By Westin B., ’25
The most difficult part of my journey will be stepping off this campus. Rio Lindo is a place I will never forget. This school has left a deep impression on me, and I hope that when I leave, I will have left something meaningful behind as well.
In the main hall of the admin building, there’s a collage of frames showing the graduates who came before me. Every time I walk past them, I think about the alumni—and the recent alumni weekend we hosted. A few weeks ago, our campus was filled with former students, each with their own stories. I listened to many of them—stories about the good they did here, and yes, even a few of the not-so-great things. But what stood out most was how each person left something behind. They left a footprint.
As I walk those same halls, looking at the faces of past graduates, I can’t help but wonder what kind of footprint I’ll leave behind.
Leaving a legacy matters deeply to me. And I don’t just mean leaving high school. Whatever path I take in life, I want to be remembered for something good—something that mattered. Whether we’re meeting new people or starting something fresh, our reputations go with us. What we leave behind becomes part of how we’re remembered. It’s important to make sure that legacy reflects who we truly are.
Rio Lindo has shaped me in more ways than I can count. It’s helped me grow into the person I am today. The school has made a lasting impact on me, and I want to return the favor. When I pass by those graduation portraits and think about where mine will hang, I wonder what people will remember about me. As I prepare to leave, I want to know that I made a difference—that I left a lasting footprint on this school.