As the 2016-17 school year begins, it marks a new chapter filled with hope and aspirations for the seniors at HBA.
Armed with a mentality to try new things, create lasting friendships, and get college applications over with, many seniors look to leave their mark on HBA all while enjoying their last year of high school.
Senior Jordyn Hartley said, “I’m looking forward to experiencing everything for the last time,” summarizing a feeling shared throughout much of the class of 2017. Camp, Winter Banquet, Spirit Week, Homecoming, CEW, and prom are just a few of the things that will be left behind once the year comes to an end. Hartley added, “I’m looking forward to Spirit week. We’re going to be seniors and it’s really rare for seniors to lose.” After finishing third last year and the year before, there will be a lot of pressure on the seniors, who have never even gotten close to winning the Mana Cup.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing everything for the last time.”
Senior Jordyn Hartley
But aside from experiencing things for the last time, the seniors have just as many opportunities for new experiences. Senior Wilson Peng shared his thoughts this way: “I know it’s going to be a busy time. We have a lot of trips and senior activities and I’m really looking forward to that.” The Senior Trip, being one of the most anticipated events of the year, has just about everyone excited. This year, instead of traveling to Maui, the seniors will fly a little farther to the Big Island. A drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a walk along Akaka Falls, and a Kona snorkel cruise are just a few of the activities planned for the trip.
Much like the Senior Trip, being the oldest on campus is another perk exclusive to the seniors. “I feel like you go through high school worrying about how the older grades think of you. But now you don’t have to anymore,” said Hartley. Peng added, “It feels good, you can kind of do whatever you want and you can feel the respect that the underclassmen have for you.”
While it seems that the majority of seniors are looking forward to the rest of the year, just as many are dreading the grueling and tedious process of applying to college. Senior Chris Kwan commented, “That process takes up too much time. Time that I don’t have. But I need to make time so it crams my schedule a lot. A lot of stress. I’m sure if you ask anyone they’ll say their stressed.”
Between AP classes, sports, family, and other extra curricular activities, for many seniors, squeezing in a mandatory Z period, meeting with a teacher for a letter of recommendation, or staying up a little later to fill out a college application have become the collective straw that breaks the camel’s back. Even after three long years of high school, the harsh truth is that their work may be for nothing if admission offices aren’t impressed. Senior Nicholas Kanno said, “You never really know if you’re going to get into that college and especially if you wanted to get into that college but didn’t, then it kind of hurts knowing that you spent all that time for nothing.”
As seniors head toward graduation, the thought of saying farewell to his friends brings up mixed emotions for Kanno. “It’s kind of bittersweet knowing that it’s my senior year. Not only will I graduate, it also means I’ll have to move on from a lot of the memories that I’ve made here, whether it be with friends or other things. I think that’s just hard to let go,” he said. Nonetheless, Kanno added that he’ll look ahead with a positive attitude. “I’m going to just work hard in everything I do whether it be through school work or out outside activities or whatever it may be. Even if I fail, at the end of the day I can always say that I gave it all I could,” he said.
