As seniors push through their last few days of high school and prepare for graduation, they leave us with bits of hard-learned advice and a few sweet memories . . .

“What is something you wish you knew as a freshman?”

“Lock in. You will regret not trying. It’s worth it! Always try your best, even when it’s hard.” -Jack Leyda

“You will not remember every little embarrassing moment from freshman year, but you will remember everything you missed out on because you were too scared to do it.” -Sydney Wilson

“To stay in one school instead of jumping around to different ones.” -Caden Suter

“Don’t sweat the small stuff.” -Benjamin McGraw

“Take as many CAD Lab or Workshop classes as you can.” -Micah Pupi

“It’s okay to not be ‘the best.’” -Nicholas Miller

“I wish that I knew my time here would be and feel so short. I wish I could’ve done more, but I’m also okay with my time spent here.” -Dillan Alicante-McDonald

“Grades don’t define you.” -Alexander Korcinsky

“That high school would be some of the easiest yet most stressful years of my life.” -Ehrin Maloney

“I wish I knew that you don’t have to have everything in your life figured out right away, because throughout high school things change more than you think they might.” -Olivia Tabone

“That high school really isn’t that hard.” -Isabella Berardelli

“I wish I knew that grades are more important than you think.” -Nate Subroski

“You don’t have to do everything. And even when you inevitably try, you don’t have to do it all alone. Find your passion and find your people. Don’t be scared to branch out, but focus your efforts on what really matters to you.” -Brenna Downer

“Drama isn’t worth it. Don’t hold grudges.” -Kennadi Flenner

“Enjoying the time you have with your friends matters a ton.” -Trenton Reagan

“It’s okay not to have perfect grades as long as you try your best.” -Annaka Najewicz

“None of this will matter in four years, so have fun!” -Cora Rodgers

“Don’t worry about what others think; be yourself.” -Amber Scavo

“Going online is not worth it.” -Lucas Haluska

“You should probably take the AP exams for your AP classes.” -Tanner Wilson

“Your teachers are there to help you; look to them if you need anything.” -Kelsey Vogan

“I wish I knew that I could push through and overcome my fears and challenges.” -Abigail Eckert

“Don’t take everything so seriously.” -Joseph Ditri

“Don’t stress so much about fitting in. High school goes by fast, and being yourself matters more than trying to impress people.” -Sincere Sly

“Trust people more and know how to act appropriately.” -Nathan Shea

“Enjoy where you are!” -Luisa Bell

“Take the classes you want and pay attention.” -Gianna Zarillo

“I wish I knew not to take schools so seriously. Yes, do your work and show up and give your best, but sacrificing fun all the time is not worth it.” -Abby Solinger

“Actually being present in class makes school much easier.” -Corey Nichol

“I wish I knew the amount of focus you have to put in to keep up.” -David Mitchell

“How easy it is to talk to your teachers if you need help.” -Travis Clear

“Don’t take everything so seriously. Have fun and make memories; don’t let school run your life.” -Madelyn Silbaugh

“Nothing is ever that serious! Put yourself out there.” -Levin Flemming

“The upperclassmen are (probably) not as scary as you think they are.” -Emily McCreary

“Nothing is embarrassing.” -Ella Temple

“Take all the classes you can in the CAD lab.” -Brayden Cosky

“High school goes a lot faster than you think.” -Jackson Kvetko

“Relax!! I promise you’ll regret it if you stress your last two years of high school. Take your time and have fun!” -Brooke Goettman

“I wish I knew to be involved and hang out with my friends every week, especially during the summer. Now that I’m leaving I feel like there were so many missed opportunities!” -Katelyn Haffey

“High school will go faster than you think.” -Maddox Tanner

“What is some general life advice you want to leave behind?”

