Four years ago, a little freshman took her first step into high school. Not knowing what to expect, she was both nervous and excited. In middle school, she was a big fish in a little pond, but after this one little step into the new school she would now call her own, she felt like she was just a little fishy that all the big fish did not notice. She looked at all the older girls in awe and could not wait to be one of them. A deep breathe and off she went, into the school that would be her own for the next four years. That little freshman was me. As I look back on all four years of high school, I remember the good, the bad, the times I wish never happened, and the times I would love to relive again.
  
    Freshman year was the start of it all, new school, new people, new classes and a new beginning. The first couple weeks were a little confusing, but would shape my freshman year into what it was about to become. I joined water polo, a sport I had never played before, and was ready and eager to learn, though I sure under estimated it. To this day I still remember how hard it was for me to just tread water. The more I played the closer I got to the girls on the team, and one day a senior girl asked if I wanted to be her freshman sister; I was so excited that a senior actually wanted to take me under her wing and "show me the ropes". She took care of me throughout my freshmen year and became the older sister I never had. I also became best friends with a sophomore on the team, we became inseparable; we looked alike and could almost finish each others sentences. I didn’t play that much during my first season of polo but I had fallen in love with the sport and was so happy and excited to improve. Sadly, after water polo season came swim season, and swimming is my least favorite thing to do, but in order to stay in shape for polo I did it. What I thought would have been the worst time of my life, ended up being so much fun. I became friends with more people and even developed a crush on a senior boy. We quickly became friends and would hang out all of the time. Soon after that was the ending of freshman year and I was ready to start my sophomore year right.

    I went back to the school that a year ago scared me and this time was not scared one bit. At our homecoming game, I participated in the half time show, like I had done the year before, and had a blast. Shortly after that I had my very first boyfriend. It didn’t last very long but I didn’t need him so it was for the best. Water polo was about to start and I had become the JV captain, voted on by my peers and chosen by the coach, I was beyond excited. I worked so hard that summer on my skills, my strength, and my knowledge on the game. Our season went well, we won league and our varsity team won CIF. Toward the end of that year I had gotten in trouble, a mistake I have learned from and will always remember. Learning from my mistake, I gained my parents trust back by summer and attained my freedom once again.

    That summer was a fun one, but also included lots of working out and water polo practices. The new varsity team went to San Diego for an event/tournament called the Cal State Games. Several different sports disciplines were there and we got the chance to play other water polo teams from far away that none of us had played before. We did well but the part that I remember most was the team bonding that went on. The funniest memory for me from that trip was the ending party. All of us girls got dressed up, did our hair, and our make up under the impression that there would be older boys there. We got to the “party” and it ended up being more of a barbecue with a lot of little kids than a party. There was a DJ there that was letting people sing on stage so the whole team got up on the stage and sang and danced to spice girls in front of everyone. We looked so funny dancing and singing but it is still my favorite memory of that summer.

    Excited to be an upper class man, I walked into school with a whole new view the September of my junior year. I was ready go through this year with no troubles. The year started off slow but I had water polo to look forward to in the spring and I was ready. We didn’t do as well as we had hoped but I knew I still had one more year. School went well with me getting good grades and no disappointing mistakes were made on my part. I got my learners permit and started driving; I was on the right track. Toward the end of the year I had become good friends with a senior girl who had became family in my eyes. The year came to an end and all the water polo seniors were leaving so now it was the juniors time to shine. Then the shocker came, our coach had decided to leave and informed us we had a new girl coach coming. The summer started and we all got down to work. The summer was full of wonderful events. I was starting at our summer league games, I got my drivers license and the keys to my dad’s jeep, and I got a boyfriend. That senior that I had the biggest crush on my freshman year was him. Life was good and I was ready to be finally the big senior on campus.

    Senior year was and still is so much fun. I have become closer to some new people and people whom were formerly just acquaintances are now people I call my close friends. School was school and I was taking some easy classes, but I got principals honor roll for my very first time! Looking back at the early years of high school and middle school I never thought that I would have received at 3.4 GPA. Water polo season came and that, in my opinion, was the worst part of my senior year. Thinking that I was going to start, I didn’t. Thinking that I would actually play, which I didn’t. I sat there and watched and froze on that bench. I didn’t understand what went wrong and I will never know, but water polo ended which meant the year was coming to an end. The year has been such an amazing experience.

    Looking back at all of the fun events that have happened in high school, I have learned so much. I remember when seniors would say it goes by so fast; I would just think four years is a long time. But they were right; it has flown by so fast. High school teaches not only academic subjects, but gets us ready for the real world. It has taught me to be responsible and that my actions now will make up what I will do in life. I have grown so much at this school. Mistakes were made but I have learned from them. Even though I am excited to graduate and start a new chapter of my life, I am sad to say goodbye to the place that I’ve called mine the last four years. The good times will always be remembered and the hard ones as well. They have helped make me the person I’ve become and have made me ready to step into the real world. Now it is time to start the college chapter of my life.