Senior Column – Lucia Barraza

Sitting down in the wobbly, torn-apart pullout chairs of Room 201 and looking around the windowless, freezing cold room, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. I’d signed up to take Chinese 1 because China seemed like a dope country and I loved Chinese food. And Spanish 1 was just too mainstream. I had no idea that I would be walking into a family, a program that would give me countless memories and the highlight of my high school experience. 

It was in that isolated room in the art hallway that I met two of my now closest friends — Lizzy and Milla. Over the past four years, we’ve spent hours blasting K-pop around town at night, consumed way too much bulgogi and white rice at Gangnam, played many intense Uno games and cry-laughed over a slew of embarrassing moments and memes.  

In my sophomore year, our Chinese 2 class only had seven people in it (including me). Outside of class we were all in different friend groups and extracurriculars — Matt loved playing basketball while Griffin played trumpet in band. But somehow, we all came together for the 55 minutes we had each day. 

I’ll miss Addie’s spontaneous snack days, teasing Matt for being the so-called “tone king” and the day we all ran around the third floor hallway dressed up in traditional Chinese costumes screaming bloody murder — much to Lao Shi’s horror. It was my favorite part of every day and one of the only places where I felt like I could be myself. 

As the years went on, Chinese Club would teach me how to be a leader. Lao Shi would become my mentor — and honestly our class’s mom, always making sure I was eating healthy and keeping my grades up. 

My dumpling parties may be over, and I’ll probably never break down laughing with Lizzy again over my many language failures or drool over hot Russian pop singers with Milla, but I’ll carry those memories and friendships with me for the rest of my life. 

The Chinese program this past year looked a little different from my freshman year. We’re on the fifth floor now, with lots of windows, working AirPlay and many new faces. But the feeling is the same, and I know that next year’s kids will carry on the legacy of family and community. 

So always try new things and don’t be afraid to venture outside your comfort zone. Because sometimes the best things in your life are found where you least expect it — like broken down, freezing cold rooms tucked away in the art hallway.