Senior Advice to Freshmen
As our final year of high school approaches, the class of 2027 is preparing to take their next big steps into the future. From navigating the steps of balancing a social life to the small things that go unnoticed, the seniors have seen it all. They’ve learned exactly what it takes to thrive--not just survive--in these hallways. A few members of the senior class, that we all know and love, wanted to give the underclassmen unsolicited advice on how to survive in high school.
Q: How did you find a balance in having a social life, being successful in school, and doing extracurriculars?
A: “Being involved in extracurriculars actually really helped me stay focused in school. This goes for more than sports! I quickly learned how to manage my time because I had to spend much of it on the field or stage. As for balancing social life, it is so easy to feel like there is no time for a social life when being super involved, but what I learned is the more I made friends in my various activities, the more I felt like school was already a social place to be! SO my advice is to dig in and get involved in anything that strikes you as interesting or fun! You will find your people, and you will be held accountable for school work. The balance comes naturally!” - Kate Talley
“Planning is essential! You have to find a healthy balance and that varies person to person. Be at school when you’re at school (listen in class, use focus and study time well) so you can have time and be fully present outside of school.” - Anabelle Obsorn
“To be completely honest, it took a long time to find even a small sense of balance between everything I juggle in life. Not because I didn't know, but because there was a constant state of change. Force yourself to not procrastinate! Take a study hall! Use it! Try to get as much done at school as possible so you have less to complete at home.” - Ava Miller
“Know your priorities and have them straight! The biggest thing for me when I first came to CCS was understanding that school came first and it was hard in the beginning because I wanted to make friends fast. It may not be exactly what you want, but it is what is best for you in the long run.” - Jack Bower
“Get app blockers on your phone! Social media, games, and talking to other people take up a lot more time than most people think. Also, simply having a mindset that you are "GOING" to do what you say you are going to do is very important!”
- Donnis Boochie
“Make a plan blocking your time the weekend before. It helps to plan out our week and see what you need to put emphasis on. Also be okay with saying no to things. If you have homework and someone asks to hang out, do what is best for you and get your work done. You can still do both, but make sure you have your priorities straight.” - Tucker Skelley
Q: If you could travel back to your freshman self on the first day, what would you tell them to do differently, if anything?
A: “I would tell myself to stay on top of my work. Procrastination brought me so much stress, and ultimately wasn't worth it in the end. Work hard now to stress less later.” - Kate Talley
“Don’t be afraid to try new things whether that be a club, sport, or class. A lot of people think if you don’t play the sport or class in middle school then you’ll never make it, but you never know. You have 4 more years so still be willing to try new things as a freshman.” - Anabelle Osborn
“Don't be scared to try new things, and give 110% at everything. The fear of being judged or failing kept me from a lot of things. Sign up for everything! Even the things that seem no fun. Don’t seem too cool for everything. We remember the people that were loudest at pep rallies and games and assemblies and I now wish I had done that more because you realize how truly fun things can be when you don't care how others perceive you.” - Ava Miller
“Quickly learning how to study is the best thing you can do! It hindered me to not know how to study properly, but when I eventually learned, it made a huge difference. It’s something I wish I would’ve started earlier. Also, find a good and real friend group. Walking into a new school I knew like 2 people, but that led me into a big friend group that's still together to this day and it's something that'll last all of us a lifetime.” - Jack Bower
“Get the app blockers! I wish I would have had them sooner. Procrastination is key in destroying your academic, social, and athletic life. Luckily, I was still able to balance those three things by force that was based on due dates, but this produced a lack of sleep. Sleep is far more important than any assignment.”
- Donnis Boochie
“Take studying more seriously and try to find opportunities to connect with others. These two factors are extremely significant, and that took me a while to understand.” - Tucker Skelley
Q: What is a hidden gem or underrated part of our school that most people take for granted?
