As seniors throw their caps and the halls become empty, WJ students anxiously await the next school year. Each year, a new batch of students walk through the doors, following in the footsteps of those before them. As students reflect on this past year, they’ve given advice to others starting in their place. 

Freshman year is widely known as the biggest period of change for high school students. This is the time where middle schoolers enter their next chapter and are forced into a whirlwind of assignments, tests and new social situations. 

“High school was a big step from middle school. [There are] a lot of big differences and more independence,” freshman Spencer Robinson said.

Middle school is an era where insecurity and chaos are all the rage. Where school and grades tend to lose importance among finding friends and discovering your identity. 

“Coming into this year, I felt excited but also stressed out,” freshman Kobe Goldstein said. “Middle school was kind of easy, and I knew high school would be way harder.” 

When entering high school, some freshmen recall being overwhelmed with information, confused as to what the best study methods are or what to do in order to secure good grades in a new environment. Some ninth graders regret not preparing more before entering high school, while others believe that it is a skill that comes naturally.

“Once I got here, the teachers were way nicer, the workload wasn’t too bad and it was just a normal year,” Goldstein said.

Although it can be a stressful time, freshman year is also filled with new and exciting experiences including their first pep rally, football game and meeting new people from other schools. It is the year when students discover their passions and have the independence to take classes that correspond to their interests for the first time.

“If I could do anything differently this year, I would have joined more clubs [and] more activities. Maybe get into some sports,” freshman Isha Ceesay said.

The general consensus from the class of 2028 is to stay on top of your work, create good relationships with your teachers, join clubs and study for tests in advance. Although it can be difficult to figure out how to adapt to this new system of school, ninth grade also provides new opportunities for students to take advantage of.

“Plan out what you want to do, but at the same time go with the flow because it’s kind of unexpected,” Ceesay said.

Compared to the other grades, sophomore year blends in. Most other grades of high school have a topic or event that makes them unique, however 10th grade serves as the exception. When change is rare and tests are frequent, it is the year when students are becoming well adjusted to the school. 

“Coming into my sophomore year, I felt more prepared,” sophomore Roxana Moayedi said. “I had already gone through AP classes my freshman year, so I didn’t feel as stressed or as unprepared for what was coming.”

10th graders feel less anxiety going into their second year in high school than they did entering as freshmen. Since students are accustomed to the school, they know what to expect. Staying on top of your work and studying for tests are necessary.

“[Make sure you] study. And make sure you’re on top of your work, because we do get more,” sophomore David Saiontz said.

Junior year brings both energy and anxiety. Known as the hardest year, rising juniors often face nerves about expanding their college resumes and pass hard classes. Learning to stay ahead of the work is the key to success in junior year. 

“Start SAT prep [early] because then it’s just way easier. You have such a long time to learn how to answer the questions, which helps you just take it once,” junior Tiffany Pindell said. 

With sports, AP classes and extracurriculars all fighting to take up time in your schedule, being able to prioritize tasks is necessary. 

“Just try to stay focused and strive under pressure. Just be ready to do the work,” junior John Laird said. 

Past juniors also encourage rising juniors to challenge themselves. 

“I would probably choose different classes, since they make the classes sound much harder than they are. Especially if you have SAT prep or manage your time well,” Pindell said. 

But while it is highly anticipated, junior year is not the worst place to be. 

“Just get a stable group of friends, and pick classes that you are actually interested in,” junior Anne Mulkey said. “I enjoyed this year, I wouldn’t change anything.”

While senior year comes with both anticipation and excitement, it also comes with the struggle to handle the academic pressure. For most students, applying to college is not only one of the most important tasks to get done but is also one of the most difficult. Writing essays, getting letters of recommendation and touring colleges are all time-consuming aspects of college prep. 

“Definitely get a lot of your college stuff done, preparing for your essays and the Common App done in the summer so you don’t have to worry about it in the fall,” senior Nicholas Tamaro said. “Make sure you apply to extra schools even if you’re not too interested in the programs just to have backups.”

On the academic side, incoming seniors are encouraged to create good relationships with their teachers to make getting recommendations and advice easier later on in their process. Especially when choosing classes, being thoughtful about electives is important to prevent the onset of senioritis later on. 

“Take classes you are more interested in, since you will have more work than you anticipate. Since it’s electives, take classes you actually want to engage in,” Tamaro said. 

While balancing academics, seniors highly encourage attending as many social events as possible. Senior Sunrise and Sunset, sports games and prom were all recalled as highlights of the year. 

As seniors reflect on their final year, many also remember the relationships that have left an impact on them, including some that they would never expect.

“Talk to new people, I started to and I wish I had earlier,” senior Hildi Altman said. 

But for others, saying goodbye to old friends was more memorable. 

“I wish I would have known that relationships come and go, any kind of relationship; friendships, romantic relationships, everything,” senior Ivan Lanares said. 

Since senior year signifies the end of high school, past seniors encouraged those incoming to just live in the moment. Once you reach your final years of high school, you will realize that the moments spent wishing away the year all come to an end much too quickly.