Cool Kids: Student says New Vision got him back on track

Sam Seacrest loves sports. Give him a ball and he can hit it, throw it, dunk it or pitch it.

“I haven’t found a sport I am not good at,” said Sam. “I love every single type of sport.”

The New Vision High School student is dedicated to anything he does, in or out of school. But he admits he wasn’t always that way. He says it took him awhile to learn that there are some pretty harsh consequences if schoolwork is not completed. He wants all kids to hear that message loud and clear.

“Don’t slack off and don’t procrastinate,” Sam said. “Get the stuff (work) done because I am paying the price now by having to stay in school an extra trimester.”

Sam, who moved from Fresno, Calif., to North Idaho about four years ago, said it all clicked for him when he started at the alternative school about a year and a half ago.

Until then he says he wasn’t motivated. He’s thankful that has changed.

In most of his classes, Sam said he is expected to work independently. He is given a checklist, and when he completes his assignments he marks them off and turns them into his teacher. The system allows him to work at his own pace, but he said the success of the person depends upon the individual and how motivated he or she is.

Sam said, although much of the work is done independently, it is the teachers who have a great deal to do with motivating the students. Due to the small class sizes, Sam is able to spend more one-on-one time with his teachers. That makes a big difference in being able to complete his assignments in a timely manner and to grasp a better understanding of the material.

“This school is good because you have more time with the teachers,” he said. During his spring trimester his courses included English, government and speech, but he believes his business math class was the most useful. Sam said the math class teaches practical things such as steps to go through when purchasing a car, lessons on employer and employee benefits, and accounting.

“I’ve always loved numbers,” said Sam.

He adds that he eventually would like to own his own business and be a personal masseuse. He feels the accounting and business classes will help him in that regard.

When Sam isn’t working on his assignments or playing sports, he says he loves being outdoors. In fact, he has pursued jobs that allow him to be outside while also earning money. His jobs involve landscaping and learning various trades in the construction industry

“I learned to tile while I was working on condominiums at Schweitzer (Resort in Sandpoint),” he said. “It was one more thing to add to the list of trades.”

During the summer he worked in construction, doing framing and siding.

Sam said because he is responsible for paying for his college tuition, he hopes to work for a while after graduation and save enough money to go to college. But for now he is grateful to the staff at New Vision High School for getting him back on track. And although he would like to travel and go somewhere that he is able to surf, he plans on staying in North Idaho.

“I like it here,” said Sam. “It’s really nice to have the four seasons.”