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
”[Tuba is] the path that I've led down. I remember I wanted to play french horn, but I wasn't really very good at it, so I switched to something with a bigger mouthpiece, and that helped me. I think [the music I listen to has] kept me pretty open as a person, and open to a lot of new perspectives. [Through] listening to a lot of different kinds of music, I can understand a lot of people. Music also calms me down a lot, so I think it's helped me be a better person. My faith has been driven a lot by music. I like listening to gospels as well. Like in church, we sing a lot of songs and listen to a lot of music, and I think it really connects with me. My original dream, when I grew up, was to have my own band, perform gigs and write music, and that still is my dream. I've been doing a lot of college searching, and I'm trying to find which major I'm going to choose. My ultimate goal is to have a band and play. I hope to one day make some gospel music to glorify God. That'd be really cool.” - Zac Card, 10

Zac Card

Charlie Brady, CJ1 Writer • May 2, 2025

Freshman Yunhao Zhao, senior Mdalala Abdeljabbar, sophomore Alysse Custard and freshman Ayaan Sajid share their name stories. Names, no matter how short or long, are essential to a person’s being; each name holds significance in culture, family and identity. To disregard a name is to disregard a human being.

What makes a name?

Addie Gleason and Elle Rotter • March 14, 2023

Mdalala Abdeljabbar  Ayaan Sajid  Yunhao Zhao  Alysse Custard Siddharth Sistla Did you actually read those names? Did you take the time to try to pronounce them correctly? Or did you just skim...

School should be a safe space for all students regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality. However, bullying and exclusion can turn productive learning environments into places of fear and distress. Finding a solution to this discrimination is imperative in ensuring every student has a positive learning environment and equal opportunity to succeed.

Capable, curious, caring, corrupted

Pathfinder Editorial Board • December 31, 2022

Disclaimer: To protect student identity, certain sources have been given different names. We see the happy-go-lucky attitude daily in our classrooms: brightly colored posters plastered across the walls...

The influence of religion on public education discussions has grown: we have to protect the secularism of public education while remaining respectful to all groups.

Drawing the line between religion and state

Pathfinder Editorial Board • March 31, 2022

As reporters of our school and community, we believe we must share and respect all student voices. Over the last year, we have covered controversial and underrepresented topics, including gender-neutral...

With her tallit (a fringed garment, traditionally worn as a prayer shawl by religious Jews) on and her sidur (prayer book) in hand, junior Sarah Marks participates in the Rosh Hashanah service. Marks is a member at a conservative synagogue, B’nai Amoona.

New Years in September: Five things you need to know this Rosh Hashanah

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • September 30, 2019

The empty desks within our classrooms may seem sporadic, but at synagogues across town, greetings of “Shanah Tova!” echo all around. In celebration of Rosh Hashanah, here is your guide to the Jewish...

Sandburg High School junior Christian Vouris carries a cross alongside junior Alex Sevastianos during a service. They walked around the outdoor chapel and held the cross while the other campers prayed. “This was morning literacy,” Sevastianos said. “I volunteered to help the priests conduct the service on the last day of camp.”

Fanari Camp moves junior Alex Sevastianos to rethink his position on faith

Zoe DeYoung, Staff Writer • September 13, 2019

Junior Alex Sevastianos walks down a dark, forested path with only a candle to light his steps. A line of students and a counselor follow close behind, listening as he chants hymns and recites Bible verses....

Staring ahead, sophomores Camila Angulo, senior Hira Khan, sophomore Ulaa Kuziez and senior Kinza Awais stand together at school. Although they feel mostly accepted at school, they face discrimination at times due to their religions and identity as immigrants. “It doesn’t happen as much at West, but I definitely get it sometimes where it doesn’t happen to my face. I’d rather have people say it to my face, so I can give them a chance to explain themselves, and I can have a chance to explain myself,” Khan said. “I’ve heard behind my back, whether I’m sitting in class, or just in the halls, that someone either will point out that I look different or has said something to me. I’ve definitely gotten a lot of terrorist jokes made at me.”

Seniors Kinza Awais and Hira Khan share students’ stories of immigration

Sabrina Bohn, Managing Editor-in-Chief • December 10, 2018

While most students would groan at the thought of an English project, seniors Kinza Awais and Hira Khan used the opportunity to address a topic they care about by creating a video raising awareness about...

Seniors Maryam Oyebamiji, Kinza Awais and junior Mariam Mirza introduce themselves to members at the first Muslim Student Association meeting. Meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. “I felt like their needed to be a safe haven for a lot muslims because their facing a lot of backlash especially in this day and age,” Awais said. “A lot of schools have it, and I felt like West needed to have one because we have a big Muslim student population.”

Muslim students unite to form Muslim Student Association

Ridwan Oyebamiji, Features Section Editor • October 1, 2018

Due to the demand for a Muslim Student Association (MSA) from Muslim members of the student body, seniors Areeba Naseer, Sara Imdad and Farhan Hassan appealed to their needs by creating the club. Naseer...

STP: Religion in school

STP: Religion in school

Betsy Wait and Claire Smout • February 1, 2016

Religion’s presence in public school cannot be denied, but its implications are vast and often overlooked. Is West still an environment where students are allowed to freely speak their minds, or does...

Understanding Indiana’s “Religious Freedom Restoration” bill

Emily Dickson, CONCEPTUAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • April 14, 2015

In the past few weeks alone, Apple has pulled out of the Big Data conference scheduled for the end of April in Indiana, the NCAA Mid-American Conference has announced a boycott all events and championships...