Seniors watch the solar set on their last 12 months, rejoice reminiscences

From dawn to sundown, it took 282 days.

That’s the time it takes seniors at Richmond Senior Excessive College to get by their final 12 months earlier than commencement.

On August 29, 2022, the seniors started their final 12 months in highschool, collaborating in a Senior Dawn occasion held on the softball area. On Tuesday evening, a number of dozen seniors spent a few hours at Raider Stadium for the annual Senior Sundown to bring to a halt a 12 months of reminiscences.

“They watched the dawn collectively as a category on the primary day of college, after which they watched the sundown on the final day of college,” stated Arthur Gilliam, a historical past trainer and senate advisor at the highschool.

The night was crammed with laughter, tears, hugs, meals, and enjoyable actions. Whereas enjoying corn gap, Jenga, and passing a soccer one final time on the sector, many college students introduced chairs and blankets to chill out, taking selfies, sharing tales, and signing one another’s yearbooks.

“I feel with the ability to watch the solar set in your senior 12 months is one thing particular,” Gilliam stated. “In order that’s the end result from senior dawn to sundown that makes this a tremendous occasion.”

He stated the occasion is vital to college students as a result of it’s the final time they only get to hang around on campus.

“There aren’t any massive obligations left, and exams are over, nevertheless it’s not commencement but,” Gilliam stated. “Commencement is sort of just like the finale for our college students. You won’t see all people once more after that. So, it’s nice to see our seniors out right here simply having enjoyable and connecting with their mates.”

One of many seniors having enjoyable enjoying Join 4 with mates was Kimberly Fast. She stated she liked that she began her senior 12 months off with the Dawn and was capable of shut out her senior 12 months with the Sundown. She stated it introduced her last 12 months full circle.

“We now have all grown loads throughout highschool, and tonight we get to see a few of our mates for the final time and say goodbye,” she stated. “Everybody within the college comes collectively and helps one another. We’re just one highschool within the county, and we’ve to be there for one another. It’s the Raider Manner.”

Sitting between the hash marks on the soccer area was a small group of mates reminiscing about their previous 12 months. Savannah Jordan and Ayden Mabe have been subsequent to one another, signing yearbooks and having laughs about life, and each shall be heading to North Carolina State College.

Jordan, who plans to check accounting in faculty, stated she had so many nice reminiscences throughout her senior 12 months she couldn’t simply decide one.

“We simply had a variety of enjoyable collectively all year long,” she stated. “We received to take action many issues as a category, like film nights, homecoming, pep rallies, and even a dodgeball event. It made the 12 months go by a lot quicker, and I can’t imagine it’s over.”

Jordan and Mabe each stated there was by no means a boring second as a senior.

Mabe, who will main in development administration, stated the night was vital to him as a result of it was one final alternative to see a lot of his classmates earlier than commencement.

“There’s all the time one thing to stay up for right here at Richmond,” he stated.

When requested in regards to the which means of “Raider Magic,” he stated it was a lifestyle rising up right here.

“It’s a couple of group coming collectively and simply figuring out they’re there for you,” he stated. “Even when we lose a sport, folks right here in Richmond County are nonetheless behind you and help you.”

Gilliam stated it’s that magic that builds friendship on and off campus.

“Friendship is considered one of our pillars on the college,” he stated. “We would like our college students to be mates and construct these connections that can final a lifetime.”

Internet hosting occasions like Senior Dawn and Senior Sundown, Gilliam stated, reveals the significance of connecting with folks and constructing these bonds.

“Our children are so enamored with social media that having occasions like this present the importance of that face-to-face interplay, particularly after one thing like COVID,” he stated. “Tonight, they’re capable of actually