Reflection: Seniors Say Goodbye to NRHS 

After highs and lows (and a lot of hard work), the New Rochelle High School Class of 2022 is on the road to graduation! It goes without saying that the group has been on quite the rollercoaster given that their only traditional high school year was their first. As sophomores, the Class of 2022 was unexpectedly sent home in March because of COVID-19 followed by a challenging junior year navigating both virtual and hybrid schooling. During this tumultuous time, students tackled the many steps of post-secondary planning, such as SAT/ACT prep and researching colleges. Many now-seniors eagerly signed off of Zoom on the last day of their junior year, believing that everything would be back to normal in the fall. Then, ten days before the start of the 2021-2022 school year, the Class of 2022 learned that significant damage from Hurricane Ida would delay the return for their final year of high school until November of 2021. 

“After being virtual for nearly two years I was extremely anxious to just get back in the building and have a ‘normal’ high school experience,” senior Cecilia Roe said. “...the unpredictable nature of 2021 had something else in mind of course. As we were virtual during the flood, I would have to say that some of my favorite moments of my senior year were then. Whether it was everyone getting together for senior sunrise or even just a small impromptu run to House 4 for art supplies, the way everyone stayed interconnected, despite the virtual platform, really impressed me and made me even more excited to see what in-person school had in store.” Roe said that many of the highlights of her time in-person were in house four with the art department. Little moments like running to the clay room to throw a piece on the wheel before her African-American Studies class and having Ms. Schomber show her what her Sculpture 1 class was doing brought her a lot of joy.

Of course, there were ups and downs for each student. “I kind of feel like senior year was one big challenge in many ways. So much happens, and it can get really overwhelming at times,” senior Celine Glennon said. She emphasized the challenge of college application season, an endeavor only made more difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Throughout the fall and early winter, you're kind of scrambling to figure out what you'd like to do after graduation. You're finally trying to set these stones in place. And I'm someone who is constantly questioning things, so even after all of my college applications had been submitted, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted out of my future. You then get a bit of a breather for a few months, but April and May are especially tough because of college deadlines. Having to finalize your decisions can be really exciting, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't terrifying in some ways. You're kind of left in this limbo period afterwards, between the end of your senior year and the beginning of your freshman year of college, where you're wondering if you made the right choice and how things will be different next year. So I think that's been pretty nerve-racking to try and handle.” 

Despite the obstacles, the senior class has triumphed—students have made it to the end of their high school careers. On Tuesday, May 3rd, seniors celebrated National College Decision Day, commemorating the May 1st deadline for committing to a given college. After the three-day weekend, students gathered on the promenade sporting their college merchandise, congratulating each other, and taking photos with friends. As classes come to a close, many students are eagerly awaiting senior week and its fun traditions, such as prom on June 7th, the trip to Six Flags Great Adventure on June 9th, and Senior Awards on June 10th and June 13th. For many, preparing for this new chapter comes with the sadness of leaving behind friends, teachers, and New Rochelle itself. But the future ahead also comes with a tremendous amount of excitement. “I am thoroughly excited to start a new chapter of my life after graduating and heading off to college,” said senior Jack McCormick. “I have honestly felt sort of trapped in the extracurricular activities that I spent the last many years of my life pursuing, so I’m excited to start anew. I’m not too nervous about preserving friendships, because I am prepared for some to fizzle out. I know that the people who matter to me will be the ones by my side as we all branch off, and I know that I will make amazing friends in university.” 

Senior Class President Jeba Karim’s favorite aspect of her NRHS experience was having the opportunity to work with a multitude of students. She told me that her role on the senior board as well as on the boards of three NRHS clubs allowed her to meet different types of students that brought something new to the table each time. “...The student body at NRHS is so incredibly impressive. We’re all so versatile in our talents and we all influence and inspire each other. Through this, I have been introduced to a diverse set of minds and have built life-long friendships. When you find the adults that’ll help you strengthen your talents, NRHS becomes a safe haven for learning and growing. I definitely believe I found the right teachers and administrators to guide me these past four years and I am so immensely grateful for all the advice I’ve received. I will most definitely miss my time at NRHS, but I hope I’ll find such an embracing and welcoming community during my time in college!” 

Despite the challenges of an atypically high school experience, the NRHS Class of 2022 remains optimistic about the future and is prepared to face whatever comes next.