Seniors open time capsule with mixed emotions

YES, YOU DREW THESE — NRHEG kindergarten teacher Becky Jensen shows a display of kindergarten artwork to graduating seniors as they opened their kindergarten time capsule Monday, May 13. The class graduates Sunday at 2 p.m. (Star Eagle photo by Carrie Gilbertson)

By CARRIE GILBERTSON

Staff Writer

The morning of Monday May 13, 2013 was a blast from the past for NRHEG High School seniors. Mrs. Becky Jensen, the kindergarten teacher for many of them, visited the high school with a box of treasures: their kindergarten time capsule. Jensen created the time capsule along with the other New Richland kindergarten teacher at the time, Mrs. Longway.

Many of the pieces packed away for this day were kept without the students knowing. Each child had filled out a star of the week profile that was included. There was also a video that the teachers had recorded throughout the year. Special events such as the Pumpkinland trip and the Thanksgiving play were included on the footage. The classes did watch the video at the end of their kindergarten year, but most of the students had no recollection of it. 

The senior class of 2013 was given the opportunity to pass around the items and watch some of the video during first hour. There were too many memories to pack into such a short period of time, so the time capsule will be kept in Mr. Churchill’s room for the students to look at for about two weeks. At the end of the year, each senior can take the things that personally belong to them.

There were many emotions and reactions to looking through their window to the past. “I’m surprised at how much everything has changed and how many people have left,” said Kalana Shurson.

And yet, “A lot of us are still the same,” observed Riley Schue. 

For Casey Rosacker, it was, “Kind of exciting to see how we’ve all grown up and developed our own personalities.”

Agreeing with Rosacker was Raelin Schue, who said it was funny, “Watching Kevin Minter trying to pet this cow, and now he’s more reserved.”

While there were many smiles and laughs, there were also more somber and tearful moments contemplating classmates who had moved or passed away. The loss of classmate Russell Witke is a particularly tender memory for this group of students. And though some may find it painful, they all still hold Russell dear to their hearts. They spoke of a young man with a big heart and a vivacious personality, with a laugh that cannot be forgotten.

“Even though we will all be going our separate ways, he will always be the tie that holds us all together,” said Shurson.

Looking back on their younger years evoked memories of when the class wasn’t so tied together. When the New Richland students and the Ellendale students merged, the seniors remember a division among them. As they’ve grown up, the chasm has closed, and the class members have become each other’s closest friends. And while they look forward to a bright future, moving on is bittersweet.

As Shurson said, “It really makes it hard to leave everyone after seeing that.”