Living it Up at Lock-In. (Photo by Chrystal Tursich)

8pm-12am, by Deeksha.  1-7:30am by Grayson

Pre-8:00pm: Temperature in the single digits. Seniors arrive not knowing what to expect.

8:00pm: Seniors—most wearing sweatpants, sweatshirts, and sneakers—check in, get assigned to red, blue, or yellow team, receive schedule and map of  where board games, food, video games, etc. are being held.

9:00pm: We head to Morris Hall, where Mr. L’Hommedieu will film our “Senior Moments Video.”

9:30pm: We meet in Barton. The teachers planned a little something special (which will not be disclosed in this article to maintain the element of surprise for underclassmen). But, one thing was for sure: it was a blast!

12:00am: Dinner! Everything from pizza to tacos to wings–you name it–it was there. Piling our plates, we feasted. A hurrah for some of more memorable moments in Academy’s halls.

1:00am: We shuffle to different activities The remaining teams participate in the finals’ rounds of Amazing Race. The rest of us disperse to find games and keep occupied. Ping pong matches, fueled by dinner and caffeinated drinks, are intense. Of course, tennis players dominate, and some brave teachers try to get in on the action.

3:00am:  I hit a wall. Eyes heavy, legs tired, mind fuzzy. I can stay up late for school, but this is different. It is quiet. Many are sleep, so it is harder to stay awake. Some people go to the gym for a game of pickup basketball, while others hit up the board games to pass the time.

6:45am: The smell of coffee and bagels wakes us up. Tickets won throughout the night are placed in bags that to be drawn for prizes. Popular items included water bottles, a coffee machine, and gift cards to student-favorite restaurants.

7:30am: Following the raffle—with temperatures back in the single digits—we pack up and hit the road. Everyone had a blast, but the only thing on our minds is our beds.

To everyone who helped plan this night, a big thank you from the Seniors. We made a lot of memories, and thank you to the teachers for taking time away from your sleep schedules to make sure we had a great time. 

This wasn’t just about an all-night party: It was about remembering the fun we’ve had as our time at Academy comes to a close.