Writing a senior quote has been a tradition that many students have looked forward to since they first entered high school. For many of us, our senior quote is more than just a sentence in the yearbook. It is a small way to represent who we are, reflect on our time during High School, and leave behind something that we chose for ourselves. Unfortunately, the Overhills High School Class of 2027 has been told that we will not be given the same opportunity as the classes before us.

At first, we were told that senior quotes would not be included at all. Now, while we are being given the opportunity to have a quote, we are only allowed to choose from a specific prompt. Although we appreciate that senior quotes are still being considered, this is not the same experience that previous senior classes have had. We believe the Class of 2027 should be allowed to choose our own quotes, just as the classes before us were.

Many students have been looking forward to choosing a senior quote for years. Some of us have even had a specific quote in mind since we were younger. We have spent 13 years in school working toward this moment, and senior year is supposed to be a time when we get to celebrate everything we have experienced and accomplished. Taking away a small tradition that previous classes were able to enjoy is disappointing, especially when it is something that means a lot to so many students.

We understand that some traditions have to change over time, but we do not believe we should lose another tradition unnecessarily when there are reasonable ways to address the concerns surrounding it.

This is not about students wanting to submit inappropriate or unserious quotes. In fact, many of us take this opportunity very seriously because we know that our senior quote will be something we look back on for years to come. We want the ability to choose something that is personal and meaningful to us rather than selecting an answer from a prompt simply because it is easier to manage.

We are willing to follow reasonable guidelines and understand that not every submission can be accepted. We are not asking for unlimited freedom or for inappropriate content to be allowed. We are simply asking for the same opportunity that previous senior classes were given: the ability to submit a senior quote of our own choosing and have it reviewed before being approved for the yearbook.

The Class of 2027 deserves to have a voice in how we are represented in our final yearbook. A senior quote may seem like a small thing, but it is one of the many traditions that makes senior year special. We hope that our concerns will be heard and that we can work together to find a solution that allows us to keep this tradition while still maintaining appropriate standards for the yearbook.

We respectfully ask that the Class of 2027 be allowed to choose and submit our own senior quotes, subject to reasonable review and guidelines, rather than being limited to a predetermined prompt.