I AM 742: Janeel Denson-Byers

Guest Written by Apollo Senior Janeel Denson-Byers

Today marks the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. Elementary school, middle school, high school and all the activities in between were stepping stones to this moment.

Denson-Byers (front center) with her soccer team, Thunder
Denson-Byers (front center) with her soccer team, Thunder

Each moment, each stone is different for every one of us. Our journey to this moment is unique, terrifying, joyous and challenging. We made it. We made this journey! Our class, the Apollo class of 2019.

My journey began in fourth grade at Madison Elementary School. I was scared. I was in a new school, a new state and a new family. You see, my story has many twists and many turns. I moved from Massachusetts. My mother read a news article about me needing a home, and with that, a stone in my path was formed and my journey through childhood brought me here to St. Cloud, Minnesota – to District 742.

Reading, writing and math…. Well, let’s just say we got to know each other very well. You see, I did not learn these basic skills until I joined my new family.

There were so many people that influenced my educational journey not only at Madison but at North and now Apollo. Jackie, my para, helped support all of my stressors of high school. My para, Ms. Loeffler, put up with me at North and at Apollo. My case manager, Ms. Celeste, who was a big advocate for me and helped me grow to the high school graduate that I am now, as of today.

Denson-Byers (back far right) with her floor hockey team heading to State
Denson-Byers (back row, far right) with her floor hockey team heading to State

We all have supports in our lives, these supports such as our teachers, paras and case managers… Okay, and the rest of the Apollo staff!  Even though they will not be with us on a Monday through Friday basis, they’ve influenced us and prepared us for our next phase- adulthood. As we step off of this stone and onto the next, which may be college, a job, InStep, CO2, serving our country or anything else, know this; WE HAVE THE SKILLS TO MOVE FORWARD.

In a class I took with Ms. Celeste, she stated, “Be willing to be unreasonable.” She was not talking about having conflict; what she meant was to set our goals high, even if it may take years of working on your “unrealistic” goals. Those goals will, in time, become reality and you will reach them.

Maya Angelou once stated, “I learned that people will forget about what you said. People will forget about what you did, but people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.”

To our families, to Apollo, to the community organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and District 742; thank you, thank you for being our rock, and being a stepping stone for myself and to the graduating class of 2019. We made it!

For I AM 742!

Denson-Byers with her floor hockey team at city hall with Mayor Dave Kleis
Denson-Byers with her floor hockey team at city hall with Mayor Dave Kleis