By Gio Arteaga
Have you ever heard someone say “This is my 13th reason?” It’s an overwhelmingly common statement that I’ve heard throughout the entirety of high school; from things like late-night study sessions to the realization you are perhaps cooked on your physics test in the morning, saying that something is your 13th reason has been everywhere.
However, this recap is in no way attributed to the show “13 Reasons Why,” nor does it have to do with any of the history associated with the phrase “this is my 13th reason.” Instead, this serves as my high school recap (times 2) of every single one of my 13 reasons why high school broke my mental, physical, and perhaps spiritual well-being.
Reason No. 1 ~ The entirety of junior year:
Now you may ask peers like Laura Lipcsei how their junior year was, and they’ll say “ohh it wasn’t that bad… It was my BEST year.” And in itself, that phrase should be on this list because ABSOLUTELY not. Junior year itself is like your parents trying to get you to take a picture with the Easter bunny. Even at the ripe age of 17, it seems fun and lighthearted at first until you sit down (and perhaps crush the poor person’s legs) and realize that there’s no escape and you just have to commit. This particular reason is going to have the most yapp because I have a lot to get off my chest. It was stressful, exhausting, and actually should be THE thirteenth reason. I have everyone who’s taking any sort of advanced class in my prayers!
Reason No. 2 ~ Hearing (the revered) Laura Lipcsei expel demons—aka her burping
Having been Laura’s friend for six years, sometimes hearing her burp has just become second nature to me. And after taking AP psychology, and learning about adaptation, it’s become something I don’t really notice—really second nature at this point… but when I do… It’s bad…
Reason No. 3 ~ Taking AP Calculus AB and AP Physics 1 in the same year.
Now, please do not get this twisted; I absolutely love Anupama Tandon. She’s genuinely one of the kindest and most amazing teachers on campus. But for some people (including me), physics did not click instantly, just as calculus literally did not make sense (second semester). Calculus is like art—but like abstract art that’s a straight line that’s somehow supposed to mean the artist went mad? And I indeed went mad over trying to understand this content because I feel like, if I wanted to, I could have done good; but from calculating the speed I would need to go to make it to McDonald’s before it closed or to (safely) fall off a building, to finding the area of an urn, I was NOT a happy camper.*
* The last sentence was an editors comment made by Laura Lipcsei
Reason No. 4 ~ Second Semester Sophomore burnout
I actually wrote an article for Sophomore Slump, and looking back, I hate myself for even trying to say I had problems and burnout. However, it deserves to be on this list because the second semester was very draining mentally. But again, I apologize to the 2023-2024 serving juniors (because my article would have infuriated me) for my insensitive comments.
Reason No. 5 ~ Reading Brave New World
Coupled with the sophomore burnout, this reason deserves to be on this list. If any student at Westmont High School has taken English II Honors with Bryce Hadley, I would like to take a moment to applaud our sacrifice. Now, Hadley is an extremely passionate teacher and loves to yap and talk. However, with second-semester burnout, over 90% of sophomores felt it in one way or another (and if you are, the journalism staff are here to talk). It really doesn’t help for Hadley to scream about “GOATS AND MONKEYS” and “ORGYPORGY” at 8:30 am. I enjoyed the class, and this in no way negatively targets Hadley, but the book itself is very confusing, and making the sacrifice to keep pushing through was enough to earn itself Reason No. 5.
Reason No. 6 ~ Realizing you’ll never get your 8th grade history teacher back
This suggestion was made by Shield staff member, Lili Metanovic, and I absolutely do agree. Students who went to Rolling hills from 2019-2022 had either Rosendo Santana or Jessica Harris as history teachers for their eighth-grade year. The impact that both of these teachers had on their students’ lives is so unbelievably unmatched that it deserves to go on this list, not as a negative thing, but with high regard (and the fact that we’ll never get them as teachers again). From their enthusiasm and being trauma bonded through the pandemic, both did their absolute best to deliver an education that is really hard to come by, and for this, we thank both Santana and Harris for their amazing contributions to education.
