Senior Features

Rocking the Boat

by DREW JOHNSEN & EVELYN LINCK staff writers

Photos: Courtesy of S. Thoma

It took a lot of hard work and commitment for Samantha Thoma ‘21 to get where she is today. Middle school is where she initially started her journey as a competitive rower. Thoma reflects, “at my middle school, we went on a field trip and I tried [rowing] once, and I was absolutely hooked, so then I joined the high school team once I got here.” Joining the team was just the beginning of a growing passion for Thoma, and one that she hopes to never lose. Before attending Central, Thoma attended a small, private middle school, and as she grew older, she began to prepare herself for a big adjustment: a large, well-populated, public high school. This was just as much a new chance for Thoma as it was a change. After conquering four years of high school, one of Thoma’s largest takeaways from her experience is adaptability. “Things were always changing and engaging. There was never a dull moment,” she recalls. Rowing acted as the perfect way for Thoma to make some friends when she switched schools. She created many bonds with her teammates, some of whom have survived long distance. “There are a couple people who have graduated and went to college out east and I still talk to them,” Thoma explains. “I’ve been out to visit them, and they visit when they come into town.” These friendships have built a family, which is the thing Thoma loves most about rowing. Even though Thoma dedicates a lot of her life to rowing, she makes sure to save some time to be social. “When I’m not rowing in the warmer months I like to sail, bike, and go on hikes with friends,” she mentions. Thoma’s friends are her support unit. “My friends are always there for me. No matter when or where I can always call them if I need anything or just someone to talk to,” she states. During the rowing season, Thoma tries to be a source of encouragement to the rest of her rowing family. Her goal is always to “get everybody across that finish line.” Rather than rowing the boat, Thoma directs it, as a coxswain. “I am the person that steers the boat primarily. I have control over the rutter. Especially in a race, I keep everyone motivated and going the same speed on the same cadence,” she explains. Thoma has chosen to chase her dream of rowing after high school, but there are expectations she needs to meet in order to do that, including keeping her grades up, staying in shape during the off season, and being involved in both her academic and extracurricular responsibilities. In the midst of balancing school and friendships, Thoma also had to find a way to relax from the high expectations of academics. She has found her peace in rowing. “It gives me such a sense of calmness and [makes me feel] accomplished,” Thoma explains. School pushes her to her potential and has given her amazing academic opportunities.“It is definitely something that is going to help keep me on track because it is a privilege. I have to have good grades in order to compete,” Thoma says, “and part [of that] is going to the right school to compete competitively.” Thoma has big plans for her future, and rowing helps push her to reach her best potential. “In five years, I see myself having my bachelors of science from Michigan State and going on to either interning at a pharmaceutical company or a hospital,” she states, “or going straight into a masters degree.” //

Dancing Through

Life by AIDEN PRESTON staff writer

Photos: Courtesy of I. Aulicino

Dancing is viewed as such an elegant thing, but the reality of it is that learning a dance can bring a lot of stress upon the dancer, especially one who has also been planning out her future. This is true for Isabel Aulicino ‘21, who’s been dancing for 15 years and has recently made some tough decisions in her life, like what college to go to, what her career path will be, and if she will continue to dance. Aulicino began dancing at the age of two after her mother signed her up for classes. “The physical and mental exhaustion seems to never end. I dance for about 20 hours a week or more and it is very hard managing that on top of friends, school and other extracurriculars.” With any challenge, there is always room for growth. “One of the most triumphant parts about being a dancer with my company is getting the critics choice and/or backstage good sportsmanship awards at competitions,” Aulicino states. Dance differs itself from other sports in many ways, but it is just as tiring, taking many days to just learn one dance. Dance has many unique benefits, but one of the greatest is the opportunities it brings. Whether it’s travel, acting, or landing a part in a big dance, each opportunity is exciting, especially for the dancer. “My favorite dance memory is [when] my company toured Austria, Germany, and Italy performing for Europeans with other companies from the states. We even got to perform on a lake in the middle of the Alps!” Being a dancer also means you have to be ready for anything. “One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced over the years is reworking when my company has to do our pieces 30 minutes before we compete or perform because one of our members got injured or sick.” As a senior, Aulicino has been making lots of decisions about her future plans beyond CHS and dancing. Aulicino has committed herself to Pomona College. “Pomona is part of the Claremont Consortium schools in Claremont, California, which means that there are 5 undergrad liberal arts schools that share one campus. That is really cool to me because each school is prestigious in their own way and I’ll have the ability to take classes and use resources from each of them.” Aulicino plans to double major in dance, but doesn’t want to pursue it as a career path. “I want to do something that helps and/or teaches people.” Aulicino says that her time as a dancer has taught her to, “be kind to myself and others, manage my time, cherish constructive criticism, express myself non-verbally, collaborate with others, have confidence within myself, and think on my feet,” Aulicino adds. Those good virtues are part of what makes dance worth it over all of the exhaustion. //

