From the small, everyday moments to the big milestones, the Class of 2025 has made memories that’ll last a lifetime. As you graduate and begin a new journey, you’ll also make new memories, but no matter how far you go, you’ll always be part of the pack. So, as you leave high school and start that journey of self-discovery, let’s reminisce on where it all started with some of the seniors’ favorite moments at Northwood. 

“Probably ASB because I got to interact with a diverse group of people and create different events that are inclusive and target certain groups of students. My favorite was Timby’s Birthday because I got to interact with a lot of grade levels that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to interact with otherwise. It really helped me develop a lot of soft skills, even though I’ve only been a member for two years.”

—Katherine Jiang

“Going to Escalon with my best friends for football CIF was my favorite highlight from high school. That game brought us together and our chemistry as a team grew so much, in a way that cannot be replicated. I am proud of our team’s achievements and I wouldn’t change them at all, even though we lost. I loved playing football and I will cherish the memories forever.”

—Josh Chao

“My favorite part of yearbook is when we got to unbox the first batch of yearbooks that arrived because it’s really cool to get to see all of our hard work pay off and it’s also a really nice way for all the other students to look back on all the things we did, years from now. I also really love the little community we have in yearbook and I know that even though the other editor-in-chiefs and I will be gone next year, it’s only going to get better.”

—Annie Song

“My favorite memory is when I met my girlfriend in our English class last year. We were deskmates, and one day, she forgot her book, so I offered to share my book with her so we could read it together. That was the first real interaction I had with her, but I just remember thinking that she’s incredibly hardworking and beautiful. We’ve been together for a year and a half now, but she’s really helped me become more responsible and fun.”

—Daifeng Li

“Link Crew really helped me become more active. When I was a freshman, I was really shy and scared, but a lot of upperclassmen made me feel welcome, which is why I wanted to contribute to that. I think Link Crew was the best way for me to actually help the school environment, and I’m so grateful I was able to help so many people in a short amount of time. It’s nice being able to be like the people who helped me out back in freshman year.”

—Matthew Kim

“Tennis is full of an amazing group of girls, and we all have a sense of camaraderie, even between the varsity, junior varsity and frosh teams. We all share this interest in the sport and by exercising together and going through the wins and losses, we built a real sense of community. That’s why it’s important to not take winning or losing that seriously because it’s all about the memories and the growth you experience along the way.”

—Ellen Wang

“Experiencing my last dance show was really emotional and everybody was on the verge of tears. It was still a really happy experience though because originally, there were only three guys in the program, but now we’ve grown to five and next year there’ll be 12, so it’s nice to see how much more inclusive the program has become since I started. I never really thought I would get into dance, but it’s really changed my life and opened me up to creativity.”

—Michael Tran

“Doing track at Northwood was always super rewarding, and I got to meet a lot of amazing people that would support me—and they’re also a big reason for why I’ve improved so much from being the slowest runner in freshman year to one of the fastest 800 meter runners. Having to leave them is hard, but I’m definitely gonna visit because Northwood holds a pretty special place in my heart.”

—Jason Nguyen

“My last choir performance was special because we performed really well, and after, I got flowers from my friends. We also took a photo together, which made me feel really happy and proud, because this was the only performance they were able to go to, and it felt like a celebration with my friends. That’s part of why choir is meaningful to me because it’s like a family where I can express myself, which made my love for choir grow.”

—Tiffany Yu

“My favorite memory from high school is skipping prom in junior year and going to the beach to eat hot dogs with my friends. We wanted to do something fun for the day that was more cost-effective, so we each wore our own dresses, went to the beach and set up a bonfire to have a little cook-out and eat food. It was a really nice experience and even after going to prom in my senior year, I still prefer the hot dogs, so I’ll definitely miss that experience and my friends.”

—Dristi Goswami

“My highlight has to be the Chicago tour [with Northwood’s music department] because it was a lot of fun and a pretty surreal experience. We were all kind of pushing each other to perform at our best, and I got over my fear of heights when we visited the sky deck at Willis Tower, so it was kind of adventurous too. Music in general is one of those things that I really look forward to every day, and that’s what’s so fun about Northwood is that you have people you know and feel safe with, so you can really be yourself.”

—Lucas Nguyen

“I’d have to say all the time I spent with fellow classmates and friends. Northwood was my first American public school experience, and it definitely left a lasting mark, even if I was only here for two years. I’ll forever be grateful for the teachers I’ve met and the friends I’ve made. I don’t think I’ll ever have an experience like this again in my life. A truly unforgettable era.”

—Dan Do 

“My favorite event was Senior Night for wrestling because everybody came together and the community, love and support really showed. The juniors made some lace for us, so I was fully decked out with lace, a flower crown and a lot of posters, so it was a lot of fun hanging out at the ceremony and having my friends and family all come out to support me. They know how much wrestling means to me, so it really made the experience memorable.”

—Anavi Swider

“Definitely one of my favorites was playing hide-and-seek at the school at night because of how Northwood takes on an entirely different atmosphere and it’s a great way to kill time between intermissions of school productions. It’s almost like ‘Friday Night Lights,’ but there’s an additional element of youth that’s more spontaneous and not dictated by school. Plus, there are actual wolves howling on the hills.”

—Isaiah Walker