Senior, Genaro Hood, posing for a picture. Photo by Genaro Hood.
Take me back to 2021, when I walked through the doors on my first day of school at Riverside.
I was met with uncertainty. I didn’t know who I’d sit next to
during class or whether I’d actually make it on time. Everything felt so big, and I felt so small, especially coming from a private school.
But somewhere between freshman jitters and senior countdowns, I started to figure it all out, or at least most of it.
There were the good days: spirit weeks, pep rallies, and those random moments in class when everyone laughed at something the teacher said (even if we were supposed to be taking notes).
There were also the tougher days: stressful AP exams, late-night homework grinds, and moments of feeling like the finish line was never going to come.
Hell, I even got suspended at one point. But the ups and downs made the high school experience that much more notable.
High school has a weird way of moving slowly and flying by at the same time. I don’t remember every assignment I turned in or every quiz I forgot to study for, but I do remember the people. The friends and teachers who believed in me even when I didn’t, and classmates who made everyday, normal things feel like memories worth keeping for a lifetime.
Riverside wasn’t perfect, and neither was I. That’s what makes it special.
I’ve grown a lot here. I’ve learned how to speak to women, how to ask for help when needed, and how to push through the struggles when I’d rather give up.
My advice for younger people is to cherish those ups and downs, as they will shape you as you grow as a high schooler.
Instead of wanting to go back in time and change those moments, try to feel it once more.
I’m walking out of these same doors four years later and still facing uncertainty. But this time I’m ready for it, and I have Riverside to thank for that.
