On May 2, the Sidwell seniors finished their last day of high school. With almost four years of experience in the Upper School, the seniors have experienced different subjects, sports teams and clubs and know the best classes to take and extracurriculars to explore. Although each student’s high school experience is different, they have plenty of advice for underclassmen, especially the incoming freshmen.
Coming into high school can be an overwhelming experience, but “don’t feel so bad if someone else isn’t struggling in a class if you have different teachers,” senior Robby Matsui said, encouraging students to not compare themselves.
Matsui put into perspective the significance of a bad grade, reassuring students that although you should work your best, school should not be your only focus: “You don’t need all A’s to get into a good [college]. Obviously, try as hard as possible, but grades should never be your top top priority.”
Another senior, Tara Prakash, reminded students to work their hardest and stay determined. Prakash explains, “in the scheme of things, your hard work will pay off. Trust the process, and know that if you study well and pay attention in class, the rest will take care of itself.”
Sidwell students balance sports and extracurricular activities on top of stressful academics, but luckily, the seniors have tips and tricks for balancing students’ commitments and improving work management. Most of the seniors can relate to the hours spent procrastinating and the buildup of work received throughout the school week.
Prakash suggested to “focus more on the task, not on the anxiety for the task. In the time you’re feeling nervous for the test, you could be studying for the test.” Many seniors suggest organizing your time and tasks to help optimize time for activities and downtime. Organization can look different from student to student, but understanding what works best for you is key.
“I would say make sure to manage your time well in a way where you spend enough time on work while also being able to enjoy hanging out with friends,” senior Asher Sedwick recommended.
All Sidwell Upper School students take part in sports or physical education for their PE requirement and many are involved in sports outside of school. “I was more productive with academics when I had sports practice and could come home and settle,” said Prakash. She also mentioned how sports gave her something to take her mind off of her busy agenda, and made her more productive after school. This is because they helped her format the rest of her afternoon schedule, rather than wasting time that could have been spent finishing schoolwork.
Most of the graduating class say that participating in sports is an important part of high school, because it gives students something to look forward to at the end of the school day, and it introduces them to a new community with students across grades. Seniors state that with sports, it is important to keep an open mind and not be afraid to try something new, especially because Sidwell offers a wide variety of sports and PE classes.
The Sidwell seniors also have pointers on extracurricular activities, specifically regarding how many are needed and how to manage them.
“Don’t feel like you need to do extra extracurriculars. Do what’s fun and what interests you,” advised Matsui. At the same time Prakash gave a simple, but necessary piece of advice: “Less is more.” Sidwell offers more than 65 clubs and other extracurricular activities, giving students the opportunity to explore what interests them. Seniors believe that when it comes to extracurriculars, it is important to participate due to curiosity and passion rather than the goal of applying for college.
Matsui believes that the school year is dull with just a few friends. He suggested branching out, saying, “Don’t have just one friend group.” Some Upper School classes, including language and art, have a range of grade levels where students have the opportunity to connect and get to know one another. Matsui also feels that Sidwell’s athletic community is a great place to meet new friends and create communities within sports teams. Despite the competitive Sidwell atmosphere, Prakash said to always, “cheer each other on. It’s way more fun moving through high school rooting for each other,” and to not lose sight of the fact that in the end, “someone else’s success does not take away from you at all.” She believes that staying close as a community is important for a fun high school experience and a quality group of friends will be there for you during the ups and downs of high school.
Although in the fall the class of 2025 will no longer be on Sidwell campus, their advice can serve as a helpful resource for Sidwell’s underclassmen to thrive in high school and approach their upcoming years with positivity and confidence.