NHHS’ Class of 2024 will be walking the graduation stage this upcoming June!
The class of 2024 started online. Ninth grade began during the midst of the pandemic and was online until the second semester, when hybrid classes were offered.
The following 2021-2022 school year was in person again with COVID regulations that gradually loosened over the next school year. As weekly testing ended, and masks were no longer required, school returned to a new normal.
Although we all adjusted over time, COVID had massive impacts on school as we knew it, and many seniors felt the impacts upon returning to school during times of uncertainty.
“It felt very normal, we as a collective didn’t know what to do after the pandemic so we were just busy figuring it out together,” said Adriana Perez when asked about the transition from online learning to in-person learning in 10th grade.
“I feel like I did miss out a lot, especially coming in sophomore year and not knowing anyone. It felt normal, if not a little strange,” remarked Audrey Jurado.
Valeria Vazquez stated, “We were kind of robbed a year. Maybe the mentality I would have had now would have been the mentality I would have had last year.”
While the beginning of our high school experience may have been abnormal, for the most part, many seniors have felt comfortable in their transition from online learning to in-person learning.
Many started or joined clubs, participated in sports, and challenged themselves through many commitments or challenging coursework.
Others felt like they could have done things a little differently.
“I think I could have set aside more time for extracurriculars. It’s easy to get lost in your academics, and not have fun,” said Daniel Banegas.
When asked about what she would have done differently, Jennifer Martinez said, “Made more friends. This year I made a lot more [friends], than my previous two years. The absence of socialization in ninth grade derailed my social life in general,”
With graduation rapidly approaching, many find themselves anxious, while other seniors are excited to see their final day in high school come.
Perez said, “People say it gets better after junior year, but it does not feel like that. I’m waiting to graduate so I can finally breathe.”
“I’m so scared. I’m so nervous just thinking about growing up and no longer being able to see my friends all the time. It just makes me sad,” said Jurado.
However, Jazmin Rocha said humorously, “It’s sad but inevitable.”
Though many are understandably scared by graduation, others feel excitement.
Banegas said, “I look forward to it [graduating], it’s a big step in all our lives. It’s part of moving on. [We] got bigger things to do.”
While some seniors described their experience as average, others as a ‘rollercoaster,’ some even went as far as to call the experience horrible. Despite this, the general sentiment among seniors is excitement at the prospect of what comes next.
