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Welcome to Perspectives with Willoughby Eastlake City School Superintendent, Dr.
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Patrick Ward.
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Two schools, two juniors, and one honest conversation about high school life and preparing for senior year and life after graduation.
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In this episode, Dr.
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Ward sits down with Eastlake North's Drew Dingledine and Willoughby South's Maddie Crook.
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Together, they're opening up about the people and the moments that shaped them, the teachers who impacted their journey, and the extracurriculars where they found a real sense of belonging.
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Keep listening for a genuine glimpse into the laughs, the lessons, and the future hopes of the next generation.
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And so today I'm joined on our Perspectives podcast by two distinguished guests from the Willoughby East Lake Schools family.
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And so we have with us both a South and a North student today.
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And so we have Maddie joining us and Drew.
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And why don't we just start here?
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Maddie, we'll start with you.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself, what you're involved in, and a little bit about your background.
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So I'm a junior at Willoughby South.
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I play volleyball for South, and I play club volleyball, so that kind of keeps me busy throughout the year.
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My favorite subject at South is probably AP biology.
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And I came to South as a freshman, so I haven't been in the district long.
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So I feel like that kind of biases my perspective a little bit.
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Great.
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What about volleyball?
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Pretty pretty uh uh skilled and aggressive sport there.
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So uh when did that call to you?
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Um I started playing volleyball in third grade for CYO.
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I kind of bounced around sports for CYO.
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I did a lot, but that's kind of the thing that really stuck with me.
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And then you mentioned AP Bio.
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Um that's uh kind of like off the norm a little bit.
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Tell tell me why AP Bio.
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Um I just really like the content.
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I'm really interested in it all, and I love Miss Mormino.
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I think she's a great teacher, and she really keeps my interest in the subject and makes me want to be there every day.
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So like when you feel that connection uh to the content in the teacher, it kind of helps, doesn't it?
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Yeah, for sure.
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And so a little fun fact, I was an AP bioteacher, so um I can really track with this idea that that's the best subject out there.
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No offense to the other subjects, but certainly uh I enjoy the sciences.
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So welcome to the podcast.
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Thanks for uh uh being willing to share your perspective today.
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Yeah, thank you.
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And let's start over here, Drew.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your story.
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I'm Drew, I live in Willock.
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I'm a junior at North, if you couldn't tell from the color coding.
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Wait, the orange?
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Is that yeah, I got it.
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Okay.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Uh I've b lived in the district pretty much my entire life.
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Uh I moved here before kindergarten for mentor, uh, and I've been in the school ever si in the school system ever since.
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Uh I'm in the marching band.
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Uh been in it for the past two years now, going on to my third and senior year.
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Uh had a lot of fun, gotta say though.
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Uh I think North South Day's definitely been the favorite, though.
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So North South Day, we're gonna unpack that at some point.
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Let's let's uh let's talk about the marching band for a second.
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Like, why that particular opportunity, what about that kind of drew you uh into that activity?
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The biggest thing for me has been the community.
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Uh it's such a great place filled with a lot of great people.
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Like I've never met someone in marching band that I wouldn't be comfortable just talking to, at least for some duration.
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Uh and it it just every Friday I just get to look forward to going out, playing my instrument, having fun with a hundred or so other people.
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That's pretty awesome.
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So like things like marching band and volleyball and and like having those connections with AP Bio, like ultimately that's what school's all about, right?
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It's about those like memorable, lasting uh opportunities we provide kids and then being able to tell that story, right?
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So thank you for taking some time.
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We're gonna unpack this north-south thing a little bit today.
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It's definitely unique uh to Willoughby East Lake.
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Uh, and I'm again so grateful you guys will shed a little perspective on that today.
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Uh one of the questions we ask uh guests on this particular uh podcast is about their origin story.
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Uh we're gonna kind of flip it for you.
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Like when you think about where you want to be in a couple years career-wise, uh and kind of like areas that that kind of are intriguing to you right now.
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Um let's kind of let's let's explore that.
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So, Drew, start with you.
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What what field area um are you thinking about?
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For the past while I've been thinking about accounting.
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Uh there's a lot of colleges in the local area that are pretty good with it.
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Cleveland State's one of the top ones in at least America for accounting as far as I'm aware.
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And it seems like it'd be a great balance of working but also talking, uh socializing.
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That's a huge part of it, uh making connections.
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And it's just something that I've enjoyed pretty much my entire time.
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So you existing.
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So you'll be a junior.
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You're junior now, you'll be a senior next year.
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Yes.
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So that means these conversations are starting to ramp up a little bit.
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Oh, yeah.
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I don't think I've gone a day this week without either thinking of what's happening or someone asking me about what my plan is post-high school.
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So I have a junior at home.
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You're going to inspire me to go home and start asking some more questions.
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I feel so sorry for it.
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So thank you for that motivation today, Drew.
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Um what about you?
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What's uh the future look like?
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So I know I want to go to school for pre-med.
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Lately, after like med school, I've been thinking I want to go into emergency medicine because I feel like I want to be able to be there for people when they're going through hard things in their life.
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But I also don't want that to be the only thing I'm doing to where it makes me like sad all the time for them.
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So I feel like emergency medicine is good because I get to help people through that and see cool things every day and just really experience a lot of different things.
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That's pretty uh pretty uh outstanding.
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Tell me about any colleges sticking out right now, early in the process.
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So right now, out of the ones I've looked at, my two favorites are University of Kentucky and University of Tennessee.
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I really like both of their campuses, both of their facilities.
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I think they're both really good options for me.
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So it sounds like you guys have a jump on this process.
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So uh again, I better get motivated myself at home with my uh son.
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Uh first thing tonight.
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Um so one of the conversations we have in Will Beast a lot is about future readiness.
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We talk about preparing students for their future, and we know the world's changing, um, and we know that there's a lot um that we have to do beyond just academics, right?
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And so I know you guys have been part of the student superintendent advisory group.
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We've had a chance to have that conversation.
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Like from your perspective as a student going into the world, right?
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Like what does future ready mean to you and and what can we be doing as a school system to prepare you for your future?
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Um start with you, Maddie.
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I feel like being future ready means being comfortable to take the leap and like put yourself out there not knowing what's gonna happen, because at the end of the day, like we are all experiencing for the f this for the first time, like everything's changing.
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And for us, like things are gonna be different than they were for a lot of our teachers.
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But it's more like our teachers pouring into us and making us ready to handle not knowing and making good decisions and being comfortable with ourselves to make those decisions rather than like giving us like a set outline of what we need to do.
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Because no one knows what we're gonna need to do.
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We just need to be ready to make those decisions that are best for us.
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So is there a particular skill outside of content, like collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, communication, um, resilience, empathy, you know, that that we you would see in our portrait of a graduate that jumps out at you as being something that that really should be intentionally an area of focus?
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I would definitely say collaboration.
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I think we do a really good job of that already.
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I feel like if you go into South and you go into a classroom, you'll often see a lot of people working together and helping each other out and really talking through things.
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Like you're not going to see a lot of silence.
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I feel like from based on what I've seen, I think we do really well with group work and helping each other out.
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Like say there's a student next to you who's struggling, I feel like I've seen a lot of people be able to go up to that person and help them.
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I think no one really is left behind, and I think we do really good with that.
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So it speaks to a really warm culture uh that supports the skill that's really important to the future, right?
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Yeah, definitely.
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Learning to work together, uh, which is something I would agree on.
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Uh you're gonna have to do no matter what future uh career you take.
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What about you from a the perspective of future readiness?
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I think it definitely kind of the opposite of what she said, the district it's got to teach kids kind of what they should be able to expect going out in the world.
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Obviously, like you said, there it there's never gonna be the same experience between two people, but there's gonna be a lot of similarities.
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Everyone's going to go through college or or finding a job or having to deal with getting someplace to live or a car uh and stuff like that.
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It's it's the same repeated experience.
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I feel like it's the job of schools to prepare students for what the outside world's gonna be like.
