If my middle school self could have seen the future, the things I dedicated my high school experience towards would have shocked her. The preteen swimmer who loved art class and Harry Potter would have laughed at the prospect of cheerleading, and would have felt a pleasant surprise at the fact that she loved working for the school’s newspaper. Although seemingly unpredictable, all the passions that I cultivated throughout the last four years I discovered thanks to a simple mindset: just try.
Freshman year—in the midst of COVID—came with a mixture of excitement and wariness as I entered high school. My wide-eyed, gymnast friends all set their sights on joining the cheer team; however, with no related experience whatsoever, I questioned whether I should attend tryouts. Not wanting to miss out, I decided to just try, despite my lack of knowledge. The next thing I knew, I found myself lifting weights and doing jumps in my garage for hours at a time while the coaches guided us through a computer screen. My close family, taken aback by my newfound identity as a high school cheerleader, said, “I never would have pictured you cheering. It doesn’t seem like your thing.” But it was. I came alive under the stadium lights, thrilled to contribute to the spirited atmosphere. For all four years, I committed hours upon hours to intense competition and stunt practices, and even willingly rose at 5 a.m. for workouts before school. I gave up my weekends to attend competitions, and crossed the country for Nationals. I even became a passionate leader on the team, assuming the role of captain numerous times. Most importantly, I connected with all my closest friends through the program. After putting blood, sweat, and tears (and practically all my free time) into cheer, it seems absurd that I would not have had the sport that defined me throughout high school if I did not choose to just try.
In addition to sports practices, I also selected and attended my first high school courses virtually. As a student who valued academics, I signed up for the only advanced class offered to freshmen: English Honors I. While I did not have any particular fervor for the subject, I explained to my parents, “I’ll just try; I want to take hard classes.” Logging into Zoom for the first time, greeted by a lively Andy Evans, I immediately established my favorite class. Shakespeare’s foreshadowing, Harper Lee’s symbolism, and Steinbeck’s heart-wrenching themes fascinated me—so much so that I continued to take Honors and AP English courses all four years. Now planning to major in English, I credit discovering my ardor to fantastic teachers and the decision that placed me in their classes: “I’ll just try.”
After English class one day, Mr. Evans encouraged me to take journalism. “Why not? I’ll try,” I decided. A shy, unknowledgeable sophomore, I found myself faced with an environment full of peers who shared my passion for English and provided me with role models—whose shoes I now fill as an editor. Now in my third year of journalism, I am inexpressibly grateful for The Shield, as it grants me creative freedom in my work, allowing me to use my writing to speak on topics I am passionate about. Journalism became a defining factor in my time at Westmont, and an activity I intend to continue after graduation—thank goodness I just tried.
When asked about myself, cheerleading, English, and journalism come up every time without fail. An influential time of self-discovery, high school played a key role in my understanding of myself and my passions because I did not back down from opportunities to just try.