Capture Capture the the Moment Moment 2015 Senior Edition
June 2015
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Capture The Moment Bears Take On The World
ISABELLA BRUNI @isabellas_bruni
W play.
alking into NHS on my first day freshman year I expected my high school years to be filled with drama and stress, all work, no
Woman vs. Wild
EMELY CHEN @emely_chen
O
n the summer of 2014, I went on a three day vagabond where I canoed through New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania and hiked on a portion of the Appalachian Mountains. For the people who know me, they know that nature and I do not
From what the movies had shown me, I would count the days until graduation and never look back on those embarrassing, waste of time high school years. Little did I know those four years would not be so bad, they actually now hold incredible memories and experiences. Some of the most memorable were the big school trips have been on, Florida in 2013 and Italy in 2015. I went to Orlando, Florida with Ms. Burkhalter and the orchestras for a competition which we won first place for best orchestra. It was a twenty four hour bus ride to Orlando, filled up with over thirty teenagers with three stops in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In Orlando we went to Disney World and Universal Studios, which was the dream considering I felt like my five year old self the whole trip. What made this trip especially memorable was spending time away from home with most of the people I grew up playing in orchestra with since elementary school. From plucking on the A string in third grade to winning first place on a level five orchestral piece with these same kids is a really emotional and proud feeling, and of course it was even better that we were in sunny Florida. Two years later I was lucky enough to be able to go on another school trip, but this time abroad to Italy. Myself and eight other students, along with Italian teacher Mr. Aloi, spent time in the three major cities of Rome, Florence and Venice as well as some smaller towns Assisi, San Gimignano and Padua. Not only did we practice our Italian, but also ate traditional meals and visited places like the Colosseum, Vatican, Duomo, Doge’s Palace and so many more. Getting on a flight to a foreign country and spending ten days there without my family, taught me a lot about my character and independence. The anticipation to land after eight hours of holding in excitement was like nothing I have felt before. What truly made the experience was the connection I was able to create with the other kids that went, them being some of my best friends now. Going to Florida in 2013 and Italy in 2015 were definitely memories I will remember and cherish from my high school years. These are the types of experiences that truly help shape and define ones character and for that I cannot thank Norwalk High School enough for giving that to me. mix. It was one of the biggest challenges that I had taken on. For some reason, I wanted to prove to myself that I could live like one of the contestants on Man vs. Wild. It was an experience that I will never forget. The three day trip consisted of sweat, tears and two sleepless nights. Even if I wanted to turn around and give up I was not able to, I was stranded in the middle of nowhere. On the first day, I was more than ready to reach the top of the mountain. We paddled through three states in that one day. The sound of birds and waterfalls had made the hours pass by smoothly. The second day was probably the worst of all. The hiking portion had begun and I had “woken up” from a sleepless night. Within the first two hours of hiking I had caved in. My positive outlook had come to an end. I was hungry and the only thing on my mind was constant regret of even coming on this trip. The third day consisted of even more non-stop hiking that I was not ready for. Honestly, I thought I was going to pass out, hit my head on a rock, and die from blood loss and I would have been okay with it. However, after seven hours of wandering in the woods, someway somehow we made it to the top of Sun Hill Mountain. A tingling sensation ran through my body. It was relief. Relief from all of my troubles and stress. When I finally had the chance to breathe and take it all in, the negative thoughts had disappeared. I was mad at myself for even thinking about giving up. For that split moment my mind had come to an ease. In a way, hiking the Appalachian Mountains taught me a lot. Not only about myself, but the way in which I should live my everyday life. It gave me the chance to understand that the bumpy roads come to an end, literally. Naturally, people are all filled with “what ifs” and “should haves.” We have all filled our heads with thoughts that our goals will never be met. It is not true. It is not all about making dreams. It is about doing something to make those dreams and goals come true. Nothing is impossible when a mind is set to it. As we all go off into the “real world,” we all need to fight for what we want even when it is easy to give up. Take one step at a time, because it is possible to make it to the top of your mountain.
