18-19 The Whirlwind - Issue 6

SENIOR ISSUE

The Class of 2019’s lifelong friendships, reflections, advice

HATE CRIME

How new reporting methods influence recent rise statewide

MR. WHITE

Healthy, happy, hilarious: How does he do it?

“It’s

The Whirlwind would like to thank the following 2018-2019 sponsors

BULLDOG LEVEL

Baldwin General Contracting

Danielle Budlong

Dick Olsen

Jenna Murphy

Anonymous

Dave Perkins

Carole Perkins

Albertha Perkins

GOLD LEVEL

Anonymous

Scott K. Nicholson

Charlotte and Frank Cline

Eclectic Zebra

Elton & Kara Strametz

Heidi Litchfield

M&M

Marie Lambert

BLUE LEVEL

Al Serverson

Amber Ferguson

Christopher Bright

Jane Marshall

Maestro Beiser

Karen Schweizer

Reece Family

Barnes Family

4 TEACHER PROTEST

Motivation behind the teacher protest and why it matters

5 WAHS WALKERS

6 NEW SUPERINTENDENT

Who is our new superintendent?

8 RESURGENCE OF HATE CRIMES

Explaining the influx of haterelated instances in Oregon

Sports

21 SENIOR ATHLETES

A look at some of our favorite senior athletes and their development

22 CHLOE BALL

16 BEHIND THE SCENES

Substitute teachers deserve better treatment

17 STAFF EDITORIAL

Class size increases and teacher-student relations weaken

19 SENIORITIS

Premature development of senioritis creates frustration

20 OPINIONS

Readers share their opinions

Liberty students and the WAHS students who accompany them in the mornings SPECIAL

9 BFF’S Lifelong friendships and how they lasted to senior year

10-11 SENIOR STATS

The results of the Whirlwind senior survey

How an injury affected this veteran soccer player and her future

24-25 ATHLETE ALUMNI

The WAHS hall of fame and where they are now

Entertainment

26-27 THRIFT SHOPPING

Q&A with senior Kieran Predmore on the culture of thrift shops, and her methods

28-29 SUMMER SPREAD

What to do to entertain yourself this summer, in Albany and throughout Oregon

30 MR. WHITE

Profile on the iconic WAHS enigma, Mr. White

31 BEAT BEHIND

Band and choir students who joined their extracurricular later than others

12 SCHOLARSHIPS

Seniors who recieve financial awards and how they came about it

13-15 SENIOR COLUMNS

Our senior staff members share their advice

IN REFLECTION

ALTHOUGH THE expression that lay upon the face of our adviser Michelle Balmeo did not show much more than stress, you could tell from the buzz in the room C-4 that it was time to finish the year. The last magazine many of our staff members will produce was tangibly close, but for others there were to be many more late nights in that room.

In a trip to the Whirlwind ‘newsroom’ of the past, there was a room of questions.

This year, we grew as a publication, and our readership showed us its voice as well.

port to the class of 2019, and how they shaped our school.

If you are searching for a heartwarming senior story, visit pages 9-15 for the story of three groups of friends for life. If you like seeing the senior classes opinions on which teacher is most likely to be president, view the statistics on pages 10-11.

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Considering we as a staff are now accepting our newest positions into leadership for this last issue, there is much to look forward to.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Alizah Bueno

Malachi Murphy MANAGING EDITORS

Mattea Hellman

Jonathan Perkins BUSINESS MANAGER

Preet Dhaliwal PHOTO/MULTIMEDIA

Karissa Lamonte NEWS

Malachi Murphy OPINION

Maggie Bedrin SPORTS

Gabrielle Budlong ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Lajla Raske

Abigail Winter SPECIAL

Emily Haarstad STAFF

Megan Caroll

Gage Crabtree

Asherah Davidow

Hayley-Mae Harlan

Jakob Jones

Aisling Malone

Sydney Morgan

Lajla Raske

Braxton Reece

Dezmond Remington

Jaden Rodriguez

Patrick Spence

We say goodbye to our senior staff members who helped to shape our magazine, now in its second year. This issue, we dedicate a special re-

Just as look forward to our new superintendent, whose profile is featured on page 6. With a glance towards the past, we hope the future is just as bright. We hope you will join us in the many future issues of the Whirlwind.

Corrections and Letters to the Editors

Please send corrections or comments on this issue to: wahswhirlwind@gmail.com CONTACT US

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The Department of Energy is a nuclear silo. Hear me out. Listen, there’s that tall white building, which could easily be the launch site. The field next to it says no trespassing, so it could be the underground storage center for them. There’s warehouses and armed security. It’s a nuclear silo.

Cheyenne Such

Jenna Thomas

Corbin Ulibarri

Emmalynn Weible

Ember Walter

Abigail Winter ADVISER

Michelle Balmeo

The problem with school funding

With another budget change to the public school system underway, teachers rally together to ask Oregon legislators to remedy decades-old funding issues

BY Cheyenne Such

AS BUSES DROVE PAST the crowd of red, a chorus of honking occurred, followed by cheers and claps. The crowd would then quiet once more and the group would focus their attention back to the speaker.

On May 8, while over 25,000 people showed up to the teacher march in Portland, Oregon. Meanwhile, Albany had its own march at Central Elementary School. However, the reason for this march was for more than larger paychecks.

Oregon’s small budget started in the 1990s when Measure 5 and 50 cut the education funding down to its bones. Measure 5 was a cut to property taxes in the state, which is were a majority of local school funding came from. This left schools suddenly underfunded.

“We are overstretched by a lot,” Periwinkle Elementary speech therapist Cecile Meehan said. “Case load, medical services, kids treated. Reducing the number treated would give better quality.”

Oregon went without sufficient unding for the next 25 years. This cut depleted schools from the most basic essentials including building expansions required for growing populations, up to date technology for the advancing world, and even basics such as cafeteria workers, librarians, and counselors. School budgeting never caught up afterwards, even despite the improving economy.

To bring attention to this disparity between the state’s wealth and the school system’s funding, a march was organized. Just about everyone is affected by Oregon’s

education system, whether they work in it, are students attending, have students attending, or even if they’ve graduated.

To finally tackle the problem reformation was at long last implemented. All it took was three previously failed attempts and a couple decades. On March 13, a bill to start properly funding student education was passed. This means that today $2 billion have been arranged to be sent to new school funds over a two year cycle. This

would be a gradual introduction of money to help aleviate any stress of sudden tax increases. The president of the teacher union, Sue McGrory, says that this isn’t enough, it’s only a step in the right direction. “I want to keep the momentum going,” she said. The plan for how the money will be spent is currently undecided. If the teachers’ plans go through, it will be used on counselors, classified employees, and better class sizes and rooms for all.

On May 8, teachers marched from Central Elementary School to Pacific Blvd. to help raise awareness for the lack of school funding in Oregon.

MALACHI MURPHY

Take care, walk there

A group of seniors cares for and walks to school with staff members kids

BY Malachi Murphy

“I’M ELLISON, he’s Hudson, she’s Avery, Olivia just walked in, and they are Knox and Carter.” Ellison, although a little quiet, felt confident in introducing her friends. They sat in a small classroom at the end of F hall and even though there were only seven of them, they filled the space with their laughter. Right in the middle, sat the only high schooler that day, senior Lexie Stinson. Although that day, May 21st, was senior skip day, she still came and sat tired amongst the little kids.

Every gold day morning in F-13, the

kids of staff members meet with Stinson and Mclain Timm to play games, draw on the whiteboards, and finish their homework before walking to Liberty Elementary as a group. Without someone to look after them in the mornings, they would have nowhere to go, an obvious safety hazard. Additionally, the walk without accompaniment could be a risk as well, considering how much happens even when they are walked to school. Lexie specifically recalls an instance when Ellison ran and fell on the sidewalk and needed assistance walking Hours

Tuesday - Saturday 11 a.m.

the rest of the way to school. If Lexie and Mcclain were not there, the morning might have been ruined.

“This is definitely a good way to wake you up in the morning”, Stinson remarked, after a stifled yawn. Between Knox and Carter running around and wrestling, Hudson and Ellison’s game of hangman, and Avery’s buzz of trap music from her headphones, there was plenty to pay attention to. She came by herself, and was only there for the kids. As she remarked, she was excited to get home and sleep.

On blue days, however, senior Hannah Guzman and Brooks Bontrager take care of the kids and walk them to school. They are all seniors who were selected out of English teacher Jodi Howell’s senior AVID class, and chosen to be the morning-care crew.

“I definitely think it’s pretty cool that I get to do this, since I was a kid in something like this too,” Stinson said. Being the daughter of P.E. teacher Shawn Stinson, she knows what it’s like to be the kid of a staff member, and she’s happy to be contributing to the next generation.

Ultimately, Howell feels thankful for the experience. “Yesterday, I was so thankful. I mean, these kids are so nice. Like, Avery forgot something for a field trip [...], and Brooks and Hannah got back here grabbed it really quick and took it back to Avery. [...] We just have that kind of school. I don’t think a lot of places have that.”

Malachi Murphy

THE LIBERTY WALKERS; From left to right, bottom to top, Carter, Knox, Olivia, Royce, Brooks Bontrager, Hudson, Ellison, Avery, Peyton, Hannah Guzman

New superintendent selected

What you need to know about Melissa Goff, new superintendent

BY Hayley-Mae Harlan

THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT leans in when she’s listening. She plays golf in her free time. She’s tall. She smiles a lot. She begins July 1, and most of all, she wants to hear from us.

Melissa Goff’s first teaching job was in Mitchell, OR, where the entire school district had only 96 students. She taught seventh through 12th grade language arts and drama, and was also the junior class advisor, the cheerleading coach, and organized a tri-county prom. She was in education for seven years before taking on an administration position.

