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< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back January 2018 Artist of the Month Samantha Post Samantha Post, daughter of Molly and Brian Post was named January artist of the month at Royalton High School. Post’s favorite hobby is painting and drawing. She has spent a large part of high school in the art room taking art classes. "I decided to paint this painting because it’s a movie that I like, and I thought the cover art of it was interesting." stated Post. "I wanted to paint something that I could take my time on and learn new techniques. I can say I definitely learned quite a bit, like how the lighting on neon signs would be painted, for example. I’ve also never spent this much time on a painting before, which tested my patience, but I think the time was well worth it and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Art is my biggest hobby. I spend a lot of my free time doing something that has to do with art including drawing, painting, embroidery, photoshop, etc. When I graduate, I will definitely miss all the time I’ve spent in the art room the most, working on projects. I plan on maintaining working on my art works because they are something that makes me feel complete." "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up," said visual arts instructor Carl Halverson. "That's a quote from Picasso that I pretty much live by when dealing with talented students like Samantha Post. It's the process of learning that she refers to as making her feel "complete". And once you stop learning, whether you are eighteen or eighty, you grow old at an accelerated pace. For students like Samantha, art classes are a way to express themselves in their own way. Without these means of expression, some of these students feel that have no voice or opinion worth listening to. Her tile painting is not just technically superior to most work, it's a movie clip of a place that she may feel she needs to be part of, far away from where she lives right now. In the RHS art room, these students learn valuable lessons about everything from discipline to compassion; from accepting people for who they are, while be accepted for just being themselves. And through it all, these differences are all worthy and help the young person become who they want to be, rather than what someone else wants them to be. Be Yourself Sam, 'cause you are the best you that this world will ever see."

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment April 2019 Student of the Month Brooke Richards Brooke Richards, daughter of Angie and Paul Richards, has been named April Student of the Month at Royalton High School (RHS). Brooke’s favorite class is yearbook, taught by Carl Halverson. “It allows me to use my creativity to create a book with a great group of people. It is a wonderful feeling holding the book in your hands that is full of so many memories, and knowing that you helped to create it from start to finish. Mr. Halverson is a great mentor and always makes sure to point all of us in the right direction, which I am very grateful for. I would also like to give a shout out to Dawn and Mr. Hagman for always listening to me spill tea.” RHS Yearbook Advisor Carl Halverson stated, "I've been doing yearbooks for over thirty years and have had the privilege of working with many great young people. But I've never seen a Senior Editor run the show quite like Brooke did this year. There are four main benchmarks that all Senior Editors strive to hit to complete this 10-15 thousand dollar business venture. The first benchmark is good photography skills that are blended with photo-editing through photoshop, graphic design, and page layout. The second skill is writing articles as well as editing other staffer's written work to make a theme come to life. The third is selling advertising to help fund the book. Usually, a single editor might hit two of these skill sets. Brooke sold a record breaking $2000 in ad sales, designed well over 50 pages, and placed hundreds of photos throughout this year's Royal yearbook. She earned top honors from Josten's company in our state, and our Jostens rep said that he had not heard of another editor nationally who had hit these kind of top-notch parameters. And the fourth skill? She's simply one of the easiest going, nicest young people who has ever graced our staff. Our year-bookers learned so much from her that our book will surely continue our winning tradition. We will miss her smile as well as her genuine, pleasing disposition that greets us every morning as she enters the classroom the most. Best wishes to you Brooke as you enter the next step of your Graphic Arts career." Social studies teacher Jeremy Schaa added, “Brooke Richards is a quiet leader and one of the nicest students I have had the good fortune of teaching. She is a hard worker who is not afraid of taking on a task and seeing it through to completion, even when others give up.” Richards is active in Student Council, Yearbook, National Honors Society, and Spanish Club. A favorite high school memory was hanging out with her friends at prom this year. Her future plans include attending St. Cloud Technical College to earn a degree in marketing and design. Then continue on at St.Cloud State to complete her bachelor’s degree. She also plans to move to California some time after graduating college. Brooke’s advice to freshmen is, “Even though high school feels like it lasts forever, it flies by quicker than you think it will. Make sure to enjoy every moment of it and work as hard as you can. Also, don’t wait until the last minute to write your comp papers.”

