WOODBURY — Underclassmen at the start of a school year probably don’t have strong emotions. But for members of the senior class, they face many emotions from experiencing their last first day of school, last homecoming, last prom, and walking out of that school for the last time.
For some seniors, like volleyball player Emma Jackson, her feelings about sports have been strongest over the first few months.
“More than anything, I was emotional about having to leave my sports teams due to all of the great underclassman friends I have on them,” Jackson said. “The school sports teams have given me some of my closest friends that I will definitely have for a very long time.”
Not only has Jackson made great friendships, but she’s also accomplished some big achievements during her high school career.
“I am very proud that I am going on the 500 Club banner in the gym,” said Jackson, the volleyball team’s setter. “Another thing that I have accomplished was improving in my academics since my freshman year.”
It’s not only the seniors who face waves of emotions — underclassmen who’ve made strong friendships with the seniors experience emotions to let them go. Nick Sheikh, a science teacher at NHS, inspires the seniors to do what they love and hopes he helped them along the way.
“Preparing them for that next level if they’re interested in playing in college is what we do in the building,” Sheikh said. “It’s definitely sad seeing them go when they’ve achieved lots of growth.”
For junior volleyball player Lana Zupnick, the seniors she got close with are more like family than teammates.
“So many seniors have impacted my life, such as seniors on the volleyball team,” Zupnick said. “I’ve gotten really close with each and every one of them. I view it as having an older sister.”
Sophia Caldarella is the senior who impacted Zupnick the most with the love and support she gave her. Zupnick says will miss Caldarella dramatically, as she will “be a senior without her best friend next year.”
