“World's Greatest High School” is the motto that has stuck with Ripon High through the years, and honestly it's true. Granted this year hasn’t gone according to plan RHS has made the absolute most out of what they can. For me, Covid-19 struck down at a time when things are supposed to be at the peak, but I’m making the most out of what I can. This is supposed to be my senior year, but it's got a little damper, but that hasn’t stopped me from doing what I absolutely love to do. I’m still working out and getting ready for football, wrestling, and track just not in the conventional way. I’m still doing all of my school work and striving to be the best athlete and student that I can possibly be. Covid can be looked at through such negative light because it has such a harsh derivative but it also taught me to look at the little things in life and appreciate what I have. This was not my mindset when this whole pandemic started but as I went through different training programs such as core camp or the motivational speaker Scott Backovich I learned that things aren’t going to look the same for a while but we have to normalize this new normal and push through with our lives. Personally, for this year and program, I want to make the most out of what I can because you don’t get a second chance at High School and for this program I want to take the most knowledge out of professionalism and different leadership qualities ( facilitative, budgets, speaking, etc) as I can because this is the final ride that I get to take.
Pg2. Favorite Quotes
“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take” -Wayne Gretzky
This quote just reminds me that I can’t be afraid that something isn’t going to work, because if you never try it will never work. This quote has pushed me through some different times in my life because it reminds me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things to get the experience.
“Success it not in what you have, but who you are” -Bo Bennett
This quote reminds me to be a genuinely good person because even when you don’t have much or youre not invested in certain things doesn’t mean that defines you, what defines you is who you are as a person and what you do. This quote keeps me grounded and humble.
“We all take losses and it’s about getting back up and coming back” -Mike Epps
This quote is very similar to wayne Gretzky in a sense that when you shoot your shot and don't make it try again and see if there's a different result because you are your own gauge of what success really is.
Pg.3
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk” -Mark Zuckerberg
This quote really speaks to me as a leader because nothing ever comes easy and without risk/consequences. The biggest thing that you can do is take the leap of faith into the unknown because without any risk there isn’t any reward. Take everything in as it goes by because you can always be learning while in the moment and that comes with taking a risk because if you never go for something new then you'll never learn anything new.
Pg.4 Goals
Goals for Leadership:
Leave a legacy that inspires those who are leaving as well as those who get to keep going in High school
Gain Knowledge within a career that I have never really thought about going into before junior year
Goals Life (short term);
A short term goal would be to go to college and get a degree in what ever major I decide to pursue
Find a job the correlates with a major that I took in college
Goals Life (long term):
Find the love of my life and marry them
Give my family an even bigger family when I start my own
Pg.5
Leadership Goal reflection:
One of my goals for this year within leadership was to leave a legacy on everyone within the program. I believe that this was accomplished because I got to know the freshman really well because I got to sit next to them for most of the year and learn more about them. That being said I listened to what was going on with them and tried to help any way that I could. I hope that they took something or anything that I said.
Another goal that I had before I graduated was to learn more about a career that I had never even thought about going into. This was greatly accomplished because I got to do a mock interview with an esteemed sports medicine doctor who told me a lot about his experience within the field. I got a vast amount of knowledge about the career that newly interest me.
Short term lifetime goal reflection:
One short term goal that I had for myself was to go to college and get a degree in an unspecified field. This goal has been partially accomplished because I recently made a decision on where I’m going to college and what major I will go into.
Another short term goal was to become employed after college in the said field of study that I pursue. This hasn't exactly been accomplished because I haven’t graduated college yet nor gotten my degree. Which means that I can't exactly become employed for the job that I plan after college.
Reflection of long term goals:
One goal that I had was to find the love of my life and marry them, but the funny thing is I'm still in highschool and don't exactly want to be engaged going into college. So we are going to save this goal for a later time.
Another goal that I had was to have kids and give my parents grandchildren, but as I said before I’m still in High School and don’t want a child as I graduate.
Pg.6 Magazine Cover
Pg.7 Magazine Article
In an interview with Jacob Curless he expressed what he wants to do after high school as well as what keeps him going and busy throughout the school year. Jacob is a three sport athlete gaining varsity letters in football, wrestling, and Track and Field as well as a section and sate Champion for football. He does it all. When Jacob isn’t on the gridiron or in the wrestling room he is hitting the book with being an honors and Ap Student to hopefully go to college and either major in nursing or sports medicine. Jacob Also participates in his schools Associated Student Body Class (ASB) to give back to the school and make the most out his his four years,and when asked how he describes the class he said “the teacher is kind of crazy but we learn so much about the real world that it makes everything worth it”.Jacob does it all both in the classroom and on the field. Aside from School Jacob enjoys spending his very limited extra time fishing and hanging out with friends and family. Jacob says “ the best part is when my family and friends want to go fishing so I get the best of both worlds.
