Page One - The Initial Letter
Starting off this school year, there is a lot of uncertainty and confusion going on in my head, and I'm sure everyone else is feeling the same way. With Ripon High going full-on distance learning, my last *real* school day was all the way back on March 13 of this year. It's been almost 6 months since my life was turned upside down, but now isn't the time to linger on the past. Over the past couple of months, Leadership has attempted to replicate many of our previous training days and camps, such as Core Camp, Freshman Orientation, and our new training with Scott. While I appreciate all of the effort put into these virtual events (Scott's especially), they were still missing something: human interaction. That is my biggest concern for the year ahead. How will our Leadership class connect with each other, if we can't even see each other in person? How will I have a memorable school year if I'm stuck at home? So many questions fill my thoughts, all of the time. I know this year will be tough, but the best possible thing for me to do is to make the most of it. Since Scott gave us a ton of great ideas, I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about this program's upcoming events. Hopefully whatever we do doesn't disappoint. However, the main goal, for me, is to gain a new insight on life. I want to open my mind to new experiences and ideas, which is very likely to occur this year, due to the circumstances. I hope that whatever happens, I end this Junior year on a good note.
Page Two - Favorite Quotes
Quote #1: “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” - Dolly Parton.
I really enjoy this quote for a couple of reasons. First of all, the concept it is describing is something that I somewhat struggle with. With me being very ambitious and having high expectations for myself, I also have to be strong enough to endure the pain and struggles that I would have to go through to reach those expectations. Sometimes, I wonder if it’s all worth it, and that makes me doubt myself. Putting up with the rain means having the willpower to go through trials and tribulations in order to finally reach the desired outcome. This concept applies to many aspects of my life, including my academics, sports, and personal life as well. I think it’s a common issue for people to decide not to pursue their dreams in fear of failure or struggle, so this quote resonates with me for not only representing myself, but also society.
Quote #2: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” - Mark Twain
I feel like this quote ties into the first quote I described, but also has its own unique message. This quote has a simple surface-level meaning: You will regret not trying new things in the future. I can strongly relate to this message, with me being naturally introverted and unwilling to try things that I am not already comfortable with or good at. However, the times that I did try something new, it paid off. For example, I was really skeptical about applying for leadership in 8th grade because I was afraid of the responsibility, but it ended up being an amazing decision that has given me so many new experiences and opportunities. Another time I applied the reasoning of this quote was when I joined the track team and started trying hurdles. Although I was a decently fast runner, I didn’t feel comfortable with running competitively. However, I ended up becoming pretty good at the 110 meter hurdle race, which I will continue to do. If I didn’t join the track team, I would have missed out on something I ended up being good at and enjoying a lot.
Quote #3: “Procrastination is the thief of time.” - Edward Young.
When I read this quote, I immediately knew that it would be something that I could relate to. I’m sure that everyone knows how much of a procrastinator I am, whether it be in school, or doing daily activities at home. That mindset has stuck with me for essentially my entire life, and the main reason I haven’t stopped is because it’s been working for me. Oftentimes, I feel like the work I produce that was done in 20 minutes the night before it was due has more quality than something I worked on all week; this sounds weird, but it’s honestly true. However, I do realize that it is a habit I need to break soon, so this quote can definitely act as a wake up call for me to fix my procrastination issue.
I really enjoy this quote for a couple of reasons. First of all, the concept it is describing is something that I somewhat struggle with. With me being very ambitious and having high expectations for myself, I also have to be strong enough to endure the pain and struggles that I would have to go through to reach those expectations. Sometimes, I wonder if it’s all worth it, and that makes me doubt myself. Putting up with the rain means having the willpower to go through trials and tribulations in order to finally reach the desired outcome. This concept applies to many aspects of my life, including my academics, sports, and personal life as well. I think it’s a common issue for people to decide not to pursue their dreams in fear of failure or struggle, so this quote resonates with me for not only representing myself, but also society.
Quote #2: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” - Mark Twain
I feel like this quote ties into the first quote I described, but also has its own unique message. This quote has a simple surface-level meaning: You will regret not trying new things in the future. I can strongly relate to this message, with me being naturally introverted and unwilling to try things that I am not already comfortable with or good at. However, the times that I did try something new, it paid off. For example, I was really skeptical about applying for leadership in 8th grade because I was afraid of the responsibility, but it ended up being an amazing decision that has given me so many new experiences and opportunities. Another time I applied the reasoning of this quote was when I joined the track team and started trying hurdles. Although I was a decently fast runner, I didn’t feel comfortable with running competitively. However, I ended up becoming pretty good at the 110 meter hurdle race, which I will continue to do. If I didn’t join the track team, I would have missed out on something I ended up being good at and enjoying a lot.
