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Four years ago, four area high school principals walked through the halls of their respective schools on the first day of classes, feeling a bit like the many freshmen students amongst them.

This marks the first full "cycle" of students for principals Alan Fields, at Kenai Central High; John O'Brien, at Nikiski Middle-High; Randy Neill, at Skyview High and Todd Syverson at Soldotna High.

A cycle is when a crop of freshmen makes it through the ranks and graduates as seniors.

While the four principals have seen other cycles of student pass through at their posts in other schools, some in this district and some as far away as Maine, they get to share in the excitement of graduation each year.

Getting to watch students grow and mature over the years is one of the rewards of being an administrator, the four principals said.

"I think the thing I find most rewarding is when you see a kid realize how much they've grown. From the outside we're looking for that. For me, the really rewarding part is when a kid identifies how much they've grown for themselves," Fields said.

O'Brien agreed, saying, "We're more than managing the school, we're experiencing the experience with the kids."

The principals say they notice some significant changes in the students as they age.

"The biggest change is watching them grow in terms of academics," Neill said. "They really start to value school and education and plan out their life and where they want to go in the future."

"Watching students take their different paths is exciting to me," Neill said.

The difference between the students as freshmen four years ago, and as seniors now, is night and day.

"They come in as freshmen kind of shy, not really sure of how to get involved," Syverson said.

Four years later, the principals said each class seems to develop its own unique personality and school spirit.

"When an incoming group of freshmen go from being inexperienced and immature, wide-eyed and worried about surviving high school, to the mature seniors they become, it's really a special part of the job," O'Brien said.

O'Brien pointed out he actually gets to watch students start out as seventh-graders.

As graduation rolls around, the administrators said they all get to share in the excitement, and can't help but get caught in the moment.

"If you've been at the graduation ceremony, there's energy there and you can't help but get wrapped up in that and be part of that on graduation night," Fields said.

O'Brien agreed saying, "It's kind of a special time of year."

Despite a lagging economy, the principals said they were optimistic about their students' futures.

Syverson said his goal has been to produce lifelong learners.

"Many of the jobs (the students) will have in 10 to 20 years haven't even been created yet. That ability to problem-solve and work as a team is something we've been working on," he said.

As the seniors wrap up their secondary education careers, the principals said they aren't shy on advice.

"It's a changing world. Technology is such an important part of it and they're competing against not only students their age from across country, but this truly is a global economy and they need to think in terms of competing globally," O'Brien said.

He tells the students to look for careers they're passionate about.

Neill offers some good short-range advice.

"Based on my own college experience, my advice is that the first year is always the toughest. You get the homesickness, and the new environment. It's always hard the first year, but if you get through, it's easier after that," he said.

Syverson said he really tries to push his students to go on and obtain higher degrees. He pointed out that the job opportunities and salaries awaiting them if they succeed are worth it.

Fields said, "I try to mention every year the importance of hard work when you go out into the world. Hard work pays off big time."

Fields has one other thing he likes to tell his students.

"You can go anywhere in the world and do anything you want, but this is the place that will always be home, and we'll always welcome you back here," he said.

Dante Petri can be reached at dante.petri@peninsulaclarion.com. /i