Journalists share their favorite moments from the year

By Demond Carothers

News Reporter

My greatest moment this year was thinking about how far I've come. Whether I was working hard at school, laughing with friends, or just having fun at school activities and spirit weeks, there were bad and good moments. But they all led to this year being one that I will always remember. I discovered that sometimes it's not about grand victories. Occasionally, the greatest experiences are brief encounters in the corridor, teasing during class, or moments when you find out just how resilient you really are. Those little instances taught me the most.

Demond Carothers. Photo by Genevieve Van Drunen.

One thing I'm most proud of is my grades. They're not perfect, but they're the best they've ever been in high school. That is significant to me. It shows that I've progressed, not just in school, but in life. I've learned to try harder and not give up, even when it's hard or stressful. I did things more boldly this year and tried not to let fear stop me. I found out that if I believe in myself, I can do more than I ever imagined I could.

My top goal next year is to graduate. That might be simple, but it means a lot to me. I've come this far, and I don't want to quit now. I know it won't be simple. There are going to be more challenging times, but I'm going to remain concentrated and do my best to continue.

One of the hardest things this year was taking the ACT test. It was extremely challenging and put pressure on me, but I remained calm, learned, and coped. That told me how much effort and attitude matter to me.

Regardless of all the hard aspects, I'm happy that I never gave up. There were times when I was exhausted or wanted to give up, but I did not. I just kept going, kept trying, and stayed true to myself. That is a lot. I'll be laughing about how we look back on some of the silly things too—like when we had no past days for two months. That really frustrated me then, but now it's just funny to think about. Those are the little things that made this year so fun and worthwhile.

By Xavier Lloyd

News Reporter

Out of all my school years in high school, senior year has been the fastest. It's been filled with many ups and downs, but that's how it's supposed to be. To me, the most memorable part of my year is still football. I felt like I gave it everything I had, and it ended a chapter in my life not how I wanted, but knowing for sure that I gave everything that I had on the field.

The hardest part of the year involved having to do a lot of plan B's and backup plans. For instance, writing this paper is a part of a backup plan. I originally signed up for another class that I was excited to start, but due to problems, I had to be assigned a new one. Did I like it at first? No, do I like it now? That's still a no, but that's a part of life that's never gonna fade away. Sometimes, you have to shift your plans to other things.

Another example is when I tore my ACL again. This was the biggest shift because it completely altered my plans after high school, but again, that's a part of life that will never get old. You can either sit and talk about it or persevere through it. 

Although this year had many downsides, I will never forget any of the good things that have happened this year. This year brought an end to a lot of things in my life, some good, some bad. For instance, I've been playing football almost my entire life, and although I didn't plan on it ending like this or this early, as mentioned before, I know I left everything I had on the field. 

This year, I felt like I was able to reconnect with people I haven't talked to since middle school or even elementary school, which feels poetic given that this is our last year together. 

Now, with the end of the year closing in, I feel as if I have seen myself grow not only from this year but from all 4 years that I have been a Crete Monee High School student. As much as I'm ready to leave this school and start a new chapter in my life, I am still in awe of all the great memories I've had in this school and its community. I'm grateful and blessed for those who help push me when I don't feel like going. Whether that be in school with teachers, on the field with coaches and teammates, or even at home with family members. I'm grateful for this school year and the people and things that have come my way to make me the person I am today.

By Tarique Seymour

Photographer

One of the most memorable moments for me this year was my experience in journalism. It opened my eyes to new ways of expressing myself and helped me explore creativity in ways I hadn’t before. I took photos and did things that passed by unnoticed. 

Tarique Seymour. Photo by Genevieve Van Drunen.

Journalism pushed me to pay attention to details, observe the world more, and seek stories in the smallest things. Looking back, I wouldn’t say I fully achieved the goals I set for myself- but I did something more important (in my opinion), which was changing and growing over time. 

This year taught me much about who I am and what I want to become. It taught me how to create a version of myself that I’m proud of. Even when there are moments I feel exhausted, I’ll keep going for my future self. 

Despite all the troubles, pressure, assignments, and expectations, I still started something that I’m proud of: my own business. 

