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School History
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Memories of Derby High School - 2000's
Click here for the Class of 2025
Derby High Class of 2016By Jessica Barrios-Perez, DHS '2016 My name is Jessica Barrios-Perez I’ve been a Derby resident for about 16 years now. I grew up in Derby for most of my life and I consider Derby my hometown. I attended Derby High School and graduated in 2016. Those 4 years at Derby High School are the greatest and most adventurous teenage years. I remember entering my freshman year all nervous to start a new chapter of my life. I would get lost on my way to class a couple of times and forget how to open my locker on my first day, all because I was so nervous. My freshman year was a good year, I was able to make new friends and meet with my middle school friends enjoying being “‘adults” in high school. I was a timid person during my high school days, I tried to stay out of drama and focus on my classes. To this day I would still consider myself a bit shy but not like in high school. I enjoyed being in my classes with my new teachers, they were very cool and easygoing and I felt very lucky to have kind and fun teachers. Some did look scary but they were very kind. My freshman year was the year I was trying to get to know myself. I went through many stages of outfits to try and fit in with the new crowd. Thinking back, it feels so cringy. I even tried to be part of the track team thinking it was a group to fit in with everyone but it most definitely wasn’t for me. In middle school, I was in the band and thought in high school I was not going to continue because it didn’t seem cool, but entering my sophomore year I did end up deciding to go back and join the band during high school. I remember always sitting with my childhood friend Brittany Santiago. People in high school would always think we were sisters. One time one of the high schoolers approached us asking if we were twins and of course we said no but then presided to ask if we were cousins and of course, we said no. Then again he asked “How are you guys related?” we answered, “We are just friends”. Brittany and I laughed it off and kinda accepted that we looked like sisters throughout our high school years. High school was a time when we would find out what our identity was and where we stood in our lives. I figured out that my small group of friends was all I needed to survive high school. Junior and Senior years were my greatest years, It was the time to start applying to colleges, they were the years where everyone was worrying about not failing last minute to be able to get accepted into high school. There would be competitions with students against teachers and competition against other high school grades during spirit week. I would try so hard to participate in each theme during the week to get all my pictures in the yearbook. The class of 2016 high schoolers dedicated their junior and senior year to being in the yearbook to be able to look back at what crazy events we participated in. The junior and senior years were the years when everyone bonded with their teachers, had school trips, and had many fun school events. I remember my teachers Mr. Wojo, Mrs. Simba we would call her, Mrs. Dilullo, and of course everyone’s favorite crazy teacher Mr. Abelli. My friends and I would always go and visit his class, to see what he was doing and what cool projects he had for his classes. I never had the chance to be in his class but I would always show up when my friend had his class during my study hall. High school was fun. We would go on field trips like to New York City, or go on a trip to Yale for rowing, participating in talent shows, musicals, band concerts, and prep rallies. Derby High School years are the years I will always remember, I can’t believe it’s almost 10 years since I graduated. If I could go back and experience high school again I would. Seeing where I was 10 years ago up until now and how much I have changed amazes me. My teachers would always ask “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” No one knows what their answer would be, but I can tell you that I would have never imagined myself being an alderwoman in my hometown if I had been asked that question 10 years ago. I am happy to say that my high school years have shaped me for the better. To the class of 2016!
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