Andrew--

 A few summers ago, I went on a trip to Hawaii. My family and I were really excited to go there because we’d never been. A couple days after arriving we went to a small beach by our hotel because it was recommended by one of the clerks in the front desk. On the shore I could see a large cliff. I wondered if it were safe to jump because it didn’t look that tall. I climbed it and surprisingly it was a lot higher than I expected. My dad was with me and he kept telling me to jump. He said it would be fun. So I agreed but I told him he had to jump first. After he jumped I knew there was no backing out now. I had no choice unless I wanted to hear him rant about it when we got back to our room. I looked over from the edge of the cliff and realized how breathtaking the view was. I have to admit, it did scare me a little but instead of thinking too hard about it I ran off and let go. For a brief moment I felt as if all the worries I’ve ever had stayed there on that cliff. It felt good to let go and not expect anyone to catch me.

     Now, I understand most of you who are reading this have thought long and hard about senior year and how it has almost come to an end. Realistically speaking, there are only about 9 weeks or so left. 9 short weeks until it’s real as Anderson likes to call it. I’ve got to say I’ve had a pretty good run these past four years. High school has finally come to an end and it can be intimidating at times. However, this is what we’ve been preparing for. To finally be independent instead of dependent. I am extremely thankful for the proper guidance I’ve been given. From my teachers and friends to my two most important mentors, my parents. I can honestly say I’m ready. I’m ready to take on life and be the best that I can be. And the weirdest part is, this is really only the beginning. I mean we still have a whole life ahead of us. There’s a whole world out there so I strongly recommend you get to see as much as you can because you might not get another chance to.