Goff worked in Portland public schools for five years before going to Philomath and becoming superintendent there. “In Portland we had a great deal of diversity,” she said. “There was a lot of opportunity to work in matters of equity-racial, linguistic, socio-economic equity.” She’s very passionate about equity. Now, in Al-

bany, she sees places in the district where she can focus on students who haven’t gotten as much help as they need. She also sees the importance of learning from the students, staff, and community in order to have a positive impact on the district.

“I want to listen. I want to learn more. I’m excited to have the opportunity to be included in community meetings just to learn more about GAPS. I don’t want to go in with any assumptions and I know that Albany has experienced a little bit of roughness in landing on a permanent superintendent. I feel like I can … listen, learn, and keep everything moving forward that’s happening right now,” Goff said.

Goff ends her position in Philomath on June 30 and starts in Albany on July 1.

In her free time, Goff likes to spend time with her husband of 23 years and her two daughters. Her oldest daughter goes to UCLA, and her youngest will graduate from Philomath High School this year.

Goff has also golfed since college and enjoys going to estate sales and reading.

She wants people to know that she is an honest person who’s interested in knowing what’s important to students. She plans on utilizing social media on a regular basis to hear from the public, and is setting up in-person listening sessions. She encourages students to come to them and to bring their younger siblings, too.

Goff is well-qualified for this position and proud of her integrity and approachableness. She feels that she’s been effective in her past job positions and that her diverse experiences make her a good, successful leader.

“I think my experiences have really led me to this superintendency.”

Lowest college acceptance rates

BY Aisling Malone

US Air Force Academy - 12%

Northwestern University - 9% University of Chicago - 9%

Minerva Schools at KGI - 2%

Stanford University - 5%

California Institute of Technology - 8% Pomona College - 8%

Jarvis Christian College - 11%

Dartmouth College - 10%

Columbia University - 6%

WHAT’S NEXT LOOKING BACK

Bill freezes college tuition in Oregon

EVERY YEAR A NEW GROUP of students graduate high school and start looking at colleges. Tuition is a big factor students consider when choosing a school. Yet, each year colleges and universities raise their basic tuition rates.

House Bill 3381, proposed by Rep. Rob Nosse, would temporarily freeze tuition increases in Oregon’s state universities and colleges. According to Oregon State Legislature, this bill: “Prohibits public universities from increasing amount of tuition and mandatory fees charged to resident undergraduate and graduate students during 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 academic years.” This calls for legislators to fund higher education instead of the bulk of the money coming in from students pockets.

Oregon College tuitions

Willamette University - $66,560

According to each official college website

MIT - 7%

Julliard School - 6%

Harvard University - 5%

Curtis Institute of Music - 4%

Princeton University - 6%

US Naval Academy - 8%

Duke University - 10%

Vanderbilt University - 11%

Valedictorians going on to college

The honor of being a Valedictorian has been a tradition all over the nation. The requirements to be a Valedictorian vary from school to school, but in 1980 one of the requirements at West Albany was to have a 4.0 cumulative GPA. Three seniors—Laurie Campbell, Susan Nielsen, and Eric Mark—were awarded for their accomplishment of having a 4.0. These three seniors went on to some highly rated schools such as Linfield College, Oregon State University, and even Stanford University.

Senior Valedictorians Susan Nielsen, Laurie Campbell, salutatorian Andrea Berg and Valedictorian Eric Mark

Photo by 1980 Whirlwind staff

HATE

IN OREGON the number of reported hate crimes went up 40 percent in 2018 alone. This makes Oregon 15th in the nation when ranked by frequency of hate crime, despite being only 27th in terms of population.

Senior Greg Priddy states that national migration could be a cause for the increasing statistics. He states that he “thinks the rates have gone up because there’s a variety of different people coming to the state more recently.”

WAHS counselor Ryan Graham, however, is not alarmed by this influx.

“You can see that number and say ‘oh my gosh it’s up 40 percent’ or you can say, yeah but it’s only four incidences. In relation to the population, it’s astronomically low.” Graham said.

“Do I see it as a startling rise? No. It would be nice to have a more accurate number, but to get there seems like it might be difficult.”

When rates of hate crime are on the rise in Oregon, how can it be seen in our community? Are the rates accurate?

BY Mattea Hellman

not truly reflective of the real crimes and their national prevalence. This is not just an Oregon problem.

Across the country, hate crimes go unreported, even if all the factors going into a hate crime are present.

According to FBI reports, the local law enforcement agencies who volunteered information to the FBI on hate crime within their districts reported a total of 6,121 hate crimes in 2016. However, a survey conducted by the FBI, the National Crime Victimization Survey, puts their

An analysis of court documents done by Carnegie-Knight News21, a national news initiative run by top journalism students across America, shows that between the January of 2010 and July of 2018, federal prosecutors only pursued 100 hate crimes.

“If they [disclose] then things will be worse for them later on.” Priddy claims. “[...] The person harassing them will continue to do what they did but harsher afterwards.”

“There’s definitely corrupt people within the justice system [...] but overall, no, it doesn’t.”

MAP OF REPORTED 2018 OREGON HATE CRIMES

Beaverton, 1

Lake Oswego, 1

Portland, 27

Lincoln City, 1 Salem, 3

The effect that underreporting has on society can be summed up to a lack of education on how often hate crime really happens, and in our community it is no different; in Oregon, Eugene has the highest rates of hate crime.

Medford, 1

An equity analyst from the Eugene office of Human Rights and Neighbourhood involvement, Katie Babits, said that FBI reports show nearly half of all Oregon hate crimes happened within the city. “Eugene [...] has the most robust process for documenting hate crimes in the state and perhaps the country. [...] That process accounts, in part, for the inflated numbers.” Babits goes on to say, “There’s definitely a connotation that people feel more emboldened to act on hate, but our outreach has increased, and our work with Eugene PD became more in-depth. […] We go through a lot of lengths and detail to be able to capture as many hate crimes as we can.”

So, while Oregon’s rates are higher than a large quantity of the country, this is

Oregon City, 1

Corvallis, 4

Eugene, 2

Creswell, 1

estimated amount of hate crimes at about 250,000 a year.

The absence of adequate reporting for these crimes throughout the nation can also be attributed to the multiple states that have a lack of laws regarding the crimes specifically. As of 2019, Wyoming, Utah, Georgia, and Indiana have no hate crime laws.

While there are still federal laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, if these crimes are reported directly to the FBI in a no-hate-crime-law state, these cases are rarely pursued.

“Focusing on supporting the ways that people are similar, and having healthy outlets is a really good thing.” Graham said in terms of preventing hate crime before it occurs.

Meanwhile, Priddy said that victims who are scared to report “just need someone that will be there with them and help them through it.”

Without proper statistics on the matter, it’s not possible for us to know what we’re up against and how to combat it. Although, there are organizations actively trying to combat it.

Human Rights First, an independent advocacy and action organization has been fighting against hate crime and fighting for more realistic reporting standard. They’ve made a ten-point plan on how to encourage reporting in legal systems: and they are not the only one.

From organizations like Human Rights first to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, society is taking notice and awareness is increasing.

WHERE TO FIND IT

According to the Oregon Coalition Against Hate Crime

BY Jaden Rodriguez

Friendships come and go throughout school experiences, but these senior maintained their connections throughout the years

SENIOR BETSIE GREGORY recalls meeting her best friend senior Tiffany Forrest in the third grade, not expecting that one day they would be the closest of friends.

“I just remember her running in late one day for basketball and I was like who is this, why is she late all the time,” Gregory said.

Both Gregory and Forrest remember wanting to talk to each other, but being too scared to say anything. Eventually the girls interacted and the bond that formed during their third grade year held strong throughout their school career. As they look back on their friendship and the events that shaped them, they both agree they wouldn’t be different even if they hadn’t met each other.

“I think I’d be the same, she doesn’t calm my crazy,” Forrest stated. As they both end their senior year and embark on their own paths, they strongly believe their friendship will last after high school.

MR. BAKER’S SEVENTH grade advanced science class, second semester, Memorial Middle School. Seniors Madison Sim and Riley Clark weren’t doing too well, until they met one another. While initially complete opposites, the two eventually joined forces to become an inseparable duo which continues on to the present. With opposing personalities, Clark and Sim brought out qualities in each other they both didn’t know they possessed.

“I’m more crazy because of Riley. Riley is more cautious because of me,” explained Sim. “I’m like the safety net. I think I’d be mean if we hadn’t become friends.”

Together, they have learned to be more of themselves and also a little more of each other.

“I’ve learned to be more caring for other people,” admits Sim while Clark admits for her she’s learned the complete opposite. “I’ve stopped caring as much about other people and more about myself.”

SENIOR MATTHEW HAST sat down at the table, a coloring sheet in front of him, as senior Dillon Mills came and sat next to him in speech class 13 years ago. They began to color a picture of a fire truck together, not knowing they would soon form a bond that would last until the end of their school career.

As Hast and Mills’ friendship developed over the course of speech school, senior Ethan Tyler was added to their friendship in first grade, making them a trio that continues to this day. With breaks in between their friendships and changes in groups, their senior year brought them back together as they finish the year off closer than ever.

After years of friendship, Tyler admits Mills and Hast brought him out of his phase of never taking his sweatshirt off, as Hast recalls in elementary school Mile Club.

“I remember Mileage club with Ethan and Matthew,” Mills chuckles at Tyler as he admits, “he wouldn’t take his sweatshirt off.” Mills admits the calmness of Hast and Tyler brought his craziness down. Although they aren’t sure how long their friendship will last outside of high school, or if it will even last at all, they cherish their friendship quirks.

Mills motions towards Tyler and Hast as he described a game they would play where they would say random words and try to make each other laugh. “Those two specifically like to stare at each other a lot.”

