Often times, especially at OCSA, grades are mixed in classes. While these classes seem routine and regular, they create friendships, bonds between senior students and non-senior students. Sadly, the seniors have their own lives to live beyond high school. No matter how much you wish they’d fail and stay another year, they can’t. How can you make that seem like not a big deal? You can’t.
It is a big deal; not only are you losing the people you look up to, but you are also having to deal with the realization you’re moving up too. Not graduating but slowly getting there. Putting aside all the new things on your plate–scholarships, college, saving up, etc– you have to deal with being by yourself. Be your own person, more than before, more than ever. No more of the “can you proof-read this email?” or “does this make sense?” questions, while you could easily answer them yourself, it’s kind of a slap in the face to not be able to ask them out loud. You do have to find a way to deal with it, there are a few options:
- Denial: just simply pretend they aren’t leaving. While seemingly a good option, it may leave you with confusion, sadness, and an emptiness in your heart.
- Leave Before Them: simple, to the point, makes you feel like you have the upper hand. Can (and will) result in you feeling tremendously bad for leaving them and also the realization that you have a few more years on high school left in your life.
- Accept It and Be Proud of Them: The (unfortunately) best option. Realize they have so many opportunities ahead of them, they are growing into their own independent person who you can still look up to. Find your peace with them leaving even if you have to fake it because for every time they have been there for you, it is your time to be there for them.
Moral of the story (article) is, you just have to let them be and know that it’s your turn to fill their shoes. It is your time to be the experienced, the wise, caring, and responsible person they’ve set such a good example for you of. While their high school chapter is ending, yours is still continuing, be ready to take on new things and inspire others. Just know they have shaped you as a person and you should be proud of that, and of them.
