WILL B.

There are few things I regret, but one of my biggest regrets was not being able to finish high school. I don’t regret not getting a diploma or learning from the classroom; I regret all the cool memories that I wasn’t able to make. The decision to leave High School after the first semester of 10th grade wasn’t an easy one, but one I felt I had to make at the time.

My dad was physically and mentally very abusive during those years and lacked any kind of emotional support or guidance in life. He had one rule, and it was to work or go to school. He was an overnight truck driver and was gone a lot. When he was not on the road, he left my older brother and me to raise ourselves as he spent most of his time at his girlfriend’s house. The times we saw him usually didn’t end well for us.

I knew it was up to me to extract myself from that abusive environment. I came up with what I thought was my only choice, and that included having to leave high school behind. I spent my entire summer before 10th grade working two jobs, and in between, taking driver’s education, so that I could buy a car and obtain a hardship license by the time school began in the fall.

At the start of the plan, I thought I could continue to go to high school, but after the first semester, it was just too expensive to live on only a part-time job. I quit school, obtained my G.E.D., and began to take care of myself on my own at 16. I don’t want sympathy; I just include this information as my background as to why I left school.

Even at a younger age, I had no guidance and saw no value or option to go to college. It seemed like a waste of time, so for me, grades were never a top priority; my priority was making friends and memories. My regret, whether by choice or not, is missing out on all the great memories that only came by completing high school.

I have always loved football and played growing up through the Optimist and city leagues, and looked forward to the time when I would be able to play varsity football for my school, Sam Houston High School in Arlington.

I was always good at football and always bigger than everyone in my grade, so it helped a lot while playing on the line. I missed out on prom and so many senior traditions. It was hard watching my friends create these memories while I was stuck working all the time.

The only bright spot was still being able to make memories outside of school with my friends, endless weekend trips to Feather Beach on Friday after games or Saturday nights, camping, and yes, plenty of parties.

My past has regrets, but moving to Olney has made up for so many lost chances of high school memories and eased those regrets.

How? By being able to follow the Olney High School seniors, year after year, taking photos and enjoying their successes, failures, and the memories they made - the same memories I wasn’t able to have.

For however long I am allowed to work at the paper and capture town and student athlete memories, I will feel truly blessed.

This is Will B. saying, it’s never too late to make up for regrets.