Redwood teachers’ advice for the class of 2020

June 9, 2020

As the end of the 2019-2020 school year approaches, Redwood seniors gear up to say goodbye to high school and hello to their futures. Throughout the last few days of school, seniors usually spend their time conversing about life post-high school and gaining advice from the school’s staff on their futures. The coronavirus, however, has prevented these traditional experiences from happening. The Redwood staff has now been forced to communicate with students through internet calls and Google Classroom assignments, leaving no time for individual heart-to-heart conversations with students about their next steps in life. The Redwood Bark reached out to a few teachers to ask what advice they would give this year’s senior class or what advice they themselves would have wanted to know when they were seniors.

Pictured above is Redwood teacher, Stephen Hart in his senior year of high school.

“Maintain your path, not somebody else’s, and realize that sometimes you need to switch directions and that it’s okay to switch directions. Changing your mind is something that is going to happen so many times throughout your life, and you just try to become flexible with that. Try to be flexible with uncertainty.”

Pictured above is Redwood teacher, Catherine Flores in her senior year in high school.

“Say yes to opportunities that challenge you. Nothing that will put you in danger, but say yes to an opportunity even if it scares you.”

Pictured above is Redwood teacher, Mitch Cohen in his senior year of high school.

“Surround yourself with awesome people. Travel, explore, play, laugh…repeat as needed. Nature matters. So does music. Think big. Do something great. Inhale, then exhale. Be careful of who you ask for advice. Enjoy the ride.”

Pictured above in the middle is Redwood teacher, Heather Curtaz in her senior year of high school.

“Be kind, work hard, take care of yourself and do good for others.”

Pictured above is Redwood Teacher, Katie Slattery in her senior year of high school.

“I would encourage the graduating seniors to take every opportunity that they have in the future with college. So whether it’s going to office hours, taking on a leadership role in their school, or running for office at the school, whether it’s joining the club sports’ teams to play, just do as much as you can, and take every opportunity that you have to just be involved.”

Pictured above is Redwood teacher, Nicole Graydon in her senior year of high school.

“Be a good person, make good choices, but all the stupid stuff you are going to do, do it in the smartest way possible.”

Pictured above is Redwood teacher, Skip Lovelady in his senior year of high school.

“Childhood does not end when you turn 18. Childhood ends on the day you graduate high school. Your youth, and all the things unique to your generation, ends the day you graduate high school. It’s time for another generation to be hip, invent and use new slang, be the first to use the newest social media apps and more. You need to look forward, not back. Your youth is forever frozen in time and will always be there for you when you need some nostalgia in your life. Otherwise, let it go. Become our new leaders, innovators and adults. We need you to say goodbye to your youth and honor the adults who came before you by taking up a new set of challenges.”