The last of several school firsts

It's almost the middle of the last first quarter of my senior year. It's bittersweet to know I'm that much closer to graduation.

In my theology class our teacher has a jar. In this jar the exact number of days is represented by the same number of marbles. The jar is not real big, but the marbles don't even fill it up halfway. The world I've known for so long will soon end, and I will be forced into something new, exciting and terrifying.

In the first three weeks of my senior year, I have experienced my last first day of school, my last time ordering yearbooks, my last back-to-school night, my last season-opening volleyball game, and the last time for a school picture. These things may not seem like a big deal to you, but they have been the things that have occupied the last 12 years of my life.

However, the good news is I will never have to order a yearbook, take a class picture or have to prepare for another back-to-school night ever again. I know it's contradictory, but those are the mixed emotions I feel. I'm scared to move on, yet so tired of standing still. I'm ready to leave and be independent, but I feel so comfortable with the life I have now.

When I was looking at some quotes on a Web site, I saw one that compared growing up to being born. A baby doesn't want to leave the safe, secure womb; but if it doesn't it will never know what it is missing. It won't ever get to live its life on earth. I don't want to grow up, but I also don't want to miss out.

Other than being scared out of my mind, senior year is a blast. I avoid thinking about it coming to an end. [[[One way I have been able to keep from getting stressed out is by staying busy. When I am stressed I like to do more. If I'm not busy then I'll just sit around feeling sorry for myself or over-think whatever problem I'm facing. ]]]

Seize the day, because before you know it, it's your senior year.

Amber Karnes is a senior at Notre Dame Regional High School.