Dear Seniors,

It’s the end of our senior year, and many of you may have transitioned into the summer mindset, itching for school to end and for life outside of high school to commence. Others, like me, are intimidated to step outside of the bubble we’ve grown so used. However you feel, let me take you back throughout the years and reflect on our DMAE community, specifically the events that gave us that whole DMAE experience and the unparalleled COVID-19.  

Freshmen Experience

I’m sure many will recall Freshmen Experience, perhaps tidbits of it unless you’re like me, who, in an attempt to leave behind stressful memories (ahem, freshmen year), inadvertently blurred that memory. FX was the “survival of the fittest.” 200 or so students were thrust into the woods (literally) sans phone, where socializing = survival. The result? Square dancing, a skit (cringey in hindsight), and marshmallow cones. Yet, the time spent together kindled friendships and gave us a shared memory to reminisce over.

Englewood Idol

Whether you were working behind the scenes to pull the show together, or a member of the audience, Englewood Idol was an unforgettable experience. As a staff member, I remember the weekly after-school meetings in Ms. Aronson’s room where we divvied up jobs. Then when D-day finally loomed near, we all scrambled to decorate Bergen Pac, scarfed down lunch to stay on schedule, and amid the tremendous chaotic energy of it all, we were having a blast spending time with our classmates. Remember the impromptu cupcake contest with special guest Mr. Bellanger from Cupcake Wars as the judge? When the curtains finally opened, I remember peering down from the balcony, completely awestruck by the raw talent of our DMAE community. The singers’ chillingly beautiful voices reverberated throughout the theater, and the dancers kept up the energy with their stunning performances. Englewood Idol was an experience you could not miss and would not forget.

Covid-19

It’s mid-March of 2020, and suddenly we’re not coming back for two weeks. Yay! A break from school. Two weeks pass, and we’re still at home. Quarantine has been extended until further notice. Hmmm. COVID-19 turns into a full-fledged pandemic, and our world is forced to pause. Meanwhile, masks are mandatory, six-feet social distancing is enforced, and society has become virtual. 

The coronavirus struck us like a mac truck, throwing everything off-kilter. Before March, we were all in school, hanging out with our friends, stressing over school, and then two seconds later, we were in quarantine, fearful and paranoid about the unknown and the high fatalities. Collectively, as a world and a nation, and as individual people, we mourned the deaths of loved ones who fell victim to the virus. My heart goes out to those who lost a significant other or a loved one: I give you my most heartfelt condolences. For students, this virus took away our two worlds, school and home, and forced them into one. For those in challenging households, this lack of a discrepancy was difficult. Our homes were no longer a reprieve from school; both worlds inextricably meshed together for the worse. 

Nevertheless, we can all extract the good from the bad, and so, quarantine, for myself and others, was a time of healing – an emotional, mental, physical re-charge. All that time was handed to me, and I had the opportunity to unwind and reflect on my past, something I didn’t usually do or have the time to do. I let go of certain things I dwelled over for no reason, shed off the part of me that was shrouded in misery, and slowly re-invented myself. Friends have told me that this virus took off an intangible filter and allowed them to view the world through newer eyes. Quarantine allowed them to distinguish between the important and the unimportant, cherish the time spent with friends and family, be thankful for things that were taken for granted, and place more emphasis on hygiene. This year’s seniors have experienced the brunt of the Covid-19 virus; however, we’re also currently experiencing its resolution with the administration of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. In the coming months, our society may return to new normalcy or some semblance of it. 

Prom

I walked into Rockleigh Country Club, and immediately, my jaw hit the floor. The girls looked like fairy princesses with their stunning gowns and glamorous makeup, and the guys looked dashing in their suits and ties. Prom was the first time more than half of the DMAE seniors saw each other since the previous year, so the night was memorable. We all danced hard, snapped tons of pictures, and left deliriously pumped up with adrenaline.     

Accomplishments

The amount of pride I feel in my classmates is unable to be put into words. This year’s seniors beat the odds and are some of the most brilliant, forward-thinking, compassionate, and hardworking people I’ve met. We have Christopher Butcher, the founder and Co-President of the Black Student Union. With his achievements and undeterred drive to address the systemic racism present everywhere, including our own community, Chris got accepted into six Ivy League schools and was featured on the news. We also have hard working members of the Student Council who were always planning ways to improve our school: Sienna Tu and Kiana Ong in particular. NHS with president Jeffrey Hong and officers Christopher Butcher, Dimple Kangriwala, Christopher Lee, Kiana Ong, and Rachel Park held a informative college fair to advise the underclassmen on the college admissions process, and our BOE Representative Lesrene Brown did a phenomenal job relaying our concerns to the Board.

Not to mention, we pulled off a school-wide virtual March Madness this year under Krisna Panchal’s direction, which was a complete success. These are just a sample of our senior class’s many accomplishments. We all have so much potential, and I can’t wait to see where everyone will be in the next 5 to 10 years. 

Farewell

And so DMAE seniors, these are a few of the numerous events that have shaped my DMAE experience and memories, our experiences and memories. I hope you look back at your high school years and realize how precious they were. I wish you good health, prosperity, luck, and above all, happiness. I hope you succeed in all of your endeavors! I will miss you all so much. I am so proud of us!