Seniors face the future

By Dillard Collier

Several seniors share their unique high school experiences and how they’ve been prepared for the future.

The Class of 2017 is excited to advance to a new beginning, but they have spent the last few weeks reflecting on their time at Boyle County High School.

Graduating high school is the first dive into the deep, seemingly treacherous, unknown waters of the real world and the future. Some will emerge refreshed, while others might feel as though they are being overtaken by the hungry current and merciless waves. With boundless yet treacherous possibilities, it is the desire of high school educators to equip students with a snug life jacket to ultimately prepare them for these crucial moments.

Our mentors at Boyle County High School have done just that! The experiences we’ve undergone to prepare us for the future have helped us to develop tools necessary to navigate those unknown waters. 

Several seniors decided to share their unique experiences on how these tools have helped prepare them for their future dives. Here’s what they had to say.

Wade Acey: “I want to have a career in agriculture, and BCHS has a really good agricultural program that helps you to be prepared for this field. You can get a class in your specific field of study like agricultural communications which helps you with public speaking, or greenhouse which teaches you about plants and stuff.”

Ethan Baker: “BCHS has pushed me to do whatever I can to succeed. It’s a hard school that merits good academics. And with good academics, you can pursue almost anything. Calculus, physics, and other technology classes have been beneficial in solidifying the relationship with technology and my future studies in physics.”

Josh Bishop: “My future plans are to go to EKU and major in nursing. BCHS has helped me prepare because we have a club that is just devoted for future health students, HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America), which I’ve had the honor of being the reporter and president for the past two years. Also, being in the CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) class this year gave me hands on experience on how to take care of people, it wasn’t just sitting behind a book. You are out there in a nursing home working with actual residents.”

Skyllar Bond: “BCHS introduced me to psychology with the opportunity to learn from an actual college professor. Since I plan on majoring in psychology, that’s been really beneficial. English classes have also helped me in the field of psychology as we have studied the philosophy of the human condition and those things really interest me. Teachers like Mrs. (Ranea) Gibson and Mrs. Hope Reuschel have really guided and helped me with what I’m going to study in college.”

Jordan Drake: “Classes like tech help desk have shown me what the future career in technology is going to be like and what kind of people I’ll be working with. It’s also given me real world job experience that I can actually use on resumes and applications.”

Emily Floyd: “BCHS has set an example of what’s to come for me and what my life is going to be like, the challenges and stuff. Since I’m going into the animal field to study veterinary science, the animal classes have taught me skills like using proper shots and what to give an animal when sick.”

Shannon Kramp: “Mrs. Reuschel’s class has made me realize that I want to go to college to become a psychiatrist. And Mrs. (Leigh) Koch’s class has prepared me to write for college essays and papers.”

Scarlett Mesman: “BCHS is the best in means of education. There are plenty of AP classes that have prepared me for college. I look forward to a future in conservation field work, and I’ve been prepared through my experiences of doing agricultural classes and joining FFA. This year they started the vets science team in FFA and there we learned different procedures, illnesses, and how to treat wounds.”

Austin Norvell: “I plan to study political science and international affairs during college and BCHS has prepared me, particularly with AP Government. We were able to go to the 2017 Presidential Inauguration and that whole experience has really opened up a lot of doors and opportunities for me to get more involved politically, especially regarding policies.”

Cassie O’Dell: “I want to become an elementary school teacher, kindergarten and first grade, and BCHS has helped me to learn what I need to do and how to prepare myself to work with children. Mrs. (Kendra) Goodpaster’s child services classes allowed us to visit Woodlawn two hours a day giving me experience on how I should work with kids and what I need to know for their different learning experiences. They’re a lot different from high schoolers, so it provided me with skills I need to accommodate different learning styles.”

Jordan Smith: “I plan on going into nursing and the fact that BCHS even offers a dual credit course for nursing has helped me a lot, and now I am a CNA. Mrs. (Jennifer) Carney was a big blessing and I’m happy I had her. Also, I feel like I’m better prepared this year alone for writing. I was really nervous about next year, but I feel confident about my writing now.”

Samantha Stewart: “I think Boyle County has prepared me in a lot of different ways both in my career as well as my involvement in my future community. Currently, I’m in AP Chemistry and Mrs. (Kathy) Lester’s involvement, really as a woman in science, has inspired me to work in chemistry, specifically the pharmacy field. My involvement with Family, Career and Community Leaders of America has taught me the importance of being a leader within whatever community that you’re placed in. I think BCHS has prepared me to be a good member of society.”

