#1StudentNWi: Saying Farewell to a Great Year at Hammond High School

HammondHighSchool1Women athletes have been the hot topic in this last two years but 2015 has brought a different feel to girls following their dreams through sports. As for two players on the HHS girls soccer team, being a female athlete means plenty to them. It took a revolutionary women war to continue to fight for rights today, to hear the comment "You run like a girl" shouldn't be taken in a negative way.

Women and girls should take pride in the phrase. Greenwood who plays softball and soccer, when asked "What does it mean to be a female Athlete?" She replied "Being a female athlete means having pride in the sports you play and working hard every second of every practice and game. It means proving everyone that think only men can be great at sports!"

As for Martinez the goalie for the girls’ soccer team and softball manager, she said "What it means to be a female athlete is to show that not only men can play hard but also we can show to the world that there is a lot of talented female athletes."

I also spoke with them about how they would like to impact the world?

Martinez said, "I would like to impact the world by showing that even though your school has a bad reputation great students and athletes graduated from there."

Greenwood said, "I would like to impact the world by showing every young girl out there that girls can and will be better than males one day at sports it just takes hard work and dedication.”

To know what you want to imprint on the world is one thing, but what about other little girls that are still naive to the stigma? What would they say to a little girl who also wants to pursue and play sports?

Martinez said, "Never give up. If you fall just get right back up and if anyone tells you you're not a great player use that as motivation to doing greater things in sports."

Greenwood said, "Advice I have is to never give up no matter how bad you start off, you can only get better through hard work and dedication. Hard work beats talent."

I just wanted to set aside an issue that speaks out loud in all athletic females’ minds and hearts. We too can achieve greatness and pursue physical capabilities. Believe and achieve ladies!

HammondHighSchool2This all leads up to the upcoming Fall sports for girls' as volleyball gets ready to make their mark as well as soccer. But those in winter and spring sports shine as well. The girl’s tennis team finished their season saying goodbye to many inspirational female seniors who have graduated and are on their way to another chapter in their lives.

For parents to have twins is unique, but it’s a truly special moment when they have both of their children graduate in top ten. These two children, Valorie and Georgina Diaz are both sharing the academic spotlight.

I spoke with them about how they felt to graduate in the top ten of their class. For Valedictorian Valorie Gutierrez, her experience was charming

“Well for me, I was thrilled, especially since I had the honor of graduating at the top of my class. I was proud of myself. Although I'm a little nervous of what the next chapter in my life holds for me, I know that there's nothing to be afraid of. I'll be just fine. I'm also excited to get to experience new things and meet new people in college. I'm still undecided on what it is that I want to study, but I'm hoping to figure it out within the first year. I'm thinking maybe

As for Georgina Díaz, the experience was basically once in a lifetime.

“I felt accomplished because I was struggling in certain subjects so that I could earn my academic honors diploma. I actually thought I wasn't going to make it in the top ten of my class, much less graduate. I feel excited to start a new chapter in my life, to gain knowledge, grow and broaden my horizons are what I'm looking forward to. I'm planning on majoring in engineering, either construction or mechanical."

Lorena Díaz has also gained a special experience

“I felt like I accomplished an expectation. Merely graduating would not have been enough to satisfy me. I also feel a bit nervous for what my future holds. I set high expectations for myself that I'm afraid I'll be disappointed with the choices I will make. On a positive note, however, I feel excited to begin this journey to discover my interests and meet new people. I plan on becoming a doctor, but I have an open mind about my major."

Great things will unfold for this smart students. Graduation was a success, the end of the school for HHS ended with tears of joys. As many other students graduated and are heading to great places.