Our Spotlight seniors and Mrs. Yeyna reflect on their high school journey and their time as a member of the school newspaper.
With graduation around the corner, all that is left to do for our seniors in our final edition is to say goodbye. Although melancholy, there is no doubt that each and every one will achieve greatness in their lives. And for Mrs. Yeyna entering retirement she will certainly find the rest and joys that await her. With that, it is time for our members to say their final words as staffers on Spotlight. Read on to learn of each person’s experience at Poly and with Spotlight as they say goodbye to high school.
August 8th 2022, was the first day of high school for all of us seniors graduating this May. Exactly 1,360 days ago, which is approximately 3.726 years of my life. In most of those days, there dwelt a great deal of unforgivable procrastination, a few too many awkward interactions, and so much growth. It was also the first day of public school for me, as it may be surprising to learn that I was homeschooled from Kindergarten until 8th grade. Few expectations, few friends, an unknown in more ways than one. At first, I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb, so I dealt with this by trying to fit in and ground myself. It didn’t work out so well, and it wasn’t long until that extroverted, outgoing girl became one who wouldn’t speak unless spoken to, shy, reserved, and even though she had a sense of humor, would barely showcase it to others. I don’t miss freshman year because the 9th-grade Acacia wasn’t herself; she was just the unappetizing leftovers of the people around her.
Sophomore year was a breakthrough, to say the least, and every year after that. I joined mock trial, which taught me so many life lessons and gave me an insight into my own character, but most importantly, gave me a family. That year, I had some of my favorite classes–the insufferable yet undeniably captivating AP European History with the most debated character, Anthony Zlaket himself; then Spanish 3 Honors with Sra. Soliman, who has one of the most inspiring personalities, and is characterized by charm, humor, and extroversion. It was Sra. Soliman who truly brought out the best in me and showed me that one has to be unapologetically themselves without the restraint of others’ expectations in order to truly flourish. I pole vaulted my freshman and sophomore years, and through that learned much about discipline, endurance, and knowing that while there may be many failures and setbacks, it is important to carry on and forget about the day before. Finish every day and be done with it. That’s how I got through my junior year, truly. Invigorating academically and challenging my limits in the best ways. Sure, a lot of stress, but the kind that motivated me to excel and exceed any limits I set for myself. I’ll be honest, I look back and don’t really know how I managed to tackle that all. My advice in handling all the extracurricular activities, hard classes, sports, and social life is to take it one day at a time.
Don’t look at the big picture; it gets pretty ugly sometimes, so just focus on what you can control in the moment and make sure to get it done. Bad grades? Get a better one next time. Bad day? Finish it up, and tomorrow is a fresh slate. It’s all about perspective and continuously shifting it to what you need and not your instinct. I felt it was only through that mindset that I got through AP English Language with Mrs. Yeyna. A heartening and witty instructor who always made sure there was a challenge in front of you to keep you on your feet. Funny enough, I had to take a dose of my own medicine when I got a 0 on an assignment in that class. The rest of the semester, I fought with every part of my being to prove to myself and her that I was more than that kind of student. The next semester, she asked me to join Spotlight, and I ended up getting a 5 on the test. I wholeheartedly accepted her invitation, and I can testify that the Poly Spotlight has opened my eyes in many ways. I’ve got to challenge myself with writing different kinds of pieces from sports to spotlights to the latest trends. It’s been a great deal of fun that I’ll surely look back on with fondness.
Finally, the next few years for me consist of going to RCC with a major in Chemistry and transferring to a 4-year university. That physical science major was heavily influenced by the one and only Mr. Schiller from his AP Chemistry class, which drove me to have a passion for STEM. I will go onto the premed track in hopes of becoming a surgeon of some sort, going as far as I can, and pursuing education to save lives and help others. I’m showing my preteen self that the only limits she ever had are the ones she set for herself, and the girl I once thought had limited capabilities is becoming a woman who is pushing herself to be the best she can. I plan on traveling the world someday and pursuing my love for God the rest of my life. From soccer to choir, mock trial to pole vault, NHS to Link Crew, and more, I leave Poly with so much gratitude and love for the friends I made, the teachers who pushed me to my best, and the life lessons I’ll carry for the rest of my life.