SENIORS TIFFANY FORREST (left), BETSIE GREGORY (right)

SENIORS MADISON SIM (left), RILEY CLARK (right)

USED WITH PERMISSION OF BETSIE GREGORY AND TIFFANY FORREST

USED WITH PERMISSION OF MADISON SIM AND RILEY CLARK

SENIORS ETHAN TYLER (Left), Dillon Mills (Right)

USED WITH PERMISSIN OF ETHAN TYLER, DILLON MILLS, AND MATTHEW HAST

BY Braxton Reece and Sydney Morgan

SENIOR STATS 2019

As the class of 2019 starts the next chapter of their lives, The Whirlwind wanted to help capture their high school experience. We surveyed 178 seniors, and this is what they said.

What are your plans after high school?

80%

14%

6% are going to college are going into the workforce are serving in the military

65% Have Cheated on a test

35% Have Never Cheated on a test

The Majority of students rated their high school expirence

8

Oh, the places my classmates will go

Seniors receive scholarships for college and plan to go into unique careers

BY Geneva Mellison

Adamec is going to OSU to be an engineer, but her interests surpass the common engineer work the public thinks of. Adamec wants to be a set designer.

Taking AP Psychics and attending engineering camps were ways she grew and educated herself in this field. Her love for science fiction movies inspires her to work on sets with chrome like backgrounds. “A lot of engineering is designing things like—HP makes printers—which is kind of boring—and I want to design something creative,” Adamec said.

With the job of designing movie sets, Adamec would get to travel for work, which would she would love. She is not positive where the job would take her, but she is okay with that. She said her end goal is uncertain, but she is excited to start at college and figure it out.

SENIOR TAYLOR TEDROW

Tedrow was scouted playing volleyball. She received an email from Jayme Frazier from LBCC about meeting with her to discuss her college volleyball career.

After talking with Frazier and her parents, she knew it was a good fit and it was right to stay close to home. “I knew I wanted to play college ball ever since I started playing,” Tedrow said.

She will continue her education at LBCC on an athletic scholarship playing volleyball and getting her AA in business. She said she might transfer afterwards, but she hasn’t figured life out that far yet.

“It’s something I love and want to continue doing, but it’s a good way to get school done while having some fun,” Tedrow said.

One day, she can imagine herself being a coach, but right now she is waiting to see what her next step will be.

Walls dedicates too many hours to count to Track and Field. “They started watching me sophomore year,” said Walls. She said she put more stress on herself to reach personal goals than her parents or coaches ever did.

When Walls was deciding where to go, Grand Canyon University the summer before her senior year inviting her on an official visit. She said she was the first out of state thrower who was asked to come on an official visit.

When she was in Arizona at the college, she sat down and went over the finances and what she would have to pay that her Presidential and athletic scholarships didn’t cover and realizing the affordability, she knew this is where she wanted to be.

“It felt like a second home,” Walls said. She is excited to leave Albany and get to study what she wants, meet new people, and enjoy the warm weather.

SENIOR KRISTEN ADAMEC

SENIOR ALYSSA WALLS

SOMETHING TICK -

LED IN MY fingertips at just 10 years old. Staring at my grandparents’ TV screen, Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny started to look more like shifting lines and shapes than whole characters. I looked closely at the curvature of Daffy’s bill, the white lines used to create contrast on his black surface and the way Bugs’ ears curved and his teeth sat against the rest of his face: I wanted suddenly to pick up a pencil, a pen, or a crayon, something, and draw these shapes. Something took over my brain and forced me to draw what I saw and it’s remained innate to me ever since.

ARTIST IN TRAINING

How art has shaped my life and opened my eyes

Senior JENNA THOMAS

I’ve always been more prone to enjoying drawn self portraits and craft projects in elementary school, but my love for art began with Looney Tunes and my favorite cartoon characters in fourth grade. Crude attempts at realistic celebrity portraits soon refined themselves into recognizable faces, and I became continuously more proud of what I was creating through practice. A second wave of inspiration hit my freshman year of high school when I started to develop a real, definable art style, and suddenly art became the air I breathed, the escape I sought, and the future I chased.

I always told my parents I wanted to be an astronomer when I grew up. I wanted to work for NASA, I wanted to spend my time looking through my $200 telescope I got for Christmas, and I wanted to discover things, view things and learn things. As parents usually do, they became excited what an amazing thing to hear, a beautiful sight to see! Their child wanted to pursue a lucrative and prosperous career in a well-paying field! Then, after several years of shuffling through academic purgatory, a state of confusion, indecision, and fear for life after graduation, I decided blindly, faithfully that I wanted to go to college for art.

The archetype of the “starving artist” became a real fear to me, lingering endlessly in the corners of my every thought about the future; but I didn’t care. I don’t care. I want this, and I don’t want anything else. No future is worth having without the pastime that keeps my blood flowing hot and my mind functioning smoothly.

In eighth grade, we were told we had plenty of time, reassured repeatedly that we “have four whole years, don’t worry,

you’ll have time to decide and there’s absolutely, positively, undoubtedly, no rush.”

Then, we became freshmen.

And we had an entire class, biweekly, dedicated to college.

And decisions.

And rushing.

And I panicked. My anxiety set in heavier than ever before. I had weekly daily breakdowns, crying in my car come sophomore year, crying in my room, crying in school. College majors raced through my mind: Do I go into religious studies? Do I go into astronomy even if I’ve decided I don’t like it anymore? Do I do something in psychology even though I can’t even understand how my own brain functions most times? Do I continue with math and consequently go into science just to make sure I have a hefty paycheck?

None of these appealed, and I broke down time after time, picturing a life miserable in whatever job I was thrown into simply because I needed to make a certain amount of guaranteed money to survive student loans, living on my own, and an eventual family.

I got sick of it, and I didn’t want to think about college and my inevitable chronic unhappiness with whatever job I would be forced into. I have to go to college, I told myself. I’m the kind of person who goes to college, there’s no other choice.

Then, I visited an art college, and I did an art show with my teacher, and I gained some exposure on my social media. I realized who I was helping with my art, the options out there for me, the potential I have and the people I have around me supporting my every step forward, holding my up by the ankles through some of the hardest

decisions of my life. I decided, wholeheartedly, steadily, committedly, that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

There is no divergent future I can imagine being happy in which doesn’t involve art in some form or another. I am happiest when I’m allowed to express myself, and I refuse to let societal pressure steal that from me. I hold my identity in my unique say and abilities, and I will not allow outside forces to dehumanize me in my most vulnerable point in life.

In the end, I would rather be broke and happy than rich in everything but love for what I do. If I can’t do what I enjoy, I can’t use my best vessel for helping others. This is what I do best, the subject I understand on a deeper level than what can be taught in a classroom by a master's degree. I won’t let my future be determined by the same societal entities that divide countries, send people into unwarranted debt, and hammer heads of vulnerable individuals into living the same, mundane, hateful lives many seem too far in to escape.

The moral of the story: I love what I do now, and I plan to love it forever. If any constant remains thus far in my life, it’s my joy for sharing what I know and what I have to offer through my most sure outlet. The decision to do what I love, or even just to start with what I love and see where it takes me, was the best I’ve ever made. I find comfort in knowing that wherever I go in my career and whatever art ends up turning into in college, I will be doing what I am most passionate about, and no one can take that away from me.

I’LL ADMIT IT: I have nail salon anxiety. I’m nervous around strangers, and in the common Vietnamese salons, I have a hard time working through their thick accents. My ears are bad enough as is. Communication becomes extremely difficult for me when you consider all the factors. The environment of a salon is odd to me, too. It’s a nightmare if you’re an awkward person. Maybe that’s why I’ve never been to the same nail salon twice, and today is no exception. I scour online reviews and settle for one that has three and a half stars on Yelp!

When I walk in, the only clients left at 5:30 p.m. are an older blonde lady and me. I sign in and notice that almost every client who requested a specific employee requested Kim.

Wow, I thought, this lady must be good. Later, I’m pleased to realize that Kim is doing my nails as well.

THE SOCIAL IMPORTANCE OF A MANICURE

Getting your nails done is a community building experience everyone should try

SENIOR HAYLEY HARLAN

The other technician gets me started, but not long in, he leaves to a back room to go tend to the sound of giggling children. I take a seat next to the blonde lady and wait. Her nails are almost done, just drying.

“Wow Kim, these look great!” she exclaims. I comment on her ring and ask how long she’s been married.

“Oh no, this is just an engagement ring,” she says. Kim already knows this.

“She getting married in September,” Kim says. “Have fun on your trip this weekend!” she says, and the blonde lady leaves. I’m the only client left.

I have a moral dilemma every time I get my nails done. I hold lot of love for people of color, but in not wanting to say the wrong thing or offend them, I’m often too quiet. Then, I realize this might come off as rude, too, which is the opposite of what I was going for in the first place. I also know that we come from such different backgrounds, and in the intimate environment of a nail salon, I don’t want to seem racist or entitled, as many people probably do when they walk in. I have to recall the story from the 70s of how the Vietnamese came to do nails in America in the first place. It also helps to remember that these people are probably making more than me anyway.

I notice how tense my hand is as Kim works and try to relax it a little. My hand rests on her hand and I feel a sort of bond between us before we’ve even spoken. There’s some sort of physical validation in

just brushing hands with a stranger. Maybe I’m just desperate for human connection. Nevertheless, it means something to me that she’s fine with the closeness.

“What shape you want your nail?” Kim asks. “Coffin, round, square…”

I already have something in mind, but either my words or the language barrier fails me when I try to describe it.

“Show her a picture,” the man says. I do, and I lie, saying my friend suggested I get them.

