Opinions Writer Tyson Lukrofka
It feels like just yesterday that I was walking through the doors of Parkway South for the start of high school. Four short years later I am a senior in my last week before graduation. I can say I have made many friends, learned many lessons, and created countless memories that will last a lifetime. Even though every morning I struggled to roll out of bed and gain the courage to go to class, these last few weeks have been very bitter-sweet. I find myself cherishing the last few days I get to share with my friends and living more in the moment. I never thought I would miss this place but as the date of graduation approaches I am getting more and more emotional about moving on from South High.
Personally, the most stressful part of high school wasn’t high school courses, rather it was figuring out where I was going to continue my education. The college search is one that requires a lot of effort, but to make it easier my advice to underclassmen would be to focus on your grades in freshman and sophomore year. Many freshman take the first semester lightly just to get accumulated to their new school but you can’t take a semester off because it will come back to haunt you when you apply for colleges. The main thing is to keep up that cumulative GPA and even one bad semester will prohibit you from getting that 4.0. Also, the better your grades the more money you can bring in on scholarship. Trying hard at the beginning of high school will pay off when you are applying to your dream colleges and when your parents are talking to you about how to pay college tuition.
Make the most of your time in high school. Take part in as many school activities as possible because they will be over before you know it. Join the clubs that interest you, volunteer your time and energy in order to make the schools a better place. Take advantage of the desks in the lunch room and get behind all sorts of causes. If you play a sport, join the team and work your hardest while wearing the Parkway South jersey. Take the time to get to know your teachers; there are tons of great teachers in this building that would love nothing more than to get to know you and help you on your journey throughout school. Never be afraid to ask questions because you learn the most when you question things. Be sure not to bite off more than you can chew, but still, make sure you take a big bite. You only get four years and they will go by a lot faster than you think.
All in all, I have enjoyed my time in high school and I’m proud to call myself a Patriot. The friends I’ve made here at South High are sure to last a lifetime and it’s great having that family feeling. I look forward to continuing my athletic and education careers but there will always be a special place in my heart for my high school years, especially at Parkway South.
Tyson will attend St. Charles Community College on a soccer scholarship. He plans to transfer to Arizona State University after two years to pursue law school.