I’ve watched what I consider to be the most magical moment of all, the check reveal, on the Marbles steps, three times so far. Each year, I stand as the same wide-eyed student, yet an entirely different version of myself. Freshman me was awestruck, taking in the noise, the lights, and the energy for the first time. I didn’t quite understand why thousands of students, including myself, seemed so mesmerized by this moment on stage. That awe didn’t fade in my sophomore year; it evolved into curiosity. I started paying attention to the machinery behind the magic: the planning, the meetings, the sacrifice, the challenges. I felt more connected to the reveal moment because I understood the process behind it. Junior me took it further. I was invested. Curiosity had turned into action, and I began to see that awe didn’t come without the sleepless nights and months of hard work. And now, senior me will stand on the side that my freshman me once gazed up at. More than awestruck, more than curious, and more than invested, now I’m responsible. Big 5 is responsible. We carry the weight of what this moment means for the school, for the cause, and for the community as we celebrate 20 years. It’s less of a pressure and more of an honor. All three versions of myself, the awestruck freshman, the curious sophomore, and the invested junior, show up in this final and fourth version, as the responsible senior. All this growth will meet in one moment to raise the check. And in that moment, I know I will finally understand why the magic captivated me, and so many more all these years. Because it isn’t just a reveal, it’s a reflection of every hand, heart, and moment that made it possible.
Shailen Fofaria – Student Body President