Quote #3: “Procrastination is the thief of time.” - Edward Young.
When I read this quote, I immediately knew that it would be something that I could relate to. I’m sure that everyone knows how much of a procrastinator I am, whether it be in school, or doing daily activities at home. That mindset has stuck with me for essentially my entire life, and the main reason I haven’t stopped is because it’s been working for me. Oftentimes, I feel like the work I produce that was done in 20 minutes the night before it was due has more quality than something I worked on all week; this sounds weird, but it’s honestly true. However, I do realize that it is a habit I need to break soon, so this quote can definitely act as a wake up call for me to fix my procrastination issue.
Page 3 - Quote Part 2
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader" -Unknown.
This quote really resonates with me and means a lot to me as a leader because it really shows what Leadership is truly about. We aren't here to be recognized or praised, but rather to provide a service to our school and community and uplift others to give them the same opportunities as we have. It can impact future students by allowing them to understand why they are actually in the program and why Leadership is what it is. Our true purpose as a class is to provide for others and give them memorable and long-lasting experiences. Reflection is so important because it is the pathway to future success. Without reflection, we could never improve and learn from our past mistakes. Statements like this one above are able to impact the future by providing inspiration or something to live off of. They motivate us to do better, every day, and to become the best versions of ourselves.
This quote really resonates with me and means a lot to me as a leader because it really shows what Leadership is truly about. We aren't here to be recognized or praised, but rather to provide a service to our school and community and uplift others to give them the same opportunities as we have. It can impact future students by allowing them to understand why they are actually in the program and why Leadership is what it is. Our true purpose as a class is to provide for others and give them memorable and long-lasting experiences. Reflection is so important because it is the pathway to future success. Without reflection, we could never improve and learn from our past mistakes. Statements like this one above are able to impact the future by providing inspiration or something to live off of. They motivate us to do better, every day, and to become the best versions of ourselves.
Page 4 - Goals
Leadership Goals
Do well as the only Athletics Commissioner. Even though I have not had any job expectations for me so far due to virtual learning, I want to be successful (if) we come back to school this year. I am still hoping that we can have a dodgeball tourney, and maybe even a Powder Puff game during winter Homecoming. However, my partner, Malery, moved to Nebraska for her senior year, so I am alone. Because of this, I want to step up to the plate and have a successful year as Athletics Commissioner.
Become a Legacy Leader. Although this goal can only be fulfilled in my senior year, it’s still something that I want to accomplish in Leadership. In order to be a Legacy Leader, you have to be in the program all four years of high school. In order to do that, I need to continue to work hard in this class and be a leader on Ripon High.
Short-Term Goals
Graduate at Ripon High in the Top 5 of My Class. I’ve always had high expectations for myself in terms of my academics, so this goal is very important to me. I think that I am either ranked number one or two currently, so it is an achievable goal that I think I am capable of doing. I’ve always been a competitive student and I love competing against other people in everything I do. Sometimes, I feel somewhat obligated to reach this goal, because I know that I am capable of doing it, so not reaching it would be very disappointing.
Stay Connected with my Friends. In my life, I value friendships and family more than anything. Even though I have other strong ambitions in my life, the connections I build with the people I love are more important to me. Because of this, I want to preserve the relationships that I have built over my life, because they are so valuable to me and my overall happiness. Even through college and my future life, I still want to build new relationships, while preserving my old ones as well.
Long-Term Goals
Stay Close with my Family. As I get older and start a family on my own, there will be the obvious question of whether or not I want to move away from my hometown and find a new and exciting place to live. And while I value adventure and ambition, I value family more than that. This stemmed from the environment that I grew up in as a child. Having my grandparents and cousins all live roughly an hour away from me allowed my family to stay connected and make memories together, and I know this from personal experience. Making memories with my extended family was probably the best part of my childhood, so I want to preserve that idea when I end up building my own family.
Visit Europe at Some Time in My Life. Although I haven’t traveled that much in my life, I have always dreamed of traveling around the world and having amazing experiences outside of the bubble of Ripon. I especially want to visit Europe, specifically places like France, Italy, and even a Scandinavian country to see the Northern Lights. There is so much to do and see in Europe, which is why going there is on the top of my bucket list for when I am older and have a stable career and family to call my own.
Do well as the only Athletics Commissioner. Even though I have not had any job expectations for me so far due to virtual learning, I want to be successful (if) we come back to school this year. I am still hoping that we can have a dodgeball tourney, and maybe even a Powder Puff game during winter Homecoming. However, my partner, Malery, moved to Nebraska for her senior year, so I am alone. Because of this, I want to step up to the plate and have a successful year as Athletics Commissioner.
