The "Future" Issue - 99 Volume 2, Issue 4

Volume 2
Issue 4
The
Future
Issue
Ninety-Nine

Your Future Hasn’t
been Written yet.
No one’s has.
Your Future
Is whatever you
Make it.
so Make it
a good one.
-Doc Brown
Back to the Future

L
e
t
t
e
r
The theme for the last issue of the year is Future.
In this issue you will read about the technological
advances of future cars, freshmen’s
hopes for their high school careers as well as
what our graduating seniors will be doing after
high school. Although the future seems more
uncertain than ever right now, we are looking
ahead and looking forward to better days. With
muted colors and clouds decorating these pages,
we aim for this issue to inspire you and give
you hope for the future. Till next year…
The 99 Editors
f
r
o
m
o
u
r
e
d
i
t
o
r
s

99 Staff
Joe Elliot - Advisor
Madi Hanna - Editor in
Chief
Annie Harris - Designer
Ash Hemmersmeier -
Editor in Chief
Olivia Thomas - Copy
Editor
Max Merhi
Sam Trujillo
Lacey Cintron
Zaira Diaz
Jaren Morgan
Kailey Mulcahy
Diego Valdez
Hans Fenton

Table of contents
6: Electric Cars
8: Back and Better
10: In the Future
12: A Look Ahead
14: Future Job Quiz
16: Looking Forward
18: Our Story of Hope
20: Future Playlist
22: Hopes & Aspirations
24: These Are Not the Cars You Were Expecting
26: An Abupt Ending
28: Q&A From Freshman to Seniors
30: Life: Expectation vs. Reality

E l e c t r
Are they really the future?
The performance of electric cars has never been better. We
are living in a golden age of innovation for these types of vehicles, and
they are contributing more and more to solving our planet’s issues with
climate change. However, they cannot solve this global issue alone, as
many think they can. The perception of electric and hybrid vehicles
right now is that the second you drive them off the lot, you are making
a positive impact on the environment. Instead, the reality is that an
electric car’s impact on the environment depends on where you charge
it.
In today’s world, most of our power comes from coal, which
is basically the problem. Regular cars contribute to this by burning
gasoline. Electric cars may reduce the amount of gasoline used, but it
may not be making as big of a difference as you think. It’s all based on
your state’s primary source of energy. This source of energy is used to
charge your car. In a state where the majority of energy comes from
solar and wind, the electric car will start helping the environment in
approximately 5 years. However, in a state where the primary energy
source is coal and gas, the car won’t start making a difference for
around 18 years. So, while electric cars may help the environment in
the long run, you really have to have the car for a long time to make a
big difference. The average car only has a lifespan of about 8 years, but
with technology improving and more people and states using solar and
wind energy, hopefully electric cars will make a bigger impact in the
future.
2018 Toyota Prius
(Hybrid)
2018 Chevy Volt
(Hybrid)
6

i c C a r s
By: Olivia Thomas
2020 Chevy Bolt
(All electric)
2020 Nissan Leaf
(All electric)
As more and more manufacturers begin to produce
electric and hybrid cars, the new vehicles are becoming accessible
to more people. Before, the only electric cars on the
market were expensive Teslas, but now well known brands,
like Chevrolet, Ford, and Nissan, are making their own models.
One of the newest all electric cars is the 2020 Nissan Leaf,
which is also fairly affordable. The Leaf has a starting manufacturer’s
price of $31,600, and can go up to 226 miles on a
full charge. It’s also a smaller compact car, making it easier to
maintain. Another brand that has really embraced the electric
spirit is Chevrolet, which has an electric and a hybrid model
on the market. The all electric Chevy Bolt has a starting
manufacturer’s price of $36,620 and can go 259 miles of a full
charge. It’s counterpart, the Chevy Volt, is a hybrid vehicle,
meaning it can run on gasoline and electric charge. It has a
lower manufacturer’s price at $33,520, but can go 420 miles on
a full charge and full tank of gas. Another brand that’s offering
a hybrid model is Toyota, with its hybrid Toyota Prius. This car
has an even lower manufacturer’s price of only $24,325. It also
has a long range of 540 miles with a full charge and tank of gas.
As new cars become available, electric and hybrid
vehicles become more and more efficient and accessible for
more people. These are only some examples of the various
brands, both luxury and not, that have come out with energy
efficient models in the last few years, and hopefully even more
will continue to release new electric models that will help the
environment even more than they are currently.
7

