As the Class of 2017 inches closer and closer to their last day at Rocky Mount Academy, the years they have spent together have been on replay for many. While every graduating class of RMA has a similar experience of family and academics, there are certain things that set each class apart. Though there is a possible bias at work, I believe this class is unique in the way that we all look out for each other. To learn more about what makes this dysfunctional family so special, read the following top 10 things that set us apart.

1.     We know how to make each other’s days- When you spend as much time together as the Class of 2017 does, it’s impossible not to know what makes your friends happy. When someone is down in the dumps, food is a common solution that many of us use to cheer each other up. You would be surprised how much a quick stop at Chick-fil-a or Anne’s Donuts before school means, even if you have to risk beating the 8:00 bell. Moral of the story: this year’s senior class is a BIG fan of food (and we’re not ashamed of it).
2.     We know everyone’s birthdays- In our grade, birthdays usually mean there is a meal that needs to be scheduled. Lunch or dinner at a restaurant are a must for us, and informing the waiter that it’s someone’s special day cannot be avoided. Yes, we will all sing happy birthday to you (in English and Spanish) no matter how many times you beg us not to.
3.     Each of our own moms are also our friends’ “moms”- On par with our grade being a real life family, everyone’s mom is basically your second mom too. If you ever need literally anything, find a class mom and you’re good to go. As many times as we’ve been to everyone’s houses, it is pretty much second nature to assume the role of your friend’s sibling rather than just someone who comes over to hang out.
4.     We can identify just about everyone’s handwriting- You think I’m kidding. If there is ever an unidentified paper that someone hasn’t written their name on, hand it to a fellow member of the senior class and they will tell you whose it is 99% of the time. Recently, Rachel Scott Dunn conducted a (scientific?) study on how well the Class of 2017 could actually identify each other’s handwriting. The results have since confirmed the hypothesis that we know each other way too well.
5.     We have multiple grade hangouts just for fun- Pretty frequently, our grade gets together for quality bonding. Whether we order pizza and watch a Disney movie at Rachel Scott’s house or go swimming at Suzanna’s grandmother’s house, there will be smiles all around. Even though Sharpe is a pyromaniac, he’s always welcome to start up a bonfire in my backyard when everyone comes over (even if the flames reach an unsettling height).The great thing about going to school with some of your best friends is that it doesn’t take much to amuse us. All we really need is food, music, and each other.
6.     We are a very musically talented class- On multiple occasions, you can hear our grade harmonizing throughout the halls of RMA. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to catch a jam session between Max Collins, Thomas Moore, and Rob Turnage in the courtyard from time to time. The most vocal of the class though, Rachel Scott Dunn, will sing any song, on demand, at the drop of a hat. It doesn’t take much to set our class of on a musical performance and we have several iconic songs that everyone knows the lyrics to.
7.     We all share a closet- Whenever a special event is coming up (actually just on a regular basis), everyone will be getting a “Hey, can I borrow ____?” text. If you pay close attention to pictures at various dances, you can tell that this is true. No, we do not all own the same dress, we just love saving money. No, Rob did not buy that cummerbund set, he just made a stop at a reliable place: Thomas’s Closet.
8.     We know each other’s life stories- Since so many of us have grown up together, we distinctly remember each other’s many phases. For example, Rachel Scott had her “inventor phase” around 6th grade where she convinced everyone that she could build robots. Julia proudly owns her lower school and middle school days when she “looked up to John Hardy (her older brother) and dressed like a boy on a daily basis”. Cargo pants and polos were a trend that she definitely followed. The many awkward stages that our class went through were rough, but they led us to where we are now.
9.     We know each other’s future life plans- Over the years, we have seen each other grown into the young adults who will take on the next chapters of our lives. As of right now, everyone has a feel for where they think their classmates will end up. While I’m sure where we think we will be may not be where we end up, we definitely know each other’s strengths. Whether it’s Bridget who wants to become an engineer, Lindy who wants to possibly be an astronaut after getting her medical degree (yes, she’s awesome), or Reid who everyone will be keeping an eye out for in MLB, everyone supports each other 100%.
10.  We really just click- While we have no way of knowing where we will end up in life, we will always be connected by our experiences over the time we have spent together. Whether you have joined us this year (we love Parker) or have been at RMA since pre-K (all of the “lifers”), the memories we have shared are experiences that belong only to us. The way we get along is something unique and special. The amount of times we say the same thing, or just look at each other and know what the other is thinking is borderline scary. As we’ve spent many a day together over the years, we have all gotten to watch each other transform into the people we are now. I can honestly and thankfully say that the people of the Class of 2017 have significantly impacted each other’s high school experiences in a way that doesn’t often replicate itself.