Volume 77 Senior Issue

LOVEd STA Seniors say their goodbyes to STA and look towards the future and higher education

St. Teresa's Academy | Kansas City, MO | Volume 77, Senior Issue

Picture of folly theater

6

8

15

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

44

2 May 16, 2018

NEWS

Centerspread

4. Graduation moves to Folly Theater

10. On the map: Where seniors are going to college

Star Spotlight

Perspectives

6. Senior Yasmeen Mir embarks on coming of age trip

12. Live in the moment 13.Saying goodbye to theater

Features

Last look

8. Seniors major in music

15. Senior year in pictures

In Issue 8 of the Dart, a story on page 17 under the headline “Fighting to be heard: exploring the New Voices Act� contained an error. Teresian co-editor-in-chief is Bridget Graham. The Dart regrets the error.

Cover and back page photos courtesy of: Kate Wilnauer, Anna Louise Sih, Edie Livers, Isabella Lipari, Sal Scott, Kelsey Scanlon, Lulu Fiss, Oli Carroll, Sofia Giocondo, Audrey Davis, Kate Jones, Bridget Graham, Grace Fiorella and Meghan Baker Cover and back page design by Anna Ronan

LETTER Hello Readers, After turning in their textbooks and checking out of advisory for the very last time, the Class of 2018 is finally ready move on to the next chapter of their lives. Never again will a pep rally feature Mia Schloegel in a Spirit Club video as her alter ego Trey, and never again will a smile be shared in the hallway with Academy Woman, Emilie Blanck. Though this year’s seniors will be missed, they will undoubtedly carry out the mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in their new communities.

While some will be crossing the stage at the Folly Theatre, senior Yasmeen Mir will be embarking on a coming of age trip, hiking through California.

Don’t miss Aspen Cherrito’s Q&A with Yasmeen. Also, be sure to check out Annabelle Meloy’s news feature about this graduation’s new location this year.

For those pursuing careers in music, the application process throughout the past year has differed from the traditional one. Ella Norton sat down with three seniors that will continue their study of music after graduating this month With this issue, we wanted to honor the seniors as they move from the STA community to colleges all over the country and even overseas. Check out Lily Hart’s map on page ten to see

from the e d i to r s

where all of our beloved seniors will be headed next fall. From Illinois to Ireland, the class of 2018 is moving on to amazing places.

For a visual representation of the seniors’ experiences this past year, take a look at the year in photos compiled

by Kailee Ford and Katie Gregory.

Finally, on the Dart’s Spotify, you’ll find a playlist of the seniors’ favorite songs, compiled by Faith Andrews-O’Neal for all your grad-party of nostalgia purposes.

We have looked up to the senior class as role models and as sisters for the past three years, especially our EIC’s, Zoe and Lily. You wonderfully talented ladies are a tough act to follow, but you’ve taught us well and we’re ready to take on Volume 78 of the Dart. Thank you for everything.

Love,

2017-2018 Editors-in-Chief Zoe Butler Lily Manning

WEB

Managing Web Editor Katie Gregory Social Media Team Aspen Cherrito, Kailee Ford, Riley McNett Breaking News Editor Trang Nguyen Multimedia Editor Kate Jones

PRINT

Design Editor Gabby Staker Visual Illustrator Nicole Slocomb Photography Editors Meghan Baker, Anna Louise Sih Page Designers Amy Schaffer, Anna Ronan, Delaney Hupke, Ella Kugler, Ella Norton, Julia Kerrigan, Katie Gregory, Lily Hart, Lily Manning, Margaux Renee, Riley McNett, Zoe Butler

COPY

Features Editor Margaux Renee News Editor Annabelle Meloy Lifestyles Editor Mary Massman Opinion Editor Julia Kerrigan Sports Editor Kendall Lanier Staff Photographers Amy Schaffer, Lucy Hoop, Madeline Loehr, Maggie Hart, Riley McNett Staff Writers Anna Ronan, Aspen Cherrito, Delaney Hupke, Ella Kugler, Ella Norton, Faith Andrews-O’Neal, Gabby Staker, Gabrielle Pesek, Grace Fiorella, Kailee Ford, Kate Jones, Katie Gregory, Katy Rouse, Lily Hart, Lily Manning, Olivia Wirtz, Reagan Penn, Riley McNett, Torri Henry, Trang Nguyen, Zoe Butler Adviser Brad Lewis page design by Mary Massman

