To my family:

Mom, for your unwavering and unconditional love

I will never be able to put into words how much I appreciate you, but I will always try. I love your competitiveness and your compassion for others, which reaches through all barriers and moments of weakness. I love how you’ll always play board games and card games with me, even when I’m a sore loser and a braggy winner. I love how you tease and joke with me, and I love tucking you into bed every night; even though you say you hate it, I know you secretly love it. I love how you come to me for fashion advice even though I’m equally lost, and I love how you don’t get bothered (too much, at least) when I steal your clothes and claim them as my own. Your generosity and willingness to go the distance for everyone you love are truly admirable, and I look up to you immensely, as you’re a great example of how to lead life. You’re the strongest person I know, and I love you a million.

Dad, for your endless ability to answer my endless questions

I love how we can bond over the stupid stuff I like and how I can tell you all of my stories with an excruciatingly unnecessary level of detail, and you’ll still listen to them all from start to finish. I love how we share a taste in movies and TV shows and how it seems like you hold the answer to any question I could think of. There have been countless nights where we’ve stayed up late going back and forth about politics, TV shows, cinematography, and life in general. I appreciate those late-night talks infinitely, and I appreciate you. I will always look to you for answers, and you can guarantee that when I move out, I’ll be calling you to ask what the lights on my dashboard mean, to open a jar, and to kill the bugs that I’m absolutely terrified of. Thank you for everything and know how much you mean to me; I will always buy you a birthday present no matter how much you claim you don’t want anything.

Lucas, for your commitment and humor

I know that we argue (a lot), but I love you nonetheless and admire your compassion and spirit for everything you do. You’re so funny even though I admittedly don’t understand your sense of humor: “It’s so unfunny, it’s funny.” I know we’ll get closer when we don’t have to live in close proximity, and I look forward to seeing what you do with your life. You have so much potential, and you are so intelligent; you just have to realize it and recognize it in yourself, and I believe you can succeed.

Jacob, for your confidence and emotion

Thank you for showing me YouTube Shorts you think are funny, even if I roll my eyes at them. I’ve never known anyone who can multitask better than you, and it’s very impressive. You have such extensive knowledge about the most random things. I love the completely arbitrary questions I hear on the daily, like “What if the Earth was made of chocolate,” and “What would happen if I ate a pencil,” you are so interesting and unique. I want you always to stay unwavering in your confidence and personality.

Brielle, for being yourself

You are such a fantastic kid, Brielle, and I am constantly in awe of you. I love your amazing art skills and how you’ll sit with me on the couch while I make you watch my favorite shows with me. You are one of my best friends and the fastest learner I know. You have such a bright and shining personality; make sure you never dim your light. I love how you always try to make up a new secret handshake with me and how you still cling to my leg as I try to walk around the house. Your empathy and kindness are unparalleled, and I love you so so so much.

Beppe, for your profound knowledge of the world and life

Thank you so much for allowing me to sleep at your house and forcing you to binge reality TV shows with me and play our required two-hour National Geographic game. I love spending time with you and hearing about stories from when you first moved here, my Dad’s childhood, and all of the silly laughs over family memories. I truly treasure the time we spend together, and it is infinitely valuable to me. Thank you for taking me on shopping sprees, belting ABBA at the top of our lungs, and allowing me to try and fail at fixing your technology. I hope to travel as much as you do one day and explore the world to the lengths and depths that you have.

Grandmaman and Grandpapa

Thank you for making the largest meals with almost unreasonable amounts of leftovers and constantly catering to everyone to make them happy. Your effort to make everyone feel in place, content, and well-fed is very appreciated. Grandpapa, thank you for knowing everything about history and movies and being the best conversation partner to talk to about anything. Grandmaman, thank you for your endless generosity and your competitiveness, I love playing games with you, shopping with you, going out to dinner, and talking.

To my friends:

Evelyn, for being my twin flame (and car twin)

Evelyn Alt. I don’t really know how to begin to describe how important you are to me. I have laughed and cried, oftentimes simultaneously, with you, and every moment spent in your presence is one well spent. We have the same number of classes together as last year, but it feels like more, and I can’t wait to have another one with you next semester, even if it means you’re leaving me alone in AP World. You are the only person I know who is equally obsessed with U.S. Presidents as I am, and memorizing all of them with you in a dead silent class while we cackled was hilarious. You are so educated and intelligent, and you’re the first person I go to with political news and current events. I’m not sure how you function on such little sleep and still manage to find more joy and vitality in life than any other person I know, but it is admirable. Thank you for putting up with my horrendous handwriting, my bragging when I beat you at the mini crossword, my stupidity for total lack of understanding of science, and most of all, my mandatory ten questions a day about what we did in Spanish. I love Canadian French Braiding your hair, letting you crack my knuckles from across the table even though I fail miserably at trying to crack yours, and putting up with my nonstop texts and TikToks I tag you in. We share every single drink (probably why we’re both sick with the same cough right now), and I love draining my lunch account to buy you a daily Snapple. You light up every room you walk into, and I always smile when I’m around you. Even though we don’t get to hang out often, thanks to your incredibly busy schedule, I will eventually force you to sit through Scott Pilgrim vs. the World as I did with Maylee. We are twin flames (soulmates, if you will) and also entirely different in so many aspects, but we still click perfectly, and I wouldn’t trade our friendship for the world.

