What’s it like to be a senior in the 2025-2026 school year at Oregon City High School? The Elevator asked this to Shaleen Isaacson, who is one of the many seniors attending OCHS. These questions were asked in hopes of helping people understand the life of a senior in some eyes. Isaacson recently got accepted into OSU and will be attending next year. She has been attending OCHS for all four years.
How do you feel knowing that you’re graduating this year?
“I feel excited to graduate,” Isaacson said. “I’ll have a sense of relief because I’ll have more freedom.”
Are you nervous to leave high school? Why or why not?
I am nervous to graduate due to a lot more responsibilities,” Isaacson said. “Although I am excited for more freedom, the thought of more freedom also freaks me out.”
Out of all your years at OCHS, did you prefer being a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior the most? Why?
“Out of all my high school years, I prefer freshman year,” Isaacson said. “I got to meet new people, and the thrill of having to navigate a new school was kinda fun for me.”
What are some differences you have noticed in schoolwork between freshman year and senior year?
“Through these 4 years, I have noticed work getting harder and more homework,” Isaacson said. “But unless you’re taking AP classes, it is more just a repeat of information that you already learned. They just teach it in a more broad and complex way.”
Is there anything the school did when you were a freshman that you wish they still did?
“I wish we still had an advisory on Wednesdays because classes were the perfect amount of time,” Isaacson said. “And when I was a freshman, class started at, like, 8:40 something, but that’s the only thing that changed after that year.”
What is your favorite part about being a senior? Why?
“My favorite part of being a senior is all the activities and events we can now attend because we are seniors,” Isaacson said. “It feels like a reward for all our hard work.”
How many different schedules have you been through while attending OCHS? Do you remember having a favorite?
“I’ve been through like 3 or 4 schedule changes while I’ve been here,” Isaacson said. “My favorite schedule was definitely when classes were only like 70 minutes long. It wasn’t too long of a class period.”
How many different principles has OCHS had while you’ve attended? Is it difficult to adapt to a new principal?
“This school has been through 3 principles while I’ve been here,” Isaacson said. “I only remember Carey Wilhelm and obviously Mr. Timmons. I remember it being generally the same and not too difficult to adapt.”
Do you prefer Trimesters of Semesters more? Why?
“I prefer trimesters,” Isaacson said. “It was less stressful, and classes were not too long or short, and it stayed consistent.”
How do you feel having an 8 class schedule now? Was/is it easier without it, or do you think it’s more helpful?
“I don’t believe having 4 different classes every other day is helpful,” Isaacson said. “It can get confusing and stressful.”
If you could change one thing about how OCHS is currently running, what would it be and why?
“I think having different lunches and schedules should change,” Isaacson said. “It takes away the feeling of normalcy and makes it harder on some students to manage, and classes being an hour and a half is way too long, so it makes it harder for students to focus.”
