Alumni Share College Experiences at Alma Mater

Ten recent Huntington High School graduates participated in this year’s Alumni Day, organized and hosted by the Counseling Department. The members of the Classes of 2024 and 2025 provided current students with a meaningful opportunity to hear firsthand about the transition from high school to college and life beyond graduation.

During a panel discussion with seniors and select classes, alumni shared personal reflections on their first-year college experiences, academic expectations, campus life, and the challenges and successes they encountered during their transition. Alumni also offered practical advice on time management, self-advocacy, balancing academics and social life, and utilizing campus resources—insights that resonated strongly with students preparing for their own postsecondary journeys.

“Alumni Day is a key component of the Counseling Department’s college and career readiness programming, reinforcing the value of peer-to-peer mentorship and real-world perspectives,” said Dr. Ricky V. Papandrea Jr., district director of school counseling and testing, K-12. “The event allowed students to engage directly with recent graduates, ask questions, and gain reassurance from those who were in their place just one or two years ago.”

The alums were thrilled to be back at their alma mater and happy to share their experiences with some of the current high school students they left behind who are in the midst of making their own decisions about which college to attend and what to study.