As soon as Ashlyn Pompo graduates from CCAHS this spring, she’ll be ready to get back into the classroom in more ways than one. Pompo, a current member of the yearbook staff and a basketball player at CCAHS, will be going to the University of Northern Iowa to study pre-education. 

“I am really passionate about helping people as much as I can and that’s why I’m wanting to go into pre-education,” commented Pompo. “I want to be able to help kids reach their goals and go as far as possible.”

Pompo has made plenty of memories at CCA but believes that she is ready for the next chapter in her life and is prepared to make her own decisions. She will miss all of the staff and students as well the friends she has made throughout her four years. 

“I will for sure miss some of the teachers who have helped me through high school such as Matt Trosky,” said Pompo, Trosky teaches some of the social studies courses at CCAHS as well as runs the student council. 

“Trosky was honestly such an enjoyable teacher to have, he always made class fun and always knew how to help his students. Even outside of class Trosky was always there for me and other students. I loved going into his room in the mornings with my friends and just chatting.”

Pompo accredits most of her motivation to her mother, Heather Pompo, who has had a huge influence on her life.

Although nervous, Pompo is excited to be going away from home. She also plans to attend UNI with one of her closest friends, Whitney Traetow, another CCA senior graduating this spring. “I’m also excited to learn something I know I will actually enjoy. The fact that I get to be going on that adventure with one of my best friends, Whitney Traetow makes it even better,” explained Pompo. 

From the lessons to memories Pompo has learned and made in high school, she offers one piece of advice to her younger classmates and peers. “I’ve learned to just be you. Honestly no one really cares about what you are doing or if you screw up, so just live in the moment,” Pompo remarked. “As a freshman I was so quiet and worried about every little thing but throughout high school have learned to open up and just be myself.”

When any freshman starts high school, it’s safe to say that many are uneasy or nervous, and can’t imagine what the next four years will be like or where they will end up. Eliza Evans, a senior soccer player at CCAHS, will be graduating along with the rest of the class of 2021. And even she admits she had no idea what her four years in high school would end up being like. 

Evans started playing for the high school soccer team her freshman year. “One of my favorite memories in high school was the first week of soccer my freshman year,” said Evans. “ I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t know any of the upperclassmen but it was a season that resulted in a lot of growth for me.”

Eliza Evans will be attending Buena Vista University in the fall studying rehabilitation health sciences in hopes of becoming a physical therapist. 

Outside of her school life and soccer, Evans is a dedicated and growing artist who experiments with many different mediums. She also enjoys reading as well. 

Evans commented, “Above all, the thing that has influenced and motivated me the most is my relationship with God in the past two years. I have learned a lot and I hope to keep learning new things each day.”

Like many other CCA seniors, Evans has grown close with the students and staff at CCA and will miss them after she departs. “What I will miss the most about CCA are my friends and the teachers,” Evans explained. “I will miss seeing my friends every day, and throughout my four years here I have always received lots of support from my teachers. I can only hope the same for college!”