Guess what seniors? WE made it! After years of hardship and struggles, we’re here! We’ve faced multiple shutdowns due to norovirus and COVID, and we’ve watched those events complicate some of the most formative years of our lives. Nonetheless, we persevered and, as the cast of “High School Musical” said, “we’re all in this together Wildcats”. Let’s look back on some of our favorite moments in the last four years.
Some of my favorite interviews conducted really focused on the FMHS Teachers, for example, Kamryn Kendall (senior) explained that she really enjoyed spending time with some of her favorite teachers, Joni Farinacci (math) and Jessie Hoisington (sciences.) She also got the privilege to take college pharmacy classes which is helping her with her future career pathway of being a pharmacy technician.
Victoria Reister (senior) was excited to tell me she really loved spending time with all of her friends throughout high school, as well as all the activities and events. One of the memories that sticks out the most though, is all the drives she would take at lunch. She also loved leading and competing in FCCLA, (family, community and career leaders of america.)
After focusing on graduating students, I took a moment and visited with Senior wildcat class teachers. These teachers have been with us for three years now, and have watched us all grow and change. Kathaleen Recker, (business/finance) reminisced on memories with her senior class, especially last year, when her Wildcat class won the door decorating contest, and it was an effort of all of her students, and they all contributed to it. She loved watching them all work together to succeed, and feels sad that they are graduating this year.
Shawn Gregg (sciences) has a tradition where his wildcat class often shares breakfast together on finals weeks and it feels like they’re all talking to one another. It made him feel like his whole class found a way to connect with each other. He said that sometimes as we progress from sophomore to senior, it’s hard to keep connected with each other, and that having this breakfast is a great way to have everyone together and talk.
Chris Harvey (social studies) explained he always liked getting a big new group of seniors each year in his American Government Classes, and seeing them have a fresh start in class with him.
When you think about 2020 , what do you think about first? Do you remember all of the music? Movies? Or the viral Tik Tok trends? From Charli Damelio, to all the Hype Houses, and Shane Dawson to the Paul brothers. There was enough entertainment to go around, and all types of variety for everyone to find something they like.
Remember cloud bread? How about whipped coffee? What about the viral tomato feta pasta? I interviewed graduating senior, Kamryn Kendall once more, who once I asked if she had made any of the viral foods, said she wanted to make cloud bread, but never did because she always heard it didn’t taste good, and oftentimes ended up being discolored. When you look back on trends like this you have to wonder what people were doing to make the foods look appetizing.
Remember when our mascot changed and we got Waldo’s new look? Or how about when the news came out that Newt Klusmire was our new principal? Under his leadership, Fruita Monument has begun integrating a Freshman class for the first time in over a decade. While this has been a big change for everyone, with the guidance and leadership of our admin and teachers, we’ve all made the best of it.
From our multiple college, club, or job fairs and even our day to day classes, everyone had that one teacher that stayed memorable in their minds. It could’ve been because their class was fun, or maybe they connected with you in a way no other teacher did. Maybe, they even remember you two years later and make it a point to say hello. Who’s yours? When I interviewed seniors around the building, I found that Jessie Hoisington (sciences) seemed to be an overall favorite, along with Madyson Martinez (literature), and Pete Ray (literature.)
So seniors as we near the end of our high school career, I’m sure there’s some people (like myself) who can’t wait to graduate and move onto bigger things. But, let’s remember to slow it down a little and really try to enjoy ourselves. Make time for your friends and family, go to that football game, go to Homecoming even if people say it’s not going to be fun. Don’t let others’ opinions steer you away from doing something that could create lifelong memories, so let’s all make the most of the time that we have left.
We’re all in this together, Wildcats.
