2020 Senior Issue

2020 S E N I O R S

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The Journal’s 2020 Seniors

his senior issue is full of firsts.

For one, it was the first with no after-school photo shoot to take cute photos of all of us. The first with no official meeting to decide on Senior Superlative categories. The first with no opportunity to design everything together and determine exactly how we wanted our class to be portrayed on paper (or through the screen, if you’re being technical).

Instead, our Editor-in-Chief and our Print Managing Editor divided up the pages and created them from home.

Everyone sent in selfies and whatever picture they wanted to use for their unique page. Our communication was limited to text messages and the occasional electronic meeting. With so many changes and challenges, we couldn’t very well pretend this senior edition is like the ones before it. So, we came up with a theme that we think describes this insane school year fairly accurately: video call. If every conversation has to be held over Zoom or Google Meet, then there’s no reason why The Journal can’t follow suit.

Enjoy this very special issue of The Journal, full of firsts. We hope you liked our content this year, and now we bid you adieu.

Haley Miller, Editor-in-Chief Rachel Bayler, Print Managing Editor Julia Brookshire, Online Managing Editor Jordin Baker, Photos Editor Russell Peterson-Womack, Sports Editor Jacob Wiese, Reporter Shelby Reeves, Reporter Sherlyn Garcia, Business Manager Tilyan Aslam, Reporter

Images throughout the senior issue were free use from Google, and art was produced by Kayla Brown.

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HALEY MILLER

When I think back to high school in 20 years or so, I’d say I’ll be thinking about The Journal and our little newspaper family. Because no matter how else I try to look at it, newspaper has defined my high school career.

The journey began sophomore year, and I smile even now looking back on it.

Rachel Bayler and I joined together. We laughed at inside jokes so much I think everyone thought we were crazy, but we were having a blast. That year, a handful of fellow publications kids and I flew to Dallas, Texas for the National High School Journalism Convention. I was sick almost the entire time, but that was only a slight obstacle.

I remember the trip mostly as playing card games, eating pizza in the hotel lobby and taking a not-so-official tour of The Grassy Knoll at Dealey Plaza. We came home more tightly bonded than we had been all year. I think it was then when I realized the kind of community that being on The Journal creates.

Junior year was a blur -being an editor changes your perspective and heightens your stress levels. With all the classes I was also worried about, The Journal should have just been another homework assignment, but instead, it was my solace. My friends and I would laugh our way through production nights in the computer lab. From stuffing ourselves with pretzels in Chicago to christening Maddie Knight with the name “Chump,” The Journal friend group became central to my life.

My senior year has been heavy with responsibility and

lots of unexpected twists and turns, but there were moments we shared as a staff that were truly special. Watching the editors and writers grow so much this year has me brimming with pride. We’ve created some truly great content. That’s not to say this year hasn’t had difficulties. In the Editor-in-Chief position, newspaper work definitely becomes harder because you’re looking out for everyone, not just yourself. Having my managing editors Rachel and Julia at my side was a blessing.

They helped make this year fun amidst all the chaos. So, thank you, bros, for your support and your friendship. I could never have imagined working alongside anyone else.

As this year winds down, I know that it is time for my tenure at The Journal to come to an end. If I’m being honest, I wish we could have done our normal senior sendoff activities, like Journal breakfast, awards and the traditional senior issue. I wish I could have produced that last print copy of the year. But, maybe it’s better this way so I don’t become emotional. To my newspaper family, years past and present: Thank you for the wonderful memories.

I’ll miss you all dearly.

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RACHEL BAYLER I look back on my time as part of The Journal as some of the best, most formative years of my life.

High school in and of itself is a time of growth and selfdiscovery, but I don’t think I would be the person I am today if I hadn’t walked through the door to Room 400 three years ago.

If I had to pick one aspect of The Journal that has had the most impact on me, it would be the people that have made up the staff over the last few years. There’s nothing more uniting than a group of near strangers gathering together at the beginning of every school year and vowing to strive to create great work. I’ve met some of the most creative, smart, hilarious and all-out amazing people during my time in Room 400.

