Blink. That’s how fast it goes. Soon you’ll be across the stage, hopefully without tripping, and it’ll be all over. All of the showing up to a big brick building at 7:48 in the morning rushing to get to class. All of the panic filling your brain when the outrageously intelligent person in the AP Calc class ahead of you says the test is hard. All of the tears that swell in your eyes after Final Show, State Football or Kairos. I have one more year, but I’m not too naive to believe it’s going to last forever. Life will change and so will we.

Before too long, you’re going to have to walk the walls of Xavier one last time. You’re going to stand on the playing fields, court or stage one last time. You’re going to talk to each teacher one last time. When you come back to visit, it won’t be the same. You’ll have to buy a ticket to get into the game you loved. You’ll have to check in with the office for a pass before roaming the hallways again. And most of all, you will have one last time to thank your teachers for every piece of education they gave you. That education is going to be your rocket fuel towards the brightest aim of your life. Thank them for every minute they gave you.

Before too long, seniors, you will sleep in your bed one last time. Whether that be your bedroom since childhood, or only a couple of months, it’s all going to change. You can come back to your room, but it will never be the same. Your mom and dad are going to treat you almost like a guest, because your time with them will be rarer than a four-leaf clover. Thank them too. Roughly 18 years ago, your life was started and their job was beginning. Parents are flawed, as most people are, so learn to forgive them for the mistakes they’ve made. You never know when will be the last time you’re going to say goodbye to them, so leave with an “I love you.”

Before too long, I won’t be able to say thank you either. The class of 2019 isn’t unique in its accomplishments, but in their hearts and individual personalities, anyone can see they are the people the world needs. They are creative. They are kind. They are bright. Thank you to the OG Cross Country girls, you’ve seen me at my cringiest and, unfortunately, at my grossest. Thank you to my Kairos leaders, you guys know way too much (snitches get stitches). Thank you to Libby Kramer, Marissa Lyon, Fernanda Hermosillo, Abbi Westhoff, Emily O’Rouke or any other senior who has made it through the feat of sitting next to me in any math class. Lastly, thank you to my prison mom. She knows who she is, and man is she going to take the world by storm.

There are so many other seniors I could thank, but unfortunately I don’t believe the newspaper could fit that many words. It may be scary, going out into the world and being able to conjure up any kind of future, but choose well. Choose the good, and when it gets bad, choose better. Choose the hard work, and when it gets praised, choose humility. Choose the adventure, and when it gets scary, choose to visit back home. The world is yours, take it by the hand and dance. I will be forever grateful, class of 2019. Thank you.