The Initial Letter
This year, I am quite nervous to be a senior, especially after not having any normal high school years. I’m kind of weighed down by the expectations of the year, because I still mentally feel like a Freshman. I’m excited to be a senior and experience all of the activities associated with senior year like the Disneyland trip, being ultra spirited, and finally walking the stage in May. I love my classmates, specifically my fellow officers and Leadership kids, so I cannot wait to experience this year and live it up to the fullest. However, I am scared to make connections and bond with people, because I am leaving at the end of the year. Watching the farewells last year makes me so nervous for how my senior year will end, because I don’t want to have to say goodbye, potentially forever, to the people I care about. I know life goes on, and I’ll meet people wherever I end up, but the idea of losing people really scares me. In addition, college applications are looming in front of me, and they are a constant worry in my mind. They take up a majority of my thoughts right now, and I am genuinely so scared to apply and potentially get rejected from schools I really want to go to. And with college applications comes scholarships, which is a whole other mountain to climb. I have to appeal to college admission counselors in a sea of very similar students, then I have to appeal enough to get scholarship money and grants from the college, and I have to apply for scholarships outside of school to help fund my college experience.
Favorite Quotes
Quote One: “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” -Leo Tolstoy
This quote reminds me of our Core Principal, “We starts with you”, because everyone is set on making the world a better place, but they never even think about starting with themselves. If everyone decided to change themselves FIRST, before worrying about other people and how they behave, the world would already be a better place. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in what other people are doing and how they present themselves, when we should really be focused on how we individually behave and act.
Quote Two: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill
This quote is a reminder that perseverance is the only way to gain anything. Failure and success are subjective, it all depends on who you ask. But quitting is an objective way to not gain anything. Never finishing something is the only way you objectively fail. There is no coming back from not continuing. Simple mistakes are easy to remedy, but quitting something is not.
Quote Three: “A person who never made a mistake never tried something new.” -Albert Einstein
If one of the most intelligent people in history says that failure is a part of life, I’m going to believe him. If you never fail at anything, you’re conforming yourself to a life of doing the same things every day. You’re not letting yourself experience growth and you’re never going to learn. You’re putting yourself into a box. I hate failing just as much as the next person, but it’s vital to remember that it’s part of the growth process. Without failure, we would never learn or expand our knowledge on anything.
Quote for the End of the Year: “Leadership is a combination of strategy and character. If you must be without one, be without the strategy.” – U.S. Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf
This quote is a reminder that Leaders are supposed to be people of character, who values others. As leaders, we need to prioritize being good people, not putting ourselves into positions of power because we think we deserve it. Too often, the wrong people are given platforms, and they use it to exploit others and spread hate. Even if it doesn’t seem that extreme, they aren’t often used to benefit others, usually just for their own benefit.
This quote reminds me of our Core Principal, “We starts with you”, because everyone is set on making the world a better place, but they never even think about starting with themselves. If everyone decided to change themselves FIRST, before worrying about other people and how they behave, the world would already be a better place. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in what other people are doing and how they present themselves, when we should really be focused on how we individually behave and act.
Quote Two: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill
This quote is a reminder that perseverance is the only way to gain anything. Failure and success are subjective, it all depends on who you ask. But quitting is an objective way to not gain anything. Never finishing something is the only way you objectively fail. There is no coming back from not continuing. Simple mistakes are easy to remedy, but quitting something is not.
Quote Three: “A person who never made a mistake never tried something new.” -Albert Einstein
If one of the most intelligent people in history says that failure is a part of life, I’m going to believe him. If you never fail at anything, you’re conforming yourself to a life of doing the same things every day. You’re not letting yourself experience growth and you’re never going to learn. You’re putting yourself into a box. I hate failing just as much as the next person, but it’s vital to remember that it’s part of the growth process. Without failure, we would never learn or expand our knowledge on anything.
Quote for the End of the Year: “Leadership is a combination of strategy and character. If you must be without one, be without the strategy.” – U.S. Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf
This quote is a reminder that Leaders are supposed to be people of character, who values others. As leaders, we need to prioritize being good people, not putting ourselves into positions of power because we think we deserve it. Too often, the wrong people are given platforms, and they use it to exploit others and spread hate. Even if it doesn’t seem that extreme, they aren’t often used to benefit others, usually just for their own benefit.
