Huntley HS Voice Oct. 28, 2022

Meet The Staff

Editor in Chief Abby Panier

Managing Editor

Chase Keller

Floating Editors

Irene Banerjee, Megan Curry, Jessy Gone, Taryn Rainey, Natalie Vongchanh

Photo Editor

Alexis Cobb

Marketing Editor

Sharon Omoniyi

Business Manager

Karolina Perkowski

Social Media Manager

Sophie Thompson

Staff Writers

Emmy Byers, Maya Hiermann, Laura Langkan, Daniel Przybylko, Prianca Waters

Photographers

Katie Walsh, Grace Watt

Dennis Brown

Pumpkins, donuts, rides, oh my!

By Karolina Perkowski

The first thing people think of when they hear the words pumpkins, apple cider donuts, and leaves is fall. Well, those words are common as of right now because it is officially fall season.

It is time to get out of the house and head over to Tom’s Farm to see what is going on in Huntley.

Tom’s Farm’s “Fall on the Farm” event has opened back up for the year, and many local people are thrilled. There are multiple activities including a straw maze, climbing spider web, petting zoo, and more.

“There’s so many little things here,” Tom’s Farm worker Anthony Carpellani said. “You could spend a whole day here. Get something to eat on the spot, and then take your kids back to play. If you’re hungry again, you can get more food or even snacks.”

Tom’s Farm allows families to come together and spend quality time. There is never a dull moment when people are surrounded by all the positive energy, radiating from one family to another.

“I would 10 out of 10 recommend,”

mother Kelsey Clarkson said. “It’s a lot of activities for the price which is really nice. It’s really spread out, people ar en’t on top of one another and it’s very well kept.”

The event is inexpensive for what people are paying for, with over 15 dif ferent activities present. Tom’s is open for eight hours on weekdays and seven hours on weekends; there will always be something to do for everyone.

“There’s a lot of activities geared towards the children, they’re all dif ferent from one another and there’s a lot of peers around them to play with,” Clarkson said.

Kids can enjoy having various activi ties to participate in and get all of their energy out. It is a place for kids to be kids.

“I like the big jumpy pillow because I can play tag with my brother and sister, and it’s a lot of fun,” 8-year-old Ben Cohn said.

The jumping pillow seemed to be the biggest attraction at Tom’s, as most children present are seen in the area.

“The trampoline is a big hit,” mother Kristin Roelle said.

There is a joyous atmosphere present from parents and children enjoying the event.

“You can spend your whole day here

and not get tired of what you’re doing,” Carpellani said.

Tom’s Farm is a family-owned and operated business with fresh produce and many baked goods.

Anthony Carpellani

“There’s so many fun things to do here, it’s a family-owned business, and we like to support,” Roelle said. “The apple cider donuts here are a classic.”

The apple cider donuts at Tom’s seem to be a hit every year. People are eager for the fall season to get fresh donuts, but the apple cider donuts are not the only good thing to buy.

So what other treats are good?

“I like to eat the chocolate chip cook ies here,” Cohn said.

Friends and families can stop by at Cheryl’s Cafe, which is located on the left side of the building. There are snacks and drinks for everyone to enjoy, and apple cider donuts to savor the moment. If anyone is interested in purchasing pumpkin pie there are all sorts of different flavors to enjoy.

After a full day of activities and good ies from the bakery, Tom’s Farm also has a U-Pick Pumpkin Patch. They have all sorts of shapes and sizes that anyone can choose from, since Halloween is approaching sooner than everyone may think. It is the perfect time to decorate homes with festive decorations.

Many people carve their pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns. These creative activities will leave customers excited for more, and they will have a happy, cozy season.

Tom's Farm on Algonquin Road kicks off fall season

K. Perkowski

Tom’s Farm’s annual “Fall on the Farm” is a staple for Huntley families.

There’s so many things here, you could spend a whole day here

Students split to serve community

NHS Leadership Lineups help members communicate with each other more efficiently

By Sophie Thompson

This meeting is mandatory. It is required for members to be here. Removal from the program will occur if service hours are not met.

For years, the National Honors Soci ety was run the same way. Strict and rigid.

“It was too regulated and too focused on how we wanted to make sure [mem bers] were at a meeting or keeping track of things,” co-sponsor of NHS Pam Stone said.

NHS is an organization for juniors and seniors who have outstanding character and leadership qualities. This program allows students to get scholarship op portunities by doing community service work. Students need to go through an application process where they display their accomplishments to become an NHS member.

In previous years, members would become overwhelmed after initial ly joining NHS. Between excessive meetings and emails, it became hard for students in other extracurriculars to attend NHS activities.

Additionally, the Leadership Team, consisting of the president and vice president, struggled to relate with their members. This caused NHS to feel like an individual program rather than a whole.

“A lot of the members reached out and said that they felt disconnected from the NHS Leadership Team since it was only the two of us to answer ques

NHS so its environment would be more comfortable and fun for their mem bers. The leaders came up with a new concpet: Leadership Lineups.

Leadership Lineups are a way of split ting NHS into groups so members can feel like they are more connected and involved in the organization.

“You have this group of people [who] you can talk to and you can meet up with them,” NHS editorial board mem ber Keira Darnall said.

“You guys can all work together to get hours and stuff like that so you’re not as individual.”

Leadership Lineups were created in September and began to launch recent ly. Members are split into 10 groups of

be in a group with people they already know, which made the organization feel more relaxed and casual.

These groups make it easier for the Leadership Team to keep track of all students in NHS without having to send mass emails and have repetitive meetings.

Leadership Lineups give benefits to the members because they provide opportunities to do service in the community with a group rather than individually.

“Our goal is to have a few events each year with our [Leadership Line ups],” Darnall said. “I was talking to

You have this group of people you can talk to and meet up with Keira Darnall

G. Watt

school. The revenue from yearbook and keep it determined? school based on the production my mobile device? online from both desktop school? materials to our school. Our assist with our ad program. number (800-358-0800) if assistance in creating your ad. (800) 358-0800. www.jostensadservice.com/student

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Frequently Asked Questions

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online at www.jostensadservice.com/student layout. your photos. Yearbook Recognition Ads per our guidelines. text, graphic photos photos. your ad must be purchased black-and-white ads will appear layout and text as indicated. changes can be made after

Ad prices are determined by our school. The revenue from Recognition Ads helps support our yearbook and keep it affordable for everyone. How is the ad deadline determined? The ad deadline is set by our school based on the production schedule for the yearbook.

11916 W. Main St. Huntley 847-669-5747

Can I create my student’s ad on my mobile device? Yes, yearbook ads can be created online from both desktop and mobile devices. Can I send my materials to the school?

