An Open Letter To Incoming Students: Advice From a Graduating Senior
An Open Letter To Incoming Students: Advice From a Graduating Senior
Dear Incoming Students,
I still remember being in your shoes just four years ago, both excited to have a fresh start and anxious about what was awaiting me in high school. Other than the first-day nervousness, my time at Sage Hill has been filled with unforgettable memories. Now that I am a graduating senior about to head off to college, there is so much I know that I will miss about Sage Hill. In the spirit of helping you to be prepared for the awesome journey you have ahead of you, I want to give you some advice that I wish freshman-me had known to help guide her.
If you are anything like me when I started my freshman year, you might still be looking for that “thing.” You know, the thing that strikes your curiosity, the thing that brings you joy and exudes passion. If that is you too — great! Think of high school as an opportunity to discover what you love. It will look different for every one of you — maybe you have a knack for learning foreign languages or spending time in the lab doing biology experiments. Whatever that passion may be, you never know where you might find it. So the best thing you can do is take the leap. Try a class that truly sparks your interest and never back down from one that may challenge you. Perhaps that means taking theater and learning improv, trying Engineering, or joining Storytellers’ Workshop. You do not have to know exactly what your plan is for the future — I definitely did not four years ago — but high school gave me the chance, time, and resources for real discovery.
Just as I hope you explore the plethora of classes offered at Sage Hill, I hope you also take the time to explore other opportunities outside the classroom. My high school experience would not be complete without joining clubs like Struck Magazine or Academic Decathlon. You might be a musician, writer, debater, athlete, or aspiring entrepreneur. What’s amazing about Sage Hill is that there are so many welcoming spaces for you to develop your interests, dive into something new, take on a leadership position, and make some lifelong friends along the way. Some of my favorite memories are the long van rides to away games and grabbing late-night dinners with the golf team. Your time outside of the classroom is just as important to your experience here at Sage Hill, so make sure not to miss out on the extracurricular activities, town meetings, school dances, pep rallies, and Spring at Sage!
Sage Hill is a place where you can go from using statistics to learn about current events to writing a collection of haikus on the field. Take full advantage of the opportunities and take comfort in the fact that yes, you are headed into a new journey, but you are not the only one learning about who they want to be.
Before I go and embark on my own new adventure, I want to leave you with one last piece of advice: enjoy your time here. Connect with your teachers who will always be on your side, have fun during campus events like gelato day, and treasure every single moment. These next four years will fly by—congratulations and welcome to the incredible Lightning community!
With Gratitude,
Jolin Chan
Sage Hill School
Sage Hill School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other School administered programs.