The last two years of high school are often seen to be vastly different from one another. While junior year is typically viewed as the singular most stressful school year, senior year is known for being the most exciting and fun year of one’s high school experience.

However, each student’s personal experience throughout these two pivotal years is, of course, different. And for some, reality has turned out to be quite different from their expectations.

“I was fully anticipating to be in this much pain,” junior Refah Rehan said. “But I did not anticipate [to have] so many new opportunities and skills to be learned.”

Although most everyone survives junior year and lives to tell the tale, that doesn’t mean that being a junior is even remotely easy.

“I knew my classes would be hard, which they are, but I’ve been managing them well and getting good grades,” junior Sophia Rowles said. “Then with theater I’ve been so much more involved than I expected, and it’s become such an important part of my everyday schedule.”

On the other hand, senior year is considered by some to be a completely different kind of hard from junior year.

“[Senior year can be hard] mainly because of college applications, hard classes post junior year, and all the extracurriculars you worked so hard for – you now are an officer or are held to a higher standard,” senior Siddhi Bavare said. “And the idea of leaving your hometown forever in less than a year can be scary. Because of all of these it’s hard, but not necessarily [hard] academically.”

With most college applications submitted and the future in the forefront of their minds, many seniors are ready to leave high school in the past and move onto bigger and better things. Nonetheless, they have made many memories that will stick with them forever.

“Unexpected, thrilling, and exciting,” senior Mariana Garzon said. “These words summarize how this year has been filled with the most amazing circumstances and truly is the perfect way to end my high school journey.”