It took time, effort, and a lot of hard work to get started and learn all the things I needed to know, but at the end of the day, it did me more good than bad, and I was determined. It’s one of the accomplishments that means the most to me, not because it exists, but because I took time every day, made a lot of effort, and saw something grow out of it that was all made by me.

When I reflect on the past year, I laugh at how I acted at some times. Though I’m not a bad person, I realized how I changed and how some of my actions seem funny because of how I grew from them. Change is a part of life, and I see that the awkward or questionable moments shaped me into the person I am today.

Now, If I could go back, I would join more clubs, take more opportunities, and be more involved because I understand the importance of being involved and saying yes to every experience I can. While I may not have done everything perfectly, I am grateful for the progress I’ve made, and I’m ready to try harder and harder every single day.

By Amiyah Rice

Editor in Chief

The most memorable part of the school year was getting the opportunities I was given. I don't like to brag, but this year has been amazing for me, and I'm very proud of myself and how far I've come. I've been on many trips and met people, so to do that is a blessing. 

I would say yes, I have hit most of my goals. I haven't hit all of them, but I have hit a few. Also, I have become a better person, but I want to be better because there is always room for improvement and growth. My goal is to get straight A's in all my classes, get a five on my AP test, and get into my dream college. Multitasking was the hardest part of this year because I was in so many clubs and activities. I am most proud of being in the Emerging Leaders program, which has given me many opportunities.

In the future, I will laugh about how many times I've crashed out about schoolwork and extracurricular activities. The coolest project that was assigned was my sophomore year because I got to light my hand on fire. It was so much fun, and I would do it again. This project was in chemistry.

In total, I do about 9 to 10 clubs.  I am in the church choir, praise dance, show choir, tempo dance group,  SADD club, NHS, emerging leaders program, Tech theater club/drama, yearbook club, and student government. Right now, I'm in a short program called J.O.Y program, and the funniest thing I did in this program was going to an Illusions museum, which was so fun and enjoyable.

I went to Springfield to see the Governor's Mansion and the Capitol, and this trip was a great experience. I saw many people who made our laws and got them approved.

Cornelius White

Sports Reporter 

This school year was full of memorable moments, but one that stands out the most was sitting in class, meeting new people, and making friends because of sports, which brought our class together and made the year feel special. Looking back, I’m proud to say I hit some personal goals, especially in math, getting an A, and meeting new people without being strangers. 

I saw myself grow in confidence and in how I manage my time. For next year, my goal is to challenge myself even more by joining a new club or improving in a subject I struggled with. One of the hardest parts of the year was staying motivated from October through December, especially with the finals, but pushing through made the victories even sweeter. 

I’m most proud of being a member of the Esports team and being part of this Journalism class because it showed me what I’m capable of. I’ll always laugh about all the funny moments in the class, which still make me smile whenever I think about them.

A cool project we did this year was writing the stories. They were challenging in a way, and I loved it because it was creative and hands-on.  My favorite story was the NBA predictions, and for a few of my productions,  I also got involved in Esports, where I got better at Madden and came in 2nd and 3rd a few times. That became one of the highlights of my year. Overall, this year was filled with challenges, growth, fun, and memories I’ll always look back on with pride.

By Aiden Roop

Photographer

The most memorable parts of this school year were the people I met and when I won third place in the conference for wrestling. I have hit my goals grade-wise; they could be better, but I still have time to work on them. Sports-wise, I won't hit my goal or all of them. 

Aiden Roop. Photo by Genevieve Van Drunen.

At least my goal was to play multiple sports, but I didn't get the chance to this year. Next year, I hope. My goals for next year are to be a finalist in wrestling for state or even be state champion, and improve my attendance so I can go to KACC next year and try other sports.

I plan to do cross country, soccer, volleyball, and track. The hardest parts of this year were the work and managing my time. This year was super busy, and I had difficulty being time-efficient with my work and other life problems. I can look back at many things from this year and laugh at them, but my most fond times were in the weight room and wrestling room. 

It was fun, especially this year, since I am familiar with everyone in that room now. Of all the projects and stuff I've done this year, my favorite is the one I'm working on in AP World History. It's about nationalism, but I like it because history fascinates me.

By Hannah Stroh

Editors Assistant 

Senior year is one of the hardest years because you're figuring out what you want to do for college, and you have so many things going on with graduation, applying to colleges, scholarships, and so much more. 

