Graduation is Friday, and the class of 2026 is preparing for the big day at the Fort Worth Convention Center at 7 p.m. to celebrate the seniors accomplishing this major milestone in their lives. Emotions are high, the stress and pressure are on, and the days are slowly counting down to the memorable day.
The real pressure comes after graduation, when students are getting ready to move on to the next steps.
“It’s definitely a bittersweet feeling, because I am ready to start my career and start my life,” senior Miranda Sanchez said. “But it’s also a little sad to know that I’m just entering life on my own in a way.”
While some students are ready to move on to college, other seniors plan to start college at home and plan out their future with just a little more time.
“For the first year I plan to travel, finding out what I’m supposed to do with my life,” Senior Class President Lance Smith said. “And then I plan to attend online college for my church, Mercy Culture Spiritual Leadership School.”
Others plan to serve their country.
“I’m planning on going to the military—The Marines—to go into a field of intelligence,” senior Landon Adam said, “I’ve always had it in the back of my head that if I wanted to, I would go.”
During high school, students join different groups and organizations to do what they love. Joining those clubs helped them make special bonds they will carry with them after high school.
“My cheer team and coaches showed me that a family doesn’t have to be blood related,” senior Morgan Hawkins said. “Every single person on my team has impacted me in such a positive and loving way, one that I will cherish forever.”
Alongside learning history or knowing how to drive a car, there are numerous learning experiences in high school that students went through to help shape who they are and how they became better throughout high school.
“A lesson I’ve learned that I didn’t expect to learn is the value of being present,” senior Nolan Wright said. “Changing from being more introverted to being extroverted has taught me the enjoyment there is from inserting yourself socially.”
After having the same routine day and night, spending time with the same classmates, friends and teachers, it is finally time to proceed to the next big stage. The transition will be hard, but it will be worth it in the end, and the accomplishment will feel worthwhile.
“It is somewhat sad leaving high school and all of the memories that I’ve made,” Wright said. “I’ve accepted that there are bigger things to pursue in life.”
