863 miles away from Xavier High School is where you will find me next year. While that number might freak a lot of people out, it could not excite me more. People looked at me like I was crazy when I told them I wanted to go to school in Texas because it is so far away from home. But I know that I couldn’t be more prepared or more ready to be on my own.

As much as I love my family and the place I’ve grown up, I have wanted to go somewhere different for a while now. I’ve always been one to expect big things from myself and constantly challenge myself. That’s why I auditioned to be a dance major at a school I knew would be difficult to get into. Although throughout high school I had to miss practices and performances due to injury and not everything went as planned, it only pushed me more toward my goals. If you have a passion for something, never stop working toward it. No goal is too big; seek to outdream yourself.

I want to thank my parents for always supporting me and being my biggest fans. Without them, I would’ve never been confident enough to go so far away. Yes, it might be nice to be able to see your parents every weekend or have them only be a short drive away. However, there’s something to be said about going somewhere on your own, in a town where you don’t know anyone. Going out of state will challenge me to be outgoing, independent, and solve problems on my own.

I think that being far away will cause me to appreciate home that much more. No matter how far away I’ll be, my home will always be there for me when I return. The next chapter of my life is coming soon, and I cannot thank my friends, family, and Xavier High School enough for pushing me to be my best and truly preparing me for the future.

Josie Fuhrman

Feature Editor