Much love,
Acacia Bernier.
There are two things that I think I was probably born knowing about myself: I wanted to have an opinion on everything for the rest of my life, and I wanted to share it with everyone. When I was growing up I was always told “you would make a great lawyer” by adults around me; I think that was just their sly way of calling me recalcitrant. I took it as a compliment then and I take it as a compliment now as I’ve never been a person to shy away from using my voice and expressing what I believed in. My family always made sure that they were going to raise a woman that was not afraid to stand up for what she believed was right. Unfortunately in doing this they have found themselves saddled with a pretty stubborn daughter. I realized later in my life that alongside my tendencies to be slightly contrarian, for lack of a better word, I also loved to read and write. I’ve always loved to be creative and felt most like myself whenever I had pen to paper and ideas flowing through my head; to me experiencing a life devoid of creativity is adjacent to death. So when I was approached to be a Spotlight staff writer my junior year of high school by my wonderful AP Language and Composition teacher, Mrs. Yeyna, I saw an opportunity to have a controlled space to voice my opinions and simultaneously cultivate my love for writing; it was like I was offered to go to heaven. I think being able to write for the Poly Spotlight is probably the most unique attribute of my high school experience, and the one I’m most grateful for.
While my high school graduation will be the first of many pivotal graduations I expect to experience in my lifetime, it is probably the one that is the most important to me. Neither of my parents graduated high school, so the summer before my freshman year I decided to look up what percentage of children whose parents didn’t graduate drop out themselves. The statistic is about 40% of those children are expected to not complete high school. This haunted me every single year for my entire time of being at Poly. I did not want to be a part of the statistics, I did not want to place a glass ceiling on myself, I did not want to be a waste of potential. When I walk that stage on graduation day it will be proof that I am not defined by the numbers working against me. I hope that it can be proof to other people that they are not either and they are much more than a statistic and they are more than capable of rising above them. Even if you currently find yourself in a place where it may seem impossible to make it through, if you have dug yourself into a hole, some good advice that I’ve received this year is that the best thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging. It is never too late to start over, you can always choose to be someone else, and you are deserving of success.
If you are anything like me while you’re in high school, you’re not going to want to be here and while you’re on the brink of leaving you’re going to be very excited to go. That is a good thing! There is so much more out there than what is here, there is so much more to come. Graduating is not an end, but rather the beginning of all things that are left to do.
With love for what was, and hope for what will be,
Emma Goad
Wow, these four years at Poly high school have truly flown by quicker than I could ever possibly imagined. I can’t believe I’m already writing my goodbye letter, it’s surreal. Reflecting on my time here, I realize I’ve grown a lot in these past four years. To think that I started off as a scared freshman, too afraid to talk to people in my classes and now I’m a senior who has an abundance of kind and amazing people surrounding her, just about to graduate in a month. Mr. Cordes really wasn’t kidding with us in my freshman year when he told my class we’d be graduating in a blink of an eye.
During my time here, I’ve been a part of a few clubs including photography, amnesty, interact, and women’s equity. I’ve also participated in volleyball and lacrosse, meeting several of my close friends along the way. To any girls out there who are interested in joining lacrosse, please do it! I enjoyed every single moment of being a part of that team, and it changed my experience in high school in such a positive way. Sure you’ll get beat up a little, but the friendships you curate make it all worthwhile.
I think I’ll miss playing alongside my lacrosse teammates the most. I know for sure that I won’t miss all the AP classes though. Man, those were super stressful. I loved all my teachers, but it was a lot of hard work and I’m glad I’m finally going to be done.
This was my first and last year writing for Poly Spotlight. It has been loads of fun, and I’ve loved spending my mornings with the people in this class. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I decided to join this class, but I’m glad it’s been a good experience. This class had been beneficial, as I learned a lot about my writing style and got comfortable with it. I’ve also gotten to use this class as an excuse to research and talk about different topics that pique my interest.
