The P oneer Press
Vol. 107, Issue 5
“I wish somebody would have told me, babe, that someday these would be the good old days”
Editors-in-chief
Alyssa O’sada
Husayn Hamoud
Angela Chehade
Ahmad Rammal
Husayn Hamoud
Marissa Kenrick
Simon
Mohamad Barakat Social Media
Marissa Kenrick
Manar Alsarraf
Mohammed Alali
Wilson Inyang
Staff Writers
Asher Andrews
Amir Pleasant
Ashe Watson
Deana Baydoun
Fatima Haidar
Hawraa Alzergari
Hussain Barakat
Julia Chehade
Simona Horia
Zahraa Bazzi
RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE
Photo: Ahmad Rammal
Deana Baydoun StaffWriter
Ahmad Rammal NewsEditor
On May 15, 2024, Dearborn Public Schools held their annual Superintendent’s Honors Night at the Ford Performing Arts Center. For their 39th year, students with a 4.0 and above GPA were able to honor DPS staff members who have had the most impact on their 12 years in the district.
In attendance at the event were DPS students and parents, DPS teachers, Board of Education members, Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko, and other administrators. The event centered around students with a GPA of 4.0 and above who were allowed the honor to invite one teacher or staff member who they considered to have had the most significant impact on their educational journey. Students were able to choose teachers or staff members from elementary all the way to high school. The students then gave a short 30 second statement on the impact the selected person has had on them.
Maleyko emphasized the importance of the event and what
Mohammed Alali Photo&WebsiteEditor
it means to him.
“I think Superintendent’s Honors Night is awesome because it’s educators and students being honored, and the biggest reward you can get as an educator is having your students recognize you for the relationships and the positive impact you have,”
Maleyko said. “I’m just happy to see the love that students and staff have for one another and the fact that these students are going on to do great things and these teachers had a hand in it.”
Maleyko was nominated to be at the event by student Aya Moughni, due to the nature of Moughni’s position.
“I was honored by Aya. I’ve spent three years with her because I’m not in a direct school, but I’m with my council regularly. It’s very rewarding because I love being with the students, and so that council is kind of like my class in a way,” Maleyko said.
DHS English Literature teacher and Head of the English Department Sara Sabbagh said
On May 15, 2024 at the Dearborn Performing Arts Center, DHS senior Yasmeen Qasrawi’s remarkable GPA of 4.0+ shines brightly as she proudly honors DHS Psychology and Sociology teacher Mollie Crowl.
that the honor of being nominated brings her great affirmation especially after creating a pleasant learning environment for her students.
“Honestly, it’s gratifying to be nominated. I pride myself on facilitating engaging learning opportunities for my students, and to be recognized as someone who played a significant role in their academic journey is incredibly validating,” Sabbagh said.
Sabbagh explained that by using the six Pioneer Pillars of Success, she was able to create a class environment where her students could thrive.
“Creating a supportive and comprehensive classroom environment where all students feel valued and motivated to succeed is a team effort,” Sabbagh said. “Embedding the six Pioneer Pillars of Success in our lessons is an instrumental part of what creates the sense of autonomy, accountability, and integrity in our classroom.”
DHS Psychology and Sociology Teacher Mollie Crowl creates a classroom environment where students can feel comfortable comfortable expressing themselves.
“I try to make my classroom
a welcoming and upbeat place where differences are celebrated, supported, and encouraged,” Crowl said. “We are all different. We should not hide or awkwardly tip-toe around our differences. We should acknowledge them, celebrate them, and use them to grow.”
Crowl’s relationships with her students go beyond academics.
“There was a student I taught who had a history of sexual abuse. When I met her, she was always in trouble for being violent and wasn’t going to graduate. She wouldn’t speak to anyone. I was able to form a bond with her and slowly earn her trust enough that she would tell me her story. Later, I got to watch her walk across the graduation stage. It was awesome.”
Crowl was nominated by DHS senior Yasmeen Qasrawi.
This event signifies the district’s constant improvement and students’ constant efforts to maintain high academic standards, as well as a way to recognize and honor teachers who go above and beyond for their students’ education and personal growth.
Photo: Ahmad Rammal
Leaping Over Academic and Athletic Hurdles
Deana Baydoun Staff Writer
Dearborn High School is home to many talented students who excel both academically and athletically. Among them, DHS senior Ava Wolski, truly distinguishes herself through her persistent commitment to academics, her active participation in sports and clubs, and her faithful determination to leave a lasting, positive mark on the school.