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Uh as one of my middle school teachers uh once said, the classroom and to a greater extent the broader district is a microcosm of adulthood, and it's the the job of the educator to get the student ready for that.
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Uh in terms of like stuff from the porch of the graduate that jumps out at me, critical a mix of critical thinking and empathy.
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Uh-huh.
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Because it's imp really important to be able to make your own decisions and make your own informed decisions, but you can't do if you can't think for yourself.
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But what's the point of you being able to make decisions if you're not able to grasp what the consequences of those are?
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If you don't have empathy, then you're not going to think about oh, how how much does this affect not just myself, but you know, those around me or those in that I'm gonna meet in the future.
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I mean, there's a lot.
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I really like that word microcosm, kind of that that's really intriguing.
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This idea that school reflects kind of the real world in some like uh simulated way where we get to make mistakes, we get to learn and grow into the people we're going to be, and we could be kind of supported and nurtured through that journey.
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Um Talk to me about the supports that you feel like you have at school as you're going through that growth journey uh to becoming a future graduate that that's gonna leave with a diploma.
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Um do you feel well supported with the people and the systems around you?
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Yeah, I would say definitely.
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I feel like the teachers, at least from my experience as teachers at South, I feel like they really pour into their students.
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And I feel like you can tell they care about what they're doing, which makes you care more as a student.
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Like I know when I see my teachers putting energy into class and pouring materials into me and doing things that benefit me out of their way that they didn't need to do, I feel very supported.
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And even when I'm failing or when I need to reach out for help, I feel very supported.
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I I feel like you can definitely tell your teachers care and they're willing to go the extra mile for you if you're willing to push yourself because at the end of the day, they just want you to succeed.
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And I feel really supported with all of them.
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That's remarkable.
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What about you, Drew?
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I I think I have to agree.
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Uh for the most part, any all the teachers that I've had have done have gone above and beyond in trying to make sure that their students and myself and the rest of them uh succeed.
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Uh I've had multiple of them say that they'll do anything that they can to work with a student to make sure that they grasp what they're supposed to be.
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I don't disagree.
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As someone who gets to interact with both campuses a lot and work with uh our educators, definitely a special place from that perspective.
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Um North and South, two distinct uh campuses.
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You know, there's this kind of like rivalry week that we have, this really spirited experience that that occurs here and usually in the fall, October.
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Um talk to me about school spirit.
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Talk to me about uh what it's like, especially during that particular week, uh, to be a North Ranger or a South Rebel.
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And um how how have we uh honored those traditions here in Will Beast Like?
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I feel like it's been I mean it's been like this for the past ever.
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Uh my mother and father were South Rebels, my grandparents were North Rangers.
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Uh and I feel like there's uh just a weight to it that it perpetuates itself and the spirit week.
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Like throughout the rest of the year, people usually do not care about wearing North or South Pride, from what I've seen at least.
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Uh or just I'm not a whole lot about school spirit, but spirit week hits and it's just it's an energy.
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It's in the air.
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Everyone feels it.
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It's exciting.
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Uh it doesn't matter what the schools do to make it exciting, it's just everyone's looking forward to the big game on Friday.
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It's pretty cool.
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Maddie?
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Yeah, um, I think it's an energy that there's almost nothing like, especially during North South week for football.
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I feel like it brings a sense of community that is hard to find elsewhere because even the people you don't have much in common with and you wouldn't usually talk to, you guys are all like there some or at least for us, not you guys are all there supporting South.
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You guys are all wanting South when you guys are all pushing for that.
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And it just gives some everyone something in common that we can all kind of come together with.
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And I feel like, especially with United Way and fundraising, I feel like that puts us miles ahead of where we could be, just by allowing us that like sense of community and that pride for ourselves that we carry with us throughout the year.
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Yeah, there's an overwhelming history of generosity during that week as well, when I think about how much uh many dollars we've raised for uh you know good causes that we've given back to the community.
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So it's definitely a source of pride from my perspective.
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We often uh talk here, and we'll be like about one graduate, right?
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We have one graduate, two schools.
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Um, but it it's unfair not to name uh that spirit week really purposely here, because it is a special week for sure.
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Um so let's stick with the theme of North and South.
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So think about your experience at school.
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And if you had to come up with three things you'd want to share with just someone listening today about what makes your campus that you attend special from a high school perspective, um let's kind of unpack that a little bit today.
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So uh we'll start, Maddie, with you.
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Um what would be those top three things when you think about it?
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You've been at South for a couple years.
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Like what would you want to tell uh some of our listeners?
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I feel like my first thing would definitely be the opportunities.
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I would say if you're looking for a school to go to, if you're in the Willoughby South district, or Willoughby So I would say definitely take advantage of the opportunities you're presented with.
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Even if you feel like it's gonna be a challenge, you have so many supporters, everyone's there wanting you to succeed, you have so many resources, take advantage of them and use them when you can.
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I think we offer a lot of great opportunities class-wise with AP, honors, flex, power, all these new ideas.
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In tech, I feel like there's so many opportunities for each person, no matter who you are, what you want to do.
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So I definitely say take advantage of those while you can.
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So so you'd say that um there's so many opportunities that exist that we can match like the unique needs uh and areas of interest to the individual learner?
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Yeah, I think there's definitely something for everyone for sure.
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That's that's pretty neat to hear.
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Drew.
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It's not an issue of not having anything to point out as stand out, just there's so much in the school that stands out.
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Uh I think though for me it's easily the community.
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Uh like you hear about all the time in other schools how there's so many issues with students fighting all the time or just not being able to be in the same room as each other for more than two seconds and be friendly.
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But like there's nobody at North that I could see being like that.
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I mean, even people that are visibly at odds with each other and just have a history of not liking each other can at least be friendly for a little bit.
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There's no crazy long-standing animosity between anyone.
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That's outstanding.
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So you you talked about like the heart of the school community.
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Uh and I agree, uh, when I visit North High School or South High School, like it's just warm and I'm always feel welcomed.
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And we have we have some remarkable students here, and we'll be s like and again, I could brag a little bit here because I get the chance to visit all of our campuses uh and talk to our amazing students.
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And uh again, uh I I would put you guys uh second to anyone uh you know in the United States.
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So um community spirit, right?
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When you talk about opportunities, you you mentioned um like flex.
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Like what is flex?
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So flex are classes where you are in the room for part of the time learning, and then on flex days, your teacher lets you out in the room, out of the room into like a hallway or communal workspace to work through it with yourself and your peers, but they're still available if you need help.
00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:49.039
Like if you're struggling in the class on flex days, they'll usually keep you back there to give you more one-on-one help to make sure you're getting the help you need.
00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:54.720
So it provides more of that like individualized kind of opportunity to have a conversation with your teacher if you needed it.
00:16:54.720 --> 00:17:02.399
Um because sometimes in high school, if you if you get stuck on a math problem, you have to wait until your teacher's free, you're free, you have to find that time.
00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:06.079
But flex provides you with that opportunity to just get the help right there?
00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:06.960
Yeah, absolutely.
00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.920
That's pretty cool.
00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:11.119
Let's pivot a little bit and talk about like the role of technology in your life.
00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:21.920
Have you what what what role does technology, cell phones, uh computers, AI play in your life as you as you're growing up and going through these school years?
00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:25.039
I definitely think it can be a tool.
00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:40.079
And I think, at least with my experience with South, I feel like teachers have done a really good job balancing technology and work without it, because I feel like we can't over-rely on technology, especially with all of AI coming out.
00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:42.240
We still need to be able to do things for ourselves.
00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:49.279
So I feel like they've also done a good job providing options because some people learn better writing with the pencil, and some people learn better typing at a computer.
00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:54.559
I personally like using pencil and paper better, and I feel like my teachers have done a very good job accommodating that.
00:17:54.559 --> 00:18:06.720
So the person next to me who does better typing things out and using their Chromebook can have easy access to what we're doing, and I can also have easy access to what we're doing through papers, and we'll still get the same quality learning, same quality results.
00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.920
And I think that's really great.
00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.519
So balance is the word.
