High school’s over and change is right around the corner

By: Sophia Brockway LO’T Co-Editor in Chief

In life, few experiences are as formative as high school – but does that make it defining? Though often thought of as the most critical period in a young person’s life, the impact of high school can sometimes be overestimated. While attending high school undoubtedly shapes and molds individuals in significant ways, its influence should not be overstated. Instead, we must acknowledge that while high school is crucially impactful for many students, it is essential to recognize its limitations relative to shaping an individual’s destiny.

High schools serve several purposes: they provide educational opportunities, social interaction with peers at similar developmental stages and help develop necessary skills like time management or interpersonal communication. However, assuming “high-schooler” labels and experiences define individuals perpetuates potentially harmful stereotypes about who they are bound to become. To avoid this trap where one could pigeonhole themselves into a specific identity before even exploring who they truly want to be, it’s crucial for students of all ages to always keep an open mind towards personal growth beyond those four walls of, in this case Moline High School.

Therefore, when considering high school’s impact on one’s future accurately, we need to examine beyond just academic achievements and look at how much the experience has helped shape us through our interactions with others and personal development. When you think back on your time at Moline, no doubt, some of those times are shadowed by negative emotions.

Many of us went through personal changes, new and first time relationships, tumultuous friendships, or had stressful classes. But though not every experience was great, they all offered a learning opportunity to take into the “real” adult world. We learn how to walk away from trouble, apologize when we’re wrong, and forgive and forget.

The most important thing I learned in high school is that everything constantly changes and that’s a really good thing. On occasion, these four years felt repetitive and even endless at times, but I look around at my friends and at myself, and I don’t recognize us as the freshman we once were. People change and lives change and places change, but it’s all necessary to keep everything moving towards what it’s meant to be.

Change can be awkward and nerve-wracking; it can feel like it’s moving too slow and too fast at the same time. But in a year from now, we will already be looking back and shaking our heads about what it was like to be in high school.

To think it’s all over is strange, but it’s just the next cycle of change as we continue to grow into our future selves. Hopefully, your experiences have given you a small glimpse of the world and the confidence to dive in head first.

American author John Maxwell once wrote “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” So as the changes continue to come, because they will, face each one with what you learned, and always with an open mind. In our lifetime we are guaranteed to face many new challenges in our world and in our own individual lives, but don’t be afraid of what’s to come; prepare yourself by taking every obstacle as just that: something to get around or through.

Growing with change is a personal responsibility; it requires you to often face your fears and make hard decisions. This next step in our lives is going to be the most exciting one yet, but it also may be the hardest for some of us. When the change feels like too much or impossible to face, have faith that it isn’t and that we are all with you changing as well, and soon enough the hard parts will be memories and the change will be familiar.

LO’T Staff

-Editors-In-Chief: Siri Chintala & Sophia Brockway

-News Editors: Sanaj Kapur & Andrew Grau

-Feature Editors: Abby Comp, Natalie Rotramel & Anandi Hogheem

-Entertainment Editors: Harry VanVooren & Micah Thieme

-Focus Editor: Maranda Bargren

-Sports Editors: Akhil Kumar

-Advisors: Heidi Norcross & Heather Breidenbach

Copy Editor: Simon Zimmerman

Here’s some advice for MHS’s underclassmen

By: Siri Chintala LO’T Editor-in-Chief

This is it. It’s been a long-awaited four years, and now it’s time to leave. I’ve learned a lot since freshman year and being slapped in the face with a pandemic that lasted for what felt like a never-ending cycle of rising Covid-19 cases. But despite going through a global pandemic that started during my freshman year of high school, I’m glad I made it to this day. As a freshman walking through the halls, it felt exhilarating as I got to meet new people and experience a more rigorous level of learning. One thing I can say for sure is that I am not the same person who walked through our school doors during freshman orientation. The notion that high school changes people is very accurate. I have experienced this phenomenon with the environment and the people around me. In the end, we all grow up, and today, I am going to address what underclassmen could do in order to live up to their last few moments at Moline.

First things first, relationships evolve

Let go, and move on. As we all know, high school is full of changes, and everyone is experimenting and exploring their identity and personality. People outgrow each other, and that is completely okay. I remember merely weeks ago I was walking to class when I saw a friend that I met in sixth grade, and the smiles we both exchanged felt like a full-circle moment, realizing all the time that has passed by. But on a future scale, people come and go, so it’s important to stay and enjoy the little things, or as my friends always say, “live in the moment.”

As I’ve mentioned before, high school is a place dedicated to exploring students’ abilities, so it is important to realize your potential. Find things that you enjoy and delve into your interests. Although four years may seem like a long time, mine are about to end. Trust me, it’s not a long time. Most of my time was spent craving academic validation and finding opportunities that may benefit my future, and one thing I’ve learned is that consistency and self-discipline go a long way. While it may seem uncomfortable at first, know that it is okay to quit. Realizing the time restraint established for high school, it is only reasonable to pursue your own interests because life is short, and therefore high school is too. It’s important to save time here, despite facing adversity. Senioritis, burnout, or even laziness affects everyone, and although it may seem inevitable, so try and refrain from procrastination. Organization plays a significant role in staying on top of your schoolwork. Take this editorial for example, I have procrastinated writing this piece due to the tremendous amount of senioritis I am currently experiencing with school ending in less than a month. Honestly, I won’t gatekeep here. I personally love using Google Keep, Google Calendar, and Notion to plan out my days and to-do lists. Applying to most given assignments, whether it’s a project or a lengthy essay, starting early is definitely a huge advantage, for this way, it is easier to divide the task into smaller chunks.

