Page 1 - Initial Thoughts
My initial thoughts going into the school year are that I know I will enjoy this year. There are a few parts of this new learning and living experience that make me very optimistic for the future. I enjoy online school thoroughly even with Leadership having very restrictive options for events. Online school gives me so much more time to dedicate to Leadership, clubs I have a Leadership role in, and my personal interests, and I believe this has to do with the fact that students are held more responsible for the management of their commitments and learning with the extensive amount of free time. This also gives Leadership the opportunity to innovate and use creativity, while engaging in diverse forms of communication, which did not happen as much before the pandemic. What we were working with before the pandemic was carrying out traditions that were expected of Leadership at Ripon High. It was very rewarding, don’t get me wrong, making improvements to events and if hard work was exerted and devoted to events, it would result in success and feelings of accomplishment, but nearly every year we knew exactly what to expect and how to do it. COVID poses many challenges to the creation of events, but I also think that it will drastically improve our adaptability as individuals and our capability to brainstorm completely new and different ideas. Which positively impacts our futures, whether that be in our interpersonal relationships or in our personal endeavors.
Going into this year my mental and physical health has improved exponentially as well, so I have been very motivated to succeed and be productive in each thing brought in my direction during school. I’m happy to say that I’m enjoying my education and all my extracurriculars as much as I did entering high school as a fourteen-year-old girl with an overwhelming and exciting amount of new opportunities. Things may be different to a level that I never would have expected, but I believe that there is still good that comes from this change. I am looking forward to a transformative school year.
Going into this year my mental and physical health has improved exponentially as well, so I have been very motivated to succeed and be productive in each thing brought in my direction during school. I’m happy to say that I’m enjoying my education and all my extracurriculars as much as I did entering high school as a fourteen-year-old girl with an overwhelming and exciting amount of new opportunities. Things may be different to a level that I never would have expected, but I believe that there is still good that comes from this change. I am looking forward to a transformative school year.
Page 2 - Favorite Quotes
"What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” - Henry David Thoreau
I really appreciate this quote because it reminds me that the present is what is most valuable. The future and the past do not concern me, as they are just a matter of time. What stays with me all along is what lies within me; how I view my presence and my life, and what my perspective is like, positive or negative. This quote also reminds me that being emotionally self-aware makes all the difference to achieve a peaceful and calm life.
“Before I could release the weight of my sadness and pain, I first had to honor its existence.” - Yung Pueblo
This quote provides great perspective that I don’t think many people think about. That in order to achieve peace and an honest sense of happiness, and to be able to experience happiness in a very raw and full way, we must understand our pain and honor it. We must acknowledge all of the different emotions we feel, especially the difficult ones. By doing this we become more self-aware individuals, which makes happiness all the more enjoyable.
“The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free.” - Spinoza
This quote can be interpreted in many ways, but I view it as one that aims to educate people that understanding is more valuable than many may think. When we learn about things with the goal to understand more about them, we become more patient people who begin to look from different perspectives without actually realizing it. We do our best to walk in others’ shoes, and we find peace when we are more aware of our surroundings and how they operate.
“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.” - Steve Prefontaine
This quote may be interpreted to overwork ourselves and to constantly put in a 100% effort. I like to view it as I should work consciously, acknowledging when I am working just to get it done, or when I am working to understand and learn. I have many gifts as a human being, and when I put passion into my work, I am fully embracing that gift.
I really appreciate this quote because it reminds me that the present is what is most valuable. The future and the past do not concern me, as they are just a matter of time. What stays with me all along is what lies within me; how I view my presence and my life, and what my perspective is like, positive or negative. This quote also reminds me that being emotionally self-aware makes all the difference to achieve a peaceful and calm life.
“Before I could release the weight of my sadness and pain, I first had to honor its existence.” - Yung Pueblo
This quote provides great perspective that I don’t think many people think about. That in order to achieve peace and an honest sense of happiness, and to be able to experience happiness in a very raw and full way, we must understand our pain and honor it. We must acknowledge all of the different emotions we feel, especially the difficult ones. By doing this we become more self-aware individuals, which makes happiness all the more enjoyable.
“The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free.” - Spinoza
This quote can be interpreted in many ways, but I view it as one that aims to educate people that understanding is more valuable than many may think. When we learn about things with the goal to understand more about them, we become more patient people who begin to look from different perspectives without actually realizing it. We do our best to walk in others’ shoes, and we find peace when we are more aware of our surroundings and how they operate.
“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.” - Steve Prefontaine
This quote may be interpreted to overwork ourselves and to constantly put in a 100% effort. I like to view it as I should work consciously, acknowledging when I am working just to get it done, or when I am working to understand and learn. I have many gifts as a human being, and when I put passion into my work, I am fully embracing that gift.
