Senior Tribute Magazine | 2023-24 | Rocklin High

editor notes...

This magazine is distributed to all seniors with a copy of their yearbook. This year’s senior class was made up of 516 students, meaning that it would be nearly impossible to meet everyone in their four years here. This magazine marks a representation of members of the Rocklin High School Class of 2024, made to show our seniors the fun, bright and exciting group of students they went through high school with.

As a whole, We Are Rocklin, but individually we are athletes, artists, students, and so much more (as represented on the back cover). Each student has their own talent or passion that makes them uniquely them and that is what makes this campus so special. Each student has their own path in life but we will continue to remember the years we spent connecting to others. As the seniors leave, we are eternally grateful for the legacy they are leaving behind, stepping into a new chapter of life, and are excited to see what they accomplish in the future.

Finally, we would like to thank everyone that has worked so hard this year. Thank you to our staff for staying strong and creating amazing spreads for the yearbook. Thank you to our editors for their ability to manage under stress and produce something amazing. And lastly, thank you to Mr. Ruby and the entire M5 media community for everything they provide to this campus.

senior timeline:

02 - 03: Katie Adamic, Daisy Cambri, Nica Sobrepena

04 - 05: Ivan Jauregui, Hannah Kelly, Ernesto Macia, Nick Ryan

06 - 07: Fall Senior Night: football, girl’s golf, girl’s tennis, girl’s volleyball, girl’s waterpolo

08 - 09: Fall Senior Night: cheer, girls flag football, boys water polo

10 - 11: Lacey Adkins, Ava Estrada, Sarah Lazureanu, Anali Yanez

12 - 13: Angeline Basle, Hayden J’Beily, Mayank Shekhar

14 - 15: Winter Senior Night: dance and boys basketball

16 - 17: Winter Senior Night: girls basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer, wrestling

18 - 19: Koen Bell, Isaiah Connor, Makayla Paminto, Senior Six Flags Trip

20 - 21: Catherine Gladden, Olivia Shorts, Kassidy Stevenson, Sydney Tobias, Taylor Winarski

22 - 23: Spring Senior Night: boys baseball, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, girls softball, boys volleyball

24 - 25: Spring Senior Night: boys baseball, boys lacrosse, girls softball, boys tennis, boys volleyball

26 - 27: Caleb Bunt, Grayson Cruz, Christopher Gunter, Tyson Shaw

28 - 29: Emma Bingham, Hannah Love, Brooke Patton, Ashley Waits

30 - 31: VAPA Senior Night: choir, dance class, marching band, theater, drama

32 - 33: Jackson Bass, Averi Schwarz, Miranda Sherman

34 - 35: Senior Assassin: Jackson Bass, Jules Goodman, Marcus Hawkins, Giselle Kirchner, Karver Knorzer, Raynold Kumar MAY 29th: powderpuff MAY 31st: senior graduation rally

MAY 3rd: senior field trip MAY 30th: senior sunset JUNE 7th: senior graduation

thingsallsports...

Not many people have had the opportunity to take part in RHS programs for more than four years, but Nica Sobrepena has spent many years growing up around our tennis courts. As soon as her older brother joined the team, she tagged along to nearly all the practices and matches and competed in local tournaments, which led her to develop many friendships and connections to the players over the years. Sobrepena loves having older friends on the team but she said, “...they were much older than I was, and being a senior on the tennis team gave a sense of realization that I was supposed to be that person for other people.”

Playing tennis was one of the few ways she became involved during her high school years, and her passion for her sport led her to two more opportunities, Sports Media and Sports Medicine. Although Sobrepena did not start Sports Media with Ryan O’Donnell until later in her high school years, she was able to connect with other sports and people on campus with the on-field and up-close opportunities this class gave her. As for Sports Medicine with Mrs. Torey Walter, she said, “I just love the way Mrs. Walter is so endearing with all of what she does with sports medicine.” When it comes to the future, Sobrepena explained how she’s interested in taking sports medicine further because of how captivating she finds it, also adding, “...anything sports related, I’m super interested in taking after high school.”

Sobrepena is a perfect example of how taking advantage of the many opportunities on campus can end up taking a major role in one’s life. Sobrepena said she wishes she could tell everyone that, “-One thing that I’ve learned is to just do it, even if you don’t think you’re going to like it, or if you think it’s a stretch or it’s too far out. You’ll regret not doing it if you end up not doing it.” The classes, opportunities, events, and teams Sobrepena partook in shaped not only her experience over the past four years but potentially her future too. You never know what you might find joy in, so why not give it a try?

dress UP why NOTcause

Daisy Cambri has only attended RHS for the past two years, but during that time she’s stacked up quite the list of accomplishments. She has been involved in football games, gone to all the dances, made incredible friendships, and also was a club officer in French club. Cambri explained her role in this club, saying, “I’m the Social Media Manager and I love it. I love making stories, it’s so fun. I put a lot of stickers on it, and I do the posters, and posts, and stories based on the theme. It’s great doing all the activities and seeing everything put together.”

Not only did she create a wide range of advertisements for clubs events, but she also created outfits to wear to our school dances. Ever since homecoming, Cambri has dressed up to the theme, continuing this into even prom, and her reasoning for this is simple. “it’s prom so might as well be a princess and might as well be kind of like Rapunzel…Yes, that is my favorite dress up. That dress was so puffy and nice. It was made out of tulle and had butterflies, so I felt like a real princess.” Not only did she live out her Disney princess dreams, when Camrbi dressed up for homecoming it had quite the opposite theme. “I did love Dr. Facilier and I love ‘Princess and the Frog’ so when I looked at Dr. Facilier’s outfit it was mostly red, black and purple. I didn’t know how to incorporate that especially because he was wearing a suit… So what I did is I found a red dress and I found a cropped blazer for women, and I put on some purple tights and some black shoes, I also got some voodoo things, and I made my own version of that locket where he bites Prince Naveen, I made that out of clay and it was perfect.” Dressing up to the theme for dances had become something specific for her senior year.

Her plans didn’t stop there, if anything she’s got a solid idea for how she wants the next couple of years to play out. Cambri states, “I am going to be at Sierra because I’m trying to save money, but I am planning on pursuing a career in nursing. Otherwise, I’m going to be really involved in my church. Also I’m going to work a lot…I want to be a boss.”

The transition from one school to another is difficult, especially for high schoolers. The experiences and connections that are created are important. It presents you with a life similar to that of the outside world. High school has been a major part of all students’ lives. It’s difficult to put into words what high school was like, especially only 3. Cambri explain it as follows, “Fun, short, and about to end?..I am kind of sad. It’s going by so fast, but I’m really glad I enjoyed high school and I enjoyed my senior year.”

life with drama

Katelyn Adamic, during her last four years of her life at RHS, describes the experience as exciting, theatrical, and stressful. Excited to, “...move forward in [her] life,” stressed about grades and, “...everything coming to the end,” and theatrical, “of course, because I’ve done theater all four years of high school, and it has definitely been a huge part of my life.” As she talks about her first experience in the RHS theater program, Adamic opens up about how she “started off really not knowing a lot of people and being very awkward and uncomfortable.” Adamic said, “I used to have the most horrible social anxiety…I for one hated presentations in class. But with acting on stage, you can really just take your mind off of what you’re actually doing… I think that anyone who has anxiety, being onstage can really help with that, because it kind of takes you out of the stress and puts you in the mind of being somewhere else.”

These skills and lessons she’s learned from theater have been a constant in her life, considering others who also could be struggling with social anxiety. “I joined freshman year and started doing shows. And

EXCITING, STRESSFUL theatrical

In the fall of 2023, she was able to be in the RHS production Shadow of a Doubt, playing the role as Juror number one, the mediator for this jury of opposing personalities.

katie adamic shares her theater experiences from three plays this year

at first I started off not knowing a lot of people and being very awkward and uncomfortable, but then I grew more confident in my skills and I gained more friends. I hope that I’ve really created a welcoming environment, because I know what it’s like to join without knowing anyone. As I’m the current vice president of Drama club, I’ve created a welcoming environment that everyone can at least, if they don’t know anyone, that they can come talk to me if they need someone.” All thanks to her theater experiences she was able to overcome her social anxiety, and learn how to help others through her experiences.

While looking back on her past shows and productions at RHS, she can’t help but think of, “...Midsummer, which [she] did my sophomore year. And, I mean, it’s definitely not my biggest role. But the environment was honestly just the nicest I’ve experienced. As someone who wasn’t a lead character, I had a lot of time to gain friendships with people who also weren’t leads. And there were moments where we would like, way off sides, when we were waiting for scenes we really got to know each other. And I think it was just a really happy and

welcoming, warm environment.” Summarizing these moments, the main things Adamic took away were the relationships and environments, the show as a whole. Not entirely thinking about how much time she had on stage or how many lines she had, but more so the people she met and experienced as a whole.

