Seniors: the beginning of the end

BY: BAILEY A.

Many students at West Jefferson High School have spent most, if not all, of their lives in this school district with their peers. The Class of 2019 is fastly approaching graduation and beginning to have the first of their many lasts. They’ve already had their last homecoming, and they will soon have their last “Football Friday Night”. Many lasts are still to come, such as their last pep rally and their last prom. Everything is changing for these seniors, and they must adapt to these changes as they move on to bigger and better things.

Change can be exciting. It can also be scary, stressful, and upsetting, though. The senior class is beginning to experience all of these emotions as they apply for college and prepare for the thrilling lives they have ahead of them.

Abbie Branham, a senior at West Jefferson High School, has always dreamt of leaving for college and finding her own path. More recently, Branham has started to realize how soon she will actually be leaving. “It’s just all starting to feel so real,” said Branham. She is planning on attending the University of Central Florida. A whopping 957.3 miles away from home, UCF offers many new experiences for Branham. “I don’t want to go far away to get away from everyone... I love my friends and my family. I just want to experience something new and know that I can make it on my own,” she said. “I’ll miss West Jeff and I will miss a lot of the people. I will always remember this as my home and credit it for making me who I am.”

Kaylyn Miller, another senior at WJHS, is planning on attending Kent State University next fall. Kaylyn is ready for her next chapter in life, but is still left reflecting all the things she will miss about the small town of West Jefferson. “The thing I’ll miss the most is seeing all my underclassmen friends who I’ve gotten to know the last couple years. I’ve met some great people that I never thought I’d be friends with.” Miller has experienced first-hand how attending a small school allows you to become friends, or even acquaintances, with people that you might not have had you attended a larger school. Miller also expressed that she was given more academic attention at this high school than she may have received at a larger school. “West Jeff has so many great teachers who have taught me so much and who actually have the time to help each person at their own pace. They understand each person learns a different way.”

Soccer player, Joey Buckland, is also a senior at WJHS. Buckland is currently undecided on where he wants to attend college. Being involved in several sports and having an outgoing personality, Buckland has many friends of all grade levels. “I’ll miss the ‘small town’ feeling of knowing everyone in West Jeff,” said Buckland. “I’ll miss the certain people within this town who I can call my friends. Everyone in this high school are the kids that I grew up with and I will miss that connection.” Buckland has also learned many life lessons from attending this school. “It’s taught me that it’s a small world. And that there are certain people that only want your friendship for their own benefit, and not yours.”

Each class at West Jefferson High School includes many promising individuals who will go on and do great things in life. The Class of 2019, especially, has so many bright personalities included in it, such as Branham, Miller, and Buckland, and the school is lucky to have been part of their journey. The staff and other classes will likely be sad to see this great group of individuals leave, but they’ll most likely be just as happy to see what is next for these seniors.

Attending a small school can of course have its downsides, but there is a sense of family and togetherness that can’t be experienced elsewhere. With all of the connections and bonds made from the first day of kindergarten all the way to graduation, it will be hard for these seniors to let go. They can use the lessons they have learned from attending West Jefferson High School to aid them as they move on to the next chapter in their life, find their own path, and step out into the real world.