‘Be where my feet are’: College Station ISD seniors reflect on last first day
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – College Station ISD was packed with excitement Wednesday as the district welcomed students back to school.
“I’m feeling good,” senior Addison Gattis said. “I’m feeling really excited. It’s my last first day of high school as a senior, so I’m excited.”
Kayla Comte is also a senior who’s energized for the year ahead.
“Usually, I feel nerves the first day,” shared Kayla. “No nerves at all. Like, I know what I’m doing finally, and so I’m just really excited for this year.”
Addison and Kayla attend A&M Consolidated High School and are on the cheer team. Addison, the cheer captain, told KBTX she’s ready for the Friday night lights.
“It’s running out of the tunnel, and we all huddle up right before we run out, and it just gets me so pumped,” Addison described.
Co-captain Kayla said she’s looking forward to the competition season.
“This team gets very out of its comfort zone around competition time, and it’s cool to see how we improve and grow each year from that,” boasted Kayla.
Both cheerleaders have been on the team for the entirety of their high school tenure, and said their sisterhood also grows each year.
“It’s very much like a family more than just like a team,” Kayla explained. “Which is really cool to see how we can depend on each other throughout the year through the good and the bad.”
Although the seniors are ready for the year ahead, it’s also bittersweet for the two to realize it’s their final season.
Kayla said her advice to herself is to be present at all times.
“We just applied to college, so I’m, like, trying to think where am I going, what does the rest of my life look like,” Kayla said. “Then I just realized if I continue in that mindset, I’m just gonna miss so much of this big chapter in my life, so I’m definitely trying to be where my feet are this year.”
In addition to the high spirited seniors, KBTX also spoke with CSISD Superintendent Josh Symank, executive director of facilities Paul Buckner, director of communications Austin Dunson, and A&M Consolidated High School’s Principal Gwen Elder.
Conversations with those school and district leaders are below:
