Seniors’ Declassified School Survival Guide

When HBA resumed its classes on August 1, 2016, the freshmen class of 2020 arrived on campus with high expectations for the new year.

The Eagle Eye checked in with seniors Serena Au, Ryan Su, and Joyy Young to find out what they’ve learned about high school so far in the hopes that the freshmen class may learn from their experiences and prepare themselves for the years ahead.

Will high school be like High School Musical?

Au shared, “I literally imagined high school to be like High School Musical.” Although actual high school may lack choreographed musical numbers and student-led flash mobs, the High School Musical series does accurately capture the friendships that make high school fun. Ryan Su agreed, “You really get to know [your class] … that’s good because high school is a place where you can make lifelong friends.”

Will I be the same person in senior year as I am in freshmen year?
While this might be true for some people, change is a difficult and unavoidable part of high school. Not only are your interests going to change, but your friend groups and personal goals will most likely develop as you gain more experiences. Su explained: “You know, if you change, you change, you just gotta go with it.” Serena Au added, “People change and some people go in a different direction than where you’re going… and that’s okay.”

By senior year, will I be a full-functioning human being who has mastered the art of being an adult?
Although from a freshman perspective, senior year seems far enough away to allow time for students to fully mature and learn how the outside world works, they shouldn’t be shocked to find out that they still have much to learn even as they prepare to graduate. Joyy Young said, “I figured [that] by senior year, I’d be an mature, adult being, but I realize that I’m still the immature childish being that I am. And that I probably wasn’t [mature] in freshmen year.”

Are the four years of high school the most stressful years of my life?
It is true that stress and high school go hand in hand, but time management, organization, and prioritizing are helpful habits that help counter stress. In hindsight, Young said, “I wish I didn’t stress out about menial things… [High school] is not as bad as people say it is as long as you manage yourself. Yes, I stayed up later, but mostly because of procrastination.” To summarize, your stress level can be managed.

[one_fourth_last]”Find a passion if you don’t have one already…”

Should I only focus on school work?
Three out of three seniors disagree. According to Su, students should make time for clubs because they “can help with stress relief and get you going for the rest of your year.” Young agreed and said she got involved in a lot more clubs and activities in hight school. Au added that remaining sociable is important: “Balance everything out. You [should] always have a few good hours of bonding time with your friends.”

During high school, will I discover what I’m passionate about?
High school is thought of as the ideal time for students to discover their passions. Finding a subject that truly interests you will help in determining a course of study for college and your potential career. Ryan Su said his number one piece of advice for freshman is: “Find a passion if you don’t have one already. It helps build character and add a little extra meaning to your life.” However, students don’t always discover their passions early on in high school. The only way to find one’s passion is through numerous experiences, and trial and error.

Should I still sign up for a class even though some of my friends didn’t enjoy it?
Unlike middle school, high school offers students more opportunities to choose their classes. Upperclassmen and fellow classmates may share opinions and influence your class selection. Young said, “I think nothing’s really as bad as people say it is. Sometimes a class is super hard, but don’t [drop] it because people say it is that hard. Sometimes it’s really not that bad.”