“Objectively The Best Grade”

thebirdonfire.org rotates editors weekly. This week, Renée Vazquez takes the helm. With the power inherent in being editor comes the charge of naming the week’s THEME. Renée charges the Blog Team with writing about “Home.” Luke opens discussing how PVS is “Home” to our Class of 2020.

By Senior Luke Langlois

Greetings one; greetings all. If you haven’t noticed, the class of 2020 is HERE. I can certainly imagine that you have noticed us, since, according to Charles Schnell, we are “objectively the best grade.” He later clarified to me that this line was ironic, but does his irony make something untrue? Anyway, we weren’t always the tippity top dogs of the school. We don’t think about it too much as we carry out our daily lives, but the senior class is a culmination of thousands of days at Palm Valley. We’ve done billions of worksheets and have made even more exclusive jokes that ONLY SENIORS would understand. So, I recently sent out a survey to the entire class asking what it means for them to be a senior. 

• What does it mean to finally be a part of the traditions that have been performed by countless classes before us? – I was personally expecting some snarky answers; it’s part of the rebellious teenage culture to be apathetic towards school. Surprisingly, everyone made a positive contribution. As one senior put it, “It’s pretty awesome… but it’s super surreal.”  That’s probably where I’d gauge myself. Many of us ask, “Wait, I’m graduating soon?” Monotonously going to school every day has become a part of life, so it coming to an end feels quite strange. Some are more excited about being a senior. Claire, for example, says she’s “so jazzed it’s unbelievable. I’m living for this. All my dreams are coming true.” That sounds like pretty legitimate excitement to me! Another senior brings us down, saying that there is a lot of work to do before we’re anywhere. Hopefully, we don’t succumb to senioritis before then. 

• Could you name a way that Palm Valley has become like a home to you? – We spend more working time at our school than we do at home. I suppose we seniors do because we love Palm Valley very much. One senior remarked that they have never felt more welcome at any other school and that they cannot wait to come back and visit Palm Valley when they have the chance. Another said that they felt their old “home” was unwelcoming, and that being here has given them a clear goal in life.  Josh Tyer reminisced on the people that have made him who he is, “ I could never give up the family I’ve made at Palm Valley.” In one way or another, we students have a connection to our school if you dig deep and look. Even if you’re not a senior that may help motivate you to keep hitting academic heights; it’s for your home! Or, you see life like Wilton Zuniga who thinks the student lounge is somewhat of a “cozy living room.” 

• If you could create a NEW senior tradition, what would it be? – Traditions are the best way to keep the generations of students connected, whether it be an alumnus who graduated fifty years earlier or a current senior. Traditions can be pretty whacky. Palm Valley’s seniors have some ideas that correspond with that theme. One senior had the idea of a “handprint wall,” where every graduating class would put their hands in and leave their mark forever. Another senior suggested “Senior Dorito Day,” which is exactly what it sounds like. Claire Jenkins pulled an idea from her daredevil spirit and said all seniors should go skydiving. Perhaps one of you non-senior student readers can make one of these concepts a reality one day. Please, skydive. 

• Do you have any senior prank ideas? – Palm Valley School is not known for its senior pranks, but seniors in general certainly are. As such, I asked the class what kind of pranks they would like to see. One senior, insightfully making fun of the way I phrased my question, said “Yes.” In all “seriousness,” though, Lawrence Nelson would be interested in filling the student lounge with BALLOONS. Doesn’t that sound delightful? Perhaps we could bring in a clown as well to strike coulrophobia into the younger students. Charles Schnell ponders about pooling our money together, buying a kayak, and leaving the kayak up at the graduation seats instead of us. Uh, how creative! One senior wishes that they could install League of Legends on every school computer because everyone could use a competitive gaming session. Claire, with sleep on her mind, says every senior should bring a sleeping bag and take a nap in the lobby. I do not actually condone nor condemn, senior pranks (nor does Ms. Zachik), but they are hilarious to think about.

There is your somewhat brief look at the musings of the class of 2020. Unfortunately, not all of the seniors responded to my survey (you know who you are). By the end of the year, I may do this again to see how we’ve come along. No promises, but stay tuned. 

Editor: Renée Vazquez