ECOGNITION A D C ONTENT.

applicable. or more. per our guidelines. Please appropriate for school

PARENTS: Order your Harmony yearbook recognition ad today! DUE DATE: 12/30/22

11801 Main St, Huntley, IL 60142

No, please do not send your materials to our school. Our school has selected Jostens to assist with our ad program. Please call our customer service number (800-358-0800) if you have questions or need assistance in creating your ad. More questions? Call Jostens at (800) 358-0800. www.jostensadservice.com/student

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Get on their level

New Esports Club forms at Huntley High School

By Chase Keller

Joining a club is one of many ways to get involved at Huntley High School. The school promotes more than 50 of these clubs and activities; from recreational clubs like Drone Club and Philosophy Club, to competitive ones like Contest Theatre and Fishing Club, there is room for nearly everyone’s preferences and hobbies.

That room expanded with the September addition of the Competitive Esports Club, sponsored by one of Huntley’s Alternative Learning Opportunities Program teachers Dillon Kleinvehn. The 23-year-old jack of all trades provided

Huntley with a perfectly-timed moment to dip their toes into yet another state-wide competitive tournament.

“I feel like a club was bound to happen due to how video games have been exploding in popularity with esports,” Competitive Esports Club member Brendan Hollow said. “Eventually, someone was going to say ‘hey, we need to start a program,’ especially since it can help kids get into college.”

With the rising popularity of esports in all categories of schooling across the country, assistant principal and activities director Tom Kempf has looked to launch an Esports Club for the last 3 years. Interest continued to grow after he learned about McHenry High School’s gaming lounge.

“[McHenry High School] knew that esports was coming, so they built a dedicated space,” Kempf said. “That’s when it landed close to home.”

Flash forward to present day, and the HHS administration is actively researching and planning the addition

of Huntley’s own game room.

“I’m looking to devote some money to find a space in our building,” principal Marcus Belin said. “We have some classrooms that used to be computer labs, so they have the wiring in the wall.”

The Competitive Esports Club structures itself around the Illinois High School Association, and its counterpart, the Illinois High School Esports Association. After the regular season, both unions host their own state-wide gaming tournaments just like the IHSA would with sports like basketball and cross-country. A variety of video game genres are offered throughout the year, like shooter games and sports games.

These tournaments support almost every mainstream video game console as well as PCs designed for playing video games, providing a vast amount of opportunities for any interested student.

“One of the great things about the Esports Club is that there is something for everyone who plays

K. Walsh

Kleinvehn talks to some of the members of the Competitive Esports Club at their informational meeting.

video games,” Kleinvehn said. “It is a really flexible club in that aspect.”

Depending on the popularity of the game, students can face off with fellow Fox Valley Conference schools as well as other schools across Illinois and in bordering states.

Joining the Competitive Esports Club also presents students with an opportunity to be coached by one of the best: Kleinvehn. Kleinvehn was a standout “League of Legends” player at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where his impressive gameplay and dedication to his craft brought him “Challenger” honors in the game, top 200 of over 2-3 million monthly users.

“It is definitely something that I am proud of,” Kleinvehn said. “It has been a journey with [League of Legends], and I’ve appreciated every moment of it.”

After graduating in 2021, Ball State University hired him as the head coach for their university’s varsity “LoL” team. He left the team

after a few months, and pursued coaching an amatuer “LoL” team: Supernova, an organization that acts as a developmental team for players attempting to go professional.

After a couple of months with the organization, Coach Klienvehn had to step away due to his personal life seizing over his free time. Fortunately, after applying for a social studies teacher opening at Huntley, Kempf noticed the esports successes on Kleinvehn’s resume, and officially followed through on the creation of the Competitive Esports Club.

“On his resume, he had a lot of information about how he played esports in college, and I was like, ‘this is exactly the kind of guy we need,’” Kempf said.

Along with his top-notch experience, Kleinvehn brings a lovable and respectable personality to HHS. His confidence, leadership, and ability to connect with students give members a second home with

Before coaching the Competitive Esports Club at Huntley (right), Kleinvehn played for Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (left).

the club.

“Coach [Kleinvehn] is really nice,” Competitive Esports Club member Addison Raistrick said. “He is always there to support us. He is always fighting for us.”

So far, Kleinvehn has formed a “Splatoon 3” team, which as of Oct. 18, is 2-1 in their regular season matchups through four weeks, with wins over Troy Buchanan High School (MO), Deer Creek-Mackinaw High School, and a loss to Caddo Parish Magnet High School (LA). Every matchup is a best-of-five series, and the team is 7-3 in games played.

The team’s overall skill has leveled them up to a peak of 23rd place out of over 200 competing teams not only in Illinois, but across the country.

“Finding out that we’re ranked within the top teams, we might actually have a shot at a championship,” Raistrick said. “I’m super excited to see what happens next.”

Kleinvehn also created a Fortnite team on Monday, Oct. 16, and has self-assigned roles for “League of Legends,” “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,” “Valorant,” “Overwatch,” and “Apex Legends” in their club Discord server. Sports games like “Madden NFL” and “NBA2K,” as well as other IHSA-supported esports games like “Rocket League,” are also in the mix for Kleinvehn.

With the addition of the Competitive Esports Club, both administration and Kleinvehn hope to broaden the experiences that students can receive at HHS. From freshmen to seniors; from beginners to experts; from introvert to social; the club is more than just gaming. It is a family.

“What I’m looking to establish with this club is to try and give kids a space to do what they love,” Kleinvehn said. “This gives them an activity to feel like they’re a part of Huntley High School.”

Check out more articles on news on huntleyvoice.com!

K. Walsh

Courtesy of Dillon Kleinvehn

W. Algonquin

Lake in the

847-458-1246

CAP creates the leaders of tomorrow

E. Byers

Captain Tyler Pollack evaluates the uniforms of the young cadets by making notes on his clipboard..

taught in the classroom. This week, the Civil Air Patrol cadets will be learning about aerospace in the lesson by sec ond Lieutenant Thomas Chapman.

“We learn about aerospace, leader ship, drill, and emergency services, and then also once a month we do [physical training] as well,” Charalambous said.

CAP is the Air Force Auxiliary founded on Dec. 1, 1941, six years before the Air Force was founded. It was created so those who were not eligible to join the military could support the country during World War II.

Children from the ages 12-18 are able to join as cadets and learn about mili tary life. They go through achievements and promotions starting from a Cadet Basic Airman all the way up to a Cadet Colonel.

“At my first meeting, I instantly fell in love with the program and couldn’t wait to turn 12 so I could join as a ca det,” Suwanski said.

Suwanski has been in the program for over five years and has taken the role of Cadet Commander at the Lake in the Hills Composite Squadron. She constantly plans for upcoming meetings so younger cadets can stay involved through participating in learning activ ities.