00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:11.200
That's that's pretty uh insightful.
00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:11.839
What about you?
00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:12.640
Role of technology?
00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:17.119
Aaron Powell For me, I think it's both as an incredibly useful aid and tool.
00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:28.319
Uh having t used both a graphing a physical like TI-80 graphing calculator and Desmos, it's like night and day the difference between the two.
00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:35.680
Uh I cannot imagine having to go through uh any any of the math really that I've done in high school.
00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:51.119
Uh having to use like a physical graphing calculator, or God forbid, like a slide rule uh just to solve things when I can plug things into Desmos and it's visualized right there, and I can use that to help work out why this I got to this from this.
00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:53.279
Uh it's the same with AI.
00:18:53.279 --> 00:19:00.480
Uh like it at this level, most teachers they don't so much care about the answer as how you got there.
00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:07.599
Uh in chemistry and math, for example, both of my teachers they give you partial credit as long as you d show your work.
00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:16.160
Because I mean, it's they're both meant to both teach critical thinking, and the only way you could do that is by seeing where you went wrong in the logical process.
00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:18.720
And AI can be a great tool for that.
00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:23.039
It doesn't just tell you the answer, it shows you how it got there.
00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:31.599
So kind of like your personal assistant, coach, tutor, right there all the time, helping you uh through the thinking process, right?
00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:33.759
Which is a theme that came up on a previous podcast.
00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:38.160
We talked a lot about like making sure you don't offload all the thinking to the machine.
00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:40.160
That you do the hard part first yourself, right?
00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:41.759
I think there's some merit in that, right?
00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:41.920
Yeah.
00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:46.000
It sounds like that balance that you talked about is really uh how you get there, right?
00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.079
Paper and pencil works still, right?
00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:56.000
Um we we also have done on this podcast this kind of um uh exchange around it, giving advice to certain groups, right?
00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.200
And so we're gonna try this.
00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:58.720
We'll see how it goes, all right?
00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:10.160
And so let's start with if you were sitting at a table with the superintendent of Willoughby East Lake Schools and you had a chance to give him any piece of advice or insights, like what would that advice or insight be?
00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:15.519
Um and so I'm gonna start with Drew.
00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.480
What do you got?
00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:21.599
I the biggest one is just keep keep taking the path that you've been taking.
00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:26.720
I mean, I've not heard a bad thing about you from anyone in the district.
00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:30.880
Nobody is complaining about where it's going, from what I've heard, at least.
00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:32.960
And it's a random student, so who knows?
00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:38.319
Uh you're not a random student, you're a very important key communicator and stakeholder right now.
00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:45.119
But regardless, uh like and I've seen visible growth and change in the district for the better.
00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.720
You know, I tell people all the time.
00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.480
Certainly not my school district, right?
00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:53.599
Belongs to uh the 66,000 people uh that live on the western end of Lake County.
00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.640
Uh this is their school.
00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:57.440
And so what do we want for our children, right, in our future?
00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:01.359
It's uh so I I appreciate your feedback and we'll keep working on that.
00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.000
What about you?
00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:08.960
I haven't been here as long, so I can't speak on how it's changed, but based on what I've been here, I would say definitely keep focused on community building.
00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:13.200
Because the community I've found here since I've came here has actually been remarkable.
00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:21.039
I've never walked into a room and worried about not having a friend or not having someone to talk to, whether it be like a teacher or a classmate, there's always someone for everyone.
00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:23.440
There's always someone there for you, and you know someone has your back.
00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:29.359
And it's feels really comfortable having someone have your back when you're taking leaps and doing tough things.
00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.599
So I think you speak to the heart, right?
00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:37.920
Like the heart of who we are as a school district and as someone who's got children in the school system and someone who's lived here a long time.
00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.759
Um I can't agree more.
00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:50.319
Like the adults in this system care deeply, uh, and s our students uh certainly um should know they belong here because uh it is a special place for sure.
00:21:50.319 --> 00:22:02.400
Uh and so I appreciate that that heartfelt testimony, and I appreciate the opportunity for you to just give me that straight talk because theoretically you are sitting at the table with the superintendent and and so like That's pretty neat to have that conversation, right?
00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:04.799
Uh let's take the advice outside of this room.
00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:20.880
If you could give the any advice uh or insight to a uh incoming middle schooler who's going to high school, so you think about eight to nine, like what would you tell an eighth grader coming to high school next year at either one of your high schools so that that they could be most prepared for what's next?
00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.519
Yeah, let's go there.
00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.799
Get involved.
00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:26.559
That's the most simple thing.
00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:28.079
Oh no.
00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:28.720
Sorry.
00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:34.079
But yeah, just getting involved in sports or clubs or marching band.
00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.920
Shameless plug.
00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:38.960
Shameless plug, marching band, color guide clinics are going on right now.
00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:41.680
Anyways, uh just getting involved in stuff.
00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:45.359
That's the easiest way to find where you belong.
00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:51.599
Even if you don't like it at first or if you just don't enjoy what you're doing, there's always more options.
00:22:51.599 --> 00:23:00.880
And you never really need to worry about affordability either, because there's reduced prices depending on what uh if you get reduced lunch or free lunch.
00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:07.279
There's not and most clubs either have their own money or don't need it.
00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:09.920
There's no limitation.
00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:11.119
To get involved.
00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.839
To get involved.
00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.079
Yeah.
00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.720
I like that.
00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.599
You want to know why I like that?
00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:18.000
I would tell when I was high school principal, I would tell families there's three keys to success.
00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:20.960
And one of those keys were make sure your child gets involved.
00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.720
So we're trekking on that one.
00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.519
What about you?
00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.960
Other than he stole that one from you.
00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:31.680
I hate to copy, but I would definitely continue with the get involved because coming from a private school, I didn't really know anybody in the district.
00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:34.160
And I was so scared starting my freshman year.
00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:36.079
I was so worried I wouldn't have any friends.
00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:38.720
And that first day was looking really scary for me.
00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:51.359
But getting involved, especially with volleyball over the summer and starting lifts for that over the summer, where I was introduced to so many people from so many different sports, I feel like that really helped me find people that I could rely on, especially during that first year and even now.
00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:58.319
Like the friends I've made through volleyball and through the weight room and through all the activities I've picked up, I still have today, and they're really my people.
00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:02.960
So I just I really recommend that anyone find something, get involved with, try out different things.
00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:06.880
Like not everything might be your thing, but you can't say you didn't try.
00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.000
So I like that.
00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:13.359
So you guys doubled down on get involved, which like I said, it's one of my three keys to success, right?
00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:15.680
You might be wondering like what are the other two, right?
00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:20.000
So that I'm just gonna tell you and have you react to it because you kind of touched on it, right?
00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:23.759
You touched on the idea that every person deserves an advocate and a champion, right?
00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:35.920
Like so I tell like uh students coming into high school, like make sure you get connected to one adult that will be your champion, someone who will s go go to bat for you, someone that will be that person who when when things get tough you can talk to.
00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:38.720
Um we talked a little bit about that sense of connection.
00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:46.720
Like, do you feel like in your classrooms and in your in the school communities that you're part of that you have that one advocate or champion that that's in your corner?
00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.920
Yeah, definitely.
00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:49.359
I would argue that I have multiple.
00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:56.319
I feel like all of my teachers I can go to with a problem, and I know they'll be there for me personally and as a student.
00:24:56.319 --> 00:25:05.920
Even if it is a personal problem, I don't feel comfortable going to anybody else, I know I can rely on at least one or two of my teachers to carefully like keep that information themselves and help me through that.
00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:07.839
Because they're really here for you at the end of the day.
00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:11.279
And I know each and every one of them care about me so much, and I care about them too.
00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:12.240
That's outstanding.
00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.519
And so you're two out of three.
00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.359
The third is choose your peer group wisely.
00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:18.240
So but we'll leave that one for a future conversation.
00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:25.920
Drew, we're gonna we're gonna pivot now because recently you were a guest columnist uh in our uh community uh you know update, yes?
00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.920
Uh yeah, just a minor little thing.
