Most people probably don’t see it. At the end of each season, it is always this line that gets me. To me, it always means change. It is preparation for the Seniors to move on to adulthood and to envision the Juniors soon stepping into a leadership role. This year, the change is quantified. It is the last of the last. For the last 25 years, all five of our kids have walked the halls of Attica Schools. This year, our last child will graduate and also be the last Heath family member to graduate from AHS. Our babies are no longer babies and a couple have their own babies. Where we started seems like a lifetime ago. There have been so many wonderful successes and also struggles that have been significant and also life changing. We have all sacrificed and supported, all to make these children good humans, who have luckily experienced being a good teammate and friend and had the experiences of winning and also the agony of defeat. We feel grateful, thankful and humbled we were all able to go on this journey and also experience it all as Bulldogs.
It's graduation week. Well, what was supposed to be graduation week for you AHS Seniors. Since March, your senior year has been overshadowed by the unthinkable corona virus, aka Covid-19. You seniors and your families have been on my mind since this ordeal first started. So much anxiety and disappointment for your last of the lasts; spring break, senior trip, yearbook, golf, track, prom, finalizing college visits and plans, and of course, preempting graduation. Fortunately, with technology, you have been able to wind down your year with classmates ‘virtually’ by your side by text, Zoom meetings, Facebook, Snap Chat and maybe some Tik Tok, or maybe even asking Alexa to help you with your math homework, but it will never quite be the same as personal contact. Every day enjoying the company of each other in class, the way it has been for quite a few years with this group of boys finishing out your high school careers together, Jaeden Hall, Aden Rausch, Evan Peterson, Miles Mans, Ryan Dark, Kenny McCartney, Mason Miller & Carl Lilja, just 'the guys'.
Although we are still in hopes that you are able to eventually walk across that stage and hand your mom that rose, we have to think this class has a lot of resilience. After all, you entered the world after 9/11, now will graduate during a global pandemic. The truth is, dreams never stop and going through things you never thought you would go thru may take you places you never thought you would get to. You have had more family bonding time that they may have ever imagined, but yet it is still special. Special because you now know what life was like, just for a short time without distractions, or what it was like to be home every night for a home cooked meal, sharing stories of 'remember that time' with your family and being able to share conversations with your siblings and parents, which no one will ever be able to take away. But still the dreams and goals of 'what's next' still dancing in your heads, just waiting for the opportunity to move forward and not look back. Use every opportunity the last twelve years of hard work have brought to you and in these uncertain times, continue to be resilient.
To the Class of 2020, just remember, the most reliable way to predict the future is to create it. Good Luck guys!
Miles Mans poses above for Senior Sports photos.
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Love this little family!
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Breathtaking!
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