Senior year of high school is a time to celebrate achievements, make memories, and marinate in the special feeling of success that can only come from the completion of over twelve years of school. Or, for the most dedicated academics, eleven years is sufficient. Sarah Arner, a Senior who Juniors adamantly claim as one of their own, is one of such. With plans to attend Brigham Young University in Utah, Arner is prepared for a bright future, but she also looks back on the moments that made her time at Hidden Valley High School unique.

Cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track are some of the activities that defined Sarah Arner’s time at Hidden Valley. Coach Stewart, the coach of these sports, was a supportive mentor, helping Arner become a successful athlete throughout her Senior year. These activities were not just college application fillers, though. They were meaningful. Arner reports, “Through all these sports, I was able to make lasting friendships that made high school more fun.” Spending time with kind people who have similar interests fosters a lively atmosphere, with memories that the athletes will never forget.

Another highlight of Arner’s senior year was starting the Medical Explorers Club with her friend, Kaylee Hagadorn. Educating aspiring medical professionals on various aspects of the job, it not only created a friendly community, but it also included interesting activities that members of the club could participate in. A notable success of the club was when a helicopter was brought in to demonstrate the tasks of a flight nurse. This corresponds with Arner’s planned college major: Biology, the basis for her goal of becoming an optometrist. Arner made her mark on Hidden Valley with her promotion of a career of which she is passionate.

After 3 years at HV, Arner has learned the do’s and do-nots of surviving high school. First, reach out and make some friends! Whether they sit next to you in class, play on the same team as you, or belong to the same club as you, it is always beneficial to have a friendly group of friends to make school better than bearable. Arner asserts, “Make friends with people who you truly care about because those are the people you are going to keep in touch with later in life.” Second, be kind. A simple task that seems to get exponentially more difficult in high school, kindness is something that can be easily overlooked. However, being nice to everyone will make school much more enjoyable and even may allow you to excel academically as well. “High school is hard, and no one deserves someone else putting the down on top of the stress of school” (Arner).

Sarah Arner became a beloved asset of Hidden Valley. We are sad to see her go, but excited to see all of the great things that she accomplishes in the future.