3

news FEATURE Editorial Policies Ownership and Sponsorship

DartNewsOnline and the Dart are created by the student newpaper staff and are maintained and published by general operating funds of St. Teresa's Academy, a Catholic institution frounded by the Stisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

DartNewsOnline and the Dart will not publish opinions that contradict the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic church, whether on a diocesan or worldwide level.

Editorial Policy

The Staff of DartNewsOnline and the Dart are subject to prior review by the St. Teresa's Academy administrative team in circumstances that concern Catholic doctrine, student safety or illegal behavior. DartNewsOnline and the Dart will not publish reviews of sudent work or performances. Personal columns reflect the opinions of the writer, not necessarily the staff or school.

Letters & Reader Interaction Policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart encourage the community to post comments on the website. Letters to the editors can be sent in the following ways: in person to Brad Lewis in Donnelly room 204; by mail to St. Teresa's Academy, Attn: Brad Lewis, 5600 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64113; by email to blewis@sttersasacademy.org or to dartpaper@gmail.com. DartNewsOnline and the Dart reserve the right to edit or shorten letters for publication.

Comment Policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart encourage readers to comment on all posts.

However, DartNewsOnline and the Dart reserve the right to monitor and edit all comments on DartNewsOnline.

Comments that disagree with the editorial policy will not be published.

Photo Use Policy

Photo illustrations are conceptual photos that combine drawing and photography.

All photos on the website are free for public use. If a reader is interested in highquality copies of photos, please email DartNewsOnline at dartpaper@gmail.com.

Corrections policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart will publish corrections as soon as possible after the error is discovered.

4 May 16, 2018

GRADUATION MOVES FROM THE MUSIC HALL TO THE FOLLY THEATER The seniors will be graduating at the Folly Theater due to the Lion King show at the Music Hall May 20. Changes have caused some conflict with the seating at the ceremony.

Story by Annabelle Meloy News Editor Photos by Delaney Hupke Writer

T

his year’s seniors will be graduating May 20, but they won’t be walking out into the broad space of the Kansas City Music Hall. Instead, graduation will be held in the more intimate space of the Folly Theater.

After receiving a phone call in February from workers at the Music Hall that a performance of "The Lion King" would be held the same day as graduation, administration had to change course and select a new venue.

The seniors were then told in a February class meeting that the graduation would vary from tradition.

This is not the first time STA has had to switch venues, but it’s been 13 years since the last time it occurred when graduations were held in Bartle Hall in 2004 and 2005.

Principal of Student Affairs Liz Baker was part of the administrative effort that worked to find a space that could accommodate all of the graduates. After looking at three different venues, they were finally able to decide on the Folly Theater.

“One of the rooms that Mrs. Hoecker [former Principal of Student Affairs] had organized before was a room in Bartle Hall Convention Center, but we felt like that wasn’t going to afford really good views of the graduates,” Baker said. “It was really long, so we decided on the Folly Theater because there was just enough [space]. The amount of students is perfect for all the families.”

Although there is enough room for

seating in the Folly, Baker has had some concerns over actually being able to fit all the graduates on stage. However, she’s hoping they embrace how intimate the experience will be.

“The Folly has a smaller stage, so I’m worried about getting 129 people on that stage,” Baker said. “The logistics of it, especially backstage, are really hard because the students have to get their caps and gowns on, and we have to make sure they’re lined up correctly.

But it’s really intimate and close, so the seats are like right there. It’s going to be interesting.”

Even with the unexpected change of venue, some seniors have gotten on board and are happy to do it at another place, especially seniors like Hannah Berghoff who have large families.