CAP ensures that the cadets are in an atmosphere where they can watch and learn about planes and rockets, as well as learn how to fly them. Pollack, with the role of Cadet Deputy Com mander for Operations, has been given an opportunity to pursue flying. The

Cadet Wing Scholarship has given him 60 hours of flight training, which is completely paid for.

“This has given me a great opportu nity to achieve my goals of getting my private pilot’s license,” Pollack said. “If it weren’t for this scholarship, I proba bly wouldn’t be as far into my training if I did this outside of CAP.”

CAP provides cadets with other op portunities as well, encampments being one of them. During encampments, which span over a week, cadets learn about leadership skills and aerospace knowledge. The skills they learn help them mature and familiarize them selves with the military environment.

Charalambous has been to five en campments since she first joined and since then she has wanted to attend as many as she could. For the last three she has gone to, she has been a part of the cadet staff to assist younger cadets.

“They are almost like my children,” Charalambous said. “We make everlast ing connections and I still talk to a few of them to this day.”

Byers

At my first meeting, I instantly fell in love with the program and couldn’t wait to turn 12 Zoe Suwanksi

Bas-soon music will be her future

By Megan Curry

As the 1:34 p.m. bell rings, Karsin Bader is on her way down the east hallway to the band room. She walks in, says hello to her band director Kev in Krivosik, and then goes to the locker room to grab her bassoon. She takes her instrument to her spot, right next to the clarinets and oboes, being the only bassoon player in the ensemble. She gets her instrument all set up, just in time to get started with another band rehearsal.

Bader is a skilled bassoonist, who has been playing for almost six years, and started playing in seventh grade after discovering that the oboe was not the right fit. Since then, she has been part of many different orchestras, bands, and activities throughout her career in the Huntley music de partment. She is now preparing for college applications and trying to make it in their music programs.

“I knew [I wanted to pursue mu sic since] my freshman year and I was in between education and per formance,” Bader said. “And then I decided I didn’t like children, so I’d have to [improve] a lot and go with performance.”

Bader is applying to the Indiana University Jacobs School of Mu sic, as well as applying to Butler University in Indianapolis. She is looking at some other schools, but no other pinpoints quite like Butler and Indiana.

“It’s obviously very stressful going in knowing that these people are the ones who will decide to get into this college,” Bader said.

Bader has been working with

Krivosik, along with her private teachers in preparation for audi tions. She practices after school every day, while also managing schoolwork, marching band and other activities.

“We’ve talked about which schools to audition for,” Krivosik said. “She’s talked with her private lesson teacher, but then she has also talked with me because both of us have gone to music school so I’ve kind of given her my own opin ions on where I believe she should go for bassoon performance.”

Krivosik has taught Bader since her freshman year and has seen her grow as a person and musician. Throughout her four years, Bader has shown that she is a hard work er and is a fantastic musician. She has been part of Huntley’s wind ensemble for four years, which is their top band ensemble.

“She’s always had a bit of natu ral talent on her instrument and just with music in general, but she has kind of grown into a stronger musician and into a more mature

musician,” Krivosik said. “She’s really grown into herself, and I’m really proud of where she’s at right now as a musician.”

Bader is also in Huntley’s march ing band, but not as a bassoonist. Bader offered to play the tuba for the marching band, which made Krivosik excited and happy.

“When she told me she wanted to play tuba and marching band, I was just like ‘yes, absolutely go for it,’” Krivosik said. “Like, I’m totally down for you to play in the march ing band.’ And Karsin’s been doing great.”

Outside of college applications and the Huntley music department, Bader also works with different youth orchestras and symphonies. She has performed in the Mchenry County Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Elgin Youth Symphony Or chestra, one of the top three youth orchestras in the state, in their top ensemble and in their Earl Clemens Wind Quintet last year.

“We went around and just played

Karsin Bader’s journey through Huntley music and music school applications

Bader pictured with her EYSO Earl Clemens Wind Quintet.

Courtesy of Karsin Bader

Does anyone in here have a pad?

with toilet paper, hoping it will get me through the rest of the day.

By Maya Hiermann

The bell rings and I speed walk into the downstairs central bathroom. I considered asking someone if they carried any pads or tampons on them; however, as I entered, nobody was there.

My last resort was to quickly dart to the dispenser, in hopes to secure a pad or tampon. I press the button on the metal dispenser, but nothing falls out. I press the button again, and again even harder, but nothing. In a rush, I go to the nearest stall and slam the door; I make a temporary pad

An Illinois state law passed in 2021 stated that feminine products must be offered in bathrooms to both female and male students from sixth grade to 12th grade.

Aside from this law, the lack of fem inine products in the girl’s bathroom should be a priority for any student who menstruates, yet, unfortunately, students disagree with the accessibili ty of period products at Huntley.

The absence of feminine products can make students feel uncomfortable about their menstrual cycle and make them feel as though their period is not in the school’s interest.

“I think it reflects onto our school by saying they don’t really care,” senior Norah Garriety said. “That if

a girl has an emergency, they don’t have the products to help.”

As students, we are also partially to blame for the insufficient amount of products; we need to be more mindful and conscious of the school’s property.

The trend “devious licks” was pop ular back in 2021, it impacted Hunt ley students negatively, as several students participated in this trend. It encouraged students to film vandal ization on school property and then post it onto TikTok.

It had students demolishing items in the bathrooms, including the dispens ers that stocked the tampons and pads.

Although it is a new year, the school is still working on the reparations for the destruction.

“Many of the products are thrown in toilets, on the floors, or they’re wasted,” school nurse Donna Kunz said.

“I know this staff has a very diffi cult time keeping up with the sup ply because they [have] refilled the products.”

On top of this shortage, the quality is unpleasant and unfavorable for any of the students’ needs. Even though the pads and tampons are bought in bulk, the material of those products fail to withstand a student’s flow during school.

The pad itself is wrapped in a thin, flimsy layer of plastic and is not all-in clusive when it comes to the mea surement of flow size.

Maya Hiermann is a sophomore and a first-year staff writer on The Voice. Outside of school, Maya loves to travel, go shopping, play with her dog, Koda, & hang out with her family and friends. Check out her vlog “Trader Joe’s Taste Testers” with Irene on huntleyvoice.com!

This inaccuracy makes females feel obligated to bring their own products and affects those who rely on the school, as our school may not feel required to restock as often.

This causes a major disturbance in a student’s educational setting, as it is determined by the feminine product that they are wearing. They will tend

Majority of the bathrooms at Huntley are lacking feminine products

One word to describe Maya: sweet

Maya Hiermann

T. Rainey

Who’s got spirit?

