As the weather warms back up again and the Halloween Parade approaches, seniors are reminded of how the heat delayed their first two events of the school year: the water tower and cookout.
The senior water tower painting event was delayed from its original date of Aug. 20 to Sept. 10 due to extreme heat warnings.
This year, the water tower painting and senior cookout, which usually is its own event, merged together.
“The water tower event has historically been the kickoff to the start of their senior year and to have a sense of community even before school started,” Senior Class Dean Stephanie Almanza said.
Greenhill’s tradition of painting the water tower is comparable to how seniors at other schools paint their parking spaces. However, Greenhill’s senior tradition creates a sense of unity by putting all their names together in one space instead of apart.
The delay was not taken well by the seniors. Many were upset that the first event of the year together ended up being the senior breakfast on the first day of school.
One of the many reactions found among the class was the feeling of a new beginning being taken away and missing out on the feeling previous senior classes experienced.
Senior Khadija Hussain says she felt the delay was understandable. However, many other seniors, including Hussain, were still bummed by the way their senior year would begin.
“It was a little off not doing the water tower first,” Hussain said.
Hussain also shared how seniors were pushing for the event to keep its original date despite extreme temperatures.
“It wasn’t worth the third-degree burns we would have gotten from touching the water tower,” Hussain said.
Additionally, she felt that having the water tower painting on the same day as the cookout made the day more special because parents were present for both.
Normally, parents do not attend the painting of the water tower. However, this year parents joined the seniors for the water tower tradition as they were on campus for the cookout.
Hussain was appreciative of the two events falling on the same day, so parents with busy schedules could be there to support their children.
Senior Iyad Mohammed echoed this sentiment.
He recognizes he is where he is today due to his parents’ care.
“Being part of a tradition that had been carried out for years in the past connects us to Greenhill and being able to contribute to this legacy is important and special to me,” Mohammed said. “It marks closure, and the beginning of the end of our time here at Greenhill.”
His choice to paint the Ethiopian flag next to his name on the water tower was his way of cementing his roots in Greenhill history.
Senior Abeera Amer felt this senior tradition sparked many emotions for her, one of which being nostalgia.
“When I was younger, I would always see the water tower paintings because my brother and sister also went to Greenhill,” said Amer
Although the seniors had an abnormal start to the year, they are still on track for having an eventful year.
Amer says she is most excited about the senior surprise and spending spring break with peers.
“I think they’re a great way to bring all the seniors together and I also think that class unity will only grow throughout our senior year,” Amer said.
