Mira Nalbandian, Managing Editor-in-Chief
Pronouns: she/her
I am a senior, and this is my third year on staff. I joined journalism to earn a CTE credit, but I’ve found that the Pathfinder has given me a unique, independently-driven space to improve my writing, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, as well as becoming one of my biggest passions. I consider myself an ambitious person, and I have a lot I plan on accomplishing. Outside of the Pathfinder, I am a leader of our school’s feminist club, menstrual equality club, advocacy club and am a member of several other politically-based clubs. I also enjoy playing field hockey, reading and watching Gilmore Girls (and wondering how Rory got into Yale with so few extracurriculars). Similar to Rory, I want to major in political science, English or international relations. My biggest goal is to learn as much as I can about the world and the people who live here, hopefully through lots of travel and different types of food.
![Dr. Tiffany Besse presents at Principal Lab Day at Halls Ferry Intermediate School in February of 2020. Besse has worked in Francis Howell, Rockwood and Pattonville before joining Parkway. “One of the things that has always been a focus in my previous districts has been how do we keep pushing for those who are ready to move forward and then how do we grab the kiddos who might need a little bit more and how do we pull them along to get them where they deserve to [be]. So that is definitely some of the work that I would like to bring here and some of the equity work here [that] is already going on,” Besse said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/unnamed.jpg)
![Surrounded by a cooler, a basket and a piano bench, freshman Matt Willock holds a NASCAR tire filled with his school supplies. As a part of spirit week, students were encouraged on Wednesday to bring in “anything but a backpack,” to carry their belongings around in for the day.
“I feel like the whole NASCAR tire idea was like a statement of my personality. [My dad] was the one that originally kind of gave me the idea to do it. It's been sitting in my room for a little bit and we were looking for stuff to use,” Willock said. “I feel like since this was kind of the first time [for ‘anything but a backpack day’], we were working out what's good to bring, but I feel like if we do it next year, it'll be a lot better. There'll be a lot more variety to what people bring.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DSC_3568-900x600.jpg)
![Guilty Pleasures performs at the Red Flag downtown in June. The band was competing in a battle of the bands, which they ended up winning. “There was a crazy crowd, a lot of fun. We got to meet some awesome people and cool bands. I honestly didn’t know if we were going to win — it was so up in the air [and] all the bands were really good,” junior Andrew Martin said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/guiltypleasures.jpeg)
![Taking her lead off of second base, freshman catcher Ansley Forbes prepates to make a run to third. The JV softball team beat Fox 7-3 in their game on Sept. 10. "I think [we won] because we had great communication and offensive work during the game," Forbes said. "We all work hard and are supportive of each other. I am looking forward to the competition for this season and improving as a team."](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/reiter-pow-9_10.jpg)
![Making their way through the senior parade, seniors Zoe Rutledge, Tori Fischer and Talie Ziegler smile at the crowd. Fischer has not committed to a college yet but plans on attending the University of Kentucky to study computer science and dance. "I loved seeing all the teachers and families cheering us on and congratulating us, it just felt really good, like an 'I really made it' moment. It was one last chance to see everyone together, which was nice because we haven't had many chances at all this year," Fischer said. "[In college,] I'm super excited to just be somewhere new and make lots of new friends especially in a sorority."](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/DSC_0368-900x601.jpg)
![Weighing her options, junior Shemaiah Saunders aims to pass the ball and cut to the basket for a shot. This season, Saunders has had to play her games while wearing a mask. "It’s difficult [with] other kids playing sports trying to breath and feel comfortable," Saunders said. "But COVID-19 hasn’t really changed much... I’ve known most of my teammates since elementary school, so it’s just cool to continue to play with them and graduate with them."](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/DSC_0788-900x600.jpg)
![Wearing their varsity jerseys, brothers Jack and Sam Goedde smile for a photo. This year, the brothers had the opportunity to play on the same volleyball team, but their season was cut to only two weeks due to the outbreak of COVID-19. “I know that Jack worked extremely hard to prepare for this season so that he would have a chance to make varsity and play with Sam,” boys varsity volleyball coach Susan Anderson said. “Had [they] been able to play, I know they would have pushed each other on the court and really bonded.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_6670-e1587398670189-900x866.jpg)
![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].”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Angie-graphic-copy-900x600.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)
![Jamming out to “Don’t Stop” by DJ D-Sol, teachers Jeff Chazen, Jessica Wheeler and Katelyn Arenos get ready to ramp up the endorphins. When teacher Emily Lovercheck is not able to make it to the spin sessions, Arenos takes over leading the class with her playlist. “Music, especially with spinning, dictates how fast we go, if we add resistance [and] if we get a break. When the song speeds up, we speed up. When the song slows down, we slow down,” Arenos said. “I’m just really thankful that the school provides us with this opportunity to have a nice workout center. We are just thankful to have this space.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/TeacherSpin-900x622.jpg)
![Outside of the cafeteria, junior Ulaa Kuziez hangs up a sign advertising the voter registration event organized by Feminist Club. Other methods of registering include online or at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), but Wednesday, Jan. 29, students will have the opportunity to register at school during both lunches. “By being registered to vote, [students] will be able to take part in the political process and make a difference,” Kuziez said. “It's important that students reclaim that power and use it for good.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Screen-Shot.jpg)
![Senior forward Callie Hummel dribbles with the ball on her stick, trying to advance or find an optimal passing location. The varsity team beat Notre Dame 4-1 September 25th, with Hummel scoring one of the four goals. "[My favorite part about field hockey] is trying something new and going into something blindly but really enjoying it,” Hummel said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DSC_0378-900x600.jpg)
![Junior Ayah Maali meditates as she tries to calm her mind. This is the first year Yoga for Fitness and Wellbeing is being offered at the school. “I learned more of how to be calm and how to relax and take your mind off stressful situations in life,” Maali said. “I [also] learned the term 'tadasana,' and it means to be relaxed and meditated. You just sit down, cross [your legs] and your mind is off; you’re not thinking about any stressful homework or anything related to that.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DSC_0002-900x598.jpg)
![Music to Quiet During the second half of their Movement 2 Music class Sept. 6, juniors Anushka Kanga, Shirin Saha and Ayah Maali practice savasana, a type of yoga position. In addition to learning, choreographing and performing several types of cultural dances, students were also introduced to yoga. “It just makes me get away from everything. If I have [a lot of] tests that day, I'm worrying [about the tests], I can just sit down for one block, chill and do my own thing,” Maali said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSC_0002-900x598.jpg)
![At a field hockey team dinner, sophomores Sarah Kline and Annie Zahoran blow up another balloon for a competition to see who could not let the balloon drop to the floor on Sept. 2. Members of the field hockey program met at Coach Dawn Callahan’s house for a team dinner of Italian food. “We were playing keep it up with the balloons as a competition between our three teams, but we ended up popping all of them. I was really struggling [to blow the balloons up] but we ended up having a lot of fun anyways," Kline said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSC_0098-900x600.jpg)