Formal. No, I?m not talking about some dance that our school doesn?t support. I?m thinking formalities.

Being a senior involves many Western rituals. Senior pictures, announcements, parties, the ceremony itself and the numerous gifts involved with graduating from high school.

It?s these formalities I dread. The pomp and circumstance that does not truly reflect how I feel about the end of my senior year or who I am as a person.

I will not miss these trivialities. It?s the important things I will miss like free home dinners and off campus lunch with friends. Yes, the ceremony is necessary but it is not important and I know for a fact I will be paying more attention to the people around me, my friends enduring alongside me, than the speeches.

I am unprepared for my future life and graduation will do nothing to prepare me. It is not the ceremony, it?s the people that surround me will give me the most advice, the most strength.

Journalism has definitely taught me new abilities and confidence. Last year I had no idea what I was doing, jumping in with no experience after Gary (Darakjian, ’06) had just won a Pacemaker and a gold medal from Columbia was definitely daunting. All I did last year was persevere through the year and print the paper. Surprisingly this nonchalant attitude netted The Feather numerous awards and I walked away with a new understanding of my potential.

I could not have made it through this year without people. Yes, the work was easier this year, but life does not get easier. I am sure next year will offer a multitude of challenges.

Life gets more fun, it gets more complicated, it gets more everything. Life never really stops. Times of peace and rest will come, but it never stops going. Wait I lie, life definitely stops, but that?s not happening in the foreseeable future.

But I am not worried. I am unprepared.