Category: Uncategorized

By Shayna Blatt

As school heads into full motion, many of us become busy balancing our personal, academic, and extracurricular lives. However, if I could magically return to my freshman year, here are the steps I would take each year of high school to ensure balance, happiness, and success. 

Freshman year: an exciting but difficult time filled with new experiences. New people and teachers surround you as you try to adapt to the Catalina lifestyle. It may seem good to take it easy this year, but actually, it is the perfect time to join many clubs as your future self would be happy that you have fulfilled many activities in high school (especially four years down the road for college applications). At the same time, I also wish I knew the importance of academics. Making a comeback after a semester of low grades is much harder than doing your best from the start! Enjoy this year because it is a time of transition for everyone. 

Sophomore year: This is the first year harder classes are available for many students. While stacking your schedule is great, it is important to also think about your limits and goals for the year. Ask yourself before committing, how much time you have and what is most important to you. While many resources are available at Catalina, the biggest hurdle in learning is understanding that you must be proactive, plan ahead, and be self-sufficient in your study habits to truly understand the material and succeed. Often, sophomore year can be the hardest as milestones towards the end of high school seem far away, but remember, in the end, time will fly by!

Junior year: Notorious for being the most challenging year of high school; this truly depends on your perspective and the schedule you choose for yourself. Personally, for me, it was a year of good memories and excellent learning. While academic success may be at the forefront of your mind with looming ideas of college awaiting, remember not to stress. While this is easier said than done, it is important to keep a positive mindset and do your best. If I try my hardest, the outcome will most likely be positive. Similarly, you must be efficient. With many people telling you how hard they studied, try not to compare yourself to others. Make sure to take it easy, remember to be kind to friends, and realize the high school experience will soon end as senior year is just around the corner. 

Senior year: Writing this as a senior, I cannot say or give advice for the unknown future. I know that getting on top of supplemental essays and college-related activities now will make for an easier year. Still, every person handles this time differently and procrastination is a reality for many. All I can say is that we must enjoy these moments until we have to take on the true responsibilities of adulthood. 

At Catalina, we all have different high school experiences: some good and some okay and this is normal. Clearly, as students, we will all encounter challenges and periods of sadness and seemingly endless defeat. At these moments, I urge you to remember that months go by quickly and soon these times will be memories. Always cherish the fun and amazing things too as those memories allow us to keep moving forward.

By Hope Salle

The mention of Halloween often brings with it thoughts of fun costumes, pumpkin carving, horror movies, and eating enough candy to make yourself sick, but the beloved holiday has not always been this way. Originally a Celtic festival named Samhain, Halloween celebrated the harvest at the end of the summer and featured practices such as lighting bonfires and wearing costumes in order to ward off wandering spirits. These traditions were later incorporated into All Saints Day, which was established in the eighth century by Pope Gregory III. All Saints Day, which was celebrated on November 1st, was subsequent to All Hallows Eve, which later evolved into Halloween as we know it today. 

Many aspects of modern-day Halloween also come from a Celtic background, such as wearing costumes in order to blend in with ghosts which were believed to roam the Earth on All Hallows Eve. The practice of carving pumpkins was also of Celtic origin; old Irish legend states that a man known as “Stingy Jack” captured the Devil on numerous occasions in order to make him swear that Jack would never go to hell. Upon his death, however, Jack learned that heaven did not want him either, leaving his soul to wander the planes of Earth with only a carven out turnip with burning coal inside to light the way. This tall tale resulted in local families carving out turnips, and eventually pumpkins, in order to scare off any spirit that may come knocking at their doorstep. Another trademark of Halloween, the colors black and orange, were originally representative of the changing of seasons with black marking the end of summer and orange showcasing the beginning of the fall harvest and also came from old Irish tradition.

One of the most hallmarked of Halloween traditions is trick-or-treating, which has no definitive origin. Some believe that it was passed down from yet another Celtic tradition for Samhain, in this case leaving food out for wandering spirits. Others believe that the family favorite practice was formed as a result of the Scottish practice of guising during the Middle Ages in which children and the impoverished would collect food and money from locals in exchange for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day. Yet another theory for the background of trick-or-treating is that it stems from the German tradition of “belsnickeling”, in which children would dress up and visit their neighbors; if the adults could not guess the identity of the children then the children would be rewarded with sweets.

