May 17, 2012
Seniors ‘12
5
End of the road The unpassable test It’s May, and I can’t believe that in a couple of days the class of 2012 will be graduating. I have always been excited to see people graduate and now it’s me, and I have mixed emotions. It is said at freshman orientation that the four years at Xavier will fly by, and it’s true. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was walking into the door for my first day of freshman year, or I was the one attending grad parties for upperclassmen, but now it’s my turn. Soon we will be stepping out in the real world, and on to college we go. There have been many people who have shaped me into the person I am today throughout my high school career: my family, my teachers, my teammates, and my class. I am leaving with some words to the people who have meant the most to me. To my family: I would like to thank you for sending me to Xavier. I would not have wanted to go to any other school because I have learned so much here. Thank you for all your love and support. Know that I wouldn’t be who I am if it wasn’t for you. You have put up with me through all these years, but know I really am thankful and will definitely miss you next year. To my teachers: Teachers are
supposed to be the people who teach you basic school subjects, but I’d say I have learned more than that. I’ve learned life lessons, like how to be a leader and how to be myself. I have grown immensely as a person here and it is because of the teachers. If you have not tried to talk to a teacher outside of class time, you really should because they really can be great people (Thanks Schutt!). To my teammates: In my eyes, I will always be a Xavier Pom. To my pommies, thank you for all the memories, hard practices, performances, competitions, and of course, team dinners we’ve had. I will miss you all. To my class: Our time is coming to a close, but let’s not forget that graduation is not the end. We have to keep making memories. To my friends, I thank you for all the memories we’ve made and hope there are many more to come in the future. I won’t forget the sleepovers, bonfires, XPL and dinners. I will miss it all. I am happy to be graduating, but I am sad to be leaving this community. I have had a great high school experience but it’s time to move on! Class of 2012, we did it! I wish you all Kelli Alexander the best of luck next year! :) Student Life Writer
Four years have come and gone. Looking back, I can say without a doubt that it has been a great four years. I will always remember the lessons I learned at Xavier, but I want to leave you all with a little bit of advice for the rest of your time here. Have a good moral compass. I can say that what helped me grow the most at Xavier was the times when I was challenged to go against the status quo, and to do what is right. ‘Let's Hear Some Boos for the Booze’ and ‘Saying “Gay” is Not Okay’ are just a few of the articles I wrote and a few of the opportunities I took to fine tune my compass, and now my advice for all of you is to do the same. It may be hard, it may cost you friends, but morals will be what will lead you through your life, and there is no better place in this area, or state for that matter, to learn this than Xavier.
Also, just a little advice for the upcoming sophomores and juniors, GO ON KAIROS. It will change your life for the better in ways you didn’t know possible, and will truly help you to live the life that Christ wants you to live. You may not see it now, but trust me. When you see graduation a week away on the calendar, think back, and you will realize the difference Xavier made in your life. I would like to thank all of the teachers I have ever had. Keep doing what you do. You have changed my life and continue to do the same for all the students who will set foot in your classroom. God bless, Live The Fourth, see you around, and bring on chapter two.
Dare to be different
Jack Daubitz Opinion Writer & Distribution
You may look at me and say, “Wow, she looks really athletic!” but let me clear things up for you; I’m not. For most of my life this has not been too much of an issue unless you count when I was four and could not hit the ball off the tee or in seventh grade when I guarded the free throw shooter. This only started to be an issue when skills tests in gym class began. First came archery. I practiced every gym class and even watched Youtube videos on proper archery techniques, but nothing worked. I walked away with a less than perfect grade on that test. I did not have another skills test until I took early bird gym my junior year. It was the volleyball unit that took me down. For those of you who have not taken the volleyball skills test yet, let me explain. This test is really made up of two tests. First is the bumping and setting test which Hannah Brown carried me
through with her dexterity when it came to volleyball. But for the next test, the serving test, I was all on my own. The morning came when it was my turn and I scored an 11/20. This was the first test that I had really failed. Let’s just say, I didn’t take it well. As I look back on this experience however, I realize that in the long run that grade had a very small impact on my overall high school career and more importantly my overall GPA. I can say, however, that it was a humbling experience and that Xavier gym classes taught me how to fail while still holding on to some semblance of my dignity. While reading through my information for college next year, I noticed that some form of Physical Education class is a requirement. I do not plan on taking volleyball but I do know that whatever sport I try and fail at next, thanks to the P.E. teachers here I will still be the model of grace when I do it. Kerry McCartan News Editor
Change. We all change. Our whole lives we change physically, psychologically, individually and in many more ways. But there are only two different ways we can change: for the better or for worse. I have learned to transform my life in positive ways. Be the change you wish to see in the world. What would you choose to change if you could change anything in the world? The choices you make today affect your future. Do you want to live a happy and beneficial life? (Duh, that’s an obvious yes!) Well, if you pay attention in school, get good grades, get a good job, you can choose the outcome of your future. But if you skip class, hang out with “whacks” and steal hubcaps off of cars (as Coach Schulte would say), you might end up living on the side of the street while your smart classmate Shmeg Shmichalski finds the cure for cancer because she did something with her life. You go to Xavier High School, and you have the opportunity to get an amazing education; don’t waste it. Our future leaders are us- you and me.
If you want to change for the better, you need to put in the effort. We have the capability to accomplish so much more than we actually do, and with some effort, we can change the world. So my advice, my motto, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. Change the way you think, change the way you act, and all of your habits will make you who you are. Yeah, YOLO, so do something with your life that you’ll be proud to look back on. Stop wasting your time watching TV, sleeping, Instagraming pictures of your cat, and playing video games and start doing something productive. You think the cure for cancer is going to find itself? If every hour you spent doing something unproductive was instead spent studying, volunteering, etc., our world would be more advanced than anyone can envision. Can you imagine what our lives would be like if we doubted our fears instead of our dreams? I can’t emphasize enough to get off your khaki covered butt and make a change. Be the change.
Be the change
Meg Michalski Mini Feature Assistant Editor