Many graduating seniors at Athens are left with the question, ‘What impact have I made?’ as they look back on their past four years of high school, reflecting on how much they have grown and changed throughout their time at Athens. It’s only natural that humans hope to be remembered even after they have graduated, so that the changes they have undergone through their high school years won’t go unnoticed. 

It’s somewhat bittersweet: the end of high school has been long-awaited, but leaving the community and its connections can be disheartening. Though seniors may be embarking on a new journey, the friendships they leave behind will be remembered and missed long after their graduation.

Maya Angelo once shared, “People will forget what you said, what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” and this quote exemplifies the impact that the class of 2026 has had on Athens Drive. 

One senior in particular who has had a definite impact on both his teachers and fellow students is Dy’mir McCutcheon, who is very involved with PEPI and has made great connections with many students in the ECS program. 

“Dy’mir is an exceptionally empathetic and compassionate student … who thinks about others over himself,” said Rachel Love, family and consumer sciences teacher. 

McCutcheon’s selfless character developed from his home life circumstances, where he assisted his mother and grandmother in taking care of his sister, who is non-verbal and autistic. His experience with his sister has built up a unique skill set that not many teenagers possess.  

“I always told him that he would be an amazing teacher with little kids, or children with disabilities, [and] adults with disabilities, even,” said Love.

McCutcheon has now taken PEPI for two semesters, which allows students to support ECS students in physical activity during their PE class. He shared that it was a ‘no-brainer’ to take the class as he wanted to help both the students and teachers in the program.

“This year, I moved into the ECS program and soon realized he knows all the students in the program by name, and they know him. He has a relationship with them. He checks in on all of us and visits the students and classrooms regularly,” said Karla Jenkins, instructional assistant. 

McCutcheon emphasized the importance of asking for help when needed, and the fact that it is not a weakness, but rather a form of strength, as showing vulnerability is not always easy. He sees past first impressions and views everyone as a human being who innately seeks some form of help.

“When I went to prom with them, and they accepted me for who I am … that solidified me and them as family,” said McCutcheon, recalling his favorite memory with PEPI. 

McCutcheon was nicknamed “Garfield” by some of the ECS students, which he hopes he will be remembered as, with his kind and understanding nature that has allowed him to connect with students in the program. 

“I wanna be remembered for exactly what I could do, the best I could do,” said McCutcheon.

High school is a strange time of change for students, both physically and mentally, and along the way, it is inevitable that mistakes are made. Throughout our high school years, we learn from those mistakes and, in turn, grow from them.

“We all can’t be perfect, of course,” said McCutcheon. “Sometimes we can regret what we did, but for me, I look at what I did [in my time at Athens], and I get proud of it.”

What matters in the end is not the stumbles made along the journey but how the experience has changed us. For those who have made it to the end of their high school years, seeing how much they have changed since their freshman year can be shocking, but also satisfying, as their experiences over the past four years have formed them into who they are today.

“I think character is just as important, if not more important, than our academic lives,” said Love. “He did stand out as, like, a stellar example of a teen with outstanding character.”

Ultimately, when contemplating the impact the class of 2026 has left on Athens Drive, what is most remembered is their impact on those still attending Athens, which will resonate with the school as the graduates move on to their next adventure.