Alarm clocks are set for the early morning hours of Friday the 13th. Only this time class of 2025 is preparing for a rather wholesome traditional senior event, Senior Sunrise.  

Typically, around this time many seniors are consumed by heavy workloads, jobs, and planning for their future after graduation. Luckily, these upperclassmen get the opportunity to take part in senior-oriented events such as Senior Sunrise.  

“I feel like it’s a good idea because you’re experiencing senior year at the fullest and even with juggling the heavy workload these events make it all worth it. I was only there for ten minutes but I enjoyed being together and hanging out, senior Paris Garcia said. 

 Senior Sunrise was planned by student council presidents Isabella Hemenway and Hannah Murphy as well as other student council officers. Together they created flyers to spread the word about Senior Sunrise.  

“This year I really wanted to start having events sooner so we can take more advantage of our last year in high school. I knew as I got elected, I knew senior sunrise had to be done fast. It’s meant to be where we all get together to celebrate the beginning of our last year together,” senior class president Isabella Hemenway said. 

The event was held on the football field around 6:00 am. The seniors arrived with bags filled with snacks and treats, digital cameras, and excitement. Two posters that read “Senior ’25 FCHS Sunrise” and “Smile you’re a senior 25’” were passed around for photo props to capture the moment. “The posters were just a fun thought me and Hannah had. We thought it was cute for everyone to get nice pictures,” Hemenway said. 

Outside of the grey lighted hallways, Senior Sunrise gave the class of 2025 a moment to connect with each other and enjoy the moment without any concern of grades and worry about their future. 

“It was really fun because we are all stressed about college applications and the workload. It was like we were one big family eating breakfast together. Like as a grade we got closer, taking pictures, making memories, and eating,” senior Valentina Nino said.  

Although many had gone to school together for most of their lives, a handful felt disconnected with their peers. Senior sunrise was one of the first events to gather the grade together and reflect on how they are all facing similar challenges as young adults.  

“Our school is definitely all over the place especially when it comes to groups of people and friendships though, these senior events do push us all together. At the end of the day we are here to reach one goal and graduate and step into this new chapter of our lives, “said senior Mia Villanueva said. 

As the seniors sat on the bleachers and exchanged heartfelt conversations, listened to music, and reminisced of their earlier high-school years they watched as the breath-taking sky turned from grey to pink. Although the bittersweet moment will become a memory someday, for now the class of 2025 will cherish it as it capped off the first of many senior events. 

“To be completely honest in the beginning I did take a moment to actually process everything and taking it all in. Bittersweet is definitely the word I would use to describe this whole year. I can’t imagine that time went by this fast. It’s been four years since I moved from New Jersey. So being able to spend all this morning with the people I hold dear to me, made me feel a little emotional to be completely honest,” Villanueva explained.