Most kids have a dream of going pro in the sport they love. From
the moment they can run, they are captivated by the allure of
full stadiums with cheering fans. They idolize players before
they even know the rules of the sport. I was no different. Every
sport stuck out to me, but from a young age, I chose soccer over
the rest. I truly loved all of the details of the game, including the
camaraderie between teammates, the entertaining skills, and
the passionate fans. The game was truly my first love.
When I was 6 I played, on a club team called Sparta United
because my friends brought me into the sport. I was never very
good, but I played the sport because of my love for the game.
When I was around the age of 14, UYSA, the governing body of
Utah soccer, made an announcement that the age groups for
teams would change from school grade to birth year. I figured
this would be no big deal because most of the friends on my
team were born the same year as me, and my old coach would
be coaching the team I anticipated making.
I attended tryouts confident, but I ended up making the worst
team in my age bracket. I was now separated from most of my
friends and I would be playing with a new coach I didn’t know.
I was scared because I had played with those boys for all of
my life, but now I wasn’t good enough and I had earned what I
deserved. I was determined to improve so that the next year, I
would make the team I wanted to be on.
In the beginning, we were playing well, winning about half of
our games, which I found surprising, considering that we were
a completely new team. The coach was happy with our play, as
was the team. All seemed to be going well, but once the second
half of the season hit, we lost our first two games by more
than 6 goals each. Our coach yelled at us and fights broke out
in practice. It was after one of these fights that I knew I wanted
out. Every day, I trained harder and harder with the hope that
I would make the top Sparta team, which was the best team in
the state that year. I knew that with determination, it wasn’t a
matter of if I’d accomplish my goal, but when I’d accomplish it.
8
Back and
Better
How a sports injury can
impact the future
Max Merhi
I would leave practice with the team and practice on my
own at home until it got dark. I ran every day and I was
truly in the best shape of my life. I improved technically
and physically to the point that I thought I could make
any team in the state. After the rest of the season continued
the way the first games had, we finished last and
broke all bonds we had with each other out of frustration.
Shockingly, this was my best year for development
and I was more confident than ever. College soccer,
which had seemed like a long shot, now seemed attainable.
I walked into tryouts that day very sure of myself.
I played some of the best soccer I had ever played on
that day. I was about to leave when I felt a hand tap my
shoulder. It was my old coach. He came up to tell me he
was sorry for not picking me, but hoped I’d understand.
That night, I was more dejected than I’d ever had ever
been before. I couldn’t believe that I would be on the
same team. I then decided to attend another club’s tryouts.
I went and played even better than I had and made
their best team, which was one of the best teams in the
state.

In a practice with that Sparta team this past summer, I
tried to turn too quickly and felt the same terrible pain I
felt the first time I got injured. I knew that my season was
over and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to play ever again. I had a
more intensive surgery, which included an osteotomy and
a lateral release, but with it came a much longer recovery.
I was given 9 months until I’d be able to play soccer again.
I couldn’t believe that I’d miss my junior season of soccer,
but I was ecstatic that I could still play.
I felt something inside me say that this time, things would
be different. I wasn’t going to let my grades slip. I wouldn’t
be lazy this time. Most importantly, I changed my outlook
on life. I saw this as a chance to return to the game I loved,
not as some sort of punishment. I spent countless hours
training and working so that I would be able to play soccer.
I turned a 9 month recovery into 5 because I missed the
beautiful game so much.
That year at Blue Knights was truly special for me.
I made some of the best friends of my life, won a
couple good tournaments, and proved that my hard
work was worth it in the end. We even beat Sparta’s
top team, which was my favorite moment. I played my
freshman season of high school soccer before returning
to club, which was tons of fun. Then, I played
a second year with them. We had a really good team
and had the potential to win more games than the
season before. I earned a starting spot on a team that
had high goals set for State Cup.
Life seemed to be going super well in addition to soccer.
My 16th birthday had just passed and I was happier
than ever. In the last game of the season, I was
defending arguably the best player in my age group.
I had locked him down that whole game and then I
took the ball up on a counterattack towards the end
of the first half. I planted my foot and faked one way
and heard a loud pop and instantly felt a burning
sensation. I looked down and my kneecap was on the
side of my thigh. I screamed and cried for what felt
like hours that night when I came to the realization
that my hard-earned season was over. I had torn my
medial patellofemoral ligament and fractured and
dislocated my kneecap.
However, I was more sad at the fact that I was about
to lose the sport I loved so dearly. I was the “soccer
kid” and I felt like that was all I could identify as. I hit
my lowest lows, my grades fell, and I felt an empty
nothingness not comparable to anything else, but I
held hope deep down that I would return. My habits
got worse. I became lazy and stopped working,
including in my recovery process. After what seemed
like forever, I returned to sport, even gaining varsity
minutes and eventually making Sparta’s top team
in my age group, which had been my goal all along.
None of this went as planned though. The injury had
its obvious physical drawbacks, but the mental ones
far outweighed them.
I became a much happier person that could finally identify
with things that didn’t include soccer. Now, I am still
most proud of my renewed work ethic and my new outlook
on life. I am now just happy to do simple things because I
know what it is like to go without them. Every time I get
the chance, I am outside participating in some form of activity,
ranging from soccer even to just walking. I now have
motivation to excel in whatever I do because instead of
quitting, I used my opportunities to better myself. If I had
to give some advice to someone dealing with a similar situation,
I would first say this: you don’t know what you have
until you lose it. I didn’t appreciate the game while I had it
but now I love it over everything. I think the most important
message, though, is to never give up. If I had quit the
second time around, I would never be the person that I
have become. I am happier and willing to work harder than
ever before. After my first surgery, I wished I had never
been injured, but looking back now after two surgeries, I’m
glad it happened. Maybe I won’t go pro, but I will always
love the game. I truly credit my current success to my injuries
and if I could go back, I wouldn’t change a thing.
9

