There are those who fear change, the unknown that comes with something new. We get used to the way things were done in the past, we become comfortable. So when in a single school summer, we get a new superintendent, a new school board member, a new principal, two new vice principals, a new athletic director and at least seven new teachers/staff members’ things can seem to be very uncomfortable in Raider Nation. But strangely enough it does not appear to be.

Yes, we will miss the positive face and atmosphere that Mrs. Liberty brought through the front door every day, and we will miss Mr. Turner’s no-nonsense approach to things. We will miss Kelton, Rise and a lady who used to be called Ms. Wendt. (Congrats, by the way.) We will miss a lot of people on both sides of the building, but what we are gaining is a new opportunity to rise to the top and stay there.

We saw a turnaround at Lake Roosevelt last year. Yes, there were road bumps and potholes but we prevailed and we had the “Best Year Ever” in the process. Now we are headed toward the “Even Better, Raider Year” and we have fresh faces and new ideas leading the pack. I have not met them all but as for the ones I have, all I can say is we are building something inside the walls of Raider Nation that is going to get the attention of the rest of the world.

Mark Herndon, Charles Pierce, Chance Hill and Mark Vinciguerra are the names you don’t know now but will real soon. All are all-stars in their callings and are ready to take students and staff to the next level. Then there are the names you do know, like Cole Seaver and Luke Seekins. We have memories of them on the football fields and basketball courts here at LR, but now they will be making students the stars. Pushing them academically and physically to fulfill dreams and aspirations that only the young dare to dream in this day and age, and I think something big is about to happen around here.

We have seen glimmers of success in the past, but the future holds awards, scholarships and achievements like we have never seen before in the pride-filled halls of Lake Roosevelt. These men and women, who are about to take the reins in the classroom, in the sporting arena and in leading the rest of us, are about as top notch as you can get. Hang onto your seats, Raiders and community, we are about to blast off into uncharted territory and it is going to be awesome.

Change can be scary, yes, but this year is going to be the launching pad into the Even Better Raider Year and kids are going to begin to bloom into powerful, wonder-filled citizens who change not only the world, but our very community.