Parting thoughts from a Helias High School Senior By Brad Berhorst Don’t worry about it. There are more important things in life than school. World of Warcraft is not one of them. Nothing beats a good night’s sleep. But it’s totally acceptable to stay up till 4 am if it means you get that research paper for Mrs. Seifert turned in on time. After you’ve spent more than eight hours at someone’s house at a study group for AP Physics, know that it’s been done before and that you may need to reevaluate your life a little bit. If you think you’re going to regret not doing it, perhaps you ought to consider doing it a little more seriously. Go to the Homecoming Dance. You’ll have fun – I promise. That goes for Prom, too. If you don’t want to go alone, then don’t be so afraid to ask someone. Don’t ask why the book club is called Thundercats or wonder why some of us always climb in the window to get to the meetings. Just accept it and move on. Remember that your teachers are people, too. Know that as fed up as you are with them, they have to deal with you and eight hundred kids like you every day.  Cut ‘em some slack. We don’t deserve most of what we have – be thankful for it. Remember to laugh a little bit every now and then. Nothing provides comic relief for an intense study group like everyone rolling on the floor laughing. Take pictures. They’ll make great blackmail material someday. Don’t take people for granted – the people around you are the most concrete sign of God’s love for you that you will ever receive. The book is always more interesting than the Sparknotes. Except for The Old Man and the Sea. Join a few clubs. Not all of them. Support your fellow students at athletic events. You don’t even have to know what sport they’re playing to go stand in the bleachers with your friends and yell, “GO CRUSADERS!” Don’t be afraid to ask for help, because you probably aren’t the only one who doesn’t get it. There is such a thing as a stupid question. For the sake of all that is good and holy, do your homework. Eventually. Tell your friends how much you appreciate them. And mean it. Nothing relieves stress like shredding paper. There are some things that you have to do that you’re just not going to enjoy. Deal with it. There’s nothing wrong with walking down the hall barefoot in an Indian costume. Taking your shoes off makes Calculus class much more bearable. When the teacher advises you not to wait until the night before the paper is due to write it, it’s probably sound advice. Be people of integrity. You’re stuck with your classmates for at least four years, so you might as well learn to get along. Understand that there is always someone smarter than you out there somewhere. Gandalf is way cooler than Dumbledore. Learn the underclassmen’s names before you embarrass yourself. Go check out a book from the school’s library and read it just so you get to talk to Mrs. Swoyer. You cannot order fast food through the intercom on the front of the building. We’ve all got a bit more redneck in us than we’d like to admit. Give Mr. Aur a hug sometime. He definitely deserves it. Be yourself. Your true friends will love you for it and no one else matters. Take some time every now and then to ponder the absolutely useless. Take even more time to ponder the important things. Know that although four years seems like a long time, it will be over before you know it. Recognize Helias High School for the gift it truly is.