The Orb: Senior Issue 2023-24

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It is hard to put on paper how exceptional it has been to be a part of HSENews and the Editor-in-Chief of the Orb this year. Since middle school, I thought I wanted to be a journalist because I loved Rory Gilmore in Gilmore Girls..., but through living out that idea working on the Orb, I have found my own success and joy in pursuing journalism, and I now know I want to be a journalist.

HSENews, and the Orb specifically, has been my gateway into the school’s community and culture. During a student/parent meeting the fall of my 8th grade year, I stumbled across the HSENews booth set up in the flag hallway. While my future teachers and classmates buzzed around the table talking to interested students and curious parents, someone gave me a copy of the Orientation issue from the 2019-2020 school year. I still have that Orb, in great

condition and sitting on a shelf at home with all of the other Orbs I have worked on up to this point. Since joining the staff second semester of my freshman year during Covid, I have watched this program go through a creative renaissance and step in a new and stronger direction. We have covered topical issues, sports, news, changing of principals and school boards, local legends and businesses and tough editorial truths. Putting together a news magazine is intensive work and way more time-consuming than it is perceived to be, but it is so rewarding.

It is hard to remember all of the stories, designs, photos and infographics I have worked on during my four years with the Orb, but I will not forget the people. This class brought me some of my best friends and role models that have left their lasting impressions on me, thank

you to the friends, classmates and advisors that made the Orb possible issue after issue. Working around all of these immensely creative and strong people, it was impossible not to walk away from every class period feeling inspired and with purpose. It has been an honor writing and leading with this news staff and I am so excited to see the next wave of student journalists and leaders that will step into the spotlight. Being Editor-inChief of the Orb has been the capstone of my career, and I hope through it, others have found the community and culture I found so long ago. God has blessed my time here, and I am forever grateful for this opportunity to follow my passion. I cannot wait to see what the Orb does next. Signing off, Laurenk.

Photo contributed by Lauren Kopka.

Q & A WITH

VALEDICTORIAN YASH SHAH

Q&A and Infographic by Nicole Morris | morrinic001@hsestudents.org. Photos contributed.

Q: What are you most proud of achieving in high school?

Q: What is something you would like your classmates to know about you being valedictorian?

A: I’m most proud of the connections and networking I’ve made with teachers and other students. I’ve also loved getting to know a lot of people and making memories with my friends, as well as creating a great friend group.

A: Even though you may be good in studies, you don’t have to be behind books all the time. You have to have a perfect balance of everything where you can have fun but you know where your limits are, to when you need to sit down and focus on something else.

Q: Describe your experience with the competition between you and Hannah for valedictorian being so close throughout all four years.

Q: Looking back on these past four years, what is one thing you think contributed to your academic success?

A: Definitely my support from my family and friends, really. Whenever I’ve been in an off spot, whether that be a physical or mental issue, I’ve been supported thoroughly by both my family and friends. That’s helped me keep my focus and drive, rather than slip away.

A: It’s been close all of high school, since it’s been back and forth with a new leader every semester. So the competition has been intense, in that way. The thing is, the goal is just to do your job and beat yourself rather than aiming to try to beat someone else. It’s not the struggle of trying to do what they’re doing, but trying to look at what you can do to beat

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: I plan on majoring in aerospace engineering at Purdue, with the eventual goal of working in aerospace, maybe at NASA.

SALUTATORIAN

Q: Describe your experience with the competition between you and Yash for valedictorian being so close throughout all four years.

A: I would say it wasn’t really competitive, per say, it was more like nice encouragement and motivation throughout these four years to keep working hard and to keep going. At the end of the day, no hard feelings, what happens happens, but it was nice to have some sort of dynamic.

Q: Looking back on these past four years, what is one thing you think contributed to your academic success?

HANNAH GAO

A: The main thing that contributed to my academic success was my teachers and leniency that they’ve given me throughout all of high school. Things like late grades, redos and being okay with absences all helped. Having decent study habits and perserverance in getting things done helped too. Plus a lot of caffeine. A lot.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: I’m not sure yet, but for now to go to college, major in math or computer science or both, and maybe get a minor in visual arts. After college, I’d like to either go into AI or something in that area.

