Summer is just around the corner, and students are counting down the days until the cherished end of the school year. For most, it will not be the last year they spend at FHS, but, for seniors, it is the last month of carefree school life before many start a new stage in their journey – college. In this regard, students are divided into two camps – some find it difficult to cope with the feeling that this is their last year of school. “I’m an emotional person, so I’m really upset about this year being my last one,” said senior Sadie Sassi. Some are excited and can’t wait for a new life outside the school walls. “I’m definitely excited and ready for a new life; high school has been too long,” commented senior Starr Corum. However, there are still some students who are a little nervous as they realize that university life means new challenges. “It’s pretty exciting, but it’s also nerve-wracking because next year I’m going to Laurel Ridge, and it’s just going to be harder,” said senior Jacob Addams
Summer is the perfect time for traveling and vacationing, and this year’s graduating class has already planned their future trips in every detail. Seniors Riley King and Abby Shilling have plans to stretch across the ocean, so they are heading to the vibrant U.K. right after graduation. Their first stop will be London, where they plan to spend a week. Shilling shared what she and King plan to do in the famous capital, saying, “We are just going to hang out and see the super touristy places and spend time with my sister.” After London, the students plan to visit Wales to meet the Shilling family and explore the fascinating countryside of Wales. Senior Sadie Richards has also set her sights on the UK, and, in addition to visiting London, she also plans to go to Scotland, as her family is from there. “I’m planning to explore and see the highlights [of Scotland],” Richards said.
While some students have decided to spend the warm summer days abroad, some have decided not to leave their home country and are planning vacations in other states. One of them is Corum, who is going to Florida for a senior beach trip with her friends. Corum said that she and her friends had a choice between Puerto Rico and Florida and her friends chose the latter. They have not yet worked out a final plan for what they will do in Florida, but Corum suggested that they will just “chill on the beach and hang out.” She also added that she is planning another beach trip with another friend. Senior Lauren Byrd is going to sunny Hawaii with her family because her grandfather’s brother lives there, and they are going to meet him. She shared that this is a senior trip that her family is doing for her.
Addams shared that he plans to visit Georgia to hang out with a couple of his friends who live there. Sassi has decided not to leave the state, so she has settled on a house on the lake where she is going with her friends, and she plans to spend some time with them. She is looking forward to this trip as she has “never really been to a lake before,” so she has high expectations for this place.
It turns out that some students prefer traveling abroad, as some have families there, but some still prefer their home country, where they can easily spend time with friends. Whatever these students decide to do, they’ll be sure to make their 2024 summer a memorable one.