“I don't really think the new location will affect much of graduation, other than a limited number of seats,” Berghoff said. “I know everyone loved where graduation was the last couple of years, but I don't think that many people are mad that it changed.”

However, some students remember previous graduations of sisters or cousins in the Music Hall where extended family members could come and enjoy the celebration. Current seniors now have to pick and choose between who they’re going to invite, which has added another item on their to-do list for graduation.

Senior Megan Warnecke couldn’t invite everyone she originally wanted

Graduation, usually held at the Music Hall, is being held at the Folly Theater May 14.

Many are worried the Folly Theater is too small to fit all of the graduates and their families. photo by Delaney Hupke

to, leading to some extra deliberation on who she should send invitations to.

“We sent invites asking people to actually come to the graduation ceremony, and so we bought a lot to send to my crazy big extended family,” Warnecke said. “And then I had to put extra inserts that said, ‘Due to lack of seating, please come to the [grad] party on this day.’ It was just awkward.”

Senior Claire Witt also had trouble with the late notice on where the graduation was being held. A lot of her plans had already been laid out, and it was hard to change course, especially on her budget. She says she spent time and money on graduation invites that she can’t get back.

However, Baker and other administrators have been working around problems like these and talking with families about who will be able to come. With so many students wanting extra tickets, they’ve created a waiting list for family members.

“We know how much seating there is, and we do graduation tickets, so we just made some decisions about how many tickets we can give out, and then there’s a waiting list,” Baker said. “I’ve worked with parents about that, so I think we’re doing good.”

It’s been difficult having to move the graduation itself into an entirely different place, but the planning of the Baccalaureate, the mass celebrating the

seniors, has been going smoothly, according to Baker. Its setting was also changed from the auditorium, but the move was planned entirely in advance to make sure everything was in place.

“We are having the Baccalaureate back at the Cathedral this year, which is different from having it in the auditorium,” Baker said. “And we were always going to do that. We just wanted a bigger venue for that and a closer venue, so it’s going to be interesting.”

With so many changes to graduation, it’s not as some students hoped it was going to be, but senior Karen Crouch has been able to see some positives in it and just enjoy the occasion of graduating high school.

“I really love STA,” Crouch said.

“I know I’m complaining about this small little thing, but I’ve had this idea [of graduation] in my head since I was a child, so I’m not getting what I really imagined. Graduation’s going to be great anyway though because I’m doing it with some of my best friends.”

For now, next year’s graduation is still scheduled for the Music Hall but the administration is prepared for any moves in venue they may have to make for the future. H

picture

The Folly Theater is the location for this year's graduation ceremony. Graduation is May 20. photo by Delaney Hupke

page design by Katy Rouse

5

Star spotlight

Yasmeen Mir Instead of attending her high school graduation, senior Yasmeen Mir is taking a coming of age trip where she will spend days hiking and camping in the wilderness.

Story by Aspen Cherrito Social Media Team Photo by Trang Nguyen Breaking News Editor

6

May 16, 2018

W

hat are you doing after graduation?

It’s not actually after graduation, it’s after my last AP test. It’s like the midnight bus and I’m going to Oakland with a friend.

We’re going to spend some time there and then we’re going to hike up to Point Reyes, which is a small town beginning at the seashore, and then we are camping and hiking down the seashore into San Francisco.

Then we are going to spend a couple days there.

What made you decide to do this?

Ever since I was a child, I read the book “Into the Wild” and I knew it was something I wanted to do. We’re not really staying in hostels. It’s more like a strictly camping trip, strictly in the wilderness. This is something I have always wanted to do and this is really the only time I’m going to be able to do it this summer due to an internship.

Are you upset about missing graduation?

Yes, a little bit.

What was the administration’s reaction?

My parents are really supportive, my friends were a little bit sad. Actually, I thought this was going to be the Appalachian Trail, and so I remember Liz Baker popping in and [she] asked me about it and I told her. She told me I am her hero, I’ve always wanted to do that. It was very supportive.

