If you had met me during my freshman year of high school, you wouldn’t even recognize me. Over the past four years, I have blossomed into a whole new person. I’m glad I changed; it might have been uncomfortable getting to where I am today, but the change and growth were necessary.

Walking into high school as a freshman, I was scared. We had just come out of COVID-19, and I had gone from being a social butterfly in seventh grade to a super antisocial person by the time my freshman year arrived. I had no intentions of making new friends; I wanted nothing to do with other people and always kept to myself. I was also a troublemaker, not at school but at home. I was constantly grounded for doing things I shouldn’t have, never wanted to leave my room, and always preferred to be alone. This behavior strained my relationships with my siblings and even my parents. I can admit that 14-year-old me was very selfish and self-centered. I believe COVID and being in lockdown played a significant role in shaping who I was during my freshman year. After being away from school for so long, I forgot how to communicate, and I turned into someone who was very quiet, which is crazy since right before COVID, I had so many friends and loved being around everyone.

Now, I am nothing like that scared, selfish, and self-centered version of myself. I’ve grown immensely from the girl I used to be. I love making new friends and talking to people, especially this year, as I wanted to create as many good memories as possible during my senior year. I can confidently say that I am no longer selfish; I have a big heart and am very empathetic. My relationship with my siblings is stronger than ever—I don’t know where I would be without them; they’re my best friends. My relationship with my parents is also better than ever; they are the most supportive people in my life. They have helped me through my struggles and always made sure I knew I could count on them. This change didn’t happen overnight; it took four years to get this far as a person.

Yes, I have grown, but I’m still not done. I’m still growing and learning. In four years, I won’t be who I am today; I’ll be someone different with a whole new mindset. High school has taught me more things than I anticipated. I came here thinking I would just gain more knowledge in math, science, writing, and reading, but I learned much more than that. I learned how to find myself, how to grow as a person, and how to be a better person. Take it from me: change is possible. It’s possible to become a better version of yourself, but don’t rush it; it takes time.