Getting to be a part of The Journal was something I used to take for granted, and it’s hard to believe that my time on staff is ending.

But the people I’ve met and talked to and laughed with over the years have

changed my life for the better, especially Mr. K. He helped teach me the value of hard work and showed me what a great teacher that truly cares for every single one of his students looks like.

I’ve written some great pieces and have read some great pieces, and I’ve gotten to hold my work in my hands every distribution day. I grew up during my time on The Journal and learned some valuable life lessons, and I wouldn’t trade my time on this staff for the world.

Thank you to all my amazing teachers, especially Mr. Luers, Mr. K and Mr. Jones, who show daily that they care beyond the confines of the classroom. Thank you to my bros, Haley and Julia, my partners in crime, for brightening even the darkest days. I’ll miss SHS a lot, and I’m glad I got to spend some of the best years of my life within its walls. Catch ya later. X.O.

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JULIA BROOKSHIRE For a majority of my senior year, I wore mismatched shoes: a boot on one foot and tennis shoe on the other. That’s kind of how senior year has felt -- mismatched. I’ve had mixed emotions about the end of my career at SHS. Some days I am excited for what lies ahead for me, and other days I feel a longing for high school to last just a little bit longer.

One thing I am going to miss the most about my time at SHS is The Journal. I joined the staff my junior year, and I wish I would have joined sooner. The Journal gave me a home away from h o m e , a family. Like any family, we annoyed each other, cried together and shared many great memories. Being a part of The Journal family gave me a group of people that cared about me, connected me with some amazing people and gave me so many

opportunities that I never imagined I would have. To everyone that I’ve worked with on The Journal, thank you for supporting me as I learned, caring about me and creating a family that I will never forget.

Along with The Journal, I want to thank all my teachers I’ve had throughout the years, my counselors, all my family and friends, my bros, Haley and Rachel, and administration for supporting me within SHS and beyond. Without all your support I don’t think I’d be who I am today.

Thank you for supporting me through academics, my dance dreams, the opportunities I’ve had to serve my community and my hunger to further my education beyond the walls of SHS. All the mismatched pieces of my senior year fell into place and made it a year to remember.

Thank you, Southport, for playing such a positive and encouraging role in my life.

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JORDIN BAKER Wow, it’s the end of my senior year. I remember my first day of high school, I actually got lost. For some reason, back then I couldn’t see my end of school. I remember so much and yet at the same time so little. I thought I would always remember my last day of school, but instead, I don’t because I didn’t even know it was my last day of school.

I remember hanging with my friends, going to the dances, parades, games and all the other normal high school big things, but I don’t remember what happened in most of my classes (as I think most of my classmates are experiencing as well).

Most people don’t actually like going to school, but for me it’s always been a second home, especially Mr. K’s room. Though, I don’t think I ever actually thought of what my life would be like without this constant second home.

During all of high school, I didn’t join much

of anything. I started out as a shy kid who did not know how to do anything, but as I leave high school, I made lots of friends, took lots of challenging classes and joined The Journal and two different sports.

I have to say if I had to do it all again, I’d do more. I first thought that if I didn’t do anything then things would be easier, but I was so wrong. I should have done more and cherished every moment with so much gratitude. Because we lost this last semester of school, I missed out on my last season of lacrosse, the last issues of The Journal, my last prom, my graduation, hanging with friends after games, going out with the team after an awesome win, the awards, the late nights and all the fun that came with the start of adulthood and end of school. My advice would be to do everything and don’t look back.

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RUSSELL P.W. Howdy, y’all. It’s Russell Peterson-Womack or RPW. Well, my time with The Journal has come to an end. After one year as a sports reporter and one as the sports editor, I’m sad to say it’s over.

