On September 5, 2012, a little girl in a striped dress and her twin brother held the hands of their parents as they were guided into the JK and SK atrium, only to be guided into different classrooms. Little did they know, almost exactly 13 years later to the date, they would be entering their final year in the Model Home.
I was that little girl, and I’ll start off by saying wow. It’s only recently registered to me that this is my final year walking the twists and turns of the Parker hallways.
I’ve been at Parker since the 2012-13 school year, and “The Record” from that year still sits on my shelf collecting dust. Yes, 13 years is a long time. However, it’s not only the time spent that matters to me, but all the people who have been with me for it. Out of the approximate 40 other junior kindergarten students from the class of 2026, 19 of us are together for the end.
It’s slightly difficult for me to sit here and write this article because so much time has passed.—It’s difficult to comprehend how long it’s truly been for me. However, if the past thirteen years of experience have taught me anything, it’s who I am and who I strive to become.
I have talked to a handful of Parker alumni leading into this school year, and the biggest commonality I’ve noticed from each and every one of them is their pride in who they are. Countless times have they said to me that they admire Parker’s ability to produce independent leaders.
Parker has undoubtedly been the place I’ve spent most of my life, besides my bedroom, and no place will ever be quite like it. To this day, I’m continuing to learn practically everything in the same spot, from the alphabet to the unfortunate but necessary calculus course. Yet, the environment has taught me to be a better athlete, friend, student, thinker, and leader.
Between the current flow of college applications and senior activities being planned, I’m discovering more and more of what Parker means to me. The first thing that comes to mind is a complete community.
There have been a few places in my life where I have felt utterly alone. The Parker community is not one of them. If I didn’t have a friend to turn to, I always had an adult who was there for me, judgment-free and full-spirited.
While Parker has done so much good for me, as all things are, it is still imperfect. I believe that the institution can continue to take steps to find a steady identity where students aren’t labeled improperly outside of the building, and its reputation continues to thrive in a positive connotation. I hope that over the course of my senior year, I can assist in implementing change and understanding for the benefit of everyone.
At the same time, I am so very proud of my school, and I’m ready to complete my full circle. Although the comfort I have developed will come to an end in ten months, I’m sure I’ll find it in the next place I go.
By the time you read this, I will have officially stepped foot into the alcove for my last first time. While this revelation excites me immensely, I’m also a little bit scared because this is really it: the end. It’s possible you might be thinking that I have the whole year ahead of me, which is true, but I am now the senior I was once afraid of at the age of six in Ms. Greenie’s first-grade class.
Thirteen Corinthian MXs, 13 County Fairs, and 13 years of bagpipes. Out of all the things I’ve experienced 13 times, I could only write a few down. Hopefully, these add some perspective to why my last year is so bittersweet to me, because now they will become and remain 14. This year, especially, I will try not to take anything for granted.
I thought it would be nice to hear some other “lifer” thoughts, so below my opinion are the opinions of a few others who have been through all the plays and retreats with me.
“Being surrounded by such an intertwined community has given me a deep appreciation for the people around me,” senior Alex Sarnoff said. “It’s allowed me the opportunity to get to know almost everyone on a more interpersonal level.”
“Going into my final year at Parker feels a bit weird. I’ve been here for so long, and the fact that this is the end is surreal, but also very exciting,” senior Ari Deutsch said.
“At a young age, everything seemed larger and grander than it feels now, such as the playground and high school students,” senior Nina Zaldivar said. “I have noticed an administrative effort to diversify the student body and faculty and staff, which I appreciate.”
“Parker is a great place, I’m so glad I went to school here my whole life… this school has set me up for a great future in many ways,” senior Max Satterfield said.
