The BILA Wave

By Sandrea Braham 

Are the new seniors fortunate to graduate early? George Wingate Campus closed in 2006 and then separated into four schools shortly after. SHR, HSPS, a public school, and Brooklyn Institute for Liberal Arts were all created. Since then all seniors have since graduated in the spring in BILA. The system and structure have recently changed, and seniors are now anticipated to  graduate early. 

The most crucial question is how the vast majority of  seniors and incoming seniors feel about this radical transformation. Seniors needed a total of 44 credits to graduate. Some considerations include the fact that seniors have been at the school for a total of 4 years, juggling classes to merely graduate on time. Graduating early may be considered advantageous because it allows for more time to work, concentrate on oneself, and be ready for college as opposed to graduating in June and having to re-enter school in a few months. It’s critical to adequately get ready for the new journey that comes with becoming a young adult. So in this light, the change is a plus.

College is expensive, and so is being a teenager in general. So having time to find a job and make money to help support themselves can be very useful. 

“I think that it could be good if the students use their time wisely, if they have a plan in place, and if it allows them to get a head start on something they are passionate about . However, I’m also leery of taking away time for students to just be kids before they have to take on responsibilities of the real world. I myself graduated high school early and I don’t feel that it had any negative effects on me.” says Ms. Attard, a literacy teacher who has worked with seniors for many years. 

However, some people view the situation from a different perspective, especially the actual seniors. Some seniors think that this change is both positive and negative, emphasizing the nervousness that they feel, especially because this is the first time this has taken place. 

For senior Marioline Auguste, “It’s positive and negative, because it’s a good thing that students are getting their high school classes out the way to put their other responsibilities first, but it’s negative because it’s a rush, too much of a rush.”

Apparently there have been multiple viewpoints with the same perspective, Samely Collado also thinks that “it’s also positive and negative. It just really depends on yourself. For some people it would be convenient because they would get to do certain things outside of school before college, basically working, to save up money and also starting college sooner.

 

But also it could be negative because, “It could be pressuring because people want us to get our life together so fast, when we’re still really young and still want to experience our full senior year.” says Samely Collado.

This is significant because it’s fascinating to study how people’s perspectives have evolved over time. When kids first enter high school, it is common for them to hurry through their school years and be ready to leave until reality sets in. You may not realize you’re unprepared or nervous until you’re put under pressure.

 It is critical to consider the perspectives of seniors, especially since they are the ones experiencing change and being thrust into maturity ahead of schedule. One pattern I’ve noticed is that most students don’t have a plan for what they’ll do in their leisure time while preparing for college.

“I don’t really have an organized plan right now, in the moment but I do want to start working after I graduate to save up money,” says Samely.

According to students, most of them now regret taking their highschool years for granted being that it is now cut short. They frequently feel overwhelmed and wish time would slow down so they may enjoy their final meaningful and memorable moments with their buddies before they enter something completely new.

“It makes me feel like…( paused) of course I’m gonna see them outside of school but knowing that not everyone is going to the same college, but imagine going to a college that nobody from your old school is going to … that’s kind of overwhelming,” Mariloline explains, emphasizing that seeing them outside of school might not feel the same or be as special. 

It’s such an eye opener to be put in a situation where you’re forced to accept something you feel you’re not mentally ready for, taking on bigger steps in life can be nerve racking not knowing the outcome or what to expect.

“It’s a realization that we’re going into a bigger step in life, you know? Like real life. So yeah, it’s a bigger step. I’m not gonna lie, I’m scared.” Marilyn describes this new journey as “stressful” illustrating how by not knowing what’s to come could cause a lot of overthinking and alarm.

Samely says, “I just question if life after high school is how you want it.”