Class of 2012 Senior Issue by paw print

The Oh! Places We’ll Go!

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!

Artwork credit: Devin Long and Caitlin Monahan

The Things I Really Learned In High School

The Importance of Maturity H

igh school has such a big impact on who we become over the four years we are here and being a senior, it is almost surreal to be looking back on how much I have changed throughout this time. We can look back and see how much our class has grown throughout our time here (or lack there of). What used to be a big deal coming into high school as a freshman is comical to think about now; we cared so much about what people thought about us and little on the important things. As seniors, we are more focused on ourselves and preparing for our futures instead of spending hours picking out outfits for school to impress people who have very little impact on our lives. It is crazy to think about how high school can make us grow up, even if it is just a little bit. If you could compare how someone would act in a situation as a freshman or as a senior, you would see a drastic difference. I think by the time you have reached the end of your high school career, one has learned to handle events that happened in our lives with more maturity from learning from past mistakes here. If I could go back to any of my time spent at Norwalk High to change what happened, I would not do it. Although I have made a lot of questionable actions from the time I first walked into high school, it has shaped me into becoming a better person all around; our ups and downs in high school make us who we are. As a freshman, I knew high school was going to change everyone, little did I know that it has such a big impact on the person we will become later on in life. From learning to handle situations with a new outlook or to finding what I love to do most. All I can say is, thank you Norwalk High School for making me who I am; I would not be the same without you.

Caitlin Monahan “sally”

June 2012

Confessions of a Senior M

such a gigantic school and realized that I would ean Girls, High School Musical, John Tucker probably never be tormented by a group of popular Must Die, Bring It On, and Confessions of a girls. High school was supposed to be such a huge, Teenage Drama Queen. challenging, major step in my life, yet suddenly, it Prior to freshman year, these movies were all did not seem so bad. I could refer to when wondering what high school In some ways, I was disappointed that high would be like. With school was not as big of no older siblings, I a deal as I had thought knew very little about it would be and that the what to expect when inside of NHS did not quite entering Norwalk High look like the beautiful School, other than the East High in High School few taunting rumors I Musical. However, in many had heard. other ways, I was rather So as I entered the relieved that high school building I would call would not be as difﬁcult “Jo-Jo” my second home for and dramatic to survive as the next four years in it seemed in the movies. late August 2008 with Four years later, as my friend, Sophia, I my time at NHS becomes quickly realized that the reality of high school a previous chapter in my life and the University of was going to be a lot different than I had seen it Delaware becomes my new home, I have learned in the movies. that life as it is portrayed in the movies is almost There was no Regina George or a clique of never how it actually is in reality. High school is Plastics sitting together in the cafeteria. I never quite the roller coaster ride, but by getting involed come across a Troy and Gabriella picture-perfect in as many different aspects of it as possible, I couple. A group of girls plotting against the have found my way. school‛s ultimate womanizer was nowhere in sight. So as I take the next step in my life and head The Toro cheerleading squad never ran by me in off to college, I am forming my own opinions about the hallway all dressed up in their uniforms. And what the next four years will be like, instead of Lindsay Lohan was not there to take the spotlight expecting it be like it appears in Accepted or from the most popular girl in school. Legally Blonde. Instead, I found my group of friends much easier than I had expected in what seemed to be

Juliana Cole

REASONS TO TAKE JOURNALISM 1. If you like to socialize and write... and write... and write. 2. Because you

think

it will be an easy “A”

3. You get to use a computer that actually works 4. The people you meet 5. To get your opinion heard and recognized 6. The Press Passes boost your ego.

I Do Not Like Green Eggs and Ham “I

do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am.” While Sam does not like green eggs and ham, it is the complete opposite at Norwalk High School. Though it might not exactly be green eggs and ham, it is the next best thing, a bacon egg and cheese or ever-popular BEC. The well-known BEC has become a phenomenon during these past four years of high school. In the high school world, especially in the morning, many students, including myself, are sickened by the thought of a huge breakfast before 7 a.m. Though something about that delicious combination of eggs, meat and cheese on a hard roll thrown in with some home fries on top always seems to do the trick for many high schoolers. Quite often you come across the famous “BEC >>>” tweet. Whether it is before school, during open end, the lunch period or even after a long weekend you are bound to come across it at least once a week. Being that NHS is so conveniently located next to Westport Ave, the home of dozens of places to buy food, you can be enjoying a breakfast sandwich in the snap of a ﬁnger. It seems that the cure to the early morning blues is the BEC. From freshmen to senior year it could be said that some students rely on their BEC ﬁx to get them through the day.

When sitting in class the aroma lingers across the room, leaving students with their stomachs growling. Over the course of four years in high school the popularity of this simple, yet delicious, sandwich has grown to be one of the best things to exist in the high school world. So while Sam-I-Am discovers his love for green eggs and ham and states, “And I will eat them here and there. Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!” It is not much different from ‘who-ville‛ to NHS, in a boat, with a goat, on a train and in the rain to in class on the grass and in the halls or in the stalls. This ever-popular sensation may live on in the high school world forever.

