By Maddy Propis
Thirteen years ago seems so far away, but it feels like it was just yesterday. I remember my first day of Kindergarten at Sunquam with my little backpack wondering how I would navigate the school. 13 years later and my journey through Half Hollow Hills is coming to an end. Now, as an almost graduated senior, I reflect back on my 13 years and remember the laughs and the smiles that were frequent, the friendships that I made, and the lessons that I learned.
Throughout the past four years at HSE, I learned many valuable lessons that I will carry with me throughout my life. I learned that school is important, but learning is more important than grades. Students should strive to attain knowledge, because in the end, it is more important to be knowledgeable. I also learned life lessons such as being a good friend. In high school, I found friends who I hope to remain friends with after high school. Although we will go our separate ways, we will always have a special bond.
My high school career was one filled with studying and extracurricular activities, but I also found time to have fun with friends and family. Whether I was preparing dances as the Kickline Captain or leading Future Educators club as president, or writing and editing articles and starting social media for the Thunderbird newspaper, I couldn’t be more thankful for the experiences I had during the past four years.
With only a few weeks left, it is truly bittersweet. I will miss high school and all of the amazing people I have met along the way, but I know that the real world has so much to offer, and I’m excited to see what’s in store for me. For the next four years at Binghamton University and for the rest of my life after college, I will carry with me the lessons learned and memories made throughout my life. Incoming freshman, don’t take these four years for granted and become an active school member. To the graduating seniors in the class of 2017, I wish you all the best of luck in the future. Now, go out there and believe in yourselves – anything is possible if you set your mind to it!
Maddy Propis (Class of 2017)
Diary of a Former Thunderbird
Freshman year. New building. New teachers. New responsibilities. How do you navigate it all and maintained unscathed? After successfully doing so over the past four years, I believe that I have found the keys to a lucrative high school career. Here are 10 tips on how to have a successful and fun four years of high school.
1. Study for tests, quizzes, and essays.
Coming out of an exam feeling like you failed is one of the worst feelings you can get in high school. Studying, even just a little bit, will help prevent the feeling and even make the college application process less stressful.
2. Go to extra help.
If you were confused about a topic, go to extra help and make an effort to understand it. Many classes have units that coincide with each other, so you don’t want to fall behind. Teachers are willing to help and want you to succeed, and more individualized attention is almost guaranteed to help you.
3. Go to class.
Ditching classes will give you detention, but that’s not even the worst consequence. You will have to make up work that you missed at some point if you want good grades even you’re even given the opportunity to do so. If you want to miss school because you want to sleep, go anyway, and take a nap after school.
4. Join clubs.
Clubs are not only a great way to meet new people, but they can also be fun. Being in clubs will help you become enriched in things other than schoolwork. Also, colleges love to see that students participated in clubs for all four years and even held board or officer positions when possible.
5. Take electives that interest you.
It is easier to succeed when learning about something that interests you. Don’t take an elective just because it is easy. Take electives that sound interesting and maybe even fun. You will definitely find something since HSE has so many to offer.
6. Take classes at a level that you can handle.
Many people think that the way to get into top colleges is by taking all AP and honors classes. As important as it is to have a schedule with challenging courses, it is more important to do well. If a higher level class is too difficult, don’t think that it is the worst thing to drop into a lower level class because it will be more beneficial in the end.
7. Get a head start on the infamous junior year.
Junior year is known to be the hardest year of high school. To make it a little easier, start SAT/ACT prep at the end of sophomore year and devote time to studying so you can potentially finish the testing process early in your junior year.
8. Don’t stress to “get into college.”
Stress will make it harder to succeed. Work hard, and everything will fall into place. You will get into college, and you’ll end up where you belong. Everything happens for a reason.
9. Don’t let silly drama affect you.
Everyone will have a drama at some point in their four years of high school. Don’t allow the drama to change you and stress you out. Remember that you only have four years; in the grand scheme of life, this is just a small fraction of time.
10. Make your high school experience enjoyable.
Four years may seem like a long time now, but it goes by so fast. Have fun with your friends and make memories that will last forever. Before you know it, you’ll be taking pictures in your cap and gown and saying goodbye to HSE. Remember: once a Thunderbird, always a Thunderbird.
