Red Mountain’s senior year came to a screeching halt amid the statewide COVID-19 school shut down. Feeling anxiety, stress and isolation, seniors mourn missing prom, senior parties, and even graduation. Luckily, Red Mountain has big movers and shakers at the school, ready to step up to warm the hearts of their peers and communities.
Roar Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Juliana Head earned AIPA’s AZ’s Journalist of the Year Award in 2019. The next commander in chief, Junior Aidan Current, did not skip a beat to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps. He and his journalism team dedicate their quarantine time to creating a 16-page magazine, commemorating their seniors who are mourning their senior “lasts” that will not happen.
The magazine will cover March, April and May news, sports, arts & leisure, opinions and service learning accomplishments. Bio-med senior Jessica McKissick and her friends make over 300 masks for the hospital. AZ’s CTE US Presidential Scholar Isabella Moya continues her research to keep waterways healthy and serve AZ communities. Students are writing letters to the elderly, helping to teach their younger siblings and connecting with each other to spread positivity and cheer.
Ultimately the class of 2020 proves that they are the generation that will rise up and make the best of their circumstances. In a Senior survey made by Roar magazine, out of 155 seniors, 62% feel horrible to miss their prom. 74% said their families have to leave the house to work, so they are working on helping with chores and dinner to give some support to their families.
“My mom is a nurse so I have been making sure to thank her everyday by doing the dishes so she doesn’t have to worry about it after a long day at work as she means so much to me and works so so hard, “ senior Jami Wilcox said.
While only 40% say they are mostly optimistic, another 60% feel like they are experiencing stress from the adjustment. Ultimately, the goal of the magazine is to commemorate the class of 2020, acknowledging the unexpected perseverance students show to stay positive during these trying times.
At the moment, students are not allowed on campus as Mesa Public Schools continues to decide what to do for senior graduation and yearbook distribution.
“The only thing I can wish for all of my students at my school is that they find their loving teachers online and find ways to connect,” Yearbook Adviser at Red Mountain High School Amanda Cline said. “You are not alone, Red Mountain- dream big and stick together.”
One of our senior basketball players and AP Capstone student at Red Mountain, Cassidy Duncan, said it best by quoting Ayn Rand: “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”
To watch a video from Roar Magazine’s EIC, please click here: https://youtu.be/k0CL64KuLtU
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