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June 2015
Capture The Moment Sucessful Scholar
GUARD IS LIFE
ROSALIE ARMATIS @rosalie_armatis
COURTNEY TAPPER @courtney_tapper
D
uring this past April vacation, the NHS color guard and I traveled to Dayton, Ohio, to compete in the WGI (Winter Guard International) Color guard Championship. Our show this season was entitled “Mi Corazón,” translating to “my heart” in Spanish. The show was about independent women who are strong and fierce and do not need anyone by their side to achieve their goals. The show had a very intense Spanish flare with roses, along with typical Spanish hairstyles and make up. This season in Dayton, Ohio, after working so hard for months, three or more practices a week, and a total of 687 hours of practicing in total - we reached our goal of making the top ten. We placed ninth in our class of Scholastic Open out of forty other color guard groups. Making finals (being in the top fifteen) is a huge deal. This means that you do not only get the esteemed finalist bracelet, but you get to perform in the Dayton Arena. The bright lights, the cameras all around, and the loud applause from the audience are unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime. Color guard has been a major part of not only my high school experience, but my life as a whole. Starting at the prime age of twelve, I have enjoyed every moment of this intensely beautiful sport. My involvement in color guard has been particularly meaningful to me for a multitude of reasons. It allows me to communicate a message to the audience whether I’m pretending to be a gypsy traveling through Europe, or expressing the importance of bullying awareness. It allows me to portray a character unlike my everyday self for four to twelve minutes. This activity has also brought me to a new family aside from my biological one. The “band family” that has been created over the years, is not just a cliché saying. My instructors, fellow color guard members, and chaperones have all helped me in some way and I know I can rely on them when necessary. Color guard itself has changed me. Before color guard I was not much of a risk taker and a bit of a control freak. Color guard taught me to let go. It has also taught me to adjust and adapt when things do not turn out as planned. While spinning, I never know when the sun will block my eyes under a toss, a large gust of wind will come, or if the field is wet from the day before which may affect my dance abilities. Overall, without my involvement in color guard, I would not be the person I am today.
T
he first three years of high school has the capability of shaping a student's future. There are two types of people: some who will accept their lives how they are and others who demand change. A little mistake and lack of consideration can be the reason that someone can fail. One may not know by the way I carry myself, but I was raised in a place that is stereotypically called the “hood.” I was born under extreme circumstances. The success rate from where I come from is extremely low and the word success was never mentioned nor looked upon. Most of the people I grew up with failed to succeed. More than 90% of people that I grew up with failed, I was looked upon as if I was going to as well. The loss of hope that I would not succeed from my surroundings was not the only thing hard about living here. Being made fun of because of where I lived was hard as well. There were times when I would joke around back when people continuously joked about it. In reality, it really hurt. Living in the “hood” was not a joke and it was nothing to be proud of. At the age of fourteen when I was entering high school I realized I could not take it anymore. I had to make a difference. There was no way I would give anyone a reason to make jokes about this anymore. Perhaps, I thought to myself one day I would be even better than the ones who found it to be such a joke. The first day I walked through the doors at Norwalk High School a bell went off in my head. This bell was a wake up call. It was telling me that school is no longer a joke anymore. I was automatically set up for failure if I did not succeed. If I did not do well in highschool I would not carry on to a good college. I now knew what I wanted to do. I knew I had to begin to take school more seriously. I had to do it for myself. Nobody was going to sit here and help me move on with life. I was going to have to myself. Now I know for a fact, in a few years I will no longer have to listen to people make fun of me because I plan on going to Uconn to study animal sciences and hopefully after attend Veterinary school. These four years have taught me a lot. Not only did I realize the importance of school, I realized the importance of taking control. Yes, there are people that are always going to be there to help. The only way the help will be efficient is if you take control and do something with the help you received. To this day there is nothing that will stop me from accomplishing my dreams. In fact, According to Albert D.Q, “What you were born into does not determine what is in you.” I will prove everyone wrong that sat there and doubted me. If I would have never had this moment I would not be where I am at today.
