As the 2021 graduating class takes some time to look back at the previous 5 years, and reminisce about all the fun, drama, and daily struggles we endured to get here, we must all now look forward to the challenges ahead. The safety provided by the 4 walls at ND is coming down. It’s time to reshape the world around us.
By | Sewit Haile
With my 5 years at Notre Dame and my high school career coming to a close, I’m genuinely terrified. I’m excited for new opportunities and independence (to a certain degree), but change is scary! I need to learn how to balance staying in my comfort zone, with being vulnerable to trying new things outside the protection that ND has provided.
I want to keep singing in the choir and keep writing articles for The Observer. Those are my safe spaces.
My first year at Notre Dame, my big sister, Danielle (or Dani as I call her), was graduating. I had my entire high school career in front of me, and I couldn’t help but wonder what my grade 12 experience would look like. Where would I go to university? Would I have the same friends as I do now? A lot of questions were being contemplated, but my biggest concern was not getting pushed over in the crowded hallways – as opposed to now, where I’ve made more important decisions in these past few months than ever before.
Decisions that will guide me into this next phase of my life, whether I’m ready or not. And that’s the thing about time – it keeps moving forward. So, I need to forget about being 12 again and back in Humanities class (safe) with Mr. DiDonato, and I need to say hello to this new (unwritten and challenging) chapter of my life.
This year has been unconventional, to say the least. None of us knew what would happen and how it would play out – would we graduates even have a graduation ceremony? But, when you think about it, over the past 5 years this is the one thing we’ve already learned; we never really know what’s going to happen. You just have to have faith in yourself, your work ethic, and your talents, and then trust that it’ll all work out. Â
I thank my teachers, my friends, and my family for their endless support over these 5 years.
Congratulations ND Grads of 2021, and goodbye Notre Dame…for now.