Senior year is supposed to be a big final chapter — equal parts exciting and terrifying. But the truth is, it hits everyone differently. I sat down with three seniors at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School to hear what it’s really like for them: one leading on the soccer field, one grinding through heavy academics, and one just trying to soak it all in before it’s gone.
Leading on and off the field: Varsity soccer captain
For the captain of the ABRHS varsity soccer team, senior year has been a balancing act for K.
“Definitely tough,” he said. “Focusing on both academics and a sport means a lot more work — you have to be mentally tough. As captain, I felt like I was playing for everyone else, too.”
Ironically, K said that soccer has actually helped him stay on top of things. “It’s easier to get your work done when you don’t have time to procrastinate,” he said. “Soccer gave me something to switch my mind over to.”
When asked about his final season and what he’ll remember most, his face lit up and he mentioned a recent game, when he finally scored his first career high school goal. “After the whistle blew, we all went out to dinner, and I realized the biggest memories weren’t even the games — they were the friendships,” he said.
One of the biggest lessons? How much being an athlete makes you a role model in town. “Other people don’t realize how much of an example you’re setting”, he said. “Everyone’s watching you at games, especially the underclassmen. It feels good to be a positive one.”
Pressure behind the grades
For A, who’s been carrying a heavy academic load this year, senior year hasn’t been easy. When I asked how senior year was treating him, he didn’t sugarcoat it.
“There’s a lot of pressure to perform,” he said. “When you’re taking multiple high-level classes, the pace never really slows down.”
When asked about college plans and whether he feels in control of his future, he paused for a second. “My dream isn’t to become a doctor,” he admitted, “but my parents have pushed me so hard into these classes that it almost feels like a waste if I don’t go pre-med.”
The most overwhelming part, he said, has been juggling everything at once. “Starting the school year while finishing college applications and writing all those essays … it’s been a lot.”
A also opened up about how his attitude toward school has shifted over time. “I was more interested in actually learning at the beginning, but now it just feels like a task. It kind of sucked the joy out of it.”
Making memories count
D is taking a different approach to the year. When I asked what the final high school year means to him, his answer was refreshing.
“It’s a final way to say goodbye to all my friends and classmates,” he said. “I’m mostly focused on the memories I make.”
Instead of stressing about grades or applications, D has made happiness and time with friends a priority. “Academics will still be there in college,” he said, “but these friendships can’t be taken for granted.”
As for his favorite moments so far, he said it’s the little things — school events, hanging out with peers — especially now that he knows it’s all coming to an end. “I really cherish every activity I do with them.”
A shared ending, different paths
Talking to these three ABRHS soon-to-be graduates made it clear: there’s no single “right” way to do senior year. K carried the weight of leadership, A pushed through heavy expectations, and D focused on soaking up every moment with his friends.
But they all share that same feeling of finality, of this being a year, and an experience, that none of them will be getting back. Whatever path they’re on, they’re each figuring out how to make it count.
Lucas Corbett is a senior at Acton Boxborough Regional High School who is interning as a writer at the Acton Exchange. He is planning on attending Syracuse University as a sports management major.
