Arlingtonian vol. 8 2021-2022

MAY 26, 2022

VOLUME 85, ISSUE 8

ARLINGTONIAN

B E FO R E W E SAY GO O D B Y E: T HE CLA S S OF 2 02 2 READ NOW ON PAGE 8

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES, NEWS & NOTES

Getting Tagged A look into a popular senior tradition.

What’s Your Hustle?

Some seniors have built small businesses—and reaped the profits.

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Roads Less Traveled Seniors find ways to explore their passions after high school.

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Senior Destinations

Before We Say Goodbye Guest columnists from the Class of 2022 reflect on their high school careers.

OP-ED

Renewable Nostalgia

Columnist discusses the media that defined her high school experience.

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Follow Your Dreams

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Ch- Ch- Ch- Changes

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Senior columnists reflect on the music that shaped their high school careers.

Columnist discusses the change that comes with the end of high school.

Lou’s Reviews: Dear Mom

ON THE COVER

GRAPHIC AND DESCRIPTION

BY MEGAN MCKINNEY, ’22.

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aturally, the goal of the cover and the senior issue is to celebrate seniors.

This includes their accomplishments, experiences and goals.

We have endured various changes

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SPORTS

Athlete Advice

Senior athletes reflect on their time in UAHS athletic programs.

Senior Nights

EDITORIAL

Taking Stock

throughout our high school career: Coronavirus, various pressing political issues and even a new school campus. Therefore, I added the front of the new school building as the background for the

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cover. Also, I wanted to celebrate the seniors in my Arlingtonian class. All of the graduation caps on the cover feature colleges that Arlingtonian seniors will be attending next year.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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fter years of interviewing, transcribing, writing, designing and sharing the stories of my community for my community, I have reached my final issue of Arlingtonian. The opportunity to contribute to this incredible publication has been a dream. As a student journalist, I have fallen in love with journalistic writing, design and onthe-scene reporting. But the aspect of student journalism for which I am most grateful is the people I met along the way.

Journalism gave me community. When I moved to UA the summer before my sophomore year, two of the first people I met were my new editors Molly and Hallie. Both of them made my transition to UAHS infinitely better than I expected. As I connected with more and more staff members, I realized I was working with some of the kindest, most creative people at UAHS. Because of the Arlingtonian journalists, the newsroom became a place in UAHS where I felt valued, included and loved. It was where I could be unapologetically myself and pursue my passion in an environment filled with laughter, kindness and creativity. I am grateful for every current and former Arlingtonian staff member whom I have had the privilege of meeting. They have all shaped me into the journalist I am today, and I am forever grateful for their dedication, insight and friendship.

While the people within the newsroom ARLINGTONIAN EDITOR IN CHIEF have had a profound impact on my high school experience, I am also thankful for the opportunity to meet the students, teachers, administrators and community members who have graciously offered their time and perspective for my stories over the years. It has been an honor to write about your experiences and to amplify your voices in our publication.

I came into this year with an ambitious goal: to publish eight 32page print issues of Arlingtonian instead of five. The staff took on this challenge with tenacity and enthusiasm. I am deeply proud of the stories, photos, artwork, multimedia posts, designs, edits and fundraisers that went into making this goal a reality. And I am grateful for the support of our donors and advertisers. Together, we have fostered empathy and engagement in our community through inclusive storytelling.

It has been an honor to be a part of Arlingtonian. Thank you, Journalism Bears. arlingtonian.com

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@uaarlingtonian

@UAarlingtonian

ARLINGTONIAN VOLUME 85 | 2021-2022 May 26, 2022, ISSUE 8 EDITOR IN CHIEF

Callia Peterson MANAGING EDITORS

Matthew Doron James Underwood COPY EDITOR

Brooke Mason ARTS EDITOR

Lucy O’Brien MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Ava Adamantidis WEBSITE MANAGER

LAYOUT MANAGER

Greta Miller

Ellie Crespo

STAFF WRITERS

PHOTO MANAGER

George Bernard Antonia Campbell Luke Eriksen Elena Fernandez Fia Gallicchio Gracie Helfrich Safia Malhotra Iris Mark Carly Witt SPORTS CORRESPONDENTS

Jack Diwik Julia Molnar

BUSINESS MANAGER

Parker Badat

Bella VanMeter

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Austin Henley Hayden Kegg Lauren Leff Krish Mawalkar Alexander Wilkins Zac Yoakam

Jayden Banks Héloïse Dutel Sarah McCulloch Bridget Mitchell Jack Tatham GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Daphne Bonilla Ryn Card Molly Hench Caroline Kegg Megan McKinney Ava Neville

MULTIMEDIA CONTRIBUTORS

Lauren Buehrle Grant Overmyer

DONORS

Arlingtonian is provided free to all UAHS students and staff with contributions from the generous people and businesses below.

DIAMOND BEAR ($1,000)

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Chip Neely Dan Petronella Niki Shafer Eric Witt

($500)

GOLD ($50)

The O’Brien Family The Peterson Family

Phebe Barrett Caroline Diwik The Erickson Family Marcy Geiger Julia Gomez Suzann Mark Layla Manganaro Doris S. Mitchell

GOLDEN BEAR ($300)

Balbino Fernandez The Mason Family DIAMOND ($200)

Matt Ringlien PLATINUM ($100)

Alexia Adamantidis Jennifer Doron Sean Martin The Mostafavifar Family

SILVER ($25)

Nova Gallicchio Joan Keith Greg Moss

Natalie Paider Megan Potts Mary Siedelmann Janille Stearmer LoriAnn Wilson Becky Varda BRONZE ($10)

Tricia Petras Laura Barber-Purvis April Napier Abby Vitali DONATE

Arlingtonian accepts donations throughout the school year. To find out more, visit arlingtonian.com/donate.

EDITORIAL POLICY Arlingtonian is a studentproduced newsmagazine published

by Journalism III-A students at UAHS. The publication has been established as a public forum for student expression and for the discussion of issues of concern to its audience. It will not be reviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution.

Arlingtonian welcomes letters to the editor, guest columns and news releases from faculty, administrators, community residents, students and the general public. The Arlingtonian editorial

board reserves the right to withhold a letter or column and return it for more information if it determines the piece contains items of unprotected speech as defined by this policy.

The Arlingtonian staff raises and pays all printing and production costs through advertising sales, donations and fundraisers.

The Editor in Chief shall interpret and enforce this editorial policy.

To read our full editorial policy, visit our website at arlingtonian.com.

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Getting Tagged A look into a popular senior tradition.

BY GRETA MILLER, ’23 AND GRACIE HELFRICH, ’23. GRAPHIC BY MOLLY HENCH, ’22.

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enior year comes with many memorable traditions including graduation celebrations, senior nights and prom. Along with these typical traditions, is Senior Tag. Unaffiliated with UAHS, Senior Tag is a game played by a large group of seniors who compete against each other in teams of four in a prolonged game of watergun tag. People are eliminated from the game by getting struck with water by opponents, and while this may seem like a simple process, when looked at closer, it is much more. This year, the rules for Senior Tag were ten pages long.

Rules included not being able to tag people out while they are at work, not being able to tag people out during safe time periods before and after school and not being able hide in people’s garages.

Additionally, one way players are safe is if they are wearing swimsuits (plus shorts for girls), no shoes and are not holding anything.

Each year Senior Tag is played, two seniors self-appoint themselves to be the gamemasters of Senior Tag. They

create the rules and regulations and make individual judgments regarding disagreements about tags. This year’s gamemasters are Emma Morris and Grant Overmyer. Their job is to regulate the game, along with creating the rules and making judgments upon them.

Among the Senior Tag players is Claire Stoeckinger. Her and her entire team have yet to be eliminated. If her or her teammates were to break any of the rules or if all of them were struck by water in the same week, they would be eliminated from the game.

“You get eliminated usually if [an opponent tells] the gamemaster [of rule-breaking], and the gamemasters are pretty strict. And if you’re mean to them about it, you’ll especially get eliminated,” Stoeckinger said.

280 seniors played the game this year, but not every senior was interested in participating. Senior and non-player Nathan Olson is not fond of Senior Tag. “I think it’s incredibly annoying.

I really do; I mean it’s not a waste of time, but it’s kind of a waste of time. I just don’t see the appeal,” Olson said.

“Nobody ever shuts up about it ever. It’s like all discussion at this stupid school was for like a month.”

Students aren’t the only ◀ TAG, YOU’RE OUT Seniors Mollie Sandford and Emma Onifer eliminate Jimmy Chieffo from the game for a week.

PHOTO COURTESY EMMA MORRIS

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individuals with concerns about the game and the way it’s played. UAHS Assistant Principal Jennifer Mox has been familiar with the concept of Senior Tag for many years.

“The first time I ever heard about it was quite a long time ago, probably the first district I ever taught in. On the one hand, I thought it was fun; it’s a great way to remember the fun you have as a senior and your senior year,” Mox said. “What got me a little bit nervous was that people were doing things like putting themselves in harm’s way…like speeding, not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, not obeying the traffic signals.”

Although administrators have concerns for safety, many students still choose to participate. “[The administrators] recommend you don’t participate because it’s like dangerous, but it’s a water gun, so…it’s as dangerous as you are. You don’t have to play dirty,” Stoeckinger said.

Even though Senior Tag is a game, there is a significant cash reward. This year the entry fee for each Senior Tag team was $50, or $12.50 per player.

The gamemasters receive 8% of the pool, 10% goes to charity, the runnerups receive their money back, and the winning team gets the rest of the pool.

There were 70 teams participating this year, meaning the winning team will receive $2,820. Divided among four team members, the prize is $705 per person.

Many seniors participated in senior tag this year, continuing the tradition and having a shared experience before graduation.

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What’s Your Hustle?

Some seniors have built small businesses that have made them lots of profit.

BY GEORGE BERNARD, ’23 AND PARKER BADAT, ’22. GRAPHIC BY MOLLY HENCH, ’22.

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fter school, many students hit the books, go to a sports practice or hang out with friends. However, some seniors go work on a side-hustle. JT Schenk sold his fourth lionfish in early May. Doug Ryan, an up-and-coming landscape mogul, mows over 60 lawns a week. Zac Yoakam regularly visits the post office to ship out baseball cards that he has sold.

In his freshman year, Schenk bought his first freshwater fish after seeing a video on retailing various live bait and pet species.

“There was a buying opportunity out there, and we were looking to make some quick cash,” Schenk said.

