Section 1: The initial Letter
Junior year of high school has come by so much faster than I expected. It seems like just yesterday I was a freshman in the program trying to figure out the ins and outs of leadership, and now here I am, an upperclassman who’s supposed to have things figured out. When I was a freshman it seemed like all the older kids were so put together and right now I definitely don’t feel that way. Going into this year I am expecting it to be much more challenging and busy than sophomore year. Sophomore year was already such a big step up from the previous year and now this year will be a step up from last year. I have a lot more responsibilities within leadership. Because April has graduated I am no longer a trainee, instead I am one of the people in charge of the event which is crazy. Also this year I am a class officer which means I have more responsibility in planning things like homecoming and prom. However, leadership is not the only place where I have more responsibilities, I have more in life too through dance and having a part time job. This year I really want to highlight one aspect of my position and that’s to make sure everyone within my junior class is included in various activities. I know this is going to be so much more difficult than last year just because we have almost double the amount of people, but I still want to make it work. No Junior should feel like they don’t have a role in the program. Another expectation I have for this year is that it’s going to be memorable. I want to be able to look back on this year and think of all the crazy things I have been through. I definitely am expecting decorating to be more chaotic but also really fun. Homecoming just kind of kicks everything off and I love being able to be involved in it as much as I can. To me, this program means so much. Without leadership, I don’t know if I would really be enjoying high school right now. 8th grade year I took a shot and applied for leadership. When I first applied I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Leadership is nothing like student council at the elementary schools and that’s definitely not a bad thing. In my past two years of leadership, I have grown so much closer to the people in the program and I have met people that I might not have encountered otherwise. This year there are a lot of new editions to the program so I’m really hoping that I get to know them better as well. At times leadership can be stressful, but at other times it’s also what gets me through the day at school. If my future self is reading this when I am stressed about it, I want this to be a reminder of all the good times. For example, we were all exhausted from decorating the float until 12 o’clock and then Nate’s mom showed up with a taco bell party box and we all munched away. I remember that night and how much we stressed but also how much we laughed along the way. I only have one more homecoming to plan after this year and I want to savor every single moment in leadership. We don’t get a redo without high school year, we only live through these 4 years once and now that we’re half way through I want to make this precious time count.
Section 2: Quotes
“I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity, is daring to dare.” - Maya Angelou.
This quote is one that I came across this year and I chose for it to be one of my three quotes, because it is one that helps me grow as a person. I am very much the type of person who likes to stay with the same old things and one with the mindset of ,if something works why change it. This quote just highlights the fact that you can only get so far doing things you have done before. For example, going into freshman year, I didn’t have this exact quote but I pushed myself to try new things and by doing so I found my people. The people that have become my new norm. I wasn’t daring enough to try out new things that scared me, I wouldn’t have been able to expand my comfort zone to what it is right now. I know that if I’m not willing to try new things, my drive and work ethic will only take me so far.
Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it. -Anais Nin
When reading this quote, I immediately reflected upon the past couple years I have had. I have lost a lot of loved ones in the past couple of years and sometimes I still think back to how it would have been if I had done something different in one moment of time. Ultimately, I can keep wondering for days what could have been, but these losses also made me realize that I have so many important people in my life now that I would never be able to live without. And sometimes I take them for granted, it may not be on purpose, but it still happens. Still, I have a deeper understanding of how much a healthy relationship really impacts my life, whether that be a friendship or even a family relationship. I hope the people around me know that I value them and that there won’t be a day that goes by where I don’t fear losing them.
“Never believe anyone who says you don't deserve what you want” ~ Taylor Swift
Throughout our life, there are going to be many people who hate and tell us that we are not worthy. Already in life, even though I am not out of high school yet, people want to give their opinions and make me feel less than just so they can feel better about themselves. That’s why it is so important to surround yourself with a good group of people. Throughout life, I know that I am going to encounter many more people who don’t believe in me or that think I am less than, but if I have the support of those I love, the opinions of others will be drowned out. It’s so important that these words are coming from Taylor Swift as well because she has dealt with the critics first hand through the music industry, yet she persevered and built herself an empire, so why can’t we?
This quote is one that I came across this year and I chose for it to be one of my three quotes, because it is one that helps me grow as a person. I am very much the type of person who likes to stay with the same old things and one with the mindset of ,if something works why change it. This quote just highlights the fact that you can only get so far doing things you have done before. For example, going into freshman year, I didn’t have this exact quote but I pushed myself to try new things and by doing so I found my people. The people that have become my new norm. I wasn’t daring enough to try out new things that scared me, I wouldn’t have been able to expand my comfort zone to what it is right now. I know that if I’m not willing to try new things, my drive and work ethic will only take me so far.
Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it. -Anais Nin
When reading this quote, I immediately reflected upon the past couple years I have had. I have lost a lot of loved ones in the past couple of years and sometimes I still think back to how it would have been if I had done something different in one moment of time. Ultimately, I can keep wondering for days what could have been, but these losses also made me realize that I have so many important people in my life now that I would never be able to live without. And sometimes I take them for granted, it may not be on purpose, but it still happens. Still, I have a deeper understanding of how much a healthy relationship really impacts my life, whether that be a friendship or even a family relationship. I hope the people around me know that I value them and that there won’t be a day that goes by where I don’t fear losing them.