Become a Legacy Leader. Although this goal can only be fulfilled in my senior year, it’s still something that I want to accomplish in Leadership. In order to be a Legacy Leader, you have to be in the program all four years of high school. In order to do that, I need to continue to work hard in this class and be a leader on Ripon High.
Short-Term Goals
Graduate at Ripon High in the Top 5 of My Class. I’ve always had high expectations for myself in terms of my academics, so this goal is very important to me. I think that I am either ranked number one or two currently, so it is an achievable goal that I think I am capable of doing. I’ve always been a competitive student and I love competing against other people in everything I do. Sometimes, I feel somewhat obligated to reach this goal, because I know that I am capable of doing it, so not reaching it would be very disappointing.
Stay Connected with my Friends. In my life, I value friendships and family more than anything. Even though I have other strong ambitions in my life, the connections I build with the people I love are more important to me. Because of this, I want to preserve the relationships that I have built over my life, because they are so valuable to me and my overall happiness. Even through college and my future life, I still want to build new relationships, while preserving my old ones as well.
Long-Term Goals
Stay Close with my Family. As I get older and start a family on my own, there will be the obvious question of whether or not I want to move away from my hometown and find a new and exciting place to live. And while I value adventure and ambition, I value family more than that. This stemmed from the environment that I grew up in as a child. Having my grandparents and cousins all live roughly an hour away from me allowed my family to stay connected and make memories together, and I know this from personal experience. Making memories with my extended family was probably the best part of my childhood, so I want to preserve that idea when I end up building my own family.
Visit Europe at Some Time in My Life. Although I haven’t traveled that much in my life, I have always dreamed of traveling around the world and having amazing experiences outside of the bubble of Ripon. I especially want to visit Europe, specifically places like France, Italy, and even a Scandinavian country to see the Northern Lights. There is so much to do and see in Europe, which is why going there is on the top of my bucket list for when I am older and have a stable career and family to call my own.
Page 5 - Goals Part 2
Leadership Goals
Do well as the only Athletics Commissioner. I feel like I was able to accomplish this goal, even if I only had one big task to do this year in my job position. The job that I had was being in charge of the Senior Sport Spotlights, which included creating flyers for each athlete and giving them flowers and a card to show our appreciation for them. As the only Athletics Commissioner, I feel like I did well in this job and was able to accomplish this goal thus far. Even with the challenges of this school year, I still was able to run a successful event.
Become a Legacy Leader. I am now one step closer to fully achieving this goal. I was accepted into the program for my senior year, so I have the opportunity to become a Legacy Leader, if I continue to work hard in the class for this year and next year. I am super excited about this, because it is something that I wanted to accomplish ever since the beginning of my time in this program my freshman year.
Short-Term Goals
Graduate at Ripon High in the Top 5 of my Class. So far, I am doing what I need to accomplish this goal. I'm currently ranked #1 in my class, and as long as I keep my grades up next year, I will be able to be in the top 5. Although this goal seems kind of pointless and silly, it's something that I know I am capable of and that I can do. If I have the ability and the motivation to do it, than why not?
Stay Connected with my Friends. I value my relationships the most in life, and I have stayed close to my current friends through this difficult time in our world. I have also developed new relationships during this year, which I am so grateful for. I have been able to stay connected with the people that I value, even though we were physically apart for so long. As I look towards the future, I know I will continue to preserve these relationships in the coming years.
Long-Term Goals
Stay Close with my Family. Throughout this pandemic, seeing my extended family members has been difficult. However, I have made it work. I have visited my relatives in the Bay Area as much as possible, trying to preserve our family traditions and holiday celebrations. It seems as if through this pandemic, we have all grown even closer. In the future, I hope to preserve these relationships even as I branch off towards my own future, wherever that might take me.
Visit Europe at Some Time in my Life. Clearly, I haven't been able to accomplish this goal quite yet, but I plan on doing so in the future. I've always longed to travel the world, but I have never had the time or money to do so. While I do love the town of Ripon and the community that I've grown up with, there is so much out there to see and explore. I don't want to stress about traveling, but I know that I will have the chance to when the opportunity arises.
Do well as the only Athletics Commissioner. I feel like I was able to accomplish this goal, even if I only had one big task to do this year in my job position. The job that I had was being in charge of the Senior Sport Spotlights, which included creating flyers for each athlete and giving them flowers and a card to show our appreciation for them. As the only Athletics Commissioner, I feel like I did well in this job and was able to accomplish this goal thus far. Even with the challenges of this school year, I still was able to run a successful event.
