LOCKED IN FOR SUCCESS Senior Lily Pham attentively concentrates on her AP Computer Science Principles notes. After experimenting with different study techniques, Pham discovered that creating her own revision notes and doing practice questions worked best for her adaptation with a heavy academic calendar. “There is a lot of new knowledge and information that I need to catch up with others,” Pham said. Photo courtesy of Lily Pham.

High school is often described as a journey filled with ups and downs, but for many seniors at Mater Dei, certain years stand out as remarkably testing. Each year of high school presents its own unique set of challenges, whether it is demanding workloads, major transitions, extracurricular commitments, or the pressure of college applications. 

For many seniors at Mater Dei, the final year stands out as notably difficult. Senior Ava Gomez describes this year as her toughest yet. Between advanced classes, leadership roles, and the time-consuming process of college applications, she finds herself striving to keep up.

“It was really tough balancing college apps, my tough classes, and leadership positions in my activities,” Gomez said. “Senioritis is so real because you’re super stressed about getting into college.”

Gomez highlights the importance of relying on available resources and maintaining a positive mindset. She emphasizes that the school’s counseling office has played a major role in guiding her to navigate the college application process. 

“The counseling office is your best friend during college apps,” Gomez said. “They have so many resources to help make the process smooth while helping to boost your mental health.” 

Looking back at her high school journey, Gomez recognizes the importance of self-appreciation and finding balance. She reflects on how easy it is to be overly critical of oneself, especially during stressful moments.  

“We are our biggest critics, so having and working on self-love is important,” Gomez said. “I feel like you also have to be easy on yourself and remember everything will work out.”

On the other hand, junior year was the hardest for senior Lucas Cobb. Known as the most crucial year for college applications and scholarships, junior year comes with an unparalleled level of pressure. Between a crammed schedule of AP classes, extracurricular activities, and standardized tests, Cobb was overwhelmed by the academic and emotional demands. 

“I took the most AP [classes] that year,” Cobb said. “[My] GPA mattered the most, and it was the busiest schedule with academics, extracurricular [activities], and SAT and college application prep. Managing this busy schedule was taxing physically and mentally.”

Junior year pushed Cobb to his limits but it also became a turning point for his personal growth. Cobb realized that handling stress effectively required an adjustment in mindset and the development of new ways to stay grounded. 

Cobb emphasizes the significance of focusing on the bigger picture rather than paying attention to small pieces of holdbacks. By shifting his perspective, he gained control of his challenges and gained valuable lessons that he hopes to carry out into the future. 

“I learned to stop feeling anxiety if I mess up on an assignment or do badly on a test, and I trained myself physically and mentally to be able to stay calm in very stressful situations,” Cobb said. “The key is to gain momentum and never stop moving no matter what challenges you face.”

Retrospectively, Cobb acknowledges that his high school experience could have been more productive if he started focusing on his future sooner. He admitted that he only began putting in effort halfway through junior year, which made him realize how much progress he could have made if he had been more active earlier. Despite these realizations, Cobb remains optimistic and grateful for the lessons he has learned along the way.

”Overall, it went pretty well,” Cobb said. “I’ve had my low moments and my high moments, but that’s just life. I’ve learned and matured a lot in my years here, and I hope to take that into my future.”

For senior Lily Pham, who moved to the United States just two years ago, high school presented a unique set of challenges. Adapting to a new education system while managing the pressures of academics was not an easy ride. On top of this, senior year came with the added responsibilities of college applications and advanced coursework. 

To keep up with everything, Pham developed effective strategies to stay organized and manage her workload. Balancing four AP courses while navigating the college application process was not smooth sailing. She found that success came down to thoughtful planning and consistent effort.

“Senior year [was the most challenging year for me] because there was a lot of stress in completing the Common Application while maintaining my grades in school,” Pham said. “I scheduled my plans a week ahead, took my revisions, and practiced questions.”

The challenges of high school may vary for every student, but one theme remains consistent: growth through distress. Whether it was the academic intensity of junior year, the draining balance of senior year, or the cultural transition of adjusting to a new country, these experiences have shaped Mater Dei seniors into stronger and more resilient individuals.

“I love [my high school experience] so much because Mater Dei supports me and brings me to meet a lot of wonderful people that crossed my path, my teachers, [and] all of my best friends,” Pham said. “They give mental support and encouragement throughout my [college] application journey.”