Triya Gudipati, Staff Writer
Pronouns: she/her
Grade: 10
Years on staff: 2
What was your favorite childhood TV show? Growing up, I was a huge Disney fan so either Liv and Maddie or Shake It Up
What is your favorite book? My favorite book right now is Field Notes on Love
What motivates you? Doing things I love. Whether that be spending time with family and friends or reading, it’s what motivates me to do my best
![Fully running through “Pippin” for the first time, sophomore Jack Mullen performs the opening number alongside his castmates to kick off tech week. Having been diagnosed with COVID-19 one week before the show, theater teacher and Director Amie Gossett relied on her students to step up to help the show run smoothly in her absence. “As a whole, this has been a very collaborative experience for all the kids. They’ve learned to take responsibility [while] pushing themselves to keep the show going. [They learned] to believe themselves in stepping outside of their comfort zone and to push for what they want,” Gossett said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DSC_0036-900x600.jpg)
![“[The happiest moment of my life] was the first time I went to Six Flags with my cousin, Riley. We went on almost every ride that wasnt going upside down, and [what made] it memorable was that I was with my cousin, whos the exact same age as me, and it was something we did together. We were eight, and our [favorite ride] was the Screaming Eagle. Ive gone with her other times, but its special because it was the first time we ever went there.” - Alex Dodd, 11](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Alex-Dodd-900x600.jpg)
![“Every year, my family makes this special food for Christmas, because its related to my [South-Indian] culture. Its called Piti, which is dough made with rice flour thats rolled into balls and then cooked in water. It forms a soup that you eat with a meat curry. My dad mainly [makes] the food, but everyone in my family is involved in the process of rolling the dough. Im Orthodox Christian, and Christmas and Easter are the two main holidays, [so we] usually make it twice a year after church. We observe Lent during both holidays, so we avoid meat and fast for the days leading up to Christmas and Easter.” - Angela Raju, 11](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Angela--900x600.jpg)
![“[The best thing to happen to me this year] was meeting my cool friends. Ive met them at the cafeteria, Keys and theater. [Ive been] able to hang out with them a couple of times outside of school, and it was chill. They make me feel good about myself, and they got me into Dungeons & Dragons. Im closer with them [rather than] the people I was friends with last year. Theyve made my classes so much better, and its therapeutic having them there.” - Lu Schuetz, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Lu-Schuetz-900x600.jpg)
![“[The happiest moment of my life was] last year when I asked my crush to Homecoming. I asked her on the bus, she said yes, and I got really happy about it. Weve been together well over a year now, but I liked her for a year before even asking her out. [Before] the dance, we went out and had a nice little dinner together, and at the dance we talked, hung out and danced - it was a great night. Looking back, its a blur, but I remember it as a really happy night. We went to Homecoming [again] this year, and Im planning on asking her to prom too.” - Cameron Licata, 11](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC_0002-900x600.jpg)
![“One of the happiest things I can remember lately is when [I was] at a volleyball tournament. After playing three games, we had busted our butts working to win the point and it was tied at 27. We ended up winning 28-27 and it came down to that last point. Everyone was so happy and really excited in the moment [that] we were able to win the game. Im a middle hitter for Parkway Lightning Volleyball Club, and Ive [been playing] for five years. [My favorite thing about] volleyball is the people Im surrounding myself with, because these people are very uplifting and they push me to be a better version of myself, not only [as] a player but as a human being.” - Gabriella Black, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC_0001-2-900x600.jpg)
![“[My happiest moment] was in the World Cup final, when Argentina won. I wanted a lot of teams to win at first, like the US, the Netherlands, England and then Argentina. I just got into soccer, but Im [close with] my [older] brother, and some of his friends are from the Netherlands and others are from England, [so I rooted] for those teams, but by the end, I just wanted Messi to win. I [just started] playing soccer, but I play golf too. My grandpa got me into it, and I like playing with my brother because hes not very good. Im hoping to make the JV team this spring for it.” - Maddox Miller, 11](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC_0005-900x600.jpg)
![“The happiest moment of my life was when I realized that my family was accepting who I am. [I am] a transgender woman, and [in that moment,] I felt like I had this fear taken away. [It was] about two years ago, and I remember realizing that my parents were doing everything they could, and while they werent perfect, I finally realized how much effort they were putting in. Its made my home life a lot better, there have been fewer arguments with my family, and I just feel very liberated. My mom [was the most] accepting when I came out. I was worried before because I didnt know how accepting she would be, but shes made appointments to talk to people so I could get help to further who I was and am. On the other hand, my [older] brother sometimes struggles with it because he has a hard time seeing things from my perspective, as hes had a very different life. In general, I think that community support, whether family, friends or teachers, is the best thing anyone can do to help anyone” - Ash Herring, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC_0007-900x600.jpg)
