From Alexander Valadez

Dear, Incoming Seniors

I have learned a lot during the past 4 years of high school. The main takeaway is to never put things off to the last minute. Start your college essays during the Summer and have people revise them for reassurance. Have a good relationship with teachers and your counselor for letters of recommendation.

Also start to drive as soon as possible that way if you are attending a school outside of Passaic, it will make commuting easier.

There is no shame in community college, trade school, attending the military, or even taking a gap year. Just know that you have people in this very school that can and will help you through what you are planning to do with your future. There will be many times in your senior year when you ask yourself if what you are doing is worth it and you have to remember that every action that you take as a senior can impact the way things can turn out for you in your future.

Know that your class will become more of a family as the months go on and you will feel as if you do not want to leave the school anymore, no matter how much you wanted to leave it in the first place. The people that you graduate with and all the teachers that have helped you throughout the whole 4 years of your high school career are now your family. Remember the people that you were with the entire 4 years of high school and enjoy it with them because the school year goes by very quickly as a senior.

Best of luck on your journey as a senior and I hope you have a very successful school year.

Sincerely,

Alexander Valadez