As the end of the year is nearing, celebrations are commencing and 8th grade students are trying to make the best of their last weeks at Red Oak Junior High.

“I pulled a prank on one of my teachers last week,” 8th grader Alex Caballero said.

But other students, such as 8th grader Jami Hayden, have been reliving old memories they made in their 7th grade year.

“My favorite memory was on the last day of school, when I was in 7th grade, everyone in the band hall was cuddled up crying,” Hayden said.

Other students are remembering mistakes.

“[It was] after school in the band hall, and I was talking to this guy. I pushed him after he kept teasing me about my name. He had his binder in his hand, and it pulled the fire alarm,” 8th grader Karely Arteaga said.

And rough memories.

“It was dark outside and the lights went out in the middle of class. Everyone was screaming and half of the class was crying. Someone went on their phone and checked the weather report, finding that there was a tornado watch in Red Oak. We got out of class and [the band kids] had to run through a ceiling crack in front of band hall doors not to get hit by the rain and hail,” 8th grader Stefani Little said.

But from their two years here, they’ve learned life lessons they’ll hold with them as they go through high school.

“Learn people’s true characters,” Little said, “because it’s important to know if they’re a true friend.”

Some have focused on other lessons rather than morals.

“I’ve learned x-value without using a calculator,” Caballero said.

And some have just learned as they go, accepting what they get from the school.

“You get immature [while you’re here,]” 8th grader Oscar Gonzales said.