“Do not let other people's words affect how you carry yourself.” -Ella Tharp

“Work hard at everything you do; your habits now will turn into habits later in life.” -Maddox Tanner

“Take the time to take your education seriously and do not take the short route to get things done. You’ll learn more through the longer route.” -Dillan Alicante-McDonald

“Don’t spend high school trying to become the version of yourself you think everyone else wants.” -Olivia Tabone

“No matter what you go through, God is always your biggest supporter.” -Isabella Berardelli

“Be friendly. If you close yourself off, it’ll just make it harder to make friends later.” -Nate Subroski

“You don’t need to have your life put together. Sometimes you just need to sink or swim.” -Nicholas Miller

“Don’t put work first but definitely don’t put it last.” -Benjamin McGraw

“Balance is key. Let yourself have fun, but don’t lose sight of how important education is.” -Abigail Eckert

“Spend more time living in the moment. Life is what you make of it.” -Annaka Najewicz

“Be kind.” -Alexander Korcinsky

“Don’t put so much emphasis on making everything perfect that you’re not actually enjoying yourself.” -Cora Rodgers

“If you have any friends that turn on you, just leave them be.” -Charles MacDonald

“Work hard and don’t give up on what you really want to pursue.” -Kelsey Vogan

“Be kind to yourself and others.” -Lucas Haluska

“Enjoy the small moments, and take advantage of your time.” -Luisa Bell

“Keep pursuing your own interests and hobbies even if others think they’re strange or weird. One day you will find someone like you!” -Emily McCreary

“You’ll regret missing out on things in your life if you don’t put yourself out there.” -Gianna Zarillo

“Take school seriously, but also enjoy the moments with your friends. Work hard, stay out of drama, and don’t be afraid to try new things.” -Sincere Sly

“Find your ‘why’. Find the reason everything is worth doing and run with it. Even when tasks feel mundane or even impossibly daunting, having your solid ‘why’ will give your efforts purpose. It can be simple like, ‘Because I had the privilege to have this difficult opportunity’ or complex like, ‘I want to make my younger self proud.’ It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it’s genuine and works for you!” -Brenna Downer

“Don’t compare yourself to anyone.” -Caden Suter

“Don’t rush yourself to pass everything. Life takes practice. It feels like it may drag you down but it ends quickly; enjoy life while it lasts.” -David Mitchell

“Don’t be mean; it’s so annoying and immature.” -Ella Temple

“Do what makes you happy.” -Joseph Ditri

“Learn to be disciplined. In school, at home, in your life in general. It helps everything.” -Jack Leyda

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are people who can help you with anything.” -Kennadi Flenner

“Always talk to new people; you never know who will become your best friend or open up new opportunities for you.” -Sydney Wilson

“Just do your best, even if you feel your best isn’t enough. One bad grade will not kill you.” -Madelyn Silbaugh

“If you put effort into something you want you’ll get it, but if you procrastinate you won’t reach your goal.” -Katelyn Haffey

“Always take risks.” -Jackson Kvetko

“Don’t waste energy on people who suck it out of you.” -Abby Solinger

“Don’t take high school for granted; it’ll fly by in a blink of an eye. You’ll miss it more than you’d expect.” -Trenton Reagan

“Talk to people! Find friends and live life to the fullest but be weary of trusting too many people.” -Nathan Shea

“Always push to be the best version of yourself, but don’t overwork yourself.” -Ehrin Maloney

“What is your favorite high school memory?”

“Breaking my Discus PR at one of my last track meets ever and my dad making it just in time to see it.” -Katelyn Haffey

“Making a Roblox game at the end of junior year with my friends.” -Brayden Cosky

“I loved the time that I spent practicing with some friends so that we could try out for the basketball team over summer. It led to a lot of great times.” -Dillan Alicante-McDonald

“2025 Slam Poetry Competition.” -Benjamin McGraw

“Senior year CHK games and having lunch in the STAP room every day with my best friends!” -Olivia Tabone

“Skipping classes to get McFlurries.” -Ella Temple

“Choir and being in the musical this year!” -Kennadi Flenner

“Cheering for my relay team at swim meets and playing sardines outside at night with my friends.” -Cora Rodgers

