Senior Katherine Canelas has committed to Rutgers University, where she will be pursuing nursing. During these past four years, Katherine has been involved in girls winter and spring track, cross country, yearbook club, key club, model UN and autism awareness club, to name a few. She is also an active member of both the National Honor Society and Chinese Honor Society.
As graduation day approaches, Katherine’s future awaits her. She shares her experiences as a senior and reflects on how high school has shaped her into the person she is today.
What has been the most challenging task as a senior to you?
Katherine: I would say the most challenging task for me was being productive. Senioritis hits so hard when you’re just weeks away from graduating. You have so much to do senior year; you have to apply to colleges and keep track of all of the deadlines, all while staying on top of your classwork at the same time. You just get so tired and overwhelmed because you’re so close to the end, yet so far away. It’s easy to let your grades slip when you have a lot on your plate, so staying motivated and on task is definitely challenging.
How does it feel to get through these last few weeks of school; are you feeling the senioritis?
Oh yeah. Like I was saying before, senioritis is catching up to me. Now that my AP Biology exam is over, I feel accomplished and ready for school to end. Getting through these last few weeks is a rollercoaster. Some days are hard and others are great, but before you know it, high school is going to be over.
What has been the highlight/best memory of your senior year?
For me, the best memory was taking photos of all the football games and pep rallies. It was really fun to run around and capture the happiness of everyone at JFK. It was also cool to see my photos in the yearbook and on the Instagram pages. I don’t know a lot about photography, but I enjoy taking photos on my own. I started more when Katelyn [Figueiredo], who takes most of the school photos, taught me how to use her camera at the guitar club concert last year.
Are there any friendships you made over the course of your senior year, or are there any friends you have continued to bond with since the beginning of high school?
Yes; one of the hardest parts of the beginning of high school for me was making friends because I came from Fords Middle School. Everyone else came from Iselin, so they all knew each other and grew up with each other. It was tough for me to go into a pool of people that had already maintained friendships for so many years. Also, my freshman year was virtual so it was even harder to expose myself to different people. Over the years, I have gained friends that I appreciate like Lesly, and Aliyah, who has been a great friend of mine since middle school. I’m really happy with the people I surround myself with.
Have you ever played a sport or participated in any extracurriculars at JFK? If not, are you involved in anything outside of school?
In my sophomore year, I did winter track and throwing. I got to experience a lot of track meets and surround myself with people from different schools and make new friends. In my junior year, I did spring track, which was really fun because I got into varsity throwing and I learned that I love discus. Track is very much like a family to me. We all support each other and push each other to become our best selves. Over the years, I also participated in yearbook club, key club, Kennedy cancer society, guitar club and Chinese club. I am in National Honor Society and Chinese Honor Society, which was a big deal to me. Outside of school, I helped as a Catholic teacher for 8 years.
Are you committed to a college? If so, which one and what major will you be pursuing?
I am committed to Rutgers Newark, and I will be going into the nursing field. Originally, I was thinking of going to Montclair State, but the traffic during the drive there is terrible, so I decided on Rutgers instead. I might transfer to the New Brunswick campus next year, but I’m excited to see what college has to offer for me.
What/who influences/motivates you in your day to day life?
My mom. She’s been my biggest support system and has always wanted me to immerse myself into the JFK community. She pushed me to take AP classes and challenge myself. She gives me more reasons to work hard and strive for the better. My mom always taught me to be kind to everyone because you never know what someone could be going through. I am forever grateful for her.
Is there a teacher or a class that you had here at JFK that has influenced you personally?
Yeah, I would have to say APUSH II with Mr. Kaul. That class was really hard, but at the same time, Mr. Kaul is a really great person to talk to if you ever need something. He always gave us advice on how to be a better person and push through obstacles even if you feel like giving up. He taught us to make the right decisions in the real world because there’s always going to be consequences to your actions. Another person that influenced me is Mr. Koch. I adore Mr. Koch; he has always been a shoulder to lean on. He is very philosophical and great at opening up people’s minds to different topics, but also giving leeway to those who don’t feel as comfortable talking in class.
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
The biggest advice I would give is to have fun and maintain a schedule. As much as you want to experience high school for the memories and have the best time while it lasts, you still have to keep up with your academics and push through the process before college. These are the years that count, so make the most of them, but don’t forget to stay productive.
What is one word you would use to describe your last year at JFK?
This is a really hard question, but I think it would have to be memorable. You start your senior year and as it goes by, you’re like, “get me out of here”, and now when you’re getting out, you don’t want to leave. You’ve been here for so long and gotten used to it; it’s like your comfort zone. Everything has been memorable. It’s been exhausting at times, but it’s also been exhilarating.