June 2015
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Capture The Moment Miss Jordan
More Than Just A Class
JORDAN ARENA @jor_arena
NICOLE ILAGAN @nicoleilagan12
I
never started as a Norwalk bear. I used to be a Sixer from Independence High School in San Jose, California. I loved it there very much, but family comes first more than anything. Therefore, I had moved to Connecticut to join my mother’s wife with my mom and sister after freshmen year. I came to NHS without any knowledge in U.S. history and the last time I had a history lecture was back in eighth grade. So, I worried that I would not get a good grade in Mrs. Truitt’s U.S. history class. I came in and my theory was proven right at the beginning. Mrs. Truitt’s class was hard to learn in because the students constantly disrespected her. Some did not want to write the question of the day down for whatever reason; others were talking without raising their hands; countable people did not do their simple homework; a delinquent would talk back to Mrs. Truitt and in extreme circumstances, she would have to call security. It was chaotic and it happened a lot. She shaked the bad students away, though. She did not dance like Taylor Swift did in her music video instead, she did not let them get into her head. It did not affect her teaching. She moved on and acted like nothing had happened before. She taught with pure passion and grace to the students who wanted to learn. I admired her shaking it off so, I learned to do the same. I did my own thing and minded my own space. If Mrs. Truitt asked me to do something, I would do it with all I could because my purpose was to learn and pass that class. As I said before, the chaotic atmosphere happened a lot therefore, Mrs. Truitt would be shaking it off over and over again and I would be doing it with her until the end of the year. The finals came and I had earned a good grade. I was very happy for myself but also for Mrs. Truitt because, the finals meant the exile of the rude students. Yipee. I love Mrs. Truitt very much and she was my hero. I will miss her dearly and I hope to see her again after my high school career.
O
n October of my junior year, I was at a crossroads. My parents told me if I got a steady job they would help me purchase a car. Job hunting was a serious dilemma back then, considering I was only sixteen at the time and most jobs were looking for people who were eighteen or older. Then an opportunity to work at an afterschool program fell right into my hands. Hearing this news, I was extremely relieved I found something that is particularly easy and fun considering it revolves around kids. The only catch to the job was that it was until 5:30 everyday after school. This meant that my life revolved around work and I did not have time for any after school activities such as track, which was a sport I previously took part in. At first, I was completely stuck. I knew that if I got this job I was one step closer to getting my car and finally having a sense of freedom, but at the same time I was in danger of losing a part of highschool that I could never get back. I thought long and hard for days and finally came to my decision. Knowing that an opportunity like this probably would not happen for a while, I took the job. To this day I have grown more than I ever have before. This job taught me a sense of responsibility and maturity that I would not have been able to grasp on my own. Learning to be a role model and adult figure for little children makes you realize you are not the kid anymore. Being an adult means having to handle certain situations, that as a kid, would only be our parents concerns. Taking this job has made me realize how prepared I am for adulthood and how to handle difficult tasks on my own, because at the end of the day we have to realize that we are the adults of this generation now. For my parents to just automatically hand me a car would have been too easy. By having me work for my car, taught me a valuable life lesson of appreciation, that I will hold onto longer than my car will last.
H ow To Post A Photo O n Social M e di a : 1. Check Your Self Out
2. Prepare your duck face
3. Take at least 416 photos
4. Edit/Filter photo for at least two hours
5. Wait until 7 or 8 to post
6. Text all your friends to go like your photo
7. Refresh your page at least 570 times for the next hour
8. Repeat steps 1 - 7
June 2015
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Capture The Moment The Pavement: My Home
NATHANIEL LEWIS @nathaniellewis97
F
or me the turning point in my highschool career was not on the track, on the stage, or on the field. It was on the parking lot.
