As voting for senior superlatives made its way into the inboxes of seniors, students split into two sides: those eager to cast a vote and those who deliberately chose to sit it out.
For some seniors, the vote was a lighthearted chance to recognize classmates and reflect on four years spent together. For others, it raised questions about fairness, relevance and whether the titles truly represent the class. The mixed response has sparked conversation about what the superlatives mean, and who feels included in the process.
On Jan. 20 an email was sent out for seniors to nominate their classmates. A very small number of seniors decided to submit their votes.
This has been a trend throughout the year for surveys sent out in other emails as well. Seniors were given the choice to submit their senior portraits for the yearbook as an alternative to their current pictures. Again, a very small number of seniors decided to participate.
The survey offered students a chance to highlight the personalities and moments that defined their class. For many, the experience went beyond voting and became a reminder of how closely classmates have grown over the years.
“I took the survey because I wanted to recognize my classmates and celebrate all of the different personalities in our class,” senior Mohamed Adam said. “Taking the survey made me realize how much our classmates notice each other and the impact we’ve all had over the years.”
Through small moments like the survey, students were able to recognize not only each other’s traits, but also the lasting impression they’ve made together throughout their time in school.
“I made the decision to vote because I thought it would be fun to see what our classmates think of the people in our class,” senior Olivia Fortson said. “Participating in the survey made me feel included in a tradition that brings our class together.”
But as the school year winds down, and conversations about graduation grow more and more frequent, not every senior is focused on ceremonies or sentimentality. For some, the final months of high school are simply about finishing strong and moving on to what comes next.
“I don’t really pay attention to stuff like that,” senior Lena Bowersox said, referring to the survey. “I’m just here to get stuff done and go home. I feel ready to graduate.”
While senior traditions are often designed to celebrate the graduating class, not every student experiences them the same way. For some, activities meant to unite can instead highlight feelings of exclusion and reflect how students experience belonging during their final year.
Whether viewed as a meaningful tradition, an unimportant task or a reminder of exclusion, the survey sparked conversations about recognition and participation within the class. As graduation approaches, these differing perspectives highlight the importance of finding ways to celebrate seniors that allow everyone to feel seen and included.
“I didn’t participate in the survey because, honestly, it made me realize how easy it is for some students to feel overlooked,” senior Emma Noel said. “Even in moments made to celebrate them.”
