The Road Ahead

Emily zickuhr | May 24, 2024 | features

Stanton College Preparatory School students spend four years on the same path as their classmates, where they share virtually the same experiences throughout their high school careers. As their journey comes to an end on May 28, 2024, students will move on to different life paths. While these new paths can be daunting to forge by oneself, the future can come with exciting new opportunities and experiences. Having to now confront this proverbial fork in the road, seniors begin reflecting on the experiences that led them to their upcoming futures.

This journey began in their freshman year of high school, which brought them a chance to connect with a variety of new and old faces. However, this would not be the case for the Class of 2024. With the persistence of a global pandemic, they faced the roadblocks of virtual learning styles and the difficulties of not seeing their peers, teachers, and classrooms. Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020, the students missed out on a “normal” first year of Stanton.

“During Freshman year I really felt like I was disconnected from the spirit of school, because that was really what I was most excited for,” said senior Amal Khokhar. “I had to do it fully online too, so I just felt a little bit behind from that.”

Getting a slower start than usual, the Class of 2024’s introduction to high school brought road bumps, but the experience would soon yield clearer paths. With back-to-normal procedures slowly returning to schools, students would get the chance to partake in previously canceled activities. Together, they began sophomore year and gained notable Stanton memories like spirit weeks, pep rallies, sports games, and school dances. After-school clubs and activities also resumed, and students joined their desired clubs and sports teams.

With events and extracurricular activities strengthening experiences, the end of sophomore year came, and the memories formed were in the rearview. Though hardships would come in the form of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, the third year of high school would also mark a time of community, as students would endure the same painstaking exams together.

Despite the strenuous nature of these tests, the Class of 2024 also encountered fun in their junior year through various school activities such as spirit weeks and pep rallies. Once used to the tradition of Stanton’s events, the juniors took home their first victory in the Spring pep rally. Reveling in the event, students would hold this event as a memorable one.

“I [vividly] remember winning, and it was amazing,” said senior LouisaElena Elias-Sowers. “That was the only time our class won, but we worked for it because we had the ice cream social and the quarter wars, so that was a lot of fun.”

This pep rally win would mark the end of the Class of 2024’s third year at Stanton. Moving forward as seniors, they experienced newfound freedoms in their final year of high school, preparing them for their futures ahead. Choosing colleges to apply to, figuring out new responsibilities, and dealing with independence all proved crucial in their senior year.

Along with feelings of liberation in rising adulthood, seniors spent their final year reflecting on the past decisions throughout their time at Stanton. For many, picking clubs and joining sports teams was a key factor in determining how their high school experience went. Whether they joined to make lasting friendships or pursue a passion, extracurricular activities gave seniors special memories to say goodbye to.

“It does hurt a little bit to leave behind the friendships you made along the way," said senior Tristen Deditch, a member of Stanton’s football team. “But it also helps in making more bonding moments when I go to college, so then I can make friends that way.”

Throughout their final year of high school, seniors enjoyed various special events to mark the occasion. The Class of 2024 experienced the Senior Sunrise and Senior Olympics events that have become a tradition for Stanton seniors. Celebrating bonds made during their four years, these events allow seniors to bid sentimental farewells to their high school memories and friendships.

With secondary school behind them, the seniors’ final stretch to graduation marks an exciting shift in their journey. Embracing one’s adulthood after four years of high school is a nerve-wracking but quintessential part of life. Taking the new trajectory of their lives into action, seniors now leave behind their high school careers to craft the desired paths of their futures.