Hey, guys! My name is Hailey Miller and I am one of the many seniors who have had their senior year ripped away from them this spring.
It’s crazy to think that our second semester ended in the blink of an eye to a silly virus that no one can control. At first, I must admit I took this whole thing as a joke and knew we would be going back to school for sure.
But when Gov. Roy Cooper announced North Carolina schools would be closed the rest of the year, I literally lost it.
To this day I continue to feel as if I’m in a never-ending movie because of how weird the whole situation feels. So, here’s to the past four years that Richmond has had to offer, the memories I’ve made, and the friends that have been by my side through this bittersweet ride.
There are so many events that I have been waiting to experience for senior year ever since I was a kid. These events include senior prom, the elementary school walk, powderpuff football, senior skip day, and most of all graduation.
Because of the spread of the virus and school being officially closed, I am constantly thinking in my head “will I have a prom,” “do I get to walk the stage at graduation with my classmates” and “why did this have to happen our senior year.” There are plenty more thoughts that have wandered through my head, but these are the ones that hurt the most.
I never knew that my last day of high school was going to be on Friday, March 13, and I wish I would have made the most out of it. In fact, now I wish I would have made the most out of school each and every day because being out so long has made me realize how much I really do love school and the people around me.
All the times I have complained about getting up early and the work that comes with school, I believe I can honestly say that I take every negative thing I’ve said back. I never thought I would say that I miss school, but I truly do.
Being apart from my friends, teachers and coaches has surely been one of the hardest parts. This year I felt as if I was involved in so many things and I honestly just loved that I could be myself. I probably came out of my shell the most this year, thanks to Layne (Maultsby), of course, which helped me engage with so many new people and go out for sports I never thought I would.
I honestly never saw myself being on the bowling team, but I don’t regret one moment of it. It was cool to just try something new that I knew I could have fun with. The same goes for soccer, a sport I haven’t played since rec ball with coach Keith Parsons.
But just being around all the girls, Chris and Ashleigh Larsen (and sweet Mayleigh too), and Tad Hamilton, just that little bit of time spent with them makes me eager to have more days with each and everyone of them.
The same goes with golf, the sport I’ve spent basically my whole life playing. I wish I could go back in time and remember how it felt to sink my first hole-in-one. That was the biggest highlight, and still is of my golfing career and I am so thankful I was able to experience it.
A huge thanks to Coach Keith for keeping me calm during my multiple anger spurts and to my teammates for being able to joke around and make the experience 10 times better. Though I didn’t play basketball my senior year, there are still so many memories I have that I will never forget, especially those in the locker room when the roaches came out. My favorite memories for sure come from all the bus rides I’ve had at Richmond.
What makes the class of 2020 special to me is all the amazing people I have grown up with. It’s crazy to think that we have reached this point in our lives that we have all been looking forward to for the longest time. I remember talking to my friends in middle school about the things we would venture into moving into high school, such as getting our driver’s license and where we would go when the first person got one.
Now we’re having to question just about every event that comes with the “best times of our lives” we are supposed to experience in high school. What I have learned most in this situation is to make the most out of every moment.
I continue to see memories pop up on my Snapchat of things that have happened the past few years and it’s so hard to not cry just thinking about what my classmates and I are missing out on. I wish I could go back to Senate lunches with Colonel Ring, zumba with Mrs. Covington, and to looking like an idiot at every single Friday night football game to match the theme.
A big thanks to every single teacher, coach and classmate who has had to put up with me and my continual laughing and red face. Also thank you to my family, youth group and friends for being so supportive in this hard and confusing time. I can’t thank you guys enough for making these past four years so amazing.
This is my story, but this is our year.
