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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Junior Campbell Murawski prepares for her second meet of the new year. Murawski brought in her stuffed animal good luck charm, Good-Luck Chicken, for the meet against Nerinx Hall High School. “Since it was finals week, and the team was down nine swimmers, I thought it would be a good idea to bring in Good-Luck Chicken to lift the team's spirit. But, most importantly, remind everyone to have fun and take advantage of a home meet,” Murawski said.

An unusual good luck charm

Ava McLeod, CJ1 Writer March 7, 2022

The smell of chlorine filled the air as the announcer declared it was time for swimmers to approach their blocks. Junior Campbell Murawski steps on the platform and bends over—grasping the edge. Little...

ASC teacher Kristen Witt returned to school after a second week away at Cognitive FX concussion rehabilitation center in Utah. Witt graduated from in-person rehab and is back to work.

ASC teacher Kristen Witt trusted her gut, no bandage necessary

Sapir Zachary, CJ1 Writer March 4, 2022

On her daily trip home during lunch to consult with construction workers in 2010, ASC teacher Kristen Witt was T-boned by a vehicle going around a trash truck. Witt had been hit twice while turning onto...

Reenacting a plushie parody, sophomore Gabe Waltrip prepares for his next YouTube video.

The Super Sonic Guardian

Cindy Phung, Editor-in-Chief March 3, 2022

Sophomore Gabe Waltrip pants as adrenaline rushes through his body. Despite being out of breath, he continues to narrate dialogue as he runs down the hallway, juggling his tablet in one hand and a plushie...

Art teacher Ashley Drissell dances in the living room of her father’s house. Due to her parent’s interest in Latin culture, Drissell grew up with Latin dance and music. “Dance is a part of my DNA at this point. It’s just something I enjoy doing,” Drissell said.

Art teacher Ashley Drissell finds herself through Latin dance

Tiffany Ung, Staff Writer March 2, 2022

Eyes closed, art teacher Ashley Drissell sways to get a feel for the beat of the music. The crisp percussion conjures memories of her childhood, constantly being surrounded by music and dance. This exposure...

From sharing the same aisle to sharing the same passion, Megan and Madison Cauley fuel their twin flame through art. Since elementary school, the girls have grown their artistic spirit side by side and are now both looking to go into animation. “Madi is one of my biggest inspirations and motivators, there's always something we can learn from each other,” Megan said. (Photo courtesy of Madison Cauley)

Kindred spirits: Sisters Megan and Madison Cauley share an artistic passion

Makinsey Drake, Staff Writer March 1, 2022

Ever since childhood, when they worked on the same canvas, juniors Megan Cauley and Madison Cauley brought their interests and emotions to life through a shared love for art. The two continue to inspire...

Hair flipping senior Connor Leib plays in a two-hour show with his band Good Question. The performance occurred at Earth Surf– a skatepark located in Chesterfield, Mo. “Playing in a skate park is very loud and [echoey], but it brings out a very punk underground and grimy vibe that’s cool. And it kinda brings out [an angsty feeling] so much that after our [show] I kicked over my drums and broke my high hat stand,” Leib said.

All thanks to the bug

Kristen Skordos, Staff Writer February 17, 2022

At age 13, after listening to “Lithium” by Nirvana, senior Connor Leib had his whole life figured out, becoming involved with music, all thanks to the bug.  “The bug is about the feeling that...

Competing at the Gateway meet at the Kirkwood ice rink, junior Joseph Britt finishes first in the 1000m race. “I enjoyed winning, but it was mostly about just how hard I push myself [to] break personal records,” Britt said.

Junior Joseph Britt competitively speeds skates in line with his family’s legacy

Sadie Burgess, CJ1 Writer February 16, 2022

What began as a family legacy continued with junior Joseph Britt as he geared up for the ice in seventh grade. Britt is the third generation to take the ice as a speed skater, following in his grandmother’s...

Freshman Samir Shaik plays Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 in a practice room. He spent weeks struggling with the piece, and it was a challenge to train his fingers to move faster. "There’s this one section where you have to play a lot of notes quickly. And I remember struggling with that for two weeks, just on that one passage, over and over again practicing it," Shaik said. "And then one day, it just clicked, and it worked well, and the feeling of satisfaction when it all just came together was really good.”

Composing his way through life

Tanvi Kulkarni, Features Editor February 16, 2022

Amid the mundane sounds of the household, the gentle murmur of the kitchen sink, the insistent ticking of the clock and the constant white noise coming from the television, a sweet melody rings freely...

Celebrating her journey, freshman Alexis Briner beams brightly with her family. Briner appreciates her parents greatly for their support during her journey with anorexia. “I was still in the depths of [the eating disorder] around the holidays. So there were a lot of meals and I remember I kind of panicked at a few of those. And so I would have to take time out and sometimes we'd have to leave the parties early. And then my parents would be upset because it was very time consuming, [but] they were troopers,” Briner said.

Diet culture triggered freshman Alexis Briner’s eating disorder

Cindy Phung, Editor-in-Chief February 15, 2022

Growing up under the influence of diet culture was a base for freshman Alexis Briner’s healthy lifestyle to become harmful. In the summer of 2019, innocent thoughts to have smaller portions of food ultimately...

Junior Shaleigh Araya (front row, far left) poses with her adoptive family for a picture in 2019. Araya said she owes her success to her family and faith. “God has really helped me in life,” Araya said. “That’s the number one thing I [attribute] to my success. Next comes [the support] of my family and friends.”

The journey home: junior Shaleigh Araya’s adoption story

Katie Wallace, Staff Writer February 15, 2022

Bones ache from sleeping on the hard street, stomachs growl from lack of food and cars honk as they pass by the six and 8-year-old Sayle —now Araya — siblings. Cold days turn into even colder nights,...