Emily Early, Editor-in-Chief
Pronouns: she/her
Grade: 12
Years on staff: 4
What is your favorite piece of literature? “Turtles all the way down” by John Green.
Who is your hero? My parents, always.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Realistically, avocado toast, but I really want to say blueberries.
![Rested against a rainbow of colored pencils, a phone plays singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams’ single “Risk.” Abrams released the song as the lead single to her upcoming album “The Secret of Us.” “We had real, true fun writing this album. There were also the occasional tears. Audrey [Hobert] and I wrote ‘Risk’ on our couch at home,” Abrams wrote on Instagram.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0009-2-1200x800.jpg)
![Drawing the bow across her violin, senior Yena Ahn plays New World Symphony at the orchestra concert on April 30. The symphonic orchestra combined with the band for the last performance of the school year. “This was our seniors' last concert, so we were able to wear a different attire than the usual black to stand out,” Ahn said. “It's definitely bittersweet because I've done orchestra for four years and most of the people in symphonic [orchestra] are seniors.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0200-1200x829.jpg)
![Envisioning a cathedral in his mind, senior Soren Frederick puts pencil to paper and practices a rough sketch in the drawing room. Frederick grew up surrounded by a family of artists who helped him realize his passion for drawing and painting as he matured. “My family [is] very much [an inspiration] for drawing and painting. [Art] didn’t start [in the family] with me; it started with my mom and my older sister, and my older brother is very good at drawing [too],” Frederick said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0017-1200x800.jpg)
![Dedicating his full attention, senior Brandon Paul competes his way to become the first place winner of the Ceramics Olympics using mini hands. Every year, the advanced ceramics class holds this competition in place of the final as a fun activity. “This year, [ceramics teacher Ashley] Drissel got two of these mini potters' wheels and decided to make this year's events challenging. We used a mini hand on the mini wheel, which meant you didn’t actually have much of any control over what you're doing,” Paul said. “The best technique would have to be trying to pull back some of the individual rubber fingers to have more control over the clay as you form it into something that it doesn’t want to be. It was a very strange experience, but I won, so I think I pulled through in the end.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DSC_0034-1-1200x801.jpg)
![Smiling widely, Principal John McCabe congratulates English teacher and English Department head Shannan Cremeens on winning the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year title. Sophomore Cooper Oswald was a witness to the celebration. “We were all pretty excited. We were all clapping and standing up. We even [got to] take a picture with her,” Oswald said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TOYvertical-1200x954.png)
![According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, in the United States, 90% of teenagers have used social media. In an increasingly digitized world, it can be difficult to figure out where to draw the line between your personal life and what you post. “The most influential people, your parents or your principal, would they be alright with what you were doing if they [were] sitting right next to you?” physical education and health teacher Jessica Wheeler said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_9904-1-1200x799.jpg)
![Carefully arranging chemicals with a pipet, senior Grant Meert works to identify unknown solutions in an AP Chemistry lab. After completing the AP Chemistry exam, Meert’s class participated in a lab competition to celebrate the end of the course. “It was very fun. It allowed me to relax and have a good time after a full year of busting my butt in that class. It was both relaxing and intense because [the] score we submitted determined the amount of extra credit points we were given,” Meert said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image1-1-900x600.jpg)
![Lawmakers in Missouri voted to update the dress code exclusively for women Jan. 11. The new bill requires women’s arms to be covered by a blazer, cardigan or knit blazer. “There’s a lot of cost to purchasing new clothes. If you must wear a long-sleeved blazer or something over a short-sleeved outfit, that is a huge cost to be considered; It requires women to change what’s already [in their wardrobe]. This bill requires female members to take an extra step because not all business-casual clothing for women is made in long sleeves,” social studies teacher Rachel Money said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC_0015.png)
![“I’m proud of my art and where it’s taken me. I’m proud of what I’ve been able to do; I surprised myself, [and] I think it could take me places. [Art] means a lot to me. It’s a different way to look at the world. I remember after taking a photography class, I would look outside and be like ‘oh, that would make such a great photo.’ When you become more into art, you look at the world differently and in a more artistic way. Art is different for everyone. Everyone creates their own art and it’s such a cool way to express yourself and in such different ways. And that’s really beautiful. ” - Amy Rein, 11](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/amyreinpeopleofwest-_1_-900x600.jpeg)
