Seniors on campus are steps closer to graduation with Jostens being set up outside the gyms on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to distribute caps and gowns.

For senior Aarya Oswal, picking up her cap and gown holds high significance as it indicates a real material end to her high school career. 

“It’s definitely an exciting moment for most of our class, being able to get our hands on the thing we’ve practically been working our past four years on,” Oswal said. “The moment I get my hands on my cap and gown, the surreal feeling that we are in fact graduating so soon will hit me, I’m sure of it.”

With the thought of graduation in mind as seniors collect their items for a momentous day, feelings of nostalgia and hopefulness for many are starting to wash over them.  

“It makes me feel nostalgic and older in a way,” senior Sherry Hu said. “I feel like I’m reminiscing on a lot of the past four years of high school as well as middle school and elementary school, but it also makes me hopeful for the future.”

Oswal finds that these steps taken toward graduation are making her feel ready and thrilled for college, but also saddened by the idea of leaving her family and friends. 

“I’m so excited to go to college and be free, but I’m going to miss my friends, family, and everything in between,” Oswal said. “I’m going to be traveling a lot this summer, with both my family and friends, so I want to make the most out of this time I have since I don’t know if it’ll be like this again.”

Despite the fact that college means leaving family and friends behind, it also means a new beginning to many more opportunities to explore oneself and the future.

“I’m super excited about graduation, especially my future and getting to pursue what I want and being able to live on my own right,” senior Annika Shetty said. “For me, it is really exciting to start studying in a field that I really enjoy and hopefully create a future for myself in which I can do something brand new and impactful.”