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
“[One of my favorite hobbies] is frisbee. My friends and I play frisbee together. There's a very good community aspect to it. We cheer each other on and help each other, and it's the best team experience of any sport I've ever played. [My favorite part of frisbee] is that we make a spirit circle with the other team at the end of every game. We point out a couple of good things or a couple of good players from each team and [evaluate] how they did well and how our team can improve, or what they did. [The first time I was selected for that] it felt great to be recognized because it was my first year playing frisbee. I'm glad that I [improved], and I'm glad I could have an impact on the team." - Robbie Thompson, 10

Robbie Thompson

Drew Hayes, CJ1 Writer • May 2, 2022

“The happiest moments in my life would probably be when my family and I go up to Mass. every summer to spend time with my mom’s side of the family. I used to spend about one to two months there, but now it's down to about three weeks. My mom's side of the family is huge, so being able to reunite with them and watch everyone come together has always been my favorite things. Over the past years, my mom’s step-sister has had two kids, they're really little, and we never really had family there until now. So being able to go out there and watch them grow up over the years has been something very special, and just hanging out and playing with them was fun. One of my favorite things is that my grandpa lives on a lake. One time my dad and I tried to kayak the entire lake, but we only got about halfway because we were both too tired to make it all the way around. It was a fun experience, and I got to spend time with my dad. This coming summer will be my 16th summer going there. Every year we’re there for July 4, so we always like to celebrate, and my mom's other step-sister and I always run a 5k every year there. It is fun to get out and do something I love with the people I love. I only see my mom's side of the family three times at most every year, but sometimes you get lucky and see them more than that. It's really hard when I'm always with my dad's side and never really get to make memories with my mom’s side. They always send us pictures, and I just wish I was there. It's just really hard not being able to grow up with that side of the family. Since we don’t spend as much time with them anymore, it makes me more grateful for the time I spend with my family and the memories we make.” - Gabbie Kerber, 9

Gabbie Kerber

Danica Gatchel, CJ1 Writer • April 29, 2022

"My online experience has been a big change compared to in-person school. Staying virtual made my schedule pretty flexible which made it easier for me to fit in other extracurricular activities, such as playing the piano. Online school improved my mental health. I have the comfort of being at home while also learning what I need to. I haven’t had any mental health changes, partially because I made some friends in school. It’s harder to stay connected to others when you’re virtual since you can’t really go up and talk to someone, but I made friends from class, which helped with staying sane. I also like to talk to friends who go in-person, and it’s fun to hear about what’s going on." - Bhavya Gupta, 9

Bhavya Gupta

Emily Beach, CJ1 Writer • April 27, 2022

“[The happiest moment of my life was when] my quartet and I qualified for state. It was a very pleasant surprise. Our quartet qualified on March 12; we stood outside the school we had just performed at when we found out. It was the best feeling ever. [Right now, our goal is] to prepare before state on April 30. We are performing two classical pieces, “Climb Up The Mountain” and “Brothers Sing On.” I've always had a love for music, and [I'm glad] we are given a chance to perform more competitively and possibly get the state title. It's exciting, kind of nerve-wracking, but exciting.” - Jack Maniaci, 11

Jack Maniaci

Maddy Bach, Yearbook Contributor • April 25, 2022

"The biggest happiness in my life right now is that I’m going to Mexico with some of my best friends, and their parents. I think we are staying for like 8 days over Thanksgiving. We’re going to be in Cancun, Mexico. I’m excited to go because it’s been a little bit since I traveled and it’ll be nice to have a vacation. We get to relax on the beach and just not think about school. It’s going to be a nice break from everything going on in our lives. Plus getting to spend time together is always fun. We're going to play sand volleyball so I can’t wait for that, and maybe try bodysurfing? I’m not sure. I definitely want to try some new things. We have plans to try a lot of new restaurants so that is something to look forward to. Swimming in the ocean has always been one of my favorite things and to experience that in Cancun with my best friends is going to be really amazing. You see a different part of people when you travel with them and you have to live together. I feel like that’s going to like bring us closer together. I’m excited." – Anna Kilcullen, 9

Anna Kilcullen

Alexandra Hurley, CJ1 Writer • April 22, 2022

“You wouldn’t believe how surprised people are when you say you skipped kindergarten and you're only 15 in 11th grade. I don't even have a driver's license [yet]. That usually surprises people because everyone else is 16 going on 17. I just [always] felt kind of different from everyone. [People think that I’m] not as mature and [don’t have a] strong mental capacity and some think a little less of [me] for being younger. Everyone assumed I was a young, innocent kid. [But] I wouldn't do anything different. I love where I am [and] what I do now. So maybe it would have been a bit easier. But hey, I’m here, and I can't change.” – Clayton Merz, 11

Clayton Merz

Addison Merz, CJ1 Writer • April 22, 2022

"[In my free time, I like to bake] Rice Krispie treats or chocolate chip cookies. [But that's also my job because I work at] Crumbl Cookies. I haven't worked that much yet. The environment isn’t super dull there. There are people talking all the time. [After] you work there for a few hours, you smell like the store, [like the] cookies and supplies. [Most of the time, I] fold boxes and get supplies ready [but, on rare occasions, I get to] ball the dough. The lights are really bright, there's a lot of pink, everyone talks friendly to each other and it's a very calm and peaceful job. [Personally, my favorite cookie there is] caramel popcorn. I have developed a strange addiction to that cookie." - Spencer Rahm, 9

Spencer Rahm

Evan Vaisvil, Staff Writer • April 22, 2022

“[The most influential person in my life] I would say [is] my papa. He has this disease called CADASIL where he is basically shutting down. I don't know how to explain it, but my dad likes to say that it's [similar to] a whole house. You can see the whole house is working, but you don't know that an outlet is not working. And slowly if that outlet doesn't work another outlet doesn't work. And then it's just this effect that is slowly shutting [him] down. Right now he's on hospice, and it's hard seeing and talking to him because I know that he would be there for me if I was struggling. It's hard to see him how he is now. I look up to him because he's one of the greatest people I know. He was always the first person to jump up and [say], ‘I'll help you.’ He did it with happiness, and I have a lot of good memories with him.” – Mackenzie Silva, 9

Mackenzie Silva

Ava Silva, CJ1 Writer • April 22, 2022

“The happiest moment of my life was my freshman year when I won state. My older brother dragged me out of the pool, gave me the biggest hug and shook me. Swimming is my source of confidence and where my whole personality stems from. I don’t know what kind of person I would be if I didn't swim. Everything I’ve learned about life comes back to swimming. [A lesson I've learned from swimming] would be to do your best, [because] you’re not going to win every game. You’re not going to do everything well, [and] you’re not going to get the best score on every test, but you got to keep moving and doing it again.” – Campbell Murawski, 11

Campbell Murawski

Ava Griswold, Yearbook Editor-in-Chief • April 22, 2022

“My happiest memory of this job is being accepted. I was badly burnt out from the other job, [beacause] I had the whole midnight shift. I didn't see much of my wife and family throughout that time. It felt good to have a new prospect. Being on this job for 15 years, day in and day out, [you] appreciate [your] co-workers as well as the staff of the building. It's a humble career. It teaches you how to be patient, how to hold back anger and fear, it teaches you to be human. My biggest struggle is some students not caring for each other. Throw away your own trash. Report your spill. Recognize that if something is not right, let's make it right. If you see something that's wrong, see if we can fix it. I believe this is still one big happy family—if we make it that way.” – Sean Smith, Faculty

Sean Smith

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief • April 22, 2022

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