< Hall of Fame Matt Palmer Class of 1984 Inducted May 2010 Matt Palmer graduated from RHS in 1984. Palmer was a two-time state wrestling champion for Royalton and was a leader on three conference championship teams in the early 1980’s. He was named the team’s MVP two times during his high school career. Palmer finished his high school career with 121 wins and still holds three school wrestling records. Palmer attended North Dakota State University where he starred in wrestling as a two-time Division II All-American and was the National Runner-up in his weight class during his junior year. NDSU lost only three duals while Palmer was a member of the team. Matt graduated with a teaching degree from NDSU and has continued to share his love of wrestling as the head wrestling coach at Monticello High School for the past 16 years.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment October 2018 Student of the Month Nathan Popp Nathan Popp, son of Larry and Renee Popp, has been named October Student of the Month at Royalton High School (RHS). He has four siblings, Allison, Corey, Nicole, and Aaron. Popp named Agriculture teacher Robert Skwira as one of his favorite teachers, and ‘growing green’, a class Skwira taught when Popp was a freshman, as his favorite class. Here is what Swira had to say about Popp. “Nathan Popp is a great young man. He is gifted and talented in many ways. In the classroom his work is done with extreme quality. Outside of the classroom he is a leader in the activities that he participates in. Students look up to him because he treats others with respect and shows them he genuinely cares about them. Nathan will succeed in whatever he does after high school! Congratulations Nathan!” Popp has been active in many activities throughout his high school career, including football, basketball, baseball, National Honor Society, Student Council, FFA, and 4-H. A favorite memory for Nathan was making it to the Section 7AA championship game 3 years in a row in football, and all the success the team has had through the seasons. “Nathan is an exceptional student as well as an exceptional athlete. He works to understand material whether in the classroom or on the playing fields. Nate understands how to use his practicing to perform well come test/game time.” said science teacher and head boys basketball coach Randy Thielges. After high school, Nathan plans to attend St. Cloud State University to double major in Accounting and Finance. Nathan’s advice to freshmen is: “Have fun in high school, don’t take for granted the time you get to have with your friends. Take every opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Things that I am the proudest about with my time in high school started out as a thing that I thought I could not do.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back December 2019 Artist of the Month Autumn Larson After Christmas break, Royalton High School named Autumn Larson as December's Artist of the Month. Larson, a junior, is the daughter of Coralynn and Jesse Martin of Rice. She has been "doodling" characters on lined paper for as long as she can remember, and now is focused on turning these characters into something more than just a hobby. "As soon as I could pick up a pencil or a brush, everything that I had been thinking about fades away and I focus only on my artwork until I put the pencil down. During this time, it's a weightless feeling of freedom that I've never felt with anything else despite trying to replicate it with other activities," said Larson. "For a very long time, I've dreamed of creating a world that compares to the numerous books that I have read in the early years of my life. It was this year in my Design class that Mr. Halverson asked us to find an idea that we could really invest ourselves into as the Final Design project. My Ultra Violet project started in my freshman year with Sophie as the main character. She made her slow journey over the years into a shape-shifting creature with 200 years of fictional history behind the world that she lives in. The plot of the storybook will tell the reader how simply that Sophie went from Earth to Lyvida, the fairytale world that her story is set in. In one frame, Sophie is shown at her birthday party, and in the next, she is waving goodbye to her friends. As the story progresses, she discovers that if she wishes to become a fairy, she will need to grow wings. The rest of the story will show snapshots of her future adventures and the characters, like her "adoptive" father, Jinn, who will help her reach her destination in life." "While working with at all of the talented, student-artists who take art classes at Royalton High School, it sometimes is a tough task to select just one student who earned the Artist of the Month honor," stated Visual Art Instructor Carl Halverson. "December had a few artists who could have been selected. It was clear to me after seeing the time and dedication that Autumn Larson put into her original storybook, that she had clearly earned the honor. It's not just a rendered copy of a subject in which a student showcases their improvement in skills that are practiced in an art class. In this case, it is the development of a character that is totally original, never seen before, that comes to life in the artist's choice of medium. The Design goes one step further in the fact that no one knows the storyline until the artist decides where they will take you on their journey. I have an Albert Einstein quote hanging in my room which reads, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." I can teach a student the Knowledge of subject matter through the Elements and Principles of Design or by studying Art History. I can improve a student's technical abilities through the daily exercise and practice of drawing, painting, sculpture, digital media or photography projects. But I can't teach a student the "Imagination" piece that it takes to create the Original work that Autumn has shared with us in her Final Design project. This piece is a gift that never stops giving through the work created by these exceptional young people that I have had the privilege of working with for all of these years. " "I'm very grateful for the teachers that I've had, like Mr. Halverson, who have pushed me to travel down the road of Visual Art," added Larson. "I'm also very grateful for my Mom for believing that my "doodles" would one day be something so much more."

