Oak Mountain seniors fly back in time at Senior Walk
Published 3:18 pm Tuesday, May 20, 2025
The seniors of Oak Mountain High School's class of 2025 took a trip back to the halls they once walked, seeing former teachers and younger students of the Oak Mountain family at their annual Senior Walk on Tuesday, May 20. (Reporter photos/Tyler Raley)
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By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer
NORTH SHELBY – Before taking their final steps across the finish line and earning their diplomas, the Oak Mountain High School senior class of 2025 took a jump back to their first moments in their educational journeys.
The 406 graduating students of OMHS filled up the school busses and made the quick trips over to both Oak Mountain Elementary School and Inverness Elementary School, donning their caps, gowns and regalia to take part in the school’s annual Senior Walk on Tuesday, May 20.
The seniors walked through the doors at their respective institutions, where they were greeted by the young ones attending the elementary schools with smiles and cheers of excitement. From siblings to neighbors to family friends, the kids looked up at the seniors not knowing that before too long, that would be them as well.
“This is such a special day for graduating seniors as they walk the halls of Oak Mountain Elementary School one last time,” said Jan Curtis, principal of Oak Mountain Elementary School. “I heard many of them reminiscing about their elementary days and remembering fondly friends and teachers who loved them well.”
While making their way through the halls laughing and discussing the times they had in their childhood, many seniors saw their former teachers that got them started in school. For the educators, it was a time filled with many emotions as they passed out many hugs and took many pictures, seeing who those once tiny students had become.
“Our teachers look forward to this day every year,” Curtis said. “They love hugging their former students and congratulating them on their successes. Many of our teachers have their class pictures posted outside of their classrooms so that the seniors can see their classes from elementary school.”
Curtis acknowledged how much of an impact the elementary teachers have on the lives of the students as they begin the process of gaining knowledge and growing in the world, which reveals how important the role is that educators play.
“Teachers have such a lasting impact on students,” Curtis said. “Hearing the seniors call out their former teachers’ names with such excitement and running to hug them brings tears to my eyes. It is a reminder of the important work that educators do every single day. There is simply no better way to spend our days than to love and teach our students well.”
In addition to the seniors walking the halls, the OMES walk was led by the preschool students who were graduating into kindergarten wearing their own caps and gowns. With the two groups taking on different momentous occasions, the morning carried a bout of positivity with it as the transition was something to celebrate.
“We love the tradition of our preschool students in their own caps and gowns leading the seniors through the hallways,” Curtis said. “It is emotional to see children at the beginning of their journey as well as those who are completing such an important chapter in their lives. Seeing our former students makes us all so proud, and we can’t wait to celebrate the many achievements of our current students as well in just a few years.”
After the seniors walked at their respective elementary schools, they reconvened together at Oak Mountain Middle School to walk the halls before heading over to Oak Mountain Intermediate School for the final round.
With the graduating class having wrapped up on the finishing touches of their time at OMHS, the walk served as a way to reflect on the journey they all took before tying the bow on their time in grade school.
The Oak Mountain High School graduation is set to take place Thursday, May 22 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Bartow Arena at 6 p.m.
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