Wolski has earned and maintained a 4.23 GPA for her high school tenure. In addition to her academic achievements, she is actively engaged in a variety of different extracurricular activities which includes the following: varsity track, varsity cross country, dance, Student Council, National Honors Society, Amity, FMP, UNICEF, and Student Health Society. Wolski said she strives to always find a routine and maintain balance.
“In order to maintain really good grades, I have to split up my time and you have to be able to give 100% into everything. So, you must realize that you’re not always going to be able to do everything you want and learn what things may be more important than others,” Wolski said.
Wolski’s ability to multitask was put to the test last year when she juggled track, dance, and multiple clubs on the same days. Despite the challenges, she remains firm, crediting her support system.
Marissa Kenrick Social Media Manager & Sports Editor
“You have to understand that you’re not always going to be able to make everyone happy. So having that relationship with advisors, teachers, staff, or coaches is really important, because they do recognize that you do a lot but you also have to hold yourself accountable and understand that sometimes you’re not going to be able to do everything all at once. It’s going to be hard sometimes, but you can’t let the hurdles stop you from pushing,” Wolski said.
Sophomore Karl Wolski, Ava’s brother, is following her footsteps while she inspires him.
“She makes me turn my work in on time and actually gets me to try in classes,” Karl said.
Despite their busy schedules, the siblings find quality time together, especially during track training sessions where they motivate each other.
“We’re pretty tight, and we always strive to be there for each other,” Karl said.
Wolski’s impact extends beyond her family to her sports team. Girls cross country head coach and Chemistry teacher, Tom Brown said she tries very hard to maintain her goals no matter what.
“Last year, she got sick with some kind of RSV. It wasn’t COVID though but it’s something that made her sick and she was still showing up to practice. I said, Go home, you’re
sick and she was like no, I gotta run, I want to get better. So she just is one of those people that doesn’t give up and has a lot of grit,” Brown said. Brown said her positive personality radiates throughout the team.
“If we got beat really badly by a superior team she’d say, ‘You know, you got a PR, your personal record. You did your best and ran better than last week,” Brown said.
Wolski’s experiences in sports have also contributed significantly to her academic success. As Brown is also her Chemistry teacher, he reflects on how she also puts a concerted effort into her studies.
“Chemistry is not an easy subject. She was always willing to ask questions and put in the extra time to do what needed to be done. In my point of view I think she takes academics more seriously than she does with athletics,” Brown said. Student Council and National Honors Society advisor, Zeinab Moughnia said she’s a very active and inspiring member.
“Ava is always in attendance in our meetings. She contributes to many community service efforts. She is a great voice and great leadership material and has completed a brilliant ISP project,” Moughani said. “She has taken underclassmen under her wing and ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity and fighting chance to be successful in the club.”
Wolski acknowledges that her skills and disciplines were developed over time, inspired by older students who expressed the qualities she aspired to have.
“It definitely takes time, patience, and understanding,” Wolski said. “But ultimately, it’s worth it.”
As she prepares for college and beyond, she said she remains grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have shaped her into the person she is today.
“Putting myself in these activities, I feel like I have prepared myself for the hurdles that are going to come ahead,” Wolski said.
Ava Wolski sprints down at Divine Child during the Dearborn All Area Meet on Saturday, April 20, 2024. “I made it to the finals and I ended up placing. I remember being really nervous for it because it was the first time making it to the finals,” Wolski said. “But I pushed on the curve and gave it everything I had on the straight away.”
Photo: Jackson Eberwein
Hope Preserving Through the Darkness
Senior and Dearborn High School football captain Hassan Sareini goes into recovery after a career changing injury.
Marissa Kenrick SportsEditorandSocialMediaManager
With big dreams and aspirations regarding his collegiate career, all was put into question when a career-changing injury happened at the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
DHS senior and captain of the 2023-24 varsity football team, Hassan Sareini, had his own goals of making it to an Ivy League school on
a full sports scholarship. He worked and played hard, but fate took its own way, and was unfortunately not the plan Sareini had in mind.
Some would argue his team needed him out on the field for every single game, but that goal was taken away after an injury he suffered in just the third game of the season on Sept. 8, 2023, which
Amir Pleasant Staff Writer
was against Livonia Franklin High School. Sareini would be diagnosed with a hyoid bone fracture, which is very rare where only 1 in 30,000 suffer from it. Hyoid bone fracture is a fracture in the hyoid bone, and is usually associated with strangulation or direct trauma according to the National Institution of Health (NIH). This injury would force him
to sit out for the next four weeks of the season, coming back to play for the last two games.
