By: Ryan Kaspar
For the first time since the class of 2019, Redwood High School Seniors will be participating in Grad Nite from May 25th through the 26th.
Grad Nite is an annual trip hosted by either Disneyland, Magic Mountain, or Universal Studios for schools all over California. This year, the class of 2022 will be going to Disneyland.
Alexa Barba-Tepper, the Assistant Principal of Student Services, says “It’s Disneyland. For some Seniors, this will be the first time they’ve ever gone or [will] ever go. It seems to be an extra special Grad Nite if [we’re going to] Disneyland.”
She adds, “In the past, we have opted to go to Magic Mountain or Universal because they were so much cheaper, but the feedback wasn’t usually the same from students.”
Chloe Patterson, ’22, says “I’ve always been looking forward to my senior Grad Nite since I first heard it was a thing in elementary school.”
She says, “The fact that it was Disneyland really influenced my decision. I also have an older sister who went to Grad Nite and lots of other family and friends that went and all had a blast so I wanted to experience that too.”
Patterson adds, “I cannot wait. I feel like I’m counting down the seconds until I can go.”
Isabella Valero, ’22, says “I was happy to get the opportunity to spend time with all of my friends as one more big hurrah before we go off to college because we’re all going to different places.”
Valero thinks this year’s Grad Nite is especially special because the class of ’20 and ’21 never had the opportunity to go.
She adds that her Senior year has been “really rough, especially because of Covid” and because of “all of the possibilities of not having things” like sports games, prom, and a normal graduation ceremony.
She says, “I’m so excited for Disneyland, it’s going to be so fun. Especially since I’ve gone to Disneyland a lot, but I haven’t gone with my friends. So to experience it with my friends and as an adult will be really cool.”
Eliana Jauregui, ’22, says “I’m not going [to Grad Nite], but I’m going to go [to Disneyland] with a few of my friends that don’t go to Redwood on our own.”
At first, Jauregui wanted to go to Grad Nite, but over time realized she “wanted to be with people I’m closer with.”
She says “More of my closer friends go to other schools, so I didn’t want to go because I felt like it would be more fun with friends I’m closer with.”
Jauregui adds “I think it’s going to be fun because it’s our Senior trip. No matter if I’m going or not I feel like it’s going to be one to remember right before we graduate.”
Ryan Kaspar
Ryan Kaspar ('24) is a four-year member of the Redwood Gigantea. They work as managing editor along with being a writer and editor for the News section.
You can reach them at ryan.kaspar05@gmail.com
Tags: disneyland, government and politics, grad nite, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, Ryan Kaspar, seniors, visalia ca
