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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

This weekend, we followed junior Thalea Afentoullis at the St. Louis Greek Fest.

Ancient Culture in a Modern World: The Sights and Sounds of the STL Greek Fest

Samir Shaik and Cindy Phung May 30, 2023

SOPHOMORE SAMIR SHAIK: Many people forget that Saint Louis is a cultural melting pot. Each year, countless cultural festivities are held that celebrate people from all walks of life.  SOPHOMORE...

Junior Krish Bhagat smiles at the camera as he carefully holds a black crow in his gloved hands. He had earlier saved the bird and taken it to Wild BIrd Rehabilitation.

Wings of hope

Annie Deckelbaum, CJ1 Writer May 23, 2023

Entrepreneur junior Krish Bhagat created speakUP! to help non-profit organizations promote their brands. In elementary school, junior Krish Bhagat was labeled gifted before moving into Mosaics Academy,...

Junior Nicholas Herman stands in front of a white wall with a colorful mural of a world map painted on it. Herman stands in front of the Eastern Hemisphere.

A Tale of Three Cities

Sakenah Lajkem, Staff Writer May 17, 2023

From birth until 11 years old, junior Nicholas Herman was used to New York City. He was accustomed to the skyscraper buildings, the English language and the busy city people. “People are very active...

A graphic of the 2022-23 Pathfinder senior staff.

Seniors signing off

Addie Gleason I’ve been a shy person for just about as long as I can remember. While I always completed coursework on time, my teachers often commented that I rarely participated in class. This followed...

Senior Ava Kayser cooks a meal with her nanny Angela Cupajita. Kayser's parents wanted her to learn a different language growing up and hired Cupajita to teach her.

A nanny’s love, a students legacy

Ava McLeod, CJ1 Writer April 5, 2023

With three kids under seven, doctors Jason Kayser and Sarah Garwood decided to enlist some help on the homefront. After talking to friends about their childcare needs, they decided a nanny would be a great...

Sophomore Sadie Burgess poses with her grandmother's novel "Spirited Sisters." Burgess' grandmother grew up in India and has written 20 novels with her experience.

Discovering diversity

Ava Griswold, CJ1 Writer March 31, 2023

After spending time with her grandparents twice a year, sophomore Sadie Burgess felt a connection far beyond Ballwin, Mo. Burgess’ grandma was born and raised in India, where she attended...

Freshman Ella Early works to publish and display her artwork and writing, which she has practiced for years. Early learned techniques from her grandmother’s art and found her talent through writing. "I remember my teachers reading my books out loud to the class and being very proud of them. I said, ‘look, guys, I wrote a book,’” Early said.

Inside her story

Esta Kamau, Features/Humans of West Editor March 13, 2023

When freshman Ella Early was in elementary school, she was often caught doodling and writing on her class notes; now, her teachers praise her for her drawings and stories. Early’s passion for drawing...

With five languages under her belt, junior Suraiya Saroar's plan to become fluent in several languages is underway. Although she is also fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu and Arabic, Saroar's first language, Bangla, is the most important to her to speak fluently. "It is especially important to me to be able to speak my native language, so I can speak to all my relatives properly and not have to worry about them not understanding me," Saroar said.

Proud to be a polyglot

Anna Claywell, Staff Writer March 10, 2023

Walking through the halls, hundreds of conversations in English surround junior Suraiya Saroar, though her mind goes from language to language. As a friend catches up to her to chat, she replies with an...

Early graduate Mia Irving moves the tassel on her cap, signifying her next move in life. After graduating, Irving plans to enter the U.S. Army while attending Lindenwood University. “[The military] told me that if I do go into the military, I’m on track to graduate at 30 to 37, so I [plan to be in the military between ages] 30 [and] 35, just so I can have everything planned out for afterward,” Irving said.

Focused on the Future

Samari Sanders, Staff Writer March 8, 2023

What began as sibling rivalry quickly became a competition between early graduate senior Mia Irving and her older brother [Amarion]. After comparing grades, athleticism, academic achievements and more,...

Junior Charlie Robinson hits a glowing hot piece of metal with a hammer to form it into the correct shape for his hunting knife project. Robinson never took lessons from a professional, opting to work off his intuition. “It hasn’t always worked out, and sometimes I’ve had to look at how to fix whatever I had done, but most of the things I have made have just been me freestyling,” Robinson said.

Forging forward

Achyuta Ambal, Staff Writer March 6, 2023

As hammering sounds ring through the air, junior Charlie Robinson repeatedly hits a glowing metal fragment on his anvil. While it cools, Robinson picks up the metal with tongs and brings it back over...