Pg. 8 Fall Fest Gallery Spread
Pg. 9 Role Model
My role model is Aaron Wood. Aaron is the type of guy who would do anything to help you, but will tell you if you’re just being dumb. Aaron is the kind of guy every parent loves and wants their kids to hang out with. Aaron is one of the best people in the community,he’s morman, an eagle Scout, starting quarterback the list goes on, but most importantly he’s my best friend.. Aaron has had a huge impact on my life in the few short years that I’ve known him, Aaron always pushes me to be the absolute best person I possibly can be. Aaron has made me laugh and gotten me through some pretty sticky situations, but he’s always been right by my side. I absolutely love him with my whole heart, and I couldn’t imagine myself without him.
Pg. 10 Inner Animal
The best animal that describes me is probably the wolf because I can travel alone but it’s always better in a pack. For me I like to take action even though I’m shy, at least when you first meet me. Wolves tend to jump into action if it;s something that they need or it's something they’re trying to protect. This is the same case, I will do absolutely anything for those who mean something to me. I will also step out of my comfort zone to try different things even if that means things won't be the same, kind of like a wolf when they are sent out of the pack they have to rebuild themselves. With wolves they get torn down but they have to get better from what has happened.
Pg. 11 Fall Semester Final
Leadership final Jacob Curless
Personally I chose to do the ornament that FFA does, but there was a slight problem with FFA running out of tags, so I decided to go help Jaydin and her Grandmothers foundation who asks for a target gift card in order to get necessary things for homeless shelters. So I went and got a $25 giftcard to target and dropped it off. This just felt right because I knew that I would be helping those who are much less fortunate than me and my family for the holiday season.
For a normal year I would get an FFA ornament from the front of the school, but that was a bit different this year because we aren’t at school so I went to a different location that I knew a tree was at. As I got to the tree there weren't any ornaments and that had been a problem that was being talked about during the class period. Before the weekend though Jaydin told Morty about her Grandma’s organization and we found another way to help, so I went down to the local store and got a target card and the rest is history.
The emotional impact on me was immaculate because I knew that I was able to make someone's holiday season a little more fortunate then it could’ve been. This just made me feel as though I made a difference and impact.
I feel as though this assignment was valuable because it puts a lot into perspective for some because they realize how well off they really are. This assignment makes us as students take into account just how we have and ust how fortunate we are to have what we have.
Pg. 12 The best things about me
I see myself as a goofy, outgoing, spontaneous, athlete. These pictures depict me pretty well because it shows what I love to do such as playing sports( football ) and fishing. Some of these pictures also show what I put first and such as family and friends. I can’t imagine what I would be if I didn’t do all of these different adventures and sports etc. Plus there is a couple of pictures of the places that I like to go like Disneyland.
Pg. 13 What I like best about being in Leadership-even during a pandemic
To me this year has been anything but “normal”. I remember back in march of 2020 when my entire class thought that we were pretty much getting a week of vacations before spring break and that was awesome, Until we found out that we weren’t coming back. Senior year started and it wasn’t anything like I was expecting there was nothing that was like the ℅ 2020. Though some good has come out of my senior year, like getting nominated fo fall fest as well as winning fall fest. But there has also been bad such as getting my senior sports season pushed back over and over again to spending about half the year at home. If leadership has taught me anything its that things don’t go as planned, so you have to improvise adapt and over come as well as look for the silver lining because something can always be learned. For me this year the best thing through leadership was getting getting different perspectives on everything as well as helping get the most out of this year.
Homecoming 2021 Gallery
One of the most favorite things that we did this year during our adapted Homecoming is not doing to much, as an officer it was a lot going on don't get me wrong, then add being on homecoming court it just was a lot. But this year things were a little different, I mena don't get me wrong there was still a lot going but it was less stressful.
What I love to do...
Personally I am a very adventurous and active person but that doesnt mean I can’t stay in and hang out with friends. So my hobbies include Playing sports such as football, wrestling, and track and field these are all sports that I do through the High school but I also like to go swimming and fishing with me friends or family. Now as for staying in I enjoy playing video games with my little brother and hanging out with friends. Most of the time when I’m with friends we will just drive around and get food or go to dutch bros. But friends and sports aren’t everything I also enjoy spending time with my family and watching TV together when our favorite shows come on.
