For almost seven days, I sat down at my laptop and tried to come up with a marvelous, life-altering idea for this senior goodbye, which has been a tradition for editors-in-chief on staff for who knows how long. Why do we even have stupid traditions like this?
I felt somewhat obliged to write something of merit, as I’m a lifer at Country Day and have spent 14 years of my life here, including over 2,520 days of class and 17,640 hours of instruction. You would think I’d have a wealth of ideas to write about. But you would be wrong.
As the week before paste-up went by, I started to read my fellow editors’ goodbyes. Mehdi was sarcastic and funny as always. Allison was critical and reflective about her time at Country Day. Mohini was entertaining and witty. I never read Chardonnay’s, though, because of course she was having “technology problems” and couldn’t get it written. Maybe she forgot to charge her computer.
I have always been an atrocious opinion writer. I think I have written all of two opinion pieces in my four years on staff (please do not call up my Winter Wonderland review online).
So to get some ideas for my goodbye, I asked some of my friends, and they all suggested some very “Jack” topics.
The first one was spin. If you have a streak with me on Snapchat, you have probably received my early-morning spin streaks at 5:30 or 6 a.m. I’m a spin addict and spend almost every day at a TEAMRide studio in midtown or East Sac, burning 500-plus calories while listening to “Good as Hell” by Lizzo.
TEAMRide is a second home to me. All the instructors, owners and front desk workers know me by name, and they often comment on my Instagram posts as well. It’s not weird, trust me.
My friends also suggested I write about how I’m a red-headed Mexican who doesn’t speak Spanish. But we won’t get into that.
None of these ideas really piqued my interest. But I guess I’m doing pretty well so far, as I’m already onto page two of my goodbye. I better wrap it up quickly.
I finally came upon the perfect idea for this goodbye when I was showering after a spin class (classic Jack move) on a Sunday afternoon. I was in the middle of singing along to Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” when I realized I don’t need to say goodbye to anyone or anything or wrap up my time here at Country Day in a perfect bow.
I am ready to move on to college — to be somewhere I don’t know the name and gossip of every single person in my class and school.
I am ready to be a small fish in a big pond in an entirely unfamiliar and challenging environment.
I have loved my time at Country Day, but, God, am I ready to leave this place. I guess I should really be saying, “Hasta la vista, Camp Country Day — and hello, Stanford.”
P.S. If you didn’t know from the countless Stanford merchandise I flex on a daily basis, I will attend Stanford University this fall.
—By Jack Christian
Originally published in the May 28 edition of the Octagon.
