![“I’m proud of being a captain of the varsity football team. I've always wanted to be a really good football player, especially after we win a football game. I don't know what makes football so special to me, but I’ve played it my whole life. There's just something [special] about being on a football team. It's just not like any other sport. Everyone has to do their part [in being a part of the team]. There's no one that can be a standout player and just carry a team to victory. Everybody has to be one team. My dad is really important. He knows a lot about football and helps me. He also just keeps me in-check and so I work hard for him. There is a golf tournament fundraiser coming up for him to raise more money. He has ALS so he is in a wheelchair and it's basically just trying to make up money to help [him with his condition]. My friends are also a big part of my life. They're just always there for me when I need them. I feel like it [applies] for me too. Whenever I tore my ACL they were so kind to me. It helped me feel better. Last year's second game of football season was when I tore my ACL, and now I'm totally good. I mean, it definitely had setbacks, but I feel like I came back strong.” - Carson Rakers, 12](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/pasted-image-0.png)
![“It's nice having [my dad, senior principal Mario Pupillo] in the building, [but] It's kind of funny [because] everybody knows who he is. I [could be] walking to lunch [and see] him in the hallway. I stay after school and sit in [my dad’s] office and get most of my homework done between 2:30-4:30 p.m., [because I have] cheerleading [soon after]. [It’s good because] the workload and the amount of homework is a lot. I'm taking a few honors classes, but [they are] pretty manageable. I try not to procrastinate my homework [because] I would like to have all 'A's and 'B's. So, [going to my dad’s office after school] is really nice because I can get a lot of [homework] done before going to practice [by] having him here.” - Gabriella Pupillo, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_6418-1-1200x800.jpg)
“I've liked writing ever since I knew how to. I'm taking a creative writing class, so we write most of the time in that class, almost every...
![Focused on providing exceptional service, sophomore Darsh Mahapatra carefully cleans the door of a customer’s car. Mahapatra has always believed his customers deserve nothing less than the best. “[If] they’re trusting us with their car and our service, then I am convinced that they deserve our 100 percent effort and beyond,” Mahapatra said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_0018-1200x800.jpg)
Students in high school often feel overwhelmed by schoolwork, extracurricular activities and sports — especially those who strive to excel...
![Senior Dhiya Prasanna examines a bottle of Tylenol. Prasanna has observed data in science labs and in real life. “[I] advise the public not to just look or search for information that supports your argument, but search for information that doesn't support it,” Prasanna said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_0073-2-1200x800.jpg)
When President Trump announced that the 2020 election was “totally rigged” or that there was “no inflation” during his first presidency,...