“Never believe anyone who says you don't deserve what you want” ~ Taylor Swift
Throughout our life, there are going to be many people who hate and tell us that we are not worthy. Already in life, even though I am not out of high school yet, people want to give their opinions and make me feel less than just so they can feel better about themselves. That’s why it is so important to surround yourself with a good group of people. Throughout life, I know that I am going to encounter many more people who don’t believe in me or that think I am less than, but if I have the support of those I love, the opinions of others will be drowned out. It’s so important that these words are coming from Taylor Swift as well because she has dealt with the critics first hand through the music industry, yet she persevered and built herself an empire, so why can’t we?
Section 3:Quote part 2
"In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety." ~Abraham Maslow
This year has represented a lot of new experiences and opportunities for growth as a leader for me. Coming into this year as an officer I knew I had a lot to figure out and that I did. Starting the year I promised myself not to step away from something because it was unfamiliar, and that is exactly what I did. Running the Kyoto exchange event was something I had never done before and no one else in the program had done it before either. However, that did not stop me from wanting to be a part of it and take on the challenge of running the event. I used the skills I already had and applied them to this event. I'm so glad I didn't back down from that challenge because I had so much fun and that has been my favorite event all year. This quote is beneficial to all members of leadership, but specifically new members, because it emphasizes the importance of learning and growth. If we are scared of failing and disappointing people all the time then we will never learn and grow. It is important for future students to know that because great leaders weren't built overnight. Finally, I think that it was valuable to reflect on this question because it has shown me how far I have come this year. This one line is so powerful to me because it has represents all the effort I have put in this year to ensure I was successful.
This year has represented a lot of new experiences and opportunities for growth as a leader for me. Coming into this year as an officer I knew I had a lot to figure out and that I did. Starting the year I promised myself not to step away from something because it was unfamiliar, and that is exactly what I did. Running the Kyoto exchange event was something I had never done before and no one else in the program had done it before either. However, that did not stop me from wanting to be a part of it and take on the challenge of running the event. I used the skills I already had and applied them to this event. I'm so glad I didn't back down from that challenge because I had so much fun and that has been my favorite event all year. This quote is beneficial to all members of leadership, but specifically new members, because it emphasizes the importance of learning and growth. If we are scared of failing and disappointing people all the time then we will never learn and grow. It is important for future students to know that because great leaders weren't built overnight. Finally, I think that it was valuable to reflect on this question because it has shown me how far I have come this year. This one line is so powerful to me because it has represents all the effort I have put in this year to ensure I was successful.
Section 4: Goals
Leadership Goals
~Increase communication
This year the Junior Class has almost doubled in size from what it was last year so it’s so important that the communication is there. Some people have already raised their concern about communication so I have been brainstorming some ways that I can help them feel like they are in the loop. August has been kind of a whirlwind, and I myself was often overwhelmed at times, but this month I really want to make sure I communicate a lot more than last month. I have been brainstorming some ideas in my head about how I can help with this and I think that the biggest thing I can do right now is organize the details for everything, that way I can let the junior class commissioners know everything in detail. I also want to have multiple class meetings throughout the year and get their opinions on the various events that we put on as a Junior class because the officers are not the only ones with a say.
~Keep up to date with all procedure forms
I feel like it is super easy to fall behind with procedure forms, especially when it comes to doing multiple at one time. So far I have been good with constantly updating each procedure form but I know that it’s going to get harder in the future because I am going to be so much busier. If I keep up to date with procedure forms, I also feel like it will be so much easier to stay on top of everything that needs to be done and that way and can kill too birds with one stone. This year as Junior Class Admin, it’s super important that I stay super organized so it takes the stress off the other class officers and myself in the end.
Short Term Goals
~Experience Highschool to the fullest
I can’t believe that I am already a Junior, because it honestly still feels like I am a freshman. And I know a lot of people say that, but it is so incredibly true. I have less than two years left in high school and I want to make the most of them. I still look back at freshman year and wish that I would have gone to more sporting events, so this year I have been trying my best to go to all of the ones I can. It’s actually crazy to think that I am almost done because a couple years ago when I first moved here, I wanted to get out of Ripon as fast as I could and now leaving is going to be really bittersweet. I hope that I can really live through these experiences and make the last two years of high school fun.
~Do well in my AP classes
Junior year of highschool means taking multiple AP classes that are difficult. Freshmen and Sophomore year I took one AP and that was already a lot to handle. This year I opted to take 3 APs and they are not easy ones either. The one that I am most scared of is AP Biology just because it is one of the toughest APs on campus. So far I have been staying on top of all my assignments in each class but what I want to put more emphasis on is studying more for each class. I usually study a day or two before a test but I know that’s not going to cut it this year, especially for AP Biology. I hope that in the future I give myself more time to prepare and feel confident in my subjects.
Long Term Goals
~Be happy in what I choose pursue
For me specifically, I have a fear of disappointing those around me and in the future I feel like that is going to affect my career choice. There is constant pressure around me to fit into a certain category and pursue a certain job, but in the future I want to make sure that my opinions have the final say in my career choice. Throughout these past couple of years, there have been so many people who think they can tell me what career I should pursue, but going into the future I want to block out everyone’s opinions and do what I love. This will help me be happier in life and allow me to give more happiness to other people.
~Find meaningful relationships
After finishing highschool, I won’t be around the same people 24/7 anymore, I may not even be with my twin sister. That can be scary, but what I want to focus on is finding and building new relationships. Throughout the hard times in highschool it has been the relationships I built that have helped me persevere. Without them, I would have no motivation and be completely lost. The thing I value most in life are my relationships with the people around me so going into the future I want to build new relationships and strengthen the ones that I already have.
