Since 7th grade we have all changed significantly. Whether that’s physically, emotionally, socially, or all of the above. Through that span of 5 years, no one can say they’re exactly the same as they were when their journey at PCS began. We decided to interview various seniors on their experiences throughout the past 5 years, how they’ve changed, and most importantly, how they’ve grown. We all carry regrets from our pasts, but instead of looking at those experiences as things that we could’ve changed, think of those things as how we can grow from them and how they’ve shaped us into the complex individuals we are today.
We interviewed Claire Marquette, who did not actually go to PCS for 7th grade, but this does not say that she has not had her individual experiences that have shaped her significantly from who she was in 7th grade to the person she is today. Claire states, “The only thing that’s consistent in life is change.” Going into high school and especially moving schools can be the most abrupt and shocking transition to experience, and it’s never easy. But when we are able to adapt to this change, life can get that much easier and so much less scary. Some of us go through grand life changes, and some go through hardly any at all, but no matter the greatness, we all have our own struggles that others may not be able to understand or be aware of. Claire explains how, “Getting a chronic disease overnight completely turned my whole life upside down.” Although this is not the universal experience for most rising high schoolers, it highlights the fact that most of us are not aware of the varying complexities going on in each other’s lives. Therefore, this invites us to lead with an open mind and perspective.
A common theme, though, that we saw with many of those that we interviewed was that they would have spent a lot less time worrying about things and more time enjoying their experiences. Claire and fellow senior Milan Garley both expressed this in their interviews, with Claire stating that she “would stop strongly caring what other people thought of me, and do what made me happy.”
Milan also expressed how he would “spend a lot less time worrying, trying to enjoy more time.” Senior Sophia Summa, who has been at PCS since the 7th grade, explains that her time in middle school “was basically at the peak of Covid, so I didn’t really get to hang out with people or experience middle school, and that impacted me because it wasn’t the way I thought it would be. Because of the quarantine, I was stuck at home most of the time and basically glued to my phone.” COVID impacted many of us gravely and robbed us of lots of memories that could have been made. Sports, hanging out with friends, and going on adventures outdoors were things many missed out on due to being cooped up inside. When asked if Sophia could give herself any past advice, she said, “If I could give my past self some advice, I’d probably say something like stay off the phone and try something new, even just going outside more.” Lots of us can relate to Sophia in this way, because lots of people were on their phones during COVID, a trend that continues to the present. This is deeply troubling, because for many, we do not realize that our phones are robbing us not just from experiences and memories, but adolescence – a time that happens only once in our lives. Additionally, Sophia stated that “going to a school like PCS where you have lots of pressure to succeed, doing things and creating memories and experiences become more vital to keeping us present”.
We also spoke to senior Lucas Miller, who, like Claire, did not actually attend PCS in 7th grade. Lucas stated, “The biggest thing that changed me from 7th grade is PCS because of the environment.” As we all know, PCS is a very academically challenging school, and switching to this school can be a big change for students. When asked what piece of advice he would give to his 7th-grade self, he said he would want “to make friends younger than me, so when I’m a senior in high school, I won’t be lonely.” This advice highlights the importance of building friendships early on with people from various grades to provide a variety of perspectives and ensure adequate companionship throughout all years of high school.
To close off, we would like to share some insightful advice from Sophia Summa to 7th graders. “I’d probably say don’t stress so much about grades. Focus on learning and maintaining balance in your life and don’t burn yourself out trying to be perfect.” This perfectly encapsulates a sustainable mindset that will carry you throughout high school and beyond: be ambitious, focus on your goals, but don’t forget the true joys in life: love, joy, and friendship.
