The dim haze of twilight covered the practice field, but life buzzed underneath. Students walked through the parking lot and to the field. Folding tables were set up in the astroturf with food, T-shirts for purchase and a station to write a letter to your future self. Groups of friends crowded together, waiting for the sun to rise.
At just above 80 degrees, the weather was perfect for the energy that generated in anticipation of the sun.
“Honestly, [I’m enjoying] that it’s not that hot out here,” senior Savannah Eddings said. “They picked a perfect day to do this.”
Senior Sunrise took place in the early morning of August 16, marking the beginning of the year for seniors. For some, like senior Rebecca Montano, Senior Sunrise was an event they had been waiting for.
“It was one of the things I looked forward to in my senior year, senior sunrise and senior sunset,” Montano said. “Senior Sunrise is beautiful, and as seniors, it’s something you aren’t going to see in a while, everyone in the moment.”
For others, like senior Karely Rodriquez, they were talked into attending by their friends.
“I didn’t plan on going to any senior events, but [my friend] wanted to go,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been going to high school since freshman year together and friends since fourth grade, so I thought I’d just go with her.”
And some had their own unique reasons for attending, like Jay Bayer, who wanted to eat McDonalds on the practice field.
“I thought it would be fun to eat McDonalds here,” Bayer said. “I wish I was joking. It’s an ample opportunity to eat some McDonalds.”
Regardless of the reason, dozens of seniors showed up with the promise of free breakfast and a great time.
By the end of the event, most sizes of the T-shirts were completely sold out.
“I just wanted to buy one [because] it’s the last year,” senior Caitlynn Senkyr said. “I [wanted to] get stuff that was memorable.”
Senkyr said she liked the shirt, but felt it was too transparent.
“It’s cute, the design is cute,” Senkyr said. “I wish the material was a little better because for us, me and [my friend], it was see-through. It was made nice, just maybe a little thicker.”
Senior Sunrise is the first of many school events, like Homecoming and Prom. Eddings said she is excited about attending every senior event.
“I’ve just looked forward to becoming a senior my entire life,” Eddings said. “I just want to be at every single senior activity I can.”
Other seniors, like Senkyr and her friend, Gabriell Ortiz, are excited for Senior Sunrise at the end of the year. They both said they were excited about there being more activities at Senior Sunset.
“It made me excited for Senior Sunset because there will be more stuff to do there,” Senkyr said. Ortiz added, “That’s the only thing about Senior Sunrise. I wish they had more stuff, like activities or something for it.”
But for many other seniors, their eyes are set on May 31, where they can finally walk the stage, get their diploma, and leave high school behind. Senior Breana Ruiz said she’s excited to go to college and get a degree in business.
“I’m ready to graduate, walk the stage,” Ruiz said. “I’m ready [to graduate] so I can go to college and accomplish what I want to do.”
