As the spring trimester begins and graduation approaches, seniors are looking forward to the end of year traditions, one being reflecting on their Letters to Self.

When RAHS students are in ninth grade, they write a page of their Letter to Self every week, reflecting on their future goals and the important things going on in their lives. Then, the letters are printed, decorated, and put into folders, where they are kept until that class graduates.

Letters to Self prompts are open-ended, and often along the lines of future goals or a student’s personal opinions on topics like pop culture trends. “I think I wrote a lot about what my future would look like,” said senior Si Paw Rah. 

“I just know I wrote some crazy stuff,” said senior Christina Phan. 

Many seniors felt that they had changed and grown since freshman year. “I’ve definitely matured,” said Phan.

Senior Novem Aung said she’s learned that “you have to work for what you want, it’s not just handed to you.”

With age comes wisdom, and upcoming graduates had advice to impart to their freshman selves. Aung said, “take high school seriously.”

“Don’t slack,” said Phan. 

Senior Melia Conrath advised, “keep your grades up and be confident.”

Spring is an exciting time for teachers, too. Tara Miller, who teaches ninth grade English and oversees the writing of the Letters to Self, said she is always “excited to see the diversity of responses that people have when looking at who they were in their ninth grade year… it is really rewarding to see students genuinely reflect on their growth over the last four years that they’re in high school.”

While seniors are reflecting on the past four years at RAHS, they are also still making memories. “I’m excited for senior assassin and prom,” Conrath said.

Aung said she’s anticipating “the last day when we throw all our papers.” 

It is a bittersweet time, and Si Paw Rah (12) said she is looking forward to “enjoying every moment as much as I can.”