“I can’t lie, when it first happened I felt like a lot of my hard work for the past 9 or 10 months felt like it was a waste,” Sareini said. “Eventually, I realized that I just have to trust in God’s plan. Everyone’s gonna have their journey
Senior and captain, Hassan Sareini, runs the ball during the Dearborn H.S. vs. Livonia Franklin H.S. game on Sept. 8, 2023. This would lead to him getting injured and sitting out for the next four weeks.
and maybe this was best for me.”
Sareini’s injury would last four weeks and his rehab would consist of resting and not putting strain on his airway.
“For four weeks I wasn’t allowed to run, jog, jump, or lift anything over 10 pounds; the first two weeks I couldn’t even use a straw”, said Sarieni. “But it was very difficult to come back to go back to playing after 4 weeks of sitting on a couch.”
Even when faced with the worst possible situation Sareini did not sulk for long. According to Sareini that was mainly due to the support from his dad, Michael Sareini.
“I’ve always believed in Hassan’s football abilities and knew he would be just fine regardless of an injury. I wanted him to calm down, not worry about the future, and just worry about getting as healthy as possible,” Michael said. “I had confidence in him, I just wanted him to know that.”
Sareini said he quickly realized that he needed to be a lot more comfortable with contributing from the sidelines and to learn from it.
“It showed me how leadership can come in different forms. I’m so used to being on the field leading and calling things out and then it went to filling up waters and running the scout team and just looking at little things,” Sareini said. “It really helped me become a better person because it showed me that sometimes you might put in the work, but life’s not equal.”
Micheal wasn’t the only person supporting Sareini through his recovery, DHS’s football team was all behind him for support for the whole recovery.
Senior Nicholas Maziarz talks about how proud he is of Sareini and how Sareini showed leadership throughout the whole season, even though he wasn’t on the field for the most of it.
“My initial reaction when Sareini first got injured was to be
optimistic, considering I’ve known him for so long I wanted him to have the best senior season possible,” said Maziarz. “The way he responded really shows his true character because he still gave everything he had to the team regardless of if he on
called it quits right there and then but he’s a tough kid and will never back down and I think that speaks to his character because he believes in himself and cares so much about his team he’s willing to go through something like that and recover
Hassan Sareini poses for his offical visit to Northwood University on Dec. 1, 2023. He would later commit to playing for the university on Feb. 7, 2024.
the field or not. It shows his relentless attitude,” Maziarz said.
Junior Mahdi Sabbagh said it was difficult to serve as a first hand witness to the unfortunate event.
“I was really hurt when I first found out because he’s like a brother to me and hearing that news is really heartbreaking, honestly. It was a rare injury and just very unfortunate,” said Sabbagh. “Anyone else could have just
Not just his teammates showed their support for Sareini, but also his coaches. DHS varsity football head coach Alex Grignon has coached at several different levels and has seen his fair share of injuries over the years. Grignon began as a Grad Assistant at Northern Michigan University, then became Lincoln Park’s Defensive/Offensive coordinator and Co-Head Coach. After coaching at Lincoln Park, he went to South Lyon High School as an offensive coordinator. After South Lyon, he went to Walled Lake Western High School to become Head Coach, and before coming to Dearborn, he was a TE at Michigan Tech.
With this experience he knew the best mindset to have for injuries this made him believe that the most important part of Sareini’s injury was his response to it.
“Sareini played the whole game. No one knew he was injured until after everyone left the locker room,” Grignon said. “He stayed positive after his injury which was great for his teammates to see. You always feel bad for a kid when he has to miss time after working hard. But, injuries are a part of the game and it’s next man up.”
This optimism in the face of failure was a blessing in disguise for Sareini. After being able to finish the season a door opened with a scholarship from Division 2 school Northwood University.
and come back to us” Sabbagh also mentioned his relentless support to Sareini throughout his recovery.
“ I told him I loved him and I’m here for him whatever he needed when he was in the hospital and I went to visit him”, said Sabbagh. “We also discussed if he’d be able to return this season and he even came back earlier than expected.”
“The biggest part is that they were the first school at that level, Division 2, to fully believe in me. A lot of other schools had shown interest, but Northwood was the first to have me on a fully official visit, take care of me, and most importantly offer me scholarship money,” Sareini said.