![“[My favorite vacation] is a camp held by BYU called Aspen Grove in Utah. Its held in the mountains, and I love being up there. I didnt appreciate it before Covid [hit]. My family goes every June, but the most recent time was my favorite because my whole family on my dads side was there, and they live all over the country, so it was nice to see them all in one place. [The best] moment was when we decided to stay up until 11 p.m. doing karaoke. We got shut down by the [counselors] because we were being too loud and it was too late at night, but we got to sing a lot of different, funny songs like Stacys Mom, which was hilarious.” - Rachel Brazier, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/RBrazier-900x675.jpg)
![“[For me, the happiest times are] when I celebrate holidays with my family. [My favorite is] Christmas, mostly because I got a lot of presents. I remember [my sister and I] used to write letters to Santa, and he would always write back to us. One year, I was very excited to get a bell from Rudolphs sleigh, but [the best present Ive ever received] is a drone that my dad got me. I havent been able to use it because I cant fly it without my dad, and he just never goes out to fly it. Hopefully [we can fly it] this year. On the other end, the best [present I have given was when] I poured a bunch of peanuts into a really big ornament and gave it to my mom [who was] really into peanuts then. This year, Im very excited to see my siblings again. I have five, and most of them are away at college, so its gotten more lonely,” - Declan Ryan, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DRyan-900x600.jpg)
![“[The happiest moment of my life was when] when I did my first dance solo for the first time, it was contemporary and to the French song, Je te laisserai des mots [by Patrick Watson]. I performed it last season, so March through May, and got 11th overall in one competition for it. [I also] got platinum and high gold at other competitions. Ive been competing for six years, but dancing for 13 years. Dance is like therapy to me, I get to express myself, especially with styles like contemporary and hip hop,” - Sam Johnson, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC_0001-1-900x600.jpg)
![[The happiest moment of my life was] when I got my braces off, because I felt free; [I had them] for six years, and finally got them off in seventh grade. I didnt enjoy them, because my teeth hurt all the time and I would not want to bite down on anything unless it was soft. People say to be excited about braces, dont [be]. But I [feel] a lot more secure about my smile now, [because I think] I look better, - Sophia Metroulas, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/unnamed.jpeg)
![“[I was happiest during] this time in choir class in sixth grade. We were doing a show-and-tell on projects of our choice and I did mine on programming. It was a basic math program where it would simplify certain complex numbers like square roots. I found it really interesting that I could create and develop stuff without an existing engine, [and] it was a big accomplishment because it was the first program Ive ever made. I felt like I had done something without anybodys help and therefore I had done something by myself in the world. I shared it with my class, it was not a very complex thing, so they werent enthusiastic but they were definitely interested. It was a good moment for me. [I have been programming] for five years since then, and I like it more now than I did then. [Now,] I usually recreate old games like Pong, Asteroids and other small things like that,” - Tyler Michajliczenko, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AMichajliczenko-900x600.jpg)
![[My happiest memory was] when I got accepted into the Sheldon choir. Ive been singing my whole life, and [one day] I ran into one of the directors, they saw me, and asked [me] to come to one of their practices. I was so happy I screamed, and my mom was really happy [as well]. I dont sing with them anymore, I wanted to play basketball instead — but it was such a happy moment, - Kanya Livingston, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/KLivingston-900x600.jpg)
![Getting a running start, junior Vita Madamanchi prepares to pie Speech and Debate Head coach Cara Borgsmiller after winning a bid. Borgsmiller was one of the coaches who volunteered to get pied, to raise money for Every Child’s Hope at the Speech and Debate team’s annual fundraiser. “Once I closed [donations, the team] wanted to bid on Borgsmiller, and it was a 10-minute bidding match between Madamanchi and [senior] Noah Schell. Madamanchi won and ended up spending $45,” junior Serpil Kucukkaya said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Vita2_page-0001-900x600.jpg)
![Checking the thermometer, sophomore Disa Tiemeier makes sugar glass while experimenting in the kitchen. Tiemeier relied on baking to cope with xyr Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). “I bake or nap to take breaks because pulling myself out of a [situation] is helpful. Ive been baking my entire life, and I enjoy anything [culinary] altogether,” Tiemeier said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Resized_20221102_220742-900x900.jpeg)
![Freshman Poppi Wright, 5 years old, smiles for a picture with her dance teacher, Angie Klevorn, following a dress rehearsal for their annual recital. Now a freshman, Wright has performed with Klevorn for about 10 years. “My [dance] teacher has known me since I was five, so she grew up with me, and she saw how Ive matured in all aspects of my life,” Wright said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG-0708-675x900.jpg)
![Freshman Jack Brau poses for a picture at the pool with his mom, while on vacation in Cancun, Mexico. Brau has learned a lot from his mom, from information on medicine to pacing himself in school. “[She’s taught me to] not let things get to me too much. Like if I get a B, its okay because I know theres going to be thousands more tests, theres always another chance for me to do better,” Brau said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG-8955-1.jpg)
![Digital Design teacher Katy Mangrich reviews photos from an assignment with junior Addie Gleason during her plan period. Mangrich took inspiration from her college professor, Cherie Fister, and aspired to leave an impact on her students, as Fister did on her. “I admired her creativity and the type of person she was; she inspired me to be more like her. I have taken that into my teaching, which is one of the reasons that I push [my students] as much as I do in my classes,” Mangrich said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Untitled-900x600.jpg)
