As my time at Dulaney comes to a close, I have learned much more than I can fit into 700 words. Regardless, I wanted my last article for The Griffin to be memorable for me, and what better way to do that than a walk down memory lane, sharing what I’ve come to know about high school with all of you. There might not be anything in here that applies to you right now, but hold on to it because maybe it will someday. So, I’m going to give you some of the best social and academic advice that I have to offer.

First and foremost, do not leave Cheez-Its in your gym locker. Now I’m definitely not speaking from experience, but if you happen to do this, it is highly likely you’ll end up finding a mouse in your clothes when you’re trying to change at the end of class. Anyways…

To my freshmen and sophomores, please enjoy the time you have ahead of you. Everyone will tell you this, just like they told me, but it really is true: the next few years are going to fly by. You’re going to have some challenging times between where you are now and where you’ll be by the end of your senior year, but do not let those stand in your way. Your friends will change, and so will you, but that is the most beautiful thing about high school. The last time you walk out of these doors, you will not be the same as you were the first time you entered.

With that being said, I would highly recommend taking advantage of all the opportunities high school provides you to grow. The first thing you should do is get involved around the school in any way you can. I’m not trying to be a buzzkill, but you’ll want as many activities as possible for your college resume. Not only that, but if you’re gonna be around here for 4 years, you might as well make the most of it. There’s a club for anything and everything here (we even have a cheese club)—clubs can be an opportunity to find a delightful group of people that are passionate about the same things as you! Joining clubs and sports teams was also a wonderful way for me to meet upperclassmen who helped me get through the ups and downs of high school. Similarly, you should write down EVERYTHING you do in terms of community service, clubs, teams, etc. You will be amazed by how much you forget you did, and you’ll need to recall activities all the way from freshman to senior year. If you start doing this early on you’ll thank yourself so much in the future.

To my juniors, I hope you can make the most of your senior year and enjoy it just as it should be. The future is coming at you fast, but as scary as that is, the top suggestion I have for you is to enjoy all the little moments you have before you get there. I spent a lot of time this year worrying about college and I can guarantee you will too, but just remember that everything will work out exactly as it is meant to. Don’t be afraid of following a plan you didn’t originally have!

Your senior year is meant to be memorable, so go to all of your fundraisers and senior events. It’s also the best time to reach out to that person you lost touch with. They’ll probably miss you as much as you missed them.

When you look back on your time at Dulaney, you won’t remember the petty fights with friends or the insecurities you had—you’ll remember the people and how you all connected. Remember that just as others will impact you, you’ll impact them. Be wise about the way you carry yourself. I often wished I could redo certain moments differently, but now that high school is over, I realize there is not one thing I would change. You will have this revelation yourself; it might just take you some time to get there. Being where I am right now is so bittersweet because Dulaney has given me so many memories to take into the future. I wish all of you the best of luck and hope you will also look back and be proud of what you did here.

With big love to the Lions,
Grace Monacelli