Issue of June 10, 2004
Special Senior Farewell Edition
Vol. 87, No. 13
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High School Memories
I hate High School
Lessons learned in High School
Life as We know it
Memories of a One Year Wonder
Sara's Final Say
The future takes on new meaning
What I'll miss
High School Memories
by Sandie Brown
Senior Farewell Edition--June 10, 2004High school is coming to a very quick end and all we seniors will have left with us when it's over will be all of the memories. The memories of love and friendships are those, which with stick with us the most. Memories of making friends, losing friends, or just all the memories of doing fun and exciting things with our good friends that have always been there. To those students who are athletes, we all know that nothing could ever replace the memories of high school sports. The games, the extra long practices because you lost a game or because you want to work extra hard to win the next big game, but it doesn't even bother you because you've come so close with all your team mates that you feel you are just hanging out with all your friends. Most of my high school memories that I will have are good. High school is something that I know once I graduate I will say it was the best time of my life. My friends have given me many great high school times that will leave me with some great high school memories, but they are not something that I have to leave behind which I am very grateful for. The friends I am leaving behind I am very sad about and I don't want to leave them because I worry I wont see them much after high school, and that makes me sad. The girls I hang out with everyday I know will never leave my life. They are all the very best of friends. We all have a friendship that will never end, so the memories from high school will be great to think back to, but we still have time to make more and remember more. Playing soccer has been a big part of my high school life, which will leave me with the majority of my high school memories. Meeting all of the cool underclassmen that I met and becoming friends with them on and off the field, and having a coach these past two years that has taught me a lot of on the field and off the field lessons in life is most of my best memories come from. To Korrina, Monkey, Baby, the Briones twins, Billie, Donna, Kendahl, and all of my other girls on the team, you guys have given me some of my greatest memories, I will come to watch every game I can and I know you girls will do well. Thank you for all the great memories. And of course Coach Mendoza, thanks for everything, you definitely helped to make my senior year great just for being the coach you are.
High school is a big part of everyone's life. Some people have memories that stick out in one category more than others while others feel that they hate high school and they can't wait until it's over. Trust me when it's over everyone will realize that it wasn't that bad and begin to miss it and look back to all the memories. Some memories may be good and some may be bad, but the ones that are bad usually result in something good. You learn and grow from failures and mistakes. That is what high school is all about, growing up, defining who you are, and making mistakes so that you can make yourself better and stronger by learning from them."All my high school memories will be memories of me and all of the bros, partying and chillin…..THAT'S DUBB" -Justin Elm
I HATE HIGH SCHOOL
By Victor Valdez
Senior Farewell Edition--June 10, 2004Our time here at Colton High School is almost over and I can't help but look back on all the memories of my time at this high school. When I look at and recall the time past I can remember all the good times I had here at this fine establishment. But with good comes bad, and in my case there is more bad then good. There are a lot of things I won't miss about high school and these are just a taste.
I won't miss the TNT program that is just a waste of time and makes you ten times later to class. I won't miss the putrid stench that comes from the bathroom. I won't miss having to ask to go to the putrid bathroom. I won't miss doing "busy" work and not actually learning anything while doing it. I won't miss the people who walk up to each other and say stuff and act like they are going to fight and nothing happens. I won't miss people who do fight, but over stupid things such as "you looked at me" and "that's my girl/boy friend." I won't miss doing essays and not reading the literature because it was boring. I won't miss Shakespeare. I won't miss the lack of variety of food that I ate for six years of my life. I won't miss not being able to wear my CD player whenever I want because I have to worry about someone taking it away and then when I go to get it back it's not there anymore.
I won't miss being dictated to by teachers, because we know high school is not a democracy. I won't miss losing all my constitutional rights like freedom of speech when I walk onto this campus. I won't miss not being able to stand up for what I believe in and having to worry that I might get disciplined for it, because we know, as students, we can change nothing here at Colton High without our parents. We are just a bunch of stupid incompetent kids who have no idea what is good for us. I won't miss people talking behind your back and then putting on a mask and talking to you like you are their best friend. I won't miss friends who backstab you in the end or several times, even if you have known them for a good part of your life, say since elementary. I won't miss friends who stop talking to you because they have found "better" friends. High School is not about friends but you have to take something else from here besides a basic education. The friends that I did take away from this escapade I thank you and hope to be friends for years to come.
High School was not a very fun voyage in my life. There was more bad than good in my eyes and I will never look back and say, "I wish I were in high school." Truth be told, I hated high school. I hear from most people who had the same attitude towards high school as I do now that college is so much better. I really hope so. In the words of an episode of "Daria" I say, "Is it College Yet?"
