As graduation year kicks into gear, seniors are starting to feel the excitement and the anxiety of endings, knowing new beginnings are also on the rise. Senioritis is in full swing, as students expressed feelings of burnout and frustration with school work. This means looking for ways to combat this common senior experience.
On August 24, the class of 2023 seniors gathered to celebrate a long-standing tradition of YHS, senior sunrise. This year, the event took its place at the practice field, hosted by the student council committee under the supervision of Darryl Andrews, stuco and leadership advisor.
A junior member who’s been a part of the student council organization since his freshman year, Gavin Hamner provides insight into the behind-the-scenes of pulling this event together.
“We don’t have to follow any template for senior sunrise, but there are traditions that we have seen that people like to stick with,” Hamner said.
Although stucco would have appreciated more time to pull the event together, members worked diligently to coordinate a memorable experience for seniors to amp up motivation for the year.
Aside from the gorgeous sunset, they did this by providing students with activities such as the opportunity to write a letter for themselves that will be opened at a later date, or writing on a car with paint pens.
Beyond that, Hamner also explains how being a part of this event is an opportunity to commemorate successes, and perhaps curb the angst a bit.
“Senior sunrise is just something really sweet that the school offers for seniors because it is their last year and their lives are just beginning,” Hamner said.”It might seem like a chapter is closing in which it is, but I mean there’s so much more.”
For Senior Shaelyn Dougherty, that couldn’t be more true. In her own high school experiences, she feels as though high school has allowed her to grow as a person before she begins the next chapter.
“High school has made me more confident in the choices I make,” Dougherty said.
Expanding on that, Dougherty mentions how her burnout actually began before her senior year and how she hopes to solve the problem before it starts this year.
Dougherty explained that motivation for her begins after she’s gotten started on an assignment, not before, and that made it hard to focus.
“Last year along the way, it was just really boring throughout the day,” Dougherty said. “This year I have a plan to not get burned out. Even though it may not work out though like I’m gonna force myself to do what I need to do.”