As the class of 2026 heads into their final year, seniors are beginning to feel the mix of excitement, nostalgia, and nerves that comes with closing this chapter. Between college plans, last memories, and personal growth, many seniors shared their thoughts on what this final year means to them.
“It feels a little weird knowing this is my last year of high school since the four years went by fast,” senior Saad Waqas said. “All the college stuff is new and kind of stressful, but exciting too.”
Waqas said he’ll miss the people the most after graduation.
“I’ll miss spending time with my friends and people who I probably won’t see after high school,” Waqas said. “I’ve definitely matured since freshman year and learned not to take too much stress from school.”
For many, the past four years have been filled with defining memories.
“Anything in sophomore year gym class stands out since my whole friend group was in that class; it was fun,” Waqas said. His advice to underclassmen? “Don’t take too much stress from tests and other school things. It’s really not worth it.”
Senior Sebastian Langenfeld said his biggest growth came from learning to work hard toward his goals.
“Getting a job and learning to embrace hard work has had the biggest impact on me throughout high school,” Langenfeld said. “It helped me not only academically but also with running and career goals.”
He admitted that being a senior comes with its challenges.
“The hardest part is knowing that I’ll lose touch with some friends after high school,” Langenfeld said. “Knowing that this year and some friendships are coming to an end is the worst part.”
After graduation, Langenfeld plans to attend UW–Eau Claire to earn a degree in business administration and management.
“Leaving behind friends and teachers I’ve gotten close with is gonna be rough,” he said. “But it’s alright because it’s the memories that count.”
Despite the bittersweet feelings, he’s ready for what’s next. “I’m excited to start gaining experience through jobs and internships and to keep pursuing my goals in running and lifting,” Langenfeld said.
Senior Geraldo Jimenez said one of his favorite memories came from the soccer field.
“If I could relive any high school moment, it would be coming back from our 8-2 win against Waukesha South, the winning vibes were fire,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez said he hopes people remember him for who he truly is.
“When I graduate, I want people to remember me as a funny, down-to-earth person,” he said.
He added that surrounding himself with the right people made a big difference. “Something I learned about myself is that surrounding myself with the right people led me to who I am,” Jimenez said.
Joining the soccer team was one of the best choices he made in high school. “I met good people through it,” he said.
Looking back, Jimenez said high school doesn’t feel too stressful until junior year. “It hits you then,” he said with a laugh.
Senior Kathryn Zarling said she’s feeling a mix of emotions as the year goes on.
“I’m going to miss my friends, but I’m excited to move on to my next chapter of life,”
She said. She said it’s strange realizing how fast high school has gone by and that everything is starting to wrap up. Zarling said she’s trying to enjoy every moment while it lasts and make as many memories as she can before graduation.
As these seniors prepare for graduation, they share one thing in common: gratitude for the memories they’ve made and excitement for what comes next. Whether it’s on the field, in the classroom, or through friendships, their stories show just how quickly four years can fly by.
