Almost everyone in my high school class grew up together. We have all known each other since kindergarten. We’ve seen each other through the best and the worst stages. Even the awkward phases you hope no one will remember or ever bring up again.
It’s weird not seeing those people every single day. Those people who know everything about you: the sport you were most passionate about, the teacher you absolutely despised, or the song you sang in the 5th grade talent show. Life was simple, and you were always in a constant state of knowing.
Each school year felt quick. Senior year was no exception. This year, everyone is starting to get even closer than before. You have your last football game under the Friday Night Lights. You dress up for a spirit week for one last time. You say goodbye to the traditions that made school worthwhile and realize “the high school experience” is coming to an end.
Senior nights for each sport come and go. Then, before the end of the year, you take your senior trip. You leave home, but the people you are with feel like home too.
Senior prom is the last of the graduating activities, and you feel the people you have always known slowly start to drift away.
Before you know it, you are standing side by side in caps and gowns, next to the friends you see every day. You move your tassel to the left side of your cap, and everything changes. Wrapped up in the excitement of graduation, you are quick to realize that this is the last moment you are all together.
This summer is different than past ones. It used to not matter when you hung out with your friends because, well, you had time. All of a sudden, it’s a race against the clock to see each childhood buddy one last time. To make each last moment with each other special.
Senior year was truly one of a kind. It brought students together and helped us finally recognize the strength of our hometown bond. With every “last” we experienced, we began to understand the value of our time together.
Now, we have all gone our separate ways. Some went off to college, some into the workforce, and a few decided to stay local to the area.
No matter where life takes us, I hope we never forget our hometown. Or the bond we created through the memories we made there. (I really do hope they forget my dance at the 5th grade talent show, though!)