High school has become so focused around AP classes, homework, not being late and fitting into the structure of academics in high school. To LHS students, their adolescence is focused around memories, friendship and experience. As a school, staff, students and parents work to commemorate students senior year, as they work to the next point in their life.
ASB advisor Andrew Ballnick helps organize and work with ASB to set up different activities for the senior class.
“Senior survivor game, the Amazing Pace are both senior traditions,” said Ballnick. “I really like the traditions of senior sunrise and senior sunset as it represents a deeper metaphor.”
With rising seniors coming up, the question is could the school do a better job of incorporating more traditions for seniors and just as a school?
“I do think that seniors have gone through three years of high school, and yes we want to celebrate their success,” said Ballnick. “However, the world changes. For example Senior Survivor, and it is not always appropriate to do the same traditions, so we can always start new traditions.”
The main goal of all traditions for seniors is creating a sense of community and unity among the graduating class as they face a new step in life together.
“The senior traditions serve a purpose,” said Ballnick.
Sydney Lee, a senior, has been enjoying her year as she participated in many different activities for seniors.
“I think the school does a good job, like decision day, senior assassin as it brings us together,” said Lee. “ASB does a good job recognizing seniors, but I think that we could have more organization with senior skip days.”
Senior Joe Weiler has always been a Pacer.
“My favorite senior tradition was football, FNL, but I’m looking forward to senior sunset with my guys in a few weeks,” said Weiler. “I do think that as a school they could have incorporated more traditions.”
As time has passed, the once common tradition of senior pranks has slowly left the community of LHS, as it is important not to harm the staff and school.
Brittany Larson, a lower D-wing teacher, recalls some of the old pranks once played.
“In the ‘80s and’ 90s one group brought in an animal and left it in the administration office overnight and it pooped everywhere,” said Larson.
Today, a prank like that one would not be taken lightly with the school or the administration.
“Students have a hard time figuring out the line between funny and too far,” said Larson. “I wish that we did more of each class ‘leaves their mark’ on the campus in a beneficial way.”
With each class coming and going, every second of senior year is time cherished by the students. As a community, LHS works to highlight seniors’ final year on the LHS campus.
