As we approach college, we ponder all that may occur in the upcoming years. Although our overall college experience will be wonderful and exciting, we most will likely experience some difficult times. Saint Rose High School faculty and staff members graciously offered some memorable advice for us to recall during those challenges.

Mr. Sauer, a guidance counselor at St. Rose and alum of Seton Hall stated, “Your college experience is what YOU make of it. Go out there and get involved. Join clubs, play intramurals, go to school events, etc. It’s important to hit the books hard but you’ll also want to make sure you get some ‘me time’ in outside of the classroom as well!”

Mrs. Carlotz, a English teacher of Freshman to Senior classes, shared, “Always remember school comes first! Use a calendar to help you get organized with due dates and to help you balance your course load. When you have a visual aid, your calendar, with all assignments listed out you can better manage your time. While school comes first, remember to relax, socialize, and explore. Make sure you make memories and enjoy the experience; if you thought high school went fast wait and see how fast college flies by. Try a new club or sport, explore your interests, talk to people you may never had before, try new foods, travel abroad if given the opportunity! Lastly, be safe! Make smart decisions and surround yourself with people who will help you!”

Mrs. Colvin, who also teaches English at St. Rose, said, “College is all about exploring your interests and talents and acquiring new ones, so…you should arrive on campus ready to join a variety of activities and explore leadership opportunities within those organizations. Create a wide network of friends from classes, campus organizations and everywhere you go. Lastly, take the time to speak with your professors which will set you apart from the rest of the pack. Make connections early; these networking skills will go a long way. Best wishes class of 2018!”

Ms. Carton, a Religion teacher, stated that in college we should “Go to class, talk to your professors, make good choices, stay true to yourself, and go abroad!”

Mrs. Keegan, who teaches Physics, shared that her best advice for college students is to “have two different alarm clocks and make sure your professors know who you are.”

If you follow all of this advice, especially when you are experiencing challenging times, you will have the best four years of your life. Good luck to the St. Rose Class of 2018 and college Class of 2022!

By Maddy Looney ’18

Your first day of freshman year is something you never forget; whether you walked into the wrong classroom, or got lost trying to find your class everyone has a story that in a few years you can look back and laugh on. Freshman year  is intimidating, new school, new people, new workload- but with a few tricks up your sleeve you can make your transition into high school as smooth as possible. The first key to a successful freshman year is being prepared; take in everything you can at orientation and get to know the hallways a little better before they are filled with upperclassman. Become familiar with your classrooms, and try to find or make a friend in each of your classes. If you are lucky, you might find someone who shares the same schedule as you! The second key to a smooth freshman year is not falling off the horse academically; yes, this is a new workload but take this time to create a study method that works for you. Always do your homework, it counts for more of your grade than you think, and stay as organized as possible! Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help! This applies to all your years in high school; there are plenty of resources available to aid you, you just have to be willing to ask. One of the hardest parts about being a freshman is acclimating socially. Finding new friends can be hard and scary, but you can find solace in knowing that everyone else is in the same boat. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there; attend as many school events as you can whether it be orientation or a big soccer game. Every time will get easier. Freshman year is scary, but it’s doable! At the end of the day always remember to try your best and to be yourself, with these two in your pocket, you should pass your freshman year with flying colors

By Katherine Flynn ’18

Sophomore year is perhaps one of the best years of high school. After taking Freshman year to adjust, Sophomore students are now adapted to life in high school, balancing both the workload and social life along with after-school activities. Before the stress of the SATs and ACTs that comes Junior year, or the high-maintenance college search, Sophomore year is a big opportunity to get involved at school and take interesting classes. It also presents a great chance to get a head start on preparing for all of the testing that takes place Junior year. The Sophomore year curriculum requires time management and focus on a fine balance between school and extracurriculars, but can easily become the most stress-free year of high school if you follow these simple steps:

• Write down all assignments in a planner or notebook as soon as they are assigned to you. Set reminders on your phone or put sticky notes with upcoming tests, quizzes, and projects where you will see them daily.
• Try to get ahead on bigger assignments when you can. If you have free time during the school day or aren’t assigned a lot of homework on any given night, work on upcoming assignments that will require more time. Try not to save all your work for the night before.
• Sign up for clubs or after-school activities that you will enjoy. Participation in extracurriculars is important on college applications, and it is much better to be involved in organizations over a long period of time.
• Work towards a position of leadership, whether it’s on the school’s Student Council, an executive board of a club, or a job as a head counselor at a summer camp.
• Start looking towards a job for the summer or during any season that you are available. It always helps to have cash for hanging out with friends or to put towards college, and you can pick up valuable skills at any work establishment.
• Most importantly, don’t stress out about school too much! Try to have fun during your Sophomore year, it will fly by very quickly. Make sure to leave time for family and friends amidst all the hustle and bustle of the school year, and focus on enjoying your time in high school!

By Caitlin Wilson ’18

Summer’s ending! School is rolling back around! For the class that graduated back in June, that means starting up college, but for a whole other group of students, it means that Senior Year (thunder crash) (ominous spooky sound effects) and all of its craziness is just beginning for you. But don’t worry, it will be all worth it.
My first tip for you on how to get started is to get planing and make deadlines! They don’t  have to be actual application deadlines, they’re just deadlines for you to use for yourself. Second tip don’t neglect your homework. Coming from someone who got senioritis very easily this is important because not only do colleges still look at your grades and work throughout your senior year, but it’s important for you, too. Keep studying and your good habits high because we all want to get exempt from our finals!
My last piece of advice would be keep your options open! You might be the type who knows where they are going to college, what they want to do, you might even have preparations for college. But, keep in mind that you haven’t made any decisions yet, and that you should keep exploring all throughout your senior year. Check out different schools, learn about the SATs and ACTs, and explore friendships! Always keep your friends by your side because they are what help you and guide you into the right direction.

By Elizabeth Marsicano ’18

In order to begin your journey towards greatness as Saint Rose High School, you must begin with joining as many activities as you possibly can! Saint Rose High School surely does provide students with many different sports, clubs, and organizations to be involved in! Whether you are athletic, artistic, intelligent, or simply eager to meet new people, Saint Rose High School has the perfect group for you!

As for sports, Saint Rose High School provides their students with almost every single sport you can possibly think of. We have a variation of fall, winter, and spring sports throughout the entire school year. Especially as an incoming freshman, you have the perfect opportunity to join a new sport and meet new people! For instance, if you are considering joining a fall sport you will most likely meet people on your team and practice before the school year even starts. All of the teams are extremely welcoming and the coaches are eager to teach you the rules of each game. So if you are nervous to try something new because you don’t know much about it, don’t be! You are there to learn and gain knowledge, while simultaneously making friends for life!

If you are not very athletic, there are definitely other options for you. Whether it is finding groups of your own interests or participating in different organizations and clubs, there is a fit for you. Some of the clubs and organizations at Saint Rose High School include art clubs, national honors society, ambassadors, student council, as well as a variation of other interests. It is very important to become involved in different groups especially as a freshman to meet fellow classmates and develop an outstanding transcript for when you apply to college in a few years! Dara Johnson, Saint Rose High School Senior, mentioned, “One of my best decisions here, at Saint Rose High School, was to become involved in different sports and clubs. I feel as though it really helped me meet new people and also helped me in the long run, while I was applying for colleges and filling out applications!”

Therefore, Saint Rose High School encourages all students to become involved, to not only help themselves, but to ensure a productive future!  When you are notified for club and sports team sign-ups, don’t be shy! Definitely try something new because you never know what you might have interest in and your high school years are a great time to figure that out!

By Madison Kinnevy ’18