A
LOOK
AHEAD
Freshmen share their hopes for their future at JD
High school has both ups and downs. It can be some of the
most memorable years of your life, or some of your worst.
As the seniors at Juan Diego start to say their final goodbyes,
the freshmen have begun to map out what they hope
to accomplish in the future years of high school, and their
fears.
By: Zaira Diaz
“I can’t wait to meet my new teachers and new people in
the next few years,.” Freshman Cabria Walters said, “I am
looking forward to more dances, the ability to make new
friendships, Campus Life, Kairos, and sports,” Walters finished.
As any underclassmen, dances such as prom and the
traditional homecoming and winters have always been so
fun to look forward to.
12

“I think my next few years at Juan Diego will be lots of
fun,” Freshman Mireya Zambrano said, “It’ll give me more
opportunities to be more involved with the school, now
that I know how most things work around the school,”
Zambrano continued. Being involved at JD is definitely
one of the things that will allow anyone to jump out
of their bubble and meet new people. “I expect my next
three years of high school to be just as fun as my freshman
year,” Freshman Cameron Anderson said., “ My sister
is graduating this year and my brother graduated last year
and both have told me that high school is by far better
than middle or elementary school, and I’m starting to
agree with them,” Anderson finished.
Despite wanting to accomplish quite a lot during
high school, many freshmen also fear having to
face tough trials and thinking about a future past
high school. “I worry about challenges that I know
are ahead and pushing through trails,.” Freshman
Alexus Quayson-Sackey said, “I worry about when
my years at JD come to an end and I have to think
about things like college and prepare for the next
chapter of my life,.” Quayson-Sackey finished.
Although it may be 4 years, high school goes by
so fast. Making the most out of those 4 years is
what is most important, especially learning to face
challenges throughout those years. Class of 2023
is definitely looking forward to a future past high
school, but also making more friends and enjoying
the last three years they have left here at Juan
Diego.
Looking forward to fun memories and meeting people
comes with challenges and fears for the next few years
of high school as well. “The only thing I fear is not doing
everything I want before the end of high school. I want to
make the most out of these years and I don’t want to run
out of time,” Freshman Elijah Earhart said.
13

Your Future Job!
1.
1.
What career will you have based on your answers?
By: Kailey Mulcahy
What time do you usually go to bed?
A) 9-10 pm
B) 11-12 pm
C) 1-3 am
D) After 3 am
2.
2.
What month were you born in?
3.
A) January/February/March
B) April/May/June
C) July/August/September
D) October/November/December
Which animal is your spirit animal?
A) Tiger
B) Dog
C) Elephant
D) Cat
4.
What is your favorite season?
5.
A) Spring
B) Summer
C) Autumn
D) Winter
Which is the best sport?
A) Baseball
B) Football
C) Tennis
D) Track and Field
14

Results
If you got mostly A’s: Politician
If you got mostly B’s: Athlete
If you got mostly C’s: Doctor
If you got mostly D’s: Teacher
15

