91����

With their theses long finished and a week left until finals, the 91����, California, Class of 2026 completed two more senior milestones: the annual Tutor vs. Senior Softball Game, and the much-anticipated burning of Senior Thesis drafts.

On Wednesday, seniors and tutors trickled out of their afternoon classes and down to the athletic field for the softball showdown; meanwhile, families and other students watched eagerly from the sidelines. The tutors started out on top, scoring two runs; but their opponents were quick to redeem themselves with a rally in the third inning. Ultimately, the seniors’ riveting mid-game comeback carried them to victory, with a final score of 3–2.

A post-game BBQ followed, and soon it came time for the night’s main event: the thesis draft-burning, a tradition marking the seniors’ completion and successful defenses of their theses. Dr. Letteney opened the ceremony with a poem of triumph: “The strife is o’er, this battle won; after blood, sweat, and tears, your theses are done.” One by one, the seniors came forward, casting their pages into the flames with a witty remark as their classmates erupted into cheers.

“This reminds me of what St. Thomas said: ‘All that I have written appears to be so much straw after the things that have been revealed to me.’ That’s really how this feels,” said Zach Temple (CA’26). “This thesis was a good beginning; but it really is just the beginning.”

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