Former students, now teachers, reflect on school's anniversary

Elainna Villegas and Kiersten Watson– Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL)- As the 25th anniversary of Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) is being celebrated by Mustangs, faculty who graduated from the school reflect on both of their experiences at LRHS.

While high school does not last forever, memories do.

LRHS Early Childhood Education teacher Delaney Riggins, class of 2016 (c/o 2016), described “one of my most memorable experiences at LRHS was in our regional final soccer game my senior year. We were playing Seminole High School at home, and it was such an intense game. We were tied 0-0 with about 10 minutes left, and I ended up scoring the game winning goal which sent us to States. I absolutely loved my high school soccer experience!”

Riggins is not the only teacher that used to participate on a sports team at LRHS. Both Technology teacher Brian Richards (c/o 2002) and physical education teacher Andrew Shackelford were on the football and weightlifting teams at LRHS.

Shackelford stated, “I knew I wanted to teach or coach in some capacity. It did cross my mind to eventually come back to teach at LRHS.”

As the teachers walk the halls of LRHS once again, they are able to reflect on what has changed and what has stayed the same on campus and within the lives of students.

Riggins explained “there are still many teachers here that I had when I was a student. I’m even teaching in the classroom where I found my love for teaching in the Early Childhood Program nearly 10 years ago!”

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While English teacher Tracy Gregory (c/o 2005) acknowledged the similarities between LRHS from when she was a student until now, she also expressed how “not only has the color of the school changed- it used to be pink- but architecture such as new pathways, benches, and statues have been put in, as well.”

The faculty at LRHS want the best for Mustangs of the past, present, and future.

Richards expressed how his hope is that Mustangs “learn how to be an adult and be successful in life. Relationships change and things happen in life that are out of your control. What matters are the life lessons that you learn and how you handle yourself as a person.”

Looking back on her own high school experience, English teacher Sejal Desai (c/0 2005) advises that Mustangs “work hard, but also have fun. Participate in school events and truly take everything in, because time truly flies by.”