Andrew Carbonell is one of the graduating seniors for the class of 2023 at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School. He has been in the explorer’s program for 2.5 years. The explorer’s program allows you to obtain volunteer hours by essentially becoming a volunteer firefighter. An adult at the fire department will sign off on your volunteer hours worksheet that you give to your guidance counselor. Andy is looking forward to starting a career as a firefighter. In this article, we will get to know him a little bit more and hear about his last four years at JFK.

How would you define senioritis in your own words?

Senioritis is just that feeling that you get when you know that you’ve succeeded in all prior years [of high school], especially junior year. I know a lot of students go hard in junior year, making sure everything is cleaned up and grades are good. And then in senior year, you let go. You start getting ready to be an adult. You just let loose because it’s your final year and you might as well enjoy it.

Are there any classes that you truly enjoyed?

I really did like the graphic novel class. That was A-tier. Mr. Essig taught it. He’s a great teacher. Double A plus for him!

What are you most looking forward to in the next couple of months and after graduation?

After graduation, obviously, I’m going to start getting things ready for college, [and] my career. All that fun jazz. In terms of my spring classes, I do have senior block, so I can get to work earlier. I have one more really tough class and then that’s it!

How would you like to be remembered as you leave JFK?

I don’t want to be remembered. I kinda just want to dip in and out of here. I would like to take my friends with me but leave school.

I know that you joined the explorer’s program and started volunteering as a firefighter. What is so exciting about firefighting that makes you want to go every time?

I really enjoy the program and it allowed me to get a connection with a trade. You get your volunteer hours, which you need, and it’s a place where you can find other people around your age doing the same thing. It’s like a club! And you get to do the whole cool fire stuff.

What college have you been accepted to?

I didn’t apply to too many colleges. I got accepted into Middlesex College for its fire science and technology program and I also got into Montclair for its visual arts program. I want to go to Middlesex to start off and get my associate [degree]…I would rather go get my 2 years… definitely go to college, but I don’t think it’s necessary to commit to my four years not knowing what college is like.

Do you have classes that you would recommend?

For my upcoming seniors, If you have all of your requirements done, I HIGHLY recommend you go for precalc. Try for an AP…it’s really not that hard and it just takes a little bit of work.

For my freshmen, get everything required out of the way. You can have 1-2 fun classes, but if you get your requirements out of the way, you can have a REALLY fun junior and senior year!