Honoring Our Seniors

Written by Demetrio Villar, Senior Class Sponsor

Four years is a long time and at the same time, it goes by in the blink of an eye.  As the head class sponsor for the Class of 2020, seeing the end of the year come is a bittersweet moment of nostalgia.  Three years ago, I first met this class as young sophomores.  I could see so much potential hidden underneath a persona of underclassmen.  They were such a diverse group of students, but one thing this class has always had was the sense of family.  

The class had a new sense of class spirit as they began their junior year.  They began to feel their sense of identity as they were one of the upperclassmen.  From booths at Fall Festival to the epic battle of Spirit Week, the Class of 2020 came through as a force to be reckoned with.  They worked so hard to host an awesome Junior/Senior Banquet and help make sure that graduation went smoothly.  I do not know how many classes could have successfully assisted in three concurrent graduation events smoothly.

As their senior year began, I could see just how much life had come into the class.  Senior Campout to Fort Flagler showed how great student leadership and class comradery can bring a class together in ways I could not have imagined.  I could feel God’s spirit in the class and there was so much optimism for all the events that were coming.  Senior Recognition showed the community just how much they have grown over the four years they have been at Auburn Adventist Academy.  The senior class took the crown as they defeated the other classes during Spirit week.  Seniors were looking forward to mission trips, their senior class trip, Junior/Senior banquet in the spring, and ultimately graduation.

March 6 was a day that I know many seniors will never forget.  It was the day we began distance learning due to an impending pandemic caused by Covid-19.  As distance learning stretched on, all those hopes and dreams of the final few months of school seemed to be snatched away from them.

There are many students that are not happy about the end of the year, but I could see the hope, spirit, and optimism in the class.  May 8, AAA held a Cap and Gown event at school where students could pick up their graduation caps and gown and drive through campus (of course at a distance) and spend a moment to celebrate.  It was not graduation, but the energy that they brought and the knowledge that this is not the pinnacle, but a stepping stone to even better things filled all who drove in to collect their things.  

In these uncertain times, there are so many unknowns.  Where will each senior be in the fall?  What will they major in?  How are they going to pay for it?  I know all these questions are going through every seniors’ mind.  But I am certain of this.  Adversity will always be with them, but God has plans for them.  I have seen them pray for one another.  I have seen them lead.  I have seen them help each other.  I have witnessed them sacrifice for their classmates.  They will go far.  Let’s see just how far they can go!