Founded in 1991
Vol. XXXI Issue IV
June 2022
thepirateshook.com
Pirates' Hookok The editorials, unless signed, are the consensus opinion of the editorial staff and do not necessarily reflect the views of the adviser or the school administration. The newspaper welcomes letters to the editor. The newspaper reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, however, the newspaper will withhold names upon request with good reason. Advertisements in the newspaper are paid.advertisements and are not the opinion of, or the endorsement of, the newspaper or school administration.
www.riverside.dpsnc.net Isaac Janiak Stein, Giovanni Varela-Benitez, Ryan Weaver
Benjamin Meglin, Janel Perry, Mijalen Poole, Emmer Rice, Eden Richman,Thomas Romano, Genesis Smith-Lopez,
Evans, Dulce Flores, Ethan Haine, Jacob Hindman, Jacqueline Larios-Dominguez, Jada Love, Abby Martinez,
Victoria Alcindor, Susana Briones Garcia, Keshaun Burns, Jaden Butler, Donna Diaz, Emily Diaz Reyes, Jakyies
3218 Rose of Sharon Rd. Durham, NC 22712
OPINION
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Graduates: You are the class of transformation Dear Class of 2022,
in the midst of a global pandemic; a class still contending with the COVID-19 crisis; and a class As the new and proud principal of Riverside forced to practice social distancing during a year High School, I want to thank you for inviting me that should be filled with celebration. Nevertheto be a part of this very special publication hon- less, amid it all, you still rise! oring the seniors of Riverside High School. Even You are reaching the end of a chapter in though my tenure here has been short thus far, it y o u r life; however, is indeed a privilege to share in this momentous what you are celebration with you. about to When I entered the halls of Riverside High experiSchool eight months ago, I immediately recognized your uniqueness and game changing attitudes. I know you must have entered ninth grade with a tenacious spirit that allowed you to hold firm to your goals. And today it is paying off because you took the bumps and bruises of life and weathered each adversity. Graduation is the culminating experience of 12 years of public education that started in childhood and marks your passage into adulthood. I write this letter as a humbled principal to the class of 2022; a class that has embarked upon one of the most challenging experiences in history; a class thrown into a remote learning environment your second year of high school due to a global pandemic; a class that returned to face-to-face learning Estimado clase del 2022 Como la nueva y orgullosa directora de la Escuela Secundaria Riverside, quiero agradecerles por invitarme a ser parte de esta publicación especial en honor a los estudiantes del último año de la Escuela Secundaria Riverside. Aunque mi mandato aquí ha sido breve hasta ahora, es un verdadero honor compartir esta celebración trascendental con ustedes. Cuando entré a los pasillos de Riverside High School hace ocho meses, inmediatamente reconocí su singularidad y sus actitudes innovadoras. Sé que debieron ingresar al noveno grado con un espíritu fuerte que les permitió mantenerse firmes en sus metas. Y hoy están dando fruto porque tomaron los golpes y moretones de la vida y resistieron
cada adversidad. La graduación es la experiencia culminante de 12 años de educación pública que comienza en la niñez y marca su paso a la edad adulta. Escribo esta carta como la directora humilde de la clase de 2022; una clase que se ha embarcado en una de las experiencias más desafiantes de la historia; una clase lanzada a un entorno de aprendizaje remoto en su segundo año de escuela secundaria debido a una pandemia global; una clase que volvió al aprendizaje presencial en medio de una pandemia mundial; una clase que todavía se enfrenta a la crisis del COVID-19; y una clase obligada a practicar el distanciamiento social durante un año que debería estar lleno de celebración. Sin embargo, en medio de todo, ¡todavía se levantan! Están llegando al final de un capítulo
ence is going to be transformative. It is the beginning of a new chapter. Embrace whatever the universe is bringing to you next. Take control by turning the page and writing a new chapter. You have the power to alter the course of your life. Seniors, as you come to the end of this journey and embark into a world and time that is shrouded in uncertainty, stand cemented in resilience and persistence. You have been predestined to step into the future with a purpose, a vision, and with hope. I am humbled by your enthusiasm and the many accolades and accomplishments you have experienced at the River. In the words of Obama, don’t be afraid, do what you think is right, ground yourself in values that last, and build a community – no one does big things by themselves. We are all in this together! If the world is going to get better; it is going to be up to you. You are the class of Transformation! You have what it takes to do anything, go anywhere because today you are the class of overcomers! Now go forth with my respect, adoration, and best wishes, and make the world a better place. I am forever proud and honored to serve as your principal!
