Each time a student walks through the doors of Communications High School (CHS) on their last first day of school, they anticipate all the new experiences that they have held close to their hearts for the past three years:senior traditions.
Some of these traditions include Friendsgiving, Senior Switch Day, the Senior Sock Exchange and first day of school festivities. Each is a meaningful way to celebrate the end of an important chapter and the very last chance for the graduating class to bond with each other before going their separate ways for college. CHS makes sure that these are memories that students will carry with them long after their time on New Bedford Road.
With these events, however, different opinions arise, and different favorites are ultimately chosen.
So far in the year, seniors Allie Lin of Middletown, Rebecca Nemeth of Eatontown and Joseph Calabrese of Tinton Falls have considered Friendsgiving as their favorite event..
“I think Friendsgiving was fun because it brought the whole grade together, and it wasn’t an optional thing,” Nemeth said. “Everyone had to go.”
Lin preferred the event for a different reason, as it gave the seniors a chance to “skip class and just eat.”
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing to create these beloved events. Senior council member Cara Hsu of Wall believes that the biggest challenge with these events was getting the Class of 2026 to check their email.
“No one ever checks them out, and we send really important information,” Hsu said. “[Still, the seniors] don’t see it, so it’s kind of pointless, and we can’t do anything about it.”
With this being said, other traditions such as the senior trip and breakfast, still await the upperclassmen, leaving many anticipatory moments yet to come.
Although much is still left uncertain for the Class of 2026, students are keeping an open mind and an optimistic attitude on whatever the rest of the year turns out to be.
“I can’t wait to spend time with everybody for one of the last times I can,” Calabrese said.
