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Schools

Student Perspective: Graduating From High School

Lakeland High School seniors reflect on their high school experience.

For Lakeland High School's Class of 2010, the next few weeks will be filled with memories as graduation draws closer by the day. With classes officially coming to a close last Friday and a few finals left to be taken, Lakeland's 2010 seniors will prepare for graduation, and spend the summer focusing and reflecting on the past four years of their high school lives.

"The most prevalent feeling would probably have to be that 'I've finally made it' feeling" said Rubén Cabán of his impending graduation, comparing it to finishing a project "only multiply it by a million." 

Christina Litavec, senior, said she feels a multitude of equally powerful emotions.

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"At this point I'm feeling a lot of things but no feeling is overwhelming," Litavec noted. "I'm melancholy because I can never go back to what was so familiar for four years. I'm excited to be going to college, but I'm also a little apprehensive because of all of the responsibilities I will be acquiring." 

As both seniors prepare to move on to college, leaving behind the familiar comforts of public school will be a challenge.

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Cabán, who will go on to dual major in Business and Communications at Pace University, said that he would miss the bonds he has made with both students and teachers at Lakeland.

"Those kinds of things remind you that there is still good left in the world and that you are never alone in your time of need," Rubén said.

Litavec, who plans to study nursing at the University of Vermont-Burlington, will miss the predictability of high school life.

"Freedom is great, but when it comes in a multitude it might be overwhelming," she said. "High school is a very comfortable place because the staff makes sure that it's always safe, and there is always someone who will be friendly to you."

To help them adjust to college life, both Litavec and Cabán can use the lessons learned at Lakeland. Cabán noted that his high school experience helped him develop time management skills and responsibility, both of which will surely help him with handling the college course load. Lakeland helped him learn "how to handle large amounts of pressure," he said.

Litavec said her years at Lakeland helped her prepare to meet and work with a diverse group of people.

"I have learned to deal with many different personalities, "she said. "High school students are extremely diverse and it takes a lot of tolerance to be able to get along with them," Litavec explained.

She has had experience organizing the "Battle of the Bands" fundraiser for Lakeland's SEA, and "Students for Environmental Action."

"That taught me about all the work it takes to create an event and how to make it run smoothly and successfully," Litavec said. 

Having been through it, Cabán and Litavec's advice to Lakeland's Class of 2011 was to remain active during their senior year.

"Do not catch a case of senioritis!" Cabán said to juniors. "Your senior year grades are just as carefully watched as your GPA and it is crucial your grades meet their criteria for your acceptance."

"Get involved, don't take a back seat during senior year because many things will pass you by," Litavec said. 

She also encouraged soon-to-be-seniors to complete their college applications as soon as possible.

"The less stress, the better," Litavec affirmed.

With just one week left until graduation, Lakeland's graduating seniors are looking back upon the memories and lessons that high school has given them as they prepare to conquer the challenges that college will provide.

Rubén Cabán and Christina Litavec's experiences show that Lakeland has succeeded in teaching their students, and it is sending them away with lessons that would guide them all through life.

Congratulations to the Class of 2010! 

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