Dear NAHS,
You have taught me a lot of important lessons over the last four years. I’ve learned how to solve impossible equations in mathematics, how to broadcast an athletic event in radio/tv, and how to dissect dead animals in anatomy (thanks for that, Mrs Lone). I’ve learned how to avoid a tardy sweep, how to fill out a college application, and how to hate rival schools when it comes to athletics. While all of these points are important, the most influential lesson NAHS has taught me is how to create something beautiful from broken pieces.
In March of this year, the NAHS family lost a classmate, a teammate, a friend, a brother, and someone who was so much more than all of these things. While we were all in shock and trying to fathom the situation, we came together and formed a true family. This community – these students, administrators, faculty members, and countless others came together during an unimaginable time to mold something that is irreplaceable. Throughout the rest of my life, I will always remember Jacob Evan Trulock and the important lessons he taught me about living life to its fullest, and the amazing people who came together to celebrate his life and keep his memory alive.
As high school students, we are young. Most of us are naive and make many of the wrong decisions because we don’t have enough experience to know what is right. This year, however, these students have shown the utmost maturity and wisdom when it comes to dealing with the loss of a life taken too soon. From wearing orange, to signing a petition to rename a soccer field, this student body has handled this unfathomable situation with so much grace. Personally, I formed many new and stronger friendships over the last month and a half. While the circumstances are unfortunate, I will forever be grateful for these relationships that I have made during the later half of my senior year.
I would like to thank the NAHS administration, my wonderful teachers, and my amazing friends for contributing to my high school career, specifically this semester. To the administration, thank you for being so understanding of our student body during this difficult time and for showing your consideration to all of those affected by the loss of Jacob. To my teachers, thank you for all that you have taught me about school and about life, and thank you for helping the students keep Jacob’s memory alive. To my friends, thank you for being yourselves. I am so proud of each and every one of you for the contributions you have made to forming this family. Specifically to my senior friends and classmates, it’s hard to imagine graduating and moving on to bigger and better things without Jacob physically by our sides, but I confidently believe that he would be proud of each and every one of us. In conclusion, I would like to thank NAHS for introducing me to one friend in specific. To Lorenzo Nebolosi, thank you for giving me not just a year of my life, but a life in one year. I am so thankful to have formed such a strong friendship with you this year, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you.
Thank you NAHS for all of the memories; both good and bad, or the life lessons, the friendships, and most importantly, the family.