Senior year feels different. It’s only been a couple of months, but it already seems like everything is happening all at once. There’s this strange mix of excitement and pressure with college applications, classes, sports, and trying to make the most of everything before it’s over. One second you’re laughing with your friends, and the next you’re realizing how close you are to the end. It’s a constant balance between being ready for what’s next and wishing time would slow down.
Even though it’s still early in the year, it already feels like so much. There’s the stress of figuring out college plans, keeping grades up, and staying involved, all while trying to enjoy what’s left of high school. One minute it feels like there’s still plenty of time, and the next it feels like everything is moving too fast. “It’s been very busy but also moving by very fast,” senior Gus Nack said, describing how this year has felt so far.
There’s also excitement in knowing that the finish line is finally in sight. Finishing applications, wrapping up big projects, and seeing the end of high school getting closer all bring a sense of relief. Buying college merchandise, planning graduation parties, and clearing out old folders on your laptop suddenly feel like part of something bigger. There’s a mix of freedom and relief that comes with knowing a new chapter is right around the corner.
But at the same time, there’s a sadness that comes with realizing how much is ending. The things that used to feel normal now feel like “lasts.” The last football game, the last spirit week, the last random Friday night after a game. “Balancing all the social things I want to be doing and focusing on the school side as well,” another senior shared when asked what has been the most stressful part so far. The little moments seem to matter more now: laughing in the hallways, early morning practices, and inside jokes that have been going for years.
Friendships feel closer but also more temporary. Everyone is starting to figure out where they’re going next, and it’s strange to think we won’t all be together much longer. “I’m looking forward to all the senior activities as we get close to graduation, and I’m going to miss our grade’s close bond,” Kenzie Brown said.
Senior year is emotional in the best and worst ways. It’s stressful, exciting, and bittersweet all at once. The truth is that you can’t have one without the other. The goodbyes only matter because the moments before them did too. It’s overwhelming at times, but that’s what makes this year so special. It’s only just beginning, yet it already feels like a year none of us will ever forget.
