BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. () — More than 11,000 Bulloch County students went back to school Friday to start the 2025-26 school year.

“It’s bittersweet, it’s exciting, it’s sad, it’s happy, it’s just everything,” said Statesboro High School senior Nyana Carnes.

Back to school brought a wave of emotions to students heading back in. spoke to a couple of seniors who were already memorializing their last first-day with pictures.

“We’re getting old, growing up,” said Carnes.

“When you get there, you’re like ‘maybe I want to go back in time’,” said senior Liz Monk. “Maybe I want to go back to elementary school with all my friends and everything.”

Channeling that nostalgia, best friends Carnes and Monk sported preschool backpacks on their way in, part of a trend they said.

“It’s your last first day, it’s your last year,” said Carnes. “It’s kind of like the end of everything.”

They said they’re looking forward to being at the top of the food chain this year, but as their journeys near their end, several others are just beginning.

When asked if the beginning of high school was intimidating, freshman Jeremy Bell said, “Yes [There’s] many people here I don’t know, it’s just a lot of people. Way more people I don’t know.”

Bell said he’s excited to get a chance at varsity sports in his new school. But today, he’s only worried about making the right first impression.

“Being accepted into the school and making friends, being easy to talk to and to talk to other people, I’d say that’s a pretty perfect day to me,” said Bell.

Superintendent of Bulloch County Schools said the months of planning paid off, as the day went on with few hiccups.

“We’re just very pleased and excited to have everybody back and start off with a positive attitude and refreshed to know that we’re here for our students and that we’re going to have a great year.”