Senior Reflection

As Lawrentians, we have been trained to dash out reflections at interims and at the end of every trimester. So, when presented with the honor of writing a Senior Reflection for The Lawrence, my initial reaction was: “how difficult could that be?” I later recognized the challenge of condensing four amazing years into a few paragraphs.  

Looking back, Lawrenceville exceeded my wildest expectations.  I had the privilege of being present and exposed to new ideas while having boatloads of fun with my friends, classmates, and teachers. I cherish the memories of making mochis and mooncakes, beautifying the campus in an explosion of color and water during Holi, soaking up the camaraderie in House Olympics, seeing Broadway shows, basking in the warmth of Lessons & Carols, and testing the limits of my physical and mental stamina in the classrooms and on the fields. Getting my cultural and spiritual fix by partaking in unfamiliar traditions has made me more self-aware and appreciative of the richness and diversity of our shared experience. The Harkness Travel Program and the research institutes allowed me to experience the bigger world around me and discover my place in it, providing me with a greater sense of clarity, purpose, and vision.  I learned all about time management and compassion for others.  My teachers taught me the magic of hope and to dream big. I also quickly figured out survival necessities that made the daily grind much more bearable: iced matcha lattes, snacks, hugs, frequent laughter, and gratitude. A smile begets a smile!

The countdown to graduation started the minute I stepped on campus in the fall, and I was consumed by this desperate need to wring every ounce of joy possible from each fleeting moment. I regretted losing my weeknights in the Crescent to the nagging call of homework and meetings. So, I spent my entire senior year making up for lost time, pouring the same level of intensity previously reserved for academics and sports into social activities. I laughed harder, danced harder, and played harder, and surprisingly, my grades were better; somehow, less stress leads to better results.  

For all the younger Lawrentians reading this, take some leisure breaks from the competitive race and have more fun! When you put your best effort into classes, sports, clubs, etc., you simply cannot fail because of the safety and encouragement offered by our community of peers and teachers. I’ve had some stinging disappointments, too (I can’t will my brain to understand Calculus, didn’t get the leadership position I wanted, mourned the unraveling of a friendship), but I would rather have lived with these “losses” than not tried at all.  Trust me, we all get into great schools, and a few, very wise people told me that I don’t “have to do it all,” and I never have to do it alone. Sometimes, just being “good” is enough, and we can skip the self-imposed drive for “exceptional” and enjoy a healthier balance. So please, stop stressing.  

Take advantage of all that Lawrenceville offers, from impromptu grill dinners (the boys Houses love to show off their cooking skills, and they always share) to the incredible Saturday evening lineup of social activities (day students, stick around and bond because so much happens after hours).  Approach each day with optimism and a curiosity for continuous learning. Make a point to expand your friend groups within and across grade levels.  Ainsley and her friends have shown me that the freshmen are quite a cool bunch! The adoration from my golf teammates always strikes a chord in my heart (must be senior privilege), and I was awed by their nonchalance at smashing records; we simply took a few pictures for historical record-keeping, handed Dean Welborne and Coach Robinson our trophy, and continued our lively banter, happy to be together. Life is sweeter when there are more people to share it with, and we accomplish more when we work together. I should have listened to those upperformers and teachers who told me to have more fun and worry less. (Mr. Murray, might I suggest we alter the new academic schedule to include a mandatory FUN block?)

To my beloved Lawrenceville family, thank you for believing in me when I lacked confidence, for holding my hand when I was too exhausted so we could cross the finish line together, for trusting me to lead when I felt clueless and inadequate, and for teaching me the life skills that I will need to navigate the road ahead. I express my sincerest gratitude to my teachers, coaches, and advisors for their unwavering guidance and support, pushing me outside my comfort zone, and standing by to pick me up when I stumbled.  Friends and classmates, thank you for giving me a profound sense of belonging, enriching my life through our shared experience, broadening my perspective, and emboldening me to embrace risk and novelty. Thank you to our school staff for your kindness and tireless efforts in making Lawrenceville special: Mr. Freeman and the dining hall team for enhancing our dining experience and collaborating with us on sustainability efforts, Mr. G and Mr. Larson for keeping me in tiptop shape so I can play two to three LONG golf meets a week, Mr. August for answering texts at all hours and managing the details so our events run smoothly, the team at the Health & Wellness Center for taking care of me when I was quarantined with COVID-19 or in need of allergy medication, Public Safety for unlocking doors and offering golf cart rides across campus when I had too much to carry, and Mrs. Becker and the College Counseling Office for the extraordinary patience to turn in one more draft (I thought we needed sleepovers to get through those apps). And to parents and alumni, thank you for your generosity so that we may all emerge transformed.  

I deeply value the impact each of you has made on my path towards self-discovery and your invaluable lessons of House, Harkness, & Heart. My heart aches that I will need to say farewell to my most wonderful home for the last four years. I will miss all of you dearly, and I can’t wait to see you again so we can celebrate our successes.