Emily Crosby “Sam I am”

Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them

June 2012

The More I Learn, The More Places I’ll Go O

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ver the last four years, I have had many periods where I would slack off, and not do work. As a result, my grades would suffer. It was not all of the time, or in every class, but it was deﬁnitely a huge problem in my high school career. As I

have grown into a young adult, I have acquired a large amount of guilt about this; not only to my parents, my friends, and myself, but mostly to my teachers. There were so many great teachers whose

classes I would not take seriously, and I would perform badly in. I feel guilty because it is their job to make sure every student learns the material and is given the opportunity to earn a good grade. If a student does not achieve success, the teachers must feel like they failed the student, but in reality it is the other way around. I hope all of the teachers whose classes I did poorly in realize that it was completely my fault that I did poorly in their class. Almost all of the teachers I have had in high school have been great, and have given me every opportunity to succeed. It was my fault that I was lazy or unmotivated. Recently, many states have considered proposing bills that can lay teachers off due to their students poor test grades. This suggests that if a teacher‛s students do not do well, they are bad teachers. This whole notion that there are bad teachers, and that teachers need to compete to keep their jobs, is cruel and inaccurate. Sure, there are occasionally bad teachers out there, but most teachers are hard working and dedicated to their students. In my time at Norwalk High School, I have only had two or three “bad” teachers. These were

I Will “Miss” Lasko

not teachers that gave a lot of work, or pushed their students. These were teachers who rarely taught and did not care about their student‛s achievement. Almost all of the teachers I have had are committed, and I feel very badly about disappointing some of them. In the future I plan on working hard in all of my classes. Of course disappointing your teachers is not the only downside of failing your classes. The main person you are letting down is yourself.

Austin Boger “Humming-Fish”

Teacher Appreciation Juan Colon

Andrew Fitzgerald

“Chief Yookaroo”

“Fish”

ince my sophomore year in high school, I have been fortunate enough to have a great teacher that has inspired me to learn, and has helped me prepare for the challenges of college level work. This great teacher is Mrs. Lasko, Business Technology teacher at Norwalk High School. It all began my sophomore year in her computer construction repair class. Here is where I learned the basics of computer repair along with the different aspects of computer software. Mrs. Lasko explained things in such a way that I became more and more interested in learning all I could about computers. With all of the hands on activities in her class, she was always there helping me and guiding me in all my activities. She always told me to “never give up and keep trying until you are confident with your results.” I have used that motto for the past three years in her classes and it has really helped me be successful. Since Lasko saw my enthusiasm and all of my hard work in her class sophomore year, she encouraged me to sign up for Cisco Networking I for my junior year. She told me it was a very difficult class that involved college level work, but she was confident that I could handle it. She was very pleased with my performance in that

class. Now as a senior, I am taking Cisco Networking II and once again I am lucky enough to have her as my teacher. The work is difficult but Mrs. Lasko makes it easier. If it wasn‛t for her help and guidance, I would not have the confidence that I have today. Because of everything I have learned in these three classes and Lasko‛s great influence I have decided that I would like to study computer science in college and hopefully pursue a career involving computers. The past three years have been great. Mrs. L a s k o ‛ s guidance has helped me grow as a person, gain confidence in myself and introduce me to the challenges of college level work. All this will certainly allow me to be successful in the future. Like she told me in my sophomore year, never give up. Keep trying until you‛re confident with the results. This is a motto I will be sure to use in college, and always in the future.

s my four years at Norwalk High School have come and gone, I feel that one component of the school is often overlooked and rarely given credit for what they do. That component would be the teachers, our primary educators who have committed their career to educating teenagers to be the smartest and best they could be. Nobody pays attention to the amount of time and effort that some teachers put into their work. Being a teacher is a 24/7 job because of the preparation that is required and the fact that teachers have to act as role models for their students. That work is rarely appreciated, but I personally hope that changes. Some of the smartest individuals I have ever met are teachers here in our school. They get their students to think in a way they never thought about thinking and often uncover ideas and perspectives that an inexperienced teenage brain may have never thought about. There are many students who

get angry because their teachers ask them questions that actually make them think and have no right or wrong answer. If a student is really curious and interested in learning, they will take on the challenge and learn from it. Simply expecting everything to be taught to you step-by-step defeats the purpose of school. The purpose of school is not only to teach you, but also to teach you how to teach yourself and take advantage of your knowledge and curiosity. I have personally learned a lot, especially from the Social Studies Department teachers. They have taught me to think in a unique way, particularly to understand what is going on in the world today as opposed to the past. Since history is my favorite subject, my curiosity and interest stimulate my learning in the area. Going to school with an open mind and a desire to learn will allow you to take advantage of the resources that are given to you. Nobody likes every single subject, but as long as you show interest in your favorite or most preferable subject, the teachers will expose you to a world of information. The teachers at NHS are great at what they do and they really do care. So show them your appreciation for what they do because being a teacher is not an easy job. Certain teachers have taught me so much that I have to admit, I might miss them when I am gone.