There aren’t many classes that don’t really feel like classes, but The Journal is one of them. It felt more like doing a sport or other extracurricular activity. I got to sit around and form relationships with the people I worked alongside, and I didn’t see the actual work as classwork because I could immediately see rewards for my hardwork like in sports. The pieces I produced as a writer and editor were things I could be proud of beyond a grade in Skyward.

The Journal gave me a new way to get my name out there and learn some new skills that I could be recognized for. Either I could produce OK work and get an OK grade, or I could try to go beyond

that and receive appraisal at a state or maybe even national level.

The Journal taught me not to be satisfied with the bare minimum or even the standard. During my first year with The Journal, I won first place in the Indiana High School Press Association Sports Journalism Contest and received $100. This drove me to produce the best work I could instead of just trying to get a passing grade. Of all the classes I’ve taken, journalism has given me the most responsibility for myself as well as others, and it’s one of my favorites for that. This class taught me to not seek the path to success that had the least resistance.

While my time with The Journal wasn’t perfect, and I don’t plan on pursuing journalism in the future, it has gotten me one step closer to being ready for the real world, and I’m grateful for that.

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JACOB WIESE Let me start out by saying that I don’t think I would be the person I am today without being a part of The Journal. I’ve never seen myself as a great writer, and I never saw myself going into a career for it. The Journal made me get out of my comfort zone, interviewing people I would have never even met or talked to. I have also learned how to manage my time and work independently. I’ve had my decent share of mistakes, and I’ve learned from them.

It’s been a great experience, but it wasn’t always positive. It gets very disheartening to write articles for a school that a lot of students have total apathy towards the publication. If it weren’t for the amazing people on

the staff, I would have quit.

Sometimes I think of what my junior and senior year of high school would have been like if I hadn’t been involved. Part of me thinks that I would have enjoyed it more. I could have taken a cooking class or another music class and had a lot of more fun.

It would have also left me more time for sitting at home playing video games and it would have taken away a huge amount of stress. The other part of me knows that I wouldn’t be in the situation that I am now.

I have grown as a person and as a writer. I’ve made memories and friends that I’ll never forget, and although it’s been a hard and stressful experience, those few moments make it worth it.

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SHELBY REEVES I think the reason time moves so fast it’s because you don’t realize it Truly.

I feel like I got whiplash from one minute being a freshman and the next being a senior. But since I don’t have a time-turner handy, I will talk about how I’ll miss SHS and the lessons it has taught me about myself.

I remember feeling lost in my freshman and sophomore years. Never feeling a part of a group, but I found some footing in my junior year. During my junior to senior year, I joined a book club where I met some really great friends that I hope to keep during college, been a mama duck to the best chicks a mama could ask for and read some great books. The Journal came my senior year, and I think it is where I learned the most about myself and how I would perform in a workplace environment.

Even though I only did The Journal for a year, it would’ve been an honor to do more.

As much as I love these extracurriculars, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be where I am today without teachers.

To Ms. Foor for making me a better student and reader for many years down the road. To Mrs. Reedy for always being a great friend whenever there wasn’t one and a great “Animal Crossing” buddy.

To Mr. K for always being so passionate about his work that makes me more determined to be a better writer and person. And even to my friends (and ducklings) for making me the best I can be.

Thanks for the memories, SHS, and the blessings that you have given me. I can’t believe my time here is up, but I’ll never forget it. But as Plankton once said, “I’ll see you all in therapy.”

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SHERLYN GARCIA These four years at SHS have been a rollercoaster.

Like every roller coaster, there are ups and downs, curves and loops, but no matter what, you hang on for the ride. My ride at SHS has been the best and one of the most memorable moments yet. I have loved every second of my time at SHS, even if it meant walking in through those doors before the sun was awake. It was worth it though. I have learned so many things through the years and will carry them with me.

I loved the two years I’ve spent as a member of the SHS dance team. I have truly made long term friends and have been able to get out of my comfort zone. I

loved the hours I’ve spent in The Journal room, even if I was a newbie this year.

