Student Voices
Amanda Morris
When we’re young, adults constantly tell us that we will change as we get older, but no one ever really says how much. One of my biggest fears growing up was high school because I knew I had to make a lot of decisions that would impact my life forever. I often pondered upon the what-ifs, such as, “What if I become someone that I don’t want to be?” “What if I’m stuck?” And the one that hovered over my head most: “What if I do something that doesn’t make me happy?”
This question is the reason for who I am today. When I started as a freshman I decided to drop band class because I noticed that it brought more stress into my life than joy. For the years following I have dedicated my creative energy toward writing and painting, two things that I love. My fear of change in the future has been eased from the foundation I’ve created in the four years I’ve spent in high school. Soon I will be attending Wright State University to major in literature. It’s my goal to become a teacher and inspire students to pursue what makes them happy.
Jeff Cranford
As I come to my last day of senior year I realize that high school, for me, was a roller coaster with lots of ups and downs, a wild ride from beginning to end. I was never a great student. Over my four years I’ve maybe had two good years where I’ve turned everything in on time, but that never really mattered to me, mostly because I was happy with myself, regardless. Throughout high school some things I have learned are to always ask for help when you need it and never second guess yourself. High school can pressure kids to think more of what other people think of them than what they truly think of themselves. This idea that you need to be involved, that you need to be popular, or that you need to be up-to-date with the latest trends is false. True success means not trying to impress anyone but yourself. Self worth is the most important thing, not grades, not your GPA, not your test scores. How you think of yourself is what will define who you are and how far you can go. Think positive and always be yourself.
Taylor Selman
Throughout high school I went through the typical student experiences such as playing sports and going to Friday night football games and a few not-so-typical experiences such as commanding the sword arch for homecoming court or marching a company during a parade. I was fortunate enough to be involved with Northmont’s NJROTC Unit, and this was by far the most important activity in my high school career. I served as the unit’s Commanding Officer of 127 cadets my senior year. We competed in places from Chicago to Columbus and even had the opportunity to join the top 1 percent of units and compete at Navy Nationals, a drill, academic, and athletic competition held at Pensacola Air Station.
Unlike my experiences with the “typical” sports teams, our hard work often went unrecognized. The unit instills leadership values in its cadets and a feeling of pride for our work. I have benefited from the plethora of experiences and have gained the confidence to pursue a career in the United States Navy. I will attend Miami University on a full NROTC scholarship to study microbiology. Upon completion of college, I will commission as an Ensign in the USN where I plan to pursue a long term career. This not-so-typical high school experience has provided a strong foundation for a successful life.