Fairfield seniors overcome unusual challenges

FAIRFIELD — Did the graduating class of 2021 miss out on a normal high school experience?

That was the question Fairfield High School Principal Brian Stone said he’s been asked many times. During Sunday’s commencement exercises in the high school gymnasium, Stone told the crowd that this year’s seniors have learned valuable lessons precisely because they’ve had an abnormal high school career.

“These seniors have met challenges other classes haven’t had,” Stone said.

Stone’s words were received by a gymnasium nearly full, a sign things are returning to normal in the district, which had to cancel its graduation ceremony last year because of the pandemic.

This year’s commencement exercise was hardly any different from a typical year, except for a few people wearing masks and the fact it was held indoors instead of outside at Trojan Stadium. School officials planned to hold it outdoors, but announced earlier in the day they had to move it inside due to a chance of rain.

One senior who had a most unusual year was Addison Pohren, daughter of Sheila Pohren and Jeremy Pohren, who did all of her classes from home the entire school year. She said adapting to the online format was a challenge, and it pushed her to “go above and beyond.”

“I just had to try my best, even if I didn’t always know what I was doing,” Pohren said.

Pohren said it was lonely at first not being around her friends. One thing she did like about this year was the new block schedule, something the high school did to limit the number of times students changed classrooms.

“I loved having to worry about just two classes at once instead of eight,” Pohren said.

Pohren said she will miss her teachers, most of all Heidi Grunwald, who teaches high school classes on food, parenting and health.

“She’s always helped me, and has always been there for me,” Pohren said. “She feels like a good friend.”

Senior Daniel Baldosier, son of Brian and Denise Baldosier, joked that the thing he’ll miss most about Fairfield is “bothering the teachers.” Baldosier said his favorite teacher is Courtney Burkhalter, who teaches agriculture-related classes at the high school and is the adviser to Fairfield’s FFA chapter. Baldosier has been active in FFA all four years of high school and has competed at the state and national conventions.

Baldosier said he plans to attend Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa this fall, majoring in diesel technology.

Senior Jaeden Platt, son of Kevin and Jeni Platt, said he will miss the friends he made in Fairfield when he goes off to college this fall. His favorite teacher is high school math teacher Michelle Higgins. Platt had Higgins for pre-calculus and calculus, and said she has a knack for explaining concepts in a way students can digest.

The senior class chose Kevin Kretz, son of Andrew and Elisa Kretz, to give the commencement address. The theme of Kretz’s speech was to go out and “do the small things” because “the big things aren’t done until the little things are done well.” He told his class that small acts of kindness, like giving a hug to a friend who needs it, can go a long way.