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
Senior Sakenah Lajkem solves a math competition problem involving geometry. In her AP Calculus BC class, Lajkem noticed there were more female student tutors than male student tutors. “Growing up I did not really notice a disparity between male and female students, at least in school academics. In fact, teachers often joke about female students being smarter or more responsible than their male peers. But, this narrative seems to switch when looking at competitive math and pursuing STEM extracurriculars,” Lajkem said.

Competitive math: Where the ‘M’ in STEM implies male

Audrey Ghosh, Opinions Editor • January 23, 2024

Thirty thousand students in the United States participate annually in the American Mathematics Competition, an exam that allows students to potentially represent the U.S. in the International Math Olympiad....

January 2024 marks over seven decades since the publishing of “The Bell Jar.” In those seven decades, the novel has opened the eyes of countless women to the unfair treatment they’ve faced, particularly being percieved as nothing more than mothers and the consequences that arise from that. “To my knowledge, [“The Bell Jar” was] one of the earliest novels that explores a woman's mental health and inner journey and allows her to go through struggles and make mistakes without vilifying [her]. She's ambitious yet flawed and unsure how to proceed, like [many] women at the beginning of the 1960s. My mom was born in 1950 and grew up hearing that if she wanted to work, she had three choices: nurse, secretary and teacher. It was a brave new world when she found out there were more options. But that also comes with fear and anxiety and the judgment of others. Sylvia represents that journey,” French teacher Blair Hopkins said.

Lifting the bell jar

Lauren Holcomb, Staff Writer • January 15, 2024

Disclaimer: This article mentions suicide and violence against women  January 14th, 1963: Sylvia Plath’s first and only novel was published in the United Kingdom, just one month before her tragic...

Marching in front of Forest Park Avenue, protesters gather in support of the pro-choice organization Planned Parenthood after the controversial overturning of the Supreme Court case Roe V. Wade. Parkway West alumna Luisa Larinizi, former co-president of the Feminist Club, attended the protest in 2022 to share her voice on the matter. “I went because it’s an issue I care about deeply and I felt this was a way I could help and actively be involved. It is very important to stand up for what we believe in, and peaceful protesting is always a great way to achieve that,” Lazarini said. “It was incredible to see how many people came. Many gave speeches on their personal experiences with reproductive rights, [giving] me new insight on how many people are actually affected by the issue.”

The ‘active’ in activism

Risa Cidoni, Editor-in-Chief • January 9, 2024

#MeToo. #BLM. #FridaysForFuture. #BeTheChange.  These hashtags have floated across millions of screens in momentous hours, traveling across the world with nothing but three simple clicks. Televisions...

The prospect of getting a job in high school might sound great on paper, but in reality, the process is much more nuanced and complicated than it seems on the surface. Employment is a decision that features many variables and is personalized to each individual that makes it, depending on their availability and schedule. “I rushed into [employment] working 30 hours a week and I was extremely exhausted after my shifts. But after some time, I found a good pace to work at,” junior Gabby Black said. “I recommend working hours that are suitable for you.”

Balancing books and bills

Samir Shaik, Multimedia Editor-in-Chief • November 13, 2023

In high school, amidst the shuffling of feet in the hallway, the resonance of basketballs bouncing on the gym floor and the scribbles of pencils on paper in a silent classroom, an echoing question incessantly...

Cultural and socioeconomic barriers prevent many Asian Americans from seeking help for mental health issues. Alumna and emeritus Mental Health Awareness Club President Rachel Bhagat, who has worked with many Asian immigrants and refugees, notices clear benefits of mental health care in daily life. “Seeking out mental health care is extremely important for everyone. Regularly seeing someone to talk to about your mental health helps prevent or makes it easier to navigate mentally stressful [or] harmful situations,” Bhagat said.

Silent pandemic

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief • November 10, 2023

Be strong. Act perfect. Stay silent.  These are all stereotypes that Asian Americans are commonly held to. While everyone has a unique experience with mental health, studies have shown that Asian...

Climate change is a horrible problem, one that will eventually affect almost everyone and destroy the health of the planet. It’s far too nuanced of an issue to put all of the blame on one specific person, but some people are acting irresponsibly and with no regard for the environment. Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is one of these people. “I think a lot of students may not realize the negative impacts that Swift may have on things like the environment. Really, I think it's about awareness. People may not be aware of how much fuel it takes to travel for tours like the Eras tour. Or, how many people travel on the tour? Still, I don't know if even being aware of those numbers would change the minds of dedicated Swift fans,” Convergence Journalism teacher Lindsey Katz said.

We can’t shake off climate change

Lauren Holcomb, Staff Writer • November 2, 2023

At only 33, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is already a veteran of the music industry, and the awards she’s won for it reflect this. She claims the title of most-streamed female artist on Spotify in...

Deforestation is a horrible phenomenon, affecting all corners of the world and having extraordinarily negative effects on both humans and animals. It’s impossible to pinpoint deforestation on one specific cause, but much of it can be accredited to palm oil. In the last few years, palm oil has grown to be a big problem for animals and people alike. “Palm oil is a big issue because so much of the rainforest is being converted to palm oil plantations and a huge loss of species matters.” AP Environmental Science teacher Paul Hage said.

Worth its weight in blood: The problem with palm oil

Lauren Holcomb, Staff Writer • October 24, 2023

Deforestation. The word evokes powerful visuals of thousands of trees being cleared by shockingly industrial, murderous machinery. It’s a scary thought that a person wants to put out of their head as...

In recent years, the topic of lowering the national voting age has sparked debates across the United States. Young people have been at the forefront of the discussion, sharing their unique perspectives and opinions on voting ages. “[I want to vote because] I should be able to make decisions about myself, about my education, and about my rights,” sophomore Yein Ahn said.

Youth voices on the rise

Ruthvi Tadakamalla and Serena Liu • October 17, 2023

Pro: Turning sixteen can be one of the biggest milestones for a teen. By their 16th birthday, a teen can drive a car, pay taxes, work without restrictions, become emancipated and drop out of high school....

A utopia for some can be a dystopia for others. Candidates shared their visions of each at the first two GOP debates, in Milwaukee on Aug. 21 and in California on Sept. 25. “Someone who's looking to gain power for themselves, and not to benefit the population in the United States [and around] the globe is a problem,” sophomore Nick Cook said.

Under the big tent

Will Gonsior, Opinions/A&E Editor • October 12, 2023

The major parties in the United States often pride themselves on being “big tent,” or inclusive to many different types of views. However, in the modern, hyper-polarized political climate, there’s...

A recent scandal has rocked the world as soccer federation president Luis Rubiales has been accused of abusing his role of power by forcibly kissing star player Jennifer Hermosa on the lips on national television. The aftermath of the event has surged the media’s criticism of a divided and repressive athletic sphere, initiating a parley on the aversion to the proper respect of female success in the sports world. “In a perfect world, everyone would respect women's sports like they would men's,” health teacher Katelyn Arenos said. “Seeing these things in the media shows that we still have some growth to do to get there.”

The kiss heard around the world

Risa Cidoni, Editor-in-Chief • October 6, 2023

Moments before disaster, families watch their televisions as Spain’s women's soccer team clamors and cheers at their victory over England for the coveted Federation Internationale de Football (FIFA)...

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