Hannah Stroh. Photo by Genevieve Van Drunen.

My senior year has been nothing but busy. From September to January, I worked on a recital called Winterdance and a production called Nutcracker from August to November. Since January, I have been working on a lyrical and jazz dance for an upcoming recital in May. 

I have stepped out of my comfort zone by taking the journalism class and interviewing for the Editorial assistant job. I also participated in the journalism IHSA state competition, where I placed 6th overall. This was extremely hard to prepare for since I had just been introduced to journalism this school year.

In Educators Rising, I created a children's autobiography book called In My Lane about my dance experience. I illustrated and wrote about myself. I am not an artist in terms of drawing, so the illustration part was the hardest. At the end of June, I will compete with my book for the National Ed Rising competition in Orlando, Florida.

In Educators Rising, I have also gone on multiple field trips, like a campus tour of Illinois State University and a visit to the Early Learning Center and Monee Elementary to observe their classes. The field trip to the ELC is my fondest memory from my senior year because I had the opportunity to observe my former preschool teacher's classroom. 

Presenting is a major part of the Foundations of Teaching class, so I have had to get comfortable with public speaking. I have to lead a lesson for my classmates and a first-year English class in the second semester. 

Despite the abovementioned memories, I have had to deal with many challenges. Managing stress is something I have had to do often throughout the school year. With applying for scholarships, picking out college courses, and dance being every day, time management has been key.

I have also been working on my perfectionism, which I'm most proud of. Though it will never go away, I have shown more improvement this year than any other year, and that's something to be celebrated.  

By Yarri Anderson

Photographer

I didn't have many memorable parts in the school year, but something that I did favor a lot was the events, such as football games, tailgates, and assemblies. I met many people throughout my first year and had my ups and downs with many "friends," but it all worked out in the end, and I loved my first year. Now that it's ending soon, I can't wait to be a sophomore and keep going up. I'm already eager to explore new beginnings and paths in high school. 

Yarri Anderson. Photo by Genevieve Van Drunen.

I definitely saw myself grow mentally and physically over these 10 months. I matured more, explored more, and learned more. I hit most of my goals, both academically and financially. I stopped procrastinating, putting major things aside to satisfy my undivided attention that should've gone to my school work, and taking things more seriously in the middle of my first year, even though I should've started caring at the beginning of the first year. 

My goals for next year are the same ones I've had for the past three years. But they're more advanced this time, and I'm progressing through the months and years. I'm making new goals, accomplishing them, pushing myself to complete them fully, and ensuring they get done instead of halfway through. 

I wouldn't consider any "hard parts" in my first year; there weren't parts I struggled with or couldn't push through. But if I had to choose some difficult parts, it would be the weeks of the act preparation, the pre-act, the map testing, and some of my finals. I'm proud of myself for pushing through school and life, especially considering all the family members I lost this year. I'm also proud of myself for accomplishing half of my goals. 

I probably won't look back and "laugh" because it wasn't anything that was considered "laughable" this year. My physics teacher assigned me a cool project: building a roller coaster. I took it and did it because if I didn't, I would get a failing grade, but even if it were optional, I still would've taken it because it was interesting and fun to do. 

I did participate in sports this year! I did track, but unfortunately, it wasn't suitable for me. Every day, I was stressed, my entire body was throbbing and hurting, my shins were sore, and I didn't like the coach. But I do wish Crete had a gymnastics team or a swim team. I would join and stay because those types of sports are what I favor and in which I perform best. 

Unfortunately, no. I did not go on any field trips this year, and I don't even think Crete considers field trips as a thing anymore in general because we're in high school, you'll only be going on a field trip if you're in some sort of club or class, maybe. But, I do wish we could go on field trips like middle school. It'll be a memorable, fun thought and even something to consider soon, not only that, but it would also add up with the homecomings, tailgates, and all the other fun things. 

By Dominic Jackson

Opinion Reporter 

My most memorable parts of the school year are football and wrestling seasons (fall and winter). I picked these because this year was my best year of sports ever, and I love both. 

Dominic Jackson. Photo by Genevieve Van Drunen.

I almost hit both goals this year, except I didn't get all-conference in football, but I got all-conference for wrestling. I've grown because I've matured, stayed on top of my work, and brought all this year.

