An MCHS senior sits in the auditorium, listening to the senior AIM meetings. She listens as the counselors on stage explain all the changes for her senior class. She folds her arms, disappointed but not surprised.
As the class of 2025 departs from MCHS, many find themselves reflecting on their past years. Unlike classes before them, this year’s senior class has seen many changes over their past four years.
Besides being the first class to transition from Freshman Campus to Upper Campus, the class of 2025 was the first class not allowed to leave the school during blended and flexed classes. This year’s seniors are also not allowed to buy their chromebooks at the end of the year, a change from last year’s protocols.
“I feel like this happens with every departing class,” Upper Campus Principal Jeff Prickett says. “But there is always change, and it does always seem to happen with the class of 2025.”
While change is inevitable, many members of the 2025 class feel that they have experienced change one too many times. Some understand that’s how the cookie crumbles, but most feel targeted and forgotten.
“I can understand how they would feel that way,” substitute teacher Kayleigh Jensen says. “I think that we were all learning together at the same time.”
“I definitely think our class has also seen a lot of changes through our school,” senior Grace Hunt says, “whether that be on the administrative level or just the way that we run things from a day to day basis.”
Even though the school administration has stated that these changes have been randomized and pure coincidence, seniors still feel the struggle of experiencing change time and time again. Constant changes can be hard on a person, especially students who are not accustomed to adapting well.
According to Quora.com, “Frequent school changes can disrupt social bonds, make it difficult to form lasting friendships and lead to feelings of isolation and anxiety. Additionally, it can hinder academic progress due to gaps in learning and the need to adapt to new curricula and teaching styles.”
But through all these changes, the class of 2025 has shown their grit and the courage to continue to succeed.
“I think our class kind of was able to overcome a lot of challenges,” Hunt says. “I think it speaks to our adaptability and has kind of made us all better humans, and I think really has brought our class together.”
Due to the frequency and regularity of new rules, protocols or courses, many seniors have developed the trait to work even harder than necessary.
“I think they should wear it as a badge of honor,” Jensen says. “The class of 2025 is the first ones to ever go through Freshman Campus, and no one can take that away from them.”
Change can be daunting, but the senior class of 2025 has learned to persevere.
“I would say that it’s a testament to you that you can handle change and make it through,” Prickett says. “I would say that it’s a good thing. I would say count your blessings, because it could be regular and boring. And who wants that?”
Because the class of 2025 has been the first class to experience so many new things, the seniors have helped the underclassmen by advocating for them and their needs. Therefore, the issues they endured do not arise again.
“So,” Hunt says, “just having the school listen to those voices and then really elevating them, and using that to change it for the better will improve it over years to come.”