Annalise Rosik is a lifer at Fresno Christian, and is now part of the Student Leadership team.

It is slowly hitting me that I have begun the end. The finale of these people I have been surrounded with for the past four years, the closing chapter of these high school memories, the calm before the storm of college I have been wishing for.

It?s exciting to think this year will be a gigantic blend of new memories, nostalgia and anticipation. But I am in this odd state of contentment harbored by slight anxiety. It will be a tough awakening to reality.

I believe something happens to each senior class as thoughts of the future settle in. Everyone begins to cherish the days a bit more, everyone seems eager to initiate new relationships, everyone bonds by the circumstances of senior year.

Already my class has come together to embrace this last year. In the hallways there is circulating talk of pranks and event ideas. To date, we have had a random dress up day and class movie night. After the movie had finished, many of my classmates stayed and talked of the future and how surreal this year seems. In retrospect, we concurred that the days were long and the years were short.

It’s such a special thing. So unique that even in the moment, I still recognize this season will never be duplicated. I have spent my entire childhood at this tiny high school, and some of my classmates I’ve been with since kindergarten. With the approaching change it’s hard to picture my life without these people as a constant.

I don’t want my class to be a group of people without community. My hope is that we will approach this year with the intent to live with the end in mind. I am trying my best to discover my purpose for each day because these days are limited.

Senior year has forced me to think in terms of the end. Almost as if next year will be my last on earth. I find myself repeating the phrase, “I want to do that” more often that I can count.

This is how life should be lived; where we are tied up with forming a legacy, reaching out to peers and working with no regrets. My attitude toward senior year may be the closest I?ve ever come to understanding how to live with utter abandon.

For more opinions, read the Sept. 12 article, Student tours Spain, experiences new culture.