Although five seniors are leaving the team, it is going to be a strong team next year because the returning athletes are a very strong group.

Class of 2014 track athletes Adriana Hernandez, Yesenia Arroyo, Helen Canola, Karla Solis, Frevelyn Nava. Photo by Vivian Palma.

Our girls track team is amazing and we left it all out on the track this season. There was an awesome group of newcomers this season. The team showed a lot of heart out there on the track and on the field.

The incredible Coach Abel Pereyra taught us all how to push ourselves further than what we thought we were capable of. You learn a lot about yourself as a track athlete.

The team banquet on May 28 and was a great way to close out the year. Many academic awards were presented to our athletes. It was a sweet evening and I will miss my track girls, but don’t worry because this is not the last you see of me.

This year’s individual award winners as presented by Coach P follow:

Most Valuable Athletes: Cintia Garcia and Diana Herrera

Sprinter of the Year: Brenda Lopez

Distance Runner of the Year: Brenda Escalante

Most Improved Athlete: Arely Morales

Best New Athlete: Maria Figueroa

Extraordinary Leadership Award: Karla Solis

Team Spirit Award: Vivian Palma

Also, do not blame teachers for having low grades. I have managed to get straight A’s all through high school with the same teachers that you say are failing you because they don’t like you. You cannot solely rely on the information that the teachers give you if you want to be comfortably prepared. Use the Internet for extra help. Don’t just settle for passing grades, aim for an A. Take honors and AP classes too!

Doing well in school also involves a lot of time management skills. I have been in the recycling club, the archery team, the marathon team, the Stand Up Stand Out club, the cross country team, and the track team here at Steinmetz. Clubs and sports are extremely fun and you meet awesome people! Sure they’re pretty time consuming, but they will add interesting things to your high school experience. There’s something for everyone out there!

For those who are heading off to college, I know that it’s going to be a change from what we’re used to at Steinmetz, but as long as you try your absolute best you will be happy with the results. We will need some time to adjust to the college life, but we’ll probably get the hang of it once the first semester is over. I’m going to miss the teachers here at Steinmetz (yes, all of them).

This fall I will be attending Dominican University to study biology-chemistry. This might lead me to becoming a pharmacist, but I’m keeping my options open.

The hard work is not over yet guys! We still have to keep going, so don’t shut off your brain (like, ever). Keep learning new things every day of your life. Now let me give you some tough love: stop making excuses for why you can’t do something, don’t get stuck in your self pity, and get your work done even if you’re so tired that you feel like collapsing (harsh right?).

Well I think that’s enough lecturing for one day, so let me move on to the sappy stuff. My senior year has been filled with great, amazing, fun, awesome friends. They have taught me how to have fun again, which I had forgotten how to do because I was so trapped by school. Thank you to those peeps, especially Cesar because he’s such a wonderful person! I’m not going to say that I’m going to miss them because I will keep bothering them once school ends even if I have to hunt them down… well that’s it. Have a great summer ya’ll, and be kind!