Throughout our years of high school, we have all faced our own difficulties both individually and as a group. This past year has brought several new normal into our lives as we all attempt to stay safe and healthy through this pandemic. Along the way through our journey both in and out of high school, we have always had the support that we needed. Coming to a newly built school was a scary experience nonetheless for many but for others, it was a chance for a new opportunity away from what you may have been known at your old schools. This gave many students a new start in their lives that they needed. Many have found themselves and many have become what they are today because of the new opportunity of attending a new school. Because of this opportunity, I was able to conquer and overcome several difficulties throughout my life, and there are several staff members that I would like to personally thank for helping me in my journey to attending college at Saint Leo University. Mrs. Cassie Adley for always keeping me straight in class and making me a better writer. Ms. Eliza Passardi giving me the opportunity to become an Editor and showing me my potential in photography and design. Mr. Daniel Uchacz for helping me find my love of science and always motivating me to complete his hard assignments. Ms. Justine Hoch for always being a shoulder to cry on and helping me learn Spanish. Finally, Mrs. Elizabeth Lloyd for walking me through two of my hardest years in high school and still being able to help me even through my difficult times.

Cypress Creek has created so many different opportunities and pathways for students to take and come out successful. I have been able to jump between pathways and have been able to find opportunities in different programs. I started at Cypress Creek in the Business Program and as Vice President of my class, later becoming the first person here to become a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and become certified. The next year I was able to jump into Journalism where I, unknowingly, found my home for the next 3 years and was able to become a leader. Our school has made Fine Arts and Academies a priority in order to give students many opportunities that can help them later in life. In Journalism, I was able to learn several life skills such as organization and time management. In Business, I was able to learn about Microsoft Office and the different shortcuts in it. Throughout my years here at Cypress Creek, I learned that learning life skills is a main priority.

To the Classes of 2022, 2023, 2024, and on:

Although life may be rough now, I promise it gets easier. High school is a bumpy road where people are discovering how talented they are with the new environment they are in. This year has been a huge adjustment for all of us and it will get easier. Whenever you feel down and are struggling through life, just look around the school and you will find many people who care about you and will help you succeed. Enjoy high school, don’t take it for granted. It feels like yesterday was my first day of Freshman Year and as I am writing this, I am 2 months from graduation. It flies by so fast, enjoy it while it lasts because it won’t last long.

To past, present, and future Journalism students:

Thank you for paving the way for the program that has become as amazing as it is today. I know that this program will continue to improve long after I am gone. This program is unique in the way that you get the aspects of a traditional art class such as designing and creating but it is also very unlike that same class. Because of the Editors before me, Katie & I, as well as the Editors that come after, this program has been able to, and I know it will continue to be “unlike a traditional art class” which makes this program as unique as it is. Through all of our work, we have been able to establish something that gives students like me a creative outlet that doesn’t require drawing by hand or sculpting something. Instead, we have been able to create a class that benefits students in other courses by enhancing their writing and interviewing skills. This program allows freedom of creativity, through online design, photography, and creative writing, that many students wouldn’t get in a class labeled “Art”. We also have created a family and although we frustrate each other at times, we always know that we can rely on each other no matter what. Thank you for what we have created together as a family.

To Katie:

Thank you for being my partner in building a yearbook over Zoom every day. I know it was hard, but I would say we did a great job. We learned a lot through this year on how to build the entire yearbook bringing together in-class students and kids on Zoom all while doing it from home. This year didn’t stop us from making a great yearbook. I’m glad we got to be Editor-in-Chief together, I think if it was with anyone else, we wouldn’t have what everyone is holding in their hands today.

All year long I knew I would have to write this letter and when I finally sat down to write it, I didn’t even know where to start. It is by far the hardest thing I’ve had to write. Cypress Creek has been a home for me and many other students over the past 4 years and it is hard to put how I feel about it in a limited amount of space. The staff here have created a homey and comfortable environment for us that we may not have gotten at previous schools.

Throughout the course of writing this letter, I kept thinking back to the theme of this year’s yearbook. Perspective. One word that stands out and can mean so many different things to a variety of people. Katie and I built this yearbook through the perspective of not wanting it to be a “Covid book” meaning we didn’t want Covid to take over the book and it be all about it. We chose the theme of perspective because we wanted to cover how so many people see this book and the views they have on the school. As we prepare to graduate and go on to do our separate things in life, I know eventually we will see each other again whether it be face-to-face or over Zoom. I hope you all enjoyed this book. Thank you for allowing us to capture your memories. Congratulations Class of 2021!