Friday, January 10, 2014

Day 77 - Happiness is found here!

Today's post is from 2012 grad Valory Schoenecker

Happiness is the greatest thing a person can achieve. Happiness is everything one could ever want and yet is so difficult to find. Happiness is different for everyone, though the idea is identical. Happiness is contentment. Happiness is beauty. Happiness is love. Happiness is a smile, a hug, or a laugh. Happiness is engrossed within the welcoming walls of Mound Westonka.

As a 2012 graduate, it has been almost a year and a half since I have walked the halls of my alma mater. Oh how I miss shivering in my car on my ten-minute drive to school with my best friend sitting next to me in the passenger seat. Dani, my younger sister, would play the role of a DJ and we always ended up blasting Taylor Swift while singing at the top of our lungs by the time my car rolled into the parking lot. I have no shame.

Since the parking lot was always filled with familiar faces we would gather amidst a clan of black parkas and colorful scarves, most often discussing our homework from the night before or the recent White Hawks sports update. Once inside, my first stop was always at my locker. Since the lockers were organized by last name, the exact same people surrounded me for all five years. This came to be a home for me. After classes I would talk with my “locker buddies” about my stressful exams, my latest crush, and my excitement for whatever my weekend would entail.

One of the things I distinctly remember includes always being so hungry right before lunch. I guess I should have eaten more breakfast. Oops. My favorite lunch was either Dominoes Pizza or an Asian sesame chicken and rice meal. Although I held my academics at a high standard and cared deeply about school, lunch was by far my favorite part of the day. Lunchtime meant talking with my friends, catching up on homework, eating food, and most importantly, hanging out with my favorite teachers, Mrs. Lolich, Mrs. Simonson, and Mr. Lee. These teachers were not just my DECA advisors and business teachers; they were my friends.

DECA stole my heart. From the first competition I competed at during my freshman year, I fell in love with all the organization had to offer. I devoted my time and my passion to this club and I would never in a million years trade it for anything. It is through DECA where I learned how to write a 30-page business paper, how to speak in front of audiences of over 3,000 people, and how to communicate my thoughts in a professional manner.

I am now a student at the University of Minnesota and can honestly say that Mound Westonka not only made me a successful student, but also a better person. It is now, in college, where I realize that I can’t go back to my high school days. I can’t relive the moments that are engraved in my mind and in my heart. All I have are the timeless memories and the countless friendships that will last a lifetime. I know with full confidence that my best friends from Mound Westonka will be the girls that stand next to me when I am at the alter. These are the girls I will take trips with when I am fifty years old. These are the girls that will keep me grounded throughout my every venture.

I thank Mound Westonka from the bottom of my heart for giving me the experience of a lifetime. Before I was twelve years of age, I moved to thirteen different cities, all in the state of California; thirteen different schools, thirteen different teachers, and thirteen different groups of peers made it very difficult to feel at home. It wasn’t until my family moved to Mound, Minnesota where I found myself feeling fully content, fully loved, and fully happy. When I moved here, I had no idea I would stay long enough to partake in the ride of high school. I am so lucky that I did, and what a crazy ride it was.

Val


If you have a story that you would like to share, please email mwhspride@277apps.org for more information! We would love to hear from you!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Day 76 - Pride from 1,000 miles away!

Today's post is from grandmother and parent Ann Hall from Cincinnati, Ohio

Fall of 2004 began my association with Mound Westonka High School from my home in Cincinnati. My grandson entered the 8th grade and graduated in 2009. His mom was hired and continued her teaching career as part of the faculty and then my granddaughter will graduate in May of 2014. I have been part of high school education as the wife of a principal for 28 years and I can say "proudly" who you are (Mound Westonka High School) and what you do stand above the rest! 


I have been able from 1,000 miles away see Madd Jazz, soccer games, attend academic assemblies and be a small part of the community. I have enjoyed being part of the China trip blog, Best Buy summer program for girls and watch DECA celebrations and awards, to name just a few. In order for all of this to happen, the school system has to be innovative and up to date; they have to have modern technologies and great faculty and administration. I have been included in the lives of my grandchildren and my daughter. I am incredibly proud for all that they have accomplished at Mound Westonka High School. I truly have Mound Westonka Pride from 1,000 miles away!

Sue Simonson, Ann Hall & Courtney Simonson

If you have a story that you would like to share, please email mwhspride@277apps.org for more information! We would love to hear from you!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Day 75 - Vote for the MWHS Nordic Team

Today's post is from Nordic Ski Coach Sue Harrison

Voting is open!!! Show Mound Westonka Pride by supporting the Nordic Ski team with your vote!!

MWHS Nordic Ski team has entered a national poster contest and needs your vote. The US National Nordic Ski Championships are on now at Soldier Hollow, Utah. To display pride in teams and promote the Nordic community, USSA Nordic is sponsoring a team poster contest!!! You can see all the posters on the USSA Nordic Facebook page and vote by liking ours! The top 3 high school team posters will be hung in the US team housing at the Sochi Olympics in February! “Like” our poster, show your Mound Westonka pride and help us be in the top 3!! You can also click share and get your friends and family to vote!!! “Please take a stroll through this awesome display of US cross country pride.” Go to the USSA Nordic page on Facebook. Voting closes at 2pm MST on January 9.

MWHS team member Scott Harrison just returned from competing at US Nationals in Soldiers Hollow and MWHS alumni skier, Julia Harrison is still there and can be seen in Dartmouth College poster entry More Westonka pride!!




If you have a story that you would like to share, please email mwhspride@277apps.org for more information! We would love to hear from you!