The Initial Letter
After my first week at Ripon High School, I have high hopes for what this year holds. “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory,” Dr. Seuss once said. I think that this quote can encompass high school as well. Most people blast through their high school years without even trying to remember the times they have. High school is one of the most important times of a person’s life. One of my goals this year is to make memories with my friends and my classmates. These four years can determine the course of a teen’s life. Even in the first two days of this year, I’ve made memories of classes, friends, and extracurricular activities. Moving forward, I hope my freshman year at Ripon High School will be memorable and I will learn a lot.
My first days in the Ripon High School leadership program have been very memorable. I have learned so much about how the class runs. I met my mentors and peers and learned about the events and assignments that I will be working on throughout the year. During this leadership year, I want to learn more about how to lead and be a professional. The leadership classroom has already taught me some things about teamwork and responsibility and I hope to grow more as a student and a leader throughout the year.
My first days in the Ripon High School leadership program have been very memorable. I have learned so much about how the class runs. I met my mentors and peers and learned about the events and assignments that I will be working on throughout the year. During this leadership year, I want to learn more about how to lead and be a professional. The leadership classroom has already taught me some things about teamwork and responsibility and I hope to grow more as a student and a leader throughout the year.
Favorite Quotes
There are many quotes that I apply to my life daily. From Dr. Seuss to Edgar Allan Poe, many people have shared their knowledge of success with the world through their words. Dr. Seuss once said, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” This quote tells me to be open to people’s ideas and feelings because I want to make a good impact on that person’s life or even just their day. This quote has taught me to be open to people’s feelings so that I can change their lives for the better.
Another quote that I apply to life is from Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein once said, “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” This quote means that humans are made to always be learning. It’s essential to life that we are constantly learning and growing ourselves. Every day, we should be putting forth effort to be better than the day before. Nobody should not have learned anything by the end of the day.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted,” Aesop said this quote once to tell us that we should be kind, even if that kindness is insignificant. Even a small act of kindness can brighten someone’s day--such as a smile or a simple “Hello!” Small acts such as picking up a piece of trash on school campus can make things much cleaner and more cheerful. Simply helping someone with their homework can save them from a world of stress and frustration. The efforts that we put in for others is extremely important, even if it’s small.
Another quote that I apply to life is from Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein once said, “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” This quote means that humans are made to always be learning. It’s essential to life that we are constantly learning and growing ourselves. Every day, we should be putting forth effort to be better than the day before. Nobody should not have learned anything by the end of the day.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted,” Aesop said this quote once to tell us that we should be kind, even if that kindness is insignificant. Even a small act of kindness can brighten someone’s day--such as a smile or a simple “Hello!” Small acts such as picking up a piece of trash on school campus can make things much cleaner and more cheerful. Simply helping someone with their homework can save them from a world of stress and frustration. The efforts that we put in for others is extremely important, even if it’s small.
Quotes: Continued
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” I think that this quote by Albert Einstein is one of my favorites because it emphasizes that each person is different. One thing that I find frustrating about school is that it does not revolve around improving the student. It revolves around molding the student into an ideal individual who is “well-rounded.” I believe that Albert Einstein wanted to convey that each person has their talents, which they should never stop improving upon and learning about.
My Goals
Change a Tradition for the Better:
I will change a tradition at this high school so that more of the student body will be interested. At the leadership training, it was revealed that we have an opportunity to change our events because most of them are no longer traditions. Scott said that a school tradition is something that has been done for four years or over. Every event that happened during covid has been renewed and I want to change traditions so that more people actually want to participate.
Get a 90% or higher in the Leadership program:
I will get a 90% or higher grade in the leadership class to prove that I am a worthy leader. My grade in a class is directly related to the amount of effort that I put in and the amount of effort that I put into leadership will reflect how much I provide for our student body. Getting a 90% or higher will also allow me to prove myself as a professional and a student.
Start a Club:
At some point in my time at Ripon High School, I will start a club. I want to do this so that I can include more people from around the school and meet many new friends. I think that sharing my hobbies and interests with other people will help me become more skilled in said hobbies. If I can introduce somebody to something that they love then that person will be happier.
Finish Writing my Fantasy Novel:
I will finish writing my fantasy novel by the end of the year. I have been writing a fantasy novel since November of 2020 and I am very proud of my progress so far. As the year ends, I have almost reached 190 pages in total and I will get at least 200 pages before I wrap up the story. Many friends have been motivating me along the way. By 2022 I will have finished writing the book.
