It’s almost back to school time and I’m very excited as usual to see the kids again. Each year we start anew and, of course, we see how the kids have grown and take in a new group into the fold. I have been lucky enough to teach at many different levels, but I’m always so excited to be at the high school. Just think about your high school experience and all the opportunities that you had to grow, to experience new things and find out the person that you wanted to be. I’ve always enjoyed that about high school and I am ever impressed to see how many kids creatively find new ways to put themselves out into the world.
I wanted to start this year off with an interesting story of a young lady named Lily Sherman, who was lucky enough to experience a very cool thing in the State of Ohio. Lily, in her leadership at SHS, had expressed how she thought SHS could do a few things to assist students to feel safe. In her discussions with myself and Assistant Principal Kevin Rupp, it was apparent that Lily had the passion to be a leader on the subject. Seeing her passion, Mr. Rupp nominated Lily to be a part of the State of Ohio and its student safety advisory council, created by Governor Mike DeWine. Lily had to go through an extensive process and be interviewed multiple times, but in the end, Lily became one of only 16 students across the state selected. Lily’s role in this will show over time as she has met with the committee, but her experience will last a lifetime.
I share Lily’s story to celebrate a motivated student, but I would like to expand her story to look at what it says about high school. These are the opportunities that kids have in high school. Lily’s put herself out there and is learning valuable leadership experience. With the backing of her parents and the support of her teachers and administrators, Lily started the march into adulthood. Her experiences in this endeavor will help guide her in her future and it all started in these high school years. The experience that she gains, the opportunities and the people that she meets, can and will shape her life forever.
In closing, I want to celebrate Lily, but I also want to tell the community that Lily is special, but not uncommon. I say not uncommon, not as detractor for Lily, but in the fact that high school, especially Springfield High School, creates many of these opportunities for students. We will have students compete across the state in athletics, band, drama, choir and other various organizations. But we also will have our students in leadership projects such as the Business Professionals of America, National Honor Society, Clean and Green Energy and many other opportunities. Throughout this year I’ll get to share with you the students who partake in the Junior Achievement cohort, Youth Leadership Toledo, and I just found out we also have one student who was selected to be a part of the Diabetic Youth Advisory board (more to come). Again, all these students are so amazing and the opportunity is largely created in high school for them to go out and broaden their horizons. I loved being with the younger kids and seeing their imagination take flight, but there is nothing more cool than seeing some of the older kids beginning to take their place in our community, knowing that they’re ready to make their hometown a better place.
With the growth of young people in mind … welcome to the 2024/25 school year.
