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 Sawyer Ladd lifts weights, stretches and eats to gain weight. Ladd has spent over a year practicing a routine involving eating more and going to the gym frequently to work towards his goal. “It has taken me way longer than I thought it would to gain even a little bit of weight. I don’t know if I need to change my methods, but I know I will stick with it until I reach my goals,” Ladd said.

Bulking up, not slimming down

Achyuta Ambal, Staff Writer • January 24, 2023

A large culture has been growing on social media and other platforms based on helping as many individuals as they can lose weight. However, people need to recognize the struggle on the opposite side of...

Senior Lexi Lutz, junior Jayden Blount and senior Alina wear their Ms. Understood hoodies in support of eliminating sexual violence. Lutz believes that when life does not go your way, you should follow a piece of advice.“You should channel all that negative energy into your work, what you do, who you are and being passionate,” Lutz said.

Behind Ms. Understood

Claire Creely, Staff Writer • January 23, 2023

During her sophomore year, now senior Lexi Lutz had an experience where a boy took her power away. Since then, she has turned her pain into self-empowerment and innovatively pushes for women to do the...

Eyes and ruler fixed towards the screen, social studies teacher Aaron Bashirian points to his Smartboard and explains the history behind his barn. Having learned the ropes of carpentry, Bashirian made structural changes to the barn by himself over the past three years. “It’s not your normal barn, but it’s cool, though. It’s got quite a bit of history to it,” Bashirian said. “It used to be a carriage house; you can see where they used to keep the horse. There’s still a grain [and] hay shoot [too]. They parked Model T-style cars [that created] all these oil slicks on the floor where they leaked. You can see that there’s a lot of history in there. I love it, [it’s a] perfect building for a history guy. ”

From shack to studio

Kristen Skordos, Staff Writer • January 17, 2023

Too much time spent without music often kills the desire to play, but social studies teacher Aaron Bashirian did not lose interest. Instead, the rockstar-gone-teacher stayed in touch with his desire to...

Sophomore Lila Hartle poses before a dance recital in 2021. While Hartle’s eating disorder diagnosis prevented her from dancing, it motivated her to improve. “I wanted to continue dance as a career, and I knew that I had to stay healthy so that I wouldn’t end up hurting myself more,” Hartle said.

Problems, passion, perseverance

Nidhi Pejathaya, Staff Writer • January 11, 2023

Eating disorders are commonly associated with body dysmorphia issues; however, for sophomore Lila Hartle, that was not the case. What started as a small loss of appetite quickly escalated. Her eating disorder...

Journalism Adviser Debra Klevens sits at her desk and reviews feedback from the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention. Klevens looked for ways to share the feedback so her students could continue to grow journalistically. “Learning from industry experts isn’t something every student has the opportunity to see. My job is to make [resources] available for everyone and to deliver to the different levels of students in a way they can understand at the time,” Klevens said.

The face behind the student publications program

Lia Emry, Staff Writer • January 6, 2023

“Do what you love; love what you do.” This Kobi Yamada quote hangs in Journalism Adviser Debra Klevens’ classroom. Over her 23 years at West, Klevens has taught over 1,500 students enrolled in the...

Senior Grant Meert prepares to throw a white pine Christmas tree through a netting machine. Of the many species of trees, Meert Tree Farm grows — including Scotch pine, Norway spruce, Virginia pine, Fraser fir and Michigan Scotch pine — Meert’s favorite is white pine. “Picking your tree gives people a good experience. It’s something that everyone needs to do at least once,” Meert said. “It gives customers a family memory and bonding time. I like having that time [with my family], and [we] make it a whole day.”

‘Tis the season

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • December 14, 2022

The holiday season means something different for everyone. For some, a time to be with family and friends. For others, a time of remembrance and tradition. For senior Grant Meert, the holiday season is...

Playing an acoustic guitar, freshman Noelle McSpadden sits just outside of her music classroom. McSpadden was inspired to play guitar to add to her songwriting. “[Guitar class] makes songwriting much easier for me. I feel good about my music because I can actually play with a guitar [to back it up],” McSpadden said.

Freshman Noelle McSpadden finds herself through her lyrics

Emily Early, Editor-in-Chief • December 13, 2022

Pen travels across the paper. Guitar strings strum. Chords travel across the room in sound waves, crafting into rhythms and lyrical melodies. A new song joins the collection of 450 other songs written...

Junior Leah Leifer sits in her house with Hunter, the first service dog she trained. Leifer is passionate about the respect service dogs deserve. “Don't pet a dog you just see in a store. If it's marked as a service dog, don't ask to pet it,” Leifer said.

Coaching canines: Junior Leah Leifer trains service dogs

Anna Claywell, Staff Writer • December 12, 2022

A lively wag of a tail, a slobbery smile and a cuddly greeting as an owner, opens the door: all things typical of our fluffy friends that could make anyone smile. However, for junior Leah Leifer, dogs...

Former junior Cory Driver decided to drop out this summer, feeling disheartened with the school system. He now has more time to pursue other interests, such as going to trade school, building his “yaasified crust punk” band and working more hours at Qdoba. “I'd been talking to my principal and my counselor since the middle of summer. I'd keep trying to have conversations saying, ‘Hey, I want to drop out and get my GED.’ Every single time I'd try to have [that] conversation, they did whatever they could to make sure that I didn't drop out [because] if I drop out, it makes the school look bad,” Driver said.

Dropping out

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief • December 6, 2022
Former junior Cory Driver went into the school year with a LOL Surprise Doll Backpack and a determination to drop out. After months of back-and-forth with his principal and counselor, Driver emailed his administrators and teachers a minion meme reading, “I’m dropping out and getting my GED.” 
Junior Suraiya Saroar enjoys both American and Bangladeshi traditions on Thanksgiving. For dessert, she has pumpkin pie and mishti, a broad category of sweets from south Asia.

You ain’t seen stuffing yet

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief • November 28, 2022
Thanksgiving is when families and friends gather to show their gratitude for each other. However, every family celebrates in unique ways, often beyond the stereotypical turkey and stuffing. Read on to learn about some of our student’s untraditional traditions.
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 6
  6. 7
  7. 8
  8. 9
  9. 10
  10. 11
  11. 12
  12. ...
  13. 89