LOS ALAMITOS, CA – As the 2023-24 school year wraps up, many students are already fretting about next year: what classes they are going to take, their friend groups, and much more. Now, younger Griffins turn to the seniors, the sage students sitting on the top of the mountain of high school in their red and blue graduation gowns. Only the graduating seniors have the answers they are looking for.

While it would be amazing to interview all the seniors at Los Alamitos High School, that would be impossible. Instead, we decided to ask our very own seniors at the Griffin Gazette for their advice to younger students.

Owen Silverman

Owen’s advice to seniors next year is to make the most of your last year of high school. Whether it’s prom, sports games, or other events, creating those senior memories is what matters the most. For all Los Al students, Owen’s advice to always be yourself, no matter what other people might think.

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Be who you want to be, wear what you want to wear, and do what you want to do. If people don’t like it, then they don’t matter. If you like it, that is all that truly matters.”

— Owen Silverman, senior

Olivia Cooks

For Olivia, being genuine is also important. She explained that trying to “fit in” with everyone else will only make you more miserable, and that popularity isn’t where it’s at. For future seniors, Olivia also advises to make the most of your last year in high school.

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Talk to your crush, do things that scare you, study hard, and get into your dream college – don’t waste your final year of high school. You won’t ever get to relive these years, and, trust me, you’ll want to.”

— Olivia Cooks, senior

Layla Martinez

In high school, Layla has learned that, while you can’t control the things and people around you, you can control how you respond to them. And while high school can seem like an endless burden, Layla wants future seniors to know that it’s going to get better. For all Griffins, Layla advises them to simply be themselves. 

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Don’t feel like you have to be everything for everyone: It’s important to take time to focus on yourself. Just remember [that] the immaturity fades away after high school, which is a good thing to look forward to!”

— Layla Martinez, senior

Nandi Smith

In Nandi’s opinion, high school is where you learn all of what life has to throw at you: how to deal with unpredictability, manage friendships, and discover more about yourself. She advises next year’s seniors to enjoy their last year before college the best they can and wants all Griffins to know to always be themselves because only being uniquely yourself can get you places in life.

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You can find the best opportunities by just being you and putting yourself out there, so don’t take any opportunity for granted.”

— Nandi Smith, senior

Issy Steinberg

Issy has learned that, while high school can be enjoyable, it also reminds us that life will continue to throw challenges at us, but we can still overcome them each day. She advises that Griffins should not stress too much about school life. For future seniors, she hopes that they will be able to learn to be their unique selves and live in the moment.

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Don’t stress about the things you can’t control, and don’t procrastinate. You’ll be able to find your groove and figure it out.”

— Issy Steinberg, senior

With the school year ending, Griffins can learn plenty from Los Al’s class of 2024. In a society where students are pressured to “fit in,” “stay current” and “be cool,” we can look to the oldest students of Los Al to discover what really matters in high school life: being yourself, living in the moment, and never giving up.

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