Long-term goals:
Get the title of “Bestselling Author”:
I will earn the title of bestselling author by writing a book that becomes a bestseller. I have many ideas for books and stories and I will be writing the best of them as novels. I will improve my writing through practice and learning and I will make people happy through the words I put on the pages. I want to write stories that people can get lost in even after the story is over.
Get accepted into UCLA:
I will get accepted into UCLA through hard work and creativity. I can use my academic and creative skills to prove that I am worthy to get into the university that I want to and improve my education even more. UCLA has been my goal for a long time because I have heard good things about their engineering and english programs. I also really would like to educate myself in a more diverse environment. UCLA is in a very populous city and I want to step out of my comfort zone and go to college there.
I will change a tradition at this high school so that more of the student body will be interested. At the leadership training, it was revealed that we have an opportunity to change our events because most of them are no longer traditions. Scott said that a school tradition is something that has been done for four years or over. Every event that happened during covid has been renewed and I want to change traditions so that more people actually want to participate.
Get a 90% or higher in the Leadership program:
I will get a 90% or higher grade in the leadership class to prove that I am a worthy leader. My grade in a class is directly related to the amount of effort that I put in and the amount of effort that I put into leadership will reflect how much I provide for our student body. Getting a 90% or higher will also allow me to prove myself as a professional and a student.
Start a Club:
At some point in my time at Ripon High School, I will start a club. I want to do this so that I can include more people from around the school and meet many new friends. I think that sharing my hobbies and interests with other people will help me become more skilled in said hobbies. If I can introduce somebody to something that they love then that person will be happier.
Finish Writing my Fantasy Novel:
I will finish writing my fantasy novel by the end of the year. I have been writing a fantasy novel since November of 2020 and I am very proud of my progress so far. As the year ends, I have almost reached 190 pages in total and I will get at least 200 pages before I wrap up the story. Many friends have been motivating me along the way. By 2022 I will have finished writing the book.
Long-term goals:
Get the title of “Bestselling Author”:
I will earn the title of bestselling author by writing a book that becomes a bestseller. I have many ideas for books and stories and I will be writing the best of them as novels. I will improve my writing through practice and learning and I will make people happy through the words I put on the pages. I want to write stories that people can get lost in even after the story is over.
Get accepted into UCLA:
I will get accepted into UCLA through hard work and creativity. I can use my academic and creative skills to prove that I am worthy to get into the university that I want to and improve my education even more. UCLA has been my goal for a long time because I have heard good things about their engineering and english programs. I also really would like to educate myself in a more diverse environment. UCLA is in a very populous city and I want to step out of my comfort zone and go to college there.
Goals: Continued
At the beginning of the year, I had a lot of goals for my time in High School. Although those goals have not all been accomplished yet, I am very proud and optimistic about my progress so far. My first goal was to change a tradition for the better. This goal, I now realize, is quite an ambitious one, as tradition is something that makes high school what it is. In most cases, traditions do not need to be changed. However, I still hold myself to the goal of making events more fun for the student body. My second goal was to get a 90% or higher in the leadership program, which I have achieved so far in my leadership journey. I believe that earning an A in the class will prove my ability to lead and act as a role model for my classmates. Another goal that I am currently working towards is starting a club. Starting a club would act as a fun outlet of creativity for any classmate who joins. My most ambitious short term goal and the one that I worked toward the most was my want to finish my fantasy novel by the end of the year. I have finished my fantasy novel. However, it was not completed in the time that I had hoped to complete it. As of right now, I am revising and refining the novel to prepare for publishing, which I hope to do sometime over the summer. Publishing this book is the most important goal to me because I want to prove that writing an interesting novel that people like is something that I can do. Writing has always been an incredible outlet for me, especially during the pandemic. I hope to use that outlet to earn success. This leads me to my next goal, which is to become a bestselling author. I do not know when I will achieve this goal, but I am sure that I will one day become a bestselling author. I am confident because I know myself to be hard-working and I have plenty of friends and family that will help me along the way. My final goal is to get accepted into the University of California in Los Angeles. Getting into UCLA has been a dream of mine for a long time because I feel that there is a lot to experience there. Being in one of America’s most populated cities, there is bound to be a variety of opportunities to explore. Overall, the leadership program has encouraged me to make and achieve great goals to prove myself to the world.
James Wilkins: A People Magazine Cover
James Wilkins, a future author and a student at Ripon High School. He's a big fan of music, books, and nerdy things. One thing that defines his character is his love for storytelling! This includes playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, voice acting, and his favorite, writing. Wilkins writes in his free time, whether that be fantasy novels, sci-fi shorts, or even small scripts with his friends. A freshman at Ripon High School, he decided to step outside his comfort zone by joining the leadership program. Now, he holds the title of Freshman Representative. With goals relating to his writing career, he hopes to help those around him with his example.
