When a school year comes to its close, high schoolers are confronted with many versions of themselves.
As students, we are hyper-focused on finals, AP exams, Keystones, and ending the year with one strong, final push. As athletes, the end of the spring season is a culmination of hard training and extreme endurance. But as people, and people that are constantly evolving, we, admittedly or not, feel a pang for the time that passed us by. And for some, as graduating seniors, we are bracing for the impact of leaving behind our childhood next fall.
Amid the obligations that come with the beginning of summer, when do we get to hold space for our nostalgia? More than this–what can we learn from our nostalgia? Sometimes, the responsibility-free optimism of our childhoods is all we need to reconnect with who we are.
Dr. Yannacone’s–and Enfield’s–advice
In her annual remarks at STHS’s graduation, Dr. Yannacone calls on the help of Springfield second graders to advise graduates on their, sometimes daunting, futures.
She says that “there is a lot of noise that can cloud your thinking as a young adult, causing you to question yourself, what makes you happy, and where your heart and passion lies.” Inspired by Robert Fulgham’s, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Dr. Yannacone “wanted to remind our graduates of… younger voices at a transitional time that can be scary and intimidating.”
Because, from an eight year old’s perspective, imparted wisdom can be “profound life lessons” and “timeless messages that we feel down to our souls”–filled with optimism that many forget when faced with big life decisions.
Dr. Yannacone gives some recurring themes:
- “Be true to yourself”
- “Do what makes you happy”
- “Take the time to cultivate friendships”
- “Be Kind”
- “Never give up on your dreams”
- “Never forget that you are loved at Springfield.”
Whether in their senior year or not, by considering this advice Spartans can embrace the younger side of themselves that may have been quick to impart this wisdom too.
The Takeaway:
We can learn a lot from kids’ optimistic, open-minded perspectives.
It’s easier said than done, especially with the responsibilities many are faced with. But four years is a short amount of time and another year is coming to an end–for freshmen and graduating seniors alike.
Yes, we’re getting older. But it doesn’t mean we have to let go of our childhoods just yet.
