Wouldn't Change a Thing

In the grand scheme of things, I really have not been going to JA for very long. I started here freshman year, so it’s only been four years. A lot can happen in four years, though — I’ve laughed, cried and everything in between at JA. I’ve met some of my favorite people in the world, and I’ve met people who I definitely will not be keeping in touch with after graduation. I’ve also learned a lot about myself — for one, I can never be a pilot.

As Mr. Kirkley loves to tell, it was in his college biology class during the fall semester of last year that I learned I was colorblind. We were doing a lesson on genetics, and colorblindness is an easy example of genetic traits and heritage for teachers to use. He pulled up one of those dot colorblindness tests on the board, and while everyone else called out the numbers that were apparently there, I just stared blankly from my chair in the back corner. This did not escape Kirkley. He called me up in front of the entire class, and I stumbled through the rest of the quiz while everyone else stayed quiet. Lo and behold, at an optometrist visit scheduled right after class, I discovered that I am, in fact, red-green colorblind. I can’t say I ever wanted to be a pilot, but now that career path is out of the question regardless.

All jokes aside, I’m so glad I chose to go to JA instead of Stanley Lake or Ralston Valley. Going to a smaller school has allowed me to get to know all of my classmates better and form more meaningful relationships with my teachers. Plus, the concurrent enrollment program has been no joke — with tuition prices being what they are, every extra credit counts. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. As cliché as it sounds, I feel like every mistake I’ve made at JA has led me to being the person I am today.