The school year is coming to an end, and graduation is quickly approaching. The class of 2015 is preparing to close one chapter and open the next as they start new lives as high school graduates.

I have a lot of friends this year who are seniors, and throughout my junior year they have helped me grow as a student and as a person.

Laura Isenhour is one senior who has really impacted my high school experience. She was always there when I needed her, whether it was something as simple as needing a ride to school or helping me study, or more challenging things, like coaching me in tennis.

I am so proud of her and all of her accomplishments like winning prom queen, getting to the first round in states in tennis and even getting a tennis scholarship to Catawba College.

Not only will I miss Laura, but all of my friends who made me laugh, shared long phone calls and had lunch dates after school. I recently spent some time with these seniors and talked to them about their high school career and college plans.

Maritza Ortiz is one of my best friends from Spanish, and she is one of those seniors who will be graduating. Ortiz said she will miss all her friends, hard-working teachers and the school spirit the most. During her time at Carson, Ortiz said her friend, Cassandra Dorsete, made the biggest impact on her life.

“She has pushed me to do better, do new things and accomplish my goals,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz has learned a lot over the past four years. If she could give a piece of advice to rising freshmen, it would be, “Be yourself, don’t worry too much what others think of you and always do what makes you happy.”

As for the rising seniors, she would tell them to “go hard or go home, and get it done.”

Another friend of mine, Anthony McCurry, said he is looking forward to the freedom that comes with college, but also said he will miss his childhood friends. He will be attending University of North Carolina at Charlotte to study engineering.

McCurry’s favorite high school memory is being a part of the football and wrestling teams.

“(Coach) Bryce Vandenburg made the biggest impact on me. He was more than just a coach. He would sit down and talk about life. He was more like a second dad to me,” he said.

McCurry’s advice to freshman is to take their schoolwork seriously. “Nobody is too cool to do your work because failing isn’t cool,” he said.

His advice to rising seniors is to not rush through their senior year. “It goes by fast, so enjoy it and don’t let senioritis win.”

Taylor Mcculloh was one of my lunch buddies this semester. As a member of the golf team, Mcculloh said she will miss the sports, teams and meeting her best friends after high school, but she is excited for the freedom of college, as well.

History teacher Ryan Chandler made the biggest impact on Mcculloh’s time at Carson. “He always has faith in me, his whole class actually, and always encourages no matter how sassy he is,” she said.

Mcculloh said she will miss high school and warns the freshmen to not be afraid to be themselves and to stand out, because seniors are not that scary. Mccolloh will be attending Appalachian State University to get her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Darren Isom, a close friend of mine, will also be graduating this weekend. The football and basketball player said he is ready to meet new friends and have a successful sports career in college.
“Playing football and graduating with all my friends will be my favorite memory,” he said. “Go in working hard and give 110 percent,” is the advice Isom has for rising freshmen.

He also encourages the rising seniors to “stay on your ‘P’s’’’ and “Q’s” and keep doing good in school.”

Graduating high school is a huge accomplishment, and it’s sad to see all of these great people leave, but I can’t wait to see what is in store for them after graduation.