With graduation growing increasingly closer, Utica High School’s Class of 2025 began to say their goodbyes with just one handprint at a time. As part of a long-standing cherished tradition at Utica High, students were invited down to the cafeteria during their English classes to place their handprints on the wall. With either orange or white paint, the esteemed colors of Utica High, they made their final mark on the wall and signed their names beneath it as a remembrance of the past for the underclassmen they left behind. The colorful collage of handprints stands tall as a symbol of unity, school spirit, and the closing chapter of their high school journey.
For many seniors, the event was more than just a cliché arts and crafts project or a way to skip class; it was a reflection of how far they’ve come and what they’re leaving behind.
“Doing the senior handprint event was so meaningful to me because it marks the end of my fabulous senior year,” senior Sarahi Agustin said. “It’s such a bittersweet moment as it’s a reminder that I made it through my high school career and that I’ve accomplished so much. Placing my handprint with my fellow classmates shows me the unity that we have here at Utica.”
While some students felt a wave of emotion towering over them, others found happiness and joy in knowing that they were a part of something that connected them to past and future generations of students. It gave them a chance to laugh, make a memory, and take part in something that will outlast their time at Utica.
“It was very emotional putting my handprint on the wall with sadness running high,” senior Yana Jani said. “This tradition will stick with me because it’s such a unique tradition that we do at Utica to represent how far us seniors have come.”
As the event went on, the overwhelming weight of graduation and the future lives they would lead began to hit some of the seniors. It served as a subtle reminder of just how fast time had flown by, whereas others couldn’t help but be excited about what their lives would bring next.
“I was proud to leave a handprint on the wall, I felt completed with school now that I left my mark,” senior Dreyden Jackson said. “I felt accomplished and confident with my time at high school, and this felt like a nice way to end it.”
For many, the handprints were more than just a fun activity. It was the final moment for them to reflect on their journeys. On a wall with (Find out number of seniors) handprints, each one represented the end of an era, but also the beginning of something new. It was a good final symbolic gesture that left them feeling connected to their school, their peers, and to the memories they made along the way.