A Little Rhythm Goes A Long Way

June 2012

Musical Moments Make Amazing Memories Y

conditioner broke about one hour into it. That bus was then officially labeled as “the Inferno” for the rest of the trip. T h e n there was jazz. During jazz, I remember listening to Mr. Smith insist that he heard ghosts in the balcony and try to l i k e persuade this are us of it. “ ck i scattered After l St” ya a l l j a z z , m H me ah St throughout some kids actually y l n il at i my music went into the auditorium “eSC years. I and stood in the auditorium “Th have come to trying to hear a whisper or anything appreciate the h u m o r that might allude to the presence of a and awkward times that ghost. shaped my experience in the music I will never forget the birthdays program. during marching band where you would Then there was the time during get hit with paper plates piled with the spring musical of Les Miserables whipped cream at the end of practice. when I had a quick costume change Nor will I forget about the saxophone for the next scene and would have to section who has always been the source run backstage of my good times to change into a and motivation. nun‛s costume. During our sax As luck huddles before a would have it, competition, we on closing night, would chant, “pink my costume was pajamas penguins not there. I ran on the bottom!” back and forth to get pumped up. across backstage Believe it or not, it s e a r c h i n g actually works. frantically The music feeling the time program has been closing in, and such a huge part of finally I found my Norwalk High it up in the girl‛s experience and I dressing room. will sincerely miss I almost missed it. my cue to enter the stage, but I managed to throw the costume on. However, if you had looked carefully you might have seen a part of my previous costume flapping out at the bottom of my nun costume. On the band trip to Florida in 2008 we all took coach buses. There were about fifty people on the bus plus with chaperones. The drive was about twenty-six hours and our air “ ou‛re dumber than a…. dumb spoon!” I am sure the impact of this comment seemed better in Jeff Smith‛s head. The kid who he was yelling at just looked at him for a moment and said, “as opposed to a smart spoon?” Moments

en a o i Z s iy B r rr b n a a H M

he idea of High School Theater was a foreign idea to me until about seventh grade. That year, we were taken to Norwalk High to see the music department perform the musical West Side Story. The house lights dimmed, and the audience was taken from a seat in a high school auditorium into the world of love, Romeo and Juliet, and gangs. The cast, pit, and crew drew me in with their voices and their notes; everything that happened on stage pulled me in deeper into the world of theater. The

ac-

I had no doubt in my mind back then that I would be doing this again for my senior year. A Production Assistant works right under the director and does many of the jobs that the director does not have time to do. Throughout the production I watched dance rehearsals, yelled at kids to be quiet, and ran errands for costumes and props. During the show I was backstage for costume changes, prop moving, and making sure everything ran smoothly.

n a i r nbeyy B aayl H a M ol t” a G H

Now as the p r o duction o f

e o” th Wh u Lo in t indya Bye, eC telC t Bye, Birdie has i “L h come to a close; I look “T

tors took their final b o w s a n d there was only one thought in my head: I want to do that. I want to be the one on center stage singing my heart out.

Ironically, it took until my junior year to actually get myself into the theater program, and it was not by choice. Freshman year I realized that I had crippling stage fright and would not be able to be on stage in front of more than ten people, so being in the cast was simply out of the question. I was introduced into the world of Production Assistant after Mrs. Pettibone pulled me aside and asked if I wanted to take on the role during the production of Guys and Dolls. I was apprehensive at ﬁrst, hearing stories of how everyone hated the Production Assistant, but I ended up sticking through the entire production and having the time of my life.

back on how far I have come since that day in the audience. I never thought I would be doing tech instead of acting, but I would not have it any other way. Being a Production Assistant has opened up new opport u n i ties for me and has shown me a different side of myself that I did not know I had. I am just as important as any cast, pit, or crewmember. Doing the musical was the best decision i have ever made.

Hats Off to the NHS Music Department N

Senior year of high school, I owe all my orwalk High School was a living hell to me, and I thanks to Norwalk High School Music Departcould never ﬁgure what to do in it. ment. All the teachers and students were amazFirst, I tried sports like football and lacrosse, ing, and I could not feel more a part of the band but in the end there was a huge amount family. of bullying going on in the locker Thanks to Mrs. Burkhalter, I can read norooms. tation perfectly. She has inspired me to take Finally I quit sports, and I my music further by joining an orchestra. was lost in my junior year. I had Also, who can forget the countless hours Mrs. “Max the Dog” no idea of what was going on. Pettibone puts into the play and helping her own The bullying towards me and students? Mr. Rivera gave me a chance in the other students were ridiculous. music program even though I was never part of I was ready to leave Norwalk High School and go into the Marching Band. He made me learn that Norwalk High is not a bad school Brien McMahon, until I came across the best program in as a lot of people and I stereotyped it to be. the school. I am glad that the Music Department proved me wrong about NHS beOne day, my friend told me the band needed a bassist for cause now I could not have been happier. My senior year could not of been Jazz Ensemble. I played bass and loved music so I went for it. better by having perfect teachers and being around the greatest students During the day of the audition, I was too afraid to go into the in NHS. I really would like to thank Mrs. Burkhalter, Mrs. Pettibone, and Mr. band room. Then a band student warmly greeted me and led me Rivera for actually giving me a chance in music, allowing me to learn more inside the room. than I ever could, and making my senior year. I walked in, and all I saw were a bunch of really happy students playing their instruments, and for the ﬁrst time saw happy students at NHS. The next step was to go to Mr. Rivera to ask if I could audition. He said of course, and later, I made Jazz Ensemble. Later, I joined the Pit Orchestra for the phenomenal play this year, Bye, Bye, Birdie.