Theater has always been a constant for Adamic, so she doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon, “I’m going to Sierra College and I am planning to act in their shows and take theater classes, and then move forward with theater as I go into my adulthood.” Her time on the RHS stage was only the beginning, but it’s a time she’ll never forget, especially her teachers. “I’ve had a great experience with both teachers. With our teacher who just retired last year and then our new teacher, Emily Masnica. Both amazing experiences, both amazing teachers, and I think theater has just changed me as a person and I would recommend it to anyone.” Adamic’s impact on the RHS theater program won’t be forgotten anytime soon, and it definitely won’t end here.

Ivan Jauregui’s Ascent from Drones to Dreams worlds BRIDGING

With a scholarship and the will to build meaningful relationships, Ivan Jauregui is advancing to the top of the IT industry by day, flying drones and mastering computer science at night. As his senior year comes to an end, Jauregui looks back on his four years and also looks forward to his future after high school and the college he wants to attend. “It’s one near the Bay Area—Santa Clara University. But yeah, it was between that or UC San Diego, and I chose this one because in the long run it’s going to be cheaper for me because I got a really good scholarship, right? Yeah, the scholarship is going to make it the same price as a Sac State or San Jose State scholarship.” Jauregui has not only picked out the colleges he would like to attend but has found which ones will be better in the long run as a goal of his is to get into the profession of computer science and eventually into project management, “I want to be the person that bridges, like, I guess, the social aspects of business with the geekiness of nerds in computer science. Because I feel like someone’s got to bridge that.” Jauregui’s goal of being the bridge between the more techy side of computer science and the business side stems from his love of being social and getting into fun, engaging conversations with others. “I’m also a social person. I love talking to people. I love getting to know more about people. I’m the one to strike up the conversation.” But Jauregui doesn’t only love being social and computer science; he also enjoys flying drones for his part-time job, where he highlights schools, parks, and businesses with his stunning drone videography and photography.

“During the summer, to get my community service hours for my college app, I went and emailed businesses and schools in the city of Rocklin and, “I would say, Oh, look, I have a drone. I’m a high school student. Let me help you out by getting your drone footage, and they would help me out by signing off my community service hours for the footage.” Jauregui’s commitment to a studious life isn’t just shown by his motivation for a career in the future but is also shown in the classes he is taking this year, with four AP classes. Jauregui’s commitment to school and maintaining good grades and good relationships shows his dedication to his success that he maintains day in and day out.As he prepares for his transition to college, Jauregui looks forward to bringing his unique blend of technical skill and interpersonal insight to a new environment. Confident and ready to embrace the challenges ahead, he aims to make a significant impact on both the tech and social spheres of his new community at Santa Clara University.

Reflecting on the Past, Living in the Present, Preparing for the Future

NAVIGATING nostalgia

Nostalgia is something all seniors have to face when they reach the end of their high school. Their last years on a campus are filled with memories and moments that shaped them into who they are today. Hannah Kelley looks back at these moments, cherishing each one of them. When asked what three words would sum up her senior year she said, “The words I would use are nostalgic, exciting, and special.” As Kelley navigates through her final years of high school, she finds this new sense of independence and freedom. “I think you get the most independence and freedom as a senior, but it’s also nostalgic because it’s your last year with all the people you’ve been around your whole life.” Being a senior is not just an academic achievement but a way to look back and reflect on all the people you have met and all the experiences that follow. Kelley reflects on her high school career, realizing how quickly high school flew by, “I’m just looking back at the past years and the underclassmen like wow I used to be that age, and now here I am about to graduate and I have tried on my cap and gown and it’s getting real.” With the reality of graduation coming soon, it seems surreal that her high school is ending. With nostalgia, there also comes a lot of aspirations and dreams. When asked what her plans after high school were, Kelley said, “I plan to attend SDSU and I’m majoring in marketing, and then my dream job would be part of a marketing firm…zzzbasically sell your product to the mass people.” Kelley has thought hard about her future career and is excited to pursue this career and is ready to go head-on with any challenges she might face along the way. As Kelley prepares to say goodbye to her high school years, she will embrace the nostalgia that comes when one reaches the end of a chapter in their life. As she reflects on how high school flew by and all the moments she will remember forever, she has clear aspirations for her future. Kelley is ready to embark on the next chapter of her life.

THROUGH the lens

How Ernesto Macias Captures More Than Just the Game

On game day, players will stretch, review film, and go over plays, but Ernesto Macias prepares differently. He grabs his camera and the right lens and prepares to capture pivotal moments. These moments tell a story that captures the intensity and excitement of the game. Currently, Macias is in the class Photo Journalism, which allows him to take photos of sports events. For Macias, going to these events isn’t just about capturing the action; rather, it’s about experiencing the excitement of the game. “...going to games and taking photos, because I’m gonna be honest, I don’t really go out to games, but that actually let me get to see games, which I thought was really cool.” Capturing photos of these events gives him front row seats to exciting events, allowing him to immerse himself in something he might not have experienced before. When asked what his favorite sport to take photos of was, he said, “Probably basketball.” He explained again how he not only takes photos at the games but also likes to expereince them for himself as a viewer. “I just liked the pace. I played it before. And yes, I just like watching it.” Macias shows his love for the game both as a photographer and as a fan, driving him to continuously seek out opportunities to capture more thrilling sports events. As his senior year and high school career come to an end, he looks back at all his years of high school. He looks back at all the moments he experienced and all that he went through to reach the end. In three words, he explains his senior year and last year of high school as, “Chill, easy-going, and fun.”

Photo By: Eitan Rubinstein

Nick Ryan’s Picture-Perfect Senior Year

CAPTURING moments

Nick Ryan, a senior at Rocklin High School (RHS), describes his senior year as “Fun, difficult and memorable.” With his time at RHS coming to an end, he looks back on his high school experience. One memory stands out from his junior year when he and his friend Diego Nunez created the segment “Evil Robot Babies” for The Friday Show. The making of the show was fun for Ryan and Nunez, and they had a great time working together with the team to make it all work out. After the segment aired, he had many thoughts and feelings about his creation. “Evil Robot Babies was a segment we created in the Friday Show about the Child Development robot babies turning evil and terrorizing the school. It was done horribly,” Ryan explained. Despite it being done horribly, it was still the talk of the school for weeks after it aired, bringing people back to The Friday Show every week looking for the second episode of the segment. Throughout his time in the video production class, Ryan had many laughable moments here at RHS, such as the “Evil Robot Babies” segment. Another moment that Ryan looks upon fondly was when he was editing The Friday Show at the beginning of his senior year.

“there was a segment about the College and Career Center. I was editing it, and I had to get the B-roll (background videos) of universities, and I clicked on a website to get the B-roll, and when I hit the download button, it just popped up hundreds and hundreds of [Adult Videos]. And Diego [is] right next [to me], we’re looking at my screen [and] I clicked the download button, and it opened a new tab. And I was like, that’s weird. And then it forced me to the new tab, and it was really funny.” Although Ryan’s memories of RHS are mostly enjoyable and funny to look back upon, not everything has been smooth sailing for him. One difficulty Ryan experienced this year has been the photo program and the lack of a teacher this entire year. “The issue we have currently, and it’s not going to get fixed, is we’re in the advanced photo class, but he is treating us like Intro to Photography. So we’re learning how to use Photoshop, and I’m like, everyone knows how to use Photoshop in this class. Yeah. So that’s kind of like the struggles we’re dealing with right now,” Ryan said. On the other hand, the Photo-Journalism Program that he is a part of has been fun and easy throughout the entire year. He is able to take pictures of events and activities around RHS, anything from club meetings to football games, and one of his favorite sports to photograph is water polo. “I’d say the easiest one and that’s why it’s my favorite is water polo because they always look really nice. Especially because, like, the waters are reflective and like, that deep blue always looks cool. And it’s so easy, just go there for like 10 minutes and [you] already have like 100 pictures that are usable.” Ryan’s skill as a photographer cannot be undermined as even his photojournalism teacher, Joshua Rubinstein, said that, “Nick has one of the best natural eyes for what looks good in a photo that I have ever seen in my entire time teaching the Photo-Journalism program.” Ryan is very talented in both photography and video editing, and his impact on the Video Production program, and both the Photo and Photojournalism programs will not soon be forgotten. When his time here at Rocklin is done, he doesn’t expect to be remembered, “...it’s like incoming freshmen are going to be like, ‘have you heard the legend of Nicolas Ryan?”’ Ryan just wants to be able to impact the school that he loves and cherishes. Someone that his teachers and friends will hopefully remember for his sense of humor and fun personality.

“Evil Robot Babies was a segment we created in the Friday Show” -Nick Ryan

fall senior nights:

dance, football, girls volleyball, girls tennis, girls water polo

fall senior nights:

cheer, girls flag football, boys water polo

especially with homework and my classes, made me a more organized person and able to ask my teachers for help. Now that I’m really open to that it’s really helped me a lot to grow and do better in school.” Yanez said.

