Senior Francisco Cornejo is on his way to class when he notices the bulletin board filled with seniors’ acceptance to various colleges has been updated. A rush of pride overcomes him for he knows pretty soon his name will be added to the list of those who got accepted in Virginia Commonwealth University. But, he also feels a bit upset as he reminisces about the time he spent with his friends.

“I’m happy because I got into college. I’m excited and I can’t wait. It’s going to be different once I go, though. I’m not going to have the same friends once I go to college because we’re all going to different places” said Cornejo.

Others are simply ready to move on.

“Yeah I’m ready to go. I’m ready to go to college and get out of high school” said senior Mariam Oweis who will be going to either Emory & Henry College, Lynchburg College, or James Madison University.

“I’m really happy to leave high school and it excites me to start something different” said senior Abigail Cummins who will be going to New York University.

Many students are feeling anxious to graduate from high school and yet already can feel  the nostalgia they will get for high school. Whether they were fun or terrible, it is said that a student’s high school years stays with them forever.

When asked what he will miss the most about high school, senior Max Kirkman said, “Ms. Dion’s creative writing class.”

“Probably for me my biggest memories are band and track” said Cummins.

“Honestly, going to all the homecomings and games and everything being easy and carefree because at the end of the day your going home to your mom and dad” said senior Oweis.

Certainly, students know that high school is a place where they are given only a glimpse of what the “real world” is like. For many students, high school is comprised of numerous amounts of tedious home works that need to get done and “all nighters” that need to take place, however many seniors are only beginning to realize that college is where they must learn to take responsibility and work hard to attain success. But nonetheless, students are excited to begin a new and exciting chapter in their lives.

English teacher Kathleen Dion said when she was a senior in high school, “I felt a combination of fear, sadness, and excitement. I felt like there was a world of possibilities waiting for me. Be responsible, but enjoy yourself. It’s one of the greatest times of your life.”

Anxious, nervous, scared, excited, happy, proud, these are all the emotions that seniors are dealing with lately. It can be a confusing yet exhilarating time, but whatever they are feeling, many of them seem ready and undaunted to take that big step into the real world.