CNJ+ March 2023

A Senior Reflection By, Nazli Mohideen Love, N

This was the title of my first-ever article for The Falconer’s Voice and even though at the time I was writing about events that were being held at the high school, I would soon come to realize that this title would describe much of my high school experience. I’m typically the one behind the scenes, bombarding seniors over Outlook and interviewing them about what has happened and what’s to come. But for those of you who don’t know me as well, allow me to introduce myself. I’m the senior who never shuts up about basketball, but couldn't care less about gym (sorry, Mr. Warner). I’m the senior who excessively moisturizes her face in her car every morning and runs off powdered-sugar donuts. And as unfortunate as it is to say, I’m also the senior who probably should’ve dropped out of AP Stats when I still had the chance. Contrary to absolutely nobody’s opinion, high school was not the time of my life. Granted I have a terrible memory and half of high school was also spent behind a screen for me. Like everyone has said a thousand times already, the last few years have been anything but easy. The world shut down in what we all thought would be a two-week vacation from talks of $1 Wawa coffees and Ford F-150’s, police brutality and gun violence have become an issue like we’ve never seen before, and most devastating of all, I watched as the Miami Heat lost the 2020 NBA Finals. Despite all of this, senior year rolled around, and it was a fresh start for everyone. Even though I talk to the same five people every day, there were still some memorable moments from the year. Like the 20-minute long fire drill at the Senior Awards Ceremony during which no one knew if there was an actual fire. Collectively pan icking with the rest of my anatomy class on quite literally each and every assessment day (and obviously supplying everyone with Good Luck Tic Tacs beforehand). Making the very questionable decision of going to Tennis Senior Night and then subsequently cramming for said anatomy class directly after. Running alone in the pouring rain in the school parking lot on a Friday night for a Spanish Honor Society Charity Carnival. Walking into Ruck’s class to see Saanya and Azreen’s doodles all over the board. Peeling everyone’s mediocre cafeteria oranges at lunch every B day for Mahitha’s Dispo. Staying for an extra half hour after every newspaper club meeting just to update Mrs. Tringali on everything from Senior year scandals to my internship, and then proceeding to Uber Surabhi a solid two minutes away to the library for work. And of course, resorting to emailing a certain someone in class whenever notes using the Sin-Cos Tan chart became particularly painful to get through. Coming from someone who has lived in Monroe all her life, I’ve passed these same halls and unpaved roads for as long as I can remember. While the mundane moments are what I hold close to my heart, I’m sure I’ll forget over time, too. Eventually I’ll forget about the daily bagel checks my lunch table would have for any “extra seasoning,” lab partners who didn’t turn out to be that scary after all, and the substitute teachers who could never manage to get my 5-letter name right. Maybe I’ll even forget about the time I pretended to attack members of the English Honor Society as a shark to deepen their literary knowledge, but more importantly, win a Bluetooth speaker (trust me, I’m just as confused as you are). Soon enough, awkwardly budding my way into Socratic Seminars, waking up at 5 am to get the same parking spot of 5D, and calling myself a Monroe Falcon will all be things of the past (thank God!!). Absolutely racing down the PAC hallway after every NEHS meeting and cramming for one-too-many assignments will all be a distant memory, too. Whether you’re still trying to desperately recover from tardies or soon-to-be studying abroad in France or joining me and quite literally the entirety of Monroe’s population at Rutgers in the fall, I wish you all the best of luck in whatever this next chapter of your life looks for you. To the Graduating Class of ‘22, congratulations. I can’t wait to see where life takes you. -N

28 CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES

MARCH 2023