Join Chalkbeat Chicago’s free every day publication to maintain up with the newest schooling information.
The Class of 2024 had a traditional senior yr with in-person courses, promenade, and commencement.
However this yr’s seniors began highschool in fall of 2020 something however usually. Lessons have been digital, that they had lunch at residence, they usually didn’t get an opportunity to make associates when COVID-19 saved college buildings closed.
Chalkbeat spoke to 10 graduating seniors about what it was like to start out highschool in the course of the pandemic. The Class of 2024 didn’t have the standard hallmarks of freshman yr like getting misplaced on the primary day of college whereas looking for courses, assembly new academics for the primary time, or the awkwardness of creating new associates, all whereas going via the awfulness of puberty.
Though these graduating seniors had a rocky begin, they have been resilient. Many college students took Superior Placement courses, dual-credit programs, and took part in lots of extracurricular actions.
Chicago Public Faculties introduced in a press launch that this yr’s graduating class obtained over 84,000 acceptance letters from establishments like Northwestern, Howard, and Harvard universities. Over 140 college students have already earned affiliate levels, greater than 2,200 college students are graduating from Worldwide Baccalaureate applications, and college students took greater than 49,000 Superior Placement exams as of Might 21, in response to the press launch.
However the Class of 2024 can also be graduating throughout a contentious time in historical past. In November, the Chicago Board of Schooling will transition from an all-appointed board to a hybrid college board with some elected members and a few appointed. In the USA, the nation will as soon as once more vote for president, selecting between incumbent Joseph Biden, a Democrat, and the presumptive Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, who has been convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying monetary paperwork. Throughout the nation, school college students are protesting the Israel-Hamas Warfare, which has seen over 35,000 Palestinians killed after Hamas killed over 1,000 Israeli residents in the course of the October 7 assault.
In their very own phrases, Chicago’s highschool seniors speak about their time in highschool, post-secondary schooling plans, and the way they really feel about graduating throughout a presidential election and conflicts taking place across the globe.
These interviews have been evenly edited for readability and size.
Who supported you most all through your highschool profession?
Chase Jones, Gwendolyn Brooks Faculty Preparatory Academy, plans to attend Yale College to check biology.
“My mom and my eighth grade historical past trainer, Miss Clark. Brooks is a tutorial middle, so I’ve been there since seventh grade. I’ve had Miss Clark as my historical past trainer for eighth grade, ninth grade and eleventh grade. She single-handedly has been my help for serving to me preserve steadiness academically. My mom has at all times been there to help me mentally, socially, and emotionally.”
Xamiya Walton, Butler Faculty Prep, a Noble college, will attend Northwestern College on a basketball scholarship to main in journalism with a minor in statistics towards a profession as a sports activities journalist.
“I might undoubtedly say my dad and mom and my sisters. With out them I wouldn’t have been capable of accomplish all of the issues I did and be the place I’m now.”
You began highschool in 2020 in the course of the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. What was it like to start out this chapter of your life in a digital setting?
Fernando Gonzalez, Marine Management Academy, will attend Stanford College and plans to main in laptop science and cybersecurity.
“It was laborious to fulfill new individuals via a pc and I struggled at school. I wasn’t difficult myself at school. I requested to be switched to AP courses throughout my freshman yr. At first, the administration was hesitant about it as a result of I didn’t take any pre-courses to get into AP programs, however they made an exception. I labored so laborious with these AP programs, however I nonetheless struggled as a result of working via the pc made me really feel like I wasn’t within the class. I really feel like I used to be in my room the entire time. Once we went to lunch, I used to be like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna shut my laptop off and lay down.’”
Raymarreon Polk, Crane Medical Prep Excessive Faculty, will attend DePauw College within the fall and plans to main in laptop science.
“For me, beginning highschool throughout COVID was a little bit bizarre. You’ll be able to’t actually see many individuals’s faces as a result of they not often turned their cameras on, so the trainer noticed a bunch of images. Additionally, no one was actually collaborative, as a result of it was so awkward.”
What’s the greatest reminiscence you have got from the previous 4 years?
Melina Sandoval, Carl Schurz Excessive Faculty, will attend North Park College the place she’s going to pursue elementary schooling.
“I had a whole lot of nice alternatives. One among them was assembly the mayor. One other one was when my artwork trainer, some associates, and I have been at school having enjoyable and consuming. That was an incredible reminiscence and I want I might return to it. Additionally, I went to promenade. I received duchess however I didn’t win queen. It was a very good expertise nonetheless.”
Andrew Espinoza, North-Grand Excessive Faculty, will attend Harold Washington Faculty within the fall.
“Once we got here again to highschool after digital studying throughout COVID and seeing associates. It was an incredible second as a result of I noticed all of the individuals who have been on the pc in particular person.”
You all are graduating throughout an election yr and amid protests over the Israel-Hamas Warfare. What are your hopes for the longer term?
Guadalupe Miranda, Benefit Academy of DeVry College, will attend Stanford College within the fall to check human biology on a pre-med monitor.
“With the upcoming election, it’s actually nerve-wracking as a result of it’s the primary time for these of us who’re 18. It was my first time voting within the primaries. In relation to issues taking place in different nations, it’s actually unhappy and devastating. However seeing how younger persons are getting concerned and utilizing their voice to attempt to make an influence offers me hope. I hope that younger individuals can proceed to make use of their voices.”
Nyla Jackson, Gwendolyn Brooks Faculty Preparatory Academy, will attend Illinois State College and plans to main in advertising analytics.
“I hope that the Class of 2024 continues to interrupt boundaries and push via within the face of adversity.”
Trying again, what would you need to change or enhance about Chicago Public Faculties?
Jayveon Edmonds, Al Raby Excessive Faculty for Group and Setting, will head to Southern Illinois College-Carbondale this fall to check zoology.
“I didn’t really feel like my college set me up for greatness. I really feel like our creativity was taken away as a result of we didn’t have many choices and we have been underpopulated. My graduating class was solely about 20. My college didn’t have funding to usher in new academics or completely different sports activities applications. My highschool expertise was mediocre due to the dearth of alternative. Fortunately, I used to be capable of take school courses as a result of I used to be capable of community. However once I talked to different highschool college students, I spotted that we didn’t have a whole lot of choices for courses. CPS ought to have extra methods for college students to be artistic and test on the scholars in underpopulated colleges.”
Duchara Moody, Morgan Park Excessive Faculty, will attend the College Of Illinois Urbana – Champaign within the fall and main in secondary schooling.
“What I want to change or enhance about Chicago Public Faculties is the academics. I really feel we’d like extra motivating, encouraging, and respectful academics. I’ve had completely different experiences with academics and seen that some academics aren’t doing their job, particularly as soon as I obtained in highschool. I seen some academics simply don’t care and are solely there for the pay. This is the reason I plan to make a distinction and grow to be a trainer. Instructing can be such a joyful second for me and I’ll be the perfect trainer ever. My purpose is to instill as a lot knowledge as I can into youngsters, be a protected house for them in the event that they want somebody to speak to, be the one to cheer them up and allow them to know that they’re the longer term and that they are often vibrant.”
Samantha Smylie is the state schooling reporter for Chalkbeat Chicago protecting college districts throughout the state, laws, particular schooling and the state board of schooling. Contact Samantha at ssmylie@chalkbeat.org.