Why do I lie? I’m not sure. They are sharp, bold nails, so maybe I’m afraid of looking completely crazy. Later, when I get home, our roommate will tell me they look like daggers. My mom will say they look like claws. When she prompts me to show the neighborhood kids, one of them will wince and pull back as if I’ve pinched him. Perfect. Just what I hoped. This will no doubt show my entire high school that I am not prey, but predator.

“Your friend is smart,” Kim says. “She tell you to get these nails so you can protect her.”

It takes me a second to get the joke, but a real laugh comes out of me. When was the last time I laughed with a stranger like this? Kim apologizes and assures me she’s not making fun of me.

Kim is funny. Kim is smart and charismatic, and not at all cold toward me. I confess to her that I don’t get my nails done much.

“Ah, special occasions,” she says. I nod.

Jenny walks in the middle of my man-

icure. I don’t know Jenny, but it’s clear that the nail technicians do.

“Jenny! Finally, you’re here!”

“I know,” she sighs, “I’m always late.” The technicians laugh.

“No, we open whenever you want, just for you, Jenny.”

They call the kids out of the back room to say hello to her. Two chubby little kids appear and wave.

“I knew you guys when you were really little and you could sit in my lap, but I don’t think you could sit in my lap anymore,” Jenny says. “I don’t think I’ve seen you guys since December!”

Kim and I talk about graduation and college and I tell her I’m going to study astrophysics because I want to work at NASA. She seems genuinely interested.

“You look like you’d work in medical field or NASA,” she says. “You look like you can do it.” She has no idea how much this means to me.

I have one more confession: the nails were just okay. They weren’t bad. They weren’t perfect, either. I’ve had better before, but I’d never connected with a stranger so quickly. I think the bond between client and nail tech is special, especially when you find someone you click with. It’s about more than just nails. It’s about two different people—from different backgrounds, lives, and experiences—learning to understand each other and enjoy each other’s company through an act of service.

We say a short and sweet goodbye after I pay, as they don’t expect I’ll be back any time soon. Little do they know, I will definitely be coming back well before any special occasion.

SENIOR GENEVA MELLISON

ON FRESHMAN ORIENTA -

TION day, I wore a navy blue quarter-sleeve shirt and dark wash American Eagle skinny jeans with tan, classic style Vans and the only thing on my mind was how I will remember where each classroom is. 14-year-old Geneva prayed for her first love, strived for a 4.0 GPA, and had a solid friend group that she knew would last a lifetime. Five months into my four year excursion, first semester was over. It brought dwindled friendships, a bad first kiss, and one B (89.6 to be exact). My future plans seemed to be spiraling out of control before my eyes.

Sophomore year began and my head was still full of these big dreams I hoped to accomplish within my high school years. Unexpectedly, I found a friend who I connected with on a new level. She taught me about individuality and showed me it’s cool to be who you are and stand out in a crowd. I engrossed myself in drawing figures, taking portraits, watching foreign romance movies, and wearing mom jeans.

GENEVA’S HIGH SCHOOL PLAN: STEP ONE) ?? STEP TWO) BE SUCCESSFUL

Junior year proved to be the hardest year, but I learned the most. The decision to take AP Studio Art was the best scheduling choice I could have made. I discovered my deep love for photography and the conceptual art and fashion that plays a role within it. Art teacher Babette Grunwald will forever be my favorite part of West Albany High School. Not only did she push me in creative ways in each class I took from her, but she taught me about relationships, ingenuity, respect, and most impactfully, she loved me. I ran to her during all of my dark times and she helped pick me up, eventually leading me in the pathway of a therapist. I discovered the kind of person I want to be, and I owe a lot of it to Grunwald. That year was also full of torn friendships, my first heartbreak, and the album Ctrl by SZA in the background at all times.

My attitude was the biggest thing that changed senior year and it led with the philosophy that it is cool to care, except when it doesn’t matter. It is cool to dress up for spirit week. It is cool to do your homework (yet I never fully grasped this concept). It is cool to have relationships with teachers. It is cool to respect kids of all grades, regardless of who they are or what they look like. On the other side, you shouldn’t care about what others think of you. The only thoughts you can control are your own, so why not have fun? If anyone noticed how I dressed, it is drastically different than freshman year. I used to hide behind what I thought others would like and now

I put on what makes me feel good. I am the most comfortable and confident I have ever been. Being someone who stands out from the rest of the class has been fun for me, even if every other kid tells me I remind them of Billie Eilish, which she’s kind of fly, so I’m okay with it.

Another person who I grew closer with this year is Psychology teacher Kyle Hall. Hall has taught me about self help: identifying the problem, and fixing it, or at least managing it. He’s also just a really cool dude. If you aren’t planning on it already, take his AP Psych class. You’ll learn about taking good notes and having responsible study habits, but you’ll also learn about who you are, how we connect with each other, and how we grow up in a biological and behavioral manner. You’ll also get to watch Hall make bad jokes and trip over his podium every other day.

The friends I made this year have been my favorite. That’s something I never could have planned for. I feel more surrounded by love than ever before and it only took me three and a half years to learn how to have healthy friendships. Looking into my next year, I still want to accomplish all the previous goals I set. Although they may not come the way I want, but rarely anything does. I am sure that success will come my way in a form I am unable to see or predict, but I am okay with that. As all of us are making final plans for next year, take a breath. Not everything will go how you want. Some plans will be better, and some worse. Plan to be surprised.

OPINION

Hello Class

BY Ember Walter

Substitutes are treated unfairly and students need to change this attitude

MOST STUDENTS HAVE always thought of substitute teachers as less than regular teachers. Substitute teachers are continually being downgraded and thought of as pushovers, and the students at WAHS should do something about it.

However, there are different types of substitutes. Freshman Boden Lindberg describes what different substitutes are like.

“[Some] sit back and are cool, then there are substitutes that are mean and, like, way too controlling. Then, there is a war between student and teacher. There are [also] substitutes that are actually perfect.”

Each of these types of substitutes have something in common, they are unfamiliar: aliens. Even though some teachers are very much approved by the students, like the beloved former teacher and long-term substitute Max White, almost all substitutes have stories on how they have been mistreated.

She explained how substitutes who have taught before are more likely to be accepted by the students. Even if they have taught before at other schools, they are still foreign to students.

Small changes are hard. When a student is used to one teacher then another comes, it can be hard for them to adjust to the change.

Freshman Josh Chipman said, “A lot of times they are treated like trash because the students don’t know them as well.” This still does not give students the right to mistreat substitutes.

It is already hard enough to be a substitute. When they come to the classroom, they don’t know anyone’s name, and the students think the day will be a free day. It’s hard to change a stubborn adolescent’s mind once it’s been made up.

HOW ARE SUBSTITUTES TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN REGULAR TEACH -

“I feel like since they are substitutes they don’t have as much power over the student.”

Freshman HAILEY MCCREE

Substitute teacher Krista Hartman has subbed for two years. Before that, she was a West Albany business teacher. This is one reason why students treat her better than regular substitutes.

“Because I’ve taught here, students that know me treat me like a regular teacher; but then the students who don’t, don’t at first. Then after, [they treat me better],” Hartman said.

As a student, you could encourage your peers to treat the teachers with respect. It is absolutely crazy how much peer pressure can influence another’s opinion of someone. Little by little, students will start to see substitutes as just another teacher. We will have more substitutes as our school careers continue on, and when a substitute comes to our school, they will be happy to say “Hello class.”

“When it comes to how substitutes are treated differently than regular teachers, it depends on what classroom environment that substitute is in. Looking back at how the substitutes I’ve had were treated it ranges from them having the classes respect all the way to them having no control of the classroom. I feel when a substitute isn’t fully confident in teaching the lesson that was prepared for them, the class looks at that as the sub doesn’t know what they’re doing and maybe we can get off from doing what our teacher wants to be taught.”

Sophomore

ADELINA CRAINET

MAGGIE BEDRIN

SMALLER CLASSES = SUCCESS

Large classes cause weaker student-teacher relations

BY Preet Dhaliwal

BIGGER CLASSES HAVE been coming and going every year, but larger classes are slowly becoming the norm, and it’s ruining teacher-student relationships. This is causing students not care as much for their teachers, and making students think their teachers wouldn’t understand what each student is going through. Most students feel smaller classes are better because they allow for more one-on-one with the teacher.

Some classes, such as American Studies, are so big it is taught by two teachers. But that is by the students own choices. If they were separate, they would be average size classes. American Studies is one you have everyday as well, causing more stress for students and making it so you don’t have much chance for personal exchanges with teachers.

Smaller classes are desired by students, just not for every class. For certain classes , class size matters more such as algebra 2 and AP Composition. There is research showing that smaller classes are better, done by the National Education Association. The research shows that students in smaller classes exhibited more positive behaviors toward being a part of class, and learning, than compared to the students in larger classes. If students wanted classes to be smaller, schools would need more money to be able to make more classes and be able to pay all their teachers. When students, future comes into question, many people agree that only the best should be used to teach them and help them grow, which is why many teachers want smaller

classes and more funding for schools.

That’s where the Student Success Act comes into play. The Student Success Act is the bill that teachers have been pushing for lately. On May 8th teachers around Oregon walked out and rallying in Salem for the act to be passed, and it was. Two weeks ago the act was passed in the Oregon Con-

gress, and it granted $2 billion for use in the schools of Oregon. This was a huge win for students and teachers all over Oregon. Hopefully it will start affecting the classrooms and making classes better for every student soon.

MAGGIE BEDRIN

Would you prefer announcements being on social media or the intercoms?

“I think that they should do both. Social media and announcements, but first fixing the speaker system, or doing it like we used to do it and showing announcements in study skills.”

