It’s senior year for the class of 2026, and students started the school year full of excitement, joy and even relief that it’s their last year in high school.

Stacey Galvan said she feels excited, scared and just full of mixed emotions because, “I’m very done with school, but I also don’t want to be done after years and years, and now I have to think about what’s next, and it’s scary knowing that I won’t have my high school experience anymore.”

While Destiny Rodriguez Cabeza feels excited to finally finish, she said she is “also nervous and scared about life after high school and applying to colleges and for scholarships.” Especially given that Rodriguez Cabeza is a middle child and knows that she has pressure on her because she has “a feeling I must do better or as well as my older brother but also set an example for my younger sister, so it makes it hard for me to try to keep up at times.”

Galvan said she had some challenges especially in her sophomore year. She said she lost all motivation to be in class and school.

“I was ready to be done with high school, but even though it was hard, I still pushed myself into passing all my classes.” She added that her challenges also helped her become her own person. The challenging times “pushed me through everything, helped me see perspectives, and I am glad my obstacles helped me be the person I am today.”

Rodriguez Cabeza’s challenges happened during her freshman and sophomore years. As a freshman, “I wasn’t really focused and didn’t pay attention to anything; I was just going on with life.”

As a sophomore, she admitted she wasn’t paying attention to school academically. “I was too focused on other things, and I was confused on many things. I had not been motivated those two years until I realized I didn’t know what I was doing. Then I started doing better in my sophomore year, and I tried even harder my junior year because I wanted a good future.”

Many of Rodriguez Cabeza’s obstacles happened not just in school but also outside of school. However, they made her “look at life differently and make me who I am today.”

But it’s not all struggles they remember; they have also had some good memories.

Galvan said her favorite memories were going on adventures with her three besties. “They were memorable because it’s always great to have days to just be with your friends and have them laugh.” These good memories also include teachers. “Mr. Andersen’s class will always be my favorite class because I’ve had him for three years, and while I was in his class, me and others were able to be ourselves.”

Rodriguez Cabeza said she has had a different experience.

“I think I have many memories that I don’t seem to remember, but I really enjoyed pep rallies; it felt like all the high school movies, and I always had fun. I also love going to our school soccer games and the new friends that I’ve made over the years,” she said. “I wouldn’t have thought to be friends with them without the help of my classes or because of basketball. I got to be more open to people but also know when not to spill all my information. I changed, met and let go of people, but I know I’ve had memories with them, and am excited to see how my senior year goes.”