de su vida; sin embargo, lo que están a punto de experimentar será transformador. Es el comienzo de un nuevo capítulo. Acepten lo que sea que el universo les traiga a continuación. Tomen el control pasando la página y escribiendo un nuevo capítulo. Tienen el poder de alterar el curso de su vida. Estudiantes del último año, cuando lleguen al final de este viaje y se embarquen en un mundo y un tiempo envueltos en incertidumbre, permanezcan cimentados en la resiliencia y la persistencia. Han sido predestinados a dar un paso hacia el futuro con un propósito, una visión y con esperanza. Me siento honrada por su entusiasmo y los muchos elogios y logros que ha experimentado en Riverside. En palabras de Obama, “no tengas miedo, haz lo que creas correcto,
Sincerely, Dr. Gloria Woods-Weeks
céntrate en valores duraderos y construye una comunidad: nadie hace grandes cosas por sí mismo. ¡Estamos todos juntos en esto! Si el mundo va a mejorar; va a depender de ti.” ¡Ustedes son la clase de Transformación! ¡Tienen lo que se necesita para hacer cualquier cosa, ir a cualquier parte porque hoy son la clase de los vencedores! Ahora vayan adelante con mi respeto, adoración y mis mejores deseos, y hagan del mundo un lugar mejor. ¡Estoy siempre orgullosa y honrada de servir como su directora! Sinceramente, Dra. Gloria Woods-Weeks
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June 2022
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The Class of 2022 by the numbers: 3 principals in the last 1.5 years 10
years of Mr. Norman's life lost in one speech
11 seniors competing in college athletics 272 seniors graduating 17 freshman looking for the pool on the roof 24,763 trips to cookout 70 daily tardy passes to first period 419 vapes bought during lunch 720 classes through zoom 365,111 minutes listening to announcements Thank you Hook sponsors! Steve Schewel Michael Reckhow
Ginny Busch Robin Kirk
The Ida B. Wells Society for
Kenneth Duke Steven Unruhe Scott Laird Orin Starn David Ascher
Laura Richman Mary Boatwright Tim & Dianne Wooldridge Molly Flowe
Investigative Reporting In memory of Lenny May
Be a sponsor: email bryan_christopher@dpsnc.net
Farewell, parking lot By Emmer Rice For me, Cookout has been a constant throughout the last four years. Just like it housed generations of Riverside students, it was there for me after every football game, before every event, and during every SMART lunch. Its importance only became apparent to me this year. I remember going to my first concert after the pandemic last October and getting Cookout on the way home with my friends. It was pitch black and we were all exhausted from jumping in heels and singing along to Harry Styles for three hours. Despite this, after receiving my chicken quesadilla, cajun fries, chicken nuggets, and cheerwine float, I felt completely re-energized. While I sat in the car finishing off my meal, I looked up to see another group sitting in the parking lot. Like my friends and I, they were simply enjoying the food, the company, and the somehow unique ambience of the Cookout parking lot. This was the moment I realized how impor tant of a landmark this specific parking lot is for high school students in Durham. Cookout is so important to Durham t h a t when J o e Biden visited R i v erside before the election, he made sure to get a m i l k shake before
heading out. He did, however, order a plain vanilla milkshake, so I wouldn’t say he completely grasps the concept of Cookout. Cookout and its parking lot offer more than just cheap food for when I’m craving a good milkshake - it provides a familiar space where I can be both known and anonymous. I’m with my people, but I’m also just a part of the crowd. Though the Cookout parking lot isn’t fancy or secluded in the traditional sense, it’s nice and private all the same. This may seem like a bit of a dramatic way to describe a parking lot, but try not to let the setting negate the principle. As I leave Riverside, and subsequently Cookout, behind, I’m able to offer a piece of advice I wasn’t given at the beginning of highschool - find a place that can be yours. Finding an atmosphere like this is essential because it allows you to have a comfortable space to visit regularly outside of your house and your school.