While the dreams of still going Division 1 may still be in the cards for Sareini, he is more focused on what he has in store for the upcoming years at Northwood.
Double Trouble
How DHS senior, Katya Salame, juggled two varsity sports throughout her high school career.
Alyssa O’sada Co-Editor-in-Chief
Simona Horia Staff Writer
DHS senior Katya Salame demonstrates her skills in both basketball and volleyball during her games.
Balancing the challenges of both volleyball and basketball, Katya Salame, is a true multi-sport athlete. Demonstrating key attributes for both basketball and volleyball show the range of athleticism and dedication Katya Salame has displayed throughout her four years of high school.
Dearborn High School senior, Katya Salame, won the Female Athlete of the Year Award that was announced during honors night on May 28, 2024. This award acknowledges the efforts and dedications that Salame has made throughout her high school career and was picked based off the
teachers in the athlete department. Salame said that she’s been playing both basketball and volleyball since she was five and was greatly inspired by her older sisters.
“Watching them play when I was younger definitely influenced me to play especially because I look up to them a lot. I also got into playing really young and have loved it from there,” Salame said. Salame has been on the DHS varsity basketball since her freshman year and has been on the DHS varsity volleyball since her sophomore year. Salame describes the feeling she gets from playing both basketball and volleyball.
“It’s almost like a break from everything going on. I feel like I can just be myself and focus on being in the moment because in high school you get so caught up with everything and it’s just of a time to just focus on having fun,” Salame said.
Salame said that she couldn’t imagine not playing basketball or volleyball because of the strong friendships that she’s made due to playing. Salame describes the relationships of her teammates from each sport as unique and endearing.
“I’ve played with these girls since sixth grade at Bryant Middle School. We get along on and off
the court and have a connection that helped us thrive in the game,” Salame said. “But with basketball, it wasn’t until high school that I started getting close with these girls even though I played with and against them since middle school. They’re like my sisters and because the season is so long I typically spend most of my time with them and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
DHS senior, Samantha Clark, said that they’ve played volleyball together since sixth grade and have been close friends ever since. Clark describes Salame as kindhearted and reliable.
Photo Credit: Yearbook
Photo Credit: Yearbook
person I’ve ever met in my entire life genuinely, one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. She’s been there for me for a really long time and you know how some friends come and go, not my Katya. She’s been my rock. And she’s smart and funny when she wants to be, she’s just an overall amazing person,” Clark said.
DHS varsity basketball coach, Mahdi Hamade, said that Salame left an incredible impression when they first met and believes that she’s one of the best players that he’s coached.
“The first day I coached her, she separates herself from the fact that she’s probably the best leader that I’ve ever coached. Her leadership capabilities are phenomenal. She comes in and she leads by example and everybody looks up to her. She’s like the perfect example of someone who does things the right way for people to look up to,” Hamade said.
DHS calculus teacher and volleyball coach, Ioana Vescan, said that Salame was a great leader throughout being on the volleyball team and described her as positive and passionate. Vescan said that the only advice she would give Salame is to continue her career in volleyball because she has the dedication and you can play sports only a limited amount
interesting and we said that’s something that you do now. Classes and school and all of that can happen at any time.
But sports is unfortunately a little bit related to age. Not to mention that it’s a big commitment in college, you don’t have anything else in your life besides
school and sports. But, I know she’s willing to do that and has the heart for it,” Vescan said.
Salame said that she’s planning on playing volleyball in college but is unsure of the college currently due to her being in collegiate. Hamade said that he would encourage Salame to play volleyball in college and would continue to support her passion.
“I know she’s more of a volleyball player. She said she’s thinking about playing
volleyball in college, just depending on what scholarships she gets, and whatnot. So that’s going to be all dependent on academics and where she gets into,” Hamade said. “I used to play college sport as well. So I gave her my advice on that and it’s a great experience that you’ll never forget. So I recommend that if she gets that opportunity, why not try and go for it. She’s more than capable of being able to do so.”
Photo Credits: Yearbook
Photo Credits: Yearbook
From High School Halls To Beauty Entrepreneurship
Senior Salena Arkoub’s passion for makeup and social media has sparked a journey of self discovery and empowerment.
Amidst
the halls of Dearborn High School, one senior stands out not only for her academic achievements but also for her remarkable talent and entrepreneurial spirit. Senior Salena Arkoub is a budding makeup artist and content creator whose passion for beauty knows no bounds.