00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:31.359
Any, you know, I just want to call attention to your famous now.
00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:36.160
So um anything in that article stick out that you want to share with our listeners today?
00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:39.680
I mean, really, I already said it, just get involved in stuff.
00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:46.079
Uh there's nothing to ever regret about doing something new in this district.
00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:52.720
Even if it's for one day you go to one practice for a team and you decide to drop it.
00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.920
You still tried something new.
00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:58.720
It's a you've discovered things and you know for the future, hey, I don't enjoy this.
00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:00.160
Or maybe you really loved it.
00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:05.359
It's how you learn and how you find everything.
00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.319
So I'm gonna tell you right now how proud I am of both of you guys.
00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:12.240
Like you came here today, we asked you to come on a podcast, you guys were like, sure.
00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.759
Uh you didn't even hesitate.
00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:26.319
Um and you you literally uh have sat here and endured this wonderful conversation and and spoke from your heart about your experience, I know, very difficult, but we we got uh we made some serious uh headway today.
00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:36.640
I have two final thoughts that I kind of want to pack here and and and then we can kind of wind this down and uh hopefully get you back to some learning or something today, you know, and uh or something like that.
00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:42.400
But I always like to ask people generally about what they're feeling hopeful about.
00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:47.599
And so and that can be about your school experience, that could be about going into your senior year.
00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:51.519
Um there's really no parameters on that, but what but what hope can you offer us?
00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:54.640
Because um I think hope's a powerful, a powerful thing.
00:26:54.640 --> 00:27:00.160
So let's start with uh Maddie this time, so that uh this time Drew doesn't steal your answer.
00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:03.599
Um I feel really hopeful for my future.
00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:07.279
I feel like my teachers and my community have prepared me for it.
00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:16.079
I feel well prepared to make decisions and to be confident in them, and I feel like I've made good connections that'll last me past high school that I know I can count on.
00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:21.920
That's uh I mean how do you not leave this conversation feeling hopeful about that?
00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.519
Hopeful, uh Ness.
00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:29.039
I'm hopeful for like what everyone else is going to be doing after high school.
00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:35.440
I don't I I don't think I've met a single person that I haven't thought you're gonna do great things someday.
00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:44.720
There's so many amazing, wonderful people in this district that are just so bright and that I future is in good hands.
00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.519
That's all I can think.
00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:53.599
Well I mean I think you're leaving me with some uh really encouraging uh things today uh about uh the Willoughby-Eastlake experience collectively.
00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:56.799
And so final parting thoughts that you'd have today.
00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:00.240
So we'll give you a second to kind of you know muster up those thoughts.
00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:13.359
Um again, can't can't be more appreciative of your time today, uh representing the South community, representing the North community, but most importantly, representing the Will Be Slake uh student and the experience we try and provide here.
00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:16.000
You know we tell people all the time we're not perfect, right?
00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:19.680
We are a work in progress, uh as uh we should be.
00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:27.039
But I know this for sure that we have people showing up every single day to make sure the experience you have is the best.
00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:34.720
Uh and so what what parting words of wisdom or thoughts would you want to share with uh our listeners today as we uh wind this conversation down?
00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:40.880
And again, I'm gonna start with Maddie so that uh you know Drew doesn't steal the the wisdom.
00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.279
Go ahead.
00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:43.599
I'd say enjoy it while you can.
00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:45.440
It goes fast, and high school can be rough.
00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:51.200
There's a lot of changes, but just embrace the changes and try to live in every moment because even the hard things will teach you a lesson.
00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:57.680
And just really try to leave with no regrets because this is just a chunk of your life and you want to go learning from it, but also remembering it fondly.
00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:00.319
I think no truer words have been spoken.
00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:07.519
Like it goes fast, so enjoy the ride, especially the high school years, because they should be uh amazing and fantastic years.
00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:09.680
Um Drew, what do you got?
00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:12.000
Hate to beat a dead horse, but get involved.
00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.640
Get involved.
00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:14.000
Wait a minute, wait, get involved.
00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.440
I got that message long and clear to me.
00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:19.440
But but specifically, get involved in student leadership stuff.
00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.000
Okay.
00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:26.880
It being in all the student leadership things I've been has been the single greatest opportunity I've ever had.
00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:31.440
It's opened my eyes on just how things work.
00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:34.079
So how important is student voice from your perspective?
00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:36.880
I thought I I said I was gonna stop, but uh let's just go there real quick.
00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:43.839
Student voice is what's been guiding this district for the past what three years now, two years, four years now?
00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:48.160
However long you've had the uh s advisory committee going on.
00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:59.359
Uh and without uh the student's voice, you just get a soulless school where it's you just walk between rooms and hear people rabble on.
00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:06.720
It's boring, it's not fun, and it leads to stagnation, which is the death of progress.
00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:11.359
Profound and weighty right there and heavy for this late conversation.
00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:13.759
What about student voice from your perspective, Maddie?
00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:18.559
I think it's really important because you can't please the people if you're not talking to the people.
00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:22.799
And I mean, we are the ones experience it, we're the ones who are gonna use it later in our life.
00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:32.880
So I feel like our voice in our education is very important, and I'm very grateful that we've been able to place our voice in our education because I think that's definitely made it a place where the majority of people are much happier to be.
00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:36.559
Well, boy, that's some great insights for the superintendent today to walk away from.
00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:43.440
The idea that people's voice matters and you gotta listen more and you gotta get out there and make sure that you continue to do this important work.
00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:49.359
I want to thank both uh Maddie and Drew for your time today and uh coming on the podcast to share your insights.
00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:53.920
And I want to also spend a few minutes today thanking everyone who's listening or watching.
00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:59.519
We appreciate uh your continued um presence here on the Perspectives Podcast.
00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.799
See you soon.
00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:06.160
Thanks for joining us on this episode of Perspectives.
00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:17.440
Today's conversation reminds us that the high school years are filled with opportunities for students to expand their thinking, explore their interests, and plan their next steps after graduation.
00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:27.440
We learned how they built friendships, relied on the adults in their lives for advice and support, all while discovering more about themselves to chart their paths for the future.
00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:32.079
We appreciate Drew and Maddie for sharing their time, their experiences, and their hopes.
00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:36.000
And we thank you for taking the time to listen and reflect with us.
00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:06.639
Welcome to Perspectives with Willoughby Eastlake City School Superintendent, Dr.
00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:07.759
Patrick Ward.
00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:16.480
Two schools, two juniors, and one honest conversation about high school life and preparing for senior year and life after graduation.
00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:18.320
In this episode, Dr.
00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:23.280
Ward sits down with Eastlake North's Drew Dingledine and Willoughby South's Maddie Crook.
00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:33.359
Together, they're opening up about the people and the moments that shaped them, the teachers who impacted their journey, and the extracurriculars where they found a real sense of belonging.
00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:40.000
Keep listening for a genuine glimpse into the laughs, the lessons, and the future hopes of the next generation.
00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:49.280
And so today I'm joined on our Perspectives podcast by two distinguished guests from the Willoughby East Lake Schools family.
00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:55.359
And so we have with us both a South and a North student today.
00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:58.960
And so we have Maddie joining us and Drew.
00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:00.719
And why don't we just start here?
00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:02.320
Maddie, we'll start with you.
00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:07.599
Tell us a little bit about yourself, what you're involved in, and a little bit about your background.
00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:10.319
So I'm a junior at Willoughby South.
00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:15.040
I play volleyball for South, and I play club volleyball, so that kind of keeps me busy throughout the year.
00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:19.040
My favorite subject at South is probably AP biology.
00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:23.280
And I came to South as a freshman, so I haven't been in the district long.
00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:26.799
So I feel like that kind of biases my perspective a little bit.
00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:27.280
Great.
00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:33.040
What about volleyball?
00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:37.040
Pretty pretty uh uh skilled and aggressive sport there.
00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:39.280
So uh when did that call to you?
00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:42.799
Um I started playing volleyball in third grade for CYO.
00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:44.879
I kind of bounced around sports for CYO.
