When I was brainstorming ideas for my column, I struggled to settle on a specific theme or topic. This past summer, I spent time not only brainstorming but also working in a restaurant and drafting college essays. After pouring so much time and energy into preparing for my future, I’ve realized that the theme I want to explore is time. Time isn’t just defined by a watch or a ticking clock; it’s also defined by the experiences you have and the moments you share with friends. We all have time, but we each choose to spend it differently. I want to start my column by reflecting on how my time at Parker is coming to an end.
Having been at Parker for nearly 14 years, I’m only now realizing how quickly time has flown by. I was once a six-year-old in Ms. Greenie’s 1st-grade class, and now I’m a 17-year-old senior juggling five classes with five different teachers. But before I dive into my journey, let me introduce myself.
Hi, I’m Sloane Demetriou, a senior. I’ve been attending Parker since I was four years old, which means I’m now a proud member of the “Fourteen-Year Gang.” I’ve played field hockey since second grade but recently switched to tennis, my second favorite sport after softball. I’m a Model UN captain, a softball captain, co-head of the Reproductive Justice Club, a columnist for The Weekly, a retired U.S. Senate Page, a Swiftie, and one of the biggest University of Michigan fans who isn’t even in college.
This past summer, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what this upcoming year will look like. The senior traditions I once looked forward to as a kid are approaching faster than I expected. It feels like just yesterday I was walking up to my Big Siblings in lower school or watching the grade-wide dance at the end of 12 Days.
I’ve left Parker before. During the first semester of my junior year, I served as a United States Senate Page and lived in Washington D.C. for five months. It was the first time I missed out on Parker’s first-semester traditions. I’ve learned that I can step away from Parker temporarily, but leaving it behind forever is a different story.
By November 1st, I’ll have submitted my first college application, and by December, I’ll find out if I’ve been accepted. This is the year I will contribute to the Wall of Rejection instead of just glancing at it during passing periods. I remember walking to Mr. Bigelow’s U.S. History class last year and always checking to see if any new letters had been added. I admired the students who bravely posted their rejection letters because they showed younger students like me that rejection is a normal part of life. That wall normalized rejection.
By May 1st, 2025, we’ll know what everyone in our grade plans to do after graduation. By September 2025, all 82 of us will be spread out across the country, meeting new people, studying new subjects, and sharing new experiences.
Yes, time is flying, but that’s why we need to savor it. We have Senior Sunrise, our last first day of school, Big Siblings, Homecoming, 12 Days, Winter Formal, May Term, Galena, IL, and Prom. Let’s enjoy it while we can.