As we all hunker down in our rooms, trying our best to finish our various assignments on time, the spooky season always brings just a little bit of joy to the busy lives that we occupy. We all have our favorite Halloween movies which we revisit each year, our pick of the best candies to binge eat on the day itself and then store in our cabinets till March, and the fond memories of dressing up as your favorite cartoon character or cutesy animal as a young child. Although how  we celebrate Halloween have evolved in an assortment of ways, the thought behind the holiday remains the same: a way to gather with family and friends for a little bit of fun (and maybe a ghost hunt or two).

The mention of Halloween often brings with it thoughts of fun costumes, pumpkin carving, horror movies, and eating enough candy to make yourself sick, but the beloved holiday has not always been this way. Originally a Celtic festival named Samhain, Halloween celebrated the harvest at the end of the summer and featured practices such as lighting bonfires and wearing costumes in order to ward off wandering spirits. These traditions were later incorporated into All Saints Day, which was established in the eighth century by Pope Gregory III. All Saints Day, which was celebrated on November 1st, was subsequent to All Hallows Eve, which later evolved into Halloween as we know it today. 

Many aspects of modern-day Halloween also come from a Celtic background, such as wearing costumes in order to blend in with ghosts which were believed to roam the Earth on All Hallows Eve. The practice of carving pumpkins was also of Celtic origin; old Irish legend states that a man known as “Stingy Jack” captured the Devil on numerous occasions in order to make him swear that Jack would never go to hell. Upon his death, however, Jack learned that heaven did not want him either, leaving his soul to wander the planes of Earth with only a carven out turnip with burning coal inside to light the way. This tall tale resulted in local families carving out turnips, and eventually pumpkins, in order to scare off any spirit that may come knocking at their doorstep. Another trademark of Halloween, the colors black and orange, were originally representative of the changing of seasons with black marking the end of summer and orange showcasing the beginning of the fall harvest and also came from old Irish tradition.

One of the most hallmarked of Halloween traditions is trick-or-treating, which has no definitive origin. Some believe that it was passed down from yet another Celtic tradition for Samhain, in this case leaving food out for wandering spirits. Others believe that the family favorite practice was formed as a result of the Scottish practice of guising during the Middle Ages in which children and the impoverished would collect food and money from locals in exchange for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day. Yet another theory for the background of trick-or-treating is that it stems from the German tradition of “belsnickeling”, in which children would dress up and visit their neighbors; if the adults could not guess the identity of the children then the children would be rewarded with sweets.

As we all hunker down in our rooms, trying our best to finish our various assignments on time, the spooky season always brings just a little bit of joy to the busy lives that we occupy. We all have our favorite Halloween movies which we revisit each year, our pick of the best candies to binge eat on the day itself and then store in our cabinets till March, and the fond memories of dressing up as your favorite cartoon character or cutesy animal as a young child. Although how  we celebrate Halloween have evolved in an assortment of ways, the thought behind the holiday remains the same: a way to gather with family and friends for a little bit of fun (and maybe a ghost hunt or two).

The mention of Halloween often brings with it thoughts of fun costumes, pumpkin carving, horror movies, and eating enough candy to make yourself sick, but the beloved holiday has not always been this way. Originally a Celtic festival named Samhain, Halloween celebrated the harvest at the end of the summer and featured practices such as lighting bonfires and wearing costumes in order to ward off wandering spirits. These traditions were later incorporated into All Saints Day, which was established in the eighth century by Pope Gregory III. All Saints Day, which was celebrated on November 1st, was subsequent to All Hallows Eve, which later evolved into Halloween as we know it today. 

Many aspects of modern-day Halloween also come from a Celtic background, such as wearing costumes in order to blend in with ghosts which were believed to roam the Earth on All Hallows Eve. The practice of carving pumpkins was also of Celtic origin; old Irish legend states that a man known as “Stingy Jack” captured the Devil on numerous occasions in order to make him swear that Jack would never go to hell. Upon his death, however, Jack learned that heaven did not want him either, leaving his soul to wander the planes of Earth with only a carven out turnip with burning coal inside to light the way. This tall tale resulted in local families carving out turnips, and eventually pumpkins, in order to scare off any spirit that may come knocking at their doorstep. Another trademark of Halloween, the colors black and orange, were originally representative of the changing of seasons with black marking the end of summer and orange showcasing the beginning of the fall harvest and also came from old Irish tradition.

