Montgomery Senior Class Goes to Disney
Tuesday, February 26th started out as an ordinary school day. Yet, instead of trudging to first period, the seniors in our school excitedly prepared to board the bus to Newark International Airport. We had all been eagerly anticipating our class trip to Walt Disney World, the culmination of four years of nonstop classwork, intense extracurriculars, and extensive college applications. In addition to being a well-deserved break from school, Senior Trip was an opportunity for us to connect with our classmates before we head our separate ways this fall. In the blink of an eye, our five days and four nights in “The Most Magical Place on Earth” were over, but the entire experience will forever stand out as the most memorable part of high school.
For many of the students on the trip, it was their first time traveling on their own and living with roommates for an extended period of time. In a way, the responsibility we were granted resembled that of a college student, something we are only a few months away from. Although Disney World had a lot more roller coasters and a lot less homework than any college would, we were still held accountable for everything: purchases, belongings, and time management included.
Maya: Our adventures opened our eyes to the realization that our decisions have consequences, especially when we can’t rely on the safety net we have grown accustomed to. One of these poorer decisions was agreeing to ride “It’s A Small World” only an hour before our dinner reservation in Epcot. In sandals and dresses, we sprinted halfway across the world (at least halfway across the Epcot countries) to avoid the inevitable cancelation fee for missing a reservation. The situation is humorous in retrospect, but in the moment we were facing a challenge that can only come with traveling on our own. We left Florida with the newfound confidence of independence.
Ananya: Another poor decision: taking a bus to Epcot an hour before curfew in dire search of dinner, only to find out that most Epcot restaurants close at 10 pm. And did I mention it was pouring rain? And that I got lost? And when I called my friends to find them, the fireworks conveniently started so I couldn’t hear anything except explosions of color and people cheering. Needless to say, it was a rigorous lesson in independence and probably a great prep for college life.
M: Perhaps the best aspect of the entire trip was getting to spend time with all of my friends at once, without the stress of school and life looming over our heads. Between bumping into people at restaurants, planning to meet up at the hotel, and spending an evening with the entire class watching the fireworks, the trip allowed us to have fun with those whom we don’t always get to see outside of school. Those are the friendships I’ll miss the most after graduation, because they’re people I may not stay in touch with, but who made my high school experience great.
A: I spent one particularly memorable night at a Mexican restaurant in Epcot with my friends. We dressed up and walked leisurely along the water as the sun set. The sky glowed orange and soft music wafted through the air. At dinner, we pretended it was our friend’s birthday and received free ice cream and a “Happy Birthday” song in Spanish from the waiters. I laughed and cried and was overwhelmed with the warmth of that night. It was the true Disney spirit.
M: I wish this unique opportunity could be available for every school. Though it is expensive, Senior Trip truly enriched my high school experience. Five straight days of uninterrupted happiness boosted our class morale as a whole and gave us a memory to fondly look back on when we leave Montgomery High School.
Disney brought us together and brightened the prospects of graduating alongside some truly amazing individuals.