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bk Yellow Springs High School  CLASS OF 2020 A Special Section of the Yellow Springs News | May 28, 2020 Jaimie Wilke, Holistic Massage The Winds Cafe Yellow Springs Board of Education maybe a little angry. I do understand that I have lots to be grateful for — I am healthy, my parents still have their jobs and no one I know has become sick yet from this global pandemic. I cannot help, however, but feel robbed of the experiences that every school kid dreams of. I enjoyed being a senior but it only lasted for less than three quarters. One of the things I’ve learned from the social distancing is that I need people. Earlier this year, I thought my ideal life would be to work with animals, go to college online and never talk to another human again after high school. I now know that I need to be around people. I miss a sense of community that got lost in the quarantine. I even miss just being close to someone and not saying any- thing but just feeling connected. Before COVID-19, I was thinking about taking a year gap after high school and working at a kennel while I prepared for college. I now know that I want to go straight into college and be a part of school again. I know it will not be like high school, but I am looking forward to learning new things and making new friendships, too. I have applied, and hopefully will get accepted, to Wright State University for the fall of 2020. My intended major is vet- erinary science technician. I would like to work with stray and abused animals, and maybe animal behavior therapy. Another thing I have learned from the pandemic is not to take anything for granted. I thought I could count on going to senior prom and graduation. I was positive that I would be running and smiling and holding hands with friends through the halls for senior clap-out. My parents have always told me to make the most of any opportunity I get and I am slowly starting to understand why. There are no guarantees. Looking back is fun — except for this quarantine — but it is also a distraction. I am trying hard to keep a positive focus by looking forward, so I do not miss any of those new oppor- tunities after graduation that come along. Drevin Roberts Parents/guardians: Cindy Turner, Jeff Eyrich Well, I guess that growing up in Yellow Springs was something different. I know this was supposed to be about the virus and school, but that’s just a bad idea. Anyway, I really think that growing up in Yellow Springs was a really amazing experience. It’ll most definitely be hard to forget and value. It seems that this place isn’t a place, if that makes sense. To those who have lived here a while it will. This town is full of characters, even ones you don’t know, and that’s something special. A lot of places just have people I couldn’t imagine. Folks around here just really do and say and even dress however, but most importantly, however they want. Something this virus has done is make me value that more. It’s always nice to see the characters of YS go about their days — some of ’em, their days seem to be a little crazy. Just from the quick walk by, bench observation, or even I guess what you would call sitting in the grass. I wish there were ways to explain some of the things I’ve seen going on here. Again, they all fall under people doing whatever they want with no care of what others think. On a good day out in YS, you get some good entertainment. Something I’m sure all kids of YS can understand is the long summer days with friends, running around the town finding things to do and anything to get into. Well, anyone can probably remember that, actually, but you get my point. It just seems to be different here — like, I can’t explain it, y’all. Just, if you are in the know then you are in the know, and that’s good. You wouldn’t wanna be on the outside when it comes to growing up here and having that feeling about it. It really is something special. Of course it hasn’t been all good for anyone, but it has all happened in a very special place. It’s almost like YS is Wonderland. Yeah, so all in all, growing up in YS has been amazing. I’m very thankful that I got to experience it, maybe people feel this way about wherever they’re from, to some extent. It has been such a good time and I’ll never forget it — as long as I can help it, at least. Krista Romohr Parents/guardians: Gary and Liz Romohr I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow up in Yellow Springs and spend my childhood here. I am very grateful to have had the freedom to become whoever I wanted to be in this town and the town itself is a huge part of me. Now that I’ve grown up, I’m ready to experience life on my own and learn how to be my own person in the real world. Next year I plan to move to Florida and attend the University of Tampa, but Yellow Springs will always be my home and I will always come home to visit both my family and the friends that I have made here. I plan on studying in the undecided program at college next year as I explore my many interests to find what I want to do with my life. Although I am very excited to start my life next year at Tampa, I am very sad to be leaving behind my life here in Yellow Springs, especially without having the proper senior year experience to cap off my high school years. High school doesn’t really feel like it’s actually over and I wish that my class and I could have experienced all the great things that the fourth quarter of senior year was sup- posed to bring. I wish that I could have experienced those things because those could have made some really special memories that typical seniors have the opportunity to make. While people from other graduating classes will reminisce about the best times of high school — senior pranks, skip day, special school traditions such as the clap-out and painting bricks and especially graduating with the classmates that they had grown to know and love over the years — I, along with the rest of 2020 seniors, will not have those memories to remember over the years. Although I am missing out on some really special experiences, I have also already had some amazing ones through- out my high school years that I will eter- nally be grateful for. I will always fondly remember my classmates, teachers and the staff of Yellow Springs High School, and be grateful for their part in helping me become the person that I am today. I am ready to start my new life in Tampa next year, but my time in Yellow Springs will never be forgotten and will be a piece of me forever. Lucas Sansom Parents/guardians: Lorrie Sparrow-Knapp, Bill Sansom, Ed Knapp, Julene McCoy Growing up around Yellow Springs was like growing up at home. I made a lot of friends there who got me through some tough times, and some of the good times. When I was very little I went to the Children’s Center, where I made some of the friends I have to this day. When I went to Mills Lawn Elementary school, I had a great time there. I made more friends than I ever thought. I thought I would never make as many friends as I did at YSCC, but I did. When I went to the middle school/ high school, my friends were there with me. We always went to Street Fair and we would just goof around and see what’s in stock at different booths. Sometimes we would go to the elementary school and just hang out there. The teachers also became my friends. They’re the ones who got me to go into The GCCC culinary arts program. Growing up in the Yellow Springs Schools made me feel at home. Thank you. abbaney Schindel Parents/guardians: William Schindel I am very thankful for the four years that I spent at Yellow Springs High School. Being unable to finish senior year as I expected has really put things into perspective for me. Our lives as we know them are so fragile. I miss my friends, teachers and community and I can’t wait for everything to go back to some sort of normal. I know that my graduation won’t be normal, but the people who care about us are working to make it special and memorable. Before Yellow Springs, I went to a massive school in a less-than-tolerant area. The dramatic shift from 400 class- mates to 60 showed me how important close relationships with teachers and peers can be. I doubt I would’ve ever had the chance to be involved in my school as much as I was if I didn’t go to YSHS. While there were plenty of ups and downs during my high school experi- ence, I will always look back on it with fondness. I will carry it with me for the rest of my life. I want to give a deep thanks to all of my teachers. You are all very very impor- tant to me! School Forest, bowling, JCOWA, band, the Chicago trip and French Café are some things I loved about high school. In the fall, I plan to attend Wright State University. I want to study criminal justice or pre-law. If you need me, I’ll be in the Glen! Isaac Schultz Parents/guardians: Emily and Ruben Schultz As a senior, this experience has made our transition to adulthood drastically different than those in years past. I feel deprived of an experience. The Class of 2020 is missing many of the milestones seniors looked forward to most: senior prom, senior prank, senior trip, leaving and arriving earlier. Students are always waiting for the end but this quarantine is making me feel reminisce about my time in high school. The friends I’ve made, the experiences I’ve had and the things I should’ve done. This is my fourth year attending Yellow Springs Schools. Before public school- ing, I was homeschooled. This was a major transition for me socially and it allowed me to make many friends and even more lasting memories. The Class of 2020 will most likely have to wait until they graduate from college to experience a real cap and gown graduation. This would’ve been the time that people spent the most with their friends and made the most memories before they all moved on to the next stage of their lives. Now we resort to video calls to see our friends. O u r S p o n s o r s