By Kathryn Rusher

Special to the Salisbury Post

It is hard for me to believe my senior year is finally here. Although I am certain it will be a fun and an exciting year, I can’t help but think about the many experiences I have had during the last eleven years of school. One thought that I still discuss often with my parents is the choice they made with my education. Eleven years ago, my parents chose to enroll me in our neighborhood public schools, Overton, Knox and Salisbury. I can honestly say that I would not be the person I am if I had not had the wonderful experiences I have had in school.

My experience in public schools has enabled me to know and to befriend people that I might not have known otherwise. I love walking the hallways of Salisbury High and knowing most of the students walking the halls beside me. The real world is diverse and my education has prepared me to embrace and appreciate diversity. I’ve learned many academic lessons during the past eleven years; however, the most important lessons I’ve learned are to be accepting of others and to be grateful for my blessings. We learn so much from others when we put aside our differences, which to be honest don’t matter that much anyway.

I have become especially close to several families over the years. I have watched these families move from home to home, not know where they will find their next meal, become sick without any way to help themselves and try to make it through school. I admire my friends for their perseverance and the way their families support each other through these adversities. Being exposed to life events such as these has opened my eyes to how brutal the world can really be as well as give me hope and determination.

Experiencing these situations has inspired me into looking for opportunities that can make a difference. When I research different colleges, I find myself looking for majors that can lead to careers of service. I have discovered a major called Language and International Health, which could lead to the types of service careers in which I am interested. I don’t know if I will help people in this or other communities, but I am certain my career will focus on what I can do for others.

I will be forever thankful for my wonderful teachers, coaches and friends at Overton, Knox and Salisbury in shaping me into the person I am now. I would not change the past eleven years for anything.

Kathryn Rusher is a senior at Salisbury High School.