The halls of Metea Valley High School will give way to the hum of buses and the buzz of anticipation as the class of 2026 embarks on one of its final shared traditions: the senior Roadtrip to Grad Nite at Six Flags Great America, on April 24.
Students are expected to arrive by 8:00 p.m., filling through door 19 and into the bus lot clad in yellow and gold spirit wear. By 8:15 p.m. sharp, the buses will depart, kicking off a night that stretches well into the next day. From 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. A late-night meal at the Picnic Grove offers a break in the middle of the action before the buses return around 3:15 a.m.
For many students, the trip is about more than rides; it is about the experience of doing something new with the people they have spent four years alongside.
“I hope it’s really fun. That’s what I’m looking forward to,” senior Saanvi Singh said. “I hope the lines are not super, super long… and I hope the food is fire because food is important when you’re having fun.”
That willingness to try something new is a common theme among seniors, especially when it comes to the rides. Ultimately, the incentive for the trip is the opportunity to spend time with friends in a unique event.
“I think that it’s such a great opportunity to spend time with your friends in an amusement park and try something different that you don’t usually do all the time,” Singh said.
Not every senior will be attending, but even those sitting this one out recognize its significance.
“I think they’ll have a lot of fun,” senior Lylah El-sayad said. “A lot of people are going to Great America for the first time, so it’ll definitely be a good experience for them.”
The trip also offers students a chance to step outside of their comfort zones.
“I know a lot of people who have never ridden a roller coaster,” El-sayad said. “People like going out of their comfort zone, trying new things.”
The late-night timing, while exciting, also presents a challenge. The event stretches well past midnight, something both students acknowledged in different ways.
“It sounds cool, but low-key I think I’m going to fall asleep at 12 a.m.,” Singh said. “That’s what I’m kind of worried about, I don’t want to be sleeping off if I’m on a ride or something.”
Yet, the nighttime setting is part of what makes Grad Nite special.
“I think it’s a cool experience to be able to be the only ones, or only high schoolers, in an amusement park for a night,” El-sayad said.
As graduation approaches, the Senior Road Trip stands out as one of the final shared moments for the Class of 2026.
“Seniors, we’re almost there,” Singh said. “Have fun and live life.”
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