My goals for the next school year are to make the honor roll or high honor roll and win conferences in both sports.

 The hardest part of this year for me was the pre-act because next year, I'll be a junior and take the real test. I'm nervous but confident.

My biggest accomplishment this year was making the all-conference team in wrestling and getting on the honor roll. 

Something I'll look back on and laugh about from this year is all the fights. Were they worth it? 

I haven't done any fun projects. I just focused this year and did my work. I participated in football and wrestling this year, and it was fun because I could show my skills and strength in both sports. I didn't go on any field trips this year. I have nothing else important that I want to mention.

By Tristen Latta

News Editor

This year was a pretty decent school year. I would rate it a 6-7/10. Nothing very interesting has happened this year, but my most memorable part was probably making a new friend. This was the most memorable part because I don’t really talk to a lot of people at school, so it was nice to have someone to talk to and just have to be there. 

Tristen Latta. Photo by Genevieve Van Drunen.

I have a lot of goals for next year. My main goal is to go to college and fully be myself. I feel during high school I was really closed off especially during my last 2 years. So, I would like to just go and be completely more open. I want to talk to as many people as possible and just make new friends. Another goal of mine is to stack up money. I work at a Dairy Queen right now, about 35-38 hours a week. So, my checks are pretty good. I want to save a few thousand dollars before I go to college and potentially buy a car, but I’m not 100 percent sure yet. Lastly, going along with my first goal, I just want to live my life to the fullest and chase my dreams. 

The hardest part of this year was probably just struggling with mental health and also balancing school with work. I don’t really know why my mental health declined so much this year, but it was definitely challenging to live my life with this constant negative feeling and consistently over-thinking. But, that is also just a huge goal of mine is to fix my mental health, and honestly, I feel like it will be way easier once I am out of high school. 

One thing I am proud of is probably just being on the chess team and doing decently well. Being on the chess team got me through high school because everyone there was so funny and nice, and the coach was cool. Chess gave me something to do and look forward to, and I generally always enjoyed it. Competing was always so fun, especially going to state. Sadly, it has come to an end, but I am joining the team at the college I am going to, so hopefully, that goes well; that is definitely something that I am looking forward to.

I have definitely seen myself grow throughout high school. My freshman year, I was a completely different person than I am now. I used to do very immature things and just stuff that I couldn’t imagine myself doing now. I became much more mature, but I also became much more reserved, which is something I do want to change. I am happy with the person I am now, though. I just want to be myself more.

One thing I am very, very grateful for is my best friend. She graduated last year and is in college now, but she comes home every weekend, and we work at the same place. I honestly have no idea what I would do without her. As humans, we are social creatures, so a lack of human interaction can greatly affect someone. So, just having her to laugh with and be there for each other has helped me so much. I am so beyond grateful for that. 

As you can see, this school year may not have been the best for me, but I have many goals to do better moving forward. I want to open up more, fix my mental health, be myself, and live my life to the fullest.

By Francisco Salazar

Sports Editor

This year was filled with numerous memorable moments, but a few stand out. The pep rallies were always a blast, especially the homecoming one, where everyone showed so much school spirit. Also, when I saw the student and teacher basketball game, it showed delight and joy in the students' faces. Or when we had the show in journalism and were in there, it was cool and lit.

Francisco Salazar. Photo by Cayla Gist.

With so many memories, I have many goals, such as keeping good grades. Getting straight As has been a goal, and I enjoy seeing my parents' reactions. I also want to keep good health with food and work out every day to stay in shape. I also want to keep up with sports to help me stay fit.

I have many classes that I like, and because I like them, it makes me go for As. One class that I liked was journalism because we did one project on a podcast with a group of friends. The podcast was about trends and teens and the activities they do during their high school experience. I liked it because we all worked together and communicated, whether we disliked it or liked it, and we understood each other's points.

But with all these fun moments come many difficult moments throughout the year. For example, keeping up with my grades and all of my work can be hard because it stacks up sometimes, and you may forget or get lost in a lesson because you can't understand it. Also, when I have a lot of homework but still want to work out and exercise, that just motivates me to stay on my game.

With many things I have overcome, I am very proud of myself for multiple accomplishments throughout this school year, such as getting on the principal honor roll list for having higher than the required 3.5 GPA. Also, when I lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of muscle. I am proud of myself for pushing myself to complete these accomplishments, and I hope to continue this mentality and stay strong.

