High school is one of the most formative periods in one’s life; it is a rite of passage that can only be described as the last stage of childhood before independence is reached. When a person graduates from high school, they don’t just say goodbye to the frigid classrooms and warm teachers, they are leaving behind an entire lifestyle that they will likely never experience again. Senior Lincoln Pauling expresses that he’s “excited to go, but I will look back in 10 years and be like, wow, those were the best years of my life.”
The four years spent in high school include so much beyond chemistry labs and literary discussions; they are years for students to learn about the world around them and how they fit into it. While this time is often looked back upon with fondness and nostalgia, it is not always easy in the moment. As described by senior Michael Malkovich, “it can be very fun, but also very challenging at the same time.” Through the ups and downs, most seniors still feel that everything happened for a reason. Khloe Poole, another senior, states, “I feel like every situation, good or bad, was meant for a purpose, to figure out who I am and who I'm going to be.”
As members of this year’s senior class prepare to walk across the graduation stage, many of them are reflecting back on all the ways they have grown and changed since their freshmen year. Malkovich explains that he “wasn't the most mature person freshman year, but I've definitely gotten a lot better with that.”
Additionally, some seniors shared the life lessons they obtained and the things they wish they had known sooner. Senior Brooke Shifflet advises younger students to “just be yourself and don’t let anyone change that.” Pauling echoes this sentiment, saying “don’t care what other people think… [and] when it gets hard, just persevere.”
For rising freshmen who are just starting their high school journeys, the whole process can seem intimidating and overwhelming, yet Poole recommends that they “take every day one step at a time. Don't think too far ahead, just focus on being in the present and doing the best that you can each day.” Leah Hensley, another senior, says the best thing to do as a freshman is to “be involved…run for SCA, do clubs, do sports, do everything you can to become a part of the community.” Hensley also noted that when it comes to friendships, “quality over quantity, always.”
In just a few weeks, all of these seniors will part ways with Fauquier High School and the school community, yet the memories they have created and the lessons they’ve learned will stick with them the rest of their lives. So as the class of 2026 is bidding farewell, the class of 2030 is eager to begin what this year's seniors are leaving behind, hopefully keeping the words of their predecessors in mind.
