Every year at Harrison High School it’s the same old sadness: underclassmen have to say goodbye to another group of seniors. While seniors are counting down the days until they no longer walk these halls, the rest of us, while excited for summer, have to think about coming back next fall without the friends and mentors that are moving on.
We wish our amazing seniors luck on their journey into adulthood and give them thanks for guiding us through the year. At first, it’s all joy and celebration for our graduating seniors, and even though we are happy for them, it’s hard to see our friends and family leave us. Although we can honor them on the outside as we praise them in their graduation caps in all of their glory, our hearts ache as they walk away and from that point on things will never be the same as they were before.
In high school having older classmen as friends is actually very beneficial for younger students because these friendships/peer connections often result in better collaborative exchanges, and “can positively impact students’ academic performance and grade point average (GPA) by providing emotional support and reducing stress, thereby leading to improved focus and better concentration on studies.”
Now, it’s not just beneficial for them but also for upper-classmen to adopt an underclassmen because they can pass on their knowledge and help them understand their feelings – which is a good thing. Especially in high school for “Developing personal relationships of all kinds can help reduce a sense of loneliness and promote stronger connectivity, but intergenerational friendships provide unique advantages.” Students, whether upper or underclassmen need each other to grow. And the experience from these friendships can go on to pave one’s high school experience, no matter how much time they have left before graduation.
Whether academic, personal, or just wanting to compliment someone’s shirt- it’s always good to make these friendships and build strong emotional bonds in high school.
An Underclassman’s Perspective
Learning the benefits of friendships is important, but it’s also important to know how students actually feel about each other. Underclassmen look up to and value Seniors in their friendships, but when graduation rolls around, how does everyone else feel about it? How do they cope?
I asked Jada Wong who answered, “ I feel really sad about my best friend Klay graduating because even though we have only been friends since my sophomore year, he became an important friend to me. I will miss him after he graduates because school will not feel the same without him there. We never really spent time together outside of school, but I still enjoyed talking to him and being friends with him.” It’s nice to see these friendships come together even though they are short, they are meaningful throughout the year, but some friendships can only survive at school sometimes because Jada says that “…I do not know if we will stay in contact after graduation, but I hope he does well in the future. We do not really have any plans to meet after graduation right now.” It’s A okay if friends can’t see each other after graduation because it was “good while it lasted” and that’s what matters. Even Jada said “… It is not very hard to say goodbye because I know everyone moves on and starts new chapters in life.”
Friendship in and of itself is a treasure, and it’s often hard to see it slip away. And although we know these friendships (likely) won’t last forever, we value them immensely. But what is it like to lose a parter? In the case of an underclassman whose boyfriend/girlfriend what is it like?
Avery Hellmann says from experience that “… Dating a senior is alright. It’s not something I would’ve expected to do as a junior, but we’re only a year apart so it’s not crazy. After he graduates, he plans on going to college, so we would most likely keep in touch by texting and calling.”
On the topic of memories, she answered “A good memory I have [of the two of us] is when we did an escape room in downtown Harrison, we came nowhere close to escaping, but we had fun trying.”
These relationships, even if they are unexpected, can be good for us. But the fun and (potential) love might make it worth it. A partner going to college doesn’t mark the end of world, it just hails the beginning of a new chapter.
Even Avery said that she doesn’t get to see her boyfriend as often as she’d like “in this current semester, I don’t get to see him often unless I pass him in the hallway or at lunch. We do usually talk a bit before I go home and he goes to play tennis. I am going to miss seeing him often though.”
Although sad, this is usually the case in some school-relationships. But either way, whether or not the two drift apart, it’s still hard to not see them after they graduation. Seeing your partner, even if its just once in a while, is something to treasure, especially before they leave.
Avery says that “…It’ll definitely be pretty hard watching him leave because he’s going to college, where I won’t see him in person for a long time.” Sad but true for a lot of us but spend the time that have together for as long as you can for you never know how long it will last.
A Senior’s Perspective
We’ve heard a lot from our under-classmen. But how do our seniors feel about leaving?
Madison McIntyre a senior said “I feel a bit of sad, exhausted and content. I will definitely miss going to school everyday- seeing chaotic things and hanging out with my friends without making plans. I’ll miss the stupid situations I put myself into for a laugh and I’ll miss getting really cheap food. I have a lot of underclassmen I would consider my friends, Henry Walker, a junior, has been my friend since he was a freshman I would always haze him and poke fun for him being a freshman, but we ended up becoming close friends that can laugh and hang with each other. Of course I will miss my underclassmen, I’ll miss the jokes and the fun times with them. I won’t be able to see all their challenges and growth as humans and I will defiantly miss that.”
She has lots of memories, heck, Madison says “I have tons, my most fun one that I can remember is when I was reading a horror story to my friends Gabby and Henry and I kept changing my voice to make them laugh. An experience that I will miss is when me, Audrey Krise, Henry Walker were all having a tea party with our stuffed animals and water bottles, it was truly a hilarious time.” Seniors leaving is tough for them, if not more than we would think. But connection and communication help Madison plan and hope that she “will try to keep in touch” through “social media obviously and they have my contact info if they need me. I also plan to show up to any events they invite me to. And I do plan on seeing my underclassmen’s theatre productions and outside of school passing by.”
Saying goodbye beforehand can help with “the letting go” but it still is hard. Madison said, “Though I have said most of my goodbyes – it will be really hard saying goodbye again, I will definetly get a little emotional and I hope they get emotional too.”
Although sad, these goodbyes are also a message from the seniors before they “flee the facility”. Madison’s message to her underclassmen is for “Henry STICK UP FOR YOURSELF! Audrey, continue being yourself you slay! Gabby, don’t let people push you around and be head strong and stop apologizing most of the time you’re in the right!” Now she also has some advice for younger classmen in general that she would like to give before she graduates which is to “Study geometry and never stop being your true self even if you’re alone.”
Our Teacher’s Perspective
Finally, we reach our teachers. After seeing how our underclassmen and upperclassmen feel, lets look into how teachers feel knowing some of their students are “leaving the nest” so to speak.
An (infamous) teacher who works with both seniors and underclassmen is Mr. Zureick. Although he is rather sarcastic Mr. Zureick is full of energy for teaching chemistry and that has been infectious for many teachers. Mr. Zureick teaches 20 seniors a year and every year he says “I feel optimistic. It’s like having a kid and once they leave you can only hope that you left them something positive in their journey. Students may not understand it, but even teachers get attached to their students- so it’s unfortunate to see them go.”
Mr. Zureick loves his students very much but his feelings over his students grow over the year as he gets to know them more than focusing mainly on the job and he even states that “As you become older these feelings get much stronger than when you were young focusing on the job itself, over your students so it’s sad.” His advice that he gives to his seniors is that “In your future if anyone gives you an opportunity that doesn’t involve hurting others or yourself always take it, always say yes.” Next year when new seniors come he describes it “Like a feeling of obligation to help them now because it’s the last shot you have to give them something important and to make it good.” Mr. Zurick says that “I would rather not remember the memories but instead think about what’s going to happen in the future for them instead of the past.”
At Harrison High school our communities’ feelings are strong through the relationships and connections that we all build with one another. This school is lucky to have such honorable students that represent our district through trust, respect, ownership, leadership, and, of course, friendship. We all will miss our seniors and we wish them luck on their journeys to make their own path in life.
