Valley is a place of stereotypes. Many people hear about the school, but until they are directly interacting with Valley High School, they do not understand the essence of this institution. My high school is known for a place where students are thought of as rejects and failures. People see this place as a location where all the bad kids go. What I learned from this school is the exact opposite. This school is full of the most resilient, exceptional and worthy students. They are led by the most wonderful teachers and supportive staff in the entire district. This is a place of second chances and changes. It is the start of a new beginning. The journey of life starts here and now.
I have learned that the people cannot be judge based from appearances. People cannot be judged from their past. The past shapes a person to who they currently are, but it does not define who a person will become. It is because of this, I learned that no person should give up on their life, nor should we as teachers in return give up on them. Through my experiences at Valley, I have seen students come in with the worst attitudes about school and life, and make a complete change about their mindset and behavior. As a school, the staff has seen significant changes from those students who enter RTP, and those same students who exit from the graduation stage into the VHS staff tunnel. It is through hard work, determination, grit, perseverance and support that students who came from a place of failure, achieve a status of success.
Every person deserves a second chance, but not every person chooses to take it. Which person are you?