Senior dues help fund our events, activities, and graduation. It’s a small contribution that goes a long way in making our final year memorable.
Senior dues being $200 is expensive for some, and it must be paid in order to graduate. The school provides fundraising opportunities to help those in need. They give students the opportunity to sell chocolate which goes towards their graduation.
Each box of chocolate contains 60 bars selling for $1 per bar. After selling the whole box, the students give the money earned to Ms. Escalera which gives them $25 towards their senior dues. So they need to sell a total of 8 boxes of chocolate in order to reach the $200 mark.
Although Dewey provides chocolate to pay for senior dues, since the majority of the students are selling the same chocolate, it can get repetitive. Because of this, many students explored their own ways to make money for their senior dues, such as getting a part-time job or starting a small business. Some students sell other goods like candy or cupcakes.
Senior Momna Asghar said that it’s important for seniors to raise funds because a lot of people who come from a low income family cannot afford to pay $200- and that’s excluding prom. So raising funds can help them pay senior dues without having to be stressed about it. Something that motivates Asghar as she fundraises that she gets to interact with new people everyday and it helps build her self confidence and strengthen her communicational skills. Asghar said “When you feel like quitting, think about why you started it.”
Senior Amiah Gordon feels that the senior due pricing is way too expensive because “I only pay for a cap, gown and a yearbook which is not worth 200 dollars.” Gordon said that she fundraises by selling cupcakes because most of the seniors in John Dewey High School sell chocolates and that can get very repetitive and tiring for hungry students looking for variety. The other benefit, Gordon states, is that “Selling something other than chocolate helps me increase my baking skills. Gordon expressed that all seniors working to pay off their senior dues should “Work hard and stay focused.”
Ms Escalera emphasized the important nature of paying your senior dues, saying “If you don’t pay your senior dues you can’t go to graduation. Graduation is not optional.” Students who have difficulty in getting money should fundraise by selling chocolates, or pursue other methods of school approved fundraising opportunities.
