As the semester end gets closer, there’s a buzz of excitement in Potosi High School. The early graduates can’t wait to leave high school behind and jump into what’s next for them. Each student has a story to share, filled with their dreams, struggles, and the friendships that made high school special. There’s Kayla Blindert, ready to jump into the beauty world, and Chavelle Melssen, who wants to go after her degree. Haylie White is super excited about hopefully becoming a nurse. Lily Zenz is all about her love for flying. Then there are Willy Reuter and Austin Olsen, both ready to tackle the working world. Let’s take a closer look at these awesome students, each one ready to start a new and exciting chapter in their lives.
Kayla is super excited about what’s next. She decided to graduate early because school just wasn’t fun for her. Now, she wants to go to Capri College and become an aesthetician, hoping to get her nail tech certification. "That’s my goal, and I can’t wait to start," she shares happily. While she’s excited to leave high school, she knows she’ll miss hanging out with her friends. One teacher who helped her was Mrs. Meier. "She was important to me," Kayla remembers. Art class is her favorite because it’s easy. If she could go back, she’d tell her younger self, "It’s not that hard. You’ll get out early, and that’s nice." High school taught her a lot and gave her great memories with friends like Haylie and Chavelle. Kayla can’t wait to get better at makeup and start her job. She dreams of going to New Orleans, inspired by the movie Princess and the Frog. With big plans ahead, she’s ready for this new adventure!
Chavelle decided to graduate early because, as she puts it, “I just didn’t feel like coming anymore.” Chavelle plans to go to a two-year college to earn her associate's degree and is excited about what’s next. While she will miss her best friend, Haylie, she definitely won't miss “getting up early.” One teacher who made a difference in her life is Mrs. Hutchcroft, her history teacher. Chavelle loved history and food science classes. If she could advise her younger self, she would say, “It’s not that serious.” Among her favorite memories from high school is the fun tradition of “TP-ing” during homecoming week, and she credits Haylie as a positive influence in her life. Chavelle is ready for this new chapter.
Willy is so happy to be almost done. He chose to graduate early because he didn’t want to stay in school until May, and he looked forward to getting a decent job and living life. When asked what he will miss, Willy simply states, “Nothing… I’ll miss Ryan Stoney,” showing the importance of friendship. Willy found enjoyment in shop class, where hands-on learning resonated more than traditional academics. His advice to his younger self is straightforward: “Don’t get behind on your work,” Willy says.
Lily chose to graduate early to pursue her passion for aviation and focus on flight training, stating, “I don’t like school in general.” Lily plans to work full-time while starting an online program for aviation management. When asked what she will miss about school, her answer is clear: “Nothing.” She expresses that Mrs. Brunton is one teacher who positively impacted her with kindness and support. Lily enjoyed the class Greenhouse Management. Her advice to her younger self is “Dare to dream.” Lily cherishes friendships with Courtney Jeperson and Hailey Wunderlin, but she’s cautious about maintaining connections with classmates, “None of them have been very nice to me.” She has travel plans to visit her grandma in Arizona and explore South Dakota.
Austyn's decision to graduate early is simple: “Get … out of here,” and he aims to pursue work in the National Guard. When asked what he’ll miss about school, Austyn is blunt: “Nothing.” He acknowledges Mr. Lynn and Mr. Fry as positive influences, appreciating the life lessons gained from their conversations. He enjoyed Personal Finance. Austyn struggles to offer advice to his younger self, again saying, “Nothing?” His most lasting memory was, “losing my license as a high school student.” His friendship with Willy has been very important to him.
I, Haylie White, am super excited to be out of here. My decision to graduate early is because I look forward to working full-time before pursuing nursing at Southwest Technical College. I will miss some teachers, like Mr. Bohn, Mr. Eastlick, and especially Mrs. Rinicker, but I won’t miss the early mornings or homework. I enjoyed AP History; that is where I felt comfortable being myself. My favorite memory is a funny incident involving my friend Chavelle and me, which led to both of us ending up in the office. The support from friends like Chavelle, Kayla, Serena, and Mia was crucial to my high school experience, motivating me to attend school regularly.
The Potosi High School early graduates are very excited to go to the next step in their lives. Each of these students are on their own journey and each has a bright future ahead of them. I am sure they will all do great things and be very successful people. Potosi will miss them, but we are very excited to see what they can accomplish.