Role Model
Someone who has made a profound impact on my life by being my role model is Cory Kenshin. He is an internet influencer, but rather than just playing video games or reacting to videos, Cory gives inspiring messages to his audience. Cory has shown me that everybody’s path is different and as long as one is challenging themselves, they can be successful. Cory’s messages tell that life isn’t just about money, or success, or fame. Consider his video titled “No limits.” In this video, Cory Kenshin talks about how he has seen so many people looking at a challenge and saying, “I’m too old to do that” or “It’s just not possible for me anymore.” Cory says that there isn’t anything that will ever keep you from reaching your goals. Cory states, “God bless the adults that oversaw my development years. Because now, I am so steadfast a believer that there is no reason… not age, ethnicity, not-- the only limiter that you have… is you!” His messages show his audience that there are no limits to what they can do. That’s why he’s my role model. I want to inspire others as he does. His messages have changed my life in the best way possible--by inspiring me to push myself. Cory’s taught me that even though people make mistakes or wait too long, it’s never too late to prove yourself.
No Limits: No Limits - YouTube
No Limits: No Limits - YouTube
Inner Animal
I believe that the animal I relate to most is the owl, a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. Owls are quiet hunters that are primarily nocturnal. Some species can even fly while producing almost no sound. I consider myself a calm person for the most part and owls are very calm creatures. I think that owls are some of the most elegant of birds and animals, as they can be quick and sharp, yet smooth and elegant. I strive for wisdom and knowledge in my life and the owl is a recurring image of such qualities in mythology, literature, and art. They’re an incredible example of using one’s best qualities to their advantage, as they use their nocturnal abilities and stealth to survive during the night. I put forth effort to increase my strength in things that I am good at as well and I think that is an important quality.. While I do believe that people should step out of their comfort zone, it’s never a bad idea to get better at that which you have more potential with. According to www.mentalfloss.com, “Owls were once a sign of victory in battle.” This is due to the fact that in Greek mythology, the owl was the companion of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. As a Cross Country runner, I believe in improving oneself through hard work until victory is achieved. All of the wise qualities of the owl make it a great symbol of knowledge and adaptability.
The Best Things about Me.
The Impact of Sound and Words
Peace of Mind
Artist: Boston
Released in 1977
Now if you're feelin' kinda low 'bout the dues you've been paying
Future's coming much too slow
And you wanna run, but somehow you just keep on stayin'
Can't decide on which way to go
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind
Now you're climbin' to the top of the company ladder
Hope it doesn't take too long
Can't cha see there'll come a day when it won't matter
Come a day when you'll be gone
Ohh, ohh
I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind
Take a look ahead
Take a look ahead, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Now everybody's got advice, they just keep on givin'
Doesn't mean too much to me
Lots of people out to make believe they're livin'
Can't decide who they should be
Oh, oh
I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind
Take a look ahead
Take a look ahead
Look ahead
Artist: Boston
Released in 1977
Now if you're feelin' kinda low 'bout the dues you've been paying
Future's coming much too slow
And you wanna run, but somehow you just keep on stayin'
Can't decide on which way to go
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind
Now you're climbin' to the top of the company ladder
Hope it doesn't take too long
Can't cha see there'll come a day when it won't matter
Come a day when you'll be gone
Ohh, ohh
I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind
Take a look ahead
Take a look ahead, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Now everybody's got advice, they just keep on givin'
Doesn't mean too much to me
Lots of people out to make believe they're livin'
Can't decide who they should be
Oh, oh
I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind
Take a look ahead
Take a look ahead
Look ahead
Why This Song Pertains to Me
I discovered this song a few years ago when my guitar-learning program included it as an option to learn to play. Ever since I played it for the first time and I heard the song and its message, it's been a comforting song whenever I've needed it. The way that I perceived it, the song is about having a perspective on who we want to be. The song is a classic rock melody of the seventies, but the words are what made a lasting impact on me. The song is saying that life's too short to be stressing and taking a long time reaching your goals. Everybody has their own path in life and they can choose who they want to be. The singer obviously believes that people should chase after careers that are greater than what they think they're capable of. The song, like many others, sings about chasing dreams. However, this song gives different reasons to chase dreams. Tom Scholz says that in order for him to have peace of mind, he needs to know that he has risen above and reached that which he dreamed of. The song taught me a lot about how to live life without regrets. I want to live with Peace of Mind knowing that I am working hard to achieve that which I'm passionate about. With my writing, my schoolwork, and my athletics, I think back to this song to remind myself to be peaceful and satisfied that I know my capabilities. Most importantly, I know that I can go beyond my own capabilities.
