Top students look back on last four years

Seniors reflect on good times, growing pains

MOSES LAKE — Senior Michael Roseburg cannot forget his first day of high school.

"I was kind of dazed and confused," said the Moses Lake High School senior who would wander around for a half an hour after the bell rang trying to find his class.

Roseburg and twin sister Michele are graduating this June and are two of the top 11 students from the 2006 graduating class at MLHS.

There is less than a month before seniors at MLHS turn their tassels and leave high school behind to begin new endeavors.

The top 11 graduating seniors are part of 398 students at MLHS earning their diplomas in 2006, the biggest class yet during principal Dave Balcom's six-year tenure.

Each year a list of the top performing students from the graduating class is compiled.

On a recent afternoon, giggles of laughter permeate a room inside the counseling center where this year's top students retell memories.

Tanae Bergeson is reminded of rainy day football games; Eriel Thomas of catching peacocks; Gabrielle Madson of winning the Inland Empire tennis tournament in Spokane; and Derik LeFave is quick to think of attending FFA nationals twice.

The amount of time put in by some of the other students on extracurricular activities demonstrates their level of commitment to school and to their community.

Michael Tucker spent four years in the football program, spending time as captain and was chosen as most inspirational.

Deidra Kofoed has been involved in a number of activities for three years, including tennis, Key Club and Link Crew. She was also a part of the National Honor Society for four years.

While there may be more memories and life changing events that took place in the last four years than at any other point in their young lives, the group agrees it is time to move on.

"It feels like a relief to me to know you made it," Stephanie Moberg said of being on the cusp of graduation.

Bergeson agreed.

"I think we're all ready to go," she said.

When asked to summarize what high school has been all about, the answer does not come easy.

Lexie Graham and two others describe it as a process of finding balance between academics and extracurricular activities.

One such time for Emily Dufault was completing her AP English class final where students made a video presentation.

"That was our life for three weeks, making this video," she remembered.

The day Michele Roseburg and Graham, who both took Honors English 10 together, received their first essay back sticks out like a sore thumb for the two seniors.

"There were tears," Graham said, looking back on the moment now with a slight smile and laugh.

Graham was recently awarded the Washington Scholars Award, which every year recognizes two high school seniors from each of the state's 49 legislative districts by providing full scholarships to any Washington public or private college or university.

As they say good bye to their teenage stomping grounds at the high school, there are a few things they won't be sad to leave behind.

The crowded high school parking lot. High school bathroom facilities. Washington State Assessment of Student Learning tests. Attendance policies.

The WASL, the group says, is one chief concern they have even as they prepare to leave high school.

Starting with this year's sophomore class, seniors will be required to pass the WASL in order to graduate from high school.

"You're just teaching them to pass a test," said Thomas. "You really have to address attitude."

Through it all, the students give thanks to their parents, other family members and friends who have provided support and a listening ear when it was needed.

"My mom can remember every single award I got so it's weird to think some of the things I don't remember, she does," Graham said.

The teachers in the classroom come to mind for Dufault.

There are so many teachers who care about kids, she said.