Viki Eagle’s Advice to Conquer Red Cloud High School

Viki. Photo courtesy of Viki Eagle. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Viki Eagle’s Advice to Conquer Red Cloud High School

By Jin Yup Jung '14

You must be a spy from Pine Ridge High School if you haven’t heard of Viki Eagle…

I bet you have seen a woman who always holds her own camera to take pictures of the Pine Ridge Reservation and students at Red Cloud.

Viki Eagle was on staff at Red Cloud in 2012-2013, and she taught Computer classes and worked on the yearbook with students. She recently visited Red Cloud few days ago for spring break. This was her third time to visit Red Cloud this year.

The reason she keeps visiting Red Cloud is that she earned so many great memories through the past year while working here. She loves this place, the students, and staff at Red Cloud.

Here are eight great tips from Viki, and it’s also called “Zombie Land Rules!” 

Viki wrote this because she wanted to give some advice for students at Red Cloud since she has always hoped that students from Red Cloud do well in high school, in college, and throughout their lives.

1. Cardio. 

Start strong, finish Strong. To all the incoming and current Freshmen and Sophomores: Don’t be like the Broncos' Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl. After that first safety in the first minute, he wasn’t able to bring his team back to catch up and now holds the record for the third worst Super Bowl blowout in the history of NFL.

In that way, don’t mess up your chances of succeeding your first year and having to catch up till senior year. Keep that GPA up, do all your readings, homework, and learn to study. And if you have a chance to join a program, internship, travel, Upward Bound- take it!

2. Enjoy the little things.  

Enjoy being a student and having great teachers that care. Give them a high five in the morning!

3. The Double Tap. 

Let your Negative Nancy and Debby Downer friend go. No one needs either of them in your life and they are not going to help you succeed.

           

4. Get a Kick A** Partner.  

When you get rid of Negative Nancy and Debby Downer, get a close friend to rely on. Tackle the zombies together as in tackle the academics and homework together.

            

 5. Shoot First 

 Advocate for yourself. No one makes it through high school by themselves. Everyone gets help. There are always teachers, faculty, etc, there to listen to you. Advocate for yourself and tell your teachers and counselors what you are struggling with or need help with. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Speak out for yourself. You have a voice so please use it.

          

 6. When in doubt, know your way out. 

If you find yourself in a bad situation where your friends are not listening, walk away from the situation. If they are your real friends, they will understand.

           

 7. Don’t Swing Low. 

 Don’t make your goals low- make them high. You are capable of so much more. It requires work but you can do it.

            
8. Be a Hero. 

Prove to everyone they were wrong. Or as my great friend Amanda say “Make your Haters be your Motivators." For all those people who don’t believe in you or think you cannot accomplish a task, prove them wrong instead of getting down and surrendering. Don’t get lazy…..please!