Pirates' Hookok
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Solicitando permiso salir Por Abby Martinez "¡Señor La escuela secundaria NC-943 Riverside se reporta para ingresar al área de su plataforma de perforación, señor!" "Otorgada." Hace cuatro años, nunca hubiera pensado que me entristecería salir del JROTC. Desde no cumplir con los requisitos de calificaciones en el primer año hasta preocuparme por las calificaciones en el segundo año, hubo momentos en los que planeé rendirme porque pensé que estaba dedicando todo mi tiempo a este programa pero nunca obtendría un puesto de personal. Alcancé mi límite cuando estaba en una competencia de equipos de perforación y sentí mucha presión tratando de recordar los pasos. Me tomó un tiempo bajarlos, y seguimos cambiando la rutina y agregando cosas para que cumpliera con el requisito de tiempo. Me equivoqué durante la competencia y sentí que todos lo vieron. Nuestro equipo se ubicó de todos modos, y luego mis amigos (Brianna, Enrique, Jhovanny) me aseguraron que todo estaba bien y que todos cometen errores sin importar cuán grandes o pequeños sean. Cuando obtuve un puesto como comandante de vuelo en mi tercer año me di cuenta de que mi esfuerzo no había sido en vano. Mis instructores, Major y C-flight siempre estaban mirando, incluso cuando no podía verlo. Luché un poco con mi primer puesto en el personal. Un par de mis cadetes también tuvieron problemas. Uno de ellos, que siempre había sido el payaso de la clase, estaba de luto por la pérdida de un ser querido. Había perdido la motivación y sentía que era su culpa no poder pasar tiempo con sus familiares. No fue su culpa, pero COVID nos tenía a todos encerrados y no había mucho que pudiera decir y hacer por él y los otros
cadetes. Traté de estar allí para ellos y esperaba que escucharlos y darles mi tiempo fuera suficiente. Después de un año en línea, volver a cómo eran las cosas antes de COVID fue difícil. Nuestros estudiantes de primer año todavía estaban atrapados en una mentalidad de escuela secundaria y nuestros estudiantes de último año eran sus modelos a seguir, pero estaban oxidados. Todos hemos recorrido un largo camino desde ese primer trimestre, sin un sargento en la oficina para ajustar/repartir uniformes, entrenar a los estudiantes de primer año, iniciar el equipo de entrenamiento, ayudar a explicar las posiciones del personal y mucho más, C-flight tuvo que intervenir. Nuestros jóvenes sólo tenían un año de experiencia en persona, por lo que también necesitaban apoyo adicional. De alguna manera, los mayores tuvieron que reconstruir todo el programa. Luchamos, discutimos e incluso nos reímos durante situaciones difíciles sabiendo que al final todo valdrá la pena. Definitivamente los extrañaré... y si están leyendo esto, ¡estoy mintiendo! NC-943, me derribaste y me reconstruiste. Me has enseñado a nunca conformarme con menos y que el hecho de que estemos en primer lugar no significa que tengamos que holgazanear. Por la presente me despido de NC-943 y deseo a mis jóvenes lo mejor para el próximo año. Recuerda: es tu grupo . Haz las cosas de manera diferente si es necesario para mejorarlo. Manténgase motivado y, cuando los tiempos se pongan difíciles, siga adelante y manténgase unido. No maltraten a nadie solo porque es diferente. ¡Ustedes tienen esto! "¡Señor, el cadete teniente coronel Martinez solicita permiso para salir del área de su plataforma de perforación, señor!" "Otorgada" "¡Gracias Señor!"
Animo a cualquiera que sea tímido o callado como yo a encontrar un club o deporte del que formar parte, incluso si nunca lo ha hecho.
SENIOR I, Ariane Allard-Spink, leave my Nonemaker, my youth large fortnite parking spot to my sister, Mia, and my t-shirt Michael Setji, and my entire notes/notebooks to the freshman house to Ross Virdin. willing to pay me the most for them. I, Josh Eagle, leave care of the I, Kyle Boody, leave chorus freshman to the sinkhole and broMicah and Joey. Good I, Luciel Diaz, luck. ken tables to Ms. Minnhereby leave ick for safekeeping, and I, Eva Egeghy, leave I leave my good friend my sweatiest Aubree, Sam, Vivian Reese Compton my and Elizabeth the Modsoccer jersey to ECU banner. el UN, Genesis SanI, Lily Brigman, here- Anna and lunch chez my field hockey by leave the fire wsoc talent, and Zoe Cordell insta to Riley O’Connor table to Lindsey and Ella Cohen my and Libby Flowe. never-taken AP World and Sam. I, Jadrien Bumidang, exam. hereby leave Franze my I, Henry Haase, 110m and 300m hurdle abilities and hereby leave Winston's lost wallet, Jordan my ninja energy. car keys, and phone to DJ. I, Nakiya Craft, hereby leave Imani I, Meg Helgesen, hereby leave Eugene to the home ownership of my position as dance team captain the foods room (141) This room has to Nia Wilkinson and Alania Atwater. always been my comfort place and I, Zyasia Horton, leave my legendmy home at school, so I leave it to ary marching band flip book in the you to make memories in and enjoy band room to anyone that finds it. Ms. Wilson’s bickering. I , R yon H ovey , I, Carlyn Danleave my helmet and I, Zyasia ise, hereby leave my dwindling workout Horton, leave my chromebook to D-Sizmotivation to JC Ross. zle and my parking spot my legendary I, Sequan Leigh, to Anneliese because like to leave my marching band would you always get my hand word with the ones who me downs. And lastly I flip book in the are struggling and going leave my Air Force Ones through hard times. band room to to Trevin. You will always prevail. I, Luciel Diaz, hereby anyone that Rainy days don’t last leave my sweatiest soclong. Keep goin and at finds it. cer jersey to Anna and the end it’s all worth lunch table to Lindsey it. I love all my homies and Sam. especially, the ones that look up to I, Quentin DuVal-Smith, leave my me. Thank you. 14 ounce blue Nalgene to Nicholas I, Eli McCall, leave my pain and