Although he couldn’t disclose the details of his buyers, he has focused products on the most affluent families in the greater Columbus area. For Schenk, the aquatic retail industry has been fierce.

At a local fish meet-up, the true risk of this business came to light.

“A guy tried to break into my car and steal my tank,” Schenk said.

However, although there’s a degree of danger in this business, Schenk claims the money has made it all worthwhile.

“From selling fish, I have over $12,000 in my bank account,” Schenk said.

While aquatic acquisitions prove to be an adrenalized market, another senior is playing it more safe. Doug Ryan spends every day mowing lawns until the end of the summer months. In the fall, he performs leaf removal. In the winter, he plows snow for the city, and in the spring, he does it all over again. He works with over sixty different clients a week and has been able to operate his own crews for anyone in UA throughout the year.

For the high schoolers looking to make some extra money without sacrificing their sports or schooling, there’s another senior side hustle knocking it out of the park: baseball cards.

Yoakam purchases bulk quantities of non-fungible vintage baseball cards FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @UAARLINGTONIAN

which, when individually separated, can be sold for thousands or just a few dollars.

Yoakam uses his card trading as an alternative to an after-school job.

“It gets me enough money to do normal high school things like going to the movies or taking my girlfriend out to eat,” Yoakam said.

By selling individual high-value cards or sets including multiple more common cards, Yoakam is able to both grow his personal collection and make some passive income on the side. He claims that anyone can enter the collectibles business, but he forewarned against its pitfalls.

“You have to actually enjoy collecting the things you’re going after, otherwise you’re going to fall out of it,” Yoakam said.

For students interested in entering the business world, Ryan has some advice.

“It’s pretty easy; you just have to hustle,” Ryan said. “You have to be willing to put in the work, and whatever you make, you have to put back into the company. If you don’t do that, you’re not going to be able to scale or even make money.”

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Roads Less Traveled

Students find ways to explore their passions after high school. BY ELLIE CRESPO, ’22.

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enior traditions serve as a sign to the 2022 graduating class that their high school career is nearly over.

Busy schedules are marked with Senior Tag expeditions, graduation parties and senior breakfasts. By May, many students enroll in their college of choice, declaring which school will be their temporary home for the next four years. Some of these students spend their time proudly wearing sweatshirts with their college’s name displayed on the front and joining Facebook groups to discover their future classmates.

Other students, however, choose a path less traveled; they decide to dive headfirst into the pool of opportunities that are available to students who would rather take a different route than attend college. Whether they’re deciding to join the military, work for a small business or independently train in their sport, these unsung graduates have a different story to tell.

HANA BOYLE When senior Hana Boyle was 7 years old, her mother, Miranda Boyle, opened the popular bohemian clothing boutique Thread.

In the store’s infancy, Boyle would go to help her mom seam the clothes or simply stop by on Saturdays to visit. Sometimes, she would get the opportunity to pick out the clothes that she wanted to have brought in and sold.

“All those memories [are] my favorite,” Boyle said. “I thought it was so cool [having] my mom have her own store.”

As soon as she turned 14, Boyle started working alongside her mom as a parttime employee. Now, Boyle has decided to continue working at Thread with the ultimate goal of owning the store.

“I always knew I wanted to work at Thread,” she said. “When I decided I didn’t want to go to college, I started working more full-time, [and] they’d involve me more in business-making [decisions].”

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Her passion for the fashion industry, combined with Thread’s positive environment, makes Boyle love her job.

“I love fashion, so I love looking at all the clothes and seeing everything come in, but I also just love everyone who works there and like the environment they create,” she said.

“I just think it’s a very positive space to work, and everyone [wants] you to [thrive] in what you do.”

This past school year, Boyle got the opportunity to join her mom and comanager, Allie Nini, on a buying trip to pick out and price different clothing items to be sold at Thread. Attending these trips is just one of many duties that she will have as a full-time employee; on any given day, Boyle will open and close the store, run the floor and help with team meetings.

“I really hope with my first year that I can just get the hang of [working there] fulltime,” she said.

Boyle’s mom had a big influence on her decision to work at Thread full-time.

“I finally came to [her] and was like, ‘I really don’t think I need to go to college, [and] I just would rather start working fulltime,’” she said. “She was really supportive [and] really excited. I think she feels honored, kind of, that I want to go along in her footsteps.”

Boyle values the opportunity to start working immediately after high school in a field she’s passionate about.

“College will be there whenever you want [it]; college will never go away,” she said.

“But [being] such a young age and being able to do what you love right away, [you] can’t get back.”

NOAH FREUD Once Senior Noah Freud turns 18 this October, he will become a member of the park crew at Copper Mountain in Colorado.

When he isn’t working, Freud will train in

freestyle skiing alongside a coach with goals of competing in Crystal Globe competitions, earning sponsorships and ultimately going to the X Games or The Winter Olympics.

Freestyle skiing is a competitive sport which combines skiing and acrobatics.

Growing up, Freud participated in grand slalom skiing—a form of skiing where the rider races down the slope while they dodge gates staggered around the course. He didn’t make the switch to freestyle skiing until last year.

“This year, I worked with a coach at Snow Trails, this incredible guy, Cam,” Freud said.

“I would go out there three, four or five times a week for an hour or two hours, and we would work on a specific trick or mastering some small skill, and then, I would apply it to a bunch of other tricks.”

Some people avoid freestyle skiing due to the dangerous nature of the sport, however, Freud decided to abandon grand slalom skiing after breaking his arm on his first time skiing down a rail.

“Most people, they would break their arm and they’d be like, ‘Never again,’ and I went, ‘Oh, that wasn’t so bad,’” he said. “I went back out there with a sling, and I hit my first rail, and I slid my first box and went off my first jump successfully—all those things I did with a sling on.”

However, breaking his arm is not what made Freud devote his time to freestyle skiing.

“I really, really fell in love with the sport [because] with freestyle skiing there’s so much style that’s independent to each rider,” he said. “I loved the creativity, and I ended up kind of having a knack for it.”

Freud’s mom is also passionate about skiing and competed as a grand slalom skier.

“She was probably my biggest influence,” he said. “She kind of carried that love of skiing into me.”

Growing up, Freud and his mom were inseparable on the slopes. However, as the two of them got older and as Freud started to venture onto more rigorous skiing expeditions, his mom didn’t join him as often.

“That really put [things] into perspective, you know, that I have to kind of make a choice now. If I don’t start taking skiing seriously now and trying to be competitive [then] I’m going to wake up one day and be 30, and I won’t have the opportunity to start,” he said. “You only live once [as] cliche as that is.”

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Freud has received a mix of positive and negative reactions to his decisions; some people in Freud’s life have written off his decision as rash and illegitimate, however, his mom has been supportive.

“My mom was probably the most supportive,” he said. “She was just stoked because she gets to kind of live vicariously through me. And at the very least, she’ll be able to come out to Colorado and [use] my ski pass to ride at Copper Mountain rather than here.”

Despite the doubters, Freud has remained unwavering in his decision and recommends that other students follow a similar untraditional path if that’s what’s best for them.

“Try and find that same kind of foothold that you would find in a college in [a] noncollege pathway,” he said. “You have to take it as seriously as you take college for it to be real. But if you are not sure if college is right for you, then set out some of those pathways because college isn’t right for everyone.”

AVA RILEY During her junior and senior years, senior Ava Riley split her time between UAHS and Tolles Career & Technical Center. There, she spent her time in the cosmetology lab and improved her skills working on hair, skin and nails. Then, once she reached the 1500-hour markband, Riley received her state board cosmetology license and has been an assistant at the Color Bar since April.

Riley plans on continuing to be a hair colorist after graduation, and after anywhere from five to six months, Riley will graduate from being an assistant and become an official stylist.

“I knew that that was like the next step for me,” Riley said. “This is something that I’ve completely fallen in love with, and [I] think being able to jump into it right away is something that I knew that I wanted to do.”

At first, Riley didn’t know that career school was an option for her.

“I always loved hair and makeup, that kind of thing. But I really didn’t think this was something that you could have a career out of; I thought of it as more of a hobby,” she said.

“But my school counselor actually had talked to me about the opportunity to go to a career school, [so] I just decided to take that risk.”

Riley’s mom had the greatest influence on her decision to attend a career school.

“She saw how much… I loved hair [and] doing makeup,” Riley said. “So she had told me FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @UAARLINGTONIAN

like, ‘Join and talk to your counselor about it.’”

Aside from her mom and counselor, Riley receives support from her colleagues at Color Bar. “That’s like the best thing I think about working in a salon; [it’s] very close knit and you can kind of bounce ideas off of each other and help each other out with formulations and stuff like that,” she said.

“Everyone is super helpful. I think that that’s what makes it such a nice place.”

As an assistant, Riley floats around from stylist to stylist and is shadowed by multiple people. One day she could be learning about a specific coloring technique and the next be learning different styles of cutting. One consistent factor of her daily duties is the advice Riley picks up from her colleagues.

“Always continue your education, and learn as much as you can,’ one of Riley’s colleagues said. “Like with most things in cosmetology, you’ll never fully know everything. So I think even though I have my license, it’s pretty much just like a building point to keep learning more,” Riley said. “There’s always classes you can take and different things like regarding cosmetology that you can always use [to] enhance your skill set.”

Riley gives her own advice to students who want to do something similar after graduation.

“If you have something that you know you are passionate about or interested in, don’t count it out,” she said. “I just believe that if you are truly gifted at something and it’s something you love doing, there is way [that] you can be really successful with it and go far with it.”

To read about more seniors, visit www.arlingtonian.com ▶ PURSUING PASSIONS TOP: Senior Ava Riley treats one of her clients with hairspray.

PHOTO COURTESY AVA RILEY

MIDDLE: Senior Noah Freud makes his way to the icy slopes, skiis in hand.

PHOTO COURTESY NOAH FREUD

BOTTOM: Senior Hana Boyle and her mom, Miranda Boyle, pick out clothing to display in their boutique, Thread.

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BEFORE WE SAY GOODBYE Guest columnists from the Class of 2022 reflect on their high school careers.

INTRODUCTION BY CALLIA PETERSON, ’22. GRAPHICS AND PHOTO EDITING BY LUCY O’BRIEN, ’22.

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oday is the last full day of school for the UAHS seniors. For the past year, the seniors have experienced many lasts: their last night cheering on the football team from the student section, their last homecoming dance, their last lunch from the cafeteria, their last episode of Kickin’ It and so many more. With many lasts come many goodbyes. But before the seniors say goodbye, Arlingtonian invites them to reflect on their time in high school.