Letter to parents
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you for all that you’ve sacrificed this past year, I know things have been a little different but that didn’t stop you guys from being involved and giving ideas when I didn’t know what to do. You both have sacrificed so much time with me whether that be from going to core camp while we are on vacation or me having to go later to family functions because of zoom/class officer meetings . I know this isn’t the first time that you have sacrificed so much for me to be able to do what I truly want to do especially in the program, this has been my 3rd year in this program but you guys were as enthusiastic for me to get in as if it was my first. I am truly blessed to say that you both have helped so much and have been so involved with me and ASB thank you. But don’t think it stops here because Nate is going into the program as I leave so be ready for the same things. Thank you again I love both of you to the moon and back.
Love, Jacob
The Letter
Dear Future Senior Administrative Assistant
I’m not going to lie about my year and your year will probably be very different because a majority of my year was spent online though that didn’t stop ABS from doing events. Now our events were different due to circumstances but I have no doubt that you will do just fine. Our events consisted of homecoming (no float) with a couple of meetings here and there to talk about themes and ideas, Senior game night (basically sober grad but a little different) helped plan and get things in order for specifics that were actually happening at the event, Fall fest with small meetings for themes and truck details as well as door decorations, lastly there is graduation where this is to many meetings and a lot more than you actually think but as long as you have a good relationship with your other officers everything will work out. The biggest and major things within this job is that you have to stay on top of things and be organized. You have to keep detailed notes about everything that is talked about in the meeting because those notes will come in very handy when you need to remember what was talked about. Also be sure to send the notes to everyone who is involved in the meeting so that people can add information that was missed. Another thing that you have to have is a rough idea/estimate about how much money you have in your account. Also be sure to get minutes for every Purchase Order because it makes everything so much easier and makes things run alot smoother. Lastly, be sure to turn in notices and forms early so that things can get processed and errors can be accounted for in the case there is any.
To the person who takes this job next year be sure to take everything in because before you know it you’re going to be giving farewells to the whole class. This is the end of the you are the SENIOR administrative assistant take things seriously but also leave a little room for you to have fun and take it in. This job is so fun just enjoy it and make memories.
Does and Don'ts
Does
Do get all Purchase orders turned in early, so that you can get supplies earlier and get to work faster
Do wear a mask because until this pandemic is over you’re going to have to wear one
Do have fun and make relationships with your peers because thats where you have fun
Do Get all paper work done early Trust me!
Do your journal and keep up with it
Do have a good attitude and work ethic
Don’ts
Don’t procrastinate it is not the way to go
Don’t forget to turn in your journl/do your journal it will affect your grade
Don’t miss meetings because if you do you will be lost in the future
Don’t Give up
The Professional
This year we worked as best as possible to professionally develop ourselves through this program. This year we did mock interviews, how to write a resume, how to write a cover letter, and how to professionally thank others. The elements that had the biggest impact on me were the mock interviews and how to write a professional thank you letter. The mock interview always has an impact on me because I get different insight into different career paths that I’m interested in as well as one on one experience with a professional where I can ask questions and where I get asked questions. The interview process makes me think but especially this year my mock interviewer told me that I don't have to jump into the questions right away, I can take time and think/reflect before I answer. This interview process allows me to grow as a professional and get a jump start on others my age. Now as for the professional thank you it just wraps everything up nicely. Generally we write thank you cards/letters but this year we wrote an email. Writing an email professionally is just nice and wraps everything up with a nice little bow.
Change
The leadership program/ASB program is amazing and it is highly sought after though there are some things that I would like to change. One thing that I would like to change is having all students in the class. It was kind of rough not having our president in the class, it turned into more work for class officers. Having all students in the class would allow so much more to be done during the class period. Now don’t get me wrong, the class officers got everything done that needed to get done. Also people in those different classes came to class but on a very rare occasion. Something else that I would like to see changed is when conversions/discussions start going in circles for someone (usually the person leading the meeting) to step in and say this isn't getting anywhere, let's table it for now and come back at a later date/ come back to it later. This would just allow the meetings to run a little smoother and take less time away. Now these are minor changes though they could help the flow of the class but changes are going to be inevitable no matter what, the world is going to change it's just a matter of if you're going to change with it. On a side note we as senior officers joke about people being in different classes and how they are “impeached” now it's a joke and there is no hard feeling.
The Ideal leader
The ideal leader who is not afraid of a challenge, someone who sticks/speaks up for what they believe in. To me an Ideal leader is someone who is a genuine person, loyal, outgoing, ambitious, fun, etc, etc. The lists can go on and on but you can have all of these qualities but do absolutely nothing so the biggest things that an Ideal leader has is work ethic and hardwork. As long as a leader has work ethic and is working hard they can change the world. These things are starting to fade away which is kind of sad but those who have it stand out. An Ideal leader doesn't have to be a standout athlete or scholar; they just have to be human and willing to learn. All of these qualities are what I would like to see in a leader. There are a lot of qualities there but if they have some of them they will go far in the end.