With graduation just around the corner seniors at South East High School are trying to make the most of their time. However, with the recent recession, some students are worried they will not be able to participate in senior activities.
Many seniors at school do not agree with the prices for senior dues. Anjanette Villegas, said “senior dues don’t have a fair price, they are too expensive.” Gabriela Carbajal , a senior at SEHS, isn’t happy with the prices either and said, “I will participate in the activities, it is my last year I don’t have a choice.”
Students shouldn’t feel stressed about participating in the senior activities. They have enough with test like the CAHSEE, wondering about college acceptance letters, and making the grades for graduation. However, most of them can’t help but feel that the cost for senior dues is ruining the experience. Carbajal said, “It sort of ruins it, because many won’t be able to participate.”
The people that are having more problems accepting this issue aren’t the students, it is the parents. Villegas said, “Not everyone’s parents have a good job…my parents think it is too much money and don’t know if they will be able to pay.” Another major issue is the fact that most parents don’t know the importance of senior activities. Most of the parents from SEHS attended Latin American schools, where things like prom and senior dues didn’t even exist. Carbajal said, “My parents think it is a waste of money.”
However, Ms.Che, the teacher in charge of leadership at SEHS, said, “I don’t know why they would think the senior activities are over price, we [leadership] make no profit, at the end it goes back to the seniors, it’s use for prom and graduation.” As a matter of fact leadership is not in charge of determining the senior dues; it is the senior cabinet that puts the senior dues together by including things they believe will be of interest, and the price is determined by how much the vendors sale the items for. Ms.Chavez, the drama teacher at SEHS, said, “Ms.Che has done a great job making the senior dues affordable.”
Yet, some seniors feel ripped-off and complain that last year’s prices were less. Carbajal is one of those students, she said, “I don’t really think prices are fair. Last year’s most expensive package was $200.” This might be true, if prices are compared, 2010’s package “B” is $179 and 2009’s package “A” (most similar to B) was only $145; 2010’s package “D” is $299 and 2009’s package “SS” (most similar to D) was $230. According to the student store manager last year’s senior dues were lower because they didn’t have some of the things they have now like: bowling night, senior lanyards, a cap and gown panorama picture, license plate holders, memory books and yearbook.
Still others like Villegas say, “Other schools are cheaper, this school is the most expensive.” Ms.Chavez, on the other hand, said, “This school is one of the few schools that put all senior items together so they won’t be so expensive individually.” After going online to Downey High School’s website it is obvious that Ms.Chavez is right. At DHS all senior activities or items are sold separately. If seniors buy them all together in presale the price will be $449, this is about half the price of SEHS package “D”.
Ms.Che said, “This is their [2010 seniors] last time to bond with fellow classmates before wherever life leads them after graduation.” Seniors at SEHS should feel privileged at having such a great variety of options and should keep in mind this is their last chance at high school. Mirbella Hernandez, a senior at SEHS, said, “Stop being lazy and get a job… you can’t put a price on memories.” Hernandez brings up an important question that all seniors should ask themselves. Can a price be put on memories and if so how much are seniors willing to pay?
