Danielle Sorcher
Special Reports Director
As most colleges recommend filing deposits by May 1st, seniors are officially ending the college process. For senior Rebecca Evenson, sending in her deposit was a reality check. “The whole idea of me going to college really hit me when I sent in my deposit,” she said. “I finally understood that this is my future, and whatever I do will basically affect me for the rest of my life.”
Since most seniors are committed to a college, they are caught in two places at once: they have one foot in college and the other still stuck in high school. As graduation creeps ever closer, senior Patrick Newton is caught in an internal tug-of-war regarding his feelings towards the end of senior year. “I definitely have mixed feelings about graduating and actually leaving for college,” he said. “I am ready to move on but I don’t want to leave all of my friends. We have all been together since the 5th grade and it’s a little nerve-racking thinking about how you have to create new friendships with people you have never met before.”
Patrick isn’t the only senior feeling the melancholy nudge of both wanting to get out and wanting life to remain exactly as is. Senior Nick Montanero also feels a mix of emotions regarding leaving. “On the one hand, I have always desired to leave the town in which I’ve grown up and experience new things,” he said. “On the other hand, I feel a strong sense of regret, likely stemming from my constant contemplation of the ‘what ifs.’ What if I had been more social earlier in high school? What if I had hung out with different people? What if I took more chances?”
Senior Michael Filatov said that after graduation, his life won’t ever be like his second semester of senior year. “Everyday I think about how simple my life is, and how incredibly lucky I am to be able to live this lifestyle,” he said. “It doesn’t get any easier.”
Leaving friends and family is a big contributing factor for why seniors don’t yet feel fully ready to leave. “I think the worst part about graduating will be not seeing all my friends at school, and while I can always see them over the summer, it just won’t be the same,” senior Patrick Redman said.
Senior Patrick Burke agreed. “I’m happy to get out of New Canaan, but not to get away from everyone,” he said.
For Patrick Burke, going to a school different from that of his twin sister, Grace (Associate Editor of the Courant), will be a significant change. “I am definitely going to miss seeing my friends and family everyday, especially Grace,” he said. “It will be the furthest Grace and I have been apart for an extended period of time, and that will probably be the toughest thing to cope with once in school.”
While senior Alexa Holzberger is sad that she is going to have to say goodbye to her friends—most of whom she’s known since around age five—and recognizes that she might not keep up with all of them, she can’t wait to meet new friends, too. “Everyone promises each other that they’ll keep in touch in college and even afterward, but we all know that might be true for only about two out of the 20 people we promise,” she said. “At the same time, I can’t even imagine who I’m going to become once I start living a life with completely different people. I think my friends and peers shape the person I am so I’m excited to see who I’ll be.”
The new opportunities that college will present is also a balancing factor in keeping seniors looking forward to the end with a positive attitude. “I think it’s going to be awesome to have all the freedom to do whatever I want to do,” senior Keith Haydu said. “The freedom is really the most exciting piece. It’s awesome to think about being your own person and making your own decisions.”
Senior Andrew Gruseke is ready to move on, although it will be hard to say goodbye to NCHS. “As graduation nears I become more and more thrilled to see all of the opportunities that await [me]as I head to college,” he said. “It is hard to believe that we are almost at the finish line. It feels just like yesterday when I was a freshman talking about how cool senior year would be.”
Senior Phoebe Wilks recognizes that graduation is going to be a very important moment for seniors, as it signifies a huge change. “After we graduate we will never be coming back to the halls we’ve walked for the past four years,” she said. “We are done, officially. I am excited because I know it’s a great achievement, but it also signifies the end of high school, which is sad for everyone.”
However, Phoebe recognizes that seniors will always have New Canaan to return to. “I think at the end of the day, it’s great to go off in a new direction and take the next step in our lives, but it’s also nice to know that we can always come home to New Canaan to see family and old friends.”
As graduation looms closer and closer, seniors want to make the most of the time they have left. “As high school comes to an end, I want to live it up,” Patrick Burke said. “We’re only seniors in high school once, and I want to end it on a good note.”