A: “The huge availability of extracurriculars! I think it is so special that at CCS people are encouraged not just to be athletic or smart, but to be creative, servant hearted, and curious. People take for granted how beautiful it is that athletes have the opportunity to be involved in the arts and vice versa. We have so many incredible clubs that sometimes go unnoticed but are wildly successful. There's no excuse to not have fun!” - Kate Talley
“Getting to know your teachers well! Whether it is by asking them about their lives or getting extra help on schoolwork, these relationships help in your future for things like recommendation letters for college or job applications. It will both make your year here more enjoyable while also benefiting you by having mentors you can go to in times of need, school related or not. We have the privilege of having such amazing teachers at CCS who serve as great role models and care for you beyond grades.” - Anabelle Osborn
“Gospel choir! Some people find it boring or maybe even "cringey" but I can promise it's the most fun thing ever!! We get to come together every week to laugh and joke and learn songs about the Lord. We bond backstage before going on, and get to each lunch with each other in between. Everyone up there does not care one bit about what others are thinking and it's truly so fun and freeing to realize you can praise the Lord with so much joy and sound!” - Ava Miller
“Our athletic trainers! A lot of people miss out on Hannah, Jordan, and Connor, but they are a huge part of this school even if you don’t realize it. There's never been a day that I've walked in there and not felt better. It might not be better as in an injury but clarification and guidance. If you ever have a problem or injury they are the people to talk to. They give so much time, effort, and energy to this school and everyone should utilize them if they can.” - Jack Bower
“The unused tutor rooms during certain periods! And talking to your AC!! The tutor rooms are very quiet and allow for quite a lot of work to get finished. When talking to your AC, most of the time great information is given, and it’s easy to have conversations with them. They’re very available during focus, or even before school.” - Donnis Boochie
“The English books are so underrated! Make time for the reading if at all possible because sparknotes aren't the same as actually experiencing the books.” - Tucker Skelley
Q: What staff member changed your high school experience?
A: “Mrs. Baker! She has been hugely impactful in my life for so many reasons. Not only did she teach me to make pottery on the wheel, to sculpt, and to photograph my work, she taught me important life skills. She taught me the importance of chasing ideas and bringing them to life. She has taught me the value of trial and error, of failure, and of growth. She has also taught me that art really is for everyone; I never would have coined myself an artist, and I really just started ceramics to finish my art credits. However, Mrs. Baker has shown me that I am capable of making beautiful things, even if it takes 100 ugly attempts to do it.”
- Kate Talley
“Mrs. Ginese! She has taught me how to act professionally by teaching us how to send emails, how to speak in public, and how to be slow to speak and quick to listen. Mrs. Ginese was always so encouraging to me and has truly influenced the way I communicate and talk with others. Words are powerful, God spoke in creation, and Mrs. Ginese taught me how to use words in a way that glorifies God, both through learning in class and observing the way she speaks with intentionality and thought.” - Anabelle Osborn
“Mr. Harvey! He not only taught us how to find the deeper meaning in the books we read, but how to take those themes and apply it to our lives in high school. He once told us that he hated when adults told kids in school that they should just "wait for the real world", implying high school is easy compared to living an adult one. Mr. Harvey told us he didn't like that because it gives the impression that the life we are living now is somehow fake, when we experience so much in these 4 years. He taught me to slow down and look around more. To appreciate each little thing and the purpose it serves in God's kingdom. In just the one year he taught me, I learned to look at things more than once, and to find the ability to sit in silence, even when it's uncomfortable. He truly cares for each and every one of his students. It's in the way he interacts with each, remembering small details and checking up, that shows he's truly rooting for each of his students to succeed.”
