Senior Spotlight is a Cascadia Daily News annual series, highlighting the lives and experiences of graduating seniors from Whatcom County high schools.
JUAN CARLOS MORALES CARRERA
Juan Carlos Morales Carrera has spent a lot of time in the fields, as a soccer player and a farm worker with his family. In his free time, he can be caught cruising his car around Birch Bay or down Chuckanut Drive. After graduation, he hopes to become an electrician or truck driver.
Do you have a favorite memory from high school?
I scored a last-minute goal from far [away], like farther than half the field last year, [against] Lynden Christian. It made it so we tied up the game. It just felt crazy because I was goalkeeper. People were like, ‘Pass it, pass it!’ Then, someone was like, ‘Shoot it! Shoot it!’ So, I went for it and shot it and scored it.
How else were you involved in high school?
I used to do Club Lectura. That’s where you teach Spanish to elementary kids. The little kids look up a lot to you, which is pretty cool. It was chaotic. Sometimes they don’t stay still, or they’ll be making lots of jokes and everything, but it’s funny.
What’s high school been like for you?
I’ve been able to pass all my classes. One of my proudest [achievements] is not getting in trouble at all. In middle school, I would never be in class. I was always in the office. It was that bad. I remember I got suspended two or three times.
What caused the change?
My mom. She would have to come in, miss work, just to help me out. She never gave up on me and told me, ‘Keep on going. Keep on going.’ During that time, I had the mindset that I wanted to drop out once I got to high school. All I thought about was just working. But my mom never gave up on me, which was pretty cool.
How does it feel to be the first son to graduate high school?
Pretty cool. I’m proud of myself that I didn’t make that choice to drop out. It makes my mom pretty happy. I’m also proud of myself for graduating because last year, I went to Mexico [and] my grandpa, before I came back, he told me something like, ‘Be the first one to make me proud, to graduate,’ and ‘The day you graduate come visit me.’ Then, in August, he passed away.
Why do you want to be an electrician or truck driver?
My parents wanted me to be a dentist or something where I could just stay in an office. But for me, I just can’t stay still. I have to be moving around no matter what.
I grew up doing a lot of things. My dad got me working when I was 11, so I’m just used to that. He taught me at a young age how to drive stuff like tractors, pickers and everything. It was fun. It taught me a lot of things: how to prepare yourself and how life is going to be. I’m low-key glad I did it because it gave me a different mindset.
Is there a teacher or staff member who has impacted your high school experience?
Mrs. [Jennifer] Bailey. She’s always helped me out, always pushing me to be my best. She always supported me in the good and bad. She’ll be hard on me, too, but I know it’s for my own good. If I need someone to talk to at school, she’s always the one I go to.
JULIET HUNT
Juliet Hunt found community at Nooksack Valley High School through Technology Club (serving as president this year) and competing on the “Valorant” esports team. When not competing, she was completing Running Start courses, working on the yearbook or exploring nature. She plans to go to Whatcom Community College to complete prerequisite courses before transferring to a nursing program at Bellingham Technical College or Skagit Valley College. Then, she hopes to attend Western Washington University.
How’d you get involved with Technology Club?
In the beginning of high school, it was really hard getting back in, especially with the COVID-19 stuff. I’ve just always been pretty anxious, so when I found the Technology Club, it was just a place that I could be myself and find other people like me. Our IT director made the club. His name is Owen Craig, and he’s been really welcoming and kind. It’s been really fun, makes high school so much better.
I started sophomore year. I saw posters, and I was interested because, you know, video games. There were all these boys playing video games, and Mr. Craig comes up and talks to me. I just instantly felt like I could belong.
We do lots of stuff. There are video games and there’s also design. We put together social media posts. We also record [videos] for local businesses and companies. We also compete in state for video games, esports.
What do you do in esports?
I play on the ‘Valorant’ team. You find a team, and you’re connected with other players. We have a coach, and we go over team tactics. Most of it is like building a friendship with each other. [We play] a shooting game, just fighting another team. We play it, and we compete against different schools. We were pretty close to getting to state this year.
What advice would you have for a younger student?
You have to search for your place in life. If you’re ever feeling down, maybe just go find a new place to go, or a new club to join. There can be some really nice people out there, you know, when you don’t expect it.
Aside from Mr. Craig, are there other staff members or teachers who impacted your high school experience?
Definitely him. I would also say probably Mr. [Dean] Byers and Mrs. [Christen] Hogsett really helped me out. They’re always saying ‘Hi’ with kind faces, and it really makes me want to come back here. I just enjoy walking in the halls.
How do you feel about graduating?
I have the worst senioritis right now. It’s super bad. Then, I know I’m scared because it’ll be just so different getting out of here. I’ll miss the school and the community of people. I’ve tried to plan it out very clearly, but I know I’m going to miss it.
Why do you want to be a nurse?
I feel like I have a good connection with understanding how a lot of people feel. I just want to help people out because in school, I was anxious. I want to help people out when they feel those feelings.
Visit CDN’s Senior Spotlight page to learn about Whatcom County graduates from other schools. New profiles will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until June 19.
Hailey Hoffman is a CDN visual journalist; reach her at haileyhoffman@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 103.
