Students think their actions in high school define the rest of their lives. However, that’s not the case when it comes to Senator Shannon Grove who spoke to at-risk students at Ridgeview High School in the library this past September. Senator Grove shared how she went from a continuation school after making many bad choices to now becoming a U.S California senator with an impact on others lives.
Ridgeview sophomores were visited by California Senator Shannon Grove about her work in the California Legislature. Select students were invited to hear Senator Grove’s speak in the library about her story and what she does currently in the community. Senator Grove’s was invited by Ridgeview counselor Odessa Perkins to talk to these, “We share similar stories, I was an at risk kid and I made some bad choices in high school… and now I’m one in 40 in the state of California making laws over people’s lives,” Senator Grove’s continues, “I think it’s important that [students] know that their past can be fixed and they can get back on the right path.”
Staff, students, and admin all gathered in the library hearing about the so-called second chance Senator Grove got, but she wasn’t the only one who shared her story. Tracy Richardson, Grove’s district director, shared her story on dealing with substance abuse and abortion. When asked about why she felt compelled to tell her story in front of students Richarson states, “God gives me a nudging in my heart when I’m supposed to tell my story and today he gave me that nudging and so I felt as though someone in the room needed to hear my story.”
Richardson has played a huge role in Senator Grove’s campaign and helping teach students about second chances. Before becoming District Director, Richardson started off as a personal assistant for Groves campaign consultant and worked together until her election. Upon her election, Richardson states, “Through my year of working with her on her campaign and helping her on the campaign and she saw something in me and so she went to him when she got elected and said ‘I wanna take Tracy with me’ and he agreed to it”.
Grove was able to make an incredible impact with these students for the short time she was at Ridgeview. Connecting these students to outside resources and hopes to reconnect further with these students in time to come. Even joking, “maybe one of you will be standing where I am soon.”
