2022_Senior_Special_Issue

8 YELLOW SPR I NGS H I GH SCHOOL C L A S S O F 2 0 2 2 A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE YE L LOW SPR I NGS NEWS | MAY 26 , 2022 Sage Strings, Marna Street Sam & Eddie’s Open Books James A. Tetz, D.M.D. A large amount of responsibility is entrusted to YSHS students, but also a large amount of trust. Teachers trust us to start projects and organizations, and they trust us when they see us walk- ing down the halls, because we have fostered this productive and hard-work- ing standard. YSHS values academic achievement, but there is a true sense of pride for achievements beyond the classroom. Projects like the One Acts are encouraged, athletes are respected for the hard work they put in for their team and sport, and theater is a time- consuming affair, but their work does not go unappreciated. We have learned the value of effort and intelligence out- side of our GPA. Additionally, having such a small class size has facilitated better relationships between peers and between students and teachers. I know every single student in my graduating class, and I hold a high opinion of each of them. I also know my teachers well and trust them, and many are easily accessible during and after school if we need help. The Yellow Springs community feels very open and close, for better and for worse. We all know each other, and when I walk downtown, I recognize the people around me (even though I do not live here). There is creativity bursting from every corner, and colors dancing along the landscape. There is a deep-rooted sense of history in the unique features and buildings of the vil- lage. There is a comfort in knowing the upperclassmen who have graduated and the underclassmen who will follow us. Students and teachers know people in town, and we know each other. Sometimes, this can mean that people know your flaws too. However, you will not be remembered for your mistakes either. In this community, you are seen, for better and for worse. After graduation, I am going to attend Northwestern University, and I plan to major in English and minor in sociol- ogy. I hope to eventually get my Ph.D. in English and become an English professor at a university. I have spent so much of my time focusing on school work, so I am excited to participate in greater organizations and projects, such as volunteering at a local library in Evanston and participating in theater. Another ambition of mine is to open a bookstore in a small town. I will con- tinue to support causes that I believe in both in and beyond the university. I will also look for the sense of community that I was fortunate enough to experi- ence in Yellow Springs. CORY JOHNSON CHRISTOPHER KAISER PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Jef f and Linda Kaiser I moved over to Springfield five years ago, and only attended Yellow Springs High School for about two years, although my first year here was all remote due to COVID-19, so I didn’t really get “meet” anybody. Once everyone started coming back safely, I slowly got to know everyone that way. I will admit I was a nervous wreck, but that changed soon enough. Yellow Springs is like any community, it shows you everything you want it to be, then slowly shows its ugly sides as well. It isn’t perfect, but it has helped me through two more years of my life. After school I wish to get a job at Ohio Sports Academy as an instructor and to eventually become an aerialist. CHRISTINA KAISER EMERY KIMMINS SOPHIA LAWSON PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Stephanie and Jef f Lawson I came to YS when I was heading into first grade, and the shift from Texas to a little hippie town in Ohio was a change. Perhaps the most jarring thing to my little brain was the change from a can- teen at lunch that sold cosmic brownies to the hummus and carrots the kids had for lunch here. But, I am grateful for that shift. The change from a big school to such a close community of welcoming friends was so beneficial to my development. One of my favorite memories still to this day is getting to run to Tom’s Market with my mom after school before going to YSHS to pick up my older siblings. I think that is what makes memories in a small town so memorable because all of it is so connected. The Saturday mornings where we would bike into town to go to the Farmer’s Market and run to the Emporium for their signature chai tea and chocolate croissant, or the evening bike rides with my dad down the bike path. As a kid, I felt safe within the borders of this little town and I felt a sense of belonging. Biking over to my friends’ houses late in the day, the street, a playground, and our houses simply where we would land at night. As we got older, so did the town and thus came the boom of tourists, which was important for our town’s well-being, making the charm and specialty of our tiny roads feel crowded. Little by little I recognized fewer and fewer of the people in town, but growth is healthy and needed. The growth of town also led to the growth of myself. My senior year has been the best yet, after the years lost to COVID-19; the time spent alone helped me under- stand and appreciate those around me. I think this final year helped me to realize how special every single one of my classmates is. I feel like 2022 is the best class, and when I think back to our years on the playground playing our intense games of kickball it makes me grateful that I got to grow up with such an energetic, artistic, and loving grade. I want to thank a few teachers spe- cifically. Ms. Hoover, for being the best first- and second-grade teacher and for having such a caring heart. Ms.Hitchcock for helping me unearth my passion for science. Ms.Lohmeyer and Ms. Eastman for teaching me to embrace who I am as a woman and for instilling so much love in all of your students. Mr. Smith for having so much passion and creating a love of the French language for me. Ms. Equaroje for being our momma in AP Bio, and Ms. Morrison for helping me learn to appreciate math, which I’ve always struggled with, and all of your life stories. I would also like to thank some people who are close to me, Lily and Kira, for being my first friends at YS in Ms. Hoover’s classroom. I’m grateful for all of the memories we have made through these 12 years. Carina and Tahlia for always getting me out of my comfort zone through senior year and being there for me. Eliza for our fun ceramic and anatomy classes. All of the senior girls, and especially the girls’ soccer (especially Asha, I won’t forget you) and softball teams. I will never forget the memories I made this last year in high school. I have a lot of love for all of the people close to me, and I wouldn’t be the same without all of the support my friends and family have given me. I’m grateful for everyone who has helped me and never given up on me. I’m excited about my adventure, but will never forget all of the people who have led me to this moment. Thank you to everyone, I’ll miss this little town. STELLA LIEFF PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Luciana Lief f Blank canvas, bit of newsprint,or Sarah Strong’s handmade paper. And it went into the hands of Becky Brunsman and Jo Frannye Reichert who painted tiny golden music note- sacross the top, spelling out” we love you.” And John Gudgel carried it to a whole new place, shaped it into something alive. It could move and think now, little imprints on the same stained paper in pastel hues of pink, and blue, and yellow. And Lorrie Sparrow-Knapp taught her how to sing. She went on singing and creating on bits of canvas, and newsprint and handmade paper. And Desiree Nickell taught her how to sing on paper. And Elizabeth Lutz opened her eyes to the world of singing on paper, showing her the meanings of the little golden notes held tight to her skin. And she went on, carrying herself on her own two feet, with little golden music notes engraved to her skin, spelling out “we love you.” O U R S P O N S O R S