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WILLS suffering to the juniors. after watching Hamlet (1996), Mr. BoI, Flyn Meadows, len my POE grade, and hereby leave Winston's Mr. Norman my one on I, Flynn lost wallet, car keys, and the AP MacroeconomMeadows, ics exam (sorry, I really phone to DJ. I, Ben Meglin, hereby hereby leave did try). leave. I, Kristin Shibu, hereWinston's lost I, Saniya Mitchener, by leave the United hereby leave my lucky wallet, car keys, Nations table at Ms.Allpen to my cousin Ty. man’s trailer to JC. and phone to I, Genaro Perez, hereI, Ariana Smith, hereby leave AUX duty to by leave my spot as DJ. John Ballard wherever dance team manager he goes and whenever he’s with the to Jazmin China. boys. I, Julian Steinmeyer, hereby leave. I, Kaian Ramirez, hereby leave the Goodbye. position of "casual school menace" to I, Leiko Takahashi, hereby leave my my younger brother, Noah Ramirez. unfinished parking spot. Please maintain that position. I, Ryan Weaver, hereby leave my I, Jossy Ramirez-Munoz, here- parking spot to Otto Schonwalder. by leave my Calculus knowledge to Genesis and my lunch table, too. I Hope Reid, will grant any remaining RPBA funds to orchestra instrument repairs. I, Emmer Rice, hereby leave Genesis Sanchez my pink hair and my stock of celsius, Mary Walters my hatred of you know who and not the aux, Tate Gasch and Eden Richman the Pirates' Hook instagram account, Mr. Lang my 35 on the ACT english section, Mrs. Prater my sanity
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Requesting permission to exit By Abby Martinez “Sir, NC-943 Riverside high school reporting to enter your drill pad area, Sir!” “Granted.” Four years ago, I never would have thought that I’d be sad to get out of JROTC. From not meeting grade requirements freshman year to caring about grades sophomore year, there were times I planned on giving up as I thought I was putting all my time into this program but would never get a staff position. I hit my limit when I was at a drill team competition and I felt so much pressure trying to remember the steps. It takes me a while to get them down, and we kept changing the routine and adding to it in order for it to meet the time requirement. I messed up during the competition and felt as though everyone saw it. Our team placed anyway, and afterwards my friends (Brianna, Enrique, Jhovanny) assured me that it was okay and that everyone makes mistakes, no matter how big or small. When I got a position as a flight commander my junior year I realized that my effort wasn't for nothing. My instructors, Major and C-flight were always watching, even when I couldn't see it. I struggled a bit with my first staff position. A couple of my cadets struggled, too. One of them who’d always been the class clown was mourning the loss of a loved one. He had lost motivation and felt as though it was his fault that he couldn’t spend time with his relatives. It wasn’t his fault, but COVID had us all on lockdown
and there was only so much I could say and do for him and the other cadets. I tried to be there for them and hoped that hearing them out and giving them my time was enough. After a year online, getting back to how things were before COVID was hard. Our freshmen were still stuck in a middle school mindset and our upperclassmen were their role models, but they were rusty. We’ve all come a long way since that first quarter, with no sergeant in office to fit/give out uniforms, drill freshmen, start drill team, help explain staff positions, and so much more, C-flight had to step in. Our juniors only had one year of in-person experience, so they needed extra support, too. In some ways,seniors had to rebuild the whole corps. We struggled, argued, and even laughed during tough situations knowing it’ll all be worth it at the end. I'll definitely miss them…and If they’re reading this, I’m lying! NC-943, you’ve broken me down and built me back up. You've taught me to never settle for less and that just because we place first doesn’t mean we have to slack off. I hereby say goodbye to NC-943 and wish my juniors the best for next year. Remember - it’s your corps. Do things differently if you need to in order to better it. Stay motivated, and when times get hard continue to push through it and stick together. Don’t single anyone out just because they’re different. You guys got this! “Sir, Cadet Lieute na nt colon e l martinez requesting permission to exit your drill pad area, Sir!” “Granted” “Thank you Sir!”
