Diela Barrera is reaching a new milestone of graduating from WHS. Diela said that her high school was absolutely nothing how she imagined it. Her favorite high school memories were from art class. Throughout high school, Diela said that her priority was being in AVID and that’s how she stayed involved in school. Outside of school, Diela expressed how her favorite thing to do is go to concerts.
Through all the staff the one that had an impact on Diela had to be Jenaia Johnson. Johnson expressed how from the first time she met Diela in junior year AVID she has now grown into an independent adult. Diela said that she appreciates Johnson since she takes time to get to know who you are. Barrera said, “ She finds a way to get on a personal level with all of her students”. Johnson talked about how Diela is very headstrong and will go along with what she thinks is right. Johnson said, “If I could describe Diela in 5 words I would choose independent, funny, caring, diva, and daring.” Diela is very dear to Johnson and said that even though when you meet Diela once you get to know her and her wall comes down she’s a very caring and compassionate person. In Johnson’s room, they made Diela her own little gift display because she got accepted into Central Washington University. Through high school, Diela feels that her sister was her mentor. Diela’s mom is the reason for Diela being shaped as the person she is today.
Throughout high school, Diela’s biggest accomplishment was graduating with extra credits. Diela is graduating high school with 38 credits which is 6 more than needed to graduate. Delias ultimate advice to the incoming freshman is to stay focused and complete all your work. Barrera said, “My advice for incoming freshmen is: don’t slack, like don’t slack on your grades. Actually, pay attention to your grades because I didn’t.” The reason Diela chose this advice is that one of her regrets during high school was not paying attention to her grades. She said, “Covid really messed me up, so now my GPA is not as good as I want it to be.”
The one thing Barrera is going to miss about being in high school is the people and teachers she has met. Barrera said that if she could change one thing about it would be being more involved with the school. Diela believes that a lot of people think that high school is going to be scary or that the 4 years are going to go by so slowly, which is something that is untrue.
Dielas perspective has really changed since freshman year she feels that as the years went by she now actually cares. She said, “I’ve learned to actually care about my grades and care about how I’m doing.” high school taught Diela to have fun and enjoy the moments and things going on in her life and school. One thing that has changed the outlook on school for Diela since the beginning of high school is the way you learn to communicate with others. Barrera said, “The way you learn to communicate with others I feel like that changed my outlook in life. I feel like school helped me a lot to learn to communicate with others because now I work and now I actually do have to have communication skills or else I won’t do as well.”
After graduation, Diela doesn’t really have her plans figured out. She said, “I’m not a hundred percent sure but I did get accepted into Central and I also got accepted into the Navy. Those are my two options and I still haven’t decided.” Even though Diela doesn’t have her plans after high school chosen, she does have an idea for her future: to live comfortably in a good environment with good people. Overall after graduation, Diela wants people to remember her by being a creative and carefree person.