Using their clothes to express their feelings and personality, students and staff describe what goes into their fashion choices and the impact it has on their daily life.
Students and staff express themselves through fashion
-
![Within the U.S., the busiest shopping period of the year is Cyber Week, the time from Thanksgiving through Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year, shoppers spent $13.3 billion on Cyber Monday, which is a 7.3% year-over-year increase from 2023. “When I was younger, I would always be out with my mom getting Christmas gifts or just shopping in general. Now, as she has gotten older, I've noticed [that almost] every day, I'll open the front door and there's three packages that my mom has ordered. Part of that is she just doesn't always have the time to go to a store for 30 minutes to an hour, but the other part is when she gets bored, she has easy access to [shopping],” junior Grace Garetson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSC_0249.JPG-1200x801.jpg)
ShowcaseSeason of giving, season of getting -
![Complex global supply chains supply the goods for everyday luxuries, such as the coffee at West High’s Blue Brew. Low tariffs enabled much of the prosperity of modern history. “Higher tariffs lead to higher costs. A tariff is a tax on an imported good, and someone has to pay for that tax, and typically that [will] end up impacting consumers,” economics teacher Rachel Money said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Flag-1.png)
ShowcaseSpread the wealth -
![Eyes glued to his sheet music, senior Andrew Gillies accompanies the Jazz Band as the pianist. During the annual Winter Jazz Concert, Gillies was chosen to improvise a solo during the song, “T.J. Boogie.” ¨I love concerts [because of] how the audience reacts, and just the stage lights [shining on me],¨ Gillies said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_3774-1200x801.jpg)
ShowcaseFrom practice to performance -
ShowcaseAnd the winner is… -
![Junior TJ Polack plays his saxophone solo at halftime for the 2024 marching band show, ‘Coloring Book.’ This year, Polack was one of two soloists in the marching band. “[Polack] is very hard on himself. [His saxophone solo] sounds amazing [and] everyone [cheers] for him; [still], somehow, he thinks it’s a bad performance and he's down. What he does is not easy. It takes a lot of confidence as a person [and] a lot of musical skill to be expressive, and he's doing an amazing job,” drum major and senior Dominic Perez said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/462488499_2973926416100522_5057718068659607183_n-1200x925.jpg)
ShowcaseThe long run -
![Blending together a concoction for a science experiment, science teacher Joel Anderson scares his students by bringing excitement and thrill into his classroom for his annual Halloween show. It took about six weeks for Anderson to set up his classroom for the show. “It’s pure terror. I came up with this idea a couple decades ago to do something fun for Halloween. So I pretend to be this mad scientist [that creates] a Frankenstein-like creature [with the class], learning a little bit of science along the way and [then ending] with a laser show. It’s just for fun; entertainment value,” Anderson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0021.JPG_-1200x800.jpg)
ShowcaseHaunting highlights -
![Senior Sally Peters stands in the history hallway, contemplating her choices in the 2024 United States and Missouri elections on Nov. 5. As a member of Diplomacy Club, Peters has discussed key candidates and issues in contemporary American politics. “[As students], we're starting to become adults. We're realizing how much the policies that are enforced and the laws that make it through the House and Senate are starting to affect us. [Opportunities such as] AP [U.S.Government] and Diplomacy Club [make elections feel] a lot more real,” Diplomacy Club vice president and senior Nidhisha Pejathaya said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Flag-1-1.png)
ShowcaseActivity across ages: Generational differences in political engagement -
ShowcaseBehind the lens -
ShowcaseLet’s talk politics -
ShowcaseFall favorites: Essentials for the perfect season
About the Contributors
Mira Nalbandian, Managing Editor-in-Chief
Pronouns: she/her
I am a senior, and this is my third year on staff. I joined journalism to earn a CTE credit, but I’ve found that the Pathfinder has given me a unique, independently-driven space to improve my writing, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, as well as becoming one of my biggest passions. I consider myself an ambitious person, and I have a lot I plan on accomplishing. Outside of the Pathfinder, I am a leader of our school’s feminist club, menstrual equality club, advocacy club and am a member of several other politically-based clubs. I also enjoy playing field hockey, reading and watching Gilmore Girls (and wondering how Rory got into Yale with so few extracurriculars). Similar to Rory, I want to major in political science, English or international relations. My biggest goal is to learn as much as I can about the world and the people who live here, hopefully through lots of travel and different types of food.
Leah Schroeder, Managing Editor-in-Chief
Pronouns: she/her
I am a senior this year, and it will be my fourth year on staff. The Pathfinder has pushed me out of my comfort zone, made me more outgoing and helped me to become a better writer. In school, I am involved in many clubs, and I also do field hockey and pole-vaulting. When I’m not writing for the Pathfinder, I love spending time with my friends and family, working out, reading and baking. I have definitely found a love for journalism through the Pathfinder, and I plan on continuing with journalism as a career. I hope to make the world a more positive and kind place through my writing.