© 2026 Onward State

Some of our freshman staffers sat down and reflected on their first year in Happy Valley.

"I don’t know what's next for me. But for once in my life, that doesn’t scare me."

"Get comfortable and settle in. You’ll be here for a while. Boating School will give you a perspective on life you didn’t know existed."

"In the moments where you're not feeling good enough or that you're doing enough, remember that you're right where you should be."

"All my life, I've wondered, 'What if?' Now, I leave here with, 'What's next?'"

"Whatever comes next, I just hope it brings me a fraction of the joy I’ve experienced in the last four years. After all, life is better off with a smile when you're dancing like nobody's watching."
