I started freshman year unsure of where I would fit in within the Vigital and Dreyfoos community. After four years, I’m proud to say I’ve found my people. We’ve come a long way from living in fear of Ms. Foy’s shammies during freshman year to our cohesive portfolios senior year.

Thank you to my teachers for being some of the most compassionate and understanding people I’ve ever met. Ms. Jahn, thanks for always brightening my day and appreciating my cats. Ping and Pong will miss you. Ms. Ramos, thanks for always making AP 3D engaging and fun. I will miss poking people with the Blade of Ramos :’(.

To my friends, thank you for always being there for me when I was stressed beyond belief. Rosemary Square lunch wouldn’t be the same if I wasn’t maximizing coupons or trying different kinds of pasta with you all at City Pizza. Lunches in Mr. Armetta’s room and street painting festivals will be some of the things I will miss the most after graduation. We may be away from each other in college distance-wise, but I’ll always be there for you all. <3

It’s unfortunate we had to say goodbye on a random day in March, but know that COVID-19 doesn’t diminish our spirits. We will outlast this crisis. We lost our senior events but we will never lose the memories we made in Building 9. I’m grateful for all the things that made us distinctly Dreyfoos vigital majors, like watching the B9 fountain get progressively swampier and begging our teachers for department hours.

Thank you for a formative four years. I can’t wait to navigate this crazy world with you all.

Yours truly,

Angela

Congratulations on surviving junior year! You discover new parts about yourself every year of your life, but senior year will likely be the most transformative year of your life. If you’re like me, you spent much of high school going through the motions. Senior year is when everything changes - you start to examine your hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The college application process is grueling but rewarding if you survive (& I know you will).

My biggest tip for success during your senior year is START EARLY! It’s tempting to put off writing your college and scholarship essays out of fear because so much of your future is contingent on them. I promise you will be so much less stressed near the deadlines if you start writing months before the deadline. Don’t pressure yourself to churn out the perfect essay on your first try. Allow yourself to make mistakes and even rewrite an essay you have been editing for months. This applies to YoungArts and your other artistic endeavors. Explore many concepts with your art even if you have already fallen in love with your junior year concentration. You might find an even better concept. All it takes is experimentation without fear of failure.

I dealt with imposter syndrome for the first semester of my senior year. This is a common problem, especially when everyone around you is also stressing over their future. Remember that you deserve to be here at Dreyfoos. Don’t think for a second that you are inferior to anyone else. Your accomplishments and hard work are meaningful.

You are at a decisive moment in your life, so enjoy it! Take a break from schoolwork and college apps to bake with your friends, exercise, sew, anything that allows you to decompress from your hectic life. Your future is important, but don’t neglect your mental health and happiness in pursuit of your bright future. I have no doubt you will have an exciting senior year!

Best of luck,

Angela