LEISD Senior Perspective 2023
High school.
The most transformative and impactful journey in a teenager's life. No one has the exact same experience, and yet everyone walks away with the same diploma. Individuality is what makes life unique, and I am blessed to have had a wonderful high school experience.
Freshman year was new, fun, and sadly cut short. I started the year ranking number two in our class, and I was on top of the world. Many distractions filled my world, and then the biggest distraction hit, COVID-19. The world shut down, and we were forced to sit in our houses and complete school work from behind a computer screen. I did not take online school seriously, and it reflected in my grades. When the final rankings of freshman year came out, I was eager to receive them because I knew I'd see the number two; however, when I clicked on the page, I saw a large number five sitting there. Disappointment consumed my heart, and I just did not know what I did wrong. On that day, I made it a goal for myself that when the next set of rankings comes out again, I will achieve that number two.
Sophomore year was the most challenging year for me. I struggled with the fear of anonymity or the fear of being invisible and unknown. I had no idea who I was or who I wanted to be. I did things to seem cool and realized that was not who God made me to be. I wanted to be the perfect student; however, I also wanted to make reckless decisions like my peers. I wanted to climb up the ranks but also go out with friends and act on the "you only live once" mindset. The mental battle was fierce, and it had many ups and downs, but I overcame it after making choices that I regretted. I realized that I needed to become who I was being raised to be. Outside of this, I worked hard. I studied every night, was on top of my school work, and always went the extra mile with any assignment. When the first ranking for this school year came out, I was hoping I'd see anything but the number five, but to my surprise, I saw the number one.
Junior year, I slowly started to become more sure of myself. I was the Head Drum Major for the Liberty-Eylau Marching Band. Being at the forefront of the band, I began to gain confidence in myself. I learned with leadership, you have to make a relationship with all of the students in your organization, and I did just that. I greeted everyone with a humongous smile and friendly banter daily, and this had a great impact. I went to Texas Boys State and made some of the best bonds I will take for a lifetime. I was voted as National Honor Society President, and my leadership was starting to be recognized across the campus. I received the Top "2" Principal Award, Junior Class Favorite, and Outstanding Volunteer Service Award.
Senior year, I no longer looked in the mirror and saw someone I wanted to be. I knew exactly who I was. A friend, leader, son, and most importantly, someone I was proud of. Opportunities and doors opened that I never would have thought were possible. I led the Liberty-Eylau Marching Band to the finals of every single competition, and we placed 7th, the highest in LE history, at the Area Marching Band Contest. I had the opportunity to work with other schools through Student Council and Leadership, and I attended several leadership conferences and seminars. I helped plan the Fall and Spring Forum and participated in the 2023 TASC State Conference. I served as the President of the Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America, and National Honor Society, while also having a leadership role in several other organizations. From performing as Chubby Checker during Texas High's Dinner Theatre to filming skits for LETV, I made sure my senior year was full of events. I also worked a part-time job at Big Jakes Nash. Through all of the late nights, early mornings, and a lot of stressful conversations with my parents, I preserved. At the senior awards, I received several honors, some of which include 50th Boy, Mr.LE, Perfect Attendance, Outstanding Volunteer Service Awards, Most Valuable Golf Player Award, and many more. And finally, I graduated as the Liberty-Eylau High School Class of 2023 Valedictorian, with a 4.0 cumulative GPA and 48 dual credit hours. An honor that I never would have thought I would be able to accomplish, yet, here I am.
Now that I have graduated high school, I plan to attend Texas A&M University College Station; Honors Program. I will be majoring in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration. While I have to say farewell to Liberty-Eylau, this is not the end of my journey. I challenged myself and my classmates to remember where we came from and to give back to the community that built us. What feels like the end is often a beautiful, new beginning, and this is not the last you will hear about the successes of the graduating class of 2023.
