Central Valley: Learn more than just facts; learn about yourself

The obvious purpose of the public school system is to educate young American citizens. Teachers put forth great effort to help their students understand history and culture, apply math, or write eloquently and interpret literature.

Yet, there is much more to a high school education than merely learning the facts. The most valuable lesson I have learned is that to flourish in this world I must first understand myself completely. As seniors everywhere make decisions about their futures, I entreat them to consider all they have learned about themselves during this influential stage of life.

The belief “our friends make us who we are” is common among high school students, and much of what we know about ourselves comes from experiences with friends. Through my friends, I have learned to “lighten up” and enjoy life while I have the chance. Several times I have gone to a neighborhood park or on a walk with my friends just to relax and play. Watching mindless movies such as “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Shrek,” or even “The Notebook” can help distract from the many stresses of high school.

The range of lessons friends have taught us is endless. Friends can help us discover what we love to do, whether that involves arts, athletics, or academics. They can enlighten us about our own personalities, helping us to understand where we can fit into society and what will make us content. However, looking only to our friends for information about ourselves is a mistake made by too many a young person.

Perhaps the most valuable information we can learn from teachers is what they teach us about ourselves. Throughout high school, most of us have been affected by our favorite or even least favorite teachers and classes.

My European history teacher, Mr. Akins, is constantly encouraging all of us to ask questions and discover for ourselves what we believe. Never will I forget the many class discussions about history and philosophy. Mr. Chalich, one of our government and current events teachers, has shared his wisdom about government and politics, also encouraging us to consider the facts and not merely agree with our parents or political party.

Senior seminar is a class specifically intended to help us learn more about ourselves and our potential careers. Hopefully, we all gained a better understanding of our place in the future. For many it is easy to forget the priceless concepts teachers attempt to engrave in our minds, so before it is too late, we should recall the lessons we have been taught.

Not only do we learn during required classes, but electives and other activities can help us find out who we are. For me, being involved in orchestra has taught me that while I love to play music, it is not something I want to devote my life to.

Fortunately, I have also participated in Teaching Academy and have learned there is little I enjoy more than working with middle school students from other countries and helping them to learn English. This year, I had the opportunity to intern with Betsy Casteel at North Pines. It was the class I looked forward to most, because I loved learning about the cultures and personalities of the students. There are numerous activities in which students can express themselves, whether it is athletics, music, drama, business, debate or anything else that they enjoy. By participating in these activities, we discover what it is we desire to spend our lives doing.

Our faith is another aspect of life we must understand for ourselves. I have been raised in a Christian family and have attended church regularly all my life. As I have grown in knowledge, I began to challenge the beliefs of my family and church; it was through this process that my beliefs really became my beliefs and I became motivated to stand up for Christ. While I do not claim to know everything about Christianity, I know that during my senior year I began to really understand why my relationship with Christ is so important to me. This is true of many students regardless of what church they attend. It is imperative we understand why we value the things we value in life.

As with many seniors, my family has been a most important influence in my life. For many of us, our relationships with our families can also be a most difficult aspect of life. After all, parents always prevent us from doing what we want to do, and siblings constantly infringe upon our space and private property.

However, it is at home where we learn to adapt to various situations. My parents have helped me learn to be respectful, especially toward adults. When I struggle to understand a teacher’s expectations and become frustrated, they remind me to maintain a positive attitude. Life is not always perfectly agreeable; we will all be forced to do things in which we don’t take pleasure, so learning to adjust at home prepares us for the remainder of our lives.

Throughout high school, we have all learned several valuable lessons. Hopefully we know the history of the United States, understand how our government works, comprehend basic math and are literate citizens with good communication skills. More importantly, we have learned about ourselves, who we are and how we fit in. By remembering the lessons our friends, teachers, coaches, community members and families have taught us, we will be better equipped to become thriving, independent young adults.

Thank you to everyone who has had an impact upon my life and given me the ability to succeed.