As is custom every year, the graduating seniors of Bridgewater Raritan High School commemorated and officially announced their post-high school graduation plans on May 1, for National College Decision Day.

May 1 marks the last day students may put down their deposits at a school and officially commit to their college of choice.

Whether the student was a signed athlete who committed to a college in their junior year or made their decision the night before, the day is meant to mark everyone’s official and definitive plans. So, on Thursday, May 1, the seniors announced their plans for after high school by wearing their school’s merchandise.

With the beautiful weather, the day was filled with excitement and activity as the students rushed to find their friends and take pictures with their college gear. Whether it be on the track field, the lunch room, or even in class, the senior class could be seen taking photos wherever they could to commemorate the day.

Despite the excitement, the day was also bittersweet. Many, in passing and in their classes, noted that the day felt sobering to the fact that the senior class will soon be graduating.

Now, with prom less than two weeks away, and a little over a month left of the school year, it is finally becoming evident to the students that this is the end of their senior year and high school career. Soon, the students will partake in a similar tradition to decorate their graduation caps with their respective post-graduation plans, to graduate from Bridgewater Raritan High School and pursue their degrees or careers.

With graduation looming, it is important for the students of the graduating class of 2025 to relish the time they have left in high school before they start the next chapter of their lives, and with many students leaving home for college, never again will the whole grade be together after this school year.

From California to Texas, the seniors will soon move far from home and will look back on this important milestone of their senior year with fond memories of one of the last times they get to celebrate their hometown friends before parting ways.

Gianna Callari, a senior who will be attending Baylor University in Texas in the fall, gave her thoughts on the day.

“Commitment day was so much fun, and I loved seeing everyone in their college shirts! But it was still crazy to think that we are all leaving and going off to college, so it was definitely a bit of a sad day,” she said.

The students are excited for the next step of their lives with college, but before that, there are still a couple of important events left for the class to look forward to: prom and graduation.