Monday, February 9

Graduating Seniors: The Future of Oxford Hills by Shannon Kriger

Ryan Boucher
For graduating seniors, deciding on postsecondary plans after high school is far from easy. But for Ryan Boucher, a current senior at OHCHS, the crucial decision wasn’t all that complicated.
Since Ryan was a kid, he’s had his eyes on Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine. He’s always had an interest in both engineering and ships, making the major marine engineering technology at Maine Maritime the perfect fit for him.
“My dream job is to ship out on a large vessel for 10 years, and then retire after those 10 years and fine a small shore side job along the lines of engineering,” Ryan explained.
What had initially sold Ryan on the idea of working in the marine engineering field was the money and the work hours. Working on a ship is much different than your typical career where you work a set amount of hours every week with certain days off.  When working on a large vessel, you get shipped out for roughly three months at a time. After those three months, you get to go home for another three months and spend time with family and do as you please. Ryan’s definitely looking forward to his long breaks from work so he can spend it how he likes.
When it comes to leaving the Oxford Hills area, Ryan has mixed feelings. He’s going to miss the fun times he’s had in Oxford Hills and the memories he’s made, but he’s ready to move forward in his life.
“I’m excited to go to college because it’s a new start. After a while, the same scenery, the same people, the same teachers, and the same lifestyle gets old. And that’s why I’m excited to have such a big change in my life.”
Ryan will surely miss many of his fellow students at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, but is eager to take his first big step towards adulthood and his future career.


Dehlia Shaw
Although senior Dehlia Shaw has lived in Oxford Hills her entire life, she’s ready to branch out and go away to college.
Dehlia is going to be attending the University of Maine at Orono this Fall for nursing. Even though University of Maine at Orono is much different and larger than Oxford Hills, Dehlia’s prepared and eager to start the new chapter in her life.
Dehlia had contemplated attending numerous Maine universities throughout the beginning of her senior year, but upon touring the campus at UMaine, Dehlia realized that she belongs in Orono.
“As soon as I visited, I fell in love with the campus and the campus life. I love that it’s such a big school and has so many great programs. I decided on this college because of their great nursing program,” Dehlia disclosed.
As a nursing student, Dehlia plans on becoming an RN. One day, she hopes to get her masters and work at a big hospital.
Dehlia decided that she wanted to become a nurse as a little girl. As a child, she would always try and help others and take care of them. Now, Dehlia intends on turning that passion into a career and helping patients that are in need.
Moving away from Oxford Hills will be hard on Dehlia, but she’s looking forward to start her life and work towards her dream job.
“I am looking forward to leaving Oxford Hills, but I am also very sad. I am going to miss the caring teachers and the friends I have made in my class over the past six years. It’s been bittersweet,” Dehlia clarified.
As a long time field hockey player, Dehlia hopes to join a club team at UMO so she can still compete in the sport that she loves.
Along with her field hockey memories in Oxford Hills, Dehlia will also always remember celebrating Winter Carnival at the high school. Not only has she competed in every annual pie eating contest since when she was in 7th grade, but she has also won every single won.
Competing in the pie eating contest for the past 6 years is what Dehlia will miss the most about the Oxford Hills High School.
“It’s a great feeling having your class cheer you on and get excited for you”, Dehlia commented.
Like many other high school seniors, Dehlia’s anxious about leaving home to go to college. But with her ambition and kindness, it’s obvious that Dehlia will be successful and go far in the medical field. 
Cole Everett:
Although Cole Everett may not be investing in a post secondary education, he knows exactly what he wants to do with his future.
Cole is a senior at Oxford Hills this year, and he intends on going into his family’s successful logging business, Jim Everett and son logging, once he graduates.
“I’m going into this business because I love the job and I fell in love with being in the woods and out in the Maine wilderness. I’m a very outdoorsy person and I’d much rather work than sit around everyday. It’s our family business, so that also got me interested in just pursuing the career rather than going to college,” Cole elucidated.
The business was opened the summer of three years ago by Cole’s father, James Everett.
Cole plans on staying in the business once he retires. Once his father retires, he will most likely inherit the company and run it himself.
Cole will not be leaving the Oxford Hills community after high school. His family business’s garage is located right in Norway, and although they complete jobs all around Maine, Oxford Hills will always be where Cole’s heart belongs.
“I’d like to live in Waterford when I’m older because not only is there a lot of space and freedom, but the snowmobile trails and fourwheeler trails are extremely convenient,” Cole mentioned.
Although Cole plans on staying in Oxford County, he realizes that graduation is the last time he’ll be seeing a lot of his classmates he’s befriended that he’s been going to school with for numerous years. And even though Cole will miss high school adn the people in it, he’s ready to move forward in his life.  One high school memory that Cole will keep with him for the rest of his life is playing in the Class A Eastern Maine Championship last year for basketball. 
“Having that moment in my basketball career was amazing, especially after all the work I’ve put in since I started playing basketball in boosters,” Cole acknowledged.
Cole may not be leaving Oxford Hills once he graduates, but his positivity and kindness with certainly be missed next year in the high school.

Anna Winslow:
Whether it’s on or off the court, Oxford Hills senior Anna Winslow is ready to take on whatever life throws at her.
Ever since Winslow played for the Central Maine Community College’s women’s basketball coach on his travel team in Auburn, she knew that CMCC was a perfect fit for her.
“I chose to go to CMCC because of the opportunities they have to offer me. I love the atmosphere they create around the school and the basketball team,” Winslow explained.
Although Anna is currently unsure as to what she will be majoring in, she knows what she wants long term wise. For as long as she can remember, she’s fantasized about raising a family of her own and running her own dairy farm. Raising money for her family through farming while also having them by her side is Anna’s dream.
Although Anna won’t be too far from home at CMCC, she’s going to miss the familiarity of the Oxford Hills community.
“I’m a little sad about leaving my family and not living at home, as well as not playing high school sports anymore. But I’m really comfortable at CM and am very excited to be a part of their winning basketball tradition. As a whole, I’m looking forward to start a new chapter of my life,” Anna asserted.
Anna will always remember and cherish the good times she’s had at OHCHS over the past few years. Her favorite memory being helping her team win the Class A Eastern Maine Finals last year and then moving on to compete in the Class A State Finals game.
“Both were pretty amazing experiences, and I can’t wait to see where the rest of this season brings my team,”
It’s safe to say that Anna will make her friends and family proud at CMCC and she will be missed at the high school.