Years of Commitment: Ranger’s Experiences as Long-Term Members 

From Dance Force to Yearbook, Redwood Rangers share their experiences as multi-year members.

By: Chloe Falcon-Barros and Lily Swanson

At Redwood High School, students can choose their desired electives at the end of the school year.

Whether it be Yearbook, AVID, Dance, or any other elective, students have their pick of a possible multi-year class. 

Staying in a class for multiple years is a true commitment and honor for students as they move up to higher roles. 

Eric Navarro, ‘25, a third-year member of the yearbook and one of many chief editors, says, “Seeing all of our work pay off and seeing all of it, right there was pretty gratifying.” 

Grace Hyatt, ‘25, also a chief editor, says, “What made me choose the yearbook is my love for photography and just writing, also the whole atmosphere of the whole class, everyone so connected in just one group.”

Navarro and Hyatt have been doing yearbooks since their sophomore year, and overall they say it has given them lots of opportunities, and have met new people that they wouldn’t have otherwise met if they hadn’t joined the yearbook. 

As the school years progress, students who choose to stay in the same environment create a stable and supportive class. This continuity helps build stronger relationships and a sense of community.

Sadie Hemphill, ‘25, a third-year member of Dance Force, says, “Well, I’ve been dancing since I was super young, so I just love dancing and a lot of stuff that Dance Force does. That’s something I wanted to be a part of and it was a great way to build relationships with people in the class.”

Along with staying in the same environment, students follow the school’s acronym: T.R.U.E. (Trustworthy, Respectful, Understanding, Effort). 

Choosing to stay in an elective can allow you to better trust the people around you, respect the work and students, understand the true importance of the work you do, and put in effort from learning from your mistakes. 

This acronym helps students stay true to Redwood’s values as they continue in the same class over the years. 

Giselle Alvarez, ’25, a multi-year member of AVID shares her views on the acronym T.R.U.E.

Alvarez says, “To me, it will be important because I feel like all those words, you need to have in your personality or like, just as a person, and I feel like a lot of people who are around have those traits, which is why we have those.” 

Kenzie Bacon, ’25, the third and final chief editor of the yearbook, says, “It means a lot to me because with trust, being able to trust people is important, just with everything like teachers and people you surround yourself with.”

The importance of following this acronym in and out of class allows for these kinds of learning environments where students feel comfortable and welcomed. 

Electives like this might make you consider taking it year after year until you graduate. 

Rangers who feel supported by their class can continue confidently into the future and have lifelong skills and memories that will last them a lifetime. 

Hemphill says, “When you’re involved on campus it will help you make friends and get to know teachers and stuff which I think is the best part of in high school.” 

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