There is a lack of teachers participating in spirit days

By Natalie Vongchanh

During Homecoming week, high school students have the option to dress up for school spirit. The students and their creative outfits display their personality and make it a week to remember. Not only is it engag ing for the students, but teachers participating in these events also adds to the school spirit. Teachers can show a different side of them selves that they usually would not, and on some occasions, form better relationships with their students.

adult, I have that advantage where I don’t necessarily care what kids or other teachers say, which is a lot easier,” physical education teacher Jamie Kruse said. “Some are more self-conscious about participating.”

also side with the students, since participation during dress-up days helps boost morale and adds ex citement to the school year.

Kruse

“Homecoming is really about the unity of everybody in the school and taking pride,” biology teacher Sheilagh Delorenzo said.

Spirit week is an essential ex perience for high school students because it helps students show their unique qualities. In addition, instructors are role models for stu dents, so teachers and staff should be involved with these activities.

Having the courage to dress up exemplifies what we as a high school should accomplish.

“I feel like as a teacher and an

There is a positive spotlight on the teachers who dress up because it gives confidence to the younger generation. Educators should be able to exhibit their unique traits and inspire kids to do the same. If teachers were not encouraged to dress up for school spirit, there would be less student participation. Over time, teachers slowly began to participate more in spirit week.

The themes have evolved into more fun ideas, allowing teach ers to dress up more creatively. Students need to see a different version of their teachers outside of learning. Students find it captivat ing when their educators partici pate more often.

“I think it’s a good idea because it gets the teachers more involved in what the kids are doing and gener ally more included in school activi ties,” senior Anneli Domani said.

The students are not the only ones that think this way. Teachers

Natalie Vongchanh is a floating editor

it’s

loves

first year

In

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“I feel it allows the students to see a different side of us,” Kruse said. “One of the big benefits of teaching high school is that we do spirit day. I like to show my not as serious side to the day’s school.”

Delorenzo

Teachers dressing up for spirit week is not only about dressing up, it is about the effects. Students might be afraid to approach their teachers regarding schoolwork or extra help. If they were to show a different side of themselves, stu dents may feel more comfortable talking to them.

These events are key moments that students in our school will forever remember. Teachers should play a bigger role to make students feel acknowledged and connected to their teachers by participating.

Check out more articles on school spirit

crochet

making

One

L. Langkan

Homecoming is really about the unity of everybody in the school and taking pride

I feel it allows the students to see a different side of us

from BATHROOMS page 14

to be more preoccupied if they bleed through their pants, which will affect their concentration on learning.

Students should not be constrained to the only option of going to the nurse, as it is inconvenient on the student’s end but also awkward to ask for something that should be supplied.

“As you go back to your class, that’s wasting valuable educational time, and it’s also putting a woman in a sit uation that they shouldn’t have to be put in,” social studies teacher Renee Fowler said.

from MUSIC page 12

down for you to play in the march ing band.’ Karsin’s been great.”

Outside of college applications and the Huntley music department, Bader also works with other youth orchestras and symphonies. She has performed in the Mchenry County Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Elgin Youth Symphony Or chestra, one of the top three youth orchestras in the state, in their top ensemble and in their Earl Clemens Wind Quintet last year.

“We went around and just played gigs that they sent us on a trip to, that one [was] so much fun,” Bader said.

from NHS page 4

one of the workers at Northwest ern Medicine to make cards for the patients. I reached out to my lineup and I was like ‘Hey guys, on this date after school, if you want to come to this room, we can all make cards and you’ll get service hours.’”

NHS members participate in multiple events throughout the school year for service hours, such as Spooky Buddies and HHS club events that are interested in having volunteers. Members are now able to complete community service work in their groups, creating a more enjoyable atmosphere.

One of her good friends, David Sommer, is also applying and has been great friends with Bader since middle school. They have traveled for many band conferences, which have been filled with fond memo ries.

“On the ride back from St. Louis, our group [was] having a sort of celebration in the back of the bus and we were being obnoxious to the point we had to yell across each other just to speak,” Sommer said. “The things people said made it funny because you’d be talking to someone else and then hear something so out of context being yelled that it would make you just stop and be like ‘huh.’”

With assistance from the Leadership Lineups, the Leadership Team and spon sors of NHS are anticipating a smoother and easier way of connection and com munication with members.

“I really hope a few of [the Leadership Lineups] go well so we have role models for the next few years,” Stone said. “Any time you do something for the first time, you’re measuring it out.”

NHS hopes for a positive outcome from Leadership Lineups to continue them throughout the upcoming years. They want the lineups to make mem bers feel more connected and comfort able within their groups.

Bader is currently practicing movements two and three of the Mozart Bassoon Concerto to play at her auditions, where one is a com plete tempo change from the other. She has also been taking lessons from teachers at the colleges she is applying to, to be sure they are the right fit.

“I’m pretty confident when I went to both my lessons, both of the teachers seemed very positive and very happy to be teaching me and both of them seemed pretty confident that I’d make it into the school provided I didn’t completely mess up my audition,” Bader said. “But I feel secure that I will get into the schools I’m auditioning to.”

Samuel J Marshall Agent

10773 Illinois 47 Huntley, IL 60142-1800

Bus: 847-659-1800

Sam@SFSamMarshall11.com

Apps are keeping up with the popularity of BeReal

By Sharon Omoniyi

Quick, let us make a TikTok! Two girls rushed to the near est school bathroom in haste to press the red button, ready to attempt another one of the app’s trending dances. TikTok, a name that has come to be a frequent occurrence in conversations, has gained a vast popularity over the years with users increasing from 35.7 million users in 2019 to its current 94.1 million users in the U.S. Its unique appeal to teenagers around the world is due to the shortness of videos on the app. The app features videos from genres like comedy, relative content, dances, stunts, and more. Its growth ties back to the freedom the app creates for its users: to create content with the endless possibilities a mind allows.

“It is a great app to communicate with and you learn a lot of new things,” sophomore Karolina Zastaw ny said.

Recently, the app released a new feature called “TikTok Now," which allows users to connect with others in a different manner than the app's usual videos.

The feature creates a daily prompt of a photo taken within three minutes utilizing your device’s front and back camera, giving a more personal look into one’s life. Phone notifications are sent once a day at a random time of the day encouraging you to post. To view your friends posts, you are required to post your own TikTok Now within 24 hours before the next notification goes off.

Users found this new update to be as similar, if not, the same as that of the app BeReal. BeReal prides itself on being the simplest form of communication with friends. You get to share one moment a day with your friends at a random time each day. In order to preserve the authenticity of the concept, you get two minutes to take a photo captured with your front

TikTok Now sparks controversy about apps copying each other

and rear camera within this 24 hour time frame, just like TikTok Now. It is safe to say TikTok was trying to emu late the concept the app had acquired popularity from.

The question comes with the orig inality of social media applications in this day and age. Marketing in social networking has phenomenally risen over the last decade. Apps want to draw more attraction, so they run a deep dive on people’s momentary interests.

