With the school year finally settling in, and students getting back into the school routine, the senior class of 2010 becomes used to roaming the hallways as the “top of the food chain.”  “Senior year is what everyone looks forward to since their freshman year,” senior Rachel Gallogly said.  “Knowing that you’re at the top and about to graduate is the best feeling.”  With the anticipation of the perks this upcoming year, seniors start off their last year full throttle.

Along with those feelings come many traditions that have been a part of Annandale for countless years.  One of these traditions is the painting of the “C-Train”, the dumpster located next to the senior parking lot.  “Painting the C-Train is a great way to start off our last year together,”  senior class Vice President Andrea Quezada said.  Students gathered within the last few weeks of summer to paint the valued C-Train.  The tough part: agreeing on what to paint on the walls.

“We wanted everyone’s input so our whole class can feel like they had their own contribution to it, so we made a Facebook group where seniors could post their own ideas,” Quezada said.  With much thought and creativity, the class of 2010 produced the saying “TENatious, compeTENt, omnipoTENt and inTENse.”  “Each word has our graduating number somewhere in it so we thought it was creative and unique.”  Although the C-Train is only half painted at this point, student government hopes to complete is soon.  “Its kind of plain so we’re planning on adding a lot more color to the other side,” Quezada said.

With recent vandalism to the uncompleted side of the dumpster from the previous senior class, students are eager to make sure their mark is rightly displayed.  “I think it was pretty low and disrespectful for the previous seniors to do that, they had their time, so now they need to leave high school and let us have our year,” Quezada said.  Senior officers also decorated the classic “Senior Chimney,” where the words “Feel the intensity” are displayed down the side.  “The chimney is great because its coming off the top of the building so everyone can see,” Gallogly said.
Another popular senior tradition has been hand-painting “senior t-shirts.”  Caroline England and friends made multiple t-shirts they wear to football games to show their senior spirit.  “One of the shirts we made has the Kenny Chesney lyrics to his song ‘Young’ on the back,” England said.  “We also made one that says ‘Seniorella, respect your royalty’.  I like that best ‘cause it’s original, but my favorite one says ‘seniors baby’ with ‘peace out’ on the back, I ripped the idea off my sisters old senior shirt.”

Another senior bonus is being able to eat in the “senior courtyard.”  The courtyard located down the ramp, serves as a haven for the seniors to escape to from the noisy cafeteria.  “I hope a lot of people use the courtyard this year.”  Senior Nathan Clayton said.  “It’s a good privilege to give to the seniors so we can escape from the crowed cafeteria that we’ve eaten in for the past three years.”

“I really hope all of these traditions help bring our class together for the final year,” Gallogly said.  “Especially now we need to show a lot of spirit since we’re the head of the school.  Without a good senior class the school spirit isn’t all there, mainly at the football games.”  Many seniors agree with Gallogly, seniors are hopeful that spirit as well as attendance will go up.  “I want everyone to bond over our last year and come together as a class since this is the final year we will all be together,” England said, “and I really hope we have a great beach week!”