By FRED KRONER
Jesse Johnson has a perspective on the student body at Oakwood High School that is unique.
He teaches freshmen. And, he teaches seniors.
“It’s one of the best things in the world teaching freshmen and seniors,” Johnson said. “Those are my only two grades I see every year, and to watch them change so much – most for the better, some for the worst – is so cool.”
Ashlynn Pinnick was among the students Johnson taught as a freshman in the 2018-19 school year in his Government & Geography class.
In many ways, Pinnick was typical of the younger students that Johnson teaches.
“I think her shyness kept her from opening up when she was younger in class,” Johnson said. “A little too afraid to answer a question wrong. But as a senior, with the content we learned, she was active in applying what we talked about in class to how it explained who she felt she was to herself.”
One of the rewarding parts of his job is to see the development and maturation in students over a period of time.
Pinnick was no exception. She was back in Johnson’s room as a senior in 2021-22 for his Psychology & Sociology class.
“Things about her personality finally seemed explainable and she began to feel that who she was as a person wasn’t weird or different from anyone, she was ‘uniquely normal’ just like so many others,” Johnson said. “I think she learned to accept who she was and is, for all the good, the bad, the weird, and the normal that most kids struggle to figure out about themselves at this age.
“She was always on point (in class). Always prepared for every assignment and quiz/test, but also engaged with what we were learning about.
“To see her gain confidence in who she is as a person and as an athlete has been great. Watching her learn to fight through her challenges instead of letting the challenges define her is what will stick with me the most.”
Pinnick will graduate from Oakwood on Sunday (May 22) and will address her peers, many sets of parents and assorted community members as the valedictorian for the Class of 2022. The ceremony at the Oakwood Grade School Gym will start at 1 p.m.
“Being valedictorian is a reminder that all of my hard work over the last four years wasn’t for nothing,” she said. “All of the sleepless nights, early mornings, and missing events with friends and family would be worth it in the end.”
One of her challenges as she prepares for the ceremony is finding the right words.
“I have never talked in front of a very large group of people before, so I am nervous,” said Pinnick, who has been educated entirely in the Oakwood school district. “I plan to talk about the past and how everyone has their own story.
“Our story does not define who we are, but it does help shape us into the people we become.”
Pinnick’s past includes a long trail of success.
She was a three-sport athlete for the Comets, lettering four years in both basketball and softball and for three years in softball.
While it added to the workload for a teen-ager who routinely had late study nights or early mornings with the books at home, the sports also served as a way to keep her focused on her goals.
“Going into my freshman year, I knew I wanted to be the valedictorian of my class and it has been a goal I have worked very hard on achieving for the last four years,” Pinnick said. “My grades may not have always come easy, but I have done well in school since the beginning.”
If ever there was a thought to let something slide, she pushed forward.
“When it came to tackling my school work, a big part of my grades being what they were came from wanting to avoid being ineligible,” Pinnick said. “I recognized that I was a student-athlete and my grades always needed to come first.
“I loved playing sports so much that I made it a priority to always keep my grades up. That way I never had to worry about not being able to play. I was always one of those people that had to study and do my homework at home.”
The commitment she exhibited in her school work also showed up in the athletic arena.
“She was always very motivated and wanted to improve,” said Oakwood girls’ basketball coach Stephanie Marsh. “Determination is what enabled her to be valedictorian.
“She was always very focused on getting good grades despite being a three-sport athlete. Ash was usually very receptive to me coaching her.
“She was a leader for us this past year, and she never wanted to let herself, her teammates, or me down.”
Pinnick enjoyed all of her sports, but had a penchant for one.
“My favorite sport was definitely basketball,” she said. “My coaches mean a lot to me and always pushed me to be the best I could be both on and off the court.
“Basketball season was always filled with challenges, but so much fun, too.”
One of the life lessons Pinnick learned through sports will stay with her.
“Sports taught me to always put others before myself and to help those around me,” she said.
Pinnick’s passion for basketball showed through.
“I enjoyed coaching Ash,” Marsh said. “She truly loved the game and loved competing. She was never afraid to be aggressive and go all-out on the court.
“These are all traits that I love to see in the athletes that I coach.”
Pinnick was involved in more than sports while at Oakwood.
Her activities list also included Student Council, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Yearbook Committee, and Youth Group at Grace Community Church.
“Being involved in all of the activities, I knew that it would take full commitment in order to succeed in all of those organizations,” Pinnick said. “Typically, there was not much overlap between anything I was involved in.
“I did not have to worry about missing something in one while doing something for another. My days were always packed with things and sometimes it got stressful, but I always made it work. I love being on the go.”
Johnson said that Pinnick’s perspective enabled her to balance all of her obligations.
“Always knowing that what she did athletically was for a short-time, but academics were her true ticket out to reach her life-long goals,” Johnson said. “And once she sets a goal, she plows towards it with everything she has.”
Pinnick has a life plan for at least the next decade, starting with her decision to enroll at Danville Area Community College for the next two years as a pre-medicine major.
She plans to transfer to the University of Illinois as a junior and then pick a medical school to attend after earning her bachelor’s degree.
A decade from now, she expects to still be a student.
“In 10 years, I see myself in the middle of my surgical residency,” Pinnick said. “Therefore, I see myself working a lot of hours, learning new things every single day, and mastering my skills.”
While at Oakwood, Pinnick had several classes that she especially enjoyed.
“My favorite classes were Government & Geography with Mr. Johnson, Anatomy & Physiology with Mrs. Davis, and Sociology with Mr. Johnson,” Pinnick said. “They both have teaching styles that always made class interactive, interesting and fun.
“I always looked forward to going to those classes because I enjoyed learning all of the material they presented us with.”
When it comes to teachers and coaches who had a significant influence, Pinnick said the list is not a short one.
“The teachers/coaches that have impacted me the most are Ms. Baumeister, Mr. Lee, Mrs. Lee, Mrs. Nicoson, Mrs. Davis, Mr. Johnson, Coach Marsh, Coach Dunavan, Mrs. Fritz, Mrs. Acton and Mrs. Huchel,” Pinnick said. “They believed in me when I did not believe in myself and were always willing to listen.
“They never let me give up and were always there for me.”
Marsh said she has no doubts that Pinnick will continue to thrive after high school.
“Ash is a great kid with a very bright future,” Marsh said. “I have really enjoyed coaching her these past four years.
“She has really grown up so much and I have enjoyed seeing her mature and progress both on and off the court. I am thankful to have been a part of her journey and am excited to see what the future has in store for her.”
Besides the message she will deliver on Sunday in her valedictorian address, Pinnick has special words for those students who have endured the COVID-19 years with her for parts of two years during high school.
“I would like to congratulate the graduating Class of 2022,” she said. “I know these last four years have been trying for many. I am proud of you and wish you the best of luck on your future endeavors.”
