The school year will soon come to a close, and students are looking ahead as they advance their grade level. The change is not new for many, but seniors have completed their studies and instead are advancing in their futures. Since this is their last year, seniors can reflect on what went well, what was difficult, and their progressive growth.
High school senior Hannah Kristiniak looks back on her growth and struggles in high school. When she first came to the high school during her freshman year, she was new and initially had difficulty adjusting to the district. Challenges like learning the school’s layout and making friends made her 9th grade experience less memorable. However, joining the school’s Publications class that year was an impactful decision that led her to participate every subsequent year and advance in her role and responsibilities.
Hannah’s love of writing advanced when she attended Mrs. Texter’s English classes in 10th and 11th grade. Mrs. Texter helped Hannah improve her writing skills and gave support, bringing out the best in her. Junior year was the most influential for her because of the constant challenge. Despite the difficulty, however, she considers it her favorite because she overcame the obstacles and grew as a person.
Senior year has been exciting for Hannah due to her Professional Field Experience, which has given her more perspective about what it takes to become an English teacher. It has involved working with Mrs. Trubilla by creating lesson plans, leading discussions, and doing some of the teacher’s usual tasks. Overall, Hannah Kristiniak’s senior year at the high school has highlighted her progressive growth since freshman year.
Kaeli Cox is another senior who looks back on her advancement despite difficulties in her high school career. Sophomore year was her least favorite because she felt school was tedious and overstayed its welcome. Moreover, she did not enjoy her classes and could not drive like she can now.
In Junior year, the difficulty of Kaeli’s classes increased when she took her first Advanced Placement class. She took AP Language and Composition, and the increased workload helped improve her time management skills and taught her to “work harder and apply herself more.” The year’s challenge was further intensified by her Precalculus class. She did not excel at math beforehand, and the increased difficulty meant she had to relearn some concepts to fully understand the course. Nevertheless, Junior year had its highlights as she enjoyed her American Cultures class with Mr. Kline. She particularly liked his fun and enthusiastic teaching style that made learning about the history of American diplomacy interesting.
Senior year has helped her grow the most because she feels the urgency and responsibility of preparing for her postsecondary education. Throughout the process, Mrs. Keck has had the most impact on Kaeli by supporting her while she plans her future and encouraging her to work harder. In essence, Kaeli Cox continues to grow even during her last year at the high school and has come to be a responsible, hardworking student.
