Advice from a senior to a senior

A ‘23 grad passes along words of wisdom to the next class {Opinion}

Addy Davenport • Reporter

Senior year. While it’s so exciting to hear that last bell of junior year ring, it might start to set in soon that a season of lasts before a big transition is only moments away.

Maybe you’ve had the next step in your life planned since freshman year and your dream is within grasp.

Or maybe you haven’t thought about colleges and the concept of making any definitive decisions and continuing your education is paralyzing to you.

Regardless of what side of the spectrum you’re on, my advice to you is to not get too caught up in the transition, where you miss what is happening in your present.

This year is one you’ll never get back, your last year with people you’ve known since kindergarten.

Maybe you’re going with your best friend right down the street or maybe you’re parting ways and heading to the opposite coast. It’s okay to feel both eager to start something new, while grieving the very excitement you feel. It’s okay to grieve before it’s over, because how you cope is different than how everyone else copes.

I wish someone had told me to not take on the stress of the seniors around me. My future is unique to me and I have separate goals and ambitions than my peers.

You can cheer on your friends when they receive acceptance letter after acceptance letter, while still having peace and assurance of your own after high school plans.

There’s a weird transition that happens: Adults are going to ask you non-stop what your plan after high school is, and you’ll have to deal with sitting through all their unwanted input.

Your parents will look at you teary eyed more often and say things like “this time next year we won’t be together.”

They’ll realize the crunch to prepare you to be an adult when you still feel like a child.

It’s weird to be old enough to vote but young enough to have to ask to go to the restroom. It’s weird to be caught in the middle, to be torn about what you even really want.

And that’s okay, you’re not going to have all the answers by the end of senior year.

You make more of an impact than you realize. You leave a legacy behind, and there’s someone here who looks up to you. So, be nice to the freshman, don’t give into the pressure to only hangout with your clique, and go to every school function no matter how lame you think it may be. Not everything about Martin will be something you miss, but you’ll look back and be thankful for your roots, for the experiences you lived, good or bad.

This school is a part of your story, whether you’ve felt like you belong or like you’ve been overlooked.

Because while it’s sad to say goodbye, your “lasts” are preparing you for your “nexts.”

Seniors stay focused

Jordyn Hentz and Ashlyn Long • Reporters

College is important, but the four years building up to it is make or break. High school is where you find your work style, personality, life-long friendships, and your future career.

Martin offers multiple tools to jumpstart college-prep, but if you wait out you might lose the academic advantages.

Senior Jordan Smith said he has applied for more than 500 scholarships.

“While writing scholarship essays, you need to be very specific and make them personalized,” Smith said. “Remember to always keep it real in your essays.”

Joining clubs can boost your college resume and essays. The more active role you play increases the scholarships available to you. Taking the SAT is also very crucial to going to an adequate college.

“I took the SAT several times till I got the score I wanted,” senior Marquis Shorten said.

“Try to stay involved, at least you have something to look forward to,” senior Caylin Beasly said.

“Joining clubs is very beneficial,” Shorten said. Martin has many sports, clubs, or academics that you can join to shape you into the perfect Warrior.

“I always keep daily tasks in to-do lists and phone reminders,” junior Erin Cooper said.

Seniors said that having fun on the weekends, maintaining your GPA, and staying prepped will lead you to the fullest high school experience. Timers, reminders, and planners can help balance a workfun lifestyle.