The 2024 senior class has experienced a range of emotions starting the school year.

With applications and other college necessities being due soon, the more prevalent feeling might appear to be stress; however, seniors report feeling a variety of sentiments.

This is true for some and not for others.

In under a year, seniors will be moving on with their lives and making decisions for themselves. It’s exciting, but it can also be incredibly daunting.

After nearly two months in school, seniors are beginning to reflect on how the year’s going.

“This year so far has been more exciting than anything else,” said Ike Campbell (‘24).

Taylor Erdmann (‘24), said that she’s “felt a little bit of all the emotions: stressed, excited, and nervous.” 

All of these emotions are because it is my last year. “I [didn’t] know what to expect at the beginning of the year,” Erdmann (24) added. 

“I felt sort of behind because a lot of seniors knew what they wanted to do,” she said. Erdmann (’24) is still determining whether or not she wants to go to college.

Senior year is a different year from the previous years before.

“Teachers are a lot more lenient with the way you act this year,” said Hannah Lamb (’24). “They’re a lot cooler than they were.” 

College and careers are right around the corner for seniors. Lamb (’24) said she wants to go to college in San Diego to become a nurse and eventually work towards becoming a trauma surgeon.

Boston Hatrick (‘24) said he wants to work in the oil fields for a year before going to college. 

Teachers and other adults can help seniors to succeed in their last year of high school by being understanding towards students. It can be nerve-wracking for seniors to not know what to do for the first year of college.

“That’s what scares people, and that’s what keeps people from continuing with school because teachers and parents are giving them the notion that you need to know what you’re doing, when in reality you have time to decide,” said Lamb.

Seniors can experience many emotions and feelings this first semester of senior year:  some good, some bad, some different, and some exactly the same. Senior year is a big deal for seniors because it’s their last year of high school. Talking to other seniors about their ideas for the future can help forge new ideas and options.

Students asking for support and giving it their all can prepare students for their new life after high school.