As the academic year comes to a close, the seniors of Cypress High School prepare to bid farewell to their school and embark on a new chapter in their lives. But before they do, they are tasked with the responsibility of presenting their accomplishments and memories from their high school tenure. The new edition of capstone presentations has become a final reflection and sendoff of graduating seniors, leaving a lasting impact on both the presenters and the audience.

Senior presentations are more than just a formal requirement to mark the end of high school. They are a culmination of years of hard work, personal growth, and self-reflection. It’s a time for seniors to reflect on their academic achievements, extracurricular involvements, and cherished memories. It’s an opportunity for them to share their stories, express their gratitude, and showcase their talents and passions to their peers, teachers, and families if possible.

Presentations followed a simple format, students arrived at their designated classrooms, delivered said presentation, and answered questions from respective panelists. Since the time the class of 2023 entered high school, talk of the capstone project was always in the background. It turned out to be for the better as the seniors of this year had the option to choose from any project, from any year of high school that related to the five C’s. Students were also encouraged to link such projects or evidence of projects to the designated slide deck, allowing the selected audience to witness what the students have done throughout their tenure accompanied by said students’ verbal presentation. Students were also asked to dress in formal attire, not only training them for job interviews in the future, but to make a good impression as well.

The student perspective is important too, some may argue, the cornerstone of the project to begin with. When asked about the benefits of the capstone presentations, Senior Elliiot Ko said “It gives you a good chance to brag about yourself, something you don’t often get the option to do; in other words sell yourself and your achievements to these reviewers.” In other words, this showcase gives students the rare opportunity to take pride in their various academic achievements. Senior Alexandra Torres also had some interesting insight. “It’s a great opportunity to prepare yourself for real world events.” All in all, the senior showcase presentations seem to be a worthy addition to the catalog of AUHSD seniors, giving them a platform to speak their mind, and a constructive step into their futures.