Fellow classmates and members of the Scituate High School community,
I’d like to use the Scituation platform to offer my gratitude and appreciation for my high school experience. More importantly, I’d like to share my most sincere advice, tips & tricks, and reflections on my past four years at SHS.
First, I’d like to offer my best pieces of advice for underclassmen who are new to the SHS community. One rule all high school students can agree on is that getting good grades during your freshman year is super important if you want to have a high GPA at the time of graduation. By hitting the ground running freshman year — taking challenging classes and studying hard – you will lay out a foundation for future academic success. I can’t stress enough the major impact freshman year grades will have on your GPA, an academic measurement tool that will be very important when it comes to being accepted into college.
I would also stress the importance of getting involved in the school community in whichever way you want. My favorite high school experiences come from the extracurricular activities I participated in. These clubs — whether they are sports, political groups, or the arts — give students opportunities to build close and enduring relationships. These opportunities also cultivate a vital sense of responsibility that has a profoundly positive impact on the community.
I’ve served in six leadership roles throughout high school while also being a frequent volunteer at the Scituate Senior Center and working at a local restaurant. Through firsthand experience, I’ve learned that with hard work and dedication, goals can be achieved. I further encourage students to have a desire to serve others, rather than merely seeking leadership positions and noble acknowledgments. Once you serve others and enjoy what you’re doing, the acknowledgements will eventually follow.
Another important reality I learned in high school was that you are responsible for creating your future. While a high school education gives students the proper tools to become the best version of themselves, they need to put in the hard work. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Rather, set out to find ways to follow your ambitions, and never expect your goals to magically become reality.
One more piece of advice I’d like to share is that a proper mindset is key to self-growth and discovery. Never set premature limits for yourself. Set ambitious yet realistic goals, and with confidence in your own ability and with supportive friends and family, anything can be possible. While I know I am still just a teenager who awaits more opportunities to grow and learn, I believe that my experiences over the past four years give me credibility to offer valid advice to whoever reads this article.
To keep it simple, here is a “playbook” I wish I had before I entered my freshman year:
- Make close relationships with your teachers: This will help with mentorship, all-around support, guidance, and future letters of recommendation.
- Challenge yourself on a regular basis: While we each have unique challenges and obstacles, all people should be willing to challenge themselves in order to grow. High school is meant to be a time for students to have fun and figure out who they are.
- Have fun and enjoy your four years: You will hear this phrase a lot, but high school flies by! Try to say “yes” to as many opportunities as come your way.
- Get involved in whichever ways feel fun and natural to you: Don’t seek to follow in the footprints of others, but try to pave your own path.
- Take classes that genuinely interest you instead of classes that you think will look good on your resume: In order to have a positive high school experience, I encourage you to take classes that pique your interest, balanced with rigorous courses. For some, a vigorous course may be an honors course, while others may be an AP course. That’s okay!
- Don’t stress over the little things: While a test, midterm assessment, or even final exam may seem super important, all you can do at the end of the day is try your best. A failed exam will never be the end of the world; rather, it will only make you a more seasoned student!
- If you notice something seems to be missing in the school community, try to figure out what you can do to create it: For me, I noticed the absence of a fun, interactive journalism group. So, I created exactly this through a club called “WhatstheScit?” It’s an Instagram account that now has over 600 followers.
As my own high school experience comes to a close, I recall the drastically different person I was in my freshman year. By challenging myself, taking risks, and working hard, I was able to get where I am today. I truly believe any single person is capable of forging their own high school experience in whichever way they aspire. Just remember to remain motivated and focused. And stay a person of integrity.
Nothing is more rewarding than graduating from high school and being proud of the impact you have had on your school. Specifically, as class vice president and president of “WhatstheScit?” I graduate under bittersweet circumstances, as I am excited for my future but somber knowing this unique community will soon become something of the past. I’d like to thank the many wonderful teachers and students who make SHS the community what it is.
P.S. I highly recommend students who like politics to join Model United Nations! I’ve been a member since my freshman year and have attended conferences in Boston, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Geneva, Switzerland. These conferences were the absolute highlight of my entire high school career.
With great gratitude for Scituate High School and excitement for future SHS students,
Bradley Bossey
SHS Class of 2025