Page 3 - Quote Part II
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
This quote has meant a lot to me this year because it has transformed my life senior year. I left big things that didn’t make me happy and I confronted situations in my relationships that I wanted to improve. I believe that what other students can take from this quote is that you should never tolerate something in your life that doesn’t fulfill your wants, needs, and dreams. Our lives are ours and by sticking in situations that discourage us we lose our control and empowerment. I believe this quote is important because it shows us that the way our life goes is completely up to us. We are in control of our destinies and when something doesn’t make us happy, we must move on or change our perspectives. Reflection like this is so important because it allows us to think about the direction we are taking in life. Are we where we want to be currently? And if not, are we recognizing how we think we can start taking proactive and important steps?
This quote has meant a lot to me this year because it has transformed my life senior year. I left big things that didn’t make me happy and I confronted situations in my relationships that I wanted to improve. I believe that what other students can take from this quote is that you should never tolerate something in your life that doesn’t fulfill your wants, needs, and dreams. Our lives are ours and by sticking in situations that discourage us we lose our control and empowerment. I believe this quote is important because it shows us that the way our life goes is completely up to us. We are in control of our destinies and when something doesn’t make us happy, we must move on or change our perspectives. Reflection like this is so important because it allows us to think about the direction we are taking in life. Are we where we want to be currently? And if not, are we recognizing how we think we can start taking proactive and important steps?
Page 4 - Goals
Short Term Goals
- Becoming fully invested in my work while creating positive study habits. I hope to focus a lot on productivity this year and to carry it on into college. To me, this means staying focused and reserving time for the things I love while still completing my responsibilities and being proud of my work. I hope to get straight A’s all of my senior year.
- Significantly improve as a Spanish Speaker. I hope to use Spanish in my job, in my volunteering, and in my future endeavors and career so this is a very useful skill to work on. I enjoy Spanish and linguistics as well, so this is a fun hobby for me.
- Prioritize my health (mental and physical). This consists of doing things that relieve stress for me (hot yoga and regular yoga), getting frequent exercise, and eating nourishing food, and drinking plenty of water. It also means setting aside time for peace of mind like meditation. It means being emotionally aware of how I feel throughout all my days and recognizing what causes the rise of certain emotions.
- Romanticize my being; be the person and live the life that I dream of. This means waking up every morning content with how I’ve curated myself and my life thus far.
- Be happy; constantly be on the pursuit of happiness. My goals narrowed into one single goal are to make myself the happiest I can be. This is what I want my focus to be on. I will not always experience happiness, but it will be a very frequent and relevant feeling in my life.
- Do not sacrifice your gift; devote yourself to your passions. I will live my life proud of my efforts and always learning more!
Page 5 - Goals Part II
For my first Short Term goal I don’t believe I met it to the extent I wanted to when I wrote the goal. I do believe that I made strides throughout the year though to meet it because I have worked hard in school this year. Generally I have been proactive about my work when I am not pressed on time. College will be difficult but I also have built some good work habits.
For my second Short Term goal I do believe that I have improved in my Spanish a lot because AP Spanish has involved a lot of writing essays and also speaking on the spot in presentations or a conversation. I haven’t had a lot of chances to speak Spanish outside of school this year though, and I haven’t spent much of my own time focusing on it/studying, so I hope to study Spanish more on my own time in the future.
For my first Long Term goal I believe that I have met this goal. I haven’t necessarily done all the things I wanted to do like meditation or yoga, but I have dedicated a lot of my time to track and running this Spring, which I really love. It helps my stress levels immensely and I love spending time with my friends there too. Running has helped me stay in great shape and it’s been rewarding because I have been improving. I can definitely work on my eating habits but I think I have done great with this goal thus far.
For my second Long Term goal I honestly haven’t really focused on at all this year intentionally. Interesting enough though I have become so much more grateful for the environment around me in Ripon. Knowing that I am going to be leaving for college has hit me and I just now acknowledge that my home will always be my home and I will always find the beauty in it.
For my first Lifelong goal it has been something very important to me this year. I have left things in my life that didn’t make me happy and joined things that have made me happy in my life. I have made big decisions like my college choice completely based on where I would be happiest, not based on prestige or competitiveness. I believe I have done a great job with this goal.
For my second Lifelong goal I think I got really lost earlier in the year. I didn’t know what I wanted and felt separated from many of my passions. Now I find myself working hard to understand myself and look into potentials for my future. I realize the importance of my education and lifelong learning, which thus far is motivating me for college.
For my second Short Term goal I do believe that I have improved in my Spanish a lot because AP Spanish has involved a lot of writing essays and also speaking on the spot in presentations or a conversation. I haven’t had a lot of chances to speak Spanish outside of school this year though, and I haven’t spent much of my own time focusing on it/studying, so I hope to study Spanish more on my own time in the future.
For my first Long Term goal I believe that I have met this goal. I haven’t necessarily done all the things I wanted to do like meditation or yoga, but I have dedicated a lot of my time to track and running this Spring, which I really love. It helps my stress levels immensely and I love spending time with my friends there too. Running has helped me stay in great shape and it’s been rewarding because I have been improving. I can definitely work on my eating habits but I think I have done great with this goal thus far.
