As the school year progresses, many juniors and underclassmen are beginning to look ahead to their final years of high school, and who better to ask than the students who have been in that same position?

While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the approaching responsibilities and challenges, there is one valuable resource that often gets overlooked: the seniors who have already walked the path. Their experiences, lessons learned, and the knowledge they’ve gained throughout their academic journey offer a wealth of insight for those just beginning to navigate their high school years.

As a senior at Lake Shore High School, I would tell the underclassmen to take advantage of their time in high school. Time passes quickly, and sooner rather than later, you will graduate, so make the best of it. 

Half of the underclassmen don’t realize that time flies by so quickly. You wish every day and can’t wait until senior year when you’re out of school. But I promise that when you get to senior year, you will get stuck and wish you could relive these past years. 

Aidan Bennett, senior, said, “Advice that I would give to upcoming seniors and underclassmen is that time goes by very fast and you’ll be in your last months of senior year in no time. It goes by fast so make the most out of everything. Make memories and have fun.”

Steven Likins, senior, said, “Be yourself and don’t worry about what people have to say.” Likins also said “Not worrying about what others think has to be one of the biggest things. You worry about yourself and that’s it.”

Most of the time students will get caught up in their minds and worry so much about what other people think, or what other people do, but in reality, no one really cares that much and will forget if you did something in a week. 

Zach Caleca, a senior, said, “The best thing you can do is stay on task when you have time in school and get your work done. The work in high school isn’t really that hard and you have so many resources so use them and get your work done so you can have an easy senior year, and set yourself up for success.”

The advice offered by seniors is invaluable to juniors and underclassmen as they navigate the challenges of high school. From time management to staying on task, staying in your own lane, and making the best out of it, these words of wisdom can make the difference between a stressful and fulfilling high school experience.

So, as you move through your high school years, take a moment to listen to the seniors around you. Their experiences, though different from yours, hold lessons that can help guide you toward success and fulfillment both academically and personally. After all, the path you’re walking has been walked before and it’s always better to walk it with the guidance of those who’ve been there.