Is this the first time you’ve done this?

Yes, but I have camped a lot.

What made you decide to pick up hiking?

I can’t say that I’ve actually picked up hiking in any sense. It’s a trip that’s important to me. I think that I’ve always been interested in books like “On the Road” and things like that. It’s more like the intentions behind what I’m doing.

What are you trying to get out of this trip?

For me coming up I think it’s a coming

of age trip. It’s a little bit of a trial in that sense. It’s going to be very fun, just extreme independence in that sense. Being a little bit removed from a lot of the memories that we are used to and being a little bit in isolation is a good way to find yourself.

What do you mean by coming of age trip?

I’m taking this trip at a pivotal point in my life at the end of senior year.

Why do you feel like you need to take this trip?

It’s something I’ve always wanted to do in terms of self-reliance and exploring the world in a non-materialistic way that allows for more freedom and exploration than a standard vacation.

What are you hoping to get out of it?

I’m hoping to get a sense of clarity and independence.

Why now? Why right before college?

The opportunity presented itself and it’s a transitional time which is always a good time to take a step back and learn about yourself.

Have you talked to anyone else who has done something similar?

Yes. The person who is coming with me rode his bike across Kansas and camped.

What gave you the idea to do this?

Reading a lot of Jack Kerouac, “Into the Wild,” “Walden” and things like that growing up.

What was the process of planning it like?

There are a lot of good resources on the internet. At first it was difficult to decide where to go and I was originally going to section hike the Appalachian trail. Other than that there was a lot of resources and information available with good research Into specific small towns and bus stops and such. H

page design by Madeline Loehr

7

Features

auditioning for the degree

Students pursuing performing arts degrees have to audition on top of the normal application process. The Dart explores how and why girls choose to do it.

Story Ella Norton | Writer Photos by Amy Schaffer | Photographer

S

enior Greta Sonnenberg steps up to do her audition for the University of Iowa. Her heart is pounding but she takes a deep breath.

She begins singing two vocal solos, classical, to fit her voice. After singing, the teachers hand her a piece of paper, which she studies for 30 seconds before beginning to sing while sight reading. For the final exercise, the teacher plays a melody on the piano and Sonnenberg sings it back. When she’s done with the tonal memory exercise, she releases a sigh. This is Sonnenberg's second audition for a college after previously auditioning for the University of Missouri two days ago.

Sonnenberg ultimately chose to go to the University of Missouri after originally auditioning as a performance major. However after talking to several teachers, she decide to switch to a choral education degree.

"Basically education [major] is you get a performance degree but you also get your teaching certificate,” Sonnenberg said. “So I wasn’t going to have to go back and get that. It's also a stable job choice."

Sonnenberg said her parents were apprehensive about her pursuing a degree in musical education, which she thinks came from not knowing much about it. They sent up a conference with teacher Steve Perry which Sonnenberg thinks helped calm their nerves.

"Apparently they asked him ‘don't sugarcoat it just because she's our daughter, tell us honestly, is this something that is realistic for her to

8

May 16, 2018

do,’ and he said yes, I think she has the potential to do it,” Sonnenberg said. “That helped them a lot to talk to people who knew more about it."

Sonnenberg said after college she would like to pursue a doctorate and teach, preferably at a college. However, she said she’s also interested in looking into performing although she’s not sure if she wants to pursue it.

"I'm not sure if performing is something I'm going to do a lot because most performing contracts, especially for classical singing are like 3 weeks long,” Sonnenberg said. “So I'd have to have Lord knows how many 3 week long contracts to fill up a year."

Similarly to Sonnenberg, senior Courtney Talken is also pursuing a degree in choral education after being inspired by teachers at STA. "[My goal] going into education is to be an educator like the ones that I've had here and to not just be a teacher and to be... a role model and be a constant in the lives of the kids that I teach."

Talken is going to attend St. Olaf's College in Northfield, Minn. For her audition she had to send in two recordings of

one song in English and one in a foreign language before finding out if they wanted her to do a live audition.

