In just a few short months, the current juniors will be walking back into CHS as seniors themselves. As a result, many of them are questioning what it will be like to be a senior, and some, like Mariah Rietzel, believe they may have a good idea. “To me, being a senior means maturity and responsibility,” she says. “It’s the year you finally turn eighteen, and it’s all about learning to be an adult.”
As the end of the school year approaches, this is the question that many underclassmen at CHS are asking themselves. When directly asked the question, people of different roles at CHS had many different things to say. By considering all of their responses, however, they may just be able to accurately answer this central question, and others, such as the benefits, and new responsibilities of being a senior, and how to approach looking for colleges, as well.
In just a few short months, the current juniors will be walking back into CHS as seniors themselves. As a result, many of them are questioning what it will be like to be a senior, and some, like Mariah Rietzel, believe they may have a good idea. “To me, being a senior means maturity and responsibility,” she says. “It’s the year you finally turn eighteen, and it’s all about learning to be an adult.”
In terms of these specific responsibilities, it seems to be that the college application process is her biggest fear, which has proven to be a common stress among many current juniors, especially if they do not know what they want to study. Rietzel also cites that although she has not experienced it, she predicts that it is going to be very hard for her and others to have to leave friends, some of them lifelong, behind.
Despite these fears, she also mentions she remembers plenty of the benefits that people have told her about when it comes to being a senior. The first privileges that come to her mind are the parking advantages over juniors, and how much choice seniors have with their classes. “At the same time, being a senior means having some fun!” she says. “You’re at the top of the school, and it’s your last year to shine.” Therefore, while Rietzel and most others seem aware of the responsibilities to come, most juniors this year also seem very excited to become seniors.
Perhaps answering the question of what it means to be a senior may not be done as accurately without considering the input of an actual senior at CHS. When Rachel Barovier was asked about what it means to her, she replied, “Being a senior to me means finishing four years of hard work and the beginning of my adult life.”
While Barovier agrees that being a senior means coming of age, she also knows from experience that it is not always an easy task. She claims that she had plenty of responsibilities to worry about throughout the year, one being the college application process, which some juniors seem to be dreading already. She also mentioned the stress of getting notices back from colleges. Students are not guaranteed to get accepted into a college they applied for, and if this occurs, it can be a jab at some people’s’ self-esteem. Additionally, Barovier claims that senior year is extremely expensive. Students have to find ways to pay for prom, winter ball, senior supper, graduation, and, of course, college tuition. At this point, therefore, parents encourage their children to go out and get a job for the first time, which may also be hard on them.
On a more positive note, Rachel still claims that senior year is still fun and less stressful, because all of the benefits easily make up for it. Prom, winter ball, and senior supper may be expensive, but the way she sees it, they are all still plenty of fun and definitely worth it. She also mentions that seniors have the nicer cafeteria, and she agrees with Rietzel that seniors always get out earlier due to better parking spaces.
Another group of people worth asking about seniors are the guidance counselors, who have experience with talking to and advising many seniors. One of them, Mrs. Siemmao, believes that being a senior has a twofold definition. On one hand, it is a celebration of a student’s education coming to an end. Some people greatly embrace this factor, resulting in “Senioritis” towards the end of the year. This is slang for Seniors seeing no point of doing any more work or coming to school because they already met the graduation requirements and know where they are going to college. On the other hand, according to Siemmao, it is a time to start looking ahead, which she knows can be scary and stressful for students, but still exciting.
Siemmao confirms that senior year truly is a stressful time for students. It is the year they have to make up their mind about what they want to do. She has seen many students start planning for college or changing their mind too late, which will only add more stress. She encourages future seniors to “give yourself opportunity!” Another trend she has seen is that seniors have problems with temptation. Whether it is peer pressure to do something to hurt themselves or their grades, it all leads back to the fact that they have so much freedom. By this time, about everyone has their own car and license, so it is also tempting to never come back to school at the end of the year, contributing to the Senioritis epidemic. About stress overall in senior year, Siemmao points out that a certain amount of stress and pressure can be good for a student. “If you feel anxious, then you’re doing it right,” she says.
While still on the subject of stress and college, Siemmao has a few pieces of advice for underclassmen about preparing for college. The number one concern that her seniors come running to her for is how to pay for college. To anyone worried, she says that it is pretty easy to apply for federal or financial aid, and there are plenty of scholarship opportunities out there as well. However, she advises students to not be worrying about this part first. Look at everything else a school has to offer, and do not just settle for the one that costs the least. “Shoot for the stars, and apply anyway!” Siemmao says. Finally she recommends that students really think about the classes they are taking, and if they are in line with their future goals. She encourages students to still challenge themselves, but to also make their schedules interesting.
If a student really does need help in the college planning and application process, there are many places to turn to. Siemmao mentioned the College Planning Center of Rhode Island, and FAFSA, which can be found right in the Warwick Mall. Also, a good website to check out includes www.CPCRI.org.
While it all may seem overwhelming, Siemmao also knows that being a senior has plenty of benefits to go with it. The first thing she thinks of in terms of privileges includes the fact that compared to the other grades, seniors get much more attention from guidance. If a senior has an issue, guidance will try their hardest to address it on that same day. Overall, seniors generally receive more attention and respect from everyone, both students and teachers. They are widely celebrated by each person being called on the intercom and being added to the Road to the Ryan board when they finished their graduation requirements. They even get to show off their accomplishments on Career Day. They are always more likely to win Spirit Week, and to be chosen as captains of sports teams, and presidents of clubs, as well. Additionally, student also get access to plenty of internship opportunities for work or with their own teachers. If it is a work one, they are allowed to leave school, and some of these internships are even paid. Finally, getting out of school in early June before everyone else is also a favorite benefit among students.
All in all, being a senior means coming of age, stress, and thinking about the future, but it also means plenty of freedom, opportunities, and fun times to be had. Rachel Barovier has the following say to the underclassmen at CHS: “Have fun, and don’t stress because even if things don’t go the way you hoped they would, remember that they all happen for a reason.” Mrs. Siemmao’s final advice is this: “Senior year is your last year, so get involved, and take pride in it!”
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