The Road Ahead

Think of this year as the beginning of a road trip. For freshmen, you’re just buckling up your seatbelts. You don’t know every stop on the map or what the roads will look like, but the adventure is just beginning.

For sophomores and juniors, you’re in the middle of the trip. At this point, you’ve covered some miles, hit a few speed bumps and learned to navigate the streets of this road trip we call high school. By now, you’re cruising into new territory and testing just how far you can go.

And for seniors, this is the final stretch of the drive. This year is your last chance to soak in the scenery and choose your own route before you reach the final destination — graduation.

Road trips aren’t simply about arriving at the final destination, but about enjoying the journey along the way. Will you spend all of your time staring out the window, passively letting the scenery recede into the distance? Or will you instead shove your dad out of the driver’s seat, grab the steering wheel and take some risks — metaphorically speaking, of course?

This year, we challenge you to chart your own paths and put the pedal down on your journey. Find what brings you joy, what makes you grow and what pushes you to be your best, whether that means giving it your all on the sports field, performing on the stage or striving to become the best version of yourself.

At the end of this road trip, what stories will you be able to tell? What memories will you have created? And, most importantly, what kind of legacy will you leave behind for those who follow? While there is no such thing as a completely seamless journey — you may catch a flat tire or maybe even run over your unsuspecting neighbor’s mailbox — you can’t let your fear of the road keep you from merging onto the highway.

Drive safely, and Ala Viva!