Mercy Alums Offer Advice to Seniors

By Mallory Workman 

As the spring of this school year draws nearer by the second, freshman finally have a grasp on high school life, sophomores are getting over (or just starting) their slump, juniors anticipate becoming seniors, and seniors are ready to go off to college, or so they think.

            Amidst the end of the year excitement, there are a few key concepts to keep in mind over the next few months, especially for seniors.

            First, Mercy prepares its students for college and has a lot to offer other than its values.

            “Mercy prepared me not just on the ability to catch grammatical errors and fragmented sentences,” says Erma Merz ’08, “but to fully comprehend concepts ranging from chemistry to drama.” Mercy offers classes ranging from Shakespeare to Statistics, which provides knowledge in countless fields, all vital in producing well-rounded women. The school also instills a strong work ethic in its students.

            “I feel like the teachers at Mercy pushed us to our full potential and expected nothing less of us,” Ashley Michael ’07 maintains, “and that helped me push myself in college.” 

            With positive feedback from current alums, there is no question whether Mercy prepares its students for life after high school. AP classes, diverse courses, and teachers who push us to succeed almost always add up to college success.

            Despite skepticism, we will miss Mercy after graduation.

            “I miss the atmosphere,” Melissa Chaney ’09 says, “I miss being able to talk to, eat with, and smile at whoever and know they will do the same in return. There is no place like Mercy and the people that go there.”

            Sometimes, we may miss things that we don’t expect to: “I miss the uniform!’ offers Jackie Hart ’09, “at first I was excited for sweatpants every day, but then I saw that some girls wear heels to class…I am now giving Forever 21 a lot more business.”

            Sometimes, we may miss things we never though of, “I really miss the Harry Potter-reminiscent building,” says Molly Nocheck ’09.

            In these next few months, take the time to appreciate what we may not have after June 1^st – uniforms, all girls, gooey Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, and a completely dedicated and caring staff.

            Mercy isn’t all there is to life, however, and college offers perks such as waking up late, independence, and having weird creatures called “boys” in class. There are more options for classes and more opportunities to get involved.

            “It really makes you grow up fast, but we all have it in us to be a responsible adult,” Jackie Hart ’09 admits, “it’s just a matter of being put into a situation that calls for it.”

            So don’t fret seniors. June 1^st is not going to be the apocalypse. You will wake up June 2^nd more or less the same person, plus a pair of tear-stained cheeks and a high school diploma.

            As always, the forever-proud alums have advice to offer current seniors:

Becky Otten ’08 – “There are so many great opportunities out there and Mercy is just the doorway. Take the memories and go wherever you want to go! (Besides jail.... that would be bad).”

Melissa Chaney ’09 – “Enjoy it, be carefree but don't slack off -- the teachers do NOT do senioritis, even at the end of May...it's cruel.”

Ali Ruth ’09 – “When you get to college, get involved! Don't wait to study until the week before finals.”

Ashley Michael ’07 – “Enjoy every minute of your senior year because you will never share experiences like it again as a class.”

Ann Marie Maly ’06  - “Don't worry if you don't know what you want to do yet. Most students don't figure out a major until they are juniors. There is time to try new classes and see what you like.”

Janine Bill ’09 – “DO. NOT. CRAM. Cramming worked in high school, but this is college where sometimes you have 3 grades per quarter/semester and they're your exam grades. The exams will most likely cover multiple chapters too. I tried cramming...it only taught me not to cram.”

Rachel Niederhausen ’08 – “Enjoy the time you still have left. It goes by so fast, and you'll never be able to replicate these special days ahead of you.”

Claire Simpson ’07 – “Be very careful when filling out random roommate forms. Don't say you are untidy, unless it means you are okay with your roommate leaving out food for days at a time.”

Molly Nocheck ’09 – “Graduation is like being in a Harry Potter movie because of the robes. Appreciate that!”

Erma Merz ’08 – “Try your best to make Mercy a better place than when you started. Spread love with all the students. Smile at the freshman. Set an example. Slow down and appreciate what you have. Live it up. Cherish the moments. Treat the teachers and administration with all the respect you can muster.”

Katie Pieper ’08 – “Take advantage of what you've got. I still regret waiting so long to really make connections with people outside my little group of friends. Don't hold back. “

Jackie Hart ’09 – “Go to the basketball game - it might be your last time in the cheering section. Go see the spring play - it's the last time you'll see your classmates on that stage. Go to Senior Slam and have that final time together as a family. Go ahead and buy out all the cookies at lunch - they don't taste the same after your gone. Go and be a kid - at the end of this summer you'll already feel the shift from 12:30 curfew to parties on a Thursday (which I don't recommend).”

Alums differ with their advice to seniors, but the general consensus is to live it up, continue to work hard, and appreciate our Mercy education.

Check out what some Alums are doing here.