Senior year is thought of as a momentous and exhilarating time. However, it can also be chaotic and quite overwhelming. The Yondr pouch system doesn’t seem to increase focus but rather induces a sense of anxiety.
After one year of having the Yondr pouches implemented, what was discovered among the graduating class was the difficulty of applying to colleges and trying to contact their admissions offices. The debate about whether it was or wasn’t a good idea to put this phone system into place isn’t the real question here, but rather should it apply to seniors?
Some argue that it shouldn’t be because some students need to verify information on their college applications or even need rapid responses to questions that could alter their college application process. On the other hand, some believe phones aren’t necessary inside school walls and students can get by without them, suggesting that they should work on their applications after school hours. In certain cases, this may be true, but the support team for seniors is the college guidance counselors alongside other faculty who are typically only available during school hours.
Ms. Collins, Pace’s civic leadership teacher, states that she believes seniors should be able to unlock their phones in certain classes, such as college guidance, so seniors can continue working on their college applications. She thinks that there are some ways to allow seniors to still follow school protocols while being able to complete their college applications.
Senior Chance Thompson states that he typically checks his school email on his own time when he’s looking for updates regarding his college applications and states that, more often than not, using his laptop makes it difficult to complete assignments and he notices other students resorting to their iPads or other resources to complete their tasks. Chance also states that he thinks there are alternatives to allow seniors to complete their college applications while still following school protocols.
Both students and teachers believe there should be a balance to accommodate seniors’ needs and the Yondr policy. Their opinions and experiences are pivotal in receiving the full support they can get in college guidance and emphasize why the phone policy for seniors should be reevaluated.
Ms. Burke and Ms. Sardia work with seniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays during a designated time slot in the seniors’ civic leadership classes, officially considered to be the college guidance period. Seniors are juggling the next steps in their college journey, like completing SUNY and CUNY applications and starting the financial aid process, which includes verifying Social Security numbers for FAFSA. These next phases are meaningful steps toward their future and can feel unbearable.
So, should Yondr Pouches apply to seniors? The question still lingers around the minds of the class of 2025 and faculty.
