As the Class of 2025 well knows, a large portion of the second semester of senior year at Westminster consists of class meetings, affectionately dubbed “senior talks,” geared toward preparing twelfth grade students for their approaching adult lives. Meeting topics range from academic preparation for college to substance abuse awareness to entering Westminster’s alumni network.Just after Spring Break, however, the Upper School Administration announced a new initiative that will ensure the continued competency of Westminster graduates in every season of life.
“We just clearly were not having enough twelfth grade class meetings,” said grade chair Kake Jazlow. “And what better way to have more class meetings than by continuing senior talks into the summer and beyond.”
Jazlow and co-grade chair Dasia Karlak had a busy fall with many class meetings preparing seniors for the presidential election, but despite this, they already have hundreds of mandatory class meetings on the docket for the summer of 2025.
Karlak said, “there is so much to learn before the fall of your freshman year of college.”
“I was a little surprised when the administration asked me to step out of my typical role as a college counselor to become the new sorority recruitment counselor for the seniors this summer,” said Play McCan’t.
This summer, in addition to learning the ins and outs of Greek life with McCan’t, seniors will also be hearing from experts about topics such as dorm etiquette, coping with homesickness, and avoiding the “freshman 15.”
The fun does not stop there, however. Senior class meetings will continue well into college, assisting the Class of 2025 with creating their class schedules, finding dates to formals, and applying to graduate school.
With the seniors attending a wide variety of schools all across the country next year, grade chairs have wrestled with how to deliver these messages.
“We’ve decided to encourage participation in these meetings by simply requiring it,” said Jazlow. “If these students are not marked present, they will receive multiple menacing emails from Upper School Attendance as well as criminal charges.”
Because these meetings are of utmost importance to the wellbeing of the Class of 2025, Westminster is now looking to hire permanent specialists to advise these lifelong learners in every season of life.
“If you or anyone you know specializes in career development, the wedding industry, or navigating parenthood, please contact me immediately so that we can set up these meetings,” said Karlak.
The meeting currently booked the furthest in the future is slated for January of 2060, and it will feature a panel discussion on everything from deciding when to retire to understanding menopause to coping with a mid-life crisis.
“I believe this lifelong learning aligns perfectly with the Westminster mission,” said head of Upper School Khanley Big. “Having guidance in huge decisions such as choosing an assisted living facility or writing a will is essential in these bright young people’s lives.”
The Class of 2025 will also be responsible for leading senior talks for younger classes, meaning they will attend roughly one thousand senior talks per year, compounding annually, of course, with the graduation of each later class.
“We are excited to stand alongside all of our Westminster seniors, whether in their senior year of high school or in a senior home,” said Books Bachelorette. “You know what they say: once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”
