Throughout high school, students dream about their senior year packed with exclusive activities and making the most of their final year. Seniors tend to have more free time than underclassmen as many drive themselves to school and have senior privilege, granting them a lighter workload and allowing them to leave school early. This is the year where students’ hard work pays off, and the long nights of doing homework, relying on energy drinks to stay sane, and last minute cram sessions to do well on exams finally culminates. With everything wrapping up, to make their senior year as memorable as possible, various activities and field trips were planned. While the beginning of the year was packed with academic stress and waiting, as college decisions are received, once the second semester approaches its end, the fun begins. 

Typically organized by the students themselves, senior sunrise occurs at the start of the school year. It’s a meaningful tradition where seniors assemble at the beach early in the morning prior to the sunrise. Though most students don’t enjoy waking up so early, senior sunrise proves to be a memorable and worthwhile experience. Arriving at the beach before the sun is even up provides students with a tranquil and cozy environment, leaving them to reminisce on their years together. Once the sun begins to rise, the vivid colors throughout the sky create the perfect photo-op for students to preserve their experience forever. With the subtle breeze, warm glow of the sun, and the sense of unity amongst students, senior sunrise is a great chance for students to set the tone for their final year. 

Senior Assassin is an extremely popular game played in high schools across the county. With a focus on targeting opponents and trying to stay safe, the game offers months-long excitement for players. The game starts with a $20 buy-in fee, which is pooled together to create a prize of hundreds of dollars for the sole winner. Players are randomly assigned a target and must locate and eliminate their target, all while avoiding being eliminated themselves, in order to stay in the game and qualify for the next round. Players’ locations stay anonymous throughout the game, so finding targets is completely up to the player’s hard work and persistence. In order to eliminate their target, players must shoot them with a water gun and record a video for proof. Senior Assassin consists of several rounds in the same manner of being assigned a target, finding their location, eliminating, and staying safe. One sure way to stay safe is by having a toy baby on your body, either by lanyard or clipped to a belt, or in your hand. In the event that a player is eliminated, they can buy their way back into the next round, with the fee being contributed to the prize money.

Another popular senior activity is Grad Bash, where seniors go to Universal Studios together as a class towards the end of the school year. The school arranges for students to travel together by bus, and the event occurs on a school day. The park is closed off to the general public for the day, and students are able to fully immerse themselves in the rides, music, and have a great time with their friends. Closing the park eliminates the usual crowd and the factor of excessive foot traffic, so students are able to navigate the park more efficiently and fit more fun into a shorter amount of time. Grad Bash is a shared experience that gives students the chance to escape their workload and whatever weight they may have on their shoulders and enjoy themselves. More prominently, Grad Bash is a final chance for the senior class to bond and enjoy their time together before going their separate ways.  

Graduation and senior year are huge stepping stones in students’ lives, as it signifies the start of their adulthood and independence as a young adult. Suitably, there are many ways to commemorate the year and create lasting memories for students to look back on. Filled with excitement and action, senior year is an extremely anticipated time, and continues to live up to students’ grand expectations, leaving them with an unreplicable feeling of fulfillment and nostalgia. 

Of course, even though the year is ending, it is still a vital year of growth in students’ lives. “Senior year is a great time to meet new people and get out of your shell before going to college,” Valerie Thon, a senior at Olympic Heights High School, explains.