~Increase communication
This year the Junior Class has almost doubled in size from what it was last year so it’s so important that the communication is there. Some people have already raised their concern about communication so I have been brainstorming some ways that I can help them feel like they are in the loop. August has been kind of a whirlwind, and I myself was often overwhelmed at times, but this month I really want to make sure I communicate a lot more than last month. I have been brainstorming some ideas in my head about how I can help with this and I think that the biggest thing I can do right now is organize the details for everything, that way I can let the junior class commissioners know everything in detail. I also want to have multiple class meetings throughout the year and get their opinions on the various events that we put on as a Junior class because the officers are not the only ones with a say.
~Keep up to date with all procedure forms
I feel like it is super easy to fall behind with procedure forms, especially when it comes to doing multiple at one time. So far I have been good with constantly updating each procedure form but I know that it’s going to get harder in the future because I am going to be so much busier. If I keep up to date with procedure forms, I also feel like it will be so much easier to stay on top of everything that needs to be done and that way and can kill too birds with one stone. This year as Junior Class Admin, it’s super important that I stay super organized so it takes the stress off the other class officers and myself in the end.
Short Term Goals
~Experience Highschool to the fullest
I can’t believe that I am already a Junior, because it honestly still feels like I am a freshman. And I know a lot of people say that, but it is so incredibly true. I have less than two years left in high school and I want to make the most of them. I still look back at freshman year and wish that I would have gone to more sporting events, so this year I have been trying my best to go to all of the ones I can. It’s actually crazy to think that I am almost done because a couple years ago when I first moved here, I wanted to get out of Ripon as fast as I could and now leaving is going to be really bittersweet. I hope that I can really live through these experiences and make the last two years of high school fun.
~Do well in my AP classes
Junior year of highschool means taking multiple AP classes that are difficult. Freshmen and Sophomore year I took one AP and that was already a lot to handle. This year I opted to take 3 APs and they are not easy ones either. The one that I am most scared of is AP Biology just because it is one of the toughest APs on campus. So far I have been staying on top of all my assignments in each class but what I want to put more emphasis on is studying more for each class. I usually study a day or two before a test but I know that’s not going to cut it this year, especially for AP Biology. I hope that in the future I give myself more time to prepare and feel confident in my subjects.
Long Term Goals
~Be happy in what I choose pursue
For me specifically, I have a fear of disappointing those around me and in the future I feel like that is going to affect my career choice. There is constant pressure around me to fit into a certain category and pursue a certain job, but in the future I want to make sure that my opinions have the final say in my career choice. Throughout these past couple of years, there have been so many people who think they can tell me what career I should pursue, but going into the future I want to block out everyone’s opinions and do what I love. This will help me be happier in life and allow me to give more happiness to other people.
~Find meaningful relationships
After finishing highschool, I won’t be around the same people 24/7 anymore, I may not even be with my twin sister. That can be scary, but what I want to focus on is finding and building new relationships. Throughout the hard times in highschool it has been the relationships I built that have helped me persevere. Without them, I would have no motivation and be completely lost. The thing I value most in life are my relationships with the people around me so going into the future I want to build new relationships and strengthen the ones that I already have.
GSection 5: goals part 2
My first leadership goal was to increase communication within the Junior class members in leadership. I made this goal because I knew that the class was a lot larger than what I was used to and I just wanted to make sure that everyone knew that their help was needed and useful in leadership. Starting off during homecoming, I really emphasized this goal and sent so much information to the commissioners. Every decoration day was one where the whole class was invited and not just an officer thing. This way everyone felt like they were included. I also feel like I have tried to answer any question that has come my way. However, I don’t think I have been communicating as well with the juniors lately. I can get wrapped up in the events that I run separate from them and forget to check in. Before the year ends. I hope to check in with each junior a lot more.
My second leadership goal was to keep up to date with all the procedure forms. This is one goal that I am actually super proud of because I knew coming into this year that I would be doing more procedure forms than I could count and I have done each one thoroughly and on time. Each procedure form was updated as the events went on and this was super helpful because it helped me see what we got done and what still needed to be done. I worked really hard at this goal because it’s easy to forget about the paperwork when in the middle of an event and it was something I had to constantly remind myself to do. I hope to carry this on to next year as I will only be busier.
My first short term goal was to experience highschool to the fullest. I still have one more year, senior year of course, however I have worked towards this goal. This year I have gone out of my way to try and go to different events on campus. Starting the year I went to football games and the back to school dance. Going to those two events is something every highschool student should do but that’s not all I did because I know there are so many other great things put on at Ripon high school. I went to my first choir concert, color run, and wrestling match. These were things that I did not do last year so I am super glad that I got to do them this year. Attending these events have allowed me to experience different things about highschool that I found out I really enjoy.
My second short term goal was to do well in my AP classes. Coming into Junior year I knew the workload would be large and that is why I set this goal. Right now, I’m doing well in the classes however I don’t know how to feel about the exams. I don’t feel as if I have done everything in my power to prepare myself going into ap testing season. I say this every year but I definitely need to study a lot more before the test comes because I feel like I am behind. In the coming weeks I have set apart time to study so hopefully that will make me feel better about taking the ap exams at the end of this school year.
My first long term goal was to be happy in anything I chose to pursue. While I have not found a set career pathway yet, I know that whatever I choose is not going to be chosen because it pleases my parents or anyone else. Too much of my life has been spent trying to make other people happy but that stops now.
My second long term goal was to find meaningful relationships. I have really been working on this goal this year as I have cut off people who no longer serve me. At the beginning of this year there were a couple people who no longer brought me happiness and would only bring my mood down. They were constantly wanting all the attention but not in a good way. Because it was harming me, I decided that it was time to cut them off. That was not easy as it is difficult to go from talking to someone everyday and knowing everything about them to not knowing them at all, but at the end of the day it was a huge pressure lifted off my shoulders.
My second leadership goal was to keep up to date with all the procedure forms. This is one goal that I am actually super proud of because I knew coming into this year that I would be doing more procedure forms than I could count and I have done each one thoroughly and on time. Each procedure form was updated as the events went on and this was super helpful because it helped me see what we got done and what still needed to be done. I worked really hard at this goal because it’s easy to forget about the paperwork when in the middle of an event and it was something I had to constantly remind myself to do. I hope to carry this on to next year as I will only be busier.
My first short term goal was to experience highschool to the fullest. I still have one more year, senior year of course, however I have worked towards this goal. This year I have gone out of my way to try and go to different events on campus. Starting the year I went to football games and the back to school dance. Going to those two events is something every highschool student should do but that’s not all I did because I know there are so many other great things put on at Ripon high school. I went to my first choir concert, color run, and wrestling match. These were things that I did not do last year so I am super glad that I got to do them this year. Attending these events have allowed me to experience different things about highschool that I found out I really enjoy.
My second short term goal was to do well in my AP classes. Coming into Junior year I knew the workload would be large and that is why I set this goal. Right now, I’m doing well in the classes however I don’t know how to feel about the exams. I don’t feel as if I have done everything in my power to prepare myself going into ap testing season. I say this every year but I definitely need to study a lot more before the test comes because I feel like I am behind. In the coming weeks I have set apart time to study so hopefully that will make me feel better about taking the ap exams at the end of this school year.
My first long term goal was to be happy in anything I chose to pursue. While I have not found a set career pathway yet, I know that whatever I choose is not going to be chosen because it pleases my parents or anyone else. Too much of my life has been spent trying to make other people happy but that stops now.
My second long term goal was to find meaningful relationships. I have really been working on this goal this year as I have cut off people who no longer serve me. At the beginning of this year there were a couple people who no longer brought me happiness and would only bring my mood down. They were constantly wanting all the attention but not in a good way. Because it was harming me, I decided that it was time to cut them off. That was not easy as it is difficult to go from talking to someone everyday and knowing everything about them to not knowing them at all, but at the end of the day it was a huge pressure lifted off my shoulders.
Section 6: People Magazine cover
section 7: people magazine article
Sofia Grewal is a Junior at Ripon High School for the 2023-2024 academic year. Sofia is involved with many things in her school. Currently, she is trying to get involved in new things such as skills USA. Sofia was just recently elected to be on the officer board and is optimistic for what the future holds. Another program Sofia is really proud to be a part of is the leadership program. This is her third year in leadership and she hopes to continue through all four years. She is the Junior Class Administrative Assistant. As an officer this year, Sofia’s primary goal is to complete all paperwork efficiently and work with her team to put on events such as homecoming and prom in the very near future. Being an officer means being very busy and Sofia is very thankful that she can learn and grow from this responsibility.
Sofia is also really involved with other things like dance outside of school. Sofia has been dancing for six years and enjoys it very much. Since last year Sofia has competed in her first international competition in Vancouver. Sofia’s team was put together in little less than a month and after 12 hour practices every weekend, she and her team hit the stage. Unfortunately, they did not get the outcome they felt like they could have but this just means that they are going to work even harder in the future. Everything is so time consuming so she has to be smart with how she uses her time. Time management is something Sofia had improved greatly on from last year and she hopes to get even better at managing time as things get more and more busy with everything crazy going on.
In the future, Sofia hopes to become a pediatrician and help kids when they need it. Sofia has always had a passion for helping younger children. She has a brother that is 7 years younger than her, but he is still her best friend. Taking care of him constantly has made Sofia realize that she wants to make an impact on as many kids as she can. She strives everyday in her academics to make sure she is set for her future. Sofia’s mom is a great role model in her life and someone she looks forward to. She came to America through marriage, and worked incredibly hard to become a nurse in America. She has been working in the emergency room for a long time and went back to school to become a nurse practitioner. Sofia hopes to one day work just as hard and become a pediatrician. Whether it be as a pediatrician or not, Sofia hopes to find her passion in the future and be content in what she accomplishes.
Sofia is also really involved with other things like dance outside of school. Sofia has been dancing for six years and enjoys it very much. Since last year Sofia has competed in her first international competition in Vancouver. Sofia’s team was put together in little less than a month and after 12 hour practices every weekend, she and her team hit the stage. Unfortunately, they did not get the outcome they felt like they could have but this just means that they are going to work even harder in the future. Everything is so time consuming so she has to be smart with how she uses her time. Time management is something Sofia had improved greatly on from last year and she hopes to get even better at managing time as things get more and more busy with everything crazy going on.