For my second Long Term goal I honestly haven’t really focused on at all this year intentionally. Interesting enough though I have become so much more grateful for the environment around me in Ripon. Knowing that I am going to be leaving for college has hit me and I just now acknowledge that my home will always be my home and I will always find the beauty in it.
For my first Lifelong goal it has been something very important to me this year. I have left things in my life that didn’t make me happy and joined things that have made me happy in my life. I have made big decisions like my college choice completely based on where I would be happiest, not based on prestige or competitiveness. I believe I have done a great job with this goal.
For my second Lifelong goal I think I got really lost earlier in the year. I didn’t know what I wanted and felt separated from many of my passions. Now I find myself working hard to understand myself and look into potentials for my future. I realize the importance of my education and lifelong learning, which thus far is motivating me for college.
Page 6 - Magazine Cover
Page 7 - Magazine Article
Kate Villegas is a senior at Ripon High. She is the ASB Vice President of Ripon High’s Leadership Program, is the On-Campus Activities Director of Multicultural Club, is the Vice President of Scrubs Club, and is a co-president of Science Olympiad. Villegas participates in cross country in the fall season and track & field in the spring season, which are two of her favorite extracurriculars she is committed to. Due to a different school year, cross country is now a fall/winter sport and track & field will remain as a spring sport. Villegas also is a Junior Volunteer at Memorial Medical Center, but this is postponed as of now because of COVID-19 and the safety precautions.
Kate is currently taking four AP courses, AP Literature & Composition, AP Statistics, AP Spanish, and AP Government & Politics. Villegas shares that she is happy with her workload, “It is definitely all teaching me diligence, and I am pulling out great lessons from each of my classes that are helping me learn about the world and myself.”
Currently, Villegas is vocationally interested in pursuing a career as a Dermatology Physician Assistant, her second option is as an Obstetrics & Gynecology Physician Assistant. “Dermatology is my top pick because I absolutely adore learning about it. The pay is also very good, which is something I have to keep in mind if I want to sustain myself and a family in the future, along with traveling and everything I’m interested in doing outside of work,” states Kate. “I’m also very interested in women’s health, but the pay is significantly lower than if I were to specialize in dermatology,” expresses Villegas. Kate acknowledges that changes in career interests are very likely though, but she continues to trust the healthcare vocational path, as the job security is stable, job availability is often abundant, the pay is sufficient, and insurance is covered.
Kate is interested in attending UC Davis after high school, as they have the major she is interested in for undergraduate school, and they have a PA program as well. “There is a small part of me that still considers going to community college to get my prerequisites to save money before I attend university though. There is also a part of me that wants to try moving out of state while getting my bachelor’s degree. We will see where life takes me,” expresses Villegas.
As for Villegas’ personal life, she enjoys time with family, friends, and her partner. She loves incorporating her hobbies into community activities, like hot yoga classes. Kate states, “I really love hot yoga, and I’ve made it a goal to practice once a week because it has really benefited my mental health. It has taught me a lot about the importance of self-awareness, patience, and my journey to peace.” In Kate’s free time she enjoys learning about nutrition through dietitians online, learning about dermatology through dermatologists online, and learning about obstetrics & gynecology through OBGYN’s online. Kate enjoys salsa and bachata dancing as well as a hobby, she shares that she believes the music is beautiful and that it makes her feel full of life. Lastly, Villegas loves traveling out of the country. She has traveled to Spain, Mexico, Italy, and France, and has more travel plans for her future; she hopes to study out of the country at some point in college. Kate plans to look into sewing, horticulture, language learning, and an instrument like piano or violin in the future.
Change is happening at an exponential rate in Kate’s life. “I am off to college in about 10 months, and a lot of the familiarity in my life is going to change. I have a lot of plans for my future, but a big focus of mine is my well-being and happiness, it comes before anything else, and it will continue to be this way for the rest of my life,” Villegas declares.
Kate is currently taking four AP courses, AP Literature & Composition, AP Statistics, AP Spanish, and AP Government & Politics. Villegas shares that she is happy with her workload, “It is definitely all teaching me diligence, and I am pulling out great lessons from each of my classes that are helping me learn about the world and myself.”
Currently, Villegas is vocationally interested in pursuing a career as a Dermatology Physician Assistant, her second option is as an Obstetrics & Gynecology Physician Assistant. “Dermatology is my top pick because I absolutely adore learning about it. The pay is also very good, which is something I have to keep in mind if I want to sustain myself and a family in the future, along with traveling and everything I’m interested in doing outside of work,” states Kate. “I’m also very interested in women’s health, but the pay is significantly lower than if I were to specialize in dermatology,” expresses Villegas. Kate acknowledges that changes in career interests are very likely though, but she continues to trust the healthcare vocational path, as the job security is stable, job availability is often abundant, the pay is sufficient, and insurance is covered.
