By Ayla Ozturk
After an unusual high school experience, the class of 2023 is set to graduate on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
The class of 2023 had their:
Freshman year cut short due to COVID-19.
Sophomore year entirely online with a hybrid option at the very end.
Junior year in person with restrictions.
And senior year as their only “normal” year of high school.
Members of the class of 2023 reflect on their approaching graduation and unique high school experience.
“With all of the challenges and hardships our graduating class has had to overcome, I feel like it has brought us closer together and gave us more to bond over. This closeness makes it that much harder to say goodbye to the people that I’ve spent every day with for the past four years with, some longer than that, but I’m excited to see where everyone’s new paths lead them.”
–Natalie McDonnell, Class of 2023
McDonnell is a four-year Redwood athlete. She played on the Women’s Varsity Soccer team and ran for Redwood Cross Country. McDonnell also served as Captain of Redwood Track and Field.
“[Graduating is] kind of bittersweet. It’s nice to be able to move on with my life. It’s a little sad to say goodbye it to all the lovely people I’ve met here. I’m very hope fulfilled about the future, but I’m a little sad to say goodbye, so [I] definitely [have] some mixed feelings [here].”
–Micah Stipech, Class of 2023
Stipech just completed his second year of public school. He started attending Redwood High School last year. Stipech was involved in Redwood Video and a part of Redwood’s first photography class.
“[My high school experience feels] incomplete. I never got to finish Chemistry, which has left me with a great deficiency in that area of study. The ACE Academy became incredibly narrow during this time and as such I feel like I never learned anything but Single Family Wood-Framed Construction.”
–Nathan Perez, Class of 2023
Perez served as President of the Creative Design club. He was also a member of the Redwood Architecture, Construction, and Engineering [ACE] Academy.
“Honestly it feels like I didn’t get the full highschool experience. I think [the pandemic] took away a lot of memories, people, and events that I could have experienced.”
–Siella Beswick, Class of 2023
Beswick served as the President of Club 55. She participated in Redwood Athletics with two years on Redwood Track and Field and one year on Redwood Cross Country.
“[My high school experience] made me appreciate my time more with my friends.”
–Jocelyn Arellano, Class of 2023
Arellano is a four-year Redwood athlete. She was on the Women’s Varsity Soccer team and played for Women’s Varsity Tennis.
Ayla Ozturk
Ayla Ozturk, class of 2024, is a fourth-year journalism student passionate about leading the News section. She is dedicated to informing students and amplifying their voices through Government and Politics writing.
You can reach her at ayla.oz3769@vusd.us.
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