“Step with care and great tact, and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.” – Dr. Seuss
As we prepare to graduate and start our next chapter, we – the seniors on the staff of Wildcat Tracks Molly Ross, Sloan Hinton, Jeffrey Asaredanquah, and Divya Rajan – want to offer some advice on the non-academic lessons we have learned throughout our time at WHS.
Getting involved in the community – Molly Ross
As I look back on my time at Weston High School, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all of the different experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. From varsity sports to community service, DECA, student council, and journalism, each pursuit has left a lasting impression on my high school journey.
During the arduous college application process, I came to realize the deep impact each of these extracurricular activities had on both my personal fulfillment and my ability to present a full picture of who I am. To any student traveling on a similar path, my biggest piece of advice is: get involved in your community, make your own story, and you will learn things about yourself that you never knew existed.
Starting with my involvement in DECA, I discovered my passion for business innovation and entrepreneurship during my sophomore year. Creating CoCo-Scrub, an eco-friendly sponge alternative, and participating in business competitions ignited an entrepreneurial spirit that will guide me as I continue to explore the business world in college.
As a writer, sports editor, and now an editor-in-chief of Wildcat Tracks, I’ve had the privilege of telling untold stories from diverse perspectives within our community. Journalism has not only been a platform for sharing important news about our classmates but also a catalyst for fostering greater engagement and transparency. Moving forward, I eagerly anticipate continuing my love of journalism at the University of Michigan, where I’ll contribute to “The Michigan Daily” school newspaper.
In my role as Student Council Emcee, I’ve strived to foster a sense of unity among my classmates. From orchestrating school assemblies to integrating diverse talents, I’ve worked to create a more inclusive environment for everyone at school, and I’ve met some of the most amazing and talented people through this experience that I might not have met otherwise.
Beyond these formal roles, my high school experience has been shaped by personal adversity and growth. The loss of my mother in middle school pushed me into unexpected responsibilities at home, but with steady support from loved ones, I’ve found resilience in the face of adversity. Whether on the field or on the ice as a varsity athlete or in the community through programs like “Stick to Your Goals,” I’ve strived to honor my mother’s legacy by uplifting others and as my dad tells me: “Attack each day with enthusiasm unknown to mankind”.
As I say goodbye to Weston High School and start my next chapter, I encourage everyone to embrace all of the opportunities available to them to find out what is most important to you. Weston High School isn’t just a place to go to classes and take tests; it’s a community where growth and transformation is encouraged. Thank you for being a part of my journey, and may we all continue to make a difference wherever life may lead us.
Pursuing athletics in college – Sloan Hinton
Throughout high school, maintaining academic success and being involved in my community have been very important to me, but after sophomore year, it was imperative that my primary focus be athletics. Being third in line of a family of recruited athletes, I knew I would be in the recruitment process for my sport, track and field, when my junior year came around. Something I did not know initially was whether I wanted to attend a Division 1 or a Division 3 program. Based on my experience, I have advice to share about how to choose an athletic program if you end up in the same dilemma.
First, being either “a big fish in a small pond, or a small fish in a big pond,” is something I found was very reflective of the choices since both the school size and athletics are bigger at D1 schools (big pond option) than at D3 ones (small pond option). D1-recruitable athletes that choose to run D3 often have the opportunity to compete in high-level meets earlier in their college career as it is much easier to rise to the top in D3. While this is important to some athletes, I realized that I didn’t want to step onto a team and quickly become one of the top athletes there; I prefer to work my way up and constantly be pushed by those around me.
Additionally, considering my level of commitment to the sport was a large part of my decision. Typically D1 competitors are required to allot more time to it, while D3 schools have a broader focus on academics. I have been running since I was six years old, so I have grown up prioritizing athletics, and I knew that was the direction I wanted to continue in.
Another significant difference between divisions is financial aid. Only D1 and D2 programs can financially support and/or compensate athletes solely for their athletic ability. Hence, being offered a partial scholarship was another element that persuaded me to go D1.