One of the most hallmarked of Halloween traditions is trick-or-treating, which has no definitive origin. Some believe that it was passed down from yet another Celtic tradition for Samhain, in this case leaving food out for wandering spirits. Others believe that the family favorite practice was formed as a result of the Scottish practice of guising during the Middle Ages in which children and the impoverished would collect food and money from locals in exchange for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day. Yet another theory for the background of trick-or-treating is that it stems from the German tradition of “belsnickeling”, in which children would dress up and visit their neighbors; if the adults could not guess the identity of the children then the children would be rewarded with sweets.

As we all hunker down in our rooms, trying our best to finish our various assignments on time, the spooky season always brings just a little bit of joy to the busy lives that we occupy. We all have our favorite Halloween movies which we revisit each year, our pick of the best candies to binge eat on the day itself and then store in our cabinets till March, and the fond memories of dressing up as your favorite cartoon character or cutesy animal as a young child. Although how  we celebrate Halloween have evolved in an assortment of ways, the thought behind the holiday remains the same: a way to gather with family and friends for a little bit of fun (and maybe a ghost hunt or two).

By Elle Edwards

My first American Girl Doll looked nothing like me: lightly tanned skin, bright blue eyes, and straight black hair, a combination of physical traits that did not belong on a doll that was supposed to resemble me. Growing up, I failed to find a doll that represented me: biracial with curly brown hair, dark brown eyes, and thick eyebrows. For children of color, not seeing themselves represented in media or toys can cause them to feel less valued or like something is wrong with them; this influences decisions to straighten their naturally curly hair, shift their personality, or disregard their race altogether. The lack of diversity within my toy box narrowed my understanding of race and beauty standards.

Young children often view their dolls as “real,” triggering a sense of love, care, and protection while playing with them. Owning and playing with dolls of various races are the fundamental steps for children to develop empathy toward others. The most developmental years in a child’s life are from birth to age five; similarly, the frequency in which children play with toys is highly prominent. By the time a child hits age five, 90% of their brain is already developed, and if specific skills are not acquired during these first five years, children may find them more difficult to learn later in life. From the moment a child interacts with people, they begin to develop their social-emotional skills. These skill-sets include making friends, resisting social pressure, gaining confidence, learning social norms, and making appropriate decisions. During the development of these skills, engaging with toys allows children to display their competence and manage their understanding of the emotions of others. 

Diversity in a child’s toy box is essential because it affects the world’s next generation of educators and leaders. If children feel that the importance of a human being is limited to a certain race, their perspectives will narrow to that “supreme” race. Dolls represent human connection, and excluding ethnic dolls from a child’s toy chest may weaken their understanding of inclusion. Just as the fundamentals of addition and subtraction set us up for Algebra and Geometry, the foundational awareness of racial diversity sets up social skills children will use in the future. 

The media heavily covers the importance of having toys with various races and skin tones but fails to mention the importance of representation in religion and genetic conditions. Children suffering from vitiligo, type one diabetes, or other long-term physical conditions should be represented in toys to prevent the anxiety that comes with those conditions. Insufficient representation may provoke questions like, “Am I the only one who feels this way?” or “Why am I different?” The portrayal of global religions in toys is also essential during the developmental stages of a child’s life. Religious representation can be shown through various articles of clothing. For example, Hindu men wear short coats; typical Muslim attire is a long white cotton shirt with trousers, while Amish women wear long, modest dresses. Conveying different religions through the simplicity of clothing allows children to recognize differences. The human race includes various races, religions, illnesses, physical conditions, and ethnicities, all of which should be found in a toy box.

Children should never struggle to find a doll that looks like them, experience racism at a young age, or feel isolated from society. Diversity in a child’s toy box and beyond is vital because it influences social skills, its introduction to various cultures, promotion of inclusivity, and awareness of the diverse human population. As a future parent, I envision my children having a vast collection of American Girl dolls, lego figures, and other toys to expand their perceptions about beauty, racial inclusion, and religion.

By: Abigail Jung

Freshman year is hard. Whether navigating through a new campus, making new friends, trying to adjust to a new schedule, or remembering what a coefficient is––we’ve all been there. Like I said before, Freshman year is hard! So, here’s the big question: “How do I make it easier?”––Short answer: It probably won’t if I don’t try. Long answer: Getting used to things and building constructive habits takes time. For example, when I was a Freshman, I struggled a lot with time management, which most students still struggle with even after graduating! However, even though I’m still learning how to manage my time, it made Freshman year and my Sophomore year so much easier! When it comes to time management, most people don’t have time for it. Now, that might sound like a joke, but it isn’t. And many people get scared or confused when the topic is brought up, mainly because they know deep down that they don’t have it. Believe me when I say that probably no one does. But you can work on your daily habits to improve your time management skills! For example, I started writing a schedule of the things I needed to do every day. And yes, this is a given if you are going to school, but surprisingly, I did not get the memo somehow. In my freshman year, I decided that I would just remember. It was as simple as that. Just remember that I had ten pages of notes due on Thursday and to bring everything from the study hall home. It did not work out well… especially when I forgot a textbook at school. That was the worst part. 