le y K ne o p Ca

June 2012

A Little Love, A Lot Of Patience

How I Became a Modern-Day Shakespeare A

So what was a sophomore girl with seemingly s I sit here just about a month away from no flair for putting ideas onto the page to do? graduating from this fine establishment, and Soldier on of course! The first two years of my typing away at my latest story, I find myself writing experience in high school were marked doing what I seem to do best: writing. by disappointment. Thankfully, that all changed But that does not mean during the next that this journey to selftwo years. discovery was in any way Junior easy. In fact, I never had year marked a a clue that this was a sostriking change called ‘talent‛ that I even in the negative possessed. Throughout notion that I had my high school career, in my head. The any sort of composition C‛s and lower B‛s “Goo-Goose” that I created, whether that adorned my it was an essay or short English grades story, was always labeled suddenly reached ‘satisfactory‛. a new height. I got my first A on an English writing And that was one of the kinder comments. assignment. A manifestation had appeared, and Others included, ‘Your argument is all over the the shock of it all led me to experience true place‛, ‘What exactly is your thesis statement‛, confidence in my ability to write. or my personal favorite, ‘Don‛t take this the Maybe it was the fresh pair of teacher‛s eyes wrong way, but this was one of the worst pieces that finally started to appreciate my work, the type of writing that came my way, or possibly, in in the whole class.‛

Nora Blake

some metaphysical phenomenon, an aptitude for composing long and valid analytical essays, and short and inspiring stories about my ideal world or what I had for breakfast. In short, a gift came upon me, and it took my world by storm. Even writing for The Paw Print was an unexpected surprise. Once I began this September, the articles I have produced have been of quality writing, and have even stunned my perceptions of what I could write about. Today, it still amazes me that I write for the school paper; I compose essays for AP English at a rapid rate, and somehow ﬁnd the time to read often and even write passages in a diary when I have a good idea. The immense contrast that has taken hold in these last few years has ultimately left me in complete awe of myself. As I go off to college next year, the conﬁdence I have collected about writing term papers and articles for my Journalism minor pretty much oozes out of my ears. I really cannot wait to see where this newfound talent will take me in my future.

Relax, Your Whole Life Lies Ahead of You I

f there is any single lesson I have learned over the course of high school that will stay with me after graduation, it is that adults make just about everything sound more severe or signiﬁcant than it is in reality. In middle school, the principal and some teachers tried to drill it into our heads that high school would affect the rest of “Fox in Socks” our lives. They warned us that teachers would mark us late for not being seated at the bell, that late work would be a zero, and that we would receive hours upon hours of homework every night. Sure, we get homework on weekends in high school and there is a legitimate consequence

Devin Long

for tardiness, but the high school their words made me imagine is entirely different than it was in retrospect. Now, in high school, we are under the impression that the career or college we choose will be the biggest decision of our lives. Yes, we would meet different people if we went to Boston instead of New York and might even see life in a different way if we went into the ﬁeld of nursing instead of art. However, big decisions are not the only ones that change our paths in life. Who is to say that one path is no better or worse than another? Over the course of my life so far, I have wasted too much time worrying about whether or not I chose the right classes or sport or friends, and my only regrets stem from choosing not to do something rather than from a stupid decision. In all honesty, basically nothing we worry about on a daily basis really matters in the whole scope of our lives. Everyone gets too caught up in the way society thinks people should live their lives and forgets to look within themselves and do what they feel is best. Going to college, getting married, working a full-time job, living within ten miles of your hometown, and having kids is not for everyone and that‛s ﬁne.

NHS Wackest Ride 2012 A

personality. She lets you know how she is feeling. It is her way or the pavement. For instance, Princess absolutely hates making left turns and she lets you know by her obnoxious squeak. So do not even think about hating on her because she will lock the steering wheel or lock your keys in the car. Along with her sassy personality, Princess has a style of her own. She adores her Hello Kitty floor mat because without that she would be bare white rusted metal. Style is her Stephanie second nature with her cheetah Gonzalez print duct taped emergency brake, and her pearl necklace that hangs from the rearview mirror. Princess is the mix match “The Grinch” queen with all of accessories that compliment her lovely grey seats that attract every speck of dust around her. We have been through so much together. My girl Princess has been a big help for From flat tires, to getting hit by a man on me by allowing me to get place-to-place… a scooter, to singing along with her engine most of the time. All in all I am more than on the highway, Princess is a trooper. thankful for my grandparents allowing me With a little pep talk and a love tap to the to drive their car because without them I dashboard, Princess and I go everywhere. would be walking everywhere. I learned a Her favorite place to be is in my valuable lesson in taking care of something driveway where I strategically park her that is given to you and for that, Princess with the hood facing downhill so her gas and I take our superlative with pride. tank can magically fill up. Princess definitely has a unique and sassy s the owner of a car with missing four hubcaps, license plate on the dashboard, and manual everything from windows to the locking system, it was no surprise that my car won the title Wackest Ride for the Class of 2012. Many refer to Princess as ghetto, but to me, she is my ride or die girl.

REASONS YOU LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY* *Leaving school early is not allowed, or condoned by the Paw Print

1. My home bathroom has a toilet seat. B-House doesn’t. 2. Weather’s Nice. It’s Friday. C’mon 3. When any chance presents itself. 4. I need to use the “facility.” 5. I want to take the rest of the day off. 6. It’s Free Frenchfries Day at Burger King 7. Why not? I’m a senior...

