Class Speaker: Sage Ford

GIANNA SGOBBO, Contributing Writer

What advice would you give to younger students that you wish someone gave to you?

It's okay to be wrong, as long as you learn from your mistakes. Don't be ignorant, keep in touch with things like world news and such. It affects you more than you think.

Who inspired/encouraged/guided you throughout your journey at NBTHS? How?

The Alchemists helped me tremendously in high school. Alchemists is a place of connection, where people can be themselves and be without judgement. The Alchemists were welcoming and helped me get out of my shell my freshman year, and also got me integrated with the rest of the school.

What college are you planning to attend and what will be your major? Why did you choose this school/major?

I will be attending The College of New Jersey as a Biology and Secondary Education major. I've had many biology teachers who furthered my interest in the subject, and their classes were genuinely fun. I know how hard it can be to learn a subject without assistance, as well as what it's like to be driven away from a subject because you aren't getting the support you need. As a high school biology teacher, I intend to create a safe space where students can properly dive into biology. I chose to go to TCNJ as it's one of the best colleges for teachers in New Jersey, not to mention both my parents went there and are excellent teachers.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years, I'll probably be back in North Brunswick teaching biology and crafting jewelry for craft fairs. I imagine I'd probably live with a couple hamsters, but who's to say?

What was your favorite memory from your time at NBTHS?

I often think about the time I performed How I Survive High School in 2022. That fall, I wrote a scene for the play and it was included in the final show. The original playwright was someone who helped me get into theater in elementary school, though there was no way he recognized me. After the show, he was talking to the cast when he complimented my scene. He wanted to actually include the scene in the official rewrite of the play. It was one of the only times in my entire high school career that I felt so validated, so seen. It's probably my greatest Alchemist moment, and that's why it's my favorite memory.

How do you feel about graduating?

It's a mixed bag, if you can imagine. On one hand, I'm excited to finally get out of here, to wake up later than 6:30 am and do more of the things I love. On the other hand, I won't be with my family, blood and otherwise. I've made connections here I won't make anywhere else. I have people I talk to face to face with every day, and I'm scared that I'll lose that connection once we all go our separate ways. But, I still find some comfort in the fact that they're really only a text or a call away.

What has been the biggest challenge throughout your high school career?

COVID-19. The effects of the lock down have been long lasting, and I still haven't gotten over my short attention span and the like. It absolutely killed my GPA freshman and sophomore year, and it will definitely continue affecting me in college. One of these effects is that I can't study very well or even just sit down and work on an assignment without feeling the need to do five other things at once. I've been getting by, but it's very possible I'll need to change how I do things in college.

What advice would you give to anyone hoping to become Senior Speaker for their graduating class?

Don't be afraid to submit a speech or speak in front of your class. You probably don't know half of your classmates, and they probably won't care about what you say, but the important part is that you say it anyway. You're not just speaking to strangers. You're speaking to friends, families, and teachers who want, or need, to hear your message. Also, make friends with your English teachers, they will absolutely help you with your speech or public speaking.

Were you involved in any clubs or sports? If so, how did you manage good grades throughout the year?

Throughout most of my high school career, I was only involved in Alchemists. I only became more involved in German and [Dungeons & Dragons] club this year. It's important to be able to balance your academic and social lives well. For me, I compensated by taking less difficult courses. I've only taken two AP's during my time at NBTHS, as I didn't want to risk needing to stay home to do an egregious amount of work, sacrificing what I love.

What do you think the biggest challenge students will face in the future?

The presence of AI in school will become a major challenge and problem for students everywhere. As a matter of fact, it's already an issue. AI is seen as the end all be all, the miracle worker that can type your 20 page paper in under a minute. Not to mention it's tempting to use. It's efficient, mostly accurate, and free. This makes AI very appealing, and encourages efficiency over hard work. Students will need to learn how to adjust to AI, how to use it without sacrificing critical thinking skills. The presence of AI is inevitable, but it's important students learn how to use it as a tool rather than a crutch.

What is your favorite memory from the 2-24-2025 school year?

This year, for Alchemists, I put on a skit dubbed "The Mind Mangler" for Theater Revue 2025. One of the bits was asking people what their job was as a sort of mind reading trick, someone told me their job and I vaguely described it with a piece of paper that had a prewritten word on it. The second night, many teachers were in the audience and I picked one. They told me they were a teacher. I knew what I had to do. "You're a teacher? Oh no. I uhm- I'm so sorry, but you are poor." An eruption of laughter from the audience. I later found out that I knew the teacher I called on, but I didn't recognize him in the dark. One of my best performing moments, I must say.