Letter to Seniors from Dr. Reynolds

Our principal, Dr. Reynolds, sends the class of 2017 off with well wishes for the future.

Our principal, Dr. Reynolds, sends the class of 2017 off with well wishes for the future.

Dear WSHS Seniors,

This is a bittersweet time of year for me. While on one hand, I’m excited to usher seniors into your next phase of life and imagine all of the accomplishments you will enjoy; on the other hand, I’m sad to see you go because I will miss interacting with you and watching you grow into young adults. This senior class is close to my heart because I began knowing you when you were freshmen, excited and anxious about entering high school. Some of you have made unbelievable transformations during your years at WSHS, and others have navigated insurmountable obstacles to persevere and make your way to graduation. I am proud of all of you, and I have a few parting words of advice to share before you drop the mic.

First and foremost, you should endeavor to be kind. For some reason completely foreign to me, many people feel they have a right to be cruel to others. Whether it’s through negative comments on social media or through insults couched as sarcasm or a dry wit, it’s not cool to be mean. Each and every one of us struggles to find our way in life, and we don’t need that journey made more difficult by naysayers and critics. How about making an effort to compliment people and focusing on their strengths? Imagine a world where all people are supportive of each other, understanding of differences, and willing to put aside their pride to work towards a common good. That would be a pretty great world.

Second, you should find your passion and work towards acquiring a “job” or way of living that allows you to enjoy your passion. At this point in life, you are at a crossroads. You are moving beyond a situation that requires certain actions (daily attendance at school) to a situation that allows for freedom of choice and flexibility in your schedule. Right now, you have endless options for your future. Take time to consider what will make you truly happy and pursue a path towards that end.

Finally, take care of your home, improve your community, and honor your country. Hopefully, through your studies of American history, you have learned that we should not take the individual freedoms we enjoy for granted. Further, you should know that not everyone in our world has the same opportunities we have. Honor our freedoms and opportunities by keeping your home in order, contributing to your community in a positive way, and honoring your country by appreciating what you have, volunteering to meet a specific community need, and participating as a voting citizen. It’s easy to ignore the sacrifices of those who came before us to secure our freedoms, but it if we want to ensure our freedoms for decades and centuries to come, then we will honor the sacrifices of our forefathers by working together to build strong, prosperous communities.

Many adults are quick to criticize our youth and vocalize their concern for the future of our nation. I am not one of those adults. From my perspective, the future of our country is in good hands . . . your hands. I fully expect that the graduates of the Class of 2017 will forge new pathways towards securing a bright future for all citizens. So go forth, be kind, find your passion, and commit to building your own homes, contributing to your communities, and honoring the priorities of our country’s founding fathers. I have total confidence in all of you to help make our world a better place.

Respectfully,

Dr. Reynolds, Principal – Winter Springs High School