In the future, Sofia hopes to become a pediatrician and help kids when they need it. Sofia has always had a passion for helping younger children. She has a brother that is 7 years younger than her, but he is still her best friend. Taking care of him constantly has made Sofia realize that she wants to make an impact on as many kids as she can. She strives everyday in her academics to make sure she is set for her future. Sofia’s mom is a great role model in her life and someone she looks forward to. She came to America through marriage, and worked incredibly hard to become a nurse in America. She has been working in the emergency room for a long time and went back to school to become a nurse practitioner. Sofia hopes to one day work just as hard and become a pediatrician. Whether it be as a pediatrician or not, Sofia hopes to find her passion in the future and be content in what she accomplishes.
Section 8: Role Model
Someone I really have admired over the past few years is my Best friend Rylee. There is something about the way that Rylee presents herself that leaves me in awe every single time. I have known her since 7th grade and it is so amazing to see how not only she has grown, but how we have grown together. As best friends we have been through thick and thin together. Whenever I feel panicked or if I feel anxiety creeping in, she is the first person I go to because I know she has my best interest at heart. In a world full of people constantly competing with each other, she is my number one fan and treats my wins like they are her own. Her presence just lights up any room she walks into and her smile makes my day so much better. Rylee is also one that will give anything to help those that she loves and that means so much to me. Whether it’s our facetime calls that go on for hours for absolutely so reason or just the constant reels we send back and forth to each other, we have a bond that I never want to lose. I have been through various friend groups in high school and but through them all Rylee was the one that stuck with me. She has impacted my life because she has shown me through example what a true friend looks like and how I should be treated. She never lets me settle for anything less and I am so thankful she is always there to remind me of my value.
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Section 9: Inner Animal
Finding a different spirit animal each year can prove to be difficult so this year I decided to take multiple tests that would tell me what animal I embody. Throughout all these tests, the unanimous decision was a deer. One thing I have been working on since freshman year is being better about not avoiding conflict at all costs. By nature, conflict is something that I do not like to get involved in but sometimes it is necessary to become a better leader. I think a deer really represents me in that way because even if I’m trying to get better at conflict management, naturally I like to avoid it. Another characteristic about deer is that they usually spend their time in small herds. Even though I like to be in a big group on some occasions, I rather stick to a small close knit group where I feel comfortable. I feel like I can be most myself in a group that is small instead of one that is very large and in that sense, me and a deer are very similar. Finally, the last big characteristic about a deer is that they are very observant of their surroundings. Ever since I was little, I have been really good at reading people’s emotions, even those who try their best to hide those emotions. I have a big heart and care for all people whether I know them well or not, so being observant of my surroundings is a really big part of my life.
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Section 10: BEst things about me
Section 11: The impact of sound and words
I'm gonna pick up the pieces
And build a Lego house When things go wrong we can knock it down My three words have two meanings There's one thing on my mind, it's all for you And it's dark in a cold December But I've got ya to keep me warm And if you're broken I'll mend ya And I keep you sheltered from the storm That's raging on now I'm out of touch, I'm out of love I'll pick you up when you're getting down And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind I'll do it all for you in time And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now, now I'm gonna paint you by numbers and color you in If things go right we can frame it And put you on a wall And it's so hard to say it but I've been here before Now I'll surrender up my heart and swap it for yours I'm out of touch, I'm out of love I'll pick you up when you're getting down And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now |
The song “Lego House”, is really about someone who cares more about others than they do about themselves. The lyrics express the fact that if anything goes awry, then I’ll be the one who will help you pick up the pieces. As I’ve gotten older I have realized that I find joy in helping others more than I don myself. Growing up my parents always told me that I cared too much. I didn’t really get how you could care too much about something until I learned the hard way that not everyone returns the love and care. “Lego House” really reminds me of the fact that all my life whether it’s with my friends or my siblings, I put others before myself. I would do anything for the people I love and I think that is really important.
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Section 12: homecoming spread
Section 13: What I like best about being a member of Leadership
Through leadership I have made so many memories that I will never forget, whether that be the endless decoration days or presentations in class, leadership never fails to surprise me. That’s my first thing that I love about leadership. It constantly keeps me on my toes and is always challenging me. In the past three years that I have been in this program, leadership is always the class that I look forward to the most because of how unique everyday in class really is. Without leadership, my daily school routine would be very predictable and sometimes that makes me feel stuck. I am so glad that leadership has granted me the opportunity to feel challenged and engaged in a way that no other class has.
Leadership is not just another class on campus, but it is the reason that I am involved with as much as I am. This year Gia and I had the opportunity to lead the Kyoto exchange event and it was the absolute best experience of my life. If it weren’t for leadership, I don’t think my family would have considered hosting which seems so bizarre to me. It is crazy how much one program can alter the path of my life and I couldn’t imagine my high school experience without leadership. One of the things about leadership that I value the most is the fact that it pushes me to be outside of my comfort zone in order to find who I truly am. These opportunities I have been given have shaped the person I have developed to be over my high school years andI have leadership to thank for that.
Finally, and probably most importantly, the things I love most about leadership are the incredible bonds I’ve built with so many different people. I say this all the time, but everyday I am more and more thankful for the people I met through the leadership program. Yes, I have other classes to meet people as well but none of them make as strong bonds as leadership does. Through leadership I have seen the people I have worked with develop and grow and they have seen me develop as well. It’s the most amazing thing watching everyone struggle but in the end find themselves and reach their full potential. Before leadership I didn’t feel like I was a part of the Ripon community because I had just moved to town, but leadership provided a safe space and a home for me in these last couple years and for that I will always be grateful for the leadership program.
