Senior Season by Chelsea Rivas
Class of 2024 has officially reached senior season. As we near progress towards the middle of the school year, the class wants to engage in more senior activities. Fortunately, the senior committee has taken upon themselves to spice up Senior Year.
Let’s turn back for a second.
It was early 2020 when the middle school graduating class of 2020 heard they were going to have 2 weeks off school. Everyone was excited for 2 weeks off; it meant kids could hop on Fortnite or practice TikTok dances before having to return back to the classroom. What was supposed to be 2 weeks off, turned into years before they would ever step foot into a classroom again.
Entering freshman year is scary enough. You’re the baby and everyone else is scarily tall and adult-looking. Yet, the class of 2024 was stepping into the unknown. Having to take class online; cameras off and staring at a screen. How would they make new friends? How would they receive the proper education that they needed? We must acknowledge and thank our wonderful teachers who did their best to make online learning as fun and engaging as possible. And so when schools reopened in the fall of 2021 everyone was excited. It had been a full year and a half since students last were in a classroom. Coming back to school meant finally meeting the people behind the camera. But it also meant that we could no longer hide behind our computer screens.
Sometime between then and now the senior class has become like a family. With everyone coming together and celebrating each other's wins no matter what. From celebrating each other during the National Honor Society ceremony to coming together to watch the sunset, the class has endearing love for one another. Ending junior year, the upcoming seniors came together and had a water fight. Rules were set and water balloons were filled. The water balloon fight that took place at Bushwick Inlet Park marked the beginning of senior activities.
As the year progresses, the seniors are put under a lot of pressure and stress. From applying to colleges, to having to stay on top of their work, it seems as though they might never catch a break. Fortunately, the senior committee has planned future events. From the senior trip (possibly overnight) to Secret Santa. Flyers and announcements are always posted around the school!
These small but creative activities continue to strengthen the enduring love the class of 2024 have for one another. We must also remind our seniors of their hard work. They have come a long way; from being stuck behind a screen to having to take challenging AP classes. As seniors hear back from colleges, they must be reminded that whether or not they are admitted to their dream college, it does not accurately reflect all of their hard work for the last 4 years. Their hard work is reflected in their growth as a student and as a person inside and outside a school environment.
Let’s turn back for a second.
It was early 2020 when the middle school graduating class of 2020 heard they were going to have 2 weeks off school. Everyone was excited for 2 weeks off; it meant kids could hop on Fortnite or practice TikTok dances before having to return back to the classroom. What was supposed to be 2 weeks off, turned into years before they would ever step foot into a classroom again.
Entering freshman year is scary enough. You’re the baby and everyone else is scarily tall and adult-looking. Yet, the class of 2024 was stepping into the unknown. Having to take class online; cameras off and staring at a screen. How would they make new friends? How would they receive the proper education that they needed? We must acknowledge and thank our wonderful teachers who did their best to make online learning as fun and engaging as possible. And so when schools reopened in the fall of 2021 everyone was excited. It had been a full year and a half since students last were in a classroom. Coming back to school meant finally meeting the people behind the camera. But it also meant that we could no longer hide behind our computer screens.
Sometime between then and now the senior class has become like a family. With everyone coming together and celebrating each other's wins no matter what. From celebrating each other during the National Honor Society ceremony to coming together to watch the sunset, the class has endearing love for one another. Ending junior year, the upcoming seniors came together and had a water fight. Rules were set and water balloons were filled. The water balloon fight that took place at Bushwick Inlet Park marked the beginning of senior activities.
As the year progresses, the seniors are put under a lot of pressure and stress. From applying to colleges, to having to stay on top of their work, it seems as though they might never catch a break. Fortunately, the senior committee has planned future events. From the senior trip (possibly overnight) to Secret Santa. Flyers and announcements are always posted around the school!
These small but creative activities continue to strengthen the enduring love the class of 2024 have for one another. We must also remind our seniors of their hard work. They have come a long way; from being stuck behind a screen to having to take challenging AP classes. As seniors hear back from colleges, they must be reminded that whether or not they are admitted to their dream college, it does not accurately reflect all of their hard work for the last 4 years. Their hard work is reflected in their growth as a student and as a person inside and outside a school environment.
