Graduation checklist- Kathryn Sweeter

BY KATHRYN SWEETER

As LHS seniors experience the last few months of their high school years, many are realizing what they want to accomplish before they leave for college. Places, people and memories they used to take for granted are now all things they should take advantage of in the next few months before they are no longer as easily accessible. Here are some tasks to complete to help commemorate and refl ect on your high school experience.

Until the summer is over, our favorite restaurants, shops and places that hold a special meaning will be jampacked with seniors trying to soak up every last minute they have left in Sioux Falls. Bagel Boy, Phillips Avenue Diner and Juice Stop, all Sioux Falls classics, will be busier than ever as we try to eat as many bagels, shakes and smoothies as possible.

Hug your mom: Or your dad, sister, brother — anyone who you are close with that you will not have the luxury of spending every day with while in college. Even though you hate to admit it, chances are you will miss them dearly, so make an effort to spend time with your loved ones. You should realize your time with them will be limited in the next four years, so appreciate them even more.

Take a senior trip: Whether it is a weekend getaway to Omaha, NE or a week in the Bahamas, go on a trip to commemorate your high school experience because you have earned it. While on the trip, have fun, but also take the time to reflect on how many things have changed over the past several years of your life. Bring your friends with you so you can all be together one last time before you venture separate ways. Do something crazy: We all have an idea in our head of something crazy we have always wanted to do but were too anxious to go through with. Now is your time. Do it. Whatever it may be, you should complete that crazy dream of yours because if you do not, you may always wonder what it could have been like.

Take pictures: From now until the end of summer, fill your camera roll with countless pictures and videos. Take candids, selfies and all other types of photos that represent the adventures or trips you take, the days you spend at the lake and the people you surround yourself with during the end of the school year and summer. When you go to college, you will want to have these memories hidden away on your phone to look back on. Maybe even make a cheesy compilation of videos with an artsy song in the background. Although it may seem cliché now, you will appreciate having it later.

Keep your grades up:

With only a couple months left of your high school career, it is very easy to let your grades slip away from you as senioritis kicks into full gear. After working hard at maintaining good gradwwes, you owe it to yourself to finish out your last year with those good grades. Even if you are accepted into college already, put in the effort to complete your work to the best of your ability.

Visit your favorite locations in Sioux Falls: The city of Sioux Falls, SD has been a lifelong home to many of us. Before you leave for college, you should visit the places that have helped make this place feel like home to you. A childhood home, a location that holds memories of family traditions or maybe just the place of a memory you enjoyed. These areas will help remind you of the community and activities in Sioux Falls, SD.

Spend time with your friends: For the rest of the school year and summer, spend copious amounts of time with your friends. Go to LHS sporting events together, hang out on school nights and spend the whole summer together. Chances are you are as close to them now as you ever will be, so make the most of your friendship. Even though you may be separated from your friends in college, do everything in your ability to stay in touch and maintain your relationships with them.

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Located off of Louise near Century Stadium 14 and XD, Johnny Carino’s is a classic Italian chain restaurant that serves Italian cuisine with a modern and familiar �lare for the American community. When I visited, I was immediately seated and greeted by the friendly servers. On the menu, we could order multiple types of Italian food ranging from types of lasagnas to classic Italian dishes such as Baked Cheese Tortellini and Classic Cheese Ravioli. I ordered the Classic Fettuccine Alfredo which cost $10.99. The cost would have risen if I added chicken which would cost $3, shrimp for $4.50 and adding both would cost $4.

Right when we ordered, we were instantly served with their iconic bread and oil, which is the perfect appetizer for an Italian restaurant. The food was served in less than 15 minutes with a presentation that was on par with a restaurant in Italy. When I took a bite of my meal, I was disappointed by the overly sauced pasta. The plate seemed more like a soup with a side of pasta. The fettuccine tasted �ine with the texture of a normal noodle, but the sauce was overseasoned and tasted like an average sauce that I could have bought from a grocery store. The meal overall seemed underwhelming due to the fact that I believe I could make just as good as a fettuccine alfredo in the comforts of my home for half of the price. seemed underwhelming due to the fact that I believe I could make just as good as a fettuccine alfredo in the comforts of my home for half of the price.

With only one location in Sioux Falls, Noodles and Company has become a fan favorite for noodle lovers. With their diverse menu, people are able to get food that varies from cultures around the world. From their Asian section to the classic Italian noodles, anyone can get anything they desire for their pasta needs. When I went to the American fast-casual restaurant with a couple of my friends, I decided to get a small order of the Alfredo MontAmore with Parmesan Crusted Chicken which cost $9.25 due to the addition of meat.

It took my food around 15 minutes since it was a Saturday night, and the restaurant was semi-crowded. This meal seemed almost comparable to something I would expect in a four-star restaurant. The pasta was a perfect blend of vegetables and creamy alfredo sauce. Although I added meat to my pasta, the spaghetti noodles would taste just as good meatless. Personally, I would recommend adding meat just to get an extra �lavor. However, the meal is not for the small-stomached. This bowl of pasta �illed me up, and I thought I was going to implode by how hearty and cheesy the meal was. The noodles were doused in four types of cheese and there were multiple types of vegetables such as roasted mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes. The taste is unlike any of the other pasta on their menu due to the enormous blast of �lavors.

STATESMAN 17  e  rst thing I saw when I walked into Fazoli’s were the bright, vibrant colors, which immediately drew my attention.  e restaurant contains a large sitting area along with a plethora of food choices, all at a fairly moderate price. I ordered the Bu alo Chicken Mac and Cheese for $6.99. For around an additional dollar, one can upgrade to a combo meal, adding a piece of pizza or a choice of a salad to your meal. Fazoli’s is truly a bang for the buck. All the workers were respectful, and ordering my food felt like a breeze. While waiting for my food, they continuously brought out fresh breadsticks, which came free with my meal. I was overly impressed with the start of my Fazoli’s experience.

It took around 10 minutes to receive my food, and my initial thoughts were that it looked pretty appealing. A er a couple of bites, I realized that its looks didn’t lie. I thought it tasted fairly good.  ere was a substantial amount of food, and I was surprised by how much pasta one actually receives.  e one factor about my meal that was disappointing was the fact that my chicken in the pasta was only lukewarm.  is didn’t bother me that much, but in some people’s standards that would ruin the whole meal. In Sioux Falls, as you drive down Western headed towards West 41st Street, one will see a Shopping hub to your left along with Scheels Sporting Goods Store. What some fail to notice is a little gem called All Day Café, where they serve an array of dishes with top-notch reliable service. I dined at All Day Café on a Saturday night. To my surprise, it wasn't overly busy, and I was seated almost immediately. In the quick time of being seated, the waitress greeted me and took my drink order. Their food selection had a range of prices from expensive to reasonable; I didn’t think any of their meals were cheap. I eventually made up my mind and ordered the mac and cheese, priced at $11 and with the addition of chicken the price was raised to $14. It took around 15 minutes for me to receive my food. The mac and cheese was nicely presented, and the chicken was well seasoned and tasted great on top of my pasta. I enjoyed my meal, but the main downside that stood out to me was the portion size. When paying $14 for pasta, I feel one should have a fairly substantial amount of food, but that was not the case for this dish. Taste-wise the mac and cheese was spectacular, and it would de�initely get me to come back again, so props to the chef. Fazoli’s by Kaden Fossum