Senior Semester

SENIOR THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2011

SEMESTER The journey to graduation has reached its conclusion Matt Smith Times Staff Writer

Expectation hung heavy in the air as Keanan Garnes sat at the dinner table with his mother, father and step-dad one early spring afternoon in Gunnison.

A f t e r months of weighing his college options — crunching the numbers, traveling out of state for visits and talking to countless coaches, counselors and admissions personnel — it was time to make a decision. A long list of schools had been pruned down to two places for the past two months, but just one college would make the cut.

“Well, I’ve been thinking a lot about what you guys have been telling me and I’ve decided I’m going to Mesa (State),” said

Keanan.

The thick tension looming over the room was immediately washed away. There were cheers from mom, a few loud claps from dad and an overall look of relief upon everyone’s face.

“A lot of it had to do with how coach (Joe) Ramunno presented himself and I really wanted to play for him,” added Keanan, who plans on playing football and walking

a blog site, making it possible for outsiders to gain a glimpse into the exciting, and at times hectic, leap into individuality that takes place after graduation.

It can be a stressful time for high school seniors everywhere, as they shed the confines of their childhood comforts and make a decision that will steer the

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course of their future adult lives.

“A lot of other kids have known where they wanted to go and he’s like, ‘I don’t know why this is so hard,’” said K e a n a n ’s mom, Cindy We l l s . “ I t should be a really exciting part of his life, but he’s always wanted to make sure he doesn’t make the wrong decision.”

To compound the issue, there’s a lot going on in the final semester of a high school career besides making a college choice. There’s a graduation and a prom to plan for, sports to be played, classes that still have to be finished and, ultimately, daily lives that still have to be lived.

For Alexa Tutor — who is the senior class president at Gunnison High in addition to her long list of other responsibilities — it’s been a juggling act.

“Although my senior year has turned out almost as I expected it would as far as school and sports go, there have been many ups and downs to go along with a great year ...,” Tutor blogged in early April.

“There is so much to do that

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on to the track team at the four-year institution in Grand Junction. “I think I’ll fit in there.”

The Times has been following Keanan and two other seniors in Gunnison for the past three months of the journey. Along the way the three students have been documenting their daily lives on

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Life After 8

Illustration by Kelly Eisinger

6 • SENIOR SEMESTER • Thursday, May 19, 2011

GUEST COMMENTARY

GHS SENIOR SURVEY

Saying goodbye is not easy to do

(30 participants) 1. After graduation will you be attending…

College: 26 Trade School: 2 Military: 1 Workforce: 0 Other: 1 2. Do you think Gunnison is a good place to live and grow up?

Yes: 28 No: 2 3. Would you ever consider Gunnison your permanent home now or after college?

Yes: 2 No: 5 Maybe: 4 4. Do you look forward to getting out of Gunnison?

Yes: 23 No: 7 5. What would be your ideal place to live?

Country: 4 Small Town: 12 Suburb: 9 Big City: 5 Where is your ideal place to live?

“East Coast” “Colorado”

Gunnison Country Times

- Erin Guy - Nicole Follman, - Emera Danos

“Somewhere in CO or CA???”

- Lily Lambert “Maybe someday back in Gunnison” - Noah Blackwell “Here” - Hunter Boomershine “Flagstaff, Arizona” - Zach Roper “Right here, Gunnison is my home” - Nelle Foster “Washington” - Amberlynn White “Somewhere like Gunnison” - Stefan Whiting “Gunnison” - Elise Picard “California” - Dan Reinhardt “Denver” - Nicanor Garcia

My last day of high school was the best worst day ever!

Throughout the day, I had such mixed feelings as I finished my finals.

I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster.

By the time I got my tests finished and arrived at home, I completely broke down. My parents looked at me like I Alexa Tutor was crazy because I had been so excited and stressed all week to get my tests completed, and I so much wanted to be finished with high school. The funniest thing about my meltdown was that I was crying and laughing all at the same time.

The weeks leading up to graduation have been so busy that it’s hard to believe high school is really over and that I’m really done. I’ve been studying nonstop for finals, organizing graduation and Baccalaureate ceremonies, and checking out with all of my teachers.

As president of my class, I have felt the excitement of all the planning for commencement. But, I also feel as though I’m just going through the motions and completing everything required of me, and I don’t think it will really sink in that I’m finished until that very last day when I walk across the stage and receive my diploma.

Who knows? Maybe it won’t actually seem real until that day in

August when I leave for college.

Because basketball has been such a huge part of my school career, I waited until the last possible minute on my last day to turn in my uniform, as I couldn’t quite part with it and wasn’t ready to give that up.

My coaches have been such a huge influence on my life, so saying goodbye to competing in sports and to my basketball coaches — Coach Mick and Coach Cooper — and my volleyball coaches — Coach Benson and Coach Searle — is extremely difficult. I have had awesome opportunities with the sports programs in our school.

I am also very grateful to have gotten a year in our new high school building. It’s such a great facility, and I hope that future students appreciate what an amazing facility they have and what a great learning environment it is.