Since I was young it has been my dream to run D1, and I realized by the end of the process that, despite all of the amazing D3 school options there are, I wanted to stay true to that dream by running D1 track and field at Northeastern University. If you are struggling to choose where you want to take your athletic career, it is important to take your time, think thoroughly, and at the end of the day, do what feels right for you.
Converting your time to be more productive- Jeffrey Asaredanquah
In my first two years of high school it always seemed like I never had enough time to do all the things I needed to do. As a METCO student I woke up at 6:30, rode on the bus for an hour and a half to get to school, and then got back home at 7:00pm. The biggest reason why I had success in school despite this schedule is because I was able to realize that there’s more than enough time in a day for even a METCO kid to get work done. The key to getting work done while still having time to yourself is utilizing your work time in more productive ways.
By junior year, instead of my work time being from 8:00 to 10:00 pm, I would stay after school and do my work there. When I started working after school I would stay at my job and spend an hour doing homework instead of taking the bus home immediately. Although the schedule I created for myself was extreme at times, it helped me to realize that all students, regardless of how busy their schedules are, can have enough time to get work done. “Converting your time” is less about sacrificing your free time and more about finding ways to make the time you consider to be your work time more productive.
Converting my time also meant starting early on certain tasks. I started my college applications by the end of my junior year. It’s extremely important that your college essay gets revised by teachers and other qualified adults, so be ready to give a rough draft of your essay to your editors by the beginning of senior year to give them enough time to provide feedback.
One huge mistake I made was not applying for awards of recognition early in my high school career. Start looking to apply for essay contests, opportunities for publication, internships, research opportunities and other programs related to your interests as sophomores and juniors. I made the mistake of waiting to apply to essay contests until my senior year, and because of that I wasn’t able to add those honors to my resume before my regular decision deadlines.
My experience has taught me that even a student with a heavy course load and an extensive number of extracurriculars can still have a non-gruesome schedule. When it comes to getting work done, your level of productivity during working hours is more important than the duration of that time. As long as you are able to make better use of your work time, you won’t have to sacrifice your free time.
Demonstrate dedication and explore the arts – Divya Rajan
High school is a time for exploration and change. Right from the start you experience more freedom in class selection, a larger variety of clubs and activities to get involved in, and more, but this degree of change also needs to be balanced with a constant in your life. Being a part of the arts in and out of school has been that constant for me, and it has helped me find focus in other parts of my high school journey.
I remember logging onto Zoom for band class in my freshman year during the Covid pandemic with a sense of eager anticipation. Even when we resumed in-person lessons outdoors, trying to synchronize a socially-distanced group of musicians was challenging, but definitely memorable and fun. This gave me a sense of community that pushed me to spend more time trying to perfect the saxophone, which enabled me to enjoy playing it further. I would encourage students to get involved in the arts of their interest because I can say that when you commit to something that you’re passionate about and aim for excellence, you will find more joy and gain confidence in yourself.
When colleges examine your resume, they look for what makes you uniquely yourself. Being able to specialize and learn in-depth allows you to showcase your ability to maintain dedication to a skill, something that will be relevant to pursuing a major in college and therefore of interest to the admissions committee.
Outside of school, I’ve been learning Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance) since I was five, so it was something that allowed me to express my identity, but it was also a great mind-body exercise after the school day that reenergized me to complete school work afterwards. In school, I surrounded myself with the arts by being in Wind Ensemble and Jazz II and being drum major for the marching band and pep band, as well as being treasurer for the National Art Honor Society. By being a leader in these activities, I was able to further value the time and effort I put into them, and they allowed me to show colleges and universities that I can sustain commitment to my interests.
I would advise underclass students to continue pursuing the activities they enjoy beyond school work, to push themselves to their highest potential. It’s key to cherish the daily experiences of high school and to get deeply involved in something you’re passionate about, such as the arts, because high school will pass by and it’s important to remember and make memories that remain for a lifetime.