WYATT HERMSEM SENIOR

“[On social media.] Sometimes you can’t hear them on the announcements. People are on social media a bunch... it’d be a lot more handy.”

LANDRI SASSAMAN SOPHMORE

“I think I would definitely prefer social media, opposed to the intercom because these days you can’t hear anything through the intercom.”

MARTIN MARTINEZ SENIOR

Assembling WAHS

Leadership is more than helping out with assemblies

BY Karissa Lamonte

CLASS COMPETITIONS , class yells, and sing-alongs are all things that are found at a typical West Albany assembly, which is set up by Leadership students, along with Event Tech behind the scenes. With the Leadership classroom being hidden away in the loft, not many people get to see what the Leadership experience is and what it’s really about.

Leadership is a West Albany elective meant to help students improve their communication and organizational skills throughout the semesters. It shows students how to help promote character education and a positive school environment. Students who take the course help set up school activities and plan community service projects. This elective is taught by adviser Erik Ihde in the loft at the end of G-hall. Though this is just an elective, it’s more about having fun and being involved with West Albany than gaining recognition.

“It’s honestly just like a major family. It’s a good vibe, it’s a place to vibe out and just have a good time, and it makes high school a lot more fun,” junior AJ Valdez said. The loft gives the students more of a fun vibe than any other classroom. Unlike traditional classrooms, it’s a bit more relaxed in the loft with couches instead of desks. The loft feels more like a home and the students feel like family, which is what makes kids enjoy this class more.

When asked if he thought leadership kids need more recognition from their peers, Valdez said, “We don’t do it for the recognition. We do this because we want to have fun: recognition isn’t one our

priorities, just about getting things done and having fun.” Junior Jaxon Shufelberger commented, “The only recognition we get is a high five from Mr.Ihde.” Leadership students see this class as an opportunity to have fun and help out with the school, not a chance for recognition.

Leadership is about having fun and helping out not only West Albany, but Albany’s whole community. “You have to do a lot of community service,” Shufelberger commented. Being close to their peers and their community is what makes leadership fun and meaningful to the students involved.

Some kids may feel that this class is too stressful or difficult to take, but it’s a great opportunity to get involved and get out of that comfort zone that’s holding most students back. This elective is only promoted to eighth graders at the end of the school year, but it needs to be promoted to current students too, so they have an opportunity to decide throughout their high school career if they’d like to give it a try. Most people not knowing where the loft is makes it more difficult for students to see the environment that leadership students are given and get a real look at that good place to vibe out, as Valdez described.

Complaint File: Announcements

BY Karissa Lamonte

DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS are either too quiet, blasting classrooms, or the class is too loud. This means students could be missing announcements that could be important. Instead of announcements being through the intercom, announcements should be put

onto some sort of social media platform through an account run by leadership students. Putting it onto social media would make it easier for students to read them on their own time and not miss something important.

TOO SOON

Senorits is hitting all students near the end of the year which is a poor excuse to slack off

BY Jonathan Perkins

IT’S A FORCE, some would say. It makes the smart dumb, the brave fearful, the hardworking lazy. Actually, it makes everyone lazy. It’s something so universal, it has a name: senioritis.

Something so despicable, crawling out of a rock from the pits of hell. Attaching itself onto people, gripping their mind, body, and soul. Senioritis is real, everyone knows that, yet the whole concept doesn’t make sense. Those who fall victim to it need to evaluate the real situation at hand. Four years at a school and nearing the end, people do not want to do anything. Tests have been taken, tears most likely have been shed, sleep has definitely been lost. The mental capacity has been breached and is overflowing. Everyone needs a break. One can see the light at the end of the tunnel, the green grass across the bridge. It is very hard to keep persistent with work and continue this “struggle.”

However, senioritis doesn’t just affects seniors. Everyone’s eyes have started to lose the light in them. Teachers struggle with grading, they have a little less patience then they did at the beginning of the year, and they complain, a lot.

Juniors, have about half of the symptoms. Nothing just wants to be done anymore. This could potentially be very bad, considering junior year is the hardest for those with AP classes. Junior year is also the year to finalize grades, to finish math and science requirements. This is especially bad for seniors, considering this is their last year- the grade senioritis affects most. For seniors, their final year should be a strong finish. Instead, it’s like you’re running a marathon and you stop right before the finish line.

Sophomores. Senioritis trickles down to them, they get lazy. There’s effort, yet the quality of their work lacks. The only concern for them would be finishing up foreign languages. Freshmen have no excuse. They’re in the easiest classes of their life. They better not even say anything. If you’re a freshman and start getting lazy at the end of the year, something is wrong with you.

People can’t let senioritis get to them. The idea

of skipping a day and sleeping in sounds like a dream. To take a day off, free from any concerns— to just not to do the assignment and sleep whenever sounds like a dream come true. It’s not; senioritis is merely a lie, something that wants you to fail. It’s an addiction that can’t be stopped. There is a way to counter this. It may seem impossible, but the answer is so easy that it’s looked past: take a break. Many people just keep pushing and pushing until they burn out. Then once they’ve had enough, they just give up completely.

Maybe it is okay to miss one assignment to get some rest than to miss all of them. Maybe the day is too beautiful to stay inside. Go out and enjoy the day, then after that, get back to work. It might not take care of the problem but it’s a start.

Don’t let senioritis be the mistake you’ll always regret in the future.

MAGGIE BEDRIN

We are tired of giving our opinions...

On an unusally hot day, we were struggling to come up with an opinion to write about. We then decided that after giving our opinions for the past nine months it was time for a change. So we gave the mircophone to eight WAHS students, and here is what they said

BY Maggie Bedrin and Kailee Young

KATIE ROHRBOUGH JUNIOR

“I think murders and rapists should go straight into the electric chair… After 50 years, [put them in] electric chair… all these tax dollars are going to murders and thieves when they could be going to schools.

SARAH EMRY JUNIOR

“I don’t think [President Trump] is that bad...plus, hating on the president isn’t going to solve anything. You might as well try to help him.”

KAYA CHIPMAN JUNIOR

“Half of me thinks [Trump] should let [immigrants] in. Most of them are people who need help, but the other part is some of them are killing [people].”

MARY CATALA SENIOR

“In my opinion, I don’t approve of abortions. I think if you have an abortion, you’re killing a child, and that is not OK.”

GRACELYNN WAKEFIELD FRESHMAN

“I feel like we should be able to use our phones [in the hallway] because people can still control themselves while on their phone.”

SAMUEL WHITE SOPHOMORE

“I think there should be a horror movie appreciation club. I’m really into horror movies because I really like being scared.”

CRISTIAN MORENO SOPHOMORE

“Anime. We should have an anime club because it is fun and I really enjoy it.”

BECKY BRIGGS SOPHOMORE

“I like how the school offers such a diverse variety of activities, like, for example, camp.”

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING POLITICAL ISSUES ARE YOU MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT?

DO YOU FOLLOW NEWS ABOUT CELEBRITY SCANDALS?

DO

CARE ABOUT MEMES?

FRESHMAN YEAR

Played track and field, soccer, and briefly basketball

Was around 5 feet

3 inches tall

Weighed around

120 pounds

Awkward

...And then I grew

A look at how some of our favorite senior athletes grew over the years

BY Gabrielle Budlong

SENIOR YEAR

Plays track and field, soccer, and cross country

Is around 5 feet 5 inches

Weighs around 130 pounds

Still awkward, but more fun now

Senior Sienna Higinbotham said her only regret is “I wish I started cross country my freshman year because I didn’t start until my sophomore year.” She also wishes she would’ve been able to continue playing basketball.

FRESHMAN YEAR

Played football

Was around 5 feet 5 inches

Weighed around 175 pounds

Immature

SENIOR YEAR

Plays football, wrestling, and track

Is around 5 feet 5 inches

Weighs around 200 pounds

Positive

Senior Forrest Myres’ only regret is not trying out more sports throughout high school because of the relationships built. He also wishes he didn’t mess around so much in classes.

ROXANE JERY IS A FOREIGN exchange student from Belgium, where their education system is a lot different than ours. By Jery’s “freshman year” she was actually in her third year of high school already. “So I was not a newbie at all.” Jery said, “I actually started to be like a big kid for the school.”

Jery didn’t play any sports what would’ve been her freshman year, but she started badminton that next year and kept playing into her last year. She did cross country and tried lacrosse this year. Jery isn’t the biggest fan of team sports, making lacrosse very out of her comfort zone, but she tried it regardless.

“[Lacrosse] is supposed to be a not contact game,” Jery said, “I’ve never been so covered in bruises.”

Jery really enjoyed lacrosse, however. She liked meeting all the different people.

When Jery first arrived in the United States, she weighed around 110 pounds. After spending some time here, she’s gained a little bit of weight as most people do while traveling. Now she’s around 120 pounds, her freshman year she was around 100 pounds. She’s been the same height since freshman year, 1 meter and 65 centimeters, about 5 feet and 4 inches.

Jery described her freshman self as more introverted, as most of us are around that time. Now Jery is more confident and outgoing than ever before. Partly because she’d older, but mostly because of her traveling experience. Jery talks to so many different people every day that she never thought she would before, and all in a different language.

Summer fun, summer run

Every summer, members of the cross country team go on a hiking retreat to prepare for the fall season and gain a lot of experience from it

BY Corbin Ulibarri

WAKING UP AT SEVEN in the morning, followed by a four mile trail run in the trees, with breakfast soon after, and a swim in the cold, rushing river—that’s what running camp is all about.

Social Studies teacher June Morris is one of the cross country coaches and is also in charge of this year’s summer running camp.

Morris mentions that each year the running camp participants go up to Longbow Camp, which is close by to Sweet Home. “It’s close by so we don’t have to drive really far to get there, but it’s remote in that there’s no cellphone service. It’s really nice because there’s no distractions and we get to do a lot of team activities and team bonding.”

