The End of the School Year: So Long, Santa Cruz!
“What time is it? Summer time!” That particular scene from High School Musical 2 is the epitome of students’ last days of school. At this point, I have had a grand total of fourteen last days of school. These days are monumental and signify that I have survived and endured the various challenges that come with getting an education. And obviously, the end of the school year stands out for several reasons:
The end of the school year is when your professor of that one mentally excruciating class says their farewell remarks, which are then followed by a thunderous applause before class ends, making you realize that deep down (way deep down), you’ll actually miss that class. Well, maybe.
The end of the school year is when you no longer bear the burden of writing essays, studying for exams until four in the morning, or finishing up homework at the last minute and instead, can finally taste the sweetness of summer adventure on your lips.
The end of the school year is when you say heartfelt goodbyes, or more like see-you-later’s, to the friends who live so far away from you, bringing high school yearbook autographs to life by saying to them, “I’ll miss you!” or “Have a great summer!”
The end of the school year is when you pack up all of your belongings into suitcases and duffel bags, leaving your room the way you found it when you had just moved in at the beginning of the year – an empty desk, empty wardrobe, empty cabinets, bare walls, and a stripped bed.
The end of the school year is when you load your things into the trunk of your car and drive home, parting ways with the campus you called your home away from home.
It isn’t until the end of the school year when I realize just how fast the year has gone by. I could have sworn that I still had three more weeks of classes left, but I’m not complaining. It’s been a fun ride, but I’m more than ready to see what the summer has in store for me. Until we meet again in September, Santa Cruz.