Lending A Helping Hand
LILLIANA GARCIA @lilliana_garcia
M
y four years at Norwalk High School have been amazing and packed with memories, the most defining moment for me was during my senior year. While walking to Broadcast Journalism my teacher, Mr. Seaburg pulled me aside and asked me to run NHS’s Annual Charity Dodgeball Tournament. Although it is fun, this task was daunting and had a
Yes. This may sound interesting, but for the four years of my high school experience most of it was marching on a concrete parking lot, rain or shine. Band has been such an influential part of my life and I do not know where I would be without it. Band became my way to get away from all of the stress surrounding me in my school and home life. I looked forward to playing my drum on the weekends in the fall. Hearing the crowds cheer, smelling the fresh food at the concession stands, and just being able to be a special part of our school spirit. We traveled to competitions and won. We marched in crazy formations, inside and out of each other, snaking around, marching forward, backward, and sideways and we were near perfect by our last performance. We were one giant machine with hundreds of small pieces, and as long as each piece moved perfectly, the machine moved perfectly. The most special part of marching band was that I had friends and people who genuinely cared about me as a person. Marching on that parking lot every Friday night and then competing the next day was a team effort and you have to support your team members in order for the team to succeed. This simple fact made me feel like I was important for once in my life and that people actually needed me to help them as much as I needed them in return. Band has changed my life for the better and I will always appreciate the people who were kind to me during my first year and who helped me to become the more confident person I am today. Marching band is truly a band family and I am so glad that I am a part of that family now. I would suggest to anyone having any doubts about doing something out of their comfort zone to just go for it because in the long run you will change and be able to experience something you have never experienced before. There are people out there who will never leave you behind and will always be there to help in tough situations, you just have to take the risk to find them. Joining marching band has been my risk and it has turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made in my entire life.
reputation to uphold. Worrying whether I could handle it, I had to put on a brave face. There were months before the dodgeball tournament and I had to chose students who were responsible and organized to help run it. So much to do in so little time, months seemed to go by like hours, the countdown had begun. Creating the name The Hunger Games was just the beginning, finding a sponsor, getting the charity, planning the food, the list just kept adding on. Stress from Seaburg and the other teachers on the committee was overwhelming. Knowing that Meals on Wheels of Norwalk, CT was a charity that could always need donations, we got it approved by the board of teachers, and off came the endless amounts of planning. Finding a sponsor to give such a large donation really came in handy, and I knew that I had to bring my “A game” if I truly wanted to give this charity what they deserved. I knew I wanted to put on the best tournament possible. As the night grew closer, anxiety of being able to put on a flawless event grew weary. From creating the tournament I met my best friend Ava, she (as well as the other committee members) helped me stay some what sane during the entire process. The night before the tournament came quicker than expected. I enlisted my family to help with last minute necessities and then the morning of the tournament arrived. As I was getting ready in Seaburg’s room with the committee it finally hit me. This was one of the greatest feelings in the world, I have helped raise an abundance of money that would actually help people who truly needed it. Walking into the gym, leading over two hundred students behind a drumline, watching the gym expand right in front of my eyes was spectacular. After so much dedication, knowing that this night was going to go down in history at NHS almost brought me to tears. The idea that a single group of students could raise over sixteen thousand dollars is mind boggling. All in all, running the Dodgeball Tournament not only taught me how to run a charity event, but it taught me how to become a better person, how to work with others, delegate tasks, and most importantly taught me what I truly am capable of. Meetings ran late, stress and anxiety were high, and tears were shed but in the long run, running the 6th Annual Charity Dodgeball Tournament was worth it.
