Annalie Merkel

Annalie Merkel (’26) and Clodagh Finucane (’26) at their senior game on 10/10/2025

With the weather getting colder and the slowdown of the college application process, the deadline rush fades and the idea of the next chapter creeps in. I’ve always wanted to get older, excited for the opportunities that adulthood could bring me. Yet, one random morning, I woke up and wished I could turn back time. I’ve noticed other people have, too. Not because I regret things I have done, but just so I could savor every small moment.

In October, the girls’ varsity and boys’ varsity soccer teams’ seasons ended after rainy playoff games in Brooklyn, the last soccer season for many seniors. Seniors from both teams have won championship titles during their careers, so it wasn’t the absence of a medal that weighed on them the next day; it was something else.

There was no 7:00 a.m. practice or team meeting after school—that was it. Four years of practices, team bonding, and after-school games were suddenly done. All of a sudden, I wish I didn’t complain about waking up before the sun rose, the cold temperatures, and the exhausting days because I was doing what I love, surrounded by teammates who made me laugh and smile, a group of girls who became like family.

Being a senior feels like an emotional roller coaster that won’t end until the day I walk across the graduation stage. The thought of turning 18 and leaving behind the sports I’ve played since I was five haunts me as I think about the endless freedom next year will bring me. Maybe sports aren’t your thing; maybe you’ve been a part of The Echo or the debate team for some time. Regardless of the community you are a part of, don’t slow down or pull away because graduation keeps coming closer.

All of this to say: breathe in, breathe out. Appreciate the moments you get, because there are no redos. Take every mistake as a lesson and right your wrongs. If you’re a senior, the countdown means we have to make the most of every second. Step into each day with intention, live in the moment, and create memories your future self will cherish forever.