Obviously, the coronavirus has cut the senior’s legendary second semester short. While it can be easy to dwell on the memories that won’t be made due to the virus, The Class of 2020 recounted their favorite memories from first semester as it was a time they will never forget.

The year began as always with none other than football season. Friday night lights tend to be a big deal for many students, especially when playing the Bishop Blanchet Braves. Senior Connor Riley reminisced on the feeling of intensity and panther pride radiating off the bleachers. It helped that Prep was able to pull out a win, but more important to Riley was that for the past three years, Panther football was his family, and he shared how “It was the most energy I have ever felt at a game as a player and was the most fun game to play in.”

Now, often at the football games the focus is on the team, however, Prep is home to two very talented bands who play at the football games, as well as assemblies and concerts. They add a very lively and enjoyable excitement to all the games. Senior Maya Warnock has thoroughly enjoyed her time in the Pep band so when this year the band room was so full, they had to use beanbags as chairs, she was ecstatic. She shared how the band used to have only six to eight members, but this year the number shot past 15 to 25 new members. Warnock was thrilled to see the growth of the program from her Freshmen year to the first semester of senior year. The turn out this year was so meaningful to her because she “loves to hear more recognition of band and how music should play an important role at school.”

Now, Prep has always been a leading contender in Mock Trial thanks to the dedicated faculty and students who put countless hours into the program. For senior, and captain, Julia Oles, the very last round of the mock trial districts was her best moment of senior year. The last round was the Seattle Prep Junior Varsity versus the Seattle Prep Varsity which in the sport of mock trial they like to call “A Civil War”. Mock Trial has been Oles’ biggest passion over the last four years and spending the last moments of it with all her teammates and friends made it an experience to remember. She was grateful that the hard work she and her teammates put into the mock trial team payed off for the whole team. While she is sad to not have finished the whole season, she “knows that the future of Seattle Prep mock trial is super bright!!!”

While it can be hard not to dwell on what senior year could have looked like, it is important to remember the mark that the Class of 2020 has left on Seattle Prep. The most memorable moments aren’t always the championship games or big dances, but often are the intimate moments with teammates, classmates, and friends that last longer. The first semester was full of these experiences, making it a first semester to be remembered.