I’m not going to start this reflection with the words: “I can’t believe that my senior year is essentially over,” because, truth be told, I do believe it’s over. And it’s about time.

Don’t get me wrong, high school was certainly a vital part of my life as a teenager. It was my home for the past four years. It was where I spent about four-fifths of my week (and at times, weekends as well) and it was where about 90 percent of my friends were to be found.

It wasn’t until I spent a year in Germany that I realized how much I missed things like Homecoming, spirit week and after-school activities. High school isn’t just about the “school,” it’s about the community. Take advantage of everything that this community has to offer. Try out for a sports team and explore new and different opportunities. Find your passion and run with it; don’t let anyone tell you how high you can jump, but listen when teachers or peers remind you that you can jump higher. Nothing is out of reach.

All this being said, however, I am excited for graduation and to see where life takes me next. Teachers always explained to me during high school that it was their goal to help us prepare for “the real world.” AP teachers reciprocated these ambitions and frequently told me, and sometimes threatened me with omens like “This is how things will be in college.”

After nearly four years of anticipation, I am absolutely ready to find out for myself what it is like to live in this so-called “real world.” In a few months, I will be set free into the very world that our family members and teachers have been preparing us for.