The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (SPFHS) Class of 2020 is preparing to embark on their next great journey in life as they prepare to graduate. Over their four years at SPFHS, the senior class has accumulated knowledge not just from the material they’ve learned in class, but through understanding their environment and coming to know the people around them.
As the Class of 2020 sets off to their next endeavors, they leave some advice for the current and future underclassmen as they continue their SPFHS journeys.
Many seniors assert the importance of asking for help when one needs it.
“Always ask your teachers for help and never stop trying to do your best in all that you do,” senior Thomas Russo said.
“Teachers can be a greater resource than you give them credit for,” senior Harrison Mills said. “The people in our building are insightful, friendly, and are willing to help you; ask for help when you need it.”
The stigma attached to asking for help is knowingly dismissed by veteran seniors who have found ways to make the most of the resources available to them.
Overwhelmingly, though, the Class of 2020 wants underclassmen to know that high school flies by; they want students to remember to take advantage of the opportunities presented in SPFHS and to hold on to the time they have left.
“Feel free and allow yourself to change and discover who you are,” senior Niara (Aliyah) Daniel said. “Don’t stay confined to the status quo, be unique! Others will appreciate that better than being a high school robot.”
“Don’t take for granted the time that you have to spend with your friends in high school,” another senior said.  “Don’t take for granted all the things that you can and get to experience in high school.  Don’t take for granted all the memories you get to make in high school, because you never know if they might be taken away from you.”
“Do all of your work and enjoy high school because it goes by way too fast,” senior Kristina Sapienza said.
“My advice for underclassmen is to work hard and enjoy your time at the high school because the memories you will make in and out of the classroom are some that you’ll never forget,” senior Julie Ciccarino said.
“Go all out your freshman year to put yourself on track to succeed in the years to come,” senior Brett Strug said. “You don’t know how many people have come up to me saying the one thing they regret about high school is not trying during their freshman year.”
“Don’t take high school for granted because once it’s almost over you just want to go back in time and be a freshman again,” senior Kaitlyn Amato said.
“Don’t take it for granted, make sure you make every day count because it will be over before you know it,” senior Sophia Wilkins said.
The Class of 2020 hopes that future classes remember that high school isn’t all about grades and connections and the things that are easy to get hung up on; high school is about self-discovery and about the people who help one to grow.
“Use your high school experiences to discover yourself and the moments that make you feel like the most authentic you,” senior Carly Spellman said. “Share those experiences that make you feel pride in your undertakings and give you a sense of who you’ve grown from, who you are and who you want to become.”
“Be who you are no matter what. Don’t let someone else tell you who you are. Put your mental health first,” senior Kai Buro said.
“Get involved in activities and stay on top of your work, but don’t sacrifice your mental health to complete an assignment,” senior Cheyenne Jones said. “Communicate with your teachers and reach out for help.”
As SPFHS seniors set off to begin the next stage of their lives, they leave the underclassmen with nuggets of their wisdom and memories of the experiences that defined their high school journey.