Norwalk High School Class o
“Winning the Thanksgiving game against McMahon.” - Evan Adams
“Making Finals with the NHS Winter Guard.” - Leah Rudolf
“Shaving the side of my head for St. Baldricks.” - Valeria Rojo
“Becoming one of the leaders of the Bear Pack.” - Matt Parlanti
“Disney 2015 with my band family.” -Tom Pisano
“Getting
into
fi
na Varsity Basketba - Tom
“Opening the school store for spirt wear, The Den.” - Glorianna Restrepo
“Running a 4:51 mile and winning the race.” - Jacob Alexander
“Going to poins my friends.” - Lu
“Going skydiving with Angie for my project explore.” - Mariyann Soulemane
“Becoming an editor for BCN, Bear Country News.” - Taijek Mikel
“Casting as on in Annie my sen -L
off 2015 Snaping Back in Time
als
the
boys
all team.” mmy Barret
settia with all of
uke Schwartz
ne of the orphan nior year. ” Lauren Madden
“The Spanish National Honor Society induction.” - Angie Arbelaez
“Being apart of the NHS soccer team all four years of high school.” - Bill Chirinos
“Performing Dance of the Matdor at MetLife Stadium.” - Fairi Galicia
“Being able to play soccer with my friends.” - Gaby Salezar
“My senior night for volleyball.” - Nicole Chandler
“Dancing to the Nut Cracker at Candlelight.” - Sabrina Hiller
“Playing in the dodgeball tournament.” - Susie McCarthy
“Winning most artistic and being able to show everyone my skills” - Johanna Augustin
“Last few days of being editors of The Paw Print.” - Emely, Amanda, Courtney, & Jordan (and Dan)
June 2015
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Capture The Moment Defi
ning
Who
I
Am
AYLIN ARISTIZABAL @aylinvanesa
I
f the sun were to explode, it would take the people of earth eight minutes to know. Eight minutes, this is how long it takes for the light to travel from the surface of the sun, to the surface of the earth.
My Second Family
AMANDA SERPA @manda_serpa
A
n essential factor to growing up is the memories you make, and more importantly, the people in those memories. Who you surround yourself with is a tremendous part of the way you act and the overall person you become. For me, my friends
It can take less than eight minutes for your life to change, contrary to this, it can take more. A snap judgement can impact your life as much as the slow process of growing. We all grow as people, and during this growth we become different. I grew aware of this very early in the summer of 2014. This summer, I took on greater responsibilities, and made everything I wanted to do possible. Many of these things included traveling, and because I loved traveling, I decided I would travel more, and so I did. As much as I traveled, I also shifted dramatically into a person who who grew from unhappiness. The realization that I had control over what controlled me, changed me, it helped me grow into the person I am today. There was never really a moment when I experienced something that had changed me. Something that as soon as it happened, it made me different. It was a gradual process, and looking back, I realize I am not the same person I was before. In high school, there are a lot of things that matter: grades, social life, work, money, etc. We all have different priorities and value different aspects of our life differently. As time passes, we change our priorities, and this defines us. As a person, no matter what age, or what time of the day, we make the conscious decision to act on an idea. Maybe an impulse, maybe not, it does not matter. What matters is that making this decision somewhere along your life taught you better. It was important for me to realize that the people by which I stood, defined who I was. Therefore if I saw something I did not like in them, I would soon see it in myself. Differentiating who I wanted to be, and who I was, helped me realize that I can change the path that I wanted to take. It takes time to grow, and even more time to grow into the person you see yourself being at the young age of five. This is why it was important to realize that the choices I make, the people I surround myself with, and the priorities I held makes a difference. Knowing that I had a choice, and acting upon those choices defined who I am. I am happy with my choices. Are you?
were and still are a major influence on who I have become over the years. Having known two of my best friends since kindergarten, they have had such a huge impact on my life and are in most of my best moments. Although, it has always been us along with great friends we have met throughout high school; the wonderful place full of ups and downs where teens generally find themselves by losing themselves first. At least in my opinionated experience. Hanging out with the same people outside of school for about nine years really makes you close to them. Friends do not just stay as friends, eventually they become family. Essentially, friends make life a lot more exhilarating. I can think of so many times where we have done the most odd things; but had so much fun doing them. There is one specific time that I will always remember. One of the most clear and spontaneous moments I can think of with all of my friends there, one that I will always smile or laugh looking back on. And this is exactly how I will always remember us and myself. It was a random spring night last year. My close group of friends and I were doing the usual teenage “drive around until we figure out plans.” Which in all seriousness it typically turns out being an adventure with no destination. But this time, we happened to actually find other people that were doing the same thing. Go figure. We all ended up piling up in each others cars, meeting at one of the elementary schools in Norwalk, and just blasting music talking to each other, sitting on the hoods of cars and doing some slight random or reckless things that won’t be mentioned. But, hey we are young. Yes, this may not necessarily be the best moment to occur in my life.; but I will always remember this night as a sweet piece of serendipity. Something that was a night full of genuine happiness. Rather than what we were doing, it was more the people I was surrounded by and the vibes of all the great people I was with. When it comes to looking back on moments where I have cried, laughed, screamed, sung my heart out, danced around using hairbrushes as a microphone, pulling an all nighter, and going on random midnight drives when we really shouldn’t my best friends, will come into mind. All in all, I have learned that friends can be your own little family too and your escape to your pure happiness.
