As seniors enter their last year of high school, they begin to look back on their time and reflect on their experiences. In reflecting on their time, they offered advice they wish they had known as freshmen.
Seniors say that they wish they had managed their time better as freshmen. Balancing homework, extracurriculars and personal life can require experience and discipline that students don’t always have as freshmen. “I’d tell my freshman self to plan out everything I have to do each day instead of waiting until the last minute to complete my assignments or study for tests,” senior Krish Balkee said.
Better stress management was another piece of advice shared by seniors. The first year of high school can bring a lot of pressure and expectations for students, but in reality, a single mistake on a quiz or test doesn’t determine a student’s entire future. “I’d tell myself not to worry about every little thing that I mess up. I used to get upset at every mistake I made and would get in my own head, but over time, I’ve learned that the little mistakes I was making were actually helping me become a better student in the long run,” senior Ksusha Ulyanova said.
Seniors also talked about how fast the years go by, and how they wish they had cherished more moments than they did. Even though the days can feel long, high school moves faster than students expect. “Now that I’m a senior, I honestly wish that I had taken in every moment more than I did, even the simple ones. I think I’m gonna miss a lot of things that used to feel like nothing, like walking through the hallways or sitting on the floor at lunch with my friends,” senior Owen Goozh said.
Getting involved early was another piece of advice given by seniors. Joining clubs, sports or any other sort of group activity helps build connections that can be valuable down the road. “I’d say to myself not to be scared to join clubs or try out a new sport because you never know what opportunities they can give you later,” senior Yesh Tafa said.
Something else that popped up was finding a healthy balance between school life, personal life and rest. Focusing too much on academics can burn students out over time, but allowing for personal time and rest creates a healthier lifestyle for students. “I do this now, but I wish at the start of my high school career, I gave myself more time to do things that I actually wanted to do, rather than spend so much time on school. At a certain point, when you spend so much time on school, you’re just doing yourself a disservice and not actually helping yourself,” Balkee said.
As the Class of 2026 continues their final year of high school, their reflections show how much they have grown throughout the years. The experiences they have had prove that high school is not solely about academics, but also about learning important lessons that carry over to other aspects of life.
