Rain pounded the cars that slowly filed into the student parking lot in the rear of the high school. Each car came to a stop in the various parking spots and cut their engines. A few minutes dragged by, and for what seemed like forever, no one ventured out into the elements as the rain continued to pummel the parked cars. The time was 5:50 in the morning, and stray beams of light had only begun to peak out of the thick clouds that blanketed the sky. As the time approached 6:00, the rain suddenly lightened and then stopped.
It was at this moment that the parking lot began to come alive.
People emerged from their cars, decked out in green and white, and climbed the stairs out of the student parking lot, up onto the hill of the track and practice field to watch the sunrise.
This was the backdrop of the Class of 2026’s Senior Sunrise on Friday, September 5, as the group celebrated the commencement of the last year of high school. Although the weather began less than favorable, the beautiful sunrise that followed made up for this momentary snag. The sun came into focus around 6:14, painting the sky vivid shades of pink and red. It was then that people quickly raised cameras to the sky and took pictures of an unexpected surprise.
Beyond the beauty, sunrises hold great symbolic meaning across cultures and religious traditions. Specifically, many religions and those within the spiritual space agree that the moment of sunrise signifies new beginnings and awakening. Due to this, many religious and spiritual rituals revolve around the morning time, especially during sunrise. For example, in Islam, people pray just before the light of day because they recognize the sunrise marks the start of a new beginning. Likely for a similar reason, and with the help of social media as a catalyst, many high schools across the US and the world have adopted the senior year ritual of watching a sunrise as a class.
While the Class of 2026 was not gathered for a religious service or a morning meditation, the sunrise held similar significance. For everyone in attendance, the sunrise marked the last first week of K-12 education that they would ever experience. Additionally, the occasion marked the start of a farewell tour of senior events that begins with the sunrise and ends with graduation.
The event served as the beginning of closure for the 12 years of learning and growth that each student has experienced during their time in the Dartmouth Public Schools.
Aerro Gove was one of the seniors in attendance. “It was good,” they said. “We got to take pretty pictures, and it didn’t rain the whole time, which was great. Overall, it was a really fun time with the people we have grown up with.”
Other seniors agreed with these sentiments. Ashton Sbardella said, “Honestly, I’m just happy the rain cleared up and that the sunrise was really pretty.”
Despite most reviews being positive, some still felt that the wake-up time was too early and the rain dampened the event.
“I did not want to be there that early. I had to wake up at 4:30,” said Brady Edgcomb.
Preston Francisco, meanwhile, thought the sunrise was “very lackluster.” “There should’ve been a rain date,” he said.
In the end, regardless of their feelings on how well the event went, the seniors hope to spend the year simply having fun and sharing moments with each other.
“Enjoy the last few months of childhood,” Gove said. Sharing similar thoughts, Sbardella added, “I hope to make more memories.”
As the time flipped to 7:00 am, students took to the same stairs that had carried them up to the hill and made their descent toward the school, ready to begin their senior year.
