Senior Column: Morgan Twibell

I met my soulmate in August of 2010.

Four years later, it’s now time for us to part ways.

In the beginning, I was infatuated. I already knew a bit about his appearance — I’d driven past him and gone to his sporting events for years. He was big, athletic (had won tons of state championships), yet upheld phenomenal test scores.

I was so nervous that year. Just like any awkward first date I was wearing a light pink top with bermuda jean shorts — thinking I looked like Miley Cyrus when in all actuality I looked like an oversized third grader. I had been rehearsing in my head what to talk about and I was sweating. Boy, was I sweating.

The first day jitters began to wear off because I was becoming more accustomed to him. Being more comfortable around him made me feel more confident than ever.

Finally by sophomore year, I was ready to get more intimate with all the things he had to offer. We decided to do it. First we did it in the journalism room. Harbinger eventually added some stress to our relationship. It definitely tested our loyalty. We were getting more and more involved with one another and decided do it in a different somewhere different this time — in Ms. Fishman’s room Wednesday mornings at the StuCo meetings. It got to the point where I was doing it every day, all day. I was so involved with him I was barely sleeping.

The closer we got the more I started to care about what was on the inside. His pulse — the students, that brought forth liveliness, creativity and diversity. His brain — the teachers, helping us all learn new things every day. And his heart — the Lancer crest on the floor outside the gym, tying us all together as Lancers and reminding us to be damn proud about it. With our scheduled breakup being May 14, it is time for me to start saying goodbye to him, so here it is…

To my beloved Shawnee Mission East: Thanks for being the best companion a gal could ask for. Thanks for helping me become the person I am today and introducing me to some of the best friends I could ever imagine. Thanks for the countless times you put up with me being at school WAY earlier and WAY later than I should have. And thanks for teaching me how to be a leader.

I could never truly say farewell to my first love… But for now, Shawnee Mission East student body, I shall leave you with this: don’t let yourself have any regrets leaving East, don’t let anyone tell you that rearranging the rocks at South isn’t funny, but most importantly… keep doin’ you Lancers.