2021_Senior_Special_Issue

O U R S P O N S O R S BRADFORD KNICKERBOCKER No response submitted. ZACHARY LEGGETT No response submitted. SAMUEL LEWIS PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Amy and Ron Lewis My final year at YSHSwas something I’ve been thinking about ever since my first day in kindergarten when Chief Grody would help us cross the road and after Ms. Brunsman told us where to put our backpacks. I always thought my senior year would some- what be like my older siblings, filled with friends and bonfires, senior-only parties and group camping trips out of state. Sadly, none of these ideas that were embellished in my Mills Lawn kindergartner brain ever happened. Through some people’s eyes that can be seen as a bad thing but to me, it’s kinda wonderful. I didn’t expect this year at all, and through that, I’ve learned to love the unexpected and cherish every moment I receive. My Grandfather passed shortly after covid entered the United States. Since his passing my family decided that we would distance from friends and out- side activities but not from each other. This caused my family to grow closer and over my senior year I’ve really learned how much I’ll miss my family when I leave for college. My relation- ships with friends may have changed, but all for the better. The same kinda happened with the village. After a long period of COVID isolation and online college tours, it really made me notice how much I truly value a sense of community and the value of kindness — traits common to Yellow Springers. My plan after graduation is to attend Denison University in Granville, Ohio. I’m not entirely certain what I want to do, but I’m stuck between getting a business degree and going into the restaurant business or getting amarine biology degree. Luckily, COVID hasn’t really af fected my college plans. I was still able to safely tour and attend on-campus, one-on-one inter views. The only way I think COVID really prevented me from learning was when I was no longer able to participate in a Rotary exchange program in Chile last summer. I think what I find really valuable is common courtesy and, overall, human kindness. It’s something I believe everyone deserves but not something that everyone gives or receives. The pandemic changed my view on this because what I found most valuable were the people who I can actually depend on and who genuinely care about my well-being always reaching out to check in when we were unable to meet in person. I think my experience in YS Schools was amazing. I came into the school system in Kindergarten and I have loved it almost every single day since. I’ve had life-changing teachers and countless memorable experiences with friends and peers alike. If I could change anything about my school experience, though, it would be the condition of the building. It’s falling apart and filled with bats. Oh, also I’d choose to have Mr. Lydy, Ms. Lutz and Mr. May as my teachers for half my classes. In the next 10 years, I see myself out of college in a job I worked hard to get and settled down with someone I truly love. Most definitely a dog or two will be in the picture as well. AMARA LUCKETT No response submitted. EMILY MILLEN No response submitted. JOE MINDE-BERMAN PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Jennifer Berman, Matt Minde I won’t mince words — I am ready to get out of here. With that being said, there are many things that I know I will miss terribly about Yellow Springs once I’m gone, and even more things that will only become apparent to me over time. I’ll miss my teachers, who were always dedicated to the success of each one of their students, and put an immeasurable amount of thought into their lesson plans. I’ll miss the meditative walk to and from home that always allowed me a moment in my day for reflection. I’ll miss the comfort- ing familiarity that comes with being in the same building for the last six years. I’ll miss some of my classmates as well. I look forward to leaving for many reasons, though I also look forward to coming back. Change in this town hap- pens so gradually, it’s easy to feel like nothing changes at all. It is my hope that, after some time away, I’ll be able to recognize those changes, for better or for worse, and feel a greater signifi- cance or appreciation for the window of time in which the village and com- munity I knew existed. Yellow Springs High School C L A S S O F 2 0 2 1 A Special Section of the YELLOW SPRINGS NEWS | May 20, 2021 7 Re/Max Victory + Affiliates Chris & Rick Kristensen Reichley Insurance Agency Sage Strings, Marna Street