Saint Mary's seniors gathered on the west lawn of Opus Hall on Thursday to celebrate the start of their last school year with a picnic that featured free food, games of cornhole and volleyball matches.
Senior SydnieCorso said the event, sponsored by the Senior Class Board, is a final laidback activity before the pressures of the school year set in.
"[It's] just a great way to kick off a year of hardcore studying," Corso said. "It has been a smooth transition from summer and it's good to be back. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now."
Senior Nicole DeRoche said she is glad she set aside this time to rest before the school year becomes more stressful.
"It feels good to just take it easy and relax in the sunshine with my friends," DeRoche said.
Silvia Cuevas, senior class president, said this event is just one of the many ways she intends to nurture the tight-knit bond among her class through student government-sponsored activities.
"We want to encourage class participation at school functions," Cuevas said. "So many connections are made during Senior Week, the week before commencement. I don't want to wait that long this time."
Cuevas said she has already started work on the annual Dance Marathon and began collaborating with the Student Diversity board to prepare more events for the year.
"[The] school year's definitely starting with a bang," she said. "Two weeks in and I am fully immersed."
Students were also able to sign up for Senior Dads Week, a week when seniors invite their fathers to spend time with them on campus.
Corso said she wants to make the most of her last year at the College, especially through extracurricular events.
"My biggest worry is that I will not live my last year here to its fullest," she said. "I'm literally joining every club."
Senior Bridgett Fey said she has mixed feelings about the beginning of the school year.
"I love being a senior, but I don't want to leave SMC," Fey said.
In the meantime, Fey said she is enjoying the "good food, good people, good times."
Senior Sarah Huser said she also does not want to rush her senior year.
"I speak for everybody when I say that every moment we have at Saint Mary's right now is bittersweet because we know it's the last," Huser said. "So we're trying to take advantage of every moment we have. Events like the Senior Picnic and activities night and the amazing things that make Saint Mary's, Saint Mary's are so much more special now because we know that they are not going to happen again."
Senior CailaPoythress said the senior picnic marks the beginning of the end of seniors' careers at Saint Mary's.
"This afternoon was sort of a reflection of the Saint Mary's community," Poythress said. "As we arrived we were all greeted by name by everyone we saw. We all know each other or are friends with friends. We are all always going to be looking out for each other. These are the friends we'll have for the rest of our lives but it just won't be the same."
