On Aug. 20, the Hockaday class of 2026 woke early in the morning for one of the first and most beloved senior traditions, Senior Sunrise.
Matching in their traditional red senior nickname shirts and cowboy boots, the class of 2026 stepped into their new roles as seniors, digital cameras in hand.
For senior Abigail Snyder, the morning not only marked the start of her senior year, but it also marked the start of a new journey.
“I’m so excited to start a new chapter, opening the new book, closing the old,” Snyder said.
Tanvi Joshi said that sharing the sunrise with classmates and friends made the moment even more meaningful.
“The sunrise was a good way to start my last first day of school,” Joshi said. “It was a good way to commemorate the day, and I don’t think it would have felt as nostalgic and as sentimental without it.”
To Joshi, the moment allowed her to recognize how far she and her classmates had come.
“It feels like all the hard work I did over the years is finally paying off,” Joshi said. “We get to celebrate ourselves and we finally look forward to the future that we’ve been spending so much time building up and working on.”
The tradition of senior sunrise goes further than photos and breakfast; it creates a sense of community which leaves a lasting impact on the seniors.
“You finally get to feel like a senior and connect with all the people who have done it before,” Snyder said.
With all the commotion of senior year, small traditions such as Senior Sunrise help students build friendships which will last a lifetime and form memories they will never forget.
“I think this time of my life would pass by me so quickly if there weren’t all of these traditions to honor and celebrate the seniors,” Joshi said.
