Three years have flown by faster than expected. Now, we are one-fourth of the way through our final year of high school. Some of us have had help along the way, while others had to bear the stress alone. The older we grew, the more often we heard, “you figure it out.” For many, it was the advice given along the way and the encouragement gleaned from friends or quotes that helped us to accomplish more than we thought possible in three short years. Though our journey is not yet over, several seniors were happy to reflect on their experiences and offer up advice to their fellow Highlanders.
Emily Fredericks- My advice to an underclassman is to try all four years of high school. You don’t want to have any regrets there. High school impacted my life by teaching me that there are good times and bad times, but if you choose to be optimistic though them all, life will be pretty good.
Taylor Ryan- My advice is to get involved in both sports and other clubs, but at the same time don’t spread yourself too thin to the point your overstressing. High school has taught me that every day is a new day and like Emily said there are the bad and good, but you just have to live everyday to the fullest.
Brie Ulrich- Don’t be stupid, pay attention in class and listen to your teachers. Only you can give yourself the future you want.
Jack Romano- Boy I could say a lot . . . I would tell underclassmen that for every negative event during high school there is a positive one. We get so trapped in thinking that the high school is this dark, oppressive environment that is there to ruin four years of our youth. Sure, high school is difficult to handle and it’ll mess with you from time to time. But I encourage everyone to never forget the beauty of adolescence–that search for identity–and how high school is a place where one can flourish, if they apply themselves and hold onto the silver lining in every situation. Something, I didn’t do . . . something I wish I had done.
Rebecca Hewitt- My advice to the underclassmen would be to not get caught up in everyone’s drama. It’s a waste of time and your time at high school is limited. And even though you say you want to leave, it’s such a bitter sweet moment to be a senior, because you know that once it’s over, you’re on your own.High School impacted my life by giving me new friends that I know I will have for life. Also, certain teachers have impacted my life; they have guided me in the path I want to take in the future.
Hans DeWaal- Don’t take a lunch, be VERY clear with guidance about what you want to take, and seriously just calm down. (in response to high school impacting you) It’s almost a quarter of our lives how could it not affect you.
Kaitlyn Quigley- Never underestimate yourself because you never know what your true potential is. Whatever you do, don’t give up and shy away from a problem because you never know what is waiting around the corner. High school drama is there, but in the end it won’t get you anywhere, so don’t worry about it. Be your own person and live your high school experience to your full potential.
LJ Koch- Do your homework and be as friendly with as many teachers as you possibly can, because they can help you out.
Rob Ran- My advice to underclassmen is to do as much as you can in the high school, get involved, whether it be extra-curricular activities or sports. And take as many classes that apply to you, because it looks good and, in my opinion, makes you a whole lot more open to everything. Try all four years, because being a senior, looking back, I realize it was all important. If it wasn’t for me getting my act together and taking school seriously, I would not have even come close to getting into a good school.
The high school has made a really big impact on my life. Now as a senior, I realize why all my teachers were “hard” teachers. It’s because they actually do care about where we go in life, because we are the people of tomorrow. We have to take into mind that soon we will be in their place, maybe not as a teacher, but someone with a purpose. That is what high school has taught me.
Shaine Timmins- Alright here we go: My advice is to take academics seriously. Remember that you’re in the high school to learn–everything else is secondary to actual education. That being said, don’t be afraid to be active in clubs and sports and activities. Go beyond the motivation of joining a club so you can load your college application and do it for a cause, or making new friends, or making a difference. Sure, high school sucks sometimes, but you’ll get out from it what you put in. BOOM. SEEENYEERS 2013.
Alanah Kuhn- Underclassmen, teachers, parents− remember, we were all once the students ready to take on the high school and make it our own, but still terrified as to how to initiate our plan. Now we are leaving the high school we have come to know over the past four years for the bigger adventures in the world. We won’t know what to expect, and what we do expect could possibly be a lie. What we do know, however, are the ways to take the four years of high school that underclassmen will experience and make it their own. My words of advice are simple and over used. “Carpe Diem.” Seize the day. Every day is yours to take and mold into whatever you want to make it. You get what you think you deserve. You deserve everything, even if you don’t think so. So go out and live your lives, and make the most of what you have now.
