West Carroll High School seniors walk to inspire younger students

CARROLL COUNTY, Tenn. — West Carroll High School seniors took a break from graduation practice Tuesday morning to take a walk down memory lane.

In full cap and gown, 67 graduates of West Carroll High School took at trip to their old stomping grounds.

“It was something we wanted to incorporate into our graduation ceremony, not only this year but every single year going forward,” said West Carroll High School Principal Dexter Williams. “This just happens to be the first group to ever do it.”

Younger students lined the halls of the primary school holding signs and cheering as graduates embarked on the first-ever Senior Walk.

“I enjoyed it because I’ve grown up at West Carroll and I’ve been here since I was born,” valedictorian Kendall Davidson said. “So it was fun to get to go through and see all of my old teachers and all the students that I know who are looking up to me.”

“Seeing how they’ve grown from 6th grade and now that they are seniors and getting ready to move out into the real world,” said West Carroll Primary Principal Jacquline Wester. “It was a great experience.”

The students loaded onto a bus for their final stop at West Carroll Elementary where things got emotional. As the students walked through their former school, the reality of graduation began to sink in.

“I thought it was just going to be kind of ‘blah,'” salutatorian Kristen Bradley said. “But at the elementary school, a bunch of the kids were chanting for us and I saw a couple of our teachers start tearing up, and it was a little bit emotional at the end.”

Although there were a few happy tears from teachers, they say the Senior Walk meant so much to students.

“To me it shows our younger kids and as well as the seniors how important an education is and how you should strive to do the best you can every day,” elementary school librarian Debbie Reed said.

The seniors will take their final walk across the stage for graduation Thursday night at West Carroll High School.