More than being a role model of leadership, kindness, and character, Mr. Hughes was someone that we could joke around with or come to without hesitation. We can undoubtedly say that having Mr. Hughes as a principal was a unique relationship—one that you can’t find anywhere else. Anyone that has spoken with Mr. Hughes can agree that he was someone that listened with care. His ability to be detailed with every student’s needs made us feel valued at times when we felt insignificant. He was there to cheer for us at every sports game and there to support any show. When social justice issues arose like the Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate movements, he never shied away from difficult conversations; he addressed them head on and allowing our voices—student voices—to shine through in town halls to tell our stories and to remind us that each day is a great day to get better. Mr. Hughes understood that we the students were the heart of the school and he treated us as equals. For all that, we respected him, we admired him, and we loved him.
As we go forth, we will carry “Character Counts” throughout our lives. I hope he is proud to see that he has influenced countless numbers of people to become the best version of themselves. We leave you with the same thoughts that Mr. Hughes left for us. How will YOU be there for others? How will YOU plan to make a difference? And how are YOU going to make your character count? The best way that we can thank Mr. Hughes is by living as people of good character.
