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...
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...
“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...
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...
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...
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 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.”
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.
After a break from hosting foreign exchange students due to Covid, seven students joined the Longhorn community. In honor of International Students’ Day, get to know them below:
![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. ”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/gvhgvgj-1-900x643.jpg)
![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.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC_0001-900x600.jpg)
![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.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG-6534.jpg)
![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.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/noellemcspadden-900x600.jpg)
![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.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Cory-Driver-1.png)
![Moving and grooving, senior Jack Goedde dances with the other Mr. Longhorn contestants in their opening act. Seniors and Poms captains Kelsea Wilson and Cameron Chandler choreographed the dances performed throughout the night. “Being able to have a special event for all of the senior guys makes it more fun. All the guys were bad at dancing, including myself, which made us laugh. [Mr. Longhorn] gives us a memory for the rest of our lives.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Jack-G.jpeg)