"I went down to Minnesota where I did a live audition there where I sang two other pieces there as well," Talken said. "I did stuff that sounds good with my voice and harder stuff as well just to show that I can basically. I worked on them for months."

Although Talken had been doing theater productions since she was in elementary school, she got into music after

Senior Reilly Atkins rehearses a vocal solo in the choir room April 17.

Atkins is double majoring in psychology and music at Drake University.

her sister, who was a senior at the time, persuaded her to do choir at STA. "When [my sister] left I was really scared which sounds dumb but she was really important to me and so I was scared to live without her because I had lived my whole life with her,” Talken said. “The choir department and the music department was really great in that way because I still had that family and I still had that support."

St. Olaf also has a traveling choir where they go on three tours a year, that goes all over the country, something that Talken is excited for.

"I have to be in at least one choir, I think I'm in two for scholarship stuff," Talken said. "St. Olaf is really known for it's choirs because they tour internationally too and they sing at all these crazy things which is how I heard of it."

Up until Junior year, Talken had thought that she wanted to pursue medicine but after the passing of STA's former piano teacher and accompanist, Steven Karlin, she decided she wanted to go into music.

"I was in a really bad place and then I went to all state choir and it was a really formative experience and it picked me back up and I was like I want to be that

for other people," Talken said.

Along with education, Talken also wants to use music for social justice, something she's very passionate about.

Social justice was one of the reasons she was chose St. Olaf's as they have classes on social justice and using music with social justice.

For Talken, finding a college was harder than picking one. She ultimately decided on St. Olaf, because it isn’t a conservatory and offers gen ed classes.

“Once I found St. Olaf, I knew that was what I wanted to do but it's really hard to find schools with degrees like that, that also have other things you want in a college,” Talken said.

Senior Reilly Atkins also wanted to pursue gen ed classes which is why she decided to double major in psychology and music at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She joined choir freshman year but started pursuing it seriously sophomore year when she started doing voice lessons.

"I had always liked music and it seemed like a good way to make friends and establish a community in that big transition between grade school and high school," Atkins said.

While Atkins auditioned at Drake University, University of Loyola Chicago and University of Missouri, she decided to attend Drake University because of scholarships and the well known voice staff that teaches at Drake University.

For Atkins’ audition she prepared two vocal solos that her voice teacher chose. After the performance she had a conversation with the voice staff and took a music theory test.

Senior Greta Sonnenberg runs a classical vocal solo April 17. Sonnenberg received a scholarship to the University of Missouri for participation in musical extracurriculars.

"The music theory exam [didn't worry me] as much because it was really, really basic and it was stuff that I knew really well but for the actual performance audition, I was very nervous because there are so many things that can go wrong," Atkins said.

The day after Atkin's audition in Des Moines she had to drive to Chicago for another one.

"It's a bit more difficult because you have to do the regular application to get into the school and then to get into the specific school of music," Atkins said. "You do have to work long hours perfecting music and traveling to all of these different auditions."

Along with performance music classes, Atkins plans on taking classes in other music areas such as music theory and music history. Atkins is also majoring in psychology, partially because she's not sure what she wants to do in the future.

"I think psychology is really interesting," Atkins said. "I don't know for me personally, that just majoring in music is very realistic. I'm still not really sure what I want to do as a career so at least for now the best route is to study things that I'm passionate about and that I care about and I think a career will fall into place."

Although Atkins said pitches and rhythms can be difficult, she said that music is a rewarding process that helps her with expression.

"I really like how, especially when doing music for other cultures, you get to convey these things that are a lot harder to convey with just words," Atkins said, "setting poetry to music is really beautiful because you're adding more expressiveness, the meaning really gets across."

Atkins, Talken and Sonnenberg all said that they’re sad to leave STA but are excited for the next step.

"I feel like I'm leaving a part of me which is really really hard," Talken said.

"But I also feel happy knowing that it's something that can continue when I'm not here and knowing that it's going to be this community no matter where I go is really comforting and beautiful."H

page design by Amy Schaffer

9

centerspread

Class of 2018's college decisions

Story compiled by Mary Massman

Lifestyles Editor

In the fall, seniors will be attending college across the United States and beyond.

