Throughout my four years of high school, I’ve learned more than I ever expected. Sure, I’ve learned all about geography, literature, world languages, and math skills from many of the amazing teachers Broomfield High has to offer, but that information won’t be  what I will carry with me into college. What I’ll carry through the next step of my life is what I’ve learned about myself during these four years as an Eagle.

I learned something early on that would shock my 8th grade self: your friends are not permanent. This may seem obvious at first, but think about your first days in high school, and think about the friends that you spent time with compared to the ones you have now. If you are similar to me, the people by your side are a lot different. Everyone has a few friends that have tested through time, but even so, people change and drift apart. Those who were extremely close with me my freshman year are not nearly as close now. I’ve lost friends, but I’ve gained new ones. I for one take pride in the people I call my friends, and am glad that I have become so close with them rather than my friends from middle school. Change within your friendships may not always be a good thing, but throughout four years, friends will come and go.

Something I saw firsthand only recently, that I wish I had realized earlier, is that your grades really do matter. Before I continue, it is important to know that every student is different, and that each student faces their own challenges in school that may make it harder to earn good grades. I may not be the best to talk about this topic: throughout high school, it has been fairly easy for me to obtain good grades with little studying and few visits at tutor time for help. This is obviously not the case for some, but beside the fact, every student’s GPA matters. I did not realize the extent of how much grades matter until applying and finalizing college decisions. Looking at scholarship opportunities and required GPA and test scores for various colleges, I looked back on my freshman year and wished that I had tried harder. No matter what grade you are in or your post-diploma plans, it is important to understand the value of your grades in order to get into the college you dream of or to avoid a hefty sum for tuition.

The most valuable lesson for high school students is to live a little. I learned this one a little too late as well. The common consensus among students is that junior year is by far the hardest. Filled with AP classes, standardized testing, and stacks of homework, it was very difficult for students to make time for a personal life. On the other side of the spectrum, senior year is very easy for most. Typically students take easier classes because they have most of the credits they need to graduate, and are already accepted into colleges during the second semester. Because of this, it was much easier to spend time outside of school with friends. Instead of cramming for tests and throwing together forgotten projects at two in the morning, I was able to go to concerts, see movies, and meet up with friends on many school nights without my grades being affected. If I could go back to my junior year, I would be sure to make time for my personal life. In the end, with all the homework assignments given, a couple missing assignments is not going to change your grade. Every student needs time with their friends or a night to relax or catch up on sleep, or the stress will eat them alive. It is vital to find a balance between school life and personal life if you want to succeed in high school.

There is one major lesson that high school has taught me that will carry with me throughout my life: you are subject to drastic change. In only four years, I see myself as a completely different person than I was my first day of high school. This includes simple interests and hobbies like music preference, taste in movies and TV, and how I spend my free time. This also includes behavior and social changes: I used to be very timid and was nervous to assert myself and let my voice be heard, but through my time at BHS I’ve learned that there’s no reason to be afraid and that my voice is just as important as those around me. I used to have so much energy, but by my senior year, napping has almost become routine during my week, and this is the case for many of my classmates. My morals and ideals have developed and changed, and my view of the world has changed time and time again. I have become bolder, independent, and much more determined to seize what I want. Looking back, I never would have imagined I would be the person that I am today.

Through the many changes I’ve seen in myself and those around me, I’ve learned to keep an open mind to change. Allow change to come to you and develop as a person. Create change in your life to help you succeed and be happy. Take note of what changes are positive for you and what changes are negative. Lastly, expect the unexpected, because if you can change so severely in just four years, imagine how much different you might be at the end of your next four years.

-Jacob Wolfe, 12

Graduation is in a week, and my time as a Broomfield student is coming to an end. Many of us seniors who are leaving will cry, many will have huge smiles, itching to get out of Broomfield and pursue the next stage of their lives, and many will not know what to feel at all. Every student who is graduating has at least some plan of what they will do and where they will go, whether it’s traveling the world for a year or jumping straight into college to build their dream career. But even for those with the most solid plans for their future, there is still mystery.

As a student about to jump into college in a few months, I felt flustered with the fact that I would have to choose exactly what I would be doing for the next four years of my life and probably the rest of the years after until I retired, but as I toured colleges and talked to dozens of college students, I found that the truth is quite the opposite. The stress of having to follow a single path is pointless. On average, college students will change their majors 2-3 times before settling on something they are interested in. Something that may seem interesting now may repulse you in just a short year. Think about when you were a kid: you wanted to be an astronaut, a firefighter, a chef, and while a few of us may still desire these occupations, a large majority of us have found new interests and dream jobs.

As a senior, a bunch of choices and responsibilities are thrown at you very quickly, and making all of these decisions at once can be stressful and overwhelming. Parents and fellow peers will pressure you to choose what you are doing for the rest of your life when choosing your path after high school, but the truth is, you still have time. The years following high school graduation are years for you to discover. You are most likely an adult now and there is nothing holding you back from exploring the world and finding where you belong. As much as you think you have your future put together, it could change in an instant.

I am the kind of student to plan everything and have all my future events written on the calendar. I think this is a good habit that keeps me organized, so I do believe in planning. But more importantly, I am constantly ready for change and this has helped me greatly my senior year. Even in these past few weeks as we approach graduation a lot has changed, and by being ready for it, I have not been overwhelmed.

So, whether you’re a freshman and still have three years ahead of you, or a junior who is headed into their senior year, be prepared, because change is inevitable no matter what you do to try and avoid it. The best thing you can do is plan for the short term and be open to the change that comes your way.

-Josh Hicks, 12