Walking into room N155 on the first day of sophomore year, for one of the first times in my life, I was quiet. Glancing around at the seniors talking about their summers and complimenting each other’s outfits, I looked down at my freshly painted nails and waited anxiously for another underclassman to walk into the room. Joining Crier had been a plan of mine since middle school, but now that I was finally there, the doubts came rushing in. I felt behind, like my freshman year was a waste of time I could never get back—memories that could’ve been made, friends that could’ve been met and classes that I could have fully experienced.

Starting our four years at MHS with such a widespread and universal sense of uncertainty seemed to completely characterize my experience as a whole.From a literal pandemic keeping our grade divided freshman year to confusingly readjusting to “normal” life sophomore year, we had to learn how to create our own balance. Now on the brink of a fresh, new beginning, I can’t help but feel like my former sophomore year self, uncertain in my path, searching for a mistake in my day-old manicure.

But I think, like how we all have learned, sometimes you just have to let go and trust yourself. Yes, I’m sure you’ve all heard this from your parents but it’s true—you know way more than you give yourself credit for.

Take a moment to reflect on your freshman year self, either eating lunch in the fieldhouse with plastic shields over your desk or your “internet crashing” mid-Blackboard Collaborate meeting, and notice how you made it to where you are today.

Joining Crier is something that completely changed and refined me as not only a student, but as a person. Being able to cover your stories and highlight our accomplishments the past three years has made me a more observant person and taught me skills that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. So for my final issue as editor-in-chief, I urge you to do one (or all) of the following things as you depart MHS: give yourself a pat on the back, take the time to appreciate someone else’s hard work or success and take some pictures—make the moment last just a bit longer.

-Lauren Hoogeveen

Editor-In-Chief