Where are they now? Daisy Yates
We recently reached out to invite some of our alumni to be part of a special spotlight series to help us honor the legacy of the past 25 years and inspire the next generation of Ridgeview students. Daisy Yates (Class of 2020) shared that Ridgeview offers far more than academics. She said the school emphasizes “the good life,” and that she learned how to live her good life each day she attended — whether she realized it at the time or not.
"I attended Ridgeview from third grade until graduation. During my time there, I participated in band, any outdoor activity I could find a spot on the van for, discussed great works of literature with my peers, contemplated the mysteries of mathematics, and made exciting discoveries in science.
Ridgeview, however, is a place much more than just book learning. Ridgeview emphasizes "the good life," and I learned how to live my good life every day I attended the school; whether I knew it or not.
Reflecting on the five years since my graduation, I am proud of the life I have chosen and believe Ridgeview helped shape it into a good one.
I have taken a job as a wildland firefighter, and recently spent fire season in Idaho, near Coeur d’Alene. During that time, I travelled accross the Pacific Northwest and Canada. In the winters, I come home to see family and loved ones, go hunting, and pick up odd jobs. I enjoy serving different communities and those that I love, and I look forward to having a family of my own someday. Upon graduating Ridgeview, I did not know this is where I would be five years later.
When you are a senior at Ridgeview, life beyond the gates feels daunting, but my advice is this: “Ridgeview has taught you that failure is the beginning of growth and that it can be overcome. Keep things in perspective; in the end, family and good health are more important than any number or score at the top of a paper. Life outside the gates will come with new responsibilities and new failures. Fail hard. Work, laugh, and pray harder.”
When I was 18, I decided gratitude is essential to living the good life. Looking back at all the help I received during both the good and bad times, I couldn’t agree more with my 18-year-old self. Thank you all.