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment September 2018 Student of the Month Jenna Carlson Jenna Carlson, daughter of Shelly and Dail Carlson, has been named the September Student of the Month at Royalton High School (RHS). Jenna has three siblings; Brianna and Zach who graduated from RHS, and Connor who is an 8th grader at Royalton. Jenna’s favorite class is Sociology and Psychology, which is an ITV class taught by Frank Weber. She also mentioned Spanish teacher Lindsey Gruber as one of her favorite teachers. “Jenna is a role model to her peers and underclassmen. She puts her best effort into everything she does, whether it be an assignment, a test, a practice, or a game. She is respectful to everyone, no matter who they are, and makes our school more positive place,” Gruber said. Social studies teacher and head girls basketball coach Brad Baumann said, "I believe Jenna is a truly exceptional student and individual. Jenna always has a smile on her face and is the type of person that will go out of her way to help anyway she can, whether it's in the classroom, in extracurriculars or outside of school. She is a great leader and works hard at everything she does, and doesn't settle for anything other than her best. I think we're extremely fortunate here at Royalton to have Jenna as one of our students and one of our student leaders. Her character and work ethic is a great example for younger students and as a parent myself I would love to see my child follow in her footsteps." Carlson is very involved in activities at school including volleyball, basketball, softball, National Honors Society, Student Council, Tech Club, YES club, Spanish Club, WE Day, and Knowledge Bowl. A favorite school memory for Jenna was all of homecoming week this year. Especially getting tackled by the preschool and kindergarten girls when royalty visited them at lunch, and also driving the golf cart around the field at the football game. Carlson plans to double major in Biology and Spanish with a focus on pre medicine. Then continue on to PA school. Jenna’s advice to freshmen is, “Challenge yourself, get involved, enjoy the little things, and SMILE! It makes a difference!”

< Hall of Fame Jeff "Olsen" Oelrich Class of 1988 Inducted May 2011 Jeff Oelrich is a 1988 graduate of Royalton High School. At RHS, Jeff was involved in yearbook, Student Council, Jazz Band, Spanish Club, Knowledge Bowl, was the President of the National Honor Society and was the class salutatorian. Jeff attended St. Cloud State University and became involved in mass communications and radio broadcasting. Jeff began deejaying at KCLD, BOB 100FM, WLOL, and hosted the KOOL 108 Morning Show as Jeff Olsen. He was also involved in television where he did anchor work in Alexandria, Rochester, and with KARE 11. Jeff wears many hats at KARE 11 including reporting for the Sunrise Morning Show and is used as an anchor and host for various TV and news broadcasts. Jeff met his wife Julianna while working in Rochester and together they have 4 children. Jeff has been honored by the Minnesota Broadcasters Association, The United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, and the MS Society. Jeff was named the Twin Cities Radio Personality of the Year in 2005.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment February 2021 Student of the Month Jenna Kull Royalton High School is proud to announce that Jenna Kull was selected as Student of the Month for February. Jenna is the daughter of Lynn and Lyn and younger sister of Kendra. When it comes to family Jenna says the support she gets from them has been extremely important, “family has always been supportive of me. Ever since I remember, they have been with me encouraging me to do my best. I love going on trips with my family, big or small. Ever since I was little we would take family camping trips each year. I would look forward to these trips each year as each one brought time to grow closer and a new adventure. At Royalton High School, Jenna is involved in volleyball, Tech Club and the Minnesota Honor Society. Outside of school she participates in the Loyal Royals 4-H Club, Faith Lutheran Church youth group and is a St. Gabriel’s Hospital Junior Volunteer. Jenna believes her involvement in all these various activities has had a major impact on her, “I have gained good teamwork skills and strong friendships from volleyball. In Tech club I gain knowledge of new technologies and learned how to use them. While in Minnesota Honor Society I gain friendships while helping out our community. I enjoy being part of 4-H because it constantly provides great learning opportunities. Being involved in church youth group gives the opportunity to learn about God while connecting with friends. When volunteering at St. Gabriel’s Hospital my main job is to refill patients’ water and supplies while interacting with them. I have gained a lot from this and it even helped me decide my career.” When it comes to