As seniors, these last few weeks at Stuart feel a little different.
The days still follow the same routine, but there is a quiet awareness that they will not last much longer. As co-chief editors, we have spent the year writing about our community and capturing moments that define Stuart. This time, we wanted to slow down and look at something more personal.
Even when two people share the same schedule, the same classrooms, and the same day, the experience is never exactly the same. What stands out, what feels important, and how the day unfolds can look completely different.
This piece follows one day at Stuart through two perspectives.
Leila: The day starts early. Around 6:50, I wake up and get ready, usually leaving the house by 7:15 so I can get to school a few minutes before everything begins. On the way, I almost always stop for coffee. Some mornings it’s Dunkin, other days it’s Starbucks, depending on what I’m in the mood for. I usually get an iced coffee to help me get through the day, but on Fridays, when the weekend feels close, I switch it up and get a refresher instead. It is one of the few calm parts of the morning before everything starts.
By the time I get to school around 7:50, I like having those few minutes to walk in and settle before the day really begins. From there, it is classes, moving from one to the next, staying on top of work and trying to get things done as I go. I usually spend time in the library finishing assignments because I do not like to procrastinate and would rather get things done during the day. By lunchtime, I sit with my friends, many of them sophomores, and for a little while, the day feels less busy.
By the time school ends, it already feels like a full day. Senior year looks different now than it did earlier in the year. During the fall and winter, I was coming home late from basketball, balancing practices, games, and schoolwork. Now, without a sport, my afternoons feel quieter but still structured. I usually go home, make a snack, and take a few minutes to lay down before getting back up and going to the gym. It helps me reset before the rest of the night.
After that, it is dinner, a shower, and finishing anything I still need to do. Nights are when things finally slow down. I usually call my friends or put on a show while I wind down. I like ending the day with something small, like tea and a sweet treat. It is a simple routine, but it is something I look forward to.
By the time I fall asleep, everything feels settled again, and I am ready to start over the next day.
Sami: I try to wake up between 6:45 and 7:00. If everything goes to plan, I have time to pick out an outfit, and that really matters to me. When I feel like I look nice, I feel more ready for the day. I also like to make my own coffee; always hot, toasted almond caramel, light roast. It’s part of my routine and helps me wake up slowly. I usually leave the house around 7:30 and get to school by 7:42. Being early makes a big difference for me. It gives me time to relax, look over my schedule, and mentally prepare before the day begins. 
My schedule really changes how my day feels. Some days, I only have two classes and one online, so everything feels more relaxed. As a senior, if I have a free first, I can come in late, and if I have a free last, I can leave early, which makes the day feel easier and less stressful. But on my other schedule days, I have classes the whole time, and it feels completely different. I feel more rushed, more tired, and like I have a lot more work to keep up with. Even though it is the same school and the same environment, the pace of my day can feel totally different depending on my schedule.
At the beginning of the year, my afternoons were busy with field hockey, and I would come home tired after practice. Now, my afternoons are different. Sometimes I go home, sometimes I hang out with a friend, and sometimes I go to the house I am watching to water plants and get the mail. It feels less structured, but still productive in its own way.
After whatever I am doing, I go home and usually have a snack if it is not close to dinner. Then I eat with my parents. After dinner, I watch TV while doing any work I still have. At night, I start to slow down and get ready for bed. I almost always have a cup of tea because it makes me feel warm and calm, like the day is ending the right way. And I bring my dog, Rosie, up for bed as she sleeps in my room almost every night.
Even though every day at school follows the same schedule, it never feels the same to me. Some days feel calm and put together, while others feel rushed and overwhelming, depending on my schedule and mindset. The small things, like having time in the morning or enjoying my routine at night, can change how the whole day feels.
At the end of the day, nothing about Stuart really changes. The schedule stays the same, the hallways look the same, and tomorrow will follow a similar routine. But the way each person moves through it, what they notice, and what stays with them is always different.
As these last few weeks pass, it becomes easier to see how meaningful even the most ordinary days have been. What once felt routine now feels something we will remember.
Love,
Your Co-Chief Editors 2025-2026