Now, one thing I did other than start writing in a planner was keeping all of my books at home and only bringing the ones I needed for the day. And this does work if you are a boarder, too! From my second semester of freshman year onward, I never used a crate again. I’m not saying that you should do this. I have a lot of friends who I know would actually forget their books at home, but it worked out for me, so if you’re struggling, try it out! One quick tip is NEVER to bring your textbooks to school unless you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO! Your back and shoulders will thank me later. What I did when I was a freshman, on top of keeping my books at home, was keep everything in my backpack the whole day. Okay, I’m just saying that I had a really good backpack with thick straps so my shoulders and back don’t hurt, and I DO NOT recommend this if you (1) have a weak back or (2) have a backpack with spaghetti straps. Honestly, I think those things should be banned. But always having everything in my backpack made it easier for me to get to class earlier. The perks to getting to class early are: (1) you can study for a test/quiz in that class, (2) you can relax knowing that you won’t be late, (3) you can read, etc. Another amazing time saver is always being on top of your work, no matter what. I didn’t start doing this until my Sophomore year, but it will help you so much you might cry (or it will prevent that). Utilize your weekends. Now I know that most people like to relax and go out, but in my opinion, like Rory Gilmore, school will always be first! I’m not saying don’t spend time with your friends but make sure you finish your work without staying up until 2 a.m. All in all, time management is one of the most important things you can do, especially in your Freshman year!

Netflix has always been a great place for me to go to find new releases or discover new thrilling TV shows. This year, Netflix has been releasing a couple of shows that have become more familiar to people. As a studious Netflix-watcher, I was really interested in the release of Riverdale. During the fall, other shows such as Stranger Things 2, American Crime Story, Narcos, BoJack Horseman, Greenhouse Academy, American Vandal, Fuller House, and Alias Grace have been released in the past few months.

When I was growing up, I read Archie Comics for fun. Archie Comics is a continuous comic strip that shows comedy in the fictional life of an average red-headed teenage boy, Archie Andrews from Riverdale, his best friend Jughead Jones, and his two girlfriends Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge. Other characters are part of the comic as well. When the show Riverdale was released early this year, I was really excited and surprised that there was a show based off of a comic. After I saw Season 1 in about a week, I was totally surprised as to how well it was directed.. The plot was thrilling and the cast was well chosen. In general, Riverdale is about Archie Andrews, Jughead Jones, Betty Cooper, and Veronica Lodge’s adventure of solving different problems that arise in the town of Riverdale. There are thrills, mystery, and some romance. Cole Sprouse plays Jughead in the series, and I think he was the reason why Riverdale became so popular, but after people realized what a great show it is itself, they don’t watch just for Cole Sprouse alone. As the second season starts, the plot starts to thicken. I don’t want to uncover any events that happen, so I suggest that you watch at least the first season on Netflix if you haven’t already. Each episode gets uploaded onto the CW website for weekly episodes. I suggest Riverdale as your go to on Netflix. It is not scary, but it is an exciting thriller. Somehow, you will not only get pulled into the show, but also enjoy it.

Bad things are going happen in life whether they are just little bumps in the road or sink holes. There is always a way out. God doesn’t throw anything at you that you can’t handle. He will guide you and help you through every hardship you encounter; you just have to be humble enough to listen and to follow what He says.

 

This has been the hardest part for me–listening. I usually have the answers and don’t need to listen to what anyone tells me. I don’t read directions, and I go through life like a bull in a china shop, eyes dead ahead and no looking back. This has served me well in my life. Moving around a lot, I always knew that if I looked back I would be sad. If I stopped I would be trampled. If didn’t act like I had the answers, I would be caught up in my own ignorance of the things around me. However, coming to Catalina, I have been able to slow down and not act as if I have all the answers. I have found out that I don’t have all the answers. It took me a really long time to realize that. It took a lot of wrong answers and a lot of patience to finally realize that being wrong is okay and that putting yourself out there even if you aren’t right or sure is okay, as long as you are gracious and humble whether you are wrong or right, and as long as you listen to those around you. I still move through life like a bull in a china shop, but now I know that to slow down isn’t to dumb down or be trampled by the pace of life. To slow down is to reflect and understand. Don’t get caught up in what everyone else thinks, because what is important is what you think, and what you feel. Being yourself, and knowing that you don’t know everything, gets you further than acting like you do know everything.  

