Dear Seymour High School,

So many things have happened throughout these four years. I’ve met so many people. I’ve made so many memories. Most importantly, I found myself. I never thought a pandemic would happen in my lifetime, yet here I am in the middle of it. I recently got a job at the Lutheran Community Home so I am considered an essential worker. Every day I go to work for eight hours, or on the few days I’m off I’m working on homework or sleeping. It hasn’t truly hit me that I won’t get to have a real graduation, or that I will never walk the halls as a student again. I had to say goodbye before I was ready. Since this is the last article I will be publishing for The Owl, I’m going to share with you my high school experience from beginning to end.

Freshman year was a bad year for me. I did not know where I belonged. I moved to a new group every few months. I wanted to fit in and make friends so bad I never focused on my school work. I made decent grades, just not the grades I knew I could have made if I put the effort in. My mom and I never got along. All day we were arguing via text messages. It was a rough time for me. Eventually, I made it out alive.

Sophomore year was a little better. Everything was still bad until halfway through the school year. I eventually did what I wanted to do so I could be happy. It was hard, but I stopped talking to the toxic people in my life. I started pouring my soul into writing hoping to find myself somewhere in the words. While picking through the words, I found parts of me I never knew existed. I learned how strong I am. That I can walk away from a damaging experience and be stronger than I was before, It’s good to know that I’ll be strong no matter what comes my way.

Junior year was a great year for me. I found the group where I belonged. I made so many friends and so many memories. Late-night drives with the windows rolled down screaming our favorite songs. Those are the memories that will stick with me forever. I had my first and only prom. I went with my friends and had the best time. Between watching Chloe be nominated for Prom Queen and dancing with my favorite people, it was a night I will never forget. Junior year was probably my favorite year out of the four.

Senior year, a great year that was cut too short. I came into the school year knowing who I am. I knew who my friends were. I got accepted into the only college I considered Indiana State University. I’m going to major in nursing and minor in psychology. I have been terrified for months I would hate being a nurse, but since becoming a healthcare worker, I realize this is what I am meant to do. I naturally have the skills that a nurse needs from what I have experienced. Now, I’m sitting here typing this in tears because I will never get to have the normal goodbye a senior gets. I understand why I don’t get a normal goodbye, but it still hurts.

Seymour High School, thank you for everything. These past four years have made me the person I am today. Without you, who knows what kind of a person I would be. To the class of 2020, I love you all. Thank you for being my peers for the past four years. To my friends, thank you for being there for me when I needed you. To my family, thank you for supporting me. To myself, thank you for not giving up. You’re a sunflower. Don’t ever let the sun escape you.

Love forever and always,

Phoebe Hughel