Class of 2004 Class of 2004 (June 11, 2004)

Looking back - and to the future

Today is graduation day for most Pleasanton high school seniors, a sentimental occasion for students and their families. We asked senior journalism students to reflect on the legacy of the Class of 2004 and what people would be surprised to learn about them. Here is how they responded:
Michelle Ricks, 17, Foothill High School; attending UCLA

Just like sitcoms that age and go into syndication, the season finale of my high school sitcom (and at times, drama) is drawing near. Soon, all that will remain of high school are the memories of laughter, heartache and lessons learned - like episodes of seasons past that will replay in my mind late some idle weeknight.

To people who know me well, I must sound surprisingly nostalgic. Generally, one can find me complaining about how desperate I am to graduate. However, it finally dawned on me how soon my prayers will be answered. Graduation and the typical pomp and circumstance of the finale are scheduled to air on June 11. Our reunion show is five years off and even then we all know that it won't be as good as the original.

I remember saying that it was the end of an era when "Seinfeld" aired its finale. I didn't fully understand (nor, frankly, at 10 could have understood) the phrase but it sounded like an appropriate thing to say. Now, with the mastery of reflection (apparently a gift with age) it seems as though this is the first time an era has ended in my life. What even my closest of friends don't know is that I am actually a little sad that I can't be around next season.

But for my final monologue, I'd like to thank my cast and crew, as I could not have done it without you. I will forever be indebted to the Class of 2004 with whom I have strut and fret my hour upon the stage. I have never met a group with such a strong sense of camaraderie and that is what I believe our legacy as a class will be. I suppose my time is up as the orchestra has begun to play, but for now, from my laptop in my bedroom, thank you and good night.
Brittany Kyle, 18, Foothill High School co-editor, InFlight; attending St. Mary's College

As I look back on my high school career, I realize how much I have grown. I entered high school as a na•ve young freshman and am leaving as a mature adult who is preparing to enter the "real world." I hope people remember me as someone who is thoughtful, mature, intelligent and fun. I want people to remember the journalism class that I was a part of, a class that has high expectations from the community, a class that people think of when they have something they need written.

I hope that my class is remembered as thoughtful and spirited. As the people that wear face paint at the football games, and the only ones that come to the quad for activities at lunch.

Something about me that would have surprised people is that I'm very sarcastic, but at the same time very logical. I don't like dealing with catty and petty situations. There is more to me than what clothes I wear and what car I drive. I enjoy politics and have very strong opinions about some things. I want to be a nurse because I think the human body is very interesting and it is a good way to make a difference. I am ready to leave the nest and be on my own.
Courtney Franco, 17, Foothill High School co-editor, InFlight; attending University of San Francisco

Looking back at the summer before I entered high school, I can hardly believe I am who I am now and in such a place in life. The summer of 2000, I was a timid, self-conscious, reclusive person who was absolutely terrified of the idea of high school. In order to understand my mentality, one has to first know that I attended an elementary school in Sunol with pretty much the same 20 kids from kindergarten to the eighth grade. As I entered high school, I made a goal for myself: I was going to find all new friends. My friends now know a girl who completely changed her persona in a matter of minutes. Four years later, I don't think my friends can ever understand the internal battles I faced and the person I was before. They do, however, understand me now, which is one of the best things about the class of 2004.

This year's graduating class is friends. It is a close-knit class of 450-plus, which is an admirable thing as during these turbulent four years, everything is changing. I had no preparation for what I would face in high school, but let's just say the clichŽ movies that depict conniving and mean-spirited students as the majority would not find much of that in the Class of '04. This isn't to say that there hasn't been a fair amount of conflicts, but in the end, everything always seems to settle itself. I can't fairly judge another class, but I can say the legacy of 2004's class is friendship.
Melissa Gibson,17, Foothill High School; attending Arizona State University

My name is Melissa Gibson. I am a huge Oakland A's fan. Anyone who has talked to me for even five seconds knows that, but what they don't know is that I am a very passionate sports fan. Most of the time it seems like I only like the players for their looks and don't know much about sports, and that's usually what most people assume about me. In reality, I am a huge sports follower. I love going to sporting events and being loud and cheering on my team. Baseball is the sport that I love the most, but I watch basketball, hockey, soccer, football and many other sports also. "Sportscenter" is even one of my favorite shows! People are usually surprised to know how much I know about sports and how much I love it.

Besides being an avid sports fan, I'm also a proud member of the graduating class of 2004. I look back on these past four years with very fond memories and am happy with the people that my fellow classmates have become. I think that we will definitely be remembered for our spirit. As a class, most of us showed up at football games since freshman year, went to all the dances and we were usually the loudest at the rallies. Our class was always filled with spirit and cheer. I think our spirit will live on and I hope that's how we will be remembered.
Trey Astbury, 18, Foothill High School; attending Whittier College

Most people who know me recognize that I am a tennis player on the Foothill tennis team but they may not realize that I have had a lifelong interest in movies. When I was 3 years old, my love of the movies and my curiosity compelled me to teach myself how to read the movie section of the newspaper. As I grew older, movies became a significant part of my life and I was devoted to teaching myself movie knowledge. This developed into producing short movies with my friends. I still create films and hope to pursue that field when I attend college. I was also inspired by my fourth-grade teacher, who encouraged me to develop my potential as a writer. This motivated me to take a journalism class and I am now writing for the school paper. Writing articles has enabled me to share my views and interpretations and receive feedback from my peers.

About a year ago, after taking a video production class, I began doing volunteer work at CTV 30, a local nonprofit television station. At the same time, I was having fun working on a show called "Everything Local," I was also acquiring technical skills in the process. Over the past year, I have realized the importance of devoting time to help out in the community. I hope that the Class of 2004 and younger students at Foothill discover their dreams and can make a contribution to their community.

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