Now, being given a set time frame and a plethora of opportunities, it’s a great concept to romanticize school. Go beyond expectations, and don’t feel limited by the learning experienced in the classroom. Most teachers have a goal to instill a similar sense of accomplishment in their students. Along with taking advantage of possibilities, don’t be afraid to try new things or ask for help. School is what you make it. It’s your four years, and you get to decide how you spend your time. With that being said, make sure to challenge yourself once in a while, and put in the effort and time to extend your abilities and interests. It’ll all be worth it in the end.

With a school full of various clubs, get involved! As a freshman, I didn’t truly branch out and join clubs that I initially thought I wouldn’t be interested in, but after quarantine, I tried my best to take advantage of clubs and activities at school. I joined the Line O’Type during my junior year of high school and took on the role of a news reporter. Last year, most of the news articles I wrote consisted of Covid-19 updates and major changes within the educational environment. Now, given the freedom of writing about any interest with no limitations, the role of being a co-editor-in-chief has widened my perspective of our community.

LO’T Editorial Policy

Last but not least, balance is key. As you progress through various classes, hone in on your time management skills in order to maintain consistency and a balanced schedule. Most students refer to their junior year as their hardest year, and for me, that was indeed the case. Apart from taking multiple A.P. classes, I had tennis season in the fall, speech, and debate for most of the first semester, and classical Indian dance practices multiple times a week until midApril. During this time, I turned to most of my friends and teachers for moral and academic support.

Line O’Type is the official school-sponsored paper of Moline High School. The paper is published by the students under the supervision of faculty advisors for the Moline High School community. The staff will strive to accurately report school, local, state, and national news that affects high school students. Line O’Type Signals is also a forum open to students, faculty and administration to encourage the airing of opinions respresenting all sides of an issue.

All submitted material must be signed, due to a code passed by the school board. All responses or questions regarding editorials should be directed to your Editors-in-Chief, Sophia Brockway and Siri Chintala and faculty advisors, Heidi Norcross and Heather Breidenbach.

Ultimately, as a graduating senior, I am passing down my experience with high school to all of the underclassmen at Moline High School. While I do believe that the pandemic has caused most of the anxiety I experience to this day, it has also compelled me to try new things and branch out, so try finding reason to make the most of your high school years since you only have a few, and they will also pass by before you realize you’re graduating in less than three weeks. Here’s to creating a better, self-driven high school experience.

What are you doing after high school? Seniors respond

Augustana College:

Sawyer Carver

Aislinn Baker

Maranda Bargren

Evangelina Marti- nez

Anandi Hoogheem

Paige Melton

Taelyr Molina

Evan Finley

Isabel Rios

Maddux Dieckman

Zoey Edwards

Nabila Saam

Hanna Wilson

Julia Fairchild

Juanita Rivera

Alison Locander

Noelia Avila

Beloit College:

Aubre Threatt

Black Hawk College:

Dominik Miklebost

Sophia Samolitis

Brock Dzekunskas

Abi Rangel

Jaqueline Raya

Camila Gutierrez

Olivia Gratton

Jozelynn Sanderson

Giovanni Gonzales

Kirsten Schmidt

Griffin Fortin

Aden Ehrmann

Nico Cordova-

Cantu

Sarah Spurgetis

Mason Daniels

Hannah Ortiz

Makayla Mendoza

Marissa Summers

Macyn Walston

Miles Ethridge

Ava Belowske

Conner Schimmel

Mason Woods

Itzel Herrera

Julian Aguirre

Ziraily Meza

Haley Petersen

Julian Aguirre

Amarie Johnson

Jaimari Hall

Blanche Doriane

Gato

Isabelle Seemann

Madison Eddleman

Belinda Trigueros

Antonio Soberanis

Bryleigh Harper

Bryan Klutse

Sadie Durham

Gage O’Neal

Jordyn Harris

Grant Shoemaker

Jacob Remaly

Liberty Stauffacher

Vanessa Chris- tensen

Ashlyn Metz

Collin Ducey

Taylor Welsh

Ivan Sanchez

Grace Jordan

Diego Gomez

Julianna Miller

Katelyn Jones

Kadiatou Sow

Harel Martinez

Carthage College:

Winter Roland

Chase Portner

Central College:

Brock Luna

Clemson University:

Eryn Robertson

Coe College:

Sam Gerstel

Colorado State University:

Avery Daniel

Earlham College: Caylee Brandes

Florida Gulf Coast University: Grant Raber

Howard University: Corynn Holmes

Illinois State University:

Elle Spence

Savanna Wynn

Charlee Moon

Gigi Tertipes

Indiana Wesleyan University: Emma Bear

Iowa Central Community College: Carver Banker

Iowa State University: Nivena McCoy

Kirkwood Community College:

Brenna Ross

Loyola Chicago: Tanijah Callahan

Northern Illinois University: Alisha Loehrl

Northwestern University: Diego Davila

Pittsburg State University: Jasper Ogburn

Pratt Institute: Matthew Callahan

Purdue University: Diya Vishwakarma

Saint Louis University:

Simra Babu

Scott Community College: Camdyn Murphy

Elijah Barnett

Southern Illinois University -

Carbondale: Kiersten Bailey

Southern Illinois University -

Edwardsville:

Megan DePoorter

Tyanna Alger

Janice Tsogbe

St. Ambrose University: Samara Thompson

Texas Christian University: Ryleigh Robertson

University of Alabama: Lily Oswald

University of Aurora: Mark Runkle

University of Colorado Boulder: Gabi Gragg

University of Denver:

Alyson Benson

University of Dubuque:

Amna Habona

Nailah Anders

University of Illinois-Chicago: Grant Welch

University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign: Luke Manecke

Chelsey Highly

University of Iowa: Graham Crippen

Owen Freeman

Brock Harding

University of St. Thomas: Alex McChurch

University of Northern Iowa: Zander Anselmi

University of Vermont: Abby Comp

Utah State University: Zachary Bitner

Western Illinois University:

Nadya Herrera

Schuyler Kirgan

Ariella Ducoing

Neena Cameron

Olivia C. Haney

Anjila Dawadi

Undecided college:

Abby Rodell

Sarah Boggs

Sonia Rosales

Natalie Rotramel

Jakob Neihaus

Ciin Nuam

Midwest Technical Institute:

Emily Perez

Estela Juarez

Alyssa Holton

Morisson Technical Institute:

Angel Lopez

Nascar Technical Institute:

Bradley Griffin

Vet Tech Institute of Houston:

Selena Tovar

Unspecified trade:

Jorge Rosas

Jada Ramirez

Mason Heald

Diego Salazar

Daniel Vargas

Lathaniel Castillo

Travis Carlson

Army: Julian McKenzie

Bryce Swanson

Alexander Waters

Air Force:

Brock James

Connor Pauley

Marine Corps:

Levi Blunt

National Guard:

Fatoumata Bah

Triniti Gaylord

Paula Sparrow

Work:

Joseph Spiegel

Mason Myers

Kayden Poling

Isaiah Kleiber

Justin Hollars

Zele Rodocker

Chad Ramsden

Tayvian York

Oscar Patino

Collin Jones

Alexander Harris

Triston Crews

Sebastian Aguilar

Dallas Eis-rich

Payton Smith

Fernando Pizano

“My junior year during the blood drive and me and my friends took a group picture with the person in the blood costume.”

- Emily Ortiz

“Being in the 202122 Homecoming football float.”

- Nate Parker

“Freshman year at the UT soccer tournament Mamadou Dia tripped on the ball and landed face-first on the ground.”

- Jorge Rosas

What is your favorite high school memory?

“Winning the first state championship in school history.”

- Owen Freeman

“Finally participating in MHS theatre traditions and making the best friends during PUFFS.”

- Winter Roland

“Playing volleyball during gym with my friends.”

- Jozelynn Sander-

May 19, 2023

By: Micah Thieme LO’T Entertainement Editor

Nintendo’s highly anticipated sequel to the popular game “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is out in Stores now! This new game “Tears of the Kingdom” has been one of the most awaited games since 2019, featuring further improvements to the vast open-world exploration, one of the most favored features of the first “Breath of the Wild”.

The trailer for the game’s announcement was released in 2019 and the game is finally out as of May 12, 2023. The trailer showed us that Ganondorf, one of the main protagonists through all Legend of Zelda games, will supposedly be resurrected. Players will as always be playing as Link, the main protagonist, and will be exploring Hyrule and hopefully taking down Ganondorf.

The creators have said that there will be many improvements to the game including: accessibility to all areas high and low, enhanced gameplay mechanics, and a deeper narrative. As said, the creators have promised much more exploration of the skies above you, including much higher mountain ranges to climb, and the caves below which are featured in the game’s trailer. Supposedly there will be much more game mechanics and even the ability to craft and merge weapons for more defense opportunities. As for the deeper narrative, I hope it can hold up to “Breath of the Wild”s amazing and vast storyline while still having almost unending side quests to make sure you never get tired of the game. Finally, One of the things I am most excited about is the all-new graphics to the game’s already beautiful landscap- ing. “Breath of the Wild” already had some of the most breathtaking views no matter where you were, and so far from what I have played, “Tears of the Kingdom” is already topping it! Although I haven’t gotten far into the game yet after the first cutscene showing the origins of Hryle I was eager to get right to it after the launch. And from what I have played Nintendo has taken the aspects from “Breath of the Wild” and exceeded every expectation. With all new changes to the map there is still so much exploring needed to be done! So go experience the depths of the Zonai skies and Ganondorf’s deep and deadly chasms!

So if you are at all interested, get on your Switch, buy “Tears in the Kingdom”, and explore the brand-new depths of the Nintendo world.