On the internet, trends die and revive again and some are never brought to life a second time.

That is the routine of the internet. A routine that forces social media apps to be on their toes. In an attempt to remain relevant, apps compete with each other fighting for the title of the trending app.

Some examples include YouTube with their edition of “Youtube Shorts,” allowing for creators to cre

BY-NC-ND

ate a short video timeline. This is very similar to the concept of TikTok. Ins tagram also changed their interface to be more palatable to users that frequently access TikTok to gain more interaction on their platform.

“Each app got famous for their own thing and they shouldn’t steal other [apps’] ideas,” sophomore Aracelli Bautista said.

Most users of these platforms find it perplexing as to how apps get away with openly taking ideas from others. The U.S copyright law does not pro tect the ideas or concepts of an app, protecting the way they are expressed in a weak manner.

Some argue that this is a threat to future platforms that might push their ideas aside for fear of being stolen. Nevertheless, the internet is what it is and it is highly unlikely these social platforms will cease to compete with each other. It is just the way the game goes.

Christina Smith

they would say...

Last Christmas, I met Marcia Corvetto, a woman from Chile. She just got her doctorate from Duke University and is also a Gatorade athlete who runs tri athlons. She is fluent in English, which was interesting since we were in Mexico at the time. We were on the beach when we were asked to play a game. We played soccer-volleyball and she was on my team. We start ed talking and she invited me to stay at her house to study abroad for a month, but I had to decline. She was so cool. I have her on Instagram now and we still talk!

halls

interviewed by Irene Banerjee photos by Katie Walsh

Victor Adeoye

they would say...

When I was a kid, I was always interested in music. I’d always play around with musical instruments. Later on, I tried out the cello in middle school, and now I’m a cellist in the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra. It is a learning experience where I learn about the knowledge of music and play with other musicians. Being a part of this orchestra has given me a lot more confidence and it has helped me in getting better with stage fright. My favorite part about being a part of this orchestra is that I am able to express the things I love, such as music and playing for other people.

talk

R. Faubl, D.D.S. 11613 Main St. Huntley, IL 60142

www.faubl.com

JohnR.Faubl,D.D.S. 11613MainStreet Huntley,IL60142

: 847.515.2400

: 815.382.6026

Stay positive dawgs

Half-asleep and running on autopilot, students slowly shuffle into school on a Friday morning. Football players are wearing their jerseys and cheerlead ers are in their uniforms, as the loom ing feeling of Friday fills the hallways.

Some students feel excitement, knowing that there is only one more day to get through before the week end. Others dread the thought of trying to make it through one more day of school. After a hard week of learning, extracurriculars and sports, it is hard to see the good.

Students find their friends and take a seat at their unofficial morning tables as they wait for the beginning of the school day.

Talk of plans for the weekend and last-minute studying keeps every one busy as they attempt to stay awake. Suddenly there is a change and a wave of energy flows through the school. Whispers of ‘look here they come’ and ‘I want to be in the video’ take over the conversations of the students. Principal Marcus Belin and math teacher James Allen begin approaching different groups of students. The known “hype men” of the school create laughter and excite ment as they make their way around the school asking, “What’s good in the last 24?”

Recently Belin, Allen and their videographer, junior Isabel Hernan dez, have started a new segment on the Huntley High School social media accounts called “What’s good in the last 24?”

Every Friday morning, the duo goes around the school asking students and staff to reflect on the past 24 hours and share something good. The goal is to create a positive vibe around the school and give people something to look forward to at the end of the week.

Principal Marcus Belin and math teacher James Allen

create positive vibes at HHS

The concept started at a faculty meeting, where author Shawn Achor was virtually brought in to build up the staff and get them ready for the upcoming school year. Over the sum mer, staff members were encouraged to read his book “The Orange Frog” and learn about getting into a positive

mindset.

Those with a positive mindset tend to be more productive, high-function ing, and happier. One trick to get into that mindset is by scanning the world for positives and reflecting on the recent past through writing it down or telling someone. Once this habit is built, people begin looking for the positives in their lives.

Allen brought this concept into his classroom by starting each day by posing the question. His students passed around sticky notes for them to share their positives and display them in the room.

Students began looking forward to sharing and wanted to find a way to bring the concept school-wide.

“I love seeing what he does in the classroom and his engagement with kids,” Belin said.

Allen thought about the best way to introduce this concept to all the stu dents at the high school and brought the idea to Belin. He proposed going around the building and asking stu dents to share something positive, then stitching it together and making a short montage of all the positives.

“That was the fastest that man

Videographer Isabel Hernandez films Belin and Allen as they ask students

“What’s good in the last 24?”

Belin and Allen interview students in the cafeteria on Friday morning.

I think it’s genuinely nice having someone genuinely ask you ‘how are you doing?’ James Allen

Gone

J. Gone

has ever texted me back and he was like ‘I’m in’ and that Friday we just jumped on it,” Allen said.

The two are adding a new level to the school’s ‘You Matter’ environ ment by forming new connections with the student body and helping them not dwell on the negatives, but turn that around and see the good.

Not only does this help their mind sets, but also gives everyone some thing to look forward to on a Friday morning. Even those who are not in the videos still get to watch them once they are posted on social media, which will hopefully inspire them to find positives in their own lives or at least give them a good laugh.

“It makes you start thinking about things that are positive and I think it impacts students in a good way be cause it gets them to smile,” videog rapher and editor Isabel Hernandez said.

Hernandez has been helping Allen with the videos for his TikTok account since last year when she started filming and editing videos of funny moments during class of him trying Starbucks drinks. The partnership grew and she started editing all of his videos, so when this new segment came about, Allen figured there was no one better for the job. Hernandez, with some history of editing videos and more knowledge of what the students will find funny, has taken the videos to another level.

“She put all the stuff together in a way that was so entertaining from something so simple,” Allen said. “I was like ‘we gotta have Isabel follow us around and put some of these things together [for] us.’ She has been crushing it on the shooting and editing front.”

Both Belin and Allen have an estab lished presence on social media. They run their respective accounts and document what is happening at the high school. Their positive energy ra diates through the screen and keeps students informed about things that are going on around the school, so it is no surprise that the two are coming

together to make Huntley High School a more positive place.

“You’ve got to find people that match your energy, like positive vibes and good thinking,” Belin said. “Mr. Allen and I have always had that, so us coming together to do something like this was [perfect].”

There has been an increase in teachers and staff using social media to find more ways to connect with students. Although Allen’s social media presence initially started by posting his videos on YouTube, he found more success on TikTok and his account has about 13.6 thousand followers.

His content is mostly solving quick math problems, sharing funny mo ments from his classes, and “Math in the Wild” videos, but students greatly appreciate the time and effort that he puts into his social media. Not only does this help students stay engaged, but shows that teachers do care about their students.

