The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/828942
Page 2 May 26, 2017 Opinions Everyone is eager to explore this summer. SPARTAN THUMBS Football Practice Warmer Weather Summer Vacation Next School Year Students feel summer is too short. Students are ready to cheer on their Spartans. It's getting too hot out. Graduation It's irrelevant to underclassmen. Bluffer/ Trinity Stehno ***These Thumbs were acquired by Mr. Schwabauer's third period class. Graduating Class A s my high school career quickly comes to an end, I ref lect on all of the memories that were made throughout my four years at Red Bluff High School. These experiences have shaped me for who I am today and I would like to thank everyone who h a d a positive i m p a c t o n m y l i f e . O n e of my proudest m o m e n t s was being a Editorial Policy: Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the district, staff, or student body. We welcome signed letters to the editor. Names may be withheld upon request. We also reserve the right to edit submission based on length and/or clarity. THE BLU FFER STA FF Lexi Pritchard Editor-in-Chief Britney Miranda Brooke Blythe Features Editor Claire Miller Gabriel Hale Sports Editor Becca Frey Sophia Cumpton Topics Editor Julissa Villalobos Editor-in-Chief Abby O'Sullivan Advertising Director Alisa Pelanconi Adviser Cartoonists Amanda Waugh Leslie Soto Opinions Editor Brianna Tackmier Trinity Stehno Staff Writers Sarah Herrera Yesenia Cerrillo Marissa Mills Aly Smith Stephanie Pena Logan Carver Easton Ross Bryce Stephenson Rebeccah Smith Katie Louisell Kennady Sandow Noah Caylor Caden Moniz Kourtney Sanders Shania Prieto A-&-E Editor News Editors Lexi Pritchard Julissa Villalobos part of RBHS S t u d e n t government and getting Senior class president, that has not only shaped me to be the person I am today, but it has showed me the importance of going above and beyond to help people. I played sports my Freshman and Sophomore year but then my Senior year I wanted to try out for cheerleading, and it was one of the best decision I ever made, because I got to meet so many new people and watch the football games every night during the Fall. I have had a great high school experience, supportive friends, loving teachers and staff that are willing to help no matter what, memorable trips and countless e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r activities. High School has taught me to be happy with who you truly are and to n e v e r care too much what others think. Next year I plan on going to Butte College for the first two years to get my AA then I will be transferring to a four year and pursue a career in interior design. Red Bluff H i g h S c h o o l h a s p r e p a r e d me for not only my academic years to come in college but the real life scenarios that I will soon be experiencing in "adulthood". I look forward to my future and the new memories and friends I will soon be making, but it's a bittersweet feeling because I feel as though high school has been so great to me and I've made so many lifelong friends and memories along the way, that I'm truly g o i n g to miss R e d B l u f f High School when I'd gone. On the other hand I am beyond excited to the adventures life holds for me and the opportunities I will soon be experiencing. I would like to give huge thank you to everyone who helped me t h r o u g h o u t these four T hese last four years haven't been my best, but they were alright. High-school is terrible, not because of the learning, but the people. Everyone here is condescending and has the audacity to judge you for things they do in the dark. Hy pocr ites, all of them. That's why I'm going to give everyone a piece of advice. I'm not going to tell you to stop judging, that would be a wasted editorial because none of you listen, but rather stop caring about what people think. Who cares who you sleep with, who cares what you wear, who cares whether you do your makeup everyday, other people. That is other people you're never going to see another day in your life after high-school. To be controlled by temporary people's opinions, or anyone's opinion for that matter, is plain silly. Once you free yourself of those chains, you guys will be so much happier. It's honestly a little pathetic seeing people trying to be what everyone else wants you to be. Be yourself, be interesting because at the end of the day, it's you and you alone. What matters is that you're happy with yourself. Also, girls, don't be naive. You and your boyfriend won't be together forever. You are placeholders until the right one comes along and they're able to feel real love. Don't fool yourself, don't think that you are any different from the last girl he cheated on. People are easy to understand. There is nothing complicated. You make it complicated with false hope and obscuring the reality of what they're really like because you don't want to face it. High- school is a time to learn from experience, but you don't have to be hurt multiple times to get that lesson. Don't do drugs. I know it's typical, but really. You say you won't get addicted. I doubt you're strong enough mentally to hold back on your want to keep doing it. You'll