Avery

All the kids’ voices in the schoolyard make me cry. I finished high school today.

It’s surreal how a place that once felt endless now seems so small. The halls I’ve walked a thousand times, the classrooms where I’ve learned and laughed, and the friends who made these years unforgettable, everything is still here, yet everything is about to change.

I’m scared, scared of what’s next, of the future, of stepping out into a world that suddenly feels too big. But beneath that fear, I am still willing to see what the future has planned for me, of all the possibilities I will have, of leaving this teenage body and growing into an adult.

My parents are waiting on the other side of the yard, their faces glowing with pride. I don’t need to look at them to feel the love and support they’ve given me every step of the way. They’ve always believed in me, even when I couldn’t see my own potential. Knowing they’re proud of me makes me feel proud of myself too. I’m growing up, moving forward.

I never thought I would make it. At some point, I was always scared. I always thought on my way out i would give up. And I wish I could tell my younger self that I made it, even though the future scares me. I am still here, with all the difficulties the life of high school brought for me, I made it. Avery made it.

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of this transition. I’m terrified of the future, but I’m also ready. High school is over, but my life is just beginning. The path is blurry, but I’ll face it with everything I have learned here, with all the love that surrounds me.

The tears somehow won’t stop their way out, joy and sadness.

I hold on to the memories, the lessons, and the love that’s brought me to this point. And as I step into the future, I know I’ll be okay, carrying this day with me as a reminder of where I’ve been and where I’m going.

Ending high school feels like closing the final chapter of a book I’ve known by heart, with the fear of starting a new story that has yet to be written.