![“I like to spend time with my family. My sister, [junior Yena Ahn, inspires me the most]. She just always does the right thing. Even when she’s around her friends, she sticks to her morals. I admire that a lot. I like that I can both learn from her and teach her things. Everything she knows, does and experiences, I am able to know the same through her and vice versa.” - Yein Ahn, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC_0031-900x598.jpeg)
![“[I am most proud of] having the courage to go to another country and stay here for a year without my family. Christmas was hard because I missed my family and they were doing all of this family stuff that we used to do together, and I was not there. We called almost every day that weekend. They had put a picture of me at the end of the table so I was ‘there’ for Christmas. It was really cute. My mom was an exchange student and she told me all her experiences and how fun it was. That’s why I decided to [study abroad].” - Johanne Mortensen, 11](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/JM.png)
![Playing an acoustic guitar, freshman Noelle McSpadden sits just outside of her music classroom. McSpadden was inspired to play guitar to add to her songwriting. “[Guitar class] makes songwriting much easier for me. I feel good about my music because I can actually play with a guitar [to back it up],” McSpadden said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/noellemcspadden-900x600.jpg)
![Sitting on fellow contestants’ shoulders, senior Christian Fleming celebrates his victory. Fleming was crowned “Mr. Longhorn” after a display of his occupation, talent and formal attire. “I really wasn’t [expecting to win]. I was just excited to come out on top. All the guys did phenomenally,” Fleming said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/unnamed-11.png)
![Showing her spirit, senior Hope Green wears her senior jersey and a blue tutu. Spirit day was Green’s favorite theme of the week because it made her excited to come to school. “I’ve just gotten involved as much as possible and the traditions we have are super special. I know a lot of schools don’t do [Powder Puff and other homecoming activities] and so we’re really fortunate for it. Obviously, there are ups and downs, but once you find your people and know who you get along with, this can be something really special,” Green said. “When you have a day where you can deck out, it's just a way of expressing yourself and it makes me feel more myself.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_8300-900x600.jpg)
![Construction tools stand throughout the partially-finished entrance to the Fine Arts wing. The entrance will be a glass display case featuring students’ artwork. “[I’m excited about] everything being so fresh and new. For art teachers, I would say our department is very clean. [The new department] is going to be ready to organize and allow for procedures to be a lot more accessible [and] manageable,” Art Department Leader Katy Mangrich said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/unnamed.jpg)
![While taking a selfie, freshman Samir Shaik and his friends try on face masks. Skincare, a prominent part of South Korean culture, was focused on during the club meeting dedicated to the country. “[My friends and I] wanted to try something different in this club. They offered us facemasks and we were just like, ‘Of course we’d [try them]’. I had never tried a face mask and [neither had] some of my friends. So it was a mess trying to put them on, but it was so fun,” Shaik said. “I just love that this moment was captured in a photo.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/selfiephotoshopped-900x600.jpg)
![Competing for the ball, freshman Sienna Lorenz faces off against her opponent in a draw. Lorenz, inspired to try lacrosse because of her love for running, signed up to play in her offseason. “I wanted to try something new,” Lorenz said. “Staying in shape motivated me. Lacrosse [gave me a chance] to meet new people and become closer with my friends on the team. Being on a team automatically brings you closer [to people.] You learn how to be a friend. Being [both] friends and teammates connects you in a stronger way.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/DSC_6227-900x646.jpg)
![Featured with his kids’ motivational signs, English teacher Dan Barnes poses with his family after the 2021 St. Jude Memphis Half-Marathon. Barnes raised over $700 for patients at St. Jude. “I think the mental side of [the run was difficult]. Going into the half-marathon the week before, I was just like ‘I haven't done enough.’ It was just the uncertainty of doing something I'd never done before. But it was everything that I wanted,” Barnes said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/unnamed-14-1-900x622.jpg)
![Walking into school, senior Graci Badami talks with her friends. Badami drives to and from school and faces the long lines and faults of school traffic. “[It makes me] kind of angry, because if people don’t let you out, you’re there for at least another 20 minutes. You either get out or you don’t, it’s a big issue,” Badami said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/unnamed-1-900x564.png)
![Aiming for a header, senior Ja’Khai Aiken-Guerrier blocks a rival Oakville opponent. The varsity soccer team beat Oakville 2-1. “It was really fun because there were a lot of people that I've known since middle school,” Aiken-Guerrier said. “[We] had a different kind of connection than [I have with] other [students]...we tried to be the best people we could be.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/unnamed-1-900x619.jpg)