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June 2015
Capture The Moment Limitless Four Years
People Live And Learn
SAM RICCI @shmanfaaa
T
eachers are always pushing students to get more involved with the school. As a freshman all I wanted to do was go home after school. If not for Volleyball, I would have been completely isolated. I refrained from going to any games, I ignored the fact that the school offered clubs, and I never dressed up for spirit week. I was basically the world's worst person when it came to school spirit. I joined tech for the music department purely to make new friends, and I thought it would be easy. It wasn’t. Sophomore year, I was starting to come out of my shell. I would go to a few football games, I joined buildOn, began writing for The Paw Print (Mr. Karl never said anything about it, but I knew I was his favorite student), and yes, I dressed up for spirit week. When musical season came around, I was promoted to Sound Manager by Mr.Rivera (because I’m his favorite). I had no idea how to work microphones, but now… Yeah, no I still have no idea how to work them. I remember junior year the best. I was basically the average high schooler, except for the fact that I was ten feet taller than everyone. I joined yearbook because I thought it would be easy. It was not. (Do you see a pattern emerging here?). I really started trying in school, because it finally dawned on me that college is a thing. I was getting better grades, did extracurricular activities, and got a job. I was basically a superhuman… Or just a normal teenager. Senior year rolled around fast, and it went by fast. I tried to go to as many games as possible, and I really got involved. Thinking back on my years spent at Norwalk High, I really regret not getting involved right away. As a freshman I was so eager to get out of the school, but I never realize that these moments would end up being the best years of my life. It is too late for me to get more involved and put myself out there, but it is not too late for the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors reading this. Spend time making friends and going to games. Join clubs and take classes that interest you. Take my word. If you never get involved, you will really regret it when it is time to graduate.
Internet Slang: SUS, adjective Defi
niton:
suspicious Sentence: The way he got in the car was sus.
ON FLEEK, adjective BAE, noun Defi
nition: Before Defi
nition: on point, Anyone Else game = strong Sentence: Zac Sentence: Your eyebrows
are
on
fl
eek.
Efron is bae.
RYLEY MULLINS
I
still remember the door that I came in the first time that I entered Norwalk High School. I walked in sheepishly through the first floor E house doors and hoped for the best. I think that is one of the things that characterized my time at this school, hoping for the best. Most of my time in class, and even some of my time at home was spent hoping that things would work out for me. Since Norwalk High is not really all that bad of a place, most of the time things did work out for me. Maybe I had a sub a day when I did not study for the test, maybe the homework assignment that I flaked on did not end up counting for that much when it came time for grades. But, it was those moments of complacency and procrastination that hurt me more than any number of bad teachers could have. When I say this, I do not mean that I am the worse person for not paying attention in class every day. I mean that if I had been more diligent, more focused, I could have been in a better position than I am now. Again, I do not mean to imply that I am going to have it hard for the next four years, but maybe if I had just done my French homework, or listened more closely to my freshman history teacher, I would not have to pay so much for the college that I plan on attending.These are the things that are behind me now, the things that I cannot change. It would be an overstatement to say that I neglected my studies, but it would also be an overstatement to say I attended to them closely. Most of the time, I did the really important things, letting the smaller assignments and responsibilities “slip through the cracks” so to speak. Like a river, even the smallest stream of neglect can wear into your life if you let it go on for long enough. I wish that I had known this on that day that I walked into Norwalk High. There are some things that I wish I had done differently, but a lot of things that I would have done the same, but as I walk out those doors for the last time, I do it with a clear mind.
