What’s that over there?

1997. The year the Green Bay Packers won against the New England Patriots 35-21 for the first time since 1967. Men in Black was also released at the time the first colored photograph was pictured in the New York Times. 

1997 was not only the year that changed the world but also the year that changed Carroll High Schools’ hallways forever. 

Following the tradition started by the class of 1992, the senior class gathered in the main gym to commemorate all the time spent between the walls of Carroll with a class photo. 

When instructed to look straight forward at the camera, some of the seniors felt that it wouldn’t be right unless they left their mark on the walls of Carroll High School and went out with a bang. 

Seniors Jeremy Chandler, Casey Johnston, Adam Dimke, and 4 others all turned profile away from the camera giving the school one last tiny piece of their rebellious attitudes.

“We only had one chance left to take a good picture,” said Johnston pictured to the far left sporting a brown pullover hoodie. “Looking back, it was probably not the right thing to say to the group.” 

Pretty soon the entire group of 7 was looking off into the distance with stoic faces that seemed to mock the teachers and show a sense of pride for their harmless shenanigans and school spirit. 

“Oh, it was definitely a bad idea,” Jeremy Chandler commented. “We knew that from the start.” Both men credit Adam Dimke, who is pictured to the right wearing a red long sleeve shirt, for being the ring leader of this operation and mastermind behind the whole scheme. 

“I haven’t thought about it since 1997,” Johnston stated. “But the fact that we’re talking about it now makes me even happier that we did it.” The photo of the best friends can be found in the adjoining hallway to the art department and across the way from the valedictorian senior headshots.

“When I look back on it, I can only smile,” Chandler commented. “It’s a good memory with some of my best friends I’ve had since the 5th grade.” Now fully grown up and accomplished, the friend group looks to their children to carry on the tradition and live up to their memory. 

“When I think about my kids looking at the photo I feel good about it,” Chandler who now has 4 kids in the NACS system said, “It shows them that I was once fun and cool.”

On February 9th, be prepared to look over there Carroll High School, it’s your senior year coming to a close.