Photo: Courtesy of M. Marchenko

Immigration by Lottery

by SAM ELKINS staff writer

To many Central High School students, Traverse City has been home for a long time, but for Michael Marchenko ‘21, it hasn’t been for long. Born in Poltava, Ukraine, Marchenko’s mother won a “green card lottery” when he was a young child and they decided to make the journey west. A green card lottery includes 50,000 people who apply for a visa to the United States, or however many visas are issued that year, then get a visa to enter the USA. Marchenko’s mother wanted to see the Great Lakes, so they settled on Traverse City. He now speaks three languages: Ukrainian, Russian and English. Marchenko has experienced many challenges because of his Ukrainian upbringing and moving so early on in childhood. “The challenge I had while learning English was going to early elementary school and not understanding a single word anyone was saying,” Marcheko comments. He has been through a lot from going from Ukraine to America and learning several different languages. As a trilingual student, Marchenko doesn’t have much difficulty with picking up and learning languages. “I think in both Ukrainian and English and my native [and] favorite language to speak is Ukrainian. When I listen to music I do it mostly in English,” Marchenko notes. Although he lives so far away, he still reflects on his past. “I still keep in touch with my family overseas through Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and other social platforms, and I usually go back and visit every year.” Looking back, Marchenko remarks that “for me, the most interesting parts of high school were developing relationships with different people and playing different sports.” Marchenko’s path might look different than some, but he has a bright future ahead in the Marine Corps after high school. //

One College Wonder

by LELAND BROWN staff writer

Photo: Courtesy of E. Roe

As a senior, Ethan Roe ‘21 took a risk when he applied for only one college: Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. “I did early registration, which meant if I made it into Northwestern, I would have to go there. But if I didn’t make it in, I would have barely enough time to apply for other schools,” Roe explains. Northwestern is Roe’s dream school, and he does not want to go anywhere else. Luckily, he made it in. Northwestern has many opportunities for arts and sciences. Like many seniors, Roe isn’t sure what he wants to major in, but at Northwestern, it’s easy to double major. The school has many possibilities that match Roe’s interests. He’s looking forward to a multitude of things at the school. “I like meeting new people,” Roe explains, “and I’m excited to learn and get new experiences.” Roe also likes the location, “Northwestern has a lot of transportation into Chicago and I want to live in a city.’’ During his four years at Traverse City Central, Roe participated in many extracurriculars, including the TCC Robotics Team. He was “media lead this year and I designed the team shirts, and my favorite part was the competition and designing the pit.” He has performed in over a dozen musicals and was the co-president of SEA club. Roe has volunteered at the Old Town Playhouse and Michigan Conservation voters, and was also on the VASA cross country ski team all four years of high school. Needless to say, Roe kept busy while he was at CHS. To finish off his high school career, Roe won homecoming king, although he didn’t expect the outcome. “I initially ran as a joke, then made it onto the court. It was fun to be the center of attention,” he recalls. Of Roe’s four high school years, his favorite teachers are Mrs. King, Ms. Shelley-Barnes (more commonly known as KSB), Mrs. Johnson, and Madame Grant. Roe has strong connections with his teachers and his community, and is excited for the next chapter of his life. //

