Tess Ware pictured looking into the future for her next steps after high school. photo by Lauren Reid and edited by Nakya Castille
Seniors offer advice to the Class of 2022.
For 12th graders, combating senioritis is never easy, but with many students completing their final year of high school online, the chronic lack of motivation that arrives with the end of the school year is harder to deal with than ever before. Luckily, the class of 2021 has some great advice on how to combat that issue. Staying on top of your assignments by having a planner or some way to organize your work is a great starting point. Communication with your teachers in a polite and professional manner is an excellent way to make sure both of you are on the same page. With online learning this year, students do not have the opportunity to regularly connect with their peers and teachers that they usually have. This can affect students’ mental health; Jack Ciulla, a senior at TJ, stated, “My biggest piece of advice is to find a balance between caring about school and caring for yourself, because your mental health can deteriorate without you even realizing it.” Lauren Reid, also a senior at TJ, explained, “There are going to be a lot of things that you are going to have to do throughout the year. We are getting ready for the next four years of our life, while still trying to do your school work. My best piece of advice is to take it slow and go at your own pace; don’t forget to do things for yourself, have fun, and hang [out] with your friends.”
Applying to college seems very intimidating, but starting the process early is the best thing. MaiaLearning and Common App are two great resources that can help you find colleges that fit best with what you are looking for. There are so many different colleges and options out there, so make sure you do your research and look far and wide. The Future Center at TJ is also a great place to get some guidance on the whole process. Emily Webster, the Future Center advisor, is there to help you find what is best and then lead you along the way. She will send out your transcripts and help you connect with college admissions and any services you need. After you get that admission letter, the relief you feel is amazing. Reid had some great advice on how to apply for college, expressing, “My biggest piece of advice when looking for or applying to colleges is to focus on what you want in a school. At the end of the day, you will be there for the next four-plus years of your life. Take time to look at the campus, the city around the school, [and] look at the education system and the classes they offer. It’s not just another school you’re attending, it’s the town you’ll be living in, the friends you’ll have, etc. Take your time and maybe visit the school to get a real feel for what it’s like.”
The class of 2021 did not get a normal senior year, but they have found a way to work around it. The whole pandemic has affected each student differently, but that does not mean they are not in this together. Ciulla’s biggest outcome of this year is identifying “how critical work ethic is, because it was completely on [seniors] to learn how to handle everything on our own time.” This has prepared seniors for college in so many ways by showing how they have to have self discipline to make sure they stay on top of their work. Their teachers have supported them through this all and vice versa. TJ has been a community the whole time the school has been virtual.
