The first roars you hear on campus come from the Seniors: slathered in blue paint, waving “Welcome Home” signs and dancing until your suitcase rattles. The first show of class pride you see are also from Seniors: leaping up from their seats to chant “Twenty-five!” to a crowd of bewildered freshmen. Simple as it sounds, Seniors are special because they’ve been here the longest. They’ve already navigated overflowing Canvas pages, experienced the whirlwind of the Freshman Fall Club Fair, and weathered the first shocks of homesickness. They’ve stayed up through the night finishing essays and learned to overcome burnout. Friendships of any kind are valuable in and of themselves, but the bonds we form with Seniors are all the more meaningful for the wisdom they carry — forged in the crucible of awkward first meetings and academic pressures, of late nights and caffeinated mornings. And these relationships are all the more precious for our dwindling time together.
Despite the prominent role Seniors take in shaping campus culture, they aren’t the only ones who can offer advice. With Andover’s diverse student body, everyone brings a different perspective and experience to the table. Even Juniors — just beginning their time at Andover, bright-eyed and energetic — remind older students of the excitement they felt when they walked through the wooden doors of the Cochran Chapel. Opportunity awaits at Andover, both outside and inside the classroom. Surrounded by exceptional kids from all across the world, we should utilize this time in our lives to learn from one another. So strike up a conversation with the person you sit next to in class, especially if you’ve never talked to them before. Get to know the people in your dorm, in your clubs, across the table in Paresky Commons. You never know where the conversation will lead — an answer to a dilemma you’ve been wrestling with or perhaps a new friendship — and time is limited. There are only three weekends left; six days of classes per subject. You may never get the same chance to know people again, and the moments with those around us will be gone soon.
Seniors and rising Seniors, while it can be easy to feel like just another face in a crowd of three hundred students, don’t underestimate your impact on campus. You have a voice that can help enact positive change within your communities. You don’t need to be a student leader; it’s enough to greet others with a smile, to lend a friendly ear, or to share a hard-won piece of advice. Leadership at Andover isn’t measured in the years you’ve been here, but is found in your willingness to speak up.
And to the Seniors: hail and farewell. Thank you for all the support you’ve given us — not just through Senior Remarks, but in the quiet, everyday moments. As you embark on the next chapter of your journey, keep searching for ways you can uplift those around you, and carry the same positivity and empathy with you. It makes a difference; we can tell you for sure.
That being said, Seniors, thank you for all you have done. One piece of advice I give to you: keep bringing positivity to those around you. It doesn’t matter if you are a new Freshman in college or embarking on a random journey, keep being the same role models and welcome everyone like you did waving welcome home signs. It makes a difference; we can tell you for sure.
This Editorial represents the opinions of The Phillipian, vol. CXLVIII.
