If you put Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior Evan in a room together I have no idea what would happen. Maybe it would be super awkward. Maybe they’d be super chill and have a great time. They would probably try to kill each other eventually. But what I do know is that it would be extremely interesting because they’re all insanely different people, which is the point. 

   Throughout each year of high school, I feel I’ve changed a dramatic amount on all accounts — my personality, my music taste, my likes and dislikes, who I hang out with. I like to think that that change is good because it means growth and self-discovery. Senior Evan is only Senior Evan because of all his failures and the dumb stuff he’s done. Every experience, good or bad, was an offer to learn and be better off for it. It ironically traces back to freshman year biology and Charles Darwin — adapt to survive. 

    I used to approach school with sheer pessimism, soaked in the existential dread of living the same day over and over and not knowing what I wanted to do with my future. But peers and teachers have taught me that you don’t need all the answers right now, and as much as I want to think I hated high school, it wasn’t all that bad. High school is when I’ve genuinely hit the highest highs (committing to college) and the lowest lows (all of sophomore year), and I’m equally appreciative for both. It’s difficult to not only think of bad memories, but when life gives you lemons, you squeeze the lemon juice into the eyes of your enemies and keep moving on. I’ve absorbed the idea that when that one class that you hate, or the lack of a social life, or college admissions, or depression, or anything else gets in the way and you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, “you can become 412 bones, or you can land like an Avenger.”

Freshman Evan was a bum. He thinks he’s so cool, but he sucks. I don’t know how he didn’t get bullied. 

• Favorite Class: #WolfBio!
• Fun Fact: Was on the JV golf team and sucked.
• Favorite Song: “The Less I Know the Better” by Tame Impala
• Strengths: Freshmen band and the blissful unawareness of the absolute trainwreck of a school year that was about to hit.
• Weaknesses: Spanish interpersonals and Mr. Brettner’s mini-opps.

Sophomore Evan was a depressed hermit and cringey TikToker. COVID = no social life. But, he also went on a lot of runs so that’s good I guess. 

• Favorite Class: Chem with Zaher!
• Fun Fact: Went viral on TikTok for a video about not having enough time to poop during e-school during “passing periods.”
• Favorite Song: “Sara Smile” by Daryl Hall & John Oates
• Strengths: Ted Lasso and being able to sleep between classes.
• Weaknesses: Breakout rooms and Charli D’Amelio Renegade dance.

Junior Evan was irrelevant. Kind of a party pooper. He needs to go and smell the roses. 5/10.

• Favorite Class: AP Lang with Szabo!
• Fun Fact: Got COVID so I made a music video to Djo’s “Keep Your Head Up” out of boredom.
• Favorite Song: “See You Again” by Tyler, the Creator
• Strengths: My Nike Air Monarchs (AKA grandpa shoes) and Dr. Roychowdhury’s anti-stress walks.
• Weaknesses: Working on Sunday nights when there’s an early-bird physics test the next morning and the junior lot.

Senior Evan is thankful. For all of the friends, family, and teachers that have made high school somewhat tolerable.

• Favorite Class: AP Lit with Janicek!
• Fun Fact: Checked my UCSD decision when I stopped at a red light on the way to get boba with friends.
• Favorite Song: “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan
• Strengths: A country bowl and lemon-poppyseed muffin from Bagels by the Book and my parents.
• Weaknesses: Northwestern Undergrad Admissions and Noah Grijnsztein (my opps) and the urge to respond “Your Mom University” when someone asks where I’m going to college.

Shoutout to every teacher I’ve had! — Mr. Wolf, Mr. Brettner (twice!), Mr. Sundell (thrice!), Mr. Smith and Mr. Cortez, Mr. Caton, Sra. Raciak, Mrs. Moeller, Mr. McCaulou, Mrs. Tye, Mrs. Zaher, Mr. Clifford, Mrs. Kotlinski, Sra. Bastiani, Mr. Deluca and Mr. Atwell, Mrs. Speciale :(, Mrs. Szabo*, Mrs. Phillips*, Dr. Roychowdhury, Mr. Czarnecki, Sr. Wilson, Ms. Campbell, Mr. Watters, Mr. Healey, Mrs. Janicek, Mr. Voss, Mr. Erickson, Mr. Krupa and Mrs. Franchi, Mr. Avila, Coach Muldoon, Coach Curry, and Coach Mann.

*Special thanks to Mrs. Szabo and Mrs. Phillips for getting me into college…