THIRSTY, adjective Defi
nition: Referencing someones deperation Sentence: He’s always liking my pictures, he’s thirsty.
LIT, adjective Defi
nition: Fun, entertaining Sentence: Last nights party was lit.
TURN UP, verb Defi
nition: Get pumped Sentence: I’m so tired, but thats not going to stop me from turning up
June 2015
ten
Capture The Moment I Am Now A Yankee
LORENSA DECASTRO @ljay_fl
uffy
Trying Something Different
DAN SQUICCIARINO @daniel_squicc
s
even. That’s how many times I tried to write this article. Seven times I sat down at my computer. Seven times I began to write. Seven times I deleted the entire page, banged my head repeatedly on the keyboard in frustration, gripped the edges of my desk so tightly that my knuckles turned white as I fought down the anxiety attack I felt rising in my chest. It all started at the beginning of May. “Pick a moment, any moment,” said Courtney Tapper as I sat down at my computer one day during journalism. “Try to think of something that defines you.” You’d think it would be easy to think of a life-changing moment.
B
orn and raised in the Virgin Islands. Home of ninety degree weather, white pearly sand to the calypso music. The only thing I had to ever worry about was keeping my grades up to be able to go to Carnival. Carnival is one of the festivals that the Caribbean Islands hold once a year, which are the hottest and the most fun fifteen days of the year. Never in the eighteen years of my life I had to worry about school delays because of heavy snow showers and especially not about shoveling snow. When I found out that I was moving to Connecticut my junior year, I was kinda excited that I no longer had to worry about the ridiculous hot weather. I was sad that I had to leave my friends back home, but could not wait to meet new people, experience the change of seasons, and develop a “yankee” accent. I got to Connecticut mid spring and I felt like I was in Alaska about to freeze to death. Slowly but surely I got used to the “spring” weather. I was highly confused when I saw majority of people still walking around in shorts and flip-flops, while I was all layered up with boots, beanies and don’t forget the scarves. A couple months later I met snow. My first encounter with snow was one of the scariest thing I have ever experienced. I did not know how to feel. It was so cold, my fingertips felt like they were about to fall off. Coming from light clothing to thick heavy jackets made me not like the winter for the rest of my life. The only thing that made my winter experience awesome was the delays and the cancellation of school. Until they added all those days we missed at the end of the year (also new to me). Though spring, winter, and fall all felt the same to me, I can say that I lived through it all. Coming to Connecticut made me experience new things and realize that not every state has a “yankee” accent.
My classmates didn’t seem to be having a problem. Yet, here I was, sitting at my computer like an idiot with a vacant look in my eyes. I stared at my blurry reflection in the screen with disgust. Surely there was something, anything about my life that was interesting enough to write about. I racked my brain trying to think of a moment worthy of sharing with my fellow students. But alas, my efforts were to no avail. The article’s May 7th due date passed by unnoticed. Then another week passed. And another. Before I knew it, my article was three weeks late and I was faced with a conundrum; finish the article or take the hit to my grade. So again I found myself sitting at my computer, staring at the white page that was to be my seventh attempt, binge eating to satiate my anxiety, listening to Coldplay and wallowing in my own sorrow. This time, I decided to try something different. I took out a pen and a piece of paper, and at the top I scribbled “What Makes Me Who I Am?” in my signature sloppy handwriting. For the next hour or so, I made a list. Before long I found that It wasn’t simply a list of moments. I began to write down the names of people I cared about, places that were close to my heart, the names of songs I loved, topics I was passionate about, and activities that I loved to do. As the list continued to grow, I realized I had finally found what to write about. I can’t choose a moment in my life that makes me who I am, because such a moment doesn’t exist. I am a product of the people, places, and things that are dear to me. I am a product of the cousins I have grown so close with over the years, even though they live 600 miles away. I am a product of my old friends from middle school that I’ve stayed in touch with, as well as the new one I’ve made in high school. I am a product of my summer vacations to South Carolina and the 12 hour road trips to Ohio that I’ve come to look forward to so much. I am a product of The Beatles, Coldplay, Logic, Jon Bellion, Justin Timberlake, and the dozens of game soundtracks I keep on my phone. I am a product of the many health problems I have fought so hard to overcome. I am a product of my tendency to let my emotions dictate my decisions. I am a product of the many books I’ve read, my love of video games, and my passion for making music. More than anything else, I am a product of my own actions, thoughts, and emotions. I’m not going to lie and say that high school has been easy for me. I have faced my fair share of obstacles, but it’s how I choose to face these obstacles that defines me. In the end I alone am the one in control of who I am. No moment is ever going to change that.
