It really is astounding to look back on my four years at RB with the realization that my high school experience is soon coming to an end. I often find myself reminiscing about the earlier days of high school; college was still years away, there were no AP tests to worry about, and the stresses of Prom were left to the older kids. Before I knew it, though, those days were over. Junior and Senior year brought with them new responsibilities and opportunities.  Luckily, the added perks that come with being an upperclassman made the stress of it all much easier to handle.

As sad as it is to leave the RB community behind, I can take solace in the fact that my experience here has helped prepare me for many of the obstacles that life may throw at me. I’ve forged many relationships over the past four years that will last a lifetime, and I will take with me the countless memories that defined my high school experience.

I would also like to take this time to personally thank Kevin McOlgan for his role in shaping me into the person I am today. His hard work, compassion, and unrelenting drive to teach has left a withstanding impact on me. He has changed the lives of countless students before me, and I assure you that I’m not the first to acknowledge his influence. Riverside Brookfield is losing an icon, and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

My final words of advice to current students are simple: remember that when it comes to high school, you get what you put in. You can’t get good grades without putting forth some effort in the classroom, just like you can’t make new friends without going out of your way to talk to new people. Take full advantage of your time here – you’re only in high school once in your life, you might as well make the most out of it.