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Lake Roosevelt High School counselor Sue Hayes is one of this year’s senior class’s biggest boosters.

Hayes spent 20-30 minutes with each senior available for an exit interview and was so impressed she made a report to the school board about this year’s top class.

Students emphasized over and over that when they had trouble achieving the goals set for themselves, it was their own fault.

Making right choices and getting support from family, school staff and friends made all the difference, their replies noted.

One important factor, seniors stated, is that they learned from both their successes and mistakes, and that after making needed adjustments they got back on schedule.

The purpose of the interviews, Hayes said, was to find out how successful seniors thought they were, get their reflections on their four years in high school, and to learn of the post-graduate plans of the upcoming graduates.

Interviews were conducted with 21 females and 15 males out of the graduating class of possibly 46.

In response to a question about their main goals, the students’ top responses were to graduate on time and to get good grades.

Sports have played a strong role for students, Hayes told the school board. Those involved in sports usually did well in school, Hayes noted.

When asked how satisfied they were with their high school education, 13 responded “very satisfied,” and 15 replied “satisfied.”

Students shared their thoughts on their support systems. Moms played an important part, according to nine respondents, and the school counselor got a nod from 10. Families teachers and friends were often mentioned as mainstays in support.

While this didn’t get the most mention, students listed the things that got in their way and prevented them from achieving their goals. Lack of motivation, lack of time management and bad habits all got at least five comments.

Twenty-seven of the seniors set goals of college, with areas of study including nursing, pharmacy, law, computer engineering, accounting, mechanical engineering, physical therapy, electronics, business, bio-chemistry, architectural engineering and criminal justice.

When asked if they had known in the ninth grade what they know now, what would they do, 14 replied that they would study harder.

Hayes summarized that 75 percent of the students interviewed planned to go on to college, and 78 percent said they were satisfied with their high school careers.

Hayes is leaving the district at the end of this school year to do a variety of projects and stated that she has had a lot of fun herself during her 10 years in the district.