The senior courtyard transformed into a parade of college colors and logos on May 1, as the Class of 2025 gathered to celebrate their Commitment Day. With a variety of shirts and hoodies that they wore to represent their chosen colleges or alternative futuxre paths, students hugged, laughed and occasionally shed a tear or two while posing for photos with their classmates. These photos, that they will look back on for a long time to come, marked the gradual end of their high school career and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
“Committing is definitely a big weight lifted off everyone’s shoulders,” Senior Niharika Jain said. “It is so relieving to be out of that stressful cycle and have a new beginning to look forward to.” Students have been anxious throughout the year narrowing down their college choices and worrying about making the right decision. With the hurdle of committing to colleges finally overcome, seniors are now able to acknowledge their hard work and achievements along with their fellow classmates.
All day long, the seniors walked the halls dressed in clothes that represented much more to them than the bold university logos could describe—each piece of clothing showcased their hard work, growth, and their first step onto a new path that they would soon call home. Throughout the day, underclassmen watched in awe as seniors showed off their accomplishments. Through curious glances, many took a glimpse at a tradition that they could soon take a part in. However, for now, this moment was for the Class of 2025. When the 10th period bell finally rang, the seniors rushed to gather in the senior courtyard for a private and heartwarming moment.
Senior Roshne Nagrajan said, “It was a challenge for me to narrow down my choices for commitment day, but my major is secondary education and many of the teachers in Hillsborough High School went to TCNJ to get their degree so their choice of school helped me better decide on a college.”
During the almost too perfect spring day—with literal flower petals falling from the trees as if the moment was straight out of a movie—cameras flashed and friends gathered for group photos. This is not at all to say that the moment was simply a photo op. In reality it was a commemoration of the past four years that this class had spent together that was coming to an emotional end. While it is true that no goodbye is ever easy, these seniors, who were finally coming to terms with the end of their time at HHS, shared an unspoken yet shared understanding that their lives were about to drastically change. On one hand, they all could look forward to the excitement of the unknown, but on the other, they basked in the nostalgia of the people and places that had been major parts of their lives for the past multiple years.
Senior Arya Patel said, “Decision day has helped me settle into the idea of college more because it’s official now and the initial stress has gone away so I can focus on making memories and preparing for my new school.” With more events coming up for our seniors before they take the stage for graduation in June, they make the most of the time they have left with their loved ones. Moments like Commitment Day are more than just a celebration. To these seniors, it is a reminder that while their future is one they have awaited for years, their past is also one that will be difficult to leave behind.
