Senior year: the year most students dream of since their freshman year of high school. From anticipating the class trip to Disney World to graduating and preparing for college, senior year brings with it a mix of feelings – excitement, nostalgia, and fear for what is to come after high school.
“I feel bittersweet about graduating. I am excited to graduate and go to college, but I’m also sad because it’s the last time I’ll be in school with all my friends and the same people since kindergarten,” senior Emily Renouf said.
As fall becomes winter and winter transitions to spring, seniors experience a multitude of feeling. Sometimes, it’s a mix of both excitement and nerves knowing all the years of growing up, going to school, and creating memories together will soon turn into saying goodbyes and wishing each other luck and success..
“I will miss getting to see my friends every day because when we’re all in college doing our own things, it’s going to be sad not being able to see them as much,” senior Caleb Mullen said.
Teacher and Class of 2026 Co-Adviser, Riley Gartland shares that her favorite part about being a class advisor is having the opportunity to build connections with those whom she didn’t have the chance to have in her classroom as students.
“Just getting to meet and make connections with kids that I’ve never gotten to teach and being able to be a support, like giving ideas and giving feedback and getting to try and make your guys’ last memories here special,” Gartland said about her role as a class advisor.
At the end, there is always a sense of pride knowing how hard everyone has worked to get where they are and how much they have grown over the years. No longer the shy, timid freshmen, the seniors are now outgoing, confident students who have significantly matured in both leadership and communication.
Graduation marks a time when students become their own persons. Whether they’re preparing to go their separate ways through enlisting in the military, applying to college, joining a trade school, or continuing to work, it all leads back to the initial memories beginning in kindergarten.
“I’m very nervous because hopefully I will get into the Coast Guard Academy, but if I don’t I’m going to have to figure out what else I am going to do as an alternative,” Mullen said.
Most seniors tend to look forward to their senior trip to Disney where they get to spend time with their class outside of school classrooms. It is a chance for seniors to make memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime.
“I am looking forward to the senior trip to Disney with all of my friends,” Renouf said.
Additionally, Gartland said she believes the Disney trip is an opportunity for students to strengthen their bonds. She said she hopes to get a full class to attend, allowing every student to be a part of this experience.
“From what I know right now because I haven’t done a full class yet, I think that the Disney trip is the most favorite thing about senior year,” Gartland said. “The idea of going somewhere with everyone I think is usually exciting.”
Over the years, the class of 2026 has learned to come together as one with help from class advisors and student council representatives.
“It’s bittersweet as my first class to go through. I think no matter what it’s always going to be crazy to have gone through four years,” Gartland said. “Now that you guys [class of ‘26] are leaving, obviously the sweet part is how proud we are watching you guys grow from where you were as freshman and all being the little and cute to now how much more of leaders and how much more well spoken you guys have become.”
