During freshman year, students create memories that last throughout all of high school. These memories mark the start of one’s high school experience and help them determine a basis for how they should approach academics, as compared to their experiences in elementary and middle school. However, a part of one’s life, such as this, can be greatly improved by the smallest of things, such as advice from those with knowledge to give.
When it comes to information, graduating seniors can be extremely helpful. This particular group has been around for long enough to still remember the last four school years of their life, while being just young enough to dwell on the different moments with ease.
Outgoing upperclassmen have provided what they wish their freshman-self knew about high school, through their own advice. This information that these students wish they would’ve known may not be able to truly change the past, but it still may alter the future of incoming freshmen:
“I would tell myself to be more involved,” senior Keeli Clark said. “I only started to get involved in AG events my junior year and I regret the fact that I did not start sooner. I would also tell myself to get on top of my grades more. As we are nearing the end of my senior year, I am so close to being within the top 10. If I would have tried harder my freshman year, this goal would be a lot easier to complete.”
“If I could go back and tell my freshman self something it would be to live life without regrets because every mistake and experience is a necessary lesson for growth,” senior Briana Rios said.
“[I would tell myself] to lock in, to actually try for what you want to be once you graduate high school, to learn new skills everyday, and to really try out as many things as you want because time goes by really fast,” senior Diego Vazquez said.
“Be yourself because you should never let anyone try and change who you are,” senior Aaron Conaster said.
“[I would say] that high school goes by quicker than you think,” senior Kaylee Yuan said. “Your friends change over time, but everything will work out in the end.”
“I would tell myself to work hard and enjoy every moment,” senior Nathan Aguirre said.
“Don’t stress so much over taking AP classes,” senior Preston Parker said. “Not all of the classes give credit for college and just add extra stress to school.”
“I wish I could go back and tell her to slow down and to process life better,” senior Vee Hewett said. “I was very stubborn and headstrong back then, and it landed me in situations where my downfall was inevitable. I wish I would have slowed down and enjoyed things more, even though that makes me sound like a cliche. Time really did fly by and I wish freshman me wouldn’t have taken that for granted.”
