My name is Addie Weggen, and as May 14th, 2025, my last day of high school approaches, I look back on my core memories throughout my education.
Kindergarten – Kindergarten was the year I met my lifelong best friend, Rachel. My core memory from being so little in kindergarten was the yearly Zoo trip. Out of pure coincidence, Rachel and I both wore fluffy jackets in matching zebra print. Riding the train and admiring our matching jackets is a memory I will never forget.
1st Grade – First grade is a time of my life that I have fewer memories of. I know we did a lot of English assignments I liked, but that’s about it. One core memory I do have is always forgetting my school-issued agenda at home, and that my 1st grade teacher was not a fan of that forgetfulness.
2nd Grade – Second grade is also sort of a blur for me, I vaguely remember show and tell, but not really. I do remember trying to find my sense of humor, though, and a time it didn’t go well. I thought it would be really funny to crumble up my friend’s paper when she wasn’t looking, but having to stand at the wall at recess made me realize it wasn’t so funny.
3rd Grade – I will never forget my third-grade teacher, her positivity, and her huge influence on my life. One core memory from her class was us all struggling to pronounce her name, so she made a rhyme: “Schliesman rhymes with police man!”
4th Grade – At my elementary school, fourth grade was kind of a turning point to maturity, as we switched classrooms for math and english. One core memory is teachers handing out dolphin dollars, a currency based on the school mascot, where you could buy fun little trinkets. I remember crying over how dolphin dollars were handed out, as it got brutal.
5th Grade – Fifth grade was my favorite year of elementary school by far, and I was in the last class of the last year of elementary school was fifth grade. I will never forget my fifth-grade teacher, Mr. V. He is no longer with us, but his memory forever lives on with the positivity he brought to the classroom. His smile and his sense of humor set him apart from the rest, like when he had his mom drop off the new iPhone X at school so we could all admire its glory.
6th Grade – Sixth grade was an adjustment and a learning curve, as going into middle school feels like jumping off the deep end with the new class schedule. I remember embarrassing moments like dropping my backpack and water bottle, but i also remember how fun it was. I will also never forget my social studies teacher this year, Mr.Evans. Mr. Evans has since passed away, but his unremarkably dry sense of humor and inside jokes make his memory live on forever.
7th Grade – Seventh grade was a wild year, and halfway through the year,it felt like the entire world was ending due to the COVID-19 pandemic. My last memory of being in school in seventh grade before the lockdown in March was sitting in my medical examiner’s class listening to a lecture about masks and how they work.
8th Grade – Eighth grade was a huge learning adjustment for me. COVID was still extremely prevalent, I was enrolled in a new middle school in town, and school was a mix of in-person and online days. I don’t remember much because of the genuine stress of that year, but I do remember an absolutely terrible haircut I got that was the worst bob you have ever seen.
9th Grade – My freshman year of high school really was a turning point in my life, where I found my passion and direction. The biggest influence of this was joining my first agriculture class and finding my genuine passion for the field. I also remember competing in my first FFA competition, “Conduct of Meetings,” and realizing this really was for me.
10th Grade – My sophomore year was a whirlwind of emotions, finding myself and my place in high school. I rejoined the choir, took more Ag classes, and participated in the school musical, which I absolutely loved. I also came to terms with my anxiety, and finally convinced my mom to let us get the family cat I had been begging for for years. Pringles is now a staple member of the Weggen family.
11th Grade – Junior year was a rough year I have to admit. You feel mature enough as you can work and drive, but still have a full schedule and are not yet on the brink of graduating. I do remember doing my favorite FFA contest Extemporanous speaking, and finding my voice through that contest. I also remember getting the second worst haircut ever the 2nd worst bob you have ever seen ever.
12th Grade – I only have a week left of my senior year, and it’s really settling in. This year of my learning has been a year of maturity and learning for the future. One core part of this year was learning how to balance, balancing work, education, family, etc. is a skill everyone needs to develop, but it is extremely difficult. My part-time job at Casey’s has been hard at times, but I am so grateful for the work ethic I’ve learned and the people who have supported me.
To Mr V.: Your smile and positivity are something I will never forget. You always stood up for what was wrong and came up with solutions to fix it. Hearing the news of your passing broke my heart, as your gift of teaching is one that is in a million. Mr. V, you are forever one of my best memories in life, and your memory will never be forgotten.
To Mr Evans: Your teaching style of tough love took some getting used to, but I am so grateful for it. You always had a way of turning boring notes into endless laughter by putting on a bright pink wig or silly googly eyes when the class was drained beyond belief. Tapping me on the head with a meter stick when I said something stupid is a memory that will live in my heart forever.