Goals
Leadership Goals:
1. Successful Homecoming and Winterfest
The Senior Class Officers knocked this goal out of the park. Homecoming was probably the most stressful week of my life, but it was actually so fun (afterwards)! Senior won Homecoming, of course, but we did put a lot of effort into it, so I feel like it wasn’t just because of our Senior status. Winterfest was even more of a success, because we were in charge of it and made a lot of changes to the event, like the bleacher poster. All of the classes really stepped up during Winterfest and did a lot of good work, so the event overall was also a success. And the Seniors won, duh.
2. Make Strong Bonds with my Class
I feel like this year, I really made an effort in getting to know the whole class and form relationships with people in Leadership. I’m close with a lot of the students, because we spend a lot of time together inside and outside of school and the program. Of course, I’m closest with the Seniors, but also my mentors, Gia and Katie, as well as the Sophomores, Juniors, and Freshman.
Short-Term Goals:
1. Graduate High School
This goal has not been reached yet unfortunately, but I will be graduating in a month. I’ve maintained my grades, stayed out of trouble, and stayed off the bill list. I do need to work on my attendance, but that will be handled by the time Graduation rolls around.
2. Get into a College I Like
This goal has definitely been accomplished! I was worried that I would end up having to go to a school I hated in the fall, but the opposite was true! I’m going to my top choice for college, and I could not be more excited about becoming a beaver. Applying was a little terrifying, but the end result was so worth it. Furthermore, I’ve met so many cool people who are also going to OSU, which only makes the new transition more exciting.
Long-Term Goals:
1. Graduate College with a Degree
The first part of this goal is completed, because I will be going to college and majoring in Microbiology. So, now I just have to get through the next four years and I’ll accomplish it!
2. Be Happy with my Career
Unfortunately, this goal is even farther away than graduating college. All of the jobs I want to apply for require a degree, which I won’t have until 2027. But I’m going to college, so eventually I will accomplish this!
1. Successful Homecoming and Winterfest
The Senior Class Officers knocked this goal out of the park. Homecoming was probably the most stressful week of my life, but it was actually so fun (afterwards)! Senior won Homecoming, of course, but we did put a lot of effort into it, so I feel like it wasn’t just because of our Senior status. Winterfest was even more of a success, because we were in charge of it and made a lot of changes to the event, like the bleacher poster. All of the classes really stepped up during Winterfest and did a lot of good work, so the event overall was also a success. And the Seniors won, duh.
2. Make Strong Bonds with my Class
I feel like this year, I really made an effort in getting to know the whole class and form relationships with people in Leadership. I’m close with a lot of the students, because we spend a lot of time together inside and outside of school and the program. Of course, I’m closest with the Seniors, but also my mentors, Gia and Katie, as well as the Sophomores, Juniors, and Freshman.
Short-Term Goals:
1. Graduate High School
This goal has not been reached yet unfortunately, but I will be graduating in a month. I’ve maintained my grades, stayed out of trouble, and stayed off the bill list. I do need to work on my attendance, but that will be handled by the time Graduation rolls around.
2. Get into a College I Like
This goal has definitely been accomplished! I was worried that I would end up having to go to a school I hated in the fall, but the opposite was true! I’m going to my top choice for college, and I could not be more excited about becoming a beaver. Applying was a little terrifying, but the end result was so worth it. Furthermore, I’ve met so many cool people who are also going to OSU, which only makes the new transition more exciting.
Long-Term Goals:
1. Graduate College with a Degree
The first part of this goal is completed, because I will be going to college and majoring in Microbiology. So, now I just have to get through the next four years and I’ll accomplish it!
2. Be Happy with my Career
Unfortunately, this goal is even farther away than graduating college. All of the jobs I want to apply for require a degree, which I won’t have until 2027. But I’m going to college, so eventually I will accomplish this!
Magazine Cover
Magazine Article
Gracie Winchell is a successful Microbiologist and proud cat mom. She just finished obtaining her PhD from Oregon State, in order to prepare herself for her future occupation in a lab. While finishing her PhD program, she realized that her class consisted of mostly men. This caused her great distress, because it seemed like women were not getting to participate in STEM fields as much. Gracie wants to put an emphasis on opening the doors of science to women, especially women in color. “The science field has been dominated by white men for too long,” stated Gracie, in her interview. She hopes to be an inspiration to women everywhere, because that’s what her grandma did for her. Gracie looks forward to using her PhD to changing the science field, with a particular emphasis on environmental action.
