We spoke to eight seniors about their experiences at Redwood, asking about moments of growth throughout high school, impactful people in their lives, what they appreciate most about Redwood and what lessons they will take with them into the future. Little did we know, their answers would illuminate exactly what it means to be a Giant.

What is a friendship or a connection you made at Redwood that has made you a better person?

Jadon Shapiro:
“Mr. Hettleman, my sophomore year English teacher, made me more interested in learning English. He would check in with me and ask how [I was] doing every day. That was pretty cool,” Shapiro said.

Brooke Ellington:
“I came into Redwood not being involved with drama anymore, which I was involved [with] in middle school. I made a bunch of friends who got me involved in it again, and I played in the pit band at Mean Girls. [I liked] being able to reintroduce myself to theater through friends involved in things I’m interested in,” Ellington said.

Charlie Scott:
“Mrs. Jaime. [She] used to be the Redwood swim coach 10 years ago. I was on the school site council with her sophomore year, and then I had her for AP United States History junior year, and we talked a lot about swimming. She came to some of my meets and watched me and other students. It was fun to get to know her both in class and outside of class,” Scott said.

Kaitlyn Widman:
“All of the friends I’ve made. I came to Redwood knowing, like, two people, and now I can go in the hallways and recognize five out of 10 faces, which is a lot better than when I started. I made connections with everyone I could, and they all made me a better person,” Widman said.

What is one great aspect of the Redwood experience that is underappreciated/that you are grateful to have experienced?

Jadon Shapiro:
“[One great aspect] is how many different interests there are here,” Shapiro said. “There’s somebody with every single possible [interest]. I’ve met people here who are NASCAR fans. I thought I was the only NASCAR fan in Northern California. There are just so many different, new things that you can learn and experience.”

Brooke Ellington:
“There are so many opportunities to invest in our passions. Guest artists in drama, guest artists in music — that’s awesome. We have classes like Sustainable Agriculture. I’m going into environmental science in college, and I’ve been able to spend time working in agriculture before I’ve even gotten [to college]. I [appreciate] the fact that I’m able to get outside and work in the ground, and it’s just a class.”

Abby Matson:
“The school spirit here. At other schools, [students] are like, ‘I’m not really into it.’ But I feel like here, everybody is very involved with sports and clubs, and I really like that about [Redwood],” Matson said.

Kaitlyn Widman:

“The view of Mount Tam. Sometimes I look up and see Mount Tam or look the other way and see a bunch of gorgeous hills,” Widman said.
Dylan Phares:
“The weather is staggeringly mild,” Phares said.

What was your biggest moment of growth throughout high school?

Brooke Ellington:
“I quit rowing. I had a chronic back injury, and I [chose] to stop fighting that every day of my life. I was able to take time to heal and reconnect with my passions. I was able to spend a lot more time on music and Redwood TV. I was able to meet a lot of new people and make a lot of friends that I know I’ll have in college,” Ellington said.

Abby Matson: “In between sophomore and junior year, that’s when things set in. I was like, ‘I’m halfway through high school, I should probably focus on getting better grades.’ That’s when my friends and I started becoming really close,” Matson said. “It felt like a new chapter.”

Joseph Abuhalawa:
“[At] the beginning of sophomore year, I realized that I was annoying as a freshman. I wanted attention … In [sophomore year], I realized I wanted to be my own person. Instead of getting everything from everyone else, I got my own personality,” Abuhalawa said.

Kaitlyn Widman:
“Making friends. At the start of high school, I was really awkward. [But] going from a really small private [middle] school to a school with 2000 people forces you to make friends and actually have conversations with people. That’s definitely changed me as a person. You get more confident. You get more comfortable with yourself,” Widman said.

What are the biggest lessons you will take away with you from Redwood?

Makaila Eller:
“Take it one day at a time,” Eller said. “Go slow and enjoy your day. Don’t worry about tomorrow.”

Joseph Abuhalawa:
“Don’t be ignorant and be open to new ideas,” Abuhalawa said. “Freshman year, I didn’t [care] about school, so if I could go back in time, I wish I [would’ve] tried.”

Charlie Scott:
“The idea of being who you are and being comfortable with that. Do things that you enjoy, do things that you love and follow through on [them,]” Scott said.

Dylan Phares:
“Keep a good credit score. It’ll make your life easier,” Phares said.

Kaitlyn Widman:
“Surround yourself with the people who you want to be like. It makes a big difference,” Widman said.

Brooke Ellington:
“When things feel bad, keep pushing. What is good is on the other side of that. Don’t stop looking for opportunities to make friends or make connections or learn new things,” Ellington said.