Ana Navarre Portfolio
The goal of the season Ana Navarre Starting the season off with a record of 2-1 our Lady Titans soccer team hopes to go all the way to districts this year, and possibly even regionals. “I think they’re going to start with where they left off, ready to go and they’re not going to let those little things build up throughout the season to put them in a bad situation,” athletic director Lisa Eggert said. With the season ending last year based off one penalty kick, which determined whether or not the girls made regionals, the girls are back and ready to go. “I think this year we’ve really bonded as a team,” senior Carissa Marracino said. “We’re not just a team but a family, on and off the field. We also have a lot of new great talent.” This year six freshmen were able to make it up to varsity and they have earned it. Each of these girls have been playing for years and they look up to our senior players. “I find a lot of the seniors to be an inspiration to me and the team,” freshman Alexa LaBasso said. Many girls (Players often) believe the greatest part about soccer is not only the game itself, but also the team. The girls (Titans)have each other’s back through thick and thin. “If you make a mistake on the field and you loose the ball your team is there to help fix the mistake and win the ball back,” junior Kayla Hartmann said.” Being on a team you build some pretty strong relationships and you know that no matter what your team has your back.” The girls have a long road ahead of them on their way to districts but they all plan on making it there together as a team.
Reflection I felt very passionate about this article because I feel our girls’ soccer team is not recognized as much as they should be so I was proud to be able to write about them and make people aware of this team and what they had hoped to accomplish this year throughout the season. This piece demonstrates good journalism by providing insight, not just specifics on the team but how they feel about each other and how they inspire each other to become better players not only on the field, but in everyday life. If I was to change this article I would provide more information and give more insight on the team from more sources. I would have also liked to have done a recap at the end of the soccer season. This article was probably one of my favorites to write because soccer is something I really enjoy and I have had the pleasure of playing and helping out with this team for the past 3 years.
Military Momentum Ana Navarre Recently there has been talk on whether or not women should be included if a military draft if one was ever needed and with the recent draft in Sweden which included both men and women this question has become more popular then ever. Over the past hundreds of years our military has changed a lot, technology has advanced along with our fighting tactics, but one of the main changes within our military is the fact that it’s not only men fighting for our country, but women as well. “Women could be very helpful toward men and women in services, they bring new ideas and opportunities,” junior Carl Mohr said. With this question becoming more apparent, many people have to wonder what those who are all for equality thinks about this. According to National Catholic Reporter many feminists believe they should be given the same rights as men, yet many also believe that they should not be included in the draft stating it takes away their freewill. “You can’t say we should have equal rights if you don’t think everything should be equal between men and women,” junior Lainey Song-Grant said. “If you truly believe in equal rights you should say both men and women should be included in the draft.” Many people have many different opinions on whether or not women should be included in a draft but as the world changes so do opinions. “There are plenty of woman already in the US military,” JROTC MSG retired Louis Beldotti Jr. Said.” The status quo would remain for the care of children and family members.” Granted there are differences between men and women not only mentally but also physically. Most women who sign up for the military wish to do deskwork or assist in the medical field. With change there are many benefits as well as disagreements. Whether or not the idea of women being included in the draft will work out or not is beyond anyone, but it’s a topic that will need to be addressed sooner or later.
Reflection I’m proud that I was able to bring attention to an issue that has just been a figment of peoples imagination, not only that but was able to get student and teachers opinion on the issue since it is such a touchy subject. This particular topic is relevant and has been a big debate over the last few years which is what makes it good journalism. The fact that this is a very important issue these days and I was able to get students opinions on the issue at hand which gives a better understanding as to what future generations hope to see happen. For this article I think I should have given ideas as to what people plan to do to either help make sure women are included in a military draft or not, this would of added more depth to the article as a whole.
First till forever; a homecoming to remember Ana Navarre Weeks of planning and hard work came to conclusion Saturday night as seniors and freshmen alike embraced their Titan pride at homecoming. Freshmen and senior both have very different views when referring to homecoming. For freshmen, this was their first homecoming and they probably do not think much of it besides the fact that it is an important dance while seniors viewed its as your last chance to make memories in high school. “I think with seniors that they’re ready to put their mark on their year,” SGA advisor Tiffany McCann said. ”Whereas freshmen just don’t quite get that they need to make the most out of every single event that they only really only have four times, four homecomings that it goes by a lot faster.” With freshmen, this was a step up for those who have only attended middle school dances. It is not considered just a dance; there is a whole week full of activities which included dress up days, a doge ball tournament, and a pep rally along with a rival football game all before the dance Saturday night. “I think it’s going to be really fun but there is going to be a lot of people, so I’m kind of scared of the crowd, but I think it’s going to be fun,” freshman Morgan O’Quinn. For seniors this is their last year they have lost the luxury of having four years left in high school, this is it. Many students in high school you only get four years, to make new friends, have fun, and create memories. “I feel like it’s going to be more meaningful and I’m going to soak up every second of it” senior Liana Kreimeier said. Those who have already graduated, believe it’s important to make the best of high school, especially your senior year. “Senior year you had to go all out because it was your last homecoming and you had to make it the best one possible,” alumni Taylor Smyth said. Although both freshman and seniors have different views of homecoming, both believe it is important to make the best of it. It is a chance to go out and spend time with your friends, have fun, and make memories.