Her passions beyond school constitute a great portion of what shapes her, particularly her love of martial arts. “I do martial arts at a school and I work there too. It’s always fun trying to teach the kids the new curriculum and stuff, but then also for me always being a learner. I’m like a teacher and a student. So it’s always humbling to also know that there’s still stuff I need to learn,” Yanez said. She was initially drawn to martial arts for its community when she tried it for the first time in sixth grade, explaining, “I think my parents brought it up. And I was like, oh, that sounds cool. So then when we actually went there and actually trained with everyone, I felt that it was a really good community and everyone was really friendly with each other.” Yanez has been able to grow and learn in so many ways, and standing as a matured senior, she expressed that if she could say anything to her freshman self, she would say, “You’re gonna get through it, it’s okay! It’s four years, it’s [going to] go by really fast and you’re [going to] do great. Just remember, believe in yourself, ask for help. And yeah, you’re [going to] turn out into a really great person moving forward.”

student and kind kind

ava

estrada

people are the best sensei

anali yanez shares how she has grown as a student in school and in martial arts

Crazy. Interesting. Exciting. Anali Yanez defined her last four years with these three words, explaining, “Crazy, because I felt like coming in as a freshman during COVID I felt like I wasn’t really connected with the school or with my friends. But as I got into sophomore year and junior year, being on campus and getting to know my teachers actually, I felt more connected with the school and connected with my peers.” Throughout her experience in high school, Yanez has grown in her academics and her communicative skills. She reflected how school has impacted her: “I feel like it’s made me grow as a person and made me,

expresses how she has explored new experiences with kindness over the years

“Pretty is as pretty does, if you’re nice to people then that really proves who you are as a person.” To Ava Estrada, generosity is the fundamental basis of who she is and strives to be. She implements kindness in everything she does, especially with her church, as she described, “I’m very involved in my church. I’m there every Sunday volunteering in a second-to-third grade class and helping them with their faith formation, and usually I’m just helping around with different events at the church, whether it’s like a dinner party, or it’s a random little youth group that I volunteer for. I’m always there.” She went on to explain why she dedicates so much time to volunteering, “I love my church, everyone there is so nice. And yeah, it’s really just kind of like school. It’s the kind of community that I wanted to be a part of, so I just put myself out there.”

In terms of school, Estrada reflected on her two favorite classes she’s taken in these past four years, “It’s Dual Enrollment US History with Ms. Jones because she’s amazing. I really love her so much, she’s so sweet and super nice. And it was just such a good experience to have that class. I love it. And I think [for] my second favorite or my other favorite, I really like English, English is my favorite subject. So AP Lang was perfect for me. I loved it so much, like I can’t ever explain to people how much... I explain to people how much I like it and they’re like, ‘you’re weird.’” She further explained why she connects to English so much, saying “I feel like, especially with

AP Lang, there’s a lot of symbolism that you have to find in the books that you read and the excerpts that you read, and I kind of like making that connection myself. It kind of makes me feel smart.”

Her experiences over the years have helped Estrada find what she wants to pursue in the future. She voiced, “I plan to be a physical therapist and that is solely because of my experiences at physical therapy. My injury hurt my self esteem and going to physical therapy was so fun and my doctors were so nice and patient and it made me realize that I want to have that effect on others too.” Despite her bright prospects, Estrada admitted her worries, saying, “Although I am looking forward to being on my own and having more independence, I am scared. I am so fortunate to have a close knit family and close friends that I can’t imagine not being able to see them everyday.” As her high school experience comes to an end, Estrada wishes to say to her younger self, “Be yourself! You’re enough and you should just do what you want to do!”

act with your heart passion my played out

lacey adkins shares about the friends she made in theater and how the program helped develop her character

Theater is a place where any student in any grade level can perform in front of students and parents. Little did Lacey Adkins, a senior at Rocklin High School, knew that this year’s musical would unfold into a newfound passion for performance. The musical changed Adkins in a way she didn’t expect. She notes, “I’m a very quiet and anxious kind of person” before the play, but once on stage it’s a “totally different environment.” Despite being her first year acting in front of a crowd, she realized that the environment created through theater is one she wanted to be in, both on stage and off stage. Adkins made many new friends through the theater program and many new peers to look up to. The theater program is “like a big family,” which encouraged Adkins to push herself to become a better performer. “I love feeling connected and having people just constantly inspire you to do better and they’re always there for you.”

Hope Wright and Annabella Eaton are some of the new friends she made due to the musical. Offstage, they would engage in activities together, which strengthened their bonds. “We played games behind stage and it’s just like, there’s so much fun people, you know, they’re just people you would never expect that you would ever get to know.” Her friends were not limited to students however, the new theater teacher also encouraged her to become a better actor. Adkins recounts how “she helped me kind of enhance what I needed to do.” The people around her also inspired her to continue theater and improve at it. Actors such as Roman Cambridge and Dakota Demakas motivated Adkins to develop her performance skills since they were more experienced than her. Despite joining the program for one year, Adkins wants to continue in college and outside of school in hopes of creating new connections and advancing her skills in acting. Without her taking the first step this year, she wouldn’t have learned about her passion. She encourages other seniors to follow in her steps and join clubs and step out of their comfort zone.“But I think it’s important that we go out there and you try different things like clubs or extracurriculars. Even if you’re a senior.” Besides, joining these new clubs could lead to new life-long connections with people you wouldn’t consider talking to. “Life is all about making connections and connecting with as many people as you can.”

sarah lazureanu recounts her time in the rocklin high school music program

For most people in the music program, the instrument they learned in elementary school is the one they stick with for the rest of their lives. However, for Sarah Lazureanu, the oboe, an instrument that requires a great amount of practice and control, has been a newly found passion of hers for the past year. It started when her music director requested one of the clarinetists to switch to the oboe. “I was very competitive. I practiced a lot on the clarinet and I took like a little quiz, like playing test and then she was like, ‘Okay, you’re good.’“ From that day on, Lazureanu stuck with the oboe, improving every day, where she had to play her first solo in front of the band. The piece “Korean Variations” had a difficult oboe solo, which appeared daunting for her. However, that didn’t stop her from practicing every day for it, until the day she was able to play it fully. The day Lazureanu did play the solo, Douglass “stopped the band” and said, “Can we just appreciate the solo?” For Lazureanu, the support she experienced from Douglass and the band “really helped [her] improve.” This community she has found herself in made her realize how much she loves music and the sense of a family it has brought with it. This allowed her to expand past Wind Ensemble and into other programs such as the Marching Band. “The family that’s created in a band is such an important part of how I remember high school and band camp.” She recounts how the school has become a more enjoyable place for her and how it stimulates her for the rest of the day. “I really do enjoy school more because of music and because of the band and every time I have Wind [Ensamble], it just makes it so much more exciting and it actually wakes me up in the morning. But thinking about being able to go to the band room and spending time with my friends every other morning is just amazing, and I’ll take up any opportunity I can to being here more.” Lazureanu values the community and the relationship music has brought her, and hopes that she will be remembered as a player with a love for music. “So even if I’m not the best player I hope you’ll remember me for my passion for music.” photo taken by Connor Hassler

teamwork makes the dreamwork

mayank shekhar shares the impact that community has had on his running experience

High school can be an overwhelming place. For Mayank Shekhar, a freshman coming out of online schooling during COVID-19, attending such a big campus with over 2,000 students was intimidating. However, four years later, Shekhar says that if he could’ve told his younger self anything, it would’ve been that, “it’s going to be alright, you’re going to be fine…As you get more connected to the community, it gets a lot better.”

The biggest connection that Shekhar made was joining the cross country and track teams. While he had previously ran in middle school, the high school teams significantly ramped up the intensity in terms of commitment, training, and competition. As a four year athlete in both sports, Shekhar says that his experience has resulted in his growth not just as an athlete, but also as a person. It has taught him the value of persistence, hard work, and self motivation. For him, a huge goal was to run a sub 5 minute mile, which he trained for almost two years to achieve. Shekhar said, “It’s just that idea of every day, you’re a little bit better…that idea is what keeps me going because everyday, you chip away at this goal and eventually once you reach it, it feels very cathartic.” Now entering his last season, he is looking to run under 4:40, which to him, is a reflection of how far he’s come.

Shekhar has been conditioned to go on hill runs, long runs, and track workouts in training cycles that can often get up to 40, even 50 miles per week. This all requires mental toughness, and he emphasizes the importance that his teammates have played in his training. Shekhar said, “Some of my fondest memories are those workouts where it’s pouring rain. Everyone’s absolutely miserable, but you’re miserable together. So you feel this sense of community and camaraderie, and I think that’s just the best part of running.”

“Those are some of my fondest memories, those workouts where it’s pouring rain. everyone’s absolutely miserable, but you’re miserable together.”

