Senior Wisdom: Take Advantage of the Opportunities Hoover Has to Offer

As finals are wrapping up and sports seasons coming to an end, this is the perfect time for students to reflect how they performed this year.  As a graduating senior at Hoover High School, I have been reflecting on my time at Hoover and what I have learned.

While at Hoover, I took 11 AP classes, ran in cross country, soared in boy’s volleyball, volunteered in Key Club, and socialized in Anime Club, so I feel somewhat versed in the life here at Hoover. Before I leave, I want to share the wisdom I have gained from all of the Hoover staff, my friends, and my own personal experiences over the past four years.

First, ParticiPATE. Seriously, no jokes.  

One of my biggest takeaways and regrets is underestimating the idea of participating. One of the most effective and fastest way to make friends or find a welcoming community is by joining a club or sport.

I realized this when joining Hoover’s cross country team my senior year. From the get-go, I was exposed to a diverse range of students, freshman to seniors with varying athleticism.

Even though we were all different, there was one thing that united us, running. We all ran and endured the same pain throughout those grape fields at Fresno State. So, by the end of our first practice, we were already on a first name basis.  Sports force students to come together and cooperate, even in an individual sport like cross country.

Even if sports aren’t your thing, Hoover offers a diverse range of clubs that are guaranteed to suit your needs. From volunteering activities like Key Club and Athletes for Community Service, to more hobby-based clubs like E-Sports and Anime Club, there will be a club where you can find your community. Once you find that community at Hoover, your high school life will completely change for the better.  

Find an “Oshi”  

Oshi is a Japanese word which when translated means “to push.” So, finding an Oshi means to have something push oneself. It could be a person who you admire or a goal that you want to achieve, but just having something motivate you will make high school less stressful and easier. It puts more meaning behind the work you put in every day.

My “oshi” is anime. I used to be embarrassed about it, but I’ve learned to embrace it (slight foreshadowing). Kyojuro Rengoku from Demon Slayer was one of the characters that stood out for me. His sense of sheer will and relentless determination was something that set my heart ablaze.

Especially for seniors who have been at it for almost 12 years straight, it’s tempting to slow down. Don’t slow down. The end is near, so this is the best time to put in 110 percent.   

Break Free from Oppressions 

One of the hardest things when transitioning to high school is to break free from the judgement and expectations of others. The problem with middle school is that students think it’s a competition to become “cool.” This leads many people, even myself, to change my attitude and perspective to “fit in.”

Highschool is different though. In reality, no one cares. I realized this early on and began to work through high school without being oppressed by the expectations of others. Once you realize this, the stress of high school social life disappears and you can focus on what’s truly important, yourself.  

Prepare for the Future 

Lastly, one of the most important things is to know what you want for yourself. There are way too many seniors in high school who float through their last year and don’t have a path in mind.

Have a goal for your life, the earlier the better. If you want to go to college, then research and prepare for application season. If you want to go into the workforce, look for internships or work experience. If you don’t know what you want to do, do something about figuring it out. Life in general is a hard journey but being prepared and having a goal in mind will make that pathway smoother.  

In the end, there isn’t much that I can do to help you directly. These are the main things that I learned throughout all four years of my high school career, and I’m giving it to you for free if you read this three-minute article. Just like the proverb, I’ve brought you to the water and now it’s your choice to ignore it or plunge straight into it. Go Pates!