Senior year is one of the toughest years of our lives. We’re applying, getting admitted or rejected from our prospective schools, leaving town, and getting ready to say goodbye to our friends. But I recently realized that senior year brings everyone closer — for one last time. Homecoming 2012 demonstrated this inexorably.

The senior homecoming hallway theme this year was “Stuck in the 90’s.” Everyone noted how it brought us seniors back to our childhood (we’re all 17 and 18 years old, so I suppose we have a loose denotation of childhood!). The Powerpuff Girls, the Titanic, Nintendo, Forrest Gump, The Lion King –– you name it, and I’m sure it was there. Class officer Eddie Schwartz, who is currently suffering from a concussion (get well soon!), noted, “Our hallway came out really nice, the best we’ve done in all four years… I wanted to be a class officer to help fundraise for our [senior] prom and make our year here as good as possible.”

Teachers had a blast from the past, too. I overheard faculty members talking about how much they missed certain aspects of the 90’s. Julia Rosenwald, commenting on the senior spirit as a class officer, said, “I think our class is extremely spirited and we are proud to be seniors. Everyone helped with the hallway and I was surprised by the amount of people that came [to help]… I couldn’t ask for a better class!”

I’m really proud of my grade as a senior on how much work was put into the hallway. Gina Pi, a senior leader, said, “So many people came to help decorate which was a big reason why it was so successful…we should all enjoy this year to the fullest and make the best memories and have the best experiences!” To me, this was our best hallway yet — especially compared to our freshman hallway (remember Frosty Freshmen?) — the seniors are really going to go out with a bang.

Most of all, the spirit that dominated creating the hallway showed the class’s unity: Max Litke summed it up when he said, “I wanted to be a class officer because I wanted the class of 2013 to have the best time…the night setting up [for the hallway] was a lot of fun because it was very laid back and the whole grade really bonded.”

The pep rally, football game, and homecoming dance also offered an opportunity for the students to come together.  “I was so happy to see all of the spirit and excitement from the senior class at the pep rally and at the football game the next day. Everyone got into the cheering and spirit, which made the weekend so much fun,” explains class officer Sophie Lederer.  The football players, cheerleaders, color guard, and the band made for the huge spectator turn out, and the black lights of the homecoming dance were a feature to be remembered.

I would like to take a moment to give credit to: Dan Vest, Adam Lawsky, and Jason Kwon.  Thank you for providing everyone with the greatest of entertainment during the pep rally!