 

I have matured into the person I am today because of the endless support of friends, family, and teachers. I have connections that I have never had before. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, Catalina–for allowing me to fail, to succeed, to challenge myself, to be a leader, to be a follower, to be a scientist, to be a historian, to be a writer, a musician, a philosopher, and an artist. Also thank you for letting me be a friend and a sister to these amazing people who have changed me for the better. I hope I never forget what Catalina has allowed me to become.

 

I still remember the day of my eighth grade graduation, how after the ceremony, I looked at my parents and said, “I can’t believe my next graduation will be high school, but that’s not going to happen for a long time.” Lo and behold, here we are, four years later, and I have exactly one month left until I go off into a new journey. Being asked to write this senior reflection was probably harder for me than the research paper we had to write sophomore year in Mr. Oder’s class. I tried to think, “What am I going to miss the most about Catalina?” and here’s what I came up with:

 

I’m going to miss eating warm chocolate chip cookies surrounded by my friends in the dining hall while sharing laughs and stories. I’m going to miss watching the fog roll over the hills as Dr. Kapolka sings away on his guitar every Friday. I’m going to miss sitting outside in the sunny courtyard surrounded by friends, wearing sunglasses, listening to music, and doing math homework. I’m going to miss the bright red flowers dotted around campus, and the water bubbling over the fountain. I’m going to miss playing tennis as the sun sets, and the bustle of the theater as students and teachers alike prepare for opening night. I’m going to miss packing admissions decisions in the red parlor, and sharing snacks and life advice in Sullivan Court. I’m going to miss how quiet and peaceful the library is every Thursday during the flex period and going on marine field trips to end the day every Friday. But as I rattled on about little things that I was going to miss, I realized there was one thing in common with everything I had thought about: the people. To me, if there is one thing that I prize the most at Santa Catalina, it’s my friends, classmates, teachers, and faculty. Thank you to my friends who love me almost as much as I love you. Thank you to the teachers who believed in me and cast me to dance in a show even though I was convinced I have two left feet. Thank you to all 64 of my classmates that have become more like 64 sisters, and thank you for the infinite amount of love and support they have given me. Thank you for breaking me out of my comfort zone and making me try new things, and for making me more socially-minded and optimistic about the future. Thank you for making me laugh until I cried or dancing away to smash hits from 2008 ’til the wee hours. For all the smiles, tears, sleepovers, movie marathons, study sessions, birthday dinners, shopping sprees, coffee dates and so much more, I will forever be grateful. Thank you to the teachers who have inspired me and made me fall in love with learning. Thank you for believing in me when I couldn’t believe in myself and for supporting me when I needed it the most. Thank you to such a dynamic student body for making the seniors truly feel like the queens of the school. Thank you to my friends for sticking by my side and loving and cherishing me for exactly who I am, and for making me learn to have confidence in myself–something I have always been looking for–and for the amazing advice they’ve given me regarding some of the most important decisions I have made in my life. For sharing every moment of their life with me, whether it be the happiest or the saddest, the funniest or the most embarrasing, I always end up realizing a little bit more exactly why I love them so much. From the jam sessions in study hall, to lining up to paint our faces for Spirit Day, to screaming our senior chants at the top of our lungs, to the jokes during morning announcements, all the way to having chariot races through the halls for Ring Week, thank you for making me so happy. I don’t know how they do it, but somehow, some way, only the kindest, most selfless, most amazing people end up at Catalina. None of this would be the same, or mean as much as it does to me without the people I call my bestfriends, my classmates, my sisters.

 

So, if there’s one piece of advice I can give to you, before the rest of you have to give your own senior reflections, it would be to appreciate the little things at Catalina. Remember the bright cherry blossoms and the birds singing in the afternoon, or how beautiful Study Hall sparkles the night before KK’s. Participate in EVERYTHING, and have no regrets throughout your four years. Because sooner or later you’ll be trading in your worn out coffee-brown Converses for a pair of white shoes, your kilt stained with spaghetti sauce and acrylic paint for a white gown, and your mechanical pencils and ballpoint pens for a bouquet of red roses. After that, Catalina will just be another part of you. So before I do that, I just want to say: Thank you, Catalina. Thank you for the smiles, the joy, the knowledge, the opportunities, my friends, my classmates, my teachers, the sunshine, the comfort, the confidence, the second home, the memories, and the barbecue sliders. Thank you for everything. You’ve made me exactly who I am today, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