Kate is interested in attending UC Davis after high school, as they have the major she is interested in for undergraduate school, and they have a PA program as well. “There is a small part of me that still considers going to community college to get my prerequisites to save money before I attend university though. There is also a part of me that wants to try moving out of state while getting my bachelor’s degree. We will see where life takes me,” expresses Villegas.
As for Villegas’ personal life, she enjoys time with family, friends, and her partner. She loves incorporating her hobbies into community activities, like hot yoga classes. Kate states, “I really love hot yoga, and I’ve made it a goal to practice once a week because it has really benefited my mental health. It has taught me a lot about the importance of self-awareness, patience, and my journey to peace.” In Kate’s free time she enjoys learning about nutrition through dietitians online, learning about dermatology through dermatologists online, and learning about obstetrics & gynecology through OBGYN’s online. Kate enjoys salsa and bachata dancing as well as a hobby, she shares that she believes the music is beautiful and that it makes her feel full of life. Lastly, Villegas loves traveling out of the country. She has traveled to Spain, Mexico, Italy, and France, and has more travel plans for her future; she hopes to study out of the country at some point in college. Kate plans to look into sewing, horticulture, language learning, and an instrument like piano or violin in the future.
Change is happening at an exponential rate in Kate’s life. “I am off to college in about 10 months, and a lot of the familiarity in my life is going to change. I have a lot of plans for my future, but a big focus of mine is my well-being and happiness, it comes before anything else, and it will continue to be this way for the rest of my life,” Villegas declares.
Page 8 - Fall Fest Gallery Spread/Slideshow
Page 9 - Role Model
Dr. Andrea Suarez
This year I am choosing my role model as Dr. Dray! She is a dermatologist that lives in Texas and makes videos everyday online. It might be weird that I am choosing someone I know from the Internet as my role model, but honestly it fits just right. Dr. Dray not only has taught me so much about dermatology and skin care through her videos, but she preaches a well balanced diet, good sleep, and daily exercise to improve not only skin, but one’s quality of life. Ever since, I have tailored my Internet presence from being someone who follows models to now being someone who follows doctors, educators, and therapists. I have transformed how I view my body and my physical and mental health. I wear sunscreen every single day now because of how much Dr. Dray stresses it, and I have invested in both safe skin care products and products to support my sleep health. A lot of areas in my life have improved ever since dedicating a lot of my time to learning more about skin health through Dr. Dray. Learning about skin escalated to then learning about dietetics and gynecology. I am most grateful for Dr. Dray because she introduced me to the academic subject I want to spend the rest of my life studying.
Page 10 - The Inner Animal
Honeybee I believe that many parts of me resemble the traits of a honeybee. Honeybees are hard workers, they are intelligent, and they are very focused on their communities. A honeybee’s life revolves around helping the hive, and this is something I value in my own life. I feel most comfortable and happy is when I am helping, supporting, and mentoring others. I also am a goal-oriented person, aware of the future and always preparing for it; I put forth effort to achieve what I want to achieve, but I do not make this my purpose in life, it is simply something I enjoy and can feel proud of. I love how honeybees also can represent the “honey” in life. They are reminders that life is sweet and shouldn’t be taken for granted. This is a very significant reminder for me in my life because I know how dark the world can be. Reminding myself of the good and what to be grateful for is important. I admire that honeybees also pollinate the flowers around them. To me this symbolizes good intentions and the kindness they carry with them. I hope that I exude this to others in my life. |
