What did you think your final year of high school would be like and how did it compare to the reality?
Anna Johnson: I thought it would be super fun but also bittersweet because I would be leaving my friends to start a new chapter of my life. In reality, it obviously got cut short, which has been difficult to deal with, but also a learning experience.
What is your advice for incoming freshman?
Embrace these four years as much as you can because time really does fly by.
What teacher had the most influence on you and why?
Mrs. Hughes’ positive attitude despite any situation always made me feel optimistic and ready to take on anything that the world threw at me.
How have you changed in the last four years?
I have definitely matured and become more focused on the things in life that actually matter.
What’s your favorite song and why?
My favorite song is Dance Monkey by Tones and I because it’s so catchy and always puts me in a good mood.
What’s the best way to get over a bad day?
The best way to get over a bad day is to just go home and take a nice nap in your bed to recharge.
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What did you think your final year of high school would be like and how did it compare to the reality?
Jacob Padilla: I thought it would be super fun but also bittersweet because I would be leaving my friends to start a new chapter of my life. In reality, it obviously got cut short, which has been difficult to deal with, but also a learning experience.
What did you dread that ultimately wasn’t that bad?
Something I was definitely not looking forward to was my AP Calculus class. While it is definitely one of the most difficult classes I have ever taken, as long as you surround yourself with the right people who are dedicated and willing to put in the work then it becomes a team effort and it isn’t nearly as bad as you would think
How have you changed in the last four years?
I have definitely matured and become more focused on the things in life that actually matter.
What about high school will you miss most?
I’m going to miss a lot about high school because I truly enjoyed my whole experience at Eastlake and I made a lot of meaningful relationships. However, the thing I’ll miss the most is the simplicity because now that I’m going to college, there is no clear path for me to take and that can be terrifying. It’s a good kind of scary though so I’m also really excited to start this new chapter.
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What did you think your final year of high school would be like and how did it compare to the reality?
Rachel White: I thought my final year of high school was going to be extremely stressful up until May because of AP Classes, but once May hit, I would be able to kick back and relax. Instead, it was not nearly as stressful as I thought, but I wasn’t able to enjoy things like Grad Nite and Prom, which I had been looking forward to all year. Grad Nite was supposed to be my first time going to Disneyland, but now I don’t know when that’s going to happen.
What did you dread that ultimately wasn’t that bad?
I dreaded the idea of meeting so many new people, but because I go to a very small school, it wasn’t as scary as I thought. I am now friends with all of the people I met that first day, so it really wasn’t worth dreading.
How have you changed in the last four years?
I have definitely matured and become more focused on the things in life that actually matter.
What about high school will you miss most?
I think I’m going to miss the family environment my school has. Since we are really small, I know everyone by first name and I do not care what anyone thinks about me because they are all my friends. I have freedom to be myself at all times. Hopefully I can carry that over into my college life.
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What did you think your final year of high school would be like and how did it compare to the reality?
Bianca Hernandez: I was looking forward to reaching goals academically and athletically. I was looking forward to my mountain bike races and to make podium, have a chance to qualify for states again. I was also looking forward to track & field and experiencing my last seasons. I was also looking forward to attending all the senior events with my friends. I never thought I would end up spending so much time at home.
What is your advice for incoming freshman?
Try a new sport! Enjoy the entire journey as my mother says.
What teacher had the most influence on you and why?
I have two! Mr. Angood and Ms. Williams because they showed that they cared about me the most.
What’s the best way to get over a bad day?
Go surfing, running, mountain bike riding, or eating sushi!
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What did you think your final year of high school would be like and how did it compare to the reality?
Maya Vargas: I had imagined my last year of high school being laid back and easygoing, but this was not the case. Senior year was anything but smooth. This year I decided to take all the AP classes my school had to offer, along with being a member on ASB and training in dance every day. I not only had a tough schedule, but my senior year also included some tough transitions. We began the school year off-campus, at a church, we had never been to. After two months at Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church, we transitioned back to campus in new buildings. Next thing we knew we had to transition to online classes due to the coronavirus. This year was anything but normal, but I do have to say I still thoroughly enjoyed my journey as a senior.
What is your advice for incoming freshman?
I advise future freshmen to become involved in their school. By joining clubs or sports you have a better opportunity to make friends. This will create a smoother transition into high school.
What teacher had the most influence on you and why?
My history teacher, Mrs. Torpey has had the most impact on me during my time at Victory. She is an educated and caring teacher who has made efforts to connect with her students and teach them to the best of her ability. She has taught me so much through her classes and her advice.
How have you changed in the last four years?
I have grown into a hardworking woman over the last four years. High school has taught me to push through the hard times and aim for success. I have gathered life lessons throughout my high school experience that I plan on using in the future.
What about high school will you miss most?
I am going to miss my friends the most. Many of the seniors are traveling around the country to attend different universities. I will miss the times we had together, especially because we never had a proper goodbye.
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What did you think your final year of high school would be like and how did it compare to the reality?
Rachel Sullivan: I thought it was going to be everything I had anticipated it to be for the last four years, only to be completely disappointed. I know in the end, we’ll all come out stronger than before, but until then, we are all just trying to manage our way through this situation.
What teacher had the most influence on you and why?
Ms. Greenway because she has always advocated for me to pursue my passions and has been there for me since day one of my freshman year. I know I can always count on her!
What is your advice for incoming freshman?
Take advantage of every opportunity. You’ll never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
What’s the best way to get over a bad day?
I put on a good movie and chill out. I also spend time with my dogs!
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What did you think your final year of high school would be like and how did it compare to the reality?
Raul Guzman Jr.: I thought that my last year of high school would be a lot of fun and rewarding, and for the most part it was. I think I was disappointed with a lot of the cancellations of many popular senior events like Prom or Grad Night.
What did you dread that ultimately wasn’t that bad?
At first, I was really sad that I wasn’t going to see my friends and family a whole lot, but that wasn’t really a problem since we can call/text each other. So I can talk to them whenever I want which I’m really lucky to do so.
How have you changed in the last four years?
I think that I’ve started to become more serious about my education. When I started high school, I didn’t necessarily understand know how important these four years would be to setting up my future. Now, I really give my classes all my best effort so that I can be successful now and in the future.
What is your advice for incoming freshmen?
My advice to freshmen would be to always be ready for the unexpected. Life is always going to throw you curve balls so when you’re ready for them, you can adapt and be prepared for them.
What’s your favorite song and why?
My favorite song right now (it changes from day to day) would probably be “I Got a Name” by Jim Croce because it reminds me to enjoy life and every blessing it has to give.
