The lights hum and shine a bright light. Students line up and lock arms with one another. The cold, crisp air sends a message to the current seniors of Willis High School: Their last football season is fixing to come to a close as they exit the gates of Berton A. Yates stadium.

Last Friday, October 28, the senior class of 2023 walked onto the turf after the football game to say their last goodbyes to Friday night lights under the Willis sky. It was an emotional moment knowing that it was their last year as students in the small town they call home. 

“It was relieving, but at the same time it was emotional,” senior Brody Calltharp said. “You realize that these are the friends that will stay with you for the rest of your life.”

Naturally, there are all of the emotional, sad moments knowing that life after high school is fastly approaching, but there are also sighs of relief from the students that put in the work to get to that moment to look back.

“I was nervous and excited, but also kind of happy,” senior Kori-Elise Rushing said.

The weather may have been a little bit on the sad side of things, but the rain and cold added to the experience for some students.

“I was cold because of the rain, but I think that added to the fun of it,” senior Kolby Sebastian said. “We were all cold and dancing in the rain together, it was fabulous.”

Creating a moment for oneself is a vastly different experience than watching other people do the same thing before them.

“It was very interesting, even though I have seen my friends do it a dozen times before,” Rushing said. “It was very interesting to finally have my own moment for myself.”