Become a Legacy Leader. I am now one step closer to fully achieving this goal. I was accepted into the program for my senior year, so I have the opportunity to become a Legacy Leader, if I continue to work hard in the class for this year and next year. I am super excited about this, because it is something that I wanted to accomplish ever since the beginning of my time in this program my freshman year.
Short-Term Goals
Graduate at Ripon High in the Top 5 of my Class. So far, I am doing what I need to accomplish this goal. I'm currently ranked #1 in my class, and as long as I keep my grades up next year, I will be able to be in the top 5. Although this goal seems kind of pointless and silly, it's something that I know I am capable of and that I can do. If I have the ability and the motivation to do it, than why not?
Stay Connected with my Friends. I value my relationships the most in life, and I have stayed close to my current friends through this difficult time in our world. I have also developed new relationships during this year, which I am so grateful for. I have been able to stay connected with the people that I value, even though we were physically apart for so long. As I look towards the future, I know I will continue to preserve these relationships in the coming years.
Long-Term Goals
Stay Close with my Family. Throughout this pandemic, seeing my extended family members has been difficult. However, I have made it work. I have visited my relatives in the Bay Area as much as possible, trying to preserve our family traditions and holiday celebrations. It seems as if through this pandemic, we have all grown even closer. In the future, I hope to preserve these relationships even as I branch off towards my own future, wherever that might take me.
Visit Europe at Some Time in my Life. Clearly, I haven't been able to accomplish this goal quite yet, but I plan on doing so in the future. I've always longed to travel the world, but I have never had the time or money to do so. While I do love the town of Ripon and the community that I've grown up with, there is so much out there to see and explore. I don't want to stress about traveling, but I know that I will have the chance to when the opportunity arises.
Page 6 - People's Magazine
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Page 7 - The Magazine Article
Coming into the 2020-2021 school year, Anthony had pretty low expectations for what would happen. Due to the year starting off virtual, he was expecting a boring junior year that would end up being disappointing. “I honestly feel like this year won’t be that exciting for me,” he stated in an interview. “Sports aren’t even starting until January, and I have serious doubts that those will even happen anyways.” The Coronavirus has heavily impacted schools across the country, along with the lives of American citizens, including Anthony himself. When visiting his grandparents and other family members, he has had to sit outside and stay distanced from them to keep them safe. He has said that it has had an emotional toll on him, as he can’t fully be with the people he loves. However, Anthony has high hopes for the future of the virus, and he does believe that we can conquer it eventually. Moving on to his future goals and aspirations, Anthony is more sure of what he wants to do than last year, but still open to the options around him. He is now leaning towards becoming an industrial engineer, like his grandfather. “I just feel like it would be a job that I would enjoy. It suits me,” Anthony stated in a recent zoom interview. Math and science have always been two of his favorite subjects in school, and he loves helping his dad work around the house. He wants to pursue this engineering career by first going to a great college, and some of his options are UCLA, UC Berkeley, and USC. He also has considered going out of state, but he doesn’t want to live too far away from his family. Currently, Anthony is a junior at Ripon High, involved in various clubs and activities around campus. He is in multiple AP classes, is in Leadership, Link Crew, Pride Tribe, Bug Club, and is the Treasurer for HPV Club, Math Club, and Speech and Debate Club. He also plays basketball and runs track. When describing his reason for being involved so much at Ripon High, Anthony said confidently, “If you don’t try new things and get out of your comfort zone, then you’ll never find something that you truly love to do. We have to be willing to take risks and go above and beyond in life in order to be successful and happy.” Anthony hopes that he will continue to take more risks in life and discover new things that he loves, while also preserving that which he already loves.
Page 8 - FALL FEST Gallery Spread
Page 9 - The Role Model
Someone who has made an impact on my life is my mom. She is probably the strongest woman that I know, in every way possible. Not only has she raised my sisters and I, but she also works as an 8th grade teacher, tutors so many students without asking for anything in return, comes to all of my sporting events, and acts as a role model to the entire Ripon community. She has pushed me to become the best version of myself, and has constantly helped me improve in every way possible. She has done so many amazing things in her life, which has made me want to grow up just like her. I have had a great relationship with her for my entire life, and I will definitely continue to keep close with her, even as I move into adulthood. She has taught me patience, compassion, hard work, and love. I would not be where I am today without her positive influence on me.
