By Clarkie Ackerly

Senior year: one of the happiest and most emotional parts of our lives. It’s the year it all comes to an end. We say goodbye to the people we’ve known for years, our best friends, our favorite teachers, and, for many of us, our second home that we’ve known since Kindergarten. 

While the year is full of goodbyes, it is also full of new beginnings and celebrations. Throughout the year, we celebrate our friends and rejoice when they get their college acceptance letters in their inbox. By the beginning of May, the majority of the class has figured out where they will be attending school next year. It seems as if the end is finally in sight. Talk of graduation festivities fills every room you walk into. It is nearly impossible to walk in the Academic Commons without hearing a Senior talk about how excited they are for the Senior trip. 

The first Senior girls to hang their college signs. Photo credit: @cougarstocollege Instagram.

Senior year at Collegiate is filled with traditions and special events to celebrate graduation. However, these various exciting events can sometimes make it difficult to stay focused towards the end of the year. Typically, after Spring Break it seems as if the majority of the class has caught a severe case of “Senioritis.” Students sometimes lack motivation to get work done and might simply try to get by due to the fact that they are already into college. 

Many times, Senioritis can first be noticed after a student hangs their college sign. A prominent Senior tradition at Collegiate is hanging up your college sign in the window of the College Counseling office. This signifies your final college decision and shows the Collegiate community where you will be venturing off to next year. Harper Hailes (‘24), Reilly Campbell (‘24), and I were the first members of our class to hang up our college signs this year, in October. It is an exciting, monumental moment as a Collegiate student; all of your friends gather around and watch you hang it up. If you want, you can even be featured on the @cougarstocollege and @futuresofcollegiate Instagram pages. 

Another special Senior tradition at Collegiate is giving your Senior Speech. In order to graduate, every Senior is required to give a five-minute speech or presentation in front of the Upper School. Seniors write about an array of topics that range from family, sports, injuries, their summer job, a trip they went on, and more. Some memorable speeches from this year have included Charlie Cheek (‘24) and his band The Twisted Vipers, a band comprised of mostly Collegiate Seniors, performing the song “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd; Hannah Bonbright (‘24) explaining why Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses is the best movie of all time; Katie Cullen (‘24) talking about her Middle School youtube channel; A.J. Buster (‘24) talking about “getting that bread;” and Ella Goodbody (‘24) displaying her embarrassing hairstyles throughout the years. 

Members of the Class of ‘23 at T-shirt and Dog Day on May 12, 2023. Photo credit: @collegiaterva Instagram.

College signs and Senior Speeches occur throughout the year. In May, the graduation festivities and celebrations kick off in earnest. On the last day of school for Seniors, which this year falls on Friday, May 17, you get to wear your future school’s t-shirt to school on college t-shirt day. Not only do you get to wear your t-shirt, but you get to bring your dog or pet of your choice to school. While the morning is chaotic, and the lawn in front of Pitt Hall may never recover from all of the animals roaming around, both students and their pets are sure to have a great morning.

Following the last day of classes, the Seniors participate in Senior transition week, leading up to graduation. During the week, Seniors participate in workshops to learn about key life skills to utilize in college and their future. Certain faculty and guest speakers, oftentimes Collegiate alumni, teach life skills, such as how to change a flat tire, how to deal with electrical breaker boxes, and unclogging a toilet.

The Class of ‘23 engaging in Senior transition week. Photo credit: @collegiaterva Instagram.

Other business-related lessons include financial literacy, resumé building, and creating a LinkedIn account. Collegiate alumna June Evins (‘23) said “My favorite part of transition week was the different speakers we had; I found those super interesting, and they were all amazing speakers.” She also said “I have found that the LinkedIn session has been the most helpful for me going into college. It was super nice to get instruction on how to set up your LinkedIn and take headshots. I’ve had two different classes so far in college where I’ve had assignments revolving around LinkedIn and having that head start has been super beneficial.” This year, Seniors will have the choice to participate in an array of workshops, ranging from Resume 101, Dorm Cooking, Networking 101 and Time Management, Skills You Don’t Need to Know… Until You Do, and Academic Services Transition to College. 

2023 Senior Send Off Assembly. Photo credit: @collegiaterva Instagram.

During transition week, Seniors also partake in their last assembly, which this year falls on Wednesday, May 22. The Senior Sendoff assembly pays tribute to the Senior class and serves as an opportunity to recap their time at Collegiate. Senior SCA co-chairs and class presidents give speeches, a slideshow of images from over the years plays, and the Seniors’ kindergarten buddies sing “I Am A Promise.” Charles Nolde (‘24), one of the SCA co-chairs this year, said, “I am excited yet nervous about my speech, because I don’t know what to talk about quite yet, but I want to ensure I leave a powerful and meaningful mark on Collegiate.” Following the assembly, Seniors have lunch with their Kindergarten buddies one last time and say goodbye. 