Looking back on high school, Shekhar reflects that it has been a transformative experience. Shekhar said, “You come in as a 14 year old, and there’s so much maturing that happens over these four years. You make friends that are probably going to last a lifetime. There’s a lot of great connections you make and a lot of great people you meet. And I think it’s just that process of maturing where you realize your place in the world, where you fit in, the people you get along with, and it gives you some direction in your life for where you’re headed. Maybe what you want to do in your future. Of course, it’s not all concrete but I think high school has given me a really good foundation for knowing what I want to do in life, who I want to be, and where I want to take my talents.” In the future, Shekhar is most likely going to UC Santa Barbara to pursue computer engineering, and will continue running as a hobby, saying “it will always be a passion for me. I’m probably going to run for the rest of my life.”

pursuing dreams

angeline basle has many different hobbies

Angeline Basle has many passions outside of school that others may not know much about. Basle has always loved helping others. One of her favorite things to do is go on mission trips she said, “I like going on mission trips and serving the community.” Not only does Basle love helping others, but she also has a passion for music. After high school, Basle wants to pursue her dreams of becoming a veterinarian while also pursuing music, she said, “I want to be a veterinarian. I’m going to major in biology or animal science, and then I’m going to do a double major in music as well.”

Looking back at her time at RHS, Basle gives advice she would tell her freshman self, “I would say paying more attention and being more dedicated. When I started being more involved and engaged in classes I got to know everybody. I had a nice experience getting to know the people who sit next to me, also paying attention in class because it helps us out of school.” Basle has many different characteristics that set her aside from others, she said, “I enjoy music, hiking, and surfing. I’m really bad at every sport but I like music. I play the cello, the violin, and the piano.” With her high school career coming to a close, she looks back on some of her favorite memories. Basle’s favorite memory is going to the school’s dances with her friends, she said, “We’d go before and get dinner, and we’d all drive together to the school dances.” Through her persistent dedication, Basle is able to pursue her future dreams and do the things she loves.

the next chapter hayden j’beily shares his involvement at rhs

Creating a long lasting impact after his time here has always been in the back of Senior Hayden J’Beily’s mind, between representing RHS through track, soccer, or ASB he has created a story for himself. J’Beily shares his experiences and relationships built here at RHS. He says “I have been very connected with the campus through sports and ASB.” J’Beily is not only a soccer and track star, he also has to balance his school life and work ethics.

J’Beily talks about advice he would give his freshman self, “Just don’t care as much. I’m going through my senior year with much less care and it is so much more enjoyable. Instead of stressing about a bunch of tests, I just do a little bit of studying prior and it has worked so much better for me.” J’Beily also says “I would tell myself to take more opportunities and enjoy the rewards that come with them.”

Although J’Beily loved his high school experience, it is quickly coming to an end. Hayden talks about his plans after highschool, he says, “I plan on going and getting into University of Reno, Nevada.” In college he plans on majoring in Mechanical Engineering for his fall term.

dylan rivera shares his time at rhs

Dylan Rivera had a fiery personality that left an impact on his peers and teachers alike. When asked what sets him apart from other students, Rivera’s answer was simple, “I am an outgoing person and I’m down to do anything.” His willingness to be “down to do anything” and overall outgoing and easy personality have made him a beloved figure within the RHS community.

Outside of school, Rivera’s passion lies in the outdoors. Rivera says his favorite “things [to] do outside of school is hunting and fishing with [his] friends.” These activities not only reflect his deep connection with nature, but they also showcase his strong bond with the people around him. Through hunting and fishing, Rivera not only finds satisfaction in the beauty of the outdoors but also builds friendships and creates memories that will be cherished for years to come.

As he gets ready for the next part of his adventure, Rivera talks about what he wants to do as a profession, “my plans after school are to become a firefighter.” Because Rivera is brave, caring, and always ready and wanting to help others, it is clear he will keep making a positive impact on people’s lives, now and in the future. At RHS, Rivera is a great example of living life to the fullest, welcoming every chance and making a good difference. As he gets ready to graduate, we cheer for him and hope his future is bright.

justin arce parker

winter senior nights:

dance, boys basketball

winter senior nights:

girls basketball, girls soccer, boys soccer, wrestling

sixFLAGS

Seniors at Rocklin High School scream their goodbyes through every loop and twist, saying their final farewells during the annual Six Flags trip. As the school year comes to an end this trip is a big deal for both the seniors and staff chaperones alike known as one of the last big events for seniors before graduation. This year’s trip faced unexpected challenges that tested everyone’s ability to adapt and stick together. Despite these challenges, the day was packed with fun moments that showed how close everyone at RHS is. The day started early in the morning with students piling into buses, excited for a day full of roller coasters and hanging out with friends. “It’s just a great way to have fun with friends who’ve become like family over the past four years,” Kayla Paminto, a senior, said. The park had tons of rides, games, and food stands making it the perfect place for students to relax and have a good time away from schoolwork.

Seniors spent the morning going on the rides and enjoying the freedom of being out of the classroom. Laughter and cheers filled the air as they moved from one ride to another, capturing moments with photos and videos that would later fill their social media accounts. However, the trip back home hit a problem when a standoff on Interstate 80 caused a big delay in traffic. The park closed at 6 p.m., and instead of heading home, the seniors found themselves stuck, waiting for news about their buses. “We were ready to head back when we heard about the standoff,” Mr. Mike Papis, one of RHS’s vice principals who was managing the trip, said. The unexpected delay gave students more time at the park, which they used to go on their favorite rides again and make even more fun memories. “This was a test of patience, but everyone stayed positive and worked together,” Mr. Thompson, one of the senior class advisors, said. The delay turned into more time at the park, giving students extra time to have fun and create lasting memories. As it got dark the students started to move into the parking lot as the parks staff began kicking them out despite that the students were making the best of the situation. Finally, the buses arrived, and they started heading home, which was much later and slower than expected. “Looking back, it was a day of ups and downs, but definitely more ups,” Paminto reflected. “It’s a story we’ll all remember, not just for the rides but for how we handled real challenges too.”

It was a longer day than we expected, but unforgettable in the best ways. “

When they finally got back to school, the day’s experiences had brought the RHS seniors closer together. “It was a longer day than expected, but unforgettable in the best ways,”

Mr. Papis said. Teachers and students talked about the day’s unexpected events and how these experiences brought everyone closer together. This year’s Six Flags trip will definitely be remembered not just for the fun and laughter, but for how everyone at RHS showed unity and resilience. “It was, in every sense, a perfect end to our high school journey,” Paminto said. As the seniors look forward to graduation, they take with them not only fun memories of a day at Six Flags but also the lessons learned from dealing with challenges as a group. It was a day that showed what RHS is all about—being tough, sticking together, and making memories that last. The Class of 2024 truly had a senior trip that went beyond just fun, turning a simple day out into a meaningful experience

of growth and community. This memorable trip not only marked the end of their high school chapter but also set the tone for their future, illustrating the importance of community support and resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. As they move on to new adventures, the seniors will always remember this trip as a testimony to their ability to thrive under pressure and the strong bonds they’ve made with their friends and peers along the way.

BELLkoen

As graduation approaches, many seniors are reflecting on their time in high school. For senior Koen Bell high school was a place to grow as a person and make a difference on campus. He remembers it as “exciting, expectational, and perfect” Through his high school career, Bell was a two sport athlete participating in football and track. Being on the football team was always a goal for him and the fact that he was able to play was a key role in making his high school experience all the things he said it was. Although Bell was taking down people on the field, he was bringing people up in other aspects of life. While sports were a big aspect of his life, they were definitely not the only thing. Just like he is an outstanding athlete, he is also an amazing person off the field. He says he wants to be remembered as a “good person who helped out their peers.” This wasn’t an easy task but Koen was able to make a difference around RHS. He shares powerful words, “I stand up to bullying, bullying is not ok”. Reflecting on his time wasn’t, Bell hopes to leave behind a legacy of positive change as he goes on to play football at Sierra College.

isaiah

CONNER

A new student at Rocklin High School, Isaiah Conner had a difficult time at first adapting to the new environment he only knew his cousin who is 3 grades below him. Even though the school system is much different here than in San Jose, Connor felt it did not take long for him to adjust. He said that, “people up here are a lot nicer... [and] not as closed off to everyone else.” Connor feels he will miss, “being able to mess around with my friends at school.”

In school, Conner doesn’t do sports and is not a part of a club, but outside He has taught himself how to draw, and has been doing art since he was a little kid. “I love drawing things or painting, doing graffiti drawings in my notebook and stuff like that.” Connor said. Always drawing, Connor has even customized shoes for people and loves anything involved with art.

After he graduates, Conner wants to travel to different countries for a year with his family, and by himself. After hoping to attend FIDM, a college in LA. At FIDM, he wants to learn how to start a business for “clothing design.” Connor started with customizing shoes and realized that it is something that Connor feels passionate about, “I love drawing and customizing things, and i’ve always done that ever since I was little” Connor ended.