Trevor Reynolds: “BCHS offers numerous classes in business that provide job and computer skills. The curriculum in my classes has prepared me for a future in business administration because we have to write resumes, do mock job interviews, and manage money.”

Leticia Rodriguez: “Within the past year, I’ve really been challenged due to the psychology tests being a lot harder than the actual AP exam. Mrs. Reuschel has opened my mind up to different aspects of the world. Principles of teaching has helped me adapt to being around kids who have disabilities and different learning styles. I think that’ll help me whenever I’m trying to figure out a way to help a student or help a child cope with their situation.”

Katelyn Rye: “I want to become a teacher when I get older so I’ve been taking the child services classes where we go over to Woodlawn to work with the younger students. It’s had a great impact on me because I’ve actually seen what the work experience is like. I’ve been prepared for success due to taking multiple tests like the WorkKeys which gives you an idea of what you should do as far as a career.”

Trevor Vogt: “It’s pretty cool that BCHS offers physics and AP Calculus BC. Also doing the technology program and engineering with Mr. (Dudley) Spoonamore freshman through junior year was really helpful in preparing me for a future in engineering.”

Caroline Wells: “BCHS has offered me many opportunities to experience what college life will be like through AP classes and dual credit classes. Just talking to and having teachers who serve as great role models for my future career is inspiring. I’ve been influenced by many of my teachers in terms of going into education. Even though I’m going into middle education, teachers like Sra. (Heather) Wheeler, Mrs. (Katie) Tiller, and Mrs. (Nicole) Wheeler have supported, helped, and guided me with any questions that I’ve had. They have influenced me with their teaching styles which is really important, and I’m really thankful that I got to experience that.”

Dear Underclassmen:

Seniors share words of wisdom

By Rebekah Adams

It is so hard to believe that my four years of high school are coming to an end. From the nervous freshman trying to fit-in, to the excitement of walking across the field on senior night, the realization occurs that this chapter of our lives is almost over. 

Identifying all of the lessons and experiences learned throughout these years is difficult to summarize. But before we walk across that stage at the end of the week, I decided to ask some of my fellow classmates to reflect on some words of wisdom to pass along to the underclassmen. 

Taylor Graves: “Get involved as much as you can now because this is the time that you will have the most free time to participate in competitions, sporting events, and dances. Also, have fun with all your classmates that you’ve grown up with over the years.” 

Tanner Cox: “I think the best thing to do is just enjoy it because it goes by faster than what you realize. Do everything you can while you’re in school, because it’ll be different once you’re out. Also, get yourself one of those state rings.” 

Paul Sudd: “Always have a bottle of water and a hoodie in your backpack.”

Dillard Collier: “The one piece of advice that I would give myself as a freshman is to get involved in AP classes early.” 

Summer Priora: “It’ll be stressful, but you have to keep a good head on your shoulders. You have to push to overcome the stress.”

Cori Quesenberry: “Appreciate the fact that you know a lot of your classmates and that you’ve been friends with them for so long. Once you get to college, you probably won’t have the history with close friends that you are able to have in high school.”

Heather Sargent: “Always work to improve yourself and ask your teachers for help if you need it.”

McKinley Rush: “Always remember to be involved in things but also make sure to look to the future because college is not that far away. It’s good to make sure that your future self is going to look back on your past self and reflect on all the things that you’ve been involved in or done to challenge yourself in a way that you will be proud of. Now that I am a senior, I think I would tell myself as a freshman to make sure that I asked questions or questioned what I was taught in order to expand my knowledge even more than I have already.” 

Lexi Gourley: “Don’t wish away your senior year because it will go by in a blink of an eye. Also, take your time with your school work and take the time to study, but don’t forget to spend time with these friends.” 

Cameron Walker: “Make sure you always come to school with your homework completed and your chromebook charged.” 

Madi Long: “Take as many AP and honors classes that you can so that when you go off to college you’ll already have those credit hours.” 

Mercedes Phegley: “Don’t goof off your freshman year because it’ll hurt you when it comes time for your senior year. With the classes you take, just make sure you pay attention because, believe it or not, what you do as a freshman can impact you as a senior.” 

Carter Vaughn: “Be prepared and always bring your materials to class.”

Taylor Whitsell: “Come into high school with an open mind, join more clubs, and explore classes that you didn’t have an interest in before but could become interested in. College isn’t that far away so be sure to start exploring different colleges and different career paths and start thinking about your future because it’s only four years.”

Andrew Dean: “Enjoy being a senior because it’s going to go by fast. So enjoy every football game, all your own events, and be in the student section because you’re going to miss it. Senior year will be your fastest year, for sure.” 

Photos by Hannah Gooch