Page 10 - The Inner Animal
This year, I decided to make my inner animal a Koala. Essentially, Koalas are fun-loving animals who don’t ask for much attention. This is similar to me, because I just enjoy being around my friends, but I don’t try to get extra validation from people who I don’t know or care about. Koalas also sleep roughly 20 hours per day, which is definitely more than me, but I would kill to have more time to sleep. This means that Koalas are also pretty lazy. I feel as if I am naturally lazy at heart, but my goals and ambitions push me to work hard. However, I often find myself unwilling to do the simplest of tasks at home due to my laziness. Koalas are very quiet animals as well, which is similar to me because I am naturally introverted and like to keep to myself. I also value time alone a lot, and I absolutely love spending a day home alone every once in a while. Koalas are known to be loyal, loving, and reliable. I definitely strive to be all of those things. I try to stay loyal to my friends and my responsibilities, and I am always there for those who need help with anything (usually school-related). Overall, besides the obvious fact that Koalas are slow (whereas I am a runner) I feel like it is truly my inner animal, as it resonates most with me as a person.
Page 11 - The Season of Giving
1) Q: What did you choose to do for your final and why?
A: For my final, I chose to go with the first option of participating in the Giving Tree Project. However, due to the lack of gift tags present at the three locations (ACE Hardware, Tractor Supply, Ripon High front office) I decided to instead take part in Jaydin’s Grandma’s homeless shelter gift drive. I wanted to do this project because I believe that children are suffering greatly due to the Coronavirus, and it has gone mostly unnoticed. Although they are at an extremely low risk for directly being affected by the virus’s symptoms, there are so many other things that are hurting them. Everything from the closure of schools, lockdowns, and possible economic struggles of parents/guardians can really make children have a difficult time just staying happy and positive. This sadness is heightened among those who are homeless, which is why I think it is extremely important to give back to the people in homeless shelters. This is why I participated in this project, and I hope that the child who receives my gift gets great value out of it. 2) Q: Describe the process that you went about in getting your final completed. A: In order to get my final completed, I first searched for a gift tag in the Ripon High FFA Giving Tree project. After looking for a tag three separate days at every location, I started to lose hope that I would ever get one. However, I then learned that Jaydin, another member of Leadership, has an opportunity for us to give back to the children during this holiday season. Her Grandma is helping run a gift drive for a homeless shelter, and they are accepting gift cards as donations. After discussing the project with Jaydin, I decided that a $25 Target gift card would be the most helpful. To get this, I went to CVS Pharmacy on Sunday, December 13, and found a Target gift card there. I bought it, placed it at a value of $25, and then headed over to Jaydin’s house to drop it off there, leaving a sticky note on the card so that she knew who it was from. 3) Q: What was the emotional impact on you in completing your final? A: Upon completing my final, I felt proud of myself for doing a good, selfless act of kindness for someone else. I always struggle with paying attention to or understanding the needs of others, because I am always wrapped up in my own thoughts, stress, and wonders for my own future. Oftentimes, I forget just how important the people around me truly are. To be able to do something that will make a child smile and a parent breathe a sigh of relief gives me a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Even though I would say that I’ve lived a great childhood without much worry about finances or having a roof above my head, many of my friends have had to struggle with that. I know that they would greatly appreciate what this project is truly about, so that makes me more emotionally invested in it as a whole. 4) Q: Was this assignment valuable? Why or why not? A: I would say that this assignment was definitely valuable to me. I think that along with allowing me to give an act of kindness to people who are struggling physically and emotionally, this assignment has made me more responsible and self-aware of the world around me. The past couple of years, I would always have my mom come with me and help me pick out a gift. However, now that I am getting older and I finally have my driver’s license, I am able to do it all fully on my own, which gives me great pride in knowing that I was fully responsible for this act of kindness towards another person or group of people. I always love this assignment, especially considering that it is during the holiday season. Many people view this time of year as the season of receiving, and all that they care about is getting stuff from other people. Doing something where you simply just give, without having any sort of physical reward, is a great lesson of selflessness and pure kindness that I think everybody should learn and experience. |
Page 12 - The Best Things About Me
This first picture represents how much of an impact basketball has made in my life. I've played this sport for almost my entire life, and it has made both a physical and emotional impact on me. I've always strived to do the best in everything that I do, so winning TVL last year meant a lot to me. Although our team started off rough, we pushed through our challenges and ended the season with 11 straight wins. This picture represents success and joy, which are 2 things in life that I strive to always have. I hope to continue to play basketball (when we are back to normalcy) and keep on improving.