The Class of 2022 started high school in the fall of 2018. As freshmen, they began a new chapter in a new building, learning a new floor plan and a new set of rules. Suddenly, they were put with students from different middle schools.

Their community broadened and their courses became more rigorous. In stark contrast to senior year’s many lasts, freshman year is full of firsts. Students went to their first winter formals and their first office hours. Many of them joined their first clubs or sports teams. Outside of the walls of UAHS, the #MeToo movement was sweeping the nation, Justice Brett Kavanaugh was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Notre-Dame Cathedral went up in flames and a massive college admissions scandal was exposed by 8 | ISSUE 8 | MAY 2 6, 2 0 2 2

the U.S. Justice Department.

When the Class of 2022 entered their sophomore year, many students took their first AP class, likely AP U.S. Government and Politics, and read “Oedipus Rex” and “The Great Gatsby” for the first time. But the biggest event of their sophomore year was the COVID-19 pandemic. In March of 2020, Governor Mike DeWine shut down schools. All students attended school remotely, tuning into 30 minute Zoom sessions, watching recorded lectures and completing school work from home.

Junior year was the year of everchanging schedules. Students were able to choose if they wanted to continue learning from home through the district’s Online Academy or opt for the schoolbased option. For students who chose the school-based option, the year went from Enhanced Distance Learning to Hybrid Learning to Enhanced Distance Learning again to Hybrid Learning again to fulltime in-person school. All school-based classes were blocked, so they were twice as long and occured every other day (for the most part). By spring, vaccines became available to some students, and connections began to shift from Zoom to the classroom.

Junior year was also the school year Joe Biden was elected president over Donald Trump, the Democrats took back the Senate and a new racial justice movement

sparked conversations about policing in America.

This year the seniors moved into a new building, along with the rest of the school.

School was fully in-person all year for students who did not choose the Online Academy. Many seniors were able to take more ACT and SAT tests and go on more in-person college visits than they were able to during their junior year. Some embarked on the college admissions process, while others made alternative plans for their lives after graduation. New strains of COVID-19 came to UA, and booster shots were made available for students in the winter. The school year started with a district-wide mask mandate that was lifted towards the end of February. Now, seniors are attending their final classes and preparing for their graduation ceremony which will take place in-person at The Schottenstein Center on May 29.

The Arlingtonian staff invited 11 seniors to write about their time in high school.

In the next several pages, readers will find insight into these students’ various passions, goals and memories. These students, nominated by their peers, represent a broad range of experiences at UAHS. Their narratives speak to the challenges and joys of attending high school during the past four years.

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BEFORE WE SAY GOODBYE

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oing into high school, I had no idea who I was. I was a kid that didn’t have a friend group, had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life and didn’t really feel needed by anyone. I knew certain things about myself but not a lot. I knew I loved being with people; I knew I loved music, and I knew that I had to get good grades in order to feel satisfied with myself. Throughout my time at UAHS, I tried to fit in everywhere I could. I joined student council, the football team, the volleyball team, the musical and the track team. I did everything I could to fill up my time and meet new people.

As a freshman, I was the epitome of the UA stereotype. I strived to get straight A’s, and I took as many honors classes while planning to take as many AP/IB classes as I could. I played two different sports and was in “Mamma Mia!” (the school musical my freshman year). I felt like I had to be perfect because I looked up to certain people that were the overachieving seniors I aimed to be. While I was accomplishing everything I thought would make me feel happy, I felt this void inside me. I assumed it was because I didn’t have many true friends, but I was wrong.

My sophomore year was a big step for me. After going to therapy for almost a year, I decided to go on antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds. While I know now that this is not a big deal and it’s perfectly normal, I still felt different. I didn’t really tell anyone because I thought that it shouldn’t be talked about, and it honestly felt a little embarrassing. I believed that if I told anyone, they’d think I wanted attention, or they’d think of me differently.

I wanted people to still think of me as Grant Overmyer, the epitome of UA students.

I took another large step that same year. I started coming out to my family. After a lot of thought and careful consideration, I started telling people about my sexuality. I was scared that other people would change their thoughts about me, but the more that I told people I was different, the more I accepted that I am different than the stereotypical UA student I wanted to be.

While I was still trying to be the perfect student, I started to branch out. I signed up to join Community School. While Community School had a stigma of kids that were “bad apples,” it was where I started to learn who I was. It turned out to be a great experience for me. I learned how to successfully write long papers and work productively in groups. It was very enjoyable to be with the same group of students for most of the day. It taught me to be my own person while working with others. I believe this was the turning point in my life where I learned that it is OK to create your own path. I was starting to do things that I wanted to do and not what I felt I had to do.

Now in my senior year, I’m beginning to accept myself for who I am. I don’t get perfect grades. I don’t have the most popular girl as my girlfriend. I don’t play any sports. However, I found a group of friends that love me for me and not the fake version of myself I wanted people to see. I learned that it’s OK to take on-level classes, not play sports and choose what extracurriculars I want to do. I know now who I am. I am Grant Overmyer, and I like me.

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BEFORE WE SAY GOODBYE

K

arate is a core part of my life. From having the opportunity to compete across the nation to putting in countless hours of training at the dojo, my karate journey has been both grueling and fulfilling. My dojo has been the place that fostered my discipline and enhanced my responsibility and honor. The lessons I learned from karate are skills that I have applied throughout my high school career.

I am thus dedicating this essay to three karate concepts that hold a firm place in my identity: Ukemi (受身), Zanshin (残心) and Kihon (基本).

LESSON ONE: UKEMI 受身.

Karate involves pain. When my training partner throws a kick, I must receive it (even if it is fellow senior Maxen Yerington with his agonizingly powerful roundhouse kick)!

Jumping away or haphazardly blocking disrupts my training partner’s ability to precisely hit a target. Ukemi, then, informs the karate practitioner of a responsibility to receive an attack so that the other student can correctly apply a technique. To practice Ukemi is to have faith in one’s karate partner by entitling them to a fair training environment.

Outside the dojo, high school is an important place to implement Ukemi. A successful student at UAHS, in my eyes, is not just a person who can recite facts and quotes in class; they also need to uplift 10 | ISSUE 8 | MA Y 2 6, 2 0 2 2

others. The most memorable seniors I looked up to when I was a freshman were those who gave me the chance to succeed.

They demonstrated leadership when they spent hours helping me with debate after school; they recognized my hard work and treated me with kindness and respect; they allowed me to overcome obstacles and become a more confident person. Now as a senior, I recognize the tremendous gratification of giving others the chance to succeed. Ukemi means receiving, observing, feeling, engaging and uplifting. Use that skill, and you will be acknowledged as a person with a warm and welcoming heart.

LESSON TWO: KIHON 基本 Kihon is defined as the fundamentals of karate. Nothing is more critical than embracing the basics, both in karate and within other disciplines. Sound technique allows a competitor to strike with deadly force. Meticulous, daily practice on the basics may seem dull and bland, but Kihon is what keeps a student’s skills sharp.

To students at UAHS, remember to use Kihon. You will stumble across strenuous practice sets, confusing essay prompts and technical labs. Commit yourself to your foundations: your work ethic, study skills, leadership capabilities and interpersonal abilities. These fundamentals will make you a person committed to growth. Kihon is the magic that transforms a novice into a

master. Without knowing your basics, you will falter.

LESSON THREE: ZANSHIN 残心 While there is no direct translation of Zanshin, it most nearly means remaining spirit. To score a point in a karate match, for example, I must maintain my focus before, during and after a technique.

When I am in the heat of a match and my opponent is throwing every attack imaginable, I need to stay determined because there is no “give-up” option.

Zanshin thus enables a practitioner to call upon every fiber of their being to focus.

In my high school career, Zanshin is the standard I aim to set with regard to practice. Although I may not always meet that standard, I know that level of dedication is what drives success. For students who aim to be strong, in academics or in extracurriculars, I offer this advice: be unrelenting, ruthless, courageous and thoughtful in your ability to focus and get work done. It took me too long to recognize that the strongest students are not the ones who are cramming during late nights before an exam but instead are the ones who methodically think, plan and execute the tasks that matter well in advance of deadlines. To do well in high school, prepare yourself for all stages of conflict and continually stay focused to achieve your vision.

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BEFORE WE SAY GOODBYE

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he people around us help shape who we are as human beings: our morals, motivations and principles. We see the aspects of others that we admire and other aspects that we are not fond of and seemingly pick and choose which features we like when defining ourselves.

As I reflect on the past four years, I realize how much of myself has been influenced by other people. In positive and negative ways, of course, but most importantly, I have concluded that through all the chaos and awkwardness of high school, I am leaving UAHS with a critical piece of information: genuine connection is the most valuable thing in our lives. The relationships we share with other people—but most importantly with ourselves—give our life purpose and meaning each day.

Going into my junior year, I made a decision that would stimulate my passion for global politics, open my mind to foreign ideas and concepts, and temporarily make my life a living hell; I chose to pursue the IB Diploma. However, the process of achieving this diploma led me to experience something that I will cherish for the rest of my life: the power of genuine connection. While debating foreign ideologies and discussing novels like “Woman at Point Zero” and “Beloved,” which expose the social and racial injustices around the globe and in our own nation’s past, I have realized the power of empathy and just how powerful our words are. What we say has the power to marginalize an entire group of people but also can make someone feel seen, heard and valued. This diploma process has taught me the impact of the words we use and how important

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it is to be intentional with what we say when connecting with others.

I see the power of my relationships every single day. I feel excited towards lunchtime because that is when I can be with my best friends gathered around the lunch table munching on school-made PB and J’s and finding humor in the smallest things as we debrief about our morning. I have realized that my relationships on the field hockey and lacrosse teams are why I look forward to every single practice. I can laugh and share memories with people who choose to participate in something bigger than themselves because they somehow get me through those dang sprint ladders. Lastly, I cherish my time with my parents and my brother, Sam. Whether I am sharing my dad’s legendary shrimp tacos during Sunday dinner or traveling to watch my brother play lacrosse, I have realized that the small moments with the people we value give our life purpose.

These past four years have revealed the impact that others have on my life, but more recently, I have learned another important lesson: to thrive in relationships with others, we must own ourselves first. Perhaps the most significant takeaway is that the only way to create rewarding relationships with others is to start with the one you have with yourself. Yes, relationships are essential, but if you do not feel connected with who you are on the inside, you will not be able to seek connections with those around you. Self-agency is liberating, and I am grateful to those who helped me find my voice during these past four years.

