As the Class of 2025 heads into their final year, seniors are taking advantage of their off-periods to prioritize their needs and prepare for life after high school. With these new options, seniors have extended time to work on college applications, scholarships, jobs or even outside commitments that accompany senior year.
“It gives me time for myself compared to the past three years of high school,” Isabelle Perez said. “If I don’t have work, I can breathe, relax and be with family and friends.”
Having the extra time has been crucial in allowing students to absorb and retain the information being taught in classes as well.
“I get anxious when I miss classes,” Perez said. “So having off-periods and being an office aide reassures me that I’m not falling behind with school, work and applying for colleges.”
AP and dual-credit classes often come with a heavy workload, both in and out of the classroom. But many students have combated this by doing their work during off periods.
“I would definitely be behind on a few assignments so far without my off period,” Sasha Momcilovic said. “I spend most of my time focused on classes where I typically have the most homework, like statistics or AP Biology, so I can get that work done effectively.”
However, some seniors may have chosen to take on a teacher’s aide position or maintain a traditional full schedule.
“I personally did not have the ability to go off campus early or come late, so it was not an option for me to take an off period,” Jazy Childers said. “I wanted to take certain elective classes like AVID, 3-D Art and Research so I was able to fill another elective by being a teacher aide for Mrs. Fey.”
Students say the flexibility of off-campus or teacher aide periods not only reduces stress but prepares seniors for the challenges that lie ahead. These options let students manage their academic commitments while creating meaningful experiences and making their final year truly memorable.
