As the weather is getting warmer and the school year is coming to an end, everyone is feeling excited for the weeks and months ahead. Prom is getting closer, graduation is looming, and summer is right around the corner. As seniors, some of us are nervous about leaving, others are happy, and I think a lot of us don’t know how we’re even going to function as adults. As a senior, most of the time I feel that many of these fears and excitements are normal. Other times, I feel like they could be unfounded.

This has to be a common feeling. Everyone knows leaving high school can be bittersweet, and yet a lot of us don’t want to admit it. So, I decided to take an anonymous survey to determine how everyone feels. Although I got a lot of good answers, I’m going to include one answer to each question based on what I thought was the most interesting. 

1. Which year was your favorite and why? 

“Senior, I finally got into welding class and decided to plan for after school. I got to have classes with great friends and teachers were most laxed with us.” 

1. If you could do this year or any of the years over again, what would you do differently?

“I would probably try to hang out with my friends more and maintain my friendships. Covid made it hard but if it didn’t happen I would hope to make sure I kept more close friends.”

1. What are you doing next year?

“I’m going to Emily Griffith for cosmetology”

1. What was your favorite class this year and why?

“My welding class. I love it and its hands on and directly helps me for after high school.”

1. How do you feel about only having a few weeks of school left? (apprehensive, withdrawn, prepared, etc.)

“It feels sure all, hasn’t set in that these are the last weeks of school. I’m excited for freedom but worried about the responsibilities that are gonna come.”

1. A piece of advice for future classes?

“Focus more on your grades than the people that’ll leave you two weeks after high school.”

1. How do you feel about prom?

“I’m super excited! Since I didn’t do prom last year this is my one and only one!”

1. What was the most embarrassing memory you have from high school?

“Presenting and my face turning beet red.”

1. Who is a big inspiration for you?

“My mom is a big inspiration because she found what she loves to do and is living her best life and I want that for me.”

1. Anything else?

“I am so ready to leave and also not ready at all.”

All of these responses were interesting to me because they weren’t uniform at all. Although some said to focus more on grades, others said stressing less would be a good idea. A lot of people have the same experiences too, which makes things like embarrassing stories seem more normal. Lastly, I think the question about what we’re all doing next year brought in the most interesting answers. In my classes, I often find most of the people around me are planning on attending college. However, this survey brought in a pretty equal amount of people attending college, vocational schools, or even going straight into the workforce. 

In the end, just know that whatever you’re feeling or whatever you are deciding to do at the end of this eventful year is not uncommon. As our senior year is coming to an end, just know that we are all feeling the same emotions and struggles, but we are in this together.