at the beginning of my sophomore year of high school, i started longing for msa more and more every day. i, along with about 20 other fellow prospective students, anxiously awaited the opening day of applications for this fine school. we had become close friends over the course of a single week, and kept in touch ever since. at the time, these were the only people in my life with shared interests and values; they were nothing like those from my 3 previous schools, and i was more than ready to share a space with them.
i started making a playlist to keep me going through the hard times of rankin county, starting strong with “home” by daughtry, then quickly followed by the instrumental version of “ocean eyes” by billie eilish, because it was the song that ms. genevieve kelley played beautifully on the 3rd floor piano. this playlist was dedicated to every emotion the thought of msa made me feel, and it’s turning out to be a large source of comfort throughout my time here as well.
sometimes, the music isn’t so good. it can play “the lucky one” by taylor swift just as easily as it can play “tongue tied” by grouplove, and i think the distinction between the two lies in the very thin boundary that is “la is lonely” by ricky manning. it talks about how he’s in los angeles and he’s lost his way, he doesn’t know what he’s doing or why he’s there. he feels alone and scared, and he wants to make friends, but no one else seems to.
the lyric that hits home most for me is “nobody tells you when you go chasing your dreams that it’s much harder than it seems on the screens. fake magazines on the shelf, you’re only left with yourself,”
and while that lyric resonates with my anxiety at times, it’s also a gentle reminder that i’m not only left with myself. i have great friends that i’m thankful for beyond belief, and i’ve written about them a thousand times, but i simply don’t believe that i can do it enough.
if it weren’t for azya, i would probably spend much less time in my dorm than i do. she makes me want to come back to my floor and laugh at really REALLY awful jokes, and for no reason. she’s so much fun and the light of my time here.
ms brianna cox should not ever allow herself to have any other favorite color than yellow, because the hues of sunflowers and honey fits her like nothing else ever could. she is bright and vibrant and has an abundance of love that can make anyone’s day better.
callie is… for starters, a walking goddess. she is the epitome of kindness, talent, and grace. her fashion is impeccable, and she’s a good person at the core of her soul. she does so much for others, but that’s not even her defining trait. she is good for herself, and that is so so beautiful.
maple has been a pillar of strength this whole year. he may not have all of his stuff in line, but they make it work, and they deserve every good thing he receives in this world. they are endlessly talented, and i cannot wait to see the places he’ll go.
maleigh is, for lack of a better term, a badass. mrs. msa and mrs. senior class president and mrs. editor-in-chief-for-the-most-productive-school-newspaper-i’ve-ever-seen has the brightest smile in the room. she is a great roommate and an even better person, and i am so proud of everything she’s done for this school and for herself.
katie, katie, katie, The Girl Who Plays the Cello and Holds the Title for Walking Goddess: Alternative Fashion Edition. she is one of the best writers i know, and her care for others has never disappointed me. i look up to her in so many ways, and i am so proud of everything she has done to take care of herself, because she deserves it.
stephyne… lord, where do i begin with the first msa senior whose energy and beauty sparked awe in my little prospective student heart? maybe i should start with her award-winning works, or maybe with the magazine she has worked so hard to uphold and pull off. or i could end with her countless philosophical ideas that bring miracles to our literary classroom.
morgan love, ms. poetry out loud champ, sga attorney general, and strong woman central. i will always adore her, for her talents and contributions, as well as for the love she has for her friends and family. she is beautiful and worthy of everything she desires.
msa is not easy. it is hell and a heartbreak, and i’ve wanted to give up more than i can count on a single hand. but the pillars upholding the school are the vibrations of love that pour from these senior literaries’ souls. i am so so proud of every single one of you, and i cannot wait to see what’s in store for you. i love you so, so much.
I love your descriptions of our MSA senior literaries. So sweet and accurate.