By. Makaila Auker, Tara Feltman, Emilie Gerig, and Sarah Irvin

      As the year comes to an end, every senior is awaiting the final events of the school year: baccalaureate, class night, and graduation. Baccalaureate comes first, in the month of May, on the 20th. Then comes class night, which is on May 29th. Finally, is graduation, which falls on June 4th. The nearing date of these events may cause excitement in some of the student population, but it also causes sadness. The students know that these are the last days of their high school career, and they are most certainly going to treasure every last second they have at East Juniata.
      The first event in the graduation process here at EJ is Baccalaureate. On this night our senior class will hear the start of our sending off into the world. Even though most see this event as a religious event, it is definitely much more than that. A speaker, usually a local pastor or youth leader, will present to the class, and those in attendance, the importance of our generation in the future and a biblical lesson to encourage the seniors to strive for their best, and to make a change in the world. The senior high chorus will sing a song (or two) as a send off to the class, and as a piece of encouragement. Baccalaureate is truly the start of the senior class’s new chapter: journey into adulthood.
      Of all the senior activities we have, one event is Class Night. Class night is the second event in our senior activities. Class Night is a night where the historian of the senior class gives a speech. Along with the speech, a slideshow of pictures is presented on each and every person in the class. Some scholarships are also awarded on this night. Class Night is known as an inspiration to the senior class. This is a night to honor the senior class for all the achievements they have made, along with the memories that were made along the way. 
      The final event that all seniors are waiting for is Graduation. This year at EJ, Graduation will be on June 4th, due to all of the snow days we had this unpredictable winter. Finally the class will accept the item that they have been working on their entire academic career: a high school diploma. Our talented performers will get to be on stage one last time and our athletes will come together as a team for the last time. The senior class will spend their last moments of being high school seniors together and their first moments of being educated adults together. This is a joyous and tearful celebration as we realize that we all grew up together and we will all go our separate ways for the first time. As we prepare to put on our gowns and hats, we will remember all of our memories of EJ and all of the people who made them special.