- Ava Miller
“Mrs. Lowe! She is a person that is willing to listen to everything that you have to say and she always has great advice. She welcomed me from the first day, and I took her class 3 times. There's never a day she leaves anyone out. She also always remembers the little things that you say to her and treats you like a friend.” - Jack Bower
“Coach Craft! Mostly because practices are grueling and horrid, but he still prays with us, and teaches life lessons. I believe he taught me to try my best to see Jesus in everything I do.” - Donnis Boochie
“Mr. Harvey! He taught me to appreciate the little things in life and not place so much pressure on just looking ahead to the next thing.” - Tucker Skelley
Q: What is something you used to care so much about as a freshman that you realize doesn’t matter now?
A: “I used to care so much about what other people thought about me. I now realize that we are all wrapped up in our own struggles to worry too much about others. I used to stress about if people noticed that I wore the same hairstyle two days in a row, or if I wasn't wearing makeup, or if I was wearing clashing colors in my outfit. I now realize that I have never once noticed if someone else wore their hair in braids two days in a row, if someone else wasn't wearing mascara that day, or if someone else was wearing black on navy. When you stop and ask yourself "When was the last time I noticed that about someone else?" you will quickly realize that no one thinks about you as much as you do.” - Kate Talley
“Friends and friend groups! It's essential to have a trusted group of friends that you can talk to on a deeper level, but you don’t need 15 close friends, just a few good ones, to be able to share your relationship with God with or to go to in times of need. Of course, you should always be nice to everyone in your grade and try to make friends with people in different groups, but it is essential to keep a close knit group of a few people to grow deeper connections with.” - Anabelle Osborn
“I cared about school way too much as a freshman. I'm not saying you should forget about your school assignments and not study for tests, but remember that these are your last years of childhood and for many, you're last ones you will spend at home! I sometimes wish I had gone to the basketball game or stayed at youth longer, or done that extra club instead of pushing them all away with the excuse that I just had "too much work to get done." Part of that is obviously growing and learning how to balance everything, but it's also learning to know where to put care into each part of life. I wish I cared less about being perfect in every aspect, and focused more on the learning and experience part, even if that meant failing along the way.” - Ava Miller
“I cared way too much about what people thought of me and what they were saying, Now, I realize its not that big of a deal. The only person who has a say on what you do is you. Other people’s opinions don’t matter as much as you think. There are always going to be people with more stuff or “better” things, but it doesn’t make them better, it just makes them different from you. Which is a good thing! We are all our own people. Just do what's best for you and what God is directing you to do.” - Jack Bower
“I used to care a lot about getting assignments done on time, but I now realize that there is more danger in missing sleep. Going to sleep early and possibly getting up early is much better than staying up late to finish an assignment and still waking up early.” - Donnis Boochie
“I, like most people, was overly concerned about how others perceived me. Now I see that it is better to just put yourself out there. No one truly cares, and we are all thinking so much about ourselves that most people don’t notice.” - Tucker Skelley
Q: As you look towards graduation, what is the thing you are going to miss the most about CCS?
A: “I’m going to miss the community the most. CCS is one of the most welcoming and friendly communities I have ever found myself in. I know that I have support not only in my teachers, coaches, and mentors, but in my classmates also. I am eternally grateful for the people I have found here, and that is what I will miss most of all.” - Kate Talley
“I’m going to miss the sports team the most. I’m not going to college for a sport, so I will definitely miss the volleyball team and our traditions of eating out before games or doing big sis lil sis, or the tennis team with our bus rides and dinners after a match. Those bonds you make on a team together are so powerful, and I will truly miss that.” - Anabelle Osborn
“I'm going to miss the community at CCS so much. As a lot of my first lasts are approaching, I'm realizing how many things I love that I will experience for the last time this year. Homecoming, pop-ups, sports, classes, and so much more at CCS have their own distinct groups of people. Being in each of these I've met some of the best people I know. I still reminisce on my interim groups and my favorite classes each year. Not because it's strictly where I learned the most or did my best work, but because it had so many people I love and new ones that became friends I never expected. CCS has so many ways to be connected, and I'm truly going to miss that.” - Ava Miller
“I’m going to miss my soccer team the most. Over the past 3 years, it's given me countless moments and friendships that I never thought I would've had. They always give 100 percent effort and it shows both on and off the field. While it might seem like we argue or fight a lot over the past years, we've grown through Christ as a team and family. I will remember playing with this team for the rest of my life because a day doesn't go by where I don't want to be on the field with all of those people. No matter how much we lose or win, I will always remember that team as a family.” - Jack Bower
“I’m going to miss the teachers the most. I believe the relationships I’ve built are good, and moving to new environments with different professors and such will be challenging with the care teachers endow on students here.” - Donnis Bower
“I will miss the experiences I got during each grade. Whether it was interim or class trips or other specific opportunities, I will miss them so much. I particularly enjoyed the service days and all of the different clubs and opportunities that were provided because the school focused on community.” - Tucker Skelley
Q: How did your friend group change over the past 4 years and what did it teach you about relationships?
