Since my first day of school at Viz in 4th grade, I have looked forward to Morning Mayhem. I waited nine long years to be able to stand on the side of the road and scream with my 74 sisters, and it was totally worth the wait. I remember my very first year, before the Circle Drive existed, riding through and seeing all the seniors yelling and screaming. It was very overwhelming for my young fourth grade self, and quickly became embarrassing to my middle school self when my dad would honk the horn and scream and I would shrink down in my seat and cover my eyes. But I have always anxiously awaited my turn to be one of those seniors. That moment came and passed all too quickly. The night before, senior sleepover, was an awesome bonding experience with my classmates. Then, after 2 hours of sleep and braiding at least 20 people's hair, I arrived at Viz 10 minutes late, groggy-eyed and half- awake with my chai tea latte in one hand and my giant cut-out 22s in the other. I didn't think I was going to have the energy to yell and scream until the first cars started rolling in. I have never been more excited in my life. The energy was so high and all of the seniors were so excited to be there. After such a rough year with COVID, we were so grateful to be able to finally be all together and celebrate the beginning of the end of our time at Viz. I brought my hoverboard and rode up and down the road, screaming my heart out and viciously mimicking honking a horn in hopes that cars driving through would do the same. I saw many confused new parents that felt probably the same way mine did on my first day- what on earth is going on? I saw many middle school students slumped down in their seats while their dads honked their horns for us. But most importantly, I saw the joy on my classmates' faces. I saw the happiness in the dad's eyes for making the seniors smile. I saw the happiness on the new parents' faces, excited for their daughters to do whatever it was they were witnessing. I am so grateful we were able to do Morning Mayhem, and it is an experience I will never forget.
- Maggie Mooney