I once watched a comedy music video titled “The Honest Holiday Card Song”, in which a stereotypical, Asian boy sang the line:

“I only got accepted to my safety schools!”

That was back in December. The joke was on me, though, because that was almost my reality.

I, like many of my peers, carried the illusion that college admission was this ultimate definer of our lives. But what gives this stereotype the right to be representative of us all? Nothing! There is no backing behind it. None at all.

Just like this column –– this final piece that I have written for El Estoque –– that stereotype cannot fully encompass the multifaceted mosaic we call our student body. In El Estoque, we strive to write and report stories while asking the fundamental question of whether the story is relevant to our audience, always keeping in mind what it wishes to see and why it wants to read any given article. That’s why, as I sit here writing, I shall keep in mind my duty and obligation to the reader. Therefore, I write this for you, the reader, whom I cannot predict.

To the sophomore who is afraid to admit to his friends that his parents are making him think about college: There is nothing to be afraid of about being well prepared! Even if you currently despise your parents for making you do so, love your parents for that. When the time comes for you to embark on your journey to college, you’ll find yourself holding on to them tighter than ever.

To the artist: Do not be fazed by parents and other people who look down upon art. You possess talent and abilities that I could never dream to have. There is no concrete way to define success, and it would be ridiculous to do so. Be proud of what you accomplish, and strive to be the next great Broadway performer, the next Pulitzer-winning photographer, or wherever your journey takes you. Society definitely needs more people like you, because after all, “Earth” without “art” is just “eh.”

To the boy sitting alone at lunch: I, too, know the feeling of anxiety when it comes to wanting to approach a group you want to talk to. Coming to MVHS as a student and knowing absolutely nobody, I had problems fitting in, too. But that is no excuse for conceding to your fears. Find your match. Talk to people who share your interests. The more people you speak with, the more people you’ll get to know, and in time, you’ll find happiness with people like you.

To the senior whom I’ve never met even after four long years: The fact that there are still many people in my class whom I’ve never met before, and the sheer size of our class as a whole, is still mind-boggling. But together, we’ve cheered for our class in the same crowd and dominated during rallies. We’ve posed together in photographs, forever capturing our camaraderie in our senior panorama photo. The times we could’ve enjoyed together if we had met no longer matter –– the most important thing is the unity that exists among our fellow seniors.

And finally, to those whom I did not get to, you are certainly not forgotten. Though my work as a writer and journalist is certainly not over, it is time for the class of 2012 to continue on and embark on our respective journeys, and as always, I wish you all the best.