Foothill Technology High School’s (Foothill Tech) Class of ‘25 is set to graduate on June. 4, 2025 — but not without some parting words of advice. From Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways to college applications, seniors have survived and embraced the tumultuous years of high school. Their time on campus may be nearing an end, but their nuanced outlooks and wise insights will aid current and future students for years to come.
Tip #1: Get involved on campus
Irick Catanach ‘25, who plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO) in the fall of 2025 to study engineering, emphasized the importance of Foothill Tech’s Design and Technology (Dtech) pathway to his high school experience. “My advice [to current and incoming students] is to join Dtech. It’s a great atmosphere and you’ll get a lot of friends … it’s definitely helped me grow,” Catanach voiced.
Other seniors agree that joining clubs, pathways and programs has shaped their time at Foothill Tech. Emiliano Ferro ‘25 shared, “I would say include yourself in something outside of academics, so maybe clubs or Dtech or BioScience … something that gives you more than just a classroom and helps you get into a skill that you like.”
Kiana Felix ‘25 has also been involved in Dtech and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) for all four years of high school, stating, “[These programs] are the reasons why I stuck with Foothill, and my loyalty for Dtech is so immense. It is something that I will forever cherish.”
Pathways serve many students beyond their time at Foothill, encouraging seniors to continue building upon the skills that they have developed. Catanach aspires to work in machine shops at Cal Poly SLO while Ferro hopes to start his own business after graduation — both endeavors inspired by Dtech. Similarly, many seniors in the BioScience pathway plan to study biology or related subjects in college to eventually pursue a career in the medical field.
Tip #2: Step out of your comfort zone
Expanding your horizons, be it personally, socially or academically, is a foolproof way to experience growth. Felix encourages students to “try to get to know everybody and join [the community] as much as you can.” Even if you try something and it isn’t for you, there is value in identifying the subjects and activities that interest you — and those that don’t.
Felix recalled, “I joined Environmental Club and I wasn’t there all the time, but I’m still glad I got to experience it … Just try something new, even though you might not necessarily stick with it.” Shaped by the classes, activities, and friendships she has made at Foothill, Felix will attend California State University (CSU) Fullerton in the fall.
Tip #3: Use your time wisely
Strategically organizing your course load can be the difference between thriving and struggling to stay afloat academically. Felix is currently enrolled in a Spanish class at Oxnard College that is “kicking [her] butt.” She recommends that students figure out a four-year plan as soon as possible to avoid feeling pressure to meet graduation requirements at the last minute.
Theana Atanacil ‘25 says she regrets “doing too many hard classes [and] straining [herself] too much.” However, she shares, “If you are going to lock in any week, make it finals week because that is when your grades will fluctuate the most.” Atanacil will take these lessons with her to CSU Channel Islands as a pre-nursing student next school year.
Tip #4: Trust the academic process
It’s common to feel stress as assignments pile up, but Sean Romp ‘25 advises students to avoid shortcuts. “I would say in English, read the books, that’s the main thing,” Romp urges. This tip may seem obvious, but with easily accessible online summaries and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to lighten students’ workload, Romp emphasizes the value of doing assignments yourself. “It’s going to help you throughout the years and it’s not as hard as you think it’s going to be,” Romp concludes.
Tip #5: Make time for yourself
Given the chance, some seniors would approach aspects of high school differently. Atanacil regrets “studying so much and being involved in so many different activities [on campus].” While challenging yourself is rewarding, many seniors stress the importance of making time for yourself and your interests outside of school.
Ferro wishes he would have branched out socially, sharing, “I would have wanted to introduce myself to more people and just overall know more people in my class … just not keep myself in a small group of friends.” Striving to broaden his circle, Ferro will attend Ventura College for two years before transferring to a four year university.
Finding the perfect balance between academics, extracurriculars and social life can be challenging, but trying and failing to do so is a rite of passage in high school. Learning from your mistakes will help you develop skills that will aid you throughout life, so don’t let perfectionism taint your high school experience. As Ariel Montejano ‘25 puts it, high school may be simpler than you think, just “learn how to write a good essay and make a lot of friends.”