Compiled by Mary Massman Lifestyles Editor

Kansas

University of Kansas Samantha Allen Meghan Baker Sarah Dugan Sofia Giocondo Camille Goodwin Isabella Lipari Laura Logan Lauren Lynch Sarah Mendez Gigi Mullins Mamie Murphy Caroline Muth Morgan Richards Mia Schloegel Hannah Steen Lucy Tancona Pittsburg State University Tone'Nae Bradley Toomer Benedictine College Louise Christianson Clare Ryan Johnson County Community College Nicole Slocomb Kansas State University Katherine Willnauer

Michigan

University of Michigan Emma Anielak

Washington

University of Puget Sound Isabel Fitzpatrick

10 May 16, 2018

Colorado

Regis University Adeline Kreighbaum Hunter Loehr Monica Looney Ann Mullen University of Denver Faith Palausky

Florida

University of Florida Allison Porras

Washington D.C.

The George Washington University Maggie Prim The Catholic University of America Sarah Schaefer

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State University Emily Vosburgh

North Carolina

Georgia

Savannah College of Art and Design Katie LeCluyse Olivia Carroll Clark Atlanta University Raiyon Smith Emory University Pria Jean-Baptistse

Alabama

Duke University Taylor Crimmins Wake Forest University Amelia Schulte

Auburn University Devin John University of Alabama Julia Mantel Spring Hill College Claire Witt

Arizona

Oregon

University of Arizona Mary Kate Armstrong

University of Portland Zoe Willard

Nebraska

Creighton University Eve Aspinwall Karen Crouch Ruth McKee University of Nebraska Isabel Flores Lily Manning

Arkansas

University of Arkansas Riley McNett Victoria Cahoon Anna Thiede

Illinois

Loyola University Chicago Maura Graham Emily Zapien Monmouth College Olivia Matlock

Indiana

Purdue University Payton Garrett Megan Warnecke

California

University of San Diego Anna Campbell Helayna James San Diego State University Olivia Cook Loyola Marymount University Catherine Ebbits Univerity of Southern California Natalie Kistler Pepperdine University Kaitlin Loman Otis College of Art and Design Angela Medina

H

Iowa

Drake University Reilly Atkins Taylor Staves Iowa State University Claire Wilmot

University of Dayton Bridget Graham Kathleen Graham Kate Jones Maeve Madden Anna Louise Sih Xavier University Molly Madden

Louisiana

Loyola University New Orleans Emily Livingston Bella Pichardo

Texas Southern Methodist University Madeleine Adam Texas Christian University Siobhan Bradley Megan Cotter Layne Stowers Trinity University Hailey Coleman Texas A&M University Commerce Gabrielle Pesek

New York

New York University Gabrielle Martinez SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Sophia Bunch

Ohio

Mississippi South Carolina

University of South Carolina Hannah Bergoff Audrey Davis Sal Scott

Minnesota St. Olaf College Courtney Talken

University of Mississippi Clementina Ferraro Lulu Fiss

Ireland

Trinity College Dublin Claire Molloy

Gap Year Katrina O'Connor

Missouri

Saint Louis University Isabella Begnaud Kelly Blickhan Sophia Brown Zoe Butler Grace Laird Grace Oest Sloane Smith Missouri State University Lia Birritz Katherine Cory Anna Powell Rockhurst University Emilie Blanck Ana Ryan University of Missouri Columbia Emma Boxx Maureen Egan Megan Hutchison Katelyne Kratofil Edith Livers Yasmeen Mir Greta Sonnenburg Sofia Young Elizabeth Zoog Catelyn Campbell Missouri University of Science and Technology Annabelle Cusumano Kiernan O'Boyle Kelsey Zimmerman University of Central Missouri Michaela Devero Avila University Bridget Dulle University of Missouri Kansas City Vanessa Eichholz Kara Kanatzar Jordan Kehring Onyinyechukwu Oligbo William Jewell College Katelyn Gravley Cassidy Schuster Northwest Missouri State University Kelsey Scanlon Mavis Spearman Webster University Charlotte Sturr Kansas City Art Institute Elizabeth Zirkel page design by Lily Hart

11

perspectives

Live in the moment, embrace the present With college approaching, I've realized I didn't get the most out of my senior year. Appreciate your senior year before it's gone - it's a once in a lifetime experience.

