Jenna Tate

Jenna Tate reflects on the support she received, giving her the confidence she needed to thrive

“I feel like the trajectory of my young adulthood was changed for the better once I was accepted into Springwater Trail High School (STHS),” said Tate. “The opportunities available as well as their staff, pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to be more involved in my community.”

Tate says she struggled with anxiety and other mental health issues that made elementary and middle school learning difficult. She believes STHS was built for students like her to thrive not only academically but also mentally and socially. 

Staff made a conscious effort to make sure she and her peers felt listened to and cared for, while also encouraging them to face challenges or new experiences with a positive outlook. 

She dove into opportunities such as volunteering with soup kitchens and local parks. The experiences taught her about herself, helped develop her values, and showed her what type of career she wanted to pursue. 

After graduating from STHS in 2019, she worked for the city of Gresham on the Gresham Tree Team and was an ASPIRE volunteer for the Gresham-Barlow School District in 2022. 

Currently, she works as an office assistant for a small, family-owned tree nursery business while pursuing a biology degree from Mt. Hood Community College. She plans to transfer to Portland State University with a transfer degree to continue her education. 

In addition, she will begin volunteering at Little Critter Crew, a small animal rescue, to advance her ideal career of working with small animals. She and her friends from STHS still meet often to play Dungeons & Dragons.