GHS alumni are checking in again for the third installment of Where Are They Now?.
For the past two weeks, Swedes from generations past have given us a chance to celebrate where they are and share advice to current Swedes.
If you have not filled out the survey, we would love to hear from you!
Amy (Jensen) Reynoldson is the Executive Vice President of the Nebraska Medical Association.
The 1993 graduate of GHS is responsible for leading the NMA, an organization of nearly 3,000 physicians, by advocating for its physician members and the health of all Nebraskans
“Our work is primarily focused on ensuring state laws and policy are focused on providing safe and effective healthcare,” she said.
Amy said her time at GHS taught her to put her energy into what she can control.
“Don’t let negativity creep in and take up space that drains your energy,” she said.
She went on to offer the following advice to current GHS students: “Challenge yourself to stretch in areas that will help you grow, don’t get complacent and settle for mediocrity,” Amy said.
Along with her husband and stepson, Amy enjoys traveling, golfing and spending time with family and friends. She said she and her husband also own and operate a public golf course near Lincoln which keeps them pretty busy.
Amy is pictured with her husband at one of their favorite vacation spots in Jamaica.
Zacary Franzen is a graduate of the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communication and is the current Alumni Relations and Events Coordinator for the University of Nebraska.
Franzen graduated with the GHS Class of 2010 and said some of the things he learned at GHS were beyond the books and numbers and homework.
“A healthy mind is an inquisitive mind,” he said. “Ask questions and remember that kindness and gratitude will open doors and take you far. And never forget to always be yourself.”
As current GHS students begin thinking about their lives after high school, Franzen reminded them that knowing everything about the next step isn’t always necessary.
“You don’t need to know exactly what it is you want to do with your life after you graduate,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to try different things and find what interests you. In order to figure out what you like, you have to figure out what you don’t like.”
In his free time, Zac serves as an assistant speech coach at Elkhorn South High School, enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and taking random courses at UNL.
Shelly (Block) Tvrdy teaches at Bennington High School. She is a 1983 GHS grad and went on to UNL for her post-secondary education.
Shelly says that learning that hard work pays off when she was in high school has taken her through her entire life and she said some of the connections you make in high school are another thing that will last a lifetime.
“You might not see your high school friends for another 20 to 30 years, however, they will always be your friends,” she said. “You’ll pick up where you just left off.”
Shelly is pictured here with her husband, Tom at Christmas last year.