From late night football games under the stadium lights to late nights staying up cramming for a test, every student has their own high school experiences to tell. High school years are filled with many memories and lessons that stick with you long after you walk across the stage. For most, it is a mix of good memories and tough moments that shaped who they are and how they will move on in the years to come.
Most students agree that friendships lie at the core of the high school experience. Whether it’s laughing in the hallways, gossiping at the lunch table or helping each other in rigorous classes, the connections made can become lifetime bonds.
‘‘[My close friends] made the experience more enjoyable. I have people to study with and actually get what we’re doing [in class],” sophomore Elina Jain said.
Along with friendships, many students can agree that extracurriculars are what helps keep things exciting. Extracurriculars allow students to explore their personal interests. From track meets to theater productions, every student has the opportunity to find themself in an activity that isn’t just tests and homework.
“The only way you can really meet close friends is in sports, because you have to be with each other every single day, for hours,” junior Madalyn Crandall said.
Of course, it’s not all fun and games. High school can be stressful, especially when a student has to juggle multiple responsibilities all at once. Between extracurriculars, classwork and—for some—jobs, it can get overwhelming. Despite the pressure, it is important to take care of yourself and to not burn yourself out.
“I really try to plan ahead and use my weekends to my advantage, and color guard is my stress reliever, so it’s what I enjoy doing,” senior color guard captain and Red Cross officer Bhavya Kesaria said.
Beyond the classroom, some students may find it difficult to fit in and find their own group. High school, for some, may feel like a competition of popularity, and the need to belong or feel accepted could become a heavy burden.
“Sometimes I feel like high school is one big competition of ‘who can be most popular’, and I think that idea is stupid,” Crandall said.
Despite all these challenges, most students feel that the good outweighs the bad and enjoy their high school years the best they can. It is important to make great memories and live in the moment. The lessons you learn in these four years teach you valuable life lessons like responsibility, independence and how to handle tough situations after graduation.
“High school is a great opportunity to try out different things in a safe space,” Assistant Principal Ashli Taylor said. “Nearing adulthood, you’re figuring out who you are, and there’re so many different opportunities to join organizations, explore interests that you don’t always have the opportunity to do as an adult.”
At the end of the day, high school is only four years, and you have to make the most of it. As a freshman it may seem like high school is going to last forever, but blink and you might miss it. High school isn’t perfect: it’s full of long nights and very early mornings, but it is also full of laughter, friendships and life-long lessons. Don’t take it for granted. These are the years you will never get back, so you better make them last.
“As an adult you have different responsibilities and pressures and expectations,” Taylor said. “And so, [high school is] a good self-discovery time in everyone’s life before they go out and start the adult stuff.”
