As my school journey is coming to a close in less than two weeks, I can’t help but constantly think about it. It seems like only yesterday that we walked into high school as little, nervous freshmen trying to figure out where our next class was, and now here we are ready to graduate and move forward in the world. It has been an incredible journey, an odyssey, which all began for us, fellow students, as children and is ending here as adults.
We are on the threshold of charting our own path. For most, our plans include college, while some will go directly to the workforce or take a year off. However, no matter where we go or what we do, we owe a debt of gratitude to a number of people who have shaped us, ignited our passions and given flight to our dreams.To our teachers, thank you for selflessly sharing your time, talent and knowledge with us. For the countless long hours, tireless efforts and hard work you put in educating us and teaching us many a skill to better prepare us for life ahead. You took the time to design challenging lessons, review our work, corrected us when we were wrong and encouraged us so we would learn and develop ourselves. You recognized that every one of us has a unique set of skills and talents to share with the world and strived to help each of us realize their potential. You sacrificed much of your family time to spend extra hours reviewing difficult concepts with us, tutoring us and providing us feedback. You made the learning as interesting as possible so we wouldn’t just zone out. You cultivated an environment where we not only received solid education but grew as a person.
To our coaches and club advisors, thank you for making school about more than just academics. Through sports, we learned how to power on through challenges and give it our best effort, no matter the outcome. We learned the importance of discipline and integrity. Through other activities like participating in clubs, theatrical productions and the student service center, we learned how to collaborate with others to achieve a common goal and we had a lot of fun doing it.
To our support staff, thank you for being the backbone of the school. Each one of you made an immense contribution in making our school experience a memorable, comfortable and happy one. Your dedicated service ensured that we were well fed and the school was safe and clean. Your work is truly appreciated.
To the school administrators, thank you for keeping things running smoothly at all times so that students can remain the main priority. There has never been a failure at Mineola High School—you wouldn’t allow for it. Thank you for empowering us to do amazing things.
To our guidance counselors, thank you for always having your door and your heart open. Whether it was scheduling classes, reviewing our college essays or talking about our daily problems, you were always there to ensure we went down the right path. Your guidance, insight, knowledge and support throughout these past four years is truly invaluable.
To our parents, thank you for supporting us in more ways than we even know. Words cannot describe our sincere appreciation for the unconditional faith and love you provided us with throughout our time in high school. Thank you for believing that we can soar to the greatest heights without the fear of falling, knowing that you will prep us for our next flight when that happens. We are emboldened by your unwavering belief in us and we will continue to make you proud in the future.
To the community of Mineola, the saying “It takes a village to raise a child” is certainly true! We are so fortunate and blessed to live in such a caring and compassionate town. Thank you for everything you have been, everything you have done, and everything you have made us. There is nothing harder than leaving this perfect town. Thank you for making yourself so easy to miss and so delightful to come back to.
A heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all who have encouraged us, pushed us, motivated and inspired us to pursue our dreams. As we move forward in our lives to learn more, do more and become more, we will aspire to make the world a better place and pay this debt of gratitude forward to the generations that will follow us.
Thank you.
Sanskriti Bimal is a graduating senior at Mineola High School. For the last three years, she wrote the “School Buzz” column for the Mineola American. She was accepted to UC Berkeley, UCLA, the University of Michigan, Boston University and more. She will be attending UCLA in the fall.
