On Monday, May 18, the senior day of reflection was held for the sharks to reflect back on their time spent here at NDB. This is one of the last few events this incredibly bonded class will have all together before graduation. The reflection was held at St. Bartholomew, which will also hold the shark’s Baccalaureate mass. All seniors wore free dress and dressed comfortably to have a fun day of reflecting and class bonding.
Senior Finley Wilke-Hiland was given the opportunity to speak about her time as a shark and what she will take along with her to college. Wilke-Hiland shared how the start of high school was a little nerve-racking, only knowing a few people, but over time, she became more comfortable and more confident in school, which made her run for class council and even ASB, which she now serves as the Marketing and Communications director!
“I had mixed feelings, both happy and sad, because we are leaving behind something so familiar, but also stepping into a new chapter of our lives that will be very exciting. I will definitely take away the importance of living in the moment and just experiencing and doing everything I can in life to make the most out of every day,” shares Wilke-Hiland.
Aside from her talk, she also wanted to not only talk about her time at NDB, but also live in the moment during the reflection and consider how it will benefit not only herself but also the senior sharks.
“I felt like the senior day of reflection was a great way to take a step back from our busy schedules and just spend a full day bonding with our class and reflecting on the last four years.”
After Wilke-Hiland’s speech, the sharks were split off into small groups with some of NDB’s teacher staff being the adult group leaders. These small groups were to help seniors reflect back on their four years and to bring back old memories that may have come back up. Students were later instructed to create skits about old memories and events that had happened at NDB from freshman year up until now. The skies that the seniors put on definitely brought up many memories and moments that may have been slowly forgotten but thankfully brought back up again. Many laughs and excitement filled the room when the skits were put on.
For the second talk of the day, History teacher Jonathan Tomczak shared a heartfelt speech on the importance of living in the present moment and why he has a special row of senior portraits in his classroom. He shared a story about a previous student he used to help teach and how her story and life taught him to cherish every moment and live in the moment, not the past.
After Tomczak’s talk, Dean of Student Life Arlene Empleo shared her amazing story on why goodbyes can be hard but also good. The reason she shared this talk was that, as the sharks get ready to say goodbye to a major chapter in their life, the goodbye doesn’t always have to be sad or bad. It can be good and heartfelt as they all embark on their next journeys.
Not only did this day of reflection bring memories back to the seniors, but it brought them back all together before the next major steps before graduation happen. Seniors reconnected with one another and themselves to really soak in the last moments of high school before their college journeys. This reflection was truly an amazing experience for this graduating class and will always leave a reminder with all of them that they will forever be a part of an amazing sisterhood and community that will forever have their backs.
