Seniors, our time has finally come. After 15 years of memories, it is now time to bury our time capsules, enjoy our last moments, and part ways into our different paths.

We have been through many changes. We were the first generation to try the one-to-one program, the first clap out of Huastequita, and the only generation to be in Missouri, Huastequita, and Huasteca, in just two years. And now we say goodbye as the last generation born in the 20th century.

Our best memories started when we barely knew how to read and write. On one of our first field trips to Huasteca, everyone was having fun, playing voto or trying to hike up a path full of cacti, when Cristóbal Ayala, unfortunately, fell right into one. Trying to control our laughter, our 6-year-old selves closed our eyes while the teachers undressed him in front of everyone, to rid his arms full of spines.   

In second grade, we all got our time to shine when we acted as bugs in the annual show. In 3rd grade, we learned the order of the planets with a song that sticks with us to this day. “Mercury, venus, earth...”

The ceiling started falling apart when we started 4th grade, when some of us were brave enough to start meeting boys and girls at places outside of school, like Tapioca.

One year later, our last one in Elementary, started off with the separation of 5A, after the teacher left. “Planes” were now more common, but what we were all waiting for was the ‘Reu’ at Mauricio Charvel’s house the last day of school. Two weeks in advance, all the boys asked the girls if they wanted to dance at the first reu. The best part was that you could get asked by as many as you want.

“I remember being very excited for the first ‘reu’,” explained Victoria Quintana. “I kept a note of who I danced with and the things that happened; I still have it today.”

The legendary reus include the one when it rained all night, and the Valentine’s Day Reu, when the band Blackjack consisting of Jorge Gutierrez, Alberto Backoff, Rodrigo de la Garza, Claudio Chapa, Gabriel Garza, and Cristobal Ayala played.

In 7th grade, we had a three day field trip where we went to Fundidora, Chipinque, and a sleepover at school. At Chipinque, one group got hopelessly lost, and they couldn’t find their way back for hours. That night, the boys at the gym were running all around, racing each other inside their sleeping bags. Mr. Austen, in a hammock in the corner, didn’t seem to care much.

Then came the moment we had all been waiting for. WASHINGTON. One of the most anticipated trips in our time at ASFM. The place where David Villarreal’s birthday chants were born, where stink bombs were thrown and punishments were dealt with, be it during dinner or later at night in bootcamp. And of course, the most memorable parties at Alexa Garza’s or Marcelo Valdes’ house.

Our 9th grade graduation marked the beginning of highschool, or the beginning of our final years at ASFM. We can all relate to the suspense we felt when we found out that Alberto Guajardo was missing somewhere in the mountain, and eventually came back when he was saved in a helicopter.

Then finally, the “talk” that started coming up more often with every week of 12th grade that passed by: college. Some students started the year with the “senioritis” mentality and counted the days left for their high school career, while others fought their way to make it to their dream college.

With less than 4 months until we start college, the days fly by. Our time has come to go our separate ways after many years of laughter, good times, and hard work, but we can all agree it was definitely worth it.