Senior Sunrise

Kee Soe , ks420@uakron.edu

'Twas the night before the sunrise, and all through the town,

not a creature was stirring, all settled down.

But out of the quiet, excitement did thrive,

for who could it be? The Class of '25!

As we gathered in the early morning darkness, huddled on blankets over the wet green turf, there was a stir of excitement and bittersweetness in the air to celebrate the sunrise before graduation. Senior sunrise is a tradition for many highschoolers across the country where the senior class gather early in the morning to watch the sunrise, marking the beginning of the final year together. When the first ray appears on the horizon, it represents a symbol of hope and warmth to ease the uncertainty of what the future holds.

Even before the sun appeared, seniors enjoyed taking pictures, indulging in donuts, and leaving their mark by pressing their fingerprints onto a class banner, all while Mrs. Berger's keen eye scanned for yearbook worthy moments. Clad in flowy skirts, plaid pajamas, and cozy senior-labeled sweatpants, the Class of '25 arrived in different styles to capture this unique experience. As more people flowed into the soccer field, it didn't take long for the sun to come up and capture us in its glow and it certainly didn't take long for Mrs. Berger to get us all nestled up for a group picture in front of it.

Four years ago, we stood in front of Bierce Library for a group picture together under a light drizzle. Now, four years later, we bask beneath a bright, clear sky, reflecting on how far we've come. 'I ain't a kid no more,' sang Frank Ocean as we began packing up, counting down the days until we leave, realizing that we truly aren’t kids anymore. Instead, we’re emerging as scholars with bright futures ahead of us.