We are all guilty at one point or another of saying we can’t wait to get out of Northbrook, including me. Yet as I am faced with graduating high school and leaving Northbrook behind, I wish I had been more thankful for the years I spent here.
No, I have not discovered something new that makes Northbrook suddenly exciting. Rather, I have realized my full appreciation for everything in the town I have grown up in. Most specifically, an appreciation for our Glenbrook North. We often forget how fortunate and privileged we are to live in Northbrook and attend our amazing high school. Besides the wide range of classes, electives, clubs and sports offered to us, GBN has an incredibly enthusiastic staff and spirited student body that makes this place truly wonderful. Do I even need to tell you how awesome Mr. Pryma is? I didn’t think so.
Yet we often take all that we are offered here at GBN for granted. Students too often sign up for classes that will look good on a college application and don’t explore something they might be interested in, such as a fashion class or photography. No one is supposed to have it all figured out in high school. This is the students’ time to find out what they like and who they are. Our school goes out of its way to provide ample options for students to branch out. I encourage every student to take a look around the school and appreciate how fortunate we are to be Spartans. Go to a teacher for help when you’re confused, your teacher will love it. Take a class you normally wouldn’t. Try out for a new sport. Get involved. Not only will you learn so much about yourself, but you’ll meet some of the best people you wouldn’t have gotten to know otherwise. Don’t let these four years slip past you because, as cliché as it is, high school truly does fly by.
I have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life, and as I am heading to college, I feel the pressure more than ever to have it all figured out. Truth is, I probably won’t figure it out for a while. Yet I can say I’m thankful for the past four years at GBN and how much they have taught me and helped me grow. Reflecting on these past four years, I am grateful for all of the different people I have met and the opportunities GBN has given me. Don’t miss out on them and graduate with regret.