Announcing His Graduation

by SAMUEL GALOCI-SANDIN staff writer

Photos: Courtesy of H. Huschke

You may hear him in the mornings giving the announcements over the PA system, but there is a lot more to Henry Huschke ‘21 than his friendly voice over the school. He starts his day like any other student: getting dressed, checking his email, and heading to school, but the next part of his day is not one shared by many. “So [doing the announcements] was actually an accident,” Huschke says.“I first did it when I went down to the office to deliver something in the morning, and the person who usually did the announcements [when I was a freshman] wasn’t there. They asked me if I’d be willing to try it out. So I did that first day and I enjoyed it and it went well, so I just started coming back.” Huschke is a member of the debate team and quiz bowl team, and he also helps anchor the school news show, Front and Central. His experience in broadcasting has ultimately influenced his college choices. “I’m planning on getting a degree in economics, so I will probably be working for some kind of financial institution or I could be working in the government in Washington, D.C. or something because I also have a real interest in political science,” Huschke explains, “but I do really enjoy broadcasting and certainly I think in the future I’d like to do more with that, whether it’s working with the newspaper at whatever school I attend, or doing something maybe with the radio.” Originally from Florida, Huschke moved to Traverse City when he was younger, but his dreams have changed over the years. “I wanted to be an astronaut, that sort of thing. I thought that was really cool, especially living in Orlando, it’s very close to Cape Canaveral,” he reminisces. “I wanted to do journalism at different points. I think, more recently, I’ve kind of moved away from that. [But] maybe it’s what I want to do for my career.” Huschke has ultimately decided on University of Chicago for the fall. His career here at Central may be different from his current goals, but he thinks his experiences will help him find the right path. //

A Calling to France

by DREW JOHNSEN & EVELYN LINCK staff writers

Photos: Courtesy of H. Fairbank

Traveling across the globe is an amazing experience, but not always the easiest one. Hannah Fairbank ‘21 left her life in Traverse City behind to take on the amazing experience of traveling to France through Rotary Youth Exchange. She was excited when she first arrived in France; however, the ache of home soon overcame her. “I was excited for the first hour and a half I was there and then I got really sad. I called my dad, cried, ate pizza, and got over it,” she explains. It was the start of a ten month expedition for Fairbank, and making it official had left her missing home. Fairbank soon grew to enjoy life in France, but there were still a few obstacles she had to overcome: one being the dreaded process of making new friends. Fairbank admits that she isn’t the most social person, and at first, it wasn’t easy for her. “French kids aren’t the most outgoing people,” she says, “They kind of find their own group of people and don’t really let anybody else in.” It was a slow start for Fairbank, but in the end, it was all worth it. “It took me a while to actually make friends, but once I did, they were really loyal and good friends.” Fairbank also had many friends from her exchange group. Fairbank was two hours away from the other students who had traveled with her to France, but they would hang out every month to catch up and share their experiences. “It made it really easy knowing that there were other people going through what you went through,” shares Fairbank, “Even though it was a different country and culture, you’re still having the same experience.” Another challenge Fairbank had to face was adapting to the French language. Fairbank has been taking French classes since the sixth grade and continues to expand her French vocabulary. Fairbank was prepared to speak French, but once she began interacting with native speakers, it was a lot harder to follow their fast speech and get a good understanding of what they were saying. Life in France is fairly different from that in Traverse City. Fairbank’s school days lasted from about 8:00am to 5:30pm. She wouldn’t get home until 6:00pm and would still have many hours of homework to complete. In France, extracurriculars, such as musicals, dances, and sports were non-existent, so Fairbank’s school life mostly consisted of the same type of learning we have here, minus all of the extra activities. One of Fairbank’s biggest takeaways from her exchange was an amazing experience skiing in the mountains of Grenoble, France. Fairbank and her fellow northerners succeeded in the winter activities, although some of her friends had a bit of a harder time. “I remember seeing all my South American friends falling all the time when they were ice skating and skiing,” she recalls, “It was really funny, which is really mean to say, but it was really funny.” Fairbank was in France for ten months. Once she returned home, she learned to appreciate things she hadn’t acknowledged before, such as the shorter school days, dances, sports, musicals, and other opportunities that were not accessible to her while in France. Fairbank was also happy to reunite with her family and friends. As Fairbank continued to adjust back to life in TC, she moved back into her usual life. This included playing the violin, reading, going on runs, and cooking. Due to COVID-19, Fairbank’s plans to host an exchange student of her own were derailed. Fairbank hopes to one day visit France again, and explore more of their culture. She also wishes to continue to learn about different cultures and languages. Fairbank has big goals, and keeps a determined mindset, “if I want something, I’m going to get it - no matter what - no matter what I have to do.” With this motivation, Fairbank will be joining the Air Force as a linguist, meaning she will be using her skills in other languages to understand foreign intelligence. //

