Matthew DeGuida is a senior of East Brunswick High School. He can assure everyone that High School is hard work, but as you go along you learn many beneficial lessons about yourself and make unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime. 

Q: WHAT IS ONE ESSENTIAL EBHS EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET?

A: One essential EBHS experience I will never forget would have to be my fun times in the locker room. It’s so hard to explain any specific experiences in the locker room, but from going all the way back to my Freshman year I was able to create so many bonds with my teammates and have fun with people I haven’t talked to before. It was fun freshman year because we didn’t have to care as much about staying serious for a big varsity game, so we would just mess around in the corner of the locker room. Sometimes I wish that I could go back to those days where I had no worries and was just enjoying my time looking up at the upperclassmen waiting to be like them.

Q: WHAT IS ONE ESSENTIAL LESSON THAT YOU WILL TAKE FROM EBHS TO USE IN YOUR FUTURE?

A: One lesson I will take from EBHS and use in my future is that in order to succeed you need to stay strong mentally. I had many setbacks during my high school experience whether it was academically or athletically, but I never let anything get to my head. We’re too young and life’s too short to worry about one bad grade on a test or one missed homework assignment that you’ll forget about in a month. It is always important to take responsibility for your grades.

Q: WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE THAT HAS SET YOU APART FROM YOUR PEERS?

A: One thing that has happened to me was that I tore my ACL during my Freshman year and this has set me apart from my peers because it taught me that life’s never fair and whether you like it or not you always have to work through it. Sports are the biggest part of my life and when I tore my ACL and knowing that I’ll be missing my lacrosse and football season it just didn’t seem real. After that day I really shaped myself into the person and athlete I am today because I have become very humble and I continue to push myself harder than anyone. I read this quote by Walter Peyton during my freshman year and still stand by it today, “When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.”

Q: WHAT IS THE MOST ESSENTIAL PART OF BEING A 2020-2021 SENIOR?

A: I think the most essential part of being a senior during this year is that we learned to cherish every moment and never take our lives for granted because it can just all change in an instant. It has been hard to go through this senior year remembering all the fun memories we made and how we never thought we’d miss being in school this much. But, I have realized that there’s more to life than just myself, and being a senior this year really showed me that there are bigger problems in the world than just not being able to sit in a classroom with your friends.

Matthew has made the most of his experience at EBHS, excelling in lacrosse and football; making memories with friends on and off the field. The most important thing to remember is to appreciate the time you have because it truly does go by within the blink of an eye. We wish Matthew the best of luck as he gains new experiences outside of EBHS.