As our time at Ipswich High School comes to an end, the Class of 2025 is reflecting on the memories made in the nooks and crannies of the IHS building and remembering the large efforts that got them to where they are today. Your whole life, adults will tell you time flies-—but nothing prepares you for the moment when that phrase becomes a reality.
You never realize that even in the depths of the most agonizing classes, there are bits of nostalgia that you’ll feel when you look back on them. Because in the blink of an eye, the four years of high school slipped right by. So, as we close out our last year in high school and prepare to turn the page to a new chapter in life, the seniors have some advice to give to all the underclassmen who are just beginning what may be the most meaningful four years of their lives.
With a limited countdown left until graduation, I asked some seniors to look back on their high school experience and talk about the things they learned, regretted, and enjoyed about IHS.
Senior Hazel Hoog felt that there was a lot she learned since freshman year, and she reflected a more positive lesson she learned: “You will only know these people for 4 years. It’ll be over before you know it and you will remember those little connections with classmates that you made during high school.”
Hazel advises that underclassmen should “Get to know people and don’t hold grudges; everyone grows from who they were as a freshman.” No one will remember all the little things about you; most people will just take away how you made them feel as a person, forgive and forget. Don’t spend your high school year wishing the worst on others. Everyone is going through ups and downs, so give people grace.
Senior Spencer McDavitt says “If there’s one thing I’ve learned at IHS, it’s that high school is over before you even realize it started. You’ll look back and wish you didn’t waste time hoping the days would go faster” When Spencer thought about what advice he wished he got during his freshman year he said: “Make the most of every moment—every spirit week, every game, every class. Build real connections with your teachers, stay involved, and don’t get hung up on the hard stuff.“ One day, you’ll be walking out of these halls for the last time, and some of the people you spent every day with will just become memories. Spencer ended his advice with, ”Don’t let your biggest regret be the things you never did.”
When reflecting on high school, overall the senior class is where they made the most of every moment and attended everything possible. Autumn Foley’s biggest regret in high school was “not attending more sporting events”. When looking back she felt that the most impactful moments in high school were the little things and just staying involved. “If there’s one thing I
’ve learned at IHS, it’s that nothing worth having comes easy. You have to fight for the classes you want, speak up for yourself, and work hard—because no one else will do it for you. I wish I had realized that sooner. I regret not giving more effort in my classes or going to more games and joining more sports. High school isn’t just about grades—it’s about memories too. Spirit Week, assemblies, even silly things like YikYak—those are the things that stick with you.”
As Dr. Seuss once said, “sometimes you’ll never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” High school is a bunch of moments that will someday become distant memories. Savor them and enjoy it while it lasts. Soon you will be moving out into the real world and you might never see your classmates again. Enjoy the little moments that one day you will reflect on as memoires.
So to the underclassmen, who are in the same spot where they were four short years ago, make the most of your time in high school, you will soon reminisce on the long days and wish you could just have one more day. You only get one high school experience — make it count.
