As we begin the new year we also come to an end with the 2018-2019 school year. Less than two quarters to go for the class of 2019 graduating seniors. At the end of the year, seniors will be rewarded for all their work throughout their four years of high school. This includes: Grad Bash in Orlando, prom, yearbook, senior photos and being able to walk across the stage. With all of this, comes expenses.

Grad Bash requires money for the trip and spending money to have once you’re in Universal. However, it is a great opportunity to get away from Palm Beach county and travel with your high school friends before graduating. Prom requires interested students to purchase a ticket. It is a very formal setting so students will also have to either buy or rent a dress, suit, heels, possibly corsages and for those who want to get their hair done or make up done spend even more. In the beginning of the school year, a yearbook can be as cheap as $65 but as the year continues it can rise up to over $90. Many seniors are interested in buying yearbook because it becomes a great opportunity to look back on and reminisce on the good high school memories. Also, most seniors take their yearbook photos as Prestige Portraits, if you decided to buy them they can be as expensive as over $500 for one package. Finally, graduating seniors will be able to walk across the stage on May 15th to receive their diploma; however, just like all the other great opportunities that comes with being a senior, this also requires you to spend money. Seniors are required to buy a cap and gown from Herff Jones in order to be able to walk across the stage. All of these expenses add up quickly.

There is no doubt that senior year is expensive. Some are fortunate enough to afford everything. Some students must work and save all year to be able to afford all of these expenses. Some even must choose between what they want the most and things they don’t mind missing out on.

Senior Matthew Escalera said, “I plan on participating in whatever I can because it is my last year and I don’t want to have any regrets.”

“I think it makes financial and logistical sense to charge money to pay for those things, but at the end of the day, it’s a huge kick in the stomach to people who have worked really hard in school to have to pay to graduate, to go have friends with friends, to buy a memory book et cetera .”

Nicola Ramella even went on to say how he may help a friend with all these expenses,

“I’m probably going to be helping pay for my best friend to do some of those things if he wants to, because he deserves the experience and deserves to reap the benefits of his labor just as much as anyone else does.”