Her journey into the world of cosmetics began at a young age as she was inspired by her sister's skillful application of makeup. “Ever since I was young, I’ve always watched my sister do makeup and I loved it," Arkoub said.
Her Instagram account growing from only 100 followers to 1,066. As for her TikTok, she has been able to take an initial 1,203 followers and grow that number to an impressive 34.1k followers. "Salena's dedication is truly inspiring," Arkoub’s close friend, senior Sue Hassan said. "I've seen her work tirelessly to maintain her business and social media presence. She's a role model for all of us."
"I want to make a positive impact on others and help them feel beautiful in their own skin.” -Salena Arkoub
Despite her success online, Arkoub said she tries to remain grounded in her roots as a makeup artist.
However, it wasn't until she discovered the world of social media that her passion truly ignited.
"I used to watch YouTubers and dream of becoming an influencer myself," Arkoub said. "I never thought it was possible until I decided to give it a try."
As a content creator, Arkoub’s platform has grown steadily over the years by attracting attention from both her peers and other content creators.
"I've always been passionate about makeup as a form of selfexpression," Arkoub said. "It's not just about looking good; it's about feeling confident and empowered."
Arkoub’s dedication to her craft has not gone unnoticed by her peers and family. Salena’s mom, Ghada Arkoub said, "Salena is a shining example of ambition and creativity. She brings that same level of commitment to her schoolwork as she does to her passion for makeup artistry,” Ghada said.
Fatima
StaffWriter
Lujain Albahiya poses for a photo on April 7, 2024. Salena did a dramatic look on her for a photo shoot. Arkoub does a variety of different looks. “I did this look because people prefer natural looking makeup,” said Arkoub. “I wanted to perform a bolder glam to display on my portfolio.” You can access this photo on Arkoub’s instagram, @beautybysalena, as well as on her website’s portfollio.
Haidar
Photo: Salena Arkoub
Looking ahead to Ghada Arkoub said she has set her sights on attending esthetician school after graduation to further her skills and knowledge in skincare and makeup.
"My dream is to open my own studio and mentor aspiring makeup artists. I want to make a positive impact on others and help them feel beautiful in their own skin," Arkoub said. “I’m really not on social media just to blow up and become famous. I feel like the reason why I started social media was because I had a lot of acne in freshman and sophomore year and social media was the thing that helped
me.”
Salena is available to be booked on her website beautybysalena. glossgenius.com. Prices, dates, and hours are all available on the site. Her current studio is located at the Zeiva Professional Center in Livonia, Michigan.
Salena’s business hours as they’re displayed on her website. Arkoub’s makeup portfollio
Salena Arkoub’s sister in law, Shaza Arkoub, on April 7, poses for a picture modeling Arkoub’s soft matte look. Arkoub said she loved this look as it really brung out Shaza’s eyes.
Photo: Salena Arkoub
Photo: Salena Arkoub
Can I have
Past To Present
The class of 2024 reflects on trends when they were in first grade to their senior year.
Alyssa O’sada Co-Editor-in-Chief
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2024 Senior Artist Q&A
The Dearborn High School art department recognize Gabriella Palmeri and Moises GomezMartinez as DHS’s 2024 Senior Artists and select their work to be displayed at Padzieski Art Gallery.
Moises GomezMartinez
What started your journey as an artist?
GomezMartinez
“Well, in the beginning doing art was a way for me to communicate and understand the concept of letting go from worldy problems,” GomezMartinez said. “At first, this freedom seems naive because in the real world, there are strict and harsh rules, including deadlines that limit us, but understanding this responsibility, it leads my life as an artist differently.”
“I was always very creative as a kid, making many crafts for dolls, handmade gifts for my family,” Palmeri said. “Starting in late elementary school, I developed a passion for expanding my creative skills into expression for my art.”
Husayn Hamoud Co-Editor-in-Chief
What medium do you practice the most?
Hussain Barakat StaffWriter
Moises GomezMartinez posing for a photo to use as reference for a self-portrait. GomezMartinez said he’ll need to be cautious and intentional when its time to release his art. “I will definitely consider creating a website to sell copies when I have an overall understanding of many factors such as my intended audience, finances, etc. And I know that may sound like an excuse, because to some degree it is, because truthfully I don’t want to sell my artwork just yet, even if they are just copies,” GomezMartinez said.