The runners go up to Longbow for three days, and work to get better at running through trail running and hiking.

According to Morris, “[The camp] was built in the 1930’s and there’s these rustic cabins that are three-sided and face the Santiam River. There’s no electricity and you have to bring your own food. It’s really cool.”

On the first day, they typically go on a 3-5 mile run, and do a big hike to a lake and go swimming on the second day.

“We play a lot of games such as flashlight tag in the dark, do scavenger hunts, and work on team cheers because cross-country is very spirited,” says Morris.

Junior Brayden Kinney has been to running camp in the past and is a member of the West Albany cross-country team.

“We do a few hiking trips here and there,” he recalls. “We swim in the nearby river when we aren’t running, and that’s a lot of fun.”

Kinney thinks that running camp is a great experience, and he looks forward to going again this summer.

Running camp will be taking place on August 20th-22nd this summer.

Morris encourages anyone interested in cross country or running to attend, even if you don’t feel confident in running.

Running camp costs $65 this year, but Morris says if money is an obstacle then you should talk to her or any of the other cross country runners about alternative ways to go.

Tearing through barriers

How varsity soccer player junior Chloe Ball will continue her career despite recent injuries, knee surgery

BY Megan Carroll

THERE WERE NO FLOWERS, no cards, no balloons. No one needed to stop by the hospital, there was no need for visitors and get well wishes beside the hospital bed of varsity soccer player junior Chloe Ball, who had knee surgery on May 8 to fix a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus. As soon as she could go home, she did. She was advised to stay the night in the hospital, but eager to get in her own bed, and with the confirmation from a doctor to leave, she headed home not long after surgery to the comfort of her own home. “I just wanted to go home and sleep,” Ball said.

Ball has been playing soccer since she was in kindergarten, but she injured what the doctors thought was just her ACL and MCL at an indoor championship game on March 6. However, going into surgery, surgeons realized her meniscus was also injured. To successfully repair these injuries, doctors saw best fit to take muscle from the front of her knee instead of the plan, to take from her hamstring. This extensive surgery, which has kept her out of school for three weeks, has greatly affected her future plans.

Being the passionate player she is, Ball hopes to be playing soccer next year after she recovers, which will take a full year—meaning she can’t play until next March. However, she does want to see if soccer coach Erik Ihde will still let her join the team next year to pump up the girls and support her team.

What drives a player such as Ball to continue to show up to practices and stick by her team through her injury? Her love for soccer isn’t the only thing she loves about the sport. The team dynamic keeps her coming back for more.

“Getting to know [the girls on the team] and [making] new friends,” Ball said, “not only on the field, but off of it as well,” is one of her favorite parts of being on the WAHS soccer team.

“It’s going to be hard, just be patient. You can’t force it, and if you do, you can’t play in the future.”

JUNIOR CHLOE BALL

The soccer season, which starts in August and ends in October, will all be a time Ball will not be ready to play, since her recovery will go into next March; however, she does plan on joining a club soccer team during the summer next year. So how does this affect her plans going into college?

Ball has some words of advice: “It’s going to be hard, just be patient. You can’t force it, and if you do, you can’t play in the future.”

Ball was a JV soccer player her freshman year, a JV captain who swung varsity her sophomore year, and varsity player this year as a junior. Her hopes for the future included playing varsity soccer next year at school and moving on to play soccer in college. This injury and surgery, however, may change the time span in which she can do such things.

“It’s going to change the time span,” Ball said. “I won’t have the opportunity to show [scouts] games.” This means she won’t have the opportunity to show colleges her potential, which could lower her chances of getting athletic scholarships and going to a college to play soccer.

The soccer team this year tied two or three games and lost one in pre-season Ball said. The team did, however, make it to semi-finals and won third.

To athletes who have been injured and still want to do the sport they love,

USED WITH PERMISSION OF CHLOE BALL

Junior Chloe ball (second row, third from left) wiith the varsity soccer team and their mascot Kat

USED WITH PERMISSION OF CHLOE BALL Varsity soccer player junior Chloe Ball

A look inside the bag of senior golf player

WHAT’S CHAIN OF

IN MY BAG

“New bags this year! [New bags] make me a better golfer. Style points scores!”

“Driver adjustment tool. Changes the loft of the driver.”

Mini medical kit

“Golf balls. Green line through the logo to mark your ball.”

“With the slow pace of play, snacks are necessary.”

Grant Farley

BY Jakob Jones

“Epipen, because I’m allergic to bees. F**k bees.”

IF I’M NOT THEN I’M

WHEN SOPHOMORE ZANE

Montgomery is not swimming or playing water polo, he is often participating in a string orchestra program outside of West. Montgomery plays with fellow WAHS students junior Madi Getz and freshman Petra Christianson.

Montgomery, Getz, and Christianson play cello, violin, and viola respectively.

The trio, travel around Albany playing as a small orchestra for different events, ranging from charity events to banquets.

The orchestra program is put on by a few conductors, however the group primarily goes to conductor Kim Collar for musical guidance. Usually, when the group plays at events, it’s more of a chamber style of orchestra, which means they play without a conductor.

Brush to clean clubs

“I wrap [my ankles] up before every game so I don’t roll them or sprain them.”

“Rangefinder, tells me how far in yards I am away from the flag.”

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

SENIOR MONROE ADAIR’S greatest moment in track was on May 5, when he secured the win for West Albany. He was doing the 4x4 relay as the anchor—the the last man to run on the relay team. As soon as Adair received the baton, he took off down the track.. “As I see the rest of the team take off, I get this sudden boost of energy,” Adair said. “You could see me jumping. I had this giant ass smile on my face.”

Adair took off, 20 to 30 meters ahead of the competition. When he finally collapsed after crossing the finish line, he was over 150 meters ahead of all the other teams.

Even though the anchor is the fastest member of the four runners, Adair says, “I couldn’t have done it without my team. Without them, we wouldn’t have won by a landslide.”

West Albany went on to win the overall track meet.

INSPIRATION

GIRL’S TENNIS

FRESHMAN

MACI VAN DYKE IS INSPIRED BY...

“Sophomore Jasmine [Giri] has been my doubles partner since the beginning of the year. She’s always cheering me on and still positive even if we lose the point. Which helps me to keep going and not give up even if we’re losing.”

SOPHOMORE

JASMINE GIRI IS INSPIRED BY...

“I am inspired by junior Renee Watte because she is hardworking and always positive and is kind to everyone.”

JUNIOR RENEE WATTE IS INSPIRED BY...

“Ceanne Elliott is one of the most inspirational seniors. You can easily tell she’s passionate about her sport. She also makes all the girls on the team feel welcome even if they are new players. She truly cares about the team, and that’s what makes her most inspiration!”

SENIOR CEANNE ELLIOTT IS INSPIRED BY...

“[Senior] Olivia Friedel inspires me because she reminds me to have fun on the court, no matter what the score is. She also cheers me on during every match.”

On the Walls of the Hall of Fame

A history of the West Albany High School Hall of Fame

BY Alizah Bueno and Gage Crabtree

West Albany has hung these photos in the hallways of West Albany. The hall of fame will remain to hang in the school but the location will be changed due to the reconstruction.

EVERY SCHOOL DAY IS

BUSY with students rushing to their classes or talking with friends. No one seems to take too much notice of the plaques that hang on the C hall wall. Those plaques each have a name of someone who was a spectacular athlete, team, or coach. The history and the works of the hall of fame might be unknown to some, along with the process and when it was made. How can we honor them in the same way that they want us to?

The hall of fame didn’t start back in the early 1900’s like it shows on the wall. The recognition of those early athletes goes back to as far as when West was the only high school in Albany, called Albany Union

High School. The hall of fame was started up around 10 years ago and has a board of committee members that run the reunions for the athletes along with our hall of fame. People are picked by the committee members with a nomination from the board members and are put into a big cycle where the members of this board look at every person and examine who would be the best fit for the hall of fame. The cycle that the nominations go through is a five year cycle that allows a person’s application to go through more than once.

Every now and then, when people stop by, the point of the hall of fame is to honor those who were outstanding with what they did in their school life at West.

TEACHERS SHARE THEIR BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

When I joined both those activities [volleyball and softball], I became friends with people I never thought I would be friends with.

“It kept me “New friends vated me

“Sports was one thing that kept me motivated for academics.”“Without sports, I would not have performed as well academically.”

“I think that because it connected groups I would nected to.”

ENGLISH TEACHER AMBER FERGUSON

MATH TEACHER STEVE OCKERMAN

SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER MARTY JOHNSTON

GAGE CRABTREE

SCIENCE TEACHER KARISSA OLSON

HOW DID PARTICIPATING IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AFFECT YOUR TIME IN SCHOOL?

Tod Surmon: Remembering a wrestler

Former wrestler memorialized on the wall of the mat room was one of West Albany’s greatest scholar-athletes

THE LARGE painting that is plastered onto the wrestling room’s wall depicts a man who stands with both hands raised in the air. It’s more than just a man celebrating a win. The memorial is to remember Tod Surmon.

kept me busy and out of trouble.”“New friends helped my drive and motivated me to do something positive.”

MATH TEACHER STEVE OCKERMAN

that kept academics.”not have academically.”

TEACHER JOHNSTON

think that it affected my life positively because it connected me to a lot of groups I would never have been connected to.”

ENGLISH TEACHER AMBER FERGUSON

Surmon was a wrestler for West in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Surmon had accomplishments that led him to be known by people in the community and even nationwide. Surmon had a 4.0 GPA all four years and ended up getting one of the highest math scores in the nation. His love for wrestling was on a different level. Gene D’Agostini, a former teacher and wrestling coach, was an assistant coach for West at the same time that Surmon was a student and wrestler at West.

