Simon Hertzler Gascho

When we first left school, my friends and I were kind of like, ‘We’ve done e-learning before. We can do it now. We can still talk to each other over the Internet and whatnot.’ As it went on, it really became apparent how hard it was for our teachers to, in a weekend, figure out how they’re going to completely teach without seeing their students. I know a lot of our teachers did a really great job at trying to change our curriculum so that it was specific to being in quarantine. We weren’t just doing the same thing but on Zoom.

I think it has been tough, as seniors, to not be able to be with each other as we’re closing out so many things. There’s a lot that everyone missed out on.

I think we can be both aware that, in the grand scheme of things, not being able to see your friends for a few months is not a huge deal. We can realize that but also recognize that it’s really disappointing to not be able to go to prom and hug each other at graduation and all these little things that – I know for me – seemed like, ‘Oh, it’s not that big of deal to miss out on these things.’ It seemed like that a few months ago. But now that it’s getting closer, I think, ‘Yeah, this is a big moment for us.’ And it’s disappointing not to be able to be with each other.

At the end of my junior year, I ran for the youth adviser position on the Goshen City Council. Zoe Eichorn won that election, and I was the runner-up. I was appointed as the youth adviser to the Community Relations Commission.

The CRC deals with issues of discrimination and some other things within the city. I found it to be a really impactful experience – impactful upon me, and I also felt it was a great place for me to have an impact and for my voice to be heard. It’s a very diverse group of people who are on the commission, and I really enjoyed getting to know all of them.

I think absolutely the diverse community is something that makes Goshen special. Going to Goshen High School, where more than 50 percent of the population is Latinx, and being around so many different kinds of peoples and cultures my whole life has really contributed to the person I am today.