The Senior Experience Part II

Back in October of 2025, a handful of students graduating this year were interviewed to see what it’s like during their last year of high school. This served to give Juniors an idea of how their senior year may look at the beginning of the year. Now we view how seniors have felt about their year as a whole, giving their insight in interviews taken during May of 2026.

There were some differences, but most importantly, there were similarities in how seniors felt about their journey this year. An example of this is how unanimously students mentioned how vital it is to start planning for college (if you decide to go after high school) as soon as humanly possible. They shared the sentiment that their senior year would have been much lighter if they had their college essays done by the beginning of the school year. Focusing on application research and having a solid plan will make things less stressful when transitioning from an adolescent to a young adult this year. 

Prepare for that second-semester burnout.  By the end of January, many seniors were already feeling unmotivated and burnt out from the stress of keeping up with school work, along with planning for life after graduation. Letting “senioritis,” the severe drop in motivation and academic focus, get the better of you before having a clear path ahead is a common notion that students had warned about during the interviews. One student suggested trying to cut down on outside work and adjusting your schedule to prevent the stagnation of burnout. This includes cutting work hours if you have a job, as school should hold priority over work.

Some differences were found when conducting these interviews, such as when students spoke about their favorite parts of their senior year. They expressed their appreciation for senior privilege, remarking how being able to have a more flexible schedule worked better for them. Others said they liked senior privilege because they were able to connect with friends during the periods they were able to leave the building. Having that freedom allowed them to make fond memories with their fellow seniors.

School events themselves were also mentioned as students really enjoyed attending these. One of these events included Fall Fest, when a local band, Prairie Pavement, performed for our school. This brought the community together, and seniors especially remarked how it was one of their favorite memories at Ken West. Special events like these are what make the student body what it is, and the seniors all recommended to be a part of it by joining clubs that interest you and frequenting events usually organized by fellow students.

Overall, all those interviewed seemed to share one message: to make the most of the rest of your high school experience before it’s too late.