LEISD Senior Perspective 2024
High school is often described as a transformative period in a young person’s life. It is a time marked by significant academic, social, and personal development. As I entered Liberty-Eylau High School in 2020, I faced challenges such as virtual school during the first semester of my freshman year. I expected high school to present me with smiling faces and determined teachers, but as I walked the halls with face masks and scared eyes, I knew how much of an impact the coronavirus had on us.
Many students decided it was best to learn virtually, away from the germs at school. The teachers had to adapt to new learning devices such as Google Classroom and Zoom; it became a struggle to maintain a sense of determination and motivation for school. Although learning was difficult, the sports program continued. I joined the tennis team to help motivate me to get my grades up and overall become healthier. By the end of my freshman year, I had joined the yearbook, Interact club, and tennis. I fell in love with the sport and worked on strengthening my skills. Plus, my grades slowly became more important to me, which really set the mode for the next few years.
During my sophomore year, COVID-19 had died down, and we could finally take off the masks and breathe in the fresh air. People were still afraid, but I knew that my fears would not set me back and that I would thrive even through sickness. I took almost all advanced classes and decided on dual-credit courses the following year. I wanted to set myself up to succeed. I had personal problems, of course, but that never stopped me from being focused on my goals.
When I became a junior, things started to feel different. I became an athletic trainer and joined the Liberty-Eylau TV Club. I was taking college classes and winning tennis matches. During the 2022 football season, I finally found something I would want to do as a career––athletic training and physical therapy. While on the field, I learned how to handle serious injuries and wrap body parts. I loved staying out late and cheering on our football team from the sidelines while also caring for their health. It became one of the things I looked forward to the most. When football season ended, I picked up the camera and got to work at basketball and baseball games. By the end of the school year, I had passed all of my classes, recorded media for my school, and became even more determined for my senior year.
As a senior in high school, there were certain roles I had to take on. I was not used to being the one everyone looked up to. I knew I needed to be a leader and focus on my endgame. I was still an athletic trainer, but by the end of the football season, I was the one who needed the help. In October of 2023, while playing in the first team tennis match of the year, I partially tore a few joints and ligaments in my right ankle. I was devastated. My mind became consumed with thoughts and questions for the next tennis season. I knew I would not be able to continue training or play tennis for the remaining team tennis season. It broke my heart because all I wanted to do was play for my senior year. Physical therapy became a daily routine for me. I needed to get better. I needed to be able to play again.
I shifted my focus from tennis to academics while out because of my injury. I buckled down and finished the first semester with A’s and high B’s. I could play again by the beginning of February due to relentless stretching and training. I continued to take pictures for LETV and got my NOCTI certification. I graduated Cum Laude with endorsements on May 16, 2024. I plan to attend Texarkana Texas A&M University, majoring in kinesiology with a minor in nutrition. Although I was not recognized for a lot of the things I did at the school, I knew in my heart that I did all I could to maintain a good high school experience for me and my peers.
Senior perspective is everything I have witnessed and experienced during my four years in high school. As a senior looking back on the years, I have realized that everything happens for a reason, and I can do anything I put my mind to. My future became my biggest motivation.
I wanted to move ahead with my life to become the best version of myself. I learned that I am the biggest support system I have. To be a senior in high school, one must understand their impact on the school and vice versa. Being a senior at Liberty-Eylau allowed me to have responsibilities, freedom, and focus. I learned about the world, people, and the importance of taking the time to get the work done.
The senior class of 2024 is not done; we are making up for lost time during the pandemic. We are focused on our futures and will make the world a better place with our determination. We are your next doctors, electricians, chefs, or president. This is just the beginning of a beautiful and exciting journey.
