As we celebrate the Class of 2025, we mark a milestone anniversary of Baylor’s Senior Trip. What began as a bold and generous gift from former Headmaster Dr. Herb Barks ’51 has become a rite of passage.
In their article (click here), Tim Laramore '99, Perry Key ’81, and Tim Williams explain how the Senior Trip is, at its core, a gift. A gift of time, of trust, and of stories. It is a week that removes students from the noise of daily life and places them in the quiet clarity of nature—where the only agenda is to be present with one another. It is a time when students begin to realize they are not just leaving a school, but a community. And in that realization, something shifts. They begin to treat each other—and the moment—with a new kind of reverence.
This year’s seniors embraced that moment with the same spirit they brought to every part of their Baylor journey. Throughout the year, their senior speeches offered a window into their experiences. Many of them spoke candidly about personal challenges that became turning points. Others talked about home being less about a place and more about the people around them. They reflected on friendship and about being seen, supported, and changed. Some reminded us that authenticity is not a fixed trait, but a daily practice—one that requires courage and self-awareness.
The Senior Trip, like a student’s time at Baylor, is not about what we tell them to learn. It is about what they discover about themselves. It is a tradition that trusts each student to find meaning in their own way. For some, the impact is immediate. For others, it may take years to fully understand.
And for our alumni, the memories of their own Senior Trips remain vivid — etched in stories of section IV of the Chattooga, shared laughter, and quiet moments of reflection. Many speak of that week as a turning point, a time when friendships deepened and the meaning of community came into sharper focus. Their recollections remind us that while each trip is unique, the spirit of the experience endures across generations.
Here’s to the journey, the tradition, and the stories still to come.
GBR!
Chris
