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
Emma Overmann

Emma Overmann

Chloe Reis, Staff Writer • 16 hours ago

“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 day, and I write whatever inspiration hits." [When I write]...

“Winning [the Scholastic Gold Key Regional Award for Writing] feels incredibly rewarding. I dedicated a lot of time to putting my feelings into my work, especially ‘Melanin’, which was about my experience with racism and feeling like an outcast because of my skin color [and] primarily due to living in a white/homogenous area. My memoir reflects upon a time in which I lived in a small town that had close to zero people who looked like me and how that affected my mental health, especially how I felt about how I looked. But then I moved to a larger, more diverse city where there were more people similar to me and I had this moment where I realized that my features are unique and beautiful. I feel like a lot of people of color can relate to the feeling of overcoming internalized racism. It's truly validating to see my efforts recognized by the Scholastic Writing Contest especially because it gives me a platform to share my voice. ” - Farrin Rahman, 10

Farrin Rahman

Opal Kadam, Staff Writer • November 19, 2024

Freshman Ella Early works to publish and display her artwork and writing, which she has practiced for years. Early learned techniques from her grandmother’s art and found her talent through writing. "I remember my teachers reading my books out loud to the class and being very proud of them. I said, ‘look, guys, I wrote a book,’” Early said.

Inside her story

Esta Kamau, Features/Humans of West Editor • March 13, 2023

When freshman Ella Early was in elementary school, she was often caught doodling and writing on her class notes; now, her teachers praise her for her drawings and stories. Early’s passion for drawing...

As part of Creative Writing, students publish short stories.

Aspiring authors: Creative Writing Students publish short stories

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • May 28, 2021

Usually in English classes, students are asked to write narratives, literary analyses and even research papers; however, students in English teacher Dan Barnes’ Creative Writing I and II get to create...

Working on his novella before the approaching publishing date, senior Hayden Riehl hopes to grow both his understanding of the world around him and the world’s understanding of him. “I find writing for storytelling to be incredibly therapeutic, just from some of the stories that people have written in class that I've [seen],” Riehl said. “It was them literally working through a trauma that they've had in the past or something that they're trying to get their own heads wrapped around. Stories can do that. They can help you navigate a sea of your own thoughts.”

From students to published authors: Creative Writing 2 will host E-book release launch party at the Wolf Cafe

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

In a frenzy to finish before their deadline, the Creative Writing 2 class logs hours that will result in a published E-book on the Amazon Kindle Store. Amazon’s self-publishing program, Kindle Direct...

Using front page news and unbiased sources, sophomore Kathryn McAuliffe researches the topic of her next article for Balance the Ballot. Balance the Ballot is an organization run for kids and by kids to help educate them on current events, and McAuliffe has been writing for them since August. “I think information is so powerful. You want people to be prepared, especially in today's political climate where it's kind of need-to-know information. Having [it] available to students really enables us to better save the world,” McAuliffe said.

Sophomore Kathryn McAuliffe spreads power to peers through accessible knowledge

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • January 18, 2019

Passion for social justice and current events led sophomore Kathryn McAuliffe to write articles for Balance the Ballot, an Instagram account run by students, for students. “I really liked their message...

Reflections members work in the journalism classroom to design the pages of the book.

Reflections nears a finished literary magazine

Sydney Kinzy, PHOTO EDITOR • March 1, 2016
It has been over a year since the Reflections program was revamped, and the book is growing closer to completion.
Freshman Rachel Nepart talks about her controversial writing

Freshman Rachel Nepart talks about her controversial writing

Kathryn Harter, Multimedia Editor • November 5, 2015

https://soundcloud.com/pwestpub/freshman-rachel-nepart-talks-about-her-controversial-writing

At the beginning of most meetings, students are given a prompt to write or draw about. "It allows me to show people the creativity I have in my mind," freshman Aimee Laws said.

Reflections inspires creativity within students

Sydney Kinzy, PHOTO EDITOR • February 19, 2015
Reflections, West's literary magazine, offers inspiration for writers and artists so they can express themselves.