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Before We Go, You Should Know

d Edit a or e H

Staff Writers:

Staff Box:

Carly Mammoliti Lydia Krenicki Hayley Gola Brian Manby

Nora Blake Austin Boger Kyle Capone Nicole Chiaramonte Juan Colon Chloe Cappo Juliana Cole

Emily Crosby Jennie Deering Taylor Demarco Andrew Fitzgerald Stephanie Gonzalez Taylor Greene Ryan Halloran

June 2012

Zoe Harris Devin Long Caitlin Monahan Daniel Munoz Caylie Sheridan Kendall Sturges

The Man Behind All Of The Madness Brian Manby “The Cat in the Hat”

e is about 5‛8”, has facial hair like Zach Galiﬁanakis, tries to dress like he has Ralph Lauren on speed dial, and odds are he has probably written you a referral at least once over your high school career. Mr. Karl is known for his obnoxiously decorated classroom that resembles a pre-teen girl‛s obsession with The Jonas Brothers, and his uncanny ability to spell like a third-grader. He starts every day with a cup of coffee from his local Cumberland Farms, which closely resembles

the average student‛s addiction to using their iPhone so they do not fall asleep from boredom during his class. He is certainly one of the more “unique” teachers at NHS, if you consider unique to be someone who tapes antique cell phones to his classroom wall, hangs Rage Against the Machine photos from his desk area, and turns his desks around every time he gives an exam just to mess with the psyche of his students. In other words, he is a freak. Mr. Karl is Norwalk High School‛s own hipster. In fact, his trademark daily phrase-vomit of the word “FOLKS!” stems from the classic Porky Pig slogan “That‛s all, folks!” which he shortened because he thought Looney Tunes was too mainstream. If you know Mr. Karl, then you are aware of his pipedream aspiration to become President of the United States in 2024. Odds are, you have seen one of his whopping four VOTE KARL 2024 stickers plastered around the school in hopes to achieve voter support. However, the odds of Mr. Karl becoming the President of the United States

It Changed Everything S

tarting high school Carly was not easy for a shy, Mammoliti 14-year-old fresh out of private school. Norwalk High School was “Queen of Quincy” something that scared me. Norwalk were going to read was Though as the days went on enough incentive for me to get and I got used to the large scale my work done, and make it good. learning environment, high school Taking Journalism not only was a breeze. That is, until I opened my eyes to a career decided to take Journalism my in writing, but it helped me to Junior year. realize my love for political When I ﬁrst started the issues happening in the world class, two of my best friends around me and a want to pursue dropped it because of how much a life in law. responsibility they were being In all honesty, a thank you is thrown into; but I was up for in order. A thank you for putting the challenge. up with all the late nights, and What I was not up for, was days after when there was still sitting at a computer for the so much to do. One for helping entire class, alone, and being us through the tough times, and told to just write. For someone reminding us that we can do it. who thought they had all of the Thank you Mr. Karl, for ideas in the world, being told to helping me to realize some just write what ever I wanted of the basic life skills I have was the hardest thing I had developed in Journalism, and for ever encountered. the friendships and memories I Though, just knowing that hope I never forget. It was fun, my name was going to be on and I am going to miss it all. something that people all over

during the 2024 election season are about as favorable as Seabiscuit winning the next Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, Seabiscuit is dead. As a journalism teacher, Mr. Karl is not much different than your typical whiny, flustered, spoiled child. He continuously whines about our lack of a budget to finance the production of the school newspaper, which ultimately forced many students to drop the class due to his strong resemblance of a complaining matriarchal figure. Not to mention, his taste in pizza during “Late Night” is as Godawful as his dream to become President. Mr. Karl is perhaps the most annoying member of the Norwalk High School body. Whether you love him, hate him, or are entirely “apathetic”, odds are he will still be here writing your referrals and making your life miserable by the time you graduate. Despite the attitude some of his students may have toward him and his outrageous quirks, those same oddities are what brings such uniqueness to Norwalk High School and help shape the student body into scholars who are pushed to excel and striving for success.

A Shock of a Lifetime W

hen I ﬁrst started taking Journalism at the beginning of my junior year of high school, I have to say that it was not my favorite class; in fact, you could even say that I disliked it. “Mayor of Who-Ville” Throughout my school career, I had always hated when people told part of it all again. I wanted the team me what to do. I liked to use my imagination and come up with experience of having people work my own ideas of what a class should be. together and I wanted to be able to That all changed when I entered the work hard and see the results of that work in person, and that was what I journalism room. I had never had a class with so much got. I have learned so much taking freedom and I liked my boundaries. I journalism. I have made some of my liked knowing what I could and could best friends in the journalism room, not not do and I liked having rules. A class was supposed to be structured and to mention made some unforgettable disciplined so when I entered this memories. I have learned that it is class and found that I could write ok to be curious about things and no about whatever I wanted and had the matter how badly you mess up there is freedom to explore my ideas, it made always a solution. I have learned that two heads really are better than one me uncomfortable. I could never think of ideas to and that anything really is possible. During my time in the journalism write about and was so focused on room, I have come to know that I writing a great story that nothing am a much stronger person than I came to mind. But as I let my mind wander and became a little bit less thought I was and have come out of of a perfectionist I started to really my shell in many ways. I will forever be enjoy this class and my experience on grateful to the Paw Print for getting me through tough times and share in the Paw Print staff. When senior year came around I the joy throughout my times in high had no doubt that I wanted to be a school.

