I can’t talk about the last day at Pali High without talking about the first one. For me and the other incoming freshmen, starting high school was already a big adjustment. Pali is about as picturesque a school as you can imagine. Perched on a hill, it’s walking distance from a beautiful beach, and there’s a big football field and lots of greenery. You can understand why it’s been the backdrop for so many movies and TV shows, like Freaky Friday and Modern Family. However, this year, for the first time ever, Pali’s school year did not begin at its sprawling campus. It started in the Sears building in Santa Monica, or what everyone called Pali South.
In January 2025, L.A. wildfires had torn through our community and destroyed part of the campus. Many students and staff had lost their homes, and everyone had experienced some degree of life-changing loss. So the first day was a significant moment. The classrooms didn’t have doors, the lights never turned off, and we ate lunch in a parking lot.
My first day was nerve-racking. Everything felt overwhelming. Like a typical freshman, I worried about finding my classes, meeting new people, and figuring out where I fit in. Eventually, the rou...