With graduation just around the corner, Tahoma High School seniors are reflecting on the experiences that brought them here–and the choices that made the biggest difference. Now, it´s time to focus on underclassmen so the next generation of Bears can step into the future with clarity and confidence.
As seniors complete their final months, senior-year teacher Michael Seger says many students underestimate the transition ahead. ¨Senior year is where you grow from a kid into a young adult,¨ he explained. He often reminds students that major decisions come fast. ¨Life becomes real, real quick,¨ he said. One of his biggest pieces of advice centers around money. ¨College costs money. Moving out costs money,¨ he emphasized. Whatever your plan is, you´ll need to prepare financially, and it’s good to start young. Underclassmen should take this advice into accountability.
Mr. Seger also urges students to make thoughtful chives when planning their next steps. ¨Don pick a school based on the mascot or where your friends go,¨ he said. ¨Pick a place that will help you build the future you want.¨ He added students shouldn’t feel pressured into a traditional path either. It is okay to not know what pathway you want to choose as an underclassmen.
Underclassmen say this advice helps them understand what’s ahead. Sophomore Amelia Rennick said that senior requirements feel intimidating, but hearing from others helps her prepare. ¨Senior year comes with a lot of big requirements, and it’s honestly pretty scary to face soon,¨ she said. ¨It feels have to know your whole plan before graduation, but it isn’t like that, from what I have heard.¨
Amelia says she wants to make sure she doesn’t miss out on meaningful experiences. ¨A lot of seniors look back and realize how fast high school went,¨ she said. ¨I don’t want to reach senior year and feel like I missed out on experiences I could´ve had.¨ For underclassmen it is important to balance your experiences and preparation for the end of your high school years. A lot of underclassmen feel the way Amelia feels and that is natural and normal.
Hearing from older students has also pushed her to stay ahead. ¨Hearing from seniors makes everything feel more real,¨ Amelia said. ¨It motivates me to stay ahead and prepare early so I´m not overwhelmed when it’s my turn.¨
Tahoma High School offers several resources to support students through this process. The Future Ready Center provides scholarship workshops, financial-aid help, and career exploration tools. Counselors meet with students to discuss class choices and long-term goals, while programs like Running Start and AP pathways that underclassmen can consider and start.
Preparing for the road ahead can be scary and frustrating but starting early, staying engaged, and making every year count is the start to lessen those anxieties.
