By: Emma Wood & Alexis Crum
Any adult will tell you that the four years of high school are some of the most important years of your life. They are the years when students begin to discover who they are, confront challenges, and grow through moments of adversity. From freshman to senior year, many experience profound personal change. In this spotlight, we will highlight a student that has shown courage, grit, and growth from freshman year to senior, as well as a teacher who has fostered these characteristics in students despite struggles of his own.
KYLEE MAYVILLE: FINDING STRENGTH THROUGH STRUGGLE
Kylee Mayville
For Senior Kylee Mayville, the transformation from freshman to senior year did not come easily. Her high school experience was shaped by moments that demanded courage, perseverance, and strength beyond her years. She deserves to be spotlighted for her demonstrated bouts of courage, grit, and growth. Even though she often comes to school with a light spirit, sometimes that’s not always the case. Even those who shine the brightest often feel dim. Mayville expressed how she deals with anxiety and depression; “I try to distract myself with healthy people and activities”. Some of those being her older sister Abbey and her parents she says, “…they’re all incredibly hard-working individuals, musically talented, self-less, and successful.” As for some activities, she uses Softball, Bowling, Choir, and Drama Club to distract herself during rough times. Mayville commented that her favorite class is Choir because, “everyone is involved with each other. I love being able to sing something I enjoy. There’s never a dull moment and you can always make new friends.” One thing that makes the choir so special for her and those that participate in it, is the amazing director Joel Kithkart.
MR. JOEL KITHCART: GUIDING GROWTH THROUGH GRIT
While students like Mayville navigate adversity as they grow, there are educators who stand beside them through it all. For our choral director, Kithcart, resilience has been built not only by years of music, but by experiences that have influenced how he teaches, leads, and continuously supports students through various moments of uncertainty.
He shared that when he first came to Southeast High School, following the director Holly Wickersham, he struggled with imposter syndrome. “Many students were deeply connected to her, and she was amazing. I can never be her, but I also realized she could never be me”, he said. While at first, he had suffered, and questioned whether he was living within her shadow or not, he eventually came to realize that they are two different people. He cannot be her, and she cannot be him. They are both amazing in different ways, he said, and his doubts were overcome through consistency, authenticity, and a genuine commitment to his students. He shared that he himself has struggled in his life, that he has seen hardship same as any other teacher and student, and yet through his actions he has shown up and has used it to let other students grow.
To Kithcart, courage in a choir setting means vulnerability; being willing to sing out, make mistakes, and try again. He believes setbacks, whether missed notes or difficult rehearsals, are essential to growth. By balancing high expectations with compassion, he creates an environment where students feel both challenged and supported. He said he understands that, “…you are all human. You are not professional singers, I cannot expect that from you. You will make mistakes, wrong notes happen, and we just have to work through it”. So while he has these high expectations for his kids, he also understands that there are limitations. He encourages anybody to, “Take a solo, like for Solo & Ensemble, and continue to make music even after choir is done. Even after you graduate. That is the one thing I hope for beyond everything else”. That is what courage is to Kithcart and his students: singing through it, and showing up, even when you are scared or exhausted.
TIED ALL TOGETHER
Though their roles differ, Mayville and Kithcart share something essential: resilience shaped through adversity. One navigates the halls as a student finding strength through struggle, while the other leads from behind a music stand, guiding students through growth and challenges that he himself has faced. Together, their stories reflect the heart of Southeast High School: a place where courage is cultivated, community is built, and growth is not just encouraged, but lived.
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