I’ve been a student at Vashon High School for almost three years, and I feel grateful for the wonderful experience I’ve had so far. I know that many of the experiences I’ve had in classrooms would be hard to find anywhere else. But it’s not only the staff that works hard to create our school’s climate; I am constantly amazed by the dedication of the students. It seems that students are always looking for new opportunities and trying hard to excel. We take pride in our accomplishments and the bond we have with one another. However, we sometimes find ourselves limited by our school’s condition.

I spend a majority of my year on

the high school campus, and it’s not a very welcoming place.

When visiting teams come toour school, we can’t point them to a bathroom that’s not smelly. Some teams don’t even bother coming because our track isn’t up to par. During football season, the dirt track flooded, so we cheered in essentially a giant puddle.

The current conditions also don’t support academics. When I was a freshman, I took a world cultures class in the band room; the teacher had to cart her papers around, and the students had to take notes with their notebooks in their laps. Students have been known to bring sleeping bags to math class so that they can focus despite the room’s chilly temperatures, and one teacher has to share his room with the backstage mess of whatever group is currently performing at the theater.

How we emphasize education now translates into how much we care about our future. The teachers and students strive to create that future success, but they deserve the support of those beyond the school, those who might actually benefit from the education of today’s youth.

Although I will have graduated by the time a new school would be built, I would love to see Vashon High School reflect the pride of future classes and support them, rather than limit them.

— Carlie-Sue Anderson