Lessons learned in High School
by Liliana Aguilar
Senior Farewell Edition--June 10, 2004High school is almost over and even though I come to school it doesn't mean that my mind is on school. Now I have other things to worry about. We're going out to the "real world" and I still don't have a job, needless to say any money to pay for college. But anyways that's a different story.
When you come to school not only do you learn in the classroom but also outside. Some of the most important lessons learned don't come from the teachers but from your own experiences. I'm not saying that academics aren't important, because they are but sometimes a teacher can only do so much in the classroom. I've heard many times that you don't get to choose your family but you can choose your friends. I've learned that sometimes those choices can be very wrong. Some people pretend to be your friend but when it really comes down to it they leave you when you need them the most. In my experience I met a lot of people in freshmen year, but it wasn't until my junior year that I learned who was a "true" friend. The sad thing was I came to the realization that the phrase "Friendship is Everlasting," did not apply to me. It might apply to others but not to me there are few people that I consider to be a friend.
All right so High School isn't exactly what Hollywood portrays it to be, but at least they're getting something right with peer pressure. People will ask you to do stupid things. Some people give in to peer pressure even though most won't admit it. But if deep down you're faced with a decision if you think it's slightly stupid or are even hesitant to do it, DON'T. You should learn to trust your own decisions and not do what others want you to do.
One thing that I did learn very quickly was if there are rumors going around about a person that you don't particularly get along with the best thing for you to do is keep your mouth shut. If you give just one comment then it will eventually come back to you and you will look like the bad person in the situation, and people don't usually remember the good things about you. I'm not saying that everyone is a bad person, but it's in out nature to remember the bad things about people without really knowing them. Which is another thing I learned, when you judge people right away from what they appear to be or what you've heard about them you're not being fair to yourself or to them.
Maybe one day I will look back and see that school wasn't that horrible of an experience and I may miss people. But don't expect it to happen anytime soon. I've learned a lot and school has helped me grow up as well as prepared me academically for college. Let's just hope college is A LOT better.
Life as we know it
by Ashley Ellison
Senior Farewell Edition--June 10, 2004In the past four years of my life I have experienced love and hate, anger and happiness, tragedy and death, suffering and revenge, satisfaction and shame, fear and confidence, envy and jealousy, humiliation and disgrace. Some of these have haunted me through high school, but in the end all my experiences have made me a better person. I want to thank everyone who has made an impact in my life. First there are all my friends, especially the girls, for always being there for me through thick and thin, ups and downs, when no one else was and you guys are the ones who I shared all my high school memories with. You are the people who made these past four years of my life interesting. You taught me how to be a better person, showed me how to get through life when I never thought it could be possible to do. After my dear friend Erik Thompson passed away, I realized how short life really was and that I should live it up to the fullest and reach my dreams and goals as fast as I can. You were the people whose shoulders I cried on and sat next to during the funeral. His accident made me realize how important everyone of you is to me and how easily I could lose you, and I do not know if I could ever live without you. I hope that your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known.
I also want to thank everyone who has ever doubted me, betrayed me, made me cry, discouraged me or wrote crude and obscene things about me in the bathroom stalls or on the senior benches. You are the ones who encouraged me to be better than what I thought could be possible. Remember that I am the one who is graduating with honors, going to a highly competitive University, achieving my dreams and going the distance. You know what they always say, "There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: Those who are afraid to try themselves, and those who are afraid that you will succeed!"
Then there is my family to thank. My mother always tried to teach me to be independent and to always reach for the stars even when most people thought it was impossible. She encouraged me to live my life from day to day and always said to never live for the past, or the future, only for the present. I am thankful for my father for always telling me to get out of this area and to be my own person. He taught me to be adventurous, always take risks and to not be scared of new things. Because of him I am truly proud of who I am and where I came from. Being a fire captain he has saved many lives. He is a hero to many, but especially to me.
Now that high school is coming to an end, I am glad I spent it here at Colton High School with all of you. Even though I probably never met the majority of you, or had some little fight with you, or you were my best friend, you all contributed something to my life and I thank you for that. The fireworks begin on June 15. Each diploma is a match and each one of us is a fuse. I hope all of you do the best of your ability and never forget the memories we shared at CHS.
Memories of a One Year Wonder
By Eric Marks
Senior Farewell Edition--June 10, 2004Being it my last year of high school I just want to express how it's been from the school I started. Colton High School was the school I had to finish with since I moved out of Rialto's district. I don't really mind too much about being at a different school to graduate. The experiences I've had here differ greatly though. At Rialto, there were problems with fighting and "gangs" but I liked it. Colton was pretty boring on account that I don't have as many friends as I still do at Rialto. I still find it kind of weird to serve French fries for breakfast and lunch. The thing I liked about Colton High School most was that they wanted everyone to get an education. Colton High isn't the best looking school, and has been around longer than my grandparents, but it still tries. Girl's that have a child while at Colton High School have the option to still go to school and get an education. While at Rialto, girls in that same situation were sent to continuation school or had to drop out because they didn't have anyone to watch their child. What I'll miss most about Colton is....next to nothing. But every passing day I still miss Rialto.
