With the second semester underway, seniors at New Hyde Park Memorial High School have entered a new phase of the year. College applications are largely complete, admissions decisions are beginning to arrive, and the countdown to graduation has officially begun.
At this point in the year, some seniors have already committed to their colleges, while others are still waiting for decisions and scholarship notifications. Alongside academics, many are navigating campus tours, financial aid forms, and finalizing post-graduation plans. Even as routines start to feel temporary, seniors are reflecting on their high school experiences, friendships, and achievements, all while balancing the pressures of finishing strong in their final months at New Hyde Park Memorial High School.
To capture how seniors are really feeling at this point in the year, The Chariot spoke with members of the senior class about academics, college decisions, and life as graduation approaches.
Q: Now that most college applications are submitted, how are you managing grades and final projects this semester?
Sebastian Song: Now that the first semester is over, I’ve been a lot more relaxed with my grades and just getting things done by the day. It’s definitely a lot less pressure not having to worry about mid-years and GPA too much, and it’s allowed me to enjoy my senior year a lot more.
Maira Haleem: Now that college applications are over, I’ve definitely started to procrastinate more and feel less motivated to do work/keep up with my grades. With that, while I don’t have much, I try to use the motivation I do have to keep pushing through, keep my grades up, and get my assignments done in a timely manner.
Q: What’s been a highlight or unexpected moment of your senior year?
Saman Naqvi: An unexpected moment during my senior year was being able to make friends and connect with others a lot easier than I could in the past. The environment that my classmates and teachers create is very welcoming, so I finally feel safe enough to try and make new friends, which is a lot more fun than I expected!
Rahel Zachariah: One highlight of senior year would be conducting an orchestral piece I composed over the summer for our winter concert.
Q: How has the college decision process shaped your senior year experience so far?
Jackson Kang: Especially after the new year, my ED decision has affected my experience completely. It is a completely different experience—almost like soaring in the sky. Because the pressure of getting into a good college is over, I can enjoy my last year fully. After my college decision, I have become more outgoing and sociable, trying to make up for lost time focused on academics. I feel like I can take it easy now. I can go with the flow, smile more, and take my time living in the present.
Jayden Prasad: The college decision process has vastly affected my senior year experience. As a result of my lack of preparation, I had to focus almost entirely on college applications while balancing schoolwork and whatnot. Even when applications are over, scholarship, interviews, and follow-ups for applications remain. As a result, almost my entire year has been centered around college; now things are calming down, but it is the glaring black hole throughout senior year.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to younger students, what would it be?
Ava Su: Even though grades matter, having friends and actually enjoying your life matter too. Try to balance your schoolwork with time to relax, connect with people, and make memories.
Allen Yuan: Lock in, lock in, lock in, lock in, lock in, lock in, lock in and lock in.
As the Class of 2026 enters the final stretch at New Hyde Park Memorial High School, seniors are juggling academics, college decisions, and lasting memories. While their experiences differ, many share the same mix of relief, anticipation, and reflection as graduation draws closer.