“My favorite form of art typically is 2D Art because of the versatility in mediums, especially the ease of digital 2D Art, but also the hands-on experience of traditional 2D art feels more expressive,” GomezMartinez said. “The type of art I mainly create focuses on my identity but not just the “What” but the “Why” of who I am.”
“My favorite form of art is portrait art, using graphite and acrylic paint I am able to create realistic and detailed pieces that mean a lot to me,” Palmeri said.
What does art mean to you?
“When presented with such a broad range of what “Art” means to me, I can say that it defines why we are human,” GomezMartinez said.
“It invites us and teaches us the importance of exploring and realizing our intricacies, that when we think we are so different from others, it shall be revealed, a resemblance from the ones we would least expect it from.”
“Art is my freedom of expression and art shows me what I am capable of creating with my own hands,” Palmeri said.
Palmeri
Collage: Moises GomezMartinez
Gabriella Palmeri
Gabriella Palmeri poses for a picture in front of her gallery at the Padzieski Art Gallery. Although Palmeri wishes to use her artistic abilities to pursure Civil Engineering, she enjoys sharing her artwork online as well. “I have posted a few pictures on social media of my art, such as instagram and VSCO, but not a specific place dedicated for art,” Palmeri said.
How has art changed your life?
What’s your biggest challenge when creating?
Photo: Husayn Hamoud
“Art isn’t just about finding that one moment when you “realize” what it can do for you, but when you realize what it has been doing since day one. But to be frank, exploring and researching Art as a field and hobby, it’s been an amazing journey of difficult times, but also peace and tranquility from perspectives that I’ve realized, overcome, seen, and use in maintaining an open-minded quota,” GomezMartinez said. “Although, this isn’t to say that I am perfect, because I’ve only just begun my life and in school, so I know that I want to begin my new journey in college, pursuing Illustration as my major at CCS. (College for Creative Studies)”
“Art has given myself many connections in life, forming bonds with my art teachers throughout the years, who I am very thankful for,” Palmeri said. “They have shown and guided me to the place I am now. I plan on using art in my future career of Civil Engineering and the basic concepts of planning and designing.”
“When cultivating or expressing an idea through art and find myself near completing, oftentimes the challenge left is truly finishing the piece and feeling proud,” GomezMartinez said. “I know that most may understand this through feeling like an artwork isn’t “good enough,” through the artist’s view, but the real challenge especially when you try something new is how the media will react to the artwork. It could be explained as my inner self-doubt or insecurities, but as subjective as Art goes, ideas come and go but so does the public eye.”
“The biggest challenge when finishing an art piece has to be that you constantly think something is missing from it, a detail you´ll never figure out,” Palmeri said. “I just have to see the painting as it is and not let it bother me.”
Collage: Gabriella Palmeri
Thelights dim, plunging the audience into darkness.
The room is near silent with anticipation when suddenly all eyes are drawn to the single spotlight shining upon the stage. Standing center stage, deep red curtains behind her contrasting with her white and sky blue dress, practically glowing under the stage light is Belle. The audience is captivated as she begins singing, a beautiful melody filling the packed auditorium.
Dearborn High School’s production of BeautyandThe Beast had an incredible four day run from 24, April. 2024 to 27, April. 2024 with nearly a full house each night. Two of its performances had DHS senior Ava Assenmacher playing the bookish beauty, Belle. This role is Assenmacher’s second star role she has been casted as and a wonderful send off as her last performance before graduation. The road to the starring role was long for Assenmacher however, having started theater at nine years old. She credits her Grandmother for sparking her interest in the arts at a young age, saying she got all her creativity from her.
“My grandma inspired me to start performing, that's where I got all my art and creativity from,” Assenmacher said. “When
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The Spotlight Dims
Ashe Watson Staff Writer
I was little she would always take me down to her art studio and she would have her costumes that she would sell and make in her apartment. So I'd get really inspired by that, I loved dressing up as a kid.”
Like any other performer, Assenmacher didn't start out a star, in fact her first role was the definition of a humble beginning.
“My first ever role was the water. The water in TheLittleMermaid. I was the fish chorus and everything, so going from that small role to Belle is really crazy,” Assenmacher said.
While some may believe that playing the role of a princess doesn’t take much skill due to a lack of depth in the character, Assenmacher says there's more to Belle than that.
