With the one-year anniversary of my college graduation this weekend, I’ve taken some time to look back on how many new things I’ve experienced this year — a lot of firsts I’ll never forget.

I moved to a new state, started graduate school and made plans to get hitched — hopefully a first and a last.

The biggest transition this year has been starting my first full-time job. I’ve worked part-time for different newspapers for the past three years, but dedicating myself to one thing from 8 a.m. to 5, 6, 7 or 8 p.m. and most weekends has been an adjustment.

When I interviewed for this position I was asked which beats I would be interested in covering, and I offered up government, crime or just about anything but sports.

At the time I could not have told you I would soon be thrust into the world of school and youth, and I really could not have told you how much I love covering it, even though I constantly find myself telling people just five years younger than me not to address me with “yes sir” and “no sir.”

Even though I only got to cover spring semester this year, it seems appropriate that I write an ode to my first: the seniors of 2015.

For the past five months, I’ve been chronicling the culmination of 13 or 14 years of hard work these students have put in, and it’s been an honor.

Homeschool senior Kaden Rowell taught me all about the game of Ultimate Frisbee.

At Porters Chapel I met Jordan Locke, Wes Allison, Scott Barry, who, along with 20 other graduates, are now beginning the next exciting chapter in their lives.

Daylor Jewitt, a senior a Vicksburg High School, told me about Key Club and how important it is to give back to the community, and his classmate Andrew Lanier helped showed me snakes aren’t all that scary.

At St. Aloysius I met National Merit Finalist Jacob Kitchens and U.S. Presidential Scholar Luke Eckstein and learned what it’s like to write a play from John Tillman Thomas and Dixon Stone.

I met an Eagle Scout, Tyler Tunnell, Beauty and the Beast’s Belle, Becca English, and Gaston, Dennis Lewis, at Warren Central.

Warren Central senior Afton Wallace, the strongest individual I’ve ever met, showed me what it means to be #AftonStrong and just keep swimming, even when the cards are stacked against you.

Like any teacher will tell you, you’ll never forget your first class, but when your first class includes those from four local high schools and homeschool students, you’re bound to forget plenty of names.

What I won’t forget are things I’ve learned from this class, my first graduating class as an education reporter.

Congratulations, class of 2015, thanks for all the memories, and I can’t wait to see all the great things you accomplish.