her classes Jenna says her favorite class was her Intro to Agriculture. For Jenna, it was a great experience that she enjoyed while learning, “This class stood out to me because we would always get involved with hands-on activities. I would recommend this class to others because it is really fun and you learn a lot from it.” As for a favorite teacher in high school, Jenna says Mr. Skwira really comes to mind, “One of my favorite teachers is Mr. Skwira. Mr. Skwira is always in a good mood and excited to teach. He is also fully invested in making sure his students have fun while learning to succeed in life.” Jenna’s favorite memory in high school was going to state for FFA, as Jenna put it “An event that stands out to me is going to state for FFA. The trip to the state FFA convention was a fun adventure and a good opportunity to bond with fellow FFA members.” Next year Jenna plans to attend North Dakota State University to major in Medical Laboratory Science. For Jenna, Medical Laboratory Science is a perfect fit, “I believe I have found my dream job. This career is perfect for me because laboratory science is always evolving and changing. Therefore, I will constantly be faced with new challenges to tackle.” Jenna’s advice to high school freshmen is short but sweet “get as involved in high school activities as you can and have lots of fun during the time that you have because it goes by fast.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment May 2021 Student of the Month Amanda Waletski Royalton High School is proud to announce that Amanda Waletski was selected as Student of the Month for May. Amanda is the daughter of Dave and Judy and sister of Allyson. Amanda’s family has been her biggest support system and has helped her grow and learn, “My family has taught me to work hard and appreciate the small things. I love spending days on the boat with my mom, dad, sister, and cousins during the summer. My family is always there to encourage me whether it is a sporting event, school work, or even the little things that come up day to day.” Outside of school Amanda works at Jordie’s Trail Side Café in Bowlus, she enjoys water skiing, snowmobiling, walking and playing with her dogs; Maggie and Lucy and also volunteers at her church. At Royalton High School Amanda participated in volleyball, basketball, Student Council, Minnesota Honors Society and keeps stats for the softball team. Looking at all of her activities, Amanda says volleyball and basketball have been the most impactful, “ Basketball and volleyball have allowed me to meet new people that have become close friends. Sports have also taught me skills such as time management, commitment and teamwork.” “I’ve really enjoyed my time teaching and coaching Amanda these past 4 years. She is such a joyful person and helpful person, no matter the situation Amanda was going to lighten the mood or do whatever she could to help. I would also say she’s one of the toughest people I know, during her Freshman year, she missed the second half of the basketball season because of a leg injury, but she still stayed involved and worked her way back to playing again the following year. Then during one of our summer tournaments, she broke her jaw, but that didn’t deter her, she came back and played just as hard. Then this past season in basketball, while Amanda isn’t the biggest person, she wasn’t afraid of taking on girls that were much bigger and she would always go 100%. It was great to have her on our team and as one of our captains. I’m really excited to see what’s instore for her in the years to come!.”- Head Girls Basketball Coach and Social Studies Teacher Brad Baumann. Looking at her academics Amanda believes her English teacher Ms. Menden has played a large role, “My favorite teacher is Ms. Menden. She cares about us as students but also as individuals. Her classes have taught me many valuable lessons I will use in my future. Ms. Menden always has a positive attitude and encourages me to always work hard to do my best.” Amanda’s favorite high school memory came during this past basketball season, “My favorite memory from high school is when our basketball team upset Holdingford in the playoffs this year. My team worked really hard and I was proud to be a part of it.” Next year Amanda plans to attend North Dakota State University while she is not a 100% sure what she wants to major in, one possibility is drafting or construction management. In 10 years, Amanda would like to be living somewhere near the Royalton/Bowlus area so she’s close to family. She’s hoping to have a steady job in her career field, she would like to foster dogs and also do some traveling around the world. Amanda’s advice to high school freshmen is short but sweet “become involved in your school and attend events and sporting games because high school goes faster than you think.!”