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oming into high school, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I had no older siblings or older friends who could tell me about the classes no one should take, what my teachers were like or even just the best way to get through the building. That last part is important because anyone who was in the old building could tell you there was absolutely no logical organization to it, and at times, it seemed like you would never be able to find that one classroom on your schedule. I also had absolutely no clue what I might want to do with my life. I didn’t know where I wanted to go to college or what I would even do while I was there, but by picking classes and activities that I thought I would enjoy, I was able to find what I love doing, and I also found lots of people along the way with whom I could share my interests.

One of the activities to which I have devoted a significant amount of time while in high school has been sports. Some of my greatest achievements have probably been due to my participation in sports. This makes sense because sports have provided me with an outlet for restless energy, a place to make friends I will never forget and skills that will last a lifetime. The benefits of sports are talked about endlessly: commitment, self-discipline, teamwork, resilience and time management, just to name a few. But one of the most important things for me has been an investment in my health, both physical and mental. And while physical health is very heavily prioritized, mental health is often overlooked.

Mental health is important for every single person. High school sometimes doesn’t help with this. Many push their limits past what they are capable of handling either to look good on college applications or for other reasons. With this in mind, it’s important for people to understand themselves and their individual needs, and be a little selfish in recognizing they are the most important person in their life. Be kind to others, but also remember to be kind to yourself and invest in self-care.

With all of the excessive pressure to excel, make sure that you’re taking care of yourself first and foremost. Get enough sleep; stay organized and on top of classes, and form healthy relationships with other people. In a school with a population of close to 2,000 kids and even more teachers and staff, there will always be someone there if you need it. Trust me, as someone who went from a socially anxious, clueless freshman to the person I am now: forging relationships with students, teachers, coaches and others makes all the difference in creating a positive environment and making high school less scary.

I love learning about anything and everything. I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge of all kinds from a myriad of sources.

I have spent every day in this school (and the old one) with the mission to learn something new every day. High school has provided me with time to grow into the person I am today, who I am proud to be. I hope you allow high school to be a place where you grow as a person, enjoy learning and find your people.

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y first distinct memory of high school was in early June 2018; the summer before my freshman year. I had joined the marching band and had very luckily been put on the snare line, a high honor for a freshman. I remember driving to the high school almost petrified with anxiety. I questioned whether I needed to bring my own sticks, if I had dressed right, if I would show up too early or too late, if I would talk too much or too little, what my hair looked like, if I’d find the right room, if my mom should come in with me or not, what the high schoolers would think of me, etc. Eventually, we arrived at the school, and I cautiously navigated my way to the band room where a few high schoolers and a couple of adults were waiting. I can’t remember exactly how it happened, but at some point when I was shaking someone’s hand, I regurgitated a joke I had heard from god-knows-where and which I don’t really understand the humor of even today: “That’s a strong grip lad, you play much tennis?” Apparently this was top-level comedy, and the other high schoolers there burst out laughing, and the anxiety and tension all melted away as I very quickly integrated into the band and drumline.

Friday night football games allowed FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @UAARLINGTONIAN

me to let loose, and the Friday morning breakfasts with the drumline and postgame activities with the wider band did as well. The band became like a family, and around them I was outgoing, charismatic (I hope), funny (I think), impulsive and very loose for lack of a better word. Band allowed me to be someone who cared just enough to get the work done but always had the goal of having fun and living the moment at the front of his mind. In classes and clubs—Honors Chemistry, AP World History, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP English Language and Composition, and most importantly, Mock Trial—where I was fortunate enough to have good friends and very understanding teachers, I was able to similarly enjoy myself in class while also learning and making good friends with classmates. This is how most of you know me and stands in stark contrast to my more nervous, secondguessing side. That other side of me, though, can be positive in its own ways.

In the more serious moments of my life when I’m backlogged on work, interviewing for a job, speaking with teachers and administrators in student government or gearing up for a Mock Trial competition, that other side of me— the one self-editing what I say, making sure

to be humble and polite, letting others speak first at meetings and listening to critique—can be crucial. It’s great to bask in the limelight or to ride the highs of a fun outing with friends, but sometimes it’s better to tap into that other side of me. It allows me humility, professionalism, selfcriticism and most importantly, empathy and conscientiousness (sometimes even to a fault, yielding anxiety and depressive episodes).

For most of my life, I have had these two distinct and conflicting mentalities for analyzing myself and my interactions with the world around me. Over the last four years, however, I have finally learned to understand and embrace both.

There was no “Eureka!” moment for this understanding (otherwise you’d be reading about it). It was only from years of therapy, conversations with friends and self-reflection that I learned when to be self critical and when to enjoy life. I’d like to think that I have a firm grasp on both sides now, that I’ve struck a good balance, that now I’m able to be humble, reflective and withdrawn when appropriate but bombastic and extroverted when I want to be. Keeping the balance can be hard, but I think most everyone does it, and I think we’re all better for it.

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t the tail end of fifth grade, on June 1, 2015, I wrote a letter to my future self containing all the things I wanted high school senior Anna Schuler to know. That letter arrived in the mail last night. In it, I wrote about my hobbies, my friends, my interests and my memories— but I also made two requests. First, that I be someone I would be proud of. And second, that I remember all the friends I made.

I don’t know if I’m someone my fifth grade self would be proud of. She had aspirations I don’t have anymore—figure skating on the national stage, publishing a book and being an architect. But, after all this time, I think I might be someone my current self is proud of. My aspirations haven’t disappeared; they’ve been refined.

High school has been, frankly, a lot. But it served as a proving ground to find what I’m actually passionate about. You can’t juggle a dozen extracurriculars for long; at some point, things have to be prioritized.

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could have predicted, and every time I did, for a while, it felt like I’d lost something.

Like I was missing out on a part of myself that could be amazing if I just tried harder. Like I was disappointing fifth grade Anna who wanted to be a figure skater, an author and an architect. But fifth grade Anna also loved to play violin with her friends and cared an honestly insane amount about math. With every dream I gave up, these interests came further into focus. Each choice carried me a step closer to who I am, and who I’m going to become. Maybe fifth grade Anna would have wanted me to make different choices, but I’m happy where I am.

Fifth grade Anna’s second request is easy. From preschool to senior year of high school, the friends I’ve made have been the most important part of my life. I don’t think I could forget them if I tried.

She reminded me of something important, though. I should not be considered qualified to give advice, but if I had to give underclassmen one piece of advice, it would be this: cherish the friendships you have in high school.

No matter how well you keep in touch after you graduate, life changes. People change. You’ll change. And with that, your friendship will change. That’s not a bad thing; it’s just a thing. But it means that your friendships, the ways they are now, are short, so cherish them.

At the end of eighth grade, on May 10, 2018, I sent another letter to my future self. In that one, I wrote that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I asked myself to do what makes me happy.

That, I think, is getting easier and easier with time.

To fifth grade Anna Schuler: I hope I’ve made you proud. Thanks for reminding me to keep appreciating my friends. (Also, thanks for telling me that you like Doctor Who and Minecraft. That was very important for me to hear.)

And to eighth grade Anna Schuler: I’m trying to do what makes me happy. I’m still finding out what I really love doing, but I’m getting closer. You’ll have some great times these next four years in high school. I promise.

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h yes, UAHS. The Class of 2022 is a fun one, and I’ll enjoy revisiting when we meet back here for class reunions. It feels weird writing that, but it’s true. What’s also weird is that I’ll never be able to walk the halls of my freshman, sophomore and junior years because the old school is gone. My dad is a UA graduate, and I can remember him smiling as he walked through those same halls. But all is not lost because my senior year is in this brand new building, and I’ve already made great memories here.

Sports were obviously a big part of my high school days.

From sweating on the 100 degree turf on a two-a-day before football season to giving it all I’ve got in the last stretch of a 400 meter race at the end of track season, there’s been no shortage of life lessons. I understand people speak frequently about lessons learned while practicing and competing in athletics, but I think that speaks to its overwhelming importance. I’ve learned many things, but if I had to choose one lesson I would say get comfortable with the uncomfortable. I think, and I know I’m not alone, that this is a key aspect of growing as a person. It doesn’t always feel good to work out, but we know we’re getting stronger.

We might not feel like doing our homework, but it makes us smarter and more skilled. In fact, this is happening as I’m writing this! I know I’m not the best in literature classes, and writing essays makes me uncomfortable. So when I was asked to write this piece for the Arlingtonian, I recognized a challenge, and here I am! I understand I’ll probably come out the other side of this a better individual, even if it’s a tiny improvement.

While sports were a big part of high school for me, there was more that stood out. My sophomore year I was assigned the task of interviewing a grandparent for my literature class. It seemed insignificant at the time, but I’m very thankful for it now. I chose to interview my Grandpa, or Poppy, as we like to call him. I enjoyed his stories about life growing up in Galloway, Ohio and meeting my Grandma; however, what stuck with me the most was his answer to my very last question,“If you had to give me one word of wisdom what would it be?” He explained that people underestimate patience. We are always looking forward to the next big thing. We go to high school, and we’re impatient to graduate; we go to college, and we’re impatient to get a job; we get married, and we’re impatient to have kids and so on. We get so caught up in the future that we miss the ever so important present. Living in the moment takes a little practice but gives a lifetime of meaning.

Ever since my Grandpa said this I’ve tried to soak up every moment of my high school experience because even though it’s a small glimpse of life as a whole, it can determine a whole lot. I don’t want to sound like I’m some expert at living in the moment 24/7. Believe me, I’m not. I just wanted to share a piece of my high school experience that felt important to me and hopefully helpful to others.

I’ve enjoyed going to high school at UA. It’s treated me well.

I’ve forged great friendships, learned a ton and grew as a person even more. I can also see this in my classmates’ lives as well. But now that we are parting ways, I can look back and declare with confidence that it was a positive experience that prepared me for a good life.

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BEFORE WE SAY GOODBYE

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have always been captivated with the skies. What started as a passionate interest in meteorology in elementary school blossomed with the realization that I could interact with the atmosphere.

I realized that my interest in flying and aeronautics could potentially lead to a fascinating career of becoming a pilot.

As a result, my resulting interests in math and physics and the mechanics behind aviation followed naturally. I was fortunate to have had amazing mentor teachers like Mr. Chandler and Mr. Schuster who encouraged me through their subject matter and taught me from their heart which is something that I hold in high regard. Joining my passion for flight with an education specializing in aviation is my ultimate career aspiration. Becoming a pilot has become the primary motivation in my life.

