Securely Uncomfortable on the First Day of Last Year at Chatfield

Today marks the first day of the last year at Chatfield Senior High School. I think the hardest part of high school was learning to be uncomfortable, and for the first time, I was securely (in contrast to insecurely) uncomfortable. I wasn't ashamed of "being lonely" (my freshman self would've defined this as someone who's not popular or part of the main friend group), and most importantly, I didn't feel bad about not following my school traditions, such as waking up extra early to take senior pictures, attending the school assembly, or going to the football game. My freshman self would've tried hard to fit in and would've been ashamed of not being able to. So in a way, it serves as a letter to my younger self: you should be happy where you are because of what I became.

I don't like the idea of waking up early for senior pictures, and with the recent dryness in my eyes, mornings are the harshest. The bright morning sun makes it really difficult to even open my eyes.

I've never really enjoyed school assemblies or any other loudly crowded events like football games. This probably has to do with my introverted personality and the fact that I don't get much out of them. I understand that students go for fun, but it seems limited to whether you're part of the main friend group, and that's not the kind of thing I'd want even if it were offered. The friend group I want to be part of is where fun and interest naturally occur. It's one where everyone shares a similar level of motivation, regardless of what career they're pursuing. They don't have to share the same beliefs. They should be able to understand, withstand, and embrace those differences.