With each passing day, the Class of 2026 is one step closer to graduation, and the pressure increases to make the most of their remaining time at Nobles. With this, there is a newfound urge to try new things and meet more people. “I always find with seniors, there is this sudden urgency, unlike any other year, to be like, ‘now is the time. I want to spend as much time as possible with my classmates, and in doing so, they become closer,” Class I Dean Kimberly Libby-Genecco said. “Across the board, I can’t think of a class that hasn’t felt closer by the time they graduate.”
Yes, there is no denying that senior year, despite all its stresses, brings a class together. By the time seniors walk for graduation, they have built lifelong connections with students and faculty that they would never have met in their freshman year, and surprised themselves with new hobbies. “Everyone has matured a lot and is more open to building new friendships. Freshman year, people were a lot more insecure and felt the need to fit in, but now people are more willing to do what they want,” Brooke Cashman (Class I) said.
This freedom to break away from social pressures and try new activities or meet new people truly fosters a culture of unity within the senior class. “I think time’s ticking down, and there’s a sense of regret about being cliquey. People are just more open to being friends,” Takeru Matsuzaka (Class I) said.
But it’s more than just an openness to being friends. It takes effort to bring a class together. From socializing in large groups outside of school to prefect-planned events, the senior class has noticed that a significant part of this shift toward unity comes from intentional efforts. “The Class I end-of-summer beach trip was a good way to get a lot of different friend groups out interacting with each other before the start of the school year,” Anran Liu (Class I) said.
While much of this effort originates from students, the administration also puts in considerable effort to help the senior class come together as natural leaders and stewards of the school. At the Class I retreat, seniors are pushed to be vulnerable with their classmates, sharing meaningful stories that have shaped their lives. Moreover, the Athletic Leadership Council – a space designed to prepare team captains before their seasons – encourages seniors to step into their roles as leaders, discussing topics such as mental health in sports and sharing the lessons they have learned throughout the seasons.
These efforts have proven to have a meaningful effect, resulting in a class that genuinely feels more connected, even after just three months into the year. Yet, the biggest issue with this phenomenon is that it happens so late in a student’s timeline. Students will wait almost the entirety of their time at Nobles to connect with peers who could have been close friends for four or even six years. With the senior class now united, it’s time attention shifts toward building the same level of community in younger grades. It is vital that the administration puts the same amount, if not more, effort into cultivating connections among underclassmen, because no one realizes how short their time at Nobles is until it’s almost over.
