City’s Seniors Reflect On School Experience

FAYETTEVILLE — Despite spending the year in a construction zone, a group of Fayetteville High School students said their senior year experience has been a good one, with one exception.

Sitting in a group in the teacher’s lounge last week, the five students agreed the regular math and science classes weren’t as strong as they would have liked and the Advanced Placement courses in those subjects were definitely more challenging.

“Most of the math teachers don’t focus as much on the individual student, but then I didn’t say I needed help either,” said Tevin Whitney, 17.

Elizabeth Douglas, 18, said she wanted to see more in-depth work in her math and science classes. She plans to major in business at the University of Mississippi.

They agreed English and history courses were better because they were more challenging.

“I am not a huge science and math fan,” said Dylan Roth, 18.

Four of the five students took at least one Advanced Placement course during their high school careers. Roth took the most of the group, with seven AP classes on his transcript. Whitney said he will take an Advanced Placement exam in human geography the day after graduation.

“I won’t go to bed,” he said, referring to ending a graduation celebration in time to get to school for the exam.

Advanced Placement courses are considered college preparatory courses and students can earn early college credit in some cases by scoring a 3, 4 or 5 on the exam taken at the end of the course.

Whitney plans to attend the University of Arkansas, where he recently signed a letter of intent to run track. He wants to major in either psychology or philosophy.

Fayetteville High School is undergoing a $95 million transformation but the seniors took the construction in stride, saying some days were worse than others with construction noise or other disruptions. But, they agreed, the transformation didn’t really mean that much to them since they won’t be around when it is finished.

Francie Shaddox, 17, was the only one in the small group who did not take advanced courses during her high school career. She said it was the right track for her.

“I’ve gotten the basics and I am ready to start on the next level,” she said. She plans to attend the University of Arkansas but is undecided on a major. She noted the university wanted to put her in a remediation class until she retook the ACT entrance exam and raised her score.

“It’s all in the effort. You don’t have to have AP. It was my personal choice not to,” she added.

Another student, Riley Beirise, 18, said he only took one AP class in his junior year but doesn’t feel less prepared. Beirise plans to attend the University of Arkansas to major in information technology.

“Don’t take AP and you’re not missing out,” he said. “I am not disadvantaged.”

The students also agreed there is a good array of extracurricular activities at the school, from athletics to personal interest clubs.

“There is pretty much one for everyone,” said Douglas. “Everyone can find their niche.”

She was a member of the cross-country team. She and other student athletes in the group had high praise for their coaches.

“It’s hard to choose, there are so many options,” said Shaddox, who was the cheer manager for the last three years.

The students said they are excited about their futures. Three plan to attend the local university while two are leaving the state to attend college.

“I feel really, really prepared,” Roth said. “I feel like I have gone through a difficult-enough, comprehensive-enough course load.” He plans to attend Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., to study music business and audio engineering.

“I am excited about college. It’s a cliche, but it’s a whole new chapter of your life,” he said.