Palmer High School, in downtown Colorado Springs, has about 300 seniors. Many new students, like the freshmen, wonder how seniors do it. How do they go through all four years of high school and graduate on time? The seniors’ voices may be able to help freshman or any other grades at high schools to keep going.
Every year of high school people’s thoughts and feelings change, their whole perspective changes each year they improve. Although we don’t know what students tend to think when they first start high school or if their thoughts change when they hit their last year.
Jamie Gardner, a current senior at Palmer High School, has a lot to say about how she felt her whole school year before she graduates.
“It feels really different. Freshman year I was really anxious about school and very intimidated by the thought of being in high school, but now I feel a bit happier and content with my life as a high schooler and I feel a lot less anxious and intimidated by school.”
As a graduate of 2026 high school leaves an impact on the seniors. Soon to be 18 years old, memories will be missed.
“I think I’m gonna miss seeing my friends every day, I know I’ll still see them at some point but everyone’s life’s are going in different directions so I’ll miss being able to see them every day.”
Four years of hard work can pay off and students get closer to leaving school with their high school diploma proving they can do it. They prove to everyone around them that they passed their education level by working hard and that is true strength. Every student has their own motivation that can help them push through the years.
“My main motivation to work hard was the thought of one day finally being able to be done with high school,” Jamie says.
High schools tend to be extremely stressful but there are kids who do work hard and yet they still get stressed all the time. It’s always best for students to know their own coping mechanisms, so they don’t get overwhelmed all the time, which can lead to bad mental health.
“Yes I feel like that all the time,” Jamie shares, “but whenever I feel like that I like to just take a mental health day just to have a day to relax and unstress.”
Not many students know what their life will be like after high school. Some seniors are in their last year of school and are still indecisive towards their future.
Jamie says, “I’m going to take a gap year then go to college to become an elementary school teacher.”
Throughout high school some students look back on their goals that make them want to work harder to finish school. Some students originally have a hard time finding a goal to set their mind on. It’s important to have a goal to keep working hard for a better future.
“I had a hard time trying to figure out what I wanted my goal to be, I was really unmotivated for the first two years of high school. I only just recently found a goal I really want to work towards.”
“My advice for the freshmen is to take things one day at a time, looking too far into the future all the time can be overwhelming so try to focus on the present.”
-Jamie Gardner.
Many seniors have different feelings about high school at Palmer. Their perspective tends to grow when they learn more about what they want to be. Freshman struggle to adjust because they don’t know how hard they have to work or what’s ahead of them in the future. Although school can be different for everyone and each student has different perspectives.
A lot of students when they first attend high school don’t know what they want for their future but when it’s time for them to graduate they find out what their goal is and motivation. That helps them start their future as adults when they leave school.
Zion Downing who is also a senior at Palmer High school to see what his perspective is like throughout his high school years before he graduates. “I feel old but I’ve accepted this year. I’m no longer hating school, but I’ve accepted this last year and I want to enjoy it before I can’t.”
As a senior with their last year left of high school, knowing so many people like other peers or teachers can leave an emotional impact on how those seniors are leaving those they may have talked to everyday. Maybe they hung around all the time.
“The people despite the insane amounts of drama and other stuff at this school.”
Goals aren’t the only thing that can drive a senior to success. Other things can be used as self motivation like having no goals at all and still working hard. Avoiding bad crowds and staying on track helps one’s success.
“By avoiding drama and finishing up my work asap helped me through the school years.”
School can give students stress that affects their mental health but it is always best to give yourself a day to relax and take a breather. Students also just work hard and not focus on all the bad areas.
“Not really, I’ve had annoying experiences and I still am but I’m not really too stressed or wanting to quit and give up.”
Some seniors have big goals after they graduate that can go into detail of a future plan year by year. Others have a simple goal that helps them get by and they figure more out of what they want to do as they go. Whichever kind of goal students choose to have, both are good to start with.
“After I graduate I’d like to get my life together and start trade school afterwards.”
Throughout high school looking back on goals that made students want to work hard in order to finish school can be tough on seniors. As years go by it’s different as being in their last year to when it was their first year.
“I wish that i did good in my freshmen year when starting high school but ever since that I’ve been doing good.”
Senior quote to lower-classmen
“Don’t get into any drama, stay the hell away from it”
-Zion Downing