Dear IDEA Seniors,
This one’s for you. After years of early mornings, challenging assignments, unforgettable friendships, big wins, tough lessons, and countless memories, you’ve made it to senior year. Your first day of school has always marked a new beginning. But this year, it means something different. This is your last first day of high school.
Across IDEA Public Schools, seniors like you are stepping into a year filled with milestones you’ve spent years working toward. It’s a year to celebrate how far you’ve come, make the most of the time you have left, and start imagining where you’ll go next.
For some seniors, this moment has been years in the making. At one IDEA campus, the Class of 2027 began its journey together as founding students in 2020, when school—and the world—looked very different.
Founding Principal Deirdre Medina remembers those early days and how much her students have grown since.
“So our very first school year, I didn’t actually see the faces of any of our kids. And so as the years have grown over time, so have they. And it’s become more real as each year goes by. And now they’re almost adults on their own. And I couldn’t be prouder.”
Whether you’ve been at IDEA since your first days of school or joined the Team & Family somewhere along the way, take a moment to think about your own journey—the challenges you’ve overcome, the lessons you’ve learned, and the people who helped you get here.
Senior Angel Elizondo can see that growth in himself. When he first arrived at IDEA, reading was a challenge. Years later, he looks back at the support that helped him become the student he is today.
“I wasn’t a really good reading student, so I had a lot of trouble reading. And since day one, they’ve been helping me. And now I’m a really good reader.”
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you need it, ask it and here at IDEA they’re going to help you.”
As you begin this final year, remember that your teachers, counselors, classmates, and families are still beside you. And now, you also have the opportunity to leave something behind for the students who will follow you.
For senior and founding student Valentina Sanchez, that’s part of what makes reaching senior year so meaningful.
“I think it feels like such a great honor that we will forever cherish within ourselves, and I really hope that we leave a legacy behind to the other generations to come, because I genuinely do want them to prosper and achieve so many things, if not more things than we have already as a senior class.”
That legacy can come from the traditions you start, the example you set for younger students, the friendships you strengthen, and the memories you make together. And let’s not forget one of the perks you’ve been waiting for: you finally get to wear the black T-shirt! After years of watching the senior class wear it, it’s officially your turn. Wear it proudly—you earned it!
Between senior traditions, celebrations, and all those lasts, this year is also about preparing for the many firsts still ahead.
For senior Ximena Garnica, that future includes hopes of attending The University of Texas at Austin and entering the medical field. As she prepares for life after high school, she says IDEA has helped her navigate the college process every step of the way.
Soon, applications will turn into acceptance letters. Decisions will become commitments. And the question of “What do you want to do after high school?” will slowly become a plan.
Seniors, enjoy this year. Take the pictures. Go to the events. Cheer for your classmates. Thank the teachers and staff members who helped you get here. Spend time with your friends. Make new memories, but don’t forget to appreciate the ordinary days, too. There will be plenty of lasts: your last first day, your last homecoming, your last school traditions, and eventually, your last day of high school.
But even more firsts await you on the other side. Your first day of college. Your first step into a career. Your first opportunity to take everything you’ve learned and use it to make your mark on the world. You don’t have to have every detail figured out today.
For now, be present. Be proud of how far you’ve come. Support one another. And make this year count.
Class of 2027, this is the first of your lasts—but it’s also the beginning of everything that comes next.
Make it a year to remember!
With pride,
Your IDEA Team & Family
 
 