Finally, staying strong throughout my journey inspired me to be more confident. For example, I joined the soccer team even though I didn't know any of the kids and still got along with them. Also, I had anxiety and pushed myself to go on field trips and experience all the things that I was scared to before, but slowly accomplished my goals.

By Jayden Preston

Sports Writer

Overall, the year went really well for me, and I enjoyed my senior year.  Spending quality time on and off the court with my team and being a senior leader sparked the highlight of my year.

Jayden Preston. Photo by Cayla Gist.

Being a leader taught me a lot of new skills and helped me achieve my goals as a student and athlete. I learned how to get things done quickly and effectively, and I also learned how to be consistent. Looking forward to next year, I look to take the next steps into becoming a young adult and become the best and most complete version of myself. My biggest goal is to discover my true passion and purpose in life in the next few years as I enter adulthood.

Although there were highs this year, there were also lows. I overcame many challenges and faced a lot of adversity this year. ACT, testing, homework during the season, and even learning how to write news stories in this class were challenging at first. Constantly getting battled on the court became tiring as well, but it was worth it. I am mostly proud of myself for winning all-conference in one of the hardest conferences in the state. 

One of my favorite classes this year was my English class. It wasn’t necessarily the class itself but more so the teacher, Ms. Rivero. She has been with me every step of the process this year, and I couldn’t be more thankful to have her as a teacher. I’ve also made new friends and met new people since I arrived. They’ve embraced me as a classmate and also have been a helping hand to me as well since transferring here.

By Jayvien Pearson

Photographer

This school year was full of memorable moments I’ll remember for a long time. Some of the best times came from hanging out with friends, laughing between classes, helping each other through stressful weeks, and making the most of everything. School events also added excitement to the year. Things like spirit week, football games, or even random fun dress-up days helped break up the routine and gave everyone something to look forward to.

Jayvien Pearson. Photo by AMya Wilson.

At the beginning of the year, I set a few personal goals. Looking back, I feel I did a good job working toward them. I tried to stay organized with my assignments, meet my deadlines, and focus on school even when other things were going on. I grew a lot this year, not just academically but personally. I became more independent, started managing my time better, and learned more about who I am and what I care about.

One of the hardest parts was juggling everything at once—school, sports, and life outside of that—it was a lot. Trying to balance football, schoolwork, track, and social life was honestly exhausting sometimes. There were nights I stayed up late to finish assignments after practice. It showed me that I’m stronger than I thought and that I can handle more than I used to believe I could.

One project that really stood out to me this year was one where we got to be creative and work in groups. It didn’t feel like just another assignment. We got to think outside the box and collaborate, which made it more enjoyable and meaningful. Another cool experience was leaving class for interviews during our class and interviews. It was a fun and different way to learn.

Outside of academics, I also did football and track this year, which pushed me to grow in new ways. Being part of a team taught me discipline, how to manage my time, and how important it is to support and rely on others. Practices weren’t always easy, but the lessons I learned about leadership, commitment, and hard work stuck with me.

There were a lot of funny moments, too, the kind of things that made even the hardest days better: random jokes with Ronald, AJ, Larena, Melvin, and Jakiyah, people tripping in the halls, or just laughing over dumb stuff that didn’t even make sense.

Looking back, I’m really proud of how far I’ve come. This wasn’t a perfect year, but it was one where I grew a lot, both in school and as a person. I learned more about how to handle stress and how to keep going when things get hard. I’m excited for next year and ready to set new goals like staying consistent with my grades, staying focused even during the offseason.

By Lucy Joyce Editorial Assistant I think I have grown significantly over this school year. I have increased my circle and met so many new people. I have improved my social, athletic, and academic skills throughout the school year. I look forward to having an even better year as a sophomore and reaching my goals again.

Lucy Joyce. Photo by AMya Wilson.

I participated in our Girls Volleyball program and made Varsity. I was able to meet and gain relationships with upperclassmen I never would have met otherwise. I also made an all-tournament team, received all-conference honors, and am on track to beat a few school records.