Reflection I enjoyed writing this article because I found it interesting seeing both points of views between the freshmen and seniors. I liked how people could see the difference in their viewpoints. How seniors were focused on making the most of it and making memories whereas freshmen just saw it as a dance with a lot of people since they did not know what to expect since they had never been to any other dances other then perhaps one in middle school. This article provided good journalism skills from how you were able to see a clear difference between the two grades. This article gave insight on how both saw homecoming to be. If I was to change this piece in some way I would have added more detail as to what homecoming is together as a whole and get more stories from past homecomings and how senior’s views had changed each year.
Personal Essay When you are little you believe that anything is possible, you have this idea in your head of a perfect world or perfect life. One belief that I had that changed dramatically at quite a young age is that, there is such thing as perfect. It is an illusion that the world tries to hide from you because they believe they are protecting us, and this is true, they are. The only problem is when you come to realize the truth it sometimes hits you harder than anticipated. When I was young I use to rarely ever sleep. I never took part in nap times and I hated when it was time for me to go to bed at night. Sometime past ten or so when my parents believed I was sleeping, they would yell at each other at the end of the hallway right in front of there room, this became an annual thing when dad came home before 2. The fact that I never slept combined with when I did I was a very lite sleeper, I would wake up listening to them yelling at each other and sometimes watch from the end of the hallway, around the corner so they couldn’t see me. When I was 8 my parents got divorced and I had to take the place of mom at my dad’s house for my, at the time, 6 year old little sister. It is not always easy, being a kid in the middle of a divorce. What makes it even worse is when they do not get along and my parents never did. Over the years, I myself had been having back problems. I was born with spina bifida and had a laminectomy done once when I was about 2 and then I had to get another one when I was 12. Along with this I also struggled with both scoliosis and lordosis which causes your spinal cord to curve. The summer after my freshman year I had to have a surgery that consisted in two parts. The first, they would go in from the front and move things around in order to make room for the new hardware that was about to be placed in me. The second, was when it all happened, I had gotten two titanium rods placed all the way up my spinal column and was fused to my hips. After that surgery recovery was difficult because I had to find a whole new way to walk and everything. It was difficult, especially for me because I do not like when I cannot do something. That has always been one of my problems, when someone tells me I cannot do something I make it my goal to prove them wrong. I had no physical therapy because I practically had my own at home with my mom being an occupational therapist. We would go on walks just down the street to see how far I could make it, and I would have to use a walker, so I practically looked like a little old lady walking down the street. As time went by I was able to gain some strength back whish was well needed after losing almost 20 pounds. School had started up but I was not able to complete a full day without almost passing out so I had to do online courses in the afternoon. I have never been very good at keeping up with online classes and this showed quite well throughout that year. I would always be in a rush to finish up my work on the last day and stressing over everything. My junior year I was able to come back full time. I had planned on starting dual enrollment that year but thought it would be best to just do another year of full high school first, this I regret only a little. My main disappointment was that I was not in shape enough to try out for the soccer team again. I was able to walk and I had gotten back my strength but every time I would try to run I could feel this strange feeling in the back of my hips where
two screws stick out going back and forth underneath my skin. Life has its ups and downs constantly through life. It is rare that things turn out the way you want them to. The only problem with this is that through all these hard times you go through in life, the outcome always is you coming out stronger than you were before. With all the little imperfections life throws at you they you begin to realize that they are a part of you and that is something you have to life with. You can either make the best of it, or let it tear you down. My scars are a part of me, what I have gone through in life stays with me and with that I believe I am a better person. If life was perfect and everyone’s life went as planed, there would be no purpose, sadly, we need these obstacles. There is no such thing as a perfect family, perfect job, perfect body, or perfect life. People would not be able to grow if that was the case. You have to take what life gives you and make the best of it. You have to create the life you want for yourself it will not be perfect because nothing never is, you learn this as you get older but you make the best of it. Everyone has their own perfectly imperfect life.
Extra Credit
Each of these photos represent something i have learned in photography this year, whether it is capturing the action and determination in a game, peoples reactions to things they see, or seeing how involved students are in their studies. All of these clearly capture what is happening. i learn over the course of this year how to grab emotion within the photos so that the viewers understand and feel what is going one and how waiting for the right shot makes all the difference.