Page 11 - The Season of Giving
1. What did you choose to do for your final and why?
I chose to do option #1 for my final this year, buying a gift for a child, but since I had a hard time finding tags for the FFA Giving Tree project, I bought a $15 Target gift card for Jaydin’s grandma’s project. I chose to do this option because I actually couldn’t find any community service to do at this time of year during the Purple Tier of COVID, which is my favorite to do at this time of year. For three years in a row I volunteered at a dinner for foster children in Modesto where I served the families, and I also volunteered with Gracie at a retirement home, where we would prepare them a Thanksgiving dinner with decorations. This year I think the $15 Target gift card is great though because it gives more freedom to how Jaydin’s grandma’s project will be distributing gifts, and despite not being able to give back through both volunteering and a gift, I am still able to give back through a gift. 2. Describe the process that you went about in getting your final completed. I left for Target a few days ago to go buy some Christmas gifts for my loved ones and to buy the gift card for the children in need. If I’m being honest, I really do enjoy shopping for others during the holiday season. It is really nice to see people out buying decorations and toys, and it makes me happy even if crowds of people definitely aren’t ideal during this pandemic. I decided to pick a Target giftcard with little holiday mistletoe on the card to add a little holiday spirit to the gift. I then took a picture of me with the gift card for my online portfolio. A few days later I then dropped the gift card at Jaydin’s house per her instructions so that it can be delivered to her grandma. 3. What was the emotional impact on you in completing your final? Every year this first semester final has meant a lot to me. When I was eight years old, my parents were going through a divorce and my mom virtually became a single mother. That was definitely the most financially difficult year my family and I had ever endured. My mother wasn’t working because she was working on her Master’s degree, and her children were 8, 6, and 4 years old, which is very expensive and time consuming as well. I believe that this part of my life brings me really close to the children facing financial challenges at home right now. If I am able to bring them a little joy in any way during the holiday season, I am completely willing to do so. I understand just how special it is for children to see their gifts under the Christmas tree on Christmas day. 4. Was this assignment valuable? Why or why not? Yes, I do think that this assignment is valuable because it gives us Leadership students the chance to look out for children whose parents may not be able to afford Christmas gifts. We spend so much of our time planning spirit days, planning events, organizing door or window decorations, and volunteering for LoveRipon or the Recycling Center, but we don’t spend as much of our time directly helping designated individuals. It is very special and important to acknowledge the abundance we have in our own lives and to truly and lovingly make use of it by giving others a helping hand. |
The Best Things About Me - Page 12
My sisters and I always got into our little arguments when we were younger, and Abby and Alexa definitely still get a little feisty since they share a room, but I have grown to become so thankful for them. They are the people I go to when I don’t feel like hanging out with anyone else, when I feel like not putting in any energy socially. They make me laugh a ton on a daily basis, making my life all the more joyful. We have been through some hard things together, and they are the girls I trust most with almost everything. I am definitely going to miss them when I move away to college, but I plan to visit my family often anyway.
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Gracie, Bella, and Angie have been my best friends since 7th grade. I moved to Weston Elementary in Ripon from Great Valley Academy in Modesto, and was introduced to them all by my long-time childhood friend Bella. I have such fun memories with them from middle school, and I genuinely look back on those years with happiness. I walked into high school with my best friends, and am now finishing high school with my best friends. I couldn’t ask for better people to talk to every single day. They make me laugh all the time and I can talk about the littlest things with them. We have also taken amazing trips together to Mexico, Spain, France, and Italy, which were life-changing for me, and I am so grateful.
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The senior Leadership members have been probably one of the best parts out of my entire four years in high school. They have completely transformed the way I see the world and are a huge reason I am the person I am today. I have spent so much time with them and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I tried so many new experiences with them in high school, like cross country with Laila and Gracie, track & field with Niki and Laila, Jeff Denham Campaigning with Gracie and Gabriel, and Reading Buddies with Gabriel, Bella, and Niki. I have gone through three Leadership electoral campaigns with them, sharing the overwhelm and the celebrations. One of the best parts of this group is they make me laugh endlessly until I can’t breathe. They are kind and driven, and inspire me to be the happiest person I can be.
What I Like Best About Being a Member of Leadership - Page 13
Being a part of Leadership this year has given me the opportunity to do a lot of self reflection. In past years we have focused on self development very adequately, but we also spent a lot of time planning rallies, fundraisers, spirit weeks, and more. With exponentially less activities to prepare for, the majority of time has been devoted to how we perceive ourselves and our growth. This is something I’m very grateful for because the end of my junior year and my senior year have posed a lot of new, difficult experiences for me. If I didn’t have as much knowledge on self-development and mindfulness as I do now, these situations would definitely have been much harder for me. I am not at my full development, and I don’t think that a person can ever necessarily reach that, but I think I have learned a lot about how to recognize when I am not feeling okay, and what the signs are that I’m reaching that point. With the journal we write in class and the self analyses we do for our portfolio and for extra assignments, my eyes have been opened to things I never considered before about life and other people around me in general.
Aside from my emotional self-development, I am very thankful to be in the Leadership program because of the professional development it has offered me even while being in a pandemic. I am excited to be interviewed by a Physician Assistant, where I get to write a cover letter and resumé to apply as a “Dermatology Physician Assistant”. I am looking forward to asking the professional questions about the job like what the hours are, how they stay updated on new dermatology knowledge, and what it took them to get there. Without Leadership I would have much more limited opportunities to learn more about my interests for my future career.
Aside from my emotional self-development, I am very thankful to be in the Leadership program because of the professional development it has offered me even while being in a pandemic. I am excited to be interviewed by a Physician Assistant, where I get to write a cover letter and resumé to apply as a “Dermatology Physician Assistant”. I am looking forward to asking the professional questions about the job like what the hours are, how they stay updated on new dermatology knowledge, and what it took them to get there. Without Leadership I would have much more limited opportunities to learn more about my interests for my future career.
Homecoming 2021 Gallery Spread/Slideshow - Page 14
I had a wonderful time with Homecoming this year among the restrictions of COVID. I personally really enjoyed the new poster/decoration we added to the Homecoming class competition this year. I also think that having the lip sync/dance competition was just as great being performed on the amphitheater as being performed on the football field. Also having the King and Queen reveal on the amphitheater after school was a lot of fun, as I enjoyed taking pictures with everyone after the reveal while it was still daylight. I am proud of our class for still being innovative, creative, and supportive of each other during this different Homecoming. I believe we did our very best considering the limits posed this year and the time crunch we had as well.