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment March 2020 Student of the Month Kodi Franks Royalton High School faculty and staff is pleased to announce that Kodi Franks has been selected as the March Student of the Month. Kodi emphasizes that his family has taught him that with hard work, anything is possible, and notes that a strong work ethic has been ingrained into him from an early age. His favorite class at RHS was Human Body Systems (HBS) with Ms. Gerads. He explains that there was always plenty to do, but it never felt like “homework.” He suggests any student interested in the medical field should take this class because it lays a lot of groundwork for the future. On the same note, he states that his favorite teacher is Ms. Gerads. He loved having her for the tail end of biology, ecology, and HBS. He writes, “She just had this way of connecting with students and having a laid back feel to the class. We always had work to do, but it never felt suffocating. I appreciate what she has taught me because I will use it in the future. I know whatever I accomplish in the future I have to give her some credit.” At RHS, Kodi was involved with football. He explains that he loves the game, but injuries forced him to step back and look at what’s important in life. During his short time on the team, he met some of his best friends. He is also involved in weight lifting. Kodi states that it has become one of the most important aspects of his life. He has gained more mentally than physically through lifting. The bar is indiscriminate. It doesn’t care who you are or what you do, it’s the same for everyone. His most memorable high school moment is hitting a 1,000 pound total in weightlifting. This is done by adding up your squat, deadlift, and bench weight amounts. He was unsure if he would be able to complete this goal, but he had a friend that kept pushing and cheering him on until he was successful. He explained, “I hit what I needed to and knocked another goal off the wall.” Randy Thielges, Royalton High School science teacher would like to add, “I admire a young man like Kodi; he's had some breaks (literally) go against him, but he finds a way to persevere and go forward.” Kodi will be attending North Dakota State University (NDSU) in the fall, majoring in Biology and minoring in Exercise Science or Business. He also plans on attending medical school. He chose this career path because he wants to help people, and notes that the medical field is one of the greatest ways to do that. He sees himself in residency and still taking lifting seriously. He wants to become a doctor and own a gym. Kodi writes that, “I love seeing people take charge and want to change aspects of their life they’re unhappy with. I want to help them achieve that. I also want to give back to my parents for everything they have done for me.” When it comes to advice for high school freshmen, Kodi mentions that he would tell a freshman “to do whatever he/she wants to do. If that means you anger some people and lose friends along the way, so be it. At the end of the day, there is only one person you can always depend on no matter what, and that’s yourself. You need to make sure YOU’RE happy not someone else. What everyone else says does not matter. As Kobe Bryant once said, ‘Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones.’ Do what you enjoy, and life will be better.” To conclude, Carl Halverson, Royalton High School art teacher adds, “In my design class, Kodi worked on developing a website that involved his interests in athletic training and fitness. He works out continuously to keep himself in top physical condition. Many times, a student may have a desire to pursue a career field. When it comes down to doing whatever it takes to achieve his career goals, Kodi has been doing just that for many years. Anyone who has witnessed his work ethic, not only in the weight room, but also in the classroom, would find it hard to bet against him. I see him one day owning and operating a fitness related center, where he can assist others to become all that they can be, both mentally and physically. He has proven himself to many at Royalton High School.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment December 2018 Student of the Month Jackson Held Jackson Held, son of Joe and Janet Held, has been named the December Student of the Month at Royalton High School (RHS). He has an older brother, Ty, who graduated from RHS. Held’s favorite class is math with Jeff Schoenrock because, “he makes it easy and fun.” “I have had Jackson the last 2 years in both of my college math classes. He has excelled in my classes. He quickly grasps the concepts and then helps others in class understand it. He is able to explain things in a way others seem to understand,” said Schoenrock. “Jackson is very dedicated to RHS. I have not only witnessed him giving it his all in the classroom, I also see him daily in the workout center. He gave it his all in football this year and is doing the same in wrestling. All his hard work is paying off in the classroom, on the