The Senior Challenge

The Senior Challenge at Blair Academy is a program designed to make seniors more conscious of and more responsible for the academic and personal quality of their senior year. The Senior Challenge begins at the end of the junior year when rising seniors meet with their faculty advisor and complete a “Goal Sheet” that will serve as a roadmap for their senior year. This is a reflective, yet practical exercise which encourages students to think deeply about what their senior year will look like. The Goal Sheet promotes college-related goals such as “completing two drafts of a personal essay over the summer;” academic goals such as “maintaining a certain GPA;” extracurricular goals such as “leading a community service project;” and personal goals such as “acting with integrity at all times.”

The Senior Challenge at Blair is characterized by “risk taking.” Before departing for Christmas vacation, all seniors meet with their Faculty Advisor to discuss their progress and review their Goal Sheet. At this time, seniors are asked the questions: “How would you like to feel as you walk across the stage at graduation to receive your diploma?” and “What things will you need to do during your spring term in order to feel that way?” Essentially, they are challenged to do something they may not have done had the challenge not been put forth. Examples of “risks” vary from sharing a meaningful, personal story at the beginning of Chapel to serving as a teaching assistant at the local elementary school.

Other possibilities for the Senior Challenge include: planning and implementing a weekend of activities, spearheading the prom effort, serving on the grounds crew for the spring term, coaching a local Little League team, serving as a volunteer at the local hospital, making a mini-documentary film, completing an independent research project, and delivering a persuasive speech on a particular issue in the world. In short, Blair seniors are encouraged during the latter part of their senior year to “take a risk, cross the street, and engage the world.”

The Senior Challenge offers each member of the senior class an opportunity for personal growth that is self-determined, easily observable, and ultimately empowering. In the process, students learn to set goals, manage their time, and maximize their potential. An essential goal of the program is that all seniors – at the conclusion of their Blair career – will feel that their energy and talent was channeled in a positive way, and that they truly made the most of their time at Blair.

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