Four seniors share their current goals and aspirations. In May, we will revisit the same students to see if those have changed. This is the story of Tofunmi Abimbola.

Megan Serfontein, Copy Editor

Senior Tofumni Abimbola faces the challenges of a student in their final year of high school balancing personal life, schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and applying to college along with the stress of this unorthodox year.

Before, entering high school, Abimola remembers feeling nervous about the transition from middle school to high school due to the larger course load high school entailed. She felt unnerved by the mature appearances of her upperclassmen. However, in addition to these feelings, she also recalls the eagerness she felt about starting high school. On her most recent first day of school, Abimola felt more melancholic than excited.  She had already made peace with the fact that the school year would start virtual and she would not be returning to the classroom anytime soon, but that did not take away the pain of losing her last first day of high school.  

"It was tough knowing that I would not be able to experience my last first day," Abimbola said. "But none the less, it is still senior year, and it is still a big achievement."

She misses the mundane daily routine of school and the learning environment provided by the teachers and other students. Abimbola feels particularly sorrowful about missing out on the traditions that a standard school year provides for seniors such as final homecomings, prom, graduation, and sports seasons.

“If I knew what was coming I definitely would’ve attended more football games,” said Abimbola.

During regular school and in virtual school, Abimbola is still engaged in extracurriculars such as soccer, Class Council, UNICEF, Fellowship of Christian Athletes club, Red Cross Club, and Will to Live Club.

Abimbola is immensely grateful to the teachers at Northview not only for prioritizing education but also the well-being of every of student. She felt as though she received encouragement and upliftment by all her teachers at Northview but namely Brooke Bolduc, her photography teacher, and her literature teachers Tania Pope, Elizabeth Lake, and Brian Rawlin.

"There is just something different about literature teachers and classes. It just teaches you a lot about yourself," Abimbola said.

Abimbola really appreciates the diversity of Northview that is unavailable at so many other schools. She believes that Northview gives her and her peers the opportunity to learn about other cultures and situations that her peers and their communities may be facing and empathize with them. And that the lack of homogeny at Northview offers an educational experience outside of the classroom.

"Northview's diversity stretches your worldview and helps you grow as a person," Abimbola said.

She is also thankful to her peers for creating an environment where everyone values and respects their education. Driving each other to do the best is a unique part of Northview that she really admires and will miss when she graduates.

Abimbola’s plan post-high school is to go to university possibly in a city that is at least a more urban area than Johns Creek. Currently, she hopes to study psychology with a minor in film production. 

When asked to give advice to her past self, Abimbola paused for a moment and then came up with a strong sentiment that she believes applies to her current self as well.

"I would tell my freshman self and my current self, too, that it is good to be selfish sometimes and it's alright to take care of yourself before you take care of the whole world." Abimbola said.