When I first stepped into Cardinal Gibbons during freshman welcome day in 2022 I was a small freshman scared of such a big school and thinking I would be here forever. Take it without no exaggeration that when someone tells you “these will be the fastest four years of your life” to believe them because I didn’t and in a blink of an eye here we are.

As a little kid all I ever wanted and waited for was to grow up. I would be a little girl looking at my teenage cousins and just want to be like them. Now what I would do to be a little kid again. Growing up I didn’t know what my life would look like but so far I could not be more grateful.

Gibbons will forever hold a special place in my heart. I grew so much throughout these four years, going through ups and downs and it changed me into who I am. The biggest gift this school has given me is the people I now call my best friends who I will hold close to my heart for the rest of my life. Every situation and encounter I have had at Gibbons has made me a better person no matter how good or bad which is something I’d never change. All the teachers at Gibbons have left an impact on my life which is something I’ll forever be grateful for and remind myself of as I go into college.

The most important thing Cardinal Gibbons has taught me is “you are who you surround yourself with” and I take this in the deep meaning of wanting to surround myself with people who make me happy and lift me up. Family and friends are precious in my life and high school has taught me to have each other’s backs because when times get hard, loyalty, honesty, support, and love is all that’s needed.

Next year I will be attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington studying business with a concentration in real estate, as well as a minor in psychology. I am very excited for the change and new opportunities that I am being presented with but also holding these high school memories very dear.

Thank you Cardinal Gibbons for the four most incredible years, it’ll be hard to beat. Go Seahawks and as Winnie the Pooh says, “How lucky I am to have something that makes goodbye so hard.”