End of Senior Year: The Last Day

Well, it was only half like our last day of high school. June 7 was the class of 2012's last full day of school; June 8 will be spent on the field for graduation practice. Now I am really wondering, how did time pass by so quickly?

While a good majority of the school was supporting the Kids Helping Kids Club by participating in the annual pickleball tournament, other classmates and I spent our last day of classes reminiscing on embarrassing freshman memories and signing yearbooks. 

Ms. Cecelia, who teaches AP literature and language, bid farewell to us with an emotional and inspirational speech. Everyone in the classroom was all smiles, as she read us her words of encouragement and recollection of our experience in 12th grade English. Before leaving the room, she offered us a small token by which we will be sure to remember her course—a bookmark branded with a quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet. "This above all, to thine own self be true," a constant reminder to us to know ourselves, know our minds, and control our own decisions in the upcoming period of transition. 

After English, I headed off to my final IB French class. This goodbye was particularly sad, as I have been studying French with the same small group for the past two, and for some three, years. In the summer of 2010 I participated in the French exchange program by traveling over to Lyon where I formed strong bonds with students in the French department. We gathered around with one another and watched old episodes of the USCHS Quarterly, student-produced video projects, from years ago. 

My next class was a bit different than the first two filled with nostalgia. In Ms. Chothani's AP economics class, we shared our future plans and looked back upon our progress as budding economists. We did not stay in the classroom for long, though; we were eager to watch our classmates race across the high school pool in the cardboard boats they constructed as an AP physics project. The stands were full and the excitement was building. Who would win?

A short walk to cafeteria for 7-8 lunch. It is still so odd to me, even after the past four years, that we eat lunch at 10:10 in the morning. Everyday my lunch table was a nice break from all of the demanding academics. Because my table is filled with friends I am sure I will see over the summer, our time at the lunch table was sweeter than it was sad. We all got our favorite meals, our favorite coffee combinations, and favorite frozen yogurt creations to enjoy one last time. 

In my last AP calculus class with Mr. Shefler, we again recalled our fondest memories and recognized our progress in the course. The difficult yet approachable course challenged me to think critically, combine all prior math knowledge and avoid "mindlessness." It was amazing to look back upon how far we have come; in September, derivative was more of a foreign term than math command. 

A final day of voice testing in chorus was followed by my last day of AP European history with Mr. Durkin. After two years of his demanding and intriguing history courses, I was hesitant to turn in my history book. European history and the infamous "APUSH," United States history, course have taught me indispensable time management and study skills that I will surely take with me over the next few years. 

I ended my last full day as a high school student in the library with my friends. The time did not pass as quickly as we had eagerly hoped, but it was still fun to exchange more memories. The entire library gathered together in applause as the final bell rang.

We headed toward our buses and cars, one step closer to graduating.