I have achieved a lot academically this year and have pushed myself to do just as well as I did in middle school, even though my classes are harder. I passed all my midterms, and my AP midterm, I got over 100% on. I have gotten better at managing my time and studying efficiently with less time. I was also given the scholar-athlete award at the end of the season. 

My main goals this school year were to get all A's and make it to Varsity. I was very occupied with those two goals, so I didn't think about any other goals. I have achieved both of these goals, and I plan on having much larger goals for myself as a student, person, and athlete next school year. 

Next year I want to get more kills, digs, and blocks than I did this year. I want to make my stats from last year even better and use the offensive IQ I have learned from club season this year in my HS play this next season. I want to keep all As again and get all-conference honors again. I want to continue to expand my circle and be more outgoing in my classes than I was this year. I want to go to more games of other sports because

I know how much I enjoyed the student section at my games, and all warriors deserve that. I want to get myself to more than one football game, actually go to at least one boys' basketball game and one girls' basketball game. I also want to go to more girls' soccer games because I enjoyed myself when I watched my story.

By Melvin Saunders

Sports Writer

My most memorable parts of this year were going to Cancun and my football season. The JV team went undefeated this year, not losing a single game. Yes, I hit some goals this year, like the ones I set for my football season. One of those goals was having a certain number of sacks, and I got over that number. Hitting those goals made me grow up as a person, allowing me to help my team stay undefeated this year.

Melvin Saunders. Photo by AMya Wilson.

I haven’t thought of any goals for next year yet. I usually start thinking or figuring them out around when the next school year begins, and I write them in my notes so I won’t forget them and can keep looking back on them throughout the year. The hardest parts of the year were probably summer camp for football. It was a lot of conditioning and weightlifting to get back in shape for the season.

I am most proud that my football season went well this season. I got pulled up to varsity like I did last year, but I got pulled up sooner than I did last year, which means I did better than last year. I would probably look back and laugh at all the memories I made with all the people I am cool with or the football locker room before practice or games and trolling on the field.

My Spanish teacher made us make bread for this Day of the Dead project. Everybody who made bread brought it to school. We watched a movie that related to the Day of the Dead. The movie was Coco. While watching the movie, we ate the bread, so that was probably the best project because once we finished, it was like a free day in class for like three days.

Yes, I participated in football and baseball, but I couldn’t participate in baseball for real because I got sick and couldn’t finish the tryouts, so I didn’t get to see if I would make the team. I will just have to try out again next year and hope I do better than I was going to do this year to make the team next year.

I went to Cancun this year for my first out-of-country trip, and it was super fun. I saw a lot of new things, like different animals. You can see how Chicago is way different from Cancun because it has a different culture, people are taught different things, and it has a whole different language, so if you don’t know a little bit of that language, you are going to be confused when they try to talk to you.

By Miranda Teverbaugh

Photographer

This school year was decent overall, but being in journalism stood out most to me. It was probably the one class where I felt like I was doing something different, not just sitting at a desk every day. I do photography, which I enjoy just as much as I thought I would. It gave me a reason to get involved and go places I normally wouldn’t.

Miranda Teverbaugh. Photo by AMya Wilson.

What I liked most was being able to leave class sometimes to take photos around the school. It gave me a break from the usual routine, and I saw what was going on in other classes or the halls. Walking around to take photos also helped me meet or talk to others. I also started staying after school more than I used to, just so I could take pictures at clubs or set up for events.

The most memorable assignment I had was taking photos during homecoming. Many people were just having fun, being loud or goofy, which made the photos appear better. I wasn’t sure how the pictures would turn out at first, but they were some of my favorites. The lighting was tricky, and it was crowded, but I liked the challenge. It was fun just to blend in and snap pictures of people being themselves.

One thing I didn’t expect was how much photography made me pay more attention to everything around me. I had to look for moments, not just take random shots. I learned to wait for the right second or find better angles. It also made me talk to people more—like asking if I could take their photo or explaining why I needed a certain shot. I’m not always super outgoing so that part pushed me a bit.

Overall, journalism gave me something different to do this year, and I’m glad I stuck with it. Even though school can feel repetitive sometimes, having a reason to take pictures and be part of events made it more interesting. I don’t know if I’ll do photography long-term, but this year, it allowed me to be creative and enjoy more parts of the school.