Lydia Krenicki

Never Goodbye, Only See You Later

June 2012

Hoppie Takes a Trip to Fairfield University

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t is a mutual agreement that high school is the best and hardest time of a teenager‛s life. As an eighth grader hearing about high school was both exciting and overwhelming. However, looking back at these past four years at NHS, I had something that kept me sane whether it was cramming for a test, trying to ﬁnish the essay I decided to start the day before it was due, or

The Pattern of NHS T

hroughout high school, I have observed social patterns in my peers that rarely change throughout the years. It is funny because one would think every year some thing would change and the “The Lorax” class that comes in the next year would change the pattern, but it always stays the same. We gain and lose so much while we are teenagers. We lose friends and change our whole life around. We gain courage to continue on, even when life seems too hard. We lose our innocence and begin to be more realistic. Freshmen run around skipping classes thinking it is fun, when in reality it is messing up their future. They start problems, not realizing the drama they start this year will not even matter by the time they reach twelfth grade. Sophomore year is the time to make mistakes. Sophomore girl‛s mess around with upperclassmen boys, thinking they are cute one week and the next, they are crying their eyes out all because they were serious about him, but he was not serious about her. Sophomore boys think they are grown up and catch attitudes with girls everywhere they go, not realizing that they are being annoying. Junior year is fun. This is the stage, where all they are thinking about is having fun when class gets out. One barely sees a junior out of class because they are trying to get into college, so the only time they get to goof off is in the hall. By senior year, no one cares about anything anymore; we all realized that life is about to really start in just a few months. The seniors are calm in the halls, talking quietly to their friends or just trying to get to class on time, because we do not have time to “H” like the slacker underclassmen. My time in the halls of Norwalk High School has helped me ﬁgure out something that most people would not ﬁgure out for years, that we are not as different as we think, we all follow the same pattern.

Taylor Greene

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animal, I embrace that yes, a stuffed animal has ultimately helped me get through high school. Because of this, I plan on taking Hoppie with me next to year to my college, Fairﬁeld University. Most family and friends know about Hoppie and do not judge me on my childlike ways but by e ni bringing Hoppie to a new place with Je n : t di Cre new people to meet makes me slightly Photo apprehensive. People would normally think that I am scared that people will judge me based on the fact that I sleep with a stuffed animal but my main worry is someone stealing or losing Hoppie. However, my solution is to lock Hoppie in a safe place every time I leave my room. Ultimately my family, future roommate and future husband need to accept the fact that a little stuffed bunny rabbit named Hoppie will always come ﬁrst. De

Jennie Deering

even letting high school drama get the best of me. That special something is a stuffed bunny rabbit named Hoppie. My love for Hoppie out weighs the shame many teenagers my age feel about sleeping with a stuffed animal. I proudly admit that yes, at eighteen years old I still sleep with this little stuffed bunny rabbit. But to me, Hoppie is more than just a stuffed animal. Hoppie has been by my side since the day I was born and will remain with me until the day I die. Although it sounds slightly weird and a little on the crazy side, I love my Hoppie like someone loves a pet. However, my stuffed bunny rabbit is better than your typical pet dog or cat. Hoppie is always happy to see me when I come home because of his pink imprinted smile and unlike other pets, can never die. Instead of hiding the fact that I am a senior in high school who still sleeps with a stuffed

THINGS I STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND ABOUT NHS... 1. I forgot? 2. Why the substitutes keep coming back? 3. Why people think it’s funny to stuff the sinks with paper towels? 4. Why you have to pay for the packets of salad dressing? 5. Why people drop things in the stairwell? 6. Is there really a bug infestation? 7. Why can’t we leave during study hall? 8. What the conservatory looks like? 9. Why the bathrooms are locked? 10. Why they painted the lockers in an ugly color?

Saying Goodbye to a Beloved Principal Ryan Halloran “Green Eggs”

uring my seventeen years of living, I have been under the control of many teachers, guidance counselors, principals and even substitutes during my educational career. However, not one of those prominent ﬁgures come close to comparing to Mr. Leonard Mecca. I feel bad for Norwalk High School next year because there is not one principal out there that will compare to the man that Mr.

Mecca is. I do not know anyone else that will stand outside, rain, snow, sleet or sunshine, and greet every single teacher, parent and student that walks by him. What amazes me is that he knows the majority of the names and faces that cross him. Mr. Mecca said that he has watched crazy driving every morning for the ﬁve years he has been here. “It is worse than Times Square,” he joked. “I see brave students cross the street and I tell them ‘I am glad you made it across.‛” Every student gets to see Mr. Mecca again in the lunchroom, where he walks around and interacts with students sitting at their respective tables. Furthermore, every Friday he walks to each table and wishes everyone a great weekend. You can also catch this man cheering on any NHS sport. Although he refuses to sit with the Bear Pack, you can still hear his voice echoing throughout the playing ﬁeld. When the NHS football team played Conard, Mecca went to the

extent to paint his stomach and showed it off through the pouring rain. “I feel like this big dad going to watch all my kids play,” stated Mecca. Lastly, there is not one student at NHS that does not aim for him during the annual dodgeball tournament. “You might as well put a bulls-eye on my shirt because everyone comes after me,” explained Mecca. Mr. Mecca looks intimidating when he is on the court because he has the looks of a twenty-year old and the quickness of a McDonald‛s line-cook. However, he begs to differ. “You need to be young, quick, athletic, and short to be good at dodgeball. I posses none of those traits,” said Mecca. I am honored to leave NHS with a man that no one will forget. He is a role model students, including myself. He will truly be missed.