How do you start one of the last papers you will write as a highschooler, let alone a paper about the last four years of your life? I still remember sitting in the freshman pews in the chapel during the first mass and sitting in row one, desk four in study hall, glancing over at where the seniors sat, wondering how different things will be in four years, when I would be a senior. One of the earliest memories I have about the thought of graduating from Catalina was when I was at summer camp here. I believe I was about 13 years old, so I still was not sure where I was going to high school, but a few friends and I found an open door into study hall during one of our breaks. I ran up onto the stage and I turned to my friends saying, “One day I will be standing up here in my graduation gown, ready to graduate high school.” That day is fast approaching.

 

I have experienced some of the lowest and highest points in my life while attending Catalina. While I may still be trying to find the good in a lot of things that have happened to me recently, Catalina has helped me grow as a person. I have learned so much about myself over these past four years. I have learned that everything happens for reason, even if you find that reason a year later. I have learned that no matter what, you can really only count on yourself do get things done, but there will always be the same few people cheering you on in the crowd. I met some of my best friends at Catalina summer camp and even more in the MERP program. I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunities like MERP that Catalina has given me. I feel ready and confident for any science labs that I will be placed in at college, and I am ready to be able to look in all the right places in order to help accomplish my future goals. I am also grateful that I am able to paddle board and play in the Monterey Bay.

 

I do wish that someone would have told me how difficult the college decision process was. I knew that you may not get exactly what you want or planned for, but nobody told me how often it happens and the fact that you may be completely at a crossroads for what to do, whether it’s because you didn’t get into any of your top schools or you just didn’t get that financial aid you were hoping for. If you got what you wished for, you are very lucky, and I am also very happy and excited for you. As I am trying to think of some original advice to give to the underclassmen, I am realizing that there’s no way you can really prep or brace yourself for the next four or so years. There’s going to be a whole lot of highs, but at times, you will also find yourself on a bumpy road with some real lows. The good news is that, once you get to the end of that road, you will be ready to take on a whole ’nother set of bumps and turns, with the help of your family, friends, and the education and experiences you’ve had at Catalina.

As April comes to an end, I realize that my four years of high school are wrapping up. In between preparing for AP exams, online shopping for my future dorm room, and battling senioritis, I find myself thinking about the things I’ve done and the things I haven’t done in high school.

 

When I look back on my four years, what I recall most are my friends, teachers, classes, Catalina milestones such as Ring Week and senior prom, and investing my time into my academics and extracurriculars. I’ve laughed and cried the hardest in these four years. I’ve tried new things and followed old passions, and I’ve picked things up and left things behind. And although I have no regrets, sometimes I wonder what things would’ve been like if I had done them differently. That AP Statistics course I didn’t take—what if I’d taken it? That track manager position that I decided to take on last-minute—what if I’d never taken it? What would’ve changed if I’d done or not done these things?

 

Yet, the things done and not done have collectively brought me to where I am today – anxious to graduate high school and start attending my dream school. The worries of things I could’ve done are no more, and instead my thoughts turn towards the things I will do and the places I will go. My next stop is college, and needless to say, nowadays it’s all I think about.

 

Years ago, I wanted to attend a large college in a major, bustling city such as New York or Boston. However, half a year ago, I set foot on the campus of Williams College, and my perspective completely changed. As I walked through Williams, I realized that although the scenery was unfamiliar, the school felt like a second home. I wondered why this was, and it hit me—the community was so close-knit and welcoming that even though I didn’t know the people in it, the atmosphere was so similar to the one here at Catalina that I instantly felt at home. I wished with all my heart that this college would be my new home, where I would be surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains while I grew in my liberal arts education. My wish came true, and I feel at peace because I know it’s home, just like Catalina has been my home for the past four years.

 

I want to end my reflection with this: Never take your education for granted. Yes, have fun, explore the world, follow your passions, and involve yourself in many, many things—just don’t forget to learn some valuable life lessons along the way. Although you might think at times that high school is never-ending, as you celebrate each passing year, just know that the end of your time here at Catalina isn’t all that far away. In fact, you’ll find that soon enough, you’ll be presenting your senior reflection, too. So in between times of studying for AP exams, online shopping for your future dorm room, and perhaps not-so-successfully battling senioritis, just remember not to worry about the things you haven’t done. It’s the things you will do from now on that count.