Senior Symposium Empowers YISS Class of 2025

On Saturday, August 17, the YISS Class of 2025 jumpstarted their final year with the Senior Symposium. The event, hosted by the High School Counseling Department and the student council, featured team-bonding games and activities that reinforced class unity and a prepared mindset for upcoming college applications. 

The event opened with a thrilling game of laser tag, in which seniors split into teams and chased one another throughout the school campus. The seniors took the game just as seriously as they did their college aspirations! Following this invigorating team-building activity, the seniors also had an open gym for free-play sports activities. 

The high school counselors instilled in the seniors the courage and determination to view college applications as an empowering process rather than a needlessly daunting one. During small group meetings with the counselors, seniors had the opportunity to ask questions and gain a detailed, insightful perspective on the application process. The counselors also led a RAFT (Reconciliation, Affirmation, Farewell, & Think Destination) activity during which seniors learned to build a healthy mindset in preparation for independent college life. To build upon the first step of “reconciliation,” the seniors also wrote notes of affirmation to one another and collectively anticipated the year ahead. 

The event ended with two college preparation games: the “GPA Game” and “Mock Admissions Office.” During the GPA game, the seniors learned about the factors that increased or decreased their chances of admission, such as cohesive extracurricular activities or recommendation letters. Then, during the “Mock Admissions Office,” students took on the roles of admissions officers and had to decide the fates of applicants, whether it be admitting, denying, or waitlisting the prospective student. With the help of the Counseling Team, YISS seniors are now more than ready to tackle the college application process as a united class!