Good Questions to Ask Seniors in High School
Essential questions to ask seniors in high school that help you learn from their experiences, gain valuable advice, and build meaningful connections with students who have navigated the challenges and opportunities of high school.
1What are the most important lessons you've learned in high school, and how have they shaped who you are today?
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What are the most important lessons you've learned in high school, and how have they shaped who you are today?
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Why this works
Opens the conversation in a meaningful way that allows them to share their wisdom and helps you understand their growth and development.
2What are the biggest challenges you've faced in high school, and how did you overcome them?
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What are the biggest challenges you've faced in high school, and how did you overcome them?
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Why this works
Important for understanding their resilience and helps you learn about common difficulties and how to handle them.
3What are the most rewarding experiences you've had in high school, and what made them special?
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What are the most rewarding experiences you've had in high school, and what made them special?
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Why this works
Reveals their positive experiences and helps you understand what activities and moments have been most meaningful to them.
4What are the most important skills you've developed in high school, and how did you learn them?
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What are the most important skills you've developed in high school, and how did you learn them?
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Why this works
Critical for understanding their skill development and helps you learn about the abilities they've gained and how they acquired them.
5What are the most important relationships you've built in high school, and how have they influenced you?
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What are the most important relationships you've built in high school, and how have they influenced you?
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Why this works
Important for understanding their social connections and helps you learn about the relationships that have been most important to them.
6What are the most important decisions you've made in high school, and how did you approach them?
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What are the most important decisions you've made in high school, and how did you approach them?
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Why this works
Reveals their decision-making process and helps you understand how they've handled important choices and what factors they considered.
7What are the most important mistakes you've made in high school, and what did you learn from them?
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What are the most important mistakes you've made in high school, and what did you learn from them?
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Why this works
Shows you care about their growth and gives them a chance to share their learning from mistakes and how they've improved.
8What are the most important achievements you've had in high school, and what made them meaningful?
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What are the most important achievements you've had in high school, and what made them meaningful?
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Why this works
Critical for understanding their accomplishments and helps you learn about what they consider important achievements and what made them significant.
9What are the most important ways you've grown and changed in high school, and how do you see yourself differently now?
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What are the most important ways you've grown and changed in high school, and how do you see yourself differently now?
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Why this works
Important for understanding their personal development and helps you learn about their self-awareness and how they've evolved.
10What are the most important ways you've balanced academics, activities, and social life, and how do you manage your time?
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What are the most important ways you've balanced academics, activities, and social life, and how do you manage your time?
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Why this works
Reveals their time management skills and helps you understand how they've balanced different aspects of high school life.
11What are the most important ways you've handled stress and pressure in high school, and how do you maintain your well-being?
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What are the most important ways you've handled stress and pressure in high school, and how do you maintain your well-being?
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Why this works
Critical for understanding their coping strategies and helps you learn about how they've managed stress and maintained their mental health.
12What are the most important ways you've explored your interests and passions in high school, and how have they evolved?
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What are the most important ways you've explored your interests and passions in high school, and how have they evolved?
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Why this works
Important for understanding their interest development and helps you learn about how they've discovered and pursued their passions.
13What are the most important ways you've prepared for life after high school, and what advice would you give to younger students?
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What are the most important ways you've prepared for life after high school, and what advice would you give to younger students?
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Why this works
Reveals their future planning and helps you understand how they've prepared for their next steps and what guidance they would offer.
14What are the most important ways you've built confidence and self-esteem in high school, and how do you maintain them?
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What are the most important ways you've built confidence and self-esteem in high school, and how do you maintain them?
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Why this works
Critical for understanding their self-confidence development and helps you learn about how they've built and maintained their self-esteem.
15What are the most important ways you've handled conflicts and disagreements in high school, and how do you resolve them?
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What are the most important ways you've handled conflicts and disagreements in high school, and how do you resolve them?
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Why this works
Important for understanding their conflict resolution skills and helps you learn about how they've managed interpersonal challenges.
16What are the most important ways you've supported and been supported by others in high school, and how have these relationships helped you?
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What are the most important ways you've supported and been supported by others in high school, and how have these relationships helped you?
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Why this works
Reveals their support systems and helps you understand how they've given and received support and how these relationships have benefited them.
17What are the most important ways you've explored your identity and values in high school, and how have they developed?
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What are the most important ways you've explored your identity and values in high school, and how have they developed?
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Why this works
Critical for understanding their identity development and helps you learn about how they've explored and developed their sense of self.
18What are the most important ways you've learned from failure and setbacks in high school, and how have they made you stronger?
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What are the most important ways you've learned from failure and setbacks in high school, and how have they made you stronger?
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Why this works
Important for understanding their resilience and helps you learn about how they've grown from difficult experiences.
19What are the most important ways you've made a positive impact in high school, and how do you want to continue making a difference?
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What are the most important ways you've made a positive impact in high school, and how do you want to continue making a difference?
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Why this works
Reveals their impact and helps you understand how they've contributed to their community and what they hope to continue doing.
20What are the most important pieces of advice you would give to incoming freshmen, and what do you wish you had known earlier?
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What are the most important pieces of advice you would give to incoming freshmen, and what do you wish you had known earlier?
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Why this works
Essential for understanding their guidance and helps you learn about their advice for new students and what they wish they had known sooner.
How to Learn from High School Seniors: Essential Questions and Strategies
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Show Respect and Interest
Approach the conversation with genuine respect and interest in their experiences. Show that you value their wisdom and perspective.
Listen Actively
Listen carefully to their responses and ask follow-up questions. Show that you're engaged and interested in what they have to share.
Be Open to Learning
Be open to learning from their experiences and advice. Show that you're willing to consider their perspectives and apply their insights.
Express Gratitude
Thank them for sharing their experiences and wisdom. Show appreciation for their willingness to open up and share their insights.
Question Sequences
The Wisdom Sequence
The Experience Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Make Assumptions
Avoid making assumptions about their experiences or beliefs. Ask questions and listen to their actual responses to avoid misunderstandings.
Avoid Being Judgmental
Don't express judgment about their choices or experiences. Focus on understanding and learning from their perspective.
Don't Ignore Their Challenges
Avoid overlooking the difficulties they've faced. Show empathy and understanding for their struggles and how they've overcome them.
Avoid Ignoring Their Success
Don't focus only on challenges. Also acknowledge and learn from their successes and achievements.