Photo: Courtesy of E. O’Donnell

Commitment to Conservation

by DREW JOHNSEN & EVELYN LINCK staff writers

Erin O’Donnell ‘21 is devoted to making change. Quarantine sparked the idea to use some of her extra time to better the environment. She decided to take a leap and try something new, that being the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, a non-partisan political organization that protects the environment, has helped her be a part of the change. “I had heard from some of my friends that had been volunteering and they invited me to the orientation. I thought I would check it out. It was a really cool group of people and I felt like it was a good way I could make a difference in our world,” she describes. For the last election, at 17, O’Donnell wasn’t able to vote, but still wanted to make a difference.Getting involved in this organization has given her a chance to speak her voice. “I felt so powerless in everything that was going on politically in America,” she expresses. Though she is only a volunteer, O’Donnell plays a big role in the group. “Most of the time, I volunteer to phone bank or help train phone banks because I have some familiarity with them,” O’Donnell mentions. Working at the phone banks consists of calling “a list of people we think would be supporters. For example, people who voted in favor of environmental action in the past, or people who voted in favor of promoting good governance…before the election, we were calling people to ask them to vote for environmental candidates, people who really care about protecting the environment,” she explains, “during the election cycle, I helped a lot of the candidates that we had endorsed get elected.” O’Donnell plans to attend Northern Michigan University in the fall. She will be studying education, with her goal being to become a teacher, “at first I wanted to teach elementary school because I’m into the social development of kids but I’ve also thought about high school english, which are two very different paths to take.” O’Donnell is unsure of what her daily schedule is going to look like; however she hopes to devote as much time as possible to help the environment. Whether it’s continuing in the Michigan League of Conservation Voters or participating in smaller, more independent activities, she “plan[s] on staying involved through the summer and at least staying in contact with them just because I think it is a really good organization.” Because of her high school experiences, O’Donnell wishes to hold a position where she can stay politically active through her volunteer work and her job. It was her work in the Michigan League of Conservation Voters that helped her become the politically, environmentally, and socially involved person she is. “I was nervous that I was going to get pulled into something I wasn’t comfortable with, but they really ease you into it and you don’t have to do anything you aren’t comfortable with. A lot of people there are new, and you don’t need to be worried about not knowing anything. Just go and see how you like it.” O’Donnell’s time at Central was made special not only by her involvement in our community and environment, but also in the interactions she has had throughout her career. “My fellow students and teachers have helped me to feel that my ideas and thoughts are important and I can do something to help make a difference in the future,” O’Donnell concludes. “I’ll remember the kindness of others and that will help remind me to show that same kindness.” //

