By CHERI BRUBAKER/YachatsNews.com
WALDPORT — Alycia Gordon feels cheated of not being able to participate in some traditional high school senior activities.
Although back in school and participating in activities the past six weeks after a year of online classes, Lucas Forshee sees the year just “petering out.”
Ryan Eriksen didn’t even return in April when students were able to return to Waldport High School. He already had enough credits to graduate, so is working in Eugene and preparing to join the U.S. Air Force.
Still, the 42 graduates in Waldport High School’s class of 2021 will walk across a stage to accept diplomas in a semi-private ceremony at the high school stadium at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 11. Last year’s graduation was held virtually.
In a recent group conversation with YachatsNews, Gordon, Forshee, Eriksen and other graduating seniors were candid on the disruption the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked on their school lives the past year. They were positive, hopeful for the future, and grateful to have returned to in-person classes in April after spending the last 12 months learning remotely.
A year of missing out
“You grow up watching the seniors do their pranks, skip days and their trip,” said Gordon, who will attend the University of Southern California in the fall. “Even just walking through the halls you have seniority,”
It’s no one’s fault, she said, but some of the seniors feel cheated.
An example, was this year’s staggered prom Saturday where groups of eight moved from room to room on 15 minute intervals. Gordon said it was fun, but it’s not the traditional high school experience.
Gordon, who will study biology at USC, said she “really wanted to experience something new, and feel like I’m on my own and separate, forming my own connections and my own life.”
“It’s big change,” she said. “I think it’s going to be scary, but I’m really excited.”
During his freshman and sophomore years, Forshee said he admired the cool things seniors did — the school dances and special assemblies.
“We never got that. It feels like our year is just petering out,” said Forshee, who will be attending Reed College in the fall. “They got this grand finale, while we’re just … stopping.”
While grateful to participate in the abbreviated sports seasons this spring, Forshee explained the challenge faced by student athletes.
“I was still practicing for my state cross country meet the week before our first track meet,” he said. “Meet after meet, day after day — it was so exhausting. It should have been fun.”
Still, Forshee said, he’s glad the school district allowed sports to resume. “I’m glad they did it. I’m thankful I got to do it.”
Graham Jones, who will be studying mechanical engineering at Oregon State University, agreed.
“Nothing was long enough,” he said. “Right when we got into the stride for track, it ended. And we’re starting to get into a stride for basketball, and it’s ending.”
It was like having a taste, not the whole meal, Jones said. His classmates laughed, nodding their heads in agreement.
Already an adult
Ryan Eriksen didn’t return to school with his classmates in April.
With enough credits to graduate, he has been working full time this semester, living on his own in Eugene. Learning to be on his own has been great, said Eriksen. Accustomed to working even while attending school, budgeting and paying bills wasn’t a problem for him, he said.
Eriksen will be enlisting in the Air Force, shipping out to San Antonio for basic training Aug. 28. After attending technical school in Fort Benning, Colo., he hopes to join the Special Warfare Department where he will work in tactical reconnaissance.
“I haven’t really traveled much,” Eriksen said. “That’s always been something I wanted to do.”
Teachers and students credit AVID
Waldport’s Class of 2021 is the first class to participate all four years in a structured college preparatory program call AVID — Advancement Via Individual Determination — designed to provide support for academic and career success.
Principal Amy Skirvin believes the program’s effectiveness is evident in the amount of scholarships awarded and the quality and number of colleges accepting and admitting Waldport graduates this year. Thirteen AVID seniors have an average cumulative GPA of 3.79 and have been offered over $800,000 in merit-based scholarships, Skirvin said.
Leanna Darner will attend the University of Portland where she has been admitted to the nursing program. Darner, who has a part-time job in a local restaurant, was awarded the university’s President’s Scholarship in the amount of $106,000 and the Lawrence Family Scholarship, which she says will cover the remainder of her expenses.
Kylie Burke credits AVID for helped her learn about scholarships and financial aid, as well as how to apply for college. One of the few students in her class to have attended school in Waldport since kindergarten, Burke will attend Linfield University in McMinnville.
“We’re from this little small town, but that’s not all we are,” said Burke. “We are so much bigger and better. And we have so much to look forward to.”
So much to look forward to
While the Waldport students were upbeat and positive, they reflected on the challenge of the last year.
“It’s really hard to learn from a computer. It was hard to be alone,” Jessica Dooley said of the months attending school remotely.
Dooley will attend the University of Oregon in the fall. She’s not sure what to expect, doesn’t know what such a big environment will be like.
Attending a small school like Waldport, Dooley said you know everyone. While she doesn’t yet know anyone attending the UO, she is confident in the connections she formed with her Waldport teachers.
“If I get stressed out at college, I know I can reach out to my teachers and they would be there for me,” she said.
The details
The Class of 2021 will receive their diplomas at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 11 at Irish Stadium. The event will be held rain, shine, hail, or wind, the school indicated. No umbrellas, tents, gifts, or balloons are permitted, and high heels are not advised. And, there is no time to celebrate afterwards due to COVID. Masks are not required at the outdoor event. Physical distancing requirements of six feet for adults and 3 feet for children remain in effect.
“They are a studious, involved, and genuinely kind class,” Skirvin said of the Waldport High School Class of 2021.
Other Lincoln County high school graduations include:
- Eddyville Charter School will hold graduation on the football field at 7 p.m. June 11. Masks are not required.
- Siletz Valley Charter School will hold graduation outdoors at 2 p.m. June 12. Masks are not required.
- Taft High School’s graduation will be at 11:21 a.m. June 12 at Voris Field. Each senior is allowed four guests.
- Toledo High School’s graduation will be similar to 2020, with a drive-up graduation at 2 p.m. June 12. One family car is allowed by each senior.
- Newport High School’s graduation ceremony will take place in the gymnasium at 6 p.m. June 12. Each graduate is allowed four guests. Masks are required.
- Cheri Brubaker is a freelance reporter on the Oregon coast who can be reached at cheribrubaker@me.com