Story by Lily Manning Editor-In-Chief

U

p until a few weeks ago, I was ready for college. I made my college decision and started to mentally pack my bags, excited for what the year ahead had in store. I began to simply run through my senior lasts, focused on finishing the year and moving on to what I had ahead. But, as my days at STA are coming to a close, I’m beginning to realize I’m scared as heck for what comes with next year and I wish I would have embraced my lasts.

"All of these

"

worries have arisen in my head, I've been wishing I would have soaked up my senior year more so than I did.

While I’ve loved my time in high school, not everyday has been a great day and, like everyone, some aspects of my high school life have really sucked.

12

May 16, 2018

In my mind, I really fixated on the sucky parts and imagining how much better my next chapter will be and how I can’t wait for the current one to end.

I first decided I would attend college at The University of Nebraska-Lincoln in February, and I had so much confidence in the decision I made. I felt like I couldn’t see myself anywhere else, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to major in and I had a plan for how I wanted the next 10 years of my life to go.

I was so excited for the next chapter of my life that I kinda blew off the rest of my time left in high school.

Whenever my senior lasts came up, I didn’t fully realize it and embrace it like I wish I would have.

But now, with college only three months away, my excitement for college is dwindling and my anxiety for college is increasing.

I’m scared I made the wrong college choice. I’m scared I won’t ever find something I’m passionate about to study. I’m scared to be be hours away from my dad’s advice, my mom’s laundry service and my sister’s ridiculousness. I’m scared to be hours away from the friends I made in my time at STA, and I’m scared I won’t make friends like this again. Most of all, I’m scared UNL won’t feel like the home STA has been.

As all these worries have arisen in

my head, I’ve been wishing I would have soaked up my senior year more so than I did. I wish I would have danced more at my last Teresian. I wish I would have done a senior airbands with my friends. I wish I would have focused less on my “friend group” and more on the individual friends I cherish most.

I wish I would have taken on more newspaper assignments. I wish I would have looked at more colleges and stressed more about making a decision.

I wish I would have spent less time moping in my bed and more time with the family, friends and city that I’ll have to say goodbye to in three months.

But, all these feelings are normal -- or at least that’s what I keep telling myself. Change happens in everyone’s life, all my sisters in the class of 2018 are going through the same changes, and at least one of them is probably feeling the same way I am. I’m not the first person to leave my home and go to college, and I won’t be the last.

Underclassmen, as you step into your senior year, please don’t be too excited for college that you miss out on high school. Senior year only happens once, and it goes by quickly, so embrace it as it comes and live it up in your final months at STA. H

STA THEATER: I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU STA theater has been with me all four years of my highschool experience, and I'll never forget how it has changed my life.

Story by Kate Jones Multimedia Editor

D

ear STA theater, I love you more than you will ever know.It’s hard to believe that my time with you is up. We have been with each other since I was a terribly awkward, flannel wearing, 5 Seconds of Summer obsessed, cross country running, soccer playing, braceface who was so very uncomfortable in her own skin. I will never forget my first time doing sound crew, walking into the chaos that is Mrs. Prentiss’s room, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and people I had never met before. I felt out of place, but I was still welcomed nonetheless.

Now when I walk into Prentiss’s room during tech week, I am home. I crave the chaos that is her room. Beyonce or Panic! at the Disco blasting, fighting over who gets to sit in the beloved chair, dance circles with the underclassmen, sound crew sitting in a circle changing mics, shakedown and circle.

