Senior Year Closing: The Class of 2025
As we count down the days to the end of school, let’s take a time to reflect on the past 7 years of the Class of 2025.
Class of ‘25: Middle School
The Class of 2025 first arrived on campus in the fall of 2020 as 6th graders, ready to take on the world. At this time, the class size was small, with only 16 students on the roster, and by the 7th grade, the class size increased to 22. Middle school was a fun time; we developed together and shared memorable experiences that shaped our junior high lives. One of the most fun to date is the Nature’s Classroom trip, a three-day, two-night class trip in the wilderness. We spent most days divided into groups, where we hiked through marshes with our group leaders (shout out to Pizza Steve). This trip was a unifying moment for the grade, as we spent most of our time together playing Gaga-Ball in the pit, tether ball outside of the cabins, and singing songs in the dining hall.
Unfortunately, our transition to 7th grade included hybrid learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having to log in to classes online, gym in your living room, acting, and art in your room. I still remember having to drive onto campus for teachers to give you school for the rest of the year. Coming back the following year was also another adjustment for the Class of ‘25 as classes were hybrid, with Mondays being over Zoom and the rest of the days in-person. Since we were still in an unusual year, we were not able to experience any field trips, especially the highly anticipated Thompson Island trip.
As we walked across the stage during 8th grade graduation, we could not wait to transition into the upper school, where our WA experience would continue to grow.
Class of ‘25: Upper School
Kindness vs. Niceness + Class meetings
One of the first things we learned coming into freshman year was kindness over niceness; a concept taught in Urban History that you should always be kind to others rather than just being nice. However, the Class of ‘25 faced many challenges with this idea, with it being the first time we were around others for five-day school weeks. This led to a number of class meetings to be held by the former Dean of Student Life, Mr. Jake Sumner. At one of these meetings, a class contract was proposed as a way to remind us of the anti-bullying rules we agreed upon when arriving on the WA campus, as well as signing the handbook.
Four years of class meetings for the same issues got repetitive; however, one could argue that these meetings worked, as in junior year, we no longer had all-class meetings to reflect on our behavior as a whole. It seemed like for the first time in years that the Class of ‘25 was able to co-exist in a way that was not disrespectful to other students, a major improvement.
Senior Year…how has it been?
At the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, it became a reality that it was time for the Class of ‘25 to cross the stage. The year started as it always does, with senior breakfast, which was a lively experience, with perfect weather and decent food. However, this year, it seemed like there was an increase in unfamiliar faces. Sure, people come and go, but this year it seemed like everyone there was new. It was definitely an adjustment, especially for those who had finally pinned down everyone in the grade, but the new additions have contributed to the spirit of the graduating seniors.
As we get closer to the end of the school year, there are still some things missing that would contribute to making our last couple of days at school memorable, such as class T-shirts and our traditional senior prank. Having been at WA for six years, the senior pranks are something I know everyone can’t wait to see. However, this year we have faced some restrictions regarding what our prank will consist of, which, in all honesty, takes the joy out of this senior tradition. As well, Class T-shirts are something every graduating class receives, where seniors wear their shirts on Spree Day to commemorate their final days on the Hilltop. This year, the assignment was given to us to design how the shirt should look. I will say that to place such a responsibility on seniors who have a lot of things going on between school work, college decisions, AP exams, and many other things does not seem fair. While I do not know whether or not a senior submitted a design, we were told that the school will not be ordering Senior T-shirts this year.
Life After the Hilltop
The Class of 2025 has witnessed ourselves grow, learn, and change throughout the last four years. It seems as if the lost freshmen who didn’t know what they wanted or who they wanted to be have seemed to figure it out for the most part. As we prepare for our departure from WA, I wish the Class of 2025 the best in the next chapters of our lives.