A: “Over the past four years, my friend group has grown, shrunk, and changed altogether. I have learned that relationships are vital, but they will change with the seasons of life. Sometimes this change means growing closer to someone you didn't know well before; sometimes it means losing friends altogether because your values and goals don't align anymore. Regardless of who you are friends with, know that God has put the people in your life there for a reason. He may teach you new things through them, He may reveal Himself to you through them, He may bring you comfort and support through them. While I have lost friends and that was hard at the moment, I know that I am not alone in the end because God knows me better than anyone and He knows exactly what and who I need.” - Kate Talley
“Freshman year my friend group was pretty small with about 6 girls, but as the years progressed our friend group grew because we were known to let anyone sit with us at lunch (like the new kids or people who left their friend group), so by junior year our group had about 20 people. Naturally, there began to be “groups within a group” and we were basically one big group with 3 subgroups. At times this leads to some people being left out, some torn between, and some being the ones intentionally leaving people out. Moral of the story: always let people sit with you, invite people, and make them feel welcome, but be confident in who you are and just because you're not best friends with everybody, that doesn’t mean that you’re not loved. You can be friends with so many different people, but you can really only have a few that you can share your struggles with.” - Anabelle Osborn
“My friend group changed so much throughout the years. The group I entered high school with looks almost nothing like the one I'm leaving with. Often, friendship can be hard, especially in high school. Many times I've felt hurt, alone, or just lost. But I kept on anyway, holding close the good friendships I had, and finding new ones along the way. The group of people that surround me now did not form fully until my junior year. So the biggest thing I learned and my biggest piece of advice is to not worry about it too much! Don't try to have the perfect group with the coolest people, because that will only leave you unfulfilled. The group you have now will probably not look the same 4 years from now, and that's perfectly okay. But please don't push away friends when it gets hard. Continue to deepen your relationships and find those that will keep you on the path towards Jesus. Also, talk to so many new people! Outside of my close group of friends, I have so many others in completely different groups that I'm close with. Don't be afraid to talk to new people, and CCS really helps foster an environment where that is possible. It took me 4 years to find my favorite people, and still, I'm forming relationships with new ones I would've never expected. Don't expect what you have now to be concrete, but trust in the Lord and that he will provide fulfilling friendships that last way out of high school!” - Ava Miller
“My friend group has stayed the same throughout the last 4 years now our relationships have grown much tighter but we still have that same core of people we did as freshman. I know for sure when we graduate that we will all stay in touch and keep connecting and growing as a friend group. They are a big reason for what I do and how I strive to be because they all have positive influences on my life in ways that they'll never actually know. I would say having a strong friend group is the most important in high school because it can carry on for a long time while also giving you some of your favorite memories.” - Jack Bower
“My friend group expanded and I learned that in order for relationships to thrive even if you are stuck with someone you don't necessarily like or get along with you can try to find things in common with them and come from a point of understanding to be empathetic with them. Also most people aren't out to get you so try to get to know the people you haven't talked to. Everyone is scared to reach out, so maybe they want to be friends but are just scared.” - Tucker Skelley
