Advice To Freshmen- A Final Post From A Senior

This is going to be my last post before I graduate and get out into the real world. But nobody cares about my sob story. Lets get right into how freshmen can take some advice so they have a better and less stressful high school experience than any of us seniors have had.

 I haven't always gone to RRMR, before here I was in Oregon and I went to OHS. I had a lot of good people take me under their wing and keep me away from a lot of the hazing stuff freshmen get. When those people weren't around I used my backbone to keep me straight. One of the biggest things with going into high school is not getting negatively influenced, if you let people sway you early on, you'll keep getting swayed throughout your high school career. Another thing beyond the social aspect is making sure you get your stuff done on time, not waiting till the last second because your teacher told you it was due at the end of the week, it'll add more stress than you need. Getting your work done early on means you don't have a pile up when things are due.  

One more thing: don’t just bury yourself in books and grades, because high school isn’t just about that. Get involved in something—whether it’s a club, a sport, or even just a hobby you mess around with on the side. It’s not about looking good on a college app; it’s about figuring out who you are when you’re not just a kid in a classroom. I wasted too much time thinking I had to stick to one path, and it wasn’t until I started trying random stuff—like trap shooting and wrestling—that I found my own groove. Just don’t spread yourself too thin, because that’s a fast track to burnout. Pick one or two things, show up, and actually give it a shot. You’ll thank yourself when you’re not just defined by your GPA.

Look, high school’s a mess, but it’s your mess to make something out of. Don’t let idiots drag you down, don’t procrastinate yourself into a corner, and don’t be afraid to try something new. You’ve got four years to screw up and figure it out—so start now, and make it count.

Senior Reflections

As the school year comes to an end I asked our seniors to take a look back at the years they’ve spent here at RRMR. Many of us have been here since we were little kids, some of us since middle school, but regardless of how much time we’ve been here, memories have been made. I was given many insights into those memories from these students, I’d like to share them with you.

Us seniors will miss RRMR for our own reasons (definitely not for the homework!). We've all made memories here, our departure is going to be a bittersweet one. We are happy to get out, but there are things we wish we didn't have to leave behind. Seeing friends everyday, the routine, not having an 8 hour workday. We'll be making the most of our last few days here. Hopefully for any of you underclassmen and juniors you will look at this and make the most of your time at RRMR. 

That's the take from one of the many attendees. A small slice of the awesomeness of prom. Sure, it isn't for everyone, but its worth giving it a shot, find a friend or a lover and go have fun. It's a whole year till prom rolls around again, there is no need to stress! Go create your own memories and maybe next year you'll be interviewed to share your experience. 

Prom: All Dress, No Stress

With prom just around the corner, I jumped at the chance to pick some of the folks here at RRMR's brains on prom and what it's all about.  As you may know prom can be super stressful and fill you with anxiety. From finding the right dress, to nailing those dance moves, its gotta be perfect... right? Well, most of the time it is far from perfection and you may not be alone in this boat after hearing what these interviewees had to say.

Don't feel too worried about needing to go to prom, studies show that most people don't go to prom, and even less find it to be extremely important. According to a poll by YouGOV, 53% of Americans didn't attend prom and 53% of those who did attend didn't find it important. Goes to show that prom isn't the pinnacle of teenage life and it isn't the end of the world if you don't go or if it goes poorly.

Everyone's prom experience is unique. Some find prom awesome, some think its stupid, but you can't form an opinion until you go. Have fun with it and be sure to share your experience with others so they can hopefully not repeat the same old mistakes we all make. Bring someone you like hanging out with, enjoy the snacks, and have fun!

Post Spring Break Reflections

Now that everyone is back from spring break with stories to tell I got the opportunity and the pleasure of interviewing several of our students. I got to ask them about their time spent and for some of their favorite moments. From foods to funny moments, here is what they had to say:

Surprising to no one, school is always the thing us students dread most about the end of spring break. At least with us getting back into the flow of things we will have memories to carry with us. From food, to work, to hanging out with our friends, all of that to push us through this last quarter of our school year. I hope that everyone is able to enjoy the time off we get and not take it for granted, because it doesn't last forever!

Spring Break Plans & "Staycations"

 3/3/25

We broke up in teams this week to find out what students around the school were lining up at the doors for, rumor has it that spring break is almost here! Myself and EJ had the pleasure to speak with some of the students to find out their plans. Here is what they had to say:

This was super fun to do and it was a pleasure to catch up with the students. Looks like some people don't have to go far to enjoy themselves this spring. Which begs the question, what do you plan on doing this break? Enjoyment might not be far away.

What is Your Favorite Thing to do After School?

We here at yearbook asked a some students what their favorite thing to do after school was, here are some of their responses. 1/31/2025

What It's Like to Be In Yearbook?

We interview a lot of people here in Yearbook & Communications, but how about our own team? I took the liberty to ask them about their experience in yearbook.

Here are a few responses:

Q: What do you primarily do in Yearbook & Communications?

A:  “Taking/sorting photos.” - 36% of the class, “Creating blogs.” - 18% of the class.

Q: On a scale of 1-5 how would you rate Yearbook?

A: Mostly positive with an average rating of 4.4/5 and no one rated it below a 4.

Q: What should someone expect coming into Yearbook?

A:  "Taking pictures and completing many assignments", "That there are deadlines and it’s not a class to just mess around in", "A varied, and sometimes, chaotic experience", "Its not just about assembling a book for school, there is more to it and stuff", "Be open for anything."

Q: Why did you join yearbook?

A: "Cause I like to take pictures", "To become a part of the yearbook making process and make nice pages", "Because I like photography", "I wanted another English credit and I heard from others last year that it was a fun class to take."

Q: Now, the hard question...: pizza or hamburgers?

A: Overwhelmingly pizza with 2/3 of the class picking pizza!

Overall, we here at Yearbook & Communications keep busy, but we enjoy ourselves while doing it. It requires being goal oriented and having a creative mind. Joining yearbook means being able to see the fruits of your creativity and hard work. Being apart of  yearbook is having a team of photographers, business people, writers, interviewers, proofreaders, and designers all coming together to make a work of art.