I peered out the airplane window and saw the outlines of my childhood in the Atlantic Seaboard of Cape Town, South Africa. The sun was shining on my hand, as it often did, and as our plane rose higher and higher, the mist and clouds smothered the sun’s light. I can picture 13 -year-old me so clearly. So vividly. As if I can reach out to her, hold her hand and remind her “Ubomi abumanga, sisi.”

In Xhosa, ubomi abumanga means “life has not stopped”. 13-year-old me was terribly conflicted and struggled to believe that this was true. She knew moving was the beginning of something new and different but she decided it was easier to choose fear over hope. She convinced herself that the beauty and color in life she found in Cape Town would cease once she left. Fear of the unknown crippled her thinking. Coupling this with bouts of anemia and brain fog made the world seem grey and cloudy. Every now and then though, she saw great light within the people around her. They provided her with great comfort and I thank God every day for each and every one of them.

I’m often surprised at how much warmth and light I’ve found in my friends and classmates. I’m so grateful for meeting some of the most creative, outgoing, thoughtful and beautiful souls within the walls of WJ. But I wouldn’t have experienced the fullness of their wonderful personalities if I was priming myself to be averse to them. If I tried to shut myself off or be “nonchalant”. Thus, if I were to give one piece of humble advice to you, reader, I would say try to embrace the people around you. Look for their good and lovely characteristics, not for reasons to be annoyed by them. I promise someone laughing a little too loud isn’t as deep as you think it is. You might just find yourself smiling.

As I am writing a senior reflection, it would be criminal to not thank all the adults in the building who put up with the fights, the notorious “Can you bump my grade?” conversations and dedicating so much of your energy to your students. It would thus be a second offense if I failed to mention The Pitch’s advisor, Wendy Borrelli. Borrelli has a special ability to not only bring out the best of your layout in InDesign, but also embrace your personality and skills as well as teach you how to hone them. She makes everyone feel welcomed and appreciated. She has a special effect (if you know you know) on people that I hope I am able to carry into every room I walk into.

I’ve learnt a lot on Pitch. How to make good content, creative layouts and the like. But even more than that, I’ve learnt about responsibility. I’ve learnt about the importance of a group of people working towards a common goal. The importance of shining a light on people whose experiences are often overlooked. Thank you Borrelli for providing a space for students to be themselves and foster growth that extends beyond the classroom.

Thank you to my aunties and uncles for keeping the flame of our Congolese heritage alight even when we are so far from home. Thank you to my cousins for all the nights we’ve spent red in the face laughing when we should have been sleeping. Thank you to the 13 year old me for choosing to see through the clouds and find the light above them. And the biggest thank you goes to my parents. Words cannot describe how grateful I am to have a support team behind me who bend over backwards for me and our family. I love you guys so much. Last but obviously not least, I thank God for bringing me to America, for strengthening me through high school and for surrounding me with so much light – clearing my vision when I struggled to see. Truly, “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).