While Senior transition week takes place during the week of graduation, so do several grade-wide events and parties not sponsored by the school. Parents of the Senior class organize events for the whole class to partake in at night. Randolph Campbell (‘24) says, “I’m anticipating the week of graduation and all of the parties. I know it’s going to be a ton of fun.” One of the first events takes place at The Country Club of Virginia. The grade enjoys dinner, a band, and lots of dancing. Another fan favorite amongst students is the Mooreland Farms neighborhood party, which has been a tradition for years. Students gather in the streets of Mooreland Farms for hours on end. There are food trucks, music, and games. 

Many students also have their own personal graduation parties where they celebrate with their close friends and family. Aside from the parties, on the evening before graduation the whole class gathers with their families at school for Baccalaureate, which recently has taken place on the Lower School courtyard and Centennial Hall. Students and teachers share remarks, and the soon-to-be graduates are celebrated. This year, Collegiate Dean of Faculty Tung Trinh is the main faculty speaker. 

The Class of 2023’s Graduation on May 26, 2023. Photo credit: @collegiaterva Instagram.

Then, the day everyone has been looking forward to finally comes: graduation, which is sometimes referred to as “Commencement.” For years on end, students look forward to graduation. The day is filled with happiness as we set out into the world to pursue new challenges and embrace new communities.

To celebrate graduation, several Senior parents organize surprise activities for the new alumni to participate in during the evening after the ceremony. The whole night is filled with exciting, surprise activities. Students board buses and are taken to a mysterious location where they stay until very late into the night. In previous years, the night has not come to a close until 2:00 a.m. Last year, the class of ‘23 ventured to Robins Campus and a trampoline park, and there was also a hypnotist. Prizes are awarded throughout the night to students: TVs, speakers, mini-fridges, coolers, gift cards, and other college necessities are a few of the prizes from the past. Many students go on trips after graduation, too. This year, some students are traveling to Jamaica. 

Seniors at the 2023 Homecoming football game. Photo credit: Clarkie Ackerly.

Senior year is full of lasts: your last assembly, your last time playing with your Kindergarten buddy, your last Homecoming and Prom, your last high school sports game, your last Convocation, your last Brunch, your last Pageant, your last Lessons and Carols, your final first and last days of high school, and more. While the end of the year is full of excitement and thrill, for some students it can be challenging to abandon the place you have called home for the majority of your life thus far. 

During the year, especially second semester, many students (myself included) find themselves wishing away the school days. We long for graduation and to finally be in college. We have spent the year going on college tours and visiting older friends, giving us a glimpse of the highly anticipated college life. While we look forward to the future, sometimes we lose sight of how grateful we are for Collegiate. We may take our teachers for granted, who are always willing to help us outside of class, our strong friendships we’ve made over the years, our lovely campus facilities, exciting SCA events, sports games, and more. 

Seniors and their Kindergarten buddies at Convocation 2023. Photo credit: @collegiaterva Instagram.

While the end of the year can be emotional, alumna Abby Bauhan (‘23) found joy in a way she didn’t think she would. Bauhan said, “One of the best parts of the end of Senior year was getting to actually know my teachers on a personal level. I got to know them as people besides just as someone who works at school. Getting to know them through various fun activities at the end of the year meant a lot to me.” Another recent graduate, Claire DuBose (‘23), said something similar. Dubose said, “My favorite part of the end of the year was getting to spend the little time we had left with my classmates and teachers and growing so much closer to them.” For Bauhan and Dubose, it seems as if the little moments spent in the classroom were some of the most meaningful and memorable, and not the parties. 

After talking to alumni, I asked several current Seniors if they were upset or joyful about graduating and leaving Collegiate; they had varying opinions. Jackson O’Keefe (‘24) said, “I’m a little bit of both. I’m sad that I’m going to be leaving the connections and friendships that I’ve made over the last four years, and I’m nervous for what the future holds and how I’m going to handle being away from all the people that I know and love. But I’m excited for new beginnings and everything that’s in store for me next year.” AC Hall (‘24) said, “I’m so ready, but I’m also sad, because Collegiate is the only thing I’ve ever known; I’ve been a part of this community since I was six months old.” 

Members of the 2023 Homecoming Court at Pep Rally on Nov. 3, 2023. Photo credit: @collegiaterva Instagram.

Looking back at this year, so many amazing events have been held and countless memories have been made. Warner Lewis (‘24) said, “Pep Rally was my favorite memory, because it was really fun getting to see my classmates speak about their success in the fall season, and I loved the excitement that it radiated throughout the whole school.” Stella Williams (‘24) said, “My favorite Senior year memory was the first day of school, because it was exciting to see everyone, and there was such a strong sense of community, as everyone was anticipating the year to come.” 

From the first day of school to the last, Senior year is filled with joy and school spirit. Looking back, I think I can speak for the Senior class as a whole in saying it’s been a transitional and entertaining year. We will miss Collegiate, but can’t wait to see what’s to come next year in college.

Featured image credit: Kathleen Felts.