Looking
Seniors share where they’re
going after graduation
Let’s face it, no one could have anticipated
our otherwise great school year
to end like this. However, despite the lack
of closure for the Class of 2020, seniors
are still graduating, and moving on from
their time at Juan Diego. They’ve had to
make some difficult decisions about their
futures during the past couple of weeks.
If anything, this lull has been a great time
for graduates to plan and get excited for
their future paths.
“I have always known this
was the path I wanted to
take.” - Kate Sharpley
Clara Arnold (top left on p. 16) will be attending Boise State University in
the fall. “I first started looking at BSU because of the dance team, but as I kept
looking I kept realizing all the great parts of the school,” Arnold said. “...Their
health sciences school is really awesome,” Arnold said.
She is planning on majoring in health sciences and then focusing on
nursing her third year. Outside of academics, she plans on trying out for the
spirit squad and rushing for greek life when she starts at BSU. “I really hope to
continue dancing while also pursuing a career in nursing, that’s really my ideal
life,” Arnold said. “I’m most excited for meeting new people and really just being
able to start my own adventure and grow up,” Arnold finished.
Likewise, Tyler Young (top right on p. 16) is also looking forward to
meeting new people, but just a little closer to home. “I will be going to the University
of Utah to study finance… I want to understand what keeps the world
going around, something that has always interested me,” Young said.
“The fact that I get to meet new people and work in a team is another
thing that really appeals to my kind of personality,” said Young. However, what
he is looking forward to most in college is a little further from finance. “As stupid
as it sounds, the thing that I am looking forward to most is being able to sleep in.
I don’t think well in the morning or if I don’t get enough sleep, so being able to
sleep in is very important to me,” Young finished.
16

Forward
By: Madison Hanna
In the fall, Kate Sharpley (bottom right on p. 16) is going
to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where she
will be studying nursing. “I have many family members in the
nursing and medical fields, so I think it was a natural choice
for me,” Sharpley said. “I’m really looking forward to moving
to Indiana since I’m originally from the midwest,” Sharpley
finished.
Jackson Butler (top right on p. 17) is probably taking one of the most
unique paths among the JD seniors. “I plan on serving a mission for the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Milan, Italy,” said Butler. “Serving a mission
is something that I am really excited to do and I think it will prove to be
extremely beneficial for me in the future,” said Butler. “My parents have never
pressured me into going. They have always just wanted me to do what I feel is
best for me,” he said. Butler can’t wait to spend time in the beautiful country of
Italy. “I will learn to speak Italian, visit all the tourist attractions one day a week,
and enjoy all of the delicious Italian cuisine,” Butler said.
He is currently scheduled to leave for Milan on July 22, where he will spend two years serving. Then,
Butler is planning on attending Brigham Young University and majoring in economics. “My hopes for the future
are that I just want to be successful… and I gauge my success not by how much money I have or how successful
other people think I am. I gauge it by how happy I am,” he said. Butler also wants to have a family after he
returns from his mission.
Courtney Strydom (bottom left on p. 17) will be attending UCLA in the fall, where she will be majoring
in environmental science. “I visited UCLA’s campus in September of last year and absolutely loved it. When
I found out I was admitted, I was absolutely ecstatic,” Strydom said. “I was also excited because UCLA was
ranked as the #1 university for dining hall food in the country in 2019,” she said. Besides the wonderful food,
she is excited to go to school with JD alumnus Ian Pascual (Class of 2019) who is also attending UCLA.
Strydom is hoping to join the club swim team on campus as well as going on fun trips to the beach.
“Since my freshman year, I’ve been wanting to go to college in California, so LA is the perfect place for me to
go. It’s a vibrant city filled with opportunities and fun things to do and I can’t wait to explore it more in the
next 4 years,” Strydom finished.
To learn about other seniors’ plans after high school, check out @jdchs2020 on Instagram.
“If I can say at the end of
something that I was happy
more often than not,
then it would have been a
success.” - Jackson Butler
17

Our Story Of Hope
We are the future and this is our story
By: Hans Fenton
My name is Hans Fenton and I will be talking to you about a crucial
topic during this dark and dreary moment in our lives. I’m going to
be talking about how about something that we have lost, can be
found; this something is hope.
Yes, to put it bluntly, some of us have lost hope during this time.
We have lost faith in people we have kept distanced and others
who we are keeping near. But I am here to tell you that through all
of this, hope is never lost, but only misguided and overlooked. But
we must ask ourselves why. Why is it that our fears take control
of us in the worst situation? Why is it that the world needs us to
speak when our lips are sealed? I’m here to answer that question
and maybe more for some of you. I’m here to tell you that we are
the future, and that this is not the end of who once were. This is
only our story, and this is only the beginning.
You might be asking why I’m doing this, and why I care. Well, look
around. Look how hopeless society has become because of this
threat that we cannot see. Look around at how our definition of
hope has disintegrated in the darkness. This is why I’m here, writing
this article. This is why I’m taking the time to talk to you about
this problem. We still need to address it because not only do we
depend on it, but so does tomorrow’s future.
We need to ignite the light in our hearts, in order to illuminate the
darkness.
18

