“Having to say goodbye to the seniors is going to be so hard” is one of the most cliché sayings heard around the country every year when the school year comes to an end, but it couldn’t be any more true. Coming in to this year as a junior I always had friends in the grade above me but I wasn’t prepared for how close I would get with some of them after an entire year of sports, classes, and overall interaction with them. From shedding tears with the guys in the locker rooms after the end of my first, and their last, varsity football and basketball seasons all the way to prom, this year has been the best of my life so far thanks to these seniors. I’m starting to understand why this year’s seniors got so excited when members of the ’13 class showed up at random times throughout the school year because that’s exactly how I’ll be when they come back next year. For me personally, this class of 2014 has taught me a plethora of lessons throughout the year, introduced me to new experiences, and most importantly fostered what will hopefully be some life-long friendships.

But as sad as I am that they won’t be back next year I’m equally as happy that I will be. The only thing worse than having to endure all my high school “lasts” is having to watch the whole class in front of you undergo theirs first and I really am fine with having an entire year ahead of me to hopefully prepare me to be able to withstand some of those lasts without too much sorrow. I know that every high schooler (every one that makes it this far that is) had the same feeling as me at some point. I haven’t even finished my junior year yet and I’m already astonished at the fact that I’m going to be a senior in the upcoming school year. When did that happen? It seems like just yesterday I was too young to drive, the day before that I was still in middle school, and just last week I was still playing elementary schoolyard soccer. And now one class is almost completely done and one is preparing to start their last chapter. With that being said I’d just like to thank all the seniors for what they’ve given the school and everyone in it, and to us juniors let’s cherish our last year and make as big of an impact on the class of 16 as the class of 14 did for us.