I am a junior this year and I’ve been in and out of friendships my entire high school experience. However, the only friends that have stuck with me are my upperclassmen.
A senior who I have been with through thick and thin is Adrienne Jankins, we met when I was just a journalism one student new to Homewood-Floosmoor high school. She was the one to help me survive the halls and get to know the building.
Every year that has gone by me and her gain more fond memories, emotions and bonding moments. It is as if I have gained a sister I never had.
However, our time together is running out as I’m a junior and she’s a senior. I cry knowing that now our time is more valuable than ever together since it is running out.
So, how do these students deal with their last goodbyes? The time that seniors have is coming to a close. They have until May 14, the last day of classes for seniors.
Junior and senior years are the most important and stressful years in high school for many students. Both grades are starting to think about college or have already committed to a college.
This can strengthen their friendship due to the bonding over stress because of college and also the fact that they have been through high school together.
Junior Madison James and Senior Alice Nguyen would consider each other as close friends. Nguyen stated that she and James met while in Zoobot in her sophomore year to help Christapher Stiglic, the Zoology and Botany teacher.
Being friends with seniors as a junior can be disappointing. “Some people have those friendships with seniors that have been through it throughout high school together. What is there left of high school without those friends?” Grabias shared.
Anaiya Warren, a senior who shares close friendships with juniors, shared how she is sad about leaving her friends behind, but she is happy that all of her friends have shared their devastation and emotions about her leaving.
“I’m close to a few [juniors],” Warren shared. “They are making jokes like I will see you in college, and I’m going to be with you everywhere. It’s nice to know my friends will miss me.”
To not lose touch with your friends when they leave, you can text on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
You can also stay connected to your friends through Facetime or calling. When your friends are visiting home, you can always schedule a time and date to catch up with them over food or coffee.
According to the College Raptor, “All in all, there are plenty of ways to keep in touch with your best friends. Sometimes it just takes a little effort, but it’s worth it in the end. You know what they say: New friends are silver, but old friends are gold.”
Is it all worth it? You know, the crying, the photos and the last memory in your last period with them. This will be the first time you aren’t counting down the minutes before class ends, everyone is signing shirts and reminiscing one last time.
So yes, I do think it was all worth it. I think this is the only day that I feel the most connected with everyone. This day always feels so surreal, the sun feels different, the voices sound different, more softer not wanting to fade away into the past.
The hugs warm your body up one more time to prepare you for the next chapter without them. Without my seniors by my side, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
Without them I wouldn’t be as confident as I am now, I wouldn’t have the connections I have now and I wouldn’t have the friends that I hold so dearly to my heart. To all the seniors, being friends with you will always be worth it in the end.