Page 15 - Letter to Parents/Guardians
Dear Mama and Papa,
Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made for me and everything you have dedicated to me in my life, but thank you specifically for all that you have done for me this year. My entire senior year I have been well aware of the fact that I will be leaving soon for college. I have enjoyed spending time with you Abby and Alexa more than ever, and it is always so fun when Michael comes along. Going out to dinner with Papa to La Estrella or going out with Mama for birthday celebrations are great memories I have. I am glad that I will not be too far away at Davis because I want to visit you guys as often as I can. You mean so much to me and I am very grateful to have you as my parents. It is definitely hard for me to think about the fact that I won’t be seeing you everyday or every weekend, but I know that is just how life goes.
As I have gotten older I am happy that our relationship has transformed into one that is loving and like we are friends. It turns into less of a caregiving relationship, which I guess is a good thing about growing up. I am so thankful that you supported me through college applications, and encouraged me to choose Davis as my school of choice. I really hope that I will enjoy it there, and couldn’t say thank you enough for financially supporting me the best you can through it as well.
Especially when I am able to bring my car to my college campus, I am excited to visit you on weekends. I will forever cherish the time I had at home with you and Abby and Alexa because it is such an important and loving part of my life. Thank you for all that you have done just for me.
Love,
Kate
Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made for me and everything you have dedicated to me in my life, but thank you specifically for all that you have done for me this year. My entire senior year I have been well aware of the fact that I will be leaving soon for college. I have enjoyed spending time with you Abby and Alexa more than ever, and it is always so fun when Michael comes along. Going out to dinner with Papa to La Estrella or going out with Mama for birthday celebrations are great memories I have. I am glad that I will not be too far away at Davis because I want to visit you guys as often as I can. You mean so much to me and I am very grateful to have you as my parents. It is definitely hard for me to think about the fact that I won’t be seeing you everyday or every weekend, but I know that is just how life goes.
As I have gotten older I am happy that our relationship has transformed into one that is loving and like we are friends. It turns into less of a caregiving relationship, which I guess is a good thing about growing up. I am so thankful that you supported me through college applications, and encouraged me to choose Davis as my school of choice. I really hope that I will enjoy it there, and couldn’t say thank you enough for financially supporting me the best you can through it as well.
Especially when I am able to bring my car to my college campus, I am excited to visit you on weekends. I will forever cherish the time I had at home with you and Abby and Alexa because it is such an important and loving part of my life. Thank you for all that you have done just for me.
Love,
Kate
Page 16 - The Letter
To the Future ASB Vice President (Avery Redula),
Your year as ASB Vice President next year will be very different from my year because I didn’t get to do a lot due to COVID. You will be responsible for the End of the School Year Dance, the Banquet, 8th Grade Interviews, High School Interviews, Attending Site Council Meetings, and Advising a group in class.
I did not get to manage the End of the School Year Dance unfortunately, but you know how dances go. Make sure to plan very much ahead of time (especially with Purchase Orders and communicating to potential chaperones) and to oversee committees efficiently, because they will help you immensely.
You have already done the 8th grade interviews, which as we know were very long, but next year you will have to do both these and the high school interviews. They will also likely actually be in person next time. Morty buys you lunch too which is fun! Enjoy interviews and meeting new kids interested in the program.
Site Council Meetings are honestly really scarce so your attendance is important. Usually you are just there to listen but make sure to speak up if you ever have an opinion on making improvements for the school or changes.
Make sure to enjoy your time in ASB! It is definitely not as stressful as being a Class Officer (so take advantage of that haha). Make sure not to take over on class responsibilities and enjoy the ride listening to the officers. A really fun part of the job in my opinion is simply advising everyone else. Offer them advice and appear as a mentor and reliable, helpful individual.
Your year as ASB Vice President next year will be very different from my year because I didn’t get to do a lot due to COVID. You will be responsible for the End of the School Year Dance, the Banquet, 8th Grade Interviews, High School Interviews, Attending Site Council Meetings, and Advising a group in class.
I did not get to manage the End of the School Year Dance unfortunately, but you know how dances go. Make sure to plan very much ahead of time (especially with Purchase Orders and communicating to potential chaperones) and to oversee committees efficiently, because they will help you immensely.
You have already done the 8th grade interviews, which as we know were very long, but next year you will have to do both these and the high school interviews. They will also likely actually be in person next time. Morty buys you lunch too which is fun! Enjoy interviews and meeting new kids interested in the program.
Site Council Meetings are honestly really scarce so your attendance is important. Usually you are just there to listen but make sure to speak up if you ever have an opinion on making improvements for the school or changes.
Make sure to enjoy your time in ASB! It is definitely not as stressful as being a Class Officer (so take advantage of that haha). Make sure not to take over on class responsibilities and enjoy the ride listening to the officers. A really fun part of the job in my opinion is simply advising everyone else. Offer them advice and appear as a mentor and reliable, helpful individual.
