The Visor

Thanks for the memories

May 13, 2010

Marie Hofer

High school has taught much about life, including who I am. Five main aspects have helped to shape me into the person I have become: friends, teachers, trust, those I struggled to get along with and family.

I honestly do not think I could have survived high school without my friends. They have taught me patience and understanding, and most importantly they taught me how to let go, be crazy (kid crazy) and enjoy being myself regardless of what others may think.

Hoban has the greatest group of teachers I have ever had and when I compare them to the teachers my non-Hoban friends have had they are on a totally different level.

Tom Hottinger with his crazy voices, Jason Anderson with his intense love of history, Robert Yanko with his songs and silly maps, Jill Fortman and her love of art and finally Helen Trares with her quirky sense of humor and love for all things British. They all have a unique way of teaching and each made me want to be involved in the class, and all seemed to genuinely care about not only how the students were doing in class but how they were fairing in life overall.

They, of course, were not the only teachers who affected me in a positive manner but they are the most prominent in my memory.

Trust played the most pivotal role in my high school career. I trust people until they give me a reason not to, which is not always the safest of decisions. Regardless, it ended and created friendships and taught me life lessons that, looking back, seemed like common sense but at the time could not have been more difficult.

Trust also taught me that people cannot change for the better. Sometimes it is better to let go and move on no matter how badly it may hurt. And word to the wise, if they will cheat with you, they will cheat on you.

Those that I struggled to get along with helped me in multiple ways. I learned how to deal with conflict and I learned that being the mature person is not always the easiest path in the short-term, but in the long-term holding one’s tongue can be so much more rewarding. Don’t ever put people down out of anger, it will only end up hurting you in the long-term.

My family has always been important to me but throughout high school I have come to realize that I need them in my life. They are not an inconvenience to spend time with but a joy to be around. They are the people who will always be there no matter how badly I mess up and they always keep me grounded.

My advice for incoming freshmen and even the rest of those remaining in high school is to be open to everyone; diversity only means more fun and as clich̩ as it sounds Рget involved in as much as possible because you will never have a second chance at your high school experience.

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