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Looking Back At Lessons Learned In High School

photo provided Jeff Pidgeon “I got my college degree and worked for a few years on animated television shows like "Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures" and "The Simpsons". At that point, Pixar was a tiny studio making terrific short films and commercials. A college classmate was already working there, and when they decided to begin developing a feature film, he recommended me. I loved the team and moved to northern California to join them. Happily, the film turned out to be "Toy Story." I just celebrated my twentieth anniversary with Pixar this year!”

photo provided Gabe Delgadillo recently joined the National Guard and is serving his country in the US military

photo provided Glory Martin Sweet is the administrative assistant to the ANWSU Superintendent.

photo provided Sonja Oosterman Patno is now a social worker and a pastor’s wife and lives in the area.

photo provided Linda Farley Devino is a devoted mother, grandmother and works both at home and in the community.

Tuesday June 21, 2011

By Cookie Steponaitis

    The recent wave of high school graduations in the Champlain Valley takes most of us on a nostalgic tour of our own memories and meshed in between the bonfires, basketball games, all night sleepover parties and community projects, we all grew up and found a path to take us into life. While most graduates are determined to get out and spread their wings, statistics show that many of us came back to Addison County and Vermont with those important lessons learned in our local high schools to live our dreams.

    After Facebooking over thirty-five graduates of VUHS from the past thirty plus years, patterns quickly emerged in the answers to the questions ranging from fondest memories, best advice and to the most important moments in their high school experience.

    Exploring Possibilities:  Many graduates made references to times in high school where trying new courses, working in the community or interacting with an adult provided a new direction and path in their lives. Recent 2011 graduate Gabe Delgadillo remarked, “For most people, graduating high school is their most important memory... To me it's not. My most important memories consist of the times that I would sit down with Mr. Wyckoff and discuss many different subjects, ranging from music to my future. That is something that I will never forget. We would discuss, politics, sports, history and just about anything else that the teacher and I could relate to.”

    Setting goals and aspirations: Finding a career path was mentioned a multitude of times, but several graduates focused on finding a passion and setting into place both short and long term goals. VUHS Class of 1990 alumna Glory Martin remarked, “My goal was to work my way into the business world.  I took every business course available.  I also helped out in the Main Office of the school during my study halls.  Then during the summer, I was involved with the Summer Youth Employment Program and requested to work in the Main Office.  I graduated and attended Champlain College for their Secretarial Program.  After I graduated from college, I was immediately hired at VUHS as the receptionist.  I was in that position for four years and then moved into the Principal’s Secretary Position, which I was there for fifteen years.  Now, I am the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent at ANWSU.”

    Finding Support and supporting the community: VUHS Class of 2007 Sonja Patno remarked, “The genuineness of the teachers that really got to know me, and became my friends were key in my development. By being involved more than just in the classroom, I appreciated the support at other school games and activities. Also, the initiative and encouragement for getting involved in the surrounding communities. We were shown how to give, how to work as individuals and as community members. Lessons learned at high school were more than about books and content; they were about our roles as members of a school and local community.”

    Dream Big: As citizens of a democracy, all students are told from birth that they can be anything they want to be. In high school there are not courses for all interests and some students’ dreams are outside of the traditional paths taken at the time. VUHS alumnus Jeff Pidgeon recalls when he first articulated his dream out loud and the response he got from his teacher. “Like a lot of teenagers, I was very shy and had a tough time fitting in. I think many of my teachers sympathized and tried to help me to channel my creative energies and nurture my interests. My Creative Writing teacher introduced me to Ray Bradbury. My World History teacher gave me extra credit when I added artwork to my assignments. My Physics teacher showed us science-fiction movies like "The Andromeda Strain" and "The Thing" on his brand-new, mammoth VHS deck. My English teacher introduced me to the drama club, which brought me out of my shell a great deal. Acting in front of an audience was a huge step for me, and I don't think I would have tried it without her encouragement.”

    Advice that stuck: Teachers are viewed as possessing many pearls of wisdom that later on become personal mantras to live by. Each graduate had a favorite and many identified with skills of tenacity, persistence and focus. VUHS 2000 graduate Bobby Worley remarked, “The best advice I have ever received at VUHS was from Nate Kittredge my wrestling coach. Technique takes a back seat to brutality. You don’t have to be the smartest or most outgoing, all you need in life is to be persistent and never lose sight of your goals or give up on them.” VUHS Class of 1979 Linda Devino remembered the words, “It takes less time to wait then it does to heal.” Martha Sullivan DeGraaf, from the Class of 1991, added, “My basketball coach, Gene Lebeau really taught me some important life lessons....be on time, be healthy, make smart decisions, think before you shoot, and if you are going to pass the ball make it a good pass.”

    Sense of Belonging and Place: While the graduates polled now live as far away as Thailand and others still live in town, there was a collective reflection about the being a part of a place and a group of people that bonds seem to transcend time and place. The high school diploma and procession that ended the time spent at VUHS did not dim or disconnect the bonds made by those who functioned as a class for six years in the building. Each graduate recalled the feeling of belonging to a group, a city, and even a sense of family.

    High school is more than just walking the halls. It is a place to be safe, to take risks, to grow into your own future and follow your dreams. This sentiment was echoed by all who chimed in and even more who read the posts and remarked about what it means to grow up in Addison County, Vermont. “There is a sense of family and a connectedness that reaches far beyond school. We came through together and we were a family.”

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