I started high school very anxious. I did not talk in my classes as a freshman, and I kept my head down and focused on the work. Because I am a competitive dancer, I did not have the opportunity to connect with UAHS through a sports team, but found my connection through student council and academics, and I am

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glad I did. Sophomore year, as I made new friends, I began to come out of my shell and capitalize on my strengths with these new peers who supported me and embraced my true self. But as the year progressed and COVID-19 hit, my life and view of my purpose changed. I made the best out of my time through COVID-19 and really learned about myself along the way. I had some degree of self-confidence and self-expression due to competition dance, but being in quarantine gave me more confidence and provided me with a sense of self-reliance.

I mastered the art of online classwork and organizational skills to excel academically.

All of these early high school experiences have enabled me to grow into the person I am today.

Motivation has never been an issue for me throughout my high school career. My mom is a teacher, and I grew up with my life centered around education. I earned good grades and did what I was told, but I always was looking towards the end goal: to enjoy my career. My mom is passionate about her job and loves going to work everyday. I have no doubt that I will share that same passion for my career because

the first time I went up in a light aircraft, I was instantly hooked.

I spent my junior and senior years honing my leadership skills and researching every option available to become a pilot. I ultimately chose the civilian route to attend the number one rated flight school in the U.S. With this amazing opportunity, I am studying Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the fall, and I hope to become a commercial pilot in the near future. As a female entering a male dominated career, I am excited to break through the stereotypes and forge my way to success.

I will leave the underclassmen with one piece of advice: have fun. It sounds easy when put into words, but once I realized that no one is really watching or scrutinizing you, I was able to truly become the person I am today. You are your own worst critic, so give yourself a break and just do your best, and enjoy life!

I still have much more to discover about myself, although I have grown so much in my time at UAHS and wouldn’t change a thing about these past four years.

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ntil September of my senior year, I wasn’t completely sure about what I wanted to do or where I wanted to attend college. So, during high school, I just tried anything and everything I found interesting.

I was new to UA freshman year, having attended St. Andrew School from preschool to eighth-grade. I graduated eighth-grade with 32 kids in my class. The start of freshman year was sort of a blur for me with so many new faces, but I wanted to make the most of it.

The first day of freshman year, I was enrolled in American Sign Language. I realized that I wanted to take Spanish instead and switched languages the third day of school.

Freshman year, I was in the ensemble of “Mamma Mia!.” And while I enjoy watching theater shows, I realized I can’t dance at all!

I played field hockey for all four years of high school. I was on junior varsity for three years and was on varsity for the first time this year. I enjoyed playing field hockey with my friends, but I was never awesome at the sport.

Freshman year for Idea Day, I participated in a creative writing workshop because I love to write. At that time in my life, I thought I wanted to be an author.

After seeing Kickin’ It for the first time, I asked my counselor, Ms. Nyeste, how I could be on the show. As a result, during my sophomore and junior years, I took all the pre-requisite classes.

This year, I have been on the show, and I love meeting new FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @UAARLINGTONIAN

people during interviews. However, I also realized that I didn’t want to do that as a career.

I have played guitar since I was eight and have always sang and written songs. During the Club Fair freshman year, I heard about Jam Club, a club where students can share and connect with music, started by Ruth Burguenthal (a UA alum). She organized weekly open mics where I met many cool musicians.

Sophomore year, I started volunteering at a Hilliard nursing home by playing guitar and singing for the residents. I enjoy talking with the residents and learning some old classic songs. I also released a five song EP and a music video during sophomore year, and during junior year, I started performing shows at local restaurants with my band.

By the time August of senior year rolled around, I hadn’t toured a single college. However, I had been hearing about Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. So, I toured it last September, found out that I could major in Songwriting, and now I will be attending Belmont in August. I will also be minoring in Spanish.

This April, I released a new single under the stage name, Kikko Mai and will be releasing new music in the summer.

I learned throughout my four years at UAHS that it’s okay to be unsure about your future, and it’s okay to not be good at everything. I encourage everyone to keep trying new activities and extracurriculars because you will find your passions, and you will meet all kinds of cool people along the way.

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first moved to Ohio in 2018 for my freshman year of high school. Before that, I had lived in Saudi Arabia for five years after we moved from my birth state, New Jersey, in 2013. As I was used to moving in general, the transition was not very hard.

However, moving from my friends and life in a small, closely-knit community to a larger community where everyone knew each other since kindergarten was not the easiest. As opposed to my Sudanese immigrant parents who made friends wherever they went, I am by nature a little less outgoing. Although it took some time and effort to push myself past my comfort, I can say that I belong in UA by the comfort provided to me by my friends.

One thing that I did that I recommend to incoming students is to take part in the many activities that UA has to offer.

From the many clubs at the school that allowed me to explore my interests to the amazing moments while playing optimist basketball with my friends. What probably helped most in my integration into the school was participating in soccer. Most people who participate in teams will understand the importance of the relationships on these teams. These like-minded individuals who share the same interests as you can become some of your closest friends. After years of soccer, I can truly say that some of the best moments of my high school career happened while sitting and talking on the bench (and no, I’m not just saying that because I spent a lot of time there). To future UAHS students, I recommend enjoying your time with the people on these teams and activities because it will pass in an instant.

From an academic perspective, I would have never expected myself to be in this position as I sat through my first classes.

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During my first two years, I took what I considered to be easy classes as I tried to surf my way through school. But as the view of college became clearer and clearer, I realized that I needed to apply myself to be where I wanted to be as a graduating senior. With that, I willingly and blissfully joined the IB diploma program. Although the IB diploma was quite grueling, I learned many things from it. I have acquired many new forms of procrastination such as playing the piano and online chess and have also mastered the art of staring at blank spaces on my wall hoping my essays would disappear while I sat jittery because of the Redbull. Though those may not seem like the best habits to gain, it prepared me to complete assignments in one night two weeks after the assignment was due at a still passable level. My initial hatred for most writing assignments at the start of my high school career has not gone away, but I am more equipped to write them. All jokes aside, the IB program allowed me to take classes and have teachers that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

From reading obscure books to learning about the world of Java to learning about the Arab-Israeli conflict, the teachers and content of these classes were truly enjoyable. Overall, although at the moment it hurts to challenge yourself academically, I recommend that incoming students think about who they want to be as a student as they prepare to go off to college and apply themselves for the sake of their goals all while having fun.

Lastly, my final piece of advice to the incoming high schoolers is, even if it may sound quite corny, to always be yourself. Stay true to your personality and identity and you will find the people you belong with, and you will be happy (I hope).

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mma, Here is a list of everything that I wish I could have known going into high school.”

This was the first sentence of a packet my older sister and UAHS alumna, Abbie, handed me the summer before my freshman year. It included sections about clothes to wear, clubs to join, friends and music. After she handed me the packet, she ripped out a sheet of notebook paper to help me plan my freshman year schedule. As expected, she picked what honors classes I would take, my art credit being choir and told me to stick with volleyball. I doubted her in the process of this planning, but she told me to “just trust the process.” Looking back at the past four years, I know she was right.

Then, fast forward a month to the dreadful freshman orientation. Every freshman has experienced walking into the gym on the first day, sitting by their peers and listening to the administration talk about the next four years. When you look around at the gym walls, you see the state championship titles UA has won in a multitude of sports including lacrosse, swimming, football and water polo, just to name a few. There is a reason for this FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @UAARLINGTONIAN

success: UA’s sports teams’ atmosphere.

When I began playing in the volleyball program, I immediately recognized the emphasis on the team. Everything was team-oriented from team meals, trips to Graeters and bus rides. Because I was a part of the volleyball team before school even started, I knew I had friends going into the first day of school, and as I head towards my last day of high school, I have the same amazing friends. It didn’t matter if the friendships started in the weightlifting room or at conditioning, they became stronger throughout the years with car rides, ice cream runs, dinners and playing together.

At freshman orientation, after hearing from the administration for the welcome, the Class of 2022 made their way to the auditorium. Eventually, I would grow to love this space, but I was doubtful about being in choir. At first, in my freshman and sophomore year, I didn’t even like to sing, but Ms. Smith-Lockwood sparked a strong love of music within me. Long story short, I went out of my comfort zone; I tried out for Vocal Ensemble at the end of my sophomore year, and made it! Little did I know this group of students, with all different interests in the school, would

be brought together by music to form a family. No matter how bad my day would be going, I could always count on the people in choir to give me an enjoyable break in my day. By spending so much time with my fellow Vocal Ensemble members through gig season and a special trip to New York, I fully see these people as a family. Through many Dum Dums, dried cherries and New York bagels, friendships have been strengthened, rekindled and made.

As I am running out of words to describe the countless bonds I have formed in my other extracurriculars (Bear Den, Student Council, UACA Junior Director, etc.), I think about what my freshman self would think. I think she would be proud and happy to see that I made and sustained as many friendships as I could in high school just by getting involved in the things I enjoyed. If you as a reader get one thing out of this, please let it be the following: join what you’re interested in and make amazing friends along the way. Thank you UA for giving me some amazing people in my life.

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SENIOR DESTINATIONS

COMPILED BY JAMES UNDERWOOD, ’23.

GRAPHICS BY DAPHNE BONILLA, ’22; MOLLY HENCH, ’22 AND MEGAN MCKINNEY, ’22.

DESTINATIONS COURTESY NORWESTER.

WISCONSIN Lawrence University Eliza Wunderlich

Milwaukee Institute of Art Calvin University Sophia Schweisthal and Design Ava Taylor Hope College Mary Krauss Mitch McConnell

IOWA Grinnell College Sam Wilson

Arlingtonian regrets any errors. To ensure that destinations are correct in the yearback, please alert Norwester of any inaccuracies, omissions, or updates at romollica@uaschools.org.