Reason No. 7 ~ Being the only boy cut from badminton freshmen year
I would not like to elaborate more on this. But let’s keep it short and sweet and say I never tried out for a sport after this one again.
Reason No. 8 ~ football games senior year
This reason is fueled by anger. The class of ‘26 freshman year was so unreal and unmatched; I remember all of the people that would come and how the seniors would carry the entire student section. But I do have to admit to everyone that my senior class has disappointed me in more than one way. Now, from someone who doesn’t understand anything about football—which I do attribute a major factor of it to being gay—I rely heavily on Mason Vargas and Malia Whitman to tell me when to cheer and when to shut the hell up. But when no one comes to the games, both Mason and Malia’s jobs become 10 times harder due to the engagement. However, despite this, they’re doing amazing, and (side note) I really hope you both get most spirited.
Reason No. 9 ~ AP Calculus AB exam (pt.2)
This test was actually so disappointing, and it really gave me and all my like-minded peers way too much false hope. Now, when I first got to the gym—which, by the way, smelled so disgusting—I sat in my chair looking at my 8×12 inch screen, with my heart racing, only to start the exam and completely blank. Throughout the year, I’ve had instances where I didn’t understand a concept (or frankly an entire semester), but looking at the MCQ, I felt confident. That was until the free response. Prior, my dear and beloved friend Hana Tomita entered this exam with hope and optimism, but shortly realized: We were cooked! These questions were so easy on the surface level, but for some reason when I tried to solve them, I couldn’t write a single equation or proof, and I literally froze. Cut to before the test, I looked to my friend Lou Derand and I said “If there is a trapezoid Riemann sum, I will start crying, and you will see tears on this exam booklet;” and low and BEHOLD, there was a RIEMANN SUM QUESTION on TRAPEZOIDS (I did in fact cry) and I left the majority of those questions blank—and proceeded to get a two.
Reason No. 10 ~ 12/9/25
This is something only Laura and I have experienced, but it’s a worthwhile mention. On December 9th, 2025, Laura and I were getting candy for Lifecrew for the goody bags, but like any teenager, we wanted to indulge ourselves in Starbucks. So after we got our candy, we went to Starbucks, and while walking in, I thought I saw Lou’s car, and (as any good friend would do) I walked up to her window and started tapping on the glass with my face pressed to it. Although it wasn’t Lou, it was some random lady, and instead of staying to apologize, my fight or flight kicked in and I ran. I thought she didn’t see me because she was looking to her left in her bag, but by the time I ran, she saw me, and it was too late. I ran inside the Starbucks and hid from this poor woman, and just as she was leaving, she ushered me out of the door and began lecturing me FROM HER CAR. This incident genuinely made me feel horrible and so embarrassed, but I will never see this woman again, and if she’s reading this, I want to issue a formal apology, and know it was not intentional or targeted towards you.
Reason No. 11 ~ Missing deadlines in Journalism
If anyone doesn’t know how journalism works, there’s set deadlines for certain sections and due dates when stories are done. Typically, the editors for each year are designated to remind everyone about deadlines and to get their stories in on time. However, I’ve never been the most punctual person as almost anyone can tell you. In fact, it’s gotten to a point where if anyone tries talking to me when I’m locking in I ignore literally everyone. It’s extremely comparable to the Scarlet Letter—a book by the way I’ve never read—a story about a woman accused of committing adultery that has to wear the letter “A” to show her shame for her crimes; In journalism, that letter “A” comes in the form of a simple google document, with the name of your story, highlighted bright orange for the entire class to see. It’s so humiliating and frankly works so well because not only are your section editors on you… Andy Evans is too…
Reason No. 12 ~ Being late.
Reason No. 13 ~ Missing High School
This is my most nostalgic reason for this article, but through writing this, and coming to the realization that moving my tassel and throwing my cap is only six months away, makes me sad. Everything on this list has some form of significance to the high school experience (although it may be niche). From teachers that have not been supportive, to hard exams, to everything I’ve learned, I’m so grateful for all of my teachers—no matter how annoying or how late I turned assignments in—and I love and adore all of my friends for everything they’ve taught me and for everything I’ve learned. So I know it’s early but I love and adore everyone.