It’s where I learned to be more organized, work along with my classmates while being stressed and write better than I did before. I loved how we all could come together at games, plays, dances and even through some rough times.

I can truly say that these four years at SHS have shaped me into the person I am today.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the ups and downs along the way and the supportive staff.

So thank you, SHS, for these amazing memories, experiences and friendships. I will forever be a Cardinal.

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TILYAN ASLAM A year ago, I came to the U.S. as an exchange student from Pakistan.

I was still new to the American lifestyle and its people on my first day at SHS. Fitting in at an American high school was for sure one of the biggest cultural shocks for me since it was way different than the one back home. SHS no doubt was different and new to me, but it was and will always be a home to my dreams and ambitions.

I came to SHS knowing no one, and now I’m leaving this place with so many precious friendships and bonds that I have made, and I will cherish them forever.

I was nervous about how I would adjust in this place because no one knows me here, but today, from the school counselors to the teachers and students and even

our school principal, almost everyone knows me now as “an exchange student from Pakistan” and loves me.

This school has given me so much to be grateful for. It has helped me grow into a better and more open person. From trying sports for the very first time to taking fun classes like piano and French, I’ve learned so many new things just within a year at SHS. There were moments when I had to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself, and track was probably one of those moments for me.

The Journal, the speech team, all the clubs that I’ve joined and the people I’ve met during my journey will be missed a lot when I return back to Pakistan. I’m forever grateful to SHS for playing its part in my journey, making me the person I am today and giving me a different perspective about life. I’m thankful to all of my teachers and friends for accepting me, loving me and making my year so amazing.

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College Chat: IUPUI

Emma Belcas Megan Frank Heather Gates Joshua Gritt Amanda Husselman

Josefina Lechuga Hailey Pardue Brittany Reynolds Benjamin Starkey Rachel Sung

Wabash College Carson Meadors Ricky Sessions

Anderson University

Indiana Wesleyan University Adrianna Frederick

Isaac Palmer

Butler University Julia Brookshire

Ball State University Jessica Johnston Tyla Kyle Lilly Leslie Ryan Lezon Caitlin Lindbeck Nicole Manning David Masengale Lesley Rodriguez Shelby Reeves Natalie Roy Sarah Rusaw Isabellah Vargas Azlin Vermillion

University of Southern California Madeline Holloway University of Southern Indiana

University of Indianapolis Katie Berry Lauren Biak Madisyn Corpuz Lauren Cullison Gavin Hensley Rebekah Mappes Russell Peterson-Womack Alex Phillips-Hedge Ava Pierle Riley Richter Olivia Scaggs Jacob Schauer Treston Sizemore Dajah Steward Erin White

Lexie Green Alexa Haines

Indiana State University

Military

Olivia Modglin

Jordin Baker - Army Alex Ramirez - Army

Empire Beauty School Max Richey

University of Louisville Jade Germann Vanessa Miller

Where is the class of 2020 going next?

Marian University

Purdue University

Keirstin Piatt Madison Woodmansee

Zachary Barnett Taylor Jackson Sharon Kayembe Andrew Nguyen Hayden Phillips Carter Smith Isabel Turner

Austin College

Indiana University

Kayden Casey

Rachel Bayler Ethan Bridges Chris De La Cruz Bianca Foronda Azya Guerrero Kendall Henderson Ngun Za Hniang Sidney King Par Li Haley Miller Kiara Moore Tre Morris Mya Schuessler Gavin Simpson Justin Tidd Nicole Vidaurre Jacob Wiese

Trine University Lee Ellyson

Work Sam Hansell Victoria McCarthy Chandler Rudy James Traylor

Franklin College Lydia Springer

Hanover College Matthew MuĂąoz

Indiana Tech

Asbury University

Brendan Tyner

Brynna Reynolds

Ivy Tech Community College Ife Awosanya Tamara Hernandez Adrianne May Matilda Omana

