“Legacy is what one leaves behind, not necessarily in monetary terms, but in reputation or personal attributes, in beliefs or dreams. I like to see legacy as a positive term, as something one would want to pass on to another person in the spirit of making the receiver’s world a bit brighter.” (Ms. Magrady)

“The only legacy that matters is the imprint of unselfish love onto the collective memory.” (Mr. Sullivan)

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I first heard the song “Standing Room Only” by Tim McGraw on the commercial-free country music station in my dad’s car. Who knew country music could be much deeper than alcohol and heartache? Tim McGraw’s lyrics, once I understood the meaning of the song, made me think. I’m graduating in a matter of weeks. What’s my legacy?

I often wonder, since the concept of a legacy is so broad and therefore, so easily defined, why is it that we still grapple, as humans, with building our ow n legacies? Maybe it’s because the people before us have legacies and we feel we need something that will withstand time similarly. Or maybe it’s because we don’t want to fade as we move on, because we’re afraid of being forgotten. For me, it’s the fact that I spend the first forty-five minutes of my day in room twelve, in a hallway filled with the names of some of Fenwick’s most memorable people—Lumen Tranquillum recipients, valedictorians, hall of fame inductees, and more. These people have legacies etched into the walls of Fenwick, a place that shaped them from an early age. When I see the numerous plaques and the empty space below the most recent name plates, I can’t help reflecting on my own legacy, the legacy I want to leave behind.

When I walked into Fenwick for the first time my freshman year, I had no idea what I’d learn in the next four years. Fenwick taught me concrete things, such as how to factor a polynomial, how to conjugate a verb in Spanish, how to calculate the percent yield of a reaction. But it also taught me about myself, who I am and who I can be as a person. It is a place that helped me learn about my interests, my social abilities, and my faith. And with that, Fenwick helped me grow into the person I am today. My legacy lies in all the little things I’ve done at Fenwick, and even in this piece of writing, my last article for The Wick.

Pop culture and the people around us define legacy in a million different ways, but each has the same central message. Your legacy is what you make of it. As I prepare to leave Fenwick, I hope to walk the stage at graduation knowing I’ve solidified my legacy in the Fenwick community through my words and my actions. My name may not be on a plaque or ringing throughout the halls, but it is printed in this newspaper, and tied to anything that represents the class of 2024. That’s something I can feel good about. That’s my legacy.