by Alexis Booker ’23

Prior to my first day of high school, I visited Sherwood to see my counselor to switch a class. When approaching the door, however, I grew worried by the fact that there were four dead butterflies scattered across the main entry. Though it was laughable in the moment, I found myself googling the symbolism that night in a panic, seeing results about bad omens and even a possible curse. As an anxious 14 year old venturing into the unknown stomping grounds of teen angst, my hopes and dreams for a Disney Channel movie fantasy were shattered.

These unfortunate signs did not completely hold up, thankfully. No one died (aside from a small sliver of my soul after taking 10 AP courses in the last 4 years) and I’ve made it out in one piece, but not without my own set of challenges. At the beginning of my high school career, I was forced to learn personal lessons that quickly sparked growth. Issues will always arise throughout my life, but now, I’m equipped to take those lessons in stride. There are so many factors socially and academically that are out of my control, and to grapple with that is a hard truth to swallow, but my biggest lesson for when difficulties surface is to flow with the tide.

Though I’ve learned a lot through these experiences, I also persisted through my mental blocks to accomplish my goals. My motivations stem from an inherent ambition to succeed, and I’m glad my freshman self was prepared to start achieving them. I took club pamphlets and signed up for difficult courses that I knew would expand my range of knowledge and ability. I stayed true to my aspirations and took the steps I needed to cultivate experiences worth living. With a lot of trial and error, I’ve swum the waves of assignments, social events, and club responsibilities, not with ease but with effort.

Now I’m off to live my manic pixie fantasy in Boston, the classic small town girl to big city trope, and I feel ready to do so. My persistence in the midst of my high school career revived what butterflies of hope I thought had died before I could even begin my journey. I am here, dead butterflies and all, ready to embark on an uncertain future in a place I have no doubt I will thrive.