“I think it’s just nice having some one genuinely ask you ‘how are you doing?’ or ‘what’s something positive that has happened to you?’ and just having a positive conversation with somebody,” Allen said.

Allen and Belin are changing the environment of HHS by encouraging

students to look at the world from a different perspective and showing that they do matter. Having someone come up and talk to you because they genuinely care can change someone’s day. This hype duo will keep changing the mindsets of students and build

good habits for them to remember to see the positives in their lives.

“Make sure to check out the dope vids on the ‘gram when Dr. Belin posts on [@huntleyraiders] or my TikTok [@mrallenmath]” Allen said. “Stay positive dawgs.”

Students smile in excitement as they see Belin, Allen, and Hernandez, approach them.

J. Gone

It makes you start thinking about things that are positive and I think it impacts students in a good way because it gets them to smile Isabel Hernandez

A&E on Web huntleyvoice.com

Our staff works together to create an engaging and informational website for and about our communi ty. The website includes daily uploads of galleries, videos, articles, and more. Staffers write articles about current events in Huntley. In addition, each staffer is given the opportunity to express themsleves through a fun, personal assignment. We hope to keep growing our community engagement. Be sure to check out huntleyvoice.com for a sneak peek of our content featured below.

A&E Article

article written by A. Le

For this cycle, Amanda Le wrote an article on the new Netflix film, “The School For Good and Evil,” which is based on the Soman Chainani book with the same name. The article provides an intrigu ing review, hitting many different points about the film’s topics. See more a&e articles like this and many more on the website.

Personality Article

blog written by C. Willig and K. Nash

Every cycle, Carrie Willig and Kathleen Nash cook up a variety of items. During their video, they provide watchers with a step-to-step process on how to cook or bke their item. During this episode, they bake an Oreo cake. See more videos and columns like this one the website’s multimedia page.

A&E Article

article written by N. Vongchanh

For her web cycle, Natalie Vongchanh wrote an article on the new est BLACKPINK album, “BORN PINK.” In this article, she reports on the loss of originality in an efficient way. See more a&e articles like this on the website.

It’s all arrow dynamics

The weight shifts into the balls of her feet as she leans slightly forward to nock an arrow in one of the three strings. Hooking the metal release to the same string, she pulls back until her knuckles nearly brush her ear.

Inhale.

Her pink and purple bow does not shake as she sights down the scope, eyeing the five miniature paper targets grouped together about 10 yards away. A matching galaxy-themed quiver hangs on her right hip, decorated with over a dozen pins, a type of award from the Junior Olympic Archery Development Program. Binoculars hang at her left hip for farther distances.

Exhale.

Sophomore Alexis Males is every college admissions officer’s dream: selftaught and well-rounded. Like every kid, she tried a host of activities before finding her calling.

Release.

The black arrow sticks with a satisfying thunk in the center of the target.

Males shoots freestyle archery, which allows bows with modifications like stabilizers and scopes.

Sophomore Alexis Males has competed in freestyle archery for almost a decade, winning a national title and multi-state championship

By Abby Panier

From soccer and tee-ball, to cheerleading and poms, she did it all. A pianist, violist, ukulelist, and fashionista.

A renowned archer.

“I just like archery because it lets yourself go,” Males said. “I think it’s really relaxing, because you’re just focusing on yourself.”

After watching her idols Merida and Katniss in their respective movies, 7-year-old Males mentioned her interest to her mother, Karen Males, who immediately signed her daughter up for an archery camp at the Huntley Park District.

According to Karen, the teacher noticed Males potential right away, recommending that her parents look for a local archery team for Males to compete with. Equipped with a new type of bow and new-found passion, Males began diving head-first into one of the most difficult sports.

“She just took off from there,” Karen said. “[They] pushed us into putting her into competitions, and she was just first place, left and right.”

Contrary to popular belief, archery is more than just a bow and a target. Strength, both mental and physical, are needed to get anywhere in the sport. Every single time she shoots an arrow, Males pulls back 45 pounds on her current bow. Imagine doing that 60 times a day, for around three to four days straight, at high-stakes tournaments like nationals, which Males won in 2019.

“Breathing is important. Even if you don’t intend to have a negative mindset, it’s always going to be there,” Males said. “Because you’re always going to be thinking, ‘I have to aim in the middle and if I don’t aim in the middle, I’m going to go to second

place.’”

According to Males, practice is key when it comes to preventing the loss of skills. An archer can become shaky and less confident without muscle memory, seriously affecting aim. Her current instructor at BowDoc Archery, Jeff Sanchez, stresses the importance of public speaking and fighting stage fright.

“It becomes extremely mentally challenging to be able to hold your focus through the tournaments, [even if it’s] just normal qualification scoring,” Sanchez said. “It’s very, very mentally taxing to be able to not let outside thoughts and influences affect your shooting.”

Males loves her coach and her teammates, her compassion is a bright

A. Panier

I just like archery because it lets yourself go, I think it’s really relaxing Alexis Males

7-year-old Males at the Huntley Park District archery camp.

Courtesy of Karen Males

light for everyone around her. With BowDoc Archery being an hour and a half away, practice and tournaments are the only time she can really see them.

“She’s always worried about her friends and making sure they’re okay first before she does anything for herself,” Karen said.

Practices at BowDoc consist of team captains leading stretches, shoot-offs, and presentations. Team archers have homework to complete after every practice and they take turns giving oral presentations about anything that interests them. They take the time to talk about their lives, sharing happy events like new jobs or getting their driver’s license.

“Most people tend to only focus on negatives, or only speak about the negatives going on in our lives,” Sanchez said. “We always want to hear the good news.”

The BowDoc team also spends a lot of time running drills, so when the time comes to step up on the line, they know what to do. Strength training drills, aiming drills, concentration drills, and distraction drills train the archers into not thinking about the result, but the process instead.

“If you’re not in [the right] mindset, you’re gonna shoot terribly,” Males said. “I’ve been there before, and it sucks. There was a time when I thought I should just stop because I [didn’t] feel motivated anymore, which was a really sad time.”

It can take an archer years to earn a JOAD pin, much less several lanyards worth of them. Males only has one pin left to earn: the gold olympian pin. A pin can only be awarded at tournaments during the outdoor and indoor seasons, based on accuracy and consistency. Different pins for different seasons, 20 yards or 50 yards.

“This sport takes time,” Males said. “You need to be patient, or else everything is just gonna go downhill.”

Hard-won advice that comes from nearly 10 years of experience. Males figured out through trial and error that an archer can not just mindlessly shoot

toward the target, they need to focus on every part of the process. Every muscle, every breath, every hair needs to be in perfect alignment to achieve a straight flight for the arrow.

