On June 6, 2026, this year’s senior class threw their graduation caps in the air and officially ended their time at Castilleja. These fresh graduates shared advice to Counterpoint, and it’s clear that whether you’re an incoming senior or a fresh-faced sixth grader, these pieces of guidance can benefit us all.
If there is one thing the graduating class agrees on, it is this: try everything. “Try everything and live with no regrets,” said Savannah Tau-Vaka, a sentiment echoed by Eloise Moha, Ava Kwok, Caroline Yuan, Katy Zhen, and Katherine Cheng, the latter of whom noted that “Castilleja has so many good resources and people will really support you.” Charlie Laurel put it most concretely, recalling how she tried “a lot of silly traditions like Play in a Day or the Edible Book Festival” and encouraging incoming students to do the same.
Tied to that spirit of exploration is the importance of saying yes, even when, or especially when, something feels uncomfortable. Anna Kocher reflected that “what you enjoy best is something that you don’t expect,” while Anukha Vusirikala urged underclassmen to be ambitious and resist the temptation to self-select out of challenges. Karys Chang and Ashley Kwong both stressed confidence and openness to new beginnings, and Noor Maraqa put it plainly: “The only way good things come is when you try something new and put yourself out there.”
Several seniors cautioned against the pressure to over-plan or over-perfect. Jiwoo Oh arrived at Castilleja with a four-year college plan, which, she laughed, “obviously changed,” and concluded that everything works out in the end. Amelia Yuan borrowed from Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese” to speak to “the culture of success and perfection at Casti that can permeate our mindsets,” encouraging students to pursue what they love without letting fear of failure hold them back. Ademi Rakhimbayeva took a philosophical angle, urging students to “stop trying to control outcomes and focus on your actions,” while Ameena Haque simply said: “Have faith that everything is going to work out.”
Living in the moment was another recurring theme. Anvi Shah warned against “constantly looking ahead,” while Nightingale Smith advised students to “let go of silly things and live in the moment.” Sara Flexer pointed out how quickly time passes in high school, and Sierra Verma encouraged students to “do something to make every day a little special.” Zoë Friedman added a note about maintaining identity amid the rush: “Don’t lose yourself in the swing of things: remember what makes you you.”
On the social side, Alida Cuttriss recommended getting involved and introducing yourself to as many people as possible, while Layla Gallon offered a more discerning take: learn which friendships you truly value, and let go of those that don’t serve you. Violet Yick spoke to the freedom that comes from releasing the need for others’ approval: “I used to be really concerned about what other people thought of me — now I just try to have a joyful and authentic approach to my everyday.”
Some advice was refreshingly simple. Katelyn Li: “Have fun!” Karlie Gabriel: “Have fun, be nice, love yourself.” Vienna Farano and Aaliyah Christian both urged students not to take things too seriously, with Natalie Dang adding the important caveat: find the balance. Aria Feitelberg summed up the spirit of spontaneity in one line: “Be spontaneous: what’s the worst thing that could happen?” Charlotte Mishkin offered perhaps the most grounded advice of all: “Try to get organized and clean your room.”
Candy Fu reminded students that the investment is proportional: “The more you put into Casti, the more you get out of it.” Nneka Ituh, reflecting on her own experience, wished she had explored more clubs and ACE organizations earlier rather than defaulting to whatever her friends were doing. Cali Scolnik put the choice starkly: when given the option to do something that only happens once or go home and study, choose the former. And Madeline Chen offered a final reframe on risk: “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Making mistakes can be the most important part of the learning process.”
Zoe Frank, Rianne Sok, Caitlin Hopkins, Juliet Schmeltzer, Lauren McDonald, Katrina Huang, Kaylin Yip, Elise Wong-McBridge, and Violet Chaffee rounded out the chorus, each in their own way urging students to explore widely, step outside their comfort zones, and trust that the years ahead, however they unfold, are worth showing up for fully.
