Farewell Letter

Mrs. Colangelo had us write letters to the incoming freshmen as an assignment, but I decided to write mine to Nolan. Why? Dunno. Maybe I see a little of me in him, the way I used to be way back when. Here it is.

My time here at Iona is almost done, and what a feeling it is! Alas, these four years have been far too short a time to spend in the company of such great people. Before I go, I have some words I would like to give you. Sorry, I didn’t have time to wrap them.
Firstly, HAVE FUN. I think that it’s great that you’ve went against the grain and taken up all these afterschool activities. Every day, we see the mad dash to get out the door at 2:41, and I can’t help but pity the poor chaps, and all the things they are missing. Okay, so you aren’t getting the very top scores at forensics tournaments, but hey, guess what; I didn’t either. Hell, I still don’t. But if you keep at it, you’ll be a pro before you know it. You were EPIC in my play, that’s why I altered the role to fit you – so that you could show the world your talent.
Oh, and that’s another thing: the plays. You will hear this again at chapel in my letter from college, but I’ll still say it now. Don’t get caught up in all that drama that goes on before, during, and in-between shows. It will drag you to the bottom, and no one can help you out from there but yourself (trust me, I’ve been down there, it’s quite smelly). Always remember that you’re there to have a good time and be with your friends. Outside my blood-relatives, the Prep Players are the greatest family I’ve known. Also, congratulations on discovering us in your freshman year. It was junior year that brought me to the Players, and even Tochet and Siobhan didn’t come until our sophomore year. And listen, I don’t really care what the other freshman say about you because you act in the plays. If they’re talking down about you, then they obviously don’t know you like we do. No one can tell you what to do; you just need to be yourself, and life will be a thousand times simpler. Well, okay, I lied. Jason can tell you what to do, but only because he’s our director. It’s his job to tell us what to do. When I directed my little show, I realized just how much effort, concentration, and dedication it takes to put on something as small as our half-hour productions. You guys gave me a royal headache (in the most loving sense of phrase), and I can scarcely imagine how Jason can put up with all of us for the big shows, especially the musicals. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER forget how awesome Jason is for all that he does for us. He certainly doesn’t keep coming back for the money (or lack thereof, perhaps).
Let me tell you a little about MY freshman year. It started in mid-August with freshman football. I was told it was a good way to meet friends and have fun, so I gave it a shot. How wrong I was. I couldn’t play for my life, and it really wasn’t too pleasant, getting knocked around all the time. So, after the season I decided to take a different path, namely, forensics. Everyone told me that with a little polishing, I could be really good. However, I never showed up again until senior year. Why? Dunno. Maybe because I was too afraid to commit to something. Maybe because I was afraid of failing. Whatever the case, it is one of my regrets; I could have had a great time, traveling the country, being with friends, doing something enjoyable, but I never did. What I'm trying to say here, Nolan, is to live your life free of regrets. Take that risk. Make the difficult choice. You should not have anything to look back on and say, “Damn, I wish I took that chance. If only I had known then what I know now, things would be different.” You can’t make everyone love you, but you can sure make everyone like you. Don’t strive too hard to impress everyone to the greatest degree. Make a lasting impression, but if you keep giving and giving, then you won’t have anything left for yourself.
Freshman year was difficult. It was a big change from the grammar school I came from – the scale was huge, the classes were intense (that’s STEP for you), and I knew no one coming in. But I came to appreciate how great the school really is. I did my homework, and I got by (I promise it gets easier, especially senior year. I’ll put a good word in for you with your Latin teacher.). And I made more friends than I thought were possible. High school’s a crazy time, full of doubt, fear, and awkwardness, but it’s also filled with laughter, friends, and good times. You will not forget these memories. Make them good ones. Nay, make them the best yet. Good luck, and above all, HAVE FUN!