If Kaelin Loftus ‘21 had to describe high school in one word, she would say “sporadic.” For Loftus, the last four years have been a series of ups and downs that have shaped her into who she is now and who she wants to become in the future. From her unusual start in playing soccer at Central to finding herself through hobbies, Loftus has always had a constant support system. “My parents have been really supportive in a non-traditional way. Where they’re not pushing me, where they trust that I’ll have my own self integrity and self motivation to get what I need to have done,” she expresses. Loftus’ friends also play a large role in her life; she loves spending time with those who put her in a good mood and allow her to be herself. “Sarah Beattie and Jessica Bueler are so fun to talk to. Other people in my classes make it fun, so I’ll actually go.” Although the bonds she has made have helped her through high school, so has soccer. Loftus started playing soccer when she was six. She took a break for a few years to try out other sports, but soccer was always calling her back. “When I was doing volleyball I’d kick the ball around because I really just wanted to play soccer,” Loftus explained. As a junior, Loftus tried out for the soccer team, but the season was canceled due to Covid-19, meaning this year was her first official high school soccer season. Even now, the soccer season is not completely guaranteed, so Loftus is determined to make the most out of every moment. “I really like goofing around with my team at practices,” says Loftus. Soccer has also given her a chance to expand her friendships with younger teammates. “I definitely rock with the underclassmen on my soccer team, they’re so fun,” she mentions. When playing any sport, it is very important to take care of yourself, and that is exactly what soccer is doing for Loftus. “Right now it’s definitely playing a role where I have to take care of my body. I can’t skip meals, I can’t slack on sleep, so it’s helping me to appreciate what I’m physically capable of,” she describes. “It’s a lot of time, so you just have to push through it and figure out how to build around your obligations.” Most people know that it is hard to balance a sport and school, and Loftus agrees. “[Soccer] is at a really awkward time. When it’s from 5 pm to 7 pm, you get home and are constantly thinking about homework, but never doing it,” she notes, “It’s kind of nice being occupied but it’s definitely very difficult.” Outside of soccer, Loftus makes sure to spend time doing what she enjoys with those who make her happy. The perfect day for Loftus starts with an early morning watching the sunrise with her dog, “Luna - but everyone calls her Tuna, if you wanna make it quirky,” and Andrew Ellis ‘21. An ideal breakfast would be pancakes with fresh fruit and whipped cream. “Then I’d like to go on a hike somewhere by the water and then I would come back home and go get earrings and coffee with my friends,” she describes. To end her perfect day, “I’d drive around at night with really good speakers and watch the sunset.” Loftus would use this opportunity to take in all the good her life is filled with, partially due to her friends, family, sports, hobbies, and her best companion and sidekick, Tuna. One of Loftus’ proudest achievements is being accepted into the University of Michigan. She is majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, and hopes to have a minor in Sociology of Health and Medicine. Loftus credits many things to her success and advises Central students to “Be serious, be on topic, stay on task but also have some fun, make jokes, talk to people, fall down, be weird, otherwise it’s gonna suck.” //