After graduation, I plan on attending the University of San Diego (USD) and majoring in biology. I hope to have a career within the research side of the medical field, striving to help people behind the scenes rather than face-to-face. I will continue playing lacrosse at the university’s competitive club team and will hopefully be spending much of my time outside down by the beach.
As I head off to college, the advice I give to all the lower classmen (especially the academically driven ones) would be to not take things too seriously. Honestly, half the things I stressed about really did not matter in the long run, and that extra stress can affect your health. Maybe it’s just my senioritis speaking, but I think school shouldn’t be taken extremely seriously. Don’t pull all nighters studying for a test or feel like you’re falling behind. I assure you it will all work out. There are always ways to overcome hard times and it won’t be the end of the world. What truly matters is trying your best, building friendships, and having fun.
Thank you to everyone who has made my high school experience memorable and fun. I’ll catch you all later!
Rachel Haynes
The time has come for this stage of my life to close; senior year is almost over! High school has been one of the most interesting experiences of my life, and I can’t say it’s been perfect but I fulfilled that movie trope of not only growing up and figuring out what I want to do but also who I am.
Each year was a different stage of my life. Freshman year, I was really shy and unsure of who I was, entering this new space. I found some of my best friends and finally started to ‘grow up’ and bloom into a new version of myself. Sophomore year, I branched out into new possibilities and areas; I joined track, started weight training, and started speaking up in my English classes. This is probably my favorite year of high school, next to senior year, as it was the first time I really shed my shell and allowed myself to have fun outside. Now we get to the most daunting year of all, junior year. I’d never been more stressed in my life before junior year.
I was growing into my big boy pants, making new friends, and enjoying school and my sport. I had my philosophy class second period, where I met the wonderful Mrs. Wilson, one of the most incredible teachers on our campus. Then, I became an academic casualty. I cried over each of my classes, would get heart palpitations when I slept, and entered a really rough mental state. Junior year taught me one of the most important lessons of my life: health is not something you can trade for achievement. Despite my constant worrying, my grades never dropped below a 3.8 average, but my happiness and health were constantly declining. This haunted me into senior year.
I entered with high hopes and a positive mindset, but the impact of neglecting my health for months didn’t just disappear over the summer. Since the beginning of the first semester, I’ve struggled with my health, developed a chronic condition, and had to overcome so many obstacles with my health. The biggest things keeping me going were the wonderful people surrounding me who made me laugh every day, and the fact that I made it a priority to shift my attention away from school to my mental health.
A lot of that is just a long-winded way to say that life is so much more than just school. It’s hard to remember that with our parents, the constant pressure of feeling like you need to be better, and how college season makes you feel incomplete. But all of our experiences make us who we are and what we do. Before you’re a scholar, a high achiever, or the next Harvard student, just let yourself be alive. Remember that you’re not a failure if you don’t get into every sport or club or get the highest grade.
But it’s just not possible to ignore our transcripts and future. High school can be really oppressive when you trade in happiness for success, but there are ways to enjoy what you’re doing while doing well. For me, I found that classes that helped me excel academically and enjoy life made school a lot easier. Culinary arts was one of the best ways for me to connect with my peers and explore what I pictured to be an unconventional career possibility. Choir is the portion of my day where I could feel connected to something outside of myself: music. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and collaborated with other students to make art. Lastly, Spotlight. I can’t lie and say my performance in this class is anything close to academic excellence, but it’s been a wonderful experience. Being able to have an area of my academics where I had the ability to choose what I wanted to do and express myself made school feel fulfilling.
I’m going to CBU for pre-med. It’s kind of ironic that I made this big point about prioritizing life over school and then chose one of the hardest career paths. I’ve had a lot of experiences with my health and my family members, and there are a lot of big changes I want to make for how people are treated in the healthcare field, primarily women of color. It’s hard, but it’s fulfilling. That’s really the biggest impression I would like to leave on underclassmen and fellow graduates. Life should be fulfilling even in its challenges, for we grow as individuals as we struggle. Struggles should not retract from our ability to grow and to be. To be cheesy and quote God of War Ragnarok, “We are not our failures. We are not who we were. We must be better.”
Noemi Martinez
Hi, my name is Nyla Louise, I am auditioning for the role as senior Spotlight Staff Writer, and I am currently about to graduate high school.
