After 13 years of school, numerous memories and events stand out. As I approach my final day at MHS today, I find myself reflecting on the significant moments that happened throughout my time in school that have affected me in one way or another. Take a trip down memory lane with me as I revisit some global events and pop culture moments from the past 13 years.
Kindergarten- The Release of What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction
As a Kindergartener in 2011, the release of the iconic One Direction debut “What Makes You Beautiful” was the most exciting thing in the world. My sister and I would watch the video all of the time and the song was constantly stuck in our heads. I quickly became a fan and have stayed one ever since. I was only a 6 year old when I became a fan girl and anyone who knows me today can confirm that hasn’t changed.
3rd grade- The Launch of Musical.ly
2014 was when one of the most popular apps ever dropped. We know and love TikTok, but who was here for Musical.ly? Before TikTok was TikTok it was called Musical.ly. I was in 3rd grade when this beloved app came out and my friends and I definitely made some very embarrassing Musical.lys that I hope never see the light of day.
6th grade- One Love Manchester
Going back to my fangirl roots, another huge artist in my life is Ariana Grande. In May of 2017, Ariana’s concert was bombed at the Manchester Arena, killing 22 people and injuring many more. Following this, Ariana held a free concert at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester called One Love Manchester, raising awareness for the people killed and hurt. She had guest performers like Justin Bieber, the Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus and many more. This concert was streamed live and I watched the entire thing with my cousin, both of us crying many times.
8th- COVID-19
I was close to the end of my 8th grade year when the COVID-19 pandemic happened. We left for spring break, and suddenly I wasn’t physically back in school until I was a Sophomore in high school. Stores were closing, toilet paper was completely sold out, everyone began to wear masks. The COVID 19 pandemic led to over one million people passing away.
9th- Black Lives Matter Protests
Following the death of George Floyed in May of 2020, a wave of Black Lives Matter protests began. Because of the tragic death, people were angered and took to the streets to speak against the inequalities. These protests were very eye opening for our generation and helped people and officers around America see how upsetting Floyd’s death was, and how serious people were about the system changing.
12th- The Passing of Matthew Perry
Friends has been my comfort show for as long as I can remember. I haven’t gone a day without watching it for about two years now. And on top of that, Chandler was always one of my favorite characters. Hearing about the passing of Matthew Perry genuinely felt unreal to me. I was watching the show when my sister texted me and told me. The show isn’t the same to me now, but I still cannot fall asleep without it.
It is quite interesting taking a look into some big events like these over the course of the many years you spend in school. With graduation right around the corner, I will think about events like these to remind me of the many years I was in school and how much I grew each year.