Page 17 -What I Love to Do...
Some of the things that mean most to me in my life are nature, running & hot yoga, travel, and self-improvement/awareness education. Nature is a great source of peace for me in my life, so I enjoy being surrounded by an environment that is lush with greenery and animals. I love walks and bike rides in nature and walks with my family and pets. Running and hot yoga are my favorite exercises, and they have brought a lot of value to my life by improving my confidence, bringing me new friends and lessons, and bringing overall joy to my life. Traveling is also something I hold very dearly to my heart. It is something I want to spend a lot of my life doing because I am very interested in other cultures, languages, and locations, and have adored all my international trips in the past. Lastly, self improvement books and influencers have introduced me to how I can change my life and make it the way I aspire for it to be. I have transformed my life into focusing on my femininity and elegance and I think it has made me a happier person. I also love sharing these lessons with others around me. There are more things I want to try, like caring for chickens, taking care of a garden, growing and propagating flowers, and learning more types of dance.
Page 18 - Do's and Don'ts List
Do: Start Procedure Form a month ahead of event
Do: Turn in your purchase order two weeks before the event
Do: Sign up to do your Elder Project early on so you don’t have to do it at a bad time for academics
Do: Enjoy not having to run in an election again!
Do: Communicate with Morty and ASB openly with concerns
Do: Stay up to date with your support and rank and if they need any help (especially at the beginning of the year)
Do: Plan your elder project community service project far ahead of time because this involves communicating with outside organizations and people.
Don’t: Distance yourself from the new freshman at the beginning of the year (you will likely never get that close with them in that case)
Don’t: Overstep in your class’ event responsibilities
Don’t: Stress yourself out over the position, because in reality there aren’t a ton of events to plan (it's more oversight of the class)
Do: Turn in your purchase order two weeks before the event
Do: Sign up to do your Elder Project early on so you don’t have to do it at a bad time for academics
Do: Enjoy not having to run in an election again!
Do: Communicate with Morty and ASB openly with concerns
Do: Stay up to date with your support and rank and if they need any help (especially at the beginning of the year)
Do: Plan your elder project community service project far ahead of time because this involves communicating with outside organizations and people.
Don’t: Distance yourself from the new freshman at the beginning of the year (you will likely never get that close with them in that case)
Don’t: Overstep in your class’ event responsibilities
Don’t: Stress yourself out over the position, because in reality there aren’t a ton of events to plan (it's more oversight of the class)
Page 19 - The Professional
I believe this year I benefited most from Mock Interviews and the Elder Project. I definitely consider the Elder Project to be a form of professional development because there was event planning involved and public speaking.
I think that my Mock Interview this year was very valuable because I am now going into college for that career. The interview made me realize that I need to shadow professionals throughout summer and college to really learn if a career is right for me. I asked all the questions I wanted to to my professional, but I know that I will not be totally confident in my vocation choice unless I follow a professional during their day at work. Kayla Wigley was very helpful, and I am very glad that she is actually a PA student, so I was able to ask her questions about her grad school life. We even have each other added on LinkedIn, so I have a contact in the medical field now, even better she is originally from Stockton, so she plans on returning to California after PA school in Colorado.
I learned a bit about myself through the Elder Project presentation because I realized just how fun it is to publicly speak when you are speaking on a topic you are passionate about. I love to teach others about things that I value in life, and I think I gained confidence in public speaking after that presentation. I hope that in my career in the future I will be able to give educational presentations to students or professionals.
Going into college I honestly feel more prepared than most because I was able to be exposed to three different careers beforehand, Physician Assistant, Children’s Psychologist, and Pediatrician. I will look more into different careers as I go into undergrad school like Dietician, Teacher, Public Health Professional, Therapist, Agriculture, and Marketing/Business.
I think that my Mock Interview this year was very valuable because I am now going into college for that career. The interview made me realize that I need to shadow professionals throughout summer and college to really learn if a career is right for me. I asked all the questions I wanted to to my professional, but I know that I will not be totally confident in my vocation choice unless I follow a professional during their day at work. Kayla Wigley was very helpful, and I am very glad that she is actually a PA student, so I was able to ask her questions about her grad school life. We even have each other added on LinkedIn, so I have a contact in the medical field now, even better she is originally from Stockton, so she plans on returning to California after PA school in Colorado.
I learned a bit about myself through the Elder Project presentation because I realized just how fun it is to publicly speak when you are speaking on a topic you are passionate about. I love to teach others about things that I value in life, and I think I gained confidence in public speaking after that presentation. I hope that in my career in the future I will be able to give educational presentations to students or professionals.
Going into college I honestly feel more prepared than most because I was able to be exposed to three different careers beforehand, Physician Assistant, Children’s Psychologist, and Pediatrician. I will look more into different careers as I go into undergrad school like Dietician, Teacher, Public Health Professional, Therapist, Agriculture, and Marketing/Business.