New Beginnings

June 2012

You’re the New Girl from California, Right? F

or all three months of my summer vacation, I dreaded my first day at Norwalk High School immensely. I hoped that every obstacle possible would prevent me from the terrifying fate that would ultimately be my senior year as the new girl at Norwalk High, having just moved to Connecticut from Los Angeles, California. Strangely enough Hurricane Irene occurred, postponing the first day of school, which temporarily allowed relief. After my neighbor encouraged me to join the swim team, I attended practices and met my captains and newfound friends, Ashley Balunek and Katie Baritz. They told me of their friends in my new senior class that I was hesitant to meet. On the first day, I raced into the school without a clue as to where my homeroom or any of my classes were, so I attempted to find the nearest administrator for assistance. I coincidentally asked Mr. Singleton, who was suffering from first day jitters of his own as the school‛s new E-House master. After hysterically running through the school with Singleton, I eventually made it to my designated classroom. The school‛s distasteful jail-like exterior, three story indoor campus, along with the lack

of campus color or murals, and indoor basement cafeteria, taunted me as I struggled to grasp the reality of being in a new environment that contrasted dramatically from my former, outdoor, four thousand student school. On the second day of school, the senior class introduction assembly began and the ﬁrst person to politely sit next to me, having no knowledge of who I was, happened to be Brian Manby. I remember Brian wearing the sweatshirt of a California restaurant and after courageously introducing myself to him, we became good friends throughout the year. During the ﬁrst few weeks of school, I had experienced shyness and antisocial issues of my own that were unordinary from my natural social behaviors. This disconnection eventually faded as I became more comfortable with my Norwalk peers. Approximately everyday for the next three months, people approached me asking, “You‛re the new girl, right?” The attention was bittersweet because although I was anxious to meet new people and tell them stories of California life, I still attempted to keep my roots grounded back with my old friends in LA.

These questions disintegrated over time and as I type this article, I recollect on the moments that created my Connecticut experience. Although I was afraid of forming friendships and substantial feelings for people in Norwalk, I realized that I would not trade this miraculous experience for anything in the world. Life is full of new chapters and this is one I will certainly remember for years to come. My Norwalk friends are so valuable to me and I hope we stay connection through effort and time.

Kendall Sturges “Mayzie Bird”

“Where did they go?” High E

very year, over 1.2 million students drop out of, or do not reach the requirements to graduate, high school. With graduation approaching soon with Norwalk High School students, some seniors still worry about reaching that requirement. Making more conscious efforts with their guidance counselor, and try everything they can to graduate. Although, it might not be enough. As a freshman, students leave a first impression on how their grades will be throughout high school. “More than a quarter of high school freshman fail to graduate from high school on time,” claimed dosomething.org. Do Something is teen-loving website, created to inspire teenagers with some “awesome energy” and “unleashes it on causes teens care about.” With articles trying to teach kids how bad it is to give up and drop out, the website is filled with news stories on reasons why to stay in school. “In the United States, high school student dropouts commit 75% of crimes,” stated Do Something, “The problem is likely to increase substantially through 2020 unless significant improvements are made.” As of right now, Danbury, CT is ranked 57 out of 68 for crime rankings. Norwalk was not ranked on the list, however is reported to have over 1000 arson attacks this year in 2012, all of which were preformed by criminals who have not graduated high school. Currently, America‛s high school graduation rate ranks 19th in the world, where we used to be number one forty years ago. “Hispanics are twice as likely to drop out than African Americans”, states the website, “while whites and Asians are least likely to drop out”.

One in four kids are dropping out of high school. The statistics are worse for different races as well. African Americans have a statistic of one in three kids will drop out, and one in two freshman Latinos will not graduate “Thing #2” in expected time. “Find your passion in life, your calling, something you crave, that special thing that makes you giddy. Set a goal and never ever quit.” said Ted Nugent, a rock legend from Cat Scratch Fever and Stranglehold, at a field trip to raise awareness on how important it is to graduate. “Take Care of your precious sacred temple. Eat smart and stay clean”, he finished with, for the students at the assembly. Dropping out also causes other secondary or indirect problems: Public assistance, Single Parenthood, and possible prisons. The best choice is to fight through the situation they are in and stay in school, even if it means to use online courses. Online courses are made for students unable to leave home. For example, the student could have a busy health issues, family issues, or unexpected pregnancy. Online course are a beneficial alternative to simply dropping out.

Taylor Demarco

Time Never Wasted Da nn y Munoz “Daniel The Kick-a-Poo Spaniel”

enior year, the last step in a student‛s high school career, is by far hands down the best school year in all of school career. The relationships that you built over the four years with your teachers and peers really help out in making the school year ﬂy by as if it was nothing. Personally, through out my four years at Norwalk High School, I have made many connections with teachers and made close friends out of them; I was a PAL (Peer Academic Leader) for some classes where I got to hang out with my teachers and help them work along with their students, which was pretty fun to do. Now, in my last year as a NHS student, a school day can ﬂy by as if it was nothing,

well that is if you did things the right way prior to Senior year. My view of Senior year was almost exactly as how it came out to be, easy. Seniors have it really good compared to any other grade. Teachers are more laid back with them, due to the fact that the students are the seniors of the school and more mature. As the years went by in NHS, I felt as though little by little school was just getting easier. I think it has to do with growing up and realizing you are not going to be a kid forever; your attitude changes towards school and you almost get use to it. You do your homework and get good grades; it is a very good trade off I would say. Now, finishing the year off, I feel as though Senior year was the best school year of them all after a long run at NHS. I have so many memories in this school such as working in Sachs class and bringing your car around, being able to make food in Ms. Dolan‛s class and eat it right away, and many more. It is good to finally finish off strong and be happy with how the year has come out to be. Senior year is a memorable high school year, one that will never be forgotten.

