Beth+N.

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High school is supposed to be the best four years of your life, or so people say. I definitely did not believe that when I first entered high school. Freshmen year was a refreshing, yet awkward experience. Refreshing because it was a nice change from middle school and there were a lot of familiar faces, but awkward because well... I was a freshman. I was small and short, or at least smaller than I am now, easily being shoved around in the overcrowded hallways. I was a pushover, oftentimes buying several cookies and a few overflowing trays of french fries during lunch just to share with the friends that I made. The classes were extremely easy, although I somehow managed to get a B in the easiest class of all: gym. Like what? Overall, Freshmen year was a whirlwind, blurring together to the point where I can't remember the exact details of it. I just have one question: looking back at pictures, why did none of my friends tell me that I looked and acted absolutely ridiculous?

Sophomore year was a much more enjoyable experience than Freshmen year. The school year started off with a bang because I went on a trip to Boston with my three best friends Chris, Yasmine, and Niki for Chris's 16th birthday. We had fun embarassing her by wearing matching "I <3 CM" t-shirts to school, even forcing her to wear an equally embarassing handmade shirt. This started our tradition of passing down the shirt every time one of us turned 16, adding more onto the shirt each time. I made great friends Sophomore year that I remain close to, making the year more enjoyable. The summer of Sophomore year was probably one of my favorites. Not only did I go to Washington DC and New York with my three best friends for a week, I also went to Vietnam for two weeks with my friend Jessica Houston to volunteer at an orphanage and go to the beach. I had a lot of fun hanging out with my old friends and revisiting the children that were toddlers the last time I had visited them. It was definitely a summer not to forget. They've impacted my life more than they'll ever know and I can't thank them enough.

Junior year definitely proved to be a lot of fun. I enjoyed finally being able to call myself an upperclassman and go off campus for lunch. Unlike most people at Green Hope, my Junior year was pretty slack. I only took one AP because the other AP's that I wanted were full. At the time I didn't mind because it wasn't like I really wanted to do much work anyway. Vietnam with Mr. Moore was definitely a memorable class for me that year. Parties, brownies and candy were weekly happenings. Junior year was also the year that I started my job hostessing at Jimmy V's. Although it was weird not being free every day to do whatever I pleased, I met a lot of great people and it helped me become more responsible and mature. The money was definitely a bonus because I would never have been able to afford spending at least $30 a week for lunch.

With what seemed like a snap of a finger, Senior year was finally here. A time to "wrap it up" and get wild. I never understood the meaning of "Senioritis" until I was finally a Senior. The lack of motivation to do school work made me feel like a major bum but was definitely worth it, despite taking four AP's. In the beginning I tried to get straight A's, which is what I tell myself I'll get every year and it never happens, but I slowly became more and more careless as the year went on. Senior year pretty much consisted of themed parties, sleepovers, frequent trips to Cook Out, staying up all night for midnight movie premieres, and straight chilling. For Spring Break, my friends and I went to Emerald Isle. Midnight swims, daily trips to Food Lion, the wolf, climbing onto the ceiling... Two words: ding dong! It was definitely a week to never forget; the 1,000+ pictures will make sure of it.

Reflecting on my past four years, I can honestly say that it has been extremely fun and memorable. I've grown so much; not just physically, but mentally as well. I've made so many life-long friends and had many great teachers that have helped me become the person I am today. The thought of high school finally coming to an end is bittersweet. School work sucks. Studying sucks. Not sleeping sucks. But overall, high school has been very exciting and four years that i will never forget. The memories that I have made will stay with me forever and I can't wait to make new ones at NC State. All in all: congratulations, Seniors! I couldn't imagine a better class to graduate with.