Leadership is not just another class on campus, but it is the reason that I am involved with as much as I am. This year Gia and I had the opportunity to lead the Kyoto exchange event and it was the absolute best experience of my life. If it weren’t for leadership, I don’t think my family would have considered hosting which seems so bizarre to me. It is crazy how much one program can alter the path of my life and I couldn’t imagine my high school experience without leadership. One of the things about leadership that I value the most is the fact that it pushes me to be outside of my comfort zone in order to find who I truly am. These opportunities I have been given have shaped the person I have developed to be over my high school years andI have leadership to thank for that.
Finally, and probably most importantly, the things I love most about leadership are the incredible bonds I’ve built with so many different people. I say this all the time, but everyday I am more and more thankful for the people I met through the leadership program. Yes, I have other classes to meet people as well but none of them make as strong bonds as leadership does. Through leadership I have seen the people I have worked with develop and grow and they have seen me develop as well. It’s the most amazing thing watching everyone struggle but in the end find themselves and reach their full potential. Before leadership I didn’t feel like I was a part of the Ripon community because I had just moved to town, but leadership provided a safe space and a home for me in these last couple years and for that I will always be grateful for the leadership program.
Section 14: Reflection of a peer in leadership
For my reflection of a peer in leadership, I really want to recognize Tori. This is Tori’s first year in leadership but sometimes I forget that because of the strong work ethic she possesses. Tori never fails to impress me and she is always working as hard as she can to accomplish anything. I always see her hanging posters around campus during her free time, and not everyone would be willing to sacrifice their free time like that. I know that it must have been so confusing for Tori when she came into the program, however, she has handled it with such grace and professionalism. I love to see her grow more and more in the leadership program as the year continues to fly by. Tori is also just the type of person to put a smile on everyone’s faces. She is incredibly caring and such a good listener. I feel like I can tell Tori anything and never be judged, which is so valuable to me as a friend as well as a leader. I can’t wait to see the legacy that Tori leaves behind.
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Section 15: RHS Pride Gallery
Section 16: What i love to do
Something that I have really gotten back into doing recently is hair. Ever since I was little I always liked messing around with new hairstyles and experiments with the hair of dolls as well. My mom didn’t know how to use a curling iron when I was younger so I decided that I wanted to learn on my own. From that moment onward I have learned so many different techniques in doing hair. Every new hairstyle is like a puzzle piece because there are so many different hair lengths and textures so you just have to kinda adapt to what style you’re doing. Obviously I’m still a beginner and not on the level of professional hairstylists, but I have grown so much and that’s what matters to me. Doing hair is also something that is comforting because when I’m just doing it for fun, there is no right or wrong way to do it. From doing my moms hair to doing rylee’s hair, I have learned that hair has a mind of its own. When trying to do a style you have to go with the flow of the hair and work with it and not against it. There have been many times where hairstyles don’t turn out the way I want them to but they are still pretty and beautiful in their own way. At the end of the day, doing hair brings me peace and that’s why I do it so often.
Section 17: Letter to My parents
Dear Mama and Papa,
Where do I even begin? It is often hard for me to put into words how much I truly appreciate you. One of the biggest impacts you have made in my life stems from the quality time you like to spend with all of us. Both of you have very tight schedules and work 12 hours or more a day, so I really appreciate the time you both take out of your night to spend time with us. Growing up I always thought that eating dinner with your family every night was a normal thing, until I figured out that so many kids just eat dinner in their rooms where they are alone. From occasion to occasion I would get mad at both of you for “making” me eat dinner with everyone because it took so long, but now I know the value of eating together. As you two have always said, a family that eats together, stays together. I have heard that phrase for as long as I can remember and I have learned to appreciate it more and more with each day that comes. I will forever be grateful for your efforts of making our family so close, thank you sooo much.
However, that is not the only thing I am grateful for. I am also grateful for how much you support me in everything that I choose to pursue. Whether that be academically or not, both of you are always interested in hearing about my experiences and helping me out when times get rough. Even though both of you did not entirely grow up here, you both make the effort to understand what I’m going through and I really appreciate that. There aren’t enough words I can use to express how incredibly grateful I am to call both of you my parents. You both have worked countless hours in order to provide me with the life that you both wished for when you were younger. Sometimes I easily take what I have for granted and this letter is just reminding me how fortunate I really am.
Finally, thank you for being my parents. You don’t try to act like you’re one of my friends and I honestly really appreciate that. I appreciate that you raised me to be respectful and responsible because a lot of kids my age simply aren’t. You were willing to discipline me when needed, and that’s what really helped me become the person I am today. I’m not perfect and I’m still learning,but both of you are the reason that I am where I am today. So once again, thank you! I love you both!
Love, Sofia
Where do I even begin? It is often hard for me to put into words how much I truly appreciate you. One of the biggest impacts you have made in my life stems from the quality time you like to spend with all of us. Both of you have very tight schedules and work 12 hours or more a day, so I really appreciate the time you both take out of your night to spend time with us. Growing up I always thought that eating dinner with your family every night was a normal thing, until I figured out that so many kids just eat dinner in their rooms where they are alone. From occasion to occasion I would get mad at both of you for “making” me eat dinner with everyone because it took so long, but now I know the value of eating together. As you two have always said, a family that eats together, stays together. I have heard that phrase for as long as I can remember and I have learned to appreciate it more and more with each day that comes. I will forever be grateful for your efforts of making our family so close, thank you sooo much.
