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End of the Year Package 2024
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The Class of 2024 shares tokens of advice

Maya Schlessinger, Editor in Chief • 113 Views

June 11, 2024

Megan Austin

Members of the Class of 2024 reflect on their time at Valley and share advice for underclassmen.

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Say yes to everything. Go to all the sporting events, hang out with new people, and join clubs. Say yes to it all.”

— Vanessa Kramer

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Challenge yourself early on. When it comes to college admissions, it will pay off in the end. Take AP and honors classes.”

— Aidan Burke

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It’s not that serious. Focus on your own. Don’t worry about what other people think of you. Stay out of unnecessary drama.”

— Marla Coles

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Be kind to each other because at the end of the day, you don’t know what others are going through.”

— Mahaleah Kani Lujan

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Don’t be afraid to mix things up. Take an art class; go and learn an instrument; go and try out for a sport you’ve never played before. Don’t leave the things you think you might want to do until senior year. Try them early to see what you like!”

— Sky Wescott

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Get to know people in other grades in your elective classes because that can lead to a lot more connections.”

— Tony Dapolito

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Don’t be afraid to be friendly in class and talk to people you wouldn’t usually talk to. I feel like I judged people in the past that I didn’t realize were really fun because I didn’t give them a chance, and I wish I did sooner. Also, laugh a lot.”

— Tara Stewart

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Having fun and prioritizing your personal health is just as, if not more, important as getting good grades.”

— Koichi Tazaki

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Make sure you have no regrets. Join clubs and be involved early in your highschool career. Also, surround yourself with good people because the people that you surround yourself with influence you a lot.”

— Danielle Jeong

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Make good relationships with your teachers because they are always there to help you.”

— Sophia Bovino

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Definitely find a balance between social life and academics to make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself. Definitely challenge yourself, but don’t go overboard. Stay involved and talk to everyone because you’ll learn a lot from other people, even if you aren’t similar to them.”

— Luke Dargan

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Once you start, it’s already over. Time goes faster than you think; you start freshman year, and you blink, and you’re graduating already. Take your time and slow down. Every day counts, so make the most of it.”

— Justin Kohan

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Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

— Nico Mercado

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Don’t stress about getting your college decisions back because you will end up in the right place at the end. Keep working hard, and try not to fall behind in school because it will be even more difficult to come back from it. Enjoy your senior year while it lasts because it does in fact fly by.”

— Eve Jarosz

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Don’t compare yourself to other people (in any aspect of your life). Don’t worry about what others are doing.”

— Jillian Suarez

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Play sports all 4 years of high school. It’s a great way to make friends, build a community, learn responsibility, and it’s a big accomplishment to show up every day.”

— Lana Freedberg

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Don’t procrastinate. It just makes things more stressful. As important as everything seems in high school, it’s not. All the drama that’s happening or if you get a bad grade on a test, it doesn’t really matter. You’ll succeed no matter what and your future will be bright after high school. High school doesn’t define you.”

— Megan Austin

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Be nice to your teachers and form good relationships with them. Have respect for your teachers and they’ll give respect back.”

— Izzie Velez

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Take classes and join clubs that you’re really interested in. It will help you find out what you actually want to do, and not just what you think is going to make a lot of money.”

— Kieran Doody

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Don’t stress too much about where you go to college. Whatever decision you make will be the right one, and you’ll be able to find friends wherever you go.”

— Shane Buoye

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Take advantage of your high school classes. Ask your guidance counselor a lot of questions and always try to push yourself and do better. Don’t wait for your guidance counselor to ask you if you want to move up a level/try honors or AP. If you think you’re ready, do it.”

— Rea Mendez

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Do not slack off with work; you will regret it senior year. Try your best every year to give yourself the best opportunities possible.”

— Vinny Pitrelli

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Make sure to keep your grades up, keep a positive vibe, and enjoy high school; you don’t realize it’s over until it really is.”

— Andrew Kleman

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It’s up to you to make every day fun. It doesn’t matter what other people think. Smile, be silly, laugh, and make the most of every opportunity.”

— Maya Schlessinger

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It’s gonna be tough for a while, but make it to senior year and it will all be worth it.”