Senior JohnAnthony Hallberg has been attending Oasis Academy since the school opened in 2011 as a first grader.. He’ll finish up his Oasis career in May with not only his High School Diploma but also an Associate of Arts and Welding Certificate from Western Nevada College.
“I came to Oasis the first year it opened as a first grader. Throughout the years I've seen the school grow and expand with me as I’ve gotten older. Now that I'm in my last year as an Oasis student, not only have I grown as a person, but Oasis has grown with me from a single hallway in an old Walmart to a highly respected school with countless programs and opportunities available for its students,” said Hallberg.
His longevity at Oasis also means he’s had very influential teachers at the school. “I'd love to thank Mr. Brandt for being one of the few teachers who has ever been able to explain math to me to where I’ve enjoyed it. My whole life I've struggled with math more than any other subject to the point of hating all math classes. But Mr. Brandt is one of the only teachers I've ever had who was able to explain things in such a way that not only did I learn and retain but I wanted to learn more. That's something I will always appreciate. His classes were always a good time and I'll always remember that.”
“Another teacher I’d love to give a HUGE thank you to is Mrs. Renfroe. Mrs. Renfroe was my 8th-grade homeroom teacher and she always did her best to have a fun and engaging class. Not only was her patience through the roof with us but I remember whenever a student was looking sad or stressed she would pull them aside when she had the chance and talk to them one on one about how they were doing and if they'd like to talk about anything. That extra care for the student's health is something I found truly admirable and showed me she truly cared for all of us.”
As far as his advice for future Bighorns, Hallberg said, “One major piece of advice I'd give to students is to enjoy your time while it lasts. Go out with your friends on the weekends, joke around with the teachers when the times are appropriate, hold no grudges with your peers and remember the good times. High school doesn't last forever so enjoy today now.”
After graduation Hallberg plans to attend the University of Nevada, Reno and study Criminal Justice while being part of the ROTC program. His plan is to commission as an officer by 21 years old.