It is early in the school year and even though the entire class is full of seniors, there is still a bit of awkwardness lingering in the classroom. However, there is one person who appears above the fray. Ronald Patton, like always, is actively participating in the team project. He is acting as the team leader, encouraging his teammates and helping everyone feel like they are part of the team. Ronald, who goes by Ron, is known by his friends and teachers as the central man.
One of the first projects Mr. Brasel assigned was to create a poster about Greek gods and goddesses. This was when Ron’s personality really shined. Ron included everyone in the project and acted as the natural leader.
Mr. Brasel had heard that Ron was very inclusive but that moment was when Mr. Brasel truly saw Ron exhibit what he had heard from others. Mr. Brasel, when asked to describe Ron in a few words, said that he is “personable, affable, and humble.” His openness is also the general mood expressed when people are asked to describe Ron. He is outgoing, friendly, warm, and liked by his peers. Furthermore, he is also very easy to approach due to his personality traits.
Ron is not only known for his inclusive and kind personality. At the same time, he is very witty and has a good sense of humor. Two of Ron’s friends, Emelin Lopez and Krishna Singh, two seniors at SMHS, both say that Ron’s ability to make people smile and laugh is their favorite thing about him. Ron’s sense of humor also allows him to play jokes off well. This is what makes him so approachable to others. Ron isn’t judgemental and accepts other people very well.
Emelin says that Ron is “caring, passionate and a hard worker.” She also says that “Ron is a very much go with the flow type person. He has always been an entertainer, always making new friends and new relationships with people.” Like we all know, high school is a very tough part of our lives, in fact, to many of us, it is the hardest obstacle we have ever faced in our lives. The same was for Ron. To Ron, the hardest part of high school was getting through quarantine and online school. Now, even as a senior, when persevering to the end can get very tough, he has still stuck through.
As a teacher that has seen Ron work throughout the entire school year, Mr. Brasel says that Ron is “making it through senior year, staying on top of things.” This is a sign of a determined hard worker. As a senior, many can become plagued with senioritis. However, Ron doesn’t seem to be suffering from it. He is pushing through his senior year of high school and staying incredibly strong until the end when he will graduate. Ron says that he is looking forward to graduating. To him, this will be his greatest achievement so far.
Finally, as the school year comes to an end, many people will miss Ron. He has been a great friend, classmate, and leader to those around him. He has been a positive influence on the SMHS community as well.
Many people will miss Ron once he graduates this year; it is a common sentiment. Mr. Brasel, when asked if he’d like to say anything more about Ron, he said, “I’ll miss him when he’s gone, he’s a great Bearcat.”