Where is class of 2
Appalachian State Emmet Cardwell William Gavilan Elijah Halligan Grace Mackenzie Sydney Pipeling Isaac Ramirez
Case Western Reserve University Joshua Eagle Connecticut College Eva Mills Cornell University Eva Egeghy DePaul University Nathan McMurray Duke University Renn Cutick Duke Kunshan University Faith Anderson Durham Tech Nakiya Craft Luciel Diaz Makayla Gooch Alexus Mckeithan Alfred Honore Taniya Hill Alfred Honore Zyasia Horton Jamya Hudgins Eduardo Jacinto Zaragoza Hope Reid East Carolina University Jaelyn Ashe Elon University Brooke Boozer Fayetville Tech Kamariyah George Kaian Ramirez Gap Year Henry Shearer Leiko Takahashi Gardner Webb University Ariana Smith
George Washington University Ryon Hovey Olin Peterson Emmer Rice Georgia Tech Benjamin Smith
Lenoir Rhyne University Saniya Mitchiner
Greensboro College Nathan Gordon Isabel Young
Military Abby Martinez
Guilford College Dremel Langston
NC Agriculture & Technology Jaden Hunter
Haverford College Flyn Meadows Howard University Diona Wilson
North Carolina Central University Elvinah John Sequan Leigh Sofia Sanchez-Lemus
Page designed using imagery from Google Maps
2022 going?
UNC Greensboro Donnel Estes Georgia Fishback Kyle Fitzpatrick Meg Helgesen Avery Knowles Abby Martinez Ben Meglin UNC Wilmington Jack Jenkins
UNC Chapel Hill Brianna Aguilar Orozco Millie Anderson Devon Cholon Thomas Dreps Quintin DuVal-Smith Jake Foley Kiki Kozak Quinn Tugwell Ella Whithaus Zach Zilles
Penn State University Jake Badalamenti Edward Danforth Rhodes College Winston Gasch
NC State University Adilene Alanise Razvan Braha Jadrien Bumidang Carlyn Dansie Zach Dennis Mathias Fischer Christopher Hammett Sylvia Johnston-Krase Will Lowder
Jackson Mock Adam Noor Mackenzie Norman Genaro Perez Jossy Ramirez-Munoz Elijah Rodriguez Lindsay Sample Julien Steinmeyer Austin Tran Ryan Weaver Riley Wickens
Saint Augustine University Jahcori Brown Shaw University Makhia Moore Brandon Diaz Reyes Tulane University Ivy Tobin University of Brtish Columbia Ariane Allard-Spink
UNC Charlotte Chris Betts Zachary Garcia-Webb Eli McCall Maddie Strobel Lucia Wert
University of Oregon Willow Tobin University of Vermont Alex Kaplan University of Virginia Phillip Patillo Vassar College Lily Brigman Virginia Tech Michaela Foster Wake Tech Kristen Shibu Walla Walla University Lero Barclay
UNC Asheville Elliot Phipps
Williams College Hannah Bernhardt
University of Richmond Henry Haase
Wingate University Alyssa Iacono Workforce Jaiden Cooper Norah Laughinghouse
Pirates' Hookok
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Farewell, doubters By Janel Perry As I get ready to graduate, I’m thinking a lot about the teachers that helped me get here. Especially the ones who doubted me. My tenth grade math teacher doubted me the most. I was so good at math before she came into my life, but she had a different way of grading. I got failing grades even though I got the right answers. Honestly, it felt like she just wanted to pick with me. One day, somebody asked me for a pencil. She called me out for talking during the warm up. I told her it was about a pencil, but she called an administrator. I told the assistant principal, Ms. Clay, what happened and said I’d rather sit in RPC for no reason than to be in her class. I chose to go to RPC and and stayed there for the rest of her class period. This was the first time I had to stand up for myself. There was a consequence, but I didn’t care. I learned that no matter what, you gotta know how to deal with teachers and staff. Teachers have their days sometimes, just like students do. Recently I had to stand up for myself when a new assistant principal thought I was skipping class or wasn't a student because I was outside trying to get in the building and go to my second period class. “Are you a student here?” she asked, opening the door but not letting me in. “Yes…” “Why aren't you in class?” “You’re in front of my class.”
“What’s your name? I’ve never seen you before.” I am definitely a student here. I’ve been here for four years, but how would she ever see me if she’s new and doesn’t have a reason? I grew up a lot through COVID and just wanted to focus on graduating, but new administrators and front office staff created a very different environment at Riverside this year. Last fall, students were talking about how bad the front office attitude was, how rude they were, how it didn't feel right without our normal front office. Things needed to change, and I wanted to do something more than complain. So I wrote an article about the front office and school culture. I don't know if anything has changed because I try my best to stay away from them, but hopefully, when students return next fall, they give them a better attitude than this year and treat kids with respect. Thank you to the teachers I had that doubted me. I'm here, I made it and I’m proud of what I accomplished. I grew bonds with longtime friends, and ended my last year making new ones too. Everyone has to stand up for themselves. That's how you learn right from wrong. Don’t let no teacher or anyone make you feel like you can't do something, or you can't make it to where you are trying to go.
