With only days left on Williston’s campus, seniors must choose how they will savor these last few weeks.

The class of 2026, composed of 132 seniors and post-graduate students, will be graduating on the Academic Quad on May 23. The graduation will include speeches from an elected student and guest alum, as well as the handing out of diplomas and the celebrations to follow.

18 of these students have been here since seventh grade while others have only joined the community this year. The last six weeks of school include a plethora of events, such as Asian Night Market, Why Not Speak Day, Senior Elimination, Willy Gras, Senior Dinner, Baccalaureate, Prom, and Lock-in.

Alums often tell seniors these months are the ones you will cherish most, so students feel the pressure to spend this time right.

Jack Wilson, a senior from San Francisco, Calif., is excited to cross a warmer weather activity off his bucket list.

“I definitely [want to] swim in the pond,” he said. “I did it last year, but I want to do it again as more of a senior thing.”

Jack is referring to the pond in town that students often walk to during the warmer months. While swimming in it is often discouraged, students often take a dip at least once in their Williston career.

Both Jack and senior Alex Munro thoroughly enjoyed Asian Night Market that took place on the Academic Quad on Monday, April 13. Jack made the beloved Vietnamese dessert, pandan jelly, a treat composed of both vanilla and coconut jellies, and Alex made falafel.

After three years of observing other seniors, senior Mel McCullough is excited for it finally to be the class of 26’s turn.

“I feel like seeing how close the senior class gets every year is something I’ve been looking forward to since probably freshman year,” she said.

Mel is eager to participate in the senior bonding experiences including Senior Elimination and pulling an all-nighter as a class at Lock-in.

Lock-in occurs on May 17 directly after prom; students enter a gym filled with games, inflatables, food, and all their senior friends, and don’t emerge until 6:00 a.m. They are treated to a day off that Monday.

Jack Nolan, a three-year senior from Scottsdale, Ariz., is also looking forward to the upcoming Senior Elimination and adds his hopes of setting track records before he leaves.

“I want to take James [Courtney’s] 300 hurdles record. I want the 110 hurdles record. I want the pole vault record,” he said.

He also added hiking Mt. Tom one last time and executing a “banger senior prank” to his bucket list.
Mel had a difficult time picking just one thing she’ll miss realizing how special each moment on campus is.

“I’ll miss everything, really,” she said. There are so many little moments, from sitting in the common room with a random group of people or catching up with someone I don’t see often walking to class [that I’ll miss]. But I think the sunsets and the way the campus looks during fall will be what I miss most.”

There is a consensus that Williston’s strength is in its community, something that the graduating seniors will miss dearly.

“I’ve been able to meet people I now consider family and I’ll always have those memories to look back on,” Mel said.

As Jack Wilson put it, “You go from a school like Williston to a school that has like 13,000 to 18,000 kids, it’s really different. Not to say there isn’t community at those [colleges] … [Williston’s] just a really tightly woven community and that’s just something you won’t see again.”

Four-year senior Lauren Martinez, a day student from South Hadley, Mass., feels the way she spends her free time on campus is something she will miss.

“I will definitely [miss] spending my frees in the library with my friends,” she said. “Also, Tandem and Dunkin’ runs, like we’ve been doing that for so long now I don’t think I have realized how much I’m going to miss it.”

Psychology Today published an article titled “Graduation Blues” about the feelings that often occur as graduation approaches.

“The trick to getting through these times of change—and it is not an easy one to accomplish—is to allow yourself to have the full range of emotions while managing to stay on track with an appreciation of the moment,” they wrote.

Jack Wilson, who won the superlative for most likely to be late to Graduation, hopes people remember him for more than his lateness.

“I probably am going to be remembered for being tardy to everything, but I hope people will remember me as someone who was helpful and friendly because I made an effort to be nice to everybody,” he said.

Last year, Jack had roughly 72 tardies, but claims he has “been much better this year.”

Wildest Cat Jack Nolan wants to be remembered for being involved on campus and “having positive vibes.”

Lauren doesn’t want to forget a second of her moments on campus.

“I want [to remember] everything, the ups and the downs,” she said. “I’ve had so many moments in my Williston career where I thought my life was over because I got an 80 on a test and [thought] it was the end of the world when it really wasn’t. I also [want to remember] the people out of everything, all my friends, my teammates, and my teachers.”