Page 20 - Change
I didn’t necessarily have a very difficult time this year that had a lack of efficiency, but I did see a challenge with the beginning of the year and having our class on Zoom. I really hope things will be different for the class next year regarding this though, so hopefully this will not be an issue in the first place. I feel like the class just was not able to connect as easily this year because at the beginning of the year our leadership class could not engage interpersonally.
Everything was on Zoom and it was a weird situation to try and talk to everyone and get to know them. It made me realize just how much the class meeting each other and becoming friends at the very beginning makes a difference. I can just tell as the year is ending that our class didn’t have as many friendships between upperclassmen and underclassmen as there has been in previous years.
I know that Core Camp will still not be the same as it was before COVID this upcoming year, but at least students can engage at least a little on a personal level. Core Camp on Zoom didn’t allow the class to learn things about each other, and really just half the time it was filled with technical difficulties. I believe that it also felt very long and draining for students because of the hours that went into Zoom weekly, so kids didn’t care as much about engaging.
Even with Core Camp in person, it is very important that students put forth full effort to interact and be friendly with their new and old leadership classmates. I have some amazing memories of my times with Ana, Kate, Julyssa, and more people who have already graduated because they welcomed me from the start and continued on to be some of my very good friends. That simple effort that happens at the beginning of the year sparks a comfort in students that they can become friends with other new and old people in the class, and those friendships strengthen the class while lasting a lifetime.
Everything was on Zoom and it was a weird situation to try and talk to everyone and get to know them. It made me realize just how much the class meeting each other and becoming friends at the very beginning makes a difference. I can just tell as the year is ending that our class didn’t have as many friendships between upperclassmen and underclassmen as there has been in previous years.
I know that Core Camp will still not be the same as it was before COVID this upcoming year, but at least students can engage at least a little on a personal level. Core Camp on Zoom didn’t allow the class to learn things about each other, and really just half the time it was filled with technical difficulties. I believe that it also felt very long and draining for students because of the hours that went into Zoom weekly, so kids didn’t care as much about engaging.
Even with Core Camp in person, it is very important that students put forth full effort to interact and be friendly with their new and old leadership classmates. I have some amazing memories of my times with Ana, Kate, Julyssa, and more people who have already graduated because they welcomed me from the start and continued on to be some of my very good friends. That simple effort that happens at the beginning of the year sparks a comfort in students that they can become friends with other new and old people in the class, and those friendships strengthen the class while lasting a lifetime.
Page 21 - The Ideal Leader
I believe that there are 5 important qualities that a leader should have in our leadership program: Friendly, Open-minded, Reliable, and Proactive.
The trait of being friendly is so important because we are welcoming new students into our class yearly. It is very vital that we welcome these kids adequately and make sure they feel comfortable in the program. This is what encourages them to stay in the program and support our high school consistently. It always makes me so happy to see strong relationships form through leadership simply by being open to being friendly with new students.
I think open-mindedness is quite possibly the most important characteristic of this list. Being an open-minded leader makes you an easy and cooperative person for others to work with. It means you are adaptable to the many situations that you will be presented with in the program. Open-mindedness also means that you will be open to expanding your knowledge on both leadership and mindfulness in the program. These lessons set you up for a life filled with happiness and achievements, as long as you are willing to listen and consider new things.
Being a reliable leader is important because you become an individual others in the class can trust and go to when they are in need. A reliable leader is always remembered for their kindness and helpfulness. All the reliable leaders I have known in my life have become some of my great friends and are also people that have brought a lot of joy into my life
Being proactive changes your experience in the leadership program for the best. It lessens stress levels immensely and allows events and their planning to go smoothly. Being proactive helps your mental wellbeing in the event planning process and also helps others’ mental wellbeing by not being worried!
The trait of being friendly is so important because we are welcoming new students into our class yearly. It is very vital that we welcome these kids adequately and make sure they feel comfortable in the program. This is what encourages them to stay in the program and support our high school consistently. It always makes me so happy to see strong relationships form through leadership simply by being open to being friendly with new students.
I think open-mindedness is quite possibly the most important characteristic of this list. Being an open-minded leader makes you an easy and cooperative person for others to work with. It means you are adaptable to the many situations that you will be presented with in the program. Open-mindedness also means that you will be open to expanding your knowledge on both leadership and mindfulness in the program. These lessons set you up for a life filled with happiness and achievements, as long as you are willing to listen and consider new things.
Being a reliable leader is important because you become an individual others in the class can trust and go to when they are in need. A reliable leader is always remembered for their kindness and helpfulness. All the reliable leaders I have known in my life have become some of my great friends and are also people that have brought a lot of joy into my life
Being proactive changes your experience in the leadership program for the best. It lessens stress levels immensely and allows events and their planning to go smoothly. Being proactive helps your mental wellbeing in the event planning process and also helps others’ mental wellbeing by not being worried!