2:15 PM
18m @em_chenn So I can’t believe were seniors and were working on our last issue of the paper...ever. 17m @courtney_tapper Even though high school was a drag I know I’m going to miss it. I actually wouldn’t mind reliving these four years. It’s sad to think that it is all coming to an end. 16m @em_chenn
It
feels
like
my
first
day
of
highschool
was
yesterday. Although I said I never would, I am really going to miss NHS. But I am really excited to go to college next year. 15m @courtney_tapper If I were to pick a favorite class it would definitely
be
journalism,
and
I’m
not
just
saying
this
because Mr. Karl is probably going to read this. 14m @em_chenn Haha yeah me too, this class honestly was my favorite. It taught me so many things, not just about journalism, but about myself as well. 13m @courtney_tapper I totally agree, before I came into this class i was really shy and not out spoken at all. Now, I feel
like
I
have
no
filter
lol.
12m @em_chenn
Yes,
my
confidence
has
definitely
grown.
I
think we both started out as quieter people then found our voices in this class, especially when things need to get done before we go to print lol. 11m @courtney_tapper it also taught me how to pace myself and become more organized, like Karl always says, “learning by doing.” It also gave me a chance to actually have an excuse to use my camera.
10m @em_chenn yes there were so many experiences where we
“learned
by
doing”,
like
remember
when
I
had
my
first
back page on spirit week? What a disaster that was until the very end lol.
9m @courtney_tapper haha I remember that! You were freaking out, but it turned out to be really nice. This class really gave us a chance to not only think outside of the box. It was a way express what we believe. It really does feel good to be able to change something in the school. 8m @em_chenn yeah Mr. Karl always allows us to write about whatever we want, he really stresses to us that although this is a highschool paper, we really do have a voice in our community. 7m @courtney_tapper I think my absolute favorite part is pressing send after all of the weeks of hard work we put into it and seeing it in every students’ hands. 6m @em_chenn yes it’s such a good feeling watching people read
your
work.
Then
the
other
side
of
the
paper
finally
coming
out...finding
mistakes
that
you
know
you
should
have seen before… 5m @courtney_tapper yeah I think we have a problem, haha we are actually perfectionists. 4m @em_chenn oh yeah everything we do for the paper has to be absolutely perfect. I think that’s why we work so well together because we both always want each paper to look as good as possible. @courtney_tapper From all of the stress and time put into all of the papers it really was worth it. I will truly miss journalism and Norwalk High School. 2m @em_chenn yeah, I can’t believe this long journey is coming to end. The Paw Print will always have a special place in my heart! #107D 1m @courtney_tapper
yes
definitely!
Good
luck
to
@monica_mercuri next year, we will miss you!
EDITORS IN CHIEF Emely Chen Courtney Tapper
EDITORS Jordan Arena Amanda Serpa Dan Squicciarino
ADVISOR Mr. Karl
REPORTERS Aylin Aristizabal Rosalie Armatis Isabella Bruni Kevon Cowen Lilliana Garcia Nicole Ilagan Shay LaRusso Nathaniel Lewis Ryley Mullins Sam Ricci
2:15 PM
@NorwalkHighSchoolClassOf2015 as you step off into the real world never forget where you came from, we are bears forever and always. The Paw Print staff wishes the best of luck to all of the seniors. #NewBeginnings #FreshmanAgain