13 years. 13 long, short, boring, exciting years. From my first day of kindergarten, Fresno Christian has been my home. I spent a vast percentage of my 17 years at school or a school-related function.

Now I am graduating.

The reality of the situation is just beginning to sink in as graduation looms only a week away. Up until quite recently, the ceremony took on something of a mythical status, a mere mirage of an event that would never actually occur.

Even now I find a cloud of unreality settled over me. The thought that I am actually graduating seems slightly ridiculous. Do I honestly think I have the skills to survive in the “real” world?

My fears do not change the fact that I will soon have to. Next year I will be attending UC Berkeley and one thing is for sure: I must learn to adapt to situations I have not had to deal with at Fresno Christian.

The future is far less certain. After attending the same school my entire life, I am exempt from worrying about what the next year will bring. I simply have to move to the classroom across the hall.

Now suddenly I must decide what it is I want to do with my life. My only conclusion: I have no idea.

Apparently this is not behavior befitting a valedictorian. It seems as though everyone from my dental hygienist to the parent of my sister’s volleyball teammate wants to know my major and career path.

As it turns out, I would like to know, too.

The world is an immensely complex place and high school has only given me a taste of the body of knowledge humanity has accrued over the generations. How can I possibly make a decision based off of such scant evidence? Yet the uncertainty, the mystery, may be part of the future’s charm.

This campus has been a home to me. I had some great teachers and met nearly all my friends there. I have had the opportunity to participate in band, journalism, AcaDec and three sports while carrying a full class schedule.

Even so, after 13 years, I am excited to leave. I am ready to expand my intellectual horizons and eager for the challenge of new experiences. To echo Lewis Carroll, “The time has come….”