With only about nine weeks of school left, seniors at The Columbus School are beginning to realize how close graduation really is. This week’s trip to San Andrés, one of the last big shared experiences for the Class of 2026, has made the end of high school feel even more real. Between final classes, college plans, and last memories together, emotions are becoming harder to ignore. To understand what this moment feels like, two senior students and one teacher were interviewed about how they are experiencing the final stretch of senior year.

According to ISC teacher Camilo Hoyos, these emotional changes are easy to notice in students.

“Emotionally, they seem very unified, maybe subconsciously. They know they’re not going to see each other every day after graduation,” said Camilo Hoyos.

He explained that even when students do not talk about it directly, their behavior shows that they understand a big change is coming in the first week of May, when seniors are officially dismissed to focus on their final graduation projects.

For many seniors, these feelings come from realizing how much is about to change. Maria del Mar Molina, a 12th-grade student, described feeling both excited and nervous as her last semester begins.

“I’m feeling a mix of emotions now that my last semester is starting. Part of me is excited because I’m so close to graduating and starting a new stage of my life, but another part of me feels nervous because everything is ending so fast,” Molina said.

One of the hardest parts of this transition is thinking about daily life after graduation.

“The hardest part of senior year right now is realizing that I won’t see my friends every day anymore,” Molina added.

Still, she also shared what she looks forward to most.

“The part of graduating that excites me the most is starting a new chapter in my life. I am excited about having more independence and meeting new people,” she said.

Senior Annika Pettersson expressed similar feelings about the future.

“I am most excited about starting a new stage in my life, meeting new people, and making new friendships, but I also feel unsure because I don’t want to leave my friends at school,” Pettersson said.

Along with excitement, she also mentioned feeling pressure about what comes next.

“I do feel a little pressure, especially from my parents, but I think it helps you grow and push yourself to achieve bigger things,” Pettersson added.

Graduation is also changing how some students see themselves and others at school.

“I think I want to be more authentic, meet new people, and take more initiative. You can be kind to everyone because it’s a new stage in life,” Pettersson said.

Hoyos encouraged students to accept their emotions during this time.

“Well, stress is good, right? It is good stress. So don’t worry if you’re too stressed, if you’re too nervous, or if you’re sad. Those are very valid feelings, so don’t try to suppress them. Just feel them. Enjoy them,” he said.

Hoyos also reminded students of the lasting relationships formed at school.

“You have been building this family for many years. I am part of this family, too. You can always come back and visit,” he said.

As seniors at The Columbus School prepare for graduation, their words show that this moment is shaped by both excitement and difficulty. With the last day of classes set for the first week of May, students know their time together in the 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. school routine is coming to an end. As a generation that has grown especially close over the years, these last weeks feel heavier and more meaningful. The end of high school is not only a change in schedule, but an emotional step into a new stage of life for the entire Class of 2026.