High school senior looks over past four years
High school instigates a massive lifestyle change, whether it be academically, socially, athletically, or a combination. First-year experience, the whirlwind it means to be in high school, and every year, the upperclassmen coo at the “youngins” about to embark on the journey we’ve all gone
through. Looking back, my own transition from eighth grade to ninth wasn’t terribly abrupt, but, comparing what I do currently to what I was doing five years ago, there’s a profound change.
The last week in April of my senior year looked a little something like this: Friday, attend the National Journalism Convention. Sunday & Monday,
stay overnight at Shepherd’s Hill Farm for the Fellows Retreat. On Wednesday, celebrate the Speech Team at the Speech Party. Thursday, lead a chapel as a Creation Care intern group. Friday, compete in the State Speech Tournament. Oh, and add in multiple appoint-
ments, practices, and work. Compare these events to what I’d be doing five yearsago, as an eighth grader. And I looked – physically went back in Google Calendar. Besides confirmation, the only school-related thing I was doing was play practice for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (I was Mrs. Beaver). While the practices might have added up from going every day after school, there was consistency – because I was only doing the one thing.
I couldn’t have imagined the extracurriculars and leadership opportunities I’ve been involved in as an eighth grader, but now, as a senior, I’m a captain of an extracurricular, the editor-in-chief of a school publication, a MA intern, and have been taking an entire course on leadership for the past three years. And, for me, those opportunities have been extremely gratifying and valuable. I’ve been given the tools to change routine curriculum, establish new traditions, strengthen my skills, and help others grow in theirs.
I think when older students are asked to offer advice, the most common, if not easiest thing to answer is a simple “try things,” or “meet new people.” I’ll do these statements one better. Become a leader. Involve yourself so you can help guide others as you have been guided. Use the tools provided to you by MA to learn how to lead others so you, too, can grow and stretch as I have had the fortune of doing.
It’s extraordinarily important to recognize that high school is a skill-building powerhouse. It’s a program you design. You enter the code that determines the factory settings you’ll rely on. What skills do you want to develop in the future? If you can identify them, you can find opportunities to build the skills you want and work your way up to leadership to mentor others in your newfound capabilities. This time is an iridescent vat of opportunity. Minnehaha’s vat, I think, is designed to help you excel academically and athletically. Lean into those strengths. Build the code by challenging yourself with harder classes and delving into sports. Whether that’s similar to my path, with journalism, speech, CLT & FLT, or with a diversity of sports and AP science classes, MA’s classes are built on academic excellence if you choose to hone in on the opportunities.
Years flow by in a fast-flowing stream, days like bubbles that pop within milliseconds on the water’s surface. You’re about to jump in, but before
you do, there’s some equipping to do, with your specific tools.
High school is an opportunity. It’s a paradigm shift. Use the change. This time is an advantage.