However, that is not the only thing I am grateful for. I am also grateful for how much you support me in everything that I choose to pursue. Whether that be academically or not, both of you are always interested in hearing about my experiences and helping me out when times get rough. Even though both of you did not entirely grow up here, you both make the effort to understand what I’m going through and I really appreciate that. There aren’t enough words I can use to express how incredibly grateful I am to call both of you my parents. You both have worked countless hours in order to provide me with the life that you both wished for when you were younger. Sometimes I easily take what I have for granted and this letter is just reminding me how fortunate I really am.
Finally, thank you for being my parents. You don’t try to act like you’re one of my friends and I honestly really appreciate that. I appreciate that you raised me to be respectful and responsible because a lot of kids my age simply aren’t. You were willing to discipline me when needed, and that’s what really helped me become the person I am today. I’m not perfect and I’m still learning,but both of you are the reason that I am where I am today. So once again, thank you! I love you both!
Love, Sofia
Section 18: Your True Legacy, General Advice, The Letter
Dear Armin,
It is kinda weird that I am writing you this letter because I still can’t wrap my mind around the fact that you’ll be doing everything I did this year. The position of a class admin can be tricky, but I’m sure you will get the hang of it once the year starts going. One of the most important things about this position is being organized. There is a lot of paperwork that can easily be lost so make sure you remain super organized. Take pictures of every document you turn in because you might need it for the procedure form. Something else I want to stress is that you need to ask questions. Because this is your first year in the program there will be a lot of things you will be unfamiliar with so asking questions will help you out a lot. If you don’t know how to fill out a certain piece of paperwork ask one of your other officers or just anyone in the class in general. Another thing that is super important is to ask for help when you need it. At certain points of the year there will be times where you are trying to complete more than one procedure form at the same time. It is okay to ask for help because you have to know that you can’t do it all. That is something I struggled with this year because I had so many different involvements and I didn’t want to stress anyone else out. However, they are there to help and support you and more often than not they are willing to help you out. Finally, something that really helped me this year was creating a good relationship with Davina. Davina is someone who you are going to be seeing a lot of next year because of all your involvement with paperwork. Maintaining a good relationship with Davina will be super helpful because that means communication will even be easier and just more efficient. I wish you all the best next year and I know that you have all the resources to be successful!
Love, Sofia Grewal
It is kinda weird that I am writing you this letter because I still can’t wrap my mind around the fact that you’ll be doing everything I did this year. The position of a class admin can be tricky, but I’m sure you will get the hang of it once the year starts going. One of the most important things about this position is being organized. There is a lot of paperwork that can easily be lost so make sure you remain super organized. Take pictures of every document you turn in because you might need it for the procedure form. Something else I want to stress is that you need to ask questions. Because this is your first year in the program there will be a lot of things you will be unfamiliar with so asking questions will help you out a lot. If you don’t know how to fill out a certain piece of paperwork ask one of your other officers or just anyone in the class in general. Another thing that is super important is to ask for help when you need it. At certain points of the year there will be times where you are trying to complete more than one procedure form at the same time. It is okay to ask for help because you have to know that you can’t do it all. That is something I struggled with this year because I had so many different involvements and I didn’t want to stress anyone else out. However, they are there to help and support you and more often than not they are willing to help you out. Finally, something that really helped me this year was creating a good relationship with Davina. Davina is someone who you are going to be seeing a lot of next year because of all your involvement with paperwork. Maintaining a good relationship with Davina will be super helpful because that means communication will even be easier and just more efficient. I wish you all the best next year and I know that you have all the resources to be successful!
Love, Sofia Grewal
section 19: Dos and Don'ts List
DO
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Don’t
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section 20: COntact list
Music
Sounds in Motion
Phone: (209) 522-5999
Website: https://www.soundsinmotiondj.com/
Email: [email protected]
Address: 931 10th Street, Modesto, CA 95354
Photography
Leonard Photography
Phone: (209) 824- 0204
Website: https://www.leonardphoto.com
Address: 300 E. Yosemite Ave Suite 101, Manteca, CA 95336
Decoration
Events 22
Phone: (209) 552- 5969
Website: https://events22.com
Address: 202 E Main St, Ripon, CA 95366
Sounds in Motion
Phone: (209) 522-5999
Website: https://www.soundsinmotiondj.com/
Email: [email protected]
Address: 931 10th Street, Modesto, CA 95354
Photography
Leonard Photography
Phone: (209) 824- 0204
Website: https://www.leonardphoto.com
Address: 300 E. Yosemite Ave Suite 101, Manteca, CA 95336
Decoration
Events 22
Phone: (209) 552- 5969
Website: https://events22.com
Address: 202 E Main St, Ripon, CA 95366
Section 21: The PROFESSIONAL
Two things that we do in the leadership program that encompasses professionalism are Mock Interviews and our websites. In terms of Mock Interviews, they occur during the second semester of the school year. You start by choosing a profession. This profession is one that you are interested in and may consider actually applying for in the future. Once a job is selected, a professional is found to have an interview with. Before the interview can occur, many things must first occur. First and foremost a resume and cover letter must be made. This is to simulate what it would be like to apply for an actual job. These resumes and cover letters are then posted to our professional website for the individual who is interviewing us to find. Before going into the interview it is important to have some background knowledge about said company/individual. This is important in this process because you want to be able to know how you can benefit said company and bring something new to the table. This is my second year doing Mock Interviews. My first year, I got the pleasure of interviewing with Dr. Redula. He gave me so much feedback and was able to answer my questions. WIth him, the interview felt like more of a conversation and he really helped to ease my nerves.
