Hewlett Happenings

Looking ahead to the end as a new beginning

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It’s Sept. 2. The alarm clock rings. I press snooze. Nine minutes later, it hits me — it’s officially the first day of my senior year. The final year of high school for the class of 2015 is filled with all sorts of exciting events such as committing to college and graduation, and the senior prom. Gone are the tedious days and long nights of studying for the SATs or ACTs. They are replaced with filling out college applications, essays and making sure everything is perfect before hitting the send button on the Common Application website.

As I contemplate for the fifth time which outfit to wear for my final first day, I can’t help but reminisce about the summer I spent working at a local day camp. The long days under the beating sun I spent playing soccer with my campers and sitting with my friends at lunchtime are long gone. Instead I will be in school sitting at a desk taking notes on my laptop, taking exams, writing essays or working on an assignment.

After drowning down a jumbo-sized iced coffee for some much-needed caffeine and arriving extra early to park in Hewlett High School’s “Senior Lot,” (the only parking lot seniors are permitted to park in on campus) I slowly walk through the doors of the school, dreading to go to my first class of the day.

I stop to greet fellow classmates on the way to class with the usual “How was your summer?” and “I can’t believe we’re seniors!” As I say this out loud to my peers I realize that my high school career is nearing its end. In a year from now Hewlett High’s class of 2015 will be sent off into the “real world” to be on our own, making a new life for ourselves outside the “bubble” of high school. My classmates and I will be exploring different environments, forming new relationships and forced to advocate for ourselves in order to succeed.

As my mind wanders off into the (very) foreseeable future, I bring myself back down to reality just as the bell rings and my teacher begins to hand out the 13-page class syllabus. Although I will be beginning a new chapter of my life next fall, I want to enjoy every moment of the exciting, fun and emotional year ahead. I know I will forever cherish and carry these memories — whether it be dancing at the prom or sitting with my friends in the school library — with my fellow seniors wherever I end up going in my life.