I Knew I was Different

High school, where it all began.

I went to my local public high school, it was huge change from grade school to high school. I only had 2 friends Charlie and Gretchen. But that's where everything changed. Gretchen soon learned she had a heart disease that would eventually kill her, this hit me hard. Our hearts were supposed to be the strongest part of our body, you can not live without it. I just didn't understand, one of my best friends was going to die before we graduate high school. I buried this deep inside me, I did not want anyone to know how I felt, I did not want anyone to question me. I got great grades as a freshman nothing below a 97, 97 was in English everything else was a 100. Going into sophomore year Charlie and I knew Gretchen did not have much longer, we spent that whole summer with her, and doing research on the disease. Sophomore year was a great year, Charlie and I decided to change our relationship from just friends to something bigger. Once again great grade, this time I believe all grades were above a 98 so that was exciting. The summer going into junior year I got a letter from Stamford asking me if I would like to take a college tour, and ask any questions. I of course said yes! Junior year already started with a bang, at the beginning I decided to take the SAT very early, I got a perfect score! Not many people can say they got that, ACT also a perfect score, I got into every single college I wanted to, but that year also started with the loss of my friend Gretchen, I thought maybe she would graduate with us but she didn't, she just could not hold on. That year was happy and sad it just depended what I was thinking about, but there was always senior year which was upon us, High School was a great experience and it made me the women I am today, I was the valedictorian and Charlie was the second in our grade. Gretchen's heart disease changed who I was, she changed how I lived, she is the reason I am a cardiovascular surgeon.