To the Class of 2018,
With a mere two weeks left in the winter term and exactly 100 days left at Choate, we are on the horizon of the most glorious time in our Choate careers: Senior Spring. Our time at Choate has built up to this moment, and now it is time to celebrate how far we’ve come. For our penultimate issue of The Choate News, we, the seniors of the 111th Masthead, would like to impart some words of wisdom for you to consider as you wrap up your time on the hillside.
Choate is one of the most fantastic, unlikely, and ridiculously exorbitant opportunities in the country. Be mindful of the people who’ve helped you get here, and don’t lose who you were at home for who the culture of our school urges you to be. — Kristen Altman, Features Editor
We all have those faculty and staff members who’ve made our Choate experiences irreplaceable. Give them the recognition they deserve. Express your gratitude — write them a note, give them a hug, shower them with gifts from exotic places (maybe not) — before it’s too late! Keep them updated on your plans after Choate. — Haley Chang, Editor-in-Chief
Ever explore the hidden gems of upper campus? Gather a few friends on a weekend evening, plop down on the hill by the track overlooking campus, and take in the picturesque view we have become so acquainted with from a different angle. Sunset preferred, Mac DeMarco or Tame Impala highly recommended. — Eben Cook, Opinions Campus Editor
Let’s start prioritizing the things that really matter to us, but that we haven’t been able do as much as we would have liked due to the last couple busy and fast-paced years. For me that would be showing my appreciation, spending time with, and relaxing with friends that have been so supportive and helpful throughout my years here, as well as living spontaneously every day.
— Nikhil Davar, Production Editor
As difficult and trying as Choate can be at times, remember that our time here is limited and that it will come to an end faster than we can imagine. Understand and embrace the fact that our time here is finite, and have no regrets come graduation. Spend as much time with your friends as you can and have as much fun as possible leading up to May. — Jackson Elkins, Sports Editor
Stay up late talking with friends on Monday night. Get ice cream from the gas station on Wednesday. Skip burger day and B Block to go out for lunch on Thursday. Explore Wallingford on the weekend. A year from now – when your best friends live around the world instead of down the hall – there is no way you’ll wish you had stayed in and finished the math homework your teacher has never once checked. — Grayce Gibbs, News Editor
Take a minute to think of what you’ll really miss about this place. Then spend as much time as you can taking advantage of those things while you have the chance. Do your homework on a blanket by the pond when the weather is nice. Swim at the waterfall in the winter while your friends watch and call you crazy. There’s a lot you can recreate once you’ve moved on from Choate, but if you pick out the parts that are unique to here and now and take the time to appreciate them, you won’t regret it. — Nina Hastings, News Editor
Modern smartphones can record higher resolution video than the average DSLR camera. You don’t need a camera to be a videographer – you already have that power in your hands. Don’t hesitate to challenge yourself. Use your senses. Use your imagination. Be creative. Go out and make magic happen!
— Jonathan Joei, Video Editor
Push yourself out of your social comfort zone. Sure, make friends with a kid you’ve always thought was cool, but also try talking to someone that you’ve never really thought about. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from Choate is that people will surprise you, and some of the most meaningful bonds I’ve forged this year have been with people I would have never expected myself to be friends with. Everyone here is so special, even if it isn’t immediately obvious. Try to find out what makes them that way before it’s too late. — Liza Mackeen-Shapiro, Opinions Nation/World Editor
In a community that constantly demands that you live at a fast pace, slow down. You have more time than you think you to to achieve everything that you want. I’ve learned through my time here that nothing is out of my reach if I take the time necessary to achieve it; whether that be getting an A in a class, making a new friend, or doing an extracurricular that I love. Don’t waste your time anxiously waiting for Choate to give you a moment to catch your breath.
— Neve Scott, Arts Editor
Find your people. Hold on to them. Let them be your starting point to learning, to sharing, and to being the best person you can be. Try something new. I promise it won’t hurt. Don’t have a spring sport? Audition for the musical. Don’t have a fifth class? Try jewelry making or even history of jazz. Don’t want to eat in the dining hall? Explore Wallingford’s hidden gems. Stop complaining. Instead, find joy and hope in small victories. Don’t think too much. Just be, and cry or laugh about it later. It’ll be an experience either way. Laugh as loud as you can whenever you can. And don’t forget to live life sunny side up!
— Helena Yang, Photography Editor
