Ever since you’ve started school, you look forward to summer. You go from year to year, not realizing how fast they go by, and before you know it, you’re at the end of your senior year.

For seniors, closing their high school career can be a fun and exciting time. Thinking about college, senior perks, and the fact that they are now the people that they used looked up to when they were freshman.

Christian Murillo says, “We get to senior year, and we don’t even realize that the year is so short in comparison to the rest of our life.”

For some, it creeps up on them, and takes them by surprise. “It hasn’t really hit me yet, but I’m very excited,” said Carlen Fidler.

Although it’s exciting, things can be a little stressful. Trying to end your scholastics with a bang, turning in assignments, and taking last minute tests.

“I’m studying hard to get my grades up,” said Branislav Tadic.

“I’m studying a lot for my IB tests,” said Fidler.

Anytime you transition from school to school, you leave behind good friends, and teachers that have helped shape you into who you are when you leave. On one hand, you’re excited to leave and move onto new things. And on the other hand, you’re going to miss the familiarity of Northtown and the relationships that you’ve made.

“I’m am both excited and sad about graduation. I love Northtown and I’m happy that I’m graduating. But, I’m sad I am leaving my friends behind and the wonderful staff who have helped me so much these last four years,” said Tadic.

Teachers play a big role in graduation. Like students, teachers look forward to the big event as well, “Every year when I get a new group of freshman, I always wonder if they’re going to make it, but once they walk across that stage, I know we’ve done something right and I get really happy,” said band director, Carrie Epperson.

A short summer provides a cushion between graduation and a new chapter. You only have a few months to spend time with the people you’ve been with since kindergarten but think about it this way, leaving familiar things can always be nerve-racking, but in the end, is always worth the risk.