As I near the end of my time in the Mini, I can't help but reflect on all the "lasts" I'm experiencing while reminiscing on all the "firsts." Walking through the halls now feels different; every day, I notice things I didn't pay attention to before. I see the new Grade 8s just beginning their journey, unaware of all the joys and occasional bumps in the road of being a Mini kid, and it's strange knowing how much is still ahead of them.
I can remember my first day like it was yesterday. I was so eager to meet my class - maybe a little too eager, to the point where I probably came off as intimidating to some of my classmates. I was excited and nervous at the same time, trying to figure out where I fit, wondering who my best friends would be for the next five years. Back then, I remember thinking there was no way it would actually go by in the blink of an eye like everyone said it would; yet somehow, it did.
Looking back, it's not just the big moments that stand out to me. It's making friends on those four-hour bus rides, procrastinating on Science Fair, and knowing you can lean on your classmates whether you're getting your first 30% in Science 10 or receiving your first offer to university. It's the moments in between that didn't feel important at the time that are now impossible to forget. The nights singing our hearts out to "Mr. Brightside" at school dances even if we were all very off-key. Staying up until 3 a.m. with your cabin at Strath sharing the week's gossip , then somehow waking up for a 7 a.m. breakfast. Blasting music on early morning bus rides to get hyped for a trip, only to be told soon after to turn it down because "it's way too early for this."
Even the stressful moments have a way of sticking with you. Begging family and friends to buy just one more poinsettia so you could finally reach the minimum of 25. Texting the class group chat late at night to see if anyone knew how to do that one math question that seemed impossible, and feeling a small sense of relief when someone answered.
When I think back on my time here, I realize how lucky I am to have been surrounded by such a supportive community with whom I could make so many amazing memories. I still can't believe that I only have one semester left, and it feels bittersweet to be moving on to the next chapter of my life. Even though every Grade 12 tells you this, if I could go back in time and tell anything to my Grade 8 self, it would be this: it really does go by fast, so don’t take any experiences for granted.
Bittersweet
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