I wish to thank all of my teachers and staff from Gunnison School District, who have been such a big part of my life and who have believed in me and led me to the successes I have had. I feel like the Gunnison schools have prepared me well for what I face ahead.

Our community is so supportive, and I couldn’t have done better attending a larger school or living in a different community. As ready as I am to move on, I know I will miss my school and this town. I am so proud to say that Gunnison is my hometown and always will be!

Gunnison is also home to a wonderful 4-H program. The opportunities that I have had through 4-H and

the Get Your Goat Club with Ann Bertschy have allowed me to find my passion in working with animals.

Between my experiences with my Goat Club and the courses I have taken at GHS, I know I am prepared.

Although it will be hard to say goodbye to my goats and all the people involved, I know I am ready to move on.

At this point, this weekend, I will actually walk across the stage and graduate from high school, get my diploma, enjoy my time at my graduation party with family and friends, and then have one last hurrah with my classmates at Project Graduation.

My next step will be to find out who my college roommate will be and attend the orientation program at Colorado State University to register for my classes.

As I move forward in my life and continue my journey, I would like to especially thank my family for always being there for me and supporting and loving me. Without them, getting through high school would have been almost impossible because of the many challenges that were brought my way.

I have enjoyed sharing my last senior semester with the Gunnison community, and I appreciate the opportunity that the staff at the Times has given me. As I close, I think of my four years in high school and my parting words which would be: If I had it to do all over, I would open my eyes and listen more to the advice that my family, friends, and teachers were giving me along the way.

Where/What will you be i

Zach Roper I’ll own my own dirt bike shop.

Ayla Mapes Married to a mountain man with yaks.

Noah Blackwell Riding broncs in the PRCA.

Brandon Roedder PGA Tour professional.

Avery Dobie An x-ray technician at a hospital.

Kirstie Stahlnecker Teaching the first or second grade.

Nicole Folman Working, married with five kids.

Megan Fuentes Married and a personal trainer.

Daniel A moun killing

Mark Mykol In the army, on the ground.

Thursday, May 19, 2011 • SENIOR SEMESTER • 7

Gunnison Country Times

Determining what comes next Bridging the ‘GAP’ Year away from school becoming more popular among high school grads

Guidance counselors help students make important decisions Chris Dickey Times Editor

Gunnison High School guidance counselors Mike Casey and Sara Lamar are on the front lines of helping students figure out “what comes next.”

If one thing is for certain in that decision-making process for teens, it’s that there is no lack of information about the available options. Casey has been at this for 25 years in Gunnison, and he says the explosion of on-line resources is one of the biggest changes he’s seen.

But this begs the question: Does the availability of more information, accessible at the tip of the fingers, lead to better decision-making?

Casey isn’t so sure.

“We’re assuming it’s easier because they have more information,” he says. “But they have to sort through it all. It’s possible that it is harder to make those decisions.”

And possibly more stressful too.

“We’re asking the kids to think about it earlier, think about it

GHS counselors Mike Casey and Sara Lamar

more and research it longer,” Casey continues. “It could mean that we as a system are putting more pressure on them. I hope not.”

Lamar, who works most closely with seniors, acknowledges that the decision of what to do after high school is so multifaceted that it typically doesn’t come easy, regardless.

“In the background, they always have that, ‘Oh my God, I’m leaving home, too,’” she explains. “So I think deep down, they are a little scared.

“Most of them stress out about it, unfortunately.”

Lamar, who happens to be

pregnant with her first child, speaks about her senior students as if they are her kids.

She believes in them and wants what’s best for them.

If a student who is having a particularly difficult day comes in to her office, sometimes Lamar just takes them on a little walk.

“I call myself an advocate, that is my role at the school,” she says. “We try to provide personal, emotional, social and academic support for students.”

Lamar is also occupied with the nitty-gritty details, especially for college-bound seniors — Counselors 8

in 10 years?

Cadwell ntain man, g things.

Elise Picard Own my own business in Gunnison.

Lily Lambert Own 10 islands.

Mike Spallone Hollywood.

Evan Ayers Punting in the NFL.

Kalae Miller A computer program writer.

Reinecke.

Concern about taking such a step before entering college is common, especially for high school guidance counselors.

It’s the idea that if they don’t go immediately, life will get in the way and then they may never find the time to earn their degree.

Matt Smith “I think the important thing Times Staff Writer for kids making that decision is to have a plan,” said Mike The path that students take Casey, a longtime counselor at from high school to college Gunnison High (GHS). “Going doesn’t have to be a direct one. to college immediately after For Skyler high school isn’t for everyReinecke, a one, but they need to have a senior at the foundation for what will come Gunnison instead.”