end up screwing your life up, and no one will feel bad for you because you did it to yourself. You'll fail at some point, hit rock bottom, and fiend for it. These are about the drugs we know have consequences. Don't be the person from high- school we see twitching on the corner of the street with sores all over your body. less than perfect. In a lot of schools the Performing Arts department is taken away and that extra money is put towards other sports, but why should it be? The Performing Arts departments available at this high school are great in so many aspects as they give kids a place to belong, and it gives people t h e c h a n c e t o s h i n e through and m a k e it to bigger things in life. My first experience with choir wasn't when I was in choir, but my first Singing Valentine. I remember sitting there in my chair with my heart swelling with joy as I thought to myself, "I want to be like them." Thankfully Aurora King, a friend of mine who has since graduated, was able to help encourage me to join choir my junior year and I never regretted it. The choir girls don't realize how influential they can be when they perform, and the Performing Arts department could never get enough recognition for how great it really is. This department has given me the ambition and the confidence that I need to go out and accomplish things I didn't know I could do, and for that I will be forever thankful to everyone. C hoir has been a big part of my life and has always proven to impress. Diane Hassay, the choir director, is one of the most influential people in my life and I know she strives for gold no matter what she does. If those of you reading this haven't come to any of the choir performances before, I recommend you do. Every single one of the performers gives their all once they hit the stage, and a s one of those p e r f o r m e r s I know f r o m exper ience that being able to bring smiles to others faces with what we perform is one of my favorite things to do in choir. Choir is a place for those with no matter the background, to be in a place that is comfortable and to meet people who become your second family. Whether it's going to competition or completing a huge Spring Show, Mrs. Hassay and my fellow choir members never aim for anything F or the last four years, I have called Red Bluff High home. It is crazy to think that in a few short months everything is going to c h a n g e . However, it's a c h a n g e that I c o u l d n ' t be more excited for. Red Bluff High has been the perfect place to grow into the person I am now, and set me up with the skills and motivation to become the person I will be. I have a lot to thank Red Bluff High for, but more importantly the people that populate these halls are the ones who deserve my gratitude, peers and teachers alike. Whether it was Mrs. Pelanconi getting on me about my story that was due a week ago, Mr. Ackley telling me that I could definitely do better, or my friends telling me I was going to get my life figured out eventually, every person I crossed paths with taught me an important lesson. I've had the opportunity to d o so many things during my time here. I've been i n v o l v e d in Student Government, Leadership, Connect Crew, CTE Health Occupations, Bluffer, B a s k e t b a l l , Swimming, CSF, Key Club, President of the Rowdies, and I was a Rally Emcee. Yet, I still feel like I could have done more and I feel like that says something a b o u t w h a t kind of s ch o ol R e d Blu f f High is. Red Bluff High offers so many o p p o r t u n i t i e s for its students. It encourages the growth and d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n of its students, and it encourages us to find and dive into our passions. T h i s school is the perfect e x a m p l e of what it means to care about your s t u d e n t s . E v e r y teacher here wants their students to succeed, every a d m i n ist r at or a n d c o u n s e l o r w a n t s s t u d e n t s here to be happy and motivated, every student here supports each other. Sure, everyone will fall short at times, but this is how we learn. This is how this school has become so great, through trial and error. I am so thankful for each administrator, each counselor, each teacher, each staff member, and each student that walks these halls. Thank you for providing me the opportunities to not only find my passions but to also pursue them. Thank you to every teacher that encouraged and challenged me. Thank you to all my peers who struggled and overcame with me, even though it is just the beginning of our journey. I have certainly been given the skills and tools to tackle life head on, and be successful in any endeavor I choose. I am so grateful to have attended a school like Red Bluff High. Now, as time dwindles down and we approach graduation I hope that in the coming years we will be an example of what it means to be Red Bluff High alumni and m a k e the community t h a t supported us proud. Abby O'Sullivan Aly Smith Amanda Waugh Noah Caylor years of h i g h school a n d s h o w e d me the importance of treating others with dignity and respect. One last thank you to the Bluffer class for showing me how to trust in my own beliefs.