Starkville High Class of 2022 REFLECT ON HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES
Tonight at Yellow Jacket Stadium, the Starkville High School Class of 2022 will have its final hoorah as they walk across the field to receive their diplomas they've worked hard for the past four years.
While tonight has the looks of simple pomp and circumstance at first glance, it is more than that. For these graduating SHS seniors, it is the end of one thing and the start of something new.
One of the SHS seniors who will walk across the field this evening is salutatorian Christian Dunne, who says finishing high school is “a great feeling.”
“The idea of being done with high school forever is still sinking in, but especially in the wake of all the pandemic's uncertainty,” said Dunne. “I'm grateful to be able to make it through a full year at school and actually have a graduation ceremony.”
Dunne says he is truly honored to be ranked second in his graduating class. He knew that he held that rank at the beginning of the school year, but he also knew he had to keep pushing himself in order to keep that distinction.
“Basically all of the top 10 students are my friends, so it definitely helped to see them everyday and have them motivate me to do my best,” Dunne said.
As he looks back on his years as a Yellow Jacket, Dunne's favorite part of high school has been participating in a wide array of activities.
“Being able to play multiple sports, be in the choir, perform in theatre, and participate in other school activities definitely kept my schedule tight,” said Dunne. “But at the end of the day, it was incredibly rewarding and I'm super happy that I was given that opportunity.”
After Dunne graduates tonight, his next chapter in life will be college.
In the fall, Dunne will attend the University of Notre Dame to major in computer science with the hope of pursuing a majority of the same extracurricular activities that has indulged in during high school.
For next year's senior class at SHS, Dunne's advice for them is to not slack off just because you are close to the finish line.
“Burnout is only as bad as you make it. If you stay on top of all your work, you'll get by much easier and can devote more of your time for rest and recreation,” said Dunne. “From experience,
I can say even only a week's worth of missed work is pretty hard to overcome without some stress.”
Through all the trials and tribulations high school can bring someone, Dunne expressed how grateful he is