Sara's Final Say . . .
By Sara Robbin
Senior Farewell Edition--June 10, 2004High school has been a very interesting experience for me, as it should be for many of us. Of course, everyone has his or her good times, as well as bad, but finally it is over. Ten years from now I can look back and say, "High school sucked," but I can also say that it definitely got me on the way to my path of success. For four years I had to push myself and not let anything stop me to end up where I am today. Yes, there were some pretty tough obstacles that I had to overcome, but I never gave up, nor will I ever! Granted, I did make a lot of mistakes, but I am thankful that I learned from them.
High school is all about growing up and becoming smarter as a person. In four years, you learn to develop common sense, which will help you make various choices/important decisions later on in life. Developing certain skills is also apart of the "growing up" process, but you have to remember that you should not allow yourself to become easily influenced by others because it will affect the rest of your life. People judge you based on the type of person you are and the way that you carry yourself, so try your hardest to be the individual who people will respect and look up to. Don't let yourself fall because you will have a hard time getting back up.
I personally used these past four years to my advantage and I can honestly say that I'm glad I did so because now I have the knowledge and strength to proceed with my goals in life. But don't think that I did this all on my own! I got a lot of help from the people who wanted to see me prevail. First of all, I would like to thank my parents for pushing me and standing behind me the whole way. I would like to thank my brother for picking up the pieces, and constantly continues to do so every time I fall apart. And last but not least, I would like to thank my uncle (who has passed away) for inspiring me and giving me the will to go on. I would also like to thank the rest of my family for giving their support and confidence in me.
In conclusion, I would like to make a lasting statement… "The only way to predict the future is to create it." I'm sure several of you have heard me say this before, but I am going to keep saying it because the only person who has control over your life is YOU! Finally, I encourage you all to stay in school because the more educated you are, the more likely you will succeed. So, to everyone, GOOD BYE and GOOD LUCK!!!
The future takes on new meaning
by Ed Ramirez
Senior Farewell Edition--June 10, 2004Two months ago I thought that following my high school graduation I would do two years in a junior college, just long enough to get a job with the CHP. I couldn't really say that I really looked forward to more school, but I needed to kill time until I turned 21. Then I'd go into the Police Academy with my Associate's Degree, and start my career.
On March 28, 2004 everything changed. In an ATV accident, I became paralyzed from the waist down. After a long period of hospitalization, I am finally home. Coming home has made me feel normal; I am myself again - or am I?
My body has changed, but those changes don't define me. The real changes are mental. I know that I enjoy life now more than ever before. I have to make plans when I want to do things, which builds an excitement that I rarely felt before the accident.
What are my plans for the future? I want to get as much education as I can - rely on the mind! I need to get down to the hard work of walking again - the doctors say that walking is not likely. And finally, I just want to be a normal guy.
The one thing that I want you to know is that this accident brought me closer to God. Did it take me the accident to get there? I think so. But, you need to know that I am glad that I'm there!
What I'll miss about high school
by Samantha Coulter
Senior Farewell Edition--June 10, 2004I remember the first day of freshman year I couldn't wait for high school to be over. I just wanted to hurry up and finish school and graduate. But now that four years have past and the time has come I don't want to graduate. I want to stay in high school forever, together with my friends so I can see them everyday. I had a great high school experience so I think that's why I don't want to leave. I know I will still talk to my good friends but there are still friends I see at school and hang out a parties; that I'm going to miss.
I'm going to miss a lot of things about high school; I'm going to miss all the high school activities such as football games, dances and all the other spirited activities. I'm also going to miss going to my favorite class of the day (Mr. Rainey's) and talking with my friends about all the stupid stuff that we did the weekend before or what were going to do this weekend. I'm also going to miss my and my friends' adventures after school or the jokes we played on each other or other people and how we laughed so hard about it. I'm going to miss acting silly and stupid things that I won't be able to do now that I'm going to into the real world. I'm going to miss being a kid which will all end once they call my name at graduation. I'm also going to kind of miss all the stupid high school drama and high school gossip which I hate now but I'm sure I'll miss sometime.
I think what I'm going to miss most about high school is all the things that me and my friends do everyday and every weekend. I know that we will still do all those things but it won't be the same because we won't be in high school. High school went by so fast and I thought it was going to go by so slow but it didn't. I don't regret anything I did but if it was a mistake then I learned from it. High school was a great experience and I'm going to miss it very much. I love you girls and thank you for making my high school years memorable.