I am Jesters (theater) co-president, Spotlight Staff Writer, a Mock Trial competing member, and a part of choir’s Chamber Singers. As you can imagine, I was extremely busy throughout the course of high school. When I was approached by Ms. Yeyna with the idea of joining Spotlight I was hesitant, but now I am so incredibly grateful that I had this opportunity. I have always loved to write, mostly because I love to talk, and writing is basically just talking but with more effort. I love giving my opinions on subjects nobody asked about, and I love proper grammar, so it turns out the school newspaper was a pretty good fit for me.
I loved high school. Even though it got really, really hard at some points- I still would not have changed a thing. Being co-presidents of our school’s theater program with my good friend, Piper Peterson, was one of the greatest joys in my life thus far. I love how inclusive of a community Poly’s theater is. I love nothing more than to perform and entertain, but truly what makes our department so special is the people. If you are unlike me and are graduating, please consider joining theater–you will not regret it.
Throughout my time in high school, one thing I have been consistently told (and I am sure other students can relate to this) is that these four years go by fast. When I was a freshman and I was told that by a graduating senior I didn’t believe them. But now I am that graduating senior and guess what I’m telling everyone? These four years go by fast. I wish I had some groundbreaking, never heard before advice for the students in years younger than me but it turns out the phrase “cherish it before it’s over” has only been said so much because it’s true. As I look back on the time I’ve had, I don’t think about that one math test I failed or a missing assignment, I think about all of the wonderful people I have met. From the teachers who believed in me at my worst, to my friends who laughed with me when I was at my best, I believe every single one of them shaped me into the person I am graduating as. I am now continuing on to college to study criminology, and shortly after that get my law degree to become a prosecution attorney. Thank you Poly for being my home, and thank you for giving me the tools to move forward confidently.
As someone who gets nostalgic over the smallest things, the end of my senior year is very bittersweet. Each year throughout high school has had its ups and downs, and they are all so distinct from each other. My freshman year was riddled with worry over what my place at Poly would look like. I didn’t have many classes with my middle school friends, and had to make new connections with people I had never met before or had only spoken to very briefly. It was challenging at first but ended up helping me build my confidence and gave me some of the most meaningful friendships that I have to this day. Even for those who I do not keep in touch with due to conflicting class schedules or just growing apart from them, I am so grateful for their kindness and friendship.
For my sophomore year, I started it with a sense of anxiety greater than I had my freshman year. After seeing my Senior friends from the year before graduate, it made me realize that would be me one day. It only worsened my need for perfectionism, as I was convinced that would be the only way to be successful in high school and beyond. However as my classes got harder, I had to come to terms with the fact that you simply can’t succeed at everything you do. To accept this was one of the best decisions I made for myself and my mental health in high school. While I was still holding myself to high expectations, I was free of the shame that would come when I fell short. My sophomore year was perhaps my favorite year of high school. This was, despite initially being anxiety-inducing, perhaps the most I had been free of stress ever. When I think back on some of my fondest memories of high school, and the people I spent them with, I think of sophomore year.
My junior year of high school was perhaps the most consequential year for me; I was dealing with a demanding academic schedule, my family found out my mom was pregnant with my baby brother, Ellis, my friends and I saw each other often in and out of school, and I got to spend almost every waking moment with my best friend since we had the exact same class schedule. This year was formative and revealing, stressful and exhilarating, demanding and rewarding. I had never felt more proud of myself and so vivacious than I did during this time. While sophomore year was by far less stressful, I would still choose to go back and relive my junior year over again due to the sheer amount of exhilarating changes occurring in my life, both the positive and negative.
My senior year has been what you’d expect. My classes are much less demanding, I’m starting to get ready for college, I have my drivers license (and a small case of senioritis), and I’m preparing to walk the stage and receive my diploma. The biggest disappointment this year was getting rejected from my dream college, something that is still difficult for me to admit. However my senior year has taught me that no matter what the journey is, your destination is all that matters.
