With the 25-26 school year coming to an end, Verrado is saying goodbye to their seniors as they move on to the next stage of their life. Many of the seniors here have left their mark here either physically or with the connections they have made throughout their years. Setting an example for the underclass on what they can do during their high school career.
When it comes to being a busy bee, Rae Cassidy, a senior this year at Verrado, perfectly fits that description. She has heavily been involved in the band and film program here. Rae has led the underclassmen film students this year, helping them learn the roots of how the program works at Verrado. She states, “We’ve had many new people join film this year that needed help knowing how to do certain things such as editing and knowing how to use certain filming tools”. With all the things Rae has done for the film class such as participating in SkillsUsa as well as helping people create short films as well as her own.
Someone will have to take her place in SkillsUSA competitions once she’s gone, which is why she’s focused on one underclassmen in particular this year. Rae states that one person she had mentored this year was Josie Owens, being prepared to take over the responsibilities Rae is leaving behind. Josie, being the next in line to be a head SkillsUSA leader, needed someone to make sure she was ready for what her senior year will contain.
Many students look up to Rae due to her accomplishments of helping develop winning films in contests, as well as pursuing most of the film students’ dreams. That being said, going to college for her passion, Rae will be heading to ASU to get a degree in film!
On the side of athletics and brainiacs, there are many seniors that have helped students in that category as well. One example being Marco Torres, he has been the swim captain, wrestled on varsity and is a four year engineering student. Being a student athlete can be hard but Marco is a great example of balancing grades and sports at a high level. He, along with Rae, has also put underclassmen under his wing. Marco says, “I have mentored Elijah Escobedo in both wrestling practice and engineering. Helping him with calculations and becoming a good wrestling partner” Elijah says he is very grateful for Marco’s guidance, saying he wouldn’t be able to do both parts of a student athlete without him.
Both Marco and Rae are only two of many students that have impacted Verrado this year. Both will be remembered for their hard work and dedication to their crafts. Leaving their marks both in records and minds of the people of Verrado. Inspiring the next round of seniors to leave a little piece of themselves here too.
