Every year at Hillsborough High School it has been a tradition for seniors to gather in the senior courtyard after school on May 1 displaying the college they committed to through apparel alongside their friends and peers. This event is a chance for the students to see all the different paths their classmates have chosen to pursue for the coming years of their life. This year on May 1, 2026 Hillsborough High School seniors gathered on the football field before the start of the school day to display their college commitments and celebrate this milestone with their class.
It is important to note, however, that this year, this tradition took a little bit of a twist. Student council faced a little challenge when they realized that this year’s Spirit Night was also planned on May 1. This would be a problem as each grade also has a Spirit Night shirt that they wear to represent their class, making it impossible for seniors to wear both their Spirit Night shirt and college shirts for the entire day. Additionally as Spirit Night was scheduled to start at 3:30, celebrating Commitment Day after school would force seniors to rush such an important milestone. As a result, student council suggested a solution and the entire class followed their lead. “Due to Spirit Night being on the same day as Decision Day, we will have decision day pictures on the turf for sunrise starting at 6 a.m. and going until the start of first period” said senior Victoria Byra, an executive senior class cabinet member.
“While no part of me wanted to wake up at 5 a.m. in the morning to get ready for school, I was really happy with how the whole moment took place and with the fact that I was able to celebrate both Commitment Day and Spirit Night separately but on the same day” said senior Parvathy Koppara. So, from 6 to 6:30 a.m. on the first day of May seniors began to arrive at the school and gathered on the turf. Students hugged, laughed, and cried among one another as they captured photos that would become remnants of this important day.
Senior Ridhi Kataria and her friend group all plan to attend Rutgers New Brunswick in Fall 2026, and came together for a picture. “I’ve known some of them since kindergarten, and some since the beginning of high school. All of us attending Rutgers means I can be around people who have consistently loved and supported me, giving me a strong base to begin a new journey,” Ridhi Kataria said.
As first period began seniors remained in their college apparel, proudly showcasing their future. Later, before the start of period 9, the students changed into their senior Spirit Night shirts as it was necessary to enter the showing of the senior night movie. “Yes the change of shirts was nerveracking in the moment but now thinking back to it all I can remember is how exciting the day felt with all of its events” said senior Anya Anand.
The senior class is committing to universities all around the globe. A majority of seniors stayed at local destinations, such as Rutgers University, Rowan University, community colleges and trade schools. However, the world map filled up quickly, with commitments to the University of Southern California, University of Florida, and the international Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.
Over 200 seniors participated in a poll, sharing the distance of their future plans as well as what type of establishment they will be attending.
Senior Sharvi Gosavi, plans to begin her journey abroad, then attend Boston University. “I have always wanted to travel and explore the world, and when the opportunity to study abroad in my first semester arose, I had to take it. I also really love the city of Boston as well as Boston University’s campus itself, so I’m really excited for the next four years,” Gosavi said.
While Commitment Day is known to commemorate the seniors leaving behind all they know to move on to bigger and better things, May 1 also celebrates all the memories and moments that have defined the last four years of these student’s lives. So yes while each one of these seniors can most likely recall patiently awaiting their Commitment Day for years, many are finally understanding how difficult it is going to be to leave everything they know behind.
