By Billy Hersey, ’27 and Gabriella DeLuca, ’27

Editor in Chief & Staff Writer

As the members of the Class of 2026 prepare to embark on their new journeys beyond Hanover High School, students who responded to The Hawk survey shared advice to inspire their younger peers. Seniors truly believe that by forming meaningful connections, taking advantage of opportunities, and working diligently, every student can achieve great things.

Although freshman year and adjusting to the new high school environment can be difficult, many seniors acknowledged the importance of persistence and effort throughout this formative year and encouraged our incoming freshmen to do the same.

Matthew Bell expressed how he wished he had “taken freshman year more seriously.” Damaris Mejia-Miller echoed that, saying “lock in freshman year.” Mikayla Sheehan urged students to focus on “getting your GPA up high.” Vanessa Federico advised them to “stay on top of their work, especially freshman year. Most freshmen think their grades don’t matter, but they do.”

Acknowledging the significance of freshman year, but also the value of enjoying your time at HHS, Ava Puglia said, “grades freshman year matter so actually try, but also have fun and get involved in and outside of school.”

For many, attending school and learning new things will always have a special significance. As the next generation of leaders leave the nest, they encourage underclassmen to choose classes that they are passionate about, persist through bad grades, and make meaningful connections with classmates and staff with the time they have at HHS.

Maddie Fuller recognized the value in true learning and emphasized that students should “try to focus on actually learning and absorbing material rather than just getting good grades.” Sienna Lamond encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities that the school offers, saying “take classes for YOU. High school has the resources to set you up for your future career whether you know what you want to do yet or not! Taking different classes from your friends is how you discover your individuality and passions for the future.”

Expressing a similar sentiment, Bronwyn Doherty shared the importance of taking challenging courses and establishing meaningful friendships through high school as she said, “Take the courses that you think will be best for you. Don’t be afraid to take difficult classes, but know your limits! Reach out to new people and connect with your teachers; it’s definitely worth it!”

Katie Jones emphasized the significance of persistence in learning and condemned the popular habit of hyper-focusing on failure, while also telling students to enjoy all aspects of life. “My advice is that one bad test does not define you, and that time goes by so fast, so enjoy every moment,” she said.

Peter Clarke chose to recognize the importance of a study tool that we all have used at least once or twice by stating, “Quizlet is your friend.”

Beyond grades and extracurriculars, seniors reminded classmates that high school is also a journey of self-discovery and a time to embrace what makes each one of us special. Every student has unique passions, values, and experiences to share. And in truth, it’s these differences that make our school a place worth remembering.

“Stay true to yourself!” said Brianna Adams. “In high school, it’s easy to be tempted to stray from what you love and value just to fit with the ‘norms,’ but it is important to maintain your values and keep doing what you love, no matter what others think.” Ava Khouri, class president, expressed a similar sentiment, encouraging students “not to worry too much about what other people think because the embarrassment is temporary, but the memories last forever.”

Maddy Hiffa expressed there is value in our differences, advising underclassmen to “not be afraid to be yourself because that’s how you find your people.” Colin Howard spoke about the value of self-discovery, encouraging HHS students to “not do things just because you think other people want you to.” Madison Paulicelli talked about the value of always having confidence in yourself, stating that “having your own back is your biggest strength.”

High school is a valuable time to both make meaningful connections and get involved in the school community. Engaging in new opportunities and participating in extracurricular activities is pivotal to maximizing your high school experience and discovering new passions that will shape your future.

Ava Khouri talked about the importance of pushing yourself outside your comfort zone and taking advantage of every opportunity HHS has to offer. “Go all out for spirit weeks, cheer loudly at sporting events, and don’t be afraid to fully participate in everything our school has to offer,” she said. “Some of the best memories will come from moments you almost didn’t join in on.” 

Leo Galvin conveyed the same message, saying “there are plenty of clubs and athletics at HHS, and without these activities, I wouldn’t have been able to become the person I am today.” Ben Willis added that extracurriculars “will help your college search and make high school much more fun.”

Ellie Mann acknowledged that friend groups may change through high school and that’s ok. “Do not expect to keep the same friends when you enter high school,” she said. “Branch out and meet new people.”

One popular theme among the advice from seniors was the importance of effort. Although in the past some have claimed that the only school years that matter in terms of academics are sophomore and junior year, that is simply not true. 

“Put in effort every year because it will help you so much when applying for colleges,” said Tess Madden. Ireland Cronin echoed that, saying, “Try your hardest from the beginning and always put in your best effort because it truly does matter.” Morgan Curtis added, “The advice I would give is to try harder because it all counts.”

Wishing to warn others of a bad habit that all of us have fallen prey to before, Johanna Marshall-Pelayo reminded underclassmen to always complete tasks in a timely fashion by saying, “Don’t procrastinate – just start the work.”

Aine Scanlan reminded underclassmen to try to avoid the stresses of student life by saying, “As long as you try your best and are respectful and kind, it will go pretty well. But remember, every year does count for college.”

Bradlee Dowling shared with students that taking random AP classes and joining clubs and sports just to check a box for college is useless. “You need to find the things you are passionate about and put everything into them, that’s what colleges will care about,” he said.

Sharing a simple yet powerful message, Daniel Klos told students: ”Don’t give up.”

Joe Lynch reminds students of a powerful mantra that we should all strive to live by: “Whatever you do, do it 100 percent.”

Several seniors reminded underclassmen that even though some days feel everlasting, the years truly do fly by, making it so important to cherish every moment. “Take in everything,” said Juliana Minasi. Brendan Meagher added, “Make the most of every day.” Fiona Monahan encouraged students to “spend as much time as you can with your loved ones and never take those special moments for granted.” Gavin Russell agreed, saying, “Cherish the good times with your friends because before you know it you will be graduating.”Bella Reed, Emma Ryan, and Patrick Leary spoke about the importance of living in the moment. “Don’t think about the future or the past,” Bella said. “Think about the present.