Article Text

McLean High School’s Class of 2026 marked a turning point on May 1, filling the halls with college colors and gathering to celebrate the paths students will take after graduation.

National College Decision Day is an annual milestone for seniors across the country. At McLean, students wore shirts and sweatshirts representing their plans for the coming year before meeting on the football field during Highlander Time.

The senior student council organized an ice cream social, while classmates posed for photos, congratulated one another and reflected on four years together.

“For the past four years, we’ve been working so hard to get to this very moment, and Commits Day is a day for all the seniors to come together and really appreciate each other and show a lot of love,” senior Jad Osta said. “Whether or not we’ve been beefing in the past, whether or not we’ve been best friends since day one, it’s a day to hold hands, lift them up and celebrate together.”

For many students, the celebration brought relief after months of applications, decisions and uncertainty. It also stirred excitement about what comes next, anxiety about major changes and sadness over leaving McLean.

Senior Katelyn Gray said it was exciting to see where her classmates were headed and how enthusiastic they were about finding schools that suited them.

“Everyone, now knowing where they’re going, is getting sad and sentimental, but also very excited,” Gray said.

Some seniors reached their decisions quickly, while others weighed academics, financial assistance, location and other considerations.

Gray, who committed to play tennis, said her choice was not especially difficult, though finalizing it still felt good. For students who faced tougher choices, she said Decision Day likely brought the relief of having a weight lifted from their shoulders.

Although most McLean seniors plan to enroll at four-year colleges, the event also recognized other routes after graduation, including community college, gap years and military service. The gathering gave seniors a chance to learn about their classmates’ interests while looking back on their own high school experiences.

“I think it’s more than fun, I think it’s inspirational,” Osta said. “I think life goes deeper than just having fun all the time. It’s a moment to reflect on everything we’ve achieved since we really entered high school.”

Teachers joined students on the field, allowing them to reconnect with current and former pupils and discover what each had chosen.

History teacher Dylan Wedan, who primarily teaches juniors, said he does not see those students as often once they become seniors.

“It’s a mixture of joy, excitement and also sadness to see them go, and I am absolutely, 100%, proud of all my students,” Wedan said.

Osta credited the student government’s organization with helping the event succeed. He said the pleasant weather added to the celebration, but the day ultimately reminded him of McLean’s close relationships among students, teachers, faculty and student leaders.

For the Class of 2026, the tradition offered more than ice cream and photographs. It became a shared moment to recognize what seniors had accomplished—and to face the next chapter together.