Note from Neuhaus

Dear Northview Class of 2023, I

’m so proud of you! You have accomplished so much in your high school years, and I am honored to have been a part of your journey. I still remember many of you from our days together in elementary school, where you were full of curiosity, enthusiasm and joy (love that Shark Bump!) You were eager to learn and explore with your classmates. You made me smile every day. Over the years, you have shown resilience, creativity, and compassion. You have made lasting friendships, learned new skills, and discovered new interests. You have grown into remarkable young adults, full of life and ready to take on the world! You are talented, passionate, and most importantly, you are kind. You make me proud every day.

As you embark on your next adventure, whatever that may be, I want you to know that I am always here for you. I will always remember you as the wonderful young adults that you are. I will always applaud you as you pursue your dreams. I will always support you as you overcome obstacles and seize opportunities. You have a bright future ahead of you. You have the ability to achieve anything you set your mind to. You have the confidence to face any challenge and the humility to learn from any mistake.

My wish for each of you is to embrace the uniqueness that is you—to love yourself and let your light shine! One of my favorite readings is “The Book of Joy,” which outlines three simple rules to live a joyful life that I’d like to share with you.

First, be grateful. Each of you is enough exactly as you are. Be grateful for who you are, the people in your life, and all that you have.

Second, to live a joyful life, have a positive attitude. Things are going to happen to us that we don’t like or want. That’s part of life, and how we handle the ups and downs makes all the difference. Look for the good in the world and in all your experiences. It’s there, sometimes hard to find, but, the more you look for it, the more you will find it.

Third, to live a joyful life, do kind things for others. When you encourage others, you are lifting up yourself as well. Helping others makes the world a better place and is a noble endeavor. One of my favorite Martin Luther King Jr. quotes is, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is—What are you doing for others?”

Remember that, wherever your journey takes you, you are not alone. You have a network of people who care about you and who will always be there for you. You have your family, your friends, your teachers, and me. I am cheering for you to make the world a