00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:47.359
I did a lot, but that's kind of the thing that really stuck with me.
00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:49.840
And then you mentioned AP Bio.
00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:52.879
Um that's uh kind of like off the norm a little bit.
00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:54.640
Tell tell me why AP Bio.
00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:56.560
Um I just really like the content.
00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:58.879
I'm really interested in it all, and I love Miss Mormino.
00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:03.040
I think she's a great teacher, and she really keeps my interest in the subject and makes me want to be there every day.
00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:07.680
So like when you feel that connection uh to the content in the teacher, it kind of helps, doesn't it?
00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:08.400
Yeah, for sure.
00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:15.599
And so a little fun fact, I was an AP bioteacher, so um I can really track with this idea that that's the best subject out there.
00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:19.599
No offense to the other subjects, but certainly uh I enjoy the sciences.
00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:20.719
So welcome to the podcast.
00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:23.199
Thanks for uh uh being willing to share your perspective today.
00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:24.000
Yeah, thank you.
00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:25.520
And let's start over here, Drew.
00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:27.439
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your story.
00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:29.280
I'm Drew, I live in Willock.
00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:32.000
I'm a junior at North, if you couldn't tell from the color coding.
00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:33.120
Wait, the orange?
00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:34.159
Is that yeah, I got it.
00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:34.319
Okay.
00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:35.039
Yeah, yeah.
00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:38.800
Uh I've b lived in the district pretty much my entire life.
00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:46.960
Uh I moved here before kindergarten for mentor, uh, and I've been in the school ever si in the school system ever since.
00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:49.439
Uh I'm in the marching band.
00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:55.919
Uh been in it for the past two years now, going on to my third and senior year.
00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:59.919
Uh had a lot of fun, gotta say though.
00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:03.759
Uh I think North South Day's definitely been the favorite, though.
00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.000
So North South Day, we're gonna unpack that at some point.
00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:08.560
Let's let's uh let's talk about the marching band for a second.
00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:13.439
Like, why that particular opportunity, what about that kind of drew you uh into that activity?
00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:16.560
The biggest thing for me has been the community.
00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:21.039
Uh it's such a great place filled with a lot of great people.
00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:32.080
Like I've never met someone in marching band that I wouldn't be comfortable just talking to, at least for some duration.
00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:41.919
Uh and it it just every Friday I just get to look forward to going out, playing my instrument, having fun with a hundred or so other people.
00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:44.000
That's pretty awesome.
00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:51.199
So like things like marching band and volleyball and and like having those connections with AP Bio, like ultimately that's what school's all about, right?
00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:58.400
It's about those like memorable, lasting uh opportunities we provide kids and then being able to tell that story, right?
00:03:58.400 --> 00:03:59.840
So thank you for taking some time.
00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:02.159
We're gonna unpack this north-south thing a little bit today.
00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:04.800
It's definitely unique uh to Willoughby East Lake.
00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:08.800
Uh, and I'm again so grateful you guys will shed a little perspective on that today.
00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:14.800
Uh one of the questions we ask uh guests on this particular uh podcast is about their origin story.
00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:16.560
Uh we're gonna kind of flip it for you.
00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:24.720
Like when you think about where you want to be in a couple years career-wise, uh and kind of like areas that that kind of are intriguing to you right now.
00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:26.879
Um let's kind of let's let's explore that.
00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:28.000
So, Drew, start with you.
00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:30.800
What what field area um are you thinking about?
00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:33.519
For the past while I've been thinking about accounting.
00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:38.079
Uh there's a lot of colleges in the local area that are pretty good with it.
00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:43.040
Cleveland State's one of the top ones in at least America for accounting as far as I'm aware.
00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:50.639
And it seems like it'd be a great balance of working but also talking, uh socializing.
00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:53.120
That's a huge part of it, uh making connections.
00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:56.000
And it's just something that I've enjoyed pretty much my entire time.
00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:57.120
So you existing.
00:04:57.360 --> 00:04:58.000
So you'll be a junior.
00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.600
You're junior now, you'll be a senior next year.
00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:00.000
Yes.
00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:03.040
So that means these conversations are starting to ramp up a little bit.
00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:03.680
Oh, yeah.
00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:11.759
I don't think I've gone a day this week without either thinking of what's happening or someone asking me about what my plan is post-high school.
00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:13.279
So I have a junior at home.
00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:15.839
You're going to inspire me to go home and start asking some more questions.
00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:17.279
I feel so sorry for it.
00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:19.680
So thank you for that motivation today, Drew.
00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:20.720
Um what about you?
00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:23.040
What's uh the future look like?
00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:26.240
So I know I want to go to school for pre-med.
00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:35.759
Lately, after like med school, I've been thinking I want to go into emergency medicine because I feel like I want to be able to be there for people when they're going through hard things in their life.
00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:40.399
But I also don't want that to be the only thing I'm doing to where it makes me like sad all the time for them.
00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:47.279
So I feel like emergency medicine is good because I get to help people through that and see cool things every day and just really experience a lot of different things.
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.600
That's pretty uh pretty uh outstanding.
00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:53.439
Tell me about any colleges sticking out right now, early in the process.
00:05:53.920 --> 00:06:00.000
So right now, out of the ones I've looked at, my two favorites are University of Kentucky and University of Tennessee.
00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:02.800
I really like both of their campuses, both of their facilities.
00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:04.560
I think they're both really good options for me.
00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:07.120
So it sounds like you guys have a jump on this process.
00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:11.600
So uh again, I better get motivated myself at home with my uh son.
00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:13.120
Uh first thing tonight.
00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:18.720
Um so one of the conversations we have in Will Beast a lot is about future readiness.
00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:26.879
We talk about preparing students for their future, and we know the world's changing, um, and we know that there's a lot um that we have to do beyond just academics, right?
00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:30.560
And so I know you guys have been part of the student superintendent advisory group.
00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.560
We've had a chance to have that conversation.
00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:37.120
Like from your perspective as a student going into the world, right?
00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:43.120
Like what does future ready mean to you and and what can we be doing as a school system to prepare you for your future?
00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:44.720
Um start with you, Maddie.
00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:56.800
I feel like being future ready means being comfortable to take the leap and like put yourself out there not knowing what's gonna happen, because at the end of the day, like we are all experiencing for the f this for the first time, like everything's changing.
00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:00.480
And for us, like things are gonna be different than they were for a lot of our teachers.
00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:11.759
But it's more like our teachers pouring into us and making us ready to handle not knowing and making good decisions and being comfortable with ourselves to make those decisions rather than like giving us like a set outline of what we need to do.
00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:13.199
Because no one knows what we're gonna need to do.
00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:15.600
We just need to be ready to make those decisions that are best for us.
00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:32.879
So is there a particular skill outside of content, like collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, communication, um, resilience, empathy, you know, that that we you would see in our portrait of a graduate that jumps out at you as being something that that really should be intentionally an area of focus?
00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:35.120
I would definitely say collaboration.
00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:37.040
I think we do a really good job of that already.
00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:44.240
I feel like if you go into South and you go into a classroom, you'll often see a lot of people working together and helping each other out and really talking through things.
00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:45.759
Like you're not going to see a lot of silence.
00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:50.399
I feel like from based on what I've seen, I think we do really well with group work and helping each other out.
00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:55.839
Like say there's a student next to you who's struggling, I feel like I've seen a lot of people be able to go up to that person and help them.
00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:58.480
I think no one really is left behind, and I think we do really good with that.
00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:04.079
So it speaks to a really warm culture uh that supports the skill that's really important to the future, right?
00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:04.480
Yeah, definitely.
00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:07.199
Learning to work together, uh, which is something I would agree on.
00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:10.639
Uh you're gonna have to do no matter what future uh career you take.
00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:13.600
What about you from a the perspective of future readiness?
00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:24.399
I think it definitely kind of the opposite of what she said, the district it's got to teach kids kind of what they should be able to expect going out in the world.
00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:30.000
Obviously, like you said, there it there's never gonna be the same experience between two people, but there's gonna be a lot of similarities.
