Huntley High grad reflects on what was 'no average senior year'

I will never take a friend's smile for granted again. During junior year, I had many dreams of being a part of the senior section at football games, Prom, senior lock-in, and more.

I never thought it would be taken away due to a pandemic.

This pandemic has been hard on everyone in many ways. I thought the hardest thing for me was hanging out with myself and finding ways to enjoy my own company.

I was forced to deal with and overcome repressed memories from my past. Whenever those memories came back, it felt like an unrealistic movie. Every time I tried to push away, the more they would pull me back in.

During quarantine, my mind could not help but wander while I looked at my pixilated peers on Zoom. My anxiety worsened, I started to feel trapped and drained. I missed that social interaction. I had no idea how much that helped me.

It was difficult to realize how easily I could change all of this around and be more positive, but soon I did. I started to find who I wanted to be and overcame some of my hardest demons. I kept my true friends, who became very obvious, close during this time.

Many people just stopped contacting me and making an effort. So, I began devoting more time to myself by making goals for the future and going to therapy. I did yoga in between classes and FaceTimed friends. I became more independent, open-minded, and grateful. I got to learn things early on, rather than later, about myself. I look at life with a new, better perspective.

The biggest thing that helped me, especially when the school year was ending, was the community's and Dr. (Marcus) Belin's support of seniors. We had senior celebrations once a month, which consisted of surprises from parents, town square celebrations, small businesses giving us deals, and more.

It made me feel appreciated and added a new component to senior year. Sure, I missed out on all of those normal senior happenings, but instead, we started a new tradition that brought the community even closer.

I got to experience things with my class that have never been done before. I got to find out more about myself and look at life in a more beautiful way.

This was no average senior year, but is one that I won't forget in 10 years.

• Alyssa Boring graduated from Huntley High School in May. The 18-year-old from Huntley plans to earn bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, then attain a Ph.D. in psychology and possibly double major with speech pathology.