LATE NIGHT MEMORIES 1.Automatic shut off system... Losing all your work. 2. Arguing over which place to get pizza from 3. Having to come back from sports practices all hot and sweaty to sit in another hot place. 4. Past 7 o’ clock Hayley and Carly never stop talking. 5. Dancing with Chloe even after she broke her toe. 6. When the room was well over 100 degrees. 7. Everytime Brian leaves for some kind of practice. 8. Lucas and Carly tying to spar with a ruler and a clipboard. 9. Not being able to play Christmas music, even though Hayley wanted to. 10. Lucas begging for Planet Pizza.

A Blast from the Past, A Glimpse into the Future

June 2012

“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss “Y

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Leaving a Legacy Knowing that this was my last year, I wanted

to leave Norwalk High with something that could last for generations and bring people together. My solution was the Bear Fair. I have been working on the Bear Fair since the end of my junior year. I literally started with nothing, and built it up from the bottom. I wanted to create something where people around the community could get together and have fun, while school organizations could raise money. Even though the fair was not as good as it could have been, I consider it a success because it was only the first year. I see the first Bear Fair as a great steppingstone to future fairs. Now, the idea is set in people‛s heads, and the seed is planted. Already, work has begun on getting ready for the next Bear Fair. There are a number of things that can be improved upon for next year. The most important subject is advertising. People told me it would be the hardest part of putting the fair together, but I did not believe them until I was finally immersed in it. Another issue was the time. The fair ran from eleven to four, but that proved to be too long. Eleven was a good start time, but shortening the fair to end at three o‛clock may have been a wiser decision. There was a large difference in profits made from the fair. GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) made $125 selling tie-dye t-shirts, while the Paw Print raised $2). Guidelines for the booths should be reconsidered to try to make sure each booth makes a decent profit. Overall, I can see the Bear Fair becoming a huge part of the school year in the future as long as it is maintained. I want to thank everyone involved for their participation and their patience. If anyone wants to help out with the Bear Fair for next year, a committee should be put together by the fall. Whenever I look back on my high school years in the future, I will always remember the Bear Fair as my greatest achievement.

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ou have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You‛re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who‛ll decide where to go....” This inspiring quote by Dr. Seuss is a true testimony to all seniors at Norwalk High School. As seniors begin to travel in multiple different directions it seems that students are dwelling on the past a little too much. How can a student not be excited to start school in the fall or begin a career? Is it really necessary to be stuck in the high school environment forever? This is a brand new chapter in every senior‛s life. Yes, it will be sad to leave friends and family behind and of course some will even miss the social and educational environment of Norwalk High School. However, being afraid of what is to come next is entirely too dramatic. Students must take the educational and life lessons learned at NHS and apply them to the new and exciting lives in which most are about to venture out on. And how can that new life not be exciting? There will be new friends and homes and freedoms that were never experienced while still in high school. So seniors make the best of the rest of the year but be prepared for the one to come. Accept challenges and create solutions, but in general, be excited. High school might be ending but the rest of our lives are just beginning. Remember, “You are the ones who decide where to go.”

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Lessons I Have Learned When you think back to January 14, 2011, do you remember what

your day consisted of? Probably not, but it is a day I will never forget. January 14, 2011 was not only the beginning of a new year but also a blessing in disguise. Around ten o‛clock that morning I was called down to my house ofﬁce to be told that my car was going to be searched. My heart instantly dropped. Alcohol and a small amount of marijuana were found in my car. I completely forgot that there was any sort of alcohol or bottle in my trunk, or little crumbs of weed in my cup holder. Many people then talked down to me, but I could not blame them. If you give people something to talk about, they surely will, and I gave them more than enough. Having that feeling of disappointing my parents was the worst feeling of it all especially breaking their heart. What hurt the most was sitting in my house ofﬁce as my housemaster made that phone call to my parents. After hearing their reaction, that is when I could of sworn my heart broke in two. After getting ten days of out of school suspension, I had more than enough time to think everything through. It made me realize that I am much better than that, and unfortunately had to deal with the consequences. When I came back to school, it was not as bad as I thought except for teachers making sarcastic remarks every now and then. Since that day my mentality has changed. I was very close to getting expelled and I am thankful I did not, and can truthfully say I have grown into a more mature, and responsible young lady. Having that occur was a wake up call that there are consequences to every action we teenagers make. With some teenagers it takes more then a slap on the wrist to realize what is right and what is wrong. But there are the teenagers that take that slap on the wrist as a big enough reason to wake up to reality and make better decisions. Ever since this occasion, my grades have been nothing less then a 3.0, and I plan on keeping them like that throughout college as well. Some people say it was a bad decision, some say it was stupid, however I say it was a blessing. That mistake has turned me into the person I am today and I will never be ashamed to talk about it.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re off to great places, today is your day! Your mountain is waiting... so get on your way!

*Disclaimer: We do not own any of Dr. Seuss related images. All credit goes Random House Inc.