THE SPOTLIGHT THE SPOTLIGHT Kylee Mendoza

The speech every student (with the exception of students enrolled in AP Language and Composition) gives is in there junior year. The most frustrating year filled with the hardest exams. Kylee Mendoza was going to give a speech to a full room of people she didn’t know.

That isn’t an easy feat, being shy makes these things so much harder and stressful. So she had to prepare for it, often at her job. Working at Starbucks allowed her to communicate with customers she didn’t know daily. She unintentionally was leaving her comfort zone.

Even though she was prepared she was shaking the whole time leading up to the presentation and then the time came her stomach dropped. The teacher called her name and it was her turn.As she walked to the front of the class her eyes shifted and looked to the back of the class where the inspiration tree was, each branch having leaves full of comforting sayings. One in particular caught her eye, “believe in yourself”, a common saying that had such an effect. After that even with the lights being only on her and the whole class dimmed to the stares of the students, she was comforted. She finished her speech and was finally able to breathe and able to calm down. This experience she knew was going to help her in the future and that she will be able to share her new ability with others and possibly get the job of her dreams with it. She was happy.

There is a bittersweet feeling to moving on in life, and there is no shame in asking for help to get there. Noah Adams, a senior at Rocklin High school, has spent his final year of highschool focusing on what he believes to be the most important things in life - spending time with his friends and finding himself along the way. According to Adams, “The most important thing I did senior year was spending time with my friends. We like to go to the gym, do schoolwork, just basic stuff, laugh, hangout, stuff like that.”

Noah recognizes the impact that his teachers have had on him throughout his four years at Rocklin High School. “What impacted me the most these past four years was probably the teachers, the guidance I have gotten, just finding myself, and some people have kind of helped me find myself, through these years,” Adams states.

As Noah prepares to graduate and move on to the next chapter of his life, he plans to attend Sierra College for two years. “I just got to figure out what I want to pursue, and I am going to stay working the job I currently have, so yeah more school and a lot of work,” says Adams.

Noah Adam’s final year at Rocklin High School has been a time to reflect on what truly matters to him - friends, personal growth, and future aspirations. He credits his teachers and friends for helping him find himself and is excited for what the future holds. Congratulations Noah, on all of your accomplishments and good luck in your future endeavors.