Advice for Incoming Senior

Kaitlin McLaughlin:

Congrats on making it this far! You guys are almost there! Don’t take this school year for granted! Just because it’s your senior year doesn’t mean you don’t have to do anything, and you can relax the entire year. Use it as an opportunity to discover what you like and don’t like when it comes to what you want to do in the future. You don’t have to have a crazy hard schedule either! Make sure you take fun classes that give you something to look forward to every day! When it comes to going to college (if that’s the path you want to pursue), the competition only gets harder every year, so you’re going to want to spend time on your essays and put a lot of effort into them. Start thinking about what you want to write over the summer, and at least have it in the back of your head. There are going to be a lot of things towards the end of your senior year that everyone looks forward to, so work hard! It’ll be worth it in the end. Enjoy your senior year, it’ll be a blast :)

Nishika Manjeshwar: 

Congratulations on making it to your final year of high school! My biggest advice to you is to make sure you don’t lose sight of what truly matters. I understand that balancing school, college applications, extracurriculars, sports, work, a social life, and whatever else you’re involved with can feel overwhelming. Before senior year begins, make sure you think about what you envision for your future, whether you plan on going to a 4-year university, community college, trade school, or any other path. And if you’re not quite sure, that’s completely fine! If you’re choosing to apply to college, I recommend you start your essays early (but not too early) to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward. Don’t hesitate to ask your counselors and teachers for help, and take advantage of the school’s essay editing seminars in the library as well. While it may feel tempting to throw all your energy into your college applications, make sure you also prioritize spending time with your friends and family! Attend events like senior sunrise, football games, and homecoming, and remember that it’s not too late to make new friends. Good luck, and I know that no matter what the future holds for you, you’ll do great! 

Lila Onori: You did it! The finish line is nearly in sight, high school is almost over, but instead of slowing down, it’s time to focus up and race towards the finish line. This summer is your last chance to impress colleges, so try to make time for a part-time job, internship, or community service events! Even though it was difficult, I was able to find time for all three plus summer classes and sports practice while still maintaining a social life, so I am confident it can be done. Also, get started on your essays this summer and reach out to teachers now for letters of recommendation before they get overwhelmed by requests from multiple other students. Trust me when I say that deadlines will start sneaking up on you, so try your best to stay on top of things and submit whatever you can as early as possible.

As your first semester comes to an end and the second semester of senior year arrives, PLEASE stay focused. Most people don’t know this, but by dropping your GPA or achieving below a C- on your second semester transcript, colleges can and will rescind your offer of admission. Also, remember that truancy is a real thing, and chronic truancy can leave you in danger of not graduating. I obtained more tardies and absences than I care to admit, so just please try to control them, especially if it starts to affect your ability to complete school work and drops your grades. 

Beyond college and grades, though, just have an amazing time; it all goes by so fast, so please try to enjoy every second of it. Broaden your friend group, attend all the senior events, and try something new you’ve always been scared to. This should be a year of no regrets, do it all, and have the best time!