CALIFORNIA Stanford University Callia Peterson

University of California, Davis Sophie Esquinas University of California, San Diego Sarina Ghadiali

MISSOURI

OREGON University of Oregon Ellie Watson

AFS Jacob Hartman

Wheaton College Evangeline Turnbull

DePauw University Chase Emmons Emma Morris Indiana University Jack Diwik Molly Hench Ellie Kessinger Abbey Wood

University of Colorado Boulder Ruth Chalmers Maddie Spaine Leah Meyer

Purdue University Ameen Abubakr Michael Hansen Rhea Pathak Melanie Whitcomb

University of Denver Viv Lawless Lily Loudon

Saint Mary’s College Bridget Mitchell

KENTUCKY

US MILITARY

Northern Arizona University Andrew Dunn

US Air Force Kevin Viernes

US Army Grant Cameron Riley Shimp

TEXAS Stockholm University Ripley Anderson

WALES

Bangor University Madeline Webb

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University of Notre Dame Zac Yoakam

Bellarmine University Charles McCarty Chris Reynolds University of Kentucky Halle Goodwin Bergan Mardas George Sauter Macy Shaffer University of Louisville Rian Adkins

Sam Houston State University Ally Miller

SWEDEN

Ball State University Avery Jakovlic Grant Overmyer

Carnegie Mellon University Krish Mawalkar

Colorado State University Taj Vasudeva

ARIZONA

INDIANA Butler University Bella VanMeter

COLORADO

Willamette University Mallory Tolliver

University of Utah Samantha Schaefer Ethan Skinner

GERMANY

Northwestern University Western Michigan University Riley Huddleston Ian Murphy Rebecca Chen

Washington University Lauren Leff

Brigham Young University Meg Kheil

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University of Michigan Ellie Crespo

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UTAH

London College of Fashion Josh Arnn

ILLINOIS

Lindenwood University Elizabeth Goth Mollie Sandford

University of the Pacific Maja Cvijanovic

ENGLAND

Michigan State University Daniel Goldberg Emme Stephens Ryan Efird Joanna Jepson

University of Illinois Sam Cheung Lauren Thompson

WASHINGTON University of Washington Kun Bai

MICHIGAN

Southern Methodist University Gabrielle Phlegar Texas Christian University Carter Moore

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi State University Megan McKinney University of Mississippi Jenna Harold

LOUISIANA Tulane University Brooke Mason

OTHER Noah Freud Lydia Waldrop

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OHIO

Bowling Green State University Daphne Bonilla Kate Gemperline Rowan Happell Kassi Knight Liz Korte Julia Leve Colin Matyac Drew Palmer Mary Sollinger Annie Swanson Capital University Adham Hamed Columbus College of Art and Design Anna Dunsizer Ingrid Lach Columbus State Community College Max Bailey Connor Bellair Tanner Byrne Joshua Cable Selena Diaz Alyssa Greene Aidan Horan Caylee Jones Hayden Lawyer Jake Pritchett Ava Shy Cleveland State University Drew Graves Denison University Hadiya El-Maraghy Nick Heath Kuyper Lashutka Anna Leach Olivia Howe Aida Yoder Kent State University Kendall Crotty Vincent DiLoretto Jackson Hargett Laine Schooley Wesley Murdick Kenyon College Alyssa Gest Miami University Ayden Boothby Ryan Card Anna Carine Avery Catalano Katie Coakley Max Collier Austin Henley Evan Hughes Jillian Kuehn Gigi Mayrer Simon Monnin Eileen Murray Ned Neely Hayley Pool David Pultz Jack Reed Kamryn Rushin Jacob Schneider Nico Sidari Ryan Sommer Lourdes University Jake Badgeley Mount Vernon Nazarene University Sophia Hudson

Ohio Northern University Ellie Ford

Luke Anderson Payton Baker Tora Blamer Carter Brock Lauren Buehrle Jimmy Chieffo Evan Combs Quinn Corna Ella Cullen Kyra Dapore Parker Davis Parker Davis Cooper Emerson Andrew Fagen Maddie Fine Fia Gallicchio Natalie Gay Asher Hamilton Eve Hartranft Ella Isenbarger Mollie Kawakami Matt Mchugh Jessie McNamara Payge Miller Sierra Moyer Ryan Myers Ryan Myers Samuel Ozello Jack Tatham

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The Ohio State University Delia Alkhatib Nicholas Ballou Alana Becker LIM College Marlie Boiston Sydney Moore Luke Bracken Sophia Bruck Marist College Tyler Burkhart Lauren Olmstead Antonia Campbell Jordan Clevenger Pace University Ethan Colombo Lucy McCabe Theo Constantinides Caitlin Courtright Syracuse Univeristy Katia de Jong Ava Adamantidis Nora Dimitrov Jamison Ringlien Catherine Dolbow Emily DuPont Ty Frederick Alex Gardner Owen Gawel Nikko Gerber Dino Gesouras Allegheny College Lauren Gomez Kate Leach Jodi Green Jennifer Green Carnegie-Mellon University Jackson Hall Krish Mawalkar Abdallah Abu Hammad Ohio Wesleyan University Ibrahim Abu Hammad Paige Merryman University of Pittsburgh Nick Hammer Anna Schweisthal Nora Diday Mason Huber Tova Stewart Ava Hunt Otterbein University Eveline Jiang Monica Olvera Nathan Jeoung Anneliese Johanni University of Cincinatti Kiah Kapoor Parker Badat Nick Karavolos Collin Barrett Alec Keller Becca Berk East Carolina University Maya Khelashvili Mary Boehm Ella Devine Eleni Kourlas Camryn Callaghan Andrew Lehman Ben Culp North Carolina State University Isaac Lute Jacob Dimon Luke Eriksen Nathan Mark Nick DiPaolo Reid Martin Casey Dounian University of North Carolina Dillon McClure Luke Frederick Matthew Abel Lucy Miller Carson Hall John Mollmann Mia Hargraves Julia Molnar Ethan Gerhardt Frankie Mulligan Ethan Howe Natalija Myers Henry Lao Emma Onifer Paige Lively Emily Patko Ryan Markworth West Virginia University Amanda Peters Justin Murdick Meghan Inskeep Andrew Plahuta Lucy O’Brien Carley Ware Summer Powel Aidan Oliver John Pritchett Spencer Poor Jack Purcell Alaina Smith Gabby Rancitelli Isabella Stabile Tyler Reed Will Stehle Paul Renner Sophia Tzagournis Sheyma Salman Emily Vanderhorst Anderson University Neila Sarkis Alexa Marlow Ethan Savar University of Dayton Jonathan Schenk Nicholas Ashby Clemson University Cam Seecamp Rory Brennan Leah DeCapua Katherine Sethi Ashley Gilmour Eva Kanchuger Malachi Son Armando Mastropietro Brooke Stauffer Melanie Robertson College of Charleston Larry Stelzer Quin Porterfield Daley Straub University of Findlay Mills Underwood Bella Stummer Doak Buttermore Brendan Tice Tessa Lakatos Furman University Dylan Trent Georgia Rehl Skylar Trent University of Toledo Isabelle Tzagournis Amanda Dennis University of South Carolina Nathan Varda Emma Graver Claire Stoeckinger Aidan Walsh Grant Walter Steven Wang Olivia Westin Evelyn Wu Belmont UniverUniversity of Owyn Young sity Tennessee

Bentley University Caroline Ubert Boston College Caroline Hackett

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Caroline Langmeyer Anna Schuler Northeastern Univeristy Caroline Campbell Haley Martin Smith College Evelynn Moberg

VERMONT

PENNSYLVANIA

University of Vermont Stella Petras

WASHINGTON, D.C. George Washington University Eva Van Benschoten

NORTH CAROLINA VIRGINIA

University of Richmond Leo Caine Chris Mazzaferri University of Virginia Rachel Leach

WEST VIRGINIA

GEORGIA

SOUTH CAROLINA

TENNESSEE

Ohio University Nolan Adams

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Kea Corso Maxen Yerington Lipscomb University Kylie Kissler

Abby Reisz Marin Sneed

ALABAMA

Auburn University Ella Milburn

Georgia Institute of Technology Kyle Baugh Hera Chung Caroline Porterfield University of Georgia Maddie Sells William Stummer Alexander Wilkins

FLORIDA Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Kate Kershner Florida State University Sam Cannon Pilot Training Connor Coyne Stetson University Maia Starrwalker

University of Florida Claire Lebron University of Alabama Mia Leahy

W W W . A R LING T O NIA N. COM | 21

Athlete Advice

Senior athletes reflect on their time in UAHS athletic programs.

REPORTING BY CARLY WITT, ‘23.

F

ETHAN HOWE

or some students, one of the most exciting times in high school is when the student body comes together to watch and cheer on UA’s sports teams.

The student athletes on these teams have to balance their schoolwork with their training, keep track of their grades and represent their school in the many athletic events and programs UAHS offers.

Sacrificing events and time with friends and family to dedicate to their sport, three UAHS senior athletes, football running back Carson Gresock, soccer forward Ethan Howe and swimmer Caroline Ubert, offer advice and share memories regarding their time as high school athletes.

Q: How has being a student athlete made an impact on your high school experience?

A: “It has made me feel more a part of the school because of the strong friendships I have with my teammates and also the interest my classmates have in how our team is doing.

Q: What advice would you give other student athletes?

A: “I would tell them that all the stress that comes with balancing school and sports is worth it in the end because of the memories and friends you make.”

CARSON GRESOCK

CAROLINE UBERT

Q: How has being a student athlete made an impact on your high school experience?

A: “Being a student athlete really helped me learn how to use my time wisely.

It also made my high school experience really fun and exciting everyday. [It] helped me keep my grades up too.”

Q: What advice would you give other student athletes?

“Work hard because it’s only four years, and it goes by so fast.”

Q: How has being a student athlete made an impact on your high school experience?

A: “As a student athlete, I learned valuable time management skills. Practices are 2-plus hours a day, and learning how to manage practice with school, homework, a good mental health and maintaining relationships was definitely a challenge.

Sometimes I had to sacrifice social activities for sleep to perform my best for a morning practice or meet. I missed out on some things I wanted to go to, but in the end, I’m glad I prioritized swimming to be successful and continue it in college.”

Q: What advice would you give other student athletes?

A: “To give themselves enough time to decompress and keep a good mental state. I never performed well when I did not prioritize my health. It’s okay to take a day off or leave early once in a while.

Mental health is not something to be taken lightly especially when you are under lots of pressure to perform and maintain good grades, relationships, etc.”

◀ ATHLETES IN ACTION TOP: Senior Caroline Ubert swims the 100 meter fly at the 2022 Sectional Meet at UAHS. PHOTO COURTESY CAROLINE UBERT MIDDLE: On Oct. 14, senior Ethan Howe and his teammates on the boys soccer team won their senior night game against Pickerington Central 2-1.

PHOTO BY JACK TATHAM, ’22.

BOTTOM: Senior and runningback Carson Gresock protects the ball in a home game against Westerville Central PHOTO BY BELLA VANMETER, ’22.

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Senior Nights ◀ SOCCER SENIOR On senior night, taking place on Nov. 30, the girls soccer team beat Pickerington North 1-0. Seniors walked across the field with their families, including senior goalie and Tennessee commit Abby Reisz (pictured).

