A variety of friendships are formed throughout high school—some short-lived, some lasting, oftentimes through a team or class—all of them devastating for seniors when it comes time to leave them behind.
In most cases, friends are in this together: a group of seniors moving in all different directions, perhaps some committing to the same school or taking a gap year together.
However, in some cases, friendships span across different grade levels. These ones are special; often creating a sibling- like relationship and find themselves in a tight and unique bond. The younger friend goes to the older (assumed to be wiser) friend for advice, whether it is about classes to choose for the next school year, questions about college applications, or simply anything and everything that comes to mind.
This can become quite the tragedy when the older approaches the daunting realization that, rather than graduating side- by-side, they must leave the other behind.
This struggle is one a number of seniors from each graduating class go through, figuring out how to say goodbye to their non-senior friends and move on, knowing their friend is still in this part of their life’s past. This often leads to a sort of pre-mourning: a sweet, sappy collection of “I’ll miss you” and “Come visit!” along with a plethora of outings designed to make the most of their remaining time together.
Woodbridge High sophomore Xeni Hoang can testify to this difficult experience. Her friend, Maya Nishizaka, is graduating this year in the class of 2026, two years before Hoang is set to graduate. The pair became friends when Hoang first entered high school, meeting through the swim team.
“I looked up to her as a freshman and though she was one of the coolest and kindest swimmers on the team, and over the past two years we became really close,” Hoang said.
Hoang and Nishizaka bonded over the past two years together at Woodbridge High, their friendship being strengthened over time. When asked about their favorite memories together, both reminisced on their frequent trips to a local boba shop, HeyTea, after swim meets. Notably, the two also won Pacific Coast League (PCL) Championships together—not once, but twice—successes that will surely remain sweet in both students’ memories throughout life.
Nishizaka, as the side of the friendship graduating and leaving behind her sophomore teammate, shared being glad to be out of high school after completing her four years, but, a classic senior feeling, extremely sad to part from all of the people who made her high school years so memorable.
This feeling is especially strong in regards to Hoang, who Nishizaka knows is only halfway through her journey at Woodbridge High and who, unlike her fellow senior friends, will not be moving on to their next phase of life alongside her.
“I’ll miss swimming on the same team together, bonding and hanging out during meets, going out to eat after meets, and taking [photos] together,” Nishizaka said.
Hoang shared equal sadness at Nishizaka graduating, acknowledging that she has been an important part of her life and a huge contributor to her success in swim.
“What I’m going to miss most is getting swim advice from her and being able to talk to her about everything…[as well as] having someone to talk to and motivate me at high school and club swim meets,” Hoang said.
While friends can remain in contact online or stay updated through social media, seasonal meetups over school breaks are unmatched to the ease and comfortability of always being on the same campus, or, in Hoang and Nishizaka’s case, the same swimming pools as well.
As graduation approaches, Hoang and Nishizaka, along with many other cross-grade-level friendships, will be gearing up to say goodbye, enjoying and savoring their final moments together where both are still high school students.
Months later, the class of 26 will be found scattered hundreds of miles across the world, some in other cities, other states, and or other continents. And as their high school life appears more and more distant, no longer their present but a part of their past, it is often easy for these seniors to feel alone, so distant from the life they once knew. But they must not forget the truth: that they are being rooted on unwaveringly by an army of teachers, coaches, and friendships past.
A final message to Nishizaka, as she explores a world beyond Woodbridge High: “Make tons of friends, enjoy and live every moment, and come visit us a lot,” Hoang said.
A final message to Hoang, as she traverses two more years of high school before finding herself in the spot Nishizaka is in now: “Stop procrastinating, and try to make the most of the fun parts of school no matter how miserable the rest is because it passes by so much faster than you’d expect.”
Woodbridge High and its many halves of friendships welcome back the class of 26, and any other once-seniors, to visit home with open arms.
