“[At Bellaire], I went from a very bright, happy young child to just a completely miserable, pathetic creature. It’s like Frankenstein after he [created the monster]. He’s like, ‘I shouldn’t have done that.’ I feel like I should have just stayed in middle school.

[My] first year, I didn’t know how to do math. You’ve got to just do your work, and stop being lazy. If you’re gonna do really bad on an assignment, just do it anyway and get that 20 because it’s better than having that zero in [the gradebook].

My favorite thing about high school [is] probably the warm and loving atmosphere we get to walk into every day. Definitely not having to keep [classroom] doors open and fearing people coming to shoot here or anything like that. It’s such a jovial atmosphere. We have a very wonderful principal. He’s just iconic, for lack of a better term. You see him and you’re like, ‘How tall are you again? You’re a tree, aren’t you?’ Everyone is short compared to Michael Niggli.

My favorite memory from high school probably would have been [during] winter break. We got off school, and I wanted to get something done so I’m like, ‘Hey, I’ll just email Mr. Niggli.’ It was a petition to get an American flag for the APUSH classroom. No response, so for the next couple of weeks, I just keep follow[ing] up. I wasn’t expecting this at all — he actually sent me an email back and was like, ‘Yeah, we’re doing it.’

[The flag is] great. It keeps falling down and each time we just put it back. Very fitting, I think.

Honestly, I got out at a great time, guys. I don’t know about y’all, but I’m out of here.”