HomeComing Photo gallery!
What I Like Most About Being a Member of Leadership
I have made a plethora of memories and friendships in the leadership classroom and during various event plannings. From the Back to School Dance to the Homecoming Parade, helping out with events and cleanup can be a fun experience when done with friends. Hanging out with my leadership family is even more important and enjoyable knowing that we are working together to help the school and the student body. One of the core principles of leadership is to trust in the leadership family and our various events have helped me build trust with my comrades.
One of my favorite leadership memories was the planning and execution of the Halloween dance. For this event, the leadership representatives got to work with Mr. Perez. We started planning pretty early and even though we couldn’t utilize tools such as our fog machine, we all worked together to decorate and set up the dance. Having it on the tennis courts was fun because it made for an organized entrance and boundary system. Mr. Perez showed us some techniques to liven up our posters and decorations. Getting to work with my colleagues when planning the event taught me more about how to be a team player and it was one of my favorite memories.
Another very memorable moment from my time in leadership was Homecoming. During Homecoming, the freshman representatives met often to make posters or plan for our float in the parade. These meetings often included a lot of messing around, but we got our jobs done nonetheless. Every time that we met, we learned more about each other and grew closer as a family. We also designed posters and decorations in relation to the freshman theme, Hollywood Boulevard. So, we made our float to resemble Steamboat Willie, Walt Disney’s cartoon from 1927. Our experiences building and preparing the float taught me skills of self-reliance as well as building with a team.
The Envolve training session with Scott Bakovich was a very insightful experience. Not only did I learn how to make spirit days and events more fun for our students, but I also got to meet people from other leadership programs at Ripon High School. Scott gave us groups and assigned us the task of making a secret hand shake with our group. This exercise taught us the importance of making friends with our colleagues, even if we don’t have a lot in common. I believe that the training helped our school in our event planning and it is one of my favorite memories.
The Ripon High School Leadership program has been a significant experience for me. I keep a significant moments journal and most of the entries are from Leadership experiences such as dances, classes, and nights of building various decorations. Each of these memories has taught me something about myself and about leadership. Last year, I was reluctant to join the program, but after my first semester, I am glad that I did.
Reflection of a Peer in Leadership
Someone who I believe has displayed great leadership qualities is Gia Grewal. Gia is a fellow freshman representative and she has been extremely helpful not only to her classmates, but to all. She has shown kindness and work ethic in all of our event planning and creative design. The most recent kind act from her that I have seen was at Pizza Plus. There was a woman in the parking lot who was carrying many boxes of pizza in her arms. As she struggled to get her car door open, Gia rushed over to open the door for her. This is one example of how Gia is a great freshman representative and leader. Gia has always been helpful when asked for help on school work or projects. She has always been willing to help by making props for our events, even if it meant that she had to stay up late to do so.
RHS Pride Photo Gallery
What I Love To Do...
There are a lot of things that I enjoy doing, most of which are creative things that I can do in different ways. One of the greatest things I like to do is to play or listen to music. I currently play the guitar and have been playing for about a couple years now. I’m not great at it, but I practice and I am still learning new things when I play. Another creative thing that I love to do is paint miniatures for my Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. I like to create characters which I can then paint onto a small, plastic figure that can be used to represent said character in a role-playing game. Which brings me to another thing that I love, which is Dungeons and Dragons. The game allows me to mix elements of storytelling, acting, and adventure into one game that I can play with my friends. I usually act as the “Dungeon Master” for said games, so I create and depict the stories for my players to explore. Any game that lets me adventure with my friends, I enjoy. My theater class is another hobby that I have that I enjoy. All of my hobbies have introduced me to some great friends.
Letter To Parents
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you for everything that you have done for my sake. All of the sacrifices that you have made are greatly appreciated and I hope that you know that I recognize the things you have given up for my sake. I hope that you know that I will always love you. Even though there are times when we may be angry with each other, I will always be happy knowing that we won’t stop loving each other. So, thank you for that. Above all else, the family that you created has been there for me. Thank you, not just for what you have done for me, but for everything else. I’m grateful for my family, and they couldn’t exist without you. So, for everything from the past fifteen years, thank you. Thank you for the laughs we had, the moments we shared, and the memories I have with you that will live on forever.
