Woodbridge High offers a plethora of extracurriculars to students, whether it is athletics, arts or leadership. Each activity offers the opportunity for students to create new bonds and make new memories with their peers. Essentially, some of the strongest friendships are gained life lessons are learned through these experiences.
Students share what they will miss the most from each activity and express their appreciation for the communities they are a part of. Senior Harini Suresh Kumar details how tennis has become an important aspect of her high school experience.
“[The WHS tennis team] really felt like a second family and I’m going to miss that bond so much,” Kumar said. She also explains how her teammates made the sport an extremely memorable experience for her, as she felt supported and encouraged throughout her entire time playing tennis in high school. The meaning of a second family to her is having people to lean on in times of need and being able to share close bonds despite not actually being related.
Certain events in the past have left an emotional impact on students, as they have turned into core memories for students to carry beyond high school. Senior Mia Thompson shares the inside jokes made between her and her teammates throughout the years, as she will miss those moments the most.
“The funniest moment was watching my teammate dance on the table at In-N-Out,” Thompson said.
The undeniable bonds between people with similar interests can lead to lifelong friendships as demonstrated by many students at Woodbridge High.
Furthermore, senior Charli Chu, demonstrates her favorite moments from multiple activities such as Warrior TV and Link Crew. Specifically, being involved in Link Crew for three years has allowed Chu to gain knowledge on how to lead a group and take initiative when needed.
“Each extracurricular has taught me resilience and strengthened my passion for creating meaningful experiences,” Chu said.
Her activities have led her to recognize the joy of turning ideas into real life products, in hopes to bring happiness to others. Through Warrior TV, she was able to share her passion for storytelling and filming with the school, as it also came with the magical feeling of seeing everyone’s hard work come to life on screen.
Additionally, students demonstrate their favorite moments from their extra curriculars, specifically the rewarding feeling they felt from reaching specific goals.
“The most memorable moment for me was winning PCL [Pacific Coast League] for flag football the past two years and winning PCL for soccer last year,” Thompson said.
For many athletes at Woodbridge High, qualifying for PCL is an extremely exciting accomplishment, especially after spending the entire season putting in the effort to reach it. Seniors have the opportunity to gain lifelong memories and experiences through these events, along with a strong sentimental connection with that particular activity.
Kumar highlights specific memories that stood out to her the most, encompassing different events such as Senior Night.
“It really hit me how close we’d all gotten and I’ll never forget how loved and celebrated I felt that night,” Kumar said.
Through and through, the class of 2025 has created significant bonds with people they have met from their activities and reflect back on their journey since freshman year. The inside jokes between teammates, the euphoric feeling of winning the last game and the overall satisfaction students feel after being a part of a welcoming community for four years can all contribute to a nostalgic feeling after high school.
