Don’t Blink!—Senior Year

This article is a collaboration between writers Chirag Asnani and Nina Sepahi.

At long last it’s finally here—our senior year. Because the Class of 2018 is about to go through the stress of college applications, IB Exams, and deciding their fate for the next four years, our last year of high school may be filled with ups and downs. Then again, we’ve got our last China trip, the senior lock-in, and the senior talent show dance among other things to look forward to. Despite the panic and anxiety 77 of our students are facing, there must be something each of them can’t wait to experience this year. We set out on a mission to find out how some of them feel.

When asked about her biggest fear for the upcoming year, Queenie Hsiao, a senior returning for her 14th year at AISG, reflected on the years she’s spent here and admitted that this year will be tough, as it is her last year at home. Eileen Jeung, on the other hand, is nothing but excited: “I’m not necessarily sad as I am really looking forward to university.” However, before she feel true anticipation for the next chapter of her life after 8 years at AISG, she has to focus on preparation for IB exams. We all know the pressure that these tests can put on seniors, especially when their college decisions depend on the score they receive. Speaking of college, Max Chen shared that he is most nervous about keeping up with early decision deadlines. He plans to apply early decision to the Art, Architecture and Planning College at Cornell, and the deadline is coming up on November 1.

On the bright side, all three seniors realize that there are many things coming up in the next few months that are exciting to think about. Max said, “I am particularly excited about experiencing college life, as I attended summer courses at Cornell. The experiences there were really nice and it has left me excited for what real college could be like.” In regard to his senior year, he explained that he looks forward to spending time with his friends and playing soccer, as this will be his last APAC playing for the boys team as a goalie. Eileen participates in Model United Nations, which will hold a conference in Seoul this November. She explained that she is excited as “MUN is always a fun experience. I get to meet new people and catch up with those that I have met at previous conferences. Korea is also my home country so I’m happy I get to eat some familiar food.” Both Max and Eileen also cannot wait for the senior lock-in, which has always been enjoyed by past seniors. When asked what she is most excited about, Queenie gave a simple answer: “Graduation!”

Queenie, Max, and Eileen opened up about the stress that everyone else is probably experiencing, but there is also plenty to look forward to this year. Senior year can be frightening and overwhelming, but there’s clearly a silver lining. Seniors, this is our year—our last year. Let’s make the most of it.