Valley School Carrie Reinecke has advo(GVS), a great cated all along to her son that leap into the college isn’t the only path that’s unknown is paved to success. She believes something that finding a sense of purpose that needs for being there is necessary to take place Reinecke before making the jump. first. Once “ S o m e he receives kids don’t “There’s a mishis diplohave the ma, he’ll be conception that choice to endeavoring make the in a concept I’m going to skip decision for that is gain- college completely. themselves,” ing in popusaid Carrie. larity: It’s If somebody offers “(Skyler) called a “gap needs to figme a job to be a year.” ure out what “It’s going CEO of a company he wants to allow me to be doing to develop somewhere in the before taksome difing that next ferent ideas Pacific, then I might s t e p a n d about what I skip college.” spending the want to do,” money.” said Skyler. -Skyler Reinecke According “I think it’s to a recent about gainDenver Post ing an idea for what the broader story, the number of students world really has in store, instead making the same decision as of just what college immediately Skyler is growing. While a “gap has to offer.” year” was once something that For most of his high school only a handful of privileged career, Reinecke assumed that kids could afford, it’s becoming an immediate jump into higher a wise way to not waste time education would be the natu- and money on a classic freshral progression. It wasn’t until man flop. he began having more serious For Rachael Sandhagenconversations with his parents Turner, a “gap year” allowed her — about what he wanted out of to get out of her comfort zone. life — that he began to consider After graduating from GHS in his alternatives.

2009, she spent one year as a While a great majority of high missionary in Atlanta, Ga., school parents have been stress- where she volunteered in an ing the importance of earning a after-school program and at a college degree to their children, food pantry.

Carrie and Craig Reinecke were Having recently finished her telling Skyler something quite first year at Western State, she the contrary: He didn’t have to looks back on the experience as go. one that was essential to devel“The light bulb went off,” oping the maturity and life skills said Carrie, a graduate of needed in the college arena.

Western State. “He was like, “I’d say that living in a dif‘Really, I don’t have to go?’” ferent community really helped Instead, Skyler is setting me adapt to dorm life and gethis sights on travel. For start- ting used to having a roomers he’ll head off to Indonesia mate,” said Sandhagen-Turner. for a few weeks, with his uncle, “Overall, it’s having that differthen it’s on to Thailand for a ent life experience and having short training stint at a culinary a year of independence, away school. from the college version of indeThe mission in filling the pendence.” “gap” is to consider all the Skyler suffered a serious injuoptions that are out there, ry during his junior year of high including colleges, while not school that will delay him from tying himself down to any one graduating GVS this May. He idea. expects to graduate after taking While he is adamant that one summer course and expects his intentions are to eventually that college is in his near future. enter college, Reinecke is also “There’s a misconception that considering technical schools, I’m going to skip college comthe culinary arts and even vol- pletely,” said Skyler. “If someunteer health service. body offers me a job to be a “There’s a big playing field CEO of a company somewhere out there and I’m going to in the Pacific, then I might skip keep my options open,” said college.”

8 • SENIOR SEMESTER • Thursday, May 19, 2011

Counselors from page 7 which has traditionally been at least 80 percent of GHS’ graduating class. She’s the gatekeeper of most scholarship information. She assists with the college application process, and has written more than 20 letters of recommendation for students this year.

“They’re such awesome kids,” she says.

Due to district budget cuts, Lamar’s position is actually being eliminated for next school year. Both her and Casey emphasized that students will still be able to benefit from the services offered by GHS’ counseling center — including scholarship searches, application help and more.

Most colleges are experiencing increased demand, so Casey said that’s resulted in them becoming more selective. That means they’re more difficult to get into.

Another change that Lamar

has witnessed this year is that a larger portion of GHS seniors are pursuing vocational colleges — for trades such as auto mechanics, electrical line work, heavy equipment operating, etc.

Casey said you never know for sure if a student is making the right decision about what to do after high school. There’s always a bit of emotion that factors into such decisions.

He said some of his most rewarding career experiences are when a student who may have struggled in high school and then finds his or her niche — be it college or something else — and goes on to find much success.

“When they do reach graduation, our goal is to make sure they’re ready to move to the next level, whatever they choose that to be,” Casey sums up.

(Chris Dickey can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or editor@ gunnisontimes.com)

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Gunnison Country Times

Life After from page 5 it gets a bit stressful at times, but I am hoping it will all turn out well and I’m excited for my an eventful spring!”

Tutor also narrowed down her options to two schools, the University of Wyoming and Colorado State. After visiting both campuses multiple times and learning all that she could about each one’s animal sciences programs, she chose Colorado State as her next stop.

For Skyler Reinecke, a senior at Gunnison Valley School, the choice led to a completely different resolution (see related story on “Gap” years).

Seniors in Gunnison attended their last day of high school this past Friday and will walk the stage to receive their diplomas this coming Sunday. For most it’s a bittersweet ending,

but it comes with a ticket to the free world.

To read more about the journey the three seniors have taken in the Times’ senior semester project, visit gunnisontimes. com.

(Above) After months of racking his brain to make a final decision, Gunnison High senior Keanan Garnes sat down with his mother, father and step-dad one early spring day in Gunnison to deliver the news of where he’ll be attending college this next fall.

Alexa Tutor took several trips to visit the campuses of her two top colleges — CSU and Wyoming. She settled on CSU, seen here, where she plans on studying animal sciences, with ultimate plans on becoming a veterinarian.

Photos by Matt Smith

May the force be with you. u.

-obi-Wan kenobi