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
Maddy Truka

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor

She/her/hers

Grade: 12

Years on Staff: 2

What has been your favorite quarantine hobby? Spending time outside

Is a hot dog a sandwich? no

Who is someone that inspires you? My Mom

All content by Maddy Truka
Reaching her hand up the wall in the cafeteria, senior Bella Allgeyer places her handprint among the others. The senior hand wall is a long-standing Parkway West tradition. "I like that the mural subtly represents everything we've been through in the past year," Allgeyer said. "The senior hand wall tradition means a lot because we are imprinting our impact on the school, kind of as a sign of remembrance for our entire class."

Photo of the week – April 26

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor
April 30, 2021

What students don’t know about their teachers

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor
April 29, 2021

Advice from seniors to freshmen

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor
April 23, 2021
Gathered with her friends over the summer, senior Bridget Thomas poses for a disposable photo taken by senior Molly Reinecke. Reinecke started taking film pictures of her friends in 2019. “It’s always super fun because Molly brings her camera when we’re all hanging out and she just takes pictures of candid moments,” Thomas said. “Then we get reminded of all the fun times a few weeks later when Molly gets the photos back."

Disposable cameras, lifelong memories

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor
April 22, 2021
Wearing a cardigan and blue jeans, librarian Lauren Reusch reads a book in the library. Reusch realized she typically wore the same few pieces of clothing, and has since committed to not buying new clothes for six months. “You know your favorite pieces that make you feel good,” Reusch said. “The majority of the time I spend at home or with family I wear sweats.”

[Photo] Librarian Lauren Reusch tackles surplus spending with a new retail resolution

March 16, 2021
Picking up her paintbrush, senior Claire Hardy works on her next piece for AP Drawing. Hardy centered all of her projects on one sustained investigation question: "What impact do people have on me?" “We get to choose our topic and the materials we use which is nice because you can make the piece more personal,” Hardy said. “While the freedom of this class is great, it [also] poses a challenge because the options are endless when starting a new project”.

Photo of the Week – Jan.25

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor
January 29, 2021
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Happy Registration Day! Choose Journalism, here’s why

Maddy Truka and Fatema Rehmani
January 26, 2021
Sitting down for lunch, sophomore Cece Watts scans the cafeteria QR code. Watts attended school in person for the first time since March 13. "Being back in person felt amazing," Watts said. "The set up for lunch allowed me to easily and safely congregate with my friends while still maintaining a respectful distance."

Photo of the Week- Nov. 9

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor
November 13, 2020
Through a combination of Adobe Photoshop and photography, senior Maddy Truka investigates the effects human lives have on the environment. Truka wanted to represent the way humans have morphed into consumerist creatures. “I think it's unfortunate that the easiest option or choice is usually the one that has the worst impact on our environment. I hope that we can get educated on these issues and work harder to take care of our planet,” Truka said. “I want to relay the importance of acting on these environmental issues. Especially issues that people aren't as knowledgeable on like the fast fashion industry [and] single use plastics.”

[Photo] Students showcase their ‘draw dropping’ artwork

Addie Gleason, Managing Editor-in-Chief
November 6, 2020
After receiving feedback from her friends about what they wanted to see on the cover of the school planner, senior Maddy Truka combined her own ideas with friends' to create it. Truka was to hoping to represent diversity in her design. “[Planners] help to just keep track of anything your teacher may assign that’s not listed up on the board like usual,” Truka said. “Also, class set up may be more difficult and there is definitely more work to do so it’s important that students are organized now more than ever.”

[Photo] Five tips for online school

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief
September 23, 2020
Walking down Baxter Road towards Parkway West Middle School, members of the St. Louis community take part in the Parkway Black Lives Matter walk. Participants kneeled at the end of the walk for eight minutes and 46 seconds to honor George Floyd and all those lost to racism and hate. “It was a wake up call. It was really reassuring to see the outcome and how many people came out to support the cause,” sophomore Lauren McLeod said. “I think that it brought attention to a lot of the racial injustice that often gets swept under the rug, and overall, I think it was one of the beginning steps to a long journey of getting racial equity in schools.”

[Photo] Black Lives Matter and how we can create change

Lilly Francis, Staff Writer
August 17, 2020
Wearing a shirt in support of the protest, senior Cam Redmond shares his voice through his clothing. Redmond attended a protest held at West to support Black lives. “Crazy things that have been happening in our world have made me want to be a part of the voice that Black lives and other races matter and we all should be equal,” Redmond said.

[Photo] The killing of George Floyd will change society forever

Tre Bell, Staff Writer
July 14, 2020
The recent national uprising against police violence has reignited campaigns to remove officers from schools, with organizers saying School Resource officers harm students of color and don’t maintain general student safety.

[Photo] Community reflects on police presence in schools

Ulaa Kuziez, News and Sports Editor
July 11, 2020
It is recommended by the CDC that people should wear masks in public settings where social distancing orders may be hard to maintain.

Five things to know about the end of school

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor
May 20, 2020
Picking up his longboard, junior Nick Turner prepares to skate through a parking lot. During this time of social distancing, Turner has been trying to keep busy with different activities. “I’ve been watching a lot of netflix and going outside, but I like longboarding because it’s easy to pick up and ride,” Turner said.

Photo of the week – May 11

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor
May 14, 2020
Using a bandana as a makeshift mask, sophomore Ellie Moriarity adjusts it on her face before she begins to drive. Moriarity believes there is always a risk associated with leaving your house during these uncertain times. “I think it's important to wear a mask right now because there is no way of knowing if you have contracted the coronavirus,” Moriarity said. “It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting those around you.”

[Photo] Photo of the week – May 4

Drew Boone, Staff Writer
May 7, 2020
Freshman Tristan Caudill practices a handstand in a field. Caudill pushed to try new things even when they seemed intimidating. “My coaches always tell me ‘get comfortable with being uncomfortable,’” Caudill said. “A lot of what you're going to do is stuff that you will not be comfortable with, but if you don't get comfortable with that, you're not going to progress at all."

[Photo] Aiming for nationals: freshman Tristan Caudill competes in the VIP Classic gymnastics tournament

March 31, 2020
Focusing on her homework, senior Angie Jia demonstrates the amount of work brought on by over-involvement. Jia is involved in many clubs and honor societies and has been since the beginning of her high school career. “The honor societies, sometimes I regret doing them because they don’t really mean anything,” Jia said. “I guess now that you’re in them you just stay because you want a cord [for graduation].”

[Photo] Club culture becomes an ‘arms race’ for college

Mira Nalbandian, Managing Editor-in-Chief
March 11, 2020
Photo illustration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. giving his "I have a Dream Speech."

[Photo] Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by educating yourself

Kathryn McAuliffe, Managing Editor-in-Chief
January 20, 2020
Senior Ismail Hacking focuses his camera using his stabilizer. Hacking has invested in high grade video equipment to better the quality of his videos. “Video is unlike any other art form in the way that it combines visuals with audio to create something that speaks to people,” Hacking said.

Senior Ismail Hacking pursues his passion for videography

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor
December 5, 2019

[Video] Students walk out to combat climate change

Maddy Truka, Sabrina Bohn, and Fatema Rehmani
October 1, 2019