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
Freshman Daphne Stokes looks at a table with Veterans Day flyers and information on Nov. 11. Stokes, along with other West High students, like senior Alexander Lewinski, passed by the table in the cafeteria with army recruitment information and giveaways for students to observe during lunch. “Talking with [the recruiters] has definitely helped me [find] where I wanted to go, more than anything else,” Lewinski said.

Veterans Day at West High: Honoring those who served and plan to serve

Ruthvi Tadakamalla, Editor-In-Chief • 5 days ago

National and local communities coordinate celebrations for Veterans Day each year on Nov. 11 to thank and honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Although West High students are...

West High seniors and families listen as a representative of The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, Teresa Steinkamp, leads a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshop. This session, held in the library, provided guidance on financial aid, scholarships and student loan options. “This event is very beneficial for any seniors who are applying to or considering applying to colleges after high school [because] the cost of college is on the rise for seniors and parents,” college and career counselor Chris Lorenz said.

From questions to clarity: Seniors and parents attend FAFSA session

Zainab Al-Jaff, Staff Writer • September 26, 2025

On Sept. 16, seniors and their families gathered in the library for an informative workshop on the college financial aid process. The event was hosted by The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis and designed...

A board in the Parkway West counseling department displays pennants of selective universities. With a wide range of students interested in attending, it’s important that these schools have clear priorities when deciding who to admit. “[Washington University] had the major that I wanted, psychology, philosophy, neuroscience. That's a holistic study of the brain, and [WashU is] the only college in the world that offers that. That's the main reason I wanted to go; I got into that program,” senior Dima Layth said.

Through the looking-glass

Pathfinder Editorial Board • February 28, 2025

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s UNC/Harvard decision to overturn the use of race-conscious affirmative action policies in college recruiting, many have bemoaned the end of what was seen as a panacea...

Like many students, sophomore Medina Nanic experiences pressure to do well in school. Through continuous success and achievements, West has developed a high academic standard for students. “Because we’re seen as one [of] the better schools, we have higher standards than the [schools] who aren’t ranked as high. There’s a lot of pressure on students to do [well] and live up to those standards,” Nanic said.

Under the weight of “obligation”

Pathfinder Editorial Board • May 24, 2024

West has a history of academic excellence — a fact that is well-known and often appreciated by students. Ranked fourth out of all public high schools in Missouri, West consistently scores above the...

Sophomore Zoya Hasan holds up the Pathfinder’s Gold Crown award while senior Sakenah Lajkem sulks in the corner. Lajkem was affected by the zero-sum mindset, for she believed she couldn’t be as successful as the other writers on the Pathfinder. “The zero-sum mindset creates jealousy. It makes people think they can’t succeed unless someone else fails,” Lakjem said.

A step towards the future: Abandoning the zero-sum attitude

Ruthvi Tadakamalla, Editor-In-Chief • May 23, 2024

With the pressure of success on every student’s back, it’s sometimes hard to imagine that inner peace can exist. Looming college decisions and selective scholarships are just the beginning; the state...

Although I had developed book smarts going to college, I quickly discovered that my street-smarts were behind my peers as I struggled with day-to-day organizational and time management skills as well as a lack of big picture and worldly views of topics and events. Thinking back to my high school years, I let my parents do too much for me who were quick to step in, reminding me about deadlines or just assuming responsibilities that were mine to own. Although it made my life easier at the time, my development was behind where it needed to be, and blame and struggle were placed solely on my shoulders. My parents had a significant impact on my development as a person in both the ways I approached and thought of others as well as my choices to stay challenged in life. Amongst other values, they instilled in me the virtue of acceptance which largely led me to the field of Counseling." - Chris Lorenz, counseling.

Chris Lorenz, Counseling

Lia Emry, Staff Writer • April 6, 2023

Explaining how to request high school transcripts for the college application, college counselor Chris Lorenz leads a senior class meeting for English teacher Diana Lurkins’ AP Literature class. West High transitioned the counseling department to create a single college counselor, following in the footsteps of the other four Parkway high schools. “I love working with high school [students], coming of age, moving from being a child to an adult. I’m helping individuals through that transition, which encompasses an understanding of themselves and their passions are as they leave high school and go off to do bigger and better things,” Lorenz said.

Counseling department shifts gears

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • September 13, 2022

Common App. Essay Writing. ACT Optional. Applying to the college of your dreams can span months. Students don’t have to figure out this world alone. Counselors are readily available.  Dedicated to...

Teachers, counselors and students share their opinions on the ACT test-optional policies.

ACT test-optional 101

Ashlyn Gillespie, Deputy Managing Editor-in-Chief • March 9, 2022

Before the pandemic, students around the country participated in the test score rat race, hoping it would enhance their college application enough to get into their dream school. But that was two years...

Bell schedules differ at each Parkway high school, West being the only schedule that does not incorporate an Academic Lab.

The future of bell schedules

Susie Seidel, Convergence Media Editor • October 4, 2019

Students stay after school hoping their teacher hasn’t left before their question is answered, teachers working at multiple schools fly into the parking lot to make the bell and members of off-campus...

Parkway college fair helps prepare students for a higher education

Parkway college fair helps prepare students for a higher education

Jane Fuller, Staff Writer • September 12, 2014
A brief summary of what to expect at the Parkway College fair on Tuesday, Sept. 16.