Now that I’m leaving Poly, it brings to mind not only the campus I’m leaving behind, but also all my incredible teachers. They have all made me into the student I am today, and have taught me so much besides their curriculum. I give so much thanks to every teacher I’ve had here at Poly.
Most importantly, I have to thank my family for supporting me so much in my life. It’s all because of them I feel so confident pursuing my passions. They raised me to be the person I am today, and have been the greatest support system and foundation anyone could have. I love them so much, and I hope I make them proud.
To any underclassmen, I’d say make the absolute most of your four years, whatever that looks like for you. Get involved in clubs, try out for sports, take the classes you’re passionate about, make friends with people who value you. When you graduate and have the chance to look back on how you spent your past four years, hopefully you can reflect on positive growth, sincere friendships, and be proud of all you’ve accomplished.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to at least try and get involved in high school while you’re here. A ton of people say that these four years suck, while others say that these are the best years of your life; the only thing I know for certain is that it sure does go by in the blink of an eye, just like everyone says it does. However, for the majority of the time, I still felt like I was accomplishing nothing and simply letting time pass me by. It wasn’t until junior year when I started to feel involved and even then, it was only a tiny bit.
One of, if not the biggest regret I have in high school is not joining the Poly Spotlight Newspaper sooner during my sophomore year, when I was already somewhat familiar with what it was and had already recognized my love for writing by then. This was my first and last year as a staff writer for the Poly Spotlight, but even in these short, ten months, I have been able to be served the most impactful lessons in which I don’t think I can ever forget. I would like to highlight three of them:
- Every voice matters. Naturally, many of us tend to gravitate towards the big names when tasked to write about someone, whether it be about the well-known students on campus or even about celebrities. However, after challenging myself and writing “Humans of Poly High School,” I found that everyone at this school has both a story to tell and a lesson we can all learn from. It seems obvious at first, but really, how many stories of your friends and peers would you know had it not been for our forced proximity in this school?
- Don’t be afraid. Going back to “Humans of Poly High,” interviewing completely random strangers during lunch is just about one of the most nerve-wrecking things I have ever done; however it is also one of the greatest things I have accomplished. The saying about missing 100% of the chances you don’t take may be cliché, but it still holds very true. I believe it is of the utmost importance you exit your comfort zone many times during your time here (and after too!) because no matter how terrifying it may sound, there should be comfort in knowing that at least you will take something away from whatever risk it is that you’re taking—whether it be a lesson learned or something to look back on with pride.
- Stay true to yourself. Yes, all of these lessons can be found plastered on your teacher’s poster about words of wisdom and encouragement, but I still think them to be pivotal—they definitely were to me. I just recently came to an understanding that it is the lessons that seem the most simple and obvious that are truly only learned through experience. Anyway, I say this final one because we all know how difficult it is to navigate high school while simultaneously feeling like we’re being watched at all times due to our unfortunate situation with social media, amongst other circumstances, but I beg you don’t let these things interfere with a) you being exactly who you are and b) your journey to who you’re meant to be. On a more personal note pertaining to Spotlight, it should go without saying how I hope you never generate an article artificially, but also, never believe you’re not good or creative enough to be part of this team. One of the best parts about Spotlight is how I’m constantly reminded that I don’t know everything after being taught something new from a friend through wild conversations in zero period. Similarly, it is one of the greatest satisfactions to hear from someone—anyone—that your own words made them feel a certain emotion or open their mind to something.
I feel as though there is so much more I want to let you, the reader, know about me, but I think I have already covered the most important things. To add just a bit more, I really am going to miss this place. Aside from me being overtly nostalgic and whether or not my high school experience was a positive or a negative one, remember that there will always be light in the darkest seasons. I was lucky enough to have found slivers of that light during my time here. I will miss many of the teachers, including the one and only, Mrs. Yeyna, who I know will always be in my corner. I will miss my friends. I will miss M.E.Ch.A, AVID, DLI, ASL, theater, football games, and the way Poly’s campus looks so eerie at night.
