Peyton Fitzgerald

Peyton Fitzgerald - Class of 2017

For the majority of my life, I rarely felt challenged. I cannot say that I knew what failure was or how to adequately deal with it. I had always been regarded as 'the smart kid, and that was what I found my identity in- perfect grades. High school hit like a boulder. After getting my first-ever B in a class (freshman english- I’m sure people can relate), I didn’t know what to do with myself. It seemed like I had lost my identity. On the bus ride home later that week, I was speaking to one of my friends about how the B in this class meant the end of the world (bit of an exaggeration am I right?). She immediately turned to me and said something along the lines of "The fact that school is supposed to teach, and the grade is second to having learned something isn't right." If I had grown from taking that class, being challenged, and failing just a bit, then I had learned something, and that is something to be excited about. I have taken this advice with me throughout high school. I can say that I have done worse in classes and failed in greater capacities many times since then, but I learned that is not what has to define me- I can learn from everything. Fail or succeed, love what you are doing or hate it, that doesn’t matter. Everything serves as a basis for growth. I have flaws (many of them actually) and so does everyone else, but taking this simple idea to heart makes sure that the lows don’t get too low, and life can be good even when it seems bad. Bring it on college...

Cole Schildkraut

Cole Schildkraut - Class of 2019

I don’t remember my childhood. I moved here when I was 9 and I can’t remember anything before that. That was over half my life that I don’t even remember, which is weird to think about. Though there are a few things that I do remember. I remember waiting when my sister was born and the nurse came over and yelled at us. I woke up and had heartburn. I just remember it was stinging in my throat. But other than that, I don’t remember that day. I remember the potato wedges at the Albertson’s in Santa Fe, because when I was younger my parents used to just put me in the cart and give me those so I would shut up while we’d go shopping. I remember the public pool. We went there like 5 times and it was disgusting. I remember my swing set. I used to sit on it and you know how you twist yourself up? Yeah, I used to unravel and wheeeeeee. And spin. I don’t remember my house much. I don’t remember school. I remember some people but I don’t remember some people. I kept in touch with one girl a while ago but I haven’t talked to her in years. She was one of my best friends but I don’t remember anything about that. Except I remember one day we just sat there on the back porch on the swing looking out over the desert. I remember that: my backyard was just trees and sand. 

That was it.

Ellie Keveny

Ellie Keveny - Class of 2020

I've always been told that I'm a very focused person and a slight perfectionist. I don't get distracted in class or while doing homework. I can sit down and do something without letting my surroundings faze me. I don't want an A on an assignment, I want an A+. I keep studying even after I know the material, and I always try to exceed expectations. I guess being a perfectionist and focused is a good thing because having these traits helps me feel prepared. I have a very good idea of what I want to do when I'm older, and I continue to work towards my goals. However, being so focused and being a perfectionist can also have its downfalls. Sometimes I get so focused on the future that I forget to live in the moment. Whenever I make a mistake, I become so focused on it that I sometimes cannot move past it. If I look at my grades and have anything less than an A, I become disappointed in myself. Focusing on the future so much and worrying about my grades and mistakes is draining. However, there are advantages to being a focused overachiever. This past summer I used these traits to start my own photography business. Photography has always been an outlet for me, and it is an activity that helps me, and probably many others feel more in the moment. I may not be there now, but I am learning to live in the moment. After all, the present is called the "present" for a reason.

Stephanie Veerman

Stephanie Veerman - Class of 2018

I've always been really enthusiastic and outgoing, but last year I got diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder. All of the things that I used to love to do like singing and acting, especially in front of people, I would panic when I went out to do it. This was really different for me and I went into depression about it because this was always something I wanted. Acting was my escape. In college I wanted to be a theater major and my dream was to eventually be on Broadway. I went to New York this summer to see a Broadway show and I just didn't like it. I was really panicked the whole time and it was really weird for me because I didn't want that for myself anymore. This year it's been really interesting because I've been dealing with how to balance that I'm changing. It's been kind of sad but it's also been really eye-opening because I've always heard that people changed, but I never thought I would change everything, what I want to do in life, and my whole entire personality. I'm still happy and outgoing but I now want to go into the medical field and help people like this. I want to go into phycology and really study why this happens. Everything happens for a reason and I think this happened to because I can help other people with it, too.