Congratulations! You’ve been accepted to Francis W. Parker! A transformative high school experience awaits you.
I’ll never forget opening the portal to see the good news. Sobbing with unbelievable relief from the strenuous high school admissions process, my mom and brother hugged me while my dad filmed, zooming into my tears.
The letter wasn’t wrong – it was the most transformative four years of my life. I learned lessons and morals that I’ll carry my entire life. I made friends that I’ll never leave, and I lost friends that I’ll walk past like strangers.
The feeling of leaving Parker for me is bittersweet. The idea of growing up and leaving what’s comfortable terrifies me to the point where writing this creates a lump in my throat. This class is something very unique. As I looked at everyone’s faces on the retreat, I saw so many amazing futures. I genuinely cannot wait to cheer people on as they change the world.
However, at the same time, I’ve felt trapped by Parker. Trapped between a toxic culture of exclusion and ego, I’m excited to explore beyond Clark and Webster.
Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t be more grateful to attend Parker. The education, incredible teachers, and environment are irreplaceable. However, I think it’s important to also show a more realistic perspective. While Parker excels in many areas, the social dynamics and the behavior of some students can significantly mar the overall experience.
Honestly, I’m not entirely sure why I chose to write this. The people who were mean to me are probably not going to read it. Or, maybe one of them will, and it’ll end up in their group chat. But I hope someone can relate to these battling emotions and experiences.
To my grade: Congratulations. Thank you for growing up with me. I can’t wait to tell our stories to my future family. I’ll never forget you all.
To those who hurt me: I feel bad for you. I truly truly do. I know what you did to me all these years is a projection of what’s going on in your own life, and I hope that void is someday filled.
To all non-seniors: My biggest piece of advice is that I encourage you to talk to everyone. Reflect on those you or others deem “not normal” or “weird.” One thing I’ve learned is that everyone has something to teach you, and it costs nothing to be kind.
To the non-seniors who are struggling: Know that there are good, kind people out there. Things will get better, and it’s a blessing that high school is not the peak of your life. No one got anywhere without adversity. These moments happen for a reason, and I can confidently say that your time is coming.
Sincerely and for the last time (for now),
Riya Jain