“

There’s less worry that I’m going to get stabbed.

remembering these moments forever

sydney tobias

Keeping yourself busy while staying on top of your school work can be a tedious task, but senior, Sydney Tobias, was able to juggle it all during her four years of high school. Tobias was involved in many extracurricular activities, the main one being soccer. She played soccer for Rocklin FC and Blues for nine years. She also played for Rocklin High for three years but had to stop due to an ACL injury. Since Tobias played soccer for so long she was able to play with many of her teammates as they grew up and she said she believes they, “...shaped [her] into a wonderful person,” because she has “learned how to communicate well, work with others, and build confidence in [her] day-to-day life.” It has also helped her when it comes to school because she says it has taught her how to work hard in areas outside of the sport as well. When Tobias was not playing soccer she found herself dedicating a lot of her time to school and studying. When she leaves RHS she wants to be remembered as a hard worker. Tobias’ hard work is not only shown on the field but also in the classroom. She is attending UC Berkeley in the fall and she is studying biology there. Tobias does not want to stop her academic career there saying, “I hope to go to medical school after my four years at Berkeley because it has always been my dream.”

“Through the highs and lows of highschool, it was the memories created with friends that truly made the journey unforgettable.”

Tobias’ friendships hold a special place in her heart. She has experienced many of her high school events with them by her side. Such as attending dances, rallies, and games with them. Tobias said, “Many of the memories I’ve formed here with my friends will stick with me forever.” Throughout her four years, she has met many new people, but she has mainly “stuck with the same friends for the past four years,” and she said she knows “the bonds [they’ve] formed will stay with [them] for the rest of [their] lives.” The last thing she wants to be remembered for when she leaves RHS are her special friendships because of how much they mean to her.

flipping out of here

taylor winarski talks about the jump from gymnastics

to cheerleading

TAYLOR WINARSKI

A great leader takes fast and decisive action when needed, and inspires others to perform at the highest level possible. This is something Taylor Winarski has been doing throughout her last four years at RHS. Coming into high school it was a big change because she had been doing competitive gymnastics all her life, but she was willing to take the challenge of trying out for the cheer team. Ever since she made the team she has “grown so much and learned so many things” from the people around her. Winarski, “believes the mark that [she] will be leaving on RHS is [her] positive attitude and always pushing for [herself] and the people around [her] to be better.” Winarski will miss all the memories she created throughout high school with her teammates. High school can be challenging for many, but to make her four years here at RHS more enjoyable, “...being able to be on a team and meeting the people around [her] made it just that much easier to finish [her] last 4 years.¨

taking what i learned

cate gladden talks about her future majoring in early child development to pursue her dream of being a teacher, and how her classes helped make this decision

A lot of students wonder when they are going to use their curriculum outside of school once they graduate. Although for senior Cate Gladden, that was not the case. Gladden has taken the child development course here at Rocklin for the past four years. She has taken the internship class the past two years, going to Breen Elementary School her junior year, and Cobblestone Elementary School her senior year. Gladden plans on attending Boise State University in the fall and majoring in elementary education. Completing the child development course at Rocklin helped her make her decision because she said, “I got more involved with the kids and I realized I really wanted to continue this in my future.” She loved seeing how the kids grew from the first day of school to the last day of school. She said they grew “not only in their education but also behavior wise, and my bonds with them grew as well.” Gladden has also found interest in her major by working at Villa Sport Daycare, and babysitting. Working at Villa helped her because she said, “working with little kids has had a huge impact when preparing me for my future.” She also recommends getting a job while you are in highschool because it helps you meet different people outside of school and learn new life skills.

racing to graduate

Olivia Shorts, a senior at RHS shares her goals and aspirations following her decision to graduate a year early, combining her junior and her senior year. Shorts said that she figured out her desire to graduate early because of a talk with her counselor, wanting to “one-up” her siblings who graduated half a year early. She believed that “...it would be nice to get ahead.” Shorts was provided with a lot of support from her parents, helping her along her journey and making sure this was the final choice for her. Shorts explained, “When I saw I was eligible I was very excited, and filled out the forms very quickly.” She also shared that since she was a kid she has always wanted to serve a mission, and is still planning to after graduation and is excited to learn where her church sends her. Shorts wants to serve a year and a half to, “...share what I know and have experienced with others, and help those in need.” She also expressed that so far in her senior year the highlight of the year was, “...winning the senior class first rally, it was so fun seeing everyone celebrating and excited.” Shorts also stated, “-the best moment is in the future, and it’ll be either walking the stage or the senior night at Sunsplash.” Shorts’ most memorable moments in high school also consist of ups and downs, some of them being, “...winning Cahill’s Mario Kart bracket and dissecting the cat in anatomy.” She reflected on her time at RHS and described herself as being calm, caring, and collected, along with being carefree. Previously, Shorts was on the swim team, but decided to take a break from Rocklin High sports and instead chose to focus on her classes and spending time with friends. Shorts’ time at RHS is coming to a close as she expresses her excitement for future events and recollects her favorite moments.

kassidy stevenson talks about how the up and coming sport stunt has grown her as a person and athlete

Stunt, a new all women’s competition sport consisting of four quarters and six different levels, is something Kassidy Stevenson has been a part of for all four years of high school. Stunt has made a lasting impact on her. Stevenson has learned so much from being a part of stunt and it, “...has been a defining aspect of [her] high school experience.” The reason Stevenson loves this sport is because she has poured so much, “... passion and dedication into every aspect of [this] sport [her] whole high school career.” She believes that being a part of this team has helped her grow throughout high school, “...not only as an athlete but also as a leader and teammate [as well].” Stevenson stated that, “...[her] mark on Rocklin High School is tied to [her] contributions to the stunt team a legacy of resilience, determination, and a relentless pursuit of success that [she will] leave behind with joy as [she] embarks on the next chapter of [her] journey.”

carrying on the legacy

spring senior nights:

softball, girls lacrosse, boys lacrosse, boys volleyball, baseball

spring senior nights:

girls lacrosse, boys tennis, boys volleyball, boys lacrosse, softball

bouncin’ over to #1 in the foothills

senior volleyball player christopher gunter shares his plans beyond high school while reflecting on the good times he had on the rhs campus

RHS Senior Christopher Gunter has committed to Cal Poly Pomona and is set to begin classes in the fall of 2024. “Cal Poly Pomona is the second best public school for business in California,” Gunter said. He plans to major in Business Administration, which was a major factor in his decision to enroll. The other factors included how close the school is to the beach and the size of the student body. Gunter said, “There’s like 26,000 people [there] compared to the seven or eight thousand [students] at other schools I applied to.” He looks forward to the independence and responsibility, but he will still miss what he has now. “I’ll miss my friends, teachers, and the overall simplicity of it. I guess just having rules in place and [people] giving you guides on what to do. [But] at the same time, I won’t miss it. I definitely won’t miss getting in trouble for being late or over the smallest things.” Academically, he is set to succeed, and that success continues into his athletics. Gunter currently leads the Sierra Foothill League in Varsity Men’s Volleyball with kills (successful spikes), but his plans beyond high school for volleyball are not long-lived. He hopes to find a small club team near his future college, but generally he plans to play recreationally with friends or colleagues on the beach and public courts. Planning for a successful academic career is vital, which Gunter partially wishes he would have done better. “I would tell myself to try harder because you hear people talking a lot about how you need to try in high school and you kind of brush it off. It’s not until later into your high school years that you [realize], you really should have tried harder earlier on.” Going into college, Gunter has his priorities set straight. Gunter said, “My priority is to finish college, get my degree, and [obtain] a good paying job that I [enjoy].” He talked a little bit about his future after college, and his hopes to possibly start his own business someday, but he hasn’t thought too hard about it. He is excited for this independence.

such a great spirit socal

Caleb Bunt, a RHS senior, plans to attend Cal Poly Pomona with his best friend Christopher Gunter. He plans to study Business and hopes to have a very chill college experience. Upon his visit to his future campus, just the environment alone was a massive contribution to his decision to enroll. Some other factors are that he gets to dorm with his best friend, and it was the best option out of all of the schools he was accepted to. Although this phase in his academic career, high school isn’t finished just yet. Bunt expressed his priorities loud and clear: to finish high school, and move on to his next phase in life. But moving on doesn’t mean he won’t miss the RHS community. Caleb reflects on his time at RHS and expresses how he will miss Stephanie Arino, known as Madame here on campus. He has seen her as a mother figure for how agressively she makes sure every single student of hers gets their work done, whether they like it or not. This has elevated Bunt’s experience in Arino’s French class a lot. Another teacher Bunt will miss is Mike Cahill. Cahill has always been there for him, and Bunt describes him as, “such a great spirit,” and “an absolute dude.” Cahill teaches language arts and is known for his fun spirit and Mario Kart Fridays. Bunt has contributed to the RHS community in a few ways. He is known for being a nice guy, and for his unique skill in volleyball. Bunt started his volleyball career during his sophomore year when he and his best friend decided to try out for fun. Two years later, and after a lot of practice, Bunt plays for the Varsity Volleyball team at RHS as a middle. Bunt plays volleyball for both RHS and his club team, Synergy Force Volleyball. Any teammate of Bunt’s can always rely on him to lift the spirits and make good plays. For Bunt, playing volleyball isn’t always about winning; it’s about bringing joy to himself, his family, and his friends in playful ways. Appreciation for the sport goes beyond the sport itself; Bunt enjoys the travel with his teammates and the simple experience of being a volleyball player. For example, he enjoys cheering on his teammates at games and, overall, the tight-knit community that is the volleyball team. As the final buzzer sounds on Bunt’s high school career, he looks forward to a successful future, and attending Cal Poly Pomona is the first step he’s taking to make it happen.

