The End of The Beginning: Emotions Around Seniors’ Graduation

By Serena Zhang ‘28

As the summer approaches and the school year comes to an end, the atmosphere on the Mesa is beginning to change. The final weeks of the year bring a mix of emotions: for seniors preparing for the next chapter in their lives, graduation marks the culmination of years of hard work, friendships, and memories; for the rest of the student body, graduation means saying goodbye to the teammates, mentors, and role models who have gradually become a crucial part of their daily lives at Cate. As the community looks ahead to next year, students reflect on the impact of this transition and the legacy that the Class of 2026 will leave behind.

On one hand, some seniors are feeling ready to begin their next journey. Mo Kanda-Gleeson ‘26 notes, “‘Senioritis’ has finally kicked in, and I feel ready to move on.” Nonetheless, he adds, “But I don’t want to leave my friends and the amazing teachers that we have…I know I am going to miss the people.” 

On the other hand, most of the senior class feels a sense of melancholy as commencement approaches. Like Mo, when asked about their feelings as graduation approaches, the seniors talk about missing the people and the bonds they have formed on this campus. Barron Crayton ‘26 summarizes his feelings with a single word: “Bittersweet.” He elaborates, “I am ready to leave since I have been here for four years, but I am definitely going to miss the people.” 

Ramya Bangaru ‘26 also shares her emotions, saying, “I feel like it has not hit me yet. I feel like I have put so much hard work in the dorm with the freshmen girls this year that I can now see it paying off. That makes me a little bummed out since I’ve created such strong connections and now I have to leave in two weeks.” 

Other peers also share a similar feeling with Lisa Sun ‘26, describing that “the closer I get to graduation, the sadder I become.” Regardless, she looks ahead to the next few days with positivity, explaining, “I feel like I just learned to cherish the people here a lot more right now. I want to talk to more people and make some connections before the school year ends.” 

The seniors’ departure is also stirring up a range of emotions among the other classes. Olivia Micheli ‘29 shares, “I honestly have just been trying to make the most of the few weeks I have left with them… With this being my first year, I have only ever experienced Cate with them, so I am struggling to picture life at Cate without them.”

This sadness has been a common theme among underclassmen, who see the senior class as role models. Will Murray ‘28 comments, “They’ve been really great role models during their time at Cate, and [the end of the year] is making me think about leadership next year…and how it is going to be very different without them.” 

Similarly, many students reflect on the leadership of the senior class, with Harper Bishop ‘28 pointing out that “Even seniors who do not serve as prefects have a really big impact in the dorm because they truly care.” 

Indeed, every senior has made a significant impact on the Cate community. Kenny Wang ‘27 shares the close relationship he has built with seniors on his sports team, stating, “I cannot imagine a tennis season without Graham [Clinger ‘26].” He explains, “In my head, all these seniors still feel like sophomores to me. I feel like when you see people—meet people—they stay the same, not in age, but in the way you think of them. So, it is super weird how, next year, we are not going to see this group of people again.” Sloan Harwell ‘28 says in agreement: “I have built my life at Cate around them, and they have had a really big impact on my day-to-day life at Cate.” 

Moreover, students are also looking back on the past year, wishing they had built more connections with more seniors. Trinity Hasbun ‘29 reflects, “I am also sad to see the seniors I didn’t get to know really well leave because I didn’t get to build a connection with them…I wish there was [more] time to get to know all of them.”

Many other students also describe this transition as bittersweet. Liam Moes ‘29 states, “I feel a mix of euphoria and sadness at their departure. They have truly been the most welcoming class, the big brothers and sisters we needed. I hate to see them go, and I’m anxious about what next year will feel like without them. There will be a quiet, missing part in the halls and classrooms where their laughter and guidance once filled the space, brightening my day. But in my heart, I’m happy for them as they set out on new paths.” Likewise, Sloan notes that she is excited to be an upperclassman next year as it will “give us the chance to see what it is like to be a role model, the same way the seniors were for us.”

The strong emotions surrounding graduation reveal just how deeply the senior class has shaped daily life at Cate. Over the past four years, each senior’s presence has left an impact on the community, making their departure feel significant and personal for many students. As Liam reflects, “I’m forever grateful for the seniors who made my freshman year so meaningful.” 

Ultimately, students express that this moment is not a final goodbye, but a transition for the Class of 2026 to continue thriving in a new environment. The connections they have built and the legacy they will leave will remain on the Mesa and continue to shape the school long after they walk off the commencement stage.