As the 2023-2024 school year comes to an end, OHS seniors are deciding their futures, saying goodbyes, and enjoying their last moments of high school as they prepare to start a new chapter of their lives. The mistakes made, lessons learned, and knowledge gained throughout four years of high school provide valuable guidance for those still making their way through it.
High school is a time where any student has the freedom to try new things and get involved in activities they find interesting. It is important to seize these opportunities and ignore the stereotypes that deter students from building communities and friendships.
“I was in band my freshman year, I played baseball, I played track and field, I did football for four years, and I did STUGO, but what people tend to do is think that they have to fit in one specific category, and I just want to let them know that’s not the case. You can do anything you want, you can be with multiple different groups, and you don’t need to worry about it,” said Zion Sivoravong, senior.
Getting involved is one of the most effective choices a student can make to foster a more enjoyable school experience. Expanding circles of friends provides students with a strong community of support through the highs and lows of high school.
“I’m the president of the go green club; I’m also in honor choir, drama club, and a couple of other clubs like NHS,” said Elizabeth Oakly, senior. “I would say just get involved as much as you can because it’s so fun to meet so many new people and just enjoy being here because it goes by so fast.”
Although high school tends to be plagued with procrastination and sleep depravity, it is vital to understand the benefits that hard work and success can provide a student with in the future.
“Try to make some friends and get involved, but mostly focus on your academics, especially in the beginning years because now that I’m getting ready to leave for college, I’m thankful that I worked hard towards my academics and it’s benefitting me as I’m getting scholarships,” said Maddison Amundsen, senior.
It is important for students to focus on what they are putting into high school, and what they want to take away from it. Keeping priorities straight and steering clear of drama can make high school more enjoyable for everyone.
“Don’t get caught up in all of that middle school drama. I know my freshman and sophomore year I got caught up in it all the time, and it just absolutely destroyed me my junior year. It’s not great for your reputation, and it’s not great for anyone really,” said Lauren Clark, senior.
The significance of high school classes is oftentimes overlooked. However, having the right class, as well as the right teacher can change a student’s life and even help them decide their aspirations.
“My AP Physics 1-2 class was my favorite because that’s where I kind of found myself and found what I wanted to do in college, and I found my passion and it was really thanks to Mr. Wyllie,” Sivoravong said.
High school is a beacon of change, and a time in which everyone is collectively trying to find their identity. Acknowledging negativity is a necessary task, but not something to dwell on.
“The most valuable advice I could give is not to care what other people think. I’d say once I learned and understood that, I enjoyed things so much more when I was being myself,” said Quinn Jackson, senior.
Appreciating the little moments of high school culture and tradition, like class yells during assemblies and chanting in the student section, are memories that can last a lifetime.
“Some of the best parts of high school have been the football games, the basketball games, volleyball, and our sports have gotten so much better over the years so it’s fun to be a part of that,” said Rilee Vargas, senior.
As college draws nearer, many students begin to comprehend the value of support from people around them. It becomes easy to recognize the relationships someone took for granted, and even easier to discern when those connections change.
“You just realize how much your parents do for you, and how much your friends are doing for you, and when you’re ready to leave, you don’t realize how much you relied on someone,” Amundsen said.
High school can be much more than just homework and tests. There are various clubs, classes, and programs that provide the opportunity to build strong friendships and important skills.
“I joined ROTC halfway through my junior year, and I would say it’s the best experience I’ve had my whole entire life. It is so much fun and you have a family here,” Clark said.
The years following high school provide endless amounts of growth and opportunity. There is a beauty to this change because each student seizes it in their own unique way and forms their own path.
“After high school I’m going to serve a mission for my church for two years,” Jackson said.
Many students cannot wait to enter adulthood and leave high school in the rear view mirror, but it is important not to grow up too fast in order to learn from mistakes, make goals for the future, and create memories.
“You only have one life, so live it to its fullest extent, and have fun because you’re so young now and this is the prime of your life. So just make core memories,” Vargas said.
It is exceptionally more common to regret missed chances and experiences than to regret taking the risk of trying something new.
“Any goals that you have, probably the worst pain that you could get from them is regretting that you didn’t go after them. Going through it is not the bad part, it’s the pain of regretting that you didn’t do something,” Amundsen said.
Although the days and weeks of high school seem to drag on forever, when the moment comes to walk across the graduation stage, students wonder where the time went.
“I’m going to miss the structure of high school because once you leave, it’s kind of like you’re entering the real world,” Oakly said. “So just enjoy high school and have fun because it goes by so fast.”
This year’s seniors have gone through the rollercoaster of high school and are prepared to face whatever the future may hold with a sense of wisdom and maturity. However, they also recognize that no one, no matter where they are or what they are doing, is too old for a laugh.
“This is gonna be kind of funny, but my main advice is that if people are talking behind your back, then fart,” Sivoravong said.
