Former AGHS students Ross Richards (‘05)and Ryan Huss (‘90) returned to their alma mater as educators, which brought their high school memories into sharper focus. Both men now walk the same halls they once hurried through as teenagers with a new understanding of what those four years meant.
For Richards, high school was defined by the ease of friendship, something he didn’t realize he would miss until it was gone. He remembers the steady rhythm of high school life, where friendships formed naturally in the everyday moments between classes.
“I miss being able to regularly see [my] friends everyday,” Richards said.
He also recalled traditions and activities that many students found awkward, but he secretly loved. One of his favorites was the freshman square-dancing unit in P.E., a memory that still makes him laugh.
“I loved square dancing. I thought it was fun, maybe I’m a weirdo,” Richards said.
For Huss, nothing captured the spirit of AGHS quite like the energy of Friday night football games.
“Walking out to the football games, the band always playing the drums. It used to get our team pretty much fired up,” Huss said.
Both teachers credit their former AGHS instructors for shaping their futures. Richards discovered his passion for Spanish in his first foreign language class, where he met a teacher whose methods he still uses today.
“Señor Bickmore was my Spanish 1 teacher, there’s certain things that I do today that he did as a teacher with us,” Richards said.
He also remembers his ninth-grade English teacher, Laura Wade, whose intensity pushed him to become a strong writer.
“She taught me to write an essay really well,” Richards said.
Similarly, Huss’s ninth-grade Honors English teacher, David Foster’s, tough-love teaching approach left a lasting impression.
“He was not a very nice guy but his methods got the best out of a lot of different types of kids,” Huss said.
Leaving the Central Coast brought both Richards and Huss new challenges and new perspectives. When Richards moved away for college at UC Davis, he quickly realized how different the world felt outside of his hometown.
“Things became a little more extreme once I left,” Richards said.
For Huss, attending Dartmouth meant adjusting to a faster pace and a more competitive academic environment.
“I went from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a big pond,” Huss said.
Now as teachers, both men encourage students to balance academics with activities that help them grow. Richards believes extracurriculars reveal a side of students that grades alone can’t capture.
“[Extracurriculars are] where you show your personality and your interests, probably more than your grades,” Richards said.
Huss agrees, often giving grace to students who juggle demanding schedules.
“Kids put in a lot of time outside the classroom. I tend to accept [assignments] for full credit because I try to encourage kids to be as outgoing as possible,” Huss said.
When offering advice to students entering new environments, whether that be college, a job, or a new class, Richards keeps his message simple.
“One of my main rules for life is to show up,” Richards said.
Huss’s guidance focuses on persistence and passion, two qualities he believes carry students further than anything else.
“Nothing comes easy. Just keep working hard and find something that you’re passionate about,” Huss said.
Whether through showing up, working hard, or embracing the awkward moments that make high school memorable, both Richards and Huss prove that the lessons learned as Eagles continue to guide them long after their graduations.
