On May 16, 2025, Lafayette seniors gathered for the annual Senior Sunset. It is usually held near the end of a school year, for the graduating seniors to come together and celebrate their accomplishments before their time in high school ends. This event goes with the tradition of Senior Sunrise, which is often held at the beginning of the school year to mark the start of their final year. This tradition started around 2020 as an alternative to prom, due to COVID, and since then, it has stuck around.
May is a time for goodbyes and looking forward to the future. The lawn was full of seniors in their future college shirts, all watching the sun go down together. Although there wasn't much of a sunset, seeing everyone happy to be together, knowing they have a whole new life ahead of them, was beautiful, yet sad. This was one of the last festivities of the school year, but it was emotional for some.
Senior Alexis Baltimore told The Times, “It was great. It honestly made me realize how we are leaving each other so soon, and it was beautiful to see how we all came together.” The night was filled with excitement and sadness. Knowing these students accomplished all the things high school has thrown at them is a bittersweet feeling.
This event wasn't just a small get-together to watch the sun go down. There were games for the students and a Kona Ice truck for everyone to enjoy. Both of these things made this night even more memorable. The best way to finish high school is by having fun with the people who have been by your side for the last four years. That is exactly what that night was about.
Everyone was spread around the lawn, each with their close friend group and sometimes even just their best friend. It is amazing to see a group of people come together and enjoy spending quality time together without worrying about what has happened in the past or what is to come in the future. It was clear that everyone was living in the moment and just trying to have fun for one last time.
Senior year is filled with so many different emotions. There is the excitement of finishing high school and going off to college or whatever comes next, getting to make plans, dream about the future, and the feeling of the world being right in your hands. However, there is a sad time of goodbyes in the end. Senior sunset combines all of these feelings. How lucky are these students that saying goodbye to these people and this place is so hard?
