Anxiously waiting for my name to appear on the screen, I watched groups of students walk on stage to pick up a long-anticipated piece of paper. In that moment, both joy and sadness overwhelmed me. I was proud that I graduated and was excited for what was coming, yet another part of me didn't want things to change. In the final week, I vowed to not leave any regrets. I laughed as hard as I could with my friends until my throat felt sore, devoured Sodexo meals until my stomach was going to felt like it was going to explode, and wandered around campus until my legs cried out in protest.

Now, as I write from my college dorm, I think back to the fruitful experiences that made school truly memorable - sprinting to Lawson after classes to get a warm, cheesy mashed potato, competing with my friends in a war of tennis, or simply gazing outside the classroom windows at the golden ginkgo trees. Our friends and teachers pushed us to persevere and become the best versions of ourselves, both academically and in our personal growth.

Shanghai High School shaped my youth in ways words can barely capture. It gave me confidence, resilience, and gratitude. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a joyful 160th year anniversary and hope you continue to change the lives of those that step within your walls!

I’m currently in what feels like the most uncertain phase of my life so far: it’s been a year since I graduated from college, and a year since I started my own business. I’m the owner of a U.S. C-corporation—but honestly, I haven’t made a single cent from it yet. In fact, I’ve already put over a hundred thousand of my own money into it. That said, for a company just over a year old, this level of investment isn’t all that unusual. To make ends meet, I’m still working as a contractor for my former employer. The pay is decent, so day-to-day life is actually manageable.

But my mind is filled with all kinds of anxieties: Will my product survive? My current contract allows me to work remotely and earn a reasonable income, but what if it isn’t renewed next year? As a Japanese citizen who doesn’t plan to return to Japan, where would I go?

Just as I was wrestling with all these uncertainties, my teacher reached out to me. She said our high school is celebrating its 160th anniversary and invited me to write a message of congratulations.

It’s been five years since I graduated from high school, and I was only there for four years. But looking back, those four years turned out to be the last major uncertain period in my life before now.

I wasn’t a “top student” type in high school, but during those four years, I did a lot outside of academics. Some of those experiences definitely helped me get into a pretty good university, while others—maybe not so much in a practical sense. But without exception, they were all things I genuinely wanted to do at the time, things I felt I’d regret not doing.

I’m truly grateful that during that uncertain phase of my life, my high school allowed me to explore so many “uncertain things.” I’m also thankful for my classmates who supported me back then. Even today, many of the people supporting my entrepreneurial journey are those same high school friends.

I believe that each of us will go through phases in life where the path ahead seems completely unclear. That doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong track—it just means you haven’t lived long enough to see how things unfold. And that’s okay! Really, it is. At the very least, you can still enjoy your favorite food, get a good night’s sleep, and trust that you’ll find your way. Have faith in your teachers and classmates, and have faith in yourself. As long as you keep putting in the effort, you’ll gain something meaningful from the journey.

Finally, I wish our school continued success, and I hope every member of our community finds a way of living that moves at their own rhythm.

When senior year started, I was constantly on the search for something to hold on to, something that would remind me of the memories we made along the way. Looking out the window as the sun poured through the leaves, my friends and I decided to record the four seasons in our cameras, thinking perhaps this way we could capture time itself. Then it was until the day of graduation, when we lay under the camphor trees once more, that I realized - while we were capturing the four seasons, each year the spring, summer, autumn, and winter of SHS had also accompanied us through our youth.

And so the past three thousand days replayed themselves like a slideshow, in each image showcasing the emotions and growth in hindsight. Picnics under the cherry blossoms, soccer games on the field, the spotlight as it shined on the stage at Art Festival, classroom discussions and formulas on the whiteboard… Driven by “youth” and “passion,” through these scenes I acquired knowledge that I could use for a lifetime, and I dove deeper to explore fascinating interests and skills. With the support from teachers and peers, here I gradually discovered my connection with the world around me. A huge thank you to SHS and all the wonderful people here for encouraging and guiding us to chase our dreams.

Happy 160th birthday to our alma mater! May the woods outside the windows stay an eternal green, and may the stories born here stay forever young.

I began my journey at Shanghai High School in 2013 as a second grader, marking the start of many unforgettable years on this campus. During this time, I was fortunate to meet countless wonderful teachers and friends.

Though some classmates transferred away, our friendships remained strong. During my college application process, the care and wisdom shared by my Chinese and history teachers profoundly shaped my outlook on life, helping me grow into a more thoughtful and grounded person. Although I’ve now graduated, SHSID will forever hold a special place in my heart. On the occasion of its 160th anniversary, I wish our beloved school continued brilliance and boundless future success.

I came to SHSID when I was in middle school. How to adapt to a new and unfamiliar environment was the question I kept thinking about at that time.

Now that I'm in 10th grade, I can look back and see that I didn't have to worry about it at all because my teachers and classmates were so kind and welcoming. It was with their encouragement that I slowly became more confident and brave. Whenever I mention that I am an SHSID in front of others, I feel proud of myself because I can represent this wonderful school. I hope I can continue to improve myself and continue to help people around me, because this is what the SHSID spirit has taught me.