Six share high school lessons

More than 300 students in Carson Valley will move their tassels right to left Friday during the district’s graduation commencements.

ASPIRE Academy’s ceremony is 12:30-1 p.m. at the CVIC Hall followed by Douglas High School at 5:30 p.m. on the softball field at the high school.

As a salute to the seniors, Douglas High School counselors and administration chose six students to highlight their personal and academic achievements and say farewell to fellow classmates.

Here are their answers:

What was the biggest thing you achieved or overcame this year, either personally or through your academics or extracurricular activities?

Carina Olsen: Going through the Jumpstart program and bouncing back and forth between two different campuses. I also had online classes, so I really learned how to manage my time and organize myself. All of it was challenging, but worth it because I am graduating with an Associate of Arts.

Jacob Lewis: Achieving the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association award. I really didn’t intend to get it, I just love sports and competing, so when I was nominated, it came at a bit of a surprise, but I looked forward to the recognition and worked hard to earn it.

Daniel Elliot: Being able to intern with Carson Valley Health and getting hired after. I got firsthand experience in the health care profession. It was a long process to get into, which was one of the biggest challenges. But once I was in, I shadowed many different departments, which had their own challenges, but I learned a lot about them and learned how to interact with patients.

Wiu Wiu: Mostly fitting in and making friends. Sometimes it’s something I struggle with, but I made some through playing soccer and classes. Things are different from where I came from in Ethiopia, like the curriculum and education level at this age, but the language wasn’t too hard to pick up.

Evan Weislow: Completing all my math classes. Math has always been challenging for me, but I was able to pass all of them. I just pushed through and with all the support from my teachers and my friends, I did it. It’s really wild that I did, really, because I had trouble even coming to school. I just didn’t like school, but I pushed myself every day to just show up and do my best.

Kanadee Morrow: Being accepted into Cornell University. I am the first of my family to go to college. There were so many different odds against me, but my parents were always supportive, and I worked hard to get the best grades I could.

What’s something you will always remember from your time at Douglas High School?

Carina Olsen: The influential teachers I had. Ms. Osborne and Ms. Shorten nurtured my passion in photography and graphic design. They really pushed me and inspired me, and I appreciate them for that.

Jacob Lewis: I will always remember the friends I made and the memories we made in and out of classes, being a part of sports and leadership.

Daniel Elliot: Ms. Ensign in AP Statistics. Her commitment to excellence and learning has been influential to me.

Wiu Wiu: I will always remember soccer and being a part of it. It was a lot of fun.

Evan Weislow: My favorite teachers, Mr. Cole, Ms. Santos, Mr. Emm. They really helped get me through some tough times and the mental health triumph I got myself through. It was a big process, but I proved to myself that you won’t always feel a certain way, you will get through it and feel better.

Kenadee Morrow: The Science Bowl and being able to be part of a team of like-minded people. It definitely added to my senior year.

What’s next for you?

Carina Olsen: I am going to be attending Cal Poly University in September for a bachelor’s in graphic design. I just really love the aspect of taking something simple and making something new.

Jacob Lewis: I will be attending UNR for math and finance. I really enjoy math and I want to pursue something in math so maybe a financial advisor or a math professor.

Daniel Elliott: I will major in microbiology and immunology and minor in Spanish at UNR. From there I plan to go to med school and hope to practice medicine in Nevada, probably orthopedic surgery.

Wiu Wiu: I will be playing soccer at Clark University in Iowa. I want to study to become a pilot.

Evan Weislow: I was awarded the Nevada Promise Scholarship and plan to go to Western Nevada College for an associate of arts. I want to write scripts for movies and television. I really enjoy horror, it’s so expansive and you can really do anything with it and I really enjoy that.

Kenadee Morrow: I will be studying material science and engineering at Cornell. I really love chemistry. Ms. Fitzpatrick, she retired last year, but she really sparked, and interest and material science is just a variation of that.

What’s the best advice you have ever received, heard, or given?

Carina Olsen: Don’t be afraid of failure. It’s something I have struggled with because I strive to be a perfectionist and do everything to the best of my ability but make mistakes and learn from them or be ok with making them, I think is good advice.

Jacob Lewis: My grandfather told me “Just keep working hard and you will find success. There will always be challenges but keep pushing through.”

Daniel Elliot: A friend wrote on a card this quote “Anything worth having is worth working for,” by Andrew Carnegie. It just stuck with me because sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone in order to achieve and accomplish great things.

Wiu Wiu: I don’t know if it’s his original quote, but this guy I follow on Instagram said, “The biggest dream killer is thinking of other people’s opinions of you.” I like it because how I look, everywhere I go people have their own views or judgements, but you can’t always help how you came into this world and so just be yourself.

Evan Weislow: Seek help in all matters whether it’s school, work or mentally. People don’t think it’s a big thing, but even the smallest thing that is bothering you can become a big thing. Talking about it can make a big difference in your life.

Kenadee Morrow: Christine Ensign would always say, “say what you mean.” It’s a fundamental thing of being human, being you and being truthfully you, because if you are not and you’re not saying what you mean, then what are you doing?