2023_YSHS_Senior_Special_Edition

CLASS OF 2023 CLAPOUT, PARADE AND COMMENCEMENT SENIOR CLAPOUT will be held on Friday, May 19, at 3:15 p.m. Families are welcome to join at the high school. SENIORS’ FINAL DAY is Monday, May 22. Students will participate in gradua- tion rehearsal from 8:30-10 a.m. Weather permitting, THE PARADE will begin at 6:15 p.m. from the high school parking lot, and be escorted by the YS Police, traveling the following route: from Yellow Springs High School down West South College Street; left on Xenia Avenue; left on Corry Street; left on Dayton Street; a final left on East Enon Road to return to Yellow Springs High School around 6:45 p.m. GRADUATION for Yellow Springs High School seniors will be held Thursday, May 25, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Yellow Springs High School gym. JP ANDERSON PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Elizabeth Anderson Hello Mudda! STAFF AUGENSTEIN PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Vicki Keller I’ve learned a lot, actually, in my time here at Yellow Springs schools, and not just academically. I was able to learn more about myself. I don’t think any school I’ve been to has really helped me find myself like this one has. And I’ve gone to a lot of schools. Almost immediately after going to this school I found what I wanted to do after high school. I was hit with reality and started working harder to achieve better grades, which for a little while I really didn’t care too much about. I made friends that I’ll probably still have even after high school. I also had some amazing teachers who really inspired me. Although this school has its issues, I’ve learned a lot and my time here has shaped me into the person I am. Even if the school itself didn’t directly affect me, the changes I’ve gone through, for the better or worse, happened while I was here. OLIVER BAHN PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Deanna Newsome and Volker Bahn My time in Yellow Springs has been long and unrelenting, but what else is there to know? Growing up in one place, I have a lot of connection to this community, but what will happen when I see the rest of the world? Sure, I have traveled, but that’s only temporary. I lived in Germany for a year, which I often look back on with more fond- ness than my childhood here, although I have lived here for as long as I can remem- ber. But whether good or bad, this place is what I know. And sure, the laid-back environment of the school gave me security, but what will happen when I go to college? Will I be able to keep up? Sure, the teachers are all wonderful people, especially the ones who don’t make me show my work, but maybe I could use some toughness every once in a while. But it’s easy to compare yourself to what you see, both in person and online, which may be why I hold a little resentment toward the beautiful town I was raised in. Because who wants to put their lives on display more than people who have one? When those are the only ones we see, it can become overwhelming. But who doesn’t already know that, who hasn’t already acknowledged that? And why do I keep looking? But I used to be worse, used to resort to neutrality to avoid negativity. It took a while to open up, to finally act how I want, and maybe nobody truly does. At least I can dance like I have confidence, espe- cially with the help of fermented yeast. But when you spend your time in elementary school in a state of neutrality, what is there to remember? After high school, I will go on to college, probably do fine, and probably have a decent job, maybe start a family. I will look back on high school and remember the fun I had, and wish I had done more. But how can I do more without worrying? If I force myself to have fun, am I really having fun? I can say that my worries are a product of my upbringing, but I only have myself to blame for that. After all, my parents did a great job, and did everything they could to make me adventurous. I want to end this on a positive note, so I want to thank my parents, who I love even if I don’t say it too much; my brother, who, despite the incessant teasing during our formative years, has been my friend for 17-and-a-half years; my friends, who have supported me through all of my bulls—t; and my teachers, who have done every- thing they can to see me succeed. At least, most of them did. To end it off, here’s a poem I wrote a while back, to carry on the two-time tradi- tion my brother started: The oilslick stains on window panes that look into our souls Hide what we don’t want to see: that we all run on coal. But once we clean the rainbow sheen that sits before our eyes, We see that everyone dies. ISABELLA BEIRING PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Sara and Anthony Beiring I’m grateful for the opportunity to have attended YSHS. Without attending I would have missed meeting all my amazing friends and teachers throughout my high school career. I would like to thank my friends, Celeste, Julia, Etta and Angelina, for an amazing senior year. I would like to thank teachers, including Mr. Smith, Ms. Corrigan, Mr. Hurwitz, Mr. Comstock, and Ms. Lutz, for the amazing amount of courtesy and kindness you have shown me. I’ll miss all of your classes (and study halls) dearly. A meaningful part of my high school career was par ticipating in the Youth Action Board. This is a wonderful orga- nization dedicated to helping the Yellow Springs community and the youth that live inside. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have been the student co-facilitator for the board of 2022–2023. My current plan after graduation is to attend Wright State in the biochemistry and molecular biology program. Thank- fully, I’ve already been enrolled and have gotten my fall classes set. I also plan on continuing my participation in extracur- ricular activities such as ones focused on philanthropy or the environment. Hope- fully, somehow, at least for the summer, I could get a job and start building my resume some more. I want to take the time to thank my par- ents, Anthony and Sara Beiring, and my brother, Luke Beiring, for always being there through every stage of my life. I would also like to thank my grandma, Rebecca Sottoway, for all the times you’ve made sure to check up on me when school and life have been tough. I want to thank all the teachers and staff I’ve met through- out the years — I definitely would have been lost without you. DANIELA BIERI PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Minerva and J. Alex Bieri This town and this school and these people hold the memories that make up most of my entire life. It’s surreal to finally be escaping this comfortable little town that has always been a safety bubble around me. In many ways, it has left me completely unprepared to take on the world. But Yellow Springs has prepared me to be the kind of person who isn’t afraid of the world. When I first arrived at Mills Lawn as a naive little fourth grader, I was extremely shy and kept to myself, but this school pushed me to be a person who takes up space unapologetically. The environment here is truly unlike any other — take that as you will, because there are a lot of negatives. Though with- out Yellow Springs, I wouldn’t be me. I’ve had some incredible teachers over the years who have shaped my time here, but I especially have to give a shout out to Mr. Smith. He has truly made my high school experience better in small ways, like bringing in croissants for us in the mornings, and in major ways, like reading 2 YELLOW SPR I NGS H I GH SCHOOL C L A S S O F 2 0 2 3 A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE YE L LOW SPR I NGS NEWS | MAY 19 , 2023 AC Service Company The Antioch School Bentino’s Pizza Berkshire Hathaway, Craig Mesure O U R S P O N S O R S