Austin Prep: Journey of the Heart

November 18, 2024

Reflecting on How Senior Leadership Opportunities Have Impacted the Austin Prep Journey

By Eliza Martin '25

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The way the timing of an event affects the way that you view it is a peculiar concept. When I packed up my big pink backpack for the first day of kindergarten, filling it so much that I walked with a hunchback, I didn't think of it as anything more than a place to keep my books. As I scarfed down my first day of school pancakes, something that my mom makes for me every year, I thought of the pancakes more as something to finish than as something to enjoy. Most importantly, when I walked through the hallways of school, I thought more about my next destination rather than the experience of being on campus. As time has passed, I’ve realized it's often the moments that we rush that should be the ones that we savor the most.

For my classmates and I, there has recently been a major shift in our perspective. Perhaps it has something to do with being given the title of seniors – not just the oldest students on campus, but people who will soon leave the community that has shaped us. Even more timely than that, we have finally reached the moment we have all been waiting for our entire Austin Prep journey: The senior class trip to Disney. This trip means more than just a week-long getaway from the stress of classes and college applications. It's a time where we are able to celebrate together, relish in everything we have been able to accomplish during our high school years, and bond together before the holidays as we focus on the final stretch of the academic year.

Disney is a fitting location, not just because of the exciting rides or the characters we get to meet. It immerses us in the world of magic and childhood excitement, allowing us to be kids again for one of the last times. It will be a reminder of both how far we have come and how far we have grown – not just academically, but as peers, role models, and friends. Being a senior isn't just about the title or the impending date of graduation at the end of the school year calendar. It's about the legacy we leave behind, and the way we will set an example for those who will eventually fill our shoes. This year, my classmates and I have embraced this newfound role, viewing it as an opportunity to inspire and guide the younger generation who will one day fill our shoes.

Each senior follows their own path, led by their own “Journey of the Heart.” It's exciting to see where everyone's paths have taken them at Austin Prep. For six seniors, including myself, Student Government has become a big part of what will become our Austin Prep legacy. We practice skills that are not just useful now, but that we can carry through with us into our college years. We meet twice a week, our tasks ranging from things as small as reaching out to our to classmates to encourage participation at Community Meetings, to as big as planning class trips. As schoolwide president Janna Vounessa '25 said, “This community has been there for me all seven years I’ve been here, I wanted to show people how much I appreciate it and make this year the best one yet.”

While Student Government may be the most upfront way in which seniors show leadership, it is far from the only path. Many students combine their love for athletics with leadership through the Sports Operations club, led by seniors Imogen Moro '25 and Kayla Gallagher '25. The club is dedicated to the behind the scenes work for many of the sports teams at Austin Prep, mainly handling tasks such as taking photos, creating graphics, announcing, and taking down statistics. The seniors in this club are not just doing important jobs, they are setting a strong example for underclassmen, showing what it means to step up and take responsibility in something that you love doing.

Other seniors lead in a more personal way. The Austin Mentors program is a mentorship group that pairs upperclassmen with groups of middle schoolers and freshmen. The goal of the program is to bridge the gap between the grade levels and to provide guidance and advice to underclassmen starting their Austin Prep journeys. Many seniors are a part of this club, sharing their best tips with the youth of Austin Prep so that they can have the best experience possible. The program also allows upperclassmen to form bonds with the younger students, fostering a more united and caring community.

Of course, not all leadership stems from clubs or formal roles. Sometimes, it's the little things that define a true leader. The seniors who hold the door for people in the morning, offer underclassmen rides, or tutor a struggling peer in a hard class, are the true leaders. It’s the unseen moments where leadership is the strongest. It's in these everyday acts of love and kindness, both big and small, that seniors truly show what it means to be a role model in the Austin Prep community.

At Austin Prep, senior year isn't just about the positions we hold or the responsibilities we may have. It's about shifting our focus, just as the timing of life's moments shifts our perspective. Senior year isn't about reaching an end, it's about savoring what we have left, just like those first day of school pancakes I used to take for granted. It's about walking through the hallways, not rushing to our next destination, but appreciating the journey itself. As seniors, we have learned that leadership is more than just the title reflecting our seniority, it's about how we choose to use that title to lead, inspire, and care for others along the way. It's not about the ending, it's about the journey that we are all embarking on; the journey of the heart.