“Tod came in and he was a kid that was about 88 pounds as a freshman,” D’Agostini said. “Just a little itty pencil, but his dad was taking him to every place all over the Northwest all off season. Any tournament he could get [Tod] into.”

From the moment that D’Agostini saw Surmon, he knew Surmon’s size didn’t define his potential. D’Agostini shared that at some points Surmon weighed less than he could to be legally able to participate, so the coaches would buy a few burgers and give him some food to bring up his weight.

“His junior year… he won the state freestyle tournament and he won the state Greco-Roman tournament. He’s the only guy in the history of West Albany High School that has ever won what we call the triple crown.” D’Agostini said that others have won the state championship before Surmon, but no one has been able to defeat his title of the triple crown.

After high school, Surmon went to Cali-

fornia where he attended Stanford University and proceeded from wrestling in high school. D’Agostini said that Surmon is still talked about today at Stanford with the funny things that he would do at school and how brave he was. Surmon had a hobby of climbing and D’Agostini shared some of the stories of his crazy adventures. He wasn’t only climbing. Surmon was also training for the Midlands tournament (a big deal in the wrestling community, and an instant qualification on a Olympic team if won).

“Tod’s dream was to make an Olympic team in wrestling, so he was in the best shape of his life… He ended up going to a tournament that I think was in Iowa called the Midlands and if you win the Midlands, that automatically qualifies you for the Olympic trials… He won it.” The training for the Midlands tournament paid off. Surmon would then start training for the Olympic trials and possibly participate in the 2000 Olympics.

Tragedy struck, however, in January of 2000 when Surmon, an avid climber, died from a fall from a great height while climbing a pole in Las Vegas to see over a crowd, according to D’Agostini.

Even though he is gone, former wrestling coach Bob Lee painted that mural in the wrestling room to remind everyone of how good of a wrestler he was and to keep his memory alive at West.

THRIFTSHOPPINGH E Y ! LET’S GO

In true Macklemore style, we threw in a $20 bill, headed to the thrift shop, and asked fashion-savvy senior Kieran Predmore some questions while she browsed

BY Jenna Thomas and Abigail Winter

WHIRLWIND: How long do you usually spend thrifting? Kieran Predmore: A while, because there’s so much stuff you have to look through. Then there’s the stuff that you stop to look at because it’s funny to look at, like the ‘This guy pooped today’ shirt. And then you have to go try it on, and I take forever to try stuff on.

WW: What is your usual strategy when you’re thrift shopping?

OUT OF 70 STUDENTS SURVEYED percent prefer to purchase retail or store bought clothing

percent prefer to purchase clothing from thrift or second hand stores

KP: The deals are so good. Sometimes you just find something for three dollars and it’s designer. These jeans are Pacsun and [they’re] forty-five dollars usually, and I found them at Goodwill. And they fit me! Crazy. It’s like the extreme couponers, the way they get the thrill from couponing? That’s me with thrift shopping.”

WW: How often do you go thrift shopping?

KP: I can’t drive, so not very often. My mom hates thrift stores, she can’t go to them. But when I do go, I enjoy it a lot.

“It’s like the extreme couponers, the way they get the thrill from couponing? That’s me with thrift shopping.”

KP: I just look at everything. I don’t really choose one section. I don’t even look at my size sometimes, because [I] can find oversized stuff that still looks good.

WW: If you had five more dollars, what would you have spent it on?

KP: Probably those roller skates, because I love roller skates, and my mom gave the ones I had away, so I miss them.

WW: What is something you wish you could find at a thrift store?

KP: A really weird vest, like a button up vest with a bunch of colors on it.

WW: What is the best aspect of thrift shopping?

JENNA THOMAS

SENIOR KIERAN PREDMORE

WW: What is your favorite thing that you’ve ever bought from a thrift store?

KP: These jeans. I wear them all the time, [almost] every day. They’ve got holes in them and the bottoms are frayed a little bit, but I cuff them. … Seven buckaroos!”

WW: What is the best thrift store you’ve ever been to?

KP: The Goodwill in Newport. [There are] very wintry clothes, like sweaters and stuff.

WW: Do you prefer retail or thrift stores?

KP: I like thrift stores because of the deals. I feel like I’m less of a burden on the people buying me clothes because I don’t have a job or any source of income whatsoever, so I feel better about my own self when we go thrift shopping instead of going and getting name brand stuff. It’s so much easier on the bank to go thrifting, and you get more.

*photo created by Becris from Noun Project

*photo created by 4B icons from Noun Project

What Senior Kieran Predmore Bought for Under $20

Black Turtleneck

$ 2.99

Patterned Pants $4.99

“This Guy Pooped Today”

$ 3.99

Black Velvet Butterfly Hat $2.99

Cat Figurine $.99

Total $15.95

OUT OF 31 STUDENTS SURVEYED

13 students’ favorite item to purchase are shirts

6 students’ favorite item to purchase are shoes

8 students’ favorite item to purchase are jeans/ pants

4 students’ favorite item to purchase are sweatshirts

WHERE TO GO

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL

LOCATION: 2220 Pacific Blvd SE, Albany

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

WHY TO SHOP: Includes a variety of clothing, furniture, books, appliances, and more. There is a donation center near the back end of the store that takes your old, gently used items without charge.

TEEN CHALLENGE THRIFT STORE

LOCATION: 310 SE 2nd Ave, Albany

HOURS: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHY TO SHOP: Money from customers helps struggling teens in a variety of fields, such as career opportunities.

ENTERTAINMENT

NIFTY THRIFTY TIPS from students

“Always check the men’s section.”

TAYLOR KELLEY JUNIOR

“Walk around the aisles where you don’t think you would look.”

MIKE RICHARDS SENIOR

“Don’t try to be too unique.”

ISAAC BENFIELD JUNIOR

JENNA THOMAS JENNA THOMAS

*photo created by Paulo Hortsmann from Noun Project

*photo created by Stephen Borengasser from Noun Project

*photo created Bieu Tuong from Noun Project

*photo created by Deemak Daksina from the Noun Project

2019 SUMMER

by Emmalynn Weible and Patrick Spence

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Ways to spend your time in and around Albany this summer

CHILDER’S RASPBERRIES ALBANY’S CAROUSEL

Head toward Crabtree and you’ll find Childer’s Raspberry farm. Take home a carton of perfectly ripe raspberries to share with your family. Use them to create your own raspberry pie, jam, lemonade, or simply add them to your breakfast. Pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, and even ice cream go well with Childer’s fresh raspberries.

FLOAT THE WILLAMETTE

Stay close to home and beat the late summer heat with a leisurely trip along the Willamette River. Relax floating from Hyak Park in North Albany to Monteith Park Downtown in inner tubes and see the natural beauty of the mid-valley in a new light. Alternatively, consider canoeing or kayaking, perhaps all the way from Corvallis to Albany.

The Albany Historic Carousel is a great place to spend an afternoon this summer. Artists have hand-carved and painted wood create a beautiful carousel of 52 animals. The carousel is not limited to horses, as it has a frog, giraffe, dragon, quail, rabbit, antelope, and more. The carousel has a gift shop staffed by volunteers and its own museum for people to learn about the historic artifacts being displayed.

ART AND AIR FESTIVAL

At Timber Linn Park, Albany hosts one of its biggest annual events, featuring hot air balloons, art and vendor booths, music performances, airplane rides, and more. Stretched across three days in late August, it has fun and activities for the whole family.

RIVER RHYTHMS

Head down to Monteith Park for a five-concert series this July and August Sugar

WEEK PORTLAND BLUES FESTIVAL IN 4

Head up to Portland for a fun day in the city. Check out your favorite neighborhoods, stores, and restaurants before heading down to the Willamette River and going to the Waterfront Blues music festival. With over 60 artists performing across six stages, it is one of the largest music festivals in the Pacific Northwest, and packs four days of activities into the parks in South Downtown.

HIKE AND RAFT WEEK 8

EASTERN OREGON

Head to far Eastern Oregon for a camping trip. Spend the first nights at Wallowa Lake State Park, situated against a lake and below snow-capped mountains. Visit the artsy town of Joseph and make the 12.6 mile round trip hike to stunning alpine Ice Lakes. Then drive the scenic road to Hells Canyon and take an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip through the canyon.

BERRIES IN WEEK 10

MOUNT HOOD VILLAGE

Mt. Hood Village Resort celebrates its huckleberry-growing heritage and surrounding history with a huckleberry pancake feed, arts & crafts, music, salmon bake, BBQ, fresh huckleberries, huckleberry jam and more. Consider pairing with a trip to the nearby Timberline Lodge and the sights and hikes of the Columbia Gorge.

WEEK TIGARD HOT AIR BALLOONS IN 1

Head up to Cook Park in Tigard to attend the three day long The Festival of Balloons. Despite a launch of 20 vibrant, colorful hot air balloons being the main attraction, it also hosts a car show, 5K run, and diverse selection of vendors. Tickets go on sale the first week of June.

WEEK NEWBERG LAVENDER FESTIVAL IN 5

During the second week of July, head to the Oregon Lavender Festival in the northern Willamette Valley. You can make crafts such as lavender sachets, baskets, and pottery. Large fields blooming with lavender are open to visitation. Lavender based treats are available to try, such as ice cream and shortbread.

HOT SPRINGS IN WEEK 2

EAST LANE COUNTY

Head southeast into the lush forests of the McKenzie River Valley. There, hike along a quarter-mile trail through the forest leads you down to the veiled and relaxing Terwilliger Hot Springs. The springs can get up to 112 degrees between a total of six pools, and they are enveloped by smooth stones and rich verdant trees. This site makes a fun outing with family or a group of friends.

