By Tori Kitchens

With less than a month before graduation, I reached out to the Class of 2023 to hear about their year, their time at Oak Hall School (OHS), and what’s to come.

Senior year is a year like no other. We receive privileges we have waited for, we get taught about the real world, and we make memories that will last a lifetime. This year’s graduating class would like to thank Mr. Malloy for making this year so special for us.

But it’s far from over. Currently, we’re working on our senior projects, our senior trip to Key West is right around the corner, and the graduation walk with our kindergarten buddies will be a highlight right before graduation.

Some favorites from the year:

For Neil Ruth and many others, he enjoyed winning all the Homecoming grade-level games. The seniors won both powderpuff events and capture the card back in October. For Jenna McDowell, she enjoyed getting to know everyone in the senior class. Lifer Kate Pickens loved bonding with everyone and getting to know people in other grades. Bailey Thorp enjoyed the senior meals, and Mia Kuhn loved having lunch off-campus. Gwynn Munger and Julia Gordan liked spending time in the college counseling suite.

The Kindergarten Buddy program was something we were all excited for. Lifer Emily Malloy has a very special connection with her buddy. “From working in the ECLC, I have known Jasper and his family for a while,” she told me. “He is so special and brings a smile to my face every day. I am so blessed to have him and his family in my life.”

Whether you arrived on campus only a year ago or you have been here since the very beginning, thank you to the Class of 2023 for an amazing time at OHS. The friendships and connections I have made with my classmates this year is something that I will cherish forever, and I am so excited to cheer everyone on in this next chapter.

Here is some advice to our younger OHS students:

“Just because you like something others don’t, don’t change what you like to be known or popular,” McDowell pointed out, “You like what YOU want to, not what others around you like.”

“It’s okay to make mistakes, it is okay to take it easy,” lifer Blake Cornwell stated. He emphasizes the fact that academia is not the sole reason for living and to not put too much pressure on yourself. Emily Malloy mentioned that your character shines through as mistakes happen.

“Make some good memories that last a lifetime,” Neil Ruth explained. “You’re in high school once.”

“Enjoy your time while you are at Oak Hall, you are really lucky to go to a school like this and will appreciate it when you are older,” Pickens said. “Just savor every minute because it goes by crazy fast.”

Here is a list of the colleges the Class of 2023 will be attending:
American University
Auburn University
Baylor University
Belmont Abbey College
Carnegie Melon University
Flagler College
Florida A&M University
Florida International University
Florida State University
George Washington University
Jacksonville University
John Hopkins University
Loyola Marymount University
Mississippi State University
Newberry College
Oregon State University
Santa Fe Community College
Savannah College of Art and Design
Sewanee: The University of the South
The New School
Trinity College Dublin
University of Chicago
University of Florida
University of North Florida
University of South Florida
Vanderbilt University
Wake Forest University
Yale University