The class of 2021 is navigating their last school year through virtual and hybrid learning which leaves little opportunity for them to interact with freshmen. 

While the seniors may have seemed to disappear this year, they live on through their impacts on the clubs they developed, their sports winnings, their academy performances, and their excellence in the classroom. 

For the first time, the senior class and the SunDevil Times have collaborated to present senior Advice to Freshmen: A collection. 

We asked seniors the following: “If you could give one piece of advice to the freshmen, what would it be?” 

Below you will find dozens of answers from a charismatic class that has grown into an intertwined community. Read with care, because below are messages comprising four years of experience, regret, lessons, appreciation, and things we wish we knew as freshmen. 

Adelina O’Con: While school is an important factor in your life, don’t let it become the only ruling force to all your decisions. Take the time to find out what you actually enjoy and participate in activities that genuinely interest you. Spend the next four years collecting stories and memories rather than soullessly dedicating your life to your academics. Education is still extremely pertinent to your future, but don’t give it all your time and allow it to rob you of truly joyous moments. 

Adriel Tabilin: I may be just a name on a wall now, but I too was just like you. New building, new people, new social hierarchy—not quite sure what your life plans are. It all gets pretty intimidating and pretty confusing, but soon you’ll learn to call it home. Now’s your time. If you think you were a no-one in middle school, then try to be someone now. Join clubs, make friends, and get to know your teachers. You only have four years so make the best of it. Take those AP’s. They’re not that scary and it’ll save you later. And if you fall along the way, just ask for help from your friends, your teachers, and classmates. This school is yours now. Make the best of it. Try everything and leave this place with no regrets. Good luck, and welcome to Salem.

Aiden Berklee: Trust me, everything will work out in the end. You are going to be O.K. Just work hard and you will end up where you need to be.

Amber Verzo-Rull: Don’t overwhelm yourself. Get involved in clubs and activities around the school. Salem offers a lot of interesting clubs as well as culture clubs! Use your One Lunch time wisely, whether that is visiting officer hours, club meetings, etc so that you don’t have to stay after-school. You don’t want to miss the opportunities of going to school dances, getting hyped at pep rallies, and the drum lines at seven in the morning. Leadership Workshop is really worth it. You don’t wanna miss it! Salem is the best place to express yourself through music, dance, and art. 

Andrew Torn: Stay focused and motivated, it will help you out in the long run.

Angelica Juanson Aznar: Take your time. Don’t rush. You have all the time in the world to worry about your future. Focus on what’s right in front of you. Focus on the things that’ll help better your future.

Anna Watson: Friends are good to have, but it matters who they are and how they influence you. How you perform in high school is important for getting into college/trade school, so don’t focus on being a popular kid or having the most friends. Have a close circle of people who help push each other to do well. 

Asha Cooper: Push yourself to try new things and meet new people, even if it is scary. Doing this created some of the best experiences and opportunities for me.

Breeyonna Johnson: Don’t worry about what others think about you. Make sure your grades come first, friends will come later. Your GPA will play a big part in your future so please remember to work your hardest. Respect your teachers because they will have the best intentions for you. Be yourself, high school is a time to figure out who you are and live life to the fullest so don’t waste it trying to fit in with everyone else. Have fun. 🙂

Brian Davis: Pace yourself and do not put too much on your plate at one time. Also, always turn your work in on time.

Camilla McNeil: Go to sleep on time and try not to turn in late work. This could be good practice for college.

Caroline Van Schenck: Do something that makes you happy. Even if there isn’t a class on it, teach yourself. Make your own future.

Chloe Dietz: Don’t take everything other people say or do to heart. You don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. Also, be kind to others; one compliment or nice comment might mean more to a person than you would ever realize.

Connor Land: Get involved early on! Find every ounce of opportunity because it’ll make you a well-rounded person.

Conner Thomas: Make as many friends as you can. The more friends you have, the more events you will be involved with, the more clubs you will want to join, and you will get the most out of school by doing so. I know I started being more involved by understanding that the more connections you make to your peers, the more you will enjoy your time here at Salem.

DaeQuon Shines: USE YOUR RESOURCES! Teachers, family, community, etc. There are so many things that you can get ahead on, to be prepared for the inevitable unknown happenings of your senior year. Take the extra initiative to seek out those things; don’t let your past affect your growth.