Pathway to College by Xavier Bourne
As a senior, I understand how hard it is to pick a college. I was picked for an early decision where I needed to find one college to apply to and dedicate myself to that school and after some thinking, I realized that I didn't have a school that I could connect to and would be so okay with going too that I decided to get myself out of ED.
Since then I have thought a lot to myself about what you can do in order to help yourself pick a college that would suit you and it helped me and im sure it can help someone else. Step 1 is research. As unfun and boring as research is, finding the best college for you is essential and research will do it for you. Take the time to explore different colleges and universities. Look into their programs, campus culture, extracurricular activities, and location. Think about the kind of environment you thrive in. Do you prefer a larger, bustling campus or a smaller, tight knit community? For something like that you need to look at the amount of students that attend that college. Does the number seem way out of your range or do you see yourself attending that school. Consider the social scene, clubs, and organizations, and the overall atmosphere.
Step 2 is visiting the campus/ virtual tours. To learn about the school is one thing but to actually see for yourself the school and see how you can fit in is big as well. It can give you a better sense of the environment, facilities, and overall vibe. Also talking to current students that attend the school can give you a better understanding of the school.
Step 3 is considering your academic and career goals. Think about the programs and majors offered at each college. Do they align with your interests and career aspirations? Look into internship and research opportunities, as well as alumni networks to see if they can support your future goals.
Step 4 (being one of the most important ones) is money. Does the school offer a lot of financial aid? How much is the tuition? Do they offer scholarships? You must take account of the financial aspect of attending college and evaluate if it's feasible for you and your family.
Step 5 is trusting your gut feeling. Ultimately, go with your instincts. Consider how you feel when you imagine yourself at college. Can you picture yourself thriving and being happy there? Trusting your intuition can be a valuable guide in making your decision. Remember its important to take your time and gather as much information as possible. Seek advice from trusted mentors, family, and friends who can offer insights and support throughout the decision making process. Good luck and just know you are not alone in this process. I myself had to struggle for months before I found out what I wanted from a college and actually started applying. It was persistence and research and support around me that got me where I am now.
Since then I have thought a lot to myself about what you can do in order to help yourself pick a college that would suit you and it helped me and im sure it can help someone else. Step 1 is research. As unfun and boring as research is, finding the best college for you is essential and research will do it for you. Take the time to explore different colleges and universities. Look into their programs, campus culture, extracurricular activities, and location. Think about the kind of environment you thrive in. Do you prefer a larger, bustling campus or a smaller, tight knit community? For something like that you need to look at the amount of students that attend that college. Does the number seem way out of your range or do you see yourself attending that school. Consider the social scene, clubs, and organizations, and the overall atmosphere.
Step 2 is visiting the campus/ virtual tours. To learn about the school is one thing but to actually see for yourself the school and see how you can fit in is big as well. It can give you a better sense of the environment, facilities, and overall vibe. Also talking to current students that attend the school can give you a better understanding of the school.
Step 3 is considering your academic and career goals. Think about the programs and majors offered at each college. Do they align with your interests and career aspirations? Look into internship and research opportunities, as well as alumni networks to see if they can support your future goals.
Step 4 (being one of the most important ones) is money. Does the school offer a lot of financial aid? How much is the tuition? Do they offer scholarships? You must take account of the financial aspect of attending college and evaluate if it's feasible for you and your family.
Step 5 is trusting your gut feeling. Ultimately, go with your instincts. Consider how you feel when you imagine yourself at college. Can you picture yourself thriving and being happy there? Trusting your intuition can be a valuable guide in making your decision. Remember its important to take your time and gather as much information as possible. Seek advice from trusted mentors, family, and friends who can offer insights and support throughout the decision making process. Good luck and just know you are not alone in this process. I myself had to struggle for months before I found out what I wanted from a college and actually started applying. It was persistence and research and support around me that got me where I am now.
