When I was passed the middle school torch In sixth grade I had come from a very different, non-feeder school with two other students. At my old elementary school, Nixon Elementary School, I had a very different experience, I knew everyone in my school and had a lot of pretty great friends. So coming to Jordan, and knowing basically nobody was a pretty big leap from what i’d known. At my old school plenty of things were the same as Jordan, yet still I was scared. I’d heard some weird stuff about middle school and how it functioned, But pretty soon I got the jist of being a Jaguar, made a few friends and learned some pretty great stuff.

First of all I would like to thank the entirety of the Jordan community. We have such a great and unique community here and I am very grateful to have been a part of it. Everyone at Jordan is so talented and unique and i think as a whole we embrace that about each other and create bonds over it. Most everyone in the community was kind and helpful my first year at jordan, and even now if i am in need of a pencil or a highlighter or whatever I might need. Of course with such great students we also need a great assembly of staff and administrators who are able to teach us the skills and lessons we are going to need in the real world. My teachers at Jordan have done such a wonderful job in teaching us the skill sets we need to thrive. So for all of everything that you do, I Thank you.

During my time at Jordan I have accomplished a lot, During my 6th grade year, i did some pretty normal things, I joined clubs, went to dances and made friends. Using that time to fully understand the potential of middle school. 7th and 8th grade were awesome, I went on the So-Cal trip, I made a bunch of new friends, joined more clubs, took some awesome courses, and continued to explore the potential of the Jordan community. When I first found the elective system, I loved it, and wanted to take every course because all of them sounded so great, finding out that I can’t take every course, I decided on a few. Forensics was my first choice, It sounded really great and stood out from most of the other, more normal courses. Not being able to take this in 7th grade led me to take it this year, 8th grade. Of course Art followed suit to Forensics, I’ve always loved art and all of the art courses were very different and totally awesome! Finding out that I can’t take every art course in 7th grade was a little bit of a downfall but it was okay. Another Course I had chosen to take at Jordan was Animation and Game Design, At first I was unsure about this course and disgruntled about taking it, but this course actually was a blast! I learned a lot and ended up LOVING IT. This course sparked my interests in animation, rendering, gaming and learning to code.

I Believe that all i've learned this year about my rights and how my government works will help me understand and function as a good american citizen. Understanding how my government works will help me when topics like voting, government, elections and other political topics come about. Knowing my rights will help me with law and other issues alike. An example is where I might have to go to court or be on jury duty, knowing my rights for these issues would help me support my claims and show how my government works. Another example might be when I am able to vote, I would understand the process used when I vote and how it impacts me in the long run. This basic knowledge will help me understand, function and help others under the same government.

For my amazing incoming Jaguars, my best advice for your experiences to come is to stand tall, and keep going. Although this may sound cheesy, it could not be truer. Some people will say some hurtful stuff that they might not mean, but just because it is said never means it is true. And no matter what anyone says, you are the stronger person, so don’t be afraid. Stand up and rise against society, and be the bigger person. Respect other people and their ideals, even if they seem stupid or unuseful, because their ideals could be the reason they are very successful and you end up on your butt

Overall Jordan has helped me in ways I can not even start to comprehend, Jordan has helped me achieve many of my goals I didn't even know I had. It inspired me to become the best person I can be and dream big dreams. During my time here I’ve made so many friends and had so much fun, being ourselves, hanging out, and dreaming together.

And with that, I pass my torch to the amazing, creative, strong, beautiful group of middle schoolers, here to come.