00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:41.039
Everyone's going to go through college or or finding a job or having to deal with getting someplace to live or a car uh and stuff like that.
00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:42.879
It's it's the same repeated experience.
00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:48.960
I feel like it's the job of schools to prepare students for what the outside world's gonna be like.
00:08:48.960 --> 00:09:04.639
Uh as one of my middle school teachers uh once said, the classroom and to a greater extent the broader district is a microcosm of adulthood, and it's the the job of the educator to get the student ready for that.
00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:11.440
Uh in terms of like stuff from the porch of the graduate that jumps out at me, critical a mix of critical thinking and empathy.
00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:12.240
Uh-huh.
00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:20.320
Because it's imp really important to be able to make your own decisions and make your own informed decisions, but you can't do if you can't think for yourself.
00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:27.279
But what's the point of you being able to make decisions if you're not able to grasp what the consequences of those are?
00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:39.360
If you don't have empathy, then you're not going to think about oh, how how much does this affect not just myself, but you know, those around me or those in that I'm gonna meet in the future.
00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:40.879
I mean, there's a lot.
00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:44.399
I really like that word microcosm, kind of that that's really intriguing.
00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:56.320
This idea that school reflects kind of the real world in some like uh simulated way where we get to make mistakes, we get to learn and grow into the people we're going to be, and we could be kind of supported and nurtured through that journey.
00:09:56.320 --> 00:10:06.480
Um Talk to me about the supports that you feel like you have at school as you're going through that growth journey uh to becoming a future graduate that that's gonna leave with a diploma.
00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:11.200
Um do you feel well supported with the people and the systems around you?
00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:12.879
Yeah, I would say definitely.
00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:18.559
I feel like the teachers, at least from my experience as teachers at South, I feel like they really pour into their students.
00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:23.440
And I feel like you can tell they care about what they're doing, which makes you care more as a student.
00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:34.559
Like I know when I see my teachers putting energy into class and pouring materials into me and doing things that benefit me out of their way that they didn't need to do, I feel very supported.
00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:39.360
And even when I'm failing or when I need to reach out for help, I feel very supported.
00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:48.240
I I feel like you can definitely tell your teachers care and they're willing to go the extra mile for you if you're willing to push yourself because at the end of the day, they just want you to succeed.
00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:49.919
And I feel really supported with all of them.
00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:50.960
That's remarkable.
00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:51.759
What about you, Drew?
00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:53.279
I I think I have to agree.
00:10:53.279 --> 00:11:06.960
Uh for the most part, any all the teachers that I've had have done have gone above and beyond in trying to make sure that their students and myself and the rest of them uh succeed.
00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:16.159
Uh I've had multiple of them say that they'll do anything that they can to work with a student to make sure that they grasp what they're supposed to be.
00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:17.600
I don't disagree.
00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:26.159
As someone who gets to interact with both campuses a lot and work with uh our educators, definitely a special place from that perspective.
00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:30.960
Um North and South, two distinct uh campuses.
00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:39.679
You know, there's this kind of like rivalry week that we have, this really spirited experience that that occurs here and usually in the fall, October.
00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:42.000
Um talk to me about school spirit.
00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:49.279
Talk to me about uh what it's like, especially during that particular week, uh, to be a North Ranger or a South Rebel.
00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:54.240
And um how how have we uh honored those traditions here in Will Beast Like?
00:11:55.600 --> 00:12:00.240
I feel like it's been I mean it's been like this for the past ever.
00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:05.279
Uh my mother and father were South Rebels, my grandparents were North Rangers.
00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:12.960
Uh and I feel like there's uh just a weight to it that it perpetuates itself and the spirit week.
00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:21.519
Like throughout the rest of the year, people usually do not care about wearing North or South Pride, from what I've seen at least.
00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:28.639
Uh or just I'm not a whole lot about school spirit, but spirit week hits and it's just it's an energy.
00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.279
It's in the air.
00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:30.240
Everyone feels it.
00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:31.440
It's exciting.
00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:40.240
Uh it doesn't matter what the schools do to make it exciting, it's just everyone's looking forward to the big game on Friday.
00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:41.279
It's pretty cool.
00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:41.919
Maddie?
00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:48.399
Yeah, um, I think it's an energy that there's almost nothing like, especially during North South week for football.
00:12:48.399 --> 00:13:01.279
I feel like it brings a sense of community that is hard to find elsewhere because even the people you don't have much in common with and you wouldn't usually talk to, you guys are all like there some or at least for us, not you guys are all there supporting South.
00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:04.639
You guys are all wanting South when you guys are all pushing for that.
00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:08.960
And it just gives some everyone something in common that we can all kind of come together with.
00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:22.879
And I feel like, especially with United Way and fundraising, I feel like that puts us miles ahead of where we could be, just by allowing us that like sense of community and that pride for ourselves that we carry with us throughout the year.
00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:33.519
Yeah, there's an overwhelming history of generosity during that week as well, when I think about how much uh many dollars we've raised for uh you know good causes that we've given back to the community.
00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:36.240
So it's definitely a source of pride from my perspective.
00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:39.360
We often uh talk here, and we'll be like about one graduate, right?
00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:41.279
We have one graduate, two schools.
00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:48.879
Um, but it it's unfair not to name uh that spirit week really purposely here, because it is a special week for sure.
00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:51.519
Um so let's stick with the theme of North and South.
00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:53.840
So think about your experience at school.
00:13:53.840 --> 00:14:05.039
And if you had to come up with three things you'd want to share with just someone listening today about what makes your campus that you attend special from a high school perspective, um let's kind of unpack that a little bit today.
00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:07.279
So uh we'll start, Maddie, with you.
00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:09.600
Um what would be those top three things when you think about it?
00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.879
You've been at South for a couple years.
00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:13.200
Like what would you want to tell uh some of our listeners?
00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:16.480
I feel like my first thing would definitely be the opportunities.
00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:24.639
I would say if you're looking for a school to go to, if you're in the Willoughby South district, or Willoughby So I would say definitely take advantage of the opportunities you're presented with.
00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:33.759
Even if you feel like it's gonna be a challenge, you have so many supporters, everyone's there wanting you to succeed, you have so many resources, take advantage of them and use them when you can.
00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:41.200
I think we offer a lot of great opportunities class-wise with AP, honors, flex, power, all these new ideas.
00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:46.000
In tech, I feel like there's so many opportunities for each person, no matter who you are, what you want to do.
00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.960
So I definitely say take advantage of those while you can.
00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:58.960
So so you'd say that um there's so many opportunities that exist that we can match like the unique needs uh and areas of interest to the individual learner?
00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.399
Yeah, I think there's definitely something for everyone for sure.
00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:04.559
That's that's pretty neat to hear.
00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.279
Drew.
00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:13.200
It's not an issue of not having anything to point out as stand out, just there's so much in the school that stands out.
00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:16.879
Uh I think though for me it's easily the community.
00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:30.000
Uh like you hear about all the time in other schools how there's so many issues with students fighting all the time or just not being able to be in the same room as each other for more than two seconds and be friendly.
00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:36.480
But like there's nobody at North that I could see being like that.
00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:44.240
I mean, even people that are visibly at odds with each other and just have a history of not liking each other can at least be friendly for a little bit.
00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:51.279
There's no crazy long-standing animosity between anyone.
00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.200
That's outstanding.
00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:56.080
So you you talked about like the heart of the school community.
00:15:56.080 --> 00:16:01.679
Uh and I agree, uh, when I visit North High School or South High School, like it's just warm and I'm always feel welcomed.
00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:10.879
And we have we have some remarkable students here, and we'll be s like and again, I could brag a little bit here because I get the chance to visit all of our campuses uh and talk to our amazing students.
00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:17.759
And uh again, uh I I would put you guys uh second to anyone uh you know in the United States.
00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:22.080
So um community spirit, right?
00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:26.159
When you talk about opportunities, you you mentioned um like flex.
00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:27.279
Like what is flex?