The next professional thing we do is make our very own websites. These websites are made through weebly. Each student is responsible for creating their own website as well as maintaining it throughout the year. We start each year with a theme for our website as well as writing a letter to ourselves. The theme should encompass your purpose for the year as well as what you intend on improving. This theme differs every year. The purpose of the letter is to share our hopes for the coming year. After summer, each leader is rested and ready to start the new year. We all write a letter stating what we are looking forward to for the rest of the school year. We also reflect on what works and what doesn’t in order to have a better year than the previous. Those are only a couple of things that the portfolio encompasses. Throughout the year more and more is added on to the portfolio. By the end of the year the website serves as a reminder of everything that you have accomplished. The website has been really helpful to me because I have been able to look back at my comments for improvement and it has helped me grow as a leader.
The next professional thing we do is make our very own websites. These websites are made through weebly. Each student is responsible for creating their own website as well as maintaining it throughout the year. We start each year with a theme for our website as well as writing a letter to ourselves. The theme should encompass your purpose for the year as well as what you intend on improving. This theme differs every year. The purpose of the letter is to share our hopes for the coming year. After summer, each leader is rested and ready to start the new year. We all write a letter stating what we are looking forward to for the rest of the school year. We also reflect on what works and what doesn’t in order to have a better year than the previous. Those are only a couple of things that the portfolio encompasses. Throughout the year more and more is added on to the portfolio. By the end of the year the website serves as a reminder of everything that you have accomplished. The website has been really helpful to me because I have been able to look back at my comments for improvement and it has helped me grow as a leader.
Section 22: Change
This year has been filled with plenty of ups and downs. Unlike my previous two years, I got to be in charge of multiple different events as the team leader and not a trainee. This was very fun but it also came with a lot of responsibility. Being in charge of a new event for the first time can be scary but it is also very rewarding. With this being said, there were plenty of moments I felt frustrated this year and that is pretty normal. Something that really sticks out to me when it comes to frustration with leadership this year would just be the people that avoided work when there was still so much to be done. I understand that everyone is busy, but in order for our events to be successful, it is crucial that all members of leadership are doing their part. Specifically, the gallery of the arts is an event that takes a lot of physical labor to set up and requires everyone to be helping in order for everything to be done on time. There were members of the class who chose to just stand and watch at certain times and I was very frustrated at that moment. However, those who did help really did a great job and we did end up finishing setting up on time. I do believe that we have already implemented a change to this problem as the program was a lot more selective this year. Hopefully this means that in the future, lack of efficiency shouldn’t be a problem. Next year I will be taking over as ASB president and something that I can do to promote better work ethic would be to really emphasize at the beginning of the year that leadership is not a class where members can slack off. We are constantly holding different events and I hope that everyone realizes how much their role matters. Something else I want to reflect on is just my growth personally. Coming into this year, I wasn’t very strong in multiple different areas as I had not had the experience. For example, during the Kyoto Exchange event I learned to communicate with so many different adults that I had never even talked to before. This really allowed me to build my professionalism and I am really proud that I have learned so much because I will need it going into next year.
Section 23: The ideal Leader
Every leader is different, however there are a few qualities that a true leader should possess. The first being work ethic. Work ethic is not only important for the leadership program at Ripon High School, but it is extremely valuable in the workplace when we all end up getting jobs as well. Without a strong work ethic, it is impossible to get quality work done. Many often procrastinate and I myself fall victim to procrastination too, but it’s about what you are willing to do about it. I am working on trying and getting all my work done as soon as I get it because I know next year is going to be very chaotic. Another quality I believe is valuable is being dependable. This means going through with what you said you were going to do and being a leader that others can count on. If a leader is not dependable then there is no way to gain the trust of others. It is easy to talk about all the great things you want to accomplish, but the actual process of doing what you said is the hard part. Being dependable also means showing up even when you don’t feel like it. In leadership there are so many out of class hours that we put into the work we do and it is easy to simply not show up and forget about it, but being dependable means that your team knows that you will show up with no questions asked. During 7th period leadership, it is expected that when work days are given, they are utilized to their full potential. There is nothing more annoying than when there are people actually working on getting stuff done and then there are those who just sit around doing nothing. We only have so many hours in a day, so to waste valuable time like that is not truly being a leader. It is not acceptable to make someone else pick up the slack for you, especially because they already have so much on theirs. In leadership it is important to work together and pick up your own slack because one person shouldn’t be doing all the work by themselves.
My Projects
Leadership Procedure Form
EVALUATION 1st or 2nd Quarter
1st or 2nd Quarter Eval (AD and ASB President) | |
File Size: | 833 kb |
File Type: |
Evaluation 3rd Quarter
3rd Quarter Eval | |
File Size: | 489 kb |
File Type: |
PO- White Form
Po-Purple Form
Class Budget
Asb Report
asb_report__august_17_2023.pdf | |
File Size: | 63 kb |
File Type: |
Class Minutes
junior_class_minutes__homecoming_discussion_1.pdf | |
File Size: | 464 kb |
File Type: |
Social Media Post
Section 24: you
DEDICATED