“She can stand on the line with any of the top professionals in the world right now and shoot head to head competitively with them,” Sanchez said. “She proved that at the last indoor nationals.”

Males’ true secret to success? Warm gatorade and goldfish. Often, those are the only things she eats during the day while she is at a tournament. Energyboosters or anything cold makes her muscles shake and nerves rise.

With indoor season starting any day now, and with it sore muscles, weekly tournaments, and the ever-daunting nationals. As long as she keeps her mentality strong, Males knows she can fly high.

“You need to be consistent,” Males said. “Don’t think about winning all the time. It’s not always about winning. It’s about learning.”

A. Panier

Males is a multi-state champion; over 50 medals hang in her room. To practice, she often shoots into her garage where a five-spot target is hung up.

A. Panier

Males at full draw, or anchor position, in her BowDoc Archery uniform.

EYE CARE

David Rocks, OD

Members of Guys Poms talk about their experience

Laugher and joy fill the halls of the school with no end as students get their first week of fun outside of their typical stressful school life.

Guys Poms keep up their annual tradition and wow the crowd

senior CJ Filipek said. “So as soon as I got the opportunity, I jumped on it.”

As the excited energy continues to grow during Homecoming week, a tradition long cherished throughout Huntley High School’s history returns for its yearly spectacular perfor mance. The cheers from the boy’s excitement and happiness pierces the ears of all as equally as the smell of sweat from their intense work attacks the nostrils of anyone daring to go near.

Guys Poms has been around at Huntley High School for many years. Each of those years it has never failed to bring joy during Homecoming week. The excitement is not only present for all those who are watch ing the performance but also for everyone on the team as well.

“We were all just messing around while getting work done,” Filipek said. “It was just a fun time and I’ve had no regrets joining that at all.”

and dance for them,” senior Emma French said, who is an instructor for Guys Poms. “We start from the begin ning of the routine and teach them little by little while running it through from the beginning over and over to help them remember.”

A tangle of limbs begins to delicate ly transform from a wild mess of ani mals to a meticulously crafted ritual. While only lasting an hour for three days of practice and two final out standing performances, Guys Poms delivers one of the most beloved Huntley traditions.

“I remember being on the football team and watching all the senior football players at the Homecoming pep assemblies so it’s a big tradition for seniors at the school,” senior Jus tin Jacobsen said.

Guys at the school are exposed to Poms as soon as the Homecoming festivities start. While they cannot join until their senior year, many can not wait for the chance to participate in the performance.

“I saw it my freshmen year and thought it was the most fun thing ever. I wanted to do it, and looked forward to it every single year, until I realized that you had to be a senior,”

With only three hour long practices the week before the performance, there was not much time to prepare for the pep rally. The guys are in structed by the senior varsity dance team who teach them all of their rou tine step by step during the practices. While most of the preparation is done ahead of time the most difficult part is left for the guys to complete.

“We had previously made the music

By Daniel Prybylko Members of guys poms celebrate after their dance routine for Homecoming.

While the Powderpuff and Pep Rally performances have already passed, another year continued in an amazing Huntley tradition. The team is accept ing to all senior boys who are inter ested and try their hardest to make all practices work for everyone. Even if you miss a practice, all of them are recorded to make sure you can learn the dance on your own time.

The experience is open to any guy and something to consider to add to their overall high school experience.

“There was no part where I felt like, maybe I don’t really like this,” Fili pek said. “I loved every second of it. It’s just a whole bunch of fun. Every senior guy should do it.”

K. Nash

I saw it my freshman year and thought it was the most fun thing ever CJ Filipek

Watch them SERVE on the court

Seniors Nora Stevenson and Elaina Hibbeler shine on the tennis court

By Taryn Rainey

The varsity girls tennis team walks out of the high school, two of them pull up their hoods as the group is hit by a gust of wind. The after school practice is too cold for the girls. Seniors Elaina Hib beler and Nora Stevenson run across the courts in sync.

This was what could be their last high school practice. After-school practices or bus rides to away match es, which has become routine to them, will all disappear.

Both Hibbeler and Stevenson prepare for what will be the end of

their high school career as athletes; though, they will look back on the years as times of growth as players, teammates, and leaders.

Stevenson did not grow up playing tennis, but found her love for the game through her freshman gym class. Before playing in class, she had never played tennis before, and she learned the game as she played on the JV team during her sophomore and junior seasons. In between Ste venson’s junior and senior year, she took lessons to grow her skill in the game.

“I learned how to actually play,” Stevenson said. “How you’re sup posed to hit the ball.”

This year, Stevenson joined the var sity team as a doubles player where

she has been able to shine.

Though Stevenson did not have much experience, she was able to improve and become a varsity starter this year. Head coach Barry Wells said that Stevenson has developed a really nice backhand and her serves have gotten better through the year.

“She does a good job placing [her volleys] too and she gets some good

She’s always really positive when she plays Carlie Weishaar

Elaina Hibbeler and partner Kate Burkey celebrate by tapping rackets together after they earn a point.

pop on them,” Wells said.

This year, Stevenson was a Fox Val ley Conference champion. She played with sophomore Carlie Weishaar, and the two were 7-0 in conference play.

“She’s always really positive when she plays,” Weishaar said.

Stevenson has developed her skills to become a consistent player and a great asset to the team.

Hibbeler is controlled on the court by being able to complement the game of her playing partner, soph omore Kate Burkey. Burkey is more aggressive, and Hibbeler is more

said.

Their complementary skills led them to be credited as the best team in the Fox Valley Conference, with a record of 7-0.

Hibbeler had been a varsity starter for all four years of high school, but she did not always play doubles. She switched over this year from playing singles where she had been a two time state qualifier. This year, she became a state qualifier for the third time with Burkey, and the two got second place at sectionals.

Hibbeler started playing tennis

“It’s fun to play with him sometimes.”

Hibbeler is a versatile player who has strong serves and placement of her hits. However, her best quality is her consistency and level-head.

“In the past, her nickname was ‘The Machine’ because she was just

so focused out there and she never got upset or never got stressed out,” Wells said.

Hibbeler is pursuing tennis later on in college and is looking to go to McHenry County College to continue her career. The MCC tennis coach came to one of the tennis team’s matches to scout her out. Hibbel er wants to continue playing after college even if she can not go profes

“[Tennis is] one of my hobbies,” Hibbeler said. “It’s just a fun activity. So I’ll probably do it later on.”

While neither are captains on the team, they are considered leaders on the court, as they work with their partners and teammates. Both have the positivity, consistency, and level-headedness that is needed for leaders in any sport. They learned how to work with their partners and the rest of the team to improve their skills and making the most of their

“They’re both leaders by example,” Wells said. “They play very smart and they never give up on the court.”

out more articles on tennis huntleyvoice.com

They’re both leaders by example. They play very smart and they never give up on the court Barry Wells

K. Walsh

On this day: Oct.

