The symbolism of sunrises representing new beginnings stems from Hinduism. This metaphor was taken on by people over the course of centuries. In modern society, celebrating a sunrise has even become a high school tradition.
On October 7, between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. in the Linganore High School (LHS) football stadium, the Class of 2026 came together for Senior Sunrise. Senior Sunrise is an annual event for the graduating class, in which students come together to celebrate their path to new beginnings and the start of their last year of high school.
A lot went into setting up the event, with the officers from the senior class council taking the lead. The officers – Hannah Zirk, Kyle Nicholson, Alexandra Pietanza, Alexander Thomas, and Casey Kirby – had the task of getting LHS staff volunteers, advertising for the event, and choosing the date.
The event was originally planned for September 25 and meant to be a special Homecoming week event for the seniors; however, the event had to be postponed due to weather conditions.
“It [Senior Sunrise] was postponed because, unfortunately, it was going to rain,” said Thomas. “You can’t exactly see the sunrise if it’s raining.”
Students were invited to bring snacks and blankets, with many even preparing for a cookout and picnics on the field. Unfortunately, some students were upset to learn they could not go onto the field, since seniors at last year’s Senior Sunrise left the field messier than they found it. This led to the decision to have this year’s graduating class sit in the bleachers.
“I think [next year’s Senior Sunrise] should be on the field,” said senior Eliza-Sara Casiean. “I came prepared with my blanket and whatnot, but still, I really think this should continue going forward.
Despite the setbacks, the seniors still showed up with smiles on their faces. Some brought blankets, others donuts, and Thomas even brought hot chocolate from Dunkin Donuts. Still, for the majority of students, the real showstopper was the sunrise itself.
“I think it’s a really fun tradition that we get to do, and [the sunrise is] gorgeous,” said senior Morgan Smith.
At the event, seniors were encouraged to sign the Class of 2026 banner with all their names. The banner would later be put up to further celebrate the graduating class’s accomplishment.
As the sun finally settled into the morning sky, seniors were left wide awake and ready to begin their day. While the event was over, the students had a newfound excitement for all that was to come in their final year of high school.
“It [Senior Sunrise] kind of just made me realize, like, wow this is senior year,” said LHS senior Addison Stacey. “And it just felt like the beginning. It was really exciting.”
