As the school year approaches its ending and seniors begin to finalize their high school careers, they reflect on the past four years. With deep consideration for their accomplishments, setbacks and biggest influences, many successful seniors label their high school careers as outstanding. Each year offers unique opportunities and experiences to students and evidently seniors graduate with a favored year in mind.

“Last year when we were all at home was the best year for me because I was still able to do fine arts and only came to school for rehearsals, so school became associated with happy things for me,” senior Saara Sastry said. “That was when I was most heavily involved in fine arts and so that’s why it was my favorite.”

Sastry accomplished numerous academic and fine arts achievements throughout her four years in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, including being a national merit finalist and a recipient of a Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theater Award for her role in the school’s musical her junior year. Her friends, family, directors and teachers offered endless support and encouragement throughout the years and one particular influence has been math teacher Cynthia Tomotaki who taught her for three years.

“I wasn’t really a math person going into high school, but I really enjoy the subject and understand it a lot more because of her,” Sastry said. “She has great energy and makes all of her students feel comfortable.”

With all of her high school achievements, Sastry has been accepted into New York University’s music program and will be attending in the fall, where she will focus on vocal performance with a concentration in musical theater. She learned and grew from her high school experiences and will readily pursue a continuing education.

“Don’t do everything,” Sastry said. “Since I was in IB all four years, in ninth and 10th grade all of the kids were trying to do every single club, don’t do that. You don’t need to overextend yourself and do everything, just do the things you’re passionate about.”

Senior Trevor Gatabaki is very involved in theater and the fine arts as well. He achieved many notable accomplishments over the years, including winning an All Star Cast award at the UIL One-act Play Competition in 2019, being a finalist in the Southern Methodist University New Voices Monologue Competition, and receiving admission to the University of Texas for acting.

“I wish I would have done everything I’ve done sooner,” Gatabaki said. “I could be even further now.”

Whether through the arts, academics, clubs or athletic programs, it seems many seniors are most grateful for their involvement within the school. Senior Blake Allen is one of many examples of this.

“I’ve been involved in track and field since the start of my high school career,” Allen said. “I first joined because I wanted to be an athlete here, but I wasn’t allowed to play football due to a concussion [I got] in eighth grade in a practice. Track has played a major part in who I am and who I am friends with, [and] it has taught me to be more stable in hard times and to keep working on my faults.”

Aside from athletics, Allen also finds support in many of his academic teachers and advisors. One particular influence has been English and Yearbook teacher, Josue Blanco.

“Mr. Blanco has taught me the benefits of not seeing a teacher as only a teacher and instead seeing them as people,” Allen said. “He has always encouraged me to do my best on assignments and encourages me to push myself as a student.”

Allen will be attending Wichita State University in Kansas to study another one of his passions: aerospace engineering. He chose this university because they are known for their engineering schools and for having multiple on-campus aerospace facilities. 

“I would say that it is extremely important to allow yourself to fail and not beat yourself up about it,” Allen said. “Things happen and that’s okay. It’s important to learn from where you messed up and move forward.”