Written by: Mira
Edited by: Amadine
Visual by: Xiatian
Though the end of the school year is on the horizon, there is still so much to celebrate. Most notably, ISM has transitioned from two years of online learning to welcoming students on campus. Now, all high schoolers are attending classes in person and can participate in a wide range of after-school activities. A greater sense of normalcy continues to develop as freshmen, sophomores, and juniors begin preparing for their first final exams—taking place in May—since the beginning of the pandemic. Contrastingly, for seniors, this time of the year involves receiving college acceptances—a symbol for the end of their high school careers. With senior final exams being canceled, Bamboo Telegraph interviewed a few members of the graduating class, not only to get their perspective on canceled final exams, but also to gain insight into their emotions regarding college decisions and the celebrations that come with them.
Initially, the time between sending off college applications and receiving results is stressful and nerve-wracking. Marcus, a current senior who is still in the process of deciding which college to attend, explained, “I felt lost. I did not feel any joy or comfort knowing that I had submitted the applications.[…] The different pressures […] of college applications and acceptances weighed me down, but I was able to push through.” Another senior, Joaquin, who plans on attending the University of Notre Dame, felt “a great relief from finalizing and submitting [his] first application, and a great tension from anticipating a response from the university.” Despite these initial feelings of stress, ultimately receiving letters of acceptance provided a great sense of relief. Joaquin described how after finding out he had been accepted to his top choice university, “the stress from college basically died.”
The celebration that comes with receiving college acceptances is furthered by the cancellation of senior final exams. Joaquin describes this cancellation as “liberating to [his] soul” especially when taking into consideration how seniors had to learn the entire IB curriculum online. He has also begun making plans to celebrate the remaining time before graduation by “relax[ing] and hav[ing] some downtime for [himself], spend[ing] time with those [he] cares about during hangouts, visits, and trips,” and learning morse code. Marcus has not taken part in big celebrations yet, as his UK college acceptances are conditional; however, he knows his celebration plans in the future will be “the best they can be.”
This time of the school year has always been distinguished by end-of-year reflections, gratitude for new experiences, and celebrations for all of the accomplishments and hurdles we were able to push past. However, the end of the school year holds a special sentiment, especially for seniors; with twelve years of education coming to an end, the thought of leaving a familiar environment to attend college can be daunting and overwhelming. It can seem like the future is very uncertain, and that the twelve years of college preparation were not enough. Yet, there is comfort found in the implications of new beginnings.
Marcus remains optimistic, stating “the uncertainty is scary yet hopeful. I do enjoy going into the unknown where new things can be born”. An anonymous senior shares this optimism, explaining “I’m feeling very bittersweet right now. Obviously having been [learning] online for so long, we missed a lot of the events that high schoolers can usually experience. But luckily, being back in person has allowed us to host these, and I’m very excited to finally have prom in person… I’m going to miss ISM, but I think I’m ready for the new adventures that college will bring.”
Ultimately, these senior responses show the incredible resilience of the Class of 2022. Despite the numerous challenges posed by the pandemic and online learning, our seniors being able to push past these challenges and complete the college application process is a cause for celebration in itself. Bamboo Telegraph would like to congratulate all of the seniors for their college acceptances, completion of the IB program, and all of their accomplishments throughout the school year!
Written by: Mira
Edited by: Amadine
Visual by: Xiatian
Though the end of the school year is on the horizon, there is still so much to celebrate. Most notably, ISM has transitioned from two years of online learning to welcoming students on campus. Now, all high schoolers are attending classes in person and can participate in a wide range of after-school activities. A greater sense of normalcy continues to develop as freshmen, sophomores, and juniors begin preparing for their first final exams—taking place in May—since the beginning of the pandemic. Contrastingly, for seniors, this time of the year involves receiving college acceptances—a symbol for the end of their high school careers. With senior final exams being canceled, Bamboo Telegraph interviewed a few members of the graduating class, not only to get their perspective on canceled final exams, but also to gain insight into their emotions regarding college decisions and the celebrations that come with them.
Initially, the time between sending off college applications and receiving results is stressful and nerve-wracking. Marcus, a current senior who is still in the process of deciding which college to attend, explained, “I felt lost. I did not feel any joy or comfort knowing that I had submitted the applications.[…] The different pressures […] of college applications and acceptances weighed me down, but I was able to push through.” Another senior, Joaquin, who plans on attending the University of Notre Dame, felt “a great relief from finalizing and submitting [his] first application, and a great tension from anticipating a response from the university.” Despite these initial feelings of stress, ultimately receiving letters of acceptance provided a great sense of relief. Joaquin described how after finding out he had been accepted to his top choice university, “the stress from college basically died.”
The celebration that comes with receiving college acceptances is furthered by the cancellation of senior final exams. Joaquin describes this cancellation as “liberating to [his] soul” especially when taking into consideration how seniors had to learn the entire IB curriculum online. He has also begun making plans to celebrate the remaining time before graduation by “relax[ing] and hav[ing] some downtime for [himself], spend[ing] time with those [he] cares about during hangouts, visits, and trips,” and learning morse code. Marcus has not taken part in big celebrations yet, as his UK college acceptances are conditional; however, he knows his celebration plans in the future will be “the best they can be.”
This time of the school year has always been distinguished by end-of-year reflections, gratitude for new experiences, and celebrations for all of the accomplishments and hurdles we were able to push past. However, the end of the school year holds a special sentiment, especially for seniors; with twelve years of education coming to an end, the thought of leaving a familiar environment to attend college can be daunting and overwhelming. It can seem like the future is very uncertain, and that the twelve years of college preparation were not enough. Yet, there is comfort found in the implications of new beginnings.
Marcus remains optimistic, stating “the uncertainty is scary yet hopeful. I do enjoy going into the unknown where new things can be born”. An anonymous senior shares this optimism, explaining “I’m feeling very bittersweet right now. Obviously having been [learning] online for so long, we missed a lot of the events that high schoolers can usually experience. But luckily, being back in person has allowed us to host these, and I’m very excited to finally have prom in person… I’m going to miss ISM, but I think I’m ready for the new adventures that college will bring.”
Ultimately, these senior responses show the incredible resilience of the Class of 2022. Despite the numerous challenges posed by the pandemic and online learning, our seniors being able to push past these challenges and complete the college application process is a cause for celebration in itself. Bamboo Telegraph would like to congratulate all of the seniors for their college acceptances, completion of the IB program, and all of their accomplishments throughout the school year!