My senior swag shot.

By Joseph Bryant, Editor-in-Chief

My ninth grade year.

The applause is deafening as I take my final bow on the stage of my high school career. I realize that life as I know it is over. Not over entirely, but this performance is complete. It is time to move on to a new production, the production of adulthood.

Now, I could tell you about how on my first day as a freshman how I had all of these tingly emotions. I could tell you how I was scared, nervous, and excited but I’m not going to.

Dang, I just did.

Anyways, as typical as they are, these are the emotions that I experienced, along with many others on that day. On our final day as seniors, we will experience the same exact emotions as we begin a brand new chapter in our life’s story.

My high school career has been a roller coaster. I’ve experienced highs, lows, and the occasional sick feeling in my stomach. Now, as the ride comes to an abrupt halt, I remember that I had some of the best times in my life here at WHS.

The place that I had the most fun was the theatre. It was the place where I got to cut loose and lose myself in a different world that didn’t have the stresses of life.

Theatre class was fun, but it was when I was in Grease that I had the best of times in theatre. So many days I would find myself with a few others literally rolling on the floor laughing, as we danced interpretively to songs like “Sandra Dee” and “Beauty School Dropout.”

These were the best of times. As the last week of the play came, I thought to myself that it was all over. We wouldn’t “Always Be Together” as the ending of the play promised. When the lights went down on the last night, I soaked in the memories that would last for a lifetime.

Don’t cry. My farewell isn’t done yet.

Let me tell you about some of my favorite achievements. This isn’t to brag on myself but simply to tell you about some of the things that were meaningful to me.

I’ve accomplished a lot these past four years. My favorite accomplishments have been winning both of my categories at my first forensics meet and being editor-in-chief of giantword.

I didn’t really leap through the past four years achieving everything with a bunch of accolades, but I have taken small steps to big goals.

The biggest of my small steps was when I brought up my Algebra 2/Trig grade from a magnificently low F to a B- in the course of two weeks. Math was hard for me, so this was a meaningful achievement.

I guess in life, it is the baby steps that move you the furthest. If anything, taking small steps allows you to enjoy the time on this earth instead of sprinting your way out of it.

My heart is pounding and my palms are sweaty as I write this bittersweet goodbye to end my stint as editor-in-chief. Then I have to take a deep breath and remember that I still have from this December day until the day of my graduation to enjoy the rest of my senior year.

High school itself is just another small step that I am taking in life. I’m still moving forward taking one step at a time. Life is still waiting for me, so I’ll take my time.

The applause comes to a stop after my final bow. The lights fade out and the performance is over. It’s time to start a new journey in life. It is time to move on. Thanks for the adventure.