PHOTO BY SARAH MCCULLOCH, ’23.

SAY CHEESE ▶ On Oct. 1, varsity B girls tennis senior night, the team played Columbus Academy and won all five courts (5-0).

The seniors were given sunflower bouquets and posed for photos with their teammates.

PHOTO BY JAYDEN BANKS, ’23.

◀ SEVEN SENIORS The girls volleyball team took on Hilliard Davidson on Oct. 12, where seven UA seniors led the Bears to a 3-0 win. (pictured left to right: seniors Jenna Harold, Sophia Schweisthal, Emma Morris, Evie Sanford, Caitlin Courtright, Chloe Sommers and Macy Medors).

PHOTO BY BELLA VANMETER, ’22.

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W W W . A R L ING T O NIA N. COM | 23

Senior Send Offs

AVA ADAMANTIDIS

ELLIE CRESPO

DINO GESOURAS

PARKER BADAT

THEO CONSTANTINIDES

SARINA GHADIALI

Congratulations Ava! We are so proud of you and excited to see what the future holds for you! Remember, you will always be the glitter glue that holds everything together! Love,

Parker, you have made the most of your time at UAHS - Marching Band, Mock Trial, Arlingtonian, E-Commerce Club, and making good friends. We're most proud of the person you have grown to be. The future is yours! We're here for you always.

Watching you become a serious scholar and a confident young woman has been amazing. Now here you are, ready to take on the next chapter of your life with a new inner strength. We could not be prouder. Go Blue! Love,

Theo, so proud of you and everything you have accomplished. We can’t wait to see what’s ahead at OSU! Love you,

KYRA DAPORE LUKE BRACKEN

You have been a true blessing in our lives. We love your laughter and kindness. We are incredibly proud of your achievements, successes and the friendships you made. We can't wait to see what you do next on your journey to OSU! We Love You!

Dear Kyra, Wow! High School graduation already. We are beyond proud of your accomplishments and are so excited to see what is ahead for you. You are made for great things!

Keep embracing life with passion and achieving your goals. Enjoy this moment!

Congratulations!!! Love,

OLIVIA HOWE ANTONIA CAMPBELL

High school is one of many journeys in life, so go chase your dreams, take risks and opportunities, and never give up Stand by your beliefs and be brave and never stop believing in yourself. We wish you wisdom, adventure, fun and love.

Love,

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Olivia, you have always been such a bright light in our lives. Your smile, kindness and perseverance will serve you well in the future. We are excited to see you shine on! With love and pride,

DALEY STRAUB

Daley - Continue to be you! We can’t wait to see what your future holds. We are very proud of you! Love,

Congratulations Dino! It’s been a joy to be a part of your fantastic journey!

You’re on to new adventures now and we couldn’t be more excited for you. Good luck at The Ohio State University! Enjoy this exciting time in your life! We are so proud of you! Love,

Dear Sarina, We are so proud of you: acing AP classes, playing the viola, continuing synchro and tutoring. At UCSD, remember: when you’re mad you can still blame it on Dad, take your time/hurry it up, ruhlax and CC cookies cure anything. We love you!

FIABELLA GALLICCHIO

Fiabella, we are so proud of you!

You have worked hard for all of your successes. We are inspired by your determination! Your curiosity, wit and passion for the things you care about will take you far into the next chapter of your life. Love,

LUKE ERIKSEN

You are an extraordinary young man and watching you grow into the person you are is a gift. We are so proud of what you stand for as a son, sibling, friend, teammate, and student. You make the world a better place. We can’t wait to see your success at NC State--the possibilities for you indeed are endless. All our love today and forever,

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JACKSON HARGETT

Jackson, we are incredibly proud of you and all of your many accomplishments.

We also couldn't be more proud of the kind, thoughtful and amazing young man you have become. You're going to do great at Kent State. Love,

SAM WILSON

We are so proud of the intelligent, passionate, animal-loving individual you have become. We can’t wait to watch the next steps on your journey unfold. Love,

JILLIAN KUEHN

YOU DID IT! And we could not be more proud of you. Your wit, resilience and fortitude carried you through a high school career filled with many twists and turns! We are excited for you to start your next chapter at M.U. and can’t wait to see where life leads you and where you lead life. All our love,

LUCY O’BRIEN

RHEA PATHAK

Dear Rhea, Congratulations! With brains in your head & feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself, any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. YOU are the person who'll decide where to go. Oh, the places you’ll go! Love,

EMILY PATKO

Emily, We are so proud of you and all you've accomplished. To see you grow into the beautiful person you are today has been a blessing. Your talents and determination will take you far as you continue your journey at OSU and beyond. Love,

DYLAN AND SKYLAR TRENT

Congrats Dylan & Skylar- We could not be more proud of you both and are looking forward to your next chapters! #BuckeyeBound Love you to the moon & back -

NICO SIDARI

Nico - the world is ahead of you, waiting for you to show it everything you have to offer!! Regardless what it brings, all the turns & hills: believe in yourself & know you are loved & supported....no matter what! Your Girls -

BROOKE MASON

Brooke, we're so proud of your accomplishments and especially of the witty, loyal, compassionate and beautiful person you've become. Always remember to believe in yourself, work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen. Enjoy New Orleans and have fun at Tulane.

Thanks for everything!

PETER MILBURN

Congratulations Peter on everything you have accomplished. We could not be prouder of the person you have become.

We look forward to the great things ahead at DePaul and beyond. Love,

We are so proud of you Lucy! Wishing you all the best with your next chapter.

With love,

MILLS UNDERWOOD JACK DIWIK

Jack we are so incredibly proud of you and know there are fantastic things to come for you at IU and beyond! Love

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Mills, we are so proud of you and who you have become. You are beautiful inside and out and the College of Charleston will never be the same after your gigantic heart and sunny disposition crashes onto their campus. We love you MORE. Always. Meaning more than your sisters. ? Love,

CALLIA PETERSON

Callia, In the words of Maya Angelou, “the horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change.” We are so proud of you!

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OPINION

Renewable Nostalgia

Columnist talks about the media that defined her high school experience.

BY LUCY O'BRIEN, ’22.

B

eing an artist requires constant inspiration. I not only find inspiration through visual arts but any media around me. Listed is the art that I believe best wraps up my high school experience.

LADYBIRD (2017) A movie held near and dear to my heart, Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” depicts the exact feeling of growing up in a small town and feeling antsy to get as far away as possible. Saoirse Ronan (Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson) and Laurie Metcalf (Marion McPherson) expose the complicated relationship between an 18-year-old daughter and her mother who is struggling with the emotions of her child leaving the nest. The first time I watched this movie was the summer before freshman year. To be honest, I sat down with my mom to watch “Lady Bird” specifically because of Timothée Chalamet; however, I stayed for the personal storyline it entailed. After the closing scene, where Ronan is on the phone with her mom, finally growing past her stubborn teen angst, my mom and I looked at each other and sobbed. I watched this movie right before high school and right at the end. It is the string tying this era of my life together.

AIN’T IT FUN - PARAMORE (2013) Not many people would find this upbeat Paramore song something you well-up in tears to, but then again, not everyone was on the UA Girls Varsity Field Hockey team in 2020. My junior year of high school, I made the varsity field hockey team, and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t one of my most impactful moments of highschool.

It was the first season our team looked more promising, scoring against Bishop Watterson and beating Worthington Kilbourne in overtime. This season set us up for my senior year, where we won our conference and went 13-4-1. But when I reflect on field hockey, I don’t think about FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @UAARLINGTONIAN

the success we had on the field. I think about standing behind the bleachers before the game blasting Paramore’s “Ain’t it Fun,” stomping around and screaming at the top of our lungs, Caroline Campbell throwing in random dubs throughout the song, and emphasizing the lyrics, “Don’t go crying to your mama, ‘cause you’re on your own in the real world”—words extremely bittersweet to listen to right before entering college.

GLEE (2009-2015) Call it embarrassing, call it cliche, but “Glee” might be the best show ever. I’ve never been someone to get attached to TV shows, but “Glee” is one of the only shows I have been able to rewatch. Ryan Murphy’s writing of quick witty comebacks between characters (especially Jane Lynch’s Sue Sylvester) makes seasons one and two some of the funniest television I’ve ever watched. Don’t get me wrong, this show has its downsides, between Matthew Morrison’s (Mr. Schuester) rapping to Dianna Agron’s character Quinn Fabray’s absolutely ridiculous storyline of teen pregnancy, and how overall, the show lacks in the actual reality of a high school experience.

Nonetheless, it is definitely entertaining, and the soundtrack has some of the best car jam songs that I like to blast with my friends.

at a worse time. It hit me in the winter of sophomore year, just before the pandemic.

The combo of typical teen hormonal emotions and isolation, this album struck me emotionally. The work is frankly depressing yet so incredibly beautiful. Tracks like “High to Death” and “Twin Fantasy (Those Boys)” offer some of the saddest lyrics I’ve heard combined with genius guitar riffs. This album doesn’t only offer sad, slow songs.

“Bodys” and “Cute Thing” are songs that make me dance around my room. Finally, track four, “Sober to Death,” is one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s upbeat yet emotional and exciting yet catchy; it really is a song that can be listened to in any setting. Toward the end of my senior year, I traveled to Phoenix and had the opportunity to finally witness Car Seat Headrest live. I got to be accompanied by one of my best friends. Hearing these songs live brought a new perspective. It helped me realize how much I have grown past my depression, and I was able to enjoy this music in a new light.

TWIN FANTASY - CAR SEAT HEADREST (RE RELEASE 2018) Will Toledo’s sixth album, “Twin Fantasy,” was released twice. He began writing the album as a 17-year-old, around the same age I discovered this piece, and re-released it as a 25-year-old.

Between the two albums, the sound easily conveys the way Toledo has matured and reflected on the idea of guiding yourself with a devoting love. To be honest, this album couldn't have walked into my life W W W . A R LING T O NIA N. COM | 27

OPINION

Sign of the Times

Senior columnists reflect on the music that shaped their high school careers.

BY ANTONIA CAMPBELL, ’22 AND MEGAN MCKINNEY, ’22. GRAPHIC BY MEGAN MCKINNEY, ’22.

M

usic is powerful in it’s ability to connect, communicate and comfort. In general, I find that we use music to internally cope with our current situation and emotions.

Throughout high school, I have experienced many highs and lows. I find that the music I listen to usually matches my emotions in each moment.

Depressed? I listen to Frank Ocean. Stressed?

