The class of 2026 is about to graduate and move on to the next chapter of their lives. There’s a trend in seniors feeling the same nervous-excitement about the upcoming event.
Senior Kendall Bourbon said she is ready to embrace the freeing aspect of the college experience following graduation.
“I think all of the freedom and the opportunities that come with being in college, especially like being able to commute and still live at home and have the same place, but like be able to kind of make my own rules and make my own schedule. I’m just super excited for all of the new opportunities that I’m gonna get,” Bourbon said.
Even though Bourbon will be living at home to attend Missouri State University, she said will miss the community high school has given her.
“My friends and my teachers have become just really special to me this year and they always have been but I feel like I’ve gotten really well established this year … so all of my friends going in different directions is kind of sad for me.”
The connections made in high school is something Senior Ryan Davis said he will miss as well.
“What I’ll miss most about Nixa is the people, since none of my friends are coming to WashU with me.”
Davis is moving to Saint Louis to attend Washington University to study mechanical engineering and said he’s nervous about leaving loved ones at home.
“[I’m] apprehensive about being far away from my family,” Davis said.
Senior Dutch Bader is moving over 500 miles away to Birmingham, Alabama following graduation.
“I’m excited to be in a good community. But I’m also nervous about leaving my family and just making a big change and going from living in a small town to a big city and being completely on my own,” Bader said.
Bader was provisionally accepted into Highlands College to go into Christian Ministry and said he is looking forward to the school’s environment.
“Being in a good community and fostering new relationships with a community that’s centered around a belief system,” Bader said.
Even with the hopeful atmosphere, Bader said he acknowledges that the shift won’t come naturally as he didn’t always plan to move away from home.
“At first I wanted to stay close. I wanted to be able to have support near me at all times. There’s just been other things that have pulled me away,” Bader said, “I’m going to have a lot of people that are going to be there and support me. And while it might not be my family, it’s not like I’ll never see them. It’s just going to be hard. It’s going to be a change. And it’s something I’m going to have to adapt to and learn from.”
To celebrate and recognize Nixa’s class of 2026, graduation takes place on May 17th at Great Southern Bank Arena, 12:30 pm and is free to attend.
