Credit to Cherry Ann Clark

The three, who have been together for all three years of high school, pose for a photo.

During high school, many students form close friend groups through mutual classes, clubs, sports or other activities. However, after graduation, many senior friend groups fall apart due to friends moving away for college, careers, or even the military. But, some groups plan to stay in touch despite different post-graduation plans.

FHN seniors Amaya Barron, Izzy Lash and Havana York all first met within their sophomore and junior years.

“I remember really wanting to get closer, because I could tell that she was really funny, and I could tell that we could connect,” said York. “As for [meeting] Izzy in our sophomore year, I just thought she was really cool, especially her self confidence.”

They have gotten significantly closer during their senior year due to similar school schedules.

“I knew Amaya through a mutual friend, and I thought she was cool, I always wanted to be her friend,” York said. “But we didn’t get to be close until last year, and I just got to know Izzy this year.”

Since then, they have remained incredibly close and good friends. They spend their mornings walking together before class and hang out in the library whenever they have a blended hour. Beyond school, they enjoy spending time together as well. The three of them will stay in Missouri post-graduation, but will attend different four-year colleges. York and Lash will pursue similar careers in biomedical sciences, while Barron will pursue higher education.

“I think it’s really important for Hispanic demographics to pursue higher education. It’s really difficult,” Barron said. “It’s really important to have representation in those spaces, and be able to create, and just generate more diversity.”

For Barron, Lash and York, the end of high school isn’t the end of their connection. They all plan to stay in touch in spite of the distance. It’s a reminder that graduation doesn’t have to mean the end of a friendship. With effort, anyone can reach out, stay connected, and make friendships and relationships last a lifetime.

“I think it’s important to keep these connections, because really, you’ve kept yourself here for four years, and a lot has changed in these four years,” Barron said. “You’ve grown as a person and the people you’ve kept close are important to you in this age of your life you’re in right now. And then you have to immerse yourself into a brand new community, a much larger community than what you were exposed to in high school. And most often, you’ll feel lost, and you’ll find yourself thinking about the previous connections you had and how you really treasured those. And I think in that, you find yourself reaching out and keeping the connections you had in high school.”