Graduation isn’t a one-off event. Two seniors explain the stepping stones.
By Sydney Nguyen ’20 & Will Aarons ’20
People think of “graduation” as a one-off event, as a change that precipitates with the turn of a tassel. We, however, prefer to look back at its Latin root, grad, which means step – graduation is something that takes place (painstakingly) slowly. Graduation is a staircase, and the course of our Upper School careers brings us step by step to the summit in a process that means far more than a walk across a stage. Here are some of our favorites:
- Getting through Junior AP Exam week
Getting through the CollegeBoard’s corporate gauntlet really makes a self-important junior feel old and mature! We’ve all been there.
- Returning to the re-opened library
Makes you feel nostalgic/like an infant again returning to that place after a long hiatus. But you also feel WAY too old for all the technogarb they have for kids these days.
- Losing all motivation
It’s a milestone when you look at Blackbaud one day and find yourself feeling completely numb. No angst. Like not even a hint.
- Senior nights
Attending your senior night makes you think back to all the commitments and sacrifices you’ve made to a sport, even if it was your very first year.
- Arriving at Myrtle Beach
A real “we made it bois” moment when that bus pulls up to Ocean Drive Beach and Golf Resort
- Unlocking more and more senior privileges
As we earn more and more privileges, we spend less and less time on campus, even though our time on campus overall is slipping away 🙁
- The last first day of school and shaking everyone’s hand in the handshake ceremony
When you have a few too many awkward interactions with 6th graders and realize you only have a year left to develop social skills :0
- Attending commencement as a junior
After playing in the commencement orchestra since middle school, realizing that this commencement would be the last I played in was a shock.
- Seeing graduated friends’ life updates
When visiting their Instagram profiles, it’s always surprising seeing their own ever-approaching college graduation dates emblazoned in their bios, when it feels like just yesterday that they also traipsed the halls of the Academy.
- Moving up to higher parking lots
Skrrt past those sophomores as they sprint to A Block from the tennis courts at 7:59 lolol
- Last snow day
This year’s late snow day was a great surprise after resigning ourselves to the thought that last year’s snow day may be our very last.
- Last GSD, semi, and prom
No more weird moshpits in the cafeteria, awko-taco Discovery Studio claustrophobia, or prom melodrama!
- Ordering graduation gowns
Actually I forgot to order my gown and had to email Mr. Seeley my height and exact weight but it still hit different
- Last days of trimesters as a senior
This has been the longest year of my life, for better or for worse, but trimesters still fly by I guess!
- Last holidays at home
Feels bad not being able to leech off my parents at home anymore ://
- First seniors first
The only “seniors first” that underclassmen respect.
- Getting your license
Missing getting to sleep/complete homework during morning commutes but not missing having to arrive to school at 7:35 every day
- Passing by the college flags on the board first time
Finally knowing who is responsible for which flag 😮
- Submitting your first college application
Warning: # of college applications submitted is inversely proportional to the care you put into them
- When it turns your graduation year
The “CA ‘20” in your bio finally turns real.