For some, school is dreadful. For others, school is a place to leave behind drama taking place at home and and fill their heads with knowledge. But the one thing that everyone has in common is that they have grown in multiple ways during the 2014-2015 school year.
From the girls basketball team bringing home a district title for the first time in 17 years, to losing one of our students to suicide, this year has been filled with ups and downs. Along with the rollercoaster of life all high schoolers face, students learn what to do and also what not to do when in the presence of sticky situations.
“Honestly, I learned that you only really need one good friend to get through high school,” freshman Daisy Pan said.
Pan said that this year has been filled with numerous ups and downs for her, and it’s important to have someone to lean on. According to Daisy, one of the most valuable lessons her freshman year has taught her is that boys are a waste of time.
“You need to keep a good perspective. It’s fun to be in a relationship, but you need to know what to prioritize,” Pan said.
Although a lot of spiritual growth occurs during a given school year, there are also important educational tactics that should be learned too.
“My grades this year were a lot better than last year, and I think that’s just because I actually put in effort and studied,” junior Carlos Guerrero said.
She explained that the key to success is finding that true balance that works for someone personally. The time you spend studying, with family, with friends, and relaxing by yourself needs to be evened out.
“Sometimes some people can run on no sleep, and that works for them because they like to be busy. But I know that if I have a big test the next day, I will forfeit my free time so that I can study lots and get plenty of sleep. Something I’ve found is that I do not work well under pressure, and I can’t procrastinate. So I need to be completely prepared with plenty of time left for big assignments and tests,” Guerrero said.
High school students aren’t the only ones who grow and learn during the year. Teachers also constantly learn from their students.
Special education and social studies teacher Pete Theoharis had a year where he was reinforced of the greatness of Hastings High School.
“It showed me how the school can continue to grow and be a positive place, even through adversity,” Theoharis said.
Sophomore Bailey Richman also added that this was a year of self-discovery for her. She said that she learned to “step out of her comfort zone and break out of her shell.” It was a crucial her for her in terms of self development.
“Last year, I was a freshman and I was just terrified of everyone. But this year has taught me that if you want to be successful in high school, you need to be brave. I’m just going to do me, and if you don’t like that then that’s too bad,” Richman said.
Richman’s key advice for anyone going through a rough year of high school would be to just embrace the struggles, because “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Daisy is soooooooo sexy ???