Homecoming Photo Gallery
Role Model
I’m fortunate enough to be surrounded by people who love and support me, in and outside of school. That being said, the person who has had the biggest impact on my life has been my best friend, April Yan. She is always there to listen to my rants, whether they’re on serious or silly topics, and provide insight that I would otherwise be lacking. She is never quick to judge me, which I am grateful for, regardless of if my action’s deserve it or not. She is kind-spirited and thoughtful, which are not characteristics I would always give myself, so she provides balance to my harsher perspectives. April is full of life and intelligence, but she is never going to use that to put other people down. She values everyone for who they are and what they can bring, not what they’re done or who they were. I’m at her house so often, her mom isn’t even surprised anymore when I walk downstairs from April’s room. Unfortunately, there is a high probability that we will be separated in the near future, due to college, but I will cherish the memories and impact she has on me right now. I will never forget the impact April has had on my life, and I am so grateful that I get to call her my best friend.
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Spirit Animal
The animal that best describes me is a sloth. I enjoy going through life slowly, but that’s usually not the case, especially during Senior year. Unfortunately, my day does not consist of lounging around, because of school and extracurricular activities, but I wish it did. I usually reward myself with long naps and cozy days spent in my bed. My weekends are filled with lounging around and barely moving, unless necessary. Sloths are also not very social creatures, given the amount of time they sleep, which I heavily relate to. Most of their time is spent in isolation, since their day consists of sleeping and eating. Even though they’re quite slow physically, they are some of the most intelligent animals in the animal kingdom. This is very accurate to my life too, because I have never been the most active person. In fact, I avoid most physical activities, because of how much I abhor them. However, I do enjoy school and expanding my knowledge. Sloths are my spirit animal for a multitude of reasons.
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My Favorite Leadership Memories
Leadership is filled with ridiculous, silly moments. Sometimes, it’s tiring and a lot of work, but the people in the class make it all worth it. My favorite memories are almost always because of the people I worked with and some of the things done and said while we worked.
My first favorite memory would be riding with Emily and Emme to Mountain Mike’s for lunch while we were building the Lemonade Stands for Homecoming. We were all tired and mentally drained from the work we had been putting in, but it was one of the funniest car rides I’ve had in a long time. Emme and I kept saying the most outrageous things with the funniest accents. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t even that funny, but the exhaustion and need for a break made everything seem funnier.
My second favorite memory would have to be when the Senior Class Officers had Friendsgiving and we all brought food of one color. April had green, Emily had red, Bri had Orange, and I had purple. We all brought a ton of food and enough drinks for everyone, because we were all nervous no one else would be drinks. We ended up with way more food than we needed (a lot of which was snacks) and plenty of Bri’s delicious mac and cheese. Then, we all played Sims on April’s TV and talked about everything we could think about. I’m so grateful for the friendships I gained from Leadership, because the Senior Class Officers are some of my favorite people in existence.
Another one of my favorite memories would be the Core Camp lunches with myself, Claire, April, Gideon, and Spencer. They were so stupid but so incredibly funny. The food was shared in good company. They were some of the highlights of Core Camp and it made me feel connected to a group of people that I knew I could count on during the school year. I made a lot of really strong connections and memories at Core Camp and I’m going to miss it and my friends next year.
My first favorite memory would be riding with Emily and Emme to Mountain Mike’s for lunch while we were building the Lemonade Stands for Homecoming. We were all tired and mentally drained from the work we had been putting in, but it was one of the funniest car rides I’ve had in a long time. Emme and I kept saying the most outrageous things with the funniest accents. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t even that funny, but the exhaustion and need for a break made everything seem funnier.
My second favorite memory would have to be when the Senior Class Officers had Friendsgiving and we all brought food of one color. April had green, Emily had red, Bri had Orange, and I had purple. We all brought a ton of food and enough drinks for everyone, because we were all nervous no one else would be drinks. We ended up with way more food than we needed (a lot of which was snacks) and plenty of Bri’s delicious mac and cheese. Then, we all played Sims on April’s TV and talked about everything we could think about. I’m so grateful for the friendships I gained from Leadership, because the Senior Class Officers are some of my favorite people in existence.
Another one of my favorite memories would be the Core Camp lunches with myself, Claire, April, Gideon, and Spencer. They were so stupid but so incredibly funny. The food was shared in good company. They were some of the highlights of Core Camp and it made me feel connected to a group of people that I knew I could count on during the school year. I made a lot of really strong connections and memories at Core Camp and I’m going to miss it and my friends next year.
