Most seniors when writing their last ever column, have many things to miss and are sentimental. I don’t want mine to be like most, especially through all the things I had to overcome to get where I am today. I want the last story I write to truly reflect who I am as a person and how through all the obstacles I went through, I never failed to come out of it with good grades, a good heart and a strong foundation for my future.
Throughout my whole life I have only ever been able to fully rely on God, myself, and two people: my grandparents Thomas and Bonnie Phillips. They are my twin pillars, without whom I could not stand. When I have been let down by my parents many times, they have stuck by my side and helped me to grow as a person and overcome my difficult childhood. People say that their mom or their dad are their inspiration, but to me it’s my grandparents. With going into the foster care system freshman year of high school, they both have stepped up to take on those parental roles when they absolutely did not have to.
Since I didn’t grow up in Warsaw, I moved around a lot, which has taught me how much you have to grow to be independent and not depend on others to make you happy. What I’m most thankful for throughout my time going to school here is the opportunities I’ve had to come out of my comfort zone more and the opportunity to take so many college classes to potentially graduate college early and gaining a sweet friendship with my best friend, Maya Daughenbaugh.
With graduation so close, a time I’ve been waiting years for, I’m involved in many activities and leadership positions I’d never had considered four years ago. When I go out into the real world after graduation, I’ll treasure every moment of really starting my life and building a home not filled with pain, but one built on love and wanting to make a difference. The impact I hope to make with my passion of always being there for others and my career path as a forensic social worker is to show that there are still people in this world that do care and want to make a difference.
As I close this chapter of my life, and walk away from these halls for the last time, I’m not just saying goodbye to a school, but to a version of myself that I’ve outgrown through every challenge and every life lesson. Everything I’ve gone through throughout high school has shaped me into someone who is ready to go into the unknown with faith instead of fear. While I may not have all the answers, I have something more important- a strong foundation, a clear purpose and a heart that refuses to give up on becoming something greater. No matter where life takes me, I will carry the struggles and the growth with me knowing they were never meant to hold me back but to push me forward. It’s hard to walk away from something that taught me how powerful my voice could be, but I know I’ll carry that passion for writing with me wherever I go. While this may be my senior goodbye, it will never be the end of my story.
“Long story short, I survived.”- Taylor Swift
Abbey Wilson has been writing for The Wildcat since her sophomore year and has served as an editor on staff. Wilson will attend State Fair Community College with plans to finish her degree at Missouri State University to major in social work.
