Senior Year is a time of many emotions. Some are sentimental, excited, and others in between. Rising seniors look back on their Freshmen Year and wonder how the time went by so fast? Did they have any regrets? I wanted to explore how other people felt about this topic.

I personally think it is a mix of feelings this year. I could never settle on one word to describe what it feels like to enter the final year of high school. I remember my first community service job during my freshmen year, the first time I got my schedule, and as a matter of fact, I remember even being in fifth grade. I felt my middle school experience was taken away from COVID. However, I learned traits about myself I did not know existed. I learned about the consequences of falling behind and being lazy, as well as putting your dedication towards something and knowing you can achieve it with a good mindset.

It is sad to leave everything behind and take on a new chapter, however it is entirely necessary and exciting. Rising seniors like Jillian Buonopane and I agreed on how the idea of leaving our friends and going seperate ways is intimidating, but having a clean slate at a brand new school is an exciting idea.

It is obviously impossible to feel one specific way, Zoe Rey mentioned, “It is exciting to graduate and go to college, but on Senior Night of course I am going to feel a little emotional.” Which I agree with. When we have our senior sleepover and senior sunrise I am going to be smiling,  but on Senior night with our underclassmen that we have befriended and gotten to know it is going to be extremely sad.

Understandably, it is unrealistic to feel a certain way about senior year. We are entering the world without a map, and having to decide on a college major which could determine your life career at the ripe ages of 17 and 18. Anyway, life can lead us to unexpected places, so this year I am going to seize the moment, stay calm, and keep focused on my goals.

I am wishing CO ’26 the best of luck!