What Class Had a Lasting Impact for You?

Ms. Guarino’s 7th period AP Literature class. Photo: Winnie Wang

By ZARA AHMED and NAKWANA CROSSE

with contributions by Lameya Kabir

As seniors prepare to leave high school behind, they reflect on the classes that shaped their four years. From engaging discussions to inspiring teachers, these favorite courses have left a lasting impact beyond the classroom.

“My most memorable class would probably be AP Literature,” said Ricardo Torres, the school’s mayor. “Ms. [Grace] Guarino really paid attention to me, and she pushed me to be better. Her guidance made me reflect on how to improve myself as a writer.”

Chairyn Cardenas said U.S. History was her favorite. Mr. Matthew Livreri, who “was able to bring that spark back for history,” played a major role in shaping her confidence, she said.

Mekanna McIntosh gave the nod to Mr. Lawrence Yu’s Psychobiology. “Lowkey, I thought I was going to hate it, but once I got into the class and started learning all the different topics, it became really interesting,” she said. “Participating was really fun.”

Several students appreciated how psychology classes connected lessons to real-life situations.

“It helped me understand different perspectives and the way people think,” Rowaida Yafei said.

Miranda Liu recalled a time after the AP exam when her teacher, Ms. Gloria Aklipi, invited a guest speaker with schizophrenia to speak firsthand about the condition.

“I was really engaged; it was something I’d never seen before,” Liu said. “Learning about how the mind works, perception, and different disorders not only increased my interest, but also challenged me in a way that encouraged me to work harder.”

Alexa Razhba recommended Anatomy and Physiology, which made her want to become a physician’s assistant. Learning about the human body became exciting for her and that the class felt more like a game than schoolwork. “At first I thought I wasn’t going to care, but I ended up loving it,” she said. “I know I’m going to take anatomy classes in college, and this class prepared me well because I know half the things already.”

The class was challenging at times. “We had to memorize all the systems of the body, the muscles, and the bones, so it was definitely difficult,” she explained. “But because I loved the class so much, the workload was worth it.”

Noah Pryor’s favorite experience at Midwood was Theater Production during his junior year, when he played Dameon in Mean Girls. “People who were in my corner, like Mr. [Conrad] Boyd, were always there to help me and push me to my limit,” he said. “They made sure I felt like I was meant for the role through words of affirmation and support.”

Kalina Bovell said Advanced Media Technology will stay with her after graduation because it gave her the opportunity to record and edit videos using professional equipment. Mr. James Bruffee assigned a project that allowed students to make any type of video they wanted. “It helped me express my creative vision,” she said.

Sometimes you just need the right teacher to make a class unforgettable. 

“[Math teacher] Dr. David Walters is extremely funny, and he always knew when we needed a break or time to relax,” said Nazifa Mostafa. “He made it feel like a real college class.”

To our graduating seniors, these courses were about more than just grades. They were the ones that made students excited to come to school, pushed them and gave them confidence, and left a lasting sense of nostalgia they will carry long after graduation.