Rewind to Elementary: Trick or Treat That Took Us Back to the Place We Began

By: Lucy Hwang, class of 2026

Me, Lucy Hwang, with my co-buddy MaryEllis Killough and our kindergarten buddy dressed up as Silver Mist and Rosetta from Tinkerbell. Our buddy even spray painted her hair! 

Every year, the seniors participate in trick-or-treating with their kindergarten buddy. This year, it was colder than usual, so we huddled together like penguins trying to stay warm while waiting for our buddies to arrive in the quad. It felt funny and a little surreal because Elsa, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, and the Addams Family were all hugging each other like a movie crossover. We had been talking about costumes for weeks, sharing ideas and guessing what everyone would wear, so it was extra fun to finally see them. 

We hyped each other up, traded compliments, and for a moment it felt like we were five again. 

Seniors Madison Jackson and Breyonna McKinnon with their kindergarten buddy dressed up as the Addams family.

When our buddies arrived, we set off to trick-or-treat starting from Furlong Hall, Science building, Humanities hall, the High School, and then the Middle School. Walking with our buddy through the places where we study and rush to class felt tender, like showing them a map of who we have become. Moving from high school to middle school and back to elementary felt like rewinding a tape, each doorway opening to an earlier version of us.

Back in elementary, we brought our buddies to their classrooms. The tiny desks, the cubbies, and the toys rattling on the floor brought up old memories. We remembered our own senior buddies and the steady hands that once guided us through crowded hallways. Watching our buddies slide into those little chairs brought a warm, protective feeling. For a moment, we felt like the adults in the room. 

After the candy run, we headed to the parking lot to grab our bags and change back into uniforms. Climbing into our cars felt surreal. A few minutes earlier we were holding tiny hands. Now we were unlocking the car, checking mirrors, and walking back to our classes. That jump from little desks to car keys made the day feel even more special. It reminded us how far we have come and how sweet it is to share that with the ones just starting out. It also made graduation feel a little closer, like the next doorway we will walk through, and for a second we wanted time to slow down so we could hold on to this feeling. #wearesaintjamesschool