I listen to Miles Davis. Relaxed? I listen to Red Hot Chili Peppers. Excited? Isaiah Rashad. I am always searching for new music that inspires me and helps me communicate how I am feeling.

However, sometimes I find myself going back to the comforting basics of my top artists: SZA, Kali Uchis and Tyler, the Creator. Music seems to follow me everywhere I go. No matter what tunes your heart desires, I hope that everyone may experience the joy that music can bring. The possibilities of experiencing music are endless.

Looking back on my freshman year, it was generally uneventful, especially compared to the last couple of years. An aspect of freshman year that I feel I could most relate to is the discomfort that consumes you throughout the year. You’re in high school, yet everyone still thinks with a middle school brain, with judgment and a general lack of empathy.

It’s difficult to convince yourself that not everyone is looking at you at all times. My songs from this school year encompass my attempt at remedying that horrendous anxiety I felt. Some soothing Mac DeMarco and Marvin Gaye to calm my nerves along with some powerful Queen and Arctic Monkeys to fuel the small part of me that didn’t want to fit in, the part of me that appreciated that I wasn’t like everyone else.

Sophomore year was when life took an unimaginable turn and when I became a completely different person in what felt like the blink of an eye.

Generally unhappy the first half of the year, the pandemic only made things worse yet also provided me with an unmatched gift: the ability to finally slow down. Spring of 2020 allowed me time to think about how I was choosing to live my life. I asked myself many questions. Where were my insecurities rooted? Where was the anxiety coming from?

What aspects of my life were making a positive impact, and what was affecting me negatively? I 28 | ISSUE 8 | MA Y 2 6, 2 0 2 2

was able to completely shift my way of thinking and reflect. For this reason, I feel that the album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” by Kanye West represents that year since the album was West’s way at the time of reflecting on his career thus far, acknowledging what he had been through and his own wrongdoings, and ultimately, pulling himself out of the hole he had dug for himself.

Junior year for the Class of 2022 was undoubtedly difficult. Arguably the most important year of high school already was topped with a constant fear of COVID-19, inconsistent bell schedules, a deteriorating school and awkwardly silent classrooms and Zoom calls. Life simply felt off. The music I listened to during this time period encapsulates these emotions since I used music to cope with the strange times. Songs like “IFHY” by Tyler, the Creator and “Washing Machine Heart”

by Mitski helped me release my pent up sadness and anticipation anxiety while songs like “Begin Again”

by Taylor Swift helped me maintain hope that things would feel somewhat normal again soon. And I think in the earlier months of 2021, they did in a way, and we were able to begin again. The healing process was beginning and on top of that, Tyler, the Creator dropped an album that summer, so things must have been looking up, right?

Although I still have a little left, senior year is my favorite year at UAHS. This is not to say that it hasn’t been full of ups and downs and numerous bittersweet “lasts” because it most definitely has, but I’ve made it a priority to enjoy my last year of high school and take in every moment before it’s all over.

My songs from this year represent my mental state, with songs like “Useless” by Omar Apollo listened to when coping with a brutal college admissions process, songs like “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” by Taylor Swift to reminisce on my ending childhood and happy songs like “Peaches”

by In The Valley Below to enhance my excitement for the next chapter in my life. I’m thankful for every connection I’ve made, breakdowns I’ve had and all the beautiful moments of high school life I’ve experienced that have helped me grow into the person that will walk across the graduation stage in a few weeks.

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OPINION

Ch- Ch- Ch- Changes

Columnist discusses the change that comes with the end of high school.

BY AVA ADAMANTIDIS, ’22. GRAPHICS BY LUCY O'BRIEN, ’22.

O

ne of the many gifts in my life is the ability to make choices for myself: to choose what I have for dinner, what I do on a Saturday night and what I do after high school.

Unfortunately, one thing I cannot choose, or even control, is how things will always change. I often hear people say, “Change is inevitable.” Although I know this is true, I have always chosen not to believe it.

Growing up in UA, I’ve never really had to deal with that much change. The only big transitions I’ve had to overcome were moving from Barrington Elementary School to Jones Middle School and then to UAHS. But suddenly, it’s 2022: the year that I have been hearing about since fifth grade, and the year I never thought would come.

I knew my senior year would be filled with many lasts, and although I have tried to make every moment count, there is always a bitter taste left in my mouth. I find myself getting wrapped up in sadness when I should really be appreciating these final moments in UA and the life changing memories that are about to come.

One concept I have learned throughout my years in high school is that having a positive mindset can completely alter the way you look at the world. So I think to myself, “Why can’t I view change as a positive thing?” I have listened to podcasts, watched YouTube videos and read books on how change is good, but I am still not satisfied. I can say that I have been thankful for some changes—like realizing that mustaches do not belong on clothing and side parts are just not it.

But I keep running away from the biggest change I have yet to face: leaving UA. I can admit that on May 29, the day the class of 2022 graduates, I will be ready to move on. I will know that I have fulfilled my high school life in every way possible. But still, the thought of packing up my whole life and moving somewhere so unfamiliar is unsettling. Leaving the FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @UAARLINGTONIAN

people who have watched me grow into the person I am today just seems wrong.

The one thought keeping me going is everyone is dealing with the same eerie feeling. No matter what a person’s plans are after high school, they will experience some type of life change. It’s not my initial reaction to go with the flow when it comes to something uncomfortable, but there is comfort in knowing deep down that everything will work out—maybe not in the way expected, but definitely in a way from which I can learn.

Even in writing this opinion piece, I have stepped out of my comfort zone. I make videos and social media posts for the Arlingtonian religiously, but never in a million years would I have thought that I would be writing a story. I was scared of straying away from a medium where I excel. Writing this helped me change my perspective on myself and my strengths.

It feels like my life is turning upside down, but in reality, I am moving forward.

Now that I have reflected on how the transition from high school to college will change my life, I have realized that I hate change because I fear change. I am constantly thinking about what I have to lose; I think about leaving my family, my friends and my home.

However, instead of dwelling on present fears, I should live in the moment and open my eyes to how much I am about to gain. I think deep down I’m beyond excited to begin a new chapter, connect with people from all walks of life,

learn more about myself while being on my own, and continue my academic journey in a new environment.

Change is inevitable. It’s scary; it’s unpredictable, but it’s necessary. You cannot pick and choose change, but you can choose how you view it.

W W W . A R L ING T O NIA N. COM | 29

DEAR MOM Columnist writes his final review.

BY LUKE ERIKSEN, ’22. GRAPHICS BY LUCY O’BRIEN, ’22.

A

s the thought of leaving for college looms, I ponder what I’ll be eating next year. I’m not ready to eat like a typical college student with diets consisting of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, pop tarts, ramen, cereal, CLIF bars and hot dogs.

Will I be able to find amazing restaurants in Raleigh, North Carolina?

Columbus has some of the best food in the world! But there’s still nothing I am going to miss more than my mom’s homecooked meals.

After long, exhausting and sometimes low-spirited days, I relished coming home and eating my mom’s dinner. My mom will tell you that my mood is dependent on the food I eat every day, which may sound insane, but that’s how important food is to me. And after coming home from a three-hour basketball practice, there’s nothing better than seeing a savory meal my mom made.

Before college, I tried to learn to make some of her dishes. I wanted to take all

of her cooking secrets, her idiosyncrasies and her signature meals with me. I’ve carefully watched her create her piquant meals while I take notes on ingredients and preparation on my phone. When I’m away, I’ll miss it all, but a few meals come to mind. I have my favorites; I’m still a food critic even for my mom.

Her bolognese, to this day, is the best bolognese I have ever had. It takes almost 12 hours to prepare. All day my Mom stirs and adds ingredients. My anticipation builds throughout the day as I anxiously await the sauce that melts like hot butter in my mouth. I make sure that I’m home for dinner if my mom is making bolognese. I don’t care what is going on with my friends that evening; they could be going to a five-star restaurant, going to an Ohio State game or having a party, but it doesn’t matter because I will be home for dinner.

Her taco nights feel like a weekly Cinco de Mayo. I could eat her Mexican food every single day. I can’t imagine

I’ll be able to prepare homemade salsa, guacamole, corn salsa, pickled jalapenos, cilantro, Spanish rice and marinated chipotle chicken in my dorm room. My mom’s Mexican food is a blessing and a curse at the same time because it’s better than most Mexican restaurants. Am I really going to downgrade to a cheap Taco Bell on campus? Still, I know going away to college will be good for me, as I need to learn how to not spend $30 at every restaurant.

I’ll miss all of the food my mom has made me. Even the meals I critique because they aren’t my favorite—I’ll miss those too.

Sometimes, I wonder how my mom does it. After a full day of work and errands, she still finds time to make a 5-star meal for the family. How can someone keep that up every day during the week?

I’ll miss eating dinner with the family.

I’ll miss learning how to cook. I’ll miss the meals. But Mom, more than anything, I’ll miss you.

◀ LUKE & HIS MOM Columnist Luke Eriksen poses with his mom.

30 | ISSUE 8 | M A Y 2 6, 2 0 2 2

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EDITORIAL

TAKING STOCK

Take a moment to acknowledge the changes we’ve gone through.

BY EDITORIAL BOARD.

A

dolescence is known as a time of transition. As students mature beyond childhood and hit life milestones on their way to adulthood, the popular narrative holds that to be a teen is to be suspended in constant change and turmoil.

For UAHS students in 2022, that popular narrative applies even more. Think of the changes we’ve faced in just the past year. We’ve said goodbye to a beloved building and acclimated ourselves to a brand new one.

Our community is redeveloping and reinventing itself.

We’ve come out of a global pandemic. And so it’s not just us who have changed; it’s our everyday world, too.

In the face of all this change, it can be easy to buckle down and cling to the past, resisting change.

We may want things to stay how they are—how we are

comfortable with them. But the changes that face us, no matter where we are in our UAHS journey, challenge us only to make us stronger. Change isn’t bad; it’s just different.

That said, the whirlwind of change we’ve been caught up in can be hard to grapple with. So no matter where you are in your UAHS journey—whether you’ve just finished your mostly masked freshman year or you’re a senior about to leave the bubble and venture off into the world—take a moment to take stock. Acknowledge your feelings of nervousness or apprehension at change.

Acknowledge the difficulties of the past few years.

Acknowledge your resilience. You’ve come this far. And as summer starts and a new year approaches, you’ll go farther still.

R.I.P. LIEUTENANT COLONEL JEBEDIAH 2021-2021 “God shall wipe all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.”

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