Love, James
The Letter
Do's and Don'ts list
Do: Be inclusive and understanding to your peers
Do: Prepare yourself for upcoming events
Do: Allow yourself to be open-minded to new ideas
Do: Learn a lot from the projects that you complete
Do: Contribute!
Do: Be accountable
Don’t: Forget to turn in your journal
Don’t: Be unprofessional in any way
Don’t: Be afraid to ask questions
Don’t: Neglect your responsibilities
Don’t: Push off your mental health
Do: Prepare yourself for upcoming events
Do: Allow yourself to be open-minded to new ideas
Do: Learn a lot from the projects that you complete
Do: Contribute!
Do: Be accountable
Don’t: Forget to turn in your journal
Don’t: Be unprofessional in any way
Don’t: Be afraid to ask questions
Don’t: Neglect your responsibilities
Don’t: Push off your mental health
The Contact List
DJ: DJ Jerm
Site: www.facebook.com/DJJERMVA/about/?ref=page_internal
Email: [email protected]
DJ: Sounds in Motion
Site: www.soundsinmotiondj.com
Phone #: (209) 522-5999
Email Address:[email protected]
Address: 931 10TH STREET MODESTO, CA 95354
Teacher and Mentor: Fidel Perez
Email Address: [email protected]
Room P11: 301 N Acacia Ave, Ripon CA, 95366
Site: www.facebook.com/DJJERMVA/about/?ref=page_internal
Email: [email protected]
DJ: Sounds in Motion
Site: www.soundsinmotiondj.com
Phone #: (209) 522-5999
Email Address:[email protected]
Address: 931 10TH STREET MODESTO, CA 95354
Teacher and Mentor: Fidel Perez
Email Address: [email protected]
Room P11: 301 N Acacia Ave, Ripon CA, 95366
The Professional
In the leadership classroom, we have discussed and learned about many leadership topics. Whether it be from seminars, programs, or regular discussions, we talk about how to be a better program to benefit our student body. One of my favorite topics that we discussed was the concept of the “Spirit Bank” which was taught to us by Scott Bakovich. Bakovich taught us that in order to receive spirit and participation from our student body, we need to give back to them as well. He taught us that we need to refill our “Spirit Bank” before asking things of our classmates. This can apply to many different situations in leadership positions. Another topic that we learned in the Leadership class was conflict resolution. There have been many situations where we have had to adapt our class to conflict that rose within our program. Whether that conflict be with our own people or people outside of the classroom, our teachers have taught us how to correctly handle conflict–to recognize it, address it, and use problem-solving skills to resolve it. These topics are useful because they work not only in the leadership classroom, but in everyday life as well, and especially in leadership positions in the real world.
Change
My year as a leader in the Ripon High Leadership program has been full of ups and downs that taught me a lot about leadership and myself. I think that I have developed a lot as a leader. I am glad to say that as the year progressed, I enjoyed the program more than I did at the beginning and I think that can be accredited to getting to know the people that I work with. Each one of my peers is an amazing leader that I can learn from and aspire to be like. However, no great team is perfect. At the beginning of the year, there were times when my fellow freshmen and I were learning the ropes of the leadership classroom. Between all of the sports that we were each participating in, it was difficult to all work together on one project. Additionally, lack of communication made some meetings difficult and created a slight divide in the group. This divide caused us to be unprepared in some situations. Once we finally pulled together and learned from each other, we were able to make something great. Seeing a project finished is a great way to bring people together. So, if I were to give a recommendation to future Freshman Reps, I would say to be understanding and kind to your peers. Learn to learn from each other rather than teach. Learn to listen rather than speak. Humility goes a long way, especially when one is trying to be a leader.
The Ideal Leader
An ideal leader in my eyes is someone who puts others before themselves and works, not to achieve their own goals, but to achieve a common goal of the group. The leader is the one who considers everybody’s perspective and makes the decision based on what is best for the group. Which leads me to my next aspect of the ideal leader–the group. I believe that the ideal leader finds the group in which they can lead others to success in. A leader is nothing without people to lead. Leaders act as role models and lift others on their shoulders to better those around them. Leaders radiate a sense of pride and strength, not in themselves but in the people around them. They see others’ strengths and weaknesses and work to improve all. At Ripon High School, I believe that every student that has the desire has the potential to be a leader. A leader should hold up to some expectations, but not let those expectations define them. Being a great leader is to prove yourself without requiring validation. As such, a leader will make mistakes. Just as leaders should allow their colleagues to make mistakes, they are bound to make some mistakes themselves. Leaders are willing to be accountable for their actions, using what they have learned to lift others.
Me
Determination.