real world, libraries are safe spaces where people can go to study and have a quiet spot to chill. For some strange reason, at my school the library is not a safe space at all. Instead, it’s restricted to a ridiculous degree. You’re only allowed in if a teacher writes you a note to work on a specific assignment. You aren’t allowed to stay there after school or before school, and you can’t go even during free periods. Once, I tried to go there to work in peace when my study hall room got a bit loud and I couldn’t concentrate. The librarian sent me back because we were supposed to stay in our study halls unless we had a specific note to get something from the library. Another time, I was told that I wasn’t allowed to use my laptop in there — in contrast, my teachers have no problem with me using it during classes. It’s such a shame, too, because we have such a nice, modern remodeled library. It still baffles me now — it seems like such an underutilization of resources.

Things I will miss:

1. The amazing facilities we have now. When I first came, it was a typical high school with tight hallways, poor lighting, small and wobbly graffitied desks, etc. But after our remodel a few years ago, we have brand new desks and chairs, wide hallways, lots of large windows and natural light, and pretty nice bathrooms. I honestly think the quality we have now exceeds even some private schools. I’m very grateful for the investment the city has made in our school.

I'm also grateful that I got to sign the commemorative construction beam after the remodel :)

2. The relationships I’ve built with teachers here. These connections make the school feel so welcoming to me, and it’s nice to see teachers from previous years in the halls or around the building. These relationships allowed me a certain level of extra freedom and trust too, like being able to stay after school in the band room to practice even when the directors leave.

3. The students (my classmates). My school touts its diversity so much that it’s become a cliche now, but honestly that’s been a really valuable aspect for me. Going to a minority-majority school has really broadened my worldview, and I’m really excited to be heading to a university that supports a similar level of diversity. I also really appreciate that everyone is so driven and cares about their education. The level of discussion and the learning culture is a high quality that I try not to take for granted.