Seniors, the second semester marks a unique time for our last year at St. Edward. It is the last stretch of the winning lap where victory awaits. However, before we rush ahead into college plans and future goals, we need to pause and enjoy our last moments as high school students. While our minds are racing with schoolwork and college applications, we shouldn’t dismiss our final high school season just yet.
As we approach the finish line, it is important to attend the things that bring our class together. This is time that we cannot get back later. We are stationed in this point of our lives together, and we have endured the last four years together. We must continue to show up for games, service hours, prom, etc., to form the final memories of high school. These events mark not only traditions as high school students, but opportunities to create new experiences and memories with our class. Our schoolwork struggles will fade with time, but the laughter, fun, and time spent with each other will remain with us forever.
In addition to the memories we create with each other, senior year is a time to reflect on ourselves. For example, looking back at photos is a way to step back to the time when the picture was taken. A snapshot of time, to reflect on where we started and realize how different it is from where we are today. Although time never stops, collecting photos or creating a scrapbook of high school moments can pause our thoughts for a few minutes to enjoy an accomplishment we made or be thankful for an obstacle we defeated.
Although senior year is our horizon of high school, we will begin our journey into college and adulthood. It is at these moments that the pace of high school feels subtle and the reality of what’s ahead is a fast-paced world with no breaks. It is exciting and scary. While I look forward to some of the freedom college will bring, I also feel the weight of the responsibilities that accompany it. I cherish my experiences with my friends that have enabled me to complete my last lap. Each step has helped me get to this point and feel ready for the next chapter.
The final bell is about to ring; the countdown to graduation is here. We need to take the last steps together. We can’t rush and miss the final steps as we transition out of high school. Take time to go to prom and one more game with friends, or create a study group to get through the final finals. Finish strong and make the final stretch unforgettable.
“Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller
