Hazel!
We know that I have a tendency towards doing things spontaneously (almost like combustion) and also a tendency to cause the unexpected. So I really hope that, when I publish this, much like when I do anything else, everything will be fine. Fingers doubly-crossed.
I wish I could say we had a stellar-stunning-fabulous time in high school, and maybe an evil fraction of me (maybe like-- three thousand and twenty ninth of me? An evil number, clearly.) wishes I could bemoan how terrible it was. But I'm not going to do that. Luck behold, I have had an amazingly average time. Highs and lows generally cause that, as foretold by AP Statistics (or, I guess, AP Texas Instruments).
And because I'm strangely optimistic and sentimental and all the things that we've now established that make me incredibly glad to have graduated from Arcadia High, let me recall some of the highlights for you: (I was the news editor, yes, and this will unfortunately have me bending our beloved style guide ever so slightly).
PLACES. the science building-- the ledge atop the stairs of said building; S208 and as an extension, the room quite connected to it, and the many lunchtimes connected to that. Anywhere with friends and whiteboards, or whiteboards that are friends. Karaoke in the orchestra room; fifth periods and third periods and sixth periods in G109; the courtyards near the PAC and the open area between rows E & F. The library, the different rooms in the library; maybe even the rusty lunch tables where I studied, on occasion. You catch my drift: anywhere that brings either great peace or even greater smiles.
THINGS. car batteries and then laughing very loudly in AP Chem; panicking over derivatives and then integrals and then power series (and then loving it so much); quiet classrooms and the newsroom on busy mornings -- so many edits and so many laughs; the Halloween costume that was comprised of fake flowers I wrapped around a headband (yes, a pikmin); art everywhere: poetry on computers and in notebooks and across whiteboards.
PEOPLE. friends, friends, friends! (notables include of course, the chem shenanigan-ers, m.n., s.n. et al, o.f., h.g. and maybe so many more...) thank you for always putting up with me haha. There is, in fact, so much more to say, but, I've probably said it all through text messages at 10 p.m. or in person (there will be more of me do not fret).
Ms. Klipstein, for indirectly causing the chain reaction that is my creative writing journey.
Ms. Landis, for writing the best AP Lit pep-talk I've ever read -- or possibly will read in my entire life.
Ms. Wang, for believing in me and my semi-questionable math abilities (despite the mild exasperation I likely caused).
Annette !! for seeing my passion for creative writing, and welcoming me warmly into the club.
Although my tenure in The Writer's Den feels remarkably short & was unfortunately so, I have never felt so happy to be involved in something (after all, I have always felt a desire to be included) and be a part of its growth. Now, to the rest of the officer team (YOU'RE AMAZING) I'm always blown away by your creativity as well as your writing, and I am so proud of all of you. I look (so) forward to everything you accomplish.
Sincerely,
Hazel Wong.
(TWD's 25-26 President)
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