All throughout the year, there are events dedicated and run by the senior class. The week before graduation is senior week, and it commenced with the annual fountain jump Friday, May 17. The recently graduated senior class reflected on their Archer experience.

While Sydney Azar (’24) is excited about going off to college, she said she is sad to leave Archer. Azar shared the numerous activities that made her senior year special. One memory that stands out to her was during Night Of Dance.

“I feel like Night of Dance this year was really special. Not just because we were the seniors, but it was really special. I love that we bonded with the different grades and we really made an effort to get to know the sixth graders, especially,” Azar said. “I think it’s so important to be there for the sixth graders when they’re [having] questions about high school or middle school or friends situations… I felt like we were all more of a dance community.”

Azar’s advice for current and future Archer girls is to be unafraid and try everything. She said there were certain electives, like film and photography she regrets not taking.

“Really just get involved — w en you get involved in the school, Archer is like a community. Everyone feels that. It really, truly does feel like everyone’s your family, and everyone’s here to support you,” Azar said. “You just feel more a part of that community, if you get involved. Make friends with the upper schoolers. Really talk to your entire grade.”

Liora Ginzburg (’24) said it’s weird to think about her graduation and moving on from Archer.

“Archer is definitely instrumental in that it’s challenged me but I’ve also been in an environment where I’ve like felt very safe in taking academic risks,” Ginzburg said. “I felt very safe in taking these chances and challenging myself.”

Ginzburg said Archer helped her take risks in her classes and learn from her weaknesses. She said challenging classes taught her that it is ok to be bad at something and still grow from it.

“This year has been an accumulation of my Archer experience and what I’ve learned, especially with taking research and engineering,” Ginzburg said. “I’ve gained this confidence to dive into an environment, where I have no idea what I’m doing and just following the long thought process of like, ‘Oh, I totally don’t know how to do this, but I’m confident that I can figure it out.'”

Ginzburg said Archer has pushed her to develop grit and tolerance for challenge and try new activities. Before her senior year, Ginzburg had never played softball, but said she always wanted to be a part of Archer athletics. So, she decided to try out for the softball team for her senior year.

“The team was very encouraging,” Ginzburg said. “I didn’t feel like it was a burden to have like a new player, me there.”

Three years ago, Ginzburg started a chess team at Archer which meets on Tuesdays. This year, the softball team’s senior night was also on a Tuesday, so the chess team moved their practice to the bleachers where Ginzburg was playing.

“I remember I was in the dugout, and I looked over and to the bleachers, and I saw them putting a chessboard on the bleachers and to me that was the sweetest thing ever,” Ginzburg said. “I got to see the impact of the chess team that I started converging with my love [of] trying new things.”

“A community that fosters respect.“ This is how Annie Friedman (’24) described Archer. In her last human development class, the group talked about their experiences at Archer.

“I feel like people truly find their people here and can explore whatever they want. So, I feel like it’s a great stepping stone especially now going to college,” Friedman said. “I know what I want, the type of person I am, and it’s been a great place to find myself.”

Friedman said the Archer tennis team and ceramics class were what most defined her experience.

“I’ve been on tennis since sixth grade [and] varsity since ninth grade. It’s definitely a huge part of my activities here in the fall, and it’s been amazing getting to know people of different grades. It’s very helpful,” Friedman said. “Also, ceramics I’ve been a part of for a while. We had our [senior] show in the gallery earlier.”

As Friedman reflected back on her seven years at Archer, she offered some advice for incoming seniors and students.

“For the seniors — really value the time because I know it feels you’re constantly stuck. When you enter high school in this perpetual loop of always looking forward and thinking, ‘where am I going to get to?'” Friedman said. “Taking a step back, realizing and appreciating what you have is something that I would tell people to value more.”

Graduation took place at the Skirball Cultural Center May 24. This year, the commencement speaker was a former United States Senator Barbara Boxer. Overall, Azar, Ginzburg and Friedman said Archer has helped them grow and mature and they will miss the Archer community.