Class of 2022 are on to bigger and better things
Joyce Quintela practices with the LHS cheer team over a decade ago. This year she graduates as a member of the class of 2022 having completed her own Eagle cheer career. Photo courtesy of Joyce Quintela.
May 16, 2022
“Oh! All the Places You’ll Go! Today is your day. You’re off to great places! You’re off and away! Kid, you’ll move mountains! Today is your day! Your Mountain is waiting! So get on your way! -Dr. Seuss
Growing up we all had what we thought would be the dream job. The typical ones were a doctor, veterinarian, teacher, or, for myself, a supermodel. As we grow up we are influenced by different things and change our minds many many times.
“I wanted to be a veterinarian because I really loved animals,” said senior Cassidy Sheldon.
For others it was feelings of altruism that led them to their early ambitions.
“I wanted to be a pediatrician because I wanted to help people,” said senior Rachel Fernandes.
Others such as Joyce Quintela are inspired by the people in their lives to choose a certain path.
“ I wanted to be a teacher because in kindergarten I had such awesome teachers and wanted to be just like them,” said Quintela. “This continued throughout high school and thanks to the Teachers For Tomorrow program, I have decided that after graduation I will be attending Longwood University to become an elementary education teacher.”
But high school inevitably comes to an end, and its time to decide our careers.
Senior Justin Kim plans to go into mechanical engineering or architecture and will be attending the University of Virginia in the summer.
For others their childhood dreams are coming true. Fernandes Is going to be attending Virginia Tech and where she hopes to become a pediatrician. When asked if her younger self would be proud she said: “yes, because I’ve accomplished all I’ve ever wanted to.”
Senior Gavin Standish is planning on attending Virginia Commonwealth University and becoming a chemical engineer and says, “my younger self would be proud.”
When we look back at our childhoods, it feels like just yesterday we were wanting to be a racecar driver and now we are going to law school. After everything that we have all experienced in our high school career we should all be proud.
“I have more confidence than I ever have,” said senior Landon Medley.
“After all the obstacles I’ve overcome throughout high school I’m still standing,” said senior Skylar Ridgeway.
For all the juniors about to be seniors, it is normal to think its so long until graduation but its not. Just blink and suddenly it will be 75 days past graduation and you will be packing up your childhood bedroom and saying some very hard emotional goodbyes to people you basically grew up with.
Cherish every minute no matter how long it may seem. Go to every football game and every school event. Pull those all-nighters studying. Spend as much time as you can with everyone you care about before long.
It’ll be three days before you start your new life and you will be wondering where the hell did the time go? So cherish the remaining time of high school and childhood because, like for the class of 2022, it will change in a blink of an eye.