00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:42.960
So flex are classes where you are in the room for part of the time learning, and then on flex days, your teacher lets you out in the room, out of the room into like a hallway or communal workspace to work through it with yourself and your peers, but they're still available if you need help.
00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:49.039
Like if you're struggling in the class on flex days, they'll usually keep you back there to give you more one-on-one help to make sure you're getting the help you need.
00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:54.720
So it provides more of that like individualized kind of opportunity to have a conversation with your teacher if you needed it.
00:16:54.720 --> 00:17:02.399
Um because sometimes in high school, if you if you get stuck on a math problem, you have to wait until your teacher's free, you're free, you have to find that time.
00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:06.079
But flex provides you with that opportunity to just get the help right there?
00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:06.960
Yeah, absolutely.
00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.920
That's pretty cool.
00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:11.119
Let's pivot a little bit and talk about like the role of technology in your life.
00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:21.920
Have you what what what role does technology, cell phones, uh computers, AI play in your life as you as you're growing up and going through these school years?
00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:25.039
I definitely think it can be a tool.
00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:40.079
And I think, at least with my experience with South, I feel like teachers have done a really good job balancing technology and work without it, because I feel like we can't over-rely on technology, especially with all of AI coming out.
00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:42.240
We still need to be able to do things for ourselves.
00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:49.279
So I feel like they've also done a good job providing options because some people learn better writing with the pencil, and some people learn better typing at a computer.
00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:54.559
I personally like using pencil and paper better, and I feel like my teachers have done a very good job accommodating that.
00:17:54.559 --> 00:18:06.720
So the person next to me who does better typing things out and using their Chromebook can have easy access to what we're doing, and I can also have easy access to what we're doing through papers, and we'll still get the same quality learning, same quality results.
00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.920
And I think that's really great.
00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.519
So balance is the word.
00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:11.200
That's that's pretty uh insightful.
00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:11.839
What about you?
00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:12.640
Role of technology?
00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:17.119
Aaron Powell For me, I think it's both as an incredibly useful aid and tool.
00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:28.319
Uh having t used both a graphing a physical like TI-80 graphing calculator and Desmos, it's like night and day the difference between the two.
00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:35.680
Uh I cannot imagine having to go through uh any any of the math really that I've done in high school.
00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:51.119
Uh having to use like a physical graphing calculator, or God forbid, like a slide rule uh just to solve things when I can plug things into Desmos and it's visualized right there, and I can use that to help work out why this I got to this from this.
00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:53.279
Uh it's the same with AI.
00:18:53.279 --> 00:19:00.480
Uh like it at this level, most teachers they don't so much care about the answer as how you got there.
00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:07.599
Uh in chemistry and math, for example, both of my teachers they give you partial credit as long as you d show your work.
00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:16.160
Because I mean, it's they're both meant to both teach critical thinking, and the only way you could do that is by seeing where you went wrong in the logical process.
00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:18.720
And AI can be a great tool for that.
00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:23.039
It doesn't just tell you the answer, it shows you how it got there.
00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:31.599
So kind of like your personal assistant, coach, tutor, right there all the time, helping you uh through the thinking process, right?
00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:33.759
Which is a theme that came up on a previous podcast.
00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:38.160
We talked a lot about like making sure you don't offload all the thinking to the machine.
00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:40.160
That you do the hard part first yourself, right?
00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:41.759
I think there's some merit in that, right?
00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:41.920
Yeah.
00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:46.000
It sounds like that balance that you talked about is really uh how you get there, right?
00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.079
Paper and pencil works still, right?
00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:56.000
Um we we also have done on this podcast this kind of um uh exchange around it, giving advice to certain groups, right?
00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.200
And so we're gonna try this.
00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:58.720
We'll see how it goes, all right?
00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:10.160
And so let's start with if you were sitting at a table with the superintendent of Willoughby East Lake Schools and you had a chance to give him any piece of advice or insights, like what would that advice or insight be?
00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:15.519
Um and so I'm gonna start with Drew.
00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.480
What do you got?
00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:21.599
I the biggest one is just keep keep taking the path that you've been taking.
00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:26.720
I mean, I've not heard a bad thing about you from anyone in the district.
00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:30.880
Nobody is complaining about where it's going, from what I've heard, at least.
00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:32.960
And it's a random student, so who knows?
00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:38.319
Uh you're not a random student, you're a very important key communicator and stakeholder right now.
00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:45.119
But regardless, uh like and I've seen visible growth and change in the district for the better.
00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.720
You know, I tell people all the time.
00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.480
Certainly not my school district, right?
00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:53.599
Belongs to uh the 66,000 people uh that live on the western end of Lake County.
00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.640
Uh this is their school.
00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:57.440
And so what do we want for our children, right, in our future?
00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:01.359
It's uh so I I appreciate your feedback and we'll keep working on that.
00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.000
What about you?
00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:08.960
I haven't been here as long, so I can't speak on how it's changed, but based on what I've been here, I would say definitely keep focused on community building.
00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:13.200
Because the community I've found here since I've came here has actually been remarkable.
00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:21.039
I've never walked into a room and worried about not having a friend or not having someone to talk to, whether it be like a teacher or a classmate, there's always someone for everyone.
00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:23.440
There's always someone there for you, and you know someone has your back.
00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:29.359
And it's feels really comfortable having someone have your back when you're taking leaps and doing tough things.
00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.599
So I think you speak to the heart, right?
00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:37.920
Like the heart of who we are as a school district and as someone who's got children in the school system and someone who's lived here a long time.
00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.759
Um I can't agree more.
00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:50.319
Like the adults in this system care deeply, uh, and s our students uh certainly um should know they belong here because uh it is a special place for sure.
00:21:50.319 --> 00:22:02.400
Uh and so I appreciate that that heartfelt testimony, and I appreciate the opportunity for you to just give me that straight talk because theoretically you are sitting at the table with the superintendent and and so like That's pretty neat to have that conversation, right?
00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:04.799
Uh let's take the advice outside of this room.
00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:20.880
If you could give the any advice uh or insight to a uh incoming middle schooler who's going to high school, so you think about eight to nine, like what would you tell an eighth grader coming to high school next year at either one of your high schools so that that they could be most prepared for what's next?
00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.519
Yeah, let's go there.
00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.799
Get involved.
00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:26.559
That's the most simple thing.
00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:28.079
Oh no.
00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:28.720
Sorry.
00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:34.079
But yeah, just getting involved in sports or clubs or marching band.
00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.920
Shameless plug.
00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:38.960
Shameless plug, marching band, color guide clinics are going on right now.
00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:41.680
Anyways, uh just getting involved in stuff.
00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:45.359
That's the easiest way to find where you belong.
00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:51.599
Even if you don't like it at first or if you just don't enjoy what you're doing, there's always more options.
00:22:51.599 --> 00:23:00.880
And you never really need to worry about affordability either, because there's reduced prices depending on what uh if you get reduced lunch or free lunch.
00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:07.279
There's not and most clubs either have their own money or don't need it.
00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:09.920
There's no limitation.
00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:11.119
To get involved.
00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.839
To get involved.
00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.079
Yeah.
00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.720
I like that.
00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.599
You want to know why I like that?
00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:18.000
I would tell when I was high school principal, I would tell families there's three keys to success.
00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:20.960
And one of those keys were make sure your child gets involved.
00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.720
So we're trekking on that one.
00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.519
What about you?
00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.960
Other than he stole that one from you.
00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:31.680
I hate to copy, but I would definitely continue with the get involved because coming from a private school, I didn't really know anybody in the district.
00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:34.160
And I was so scared starting my freshman year.
00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:36.079
I was so worried I wouldn't have any friends.
00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:38.720
And that first day was looking really scary for me.
00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:51.359
But getting involved, especially with volleyball over the summer and starting lifts for that over the summer, where I was introduced to so many people from so many different sports, I feel like that really helped me find people that I could rely on, especially during that first year and even now.
00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:58.319
Like the friends I've made through volleyball and through the weight room and through all the activities I've picked up, I still have today, and they're really my people.
