Ryn Waugh always felt awkward and out of place in personal fitness classes throughout his life. That was, until he came to Community. Not thinking of himself as the super athletic type that traditional gym classes highlight, he preferred to be active in other ways.
When he came to CHS, Waugh discovered the tools and alternative approaches that were possible. Waugh advises underclassmen to do the same and use all the advantages that Community offers to the fullest extent. Perks like eating outside, getting food from Kerrytown and taking CRs, to name a few. He recognizes that students are not going to be in a school like this ever again and to capitalize on our opportunities.
“[CHS] is so unique,” Waugh said. “You’ll miss out on things if you don’t go for them.”
Waugh took advantage of the option to take a CR by pursuing one about climbing. Not wanting to take personal fitness, he took a CR at Planet Rock instead. Waugh was able to dive deeper into his interests, spend time with family and gain credit for school — all in one course. Waugh climbed with his father twice a week for a semester and formed unforgettable memories. He learned a lot about the history of climbing, a sport he greatly enjoyed, while he also got to customize his curriculum.
Like Waugh, fellow senior Eleanor Farrell urges underclassmen to jump into opportunities from the start.
“We [seniors] are three months out from graduation, and I’m just starting to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, every day here is a gift. All the people here are a gift,’” Farrell said. “Truly, every day that you get to be here at this school is just a blessing. If you start having that mindset earlier in your experience, you’ll have a much more positive experience overall.”
Farrell has noticed her peers trying to get closer with teachers and each other, being their best selves during the day, doing more and soaking up Community in all its glory. But looking back, she wishes she had started appreciating CHS earlier on.
“That’s why my advice is to start doing that your freshman year,” Farrell said. “Come here and just be happy to be here, make new friends, do what you can do, the most that you can because you won’t regret it.”
CHS FOS teacher Andrea Adams and Counselor Brian Williams shared similar advice, extending it to life in general: Be present in anything and everything. Find the cool bits about whatever it is you’re doing because it’s more enjoyable and engaging if you are invested. But most importantly, they stress the idea of trying out all opportunities that arise.
Looking back at her high school experience, Adams remembers learning to accept every invitation she got. She recommends trying things out and saying “yes” even if it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be fun.
“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to do it again, but you don’t really know,” Adams said.
By being open to new opportunities, life can be more enjoyable and new connections and interests can be found in unexpected places.
Williams agrees with Adams and also encourages students and all people to say “yes.”
“[Do] not be afraid to experience things and try them out,” Williams said.
He recommends something as simple as talking to someone new, as you never know what they’ll say or how it will affect you.
“They could say something that can totally just change your view or rock your world,” Williams said.
When reflecting on how saying “yes” affected him, Williams talked about a difficult phase in his life where he needed things to feel and become better. One way he persevered was by taking healthy risks from opportunities that came his way.
“I had tickets to go to this concert, and usually I would want to go with somebody else, but nobody could go this time. And I said, ‘You know, I’m gonna go to this concert by myself,’” Williams said. “It was one of the coolest experiences I ever had — a changing moment for me.”
Although this was in reference to his adulthood, he believes being open-minded can apply to all ages.
“If you don’t say ‘yes’ to even a simple little experience, you might miss out on something pretty fabulous,” Williams said.
Adams, Ferrell, Waugh and Williams all concluded that taking risks and saying “yes” is worth it. Whether that be taking advantage of available resources, building stronger bonds, talking to new people, accepting invitations, or going to different experiences on your own, they all agreed going for it is important. This theme applies to not only students in a classroom but also anyone, anywhere. Taking risks and taking advantage of where you are is powerful.
