{"id":26813,"date":"2020-05-25T21:59:19","date_gmt":"2020-05-26T02:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/?p=26813"},"modified":"2020-05-26T09:55:36","modified_gmt":"2020-05-26T14:55:36","slug":"seniors-speak-six-cliches-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/2020\/05\/25\/seniors-speak-six-cliches-later\/","title":{"rendered":"Seniors Speak: Six Clich\u00e9s Later"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the sections included in the annual Senior Edition is a series of essays titled Seniors Speak. These works are written and submitted to <\/em>The Acronym by members of the graduating class, allowing them to reflect on their experiences, share advice, and advocate for change. Sophie Pribus (Stanford ’24) lived in 1502B for her entire IMSA career. She was Captain of the Congressional Debate Team, Vice President of Student Council, and Founder of Dialekt, a non-profit working on campus to tutor immigrants in the local community.<\/em><\/p>\n

Buried in the bottom of my backpack is a little orange notebook. It\u2019s a quote book I\u2019ve been keeping since I got to IMSA, in my effort to remember every important piece of advice or humorous comment I heard here. I expected that by the time I was a senior, I\u2019d be able to fill the book with my own advice, but this is hardly the case. Maybe that \u201csenior wisdom\u201d is a fourth-quarter thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since I\u2019ve a few qualifications to offer advice of my own, I\u2019ll share the best that I learned from others:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWisdom goes in through the ears, not out through the mouth.\u201d\u2013 Sean Golinski, 9\/25\/17<\/b><\/p>\n

I imagine Sean told us this during a LEAD session when my friends and I were making a ruckus. I\u2019m still working on taking this advice – as are many of my peers – but my efforts thus far have shown me that this applies not just to the words of others, but to your own. In the midst of stress, struggle, and triumph, take time to listen to yourself. Sometimes you give the best advice. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s due 8<\/b>th<\/b> mod, so basically tomorrow.\u201d \u2013 Ian Fowler, 9\/21\/17<\/b><\/p>\n

Okay, this isn\u2019t advice I\u2019d recommend you take too seriously on a surface level. But Ian told me this when I was having a bad day after failing a math test and made time for me above his own assignments. I\u2019ll never forget that first gesture of friendship and care, and IMSA was full of such moments for me. As long as students continue to make that conscious choice, I know these moments won\u2019t disappear. You shouldn\u2019t always put others first, but be there for each other when you\u2019re really needed. You\u2019ll know when.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time you make a statement I lose more respect for you.\u201d \u2013 Alex Sobczynski, 5\/3\/18<\/b><\/p>\n

This was deserved \u2013 due to my remarkable inability to CSI, I told her I was giving up and marrying rich. She reminded me that respect isn\u2019t a guarantee, but a privilege. Many times we\u2019re told that every person deserves respect, that we should be born into it. I agree with the latter statement, but it’s easy to lose your right to respect. Every day, you should work at earning respect from others, and you should expect others to earn yours. You earn respect from others by respecting others and yourself. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you haven\u2019t fallen in love yet, I highly recommend it.\u201d \u2013 Dr. Kiely, 10\/9\/18<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span>Ah, IMSA love. What a difficult, yet familiar concept. I\u2019m 100% sure I\u2019m not qualified to give advice in the field of love, as my friends will tell you, so instead I\u2019ll speak to emotion. Being at IMSA makes you feel everything \u2013 towards yourself, your family, and your peers. I\u2019ve always been of the opinion that you should say how you feel when you feel it. At IMSA, that was oftentimes a complete disaster. I probably should not have said how I felt about people in certain cases. It cost me friendships, relationships, and a lot of sleep. But it was also incredibly freeing, and I don\u2019t regret it. Being honest with other people about my feelings gave me so many incredible experiences that IMSA wouldn\u2019t be complete without. And let\u2019s be real, who doesn\u2019t want a plethora of failed relationships to look back on as a graduating senior?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople desperately want to avoid a sad you.\u201d – Dr. Eysturlid, 3\/26\/19<\/b><\/p>\n

I learned two things that day. One, that Dr. Eysturlid <\/span>always <\/span><\/i>has a comeback. And two, that humans are habitually afraid of hurting each other\u2019s feelings for all the wrong reasons. Too often, our fear of others being hurt keeps us from telling the truth and being honest about our own feelings. I\u2019m not sanctioning telling your friend that her hoodie-button-up combo is not the move – there are nicer ways to say it. But in arguments, class discussions, and late-night talks, don\u2019t be afraid to say exactly what you think. How can you expect to be problem solvers and global leaders if you can\u2019t even tell your peer that you think they\u2019re wrong? You can\u2019t be so precious about your ideas or else no one will challenge them, and they\u2019ll never get better. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do something stupid when you could do something easy?\u201d – Dr. Fogel, 11\/7\/19<\/b><\/p>\n

Math classes with Dr. Fogel are an experience like no other. I recall classes with him as a sophomore that felt like a foreign language class, and I\u2019m still constantly leaning over the table to see if my tablemates understand what\u2019s going on. After surviving a full year of classes as a sophomore, studying for minimum three hours every night, and spending many more on weekends trying to prepare for tests, my mom told me in no uncertain terms that I should do my best not to jeopardize my GPA with another Fogel class. For some reason, as a senior, I decided to sign up for two more. One week in, I was certain I had made a mistake. Not only was I completely confused again, but I also had less time as a senior to put into the class. For months I struggled, studied, and finally came out of it – alive. Looking back, my math classes have always been some of my favorites. Because even though I felt stupid for taking them and jeopardizing my GPA, and even though they were not easy for me whatsoever, I learned the most. So to answer your question, Dr. Fogel – because I wanted to take your classes. <\/span><\/p>\n

Listen to yourself. Be there for each other. Treat others with respect. Give emotions openly and freely. Be respectfully honest. Challenge yourself. <\/span><\/p>\n

Six clich\u00e9s later, I\u2019m proud of what IMSA has taught me. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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