The Aptos High class of 2025 has come to the end of their high school careers, and is now looking toward the future.
With the last four years hanging in their rearview, they are left to sift through the memories and have already grown nostalgic over the place they have yet to leave.
Brandon Blake, Samuel Garcia, Ian Hsu, Ava Banuelos, and Jazmin Rivas-Gamez are all graduating seniors excited for the plans they’ve set out for themselves.
Blake is heading to UC Berkeley to study physics, Garcia is going to study agricultural science at California Polytechnic State University, Hsu is headed to UC Davis to double-major in environmental engineering and political science, Banuelos is also off to Davis with the intent on studying political science and Rivas-Gamez is planning to attend Cabrillo College for two years before transferring to a four year university to become an ultrasound technician.
These five ambitious seniors spoke highly of their soon-to-be alma mater.
Banuelos, who played basketball and softball, was Associated Student Body president, was involved in leadership all four years, and was president of a mental health advocacy club called Bring Change to Mind, states that, “at Aptos there is opportunity anywhere, and I think if you find yourself in a club or activity, because we are so abundant in them here, you can do really well and you can thrive.”
Blake, who was a part of the robotics club and ran track-and-field and cross-country, echoed these remarks, stating, “everyone is very friendly and it [Aptos High] is a very accepting community…I had a great time here.”
Another piece of Aptos High that received high praise was the staff. Several teachers and counselors such as Jesse Sherwood, who teaches environmental science, and Jonathan Tiffany, who leads US history, were recognized by the students as being integral to their plans for the future.
Hsu, who was a part of the robotics club, mock trail, Asian cultures club, and ran track & field, said, “the teachers are amazing, they care about the students so much.”
Although these students were pleased with their high school experience, they also recognized aspects of the school that could be improved so that future generations are able to take advantage of Aptos High.
An abundance of their strife came down to school unity. Garcia, who played baseball all four years, created his own club, partook in Red Cross, and took 12 advanced placement (AP) courses, spoke on the divide between students who take AP courses and those who do not.
“Ever since Sophomore year when you could take AP’s, I feel like I’ve been with the same group of people,” he said.
Hsu had noticed this trend as well and suggested that the school, “push not just the top students to do well, but the entire school.” Another school culture issue that the seniors discussed was that of trash on campus. They unanimously expressed their frustration with Aptos High’s inability to clean and maintain its campus. They speculated that the litter on campus comes from an uneven dispersal of trashcans combined with a culture of disregard within some of the student body. Rivas-Gamez, who is a part of Leo club and played lacrosse, stated that some students are “immature and see a trash can, but choose to throw their trash on the floor.”
As ASB president, Banuelos says she has thought about these issues many times. She stated that Aptos High has a, “culture of not wanting to get engaged.”
One of her goals as president was to mend this stagnant attitude and she wishes, “there was something more I [she] could do about it.”
All five of these students are college bound, but their plans do not end there. In ten to fifteen years, Blake and Garcia picture themselves in the country with wives, steady jobs, and a few kids.
Hsu hopes to get into politics and combine engineering and law while remaining in the area for the nice weather. Banuelos plans to become a civil litigator working on policy change for young people’s education while hopefully living on the beach. Rivas-Gamez sees herself living in Europe with a family while working as an ultrasound technician.
The future is exciting and sprawling for these seniors. They look forward to independence, an apartment to themselves, and a path separate from parents and counselors. But this departure is met with a splash of heartache. They will miss friends in the hall, pep rallies, sports games, teachers, and all the other things they may not realize now are being left behind.
The five graduating seniors stand outside the main office of Aptos High. Jazmin Rivas Gamez is on the far left followed by Ava Banuelos, Brandon Blake, Ian Hsu, and finally Samuel Garcia.
