In our last fleeting month before our titles as “Taft students” turn to “Taft alum,” we feel entitled to bestow five pieces of advice for our younger peers. Just four years ago, we were confused lower schoolers with endless amounts of information unbeknownst to us. As a way to end our time on The Papyrus, we want to leave the Taft community wiser, so that they, hopefully, can take our knowledge with them throughout their final years at Taft. Below is “Maximizing The Taft Experience: Advice from Two Seniors,” a foolproof guide of everything you may need and want to know before leaving Taft behind.
1. Talk to, sit next to, and hang out with new people.
Yes, this may be awkward at first, and you might even have to sit with someone of the opposite gender (woah)!! But this helps build connections. We are two proud trailblazers of mixing up the Prentice gender norms, and although this receives constant glares when plopping ourselves down on the so-called “boys’ side,” we willingly integrate with the great Taft men, sharing conversations about anything and everything. These connections with those we once thought were unfamiliar have become a fundamental part of our Taft experience. Now, in the second semester of Senior year, we have found so many people that we would’ve made great friends with a long time ago. Don’t wait until your final month of Taft, when everyone is suddenly overcome with a wave of sentimental, nostalgic feelings and is desperate to find new people. Be willing to reach outside of your friend group and connect with the people you cross paths with in the classroom, dorm, or athletic field. The best part of Taft is the vastness and interconnectedness of our student body. Tafties have a near-endless amount of “class friends,” but do not be afraid to ask these people to hang out in your free time: walk to town, get breakfast together, or hang out on Jig Pat!
2. Teachers can be friends too!
Find a group of teachers to have on your side. Being a monitor, I (Alex) have found teachers I can talk to in my upper school year, but not many I have ever felt super close with. However, teachers have so much wisdom, advice to impart, and good to rant with on a tired Thursday night. And you may have a lot more in common than you thought. I found out that Ms. Cavuto and I both love needlepointing, and Ms. Douglas and my mother have both competed in bodybuilding shows!
For me (Eleanor), the Taft faculty has the superpower of understanding students in ways that you cannot see yourself. When asked about my favorite aspect of Taft, my answer is undoubtedly the ability to speak and befriend teachers with ease. No matter who you talk to, our faculty have endless life experiences that you, in some way, will find a connection to. Whether it be your matching rain jacket with Ms. Scott, or your navy L.L. Bean bag that twins with Ms. Drakeley (like me), your teachers want to know you and guide you so that you may succeed; so take advantage of this!
3. Don’t be afraid to be loud.
Don’t be disruptive, but you shouldn’t shy away from taking up space and making your presence known. Play with the faculty kids in Mac Quad, laugh with your friends in the dining hall, play your favorite music on Jig Pat. Communities thrive when their members are active, engaged, and excited. When we were Lower Mids, we remember being a part of sit-down tables, sports teams, and classes with upperclassmen where we thought the most respectful and expected thing for us to do was to stay silent; you had to almost earn your voice and opinion. It shouldn’t have taken until Senior year to realize that this is utter nonsense, but it did. One of my favorite experiences returning as an upperclassman has been making friends with and talking to new, younger students. From the dorm, to sports teams, and sit-down dinner, friendships with those in various grades are so valuable. If you’re really looking, you may even find a carbon copy of yourself, so use your voice! Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself, too: whether that’s if someone makes an insensitive joke about you, or you believe an assignment was unfairly graded in class. Be loud and be proud!
4. Get good at spikeball. Early on.
“Wanna go play spikeball?” A question so harmless, even electrifying to most, breeds pure discomfort and fear in me. As a young Lower Mid, I (Alex) was none the wiser to the sport: “Sure! How do you play?” I innocently asked, partnering up with someone I had yet to find out was near national-champ level. The serve goes to me, I set my eyes on the small yellow ball, I reach back to swing, andddd aaaa, miss. “Ugh.” In just five seconds, I’ve humiliated myself, upset my partner, and probably pulled a hamstring. Since then, I have been too scared to join a sunny Jig Pat competition, watching longingly (and fearfully) from a rocking chair.
If you are anything like Alex and have not been practicing the sport since your time in the womb, then have no fear. Taft spikeball games are for everyone: socializing, learning, and enjoying time outdoors with your friends. But as this spring comes to a close, it seems that spikeball is on the outs, and HackySack is on the in. So Alex, if spikeball wasn’t for you, maybe this game will be!
5. We hate to bring it up, but finish your Common App over the summer.
Take advantage of the endless hours of freedom that summer presents and arrive at Taft in the fall with this never-ending, daunting task off your shoulders. You will find yourself spending late nights in the library, with tears forming in your eyes, and the familiar words of “college,” “test scores,” “Early Decision,” or “essay” make you twitch. Shouldn’t we leave the haunting of school and lack of sleep in Upper Mid Year? Finish your essays, and appreciate the many “lasts” happening in your Senior year; and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback! Reach out to your friends, English teachers, advisor, and college counselor; these people want to support you and put your best self forward. The daunting process that is the college process may consume your being, but do not let it define your character. This task is easier said than done, but know that your prior years at Taft have been filled with endless dedication and hard work. Your rejections, deferrals, and waitlists are decisions that are ultimately very small, and eventually, everything will fall into place (even if it doesn’t feel like it).
But what now? Our Taft journeys are coming to an end, and soon, so will yours. Take advantage of the year or years you have left at Taft. Take our advice (or not!) and fully embrace the community members and opportunities around you. We are both here with a seemingly infinite amount of advice applicable to all aspects of your lives. So don’t be a stranger!
Photo courtesy of Eleanor Puricelli