In 1886, President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the government of France.

In 1636, Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the USA, was founded.

College: Military: Trade School:

degrees typically take two years

degrees take four years,

some bachelor degrees can take five years

options to study abroad

campuses are intentionally impressive

ACT, and GPA requirements vary depending on the school and impact potential scholarships

tuition for a four-year college can range from $10,000-$79,000 per year

most expensive colleges in the U.S. 2022 according to collegeadvisor/com: Harvey Mudd College, University of Pennsylvania, Amherst College

branches- Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy

include passing the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude

with a minimum AFQT score ranging from 31-40, according to military.com

every branch supports the GI Bill and Tuition Assistance Program which help finance college for service

offers students hands-on experience in select vocational trades

meant to teach students of all levels of experience in a specific trade

classes are meant to meet basic requirements for entry level jobs

cost for public two-year: $3,588 according to tradeschools.net

Enlisted

The rush, the final decisions, the anxious wait throughout winter.

The college application season is a universal experience for most seniors. Even students that are not going to four-year colleges feel the pressure to find the right trade school, branch of the military, or work force for them.

Though Huntley High School has many resources available to students regarding future plans, they are not all known. Even Laura Martens, the College and Careers counselor, is a resource that not many students know about until later in high school, if at all.

“I think there could have been more communica tion regarding the resources available and more in-depth explanations of what the counselors can help you with,” alum Emily Domek, Class of 2022 said.

entire slide presentation about the application process and what you might need and who you talk to.”

These slideshow presentations are linked on the college and ca reers website: sites.google.com/ district158.org/collegecareer.

In the infographic to the left, we have compiled a casual timeline along with research to help anyone wanting to plan ahead or stay on track.

For students who have the space in their schedules, the College and Careers class can be a great option to learn more about the possi bilities of their future. For each month, College and Careers teacher

assemblies or lessons be taught depending on the student’s inter ests: trades, military, university, or another path.

We strongly recommend that each student tries to meet with either Martens, their assigned counselor, or both. One-on-one help is one of the most beneficial options, so it is important to utilize the support system.

“I wish more students would come to us,” Zacharias said. “I send out invitation emails and stuff like that, but students get so many emails [that] they get lost in the crowd.”

Thoughts on the future

The obstacle in many students’ path is not a lack of resources, but rather where to access them and how to utilize the tools. The College and Careers central page, a gold mine of information, is hard to find and never explained.

“Because my parents don’t really know anything about it, it’s mostly just me on my own trying to figure all of this out myself,” senior Nataly Rodriguez said, who will be a first generation college student.

If students take the time to visit the College and Careers center, like Rodriguez did, they will have an abundance of help and informa tion. Prospective first-generation students and firstborn children looking to apply to colleges, trade schools, or the military often have no place to start.

“They don’t know what are they supposed to put in box A, box B, box C because they’ve never been in an application situation like this before,” Dual Credit English teacher Kate Mennoneh said.

In DCE 151, Martens takes a full period to explain the application process, timeline, and her resourc es page that takes students step by step on whatever path they are taking. While extremely helpful to DCE kids, others not enrolled in that class miss out on important information.

“I break it down,” Martens said. “I have an entire slide presentation about choosing colleges, I have an

Kirsten Sanchez gives a checklist to her students of what they have to do to stay on track. The lists are usually personalized based on the student’s path, whether they want to go to a trade school, military, straight into the workforce, twoyear or four-year college.

“I think the process here at Huntley has really improved greatly with this class and also with Mrs. Martens,” Sanchez said.

However, if students are not in DCE or College and Careers classes, then they hear about resources and strategies through the grapevine.

An assembly specifically for ju niors and seniors at the beginning of the year that is the same presen tation as Martens’ in DCE would be great for students to have a start ing point, a place to brave ques tions that everyone may have.

“There are an abundance of deadlines and items that need to be completed in order to apply to schools,” Domek said. “So having this resource available would help consolidate this information and ensure students are on track.”

According to 11/12 counselor Patty Zacharias, senior assem blies regarding future plans used to be held every year. Raider Way lessons work the best now, but it should be imperative that separate

While the application process may have some bumps in the road, students also can put the pedal to the metal and pull their weight. The faculty at Huntley are unable to help if they are unaware something is wrong.

“Advocate for [yourselves] be cause colleges and universities, post-secondary anything: nothing is just going to fall into your lap,” principal Marcus Belin said. “You have got to do some legwork and you [have] got to go after it.”

Fall of senior year is an extreme ly overwhelming time. There is a lot going on: tough classes, jobs, sports, extracurriculars, social obligations, and keeping up with grades so you can ace the final transcript.

“Not only the process itself can be stressful, but just moving on and not being in high school any more can be stressful,” 11/12 counselor Danielle Rewiako said. “We’re here to support you and make you guys feel comfortable.”

Don’t worry - if you plan on going to college and haven’t decided on a major, know that around 50% of students enter undecided.

Some tried-and-true methods include having a list, no matter the length, of any schools that interest you by the summer before senior year. This gives you time to really research, reach out to schools, and visit without worrying about school just yet. Start narrowing it down by August and ask teachers for recom mendation letters if you haven’t already. Remember, no matter what path you are going down, you are not alone.

You got this.

Students, faculty can do more to improve the application process

Humans of Huntley

How did you become a librarian?

I was working as a teacher’s aide and as a substitute teacher at an elementary school. While I was working there, my neighbor told me about a job here at the library. I started out part-time in the Children’s Department, and I loved it.

What is your most prized possession and why?

I have an old camera that my dad got when he was in service, in France. He has been gone for 10 years and it reminds me of him.

Growing up, what was your favorite memory?

Librarian at Huntley Area Public Library - Pamela Kampwerth

Camping with my family is my favorite childhood memory. We would camp outside, cook over an open fire, and saw many different sights while traveling. I’ve seen a lot: the Black Hills, the Corn Palace, Devils Pyramid, the mountains, and more.

What do you think makes you an interesting part of the community?

I am the volunteer manager for the library, and I volunteer for CERT, which is the Community Emergency Response Team through the police department. I also volunteer for an organization which is a part of the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency. I have basic training in search-and-rescue, so I help look for lost peoplein the area when I am called. Huntley is a great place to live and I try to help out by volunteering.

What is your favorite place that you have traveled to?

I’m very much an outdoor person, so I enjoyed traveling to Iceland. It’s a volcanic island with a national park there. At the national park, two continental plates come together there and you can see both of them. That’s the only place in the world you can see that. There was just so much to see, a lot of falls, waterfalls everywhere. We took a hike through one of the old tunnels, which was like a cave, but it was a lava tunnel.