I’ll be finishing my time here at Poly now, but if you would still like to hear from me for whatever reason, hopefully you can find my words again soon in a fiction magazine courtesy of UC Berkeley’s vast and wonderful world of English. My one wish for the future of the Poly Spotlight is that someone carries on the tradition of “Humans of Poly High School.” Continuing to showcase the life of Poly’s students and staff not only serves as a reminder of our humanity, but it can also teach us to build connections with others—perhaps someone you never would have thought about bonding with.
I wish you the best, whoever you are. Hopefully you take something away from this letter. Truth be told, it’s all I’ve ever wanted for my writing.
I love you.
Isaac Villegas
Poly Spotlight Newspaper Staff Writer
To begin with the cliche, when you come in as a freshman at Poly High School they tell you one thing: “You’ll be a Senior before you know it.” At first I feel you don’t really tend to believe that; as finals and projects drag on it seems like time warps slowly around the halls. Yet I write this farewell letter today as a senior who cannot even comprehend his exponential journey at Poly High School. Coming in as a freshman I had long hair, a quite anxious demeanor, and an innate love for “messing up.” And although I can’t look back on my Freshman year with pride, I do take pride in the experiences I had, and the valuable lessons that have shaped the person I am today. I truly believe that your first two years here are solely for finding your sense of self. I have met people my Freshman year that I still talk to today, I have met people that year that I would never talk to again, and I have met people that year that I haven’t spoken to in a while until my 4th year here at Poly. The way the world slips around your inconsistencies within high school actually creates some sort of consistency.
My Sophomore year I really began to make my moves, I joined Cross Country, a season that finally made me feel like I belonged to Poly. I met the most amazing, ambitious, and hysterical individuals that I still converse with today. We suffered sweltering hot workouts together, bombed races together, and have had our fair share of victories together. I couldn’t be the altruistic person I am today without my time in Cross Country. I also joined the Poly Spotlight this year. As someone who has a passion to inform, persuade, and compose, I knew that I would fit right in. From the valuable camera experiences down on the football field to the oversight I offer today as an editor, I could never discredit the creative opportunity that Spotlight has given my soul. It is Mrs. Yeyna who has made this theatrical newspaper possible, as she has never failed to show up for her staffers. Skipping forward, I joined the Interact Club, the Peer Educator Program, Link Crew, and I volunteered at a local thrift shop that serves Elementary School children in need. I even joined ASB, which is the biggest surprise considering the fact that I thought I would never find a position there. Most importantly, I experimented; I found what worked for me and I built myself from the ground up. I am ambitious, I am kind, and I am consistent. Rather it be 10 people disagreeing with those statements, or perhaps 50, I am proud to say that I have found my confidence within my once small self. I now walk the halls as a senior, and I will say, it is quite scary. The buildup to the day we all know is impending: graduation. Though, before the messy emotional ending, I can’t help but to reminisce once more on the things that have made my Poly experience personal. Mr. Pfrunder probably has no idea about this, but he has single-handedly fueled my high school career and holds a special place in my heart. My freshman year, he taught me the high school “Track” analogy, comparing each grade level of high school like a lap around the track. 4 laps is equal to one mile, which is graduation–the desired goal. Despite what objects are on the track, each grade level up will result in another lap being done, making my high school journey framed thoroughly by my “laps.” Although I am not close with him particularly, I value that analogy he has locked into my heart. I will definitely miss the people here. I met some of my funniest friends here, my most profound friends, my helpful friends, my listeners, and rightly so, my girlfriend. These people have taught me so much about my own self, which really puts into perspective the social scene within high school. High school is about finding yourself. The people here are going to hurt you, the people here are going to help you, the people here are going to confuse you and make you think, the people here are going to fuel the best version of yourself–as long as you are willing to make that effort. So hoist yourself up, roll out your sails, pull up your anchor, and move with the waves, because where you are going is a mix of fate and self-ambition.
