Dear readers,

This is definitely not me writing this article last minute at the end of Thanksgiving break. My real problem is that I shoved all my problems to Thanksgiving break these past few weeks. Oh, my physics work? “I’ll figure it out during break.” And the rest of my college essays? “I’ll figure it out during break.” Well, here we are on break! And have I done any of that? I pretend to – that counts, right? **gulp** Anyways, I think I actually needed the break, or else my brain, or more precisely what’s left of it, would literally run away from me. I think I am the type of person who regrets taking a break after they take it, but then again, my second derivative test homework isn’t going to do itself.

Putting all that aside, it has hit me that 2024 is almost over and we, the Class of 2025, are graduating soon. While reflecting on the past few years, I not only realized how my grades went downwards (#weloveAPChem:(), but I also realized how much has changed about me as a person. And no, I don’t just mean developing more hate for the CollegeBoard, though that’s true, too.

Looking around my room, I have loads of turquoise. If you ask anyone who has grown up knowing me, they’ll say my favorite color is turquoise. And for the longest time, it was. To me, it was such a bubbly and bright color. However, as I continued with high school, I no longer really had that massive draw to turquoise. People who had just met me would ask what my favorite color was, and through instinct, I would say turquoise. Yet, it didn’t feel right.

You may be asking, “Why is she yapping about color? Have four years at Lexington High School given her nothing else to talk about?” Well, my point is, when I was younger, the color turquoise filled me with joy and optimism – merely due to its appearance. Now, believe it or not, my favorite color is blue. Not just one shade, but many. I’m also a fan of purple. My current favorite colors still have a bit to do with appearance, but they’re also about the number of associations or memories I have with those colors. For example, an oceany-blue, in addition to looking pretty, reminds me of watching the sunrise over the lake with my friends over the summer. Or a lavender purple, the color of the first vinyl I bought when my friend got me a record player for my birthday. Also, I have to put this out there, I know blue is the color of the Common App, but we’re just going to ignore that for now.

Point being, it’s okay that I’m no longer in love with that bubbly turquoise. For my AP Psychology summer reading, I read a book called Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee. The author talked about how color brings a special type of light and energy into our lives. It felt weird at first to think about my color preference change, but it feels powerful that something as little as color has shown me how much I’ve grown. I’m proud of the meaning that colors like blue have in my life.

The other day, my friend and I were in class, and we accidentally broke one of my pencils (it cracked). I had had this pencil since sophomore year, and suddenly all I had been through with that pencil came flooding back. Yet, it was bittersweet. Sure, there were memories, but maybe it was time for a new start. Also, not like I didn’t have other pencils! New pencils = new memories!

Anyways, all my talk about colors and pencils is meant to tell you that it is okay to change. I have found so much more meaning in my life through the little things that are often overlooked. Just to be clear, I’m not saying to empty your entire wallet for a new room color makeover, I’m saying don’t think you are betraying your past by changing. Instead, you are being loyal to your future.

Until next issue,

Nikki