By Penny Nunes
Being a sophomore, it can be hard to figure out everything you’re supposed to do. There are a million things you have to do to prepare for college, things that nobody even talks about. Starting freshman year, one year ago, was stressful enough; I was not prepared for the jump to sophomore year. I felt lost, like I couldn’t figure out what to do. That’s when I started talking more to the class of ‘26. All of the seniors helped me navigate through the start of the year, but a few are a bit more special. Mason Vargas, Sadie York, Blake Kim, Gio Arteaga, Rachel Bernsten, Knox Friedman, and of course, Lili Metanovic. These seniors have guided me and taught me what I need to do through high school. They made me feel comfortable enough to talk to them about any of my silly questions. Just having their presence and knowing they would not judge me was a huge help. Going on fun adventures with a few taught me to let loose and not always stress about the things in life. They demonstrated balance between extracurriculars, laughter, and school work. The seniors push me to my full potential while also making sure I’m not overwhelmed.
Lili, in specific, and I have gotten extremely close this year, with me considering her as one of my best friends. She is an older version of myself, someone I can see myself in, which is so refreshing to have. She acts like my older sister, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the moments we share together. Mason is like my personal Uber, anytime I need a ride, I know he is there. However, there is more to him than that. Mason has so much passion and desire for his future. He has strong goals and knows what path to take to get there. He often tells me that he sees himself in me, which I’m so grateful for. He allows me to tell him about my silly problems and reassures me that I’m not crazy.
Blake and Gio always push me to take harder classes, constantly reminding me that I will be able to handle it. Knox was my ASB big last year, and I couldn’t be more thankful. He taught me life lessons and made sure to always check in on me. Knox continues to text me and ask how I am frequently, even though he is no longer my big. That has had a huge impact on me, reminding me of how I always have him. Sadie and Rachel are amazing at what they do. Sadie is ASB executive president—as if that is not already impressive enough—she is also an editor of The Shield. Sadie is everything I hope to be; having her in my life reminds me not to give up. It motivates me to push through challenging times. Rachel is one of the strongest public speakers I have ever met. She has direct opinions and follows through with them, no matter who she is around. Rachel is absolutely incredible at her sport (track and field, specifically hurdles). Constantly pushing herself, she reminds me much of Sadie, never giving up, no matter the circumstances.
ALL of the seniors this year have made a powerful impact on me as a person. I don’t know what I will do without them. I feel like the luckiest person to have spent two amazing years with them. Despite being disappointed about them leaving, I know they will go on to inspire more people just like me, and that’s why I will miss the wonderful class of ‘26.