SLHS counts down the days until long awaited summer

As the end of the school year quickly approaches, Southern Lehigh students and teachers alike begin to count down the days until their fun-filled summer begins, dreaming of the relaxing months ahead, filled with sunny days, activities, vacations, and more.

“I cannot wait to wake up, go to the gym every morning, tan by the pool, and then go to work, and repeat that same process every single day,” senior Ella Sarnitsky said.

Whether it is napping on the beach or taking part in simple day-to-day activities, members of the Southern Lehigh community hope that their summer will be a time filled with relaxation and rest. However, many students and teachers also view summer as a time to get work and tasks done, while also taking part in activities they love to do.

“I’m going to be working as a lifeguard at Saucon Valley Country Club, but aside from that, I’m definitely going to go on occasional Starbucks runs, hang out with friends, and go to the beach,” senior Genevieve Fry said.

Believe it or not, students are not the only ones who are desperately waiting for summer to begin. Teachers alike cannot wait to have some time to themselves to relax and rejuvenate in preparation for the next school year, which will begin in late August.

“Usually I get up, do some kind of workout in the morning, and do some work around the house,” social studies teacher Mr. Thomas Beaupre said. “Besides that, I’m going to try to golf once a week and also go fishing with my son.”

Whether it is simply to the beach or the lake, or even to some extravagant location, summer is a time where individuals go on vacations to spend time with their family and friends. Many members of SLHS will venture to different locations, such as to the beach, or even to tropical destinations outside of the United States.

“I’m going to Portugal with my best friends; I’m so excited,” Sarnitsky said. “After, I’m going to Ocean City with my friends as well, then to Florida.”

As the end of the year approaches, seniors more than any other underclassmen anticipate what the next academic year will hold for them. For many students, it will be a time of adaptation into new locations, living situations, and friend groups. Seniors claim that they will miss the comfort of coming back to Southern Lehigh for another school year, and therefore, soak up the last few days they have left as an SLHS student.

“I’m really going to miss seeing my friends everyday and my third block even day gym class the most, but I am excited about getting to go to everyone’s graduation parties,” senior Gabriella Tucker said.

Teachers alike will miss many aspects of school throughout their summer break, such as being able to talk with their colleagues and students on a day-to-day basis.

“This summer I will miss the students, but especially the seniors that are graduating,” gym teacher Mr. Matthew Hummel said.

About the Contributor

Isabelle Johnson, Social Media and Web Editor

Throughout her time at Southern Lehigh, Isabelle Johnson has been a dedicated student-athlete and active member of her community. After spending three years with The Spotlight and becoming the social media and web editor, Izzy will graduate in May. She is excited to enter the next chapter of her life and plans to attend Lafayette College. There, she will major in neuroscience and swim for their Division I program. At Southern Lehigh High School, Izzy has most been involved with the high school swim team. She was a varsity swimmer for four years and qualified for the PIAA State Championships during her junior and senior seasons. “I think I'm just really proud of the team in general and being able to form so many bonds with everyone,” Johnson said. “I'm really proud of all of the progress we made as a team because I feel we have always worked really hard together, and we've made so many strides.” As a swimmer, Izzy mainly competes in sprint events and specializes in freestyle and butterfly. One of her biggest accomplishments on the swim team was breaking the individual school record in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.80 seconds. Beyond her own success, Izzy also contributed to the team through her leadership as one of the captains. Although Izzy was nervous to initially step into the role of captain, she is thankful for the lessons it has taught her about collaboration and mentorship. “I really enjoyed getting to help new swimmers. There were people who were finding their way and swimming, and I liked to be there as a voice for them or just to give them someone to talk to,” Johnson said. “Being captain also taught me a lot about being actively involved in sports instead of just being on the team.” In addition to her involvement with sports, Izzy is a member of Teen Counselors, National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, and Student Council. Activities such as Teen Counselors have played a vital role in helping Izzy decide what career path she wants to pursue. As a naturally friendly person, she loves getting the opportunity to work with kids as an SLHS Teen Counselor and wants to continue that by becoming a pediatric speech pathologist. “I want to pursue that because I think it would be a fun way to work with kids,” Johnson said. “It also seems really interesting to learn more about the brain and how speech works.” Izzy is most excited about the opportunity to dive more into neuroscience when she arrives at Lafayette University. Although she was able to take interesting science classes in high school, she is looking forward to more specific coursework to her career aspirations. Even more impressive than her ample extracurriculars is the positivity Izzy brings to the people surrounding her. It is evident to anyone that meets her, but no one knows this better than her close friends. “She is the one person I can call at any time if I need something and she would be there in a second,” senior Grace Robinson said. “Her positive energy could brighten anyone’s day.” In addition to her warm nature, Izzy’s perseverance is a testament to her strength. Whether bouncing back from a broken foot during the height of swim season, or managing a difficult course load, Izzy always finds a way to pull through. “One thing that I admire about Izzy is her perseverance. No matter what obstacles arose, Izzy’s grit has propelled her through them,” senior Brianna Wasem said. “She has overcome many challenges that most people wouldn’t overcome.” Izzy’s friends are also in awe of how dedicated she is to her many different activities. “Izzy is the kindest, most understanding person who is always there to support her friends,” senior Elizabeth Vezenov said. “She is optimistic, dedicated, and hard working in everything she does, all while managing Type I diabetes.” Izzy’s friends agree that her fun-loving personality is another huge part of the person she is. “My favorite memory with her is our beach trip last summer and just spending time watching TikToks and laughing,” senior Genevieve Fry said. What Izzy will miss most about high school are the friendships she has made over the past four years. Although heading off to college is a bittersweet experience for her, she chooses to look at the bright side. Her senior quote perfectly sums up her outlook on graduating high school. “I chose ‘the best is yet to come’ by Frank Sinatra for my senior quote. I really like that quote. I feel like it is fitting because I'm sad about graduating, but I also just remind myself there's so many more chapters after this,” Johnson said. “ I'll just have to keep moving on and know there'll be more experiences and more room to grow, so I feel like that's like a good code to live by.”