So, with this one big beautiful mess of a goodbye letter, I sit here content–content with my word choices and topic choices as I take part in the next step into my life. As a first generation, and low income college student, I could not be more blessed to be attending University Of California Los Angeles (UCLA). It is here where I will major in neuroscience, a subject that has taught me its bearings can unlock the concrete mysteries of human consciousness and reasoning. As an observational individual, it is here where I find the most comfort. No amount of abstract and purposeful writing could ever embody the true feelings I have at this stage in my life. We are beautiful, we are strong, and we are able. We won’t be here a century from now to tell the tale of what WE once were, but our mark on the world’s innovation in climate conservation, civil liberties, and ambition for equality, will stain history and form dents within its cycle. We only embody the human party, a righteous coalition of over 8 billion beings coexisting within a celestial body where we all are trying to just survive. At the end of the day, this big goodbye serves as a presentation of ambition, peace, and preservation. So, to all the Class of 26’ Bears reading this, it is an honor to share this triumphant moment with you all. And please do, make your mark on this world.
With Much Love & Honor,
Daniel Holscher
My brother told me when I was a freshman that these four coming years would fly by, and he was not wrong. In retrospect, four years is not a long time, but the amount of growth and transformation that can occur in that span makes high school a very long short interim into adulthood. From playing percussion in eighth grade at Poly to now, each interaction and decision has molded me into who I am today. I am content with who I am now, but I know that the journey to discover who you really are never ends. Regardless, I have some bits of wisdom I would like to share in hopes it helps at least one other person: I have come to believe that every person is a student one way or another. Everyone has something they are learning, and no one is “better” than another; rather they are at a different place in their understanding of a topic. Through my time here, I have also come to realize that patience is the key to success. This simple mantra of mine has given me the strength to endure whatever throe is assailing me. This saying means to give patience with yourself: with what you are learning, with what you are struggling with, with anything you are dealing with. No matter the situation, patience is a guiding and reassuring hand that will lead you through whatever you are struggling with.
The two parts of high school I will miss the most are my teachers and my friends. I think the influence and the demeanor of my educators was a defining feature of each grade for me. All of my memories and conversations with them gave me a connection beyond the formal as I learned more of them throughout the year. For my friends, I will certainly miss seeing them daily. Even when times were tough I could always count on them to make me smile, and I am incredibly grateful for that. For me, they are a large part of why I wanted to come to school every day, alongside thirsting to expand my mind and understanding further, and are why I never chose to intentionally miss a day of school without a valid reason to do so.
After high school, I plan to attend Riverside City College and major in music performance. I am not sure whether I will transfer after two years to another school in California once my undergraduate is completed through the Promise Program or if I will stay for a few more years, but I do not have to figure that out yet. While I am majoring in music, I also would like to become a registered ASL interpreter and delve deeper into mathematics which I can get both at RCC. Ultimately, I have a general idea of what I would like my future to look like, but I would like to let the universe help guide my steps moving forward.
My greatest impact on this school was with Poly’s marching band. I had been a member in eighth grade and with that I was walking into high school with a strong foundation and people to rely on. While I originally marched saxophone, I switched to percussion (mainly drum set) full-time as I pursued leadership in the front ensemble. There I got to work with so many wonderful individuals and make so many great memories. Even though leading such a large section for three years was a challenge, it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Through it, I learned of the love of teaching as being up front instructing almost every third period my junior year showed me the true, deep connection that can occur between student and instructor. Even if my guidance was not as knowledgeable as our coaches, I found that seeing my members both grow musically and as people was my favorite part of band. I had helped foster such a strong family that year and my impact on my peers’ lives is what I am most proud of. While I am sad that I cannot end my high school career in band, I am proud of the work and passion I poured into the program.
Even if my largest impact was in marching band, I know I have done well as a staffer and an editor for Spotlight. Although I struggled as a Sophomore and wanted to not continue into next year, I decided to stick with it and I am glad I did. Junior year was a much easier time for me as I felt I found my groove with writing. I mainly wrote diversions and those were my favorite; Spotlight offered a creative outlet that I had never had before where I could share my interests and passions publicly without fear. Besides diversions I covered almost exclusively VAPA events due to being heavily involved in those programs, and writing those was always a treat. Even though I struggled with in-person interviews, seeing people so passionate about what they are performing was unlike any other interaction I have had. I never expected to be nominated for editor in chief, but I took it regardless despite my fears. It seemed like a mountain of work that I would have to add onto everything else, but in reality it was made much easier with the help of Daniel Holscher. Being able to reconnect and work with him again was one of my favorite parts of Spotlight this year. It is quite amazing to see how everyone has improved in their writing from the beginning to now. I am so proud of all the diligent staffers I got to work with and I am incredibly grateful and honored to have been an editor of Poly’s news publication. I know that Spotlight will be in good hands with the new leadership, and I look forward to all the new and creative articles that will be released online.