Deiandre Fernandez: No matter what, have faith in yourself. High school is all about finding who you are inside and outside. It may take a while to find out who you really are, but you’ll figure it out throughout your years at high school.

Emma Smith: Don’t always trust that the people you’re hanging out with are good for you. Don’t get tied up in other people’s lives. Do your own thing and prioritize yourself always when it comes to high school life. Also, if you’re undecided about your future just try your best to keep a variety of options open (between grades, activities, coursework, etc) and don’t get hung up on rankings or how you compare to others socially or academically, because as long as you try your best you are doing what you need to be doing. Remember that it is temporary, and try to keep an open mind!!! The more you dread school or think negatively about it, the worse you will feel AND perform! Overall, just try to have fun and do what makes you proud of yourself.

Elyse Glenn: Enjoy high school while it lasts. You don’t realize just how short it is until it is taken from you. Get involved, make friends, talk to him/her/them, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. But remember what you do in high school does not have to dictate your future success. It is okay to not have a plan. Eventually, you’ll find your way.

Elyse Miller: A lot of freshmen go into high school wanting to hide and not bring attention to themselves, but it’s okay to be “that” freshman/sophomore and speak up, go to dances, and sing during pep rallies. High school may be new, but that doesn’t mean you have to change who you are. Participate in school activities with your friends; and if you’re not familiar with anyone, you will find your people as long as you’re not afraid to make an introduction. Also, if it’s possible, take your permit test ASAP so you can be a cool driving upperclassman.

Erica Munisar: Freshman year is the easiest year to get good grades. Do your work and keep your GPA high in your first year so you can keep club, college, and scholarship opportunities open years down the line. You will thank yourself! Use this year to have fun and explore any possible interests you have. Colleges always look for students who show leadership qualities. If you can find a club you love now and stay in it, that will look amazing and show your dedication or leadership to a college. If you are ever interested in taking an AP class, that means you are most likely fit to do it regardless of what others may say. Go for them! Starting now, write down any achievements you ever receive and do not lose them. You will do great, and bring a pair of headphones. P.S. join the debate team!

Jamie Miller: If you have the chance to take an advanced class, take it. Always reach to the top because I never went beyond.

Jericho Jimenez: The first piece I can offer you is to cut yourself off from anything or anyone who hinders you from reaching your best potential. I’m not saying to cut off everything you think poses as a threat, but remember it’s okay to do what you need to become successful. It’s okay to take a break from people and to self-heal for a period of time. It’s okay to be anti-social and discover yourself and better yourself at the same time. It’s okay to be slow and take one step at a time. The second piece of advice is to get yourself out there. I never participated in school events until my junior year. It’s better to make friends and connections with other people than on your last day of high school. Don’t be afraid to be friends with people in different grades because at the end of the day, as long as they’re someone you can trust and are chill with it’s fine.

Jordan Bensen: Keep up with your grades! You will be proud of yourself when you look back on your years of high school and see a successful student.

Jordan Kuhlhoff: Be yourself, it’s okay to say no, and focus on your academics.

Julianni Blackford: Enjoy your life right now. Even though your freshman year is insanely different from mine, I wish that I’d have lived every moment not worried about what was forward. Be proud of yourself for making it this far, and stop worrying so much about everything ahead of you. Time will pass as it does; just live in the moment. Take care of what you need to, but don’t forget that you’re the most important. Love yourself, and cherish your time. It goes by fast.

Kaleigh Carlson: Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. The best thing about high school is the friends that you make along the way; trust me, you won’t find that group unless you put yourself out there.

Kemonte Melton: Don’t be afraid to ask for help, the teachers are very interested in any way they can help. You don’t have to do it alone.

Kymani Quarles: Take as many classes that appeal to your interests now before you have to pay for the same education later. College will always be there so don’t feel like you need to get your life figured out at 14-17.

Kyra Hinson: Don’t stress about everything so much. I promise that high school isn’t as scary as it may seem, and I guarantee that if you are part of a club or anything there will be an upperclassman to adopt you. Everyone was a freshman at one point in time, so don’t stress. 

Mackenzie Rickard: Make the best of all four years it will go by very quickly, grades do matter all four quarters of the school year, and good standing in attendance will make a big difference.

Marc Anthony Erjas: Juniors and seniors are your friends; they’ll drive you to Chick-Fil-A if needed.

