Parting Advice From the Class of 2022
With graduation quickly approaching for the Class of 2022, the thought of embarking on this next adventure may be scary for the senior class. Whether the soon-to-be graduates of ND will be taking a gap year to explore the world, entering the world of employment, or heading off to college, many seniors have advice to share about their high school experiences. As the Jaguars, Dragons, and Basilisks prepare to step up, the Raptors would like to share their advice for life at Notre Dame, friendships, college applications, and beyond.
Advice On Life at Notre Dame
“Everyone should join journalism! It's a really rewarding class and you end up learning a lot about how to write and how to collaborate with others.”
- Evgenia Anastasakos ‘22
“Know your limits! Senior year gets tough, from college applications to the Young Women's Advocacy Summit. Make sure to take breaks from school if you need a break or if you need to catch up on work.”
- Hailey Tran ‘22
“Never be afraid to ask for help. Teachers will ALWAYS help you. If you don't understand something or need help, contact them. Always go to your teacher when something doesn't make sense, since it is so much better than struggling by yourself.”
- Cordelia Athas ‘22
“When it comes to extracurriculars make sure you do them because you are genuinely interested in doing them and not just for college applications. I realized I chose to do certain extracurriculars over others just because I thought it may look better on college applications. However, nothing will look good on your application if you didn’t actually enjoy your time with it and aren’t passionate about it. Do what makes you happy and remember you don’t have to (and practically) can’t do everything, so choose your favorite activities and focus on growing there.”
- Hailey Balinbin ‘22
Advice On Friendships
“Cherish moments with your friends. It's easy to stay in and study for hours, but take time for yourself. Enjoy making bonds in high school. It is something you will cherish.”
- Cordelia Athas ‘22
“Cherish your friendships as much as you can and don’t be afraid to make new friends. Take advantage of the fact that Notre Dame is a small, close-knit community so you kinda get to be friends with everyone. During senior year, I’ve been taking so many pictures at lunch or before/after school of all my friends and it just makes going to school so much easier when you feel overwhelmed because you get excited to see all your friends! I think taking funny pictures is a better way to use your phone than just being on it. Make sure to live in the moment.”
- Hailey Balinbin ‘22
“Surround yourself with people that compliment you. In your starting years of high school, people often want to be friends with as many people as possible but this truly is not sustainable. By your junior and senior year, you'll definitely realize who your true friends are. Kindly cut off the ones that you aren't compatible with or else it will definitely do you more harm than good.”
- Amy Tran ‘22
Advice On College Applications
“Make sure you write your college essays about a topic you’re passionate about.”
- Carolyn Zazueta ‘22
“Do research on colleges before actually deciding on where to apply to. Ask any alumni or current students about their opinions on their classes, the student body, the environment, etc. and take tours of the school if you can! Don't go for a college if you don't like the campus.”
- Hailey Tran ‘22
“I'm not the best giver of advice, considering that I rarely ever follow it, myself. However, one thing that I would recommend is to get your college essays done as early as possible. It will make life so much easier for you”
- Evgenia Anastasakos ‘22
Advice on High School Life
“Work hard but go easy on yourself. Easier said than done, right? Hard working and perfectionism usually comes with a critical viewpoint. We want to be the best, but we know that's unachievable. So try to be the best you possible. Spend the hours, give it your all. If you succeed, then great! If you fail, pat yourself on the back and reassess on what you can do better next time. Then MOVE ON.”
- Cordelia Athas ‘22
“Have fun with what you do! The accumulation of pressure and stress can really suck the joy out of trying new things but I found that when doing something I genuinely enjoy, I not only was able to learn a lot but also feel good about what I was doing!”
- Emma Walker ‘22
“Don’t get swept away in what other people around you are doing - do what makes you happy.”
- Rupali Batta ‘22
“Try not to get addicted to coffee, especially since it's so easy to do so since we are surrounded by amazing coffee shops, but literally all my money is sucked up by buying coffee every morning. Everything in moderation!”
- Hailey Balinbin ‘22
“Be yourself babes <3”
- Alana Yee ‘22
While handling the pressures and joys of high school is truly a balancing act, remember that the friendships and knowledge you gain along the way can help you cultivate a memorable high school experience. Additionally, remember to participate in the activities you truly love doing. Even if your end goal feels hard to reach, with determination and tenacity you can reach your ultimate objective. More importantly, remember to be true to yourself and your passions. With this parting advice from the Class of 2022, we hope for your remaining years at ND to be filled with fond memories and great happiness.
