As the school year comes to a close, the class of 2024 reflects on the past four years of their high school career and offers advice to the underclassmen at Aliso Niguel High School.
The most common advice that seniors had to offer was to join clubs, participate in team activities and do extracurriculars. Joining and participating in activities early on allows students to form deeper bonds with club or team members, as they are able to spend more time with each other.
Al Kuznetsov (12) said, “Joining clubs is a fun way to get to know a lot of people, make new friends and get to know your own interests better. I decided to start my own club in junior year and that was a really good growing experience for me.”
Forming a community is especially important for building connections and benefiting social life. Whether it is joining a sport, a musical ensemble, a club, or even starting a club will have benefits in the long run. Starting a club also allows students to gain experience in leadership roles.
Taylor Clark (12) said, “I would definitely recommend taking after school classes or joining various clubs. I think a lot of people get into it in their junior and senior years, but it’s so much more fun if you start early, and form those relationships and skills earlier. The most important part of joining clubs is making connections in a community. High school can be an isolating experience and getting involved and meeting new people can definitely help change that trajectory.”
Going out of the comfort zone and participating in those events can open up many opportunities to meet people and develop friendships that they might not have otherwise formed if it were not for such events.
Sushant Mayreddy (12) said, “Joining a jazz band has improved my high school experience. I had a great time. It has helped me become a better musician and improve my focusing abilities.”
Having a group provides a sense of belonging, and can be especially helpful for academic achievement and motivation. Participating in such activities allows a student to learn teamwork and communication skills, and it would also be a great way to bolster one’s own application when applying to higher education.
Many seniors also recommend that students try to find a healthy balance between school and their own personal lives. Even though academics are important, it is also important to not burn out from pressure and work overload.
Jayme Chen (12) said, “In my senior year, I have gained an appreciation for what makes me happy outside of school. There is more to life than just your academic performance as a student, as personal relationships are so incredibly important. Those relationships have a lasting impact and will follow you throughout your life, even after high school is over. Grades are important, but connections also play a significant role.”
Having friendships allows students to have a support system, especially when dealing with difficulties in academics, extracurriculars or conflicts with classmates. It can also impact student performance positively by encouraging collaboration.
Over the years, as students get accustomed to high school, they are less likely to be stressed and overwhelmed by the pressures of school. Oftentimes, underclassmen are overly worried about testing and academics, but with experience those anxieties go away.
Brandi Robinson (12) said, “Now as a senior, I feel a lot more comfortable with what I am doing in classes as far as studying and homework. My communication with teachers has also improved over the years.”
High school is only four years long, and many seniors advise underclassmen to enjoy their years in high school and make the most of them.
Shayam Cassim (12) said, “High school goes by faster than one might think. Participating in school events and being involved in clubs makes the high school experience more enjoyable.”
Perspectives on high school life evolve throughout the years. Seniors are recommending that students try to enjoy and make the most of their high school years as they do go by in the blink of an eye.