1
“Whenever you see darkness, there is an extraordinary
opportunity for the light to burn
brighter.” - Bono.
You might be asking yourself what that quote
means. Why do we need this quote, specifically
in our time?, I’m telling you there is no better
time for this quote to shine brighter and better.
Since quarantine began, we have alienated
ourselves from society and pushed our friends
away to the farthest corners of our minds,
where we cannot see them because we believe
in this threat.
Hold fast to the light in this ever growing darkness.
Even these threats are finite, while we,
united and strong as the human race, are truly
infinite. Think of all the good we are capable of
when we have hope.
So in the end, we will break through all the limitations that we have put on ourselves. We will grow even
stronger, not just surviving but thriving. You might not see it now, but you will see it later. You might not
see the hope, that is like a bright radiant light in the darkness, but a small ember of light will always be
burning within you. It will be all you need in order to meet our upcoming challenges. Once we acknowledge
this, that burning ember of hope will turn into a raging fire and invincible power that we call love.
Thank you for listening to me through these hard times. I know and I hope that we find the hope and love
in our hearts together, because this is not the end. We are not trapped in the darkness. We, as a human
race, are destined to overcome all the challenges in our life, because this is not our end.
This is our story and this is only the beginning.
19

Future Playlist
Unwritten -
Natasha Bedingfield
Shotgun -
George Ezra
From Gold -
Novo Amor
Catch and Release -
Matt Simons
joy. -
King and Country
Good Old Days -
Macklemore and Kesha
Someone To You -
Banners
I Lived -
OneRepublic
Gone, Gone Gone -
Phillip Phillips
Hills to Climb -
Tim Myers
20

This playlist can be found on Spotify @JDSpeakingEagle
Brand New -
Ben Rector
Maren Morris and Hozier
The Bones -
Runaway (U&I ) -
Galantis
The Nights -
Avicii
Dancing Queen -
ABBA
Graduation -
Vitamin C
Coming Home -
Sheppard
Dog Days Are Over -
Florence + the Machine
Fire and the Flood -
Vance Joy
Life is a Highway -
Rascal Flatts
21

Hopes & Aspirations
The Music Department over the past year has faced some dramatic changes, in terms of new
directors. The program that has faced the most change, however, is the Marching Band. Percussion
director Heather Church is currently in the process of reviving the program here at JD. “I think it’ll
be a program that is going to take a couple years to really get started again, but I have been working
hard at trying to recruit for next year,” said Church. “I do have some tricks up my sleeve, and I think
it’ll be very beneficial to the future of the Marching Band at Juan Diego.” Church finished,
regarding her own hopes for the Marching Band. As for programs such as percussion and steel band,
the future’s looking bright. “I am continuing to build rapport with students so I have students return
from year to year. I’ve looked at my registration for next year and it has doubled,” Church stated. “I
am really excited about the potential more students in the program,” Church finished. Although the
uncertain events of this year have put a damper on things, the future of the music department looks
hopeful.
22

Another program that has recently been undergoing some changes is the AP Capstone program.
“Incoming Season 5 students had to formally apply for the AP Capstone program this year,” stated
AP Art History and AP World History teacher Vanessa Jacobs. “Students had to complete a
multiple-page application by a stated date, which helps to see who is committed to the demands
of AP Capstone,” Jacobs hopes that by making these changes, incoming students can be better
prepared and the teachers can know the students beyond test scores. “We created this process
in order to widen our pool of students and to allow students to demonstrate their willingness to
apply for the program,” continued Jacobs. “Our old system was not broken by any means, but for
programs to succeed, we have to be innovative and change things up to ensure we are
continually improving,” Jacobs finishes. On a similar note, AP Capstone teacher Mary McConnell
has also made some changes to Capstone classes, such as AP Seminar. “Mr. Hausser and I are
constantly looking for ways to make AP Seminar more fun and less grueling, while still preparing
our students to succeed in their performance tasks and exam,” said McConnell. “Next year, we are
going to trim back the length of the dress rehearsal papers and presentations, while maintaining
our focus on world history research,” McConnell stated, regarding one of the changes to a huge
aspect of the Seminar class. McConnell also shares some upcoming opportunities for previous
Seminar students. “We also hope to recruit a team of successful AP Seminar alumni to work with
new students. These Capstone fellows will receive additional training - and they’ll gain an
impressive new credential for their college applications,” finished McConnell.
The Music Department and the Capstone Program
share their hopes for the future
By: Lacey Cintron
23

