Dear Class of 2025 & All: A Peek at Our Teacher’s Wish-To-Be Senior Quotes

Have you ever looked at a teacher and thought they’re “cool,” “inspiring,” or “supportive”? Despite these pedestals, BCCHS alumni teachers we know in such regard stood exactly where you are right now: stressing about or lost in college decisions, feeling indecisive, and still figuring out what life is about. As graduation is coming up in the blink of an eye, BC Journalism is privileged to sit down with the alumni teachers to time travel back to their own high school days and reflect on their journey through what they chose for their senior quotes.

Krista Wahl, 1994: “For I know the plan I have you,” said the Lord – Jeremiah 29:11

As the “most advanced” alumna, Krista Wahl who graduated in 1994, is now dedicated to delivering the teaching of God to younger generations here at Central. Reflecting upon her high school experiences, Wahl described herself as a “student-athlete,” someone who “was not a great math student but was good at English,” and also a participant in Lumen Christi. Like the majority of high school students, Wahl said that she and most of the students are “a lot alike,” as stated, “They have the same struggles that I had with new relationships, grades, friends, and parents [similar to] what I was going through.” The only difference that she thought would separate hers and other alumni from the younger generation is the pressure of social media. “I guess I’m lucky that my generation didn’t have the cell phones and the iPad.” Wahl said, “society tells you who or what you should be; I think it’s a little bit more in your face all the time than what was for me,” she elaborated. As a religion teacher, Wahl shared one of her experiences with faith: “I was obsessed with a dramatic criminal podcast…so it was my Lenten sacrifice,” she laughed, “I instead, listened to the catechism or made praying a part of my routine every night and after I got up in the morning.” Per her senior quote, Wahl delivered her final message to the class of 2025: “Your plan is not always the plan that God has for you, but he’s going to set you on a path that is life-giving, and a path that is set aside just for you. You’re going to make mistakes, but it’s all a part of establishing who you’re eventually going to be as an adult.” Last but not least, she wants to call the seniors to recognize how they have become a part of Central and this “special place” will be forever found in their growing journey. She adds, “you might not realize how lucky you are until later down the road, looking back on your time here.”

Kristin Kulaga, 2000: “Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.” – Green Day, Good Riddance

Starting as an engineering major in college, switching to financial business, and eventually finding her calling in teaching in this faith-based environment, Kulaga, class of 2000, said that every twist and turn in her path led her exactly where she thought she was meant to be. Like the idea in her chosen senior quote, Kulaga shared about her after-graduation experience that might be similar to any senior’s right now, “ When I was in high school, I felt like I was just moving with the world and trying to make right choices. Time kind of grabs you and tells you where to go,” and now, after 25 years,  as she comes to realize what all that change means, she has picked another quote by Be Alright by Evan Craft, Redimi2 and Danny Dokey, that’s also her best advice for current seniors- “Everything will be all right, and the whole world’s in His hands.” Referring to her most grateful things about Central, Kulaga didn’t hesitate but said the special family spirit here, “For me as a teacher, I know my students, but I also know their families and what they like.” She added, “And I don’t think that’s true in a lot of other schools.” Now one of Kulaga’s favorite things beside the family spirit beyond the mission of teaching at Central, is to see how her children kept the traditions running, “It’s super fun to go watch them and just see how it’s changed, but still…remains the same,” she expressed.

Shane Fairbanks, 2003: “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write.” – Winston Churchill

Shane Fairbanks, class of 2003 is a proud graduate that has been Central’s social studies and film teacher since he was 22 and just graduated out from Montana State University-Billings, majoring in English and History. Having received bachelor’s degrees in both his majors, Fairbanks shared about his compassion, “When I was in graduate school, Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King Jr. became my two heroes.”  These two important characters in his life fostered in him an unstoppable passion for what he’s now delivering at Central. Talking about his decision to pursue his career and compassion at Central High, Fairbanks emphasized that it’s the impact on the students that keeps his work successful. He elaborated, “I could work less, doing something else that would make more money, but I wouldn’t be making history the way I want.” Moreover, like other former students in the building, it’s the school’s culture that always attracted Fairbanks: “I wasn’t astounded when I was teaching briefly at other schools,” he shared, and he emphasized, “It’s not the pay; it’s not those kinds of things. It’s the culture that I know I wouldn’t find elsewhere.” Sharing a little about his old days, Fairbanks noted he did not change a lot since then when he was obsessively into music and movies and loved tennis, lacrosse, and rock music. But personality-wise, Fairbanks said that he had grown from self-conscious into confident about who he was since high school. Reflecting on that, Fairbanks half joking said, “I feel that I’m one of the more interesting people from my graduation class.” He was always a role model for most Central students, reminding them not to forget enjoying the privilege along the way, even if it might be the hardest route. Above all, “follow passion and dreams, despite the pay” is his advice for the next graduating class, because “you’ll be happier to go to work every day if you’re passionate about it, and if you can get paid to do what you love, then that’s a double win”, he added.

