Jun 7, 2018 6 min read

I’ve never coached a championship season in sports, although I was a cheerleading adviser at JFK School for four years. I can imagine how it feels to support a team through an award-winning season and say goodbye to your best players! This year’s graduating class includes some dynamite Peer Educators and Real Talk Performers. I will miss every single young person, although I know we will stay in touch. There are so many outstanding seniors this year. Let me begin by thanking our Common Ground Teen Center staff of Tamiarra Bunge, Toni Maurer, Shelby Studt, Maggie Thompson, Maci Ward and Landan Weakland. Here are a few parting words from graduates on our Ask Mary Jo Advisory Board. These young people are truly excellent humans! Congratulations to all graduates! I wish you peace, joy and success!

Landan Weakland: Now that high school is over and, as every adult puts it, “real life” is approaching, it feels like it’s not real. Like tomorrow morning I’m going to wake up and I’m late for school and I forgot to do my homework. I’m glad it’s over because now I get to go out into the world, but looking back I wish I could live some of the better moments just one more time. I go forward knowing that I can make even better memories and have entirely new experiences to rival the ones in the past. To the people still in high school and the soon-to-be seniors, make sure between the hours of studying, tests and homework that you take time for you. Mental health is more important than any test grade you could get.

Maci Joelle Ward: As senior year comes to an end, it is certainly bittersweet. My biggest advice would be take it all in! Every football game, strict teachers, band concerts, laughs during study hall, friends on the weekend … will make you who you are at the end of the year and it’s what you’ll remember the most about the “best years of your life”! What doesn’t always seem like something to cherish, might be! Make the most of it, you’ll miss it when it’s over! At the same time I am more than excited to attend college and start this next chapter of my life! High school definitely prepared me for college and I will forever be grateful for the people and memories from high school.

Alivia Montgomery: I always wished away each year of high school and wanted to be done so bad. Now that I’m done, I have to admit, I’m upset that I didn’t stop and take it all in when I could have. I think every person had some rough days throughout high school, including me. When it comes to those days that aren’t as easy to get through, try to find those reasons that made you get up in the morning. There’s something good in every day. Pinpoint them, then hold on to it. Mine was always my friends. Senior year reminded me that life goes by fast and I can’t ever miss an opportunity to tell people how much I love them. If anything, be grateful for who held your hand through bumps in the road or who helped you study at night. High school is truly about making memories that last a lifetime.

Toni Maurer: Everyone’s high school experience is different. Instead of being super popular or a genius, I found a select group of the few people I will forever cherish as my high school friends, and I will be graduating with a near 4.0 GPA. I struggled a lot in high school, academically and socially. In fact, I hated high school, but it got me to college, where I will begin my real journey in finding myself and what I want to do with the rest of my life. Congrats to all the other grads out there; we finally did it!

Siarra Demichele: Going forward: Show up! Time is money and if you’re not using your time wisely by investing in your education than you’re only cheating yourself. College isn’t a commitment by convenience but rather an investment you make every day to ensure a brighter future. Do not slack off! Let’s say you were sick, went on a vacation, or just took a mental health day off and missed school. Your work does not vanish; if anything your work seems to accumulate exponentially. Your teachers understand that playing catch-up is a difficult task because the class doesn’t stop moving just because you’re not up to speed. As long as you show the effort in getting the work completed, that’s all anyone can ask for. It’s not lame to try! There’s a stigma for people who take their education seriously, are involved with extracurriculars, and volunteer. Today, most people refer this as being “extra.” A lot of people develop a “Why do it if it’s not required?” or “What do you gain?” attitude, and this outlook on life can be detrimental to your long-term success. If you only do the bare minimum of what’s required of you that’s all you’ll ever be – bare minimum.

Don’t get smart! There used to be an inherent respect for adults but there is a new dogma that’s being followed called, “You don’t automatically get my respect. I’ll respect you when you respect me.” Listen cool guy, if you have a problem with the teacher just talk to them after class, most of the time it’s a simple misunderstanding. Copping an attitude with the teacher in class only disrupts your peers from getting their work done because they’re too caught up in your drama. Ask for help! I know it’s difficult to speak up at times, but no one can read your mind and tell you the answer. If you can’t navigate through the school, ask for help. No one knows if you need help unless you vocalize it, and most of the time people are happy to help you. Everyone has been in your shoes one time or another.

Have a question? Send it to Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski’s email at podmj@healthyteens.com.