By Taliyah Parker
Rampages
Holt HS
1st Place Division 2, Yearbook Verbal
Personality Profile
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Clear, relevant, engaging angle that makes story worthy of inclusion
- Solid lead that draws reader into story
- Meaningful student quotes that enrich story and reflect effective interviewing
- Evidence of adequate research
- Story goes beyond superficial coverage to give a total perspective and feel for the subject
- Adheres to rules of good journalism including: short paragraphs, effective transitions and use of active voice, freedom from editorial comment, careful editing and proofreading to eliminate mechanical errors, correct use of grammar
“‘A person who treats you right and is very nice, someone that makes you happy, someone who is polite, and someone that has God in their life. Treat people the way you want to be treated,’” special education teacher Colleen Burkhardt said, quoting one of sophomores Jeanette Rich’s last journal entries before her passing on August 30, 2018. Rich made an impact on so many in the community: her friends, her Links, her teachers, and anyone else she got to speak to. “She was something special, like whoever she was around, even if she didn’t know you, she would walk up to you with the biggest smile on her face and be like ‘what’s up girl? How are you today?’ and she would compliment you on whatever you were wearing. She was an amazing person. She really was,” senior Kristen Cabrera said. Having been a part of the LINKS program, junior Marissa Montague got to know Rich, but Montague didn’t expect to be as impacted as she was. “It was sort of at first a professional relationship, but as I got to know her she became one of my best friends,” Montague said. Many students could relate. Rich was known for being outgoing and kind to everyone. “She would always try to make you happy. Regardless if you just met five minutes ago or ten years ago, like that girl had been through so much bullying and everything, and the fact that she still got up every morning and tried to make everybody else happy without even knowing it. I want her to be known for that,” Cabrera said. “She brightened up everybody’s day,” Cabrera said. At the dance between Winterfest and Prom, Jeanette had made the night memorable for students like Cabrera and sophomore Kylie Garcia- Farmer. “It was me and a couple of my friends that Jeanette didn’t know, but she introduced herself to them. She didn’t really care who it was, like she wanted to be friends with everybody. That was probably our funniest and one of the best memories that we had because that girl went nuts. She was dancing all types of craziness. That dance was kinda lame, but she made it so much better,” Cabrera said. During the service, the prayer “Little Angels” was printed on the funeral program and Garcia-Farmer got the chance to speak about her time with Rich. Garcia-Farmer and Rich were both a part of the special education program at the high school and became close friends instantly, so speaking at Rich’s service was important for her. “When I got up there, I looked up and I just felt somebody there, like she was there, and God was there. It was easy because I just spoke from my heart,” Garcia-Farmer said. Rich was the type to be kind to everyone regardless of how they treated her. “If you said something to her that wasn’t okay, she’d let you know. She’d go right up against those boys and say, “God don’t like ugly!” That’s definitely a quote that she would always say,” paraeducator Sally Meade said. It wasn’t just the students that were affected by her death, it was also the adults that spent every day helping her during school. “I knew at one point I just needed to go in my office and just cry. There are some things you just needed to do that day, but it’s hard when you’re with them [the students]. Some of these kids we see more than their parents, so you really get attached,” paraeducator Jamie Buxton said. “She’s a girl with a disability, and I want people to know that. Some people take that so wrong, and the thing is we’re all humans, so just treat everybody with kindness and respect,” Garcia-Farmer said. Teachers and friends included, Rich had an impact. “I loved seeing the friendships that she had and that she wouldn’t let anyone or anything put her down and so that really impacted me and how I live my life and saying ‘be goofy, be out there, and don’t let anybody put you down because you are beautiful the way you are,’” Burkhardt said.