Emmalee Martyak
Sun down. As Senior Week comes to a close, we are led to supporting a Senior Sunset over the traditional Senior Sunrise.
An annual tradition and part of Senior Week is the Senior Sunrise. However, the Mountain Echo feels that the tradition of the sunrise should be replaced by a new tradition: a Senior Sunset.
A Senior Sunset could incorporate all of the same traditions as the sunrise including a balloon release, guest speakers and more. Overall, holding a Senior Sunset would be more convenient for all involved parties: attendees and staff.
For attendees, a sunset event would be more manageable. The sunrise is an event they have to set an alarm for and get to on a deadline. Being merely minutes late to the event means missing the whole thing. While this is true, too, for a sunset, seniors are already awake prior to the event, and it is more manageable to spend time hanging out on the field leading up to the sunset.
In addition, a Senior Sunset would be a more fitting image for the end of Senior Week. As the concluding event of the week, the sunset would symbolize a sort of “lights out” on senior week.
For the staff involved in the event, many spend all night setting up prior to the event. Set up for a sunset would be able to be held between the end of the school day and the kick-off of the event.
Some may argue that the senior sunrise is a tradition, but the best thing about traditions is that they are ever-changing and new ones can be adopted. Overall, a Senior Sunset would be an all around more manageable event, would offer more pleasant, enjoyable experiences and memories.