grayson cruz’s journey:

from bay area transfer to academic success at rhs, fueled by friendship

Grayson Cruz’s story is a testament to the positive impact that Rocklin High School can have on students’ lives. After transferring from the Bay Area in his sophomore year, Cruz was quickly welcomed by one of his peers in his computer science class. They bonded over sports, and he was introduced to the rest of his friend group. Despite them graduating last year, Cruz still keeps in touch with his friends, and they make time to get together whenever possible. When they do find time to meet up, they play basketball as any normal friend group would, but they have found a deep connection together especially when it comes to playing games such as basketball together. Cruz hopes that in the present and in the near future, that he and his group of friends can continue to hang out and chill with each other as they have been doing for a while now. RHS has helped set Cruz up for success by guiding him towards a two-year program at Sierra, with hopes of transferring to UC Davis to major in Environmental Science. Grayson credits his passion for science to William Kimmel, his AP Environmental Science teacher, who he says was an excellent teacher. One of the best parts of the class, according to him, was the lack of homework. Mr. Kimmel’s class has inspired Cruz to pursue a career in the field of science. Rocklin has changed Cruz in so many ways, and one of the most helpful factors was his friends. They “keep [him] on the right path” and help him if he’s “going through a difficult time.” Another blessing was the teachers. He truly felt that they all cared for him and helped him, even when he wasn’t feeling up to it. Cruz genuinely thinks that “when everyone looks back on their time here at Rocklin High, they will remember [the good times] and not the difficult tests, homework, and studying.”

success slam dunk’n

surging victory

a unique blend of his passion for archery and his ambitious goal of becoming a surgeon.

Tyson Shaw had a unique journey through RHS, blending his interests and aspirations. Unlike many, his story wasn’t focused solely on academics or extracurriculars but rather on his passion for archery and his ambitious dream of becoming a surgeon. Looking back on his journey, Tyson reminisced about how it all started back in middle school with an archery club. When COVID forced a shift, he smoothly transitioned into the high school’s archery setup. Despite the lack of competitions, archery became Tyson’s cherished hobby, offering him moments of relaxation from the

stresses of school. Tyson also showed quite a bit of interest when it comes to entering the medical field, wanting to become a surgeon. Whether he decides to specialize in the neuro or cardiac surgery areas, he has done an extensive amount of work to get there. To achieve this, he is starting with Sierra College for his first two years and general education, after aiming to transfer to UC Davis for his bachelor’s degree before going to medical school. “I chose it because it’s close by and I like this area,” Tyson said. His journey was marked by a series of steps, including rigorous coursework

in Biomed classes and eventually tackling the MCAT. Tyson is grateful for the teachers at RHS who supported him throughout his academic journey. Their guidance left a lasting impact on him and instilled an appreciation for education beyond the classroom. The one thing Tyson will miss the most is the people “especially in classes.” He said that even making some friends has been interesting and that it is what he will be missing the most overall from his time here at RHS.

SHIFTING senior

focus focus

ashly waits shares her aspirations for photography and media production

Senior Ashly Waits has a unique talent and presents it in different ways. “I feel like I had kind of different hobbies in high school. A lot of people did like the regular school sports and stuff, but I kind of got into photography my sophomore year,” Waits said.

Her journey into the world of photography wasn’t solitary; it was a journey embarked upon with friends who shared her enthusiasm. She explained that, “the first year that I did it, I kind of did it because of the friends that I made doing it. We all had lots of fun filming the football games. It was just a fun environment to be around.”

However, what started as a fun pastime soon evolved into a profound passion for the art form itself. “But then over the years, I got better, and I started to enjoy like the art part of it more, and it was just fun to, like, look back at my final products and see what I made after,” Ashly added.

WILD & free

Despite her impending graduation, Ashly’s commitment to her craft remained unwavering, as she affirmed, “I haven’t fully decided what I want to do yet, but I definitely don’t want to give up on photography, and I definitely want to keep going with it.”

When asked about what she aspires for her legacy at RHS, Waits’ response was as poignant as her photographs, “I just want people to be able to look back on the years that I was here, and if they look back on any of the media, I want them to appreciate all the art that we made as a class and all the art that I’ve made with my photos and my videos,” she expressed with heartfelt sincerity.

Waits went on to say, “I wouldn’t have started photography if it wasn’t for Mr. O’Donnell’s video production class my first year... and also just the people around me. I had my whole media squad in my sophomore and junior years, and we had lots of fun, which kind of encouraged me to keep going for what I was doing.” If anything, she wants her reputation to be a reminder of the beauty found in every moment captured through her lens.

Brooke Patton, a senior at RHS, had a lot to say about her high school experience. Reflecting on her favorite memory, she vividly recounted a wild concert experience. After an exciting win for girl’s waterpolo against Oak ridge, Patton and her friends quickly got ready in the swim bathroom for a Jason Aldean concert. She remembers the exciting drive to the concert, saying, “We had all the songs on the set list blasting in the car the whole way there.” When asked about her legacy at RHS, Patton was enthusiastic. “Oh, yeah, I want to win Mr. O’Donnell’s sporty sports fest as the daddy dunkers with Hayden,” she declared proudly. Explaining further, she described the event as, “...two days of four sports activities with prizes.” Looking ahead to her future after high school, Patton expressed her desire to live independently, “being a baddie in Utah, living on my own, is definitely the dream,” she stated confidently. As for her academic pursuits, she mentioned an interest in Kinesiology or Exercise Science. Regarding extracurricular activities, Patton’s passion for pickleball was evident. “I love playing pickleball with my friends because I’m really good at it,” Patton exclaimed. When asked about her playing partners, she listed off names enthusiastically, including Hayden, Makenna, Ella, Celeste, and Sarah, who she described as, “...mad fire.” Patton has many aspects to her exciting life and plans to continue on in her pursuit of life in the coming years.

full of hope for what is to come, brooke patton reflects on her past four years at rocklin high...

BEHIND THE scenes scenes

emma bingham awaits her future as she graduates rhs and starts a new chapter at michigan state university

Every single thing that surrounds us from the first time our eyes open and perceive life around us to the last time we get to enjoy the beauty of this natural world influences our character, attitudes, and emotions. This powerful direction that has faithfully guided senior Emma Bingham through these last four years is due to her involvement in ASB and peer teaching. Discovering her passion for, “...solving medical problems behind the scenes,” has led her to pursue Bio Systems Engineering in the fall at Michigan State University. This decision is deeply rooted in her love of learning and picking up new skills that can be helpful to others around her. Bingham is proof that, “...all the little things that we choose to do set us apart from everyone else.” The Rocklin community has been well touched by her influence in ASB over the past four years as she leads the students in her spirit committee to bleed blue and silver both on and off campus. Bingham explained that her leadership roles coupled with being a shapeable student have exposed her to, “...so many different ways of living… and helped [her] to become a more open minded person.” All of these activities allow Bingham to see the world through many lenses that she wouldn’t otherwise have experienced, making her the strong, kind, and successful person she is today.

“

The scope of the plan out there is way bigger than anything we can think of ourselves.

give back

A decade dedicated to sweat, hours of sacrifice, and lifting others higher than oneself has led to the most valuable quality one can possess: resilience. For Hannah Love, the support from her family, friends, and coaches over the years has intricately impacted the person she has become. As she reflects on a piece of advice she would give to her past self, Love shares that, “a lot of dreams that I had didn’t pan out the way I hoped,” but the most important thing to take away from those difficult moments is that, “being adaptable makes moving forward easier.” Throughout her longtime swimming career, she has accomplished many remarkable things and every step of that journey has shaped the kind of person she wants and practices to be. Everything from, “work ethic, commitment, what it means to be a teammate, and bouncing back after failure - that made me who I am today,” Love says. Her love for math and science is no different than her enjoyment of being in the water. Her passion for creating good in the world has made her decision to study engineering one of the easiest she has ever made. Pushing herself to be more flexible and open to change has allowed Love to experience many wonderful aspects of life she would have never seen.

