What Will Grads Miss Most About Hamber?

The “Before I graduate…” mural next to the drama studio, given to the school as a grad gift by the Class of 2013 | Photo Credit: Eric Hamber Yearbook

As they face the final weeks of their high school journey, Hamber grads find themselves reflecting on the experiences that have made the past five years truly special. While everyone’s Hamber experience has been unique in its own ways, one thing that many grads will look back on is the school community.

“One of the highlights for me was Midtown Showdown,” said Tiara Sartene (12). “Everyone had the best school spirit, and it was the most fun couple of days.”

Gabby Milot (12) shared a similar sentiment, saying that she is going to miss “all of our little silly things, like Spirit Week and Pyjama Day,” since these are experiences that won’t continue after high school.

But it isn’t only the school-wide events that will resonate with this year’s grads. For many students, the Hamber experience has been defined by a variety of little moments with friends and classmates.

“What I’m gonna miss the most of course is gonna be my friends and hanging out with them, but also just being a high schooler, like the teenage drama, and having lunch, and having conversations about the most stupid, dumb stuff,” reflected Farima Afzal (12).

“I’m gonna miss two things most. Number one: fighting for a parking spot in the student parking lot, and two: the community,” Harris Toth (12) explained. “I’m gonna miss a lot of people when I’m going away for school.”

Mahdis Shamsa (12), like many other grads, will look back fondly on the relationship she’s built with her teachers over the years. “We’re so much closer than I think I’m gonna be with my college or university professors, because we’re a smaller community and we see them every day.”

Of the countless things that Hamber grads have looked back on, one of the things they will miss the most is simply the consistency of high school life. As students graduate, they realize that all the comforts and habits of their day-to-day lives are about to change significantly.

Saraya Edwards (12) explained, “For the past years, we’ve always been like, ‘we have next year’ [...] and it’s this whole thing that’s like a staple in your life. Now that’s gonna be gone or different; it’s going to change, and that’s what I’m going to miss most.”

“I feel like university is gonna be very abstract when it comes to [routine], which is exciting, but it’s also gonna be something new,” said Andjela Nikolić (12).

Tara Takayedi (12) reflected on the classes themselves. “I’m gonna miss [...] the level of difficulty of classes, because I know it’s gonna be a lot harder in university,” she said.

Although these changes are certainly daunting, many grads find that their grade 12 year has brought everyone closer together, creating a tight-knit group.

“I feel like, especially since we all know that we’re leaving and a lot of us are going to lose touch, we’re closer [now] than we have been in recent years,” shared Nikolić. “You have all these people who are in the same situation as you and you share that experience of leaving something behind. I think that’s something that I will miss most.”