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“Tricycles to Tassels” by Soo Song

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As the final semester for the Class of 2026 approaches, many seniors find that the long-awaited freedom of college life after high school comes at an unexpected emotional cost. 

The transition from the first day at Dalat to becoming a senior awaiting graduation has been a whirlwind for those who have spent many years here. For some, their journey started as far back as P4, and for others, more recently. What began as a freshman’s simple excitement for choosing sports and new classes has evolved into a series of “senioritis” and talking about the future. Whether it's competing in sports events or late-night hangouts, seniors are realizing they don’t have much time left. 

When asked, ‘Are you excited to graduate?’, two very different responses were given. “Thinking back to all the memories I had built since P3, it hit me,” shared Suyoung Lim (12). “I’m happy to finally graduate, yet sad to leave the only place I have ever known.”

In contrast, some are racing toward the finish line; Jueun Seo (12) admitted with a beaming smile, “I’m so, so, so, so glad to graduate and experience university life soon!”

As Abby Yeoh (12) pulled out a piece of cardstock for the upcoming Senior Countdown calendar, I started looking back at the memories I had made in the last 14 years here at Dalat. For many, the campus is a map of their entire lives. I looked at the new lower field and didn’t see just grass; I saw a pavement where we once raced tricycles and pulled each other on wagons in P4. I remembered the game of ‘Boys vs. Girls’ tag in second grade and the time our kindergarten class scrambled under desks even though we were told to sit still at our desks while the teacher answered a phone call. These aren’t just old stories; they are the specific moments that make the thought of graduation feel so heavy. I looked around the room and realized for the first time, I am finally leaving. 

Whether we are ready to sprint toward the gates or are clinging to every last second, the “senioritis” we feel is real. Graduation is no longer a distant concept; it is a countdown in our hearts. The decade of memories we’ve built ensures that even as we head toward life after high school, we never truly leave the people we care for behind. 

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