What event, as a senior, do you look forward to most this year?
“I’m looking forward mostly to April 1 because I hear from all of my colleges that I applied to that day. It’s really nerve-racking to wait this long for a decision from all of these colleges, like I want to know right now, I want to know now. Besides that I’m looking forward to graduation day.”
Do you plan on playing any Spring sports?
“No, I plan on managing varsity boys volleyball in the spring with Rachel Ellis and Cassie Frazier.”
What are your top three colleges as of now?
“Well as of now I have NYU, Wash U and probably like Loyola Chicago.”
Did staying close to home affect your decision at all?
“ No. Well, yah kind of. I have always loved Washington University and then just recently I have been on college visits to NYU and Loyola and both of those experiences have helped to influence my decision. While I was in high school, before I knew about Loyola and before I really considered NYU, I just thought about Mizzou and then Wash U and in another sense I only thought about college volleyball because I wanted to be recruited for Division I or Division II volleyball. However, these college visits have been really helpful because they have shown me what life would be like if I go there and I’m really excited to branch out from St. Louis and push myself to new limits.”
What do you plan on majoring in while at college?
“I want do either Chemistry or Bio with a minor in Art History, something like Pre-Med and then I want to minor in Art History because I love it.”
What would you like to become when you graduate from college?
“My goal is to become a general surgeon, but that’s going to take a lot of work. Either that or I can just be a Saturday Night Live cast member, hopefully Improv class takes me there.”
How has high school prepared you for college?
“The West curriculum is very intense and I enjoy it a lot because it always challenges me, especially this year because I’m in AP courses, but in general the honors courses and the regular courses are both very challenging. When I compare myself to other students at other schools I feel like West has helped me to be a well-balanced individual because it offers so many clubs, sports, teams and organizations, and cool things to be involved in. We have a lot of school pride and that’s a big factor, it’s a very smart and fun school and I love it. I’m glad that I was able to spend four years at Parkway West.”
![“[I think being a teacher comes] from a place of experience, where we all enjoyed high school. It had a meaningful impact on us, which was [the case] for me. I had a lot of good mentors in high school, and seeing the opportunity, the impact that they could make, I think [that was] what inspired me. [It] definitely goes back to one teacher in particular [that] I had in eighth grade, he was a huge role model for me, and somebody who I was so appreciative of what he did for me. I figured if I could do even a fraction of what he did I feel like I would be very fulfilled [in] myself, and so there's just that aspect of wanting to do something meaningful every day.” - Kaleb Schumer, English](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9428-1200x800.jpeg)
![Looking out into the audience, senior Jack Mullen solos “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra at the annual winter choir concert on Dec. 10. Mullen volunteered to sing a solo to aid the transition between choir groups on stage. “I chose that song because I really like the crooner genre when it comes to holiday music. [That song] had all the element[s] of Michael bublé, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Also, it's a simple melody, so I did vocal gymnastics when I could and made it my own,” Mullen said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/jackedited-1200x800.jpg)
![“Hitting that ball hard is just pure satisfaction. I’m on the varsity tennis team, and it’s funny because I actually got pressured into joining, but we actually [had] a really good season. I’ve been playing for three years now. My favorite part is definitely going to other schools and meeting other girls. Tennis is really fun and it's a good stress reliever, but something that [stresses me out] is definitely tests [at school]. When things [start to] stress me out, I just tell myself that [I] can get there because everyone will move on and [will] get there [too].” Alisha Yin, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/alishayin-copy-1200x800.jpg)
![Under the hoop, senior Chloe Kallaos and the cheer team line up before they begin their cheer routine on Feb. 10. The seniors celebrated by wearing t-shirts that each underclassmen made for them. “My shirt was made by one of my teammates, [sophomore] Elizabeth Knott. It’s a tradition for the underclassmen to make t-shirts for the seniors to wear on their senior night. In my sophomore year, I made one for Madi Nuernberger and Sami Milholland,” Kallaos said. “My favorite part was seeing my fellow seniors fly when some of them don't normally get the chance to fly. It was fun to see my friends try new skills,” Kallaos said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Image_20240217_231546_661-1.jpeg)
![Holding his two smiling daughters in his arms, Principal John McCabe celebrates earning his doctorate degree. He attended Maryville University for two years and reached his goal of achieving a Doctor of Education: Educational Leadership degree after months upon months of hard work and long nights. “I'm not going to lie, I'm glad I have another night of my life back when I'm not at school till very late,” McCabe said. “I can spend more time with my family and with my friends [who] are here at [West]. I'm really happy about that.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mccabefeature.png)
