Longer days and warmer temperatures mark the time of year when Patrick Henry High School’s seniors begin their preparations for the next chapter.
Be it higher education, a gap year, or even the military, the class of 2025 has proven itself to be one of immense promise and dedication.
After a nerve-wracking month spent awaiting college decisions, we can finally look forward to prom, Grad Nite, and, of course, graduation.
Along with all of the fun activities come several big changes, taking us on a rollercoaster of emotions.
“I feel a bit more relieved and excited now that college decisions have been released,” said Cathy Nguyen, reflecting on her journey so far. “I’ve been looking forward to Grad Nite since I was a freshman and I’m just excited to hang out with all of my friends before graduation!”
For anyone unfamiliar with Grad Nite (as I was before I became a senior), it’s a night-long event hosted at Disneyland, during which all of the attending seniors get unlimited access to the park’s food and rides. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event that celebrates our hard work and dedication over the last four years.
With so many significant moments ahead of us, it can be easy to imagine senior year as similar to what we see in film and media: a grand coming-of-age story filled with late nights out with friends and big plans for one’s dream school. While this may be the reality for some, many seniors’ experiences differ from the romanticized idea of what this year “should” be like.
“Becoming a senior is just another day of your life; you’re not going to have a sudden “aha!” moment at a given time. You still show up to school, and you’re held to the same rules you’ve always been. The changes are slow and gradual,” remarked Atticus Colangelo. “My high school experience has consisted of a lot of alone time and staying out of the way because I didn’t want to do anything else. I don’t think that’s any less, or more, valid than being a ‘typical’ senior.”
Of course, many of us, including myself, want to look forward to all of the end-of-year events, but this is made difficult by approaching finals in April and AP exams in May.
Another senior, Kyle Wilson, commented, “I try to be conscious that it’s my last year in the primary school system, so I should make the best of these last two months. Still, the time passes quickly and it’s hard to stay motivated this close to the end.”
This seems to be true class-wide; Patrick Henry’s seniors are no strangers to “senioritis.” And if you take an AP class, play a spring sport, or are planning to move away in the coming months, this time of year is far from leisurely.
Our first semester consisted of rigorous self-evaluation, writing seemingly endless college essays and supplements. Now, although future defining decisions have already been made, the senior class is preparing for a week of finals in mid-April. As Wilson mentioned, time does fly by quickly, and it can feel as though we’re constantly moving from one stressful period to another.
“I assumed as a senior I would be ready to leave, that going to college would seem natural, but I’ve realized that this is such a crazy period for everyone because no one really knows what they’re doing,” reflected Alexis Dunn, who offers a refreshing perspective on the stereotypical senior: “I don’t think there’s a sole image of how a senior should look, but I think there’s a certain attitude you’ll notice among everyone; the best I can describe it as is acceptance. I feel more confident in myself this year because there’s a shared understanding that we’re all trying our best. We’re all in the same boat, which I think makes it special.”
Even though this time is a mix of stressful and exciting and emotional (frankly, all of the above), there is most definitely a shared understanding that we will never live these moments again, that now is the time to make incredible memories and savor every second. Well, maybe not every second – finals are no fun.
Regardless of approaching exams and goodbye-hugs, the fun events scattered in between the difficult ones are there to remind us of how far we’ve come and how hard we’ve worked.
“I don’t have everything figured out, and I’m okay with that,” remarked Wilson.
That’s perfectly fine, Kyle – none of us do.
Congratulations, Patrick Henry Class of 2025. Go Patriots!
TOP PHOTO CAPTION: For these Patrick Henry High seniors and others like them, a new chapter in life will unfold. (Courtesy photo)