“[I played] Belle in the recent musical we just did. It was really cool to understand how to play like a princess other than just like, how people would be kind and heartwarming, but there's
Mohammed Alali Photo&WebsiteEditor
so many more traits that she has then just that. So, that was really cool to learn,” Assenmacher said.
DHS Theater Director and faculty member, Greg Viscomi, described Assenmacher’s performance at the State Thespian Festival and her improvements from her last performance as some of the most memorable things from his time
with her.
“I remember watching her dance at the State Thespian Festival in competition, and how impressed I was with the fact that she had choreographed the dances that she was performing, and they were very good,” Viscomi said. “I watched her grow quite a bit in this last performance. Her final performance was Belle in Beauty andtheBeast . She's become a very well-rounded stage performer, and she's just a very nice young lady.”
A person needs to constantly work hard, be on time, and be a team player to be able to lead. Viscomi recognizes Assenmacher’s skills in leadership
Julius Owens and Ava Assenmacher in costume as Beast and Belle, respectivly, during a preformance on April 26. 2024. In character they share a meaningful dinner in elegant costumes.
Photo by Ashe Watson
as well as dedication to the art of theater.
“Ava, she's very good, she's an officer in the troupe and leads by example a lot. She's on time for rehearsals, she leads the warmups,” Viscomi said. ”She has been the dance captain, which is the person who keeps the dances in shape after they've been staged. The best way to say it is she's a strong leader in the program. She leads by example and gets along with everybody, which is a skill,”
Assenmacher credits Viscomi for some of the improvements she has made in theater.
“The director, Mr. Viscomi, would always push everybody because he knows what our limits are and what we can do,” Assenmacher
said. She adds that her parents have been a big help as well.
“They [my parents] would help me with lines and everything and like, they would push me to always do my best especially,” Assenmacher adds.
Assenmacher’s mother, Lisa Assenmacher, holds pride in her daughter and her accomplishments in theater and looks forward to what her future holds.
“As a mother, I was extremely proud of the work she did in Beauty and the Beast. In just staying in character and just giving her all to the performance.
I'm definitely excited to see what college theater and the world, you know, outside of Dearborn High is going to present to her,”
Assenmacher said.
With Assenmacher’s senior year drawing to an end, she reflects on the emotions of doing her final play at DHS and leaving behind her team of four years.
“I'm so sad. Like literally the last show was so sad and heart wrenching for me because like, I'm gonna miss them all so much. They're all my family and they really showed me a lot and I've learned so much through it all,”
Assenmacher said.
Assenmacher’s plans don't just end in high school however, they extend far beyond. Her passion for theater drives her to continue pursuing theater into college at Wayne State University.
“After high school I plan to pursue musical theater at Wayne State. I got into their program so I'm really excited to see their ways.” Assemacher said.
Assenmacher’s mother conveyed great admiration for Assenmacher’s passion for theater and the courage required to perform in front of a vast audience. Along with this, Lisa hopes that the theater program at Wayne State will continue to hone Assenmacher’s skills and solidify her path in the art industry.
“I think she found a passion, which not everybody knows what that is. And I think that it takes
a lot of guts to be up on a stage in front of hundreds of people. And having to make decisions and pivot. You never know what's going to happen. I think that the theater program, along with the education she'll get at Wayne State, I think will guide her. I think she'll always strive to do something within the arts. Everybody wants to be a working actor, but the future is yet to be seen.” Assenmacher said.
Viscomi said that he has very high hopes for Assenmacher’s future regardless of which career path she pursues.
“If she wants to pursue this as a career and do things in the performing arts, do things in theater, musical theater, as a dancer, a director, a choreographer, an actress, whatever, I think she has a great chance to succeed.” Viscomi said.
Assenmacher has been a hard working student her past four years at DHS and a prolific actor, dancer and leader in the theater team she has grown to call family. Now that her four years have come to an end along with all the other 2024 graduates this June, she bids her goodbyes and bows off the stage one final time. This is not the end for Ava Assenmacher of course, but the start to a whole new stage to explore!
The full cast of BeautyandTheBeast together on stage during their preformance on April 26. 2024. In BeOurGuest, the full cast was part of the choreography and singing in the musical number.
Photo by Ashe Watson
WHAT’S JOURNALISM?
FROM SCHEDULE FILLER TO PASSION
More Like Me. Less Like You.
Mohammed Alali WebsiteEditor
“You should join Journalism,” my counselor said to me early in my sophomore year, trying to fill a hole in my schedule. At the time, I didn’t even know what the word “journalism” meant, but I agreed so as to not annoy my counselor. Three years later, I’m now graduating and leaving the class that has impacted me the most.