VAPA senior nights:

dance class, theater, choir, drama, marching band, color guard

THROUGH ALL THE

miranda sherman’s transition from minimum wage party planner to manager-level pay.

ins and outs

Teenagers often work for various reasons, including money, gaining work experience, and developing valuable skills. Part-time jobs, internships, and summer positions offer opportunities for financial independence and management as well as personal growth. However, balancing work responsibilities with school commitments and extracurricular can be very difficult. Nonetheless, the experience gained from early employment can be helpful in shaping teenagers’ future careers and building a strong work ethic.

Senior Miranda Sherman faces struggles like many other seniors at RHS, but her struggles are quite different. Sherman is actually a junior that is filling all her graduation requirements this year, knowing it was an opportunity she had since coming to this school. The only real complications she faces is the fact that she is having to take more advanced classes, while having an already filled schedule, saying, “I feel like the year with my friends in general has been fun. I feel like with graduating early it’s been a challenge but not as bad as I thought it was going to be. So I like the path that I chose for myself.” Sherman continued by explaining the benefits that come with it. Sherman wants to become a pediatric nurse and while investigating, found that Sierra College has a good nursing program where she can transfer her credits to a UC after two years. For now, she is focusing on balancing work with school, but says it is really enjoyable. There is a lot of controversy that plays into this. Some find it to be bad having a job in your teenager years but Sherman states, “If you can, definitely do it because working at a young age gives you experience for what jobs are going to be like after you graduate. Transitioning into becoming an adult, more independent, and like having that control will teach you how to save money, what to spend your money on. It will give you a bunch of skills, communication, working with a team, things like that,” continuing by expressing her gratitude because it has made her into a hard worker.

In life, hard work leads to success, providing a solid foundation for achieving goals and dreams. Persistency, dedication, and determination to push through challenges is what makes Sherman of good character, as she is excited to continue her life doing something she loves after high school.

A critical piece of this year’s yearbook, Jackson Bass shares who he is outside of Photojournalism and Yearbook, and how these two programs shaped who he became on the Rocklin High School campus. A lesser-known fact about him, he was enthusiastic to discuss his love for the outdoors and how that coupled with athletics. Any opportunity to enjoy hikes with his friends or dog, he knew it meant a time for bonding as well as refreshing time outside. He also mentioned how he has enjoyed playing and trying new sports his whole life. Bass has played golf, football, and soccer, just to name a few.

This passion led to a new opportunity, a way to be front and center on the field, without having to play. This is what he found in the Photojournalism program on our campus. He discovered this passion during his sophomore year, and this year he achieved the highest position in the program, the senior photo editor. He said, “Through this program, I was able to explore and expand my love for sports photography while also teaching other students.” Bass is responsible for creating all of the sports pages in the 23-24 Yearbook, with many of the pictures being his own because of how strong of a photographer he is. Although he’s unsure of what’s to come in the future with him and his hobby, he is still very interested and has a soft spot in his heart for it.

As for what the future holds, he knows he’s going to attend Sierra College and earn a Fire Science associate’s degree. After this, he will obtain his paramedic license and transfer to a four-year institution to get his bachelor’s degree, and then will apply to fire stations to become a firefighter. He hopes that, “Throughout [his] career as a firefighter, [he] hopes to climb the ranks and be known for [his] work ethic and commitment.” For many, pursuing a specific career path takes a lot of consideration, but for Bass, it came in a random conversation. He said he remembers, “...[his] mom was driving [him] home from school and [they] were behind a firetruck. It was pretty silent in the car until [he] said that being a firefighter would be kind of cool. Ever since then, I started to look more into it and research about the career path and [he’s] stuck with it since.” Just like how he finds enjoyment in helping photojournalist students, he knows this career would allow him to help all types of people daily.

Throughout these past four years, Bass has been able to become who he now is; someone that many look up to, trust, and have lots of fun with. His positive outlook on the broad range of activities he enjoys has led him to many opportunities and friendships both off and on campus. His massive impact on the Yearbook and Photojournalism programs will leave a mark for years to come as his yearbook pages and photos become leading examples and inspiration for all.

Pursuing passions is a way for people to truly discover themselves. Some individuals choose to immerse themselves in sports while others choose a more artistic approach. For all, it is a way to ignite their soul and provide more meaning to life. For Averi Schwarz, she chose the path of embracing her creative mind through various mediums.

She first took art her freshman year at RHS, with a different teacher at the time and wasn’t quite sure when things transitioned and Mrs. Willert took over, but she came to love the new and changing art department. Schwarz said, “I’ve really found my niche there. I co-lead the Art Club with Ash and I really love that. I get to explore all of my creative juices and have gotten to do a lot of fun stuff.” Schwarz’s artistic abilities include a wide range of skills and her talent does not go unnoticed. Over the summer she got to experience a Cal Arts program. “It’s CSSSA, the California State Summer School of the Arts and I loved that. It was brilliant, it was four weeks long and I majored in painting. I stayed in the Cal Arts dormitories and I had eight professors. So I would do painting one day, I would do figure drawing, and then I did print making, so I got to explore all these different mediums and they all work as credits for any Cal States.” This opportunity allowed her to expand her knowledge on the arts, and she continues to do so in her art class. Currently, AP Art is making their portfolios for the College Board AP Exam and she is really enjoying that process, saying, “I get to explore a lot of gouache types of paints and I’m loving that, and yeah I did some charcoal a couple of weeks ago and that was really fun.” When one obtains a passion like Schwarz’s they are persistent in the journey and dedicate a heavy amount of efforts towards that center of interest. Schwarz knows exactly what she wants to do after high school. This year, she began an internship at Parker Whitney Elementary School, where she discovered their VAPA program. This sparked her interest and she followed by stating, “I’ve explored becoming a VAPA teacher some day and teaching elementary school, specifically 3rd grade. So I want to kind of mix art and teaching.”

All seniors carry something with them when they leave, whether it was an experience or a place where they felt they belonged. Schwarz experienced a very exciting year with friendships but her four years were a little different. “These years went super quick to me and it’s just a reminder to take advantage of the time you spend with your friends and peers while you still have it.”

ADVENTUROUS, exciting&QUICK...

“[This piece] is actually a piece from my sketchbook and is how I typically plan/organize real pieces. Simply a collage of ideas/words/phrases in order to find a strong message. In this case I was inspired by a book called The Secret History and its criticism of humans obsession with picturesque. The novel is a fantastic read with a lot to think about. But they mention a lot of greek and has a lot of imagery that heavily influenced this piece.”

“The disco ball is actually a print. So I carved out a plate with a knife and mixed some inks before essentially pressing the plate into a printing press. The design is very much Taylor Swift.”

“The charcoal piece is a critique on religious warfare. It was made before the Palestinian genocide but I believe it resonates really well with it. As a religious person myself I find it ironic that in a religion that promotes love and compassion that our world is so violent about others.”

“The stained glass painting was one of the larger pieces I worked on. It’s all acrylic and my professor walked me through clouds. We spend a good couple hours experimenting with depth in stained glass. There’s no real purpose I was just looking to create a dramatic feeling..”

“[This piece] was from figure drawing class and it was of a model.”

In the past, it’s been known among the senior class who runs the Instagram account and manages the entire game, but this year the owner decided to stay anonymous. The account started with two owners, but one ended up stepping out to be able to join the game. They first explained how much time and effort it took to coordinate all the little things, from rule specifications to safe and not safe zones. The account owner stated, “...running the account and dealing with the people probably ended up being the most work.” The decision to start the account was not made lightly, but they decided to take it on because, “we thought it would be fun and because we’re also seniors and it felt like a fun thing to do right at the end of high school.” Since they get first access to seeing the eliminations, they shared with us their favorite so far, “[the] craziest [was] definitely David Sosa getting Brooke Zieker but for comedy [it would be] Jackson Bass getting Nick Barsotti.”

1st kill: 4/2/24

jules goodman chasing down her second elimination

david sosa betraying brooke zieker for his first kill

karver knorzer’s first elimination and favorite moment

jackson bass’s third kill with the intro of a monologue

marcus hawkin’s friend elimination and favorite moment

latest kill: 5/16/24

senior assassin the person behind the account

floaties/goggles: if worn you are

from elimination

what’s the strategy? favorite moment? key

purge day: goggles and floaties don’t keep you safe

kills: eliminating your target

“Keep your mouth shut and keep your connections tight.”

“When I had to run over two miles to escape Kailey Rose at Folsom Lake on a purge day.”

“What I’ve been doing is I go and get my target and then as soon as I’m done with that I just stay inside. I don’t want to risk myself, so as soon as I was done, I was done.”

“I don’t want to reveal too much, but you just have to scope out the competition and your target. See what their routine is, and then get them when they’re not expecting it.”

