Nixa High School’s eventful year reaches the final stretch as summer approaches. From freshmen still feeling ‘fresh’ from Junior high, to seniors getting ready to start their futures, students’ experiences will eventually become lost in the wind.
Students at the high school share their memories from opposite perspectives, one who is just about to end their first year and the other about to leave four years behind.
This summer senior Katheen Voges is starting the Ozark Technical Community College transfer to Missouri State program and thanks her past art teacher who led her to pursue art education.
“I thank my sophomore year teacher Mr. Weidel for being a great art teacher and teaching me that art teaching doesn’t necessarily have to be by the books,” Voges said. “It can be just students doing their own thing,”
Looking back, Voges said she wishes her freshman self would have stayed clear of messy friend groups.
“Me and my friends decided that we would put friendship and priority first instead of being friends just for the drama,” Voges said.
Upcoming freshmen may not know the difference being involved with school activities can make. Voges signs out, giving her advice to freshmen.
“Definately taking a lot more accelerated classes and then also just involving myself in clubs way more and meeting new teachers,” Voges said. “I met a lot of new teachers this year that I had never met so I think just involving yourself in the school makes a big difference.”
Freshman Lucy Holgate finishes her freshmen year of high school with an older sister who is on the road to becoming an anesthesiologist assistant as her role model.
“She taught me that even if my grades are bad it’s not the end of the world, I just need to try my best and I will get through it,” Holgate said.
Having a role model living so close was nice for Holgate to be able to overcome challenging obstacles while learning on the way.
Throughout Holgate’s school year, she has not only learned algebra but an important life lesson of keeping your head up.
“I think it has taught me that you can do hard things and that eventually there is going to be a great outcome of graduating and being able to go to college.” Holgate said.
During freshman year Holgate took Spanish and encouraged others to take the class explaining how it impacts futures.
“I would recommend Spanish to others because it is a great way to get extra credits and colleges look at that and so it’s a great thing for them to see,” Holgate said.
Though the change from junior high to high school was not so big for Holgate, she appreciates the larger freedom she was able to gain coming into her freshmen year.
“My favorite thing about freshman year was being able to be closer to friends and have more freedom and more things to do,” Holgate said.
Freshman year can take a heavy toll on students and there are steps students should take to have a smooth year and years going forward.
“Getting my work done in class, not overthinking everything, and studying for tests instead of cramming everything at the last minute,” Holgate said.