Before I say farewell, I would like to say thank you to some important individuals:
- To my stepmother and father for the ceaseless support and encouragement in all my endeavors.
- To Mr. Cordes, who has always been a friendly face I could always count on for quick wit and quiet kindness.
- To William Starns, Amanda Gibson, and Liana Chrystomou, who have been some of my greatest friends ever and who have stuck with me through thick and thin.
- To Daniel Holscher, who learned, struggled, and persevered with me as an editor.
- To the previous editors whom I learned much from.
- To Mrs. Yeyna, who has seen me grow both as a writer and as a person from 10th grade to now.
Soon I will be donning my cap and gown and walking at graduation. While I am excited for the future, I will certainly not forget my time here at Poly. I am happy with my impact here, and I hope that my name is remembered and my legacy is upheld by those I worked with. Thank you all, and good afternoon, good evening, and good night!
Twenty-three years at Poly High School is a lot of things: thousands of essays, a dozen generations of journalists, and more pre-dawn cups of coffee than I care to count. While I’ve spent my career helping others find their voice, today I’m using mine to address the community that has been my second home – my colleagues, the families I’ve come to know, the alumni who have moved on to great things, and the current students who still keep me on my toes. As the Class of 2026 prepares to walk across the stage, I realize I’m finally ready to graduate right alongside them.
What will stay with me? It has been my greatest privilege to share this journey with such wonderful teachers. Over the last 23 years, I have gotten to know their hearts, and I want to emphasize to all of you students that you are being taught by the most dedicated, hardworking, and conscientious educators in this profession. They deserve your kindness and your respect, not just for the lessons they plan, but for the people they are. They have been so much more than colleagues to me; they are family. However, you should know that you students have been just as vital to my journey as they have been. When I think of my time here, I will truly miss the electric atmosphere of our annual SLAM competitions and those lively Socratic discussions where I could actually see the lightbulbs going off as students connected with a text and each other. I’ll miss the intensity of our Spotlight News classroom in those wee hours when the rest of the world is still asleep, but the incredibly gifted Spotlight staff is huddled together, fueled by caffeine and the drive to get the story right. I will forever cherish the lessons I have learned from all of you throughout my time here at Poly.
Of course, there are things I am more than happy to leave behind. I think I can safely say I’ve graded enough essays to last three lifetimes, and who would possibly miss scheduling bathroom breaks to a bell schedule. It is a quiet heartbreak when a student doesn’t have an inkling of passion for the literature we’re covering; watching a masterpiece go unread feels like an unrequited love story. And don’t even get me started on the Socratic Seminars where the silence is louder than the discussion because the books stayed closed the night before. But even those frustrations have become the background noise of my life, and there’s a strange sweetness in finally clearing them off my plate.
As for my own post-graduation plans? My next chapter involves a lot less grading and a lot more living. I am heading into retirement with a full heart and a very long “to-read” list. I’m looking forward to slow mornings and fun-filled afternoons, and perhaps, finally writing just for the sake of writing. I’m ready to take the fierce energy I’ve dedicated to this school and finally give it back to my husband and children who have graciously shared me with Poly for many years; it is time I belonged entirely to them. My three-year-old grandson can’t wait for more storytime with “Oma.”
If I could give you students one piece of advice, it’s this: Read the room, but write your own story. Don’t let the expectations of others edit out the best parts of who you are. Life doesn’t come with a rubric, and the most meaningful work happens when you find a purpose that makes you willing to go off-script. Don’t just look for a career; find a mission that makes you want to show up and do the work every single day. I was blessed to have this career.
To the entire Poly community – past and present: Thank you for letting me be a part of your story. You have most certainly been a beautiful and integral part of mine.
Once a BEAR, always a BEAR.
Always in your Corner,
Kim Yeyna