All About Advisory by Nevaeh Jackson
Hi my name is Nevaeh and I’m going to tell you guys about Advisory at Brooklyn Preparatory High School. Advisory is a safe place where students have to get a break from classes. It’s a mix of all grades and you’re with the same people all 4 years.
I am the PAL (peer advisory leader) in my advisory basically meaning that I help my advisor lead it. In advisory, we have played games to bond more and completed lessons on self care. It’s our job every year to make sure the freshman feel comfortable so that they will eventually talk more and not be so quiet. It was a struggle at first but they are warming up and everybody is close and constantly updating each other on our lives.
Our advisory lessons are accessible and engaging and mostly focused on building community. Our initial lessons focused on important skills like setting boundaries so everyone feels respected and safe. Some games we have played so far are what do you meme, blackjack, would you rather, the knot game, the birthday game, dominos, and ping pong.
With our bulletin board, we all have our pictures up there with our advisory name and we have a theme. This year we changed our name to The OG’s due to my advisor getting married in the spring semester. Our bulletin board is a 90's cartoon based on each person being a character from a cartoon of their choice.Other things we do here is celebrate birthdays. It looks different in every advisory but in mine we either have pizza or a bunch of snacks, sing happy birthday and watch a movie or play some more games.
In order to prepare myself for advisory I have PAL meetings. This is where all the PALS meet up and discuss the lesson for the idea and give each other ideas on what to do. Ms.Powell has been kind enough to make a calendar of the whole school year and link the lesson plans on each day. She also made a powerpoint that we have access to so we don’t have to worry about being lost on what to do. I really enjoy this class because sometimes I run out of ideas for games and I don’t want my students to get bored of playing the same games. Also, if I’m ever confused about a lesson Ms.Powell always explains it to me. We also get the freedom to change the lesson based on our advisory. For example, sometimes my advisory gets off topic when we turn and talk or they just don’t do it so instead I will have a whole class discussion and they will share what they need to say. I really enjoy advisory because it’s full of fun and laughs and we all get along. I think of it as my safe place. I like to think of us as a big happy family. Even though they will not admit it I know they think the same.
I am the PAL (peer advisory leader) in my advisory basically meaning that I help my advisor lead it. In advisory, we have played games to bond more and completed lessons on self care. It’s our job every year to make sure the freshman feel comfortable so that they will eventually talk more and not be so quiet. It was a struggle at first but they are warming up and everybody is close and constantly updating each other on our lives.
Our advisory lessons are accessible and engaging and mostly focused on building community. Our initial lessons focused on important skills like setting boundaries so everyone feels respected and safe. Some games we have played so far are what do you meme, blackjack, would you rather, the knot game, the birthday game, dominos, and ping pong.
With our bulletin board, we all have our pictures up there with our advisory name and we have a theme. This year we changed our name to The OG’s due to my advisor getting married in the spring semester. Our bulletin board is a 90's cartoon based on each person being a character from a cartoon of their choice.Other things we do here is celebrate birthdays. It looks different in every advisory but in mine we either have pizza or a bunch of snacks, sing happy birthday and watch a movie or play some more games.
In order to prepare myself for advisory I have PAL meetings. This is where all the PALS meet up and discuss the lesson for the idea and give each other ideas on what to do. Ms.Powell has been kind enough to make a calendar of the whole school year and link the lesson plans on each day. She also made a powerpoint that we have access to so we don’t have to worry about being lost on what to do. I really enjoy this class because sometimes I run out of ideas for games and I don’t want my students to get bored of playing the same games. Also, if I’m ever confused about a lesson Ms.Powell always explains it to me. We also get the freedom to change the lesson based on our advisory. For example, sometimes my advisory gets off topic when we turn and talk or they just don’t do it so instead I will have a whole class discussion and they will share what they need to say. I really enjoy advisory because it’s full of fun and laughs and we all get along. I think of it as my safe place. I like to think of us as a big happy family. Even though they will not admit it I know they think the same.