As the end of the first semester nears, students reflect on their goals and the new changes that took place.

Because of  COVID-19, the past two years of school were nowhere near normal. In the 2019-2020 school year, students left school for spring break but would not return that year and would end the year online. 

During the 2020-2021 school year, most activities and dances were canceled and the Wahlert community, along with everyone else, was asked to wear masks. As things slowly returned to normal this year, much has changed or resumed from years prior and students have goals they would like to accomplish. 

“I enjoyed this semester,” states Amelia Krier, ‘22. “My classes were pretty easy due to the fact I am wrapping up my high school years. I just hope I finish off strong so I’m able to graduate and go to college next fall.”

“One thing I’m grateful for is that we were able to go to the homecoming dance this year. I missed getting ready with my friends and spending time with them at the dance. The past two years it has been canceled, so it was long awaited, and I’m just glad I got to go my senior year,” said Krier.

Alex Link, ‘22, says of his first semester, “It was a good first semester of my senior year. I really liked those dress code bracelets. They were for a good cause, and it was nice to have them because I was able to wear my Wahlert hooded sweatshirts. My classes were enjoyable because I liked all the people in my classes.” 

He continues, “As we finish up the first semester, my goal for the second semester is to finish out strong, have good grades, and enjoy my last semester of high school.”

One new addition this year is weekly mass in the gym. Link doesn’t really care for this change. 

He says, “I don’t really like having mass every week. I feel that it is rushed, and students are not participating like they should be. I also think that people need their eagle time, especially towards the end of the week. I think we should move mass to twice a month and do it how we did it a couple years ago — on the stage, get the folding seats for the gym floor, get the choir back out, have altar servers, etc.” 

The school’s newcomers, the freshmen, are enjoying their first year of high school. “Although we freshmen didn’t get off to a good start, I enjoyed my first semester of high school,” Peyton Portzen, ‘25, says. “I thought the dress code bracelets were a very cool idea because I liked being able to wear hooded Wahlert sweatshirts in school. I also had a very good experience with my first cross country season in high school. I met many great people and made memories that will not be forgotten.”

One of those memories is the homecoming dance, which freshmen were able to attend for the first time this year. “I’m happy we got to attend the homecoming dance this year, and I look forward to attending the other high school dances,” said Portzen.

Slowly high school life is returning to normal, and students, for one, are glad of it.