field, and on the mat. He is a positive role model for all the students and athletes in school. Jackson is very respectful, caring and hardworking.” Social Studies teacher Jeremy Schaa said, “Jackson speaks with his actions not his words, and demonstrates what it looks like to be both a good student and a good person.” Held’s activities include football, wrestling, and FFA. A favorite high school memory for Jackson was the senior class winning the Homecoming Olympics. Future plans for Held are to attend St.Cloud State University where he plans to study construction management. He will also continue his wrestling career at SCSU. Jackson’s advice to freshmen is, “Do what has to be done; when it has to be done; as well as it can be done; do it that way all the time.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment February 2022 Student of the Month Kaylee Rudolph Royalton High School is proud to announce that Kaylee Rudolph was selected as Student of the Month for February. Kaylee is the daughter of Philip and Michele and has a freshman brother named Zackary. When it comes to family Kaylee says they have been her biggest supporters, “My family has always been my biggest supporter. They encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and try my best even if I'm not confident in myself. If they didn't push me to try new things I don't think that I would be the person I am today. They also inspire me to see the good in people even if others don't. Growing up on a family farm taught me persistence, if something doesn't work the first time keep trying. My dad also instilled in me that the amount of effort you put in is what you get back, so work harder than everyone else. One of my favorite things to do with my family is traveling. Every summer we take a road trip to a new place. So far with my family, I have visited 12 states, and one day I hope to have visited all 50.” Outside of school Kaylee volunteers at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Bowlus and has worked at the Little Falls Bakery and Deli. She also enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her friends and family. At Royalton High School, Kaylee has been involved in a number of activities such as FFA, volleyball, Track and Cross-Country student manager, Jazz Band, Solo/Ensemble, Concert/Contest Band, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council and Minnesota Honor Society. In regards to all these activities her is what Kaylee had to say, “In the variety of clubs that I am a part of I have learned many beneficial life skills including leadership, communication, and time management skills. Band is something that I'm passionate about, and has taught me commitment and responsibility. I am 1st chair in my section and play flute, piccolo, and I am learning how to play the alto saxophone. By being involved in sports I was able to build better relationships with my fellow classmates and see how hard work really does pay off.” When it comes to her classes Kaylee says her favorite class was Intro to Ag because of its hands on approach, “ One of my favorite parts of this class was we were able to design a fishing rod, build it, and take it home for a forever memory. I would encourage other students to take this class because it is a great class to try something new. Even if you are not extremely interested in ag classes I think that this one has something for everyone.” As for a favorite teacher in high school, Kaylee says Mr. Skwira and Mr. Coppicus stand out, “Mr. Skirwa and Mr. Coppicus are two of my favorite teachers and have helped me become the leader I am today. Both of them helped me step out of my comfort zone, and are part of the reason I decided to further my education in both their areas, Agriculture and Music. Skwira and Coppicus always made class time important by making sure I really understood what they were teaching.” Kaylee’s favorite memory in high school happened after track, as Kaylee put it “My favorite high school memory is after every track meet last year Erin, Zara, Grace, and I would go to Bills and get chocolate milk then meet back at the parking lot and talk. This memory stands out above all because last year was an exceptionally strange year and spending that time with my friends made me forget all that was going on in the world at the time.” Next year Kaylee plans to attend Southwest Minnesota State University to major in Agriculture Education with a minor in Music and in ten years Kaylee hopes to be doing the following, “In 10 years I hope to have a job as an Agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor at a high school somewhere in Minnesota as well as be settled down and have started a family.” Kaylee’s advice to high school freshmen is short but sweet “These four years fly by fast so join all the activities you want, go to sporting events, don't be afraid to ask questions, and stand up for yourself, because before you know it, it will be your senior year.”