The last day

the last day FINAL MOMENTS ON CAMPUS Text by RACHEL LIT M Y FINAL MOMENTS at Palo Alto High School there, I was too caught up in writing Verde’s breaking news story should have consisted of yearbook signings and on the official school closure announcement to really be able to sunny, quad-side spikeball tournaments; a day process what had just happened. with no pants, a grade-wide trip to the beach and To be completely honest, I don’t remember much else about green grad caps. From the smallest interactions with classmates to that day. I wasn’t able to go to lacrosse practice because of the the most memorable senior-year milestones, that last, bittersweet cough, missing what turned out to be the last time the team would stretch of high school leading up to the biggest transition of my life be together in person. Peers were already talking about obscure would grant me closure — enough to say goodbye to the people hobbies they wanted to take up during their time off; some even I’m closest to and the place I’ve called home for the past four years. celebrating the cancelation of work they were procrastinating on.

Instead, on March 13, two-and-a-half months earlier than My closest friends had our first Zoom call that night, the beginning planned, I took a 20 minute physics quiz before being shunted of my newfound virtual social life. off to the nurse’s office, and got sent home by 9 a.m. What started In no way am I an outwardly emotional person, which has off as a normal, tedious, TGIF school day would fatefully — and proven to be very confusing for me during this time of grief and abruptly — turn into my last. uncertainty. Regardless, I’m extremely nostalgic and sentimental,

My morning routine that Friday was the same as always: grogso reflecting on the fact that I’m missing my fourth quarter of segily scrambling out of bed at 7:50 a.m. and absentmindedly drivnior year has, at times, physically hurt. I’m constantly torn between ing to school, one hand on the wheel feeling angry at the world, content and one holding a piece of toast for breakfast. As always, I was greeted by an energetic Mr. Hu, the student teachWhat started off as a normal, tedious, TGIF school with this strange sense of freedom that’s come with so much time on my hands, and just pure sadness. This exer in my physics class, in the doorway of room 1701, before sitting next to my best friend, Zoe. day would fatefully — and abruptly — turn into my last. perience is something I can’t wrap my head around.

For obvious reasons (on top of the with the class of 2020 right now, to fact that we’ve been out of school for the past few months), I don’t have danced our hearts out at Prom together, to take four years remember what my quiz was on or really how the rest of the class worth of paperwork and toss it in the air alongside each other, to went. But the next thing I knew, Mr. Lupoli was asking me to go to wear my uncomfortably warm camo pants one last time. Yet simulthe nurse’s office to seek “professional medical attention.” taneously, I don’t know if I could actually go back to Paly after all

Yes, I’d been coughing. Nobody knew where it came from, this. I’m in this weird limbo stage between high school and college, but it was clear I wasn’t actually sick as I’d been healthy in every unable to really move forwards or backwards. other aspect. Though gone now, the cough had persisted for over So, I try to reminisce instead of wish. two months — it wasn’t until that week that people started to care. I miss driving a car with all seven seats filled, stereo blasting

It was my first trip to the nurse’s office in my entire time at throwbacks, to go on our next midnight adventure after beating Paly, so at the very least, it was one more thing to check off my Gatos in basketball. I remember the chaotic joy surrounding spirit bucket list before graduating. Mrs. Kleckner, the nurse, checked week; lost voices, spray paint-stained hands, best-dressed titles and my temperature as I coated my hands in hand sanitizer. After being too many Shrek jokes. I treasure the small moments; intramural asked a few questions, I was told it was just a “residual cough,” that volleyball games, late night production shenanigans and surI did not have a fever and that I wasn’t contagious. Yet campus rounding myself with those I love. security was called to collect my things from the classroom before Not being able to have those “lasts” I’ve been looking forescorting me out to the parking lot. ward to is heartbreaking to say the least, but it doesn’t destroy

Half laughing, half shocked, I called my mom as I turned the memories I’ve already made. I It doesn’t make me forget the onto El Camino Real, explaining why I was compeople I’ve come to lean on as we’ve grown up together, both ing home. By throughout high school, the time I got and now, this. v

I wish more than anything to be

CAMO CRAZE (left and right) — Members of the class of 2020 sport their army green attire and perform their spirit dance on the last day of spirit week in November. Photos by Amy Liu and Kimi Lillios

Text by KATE MILNE P ULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT on the morning senior make my heart hurt. I love Paly, and I always will. But even of March 13, nothing felt out of the ordinary. I was almost when I biked to Paly to sit on the quad that day school was canlate, an unfortunate second semester habit. Little did I celed to think about all the time I had spent there on the grass, it know, it would be my last day of high school. already didn’t feel like I belonged on campus anymore.

As the bell rang for lunch, the news broke: school was canThe campus that used to make my heart race due to its comceled starting the following Monday. In a matter of seconds, the plexity, bustling student body and seemingly non-navigable maze entire student body knew about this development, and the unprecof buildings now feels small. I wish I could go back for one more edented announcement didn’t feel real. Although our swim meet perfect mid-spring day, stand on the pavement in a tight circle with that afternoon had been canceled, our coach insisted that we still my friends by the deck at brunch, attend my third period prep come for pizza on the pool deck, and I book club at Peet’s and even get one am glad he did because it ended up being our last gathering of the sort. The campus that used to more sunburn during swim practice. I want to race in relays with my

I licked my greasy fingers on my walk into Verde, my next class, during which I half-heartedly listened to everymake my heart race due to its complex, bustling stuteammates, cheer for them behind the blocks, and dance and sing in the locker room after practice. I want to one digest the situation while helping my friend make a TikTok, which now serves as evidence of my unorthodox last dent body, and seemingly non-navigable maze of blow one more bubble ring off the bottom of the pool, eat one more mid-practice snickers bar. I even day of high school. My last Palo Alto High School swim buildings now feels small. miss the typically dreaded 100 100s, an annual practice during which we practice happened the next day. I stood on deck as it began to rain, swim six miles. I want to enjoy one more Oscars Band Tribute watching with watery eyes as my teammates did flips off the diving Band Tribute Band live performance, get coffee after school with board and played frisbee in the pool. I will cherish that memory of my friends or get a book recommended to me by librarian Ms. my team, along with the countless others I have made with them Thomas. over the course of the last 3.5 years. I loved being one of their I want to yell “Hi!” to my younger sister across campus once captains and am grateful for all the lessons the role has taught me. more or see her walking with her friends, knowing that she is

A couple of weeks later, the team got together on Zoom for growing up to be someone truly remarkable. While I know she no a digital senior night. Instead of standing on the blocks holding longer needs me to show her the way, I will miss little things like roses and proudly announcing to the spectators where we were singing along to the radio as we drive to school together. going to college next year, we shared stories with each other from What I want most now is a yearbook chock-full of signatures our bedrooms. Everyone cried. It didn’t feel right to be apart on and smiley faces from friends and teachers as a tangible memory to a night that senior members had looked forward to since we were look at when I’m older. While I don’t know if I’ll end up getting freshmen. that — maybe I’ll have to wait for our December graduation cer

All the traditions, potential friendships, memories and peremony — I do know that the countless memories and friendships sonal growth I am missing out on every day as a fourth quarter I’ve made at Paly will stay with me for a long time. v

ABOUT THE AUTHORS (left and

top left) — Seniors Kate Milne and Rachel Lit became close friends through Verde. Photo by Rachel Lit

SKO VIKES (right) — Paly students support the boys varsity basketball team on the road to CCS. Photo by Karen Hickey