On the first day back from a relaxing winter break, a panel consisting of three Poly alumni spoke to the junior class about their college experiences and what to anticipate in the coming months of perhaps the most challenging academic period of their high school education. The panel consisted of Theo Fernandez ‘20, attending Brown University; Julieta Grane ‘21, attending Tufts University; and Desmond Mantle ‘19, attending Stanford Law School.

“Their experiences and stories provided us all with a fresh look into life after high school,” said junior Jack Naliboff. “Hearing them connect their time at Poly to college and beyond made me consider how I engage with the Poly community.”

Of particular interest to students was the diversity of panelists’ skill sets, from ballroom dancing to evaluating the admissions of candidates for their alma mater university.

“I found it helpful to hear how each of the speakers’ involvement in different activities at Poly, especially during junior year, shaped their current paths. Their openness, talking about their challenging experiences, which resonated with some of my own, was both comforting and inspiring as they shared their strategies for overcoming those difficulties,” shared junior Dylan Lam.

As Poly juniors embark on their second semester, they can be sure to recall the encouraging words of the Poly alumnus should any challenge face them.