“Last day of school junior year, my friends and I played Mario Kart all day in the library.” -Amber Scavo

“Playing the solo in my band concert junior year and definitely senior year prom.” -Nate Subroski

“Having lunch with friends and laughing at the most random things together.” -David Mitchell

“Sitting in the JROTC staff room and hanging out with friends.” -Nicholas Miller

“Doing the egg drop in Mr. Hanlon’s physics class.” -Isabella Berardelli

“Prom and homecoming and making friends and sharing my time with those friends.” -Charles MacDonald

“Spending time in the marching band.” -Abby Solinger

“The music department trips (especially Disney and NYC).” -Annaka Najewicz

“Staying at a track meet until around 3 a.m.; it wasn’t the best experience but I can see now that I enjoyed it very much. Also, accidentally tripping over a giant chain during cross country in my attempt to hurdle it. Needless to say I found out what pavement tastes like.” -Trenton Reagan

“One year during Day of Giving I forgot an ingredient in my cookies and they ended up being really flat and started burning.” -Kelsey Vogan

“Freshman year tennis season.” -Luisa Bell

“Sitting on the couch in STAP and talking to all of the boys every day my senior year.” -Lucas Haluska

“Having the chance to sing the duet in ‘The Times They are A’ Changing.’ It is a really special song to me and my family, and I was so honored to be able to sing it for them.” -Brenna Downer

“In the summer of ‘25 I went jet skiing with JT Pashtua and Paul Horner and we flipped the jet ski in the middle of the Ohio River at dusk. Since the jet ski was full of water, we had to swim and push it ashore, meanwhile we were in the path of a massive barge. My dad had to drive down to the river at 9 p.m. and drive a boat to rescue us because we were stranded with the dead jet ski. Let’s just say my dad was not happy.” -Lucas Haluska

“My favorite high school experience has been being a part of Mrs. Abel’s Life Skills class as a mentor student. I have made some lifelong friends and learned so, so much about gratitude, patience, and being genuine.” -Sofie LeMasters

“Winning volleyball WPIALS.” -Jaedyn Brown

“My favorite high school memory is how many people remembered me after I had been away for a while due to mental health. It makes me tear up to know that I wasn’t forgotten and that surrounding yourself with the right people goes a long way.” -Abigail Eckert

“The Vinh shrine in the workshop during my junior year.” -Micah Pupi

“Screwing around with my friends in sophomore year chemistry and photographing the varsity boys soccer WPIAL game at Highmark Stadium.” -Jack Leyda

“The times Mr. Ambrose got me through everything and really helped me out.” -Nathan Shea

“Having a water gun battle on the last day of school with a group of friends.” -Gianna Zarillo

“Doing yoga with Mr. Hazuda and Mrs. O’Rorke.” -Levin Flemming

“Winning my first MMA fight.” -Joseph Ditri

“Sophomore year Special Olympics at Geneva.” -Travis Clear

“The Christmas party at the CTC this year.” -Ehrin Maloney

“My second year of marching band camp (it was miserable at the moment, though).” -Emily McCreary

“Nursing class at Midland Innovation and Technology Charter School.” -Caden Suter

“Roaming the halls on the last days of school each year.” -Ella Tharp

“Sneaking out of Daytona to get food during the JROTC trip.” -Jackson Kvetko

“Messing around in Honors Chemistry with Abby and Katina sophomore year.” -Sydney Wilson

“What is your favorite memory of a teacher?”

