By: Abby Kass ’27
Graduating Thoughts: TLS seniors ruminate on their high school experience
From waltzing into the front foyer of TLS to being only weeks out from walking the stage at graduation, seniors are feeling plenty reflective on their experience at school. Time flew by quickly, and TLS seniors have most definitely experienced a year that few other schools can say they have. With an entire class-free semester, the seniors have arguably one of the most unique years. Let’s hear what they have to say about it and their high school experience as a whole.
Senior Sidonia Rotenberg-Schwartz, who began as a student in 9th grade, feels that the transition from her previous school, Schechter-Bergen, was scary, but worth it in the end.
“I think that there were a lot of ups and downs,” Rotenberg-Schwartz said. “But I think that Leffell helped me grow in a way that no other school could have. I think I came to school very, very shy and not confident in myself or expressing my thoughts. And now, I think I’m much more comfortable speaking in front of an audience and having conversations with people I’m not close with. So overall, even with all the ups and downs, I think it’s been a very formative experience.”
Although having been here since kindergarten, Senior Donny Warkol feels as though he has no particular advantage in his perspective on his high school experience, and looks very fondly upon his high school experiences regarding all aspects.
“For how my academics went, I would say, honestly, I couldn’t think of something better,” Warkol said. “I think socially, it was good, and the school does a good job socially. I think that the Shabbatons are fun. And I think that a lot of things, if you buy into them, go well.”
The Shabbatons and Tiyuls throughout the years are, of course, so memorable, but truly nothing beats Lev v’Nefesh, the 2-month trip that the seniors take to Israel and Poland.
“There was just something so special about being in Israel with my grade,” Rotenberg-Schwartz said. “One experience that really captured our joy and connectedness was when we were in Eilat and we’d gone tubing that day, and then we got into nicer clothes, and we went on a party boat. And then our whole grade got up to dance. It was really just such an amazing moment.”
Lev v’Nefesh is such a defining experience for seniors at TLS, as it is not only such a central part of their senior year, but there is also much anticipation leading up to it as they hear about the trip during their whole time at TLS.
“Best experience from high school: Lev v’Nefesh,” Warkol said. “There’s nothing like it. I can’t imagine having a high school experience where I didn’t have this.”
After seniors return from Lev v’Nefesh, they begin their WISE projects. A WISE project can be a structured internship or an unstructured project that seniors work on for the remainder of the year. Rotenberg-Schwartz is interning with a freelance makeup artist, which has given her a chance to experience the work world.
“WISE is such a valuable experience, and I’m learning so much,” Rotenberg-Schwartz said. I’ve done research on social media, so I find content or audio for her [makeup artist] to replicate. I’ve also researched PR so she can email companies and brands and get packages. I think that WISE is a very good way to prepare people because it’s a little bit of work experience, you’re not relying on your parents as much during the day, and that’s very important.”
The senioritis, especially during the latter half of senior year, is real, and TLS understands that.
“I think that having WISE and the trip is something really smart, and that it makes total sense that during second semester, you don’t do class,” Warkol said. “It’s just such a realistic viewpoint from the school, it’s almost refreshing.”
Although Rotenberg-Schwartz does feel as though senior year may have been even better if Lev v’Nefesh was swapped with WISE, she is incredibly grateful for the experiences senior year has given her.
“I feel so lucky that this is the way that Leffell structures the academic year,” Rotenberg-Schwartz said. “One of the things that was getting me through was knowing that at the end, I was going to Israel with my grade. And then I just got to enjoy high school and still have learning experiences. I really appreciate the structure, and I think that it lends to a lot of learning in places that you wouldn’t expect.”
Some seniors feel as though Lev v’Nefesh would be better if it were shorter. Others, such as Warkol, feel as though it would be better longer so that seniors can spend more time with each other. Also, similar to what Rotenberg-Schwartz thinks, there isn’t such a sudden decline in interactions with each other.
“Lev v’Nefesh could keep going, and I’d be happy,” Warkol said. “One of the things that I miss about Lev v’Nefesh and was grateful for is that, after Lev v’Nefesh, you’re never really with your friends the same amount. Before Lev v’Nefesh, you don’t realize that you’re going to school every day and hanging out with your friends. So then the only times you don’t see your friends before the trip are Saturday and Sunday, and then you see them every day for two months. And then after that, most students only go to school on Fridays.”
As sad as it is, it’s time for everyone, including the seniors, to realize that even though TLS will always be there for them, their time as students here will come to a close.
“It feels like I’ve grown up,” Rotenberg-Schwartz said. “So, as much as I’m nervous for next year and for going to college, I do feel that it’s time to move on from high school. Obviously, there are a lot of people I’m still going to be connected with. But I definitely think that it’s time for juniors to become seniors and seniors to start their lives.”