Senior goodbye: Riley Anderson

Dear Mom,

Four years flashed before my eyes. They are four years I will never get back. They were four years well spent. You told me from the beginning it’ll go by fast, but you don’t believe it until you see it. All those late nights we spent finishing projects or waiting on a bus back from a game feel like yesterday. I knew this was my last year but I’ve been delusional.

During my freshman year, I came to Carroll not knowing what to expect. I didn’t have many people from my grade school to learn from so I was scared of making friends. That turned out to be the least of my problems. Joining soccer and track & field gave me the opportunity to grow bonds I would keep throughout my high school experience. Even if the relationship had faded, I always know they are supporting me from a distance because that is the type of community Carroll fosters. My soccer coach is a prime example. When I chose not to be on the team senior year, Tom Quintois would still greet me in the hallways and ask about my day like I had never left. He has truly made an impact on the way I view Carroll.

Not only Tom but the students at Carroll are some of the most influential people I have met. Anything I was hesitant do to, my classmates encouraged me to try. They helped me gain confidence in myself and in my work. I used to be scared to present in front of a class but now I can comfortably stand in front of a crowd of people. The highs and lows I have been through at this school have shaped me into the person I am today.

Thank you for choosing to send me to Carroll. I would not have wanted to go anywhere else. I have grown in so many ways. I can’t believe my time here is coming to an end. You would be proud of the friends, mentors, and teachers I have grown to love. I am optimistic to see what direction my life will go in with you by my side.

Thank you,

Riley Anderson