As the end of the year is coming close, the seniors start to get ready to graduate and start their next adventures. The Class of 2024 seniors have made memories that would last a lifetime throughout high school including Covid during Freshman year, bouncing back between E-Learning and Hybrid learning, having to work around construction, and more. But they are starting to count down the days until they are officially a Rock Island High School alumni, and they can look back at all their favorite high school memories.
While many seniors are still in school for the second semester, there have been many seniors who graduated early. Graduating early can be a big change because they don’t have school to fill their days anymore. As graduating early can be exciting for a senior, there may be challenges for others. One of the seniors who graduated early was Oliana Richey. Richey said, “At first, when I left high school, it was a big change, and I didn’t like it very much. I’ve made my days a lot more productive, and I’ve loved it since!” With graduating early, most seniors have a plan set out for them. Richey said, “My plans now that I have graduated have changed. From planning on going into the Air Force to now traveling to different countries, it’ll be an interesting experience.”
Other seniors still continue on in school for their final semester, one being Brenna Anderson. Reaching the final semester may cause a lot of emotions because of college decisions, wrapping up work from school, big changes in everyday activities, and more. For Anderson, she says, “I am very excited about my final semester of high school. I am sad as well, but I am very excited because I get the opportunity to cheer in college, so I think it will be very exciting to start college, and kind of start a new chapter of my life.” Anderson has set goals for herself for her final semester, stating, “My goals for the last semester of high school are to have good grades and graduate with the highest GPA I possibly can.”
With graduation only a couple months away, some people might be nervous about the future. Anderson can relate, she said, “It’s actually really horrifying to think that we are going to be graduating in June. I’m nervous, but again, I am very excited to start a new chapter of my life.” Graduating also means saying goodbye to people that have been a big part of life. For Anderson, “Something I’m gonna really miss when I leave is the people. It’s just going to be weird to go to a different school with new people that I have no idea who they are, and it’s just going to be weird.”
High school is the time that teenagers can grow into young adults, and they are able to make great memories with their friends. When looking back, Richey and Anderson have many favorite memories, but they both have memories that top them all. Anderson said, “I’ve made a lot of memories throughout high school, but my favorite memories would be cheering basketball games. I love cheering for basketball games, I just think they are so much fun.” Richey said, “My favorite memory from high school would have to be my entire sophomore year. Coming back from Covid break, it was a great first year of high school experience.”
During this final stretch to graduation, seniors start to look ahead at what they want to do after they graduate. For Anderson, her plans are to attend Mount Mercy University in the fall to get her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science, and eventually, become a Chiropractor. Richey doesn’t know what will come yet, but she trusts there will be a plan for her and she doesn’t have to worry.
