I’ll never forget, it was four short years ago, I walked through those small double glass doors, pass the pointless sandbox, and up those small steps. It was quiet possibly the scariest day of my life. I felt so small compared to everyone else, I remember thinking, “Holy crap! Those senior boys have facial hair!” Now I look at Pat and Cody and I wonder, “Do the freshmen think that about them?” Freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior years flew by faster then I ever imagined they would, but I’ve made memories along the way that no one could possibly forget.

            It all started when I was just a wee little freshman. I met so many new people, Jason, Becca, Lauren, Sam, Kaitlin, Jessica, everything was perfect. We had the best times and they were there through everything. Freshmen year at da Vinci taught me how to build friendships and it would soon teach me that it was my job to make those friendships strong.

            Sophomore year rolled around and we wasted school days away annoying Mrs. Hughes and passing notes. Once 2:30 rolled around you could catch us walking to Burger King at least twice a week. We’d order the exact same thing and sit at the exact same table every time. Some of my funniest moments happened right there and that place will forever be special to me.

            Junior year showed up in a flash and it taught me who to surround myself with. I finally saw what it was like to be hurt by the ones closest to me. It was the biggest learning experience of my life. I finally started talking to the people who I would normally just walk past in the halls. Kristina Silbak become one of the most caring people I could ever meet and Fitz finally calmed her dirty looks down, though they still didn’t disappear.

            The first day of senior year I met with Kelsey, Fitz, and Kristina in Mrs. Stoller’s old room , we were taking pictures when we realized it was our last first day of a new year in high school. The second we thought about this all of us started to tear up. We knew we were in for a short year and we had no clue what it was going to bring us. Over the past nine months I changed more then I want to admit, I finally have my set crew and I couldn’t be happier. I can’t wait to waste away summer nights with Kelsey, Pat, Shoey, Fitz, AG, and Burley. Senior year taught me more then all of the other years combined, I know how to be a good person and I know how to relax and have fun.

            I know you’re probably bored reading this by now, wondering what the point is, well the point is to say thank you. Thank you to Lauren Wagner, Rebecca Leary, and Samantha Hallnan for showing me how to make friends. Thank you to Kaitlin Maxwell for being someone I could cry to anytime, day or night. Thank you to Jessica Fabbiano for showing me how to break out of my shell, if it wasn’t for her I would’ve sat alone in study hall freshman year. Thank you to Jason Hanley for reminding me that nothing is ever as bad as it may seem. Thank you to Jillian Freemen for being exactly like me and always making me smile. Thank you to Cody Kedron for saying my last name cooler then anyone. Thank you to JessK for being my idol, just because she can instantly fall asleep anywhere. Thank you to Patrick DiPalma for always telling me how it is, no matter how much it hurts. Thank you to Eric Schuster for being the funniest kid I know. Thank you to Kristina Silbak for always caring about me. Thank you to Ashley Fitzpatrick for finally stopping the dirty looks! And for letting me call her my best friend. Thank you to Antonia Giuga and Kristina Burley for being completely outrageous with me in public. Thank you to the girls soccer team, Odalis, Chelsea, Amber you guys taught me how to make my friends my family, you taught me that no matter what someone would always be sticking up for me. Thank you to my teachers, Hannon, Connors, McDermott, C, G, Hans, and Hughes, without out all of you I would be almost nothing right now. And most important, thank you to Kelsey Bartosz for always being next to me when everyone else walked away, you’re truly the best friend a person could ever have.

            So now as it all comes to and end I want to say that da Vinci has made me who I am today. I wasted so many days complaining about this place wishing it would end, and now as it does I can’t help but start to cry. This place has brought out the best and the worst in me. I’ve lost friends, I’ve made friends, and no matter what I came out of everything stronger. I just want to wrap this up by telling the underclassmen to be careful. Enjoy every second no matter how bad it seems. Don’t sweat the small stuff, let it fade away because trust me, one day you’re going to blink and you’ll see that you’re a senior and you only have eleven days left.