DAPHNE, Ala. — The hallways at Bayside Academy filled again in mid-August as roughly 720 students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade returned for the new school year, but for one group the first bell carried extra weight. About 58 seniors traded in their old uniforms for the light blue shirts that mark the top class on the small private campus, a tradition students say signals both privilege and pressure as their final year begins.
For the Class of 2015, the light blue shirt is more than a color change. Longtime students describe it as an unofficial badge that comes with perks — claiming the senior section of the parking lot, gathering at reserved picnic tables painted with class colors, and taking on leadership roles in the Student Government Association. Several seniors said they were most looking forward to guiding underclassmen through school traditions, from spirit weeks to homecoming preparations that keep the campus buzzing every fall.
Not every part of the year is celebrated, though. More than one student named the college application process as the most stressful part of the coming months, while others admitted that saying goodbye to long-running rituals — their last homecoming, their last prom — will be an emotional adjustment after growing up together in a tight-knit senior class. A handful of students pointed to advanced coursework, including calculus, as the academic hurdle they expect to face head-on.
History emerged as a favorite subject among several seniors, who credited the school’s history department with making the material engaging well beyond what was required. Other students highlighted strong relationships with teachers in math and foreign language courses as reasons they stayed motivated throughout high school. Several seniors are weighing in-state options such as Auburn University and the University of Alabama, while others are looking further afield to schools including the University of Virginia, the University of North Carolina, Vanderbilt University and The Citadel, with interests ranging from the humanities to a future military career.
Asked what advice they would offer incoming freshmen, the seniors were consistent: take the first year seriously, get involved in clubs and activities early, and don’t let early grades slide because they matter more than students realize. Several also urged younger students to explore a variety of interests before settling into an academic focus, noting that the extracurricular and volunteer experiences built over four years often shape college applications far more than test scores alone.
As Baldwin County schools settle into the rhythm of a new academic year, Bayside Academy’s senior class is entering its last lap on campus with a mix of nostalgia and anticipation, a familiar feeling for families across the Eastern Shore each August.