A Reflection of a Peer
Brianna is one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met. She always puts others before herself, whether it’s family, friends, or someone she just met. Bri never fails to put other people at ease either. She is always cracking jokes and easing the tension in situations. One time in particular, she was at my house after we were booted from April’s because she had to go to a relative. My mom had been strict about who could come over, due to recent events in my house. Bri took it all in stride. My crazy, loud siblings, my messy room, and my bad attitude were all forgotten when Bri started talking. She has a way of making people feel important and heard. She gives anyone who’s speaking her full attention. I was scared it was going to be awkward, but it never is with her. She’s so confident and sure of who she is, nothing is ever awkward or embarrassing to her. I want to be more like Bri.
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RHS Pride Photo Gallery
What I Love to Do
My favorite hobby right now is playing the guitar. I just started reteaching myself chords and songs, so I’m still mediocre at best, but it’s still really fun. I don’t even own a guitar, but my brother does, so I just steal it from him whenever I feel like practicing, because he doesn’t really use it. My favorite song to play is “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron, because the whole song is made up of 3 similar chords and an easy strumming pattern. It’s pretty beginner friendly, which is nice, and it helps that it’s been my favorite song for a long time. I never really enjoyed playing an instrument before last year, but I think that’s because I felt pressured to. But now that I’m doing it purely for my enjoyment and entertainment, it’s actually really enjoyable. I’ve never played for another person before, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever feel confident enough to do that. I don’t take myself seriously enough to make it more than a hobby. It’s mainly just for fun.
Letter to My Parents
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you so much for allowing me to participate in Leadership these past couple of years. The program had a massive impact on who I am, but that pales into comparison to how much you have influenced me throughout my life. Growing up, my biggest inspiration were my parents, and that didn’t change when I entered high school. I probably won’t change in 4 years when I graduate college either. I know that was a sacrifice for you guys as well, because I’m not always at home anymore. In fact, it seems like I’m never home, especially during October and January, because of Homecoming and Winterfest. Being a Senior is stressful, and I definitely take it out on you guys sometimes, so I appreciate the grace you give me whenever I’m in a bad mood. Being in Leadership is a huge commitment, for me and for you. You guys get roped into all sorts of things, whether that’s staying up late until I get home from April’s, allowing me to spend the night at her house during the school week, and coming to a rally so I can walk Rae down the red carpet for a fashion show. Thank you for loving me at my worst and lowest moments and celebrating with me at my highest. I love you guys!
Sincerely,
Gracie Winchell
Thank you so much for allowing me to participate in Leadership these past couple of years. The program had a massive impact on who I am, but that pales into comparison to how much you have influenced me throughout my life. Growing up, my biggest inspiration were my parents, and that didn’t change when I entered high school. I probably won’t change in 4 years when I graduate college either. I know that was a sacrifice for you guys as well, because I’m not always at home anymore. In fact, it seems like I’m never home, especially during October and January, because of Homecoming and Winterfest. Being a Senior is stressful, and I definitely take it out on you guys sometimes, so I appreciate the grace you give me whenever I’m in a bad mood. Being in Leadership is a huge commitment, for me and for you. You guys get roped into all sorts of things, whether that’s staying up late until I get home from April’s, allowing me to spend the night at her house during the school week, and coming to a rally so I can walk Rae down the red carpet for a fashion show. Thank you for loving me at my worst and lowest moments and celebrating with me at my highest. I love you guys!
Sincerely,
Gracie Winchell
The Letter
First and foremost, I want to say congratulations on getting the position! Senior year is so, so fun, but it’s definitely a lot of work. At the beginning of the year, it’s going to feel slow, but soon enough you’ll be walking at Graduation and it’ll all be over. Since it is your Senior year, try to make it the best you can. This means multiple things, but specifically in Leadership, don’t procrastinate planning Senior events, prioritize on communicating with your Senior class officers, and don’t get on Morty’s bad side (because you’re with her a lot…). My main piece of advice is utilize all of the Seniors in your whole class, not just the Seniors in Leadership. This makes asking them to participate in Senior events so much easier! They’ll probably want to participate anyway, since it’s their last opportunity to, but always always ask. This makes events like the Homecoming Lip-Sync so much more fun and interactive. Speaking of Homecoming… I know it’s stressful, but remember that you will get through it. It’s a long month, filled with planning, tears, laughs, and so many memories. It’ll seem impossible at the moment, but that’s why planning before October is so important. Plan, draw things out, and order everything as you can, so that way the actual week of Homecoming is less stressful! And keep all of the decorations you use, so that you can reuse them throughout the week. But Homecoming really pales in comparison to Winterfest… because you’re in charge of the whole event. Start planning in November honestly and order everything in December BEFORE break. Winter break is when you should START practicing for the Lip Sync, getting the shopping cart, and starting to actually create your decorations. Do NOT wait until after break is over, because you will not have enough time to complete anything to the best of your ability. Finally, my last piece of advice is to be understanding and bond with your officer team, because you spend so much time together. It’s so much easier to be productive and get along when you try to be compassionate and see where they’re coming from. When you’re overwhelmed and exhausted, they’re the best people to lean on because they all feel the same way you do.