When I first entered the class in my sophomore year, I figured that Journalism was only about producing newspapers. The class was divided between two sets of students, Journalism 1 (JRN 1) and Journalism 2 (JRN 2) students. JRN 1 students are first-semester students who are just learning the formatting and the newspaper story style. JRN 2 students are students who have already taken the class before
Ahmad Rammal NewsEditor
People are always talking about culture shock. It’s always “I miss home,” or “It’s been hard adjusting,” or “I’ll never feel like I truly belong here.” Reading and hearing all those other people’s experiences with moving houses or schools had me majorly anxious towards my own move to another country. My move to Michigan was not as simple as moving houses though; I was displaced into an entirely new culture, with new people, new rules to follow, new goals to strive after, and most importantly, a new chapter of my life.
They say everything is always obvious in hindsight, but I’m still not sure about the fresh start aspect of moving. On one hand, I was given the chance to erase all my previous mistakes and build a new life. On the other hand, I had to rebuild my life, when at the time it seemed like a daunting task. I was paralyzed by
and know the formatting; thus, their entire goal is to produce the paper. Soon, I noticed a clear divide between JRN 1 and JRN 2. Although we were part of the same class, it felt like JRN 2 was leagues above JRN 1, and that made communication much more difficult.
My goal entering JRN 2 was to get rid of that divide and have both teams work together to produce the paper. I applied for the role of Photo Editor, meaning I was in charge of teaching students how to use the camera and also organizing who goes out to which event to take photos for the stories being produced. I used my role to get closer to JRN 1 students and help close the gap between the two sets of students. At that time I also started to realize that Journalism was more than just writing, and I wanted others to also understand that.
the fear of failing to regain what I’d lost, and for a while when I first moved to Michigan, that fear kept me from beginning that process. I look back at my time in Lebanon as bittersweet. There were aspects of my life I’d change if I had the chance, but at the end of the day, it is difficult not to cherish the memories and relationships that will see me through to the grave. Despite that, it is precisely those friendships, memories, and knowledge of past mistakes, that got me to finally overcome my fears and start anew. Having the support of childhood friends, the promise of making new memories with new people, and the opportunity to bypass previous shortcomings, all allowed me to finally start living again.
My first year at DHS was relatively uneventful. Putting aside fruitless pursuits of romance and unpaid labor, it provided a solid foundation for future adventures. I got to discover my passion for history, which drove me to join the APUSH class my senior year. This
The class started growing closer and closer together, and the students from JRN 1 who became JRN 2 stayed not only because they enjoyed the basic concepts of Journalism, but also because of the fun atmosphere created in the classroom. Everyone was working together, having fun producing something, and looking back at their accomplishments as well as the memories they had created together.
Journalism has become more than writing news stories and doing interviews to me. Joining Journalism meant being part of a team and producing something that people in the future will look back to and see your name. Journalism is about the memories and fun times you share with the students around you. While you still will have to write stories and do interviews, Journalism offers something for everyone to enjoy.
school year, my second official year at DHS, I got to take everything I’d done the previous year further. I excelled in my AP classes, created a History Club to spread my passion, took on the Journalism class where I met people that would go on to become some of my best friends, and met even more amazing and talented people. It hurts to say this, but I was back on my feet. I had moved on. I was now whole. This is not to say that I’ve forgotten Lebanon. I can see the culmination of my life there every time I look in the mirror and I feel the influence of my previous relationships with every action I take; but it does sting to see its prevalence on my life slowly fading as it is replaced. But what is life if not change, and what is growth if not accepting and moving along with said change? My time at Dearborn High was relatively short, but it does signify the beginning of something greater, and I am nothing if not hopeful about the future as a result of said experience.
DEARBORN
MEXICAN FEISTA
DEARBORN HEIGHTS CANTON
(313) 274-3066
24310 Ford Rd
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
(734) 981-1048 4401 Ford Rd Canton, MI 48187
MEXICAN FEISTA
DEARBORN HEIGHTS CANTON
(313) 274-3066
24310 Ford Rd
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
(734) 981-1048 4401 Ford Rd Canton, MI 48187
MEXICAN FEISTA
DEARBORN HEIGHTS CANTON
(313) 274-3066
24310 Ford Rd
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
(734) 981-1048 4401 Ford Rd Canton, MI 48187
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