If I could sum up this semester in one word, it would be “unreal.”

While the word “last” has been placed in front of many things so far this year from rivalry week to Round Up and lip sync, it still hasn’t fully registered in my mind, and I don’t know when it will.

While I’m excited for new buildings and resources, which I believe are necessary, as a current junior it will be difficult graduating from a school that I’ve only gone to one year.

I know that it happens all the time with kids moving and joining a new school their senior year, but it’s still going to be weird because I’ve gotten so used to Rider.

Principal Cody Blair is heading into his final semester as Rider’s principal with hope for the future school year and satisfaction with how the year has gone so far.

“I feel like it’s gone really fast, I don’t know about anyone else, but it feels like we just started and now Thanksgiving is behind us and Christmas break is almost here,” Blair said. “I feel like it’s been great, we’ve had a lot of really good things going on with all of our students and their accomplishments. With education, athletics, fine arts, extracurriculars, they’ve all been doing incredible stuff. We’ve had a lot of really fun moments and memories and all the big school events have gone really well – the things all the kids enjoy.”

Blair and his administration have been working hard to ensure the transition to the new schools goes as smoothly as possible.

I can’t believe winter break is already almost here. I’m ready to catch up on sleep and not have to worry about assignments for a bit.

I want to try to take advantage of every opportunity I have this last semester to participate in as many things as I can while I still have the chance. There will never be a Rider High School again, and it’s amazing that we have the chance to play a small role in the legacy of this school.