Apeksha Adhikari: “You are free to be on your own to find your place in the world, and the people who support you for who you are.”

Now bear with me as I write something cringy. We made it. We finally graduated from Waukee High School. Four years flew by in a snap, with memories and struggles all coming to an end. It is an achievement worth celebrating. Or to quote Taylor Swift but with a graduation twist, “I don’t know about you, but congratulations to the class of 2022”.  

Before diving into the details of these last few years, let’s do an English analysis of the quote “We made it ”.

This statement is not some metaphor, it is exactly what it means. All of these years at Waukee High School led to us graduating. No matter how your experience was, it was unforgettable. And for a good reason, because our graduating class represents change. That is why I will be shining the spotlight on the events that occurred throughout our time at Waukee High School. Because isn’t high school supposed to prepare you for the real world? How we reacted to the realities during our time in high school shows how much we are prepared to be leaders. 

Let’s start with freshman year. 9th grade was one of the worst years for student safety in schools. As you may remember, countless students across the U.S did not graduate because they were victims of gun violence. What stood out to me, is that this was one of the first times I saw Waukee High School students protesting to bring awareness to gun violence, whether that’s live demonstrations or utilizing the power of social media. Gun violence is far from being solved, but we saw how the school started to care when students become leaders, not bystanders. 

This period also represented the transition from ninth to tenth grade. Especially moving to new schools, meeting new people, and adjusting to a whole new level of coursework. That itself might have been challenging for many of us, but now we feel prepared to go to new places. That was the year where we got our taste of independence by getting permits, being able to work, and participating in high school sports. 

Just like Bruno from Encanto, we don’t talk about the sophomore year. It felt like a fever dream. I still remember thinking that we would have a normal spring break, but instead, Covid extended it.  “4 years flew by in a snap ”, is no joke, because, for the past 2 years, we missed out on opportunities we wanted. As a society, we tried to take our responsibilities to wear a mask, vaccinate, and social distance. Still, others chose not to do it. Keep in mind that we need to be grateful for the experiences that we get to have now, all thanks to leadership. Because being prepared is one thing, but doing the right thing when circumstances are different, is what it means to be a leader. 

What was the big movement during this time? Black Lives Matter. I found it interesting how it sparked so much hate when the purpose was to show that systematic racism exists in the U.S. Whether you thought it was controversial or not, you can see the type of students who were aware of their privileges in this country. Those who were conscious became allies to their peers. Individuals who were oblivious to the whole movement. Despite the challenges, it is how we approach the issue that matters the most. These difficulties faced by our graduating class serve as stepping stones for us to speak up against injustices outside of the high school setting. Who will carry out the promise to change, is the real question. 

Now onto 11th grade. This was interesting because it gave us a first taste of what it is like to be a smaller school with a smaller student body. No matter if you did it all online, in person, or a bit of both, didn’t it feel weird to not know everyone. It’s almost like we had to learn to make new friends, a skill that I’ve heard you need to use outside of high school. That is the beauty of a public school. You don’t have to be afraid of diversity, embrace it because you can make new connections that can carry on throughout life. 

During this time many of us had our eyes glued to the screen to watch the election fold out. It brought unnecessary division in our country, but Waukee made sure that these differences did not divide us in the classroom. For me, people showed their true colors. This time made all of us consider our future, whether it was taking the ACT/SAT, or deciding on what possible colleges, majors, or career pathways to follow. So that is why “we finally graduated from Waukee high school” is my favorite part of the quote. You are free to be on your own to find your place in the world, and the people who support you for who you are. 

To wrap it up, let’s address senior year or more so the infamous Waukee split into NorthWest and Waukee. I understand that many of us had our favorite people separated. Not to mention how the programs dramatically changed when each of the schools had different achievements. Regardless, you all thrived and were able to become more close-knit. Leadership emerged when people finally got the opportunities to excel in their extra-curricular activities. The quote, “It’s an accomplishment worth celebrating for ” is truly an understatement. In your high school careers, many of you have had your moments, like going to WORLD championships for robotics or being part of the BE MORE CHILL musical. 

Now I know you all want me to mention current events happening now, but the list goes on and on. From the Ukrainian war to the ongoing Palestinian conflict. Recently, students protested against the anti-trans bill passed by Iowa, because that is how much of a detrimental impact it will make. Being a leader doesn’t mean you treat events like a trend, you treat them as history to care about. Because when you leave this high school, these historical moments will be your own. At the end of the day ask yourself if YOU will be part of the change because there is a difference between people who have thought about change, those who actively seek it, and those who have done it without the whole world knowing.