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This second picture represents my sudden and surprising love for track, which I discovered my freshman year of high school. Coming into my first track season, I didn't know what to expect. I had been a good runner, but I wasn't sure what events to do. However, I quickly found something that I both enjoyed and found success in, which was running hurdles and 400x4 meter relays. These two events have been the ones that I enjoy the most, because they represent determination and teamwork. I've always found it difficult to rely on anyone other than myself, so running this relay event helped me trust my teammates more. This picture was after 1 of our 2 meets my sophomore year, where we placed top 3 in a relay. It made me feel optimistic for the future, even though the pandemic happened just 2 weeks later.
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This third picture represents how much family truly means to me. Throughout the entire life, my immediate and extended family members have been the people that I could always rely on, no matter what. Growing up, I would be able to see my cousins, aunts, uncles, and my grandparents on every holiday and celebration, allowing me to grow connections with them. This year, due to the Coronavirus, we were forced to celebrate Thanksgiving outside this year, but we adapted and made it work. During my childhood, I built such a strong bond with my cousins especially, and this bond still lasts to this day. Being locked up during quarantine and having to spend time with my family was both a blessing and a curse; while they did annoy me a lot, I got to grow closer to them.
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This last picture is about the bonds that I have grown during the time I have spend in Leadership these past couple of years. Coming into this class my freshman year, I wasn't expecting to make so many new friends and learn so much. However, this class changed me so much in so many ways. It has given me confidence, professional knowledge, and the ability to understand others on an emotional level. Also, I have grown to be so close with other members of leadership, developing friendships that I never expected. I hope that these relationships can persist through high school and into my adult life, because I value them so much.
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Page 13 - What I Like Best About Being a Member of Leadership - Even During a Pandemic
Even during the Coronavirus pandemic, I have still found joy and purpose in the Leadership class. I have loved the unity and connections within our class members, as I feel like this isolation has seemingly brought us even closer together. I have also loved how the extra time that we've had in class has allowed us to focus more on improving the mind and the self, which is something that I always struggle with. I am one to overwork myself and get overly stressed, so learning how to simply just "be" has been super beneficial to my mental health. Bonding with the junior class in leadership has probably brought me the most joy. We've grown from classmates to true family these past couple of years, and I'm so grateful for that. Having honest and kind friends to rely on has allowed me to be more comfortable and trust the people around me. Overall, the main thing that I have loved about Leadership is the people in it and the things that I have learned and gained from it. After 3 years in this program, I feel much more confident, outgoing, professional, and close to the people around me. I've learned how to write a resume and cover letter, how to be successful during an interview, how to give a good speech, and how to balance leadership, school, sports, relationships, and life at home. Learning all of these skills and developing such significant relationships is what I love most about Leadership. Without this class, I would not be where I currently am today.
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Page 14 - Homecoming Gallery of Pictures
My favorite component to the adapted Homecoming that we did this year was definitely the Night Rally and dance-sync competition. This was my favorite part of this event, and it was the first time this school year that we finally got to come together and show school spirit. Although we did not have as many people attend as previous Night Rallies, that can be attributed to the difficult nature of the pandemic. The people that did come were engaged in the event and helped everyone enjoy it. Probably the best part of this event was actually winning the dance-sync for the second year in a row. I was so proud of our entire team for working hard every day, even through scheduling difficulties and people getting quarantined. Getting first place also helped us tie for first overall, which I'm super proud about. Overall, the Night Rally was just a really fun night that helped me get away from all of the stress of this year.
Page 15 - What I Love to Do
Over the past couple of years in high school, I have grown to love running track and field. When I first started to participate in this sport my freshman year, I immediately fell in love with it. I gravitated towards running the hurdles races, which was both a challenge and a great experience for me. It gave me something to work towards, as I had absolutely no experience with running hurdles before my freshman year. My improvement in track made me feel much more confident about it and enjoy the sport a lot more, which is why I decided to continue running it throughout high school. Along with running hurdles, I also found a match in the 400 meter race, both the individual and relay, and the 4 x 100 relay race. These races were also a lot of fun because I got to work with a team, which made the reward of winning much more valuable as a whole. Overall, running track has given me the opportunity to develop individually, and create close bonds with so many people that will continue to last for years to come. This current year, I am enjoying track a lot, despite the COVID restrictions. I am super excited to see what I can accomplish in my senior year running track.
Page 16 - Letter to Parents
Dear Mom and Dad,
I can’t believe that we’ve made it through this difficult school year alive. We all had to deal with so many different challenges, both personal and ones that are experienced globally. Through it all, we were able to emerge stronger than ever. I want to say thank you for continuing to care for me throughout this past year, and my entire life as a whole. I know that I haven’t always shown my appreciation for you, but just know that I am so grateful for everything that you both do. No matter what I have pursued through the past few years, you have always been supportive and cheered me on. You have helped give me a sense of purpose in life, and have shown me how important it is to do what I love and focus on my own happiness; I know that’s difficult for me sometimes. I could have never had such a great childhood with any other parents. You were able to give me joy and laughter, but prepare me for the real world at the same time. I feel more prepared for adulthood than ever, thanks to you both. I couldn’t imagine life without the influence and love of either of you, so thank you so much for everything that you have ever done for me. I love you!