Shout outs Ariane Allard-Spink: Shout out Dr. Okun for being my biggest fan!!!! Jaelyn Ashe: Shout out to Coach Duncan for always looking out for me throughout all my years at Riverside! I’ll miss you a lot! Jake Badalamenti: Mr. Strand is the GOAT. Enough said. Kyle Boody: Shout out to Dr. Okun (boss baby) for always keeping the traffic flowing safely. Jachori Brown: Shout out to Jahcori for being the best dresser in the school. Outfits were amazing. Jadrien Bumidang: Shout out to Boss Baby (Dr. Okun) for saying “Wuddup y'all” to me every day. Nakiya Craft: Shout out to Mrs. Wilson for always making sure I was on the right path in life. You really helped me form my future. Edward Danforth: Shout out to Mr. Strand for helping me explore compu ter science and figure out what I want to do at university. Carlyn Dansie: Shout out Ms. Prater 4 being the realest: live, laugh, love. Luciel Diaz: Shout out to Mrs. Roth for always thanking me for walking around the circle. Quentin DuVal-Smith: Shout out to Mrs. Simpson for putting up with us for a whole year. Shout out to Mr. Carlson - we miss you! Shout out to Mr. Stallings and Mrs. Foster. Eva Egeghy: Shout out to Mr. Crowl for being the best AP Stats teacher ever and letting us have a holiday party. Shout out to Mr. Nguyen for getting multiple essays in Mrs. Prater’s class pushed back. Shout out to Mrs. Flowers and Mrs. Allman for putting up with debate, and shout out to Mr. Norman for that 16 page financial planning project. Jake Foley: Shout out Ms. Ericson for being a grill master. Henry Haase: Shout out to Jesse for being a cool dude.
Meg Helgesen: Shout out to The Dance Team and Mrs. Dunky. Couldn’t have asked for a better group of friends. I will miss you all. Keep on being baddies. Taniyah Hill: Shout out to Ms.Roth for making my last semester the best. Ryon Hovey: Shout out to Mr Groff for being a genuinely good human being. Eduardo Jacinto Zaragoza: Shout out to Mr.Privette for making me better at math. Jack Jenkins: Shout out to Mr. StrandPoole, coolest PLTW teacher I had. John Elvinah: Shout out to Mrs. Twitmeyer for the amazing muffins. Sylvia Johnson-Krase: Shout out to Mr. Holley for being a mentor and role model and teaching me so many things these past few years. Avery Knowles: Shout out to Ms. Roth for doing a great job with Yearbook and pictures. Kiki Kozac: Shout out to Mrs. Simpson, for somehow tolerating our 3rd period calculus class. Sequan Leigh: Shout out to the ones who doubted me that I wouldn’t make it to this point in my life. God Is Good! Thank you to all my football coaches who put me under their wing n guided me in the right direction. Especially the one I did it for was for - my Momma! Eli McCall: Shout out to Mr. Carlson. Flynn Meadows: Shout out to Winston for being smart and funny! Ben Meglin: Shout Out to Mr. Thompson, the talks before first period with me and kyle were always fun. Saniya Mitchiner: Shout out to Ms. Ericson, you were my favorite teacher. Adam Noor: Shout out to Mr. Lang for showing what high school is like early on. Genaro Perez: Shout out Mrs. Simpson for putting up with me and our class and being such a YËAT enthusiast. Elliott Phipps: Shout out to Mr. Smith for teaching speech - the best class I took
Shout out to Mrs. Wilson for always making sure I was on the right path in life. You really helped me form my future.
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Goodbye, Mr. Glick
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See ya, Mr. Meglin
By Keshaun Burns My high school experience wasn't what I expected it to be, but it wasn’t bad. I appreciate all my teachers for helping me when I needed it and putting me on the right track to graduation. Mr. Glickenhouse always helped the class with the classwork and made sure any assignment we had to turn in was complete on time. He always made sure no student missed their deadline on their assignment so everyone could get the full grade. That's what made him a good teacher to me. I haven't had a teacher like that since I was in his class my freshman year. It’s rare to run into teachers who are invested like that. Most just let you do what you want when it comes to doing the classwork. They don’t care if it’s done or not because it doesn't matter to them if you pass or fail. That’s why you always stay on top of everything yourself. I learned that quickly in high school through being in class and the free time I got to meet new people. I didn’t even expect to know all the people I know when I first arrived in high school. during high school. Sydney Pipeling: Shout out to Mrs. Anna Allman for being epically supportive and helpful. Kaian Ramirez: Shout out to Major Bailey, for welcoming me into the Corps with open arms when I really needed it. Isaac Ramirez: Shout out to Mr.Bolen for his sick man bun! Hope Reid: Shout to Ms. Moore, the teacher I've been with for all four years of high school. And shoutout to all teachers in RIverside working hard through the online year! Emmer Rice: Shout out to Ms. Minnick for somehow not hating me after freshman year AP Human Geography, Mr. Nguyen for telling me I should run for president and for making Mrs. Prater's fun Friday question extra exciting, Mr. Stallings for being the nicest teacher ever and for sharing my hatred of NCSSM, and Mr. Christopher for dealing with my opinions for four years and even letting me write about them.
