My favorite literary device is a chiasmus.
Despite that most of us, myself formerly included, wouldn’t recognize its name, we all know what it is. A chiasmus is a statement that sets itself in motion and then inverts itself to invoke something clever. An example would be “We shape our habits, and our habits shape us.”
Beyond its literary role, we can envision chiasmus as a representation of our lives. The wonderful thing about human nature is that we’re never final products: we are ever-transforming. And that’s something tremendously one-of-a-kind about high school, especially here, at AB. It marks the transition period in which you are finding a self: you are constantly evolving. In order to become more whole, you relinquish the pieces that aren’t you, and in this extraordinary, nonlinear fashion, never relinquish who you are.
All of us are soon to be off into the impending horizon. We are distinct characters: different destinations, priorities, hopes and fears. But what holds true for each of us is that we’ve spent the past four years building off of each other and our experiences. Whether or not we’re aware of it, we’ve begun to learn extensively about ourselves.
We’ve discovered what motivates us, or not. What hobbies we like, and music we prefer, and the people we enjoy being around the most. The thrill of scoring at competitions. The strength of a club made synonymous with family. Learning to advocate for yourself. Or whatever it was for you during your time here.
For instance, I’ve learned that I love to write poetry and play in orchestras. And like many of us here, I believe that there’s nothing that beats taking those late night drives with the people and the music that releases the tightness in our chests. I’ve learned that I’m absolutely horrendous at calculus. I’ve grasped that leadership develops alongside empathy: to treat people the way I want to be treated. And above everything else, to keep loving through it all.
Guided by lived experience, we remake ourselves a first, second, and third time. And I’ve seen this happen all the time at AB. Maybe secure that exciting new job. Or perhaps, cut your hair. Begin breaking off unhealthy habits, and rely on new ones. Switch your sport… become DCL champions. Start a band with your friends just because. Decide one day, and learn to fly a plane. Carry out small acts of kindness. In every corner of AB, we recognize and witness people doing truly wonderful things every day.
If you’ve ever found yourself questioning your course of action, as I have, perhaps remember that life goes on regardless. We do not need to know now…release your fear of uncertainty! We understand the future is incredible, not because it’s known, but because it’s perpetually open-ended.
Additionally, we get caught up so often in standing around and wishing for things to happen…when in reality the power has always been interlaced between our fingers. It’s true that we may not always be able to influence the outcomes we desire, but we are best-suited to controlling ourselves, and that is what matters most in the long run. It’s time to proactively benefit our own futures.
At first, the changes will seem incremental. Inconsequential. But little by little, they merge. So that eventually, a year ago has now become a lifetime. We spent our childhood admiring our role models; now, we are the role models transforming someone else’s childhood. Indeed, class of 2026, we’ve reached that age: congratulations!
Like this, you were always meant to happen.