taking it all in
graduation is in two weeks...
There’s something about DreamWorks’ 2014 Penguins of Madagascar that so deeply resonates with me to this day. The film’s undeniable appeal to the masses (with a box office that nearly triples its budget) and the plot’s engaging complexity that even Wikipedia considers to be one of a “spy comedy” is definitely charming. But, at an even deeper level, the journey that those four fluffy penguins choose to undertake correlates with a key part of my recent personal journey as well.
While the main characters are, in some respects, forced into camaraderie and a life of reconnaissance upon Private’s entrance into the world on a floating fragment of an iceberg in Antarctica, they are also always seeking side quests that bring them outside their comfort zone. Whether it be robbing the vending machine at Fort Knox or fighting an evil octopus (with a medical degree, if I may add), they sprinkle the opportunities presented to them with a dash of free will to add excitement to their lives.
Although I would enjoy analyzing this cinematic masterpiece for a few more hours instead of writing a long overdue history essay, I don’t bring it up without reason. These past few months before I graduate have felt incredibly surreal and, weirdly, controllable. I suddenly feel empowered to make decisions for myself that will benefit me in the long-term and I’m actively cognizant of the impact that those decisions will have. By setting personal goals, like spending more time with friends and family while also focusing on this final semester of high school, I feel like I am fully present and in control of my life. Obviously, there are some aspects that I can’t control, but instead of viewing them as roadblocks, they promptly transform into opportunities for me to exercise more free will and make the best of them.
And, honestly, these past few months have been some of the best in my life. Sure, IB exams are eerily looming and the seemingly never ending coursework piles up on my todo-list, but personal presence and self-awareness makes the work bearable. More importantly, it makes the smaller moments in life far more enjoyable. With this, I implore you all to channel your inner penguin and learn to be present. I promise, you won’t regret it.
Speaking from experience, nothing is more enjoyable than a cruise. Especially one to the Caribbean. And especially during the cold winters of Michigan in December. After wrapping up the first semester, my family and I travelled to Miami, Florida, taking a stop at not one, not two, but three separate Buc-ee’s. If I haven’t made it clear yet, we don’t just love Buc-ee’s — we adore Buc-ee’s. (In a previous post, I referred to a trip to the greatest gas station in the world as a “spiritual pilgrimage.” I still stand by that statement.)
On a sunny Florida afternoon, we took off from Port Miami and sailed south towards the Bahamas. The cruise presented so many opportunities to keep me busy for four days, including multiple all-you-can-eat buffets, fancy (but free) dine-in restaurants, and a day-long stop at Celebration Key which featured, among other things, a water park and a variety of food trucks. After returning to Miami, we spent an afternoon in Calle Ocho, the epicenter of the city’s Little Havana district and the capital of Cuban-American life. Alongside a constant stream of Cuban pop music flowing from numerous speakers on the street, I devoured an authentic (I think?) Cuban sandwich and sipped on fresh-roasted Cuban coffee. Without a doubt, this trip was a much-needed reset from the monotonous cycle of high school.
However, as refreshing as my Winter Break adventures were, the return to the busy schedule of school life initially stung, primarily due to a specialty of the International Baccalaureate curriculum: a little something called Internal Assessments or IAs.
For most IB subjects, students are expected to conduct an investigation into a topic of your choice within that subject before writing an essay of approximately 2,000-2,500 words. And, yes, that’s one essay per subject, adding up to over 10,000 words by the end of the process. After long nights of struggling past writers’ block and squeezing out the last ounces of creativity from my mind, I realized that, even if the journey itself was difficult, I was incredibly proud of my commitment to the work. Whether it was writing critically about the implementation of the Tennessee Valley Authority for history class or analyzing different electoral methods through mathematical fairness criteria, both the research phase and the writing phase allowed me to develop my skills as a student, preparing me for all the essays I will have to write over the course of the next few years in college. Throughout the process, I learned so much about the way the world works, as well as my own mind. Then again, if we are astute enough to recognize it, those two happen to be one and the same.
For Spring Break in early April, I treated myself to another hiatus after those trying times. This time, the destination was in my own backyard: the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids. I’ve written previously about how much I love this hotel, not least because of the breakfast buffet (in case you don’t get it yet, I love food). While the cruise presented a nice change, there is honestly nothing to beat the perfect balance of my hometown: a growing urban area that has successfully retained its small-town vibes. I hope it stays that way.
And finally, on May 1, 2026, the moment I had awaited for nearly 13 years came about: the last last day of school. The City High Class of 2026 truly brought it full circle, taking a class picture to commemorate the day, just as we had done for the first day of school back in August. It was an incredibly surreal experience, spending my last few hours in a classroom with the people I had gotten to know so well over the past six years. These are some of the most creative, intelligent, compassionate people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. And here I was, playing Uno and eating donuts with them for the last time, at least at school. It should have been easy to get through the day that I had spent over a decade dreaming of, but, in those last few minutes, I remember wishing that I had just a little bit more time. One more chance to stack my chair on the table after Mr. Martinez’s 7th hour. One more time listening to the bell ring. One more opportunity to leave the parking lot in a mad rush of traffic. One more round of Uno.
By the time I write my next post, I will hopefully have walked the graduation stage with a diploma in my hand and countless experiences in my memory. It’s incredibly difficult to describe what I’m feeling as I spend my last few weeks wandering the halls, sitting in classrooms, and talking with the amazing people of City High. There’s obviously nostalgia as I recall my younger years at this school, but also hope for the next chapter of my life and excitement for the various people I will meet in this new part of my story. In the mean time, I look forward to spending these last few weeks enjoying my time with the people who have formed the values, ideas, and experiences that have defined this last chapter.
It seems fitting to return to my personal heroes: the four brave penguins of Madagascar. No matter how hard I try to always be present in the moment, it sometimes becomes a little difficult when emotions course through my veins faster than I can process them. Skipper, the leader of the crew, put it best: at times like these, “Smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave.”
Cheers,
Krishna
Quotes of the Month:
Most of life's greatest opportunities come out of moments of struggle; it's up to you to make the most of these tests of creativity and character.
- Ray DalioAny landing is a good landing if you can walk away from it.
- Skipper, Penguins of MadagascarYour vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.
- Carl Jung
Songs of the Month:
Charleston Girl by Tyler Childers
Malare by Vijay Yesudas
Have You Ever Seen the Rain? by CCR
Salut d’Amour, Op. 12 by Edward Elgar
The Less I Know The Better by Tame Impala
I can’t believe high school is almost all over 🥲 it really did go by so quickly