Kristin Shibu: Shout out to Mr.Stallings for letting me stay in his class for 3 periods, lunch and after school to work on late work. Benjamin Smith: Shout out to Ms.Ericson - She’s pretty cool I guess. Shout out to Ms.Tucker - thanks for letting me be a pain. Ariana Smith: Shout out to dance team + Ms. Dunc Dunc for making my senior year so much better & Ms. Ray-Brown & Ms. Boliek for being my #1 supporters in everything. Ryan Weaver: Shout out to Mrs. Minnick for being the best teacher at Riverside. Riley Wickens: Shout out to Mr. O’Hara. Diona Wilson: Shout out to my friends who have been around me keeping the year fun and crazy and thanks to all the teachers I had who actually helped me! Zachary Zillies: Shut out to Ms. Brady for opening the door outside of class every day.
Shout out to Mrs. Anna Allman for being epically supportive and helpful.
By Benjamin Meglin Ten years from now, when I think about Riverside, I’ll remember my dad. He took me every day to school, I sat in his classroom every morning, and he’s been with me my entire high school life. When I say with me, I don’t mean supportive or in contact. He was literally with me. It was always helpful having someone you can always go to when you needed it, info about the school or a ride to and from the place, or having a good relationship with other teachers that I had in the past. Most of my high school career I was never an A student. There were times when I was bombing a class, and teachers were willing to help me because they knew who I was, and they were also supporting a colleague in my dad. Having him so close was great, but I always wondered what it would be like if he wasn’t here. I love my dad, and he never publicly embarrassed me, and I didn’t care if he talked to my friends - but my social life would have been different if he wasn’t here. Half the people I know here had my dad as a teacher. Eighty percent of the time, when someone I don’t k n o w comes up to m e , t h e y usually talk about him. There was always two descriptions of my dad, “I have him fourth
period, he’s a cool guy, he’s chill, and funny” or “He was corny and I slept in his class every day.” Both answers were fine with me, and I could care less what people thought of my dad because at the end of the day, he was always my favorite person to see at school. My dad’s also helped me see a side of Riverside that most kids don’t. There are 1800 students. You can literally be friends with anybody. It’s a close-knit school, even though it’s so big. It’s still small in a way. My dad has a hard time remembering names. He’ll see a student he had in public and can’t remember their name, but he’ll always remember something they did - something they wrote, a hobby, or an instrument they used to play - and they’ll catch up like old friends. Shout out to the people who I met because of my dad, you guys know who you are! Unless you become a teacher, most of the people you talk to in high school will be gone after they graduate. People move on - it’s a part of life - and you won’t be around them forever. Take advantage of the opportunities you have right now. Don’t be scared to approach people. Talk during class. You’re going to have to do it eventually for s ome group project anyw a y, s o don’t worry about what peop l e t h i n k a n d s t r i ke up a conversation. They might end up being one of your best friends.
