![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
For many seniors, that last spring semester is when they make their last memories of highschool. By that time many seniors are finally relaxing. College applications are over, SAT and ACT tests are done, and seniors finally get to enjoy spending one last semester with their peers before college.
For some seniors, going to online school isn’t worth sitting through as many have already completed all of their required courses. Especially now that online school is likely to continue at least until the spring semester, seniors do not feel like completing their last year is really necessary.
Ian McCarthy, a senior at GBHS, doesn’t think that graduating early is especially hard since there are no senior traditions he is missing out on.
“I originally just wanted some college classes done early at Sierra, but now that school is going to be online all year, or close to it, it really cemented the idea,” McCarthy said.
Usually in the spring semester, seniors are kicking their feet up and stay mainly for the annual senior activities such as senior parking, senior sunset, and senior picnic. While GBHS is doing its best to provide the most authentic experience online, it’s not the same.
Aidan Marr, another senior who plans to graduate early, is sad to miss out on some fun traditions, even though there is no chance of them happening at all; he sees no point to put in the effort to stay.
I (can’t) enjoy the end of high school with all my friends like I had planned and there (are) no other classes I really (need) to take.
— Aidan Marr
“I (can’t) enjoy the end of high school with all my friends like I had planned and there (are) no other classes I really (need) to take,” Marr said.
Although seniors graduating early are sad to leave, they are still using their time wisely. One of the unexpected benefits of so much free time, for example, is the ability for seniors to start college credits early.
“I figured I could take that time and put it towards an early start at Sierra, so the decision was easy to make,” Marr said.
An additional way seniors plan to use their time away from school is trying to find jobs. Bryce Burnham is another senior graduating early.
“I plan to take a few classes at Sierra, work on my tennis, and maybe get a job,” Burnham said.
Seniors graduating early are also making it clear that they were not in any way pressured by friends or family.
“If anything, my peers wanted me to not graduate early,” McCarthy said.
While the reasons seniors are choosing to leave GBHS early have definitely changed from past years, the number of seniors graduating early does not seem to be substantially more than past years. Typically about 20 students choose to graduate early, according to Gregory Sloan, an assistant principal at GBHS.
“I’m sure we’ll end up with that number (of seniors) or more. Some could depend on what school looks like (in) the spring,” Sloan said.
Until then, early senior graduates as well as the rest of the student body can only try to make the best of the situation.
This story was originally published on GraniteBayToday.org on September 21, 2020.
