The Raven's Cry Advice Column: Bon Voyage, Seniors!

Dear ASFA Class of 2025,

As I sit here and try to write this piece for you seniors, I find myself struggling to voice the words of advice I have because there are too many inspiring words and quotes I have memorized and too many memories and moments intertwined to explain in the span of just this one article, so I’ll try my best to keep it short.

Although I’m only a junior, my main friend group during ninth and tenth grade was comprised of ASFA students one year older than me, so this year has been tough because for the first time I haven’t gotten to see them everyday and laugh with them in the dorms since they graduated last year. And now this year, my incredible roommate, my best friend, is graduating and she too will leave me and this school soon, so in a way I feel as if I’ve already experienced the end of high school too many times to count. I feel as if I’ve experienced graduation and senior year twice. And yet, here I am, still one more year from officially graduating and so because of my experiences and overall positive outlook on change, I do have a few things I would like to share.

1. Explore. Explore the world. Explore your community and your new school and your hobbies and your passions and your identity. Explore as much as you can for the next few years and never stop because although the world will make you feel like you’re supposed to have everything already figured out, in actuality, this time is specifically designed for you to find where you want to be, what you want to do and discover who you are. Do not put so much pressure on yourself that you forget to experiment with new classes that interest you and new activities that excite you. Prioritize your health and your safety and your creativity but also remind yourself to have fun. This is the perfect time to enjoy life to the fullest.

   
   

2. Step out of your comfort zone. Of course, this is much easier said than done, but as someone who has consistently made it a priority in my life to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone, especially when it came to things like making friends and meeting new people, I have found it to be more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. So when you go to your new place, try to say hi to someone everyday. If you see a student in your class with a cool shirt, tell them that you like it and try to start a conversation. Talk about what led you to your major with others in the same department. Have a sit down conversation with your new roommate for a few hours and just talk about your life, about ASFA and about what you like (it will pay off, trust me). And don’t forget that everyone at your school, every undergrad, is just as nervous as you are. You’re all in a new place, surrounded by new people, with new goals and a new life ahead of you, one that you get to decide. So if you want to do something new: go to a student organization meeting, join a club sports team, tutor someone in a field you love, intern at a gallery, study abroad, anything truly, I say go for it. You never have as much time as you do now. So take advantage of it and don’t let yourself be held back by your fears, that’s something to leave in highschool.

   
   

3. Trust yourself. I don’t think I’d ever be able to stress this enough but seriously, trust who you are. Trust your ideas and your passions and your thoughts and dreams. Trust that in your journey as a student and as a person, everything you have done has led to this place because you trusted yourself time and time again. I mean, you made it through ASFA, how much harder could college really be? So please, allow the dream that you’ve had for years to grow and bloom. Allow those ideas you’ve kept tucked away for so long flourish and enter the world. And most of all, allow yourself, who you truly are, to become the individual that you are destined to be, because the only way you can do that is to trust that your life has a greater purpose than the difficulties and anxieties you are facing in the current moment. Remember all of the adversity you have overcome. Remember the countless hours you have spent reading and writing, performing and dancing, acting and researching. Remember all that you have sacrificed to get to the moment where you stand with your diploma in hand and step into the next chapter of your life, the beautiful blank pages unfolding before you. Don’t forget, you’re the one who writes your future. And to do that, you must trust yourself.

   
   

But please, remember that this truly is only the beginning even if it feels like it’s taken quite a long time to get here. You have so much ahead of you and I can’t wait to read the articles talking about what you have done, see the shows you will perform in, watch the dances you choreograph, see the art in a museum you have created, read the books you have written and learn about the scientific advancements you have discovered. I can’t wait to look back when I am in your shoes and even later on, remembering that I once went to school with such incredibly kind, talented and inspiring people. And so, for my last piece of advice, I want you to know that no matter what, you have one person who is cheering you on. One person who knows you will be successful because you are dedicated and you have persevered through everything that has tried to stand in your way. I am that one person and I know that you will be okay. So, take a deep breath, close your eyes and when you open them, see the beautiful world that is ripe for the taking. It’s all in your hands now.