This is the Rivian R1T, an
electric pickup truck. It will
be a midsize truck, so about
the size of a Ford Ranger or
Toyota Tacoma. It will get
754 horsepower from 4 electric
motors. It has a towing
capacity of 11,000 pounds
and a 1764 pound payload
capacity.
The Audi E-tron GT is an
electric four door sedan. It
will have an 800 volt charger
to cut down charging time.
The car will have all wheel
drive and be able to put out
590 horsepower. It will be
unveiled in late 2020 and be
for sale in 2021.
This is a BMW I4, it will be an addition
to BMW’s “I” line of cars, a line
that is all electric. This is going to
be a direct competitor to the Tesla
Model 3. It is expected to have two
motors, which means it will be all
wheel drive. The largest battery you
can get should last up to 350 miles
between charges.
24

THESE ARE NOT THE
CARS THAT YOU
WERE EXPECTiNG
By: Diego Valdez
Here are some upcoming vehicles that are
the definition of futuristic
This is what the 2024 Toyota MR2
is speculated to look like. Since its
release is so far out, there are only
thoughts about the car. Though
current Toyota President, Akio
Toyoda, said that he wants to replicate
the companies sports cars of
the 1980’s. We have already seen a
revamped Supra and a new 86.
This is the Volkswagen ID 4, or the
ID Crozz. The battery will get you
up to 310 miles between charges.
The rear motor will be the main
power source and give you up to
201 horsepower, with an option
for the front motor to come in and
give an additional 101 horsepower.
The dual motor, all wheel drive will
most likely have more acceleration
performance than its rear wheel
drive counterpart.
25

An
Abrupt
Ending
A virus takes away
our senior goodbyes
By Ashley Hemmersmeier
26

On Thursday, March 12 of 2020, we all gathered for the last time in the auditorium to hear that the school
was likely going online. On March 15, we logged onto our computers to begin learning from home. On April 15, we
learned that the rest of the year was going to remain online, and that senior traditions were going to be different.
Senior year is meant to be special and be a chance for us to say goodbye, something the Corona Virus took away.
As I walked into school that Thursday morning of March 12, it was just like all of the rest. I went to a meeting
I had that morning and we got right to work. After, I went to my locker and I put my stuff away. I had heard the day
before that the MLB was canceled due to the virus. For the first time, I knew something was different. I walked into
Newspaper, gathered with the rest of the crew, as we had a serious conversation. It was surreal; as everyone talked,
I heard someone say, “We don’t know it now, but this is going to change everything as we know it.”
As the day went on, no one could really focus. Everyone was all over the place, and no one was really able to
focus. I found myself leaving class more often than I usually did. I walked the halls, not thinking much of anything.
Right before school ended, we were all called to the auditorium. There, Dr. Colosimo told us that we were likely
going to be online for the next two weeks. But no one could have predicted that we weren’t going back to school at
all, and that the seniors would never walk through the halls again.
After we lost the last part of our senior year, I began to think about all the times we united as a class this
year. The first thing that came to mind is Kairos, the special retreat that only seniors are allowed to go on. For the
first time, I felt connected to my class. The day after we came back, we were united.
Our last homecoming was also a memorable moment. For the first time in all of JD history, the seniors won
the pep rally, without cheating. At the dance, each and every person was dressed up and looked stunning. We all
knew it was our last homecoming, and we savored every moment of it. The best part of it was going shopping,
picking out a dress with all my friends’ opinions, and getting to dance with them.
In the first semester, we all worked hard, and we all did everything we could to make it through. We were up
late applying to colleges, writing an essay to ‘wow’ admissions , and doing our best to earn scholarship money. We
started to plan the rest of our lives, thinking about what we wanted to be, and where we wanted to be. For the first
time, our lives felt like our own.
Even though the virus has taken so much, it hasn’t taken everything. It took away our traditional graduation,
the best part of our senior year. However, it has given us more time with our families and something to look forward
to. Before we leave for college, we are going to be closer than ever with our families.
27