Love, Anthony
I can’t believe that we’ve made it through this difficult school year alive. We all had to deal with so many different challenges, both personal and ones that are experienced globally. Through it all, we were able to emerge stronger than ever. I want to say thank you for continuing to care for me throughout this past year, and my entire life as a whole. I know that I haven’t always shown my appreciation for you, but just know that I am so grateful for everything that you both do. No matter what I have pursued through the past few years, you have always been supportive and cheered me on. You have helped give me a sense of purpose in life, and have shown me how important it is to do what I love and focus on my own happiness; I know that’s difficult for me sometimes. I could have never had such a great childhood with any other parents. You were able to give me joy and laughter, but prepare me for the real world at the same time. I feel more prepared for adulthood than ever, thanks to you both. I couldn’t imagine life without the influence and love of either of you, so thank you so much for everything that you have ever done for me. I love you!
Love, Anthony
Page 17 - The Letter
Dear Kade,
You are preparing to become the Athletics Commissioner for next year, so there are some things that are necessary for you to know to be successful in your job position. Although I did basically nothing this year due to COVID (save for one event), you will have a couple activities next year to prepare for, most notably Powderpuff and the dodgeball tournament. Although I only had the chance to run Powderpuff my sophomore year and I never got to run dodgeball, there is still much you need to know to make those events successful. First, make sure that you publicize a lot. These are events that require a large amount of student engagement and participation. So many kids look forward to both, as they are very competitive. To make sure they are successful, it’s so important to inform the student body as much as you can and make them excited about it. Along with this, you will need to be prepared for a lack of responsibility and reliability from these students. This is especially important in relation to both passing out and returning powderpuff jerseys. So many people forget to return them, or exchange numbers with each other. To prevent this, you have to continuously remind students about return dates and times. Probably two of the best ways to do this are social media posts and creating a remind message stream on the app. I would say that the most important thing you can do for preparing for these events is having a meeting day after school or during lunch. Although social media posts are helpful, discussing everything in person when everyone is attentive is the best way to relay information. Overall, being athletics commissioner is a lot of fun and far more relaxed than other jobs, which is why I loved doing it. So when running your two main events, be sure to both have fun with it and stay on top of everything, and you’ll have a great year.
Sincerely,
Anthony Sausedo
You are preparing to become the Athletics Commissioner for next year, so there are some things that are necessary for you to know to be successful in your job position. Although I did basically nothing this year due to COVID (save for one event), you will have a couple activities next year to prepare for, most notably Powderpuff and the dodgeball tournament. Although I only had the chance to run Powderpuff my sophomore year and I never got to run dodgeball, there is still much you need to know to make those events successful. First, make sure that you publicize a lot. These are events that require a large amount of student engagement and participation. So many kids look forward to both, as they are very competitive. To make sure they are successful, it’s so important to inform the student body as much as you can and make them excited about it. Along with this, you will need to be prepared for a lack of responsibility and reliability from these students. This is especially important in relation to both passing out and returning powderpuff jerseys. So many people forget to return them, or exchange numbers with each other. To prevent this, you have to continuously remind students about return dates and times. Probably two of the best ways to do this are social media posts and creating a remind message stream on the app. I would say that the most important thing you can do for preparing for these events is having a meeting day after school or during lunch. Although social media posts are helpful, discussing everything in person when everyone is attentive is the best way to relay information. Overall, being athletics commissioner is a lot of fun and far more relaxed than other jobs, which is why I loved doing it. So when running your two main events, be sure to both have fun with it and stay on top of everything, and you’ll have a great year.
Sincerely,
Anthony Sausedo
Page 18 - Do's and Don'ts List
- Do’s
- DO: Ask other students for help. You have an entire class of students that are willing to help, so don’t feel guilty for asking for it.
- DO: Plan ahead. Although there are only a couple main events you are responsible for, they can creep up on you if you don’t prepare in advance.
- DO: Check in with your partner often. You won’t be doing this job alone, so make sure to check up on the other Athletics Commissioner to be aware of what is going on.
- DO: Communicate often with the participants in your events. It is important that students are aware of key dates, times, and deadlines.
- DO: Have fun. This job is all about creating the most exciting and inclusive events at the school, so have fun with it.
