Senior Exit Interviews: Everything is Going to be Okay
Reflection by Desiree D’Ambrosi, Commercial Art, Class of 2026
My biggest fear since the beginning of my senior year was my Senior Exit Interview. It loomed over me for months like the shadow of a storm. I’ve never been very fond of public speaking. Throughout my academic career, my biggest fear was having to do presentations in my classes.
I would get up in front of a room full of all my peers, and I would be shaking and stuttering the entire time. Presentations and I were mortal enemies. I would even play hooky just to get out of having to do presentations, just to have to do them all alone the next day of class.
As my senior year progressed, I had several opportunities to improve my communication skills, especially my public speaking. I was also able to participate in so many activities my senior year that I was excited to show my teachers everything that I had done through my exit interview presentation.
By the time that my senior exit interview rolled around, I still had some nerves, but I was able to be more excited than nervous because of the fact that this was my chance to show my teachers all the accomplishments and activities I was able to be a part of. Most importantly, I was able to show my appreciation for my teachers and for this school, and how much it has changed me as a person.
As the time ticked down, and it was finally my turn to present, all I could think about was everything that could go wrong.
“What if the promethean board somehow falls off the wall ONTO ME?”
“What if the school suddenly erased my account and ALL OF my slides were gone?”
“What if halfway through I forget the human language and start speaking GIBBERISH?”
I had all these thoughts rolling and tumbling through my head, but the moment I stepped into my classroom, I knew that I had to shut them all down.
I know all my slides, I know all of these teachers by heart, and I know that everything is going to be okay.
In the wise words of my teacher, Mr. DeRosa, Woosah.
And that I did. In a breeze, my interview was over, and the Promethean board didn’t even fall on me. After everything was over, and I was on my way out of the school, I felt so foolish for worrying about it so hard.
I know a lot of students are not fond of public speaking, and trust me, I am still in that boat. The only advice that I can give you is to just remember that Everything is going to be okay. Those are the exact words I tell myself through every hard or uncomfortable situation, and at the end of the day, they always ring true.