Seniors GOODBYE
ADVICE
Seniors give their best tips about high school
By: Jaren Morgan
As the last chapter for seniors closes this month, several seniors have come forward to reflect on their time during
high school.
A common theme between the years of high school is the change. Change with friendships, classes, teachers, life,
etc. can seem very scary at first, but seniors assure underclassmen that it’s okay for things to change. “High school
is one of the biggest times of self-discovery,” senior Alyssa Zweber said. “Your interests might change. The subject
you used to excel in might become hard for you. But, you also discover new passions and find new things to be good
at. You can’t expect yourself to be perfect at everything or even expect yourself to continue to excel in the things
you did when you were younger. Allow yourself to fail. Allow yourself to change. Allow yourself to find new passions,
even if they are things you never thought you’d like. Go with the flow, instead of trying to continue to be the same
person you’ve always been,” Zweber said. “I wish I knew that it’s okay to change things about yourself,” senior Sara
Slick begins, “whether it be your friend group, what sport you play, or how you want to act. You’re not going to be
the same person leaving high school than you were coming into high school. I wish I knew that no ones going to
remember the little mistakes you make so it’s not worth it to spend time dwelling on it,” Slick said.
Meanwhile, seniors give the following advice to incoming freshman and current underclassmen: “To any incoming
freshman,” senior Kate Sharpley said, “as well as my past freshman self, I would say embrace the experience. Try
everything that catches your interest and have no regrets coming out of your first year of high school. Nothing bad
can come out of you trying new things, and you will eventually find something that you are passionate about. And
especially to the incoming 9th graders, make sure you prioritize school. With so many big changes happening in
your social lives, make sure you remember how important your grades are. Do the absolute best you can,” Sharpley
said. However, seniors think it’s best not to overwork yourself and stress yourself out. According to seniors, what’s
also important about the high school experience is connections made with other people. “My advice would be to
make as many friends as you can,” Zweber said, “while continuing to work on the friendships you already have. My
senior year, I made so many new connections and I was sad that it took me this long to make them. Also, try to avoid
petty drama. Some confrontations are unavoidable, but for the most part, try to be kind to everyone and maintain
your friendships. There’s no point in making enemies over simple arguments,” Zweber said. “Talk to your classmates,”
Slick continued. “You think you know [your classmates] so well, but you really don’t, and you’re not going to
see that until your senior year with Kairos, and then, suddenly, you have 6 months with people who truly get you.
Another key piece of advice that seniors give is being involved. “Get involved and stay organized,” senior CJ Peragallo
said. “There’s a lot to take in your first year but there is also a lot of opportunity. Make sure you try the things that
interest you because you might not get that chance again,” Peragallo said. “I wish that I had known how much being
involved at JD would mean to me,” Sharpley continued. “If I had known this, I probably would have leaned into the
experience a lot more by joining Campus Life earlier,” Sharpley said.
28

QUestion + answer
1. Do you recommend playing a sport for JD?
“I highly recommend playing a sport for JD! Playing on
one of our teams is such a valuable thing at this school.
JD does such a good job honoring each and every
sport so that everyone feels loved. If you end up joining
a sport that isn’t for you, that’s okay! There is no
pressure to do something you don’t like, and you can
simply stop doing it. That is the beauty of Juan Diego,
you can make the experience exactly how you want,”
Sharpley said.
“Playing for a sport is probably the best experience
in terms of comradery. They are a great way to get
involved especially for someone who isn’t interested in
campus life,” Peragallo said.
2. What’s the biggest tip you would give that’s the
most helpful for all four years of high school?
“When you get home, do your homework right away.
Take a few minutes to get a snack and get changed,
but don’t get too relaxed. Just do it immediately, and
you actually can get through with it faster because you
are still in the school mindset,” Sharpley said.
“Be humble and don’t let opportunities pass you by.
The worst feeling is graduating and you realize you
didn’t do all of the things you wanted during
your time at school,” Peragallo said.
3. What’s something you stressed over that ended up
being pointless in the long run?
“One thing that I stressed over that ended up being
pointless was maintaining the perfect 4.0. By no means
am I saying that you shouldn’t care about your grades,
but one bad grade won’t kill you. I’ve gotten a few not
so great grades, but I still am going to a great college. I
was also too worried about taking all of the AP classes I
could possibly take. My senior year, I was supposed to
take Calc BC, but I realized that adding that extra class
was going to add so much more stress into my life, and
I don’t even like calculus. I decided not to take that
class, and I think that allowed me to dedicate myself
to my other classes more fully and to my extracurriculars.
You don’t always have to overextend yourself. Do
as much as you can do, but know your limits,” Zweber
said.
4. Is taking Honors/AP classes genuinely worth it?
“Taking honors and AP classes are only worth it if they
matter to you personally. If you genuinely like to learn,
then these classes are for you. For me, AP classes were
a natural step for me. But not everyone is as excited
about school as I am, so you should only sign up for
them if you are up for a real challenge. If you are not
sure about an AP class, try it and see what you think!
There is a window where you can switch your classes,
so there is no pressure to make a permanent decision.
But if this does not sound like something you would
like, then there is also no pressure to take these classes.
Do what is best for you,” Sharpley said.
“I would say that it depends on your goals. If you aren’t
trying to get into selective schools or trying to get a
scholarship, I wouldn’t say that all APs/Honors are
always worth it. If so, I would suggest only taking ones
that you have a genuine interest in,” Zweber said.
29

