From Our Schools: The Log
Published 9:21 am Monday, April 24, 2017
Senior Spotlight: The worth of kindness
By: Paige Glasser
Oscar Wilde once said, “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” Volunteering can be one of those small acts of kindnesses. One such volunteer is DHS senior Sarah Goosey.
This year Sarah Goosey has volunteered (usually on Sundays) at the local nonprofit restaurant, Grace Café and recently started volunteering at the Humane Society. She began volunteering to obtain the 40 hours required for the National Honor Society and plans to continue volunteering after acquiring the necessary hours. She adds, “I started volunteering at Grace Cafe because it was in Danville and helps to provide food and end hunger in the community. I started volunteering at the Humane Society because it has always been an organization that is close to my heart and I love spending time with animals.”
Goosey enjoys the friendly atmosphere of Grace Cafe. She describes a typical day at the restaurant as “running food to the customers, collecting dishes, and wiping off tables.” She also comments that in return for volunteering, you can get a free meal. What she loves best about volunteering at the Humane Society is “playing with the puppies and helping find homes for all the dogs. It’s so nice to see the happiness on both the animals and people’s faces when they decide to adopt.” Typical responsibilities at the Humane Society include attending to the dogs’ water, toys, and cleanliness needs.
Shelly Stinnett, DHS visual arts teacher who has taught, known, and mentored Goosey for three years, comments on the importance of volunteering: “Can you imagine the world if we have all of these little mean things that everybody constantly does to each other and how our world is right now? But instead, if we’re replacing all those little mean things with doing little nice things for everybody our world would be a completely different place.”
With volunteering, Stinnett has seen an incredible growth in Goosey. Stinnett, talking to Goosey, says, “Even your confidence [has grown]. . .So, I think with volunteering that’s a good thing too because it’s been helping you get outside of your comfort zone a little more.”
Goosey herself continues, “By volunteering I’ve learned responsibility and how to take initiative. Volunteering has also helped me to improve upon my people and speaking skills.”
Rising seniors: Be wise your senior year
By Becky Mohr
For what seems like an eternity, students are enrolled in school. Days seem like years, years seem like decades, and breaks seem like a day. So the opportunity to perhaps take a year of easier classes sounds amazing, no? There’s where the math doesn’t add up: easy class plus another easy class doesn’t equal college readiness. Rising seniors listen up: Take your last year of high school seriously and continue taking classes that are difficult to maximize the benefits you can get from high school.
I get it; school is hard. Having the chance to relax before you perhaps go and pursue harder education? Sign me up! However, if those are your thoughts, take a step back. Getting yourself in a predicament like that will end up only putting you way behind. Terri Branson, an English teacher with a lot of experience with seniors who has stayed in contact with many after they graduate, explains several ways slacking off your senior year can be detrimental. Although high school can be stressful, Branson explains that, “seniors need to stay academically focused in order to make the transition to college easier and less stressful.” She also explains that, “ easy classes lull students into a zone that lacks the work ethic necessary to be successful in college or vocational school. They forget how difficult studying can be in terms of time management and then can’t figure it out in first semester of college.” Although it may be intimidating to hear how much you need to focus, it will overall be beneficial. Allowing yourself to continue the pattern of pushing yourself academically can cause everything to be easier on you.
Matthew Ballard, a senior at DHS, says he agrees that you should continue to push yourself your senior year so “everything doesn’t pile up. Then you’re stressed about college and the work you haven’t done.” Of course, if you take easy classes maybe there isn’t a lot of work. However, Ballard also says that taking challenging classes is “probably good to show colleges you’re still going to put in work.”
Although taking it easy your senior year seems appealing, in the long run, it’s only detrimental. To make sure to stay on the right track towards college, make sure to take your last year seriously by taking challenging classes and not slacking off.
Bethany Devney is tying up a hat on a tree along with some pieces that were done by students art DHS.
