As the 2023 to 2024 school year comes to an end, Wakefield High School seniors close their chapter of high school and begin a new one as adults. They now begin to reflect on the past four years ranging from what they have accomplished, such as awards, to the classes they have taken. Seniors must consider, especially the ones in the arts, how the school, teachers and peers impact them as well as what impact they have made on those younger than them.
Senior Drake Williams has been a part of the Wakefield Theatre Company since his freshman year of high school. He has been a part of many of the productions Wakefield Theatre has to present to the public, as well as in-class performances. During these productions, he has grown to make a lasting impact on others as it can be nerve-racking to perform.
“What I tried to do was make people feel safe and go up to them,” Williams said. “I wanted to make them feel like they were being heard and comfortable.”
Senior Irene Quinones-Olmeda has been a part of the band department at Wakefield since her freshman year. Quinones-Olmeda believes seniors this year have made a profound impact on the underclassmen by helping with the certain skills that come with being in band; this class has allowed her to make valuable memories and gain beneficial attributes.
“[Band] has been very beneficial as it has taught me about the importance of dedication and perseverance,” Quinones-Olmeda said. “I have been able to get leadership skills from and help people grow as well.”
High school art classes have impacted my perception of life and how I see it.
— Levey
Graduating students are also able to showcase their talents and leave their legacy behind with their visual arts. This form of art has been on earth for numerous years and is still raging on, enabling it to influence not only cultures but individuals within. Ali Levey, a senior who dabbles in both theater and art, is an example of how art can change somebody.
“High school art classes have impacted my perception of life and how I see it,” Levey said. “I [also] feel that underclassmen have been impacted by our senior art students this year [as] we all work with one another in our art classes; a lot of our ideas get bounced off of each other.”
Even in dance, one can find significant influences on the younger students from the upperclassmen. This relationship can also be seen vice versa as freshmen and sophomores can impact the upperclassmen too. Nayelie Ayala, a senior in the dance class, explains how it was so eye-opening to see these underclassmen do what they do and enjoy it in such a competitive environment.
“Dance is really hard, especially when you want to go into it and make it a career,” Ayala said. “But watching them open themselves to something so scary and [often] new just trying to do something that not many people want to do because of fear is so inspiring.”
Overall, seniors have made a massive impact on the arts inside of the school as they have been a leaders to students below their grades. They can relate to the struggles and hardships that come with being in high school. Having someone who knows the ups and downs to high school can make a difference in any student in any program at school.
“[Theater] has given me good people skills”, Williams said. “It has changed my character to be more accepting to different kinds of people. Being able to work with other people that I never thought I would work with.”