By Ronald Roe

Sports Writer

This year has been remarkable for me in Crete-Monee, with positives and negatives. My most memorable moment this year was participating in events like the prep rally, open gym, and school plays.

Ronald Roe. Photo by Cayla Gist.

The year began with a clear set of academic goals. I aimed to improve my time management skills and tackle assignments more efficiently. I also hoped to gain an understanding of mathematics and participate actively in class discussions. 

I think I've grown somewhat since my sophomore year started because I haven't been getting in as much trouble as I used to. I also think I matured a lot more this year. I know what I'm actually doing and can get it done if I actually try. 

My goals for next year are to have a C+ and higher for every class, nothing lower than that, and make sure I turn in all my work on time; turning in work on time is about more than just grades. It shows that you can manage your time effectively and show professionalism.

The hardest part of the school year was having math tests because I'm not the best at math. I'm better at reading, but it was like everything that I learned and listened to wasn't in my head when I used to take the math test. 

I'm most proud of averaging only one D out of my classes because it all depends on whether I feel like trying. Most of the years, I wasn't really trying, which I think I should have because I would have known a lot more than I do now, and that would be useful in today's world.

Something I would look back and laugh about from this school year is the memories I made with friends and staff. That's something you can't really get back, and I was glad to be around my group of friends and the stuff we did this year.

A cool project that a teacher assigned was when we dropped eggs from a balcony to see if they would break or not with our own tools, building stuff around them to protect them. I liked that project because I thought it was just cool to go out and do something like that 

I did not participate in any clubs, sports, etc., and that's one of the things I regret most; I was going to play football, but I ended up just not doing it. I know I'm very athletic and will play football in my junior year.

I didn't have any field trips this year, but something fun and interesting was going out and interviewing people and asking them questions for my journalism class. It shows you what being a journalist is like and all the challenges that come with it.

All around, this year was an up-and-down year from doing great to getting suspended and getting back on track next year; I plan to achieve great goals and expectations that I would be shocked that I can do myself.

By AMya Wilson

Photo Editor

My most memorable part of the school year was taking pictures. Mr. Kenealy’s class was enjoyable throughout the 24-25 school year. Being a photographer in Mr. Kenealy’s class was very fun. Others and I got to go out during class and take pictures of other students and/or things. It’s fun to pick what stories you will cover and how you will cover them. 

AMya Wilson. Photo by Cayla Gist.

The hardest part of the school year was trying to take pictures that weren’t “too boring” or that you had no idea how to take. Sometimes, you get assigned pictures that you won’t have any idea how to take, but thanks to Mr. Kenealy and/or my editor, they helped me. Editors help put stories on the website and also help assign the photographers stories that they need to cover. It’s really fun.

One goal for next year is to attend a class that is as fun as or almost as fun as Mr. Kenealy’s class. Mr. Kenealy is entertaining and a really chill person. One time, he took my class to see a play that the school was hosting, and it made me happy because I think it showed me how great he thought the students in this class were and how he enjoyed being around us. He’s really fun to joke around and get a good laugh with. I hope his future students appreciate him as much as I do.

The thing I am most proud of accomplishing was turning in my final photos on time and enjoying my job as a photographer. Mr. Kenealy gave us lots of time to turn in our work, which was enough time for me. Most of the time, when you get assigned photos, you already know how you will take the picture. This gives you much time to go out, take your picture, and upload it to Google Classroom. It doesn’t take a lot of time, so all you have to do when you finish your photographs is just upload them to Google Classroom and write good and detailed captions. 

A cool project that my teacher assigned was to make posters to encourage students to join journalism. I liked it because it made me meet new people that I like and brought out some artistic skills in me. Throughout this project, I had fun brainstorming ideas on how the layout would be set up and additional touches to bring the whole poster together. My group and I messed up plenty of times, but that’s okay because we still got the job done with a passing grade. This project was assigned at the beginning of the school year, and it already gave me a glimpse of what journalism was gonna be like. 

Something I will look back on in the future is how great the class was. I’ve had no other class like Mr. Kenealy’s, and it just shifted my perspective slightly. It showed me that high school isn’t just about assignments and quizzes. It’s also about having a little fun. This class is like no other. Sure, he does give us assignments, but for the most part, we write stories and take a lot of pictures just for the website. I think the website looks nice because of us, and I hope it stays that way.