“Mr. Shay taking us to Sheetz on one of our STAP trips.” -Ella Tharp

“Playing Super Smash Bros against Mr. Mundy on the Nintendo Switch with a group of friends.” -Gianna Zarillo

“Ms. Devlin helped me out a lot, Ms. Green was great, and Ms. P is hilarious.” -Corey Nichol

“Showing up at Sergeant Major’s house with Jackson and Nico at 10 p.m.” -Nicholas Miller

“Pressuring Mr. Martincic into buying Girl Scout cookies from my sister.” -Ehrin Maloney

“Mr. Hazuda telling us random side stories about when he was younger.” -Katelyn Haffey

“Mrs. Bixler sitting with me after school and helping me write poetry for the Poetry Slam in sophomore year. She encouraged me to use my voice and I appreciated feeling seen and supported by a teacher.” -Sydney Wilson

“Coach Nate (the super sub) wearing his cape around the school hallways.” -Luisa Bell

“Mr. Brown cooking breakfast for us.” -Micah Pupi

“Breakfast with Mr. Brown at the end of the year.” -Alexander Korcinsky

“When Mrs. Zahn chooses not to answer my questions in AP Art because she knows that I have the answers I need, I just need to find them. She is continually challenging my mental blocks and teaching me to trust in myself and my abilities.” -Brenna Downer

“SGM getting a 2 foot Jersey Mikes sub doordashed.” -Levin Flemming

“Having Philosophy with Mr. Maracek.” -Ella Temple

“I really enjoyed when I took Mrs. Flemming’s English class in ninth grade because it was really enjoyable and nice. She was a really nice teacher and she would always help in every way she could. I’m very appreciative of everything she did for me and for all of her other students.” -Nathan Shea

“When Mr. Hanlon sang to us for Vectortine’s Day.” -Jaedyn Brown

“Mrs. Landry throwing away a squishy apple because Ryan Groff took a bite out of it.” -Tanner Wilson

“One time I went into Ms. Greene’s English class a period early; I will never forget how confused she looked and how embarrassed I was.” -Abigail Eckert

“Mr. Inge helping us on tests.” -Brayden Cosky

“Mr. Brown’s reaction to my class shooting a CO2 cartridge down the hallway.” -Travis Clear

“Mr. Schlieden going to my first MMA fight.” -Joseph Ditri

“Mr. Hazuda’s CHS history class (if you know you know).” -Madelyn Silbaugh

“I loved when Mr. Inge would slam his ruler down and scare us all or tap his fingers on the board—that’s how you’d know The Huns were invading.” -Kennadi Flenner

“Mr. Schlenke dressing up as Abe Lincoln.” -Cora Rodgers

“Trolling Mr. Shinton about his quarter zips he wears to school every day.” -Maddox Tanner

“Mr. Schlenke’s pep talk to student council before CHK starts.” -Olivia Tabone

“Starting my senior year, I shifted STAP departments to work at College Square. Working at CS gave me the opportunity to see the teachers that taught me when I began my 12-year school journey. Getting the chance to talk to teachers like Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Saylor gave me nostalgia and happiness. I’m so glad I joined STACS, the new STAP department, or else I wouldn’t have the chance to relive the memories I had in College Square.” -Lucas Haluska

“Getting to have Mr. Inge.” -Charles MacDonald

“When I did a project for Mr. Jarovich. My group made an entire slideshow on a government made and focused entirely on garlic bread. He gave us an 110/100,” -Trenton Reagan

“Mr. Maracek yelling at kids messing around in the bathroom.” -Dillan Alicante-McDonald

“When Mrs. Obrist would laugh at my lab partner and I for breaking test tubes.” -Kelsey Vogan

“The jail field trip with Mrs. O’Rorke.” -Caden Suter

“Mrs. Green always saying jokes about me missing school.” -Sincere Sly

“When I was first learning to play the trumpet as a freshman, I would meet with Mr. Scanga and a few other students to test what we had been learning.” -Nate Subroski

“Mr. Schlenke’s pep talk before CHK.” -Annaka Najewicz

“Mr. Inge letting my friends and I sneak out to pick up Door Dash on the last day of tenth grade.” -Jack Leyda

“Laughing in Mr. Scanga’s band class at his silly jokes.” -Abby Solinger

Say farewell to the class of 2026!