00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:02.960
So I just I really recommend that anyone find something, get involved with, try out different things.
00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:06.880
Like not everything might be your thing, but you can't say you didn't try.
00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.000
So I like that.
00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:13.359
So you guys doubled down on get involved, which like I said, it's one of my three keys to success, right?
00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:15.680
You might be wondering like what are the other two, right?
00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:20.000
So that I'm just gonna tell you and have you react to it because you kind of touched on it, right?
00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:23.759
You touched on the idea that every person deserves an advocate and a champion, right?
00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:35.920
Like so I tell like uh students coming into high school, like make sure you get connected to one adult that will be your champion, someone who will s go go to bat for you, someone that will be that person who when when things get tough you can talk to.
00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:38.720
Um we talked a little bit about that sense of connection.
00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:46.720
Like, do you feel like in your classrooms and in your in the school communities that you're part of that you have that one advocate or champion that that's in your corner?
00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.920
Yeah, definitely.
00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:49.359
I would argue that I have multiple.
00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:56.319
I feel like all of my teachers I can go to with a problem, and I know they'll be there for me personally and as a student.
00:24:56.319 --> 00:25:05.920
Even if it is a personal problem, I don't feel comfortable going to anybody else, I know I can rely on at least one or two of my teachers to carefully like keep that information themselves and help me through that.
00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:07.839
Because they're really here for you at the end of the day.
00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:11.279
And I know each and every one of them care about me so much, and I care about them too.
00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:12.240
That's outstanding.
00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.519
And so you're two out of three.
00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.359
The third is choose your peer group wisely.
00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:18.240
So but we'll leave that one for a future conversation.
00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:25.920
Drew, we're gonna we're gonna pivot now because recently you were a guest columnist uh in our uh community uh you know update, yes?
00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.920
Uh yeah, just a minor little thing.
00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:31.359
Any, you know, I just want to call attention to your famous now.
00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:36.160
So um anything in that article stick out that you want to share with our listeners today?
00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:39.680
I mean, really, I already said it, just get involved in stuff.
00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:46.079
Uh there's nothing to ever regret about doing something new in this district.
00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:52.720
Even if it's for one day you go to one practice for a team and you decide to drop it.
00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.920
You still tried something new.
00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:58.720
It's a you've discovered things and you know for the future, hey, I don't enjoy this.
00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:00.160
Or maybe you really loved it.
00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:05.359
It's how you learn and how you find everything.
00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.319
So I'm gonna tell you right now how proud I am of both of you guys.
00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:12.240
Like you came here today, we asked you to come on a podcast, you guys were like, sure.
00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.759
Uh you didn't even hesitate.
00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:26.319
Um and you you literally uh have sat here and endured this wonderful conversation and and spoke from your heart about your experience, I know, very difficult, but we we got uh we made some serious uh headway today.
00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:36.640
I have two final thoughts that I kind of want to pack here and and and then we can kind of wind this down and uh hopefully get you back to some learning or something today, you know, and uh or something like that.
00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:42.400
But I always like to ask people generally about what they're feeling hopeful about.
00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:47.599
And so and that can be about your school experience, that could be about going into your senior year.
00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:51.519
Um there's really no parameters on that, but what but what hope can you offer us?
00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:54.640
Because um I think hope's a powerful, a powerful thing.
00:26:54.640 --> 00:27:00.160
So let's start with uh Maddie this time, so that uh this time Drew doesn't steal your answer.
00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:03.599
Um I feel really hopeful for my future.
00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:07.279
I feel like my teachers and my community have prepared me for it.
00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:16.079
I feel well prepared to make decisions and to be confident in them, and I feel like I've made good connections that'll last me past high school that I know I can count on.
00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:21.920
That's uh I mean how do you not leave this conversation feeling hopeful about that?
00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.519
Hopeful, uh Ness.
00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:29.039
I'm hopeful for like what everyone else is going to be doing after high school.
00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:35.440
I don't I I don't think I've met a single person that I haven't thought you're gonna do great things someday.
00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:44.720
There's so many amazing, wonderful people in this district that are just so bright and that I future is in good hands.
00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.519
That's all I can think.
00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:53.599
Well I mean I think you're leaving me with some uh really encouraging uh things today uh about uh the Willoughby-Eastlake experience collectively.
00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:56.799
And so final parting thoughts that you'd have today.
00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:00.240
So we'll give you a second to kind of you know muster up those thoughts.
00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:13.359
Um again, can't can't be more appreciative of your time today, uh representing the South community, representing the North community, but most importantly, representing the Will Be Slake uh student and the experience we try and provide here.
00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:16.000
You know we tell people all the time we're not perfect, right?
00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:19.680
We are a work in progress, uh as uh we should be.
00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:27.039
But I know this for sure that we have people showing up every single day to make sure the experience you have is the best.
00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:34.720
Uh and so what what parting words of wisdom or thoughts would you want to share with uh our listeners today as we uh wind this conversation down?
00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:40.880
And again, I'm gonna start with Maddie so that uh you know Drew doesn't steal the the wisdom.
00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.279
Go ahead.
00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:43.599
I'd say enjoy it while you can.
00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:45.440
It goes fast, and high school can be rough.
00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:51.200
There's a lot of changes, but just embrace the changes and try to live in every moment because even the hard things will teach you a lesson.
00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:57.680
And just really try to leave with no regrets because this is just a chunk of your life and you want to go learning from it, but also remembering it fondly.
00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:00.319
I think no truer words have been spoken.
00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:07.519
Like it goes fast, so enjoy the ride, especially the high school years, because they should be uh amazing and fantastic years.
00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:09.680
Um Drew, what do you got?
00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:12.000
Hate to beat a dead horse, but get involved.
00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.640
Get involved.
00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:14.000
Wait a minute, wait, get involved.
00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.440
I got that message long and clear to me.
00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:19.440
But but specifically, get involved in student leadership stuff.
00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.000
Okay.
00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:26.880
It being in all the student leadership things I've been has been the single greatest opportunity I've ever had.
00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:31.440
It's opened my eyes on just how things work.
00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:34.079
So how important is student voice from your perspective?
00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:36.880
I thought I I said I was gonna stop, but uh let's just go there real quick.
00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:43.839
Student voice is what's been guiding this district for the past what three years now, two years, four years now?
00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:48.160
However long you've had the uh s advisory committee going on.
00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:59.359
Uh and without uh the student's voice, you just get a soulless school where it's you just walk between rooms and hear people rabble on.
00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:06.720
It's boring, it's not fun, and it leads to stagnation, which is the death of progress.
00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:11.359
Profound and weighty right there and heavy for this late conversation.
00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:13.759
What about student voice from your perspective, Maddie?
00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:18.559
I think it's really important because you can't please the people if you're not talking to the people.
00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:22.799
And I mean, we are the ones experience it, we're the ones who are gonna use it later in our life.
00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:32.880
So I feel like our voice in our education is very important, and I'm very grateful that we've been able to place our voice in our education because I think that's definitely made it a place where the majority of people are much happier to be.
00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:36.559
Well, boy, that's some great insights for the superintendent today to walk away from.
00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:43.440
The idea that people's voice matters and you gotta listen more and you gotta get out there and make sure that you continue to do this important work.
00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:49.359
I want to thank both uh Maddie and Drew for your time today and uh coming on the podcast to share your insights.
00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:53.920
And I want to also spend a few minutes today thanking everyone who's listening or watching.
00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:59.519
We appreciate uh your continued um presence here on the Perspectives Podcast.
00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.799
See you soon.
00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:06.160
Thanks for joining us on this episode of Perspectives.
00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:17.440
Today's conversation reminds us that the high school years are filled with opportunities for students to expand their thinking, explore their interests, and plan their next steps after graduation.
00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:27.440
We learned how they built friendships, relied on the adults in their lives for advice and support, all while discovering more about themselves to chart their paths for the future.
00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:32.079
We appreciate Drew and Maddie for sharing their time, their experiences, and their hopes.
00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:36.000
And we thank you for taking the time to listen and reflect with us.