EXPLORE THE WEEK 6

SOUTHERN OREGON COAST

Check out sections of the coastline from Florence to the California border. Over one or several days, depending where you want to stop, make the drive along the series of capes, coves, and beaches stretching all the way to Brookings. Highlights include the dunes of Florence and the sea stacks of Bandon. Just miles across the California border are swathes of Redwood forest.

ROCKAWAY BEACH FIREWORKS IN WEEK 3

For this year’s Fourth of July, make the drive to Rockaway Beach along Oregon’s verdant Northwest coast for not only a renowned firework display, but also a day-long festival. Encounter a flyover by the National Guard, dachshund races, and the Rockaway Lioness bake and plant sale. The beach also has games and activities for people to take part in throughout the holiday.

VISIT A NATIONAL PARK AT WEEK 7

CRATER LAKE

Make the trip to Oregon’s only national park—Crater Lake—containing America’s deepest lake, miles of old-growth forests, and dozens of opportunities for hiking, exploring, and relaxing. Consider taking a boat out to Wizard Island to hike, fish, or take a quick swim (the water is very cold). Alternatively, circumnavigate the lake and admire the view from every angle.

WEEK

LINCOLN CITY SANDCASTLE BUILDING IN 9

The Lincoln City Sandcastle contest in Siletz Bay is a great way to competitively express your creativity this August. Use your hands or tools to create the best art on the beach. Use seashells, driftwood, pebbles, and other coastal treasures you find on the sands to decorate your sculpture. You must register to enter this competition, and winners will be awarded a prize.

HOT SPRINGS IN WEEK 11

JEFFERSON PARK

This time of year, a spectacular wildflower display greets anyone who makes the journey up to Jefferson Park, which includes a gorgeous alpine lake at the foot of Mount Jefferson just 74 miles east of Albany. Accessed by a 6.1 mile hike in each direction up the South Breitenbush Trail, the walk exposes progressively more stunning mountain and valley views.

SUMMER BUCKET LIST

The Whirlwind compiled a list of some of the best places, events, and activities to hit up this summer, with a different thing to do or place to go for each of summer break’s eleven weeks. Consider trying to visit each one of them, or just pick a few of your favorites.

Rockaway Beach hosts its spectacular fireworks display on Fourth of July.

Tigard’s festival of balloons prepare for their morning flight.

The bubbling hot springs in Terwiliger make for a relaxing getaway.

Señor Blanco

We asked students what one question they would ask former teacher and current long-term substitute 68-year old Max White. Here’s what they asked

BY Kaden Strametz

How many languages do you speak?

I’ll tell students, “Oh, I only speak two languages, English and math, but I’m lying about that. I’ve probably studied about 10 languages. I’m very fluent in English and German and reasonably fluent in French and Spanish. ... Before I’ve traveled to any foreign country, I always immerse myself in that language.

Where did you get your Gucci belt? How much did it cost?

I got my Gucci belt online, but I’m afraid that’s one thing I can’t answer. I’m not supposed to indicate how much it costs. But I can bring in a card saying it’s an official Gucci belt. It cost a fair amount, but students had encouraged me to get one, so how could I turn them down?

What is one thing about yourself that you are most proud of?

I think I’m proud of giving so much to students, but also proud of my athletic accomplishments, having run 102 full marathons at 26.2 mile marathons, having won two national championships one at 50 miles one to 50 kilometers. And coming out to the west coast qualifying for the Olympic Trials twice. And I’m also proud of having spent 27 years in the military and retiring as a Command Chief for top enlisted person in the 142nd fighter wing. I’m proud of being a very giving and generous family type of person. I’m proud of my how I support my son, my wife, and maybe more than anything, my little doggy. My 10 year old pup, Buffy, she’s got puffy fur.

What’s your daily routine?

JAKOB JONES

What has been the most memorable experience in your lifetime?

That’s a tough one. I mean, I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences. I think maybe when I won the national championship in Vermont 50 kilometers it sent me on a free trip four weeks later over to London, but they said I had to run a 53 mile race. So running that 53 miles from London to Brighton was a very memorable experience for me. Fiftythree miles without stopping and running six minute miles and just feeling strong the whole way it took me like five hours and 25 minutes to run 53 miles. So that was pretty memorable.

What drives you to do the things you do every day?

I love teaching. Teaching is a big part of my life. I’m also interested in foreign languages. I am on Duolingo every day doing six languages, and I’ve been on for more than 2,050 days in a row. And I also like to stay in shape. So I make sure that my wife and I only eat healthy foods, and I do the equivalent of 100 miles of running a week.

What is the key to being as healthy as you are?

Buying any fresh fruits and vegetables, in terms of animal proteins, focusing more on things like chicken breast and fish, and not too much of the others. Reading labels carefully ... It’s really a matter of reading the labels. Really being on a kind of a Mediterranean type of diet. That’s the key. That as well as working out.

I set my alarm for 5:30 a.m. But generally, I get up about 5:15 a.m. I take my dog through the house and let her out into the yard, and then I let her back in and let my wife sleep in and I’ll make coffee for my wife. I might have a cup of coffee. I do some foreign languages on Duolingo, and then by 5:45 a.m., I go and work out for an hour. I’ll come to school and I’m usually here at school until 3:30 p.m. or 4:00 p.m., then I’ll go home and I’ll do another workout. I’m the one who usually fixes the casseroles and the salads. So I have some dinner, and then I’ll have to fix salads for the next day. I’ll have to do some cleaning and other yard work around the house, and then I may do a little bit more of foreign language in the evening or some reading before I go to bed. Also, if I have papers to grade, I’ll do some school work at home as well.

Have you always been a teacher, and what other jobs have you done?

No, I haven’t always been a teacher. I worked some in the medical field. I also considered going into law, so I studied in law school. I’ve done some other things, but it’s mostly been teaching. I’ve taught at the middle school and college level as well as high school leve. I really have found that I appreciate [those levels] the most.

A beat behind

BY Lajla Raske and Dezmond Remington

Some students are just now getting a start into music classes with no prior experience

SENIOR DANAE GREIG began this year school year stressed. She enrolled in band, but she didn’t play an instrument. She didn’t even know which instrument she wanted to play. Yet, despite her initial hesitation, Greig realized people around her in band help create a positive environment, making her more comfortable.

“It helped that there were many people willing to help in band. [They were] open to new people,” Greig said. “People who know what they’re doing were ready to jump in and help when I didn’t know how to read music.”

DANAE GREIG SENIOR Percussion Ensemble

Greig joined choir during middle school without giving thought to band. Before high school began, she quit choir to focus on athletics, but she says if she had considered it before, she would have done band.

“If I could go back, I think that [I would be] more outgoing,” Greig said. “I could have gotten farther [in band].”

Greig says her inspiration for joining band was attending the WAHS ensemble and jazz band’s concert at Albany City Hall. She hopes to continue music after high school.

CADENCE

SCHUERGER

FRESHMAN

FRESHMAN

CADENCE

Boren learned not only music theory and sheet reading, but also how to get along with people. “I’m generally not typically the most social person,” said Boren. “Usually, when I talk to someone, I’m kind of quiet. With choir, it’s probably the loudest class, with the most people in it, in the entire school. And throughout the year, I got better at socializing. I learned to like people more.”

Percussion Ensemble

Schuerger says that when he first began band, it was difficult due to being new to the class. He first began percussion due to friends being in the class, but he says being in band gives him something to work towards.

“It was difficult because [I wasn’t] as

good as some of the other people there. People will judge you based on that,” Schuerger said. “It took a while to warm up to the people and how things work. It was definitely hard.”

Cadence said he didn’t want to dedicate his time to a specific instrument, but wanted to join band instead. Cadence’s inspiration for band began when he saw some of the school’s band perform. While Cadence Schuerger is a part of A capella choir, he has no band experience prior to this .

FOR GARRETT

BOREN

, joining A Capella during sophomore year was a way of dealing with life. “I joined because [singing] is my version of a coping mechanism,” said Boren. “I started singing in seventh grade because, you know, it’s seventh grade, and I liked doing it. I joined because I’ve always liked music and my mom thought I was really good at it and I really wanted to.”

GARRET BOREN

SOPHOMORE

Class: A capella

As Boren began A Capella without knowing any music theory at all, he had a rough start. “On the first day, we got a piece of music. What is this?” questioned Boren. “I was like, you want me to read all of this?”

Eventually, however, Boren caught up with his more trained peers.“Well, with everyone around me, I would listen to what they were singing, and then matched what they were singing,” said Boren. “The guy sitting next to me, I just sang what he sang. He had a better idea of what we were doing, so I followed along.”

With other classes like science and math, the only people held accountable in the class is the student, Boren explained. “In choir, there are other people you can rely on, to help you. It’s a more positive environment than there would be for normal academic classes.”

“It really teaches you good teamwork,” said Boren. “Going forward, I want to improve my [singing] technique and make myself better in the language of music.”

WHEN

SOPHOMORE BOBAE

Kim joined A capella this year, he knew he did not want to stick to the known.

BOBAE KIM

SOPHOMORE

Class: A capella

“In private school, I didn’t really have any options to do things. It was very restricted to PE,” said Kim. “I felt like doing something different.” He knew people in A capella who enjoyed it, so joining seemed like it could be fun.

It was rough starting out, as Kim had no previous experience with the activity. “There was this one practice where I did not hit any of my notes correctly!”said Kim.

“There were many people willing to help.”

DANAE GREIG SENIOR

The best part about A capella is the moment when they perform and the countless hours of hard work finally pay off.

“Every time we perform, it’s a wonderful experience. It’s an amazing feeling to see everybody’s faces light up as we change dynamics or when we do something crazy,” said Kim. “I just want to do as much as I can, and the most I can to persue it.”