- DO: Ask other students for help. You have an entire class of students that are willing to help, so don’t feel guilty for asking for it.
- Don’ts
- DON’T: Overstress. No matter what, these events are not going to go perfectly. There are some things that are out of your control, so don’t get down on yourself if something goes wrong.
- DON’T: Procrastinate. Having to do everything at the last minute is not fun at all, and it may lead to the event being unsuccessful.
- DON’T: Only involve leadership students. The events you are responsible for require participation from the entire student body, not just this class.
- DON’T: Wait to do the procedure form until the due date. Using it throughout the planning of your events is super helpful to organizing everything, so be sure to utilize it.
- DON’T: Give up if things go wrong. Even if something doesn’t go as planned, the student body would never know that it was actually intended to go another way. No matter what, always finish out the event strong.
- DON’T: Overstress. No matter what, these events are not going to go perfectly. There are some things that are out of your control, so don’t get down on yourself if something goes wrong.
Page 19 - The Professional
The first main topic that we learned this year regarding professionalism is how to successfully prepare for and interview for a job. We went through a lengthy process of researching different types of jobs, preparing a resume, drafting a cover letter, organizing our digital websites, and finally completing the Mock Interview with our professionals. Throughout this experience, we were able to get some insight into what our futures hold in terms of searching for a lifelong career, which is incredibly valuable. So many people dive into an adult life with little to no direction or knowledge of what to do, so the fact that we were able to live through a realistic interview experience and learn about a possible career path is so significant. The second topic we learned this year is public speaking, which is a topic that so many kids lack experience with. Besides the occasional class presentation, so many students will rarely give a public speech. In leadership, we were all required to give one speech on a topic of our choosing. We were then graded on everything, including body language, memorization, tone, engagement, and more. These criteria helped us better understand our strengths and weaknesses, so that we can become better speakers in the future.
Page 20 - Change
This year was characterized by a lot of confusion, frustration, and growth. Coming into the year with COVID, I was unsure of what to expect. There was a lot of talk about not having any events the entire school year, so that meant that my job position was essentially useless if that was the case. With this realization, I was expecting to not have any sort of job, so my plan was to help everyone else in the class with their responsibilities. I was able to accomplish this in a way, as I did everything that I could to assist the Junior class with both Fall Fest and Homecoming, which we ended up doing great in. However, once we returned to in-person school in January, I began to be hopeful that I could finally do something. Morty came to me with a new event, titled Senior Sport Spotlights, where I would collaborate with the class to create personalized flyers for each Senior athlete and deliver them flowers. This event was successful, and I was finally able to make an impact on the school within my job position. With this successful moment, there is still a lot that needs to be changed for next year. With the stress of this school year, and being separated for so long, I did not prioritize making new connections within the Leadership class, which was a mistake. My mentality made me believe that this year was useless, and that I should just get through it so that I can have a great Senior year. However, so much of the class from this year will be returning for next year, so it is crucial that our class works more to develop closer connections and bonds, especially over the summer. I foresee that the beginning of next year will be a lot different than what we experienced this past year, so we need to be prepared for it. In order to do this, I, along with the rest of the class, needs to form bonds so that we can be ready for a stressful school year ahead.
Page 21 - The Ideal Leader
Honestly, describing the ideal leader is a very arbitrary concept. Everyone has their different perspective and opinion on what a leader should entail, whether that’s based on personal experiences or outside observations. In order to express my opinion on this, I want to look through the lens of a Ripon High student. What is an ideal leader on our school campus? Being in the Leadership class for 3 years now, I have seen a wide variety of leaders. Some have been very outspoken and commanding, and will always do their best to take charge and get something done when needed. Others are a lot quieter, and do most of their work behind the scenes, unseen and underappreciated by the general population. Our class has leaders ranging from either side of this spectrum, but one thing that we all have in common, and one thing that leaders need to have, is genuinity. The common misconception about leadership is that we are here simply to control everyone and everything at Ripon High. However, that is not the case, and that should not be the case in any leadership setting. Our job is to inspire the student body, create a memorable high school experience, and provide a service to the community that we love. In order to accomplish these goals, students in our leadership class have to do certain things daily. This includes, but isn’t limited to, communicating with our peers, organizing our time, being productive in class, and planning for future events. Being a leader at Ripon High takes a lot of time out of the day, so students must be ready for that. In order to truly be successful, we must be genuine about our desire to be in the program. Without that, our class turns into one of personal gain and merit rather than our main purpose of giving back to the student body. Student leaders at Ripon High have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders, so ideally, we must both enjoy our job and understand our true
purpose at this school.
purpose at this school.
Page 22 - You
Ambitious