“You just got to be determined. You got to see the prize. It’s just a lot of hours of just sitting and waiting.”

“My strategy is lay low, and wait it out, and take my time eliminating my target.”

“I kind of don’t have a strategy. Sometimes I just wait until the last minute and end up getting them. I just learn their habits and then attack from there.”

“The first round I had one of my best friends, he was my neighbor, so the first day I tried to get him, but it didn’t work out... Then we met at a friend’s house that Friday, and he didn’t know I was there. I was at my friend’s house for four hours just hiding in a room. We had his little brother go in there and asked to put on his goggles and he took them off and I just ran in there and got him.”

“Just hiding behind bushes, and waiting for people. It’s really embarrassing if normal people see you just hiding, it’s so embarrassing but it’s kind of funny. That was my favorite moment, random people just catching me hiding and being like, ‘what are they doing.’”

“Killing my friend in round three. Caught him eating dinner at his house.”

“When I got my first target out, Owen Thomas. He showed up to my volleyball game without any goggles on and I caught him lacking, so it was a really great kill, I was so stoked. It was probably the best part of this whole game.”

“When I got Natalie Baxter out, I waited at her house after prom until like one in the morning. And then she didn’t come home, so the next day I was at her work just to get ice cream and she miraculously showed up next to me and then I chased her down.”

M-5 seniors

For many, Joshua Rubinstein’s class, M-5, becomes home during their four years at RHS. The media programs consists of two main branches: Journalism, which produces the school magazine “The Flash”, and Publications, which produces the annual yearbook. We take time towards the end of the school year to honor our hard working seniors at our annual Media BBQ. The speeches given by the M-5 juniors are shown below.

lexi booras trey spencer

“I met Lexi the first time when I joined the journalism production staff. I remember that I looked at her first spread and I thought how well done her spread was. It was very clean and colorful, and I remember it was a review on a local place. The color she uses in her spread is parallel to her personality. She’s passionate, hard working, and has a smile that lights up a room. Whenever there was work to be done, I knew I could rely on someone like her, I knew she would be good at communicating with me, and I knew she’d be a prime example for the under class men to follow. Now that she’s a senior I’m really excited for the opportunities she will have throughout her lifetime and the color she will bring to the rest of the world. I’m sad to see her leave, but I know the hard work she puts into every single thing in her life will pay off, and I hope she will continue to to be the beautiful, amazing, hard working self that she is.”

-Milana Kozlova

“You were the very first student who I ever told, “I’m a Messianic Jew” and you said, “Me too!” So cool! I’ve felt a connection with you ever since. Not only that, but you are one of the most creative people I’ve ever met. Every time it was your turn to answer the “question of the day” I leaned forward in my seat. I couldn’t wait to hear what you would say. I knew that it would be something coming from a different perspective than I ever would have considered.

I know that you are (maybe?) headed to the military - but I hope you never lose that creative spark. It is one of your strongest attributes and I absolutely love it! Your future life is going to be incredible!”

-Mr. Ruby

“Maddie, Thank you for dedicating three years of your high school career to Journalism. Your ideas and advice have helped shape our program into it trying to help the best you can. Thank you for being patient with us as your EiCs, through this growth of change and us revamping the program. I know this year was hard on you, but I’m glad you still decided to show up to Journalism as often as you could with a positive attitude. You brought up our class atmosphere whenever we had parties and you and trey would sing. It really lifted up the class and we had some really good laughs with you guys, like the San Francisco trip was a very memorable trip because of you. We will all miss you and wish you the best in the future. Thank you for your dedication to our program!”

-Cassi Le

maddie papia THANK YOU seniors!

“I remember you as a freshman in intro class. Every spread you created was about either baseball or fishing (or both!) But they were also the prettiest spreads and the most solid stories I had ever seen a freshman put together. You DO work. You just do. You don’t complain. You don’t whine. You just do the work and with excellence.

I know that you (and Cara) “jumped on the grenade” of being EIC. I think you did so out of your regard and care for me and for the program - and I’m grateful. Thank you for being willing to be the most complete, on-time, amazing EIC (with Cara) that I’ve ever had.

But even more of that, I’m proud of who you are. You are a man. You handle your business. You do what needs to be done - and because of that - you are exactly the kind of person that I can’t wait to see who you become. I know you’re going to be an amazing human, because you already are.”

-Mr. Ruby

brandon chipp cara gonzales jackson bass trevor martin

“Where do I even start Cara, first of all I’m so glad I got to know you this year and no longer consider you one of my sister’s yearbook friends… no shade I am so proud of you and all the work you put into this year’s yearbook. Your passion and dedication is something I strive to have in this world! For literally anything. But most importantly I’m happy I got to know you as a person outside of the class. From bonding over what country concerts we’ve been to, or who we wanna see next to just sharing the same humor and hatred for the same things, I loved experiencing it all with you! Again thanks for being a trouper and taking the couch in the Denver trip, will love you for that forever. Thank you for single handedly keeping the football instagram alive. We thank you. And most importantly thank you for keeping up with me! You’re going to go so far in life and I can’t wait to see you grow.”

-Briley Waters

“Cara, as we stand here today remembering all the moments we have shared, the laughter and the challenges it is hard to think that this year is almost over, it feels like yesterday we were sitting in useless meetings, or hanging out in denver together, throughout this past year you have been such a fun person to be around and I am so sad to see you go. As you leave and start your next chapter remember the lessons you have learned and the memory’s you have made. although you may be leaving these halls, you will forever be able to return to M-5. We love you Cara.”

-Kenzie Crossan

addison carter

“This is for Addison. You are the kindest person I have ever met. You were the first person I became friends with on this team and I still remember all the time we spent together. Our crackhead moments where we raced barefoot, or your blinded driving, as well as that amazing lake day where you picked up an object that will not be named, and your beautiful painting of a palm tree and supposedly me. I love your little princess wave that you do, and the fact that you put so much effort into the things you care about. I love how unproblematic and respectful you are, even when you don’t want to be. But your work ethic does not go unnoticed. Addison took the time to not only complete 40% of the book on her own, but to help intro classes on days she didn’t have a last block. If a design issue needed to be solved she would be the first person to handle it. If I had a question about a date or event, I went straight to her. You have been a hug blessing not only to me but to our yearbook family. We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the charisma and joy you brought to M5. You have been the highlight of my year, and I cannot wait for more fun summer nights to follow. I love you so much and I can wait to see what you accomplish.”

-Peyton Carter-Buchanan

“I’m pretty sure that I single handedly recruited you to be an editor. Your response was, “Of what? I don’t do design or write great stories.” And my response was, “Because you are the king of conversation. There isn’t a single student on this campus that you can’t interview. There isn’t a single admin or teacher you couldn’t chat with.”

And it was the same in class. You are the rare “non-clique” butterfly who can bounce between any and every group. You are the person who shows up at the class party (just a bit late) and everyone says “TREV-DOG!”

Thank you for being a willing recruit. I know PUBS wasn’t always a perfect place for you this year - but you made the sacrifice! Thank you!”

-Mr. Ruby

“Jackson! The first time we had a class together was Intro to Pubs when I was a freshman and you were a sophomore. although we didn’t talk in that class, I remember you as the one who would ask Ruby to take pictures on your camera instead of doing the InDesign assignments. unsurprisingly, you went on to be our amazing photo editor and you dominated our top shots albums. The way you stepped up this year and absolutely killed the sports section was so inspiring and just shows how dedicated of a person you are. I want you to know that you will forever be one of the people I’m glad I crossed paths with, even if we only had the opportunity to work together this year. Your love for nature and sports and the way you would skip school or class sometimes just to go on a hike or throw a football around always made me laugh and appreciate your love for those things. I wish you the absolute best in your path on becoming a firefighter and please don’t forget to stop by sometime next year to grant us with some of your fun and positive attitude.”

-Liz Bennett

we are...

actors. pg. 03, 11 artists. pg. 33 athletes. pg. 06, 08, 10, 14, 16, 22, 24 cheerleaders. pg. 20, 21 graduating early. pg. 02, 21, 32 kind. pg. 10, 29 musicians. pg. 11, 27 passionate. pg. 13, 21 photographers. pg. 05, 28, 32 runners. pg. 12 soccer players. pg. 13, 20 sports fans. pg. 27 swimmers. pg. 29 tennis players. pg. 02 volleyball players. pg. 26 water polo players. pg. 28

watch...

find these & more senior stories featured in the “Live from M-5” Podcast

Josh Cooke Gemma Templeman Audra Balassi

Listen to Balassi share her experience of being a part of the RHS Dance Classes since being a freshman. She talks about how much taking these classes helped her grow her confidence.

Learn about Rocklin’s very own Wresting State Champion, Templeman, as she shares her entire history with this sport and how hard she worked to win the state title.

Watch Cooke talk about his childhood experience of playing lacrosse and his journey with it in high school. This early start helped him be a great player at RHS.