The week before school starts is always a busy one, but for some Garland High School seniors, an additional task set this year apart. Tuesday, Aug. 14, Kirstan, Aanchal, Taylor, Mason and Nate spent the afternoon painting their parking spaces at GHS. Purchase of a space for the year is a privilege extended only to seniors.
The students agreed that it feels great to be starting their last year of public school but they were also feeling a variety of emotions.
“I feel nervous, excited and happy,” Mason said. “Starting senior year is something that we all work so hard for but actually being here is kind of weird. But, it’s liberating,” he said.
The idea of being an adult and having to do adult things can be intimidating.
“Our freshman year, we were looking up to the seniors and now we are the seniors and it feels like the time went by so fast. It’s exciting, but I’m also kind of nervous,” Nate said. “It’s another step into being an adult and the real world and real life.”
Even though it is a little scary, Taylor is ready to get to college.
“I am ready to get my own apartment at college and be more independent,” she said.
All of them are involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities which consume all their free time but they agree that it’s worth it.
“I never had a free weekend and I was always under a lot of stress but looking back on it, it was the best memories that I have of high school,” Kirstan said.
Aanchal even took on an additional activity for senior year.
“Going into senior year, you want to go out with a bang, so I joined Bell Guard. It will be so much fun to be that person that helps everybody get hyped up for the games,” she said. “That’s going to be a lot of fun and I can’t believe I get to do it my senior year.”
The students also talked about the tradition at Garland High School.
“It’s not North Garland. It’s not South Garland. It’s Garland High School and it was the first high school,” Nate said. “No one has spirit like we do. We can be losing a game but still have spirit. That’s what Garland Owls do,” Nate said.
Kirstan said that up until junior year she didn’t understand the seniors’ feelings about the parking spaces.
“I thought they were being silly, but the last day of junior year when we got to do the senior chant, it felt so good,” she said. “The parking spots come with being a senior and you can look at your spot and say that it’s yours and that it is your creativity on the spot.”
Mason feels that painting your parking spot as a senior goes along with the tradition.
“Only seniors get to do that and it also gives your something to look forward to,” he said.
Taylor said that she likes the level of spirit at GHS.
“It’s mainly about the traditions,” she said. “We are very spirited and have a huge alumni group that we get a lot of support from them.”
Aanchal agreed.
“Once an Owl, always an Owl,” she said.