MLHS students reflect on Mandela's death

MOSES LAKE - The legacy of Nelson Mandela has trickled through the generations, and his story continues to spread since his death. Tenth-grade students in Jesus Guerrero's fourth period Latin American Studies class at Moses Lake High School had varied levels of understanding of the former South African leader and human rights activist's life.

Of the 30 students in attendance Monday, 15 said they had heard of Mandela, and 16 heard he had passed on.

Krystal Billbe did not know he had passed away, but knew he "lead a racial group."

Nichole VanderGiessen had never heard of Mandela until the weekend when she found out he had passed away. From news stories on television, VanderGiessen now knows he had spent many years in jail, "almost all of his adulthood," and was "treated really cruel," while there. She said of when Mandela got out of jail, "Instead of revenge, he helped his society. He's one of the people that changed the world."

Ericka Rodriguez knew of Mandela prior to his death. She said she had been looking up quotes online and found an image of the man along with a well-known quote of his that goes, "I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles." Rodriguez Tweeted the quote, she said.

She said she didn't know much about his life before his death, but she has since "Googled him to learn." Now she knows he spent many years in prison, "for all the change he wanted to make."

Rodriguez said of all her friends, it was mostly athletes who had heard of Mandela, and looked up to him. "He was a big role model for people in sports," she said.