Photo: Courtesy of K. Loftus

Live, Love, Loftus

by DREW JOHNSEN & EVELYN LINCK staff writers

Photo: Courtesy of S. Fox

Sara Fox Sets the Stage

by IVY COE staff writer

Every individual has a passion that helps drive them. For Sara Fox ‘21, this passion is singing. At the age of seven, Fox joined the NMC Children’s Choir, sparking her love for music. Fox began voice lessons freshman year and has attended district festivals for choirs and solo voice. She also took part in summer camps over the last few years to help build up her talent and work towards a future in music. “Choir is just a very diverse and interesting community which has led me to make a lot of friends, and have a lot of new experiences. We went to Italy my sophomore year, and I definitely would not have done that if I had not been in choir. So I think it is really fun to experience a lot of new things with other people that are in choir,” explains Fox. Fox is currently in Choral-Aires at Central. Her biggest takeaway from choir is doing whatever possible to make connections and reaching out to people that she wouldn’t have previously interacted with. “I would definitely recommend it. I think even if you just do it for a year, there’s a lot that you can learn about yourself in choir, and that you can learn about the people around you. It’s just a nice break sometimes to not have to be so stressed out, and just get to chill and make music for a while,” describes Fox. Besides participating in multiple choirs, Fox recently played a role in Central’s spring musical, “The Theory of Relativity,” where she portrayed Laura, a chorus member. The musical has helped to make her more passionate about wanting to do music in the future.“I am not sure exactly what a career in music would look like for me, I am planning on double majoring in vocal performance and economics, and then seeing where that goes. In music or arts administration, you can kinda explore and see what works,” shares Fox. Her biggest challenge this year was the application process for college in the musical department. She says having encouragement from her choir directors and mentors has helped her a lot. In her free time, Fox enjoys baking and cooking, along with outdoor activities such as hiking and hanging out with friends. Even while enjoying other activities, singing still plays an important role in her life. “My favorite part is not only the community, but also getting a break in the middle of the day where you are doing something different than academics. You can get off your computer and out of the weirdness of school, which is really nice.” //

Anything but School

by TED ARNOLD staff writer

For many teenagers, high school feels all consuming. Tests, quizzes, and piles of homework suck up any free time they might have had, not to mention sports practices, music concerts, and everything else that fills the average teen’s free time. Carson Clark ‘21 sees it differently, “I sort of separate the world. I think [school is] its own thing I’m moving through.” Clark’s infamously varied list of hobbies begins simply, as he plays a number of musical instruments. Although he does play more common instruments like guitar, trumpet, and piano, his repertoire quickly becomes much more unusual, including “various Irish folk instruments,” such as penny whistle and fife, as well as the banjo. Clark also participates in Choral Aires at Central, a group he remarks is “a good bunch.” Besides pursuing his musical passions, Clark is in the process of publishing a children’s book, an endeavour that came about because he felt “the children’s book realm was lacking in mystical Christian texts.” He thinks “children’s books are a very delicate and rich kind of poetry. And I think anything you can say to a child must be extremely true for anyone else.” Fittingly, he describes his book as “a very mystical, weird prodigal son story.” The book reflects Clark’s religious devotion, which he says is extremely important to him. He views religion as “just love, it’s about being love.” Clark’s most renowned hobby, however, is fencing. He started fencing because he has “never been any good at sports, but it sounded really interesting.” Now, “a lot of people, when I bring it up, they’re like, ‘man, I really want to try that sometime.’ And I did try it. And it turns out I was pretty good at it, so I just stayed with it.” Clark is a member of the Traverse City Fencing Club, a travel fencing team, which takes him to various events in and out of the state. The most notable of these is the Arnold Sports Festival, run by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. The event includes a fencing competition, which Clark has participated in multiple times. Unfortunately, he says, he’s never met Schwarzenegger, but “he’s always there, but you don’t really see him. You just see a flock of bodybuilders walking around the building.” Somehow, the list does not end there. Clark also finger paints regularly, scuba dives, and is involved in theater, where he primarily writes. He participated in the Young Playwrights Festival through the City Opera House, where students submit one-act plays, and finalist’s plays are performed on stage. Clark hopes to keep all of his hobbies alive after high school, but he doesn’t see it as a way to keep busy or be productive. Instead, he remarks “if I have ever been ‘productive,’ it is when I have done nothing at all.” Clark plans on taking a gap year, and is “going to go about the world and work on farms and fishing boats.” As for where that takes him, he is going to “try to get up to England for a meditation retreat and then farm around there. And then around Northwestern Europe. In the end, he says, “wherever that takes me, that’d be nice, but I’m not too attached. If it’s as localized as can be, if it’s as far away as can be, it’s no mind to me.” //

Photos: Courtesy of C. Clark