It was a brisk Friday morning, halfway through the semester–progress grades were coming out and the mornings were getting colder. For Leah Johnson, however, it was only her fifth day at West Ottawa High School. One would expect her to still be finding her way through the large and enticing buildings, worrying about fitting in, or learning how to adjust to her new reality.

   Johnson was about to learn something that most West Ottawa students already know, West Ottawa has a lot of heart.

   “I can’t find my class. Everything is so big. There are so many people. What if I don’t fit in?” These were the questions she expected herself to grapple with in her first week at her new school. Instead, on day five, she found herself grappling with an entirely different question: “Who is Lucas?”

   That Friday, Jr. Leah Johnson–along with the rest of the school–learned of the sudden death of Sr. Lucas Garbarino. It quickly became evident how deeply his loss had affected the school. Walking through the unfamiliar hallways, she could see his impact in the tears, quiet conversations, and somber faces of her classmates. She had no idea who he was, but she could see the effect he had. She could see how much the students missed him and how greatly they loved him. Johnson was on a path to see how strong the West Ottawa community can be.

   Johnson chose to transfer to West Ottawa from Libertas High School,  “a small Christian private school in Hudsonville” with an enrollment of under 150 students. Her decision to transfer to West Ottawa was motivated by her desire for opportunities her previous school couldn’t offer: broader academic programs, sports, and extracurricular activities. However, the culture shock was immediate. 

   Coming from such a small school, she had heard a lot of negativity about public schools. Johnson said, “I was always told that public schools have an ‘ego’ or that nobody is nice.” Contrary to those rumors, she found herself surprised by the sense of community she observed at West Ottawa–especially in reference to Lucas’s passing.

   “With a school of over 2000 kids, you’d think that it would be hard for one person to have an impact on that many people. But even walking through the halls, you could just see it on everyone’s faces that he had some sort of impact on their life, even if they didn’t know him that well,” Johnson said.

   Johnson had been accustomed to a small, tightly-knit environment where everyone knew each other and were really close, as seen at Libertas. “They became some of your best friends because you would all pretty much grow up together.” For someone coming from such a close community, transitioning to a school with over 500 students in the junior class alone can be plenty overwhelming. Fortunately, the welcoming environment at West Ottawa has made the adjustment easier for new students like Johnson.

   She got lost daily, navigating a large, unfamiliar campus, trying to make connections in a sea of faces. But on her fifth day, Johnson witnessed the school come together in mourning. As someone new to the community, she felt like a bystander or an observer, detached from the tragedy yet moved by the unity.

   “How can I fit into this?” she said, “And who was Lucas to have such an effect on so many people?” Though Johnson’s situation is unique, she soon realized she wasn’t the only student grappling with these questions. Within a few weeks after the tragedy occurred, every student had a shared sense of who Lucas was. For Johnson, this unity was an unexpected contrast to her assumptions about a large school.

    In an article focused on Lucas’s memory, friends of his had this to say:

“He checked up on me all the time just to make sure I was okay. He was the most selfless person out there and those who knew him knew how much of a positive impact he had on their lives.”

• Mabel Ronne

“Lucas is a really lovable guy. He always brought a lot of energy, laughs, and wanted everyone else to be laughing with him.”

• Arisella Rios

“One word to describe Lucas is wild. Everything he did was crazy, whether it was a fun thing, a dumb thing, or a dangerous thing, he made sure everyone around him was happy and having a good time. He was such an outgoing person, always doing what needs to be done, and he never let anything get to him.”

• Landon Kipker

   Johnson’s transition to West Ottawa became more than just seeking new opportunities; it became a lesson in perspective. Though she had initially worried about fitting in, she now sees the value in a larger community, one that can unite in the face of loss. She sees that West Ottawa will continue to be a place where students come together when tragedy strikes–a place of emotional support and resilience. And she begins to see that there is a place for her here.

   As Johnson settles into her new school, she plans to take full advantage of the presented opportunities: she hopes to join the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program at the Careerline Tech Center and try out for the volleyball team next year. She said, “I am ready to experience all of the high school experiences I missed out on while I was at my other school.”

   While Johnson’s journey began with uncertainty, it’s clear that her move to West Ottawa has already shaped her in unexpected ways. Through tragedy and transition, she’s come to understand that true community isn’t about how many people surround you—it’s about the strength of the connections you make.