Senior Keya Patel has committed to Rutgers University as a microbiology major on the New Brunswick campus. During these past four years, Keya has been an active member of the JFK community. She is involved in backstage crew as a stage manager, National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Science Honor Society, WEvolve, The Torch and more.
As graduation day approaches, Keya reflects on her experiences as a senior and her time at JFK.
What has been the most challenging task as a senior?
Keya: Just the will to do anything. I spent three years grinding on every single assignment with no late work, but when senior year hits, you just don’t want to do anything. You want to cherish these last moments because you’re leaving soon, but having the motivation to not slack off, especially after you committed to a college, is really hard.
How does it feel to get through these last few weeks of school; are you feeling the senioritis?
Oh yeah, for sure. Senioritis is a real thing; people aren’t lying when they talk about it. It’s bittersweet because I’m excited to graduate, but at the same time, I don’t want to leave my friends and all the memories that we made in these hallways.
What are some extracurriculars that you have participated in at JFK?
I’ve been in a lot. I’ve been in stage crew and WEvolve since my freshman year. I’m also in National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and Science Honor Society. I made a lot of memories with my friends and advisors over the years.
What has been the highlight or best memory of your senior year?
I think there has been a lot of good moments, like hanging out with my friends, going to volleyball games, Mr. JFK, and other school events. I’m especially going to miss stage crew. This year, I was stage manager and I had all my friends with me. Our last show was sad because we’re never going to spend hours after school together again.
Are there any friendships you have made over the course of your senior year, or are there any friends you have continued to bond with since freshman year?
I’m still friends with some of my friends from freshman year, but it’s not the exact same. The senior year friend group that I have right now is the best from all my years. The people that stayed from freshman year are also in this group, so we’ve all grown together and they’re the people I’ll miss the most after graduating.
Who influences or motivates you in your day to day life?
Definitely my friends and my sister. Every time I need help, I always go to them for support and solutions. They’re also always really proud of me, which keeps me motivated because I want to do things that make them proud.
Is there a teacher or a class that you had at JFK that has influenced you personally?
There are multiple, like Mr. Farrell, Mrs. Ebner, Mr. Kaul, and Mrs. McCaig. I had McCaig for AP Bio, which was my favorite class that I’ve ever taken. She made it so fun to learn bio and taught us really well.
I had Farrell for two years, for U.S. History I and Econ. He’s the type of person where, yes, he’s a teacher, but he’s also like a friend to me. I can go to him and tell him any of my problems and he’s always very helpful.
I had Ebner for English III Honors, and we got really close because she was also the play director. Stage crew is where I also got to bond with Mr. Kaul, even though I didn’t have him as a teacher. He taught us a lot of lessons, and because of him, stage crew felt so inclusive and fun.
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
I would say not to take everything seriously. School should be one of your top priorities, so focus on your grades, but one bad test grade is not the end of the world. Enjoy your time here and don’t stress too much, because your grades don’t define who you are.
Which upcoming senior activity are you the most excited for?
I’m excited for a lot of them. Prom is definitely one because me and my friends love dressing up and dancing. We’re the type of people to be outgoing at an event like that. The senior trip is also going to be really fun because we’re all together and it’s one of our last memories.
What is one word you would use to describe your last year at JFK?
I would say ‘bittersweet.’ You want to leave this place so bad and you’re happy to graduate, but it’s also sad because you’re never going to see the same people again. After your hang out, you can’t say ‘I’ll see you tomorrow’ because you’re all going to different places.
JFKMHS and The Torch wish Keya luck for her future plans!!
