Senior Glow-Ups

From style choices to mindset, our senior class at Jefferson Academy knows high school glow-ups deeper than just appearance. 

Glow-ups can have a wide variety of meanings. JA’s seniors have been through the journey of a lifetime, and many have learned more about themselves on the inside along the way.

“I define a glow-up as making myself better in some way,” senior Finn Bullis shared. “A glow-up can be intelligence-related, social, or even economic. It doesn't have to be an extrinsic change, but might just be about the person inside.”

Internal glow-ups can be as simple as the change of a mindset. Senior Leyna Gibson shared her mental experience in trying to make the most of what she can.

“I’ve really worked a lot at being less of a perfectionist, because I found that that really only held me back,” Gibson admitted. “The nice thing is, though, that I’ve been able to do my best work, both in school and in running, when that expectation I put on myself is lightened a little bit.”

The growth seen in glow-ups is fueled by not only strong mindsets, but consistent habits. senior Liam Wall found stretching to be particularly beneficial.

“One consistent habit I have intentionally built over the course of high school is consistently stretching,” Wall stated. “Both as an athlete and student, taking care of my body has been a necessity. It has drastically improved the quality of my sleep and made me happier in general.”

Especially with the recent rise of social media, physical appearances have been confined into boxes of what is considered relevant. However, glow-ups can go beyond judging a book by its cover.

“It’s kind of fun to take terms that reinforce the idea that looks are the central value of a woman and reclaim them, using them to describe the deeper values that are more important,” Gibson remarked. “I think that often, the improvement of looks can also be the result of deeper change in your life that reflects in the way you appear.”

While lots of students struggle with sports, clubs, and classes, what is most important is keeping yourself happy--whether that be in habits, goals, or finding people that make you feel your best.

“I have always tried to prioritize my physical and emotional health over anything else,” Bullis declared. “I have learned that relationships are what make life worth living. The people you surround yourself with are what either make or break your enjoyment of your life.”