Marian Herboso: Don’t hold back. They say freshman year is a year to take it easy while you try and adjust to your new environment, but it’s honestly way better to make yourself uncomfortable and explore your passions that way. Freshman year does matter when it comes to college applications, and they look for people who are impactful, rather than someone who’s just good at academics. Get involved in an extracurricular and stay involved because you’re passionate. It’ll prepare you for your future, and you’ll have something more than just a simple thing you write on an application. The more you take risks, the more you understand yourself and your needs, and it’s important to have that throughout your high school journey! Put yourself in scenarios you normally wouldn’t see yourself and you’ll learn a lot (and maybe even gain new friends with it!!). Now isn’t the time to just relax, that’s what the second semester of senior year is for, haha. Everything you do matters. Each day will feel slow, but when you look back, the years go by fast.

Namarta Sharma: Learn to depend and rely on yourself. Having friends and meeting new people is great, it’s super important as well but it isn’t necessary for you to count on them all the time. There will be times where you have to work on a project or assignment alone and it can seem intimidating. So work on becoming independent and trust yourself. You got this! 🙂

Realyn Cora Quiazon: Take advantage of your time, for example, instead of procrastinating, do your work 10 minutes every day rather than cramming it on the last day. It will be a self-rewarding feeling.

Rosie Nelson: Whether you dream of going to trade school or going to college for Chemical Engineering, you have to give high school your all. Now is not the time to blow off your classes and assignments. Take responsibility. Be nice to your parents. Pay attention to your changing interests. Talk to people! Please be safe on social media and think before you post! Use your common sense and BE GOOD!

Sarah Gibson: It may seem very simple but, try in school. Try to get good grades. Try to get involved. Try to find something you love to do. Try to have fun. High School only lasts so long, in a blink of the eye it will be over. 

Sarah Rush: I would definitely suggest getting involved in the school! I didn’t do this my freshman year and it made it a lot harder for me to make friends. I joined SCA and NHS sophomore year and got super involved in the academy and it made school so much more fun. Also, go to events! Nothing beats going to a football game and seeing Salem win! Our teachers are also so nice, so don’t be afraid to ask for help or reach out to them. Finally, just enjoy your time here. I know it can seem stressful and I know that senior year feels far away, but it really does come in the blink of an eye. So just enjoy it, take it all in. 

ShaBre’yah Hammond: Find yourself. I cannot stress this enough and I really wish I understood what older people meant when they told me this. You are young and you have so much life and love to give. Please, if you are in a relationship, know that person is either a lesson or a blessing. Invest in yourself with love and do not accept the bare minimum. When you practice the energy and expectations with yourself,  you will attract those with similar energy. Also, it’s okay to not have everything figured out!!

Shayla Smith: Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Unfortunately, we live in a world that tells you to “be unique,” but when we do we get criticized for it. Well, I’m here to tell you that we really do need more “unique” people in this world. Everyone has something they can bring to the table, whether that is your sense of humor, your adorable quirk that no one else seems to possess, or your serious tone. So, be free, be happy, be YOU!

Shelby Dickenson: Do not give up, you will regret it so much.

Taylor Saunders: Don’t stress too much about anything. If it is meant to be it will be, and you will find your way and the people you are meant to be with. When you find the right people they will be uplifting and won’t drag you down. 

Trinity I. Blanco: Enjoy the time you have here at Salem. Don’t trouble yourself with work and don’t over stress over the trouble of it. I’ve seen too many of my friends burn themselves out to work, anxiety, and stress that is school, work, and/or home related. I’d advise you to do what you can with determination and a sense of hope. High school is supposed to be one of the most memorable and interesting eras of a lifetime. Try to soak it all in and enjoy every moment. Also don’t feel pressured to meet unrealistic standards. Pace yourself. Have time to get to know yourself and your limits. That way you’ll know how to organize and plan your days better. On that note, in the long run- it’s okay to be uncertain or unsure, especially in these times. If you don’t know what you want to pursue in the future, that’s alright. Take the time here in Salem to find yourself, maybe with the help of friends and teachers- maybe even the staff here. You’ll have support- and don’t be afraid to accept or ask for it. Salem is a wonderful school that pushes for students to be the best in what they love regarding their passions or academics. Take these four years to soak in every opportunity this school gives you and you’ll most likely won’t regret it.