“As I think about my time at Smithtown High School East, I look for the silver linings.”- me, 2021. Except, of course, I mentioned Nesaquake Middle School instead of SHSE. It’s been four years since I read that line to my graduating middle school class. Four years of hard work and countless laughing fits. No matter how much time passes, though, I will still look for those “silver linings”.
Freshman year: I joined the journalism program with Mr. Sagarese teaching. I anxiously clung to the seniors in room 209. I didn’t want to be judged for my writing. Thanks to those seniors, though, I gained the confidence to ask questions that bettered my writing and boosted my confidence. Those weeks taught me the importance of asking for help. I saw through the seniors’ eyes; that I knew they were the kinds of writers and role models I wanted to be.
Sophomore year: Everything changed. After warming up to Mr. Sagares’s classroom, the program was transitioned to be led by Ms. Tokarski. I debated dropping the class and returning to my middle school shell, but was again deterred from giving into my shyness by the seniors in the room. They’re still some of my best friends thanks to their support as I advocated for our program.
Junior year: I nervously stepped up to the position of editor. I made countless mistakes. There was no senior to look up to, as I had the highest position you could have in the room. Without this year and the challenges that came with it, I wouldn’t have gotten to experience this year.
Senior year: I’ve learned enough to help the underclassmen around me like the seniors helped me. The responsibilities are the same, but they feel more manageable. I still make mistakes. I still procrastinate. From the last three years, though, I’ve learned to be confident and allow others to look up to me as I did them not too long ago.
Now: the end. Not really, I’ll be working with The Daily Campus at UConn in just a few months.