With the pressure of college applications, grades and expectations for one’s future, senior year can feel like a sprint to the finish line. But for many Lynbrook seniors, second semester offers something entirely different: a space to breathe. With college deadlines behind them, some students have turned toward old or novel interests that they now have the time to explore.
Building bonds in the kitchen
Between school and preparation for college life, senior Juno Hong found himself chopping vegetables, experimenting with foods like pasta and steak with friends and learning recipes from his Korean mother.
“It feels better knowing where the food comes from and actually putting everything together ourselves,” Hong said.
Whether shopping for ingredients at Trader Joe’s or using produce from a friend’s backyard garden, Hong and his friends treat meals as a collaborative process, documenting their dishes and mishaps through photos.
Similarly, Senior Ashwath Anoop has turned baking into a chance to bond with his dad. The two experiment with recipes together and recently attempted to make banana bread, despite their first try going wrong.
“The second time went way better,” Anoop said. “Adding blueberries made it more unique, and it actually tasted really good.”
Through trial, error and a dash of creativity, cooking has become a way for seniors to share time with family and experience the simple joy that food can bring.
Pedaling to inner peace
Senior Sanika Vaidya finds solace in long bike rides. After moving from an apartment complex to a house in fourth grade, biking became a way to familiarize herself with her new neighborhood. However, over the past three years, schoolwork and time-consuming extracurricular activities left little room to zoom through streets on her Huffy Nighthawk mountain bike.
Riding through her neighborhood, she pairs the experience with slow music. As she often bikes in the evenings, her favorite memories involve admiring beautiful sunsets.
“I really enjoy it, and it helps me clear my head,” Vaidya said. “It’s a fun hobby that doesn’t need lots of materials and is a good way to stay active.”
Returning to the stage
After years of robotics and debate from freshman to junior year, senior Justin Huang finally has the freedom to revisit an old middle school interest: acting. Now, Huang spends late nights practicing his role as Ken Gorman in Studio 74’s spring comedy “Rumors.”
“There’s something in me that really liked the idea of filling in the image of what a character is and how it fits into the rest of the play,” Huang said. “Filling in those gaps makes the whole play feel alive. “
Huang adds personality to his character with moments of creativity. Collaboration, exploration and experimentation have shaped his journey as an actor.
“I have a lot of moments where I come up with something for the character that I think really fits,” Huang said. “That part of acting is really satisfying to me.”
Photographing more moments
Senior Susanna Khubchandani traces her interest in photography back to a small digital camera passed down from her grandfather. Now with more time in second semester, she has now begun taking on freelance work, including photographing the vow renewal ceremony of a friend’s parents. She hopes to spend more time chasing shots, rather than waiting for moments to present themselves.
What began as simple snapshots of neighborhood scenery has turned into a desire to capture school events, such as the upcoming junior and senior proms. Her photos have become part of her portfolio, marking the first time photography intersected with her academic life.
“It’s my way of documenting memories,” Khubchandani said.
Crocheting connections
With time and a broken sewing machine, senior Mary Sarah Philip is revisiting crocheting. Previously, rough patches during high school made it difficult for Philip to pursue the interest in depth. This semester, having gone through college applications, she’s changed her mindset: instead of focusing on challenges posed by school or worrying over factors she can’t control, she has resolved to prioritize what she loves.
Initially inspired by a friend, Philip began crocheting in sophomore year as a way to make clothes without a sewing machine or fabric and connect with her community. Her recent pieces include a vibrant blue scarf for her mother and fingerless gloves for her older brother.
The craft has become a way to destress: scrolling on Pinterest for free patterns, she lights a candle and plays EDM tracks as she completes a piece. Although she sometimes finds big projects frustrating, having a clear purpose keeps her motivated.
“I don’t have less work; it’s just that I have an attitude of doing the best I can instead of being super stressed about the results,” Philip said. “You just have to make time for what you want to do.”
