The senior year of high school is often spotlighted as one of the most important years in one’s high school career. It’s the year of applying to colleges, the year of settling standardized test scores, and the year of making ever-lasting memories. The class of 2024 is currently in their final semester of high school; this is their one last hurdle before parting ways to pursue individual interests.

Often seen as one of the most laid-back years of high school, many seniors find their final year to be enjoyable. But apart from enjoying their shortened schedules and hanging out with their friends, some seniors choose to prioritize applying to college.

Senior Peter Burdick noted that most students attend college to study focused subjects that better set them apart in the workforce. However, with millions of applications being sent out to universities and colleges, the process of applying is stressful for students.

Burdick added that after applying to universities and scholarship programs, checking his email inbox is what he does all day.

“It’s really nerve-racking. I’m really anxious,” Burdick said. “I’m just sitting here checking my email multiple times a day, waiting to hear back if I made it or not because that’s going [to make] a big difference in my future career.”

Burdick, who is planning to major in mechanical engineering, is excited to leave high school and start going to college to study things that are tailored to his interests. But as his senior year comes to an end, one thing that he will truly miss about high school is the friendships he made during his time here.

“I know that I have a lot of people that are going to other colleges all across the country, [and] I won’t be able to really be in contact with them except for maybe summer break,” Burdick said.

Transitioning into adult life is an experience of its own, but senior Elsa Carillo mentioned that it is also a bittersweet process.

“Having those independence and responsibility aspects will be exciting, a little scary, but I think the freedom will be nice,” Carillo said.

To cater to one’s desire to dream big, high school is a place where it shapes you to be who you are. Carillo shared her views on how the high school experience helped her become who she is today.

“Not high school specifically, but the people I met through high school and the experiences I’ve had have helped me become who I am today and will help me as I’m going into college.”

With softball being a huge part of Carillo’s life, she is committed to playing the sport at Johnson County Community College and plans to study sustainable agriculture.

Additionally, Academic counselor Brianna Jackson has seen many seniors leave this building to pursue ambitious careers. Her role is to ensure that students have the necessary resources and are on track when it comes to helping them apply to college.

Jackson noted that the class of 2024 holds a special identity— being resilient.

“For the class coming through the pandemic and trying to navigate those changes, I feel like this is a very resilient class,” Jackson said. ”Everybody is super involved…There are 40 of you [seniors] that are like valedictorians, which is insane. That’s, like unheard of.”

With the academic year slowly coming to an end, the class of 2024 will graduate on May 21.