Do's and Do Not's
DO:
1. Ask your whole class for help, not just the Leadership kids
2. Be compassionate with the people in your class, you’re all going through similar stuff
3. Be willing to help, even if you didn’t sign up for the committee
DON’T:
1. Leave an event without helping clean
2. Wait until the last minute to do an assignment
3. Be unwilling to ask for help!
1. Ask your whole class for help, not just the Leadership kids
2. Be compassionate with the people in your class, you’re all going through similar stuff
3. Be willing to help, even if you didn’t sign up for the committee
DON’T:
1. Leave an event without helping clean
2. Wait until the last minute to do an assignment
3. Be unwilling to ask for help!
The Contact List
Kerry
IZA Design Contact
[email protected]
Jorge
Trailer Contact
[email protected]
Mike
Savemart Manager & Shopping Cart Contact
(209) 599 - 3355
IZA Design Contact
[email protected]
Jorge
Trailer Contact
[email protected]
Mike
Savemart Manager & Shopping Cart Contact
(209) 599 - 3355
The Professional
The biggest aspect of professionalism we learn in Leadership is public speaking and presenting in front of the class. This is specifically practiced during our speeches, which we do after Christmas break and Winterfest. I felt like a lot of students procrastinated their work, and it was obvious who did that when they presented. The topics aren’t super professional in and of themselves, but it's our job to present them in a professional manner. It’s much easier to spend some time writing your speech, so that you can optimize the time you have left to practice. Everyone has to present, so you might as well get it done as soon as you can. Another aspect of professional development we practice in Leadership is Mock-Interviews, which we do to prepare ourselves for entering into a career. With this comes Cover Letters and Resumes, which is really helpful in preparing us on how to write them in the future. It’s important to fill these out like they matter, because it’s good practice.
Change
This year, I’ve changed a lot about myself, both positively and negatively. I’ve tried to be better at setting boundaries, especially when it comes to people’s actions that solely affect me. I try to consider everyone’s perspectives, and usually that ends up with me invalidating my own feelings in an attempt to excuse other people’s actions. Being a Senior and knowing that I probably won’t see a lot of the people I interact daily with in the future, it’s become a lot easier to let go of relationships that are constantly draining me. Furthemore, I’ve become better at managing my time and prioritizing what things should be done and when. I used to stress myself out all the time about things that are honestly, not that deep, and this year I realized that I’m causing myself more harm by constantly stressing about things that don’t matter. My advice to the future class is to prioritize you, but not at the expense of others. You’re all in the class for a reason and no one deserves it more than anyone else. The superiority complexes will do you absolutely no favors, so try and leave them behind you. If you work together, the whole year will be so much easier.
The Ideal Leader
The ideal leader is someone who is good at balancing all aspects of their life and prioritizing all of the stuff they need to accomplish. Leaders, like everyone else, have several faucets of their lives that require their attention, but they need to be very good at knowing when to give attention to certain things and when not to. It’s very easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff that needs to get done everyday, but a leader needs to know that they’ll accomplish what they can, when they can. Furthermore, the ideal leader needs to be able to handle conflict professionally and needs to take criticism well. Leaders are often in conflict with others, and they need to take themselves off of their high horse and recognize other people’s needs. Additionally, Leaders constantly receive backlash on events and ideas they have, so they need to be able to receive constructive criticism well.
You
My Projects
Procedure Form
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1st Quarter Evaluation
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3rd Quarter Evaluation
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Purchase Order
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Class Budget
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ASB Report
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Minutes
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Social Media Post
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