Capital University

Wittenberg University

Meghan Mendel

Ben Morlan

Undecided Grant Davidson Karina Melendez

Aveda Fredric’s Institute Jessica Quakenbush

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Succeed in life Marry someone famous Become Prez Become a millionaire Become a famous rapper Become a famous comedian Become a famous athlete Become a cat lady Become principal Start Twitter beef Have 10 kids Be in the FBI Be on Dr Phil Get married before 20 Have a talk show Have a dead phone Shop online during class Be BFFs forever Be a model Be a social media influencer Become a farmer Travel the world Come back and teach at SHS Cure Coronavirus Write a Bestseller Win a nobel prize Brighten your day Be late with Starbucks Win an Oscar Start a political party Never be single Be on Broadway Stay in Southport Quietly take over the world

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Justin Tidd Keirstin Piatt Isabel Turner Hayden Phillips Jacob Schauer Gavin Simpson Drew Shellenberger Brynna Reynolds Meghan Mendel Bianca Foronda Abby Dunn Ricky Sessions Vanessa Miller Taylor Jackson Olivia Scaggs Jessica Johnston Taylor Jackson Jessica Johnston & Kiara Moore Sidney King Johnny Armstrong Nicole Vidaurre Jacob Schauer Mya Schuessler Haley Miller Isabel Turner Julia Brookshire Keirstin Piatt Justin Tidd Isabel Turner Taylor Jackson Lilly Leslie Caitlin Lindbeck Madeline Holloway

Mya Schuessler Sidney King Chris De La Cruz Kayden Casey Angel Gonzalez Peyton Cheatham Ryan Lezon Nicole Manning Carter Smith Azlin Vermillion Meghan Mendel Jordin Baker Olivia Scaggs Dajah Steward Jacob Warfel Olivia Scaggs Sidney King Keirstin Piatt Sara Brummett Kiara Moore Kaleb Dehner Bianca Foronda David Masengale Samantha Cardoza Shelby Reeves Haley Miller Nicole Manning Heather Gates Lilly Leslie Gavin Manley Vanessa Miller Justin Tidd Bryce Brickley Sara Brummett

The Journal’s Honorary 2020: Prom King: Matthew Muùoz Prom Queen: Jessica Johnston

senior_superlatives

C la s s o f 2 0 2 0 BEST...

Hair Eyes Laugh Smile Dressed Personality Dancer Singer Facial Features Writer Driver School Spirit Shoe game Vibe Bromance Listener Organized Artist Sense of humor Shoulder to cry on

Kiara Moore Lee Ellyson Vanessa Miller Keirstin Piatt Kayden Casey Julia Brookshire Julia Brookshire Lilly Leslie Corbin Skutt Haley Miller Gavin Hensley Taylor Jackson LaMarco Yates Adrianna Frederick Lee Ellyson & Kendall Henderson Katie Berry Gabriella Whitinger Gavin Simpson Meghan Mendel

Josh Moore Sidney King Rachel Bayler Ava Pierle Jacob Schauer Sarah Kemp Lilly Leslie Justin Tidd Madisyn Corpuz Madeline Holloway Nicole Manning Brynna Reynolds Juan Amador Alexa Haines Joshua Gritt Joshua Gritt Nicole Manning Ife Awosanya Madeline Holloway Samantha Oberc

Texter Driver Parking Listener Procrastinator Senioritis Attention span

Ava Pierle Hayden Phillips Heather Gates Hayden Phillips Olivia Scaggs Ricky Sessions Taylor Jackson

Katie Berry Heather Gates Brynna Reynolds Marsela Riddle Travis Perry Lexie Green Marsela Riddle

Cutest Couple Cutest couple that never was Most talkative Most original Nicest Loudest Class Clowns

Joshua Gritt & Corbin Skutt & Marsela Riddle Jacob Schauer Julia Brookshire Brynna Reynolds Gavin Simpson

Haley Miller Vanessa Miller Taylor Jackson Kayden Casey Nicole Manning Erin White Hayden Phillips

WORST...

ODDS & ENDS...

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