OPINION: One Last Time, Seniors

By Lola McGinnis

With each new school year, there is always a beginning and an end to each year. As the 2025-2026 school year begins, the class of 2026 will start their last ride of high school. With our last first day of school behind us, it is a bittersweet thought to spend time on. We have spent the last three years, whether it was good or bad, at this school, surrounded by the same people. Soon, though, we will be moving on.

Which is exciting, we will be able to experience that freedom and independence that is so highly talked about, but at the same time it is terrifying because that means we are growing up and leaving. Leaving the place and people that we have known for the majority of our lives to a completely new and different environment.

As the school year progresses, going to more events and making those core high school memories are high on the priority list in addition to academics and trying to take care of ourselves. The need to make those connections in hopes of maintaining steady relationships with the people we are close to, even if there’s the eventual distance coming soon.

As a senior myself, I know that this will be a weird year, a year full of the lasts of our childhood. Despite it being our senior year, a lot of us, including myself, are still pushing through and taking those APs and Honors classes, busy with college applications, and still trying to maintain some sort of resemblance of a social life. A lot of us are ready to leave, to get that freedom but also very much terrified of moving on with life and no longer being considered a “kid”.

This year more than ever is all about balance, whether that includes a social life, academics, a job, and more. The key to a successful senior year is having a stable balance within a schedule. Now, to my fellow seniors, just remember: everything happens for a reason and I wish all of you the best of luck with this year and wherever life decides to take you.

The fear of going to college, the application itself, and being able to afford college all together is a common fear among seniors but with the right resources, these things can be taken care of smoothly.