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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

Checking the thermometer, sophomore Disa Tiemeier makes sugar glass while experimenting in the kitchen. Tiemeier relied on baking to cope with xyr Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). “I bake or nap to take breaks because pulling myself out of a [situation] is helpful. I've been baking my entire life, and I enjoy anything [culinary] altogether,” Tiemeier said.

Living with Functional Neurological Disorder: Sophomore Disa Tiemeier adapts to xyr ever-changing “normal”

Triya Gudipati, Editor-in-Chief November 10, 2022

Since developing tics in January 2020, sophomore Disa Tiemeier has learned to cope with xyr condition as a student, peer and person. As the tics increased in frequency and intensity, Tiemeier visited...

Celebrating her journey, freshman Alexis Briner beams brightly with her family. Briner appreciates her parents greatly for their support during her journey with anorexia. “I was still in the depths of [the eating disorder] around the holidays. So there were a lot of meals and I remember I kind of panicked at a few of those. And so I would have to take time out and sometimes we'd have to leave the parties early. And then my parents would be upset because it was very time consuming, [but] they were troopers,” Briner said.

Diet culture triggered freshman Alexis Briner’s eating disorder

Cindy Phung, Editor-in-Chief February 15, 2022

Growing up under the influence of diet culture was a base for freshman Alexis Briner’s healthy lifestyle to become harmful. In the summer of 2019, innocent thoughts to have smaller portions of food ultimately...

Junior Shaleigh Araya (front row, far left) poses with her adoptive family for a picture in 2019. Araya said she owes her success to her family and faith. “God has really helped me in life,” Araya said. “That’s the number one thing I [attribute] to my success. Next comes [the support] of my family and friends.”

The journey home: junior Shaleigh Araya’s adoption story

Katie Wallace, Staff Writer February 15, 2022

Bones ache from sleeping on the hard street, stomachs growl from lack of food and cars honk as they pass by the six and 8-year-old Sayle —now Araya — siblings. Cold days turn into even colder nights,...

Freshman Samir Shaik practices the piano during Academic Lab time.

Freshman Samir Shaik arranges future plans to become a composer

Lily West, Staff Writer February 11, 2022

Not many young students dream of becoming a professional composer for a living; among the few is the freshman Samir Shaik. Shaik started his composing journey in the sixth grade, including not only...

In a performance for the senior dance, Mascot and the Longhorn security perform a dance followed by a stunt taught to them by the cheerleaders. After the stunt fell, they were cheered on by the crowd. “The funniest moment for me was when the cheerleaders had us do stunts for the senior dance. Me and my Longhorn security tried to do a stunt during the halftime of the football game against Central,” Wesley said. (Contact us to claim photographer credit)

Mascot mystery

Grace Loethen, Staff Writer February 3, 2022

The smell of popcorn wafts through the air. Fans fill the bleachers in anticipation of the game. All eyes are on Wesley the mascot as the Longhorn security supports them for a stunt. Wesley topples over,...

Standing in front of the Marine Corps symbol, junior Audrey Griswold tours Iowa State University ROTC. Griswold always thought the Naval Academy was the place where she wanted to start. “At the Naval Academy, once you step on campus you are active military, whereas by taking an ROTC program you would be able to have your own college experience. So it's very different, but I think both are exceptional options,” Griswold said.

Hoping to continue her family legacy in the military

Ava Griswold, CJ1 Writer January 27, 2022

With a family history in the military, junior Audrey Griswold decided at the age of 13 that she wanted to continue the family legacy, serving her country.  Griswold is thinking about the Naval Academy...

Back on the court, senior Abbie Zensen warms up to play in the first game of the Summit Holiday Hoops tournament. Zensen was injured in May, leaving her unable to participate in sports. “I was a little worried at first because I wasn't sure what it was going to be like cutting on my knee. I hadn't done stuff like that,” Zensen said. “The first basketball game was really exciting. When I first went down with my knee injury, I didn’t see myself coming back.”

A season-ending injury to a new school record

Danica Gatchel, CJ1 Writer January 27, 2022

During one of the soccer team’s last games before the quarter-finals, senior Abbie Zensen was involved with a contact-on-contact collision, resulting in a dislocated kneecap and torn knee ligaments leaving...

Working on code with his dad, freshman Sasha Tripathi continues to fix some bugs on his project after winning the Congressional App Challenge for creating an app that detects skin cancer. “It makes me proud because I put my own hard work into it, and it just feels really good to have [it all] pay off,” Tripathi said.

Freshman Sasha Tripathi wins Congressional Award for life-saving app

Gabbie Kerber, CJ1 Writer January 26, 2022

After browsing the internet looking at a forum for computer science, freshman Sasha Tripathi stumbled upon a Congressional App Challenge. Looking for something to do during COVID-19, Tripathi decided to...

Center back Ava Relihan passes to her teammate during her showcase. Relihan traveled to California in hope of getting noticed by college recruiters. “My dad and I would say before games you never know who's watching, so I just go out there and play my best,” Relihan said.

Sophomore Ava Relihan gets a kick start on the college recruiting process

Ava Bauman, CJ1 Writer January 24, 2022

As a freshman in high school, Ava Relihan began the journey, so many athletes navigate the recruiting process. Today, as a sophomore, she continues to make sacrifices to achieve her dreams of becoming...

Students say phones are the epitome of entertainment and distraction

Ashlyn Gillespie, Deputy Managing Editor-in-Chief January 14, 2022

According to freshman Emily Kate Beach, many students try to find the balance between school and their phones.  “When you finish your homework, it would make sense to be able to use your phone. If...