Aug. 27, 2025 was the last first day of high school for seniors, one of many final experiences for the class of 2026. Posters hang on campus, students search for their classes and friends reunite with each other after the summer break. The day felt like it was over before it even began, setting the tone for a year defined by moments that don’t last as long as you expect them to.
“First lasts” are the final moments of high school that happen for the last time during senior year, like the first day of school, homecoming or finals week. These moments make senior year feel fast, yet slow at the same time. In the weeks leading up to these events, anticipation builds as time drags on, but once they arrive, they pass almost instantly and leave many seniors wondering where all the time went.
In the final months of senior year, as students commit to their colleges and finalize their post-graduation plans, a sense of “senioritis” starts to set in, making it increasingly difficult to stay motivated and engaged in school.
Grace Derks, Huntington Beach High School (HBHS) senior, said, “I think that senior year is going way faster than any other year because my brain knows that once I get through this, it’ll be the end and so I think it’s almost like I’m going through the checklist of high school, and I can finally see like the finish line.”
This sense of awareness makes ordinary events suddenly feel significant. Finals, dances and even the first day of school take on a new weight, as seniors realize these are things they’ll never experience again. However, Derks isn’t alone in this; many students notice that once college decisions start coming in, the reality of change hits hard.
Senior at HBHS, Taylor Spence, said, “Hearing about all of my friends committing to colleges while I’m still waiting for decisions is kind of scary. They’re also committed to schools that I didn’t even apply to, so there will definitely be space between us all. I just hope that everyone is happy where they all end up and that we remain friends when we all come back for breaks.”
Most of us have watched each other grow up, whether we met in kindergarten or in freshman year. These years have been filled with shared memories, milestones and moments that suddenly feel like they went by in the blink of an eye.
Cooper Lopez, HBHS senior, said, “I started Academy of Performing Arts (APA) as a freshman. And with these same friends I’m doing my last show ever.”
For most seniors, it’s the mix of milestones, anticipation and change that makes this year go by so fast and also makes it seem so unforgettable. Reflecting on the summer before senior year, Spence said, “ I turn 18 next summer, so this last summer was my last chance to be a ‘kid,’ and I feel like I wasted it.”
The year moves fast, but it creates unforgettable stories that last forever. The “first lasts” may feel like beginnings, but they are reminders that every ending has its own weight, and that even as seniors look toward the future, these moments will always hold a place in their memories.
