Our Last First Day

By GABRIELLE KATZ

2004, my first year starting in the Jericho School District. Kindergarten was a new beginning–new friends, new memories, new school. I remember waving goodbye to my parents as they snapped pictures of me boarding the bus. I found my seat, and was on my way thinking to myself that I was so old.

2016, my last year in the Jericho School District. Senior year was a new beginning–new friends, new memories, same school. I waved goodbye to my parents the night before school started, since I was spending it with my friends. I took selfies of me and my friends and texted them to my parents so they could share my memories. I screamed, “Shotgun!” as I ran to secure the front seat in my friend’s car thinking to myself that I was so old.

It is a senior tradition to decorate cars for the first day of school.

The day before school started I went over to my friend’s house in order to prepare for our first day of senior year. We started the night by covering her car in blue and yellow paint with sayings such as “We Made 17” and “This is 17.” We finalized the car by adding each of our initials to the windows. To complete the night, we ate a Yogurt and Such pie with “Seniors ‘17” written on top. When the clock hit one, we decided it was time to go to sleep. We didn’t want to be too tired for the first day of senior year.

We woke up at 6:30 in order to have time to get decked out in black attire, have a photo shoot with the car and our childish backpacks, and of course make it to the deli to get iced coffee. No matter how many first days of school have passed, this one will always be the one I will hold close to my heart. It was a day filled with happiness and sadness, comfort and fear. Jericho senior Jordyn M. said, “Knowing it was my last first day was bittersweet.” Senior Brandon R. said that he was filled with happiness “but was also nervous knowing that I still have the whole process of applying and getting into college ahead of me.”

Just like many other seniors at Jericho High School, I felt many different emotions knowing that this year would be amazing, but an unclear future makes for a very scary feeling.

Senior Emma N. pictured top row, second from the right said “seeing everyone’s childish backpacks was my favorite memory because it helped to contradict the fact that we were seniors and helped me to remember my elementary school years.” — Senior Emma N., second from right above, said, “Seeing everyone’s childish backpacks was my favorite memory because it helped to contradict the fact that we were seniors, and helped me to remember my elementary school years.”

Senior Fallon B. said, “On the first day of classes I felt a sense of nostalgia as it was my last first day of high school.” Another senior, Michael L. said, “I was shocked that my last first day had come so quickly. You never really think that your final first day will ever come until you finally realize it’s actually already here.”

September 2017 will be my first year in college and another new beginning–new friends, new memories, new city, new home. I can picture my parents waving goodbye to me as they leave me in my dorm room and head to their car for the long drive home. Then I will really feel old.

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