Ephrata seniors savored high school

EPHRATA - Fidel Bazan and Gabrielle Schmidt learned how to take everything the high school had to offer, and make the most of it.

"I think there are a lot of opportunities to get involved," Schmidt said. She found some - she's in Key Club, Spanish Club, FCCLA, the National Honor Society chapter, an ASB representative. She ran track for three years, played tennis her senior year, and played soccer.

Both Gabrielle and Fidel were part of the Link Crew, which is designed to help new students navigate their new surroundings. "Freshmen and stuff, you mentor them," Fidel said.

Bazan played football all four years of high school and ran track in the spring. He was the ASB president as a senior. He graduates with a 3.8 grade point average, while Gabrielle will finish with a 3.9 GPA.

Academically Ephrata offered some challenges.

"Wide range of classes," Fidel said.

"But we should have more classes," Gabrielle said. Both liked the challenging classes, chemistry and calculus, AP biology. "Physics, by far," was her favorite class, Gabrielle said.

"Welding. I took welding and that was an adventure," she said. "I can't do bead plate to save my life." (Fidel, on the other hand, did okay on bead plate, he said.)

That's a lot, both in school and after school. "It went by fast," Fidel said.

"My parents (Ralf and Linda Schmidt) have always pushed me to get really involved," Gabrielle said. All of it was fun, she said, and it is also valuable experience for the next step in life.

Fidel said he got involved in activities and just kept working at them. Then, as he got good at things, he wanted to keep doing them, he said.

Gabrielle said she would tell students following her at Ephrata High School to keep working and stay focused on school. "All your hard work will pay off. How much you put into it is exactly how much you'll get back out," she said.

Fidel said kids may think high school will last forever, but it doesn't. "Enjoy every moment you have because it's soon going to end," he said.

Fidel has been accepted at Central Washington University; he hasn't settled on a major yet, he said, but it's probably going to have something to do with chemistry and engineering. Gabrielle will attend the University of Washington and major in pre-physical therapy. She's planning a career in making prosthetics and related fields.

"That'll be cool," Fidel said.

"Yeah, it's like the coolest field ever. I love it." Gabrielle said.

Graduation will be Friday at 7 p.m. at Kiwanis Field.