By Cora Roman
On Friday, March 4th, the Senior Class of 2022 took a field trip to the Alden Liberty to work on their portfolios.
Many of us may have heard the words ‘portfolio’ and ‘defense’ thrown around, but what are our teachers really talking about when they bring these topics up? A senior portfolio typically includes examples of high-quality schoolwork, athletic proficiency, dramatic or public performances, advanced science projects, and community service. A portfolio is meant to be a collection of your “best hits” from high school, and it’s completely acceptable to show off a bit because you’ll be asked to defend it later. Having to “defend” your portfolio may sound scary, but it simply involves presenting the contents of the portfolio and explaining why they are important and what skills were involved. Were you involved in a drama club performance? Write about it! Were you elected as team captain? Write about it! Have you done any type of community service lately? Write about it! Once you’ve compiled all your evidence, you’ll give a speech in front of a group of familiar teachers and mentors to prove that you have accumulated experiences and skills that will benefit you after graduation.
All of this, and more, is discussed in depth at the annual retreat. This year, the seniors enjoyed informative presentations given by retreat leader Mr. Warmke. He exhibited several inspiring examples while Ms. Cell and Ms. Ripple assisted seniors with crafting clever reflections of their own. Mr. Warmke firmly believes that the senior retreat is important because, “…it helps all the seniors get clarity about what’s expected of them for their senior portfolios. It ends up being a good work day, and a lot of the seniors leave with a good portion of their portfolio done.” Similarly, Ms. Cell says, “It’s important because it gives the seniors a chance to learn about and get a head start on their portfolio work. Plus, it gives them a chance to get out of the building and for us to spend quality time together.” Ms. Ripple concisely emphasizes the efficiency of the trip, “By the seniors leaving school to have a focused work day, it sets the tone for meaningful and productive work. They also find it easier to reflect in this type of environment.” When asked about his favorite part of the retreat, Mr. Warmke said, “All of it. But especially talking with students.” In response to the same question, Ms. Cell simply said: “lunch”. “Besides lunch, I also enjoy reading reflections and getting to see what all the seniors are going to be doing when they graduate,” Ms. Cell added. Ms. Ripple said her favorite part of the trip is “…getting to connect with some of the students I don’t always get to talk to and getting to ask their plans for after high school as well as hear them reflect on the most influential parts of their high school careers.” Finally, I asked the chaperones about their favorite food establishments on Court Street. While Mr. Wamke said, “There are too many to pick from,” Ms. Cell and Ms. Ripple both listed Donkey Coffee as one of their favorites. Ms. Cell expressed her enthusiasm for their chai tea. Meanwhile, Ripple likes having sweets or bagels from Fluff Bakery and Bagel Street Deli alongside a steaming cup.
I also had the opportunity to ask some of the seniors attending the retreat whether they thought it was helpful. Joshua B, the first senior I asked, said, “Even though I don’t like to do this stuff, I have to. The retreat has helped me understand the portfolio requirements.” Reagan J considered my question thoughtfully before saying, “I think that I probably wouldn’t have known where to start by myself, so I found the retreat very helpful. I also like that it was outside of school because I can’t focus too well in the school building with bells ringing and stuff.” Finally, Gaige M excitedly told me that the retreat was “absolutely wonderful”. Overall, I believe a change of scenery was much needed, and most of the students believe they benefited from the retreat.
Senior year is the busiest year in a student’s life. Often, seniors are undergoing many changes, preparing for college or a full-time job, and experiencing a mix of excitement and anxiety as they leave home and enter the “adult” world. Organizing a portfolio to reflect back on four years worth of work and growth can be tedious, but also extremely insightful and fulfilling. As a senior myself, I honestly can’t believe how far I’ve come. Sure, there are times when I feel just as lost, confused, and incapable as I felt the first time I stepped through the doors of Federal Hocking High School as a bashful seventh grader, but there are definitely times when I feel proud of myself and my accomplishments. I think a lot of my peers feel a similar way.
In closing, I wish my peers the best of luck in their final months as a senior at FedHock. We have made a lot of progress already. Keep up the good work and stay safe out there!
