I will forever be grateful to have grown up in Ames. I may be biased, but this is the best place to raise a family and the best school you can send your kids to. Many parents and families I’ve talked to in my seventeen years of life have said the same.

I started out going to Gilbert Elementary and Intermediate Schools, nothing against Gilbert at all, but it just wasn’t for me. My sister, Nyla Hinson (20), felt the same way but decided to stay because she was going into high school at the time I made the switch in sixth grade. She is going to be a senior at the University of Iowa this fall, and she wishes all the time that she had made the switch to Ames High. It is one of the regrets she has about her time as a high school student.

Now, why would my sister have these regrets and wishes? What did Ames High have that she was missing during her time as a high school student?

Because of that exact thing I was talking about earlier, the community, which is both within and surrounding Ames High. There’s simply not a lot like it in our state, let alone our country. There are not many college towns that have the dynamic ours has, and it is something we cannot ever take for granted. Here’s my wish to you, Little Cyclones.

Embrace EVERYONE Around You

Whether you don’t like many people, or you love everyone here, embracing everyone within your community is something that’s not only healthy for you, but it is also healthy for everyone around, in creating a non-toxic environment.

I am a firm believer in this, because even those that get on my nerves (BELIEVE ME, there’s PLENTY!!!) are still going through their issues or tough times, as you may be. It goes back to the principle that all our teachers taught us as kids: treat everybody else the way you would want to be treated. This principle will never fail you, as you will constantly create more allies and even friendships from it.

I have consistently tried to do this in my time at Ames High, and as a result, I have created SO MANY more friends from it. I have friends who are from, literally, all over the world. I know kids from Honduras, Ecuador, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, and my goodness, even Uzbekistan (Shoutout Billy and Said).

It is simply why a part of why I have loved being a Little Cyclone so much, we have our own little melting pot of just some kids from Ames, to kids from places and backgrounds all over the world. In a predominantly white state–with a few little dots of Black, Latino/Hispanic, and Asian here and there–like Iowa, it is very rare to find a melting pot such as our community has.

Embracing these kids from other places is even more crucial, especially as we have politicians who want to limit opportunities for them, but I won’t get too far into my political rabbit hole.

As I said earlier, it is such a privilege to meet these kids from these places that you will likely never get to visit in your lifetime. So, while you can, get to know these kids and where they come from. Perhaps you could even visit the culture fair or get involved with the culture club to further your curiosity as well.

Athletes, Remember You’re Representing More than Just a School

Along with many of my other teammates and friends, I have taken up a great pride and passion for representing Ames High and the community of Ames as a wrestler. It has been an absolute honor to put the best product I possibly could out on the mat, not just for my family or myself, but also for my community.

There’s a reason many athletes use the famous saying, “It takes a village,” after achieving something great. Our community is that exact reason it exists, seeing how we all rally behind our sports teams, and show our school spirit (even though it hasn’t been as vibrant as it used to be–take a look at Elio’s article and take his advice!!).

As I said, I have had the opportunity to represent our community on the mat, so you must conduct yourself with great behavior and be a good person. I have run into so many people around town that I have honestly never met, but they’ll tell me good job on wrestling or appreciate my character I carry myself with on the mat. Again, people I’ve NEVER talked to! People are watching you and supporting you all over town, so keep in mind that you are representing those people when you step out to compete as well.

Considering our school’s athletic legacy, it is pivotal to honor that with every chance you can by gracing the competition field you’re in with pride and passion. Again, not just for yourself, but for the community. We’ve had athletes go pro, win national titles in college, or even become Ames High coaches later on.

Being at a school with such a legacy and also a large population size puts you under the microscope of coaches and schools at the next levels as well. They know what they’re getting when they get a Little Cyclone; they’re getting someone who is going to do whatever it takes to help their team, someone who is going to work to be the best version of themselves that they can be, and most of all, they’re getting a good human and a good student.

Many of our great athletes go on to participate for Iowa National Teams or Club National Teams, so while you’re on that big stage, never forget who and where you are representing, and how that place built you up to where you are. Never forget your roots.

For the next era of Little Cyclone athletes, remember the standard that’s been left behind. Don’t just carry it with you, raise it to new heights it possibly never saw in the past. As this last class to ever be in the old Ames High School leaves, it is time for something new. It is now your opportunity as an Ames High athlete to break into this new era and put your spice on it.

You know what to do, do us proud.

Get Involved

This was my biggest pet peeve during my time as a high schooler. YOU ARE NOT TOO COOL TO BE INVOLVED IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES!!! Go all out for that student section theme, join a sport or club, go to the school dances, go to the athletic events, and wear that “A” with PRIDE.

This is the only time you will ever be in high school. So, why not make the most of it? Stay involved with the things you want to be involved with, join that club that interests you, or go out for that sport you’ve been wanting to try.

You will never regret trying something new in life. During high school, when trying these new things doesn’t have a whole lot of consequences, do it! Take that risk, the worst outcome is that you’ll have an embarrassing story to tell.

I was skeptical about joining The Web in my junior year after our Editor-in-Chief, Chantal Eulenstein, sent out a recruitment email asking if I would like to join. And after the year I’ve been on staff? I absolutely HATE that I didn’t join earlier! It has been so much fun working with all these tremendous athletes and coaches this year, digging deeper to get a feel of what really goes on behind the scenes, and not just the product they put out.

In a large part, my time on The WEB has already been so influential in my life. I am pursuing a degree in Sports Journalism at Arizona State University in their prestigious Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. My experience with this school newspaper has all but solidified my aspirations to become a sports journalist one day. And, to think I could’ve known this a year earlier.

This is why it is so important to be involved. You never know where your path leads. I joined the school newspaper, and now I am going to one of the best journalism schools in the country, while also wrestling, of course.

Thank You, Ames High

I’ll end this with just a simple (not really) thank you to this entirely amazing community. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it, nor would I be going on to do the things I am without it.

To the students with more time left, embrace this place. It is so special, there were times I couldn’t stand it. But as I’m leaving, I’ve realized just how much I am going to miss Ames High and the community. Before you end up like me, looking back and thinking about how much you’ll miss the place, embrace being here while you can. There will never be another place like it.

To all the teachers I had, thank you. I cannot say it enough, most of you changed how I view certain subjects in school or opened up my eyes to different perspectives.

To all my coaches I had, keep being the wonderful people you are. As long as you guys are running the show, I know the ship will be steered in the right direction. I will never forget the time spent making sure I was giving the most I could give, I will always appreciate that.

From all the triumphs on the mat and in the classroom, to all the relationships and connections I’ve made, to all the garbage can fires, I will never forget my time as a Little Cyclone. You can best believe that I will be loyal, forever, and true to my Little Cyclones.

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Ames Hi, Aims High! All the best, Little Cyclones,

Jabari Hinson (or all the endless nicknames you may know me by)