Williston Seniors are entering their last half of high school, and as the clock ticks down towards Commencement, they’re leaving a little piece of advice behind.
Seniors are heading into their final stretch of high school. Some have spent four years at Williston and some just arrived, but they all have a unique experience and outlook on the things that make high school at Williston successful.
In the past, seniors and alumni have come back to share advice for college counseling or have left a quote on their half page. Leaving advice to the younger class is a sort of rite of passage for the eldest class, and a typical question in a student’s final year.
Viktoria Vladimarsdottir, a two-year senior from Reyjavik, Iceland, advises diving into the college process rather than waiting. “I would say to start my college process sooner, to reach out to schools and research a lot earlier, because I feel like I did it all in my senior year,” she said.
Hadyeh Saborouh, a four- year senior from the Pacific Palisades, Calif, recommends younger students speak up more as she reflects on her years at Williston.
“I would tell myself to share my thoughts out loud and more often, rather than keeping them in,” she said.
Over the years, she has come to appreciate “the fact that everyone sticks together.” The teams and afternoon programs at Williston foster an environment where each grade level can grow together. As a swimmer, Hadyeh added, “I feel what helped me grow the most was looking over at the seniors and following their mentorship during team bonding and games.”
Alyssa Matricciani, a four-year senior from Greenville, S.C., credits the teachers for their help in her growth from freshman year. “Being surrounded by that support system is really unique and helps me grow,” she said.
As Alyssa ventures outside of Williston, she hopes that future students and current underclassmen will “try everything.” She adds, “There’s no such thing as true high school embarrassment because everyone’s in the same boat, and you want to do everything.”
Kirsten Blaesing, a current Williston biology teacher who has been out of high school for a little over fifteen years, would give herself the same pep talk.
“My advice would be to take advantage of being young and having opportunities, and don’t let being nervous about something get in your way,” she said.
Olivia Ferebee, another four-year senior from Lake Placid, N.Y., agrees that finding enjoyment out of school is instrumental in a successful high school career. “Get involved in things that you don’t know about or that you’re curious about, because you never know if you’re going to take a liking to it,” she said.
While Alyssa and Olivia advise enjoying things outside of the classroom, Cole Blanchard, a senior day student from Southampton Mass., suggests finding the time to enjoy school, too.
“As someone who does an outside sport that is very time consuming, I did not get the chance to participate as much as I wanted to and get as much out of the school as others,” he said.
As Cole completes six years at Williston, he has some guidance for his younger peers. “One of the most important things that you need to do is hold yourself accountable, whether this comes from doing your schoolwork, because your grades as a freshman matter more than you think they do or just going out of your comfort zone to try new things,” he said.
Alyssa Frazier, a three-year senior from Berlin, Vt., credits Williston’s clubs and activities in growing her skills as a leader.
“I never would have joined or done [clubs] before. Now, I’ve become a leader in different clubs and activities, so they’ve made me a better leader,” she said.
Nora Curtis, a four-year senior from Skaneateles, N.Y., emphasizes enjoying even the roughest of days.
“The people around you definitely make the place,” she added, “so I think on those bad days you have to look at the people around you and just take in those days.”
Not every high school experience is the same, something that four-year senior, Keirstyn Camiolo, agrees with.
“Trust the process and know that everyone’s path is different,” she said.
The Williston Seniors will walk the stage on May 24th, 2025, marking the end of their high school careers. Over the last four or five years, the class of 2025 have amassed an unlimited amount of lessons, memories, and advice.
With the clock ticking down to May, one piece of advice has been repeatedly echoed: Enjoy every moment, because high school goes by way too fast.
