As graduation gets closer and closer, seniors have begun thinking about what they would do differently if they started over as freshmen. Whether it be wishing they had done more and taken advantage of more opportunities, or wishing they had done less and simply just enjoyed the ride, seniors have started to look back on their choices throughout the past four years with the final months of their high school journeys winding down.
One regret seniors mentioned is not trying more sports during their time in school. Busy schedules, uncertainty about skills and fear of trying new things are all reasons that kept seniors from trying out. “I wish I tried out for more sports before it got too late. At the time, I thought I was too busy, but now that I look back at it, I definitely had enough time,” senior Justin Heller said.
Another regret brought up by seniors is not putting in enough effort during their first years of high school. Grades from freshman and sophomore years still affect students’ final GPAs, which has made some seniors wish that they had taken school more seriously from the start. “I regret not putting in my full effort in everything I did earlier in high school. I think I overlooked the fact that even your early years in high school matter,” senior Vikram Mishra said.
Course selection is also something that seniors wish they could go back and change. Taking too many advanced classes can create stress and take up a lot of time, and some seniors wish they had balanced their schedules better, allowing them to have more time to do things that they like. “I regret not taking easier classes. If I had taken easier classes, I would have been able to enjoy my time in high school more, not worrying about the mounds of homework that I always had,” senior Bryson Filbert said.
Not getting involved in enough activities is another regret seniors mentioned as the year begins to come to a close. Clubs, volunteer work and other activities are available throughout the school, but not everyone chooses to participate. “I wish I had joined more clubs during my time at Wootton. It could have opened up more doors for me and led to more opportunities,” senior Ksusha Ulyanova said.
Missing school events is another regret that came up in conversations with seniors. Sports games, dances and other events are skipped because of homework, practice or not wanting to go at the time, but seniors later regret not going, as there are only so many chances in life to take part in high school events. “I regret not going to more events at school. Sometimes I wouldn’t go for literally no good reason other than just not feeling like it at the time, but now I wish that I had just gone,” senior Carter Morton said.
As the final months of the class of 2026’s senior year continue, reflections like these have become more common in conversations around the school. Looking back has reminded students how quickly four years can go by and how small decisions can add up over that time. While the past cannot be changed, the lessons that seniors learned will stay with them long after graduation.
