This year’s senior class is busy and focused on the future while also reflecting on their first three years, including freshman year, which was totally online.

Senior Ashley Rodriguez works as an intern for Sabrina Alkayfee, the chemistry teacher. She also participates in College Now, a program that lets high school students take college classes. Because seniors did their freshman year online, Ashley thinks their participation in school activities is a commendable achievement. As a freshman, she felt “isolated” and found it “difficult to make friends.”  But now she feels busier because she has “more responsibilities, College Now, ELA essays and an internship.”

Ms. Alkayfee says, “Ashley manages lessons, grades work, cleans the classroom, helps with ideas for labs and provides feedback.”

When asked about her plans for the future Ashley says, “I plan to enjoy my senior year and I want to go to college to become a physician’s assistant.”

Another senior enrolled in College Now, Gael Chavez, says that his experience as a freshman was “unexciting, so I wish I could do it again” Gael also says his senior year has been “stressful because of college applications, English class and College Now.”

Gael plans to become, “a nurse or a doctor.”

Aimee Cavazzi, the art teacher, has two senior interns: Breanna Yuen and Anisa Teng. who help with grading and cleaning. Breanna is a new student this year because of her transfer from Bronxdale. She says that at Bronx River it is, “easier to make friends and there are less classes.”

Both students are focused on their college applications.

Senior Dylan Maloney works as an intern for Evelyn Mendez,  an English teacher.

“I’m excited for prom and graduation,” he said, “because I didn’t go to eighth grade prom, but I also want to enjoy the moments of senior year. Also I don’t like that the school waits until after we graduate to do a trip to Costa Rica.”

Emily Holguin works as an intern for Shavon Evelyn, the senior guidance counselor.  In that role, she files, adds up hours for other interns, shreds paper and designs Ms. Evelyn’s bulletin board.  For Emily, the stressful parts of being a senior are, “college applications, writing essays and waiting for acceptances,” which give her anxiety.

Overall, the seniors of 2024 appear busy, responsible and stressed this year and are more than ready for graduation.