Mallory Harris, 2003: “With God, all things are possible” Matthew 19:26

A fellow graduate of 2003 with Shane Fairbanks, Mallory Harris, currently serves as an administrator at Central. Similar to other alumni, Harris once felt indecisive about her life decision after graduation, but she’s glad that “it all fell into place to be here.” One of her most grateful things about Central is the faith that acts as a reminder, “keeping God at the center of your life, makes everything come together and be possible,” said Harris. Referring to the close-knit of community, she expressed, “I also appreciate the sense of family through what we create here, whether it’s students or staff, like when we can celebrate Mass and pray together,” she continued. This explains why Harris and the generations around her, whether it’s after or before, all see Central as their special place. For the senior’s advice, Harris delivers a powerful one:” Just remember that God is always there and to rely on Him in those times of feeling anxious, fearful, or in those uncertain times.”

Nolan Trafton, 2014: “Be curious, don’t be judgmental”

Finding vocation at Central as a teacher suggests a strange yet intentional coincidence, but leading this place as an alum, who might even think of that situation? If you had asked Trafton – BCCHS’s current principal, this question 11 years ago, he might have said, “Absolutely not, I was passionate against it,” said the 2014 graduate as he recalls having his mom asked about whether he wanted to be a teacher. Reflecting on his old days, Trafton described his personality, which might seem “contrasted” to what he has taken on today: “Even my teachers would say I was very quiet and didn’t participate vocally in class,” he joked when referring to himself as someone who wasn’t “a popular kid.” Regarding why Trafton has chosen this quote, he said it’s because of how social media has influenced “why a student is acting a certain way” often leads people to forget the idea of being the authentic version of themselves, because “as humans, there could be so much stuff going on beneath the surface,” continued Trafton. Coming back to his vocation here, Trafton shared that leaving this place has given him a sense that something was missing and that the only way to comfort that instinct is to go find himself back in the old days, at this special place that any alumna could empathize. “I started coaching, volunteering, working at the daycare…and then once I became a teacher, I think what led me here was honestly, it felt like what I was supposed to do,” reflected Trafton. “It’s probably that the passion for the school came first and then the passion for teaching came later,” he concluded. According to the BCCHS’s principal, when we pretend to not know everything we let ourselves be opened to the right, upcoming opportunities, but “we also need God to push us in that direction sometimes.” Connecting his experience to the advice for the senior class, Trafton wishes them no other things but to put Central in their heart wherever they go and whatever they do. “They’re going to go out to see the world, attend different colleges, get into different jobs in different places. They’re going to meet new people and build new relationships,” he illustrated the “picture” of life after graduation, in which it might be overwhelmed yet exciting and intriguing at the same time, but he reminded them one thing, “the quote is to remember that everybody has a story, and they’re coming from somewhere,” he continued. Eventually, he emphasized, “I want them to remember that they’re somewhere as well. I want them to remember where they came from, the values that we have shared with them, and instilled within them.” This leads to his last but not least wish, “I hope that they take that into the world and be peacemakers.”

Nick Mack, 2016: “Only the disciplined ones in life are free” – Euclid Kipchoge

Nick Mack, class of 2016, returned to Central this year like what others alumni called “vocation”  as an English teacher, yet he has taken part in various aspects here at Central besides his mission: coaching sports and vocalizing for Bantha Fodder – Central’s student-teacher band. Although we could see his strong dedication to running through coaching cross country and track, and especially through his chosen senior quote, it’s a little-known fact that he used to be teammates with Nolan Trafton on the same Central soccer team. There’s one thing we could only see at Central, a definitely warm-hearted and somewhat interesting fact to know, is the across-generation bond between Mack and Fairbanks. “I was really inspired by Mr. Fairbanks’ film class,” Central’s latest alumni said, “I went off to college majoring in film because of it.” Surprisingly, Mack has never thought of returning to this special place to teach, especially to stand next to the person who inspired him. Today, these two alumni share the same mission; yet, they embody the family-like bond that makes the school unique. After all, Mack found himself a strong passion for literature and decided to pursue an English major as he referred to it as “where you can learn life lessons from what you’re reading and get to the heart of who we’re supposed to be as humans and why what we do matters.” Elaborating on why Mack has chosen this quote, he stated, “The only way to live freely is to take control of your time, take your time away from your devices and anything that wastes your time and live life the way you want to,” and reminds all student bodies, not just those who are going to leave for college to, “make sure you’ve got a goal in mind that you’re devoting your time to, and that you’re spending your time with purpose.” With that discipline, “you’ll find that your life will open up in so many different ways,” concluded Mack. However, through Mack’s favorite book, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, he has chosen another quote: “”And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” He wants the seniors to remember that it’s still important to not worry about being perfect in whatever they do, especially when it comes to their true passion.

Graduation is right on the edge, but some may feel unsure of the next path they’re going to take. However, as you’re walking on the stage and getting your diploma, take these stories, pieces of advice, reminders, and quotes with you.