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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

Two phones stacked on top of each other. The top phone has the Instagram app loading page opened.

The versatile world of Instagram

Sophie McCarthy, Staff Writer January 18, 2024

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...

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was released on Nov. 17, 2023. Based on the popular novel by author Suzanne Collins, the film has grossed over $300 million globally.

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is a thought-provoking addition to the popular franchise

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief January 10, 2024

Disclaimer: This review contains spoilers. “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is the long-awaited prequel to the “Hunger Games” trilogy. The movie is set in Panem, a futuristic...

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...

Junior Will Gonsior lies down on a pile of money, an opportunity gained by allowing the Pathfinder to use his name, image and likeness. Accusations of corruption and misconduct have revealed just how easily the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) lets money pile up where it doesn’t belong. “[The NCAA] is a business, so they're trying to win games. No matter the sport, they're trying to be the most successful that they can,” varsity football coach and physical education teacher Jeff Duncan said.

Foul play: Amateurism or a collegiate cartel?

Will Gonsior and Ruthvi Tadakamalla January 8, 2024

With over 1000 participating colleges and almost half a million young adults under its umbrella, the National Collegiate Athletics Association pledges to inspire and support its “student-athletes.”...

For the past three years, Parkway has administered high school finals after winter break, a practice that proves to be detrimental to the success as well as the mental health of students. With finals after break appearing to do more harm than good, the question of what changes can be made arises time and time again. “The pressure for finals is difficult, and to have that [pressure for] a few weeks because you're on [a] break can make you generally sad. It's a bummer in general. I wish [finals] were before break, so we [could] have a break to sleep, celebrate and not study. Everyone I've talked to about it is like 'yeah, finals sucks,' and I wish that wasn't a thing,” junior Meadow Kostial said.

Post-break panic

The problem Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a new schedule — pushing back the academic year and shifting finals to after winter break — was adopted district-wide. From students to teachers,...

Junior Esta Kamau and senior Natalie Lashly lean towards each other on stage while they sing, holding out white fans in front of them.

Scenes and songs

Serena Liu and Keira Lang January 4, 2024

A scrapbook-style graphic that reads "Pathfinder Favs."

Pathfinder’s 2023 favorites

Lauren Holcomb, Staff Writer January 3, 2024

Dozens of important world events happen every year, yet frequently we find years less defined by political developments but instead by cultural ones. The 1920s, in most minds, aren’t associated with...

2023 was defined by female vocalists such as Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Paramore’s Hayley Williams as their diversity and talent amongst their respective genres topped the musical charts. Williams took to Instagram to show her gratitude for having owned the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top 100 chart. “We know enough by now to know success doesn’t equal value. That being said, to experience the [No. 1] on this album, as this version of Paramore, is such a sweet and surreal moment to celebrate together,” Williams wrote.

A musical recap of 2023

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer December 19, 2023

While living in a time where creativity can be dull or hard to find in music, 2023 managed to highlight some of the biggest moments in several artists’ careers. Though there were monumental accomplishments...

“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” has been credited as one of the most influential albums of all time. In “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” the genres of hip hop, neo soul and R&B are blurred, but this experimentative sound is also what makes the album work so well.

Twenty-five years later: “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” is a shining beacon of once-in-a-lifetime talent

Elizabeth Franklin, Editor-in-Chief December 4, 2023

On August 25, 1998, singer and rapper Lauryn Hill released her debut album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” following a series of circumstances in her life, including her pregnancy, her departure...