Leah Schroeder, Managing Editor-in-Chief
Pronouns: she/her
I am a senior this year, and it will be my fourth year on staff. The Pathfinder has pushed me out of my comfort zone, made me more outgoing and helped me to become a better writer. In school, I am involved in many clubs, and I also do field hockey and pole-vaulting. When I’m not writing for the Pathfinder, I love spending time with my friends and family, working out, reading and baking. I have definitely found a love for journalism through the Pathfinder, and I plan on continuing with journalism as a career. I hope to make the world a more positive and kind place through my writing.
![Attending French Club’s Mardi Gras party, juniors Nicolle Emert, Katie Jauss and Jame Wild dance to a French song. Prior to the party, club members signed up to bring food and the activities also included listening to music and completed word searches. “[The party] was just everyone hanging out and having fun,” Emert said. “I never really travel outside of the United States, so this was kind of like a glimpse into my future because I plan on traveling. Exposing myself to [the French] culture before I can see it in real life is really cool.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/E2286FC3-A370-4D3A-B060-54EF38B66B66-900x600.jpeg)
![Science teacher Paul Hage points to his Smartboard in the middle of a lecture. Hage feels that topics in the subject that he teaches, specifically in his biology classes, have become increasingly relevant in recent years during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think that science can be really relevant. Different people might have different opinions [about science],” Hage said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Behind-the-Bias-1.jpg)
![Sophomore Zeina Daboul poses with her sister in Saudi Arabia. Daboul felt that the situation regarding COVID-19 is more regulated in Saudi Arabia. “To me, I think the situation here is a lot more controlled than in the United States. The U.S. is having an increasing number of cases each day, while we have a constant number every day,” Daboul said. “The U.S. has also been struggling with its healthcare system and how it's handling the situation, and while I am pretty sure that [Saudi Arabia] has the same problem, the issue is magnified in the U.S. due to its size and huge population.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/zeina-675x900.jpg)
![Annotating her copy of the short story, sophomore Zeina Daboul works on her assignment. Daboul found the parallels between the story and modern times interesting. “When you look deeper [into the story], you can see that it reflects our society, in ways that you wouldn't think a story written in 1842 would,” Daboul said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20200406_2316051-900x709.jpg)
![Posing with his bike, Special School District teacher assistant Chris Powers gets ready for a bike ride. Powers’ rides to work can take anywhere from half an hour to two hours. “You can discover things that you would never see if you were in a car,” Powers said. “[Riding my bike] has made me more perceptive. You gain wisdom each time you ride your bike.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_3276-e1586364426621-1.jpg)
![Adjusting the different pieces of her outfit, sophomore Emily O’Connor displays her style. O’Connor often finds her clothes at thrift stores, such as Avalon Exchange. “[When I find something while thrifting] I get so excited. It’s really fun and I always try to think of what would look good with other pieces when I’m [thrifting],” O’Connor said. “[Thrifting] definitely expands your life and your wardrobe.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/DSC_0013-1-900x600.jpg)
![Marks and Crawford pose for a group photo along with other students that attended the Olin Future Women In Business weekend. Before attending, Crawford planned to go into the medical field, but now feels suited for a business career. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go into business. It [the event] opened my eyes, and this is something I’m really interested in now,” Crawford said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/image-900x643.png)
![Senior Maggie Brawley smiles with her family, experiencing the Stanley Cup for the third time this year at an event for season ticket holders. Brawley intends to become a professional hockey player. “I played hockey, and as a kid, I really looked up to them [the Blues]. It was a really, really cool experience,” Brawley said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_0139-900x599.jpg)
![Displaying a tattoo of a lion, junior Joel Ottensmeyer says that his tattoo was designed for him by his sister. Despite some disagreement on his decision to get a tattoo at a young age, Ottensmeyer continued his family’s tradition of getting tattoos because it was something that he cared about a lot. “[My tattoo] means [being] strong, prideful and protecting the people that you love,” Ottensmeyer said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/joel-600x900.jpg)
