Credit: Sophia Verma

Staff Reporters Sophia Verma and Addison Voight interview seniors as they reflect on their high school experiences. “I think I will just miss seeing my close friends everyday and participating in some of the fun activities and events,” senior Keira Moretz said. “High school is that last part of your life where you don’t have a lot of responsibility, so that is something I am trying to take advantage of right now and is something that I will miss.”

Wayland High School’s Class of 2024 is nearing the end of high school, with the seniors’ last school day set for May 31 and graduation set for June 7. As seniors prepare to say goodbye to WHS, some reflect on their high school experience, while also looking forward to what the future holds for them.

Despite the challenges that came with spending their first year of high school in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, some seniors still believe that they were able to transition smoothly into high school life.

“I think COVID-19 definitely had a big impact,” senior Keira Moretz said. “However, I found that everything transitioned pretty nicely.”

When reflecting on their time at WHS, some seniors reported that they miss the feeling of being an underclassmen. As underclassmen, some seniors said that they were able to be more carefree and did not have to think about the future, such as college and graduation, as much.

“I liked being a freshman because it meant I could explore this new place for such a long time, but as I have lived through high school, time passes very quickly,” senior Michelle Yee said. “Senior year has been harder than freshman year since my motivation has gone down so much since then, especially with ‘senioritis.’ I always find myself really rushing all the deadlines.”

For some seniors, there were certain teachers who had a significant impact on their high school experience. For Moretz, these teachers helped to further develop her passions in life beyond just learning in the classroom.

“[Art teachers] Veronique Latimer and Amy O’Connell have had a big impact on me,” Moretz said. “I have spent so much time in the art rooms, and art in general has been such a huge part of my time here at the high school, so I will definitely miss them.”

In addition to teachers, some seniors reported that the clubs and sports teams that they participated in throughout high school were an impactful part of their experience at WHS.

“My favorite club I was a part of was leading the Wayland Science Team,” senior Anson Szeremeta said. “It’s a competition-based group that competes at the Science Olympiad state and regional competitions. It was really fun leading the team and helping prepare to show our gained knowledge off.”

Having mixed feelings about leaving high school can be normal for seniors. Some, including Yee, were happy to be a part of WHS, and are now looking forward to starting a new chapter of their life.

“I am definitely sentimental, although I am ready for a new change of scenery and ready for a new group of people,” Yee said.

When thinking back to when they entered WHS as freshmen, some seniors thought of advice that they would give to their freshman selves. These pieces of advice ranged from encouraging themselves get involved in school activities, to having better time-management skills.

“I think I would say be responsible and manage your time well, but also prioritize having fun with your friends and making good memories,” Moretz said. “I think high school can be such a fun period in your life, and I think your experience really is what you make of it, so try to make it positive.”