On a chilly Monday morning, Aug. 4, 2025, nearly 260 seniors gathered outside the Stone Castle to start off their last first day of high school. Some wore “senior jeans,” decorated with personal symbols and representing Viking pride. Some just showed up for the food – a breakfast provided by parents.
Senior Sophia Streetman used the morning as an opportunity not only to celebrate, but to reflect on how far she has come as a student. As an underclassman, she was more focused on finding herself and who she wants to be involved with, but now, she finds high school fun and challenging both physically and academically.
“It was good to see everyone […] having special moments together,” Streetman said. She is “so excited to be thinking about the future,” though she admits that she will miss all of her friends and teachers.
Her best advice for underclassmen is to “join as many clubs as you can and develop relationships with teachers and students,” Streetman said.
As part of being a senior, students start to think about their future, applying to colleges, trade schools, and the military.
Senior Luke Sah elaborates his plans after high school, which are to attend Yale University for undergraduate and then transfer to ETSU’s Quillon medical school to pursue his dream of becoming a psychologist.
Later on, he eventually wants to settle on the West Coast and surround himself with one of the oldest forests in America.
A piece of advice he gives to underclassmen is to“tell his freshman self to get more involved [within the school community] and if you don’t like any clubs, start your own,” Sah said.
His favorite moment was his sophomore year at his first swim meet, where he “ found [himself] surrounded by good people.”
The aftermath of high school is exciting. We will miss our high school underclassmen friends, but we will make so many memories wherever we land next.
Senior Ian Gassiot says [he is] “not going to miss the routine of waking up early and getting ready for school, but said he will miss being a kid and living at home.”
His biggest advice for underclassmen is to “not take high school so seriously.”
“It’s not that deep, life is going to continue,” Gassiot said.
He recommends not to overload oneself with mountains of work or pulling all nighters studying for tests because he believes that life keeps rolling and it all works out.
Throughout the year, seniors will be treated to other festivities, such as senior picnic and senior assassin. All are celebrations of seniors’ accomplishments.
Senior Isaac Lowdermilk is looking forward to being a senior assassin, ready to win the battle!
As part of being a senior, they get more advantages, and more freedom.
Senior Emma Barnett’s favorite part about being a senior is “being at the front row during football games, being able to leave school early, and working the CVS Pharmacy for [her] Work Based Learning program.”
“I will miss seeing my friends and teachers everyday, but I [will] be ready to move on to the next chapter in my life,” Barnett said. “Overall, my high school experience was good.”
While some seniors may find it difficult to say goodbye to high school, others look back on the time in gratitude with an eye for the future.
“I would describe senior year as the year to make the best memories and be able to find yourself as a person,” senior Lucy Millwood said.
