Only days remain until I say goodbye to high school and hello to that diploma (and college!), facing a bittersweet end to a chapter in my life I loved. Part of it doesn’t feel real, but the other part does, overwhelmingly so. The feeling has me reflecting on my years throughout high school, and my senior year: The kickstart of my political career, learning some of the most important lessons in my life, and becoming who I am today: Dominic.

When I first opened Door 1 and stepped into North, I remember the confusing door numbers and getting lost multiple times on the first day of school. I struggled with low-self esteem, horrible confidence, and a ton of anxiety, but this changed throughout highschool, especially my senior year. This year, I stopped worrying about what others thought of me, an anxiety that held me back a lot in high school. Now, I feel so much more confident, but I truly wonder what I could’ve done if I didn’t let my insecurities didn’t get in the way.

Strangely enough, my insecurities never hindered my passion for politics, even when I encountered some pretty daunting experiences. My interest in politics only grew throughout high school, writing about my political takes in the North Star and even on my English papers. My dedication took me to the Wisconsin State Senate Scholar Program my junior year, and even to Washington, D.C. last August. However, I learned very quickly that with politics comes hard losses. In November, I watched as multiple candidates I campaigned for, and even met, lost. I felt disappointment on a level that I had never felt before, but the loss taught me a very important lesson: You may lose, but that doesn’t mean the fight is over. A good fight takes a long time. 

In my political journey, not only did I gain experience and knowledge, but I gained the confidence that maybe one day, I can run for office. 

Oshkosh North High School shaped me into the person I am today, and although I’m sad to leave, I’m excited to see where the future takes me.