Maren
Maren Carbaugh is a freshman here at Juan Diego.
She is involved in Drill and Dance Company, and just
like us all, she once was a kid with dreams and aspirations.
Carbaugh grew up in Sandy, Utah and has
danced most of her life.
“When I was younger, I thought that things were
going to be just like the way movies portrayed high
school to be,” Carbaugh said. “I thought that everything
in life was going to come easy to me, just like
my favorite movie characters,” Carbaugh finished.
She envisioned her future to be just like our favorite
coming of age films. At some point, everyone saw this
kind of future for themselves, or at least something
similar. The movies we saw growing up showed large
musical numbers and your favorite characters being
crowned prom king or queen. There is one problem
with that dream when all wished for, which is that
normal life isn’t as glamorous as we dreamed.
“Looking at how old I am, things are definitely a lot
different than what I thought,” Carbaugh said. “I was
unaware of how hard you have to work to be successful,”
Carbaugh finished. As people grow up, they begin
to realize that life isn’t as easy as others make it seem.
Everyone needs to realize that working hard will get
you to the places you want to be.
Life
Expectation
.vs.
reality
As kids, we always had expectations of what we wanted to be doing when
we grew up, but what is the reality of how we actually turned out?
30
By: Annie Harris

Matthew
Matthew Lebrecht is a junior here at Juan Diego. He is
a lifer and is involved with the baseball team. He grew
up in Draper and when he was a kid, he had dreams
of what he was going to be doing in his future.
“I envisioned my future as me playing on the baseball
team in high school,” Lebrecht stated. “I also saw
me having fun with my friends and enjoying my high
school experience,” Just like most people, Lebrecht
had dreams about high school. High school is made
out to be this amazing and fun thing, so when people
are growing up there is always this vision in a person’s
head about what their high school experience
would be. Matthew has been at the school for a long
time and went to football and baseball games and
just like most of us wanted to be part of that student
section and out on the field.
“I am living the life I dreamed of, which was playing
baseball and having fun with my friends,” Lebrecht
said. “I did want to play professional sports, which
seems amazing but is really hard to do,” Lebrech
finished. Another dream a lot of people have is to be
a professional sports player because they grew up
watching it. Playing in high school may not be the big
leagues but it is still a good experience, and having
fun with friends is really the best part of high school.
GRACE
Grace McGowan-Jackson is a senior here at Juan
Diego. She is involved in art and student life. Grace
started her life in London, England and then moved
to Utah when she was four. As a young girl, Grace
envisioned her future and all that she wanted it to be.
“I always envisioned that I was going to look more
and more like my mom,” Jackson said. “I also envisioned
that I would be doing a lot of art,” Jackson
finished. As kids we all saw our parents and had expectations
that we would look like them more as we
grew up. Some people look like their parents when
they are younger and as they grow they come to look
more like their own person. A lot of people also see
themselves going into a profession that is related to
the hobby they enjoyed as a kid.
“Now that I am going into college and have chosen
not to major in arts, but in human psychology and
biochemistry, my views have obviously changed,”
Jackson stated. “My views weren’t unrealistic, but my
life did go down a different path,” Jackson finished.
It is very common for people to go off the path they
dreamed of. Grace has chosen something out of the
realm of art, which is totally normal and people make
choices like that everyday. Dreams change and people’s
lives go on just as well as those who made their
dreams come true.
31

Speakingeagle.com