As Durango High School prepares to say farewell to the graduating class of 2025, a unique opportunity arises for underclassmen to learn from those who’ve walked the challenging path of high academic achievement. While these top-performing seniors often appear to breeze through their courses, the reality reveals a much more complex story, one of mindset, motivation, and resilience.

Benjamin Gonzales, a senior at DHS, proves that success isn’t just about natural talent. “AP Chemistry and AP World History were the most challenging for me,” he shared. Despite being strong in math and science, he still faced moments of academic doubt.

Joining Benjamin in this reflection is fellow senior Heidi Clay, who echoes a similar struggle with subjects she both loves and finds difficult. “Calc III was the hardest class I ever took, but math also happens to be something I really enjoy,” she explained. “Sometimes the stuff I like is also the hardest.”

What sets these students apart isn’t that they enjoy every subject—they often don’t. “I just kind of do it because it’s something to do,” Benjamin admitted when asked what keeps him going in classes he doesn’t love. For Heidi, the challenge often lies in motivation. “I think some of the times I’ve struggled the most in classes is when I’ve had a teacher I didn’t really vibe with,” she shared. “That made it hard to stay motivated.”

Their stories challenge the stereotype that high-achieving students never struggle. Heidi points out that a lot of her academic success has less to do with natural ability and more to do with mindset. “You can take a subject that’s not your strong suit and do well if you have a good mindset,” she said. “If you go in thinking you’re going to fail, you might not give yourself the chance to succeed.”

For both students, how they respond to obstacles matters more than the obstacles themselves. “One time in bio, I was freaking out,” Benjamin recalled. “So I just studied really hard, made sure that I understood as much as I could, and worked on the parts where I didn’t know as much.” He often resorted to self-teaching and revisiting old tests to get himself through.

Heidi’s approach is equally honest: “Honestly, I just kind of struggle through and figure it out, and it all works out in the end.” She finds support in community and collaboration. “It helps when I study with other people in my class, or go to office hours for college classes.”

Even with this support, time management is a continual learning curve. “To be honest, I’m pretty bad at managing my time,” Heidi admitted. “I just end up getting everything done by the deadline eventually.” Yet, she stresses that knowing when to rest is just as crucial as knowing when to work. “Sometimes it’s more important to consider what’s best for you, instead of that homework, is it better to stay up another hour or go to bed and relax?”

These seniors also recognize the enormous influence teachers can have. “A good teacher can make a boring class more fun,” Heidi said, “and a bad teacher can ruin a subject you usually enjoy. The quality of teaching affects your motivation.”

In terms of practical advice, Benjamin suggests a straightforward strategy: “Talk to your teachers. Tell them that you’ve been struggling or that you are starting to struggle. They’ll give you tips.” He also recommends tackling the oldest work first while trying to stay on top of current assignments.

Heidi’s advice to overwhelmed rising seniors is simple but profound: “Just take a step back and relax. A lot of this stuff isn’t as serious as you probably think it is. Nobody’s going to be upset at you for getting a bad grade in a random class years from now.” She adds that success isn’t about perfection, it’s about authenticity. “It’s most important when you can justify why you do things because you care about them. That shows your character.”

As El Diablo readers, let’s carry these lessons forward. Whether you’re a rising senior, a sophomore struggling in math, or someone just trying to make it through the week, remember: everyone starts somewhere. What matters is where you’re going, and the mindset you bring along the way