SOAR Awards Photos
Enjoy this slideshow of pictures from the 2023 SOAR Awards, honoring the Top 10 students from each grade level. The ceremony took place on April 28 during a special assembly in the gym.
Tag Archives: academics
Opinion: College Decisions Bring Pressure
With college decisions coming out from various CSUs and UCs, there’s certain expectations for seniors to come up with something big. Our last year is meant to be our final hurrah and demonstrate the last four years were not a waste, that we have accomplished our greatest potential. We are determined by others by our medals, our cords, and admissions in our last year. Most of us are here to just get through it to make it on the other side.
It’s been completely valid to not overwork yourself or take every AP and college course in the history of humanity. It’s hard to compare to the students who get into MIT and Stanford, nor should we have to. While it’s certainly a great accomplishment on their behalf, it is not the aspiration for some students and we should not be treated as such.
For a lot of students, we are addressed as lost potential or simply not regarded at all when we come short of what others expect of us. We are not all the same and we shouldn’t be treated to the same standards. We have been told since the beginning of our educational journey that a four year university should be our goal and that we have to work towards it; however, that is not the goal for everyone nor required for their profession.
There are so many different paths we could take and we shouldn’t be determined by these trivial things in high school. At the end of the day, what matters is doing the best we can, walking the stage, and being the best adults we can be, not appeasing the people in our lives by making it into schools we don’t care about.
It’s your life, live it for you.
Hope is the Best Fourth Quarter Motivation
A student needs motivation, hope and confidence that they’ll achieve their goals
“Optimism is the earth that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
-Helen Keller
The school year goes based on your success rate, your participation, effort, attention and of course your grades. Once you start gaining confidence and feel secure about completing your goals, your success rate increases, you feel invincible, like the world is at your feet. However, students have a social and personal life that they have to look out for.
Eventually there may be a point here in the fourth quarter where it’ll be too much to handle. You’ll be overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted, and stressed. This will affect you mentally and physically. It’s affecting your grades, your mentality, and you’ll lose hope towards anything that once mattered to you. You may feel that you don’t have the strength to keep going and you’ll give up.
Hope is what matters, hope that you’ll succeed, hope that you’ll overcome any obstacle that comes in your way, and hope that your work will pay off in your future.
Researchers have found that students who are high in hope have greater academic success, stronger friendships, and demonstrate more creativity and better problem solving. Students will have lower levels of anxiety, stress and depression and are less likely to drop out of school. Having hope may actually predict a student’s future academic achievement. Normally, students lose hope from the impact of their family circumstances. Hope is refined, even among students who are on the verge of giving up.
As we near the end of the school year, set clear and attainable goals, develop multiple strategies to research your goals, and stay motivated to tie it all together. Break down your goals by identifying and prioritizing and always keep going no matter the cost.
Student Voices: How Was the First Semester?
By Genesis Garcia-Rizo
The Shoemaker Bugle went around campus asking fellow John Glenn and Southeast students about how their first semester has been. Here are some responds we’ve gathered:
Jonathan Sanchez: I can’t say that the semester has been so great as I planned. It has been rough from the beginning since I missed a week and got behind a bit.
Anonymous Senior: The semester has been pretty average for me, but that is because most of my classes aren’t that bad. If I had to say anything, Homecoming was fun, but I do feel like the semester has gone by fast. I have also felt a little bit of senioritis as well when it comes to some of my work. I haven’t been giving it my full effort, but not to the extent where my grades drop below an A.
Karen Lopez: The semester has been very hard when understanding some concepts in class. But it has been very fun, which makes it worth the struggle.
Erick Estrada: First semester has been quite physically and mentally demanding. Whether it be from homework or events outside of school, getting 2-6 hours of sleep a day, or trying to apply to as many UCs and Cal States or scholarships as possible, it has been quite the challenge; but I know it’ll be well worth it when I’m finally done.
Angel Bautista: This semester has been difficult in some classes and easier in others, but I’ve been able to turn in almost all of my assignments. I didn’t put as much effort into this semester as others.
Katherine Magana: This semester my classes have been more difficult but I learned how to manage my time better. I struggled in the beginning but I learned how to manage school better with a positive mindset.
Every student has had a different experience of their first semester whether it managing their time, understanding different concepts in class or submitting their college applications. Even through all the struggles, we encourage each student to always keep trying.
Shoemaker Bugle is very thankful to the students who gave their input to make this article. We wish both John Glenn and Southeast students to keep striving for excellence in the second semester!
The Shoemaker Bugle 