By Eden Barnes, Staff Writer
Last week, the graduation dates of all of Howard County’s 12 high schools were published including the seniors’ last mandatory day of school, May 26th. Now that our seniors have a clear idea of when their last moments in high school will be, memories of the last 12 years of schooling start to set in. This is especially true for this year’s seniors, who only got to experience two and a half full years in the building due to the pandemic.
Throughout high school, students explore endless extracurricular activities inside and out of school. Students get attached to their teammates, friends, and activities; as a result, saying goodbye can feel bittersweet. During freshman year, graduating was not even imaginable to their fourteen-year-old selves. Sophomore year was a quick blur, adjusting to the faster pace of high school and thinking we were leaving school for just “two weeks.” Transitioning into junior year, they learned from a black box while preparing for SATs, adjusting to shifted sports seasons, and missing out on homecoming and prom. Senior year students got one final try, while also being slapped with college applications and decisions, commitments, jobs, and future endeavors. Also the occasional senior skip day, the last four years were spent decorating our educational resume.
A senior at River Hill, Sarah Lee, has made many friendships after being involved in cheerleading, lacrosse, and many volunteering events. She states “I know it will hurt me to walk down at graduation knowing that is the last time I will ever see my classmates again; high school has introduced me to so many new people and allowed me to create so many bonds. I’m just sad it had to come to an end.”
With the Spring season coming to an end, sports are preparing for their senior nights and playoffs. Senior Matt Rogers knows he is going to miss “the walks up from the baseball field after games and practices,” recapping with fellow teammates. However, many are looking forward to being finally done and to post-graduation events, such as a senior week. Senior Liv Lazzari is “excited to be on vacation in Ocean City with most of my closest friends for a week. It’s nice that we all get to be together for one of the last times and have some fun before we head our separate ways. Senior week is going to be a great way to celebrate graduating high school.”
Senior Will Gochar states “Senior year flew by. I’m going to miss my friends and teammates next year. These last four years have been rough for all of us, but we made it through together. Cherish your time with your friends and enjoy yourself. Go Hawks!” The incoming freshman class is told at orientation that these next four years will go by fast. Students will turn to their friends next to them, giggle and laugh about how ironic that seems, but it doesn’t hit you until it’s all over. With that said, congratulations to River Hill’s graduating class of 2022.