Theater at STA has taught me so much and changed me into the outspoken, weird and overconfident person I am today. Here are a few things I have learned the past four years about myself and the world through theater.

I. "You may laugh because every time I sign my name I put a gold star after it, but my gold stars are a metaphor, and metaphors are important! My gold stars are a metaphor for ME being a star!" Rachel Berry

Contrary to the quote above, the first thing that theatre has taught me is that it is okay that I am not always the center of attention, or even never the center of attention. For those of you who don’t know me, I love to be in the middle of everything, take charge and be the metaphorical star of the show.

However, that just wasn’t my place in STA theater and I am so grateful for that. Running the soundboard and playing the small part of Mrs. Lindley in “Blue Stockings” are two experiences that I will cherish forever, but not because I was the center of attention or the main role. I love being able to watch and help bring out the incredible talent that makes up this beloved theater department.

I love seeing so many of my beautiful friends doing what they love and are so passionate about with such grace and drive. There are few other things in this world that bring me as much joy.

II. “All the world's a stage”- Hamlet Even if you are backstage… Running the soundboard with Cassidy Schuester has been one of my favorite things I have ever done. Sound crew taught me that working behind the scenes is just as important as being on stage. The late, stressful Saturday tech days have been some of the greatest and some of the saddest days of my life.

The soundboard has been there through it all. I have had many a

breakdown sitting behind that board, whether it was due to personal issues, the ghost of sound crew or the dramatic antics of certain actors and actresses. I am proud to have been among legends up in that booth.

So many amazing sound queens have come and gone before me and so many are bound to follow suit. I will forever cherish dancing to 9 to 5 and crying during Jane Eyre with my sound and light crew girls. Or plugging in screamo one direction into the AUX with Kat and Alex when I was still an underclassman. Being a part of a tech crew is so cool, don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Although I am thoroughly and completely devastated that my time with STA theatre is finished, I couldn’t be more excited for the thousands of STA students that will come after me and get to experience the wonder and greatness that is the STA Theatre department. I have cherished every moment I have spent in Mrs. Prentiss’s room, the sound booth and my brief stint on stage. I will hold every moment in my heart forever.

I now bid you adieu, Sound Queen, Mrs.Lindley/Lady in the cafe, forever undercover theatre kid, Kate Jones. H

page design by Ella Kugler

13

lAST LOOK

Senior Year in Pictures The Dart compiled photos of the Class of 2018 throughout their last year at STA. photos compiled by Katie Gregory Managing Editor of Web

Kailee Ford |Twitter Editor

Seniors Audrey Davis (left) and Monica Looney (right) dance at Teresian September 23. photo by Anna Louise Sih

Seniors Lia Biritz, (from left) Olivia Matlock and Megan Cotter decorate the quad with Christmas decorations. It is tradition for the seniors to decorate the quad for Christmas each year. photo by Anna Louise Sih

Senior Devin John throws color powder at the Walk of Fame April 20. photo by Gabrielle Pesek

14 May 16, 2018

Members of the class of 2018 cheer during a basketball game against Sion Feb. 24. photo by Meghan Baker

Senior Karen Crouch performs with her senior airband, Pumpkin Spice Gurlz, in the auditorium December 1. photo by Meghan Baker

Senior Eve Aspinwall dances at prom April 13. Prom was held at Uptown Theater and the theme was “A Night with the Stars.� photo by Maggie Hart

page design by Faith Andrews-O'Neal

15

WE SALUTE OUR ALMA MATER AND CITE HER PRAISES STRONG. THE HAPPINESS WE’VE FOUND HERE NOW ECHOES IN OUR SONG. LOVED STA WE ARE LOYAL AND PROUD OF YOUR SPIRIT SO FIRM, OF YOUR TEACHING SO TRUE, LOVED STA WE ARE GRATEFUL AND PLEDGE, OUR HEARTS SINCERE TO YOU. TRUST IN GOD OUR MOTTO, WITH EYES ON HEAV’NLY GOALS. THE ZEAL OF OUR GREAT TERESA NOW ECHOS IN OUR SOULS.