The Black and White

By: Bridget Pouliot

After watching the class of 2025 graduate, it’s finally hit me that, next year, I will be a senior. I’ve watched my peers grow and flourish the past three years. Kids who welcomed me in freshman year, who I experienced underclassmen life with, changed to leaders who welcomed my little brother in.

Lily Farrell: “I hope that everyone shows up for one another. I also hope we can all lock in and graduate, because I know I’m trying to do that.”

The idea of being a senior is a somewhat looming concept. It doesn’t feel real that I am counting down the days until I leave home and “spread my wings”.

Alayna Bowser: “I’m looking forward to the sports next year, specifically senior nights and supporting my friends. [The idea of] our senior project feels crazy, so I want that to go well, and for us to have a fun and easy school year.”

Much of what my senior year will look like is vastly different from what freshman Bridget expected, what sophomore Bridget witnessed others’ being like, and what junior Bridget hoped it would be.

Avery Marques: “I hope my senior project goes well, and I can get it done early. All I want is to enjoy my senior year.”

I think that’s okay; the differences and the unknown. It took me a while to accept that change could be both good and awful at the same time. I believe it will be great, but it won’t be what I imagined.

Jillian Mastrostefano: “I’m hoping for some fun in my education after three years of being burnt out.”

It sure does make the idea of being a senior being scary, though; not knowing. I’ve never liked not having all of the answers. I used to take pride in being less stressed out than my siblings when I didn’t know things, but I’ve noticed in recent years that this is not, in fact, the case.

Caden Stowik: “I want to figure out what I want to do in school [beyond high school]. I’d also like to pass my AP classes, like AP Calculus and Statistics.”

I want a lot of things for my senior year, and yet, I don’t think I know everything my mind and my heart desire. 

Cole Menning: “I want to feel prepared for college.”

I hope to be a leader like the one Ben Passarelli was; not just musically, but also in passion and kindness. 

Kaylee Lowe: “I hope to be able to lead my class in chorus.”

I hope to be, if given the chance, even half of the incredible dance captain and person Sarah Whelan was. I can’t describe everything she did for me freshman year, and I’m determined to give that back to underclassmen.

Jocelyn Dilone: “My hopes are mostly academic and sports based. I hope I can be a captain of the field hockey team, and I want to get all of my grades above a B+ so I can get into the college I want to go to.”

I hope to be able to exude pure happiness and positivity like Emily Goldman. I hope I can make as many people smile as she did.

Tiffany Blanco: “I hope everyone can be friends, with no drama, like we were in elementary school.”

I wish to be as reliable and dedicated as Abby Steinhilber, and maybe be what she was to me for a freshman next year.

Laryssa Farrell: “I hope everyone gives their best school spirit and shows up for the other people at our school, like at games or chorale performances.”

I hope to be sweet like Liz Nguyen and Julie Riccio, and make everyone laugh like John Dean and Jack Pine made me laugh. I hope I can cheer people up and cheer them on like Hannah Defoe did for me, and I hope a freshman looks up to me like I looked up to Mina Monroe.

Ethan Phin: “I want to be more outgoing next year.”

I think I wish for a lot. I think part of finishing junior year is feeling complex emotions and not knowing how to understand them quite yet. However, I guess that’s part of the process, whether I hate not knowing everything and feeling too much that I’m unable to explain or express, or whether I’m at peace with trusting fate.

Jonathan Lopes: “I don’t want senioritis to get to me. I want to keep showing up and figuring out what I want to do after high school.”

If there’s anything I know for next year, it’s that my life is bound to be wild. I’m bound to get sick (though I’m hoping for no ruptured ear drums or bruised spleens maybe?), and I’m bound to be overwhelmed and confused. I’m destined to need to be resilient, and while that will feel awful in the moment, I think my ability to keep going is a huge part of who I am and what I’m proud of.

Cameron Gavitt: “I hope all of my AP classes (there are four) go well, as well as my senior project.”

Though there’s lots I wish for next year, there’s one thing I will hold close to me: my sense of self.

Harry Castillo Solares: “I want the robotics team to do well, specifically past states.”

It took me almost 17 years to discover who destiny has decided I’ll be and take pride in who I am. My hope for senior year is that I hold onto that and trust in myself no matter what.

Kelvin Olea: “I am hoping that everything goes well and that I can stay in school and not get lazy. I want to finish the year out strong.”

After all, as Carl Jung said, “acceptance of one’s self is the beginning of all happiness.” Life challenges resilience, faith, and comfort on the daily – especially when you’re a teenager – but I’ve battled through three years that have turned out incredible. This school and the people in it have made me a stronger and better person, very different from the freshman who walked into this building in August of 2022. 

Victoria Hawkins: “I hope my classes go well after a hard junior year; I’m hoping for a nice sail to graduation.”

I hope senior Bridget remains proud of herself and believes in all she can accomplish. Above all, I hope she knows her freshman self is both crying happy tears and giggling excessively because she can’t believe where she is now.