Student Relations Director

Braden Myers Vice President

Jaren Bush

Alyssa Damson

Brooke Daugherty Director of Funds

Joshua Batuyong

Norah Wans

Photo by Avery Grunder.

JESSIE LYONS

ANTHONY RUSSEL

BREONNA GOSS AUSTIN MCNEELY

GLORIA LANE PETER ROBINSON ELAINA CONSTANTINE ASHLEIGH TAYLOR

ALBORZ SALEHI

4 YEAR

VOCATIONAL / 2 YEAR

Photo contributed by Julianna Wells.

Australian wildfires reaches peak

COVID-19 pandemic shuts down world

Black Lives Matter protests start in wake of George Floyd’s death

Winter storms cut power in Texas

Ever Given slows trade after being lodged in Suez Canal

United States withdraws last of troops from Afghanistan

British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigns after just 45 days in office

OpenAI launches ChatGPT

India becomes world’s most populous country

Global temperature records are shattered

Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD falls after being hit by cargo ship

Solar eclipse puts 31.6 million Americans in path of totality

NFL Hall of Famer, actor and public personality Orenthal James (O.J.) Simpson passes away

Seniors,

As I contemplated what to say in this letter, so many ideas came to mind that describe this class- compassionate, creative, expressive, funny, hard-working, intelligent, innovative, and self-less, just to name a few, but there is one word that comes to mind that I feel is most appropriate to share with you and that word is courageous. You see, I would argue that it takes courage to pursue who you were meant to be. Courage is defined as the quality of being ready and willing to face negative situations. Another way to put it is courage is being afraid and doing it anyway. It took courage to pursue academic excellence at HSE. It took courage to support one another. It took courage to hold yourself and each other accountable. It took courage to take on student leadership roles. Why is this important? Because we need courageous young people to stand up for what is right. To respectfully engage in civil discourse. To speak up if you get a seat at the table. To bring new ideas and concepts to the team. To pursue excellence in all that you do. To let your light shine. To be who you were meant to be. So be strong and courageous as you finish your senior year. It took a lot of courage for me to be your principal this school year and it has been an honor and privilege to serve you.

Sincerely,

Mr. Reggie Simmons

Dear Senior Royals,

It is so hard to believe that you are almost done with your senior year and soon, you will be walking across the graduation stage and going your separate ways. I am so honored to have been a part of your path. As I think about your high school experience, I am quickly reminded of the many challenges that this class, specifically, has had to endure. It is a tradition that older generations like to brag that they had it tougher than the younger generations, that they had to walk barefoot, uphill to and from school every day, and that sort of thing.

Well, I am here to tell you that your class had it tougher than any generation alive. and I witnessed that first-hand, and forever will admire your resilience, perseverance and grit to get through that unprecedented time where none of us, including the adults, knew what to do. You started your freshman year on Zoom and then returned to school on a hybrid schedule. As you walked through the halls, we could only see each other’s eyes as we had to be masked. Despite the frustrations of social distancing, Q-R codes at lunch, and contact tracing, you connected with teachers, administrators, and each other, excelled in the classroom, and became Royals!

As your path leads you forward, I urge you to remember your resilience, perseverance and grit that you demonstrated from Day 1 at HSE. Those characteristics proved that you are strong and ready to lead, and I can assure you, that the world needs to hear your perspective and learn from your experience, an experience that none of the rest of us have. Using your voice can be scary at times but, it is worth challenging yourself and taking the risk. It is when we take risks that great joy and success can be found. If you avoid risk, you could miss something amazing... something like being carried through the hallways in a kayak while students are singing the school fight song. I would hate for someone to have missed that! :-)

Finally, please remember that your group is special! You truly are unique. You share a bond which will connect you to each other forever. Lean on that bond and honor it. And most importantly, remember you are Royals! I am cheering for you!

Go be great!

Ms. Janie Ulmer

Photo by Paityn O’Neill.

Photo contributed by Janie Ulmer.

Photo contributed by Julianna Wells.