Katie and Priya, for being my eternal ride or dies

It only feels right to write to the two of you together because we always hang out in a trio. Honestly, thank you for putting up with me. I know I ask stupid questions and make bad jokes, but I know that I can talk to you guys about anything, and you give the best advice. I love making Priya drive us everywhere and I love that I always get shotgun. We somehow never run out of things to talk about, and as proven by our ten total hours of driving to Cedar Point and back, Priya, we truly have the amazing ability to yap nonstop. Katie, thank you for becoming friends with me at the height of my awkward phase, and although it took a while for us to become closer, you are one of the most dedicated, intelligent, and wise people I know. You have advice for every situation, and your work ethic and skills are admirable. Priya, thank you for being my courage. You know that I am afraid of quite literally everything, and although you tease me, you always stand by me and take on the public speaking and questions that I’m terrified of. Thank you for walking into the building with me every day and putting up with my bad music taste for the very, very limited moments when I’m allowed to have aux. I am so amazingly grateful that we have become closer this year, and I don’t think a week has gone by that I haven’t hung out with at least one of you. You guys pull me out of my shell and inspire me to be more uninhibited and brave.

Emmy, for being my longest-standing friendship

Thank you for befriending a scared girl in fifth grade with no friends in a class where she knew no one. Thank you for approaching me at Lake Ranger by the swings and giving an awkward and obnoxious girl a chance at belonging. You have stuck by my side by quite literally everything, and I know you like I know myself. We have somehow had the misfortune of not having a single class together since sixth grade, but we have a friendship that picks up right where it left off with gossip sessions, rolled eyes, and hugs. Thank you for our yearly tradition of watching Teen Beach Movie, even if we forgot this year, and for allowing me to bother you at work for the most glittery boba on Earth (it can’t be good for my system, but I love the sparkles). Thank you for spending your entire summer stuck one cottage away from mine—and on that note, thank you to everyone at the cottage, Kaden, Avery, and Ella; you make my summer a million times more enjoyable with tubing and card games. Thank you for driving me around in Priscilla and helping me with factoring even though I am utterly helpless. I don’t know quite how to thank you for six years of friendship but I hope you know how much I infinitely appreciate and love you. You’re like a sister to me, one who offers the best advice and the best boba; thank you.

Maylee, for being eternally kind and unique

I think we are similar in the way of being shy when we first get to know people. This means that when we met, I think it took a while for us to come out of our shells, but I’m so glad I got to know you. You have one of the most unwavering moral compasses of anyone I know, and you’re a much better driver than me, so thank you for putting up through my drive in the pouring rain on our way to homecoming in an attempt to make the 9:00 p.m. cut-off. Thank you for understanding my nerdiness in history and geography and never judging me. Thank you for FINALLY watching Scott Pilgrim vs. the World with me (hint hint, Evelyn), and thanks for your patience while I forgot to bring in your Paddington hat for a solid two weeks. I may be forgetful and a procrastinator, but you somehow find it in your amazingly large heart to always have patience with me, and I appreciate it very much. You are so exciting and unique; your movie taste and review skills are unparalleled. Please never change and never be afraid to show yourself to the world because everyone deserves a friend as loving and caring as you, and you deserve the world.

Victoria, for being infinitely smarter than me and sharing complaints

I know we don’t see each other as much this year because you, as expected, are forging a path far ahead to plan for the future, but I still infinitely appreciate you. The candle you got me for my birthday with our faces on it always burns when I do my homework, and our bond over laughing together over something outlandish one of us says will never fade. I have hundreds of pictures of you in my camera roll, many of you sleeping from your (annoying) insistence on taking a power nap at every one of our sleepovers. You are the only person I know who likes geography games as much as I do and the only person I still FaceTime. I’m sorry we don’t see each other as often but know that even through the distance, I love and appreciate you, so don’t be a stranger.

To everyone in TCT:

First off, I would like to thank every single person in sixth hour after our relocation from room 139 to 216. You have made the class retain its magic. I even appreciate you, Sports Report staff (sometimes). Rowan, I know that you take on so many other people’s emotions, and I admire your compassion and empathy, which seem unlike anyone else’s. I know you were unsure about being Editor-in-Chief this year for fear of being undeserving, but please know that you were the absolute perfect pick. Thank you for listening to my complaints in the side room and for going on walks around the hallways with me when I need a few minutes to decompress. Alex thank you for being a constant presence in this class and being someone who I’ve always been able to confide in. I love your sense of humor and sarcasm; your sheer effort into everything doesn’t go unnoticed. Ellerie, I could listen to you talk for hours. Thank you for spending second, third, and sixth hour with me even though you might grow tired of seeing me. You always have the cutest outfits, brightest smile, and kindest words for others, and I appreciate you endlessly. Ella, thank you for sticking with me for so long. I don’t know how you possibly put up with me in middle school, but you’re so much the reason I am who I am today. Thank you for doing Project Charlie with me and helping me through all the editing questions and writing questions in general. I appreciate everything you do for the class and as a friend. Micah, coming into this year, you intimidated me so much. I know it’s supposed to be the other way around because I’m a (school) year older than you, only two months, but you seemed so effortlessly cool and chic that I was really worried you wouldn’t like me coming into this year. Thank you for thrifting with me and making sixth hour 100 times more funny and enjoyable. Nova, although it was a mistake that you ended up in sixth hour instead of fifth hour this year, it was definitely a happy accident. I love having class with you, and the amount of random lore and stories you drop are so intriguing. Mady, my honorary TCT member. I know you’re technically in Sports Report, but thank you for coming over to our side of the room and hanging out with us. Thank you for letting me copy off the APES Kahoots from you (sorry, Ms. Webster) and for making my day better with our shared classes. I don’t know why we ever weren’t friends; sorry for the middle school drama, but I’m glad we can laugh about it now. Elle, we miss you so much in sixth hour, and I can’t believe you won’t be in the class with us next semester. You are an absolutely incredible writer and human, and I love reading your stories, which all feel so uniquely you. Fifth-hour TCT, I hope to get to know those of you who have joined the class this year and see those who I’ve missed. From reading your writing over the past month and eagerly awaiting more, I can’t wait to meet the personalities behind the amazing stories I’ve read. I hope you find the same solace and joy in the class that I have found in the past three years and that you will grow to find a home here.

To my teachers:

Mrs. Heinz

Thank you for your infinite understanding of my mistakes and lack of understanding of Algebra. You always care deeply about the students you teach, and the familiarity that you foster is admirable. Thank you for dealing with my first-hour exhaustion and my numerous errors in factoring.

Dr. Keller

I had heard glowing reviews of you coming into this class, and although you admittedly scare me sometimes, they have all proved to be true. I adore writing and reading, and although I’ve had many late nights working on projects for AP Lang, I appreciate all the work you put into teaching us and being one of the funniest teachers I’ve ever had.

Mrs. Redman

Thank you for caring so deeply about the subject you teach and the students you teach it to. You always recognize a balance between classes and try to help us out when we’re overwhelmed, and it doesn’t go unappreciated. Thank you for making over two thousand years of history easily digestible and understandable and making my third hour an enjoyable place to be.

Ms. Webster

When I came to school on the first day and got to your class, I was expecting a much older and much more boring teacher for APES, and you blew me away. After doing your “get to know me” slideshow, I was amazed at how much you’ve accomplished and your seemingly endless talents in science, music, and art. You truly are a jack of all trades, and it’s commendable. Even though science isn’t my strong suit, you explain things so well and have an admirable amount of patience with me. Sorry for mixing up El Niño and La Niña on our most recent test, and if you saw me write it wrong in the booklet, just ignore it (and my grade on that test). I am so overjoyed to have you as my teacher, and you make the class so much more interesting; thank you so much for, for some reason, deciding to come from sunny Spain to our school because you have made this year so much more enjoyable.

Sr. Silvestre

I was absolutely terrified coming into Spanish 4 this year after skipping Spanish 3, and despite almost crying every day in class for the first two weeks, I made it through the rough patch and persevered despite still being afraid of messing everything up. There are random times of the day when I get a jolt and panic about how I was supposed to be speaking in Spanish before realizing I’m in history. This class has allowed me to expand my abilities so much more, and you always make everything seem achievable and in reach for our goals, both in Spanish and in life. Your compassion for teaching, and even more so for your students, is amazing to see. I can’t wait to continue the class and, hopefully, improve my skills and hopeless understanding of subjunctives.

Mr. George

I was really nervous coming into this year with two years of repertoire with Mr. George Sr. seemingly thrown out the window, but you made the transition so effortless. You are one of my favorite teachers and parts of sixth hour, and although you dab a lot more than the average teacher and make a lot of “Updog” jokes, I appreciate them. You are so open to all of my far-fetched ideas and late-night emails about a complete change to the class, and you have made me feel like I can truly make a difference in the class. Despite the room relocation and transfer of title to you, the class has retained the same special touch that makes it the highlight of my day, and although I miss the comfy furniture, I wouldn’t change the way the class is right now for the world. I can’t wait to see how you continue to make the class your own, and I am so enthusiastic to spend the next year and a half in 216.

Mr. George (Sr.) My honorary teacher

You should know that despite being a bald, old man (your words, not mine), everything you have taught over the last two years, both in class and in life, has had an immeasurable impact on us all. We miss you dearly in TCT (please come visit soon!), and I hope you’re doing well at Hope. Your profound lessons of finding joy in the mediocre and persevering through difficulty have stuck with us, and I still have the laminated card you gave us in my wallet for safekeeping. I reread the edition of The Great Gatsby you gave me this summer, and it felt like you were there raving about Gatsby’s smile and the colors of the flowers. I’m sure you will make a mark wherever you go because it’s just the kind of person you are but know that the one you have left here is insurmountable.