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So long, swim team By Ryan Weaver When I got to Riverside I wanted to be a part of something that would allow me to be myself and have fun. I’d already been swimming competitively for eight years when I decided to join Riverside’s team my freshman year. With no information about who the coach is or what the practice schedule was like, I was nervous that this would be similar to club swimming’s stressful environment. Club swimming is all about competition. Coaches and swimmers are hyperfocused on trying to get faster all the time. The atmosphere is serious and the stakes are high. When I introduced myself to Riverside’s head coach, Elizabeth Moreno, at the interest meeting she was very welcoming and was excited to have me on the team. It felt refreshing to have a coach who was competitive as well as supporting swimmers going through the mental stresses of the sport and school. In my first two years we had many successes. Four relays qualified for States, and I earned three podium finishes. This was the first time that I was truly having fun with swimming. Most of the time I am caught up in making sure I get a specific time at t his spe cific meet. That pressure would always build up and have a negative effect on my mental health. High school swimming allowed me to be more relaxed and confident in competition. Ready for my junior year and possibly my first opportunity to be a captain for the
swim team, I was devastated when I learned that our season was cancelled due to COVID. This was a hard pill to swallow, as I wanted to win two events at states but knew that it was the right decision for the team's safety. When senior year came around there were lots of thoughts swimming through my head (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Are we going to have a season? Am I going to get back to the podium in my final year? During our first relay at the state meet I felt an immense pain in my right knee and I had to pull out of the race and couldn’t compete in the finals. I knew my high school swimming career was over, and I wasn’t even able to cheer for my teammates during their individual swims because I had to get my knee checked out at a nearby urgent care. This was really hard for me. As a captain. I wanted to support my team even when it seemed like I had let them down. But this was far from the truth, as they supported me and my decision to pull out of the meet. It was a stressful time, but it turned out great. We had multiple swimmers make it to states for the third year in a row. I am extremely proud of the team for working this hard to get to this level of success that Riverside has rarely seen. Through this I learned to appreciate my high school swimming experience. The team gave me a place to be myself and learn to enjoy and have fun instead of being serious all the time. To those who are reading this: consider joining some sort of group at Riverside. It doesn’t have to be athletics, but find something, because those groups will teach you great life lessons and help you learn more about yourself.
Until next time, Dr. Woods-Weeks By Susana Briones-Garcia I'm not really sure what I thought high school would be like. I went to Early College my first three years, then I transferred to Riverside as a senior. I'm pretty much new to this school. Being here has definitely made me change my perspective of what I thought my high school experience would be like. Early College is small. It felt nice being at a “regular” school like Riverside, yet terrifying. I wasn't sure what to expect once I entered the building. It felt so weird seeing so many kids in one place and seeing how big the hallways and classrooms were. The only thing that really interested me were the electives Riverside has. I didn't learn about them until the second semester, and I was shocked when I heard the school had photography and other art-related classes. I was excited to finally have a class I actually liked. Having journalism as a class was really surprising, too. I never would've thought that Riverside had its own student publication with different stories a b o u t c u r re nt events, opinions and problems. I've enjoyed being in photography and journalism. It's refreshing knowing that there are students that enjoy these classes and the other electives. I also never wo u l d h ave
imagined I’d see my old principal again. When I heard that Dr. Woods-Weeks was coming to Riverside, I knew things were going to change around here and fast. Transferring was definitely my way of freeing myself. My junior year was the worst year ever. Everything being online made everything worse for me. Coming back to school senior year and seeing that my old principal was my new principal, made me rethink if transferring was worth it. I'm not saying having rules and being strict here and there is bad, but coming from Early College, we didn't have as much “freedom” as other schools. I remember one day a student was given silent lunch. It blew my mind that at a high school they would still do this. Next year, expect school to be more organized and orderly. I suppose being more strict and punitive will change students' behaviors, but I don’t think that kind of mindset will work in the long run. To be honest, I just wanted my senior year to be fun and thought that if I tried my best and went to a fitting school it would help me succeed. Exploring Riverside made it a fun experience here. I'm not a really big fan of talking with other people, but here it seemed somewhat easy to talk with other students. If anyone reading this has ever felt out of place like me, think about taking a chance. Do things you've never done before even though it may seem off. Doing what you want to do sure does make high school more enjoyable. And remember - you're the only one that knows yourself the best.
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Goodbye, structure By Jacob Hindman Every weekday since freshman year I have woken up at 8 a.m. to the sound of my alarm. It was the same routine: wake up, get your stuff together, and load up into the car. Get to school and participate until 4:00 p.m. Rinse and repeat until June. School and the structure behind it are beloved to me like a hostage with Stockholm Syndrome. For so long I’ve been forced to deal with a system that works like an assembly line putting kids' brains together that I’ve gotten used to it. I have teachers and people that I care about, an infinite amount of stories, and some incredible experiences. Riverside's engineering program has changed my life. Even though I hated applying myself, I felt like I was genuinely good at the skills they taught us. And journalism class changed my future. There wasn’t a ‘regular’ job I could see myself doing 10 years from now until I joined the newspaper staff. If it wasn’t for Riverside, I wouldn’t know the people I consider my best friends. I started skating more my sophomore year. Even though smart lunch wasn’t a thing, I’d bring my board and skate outside in front of Mr. Bolen's room (despite his many warnings). I was in the hall one day and a kid I’ve never talked to asked to ollie on my board. We got to talking and I met some of his friends. Now, whenever I can, I come with them to the skatepark like we did all the time sophomore year. Nevertheless, I have never spent more time in a place that has made me so uncomfortable. Despite the good people I’ve m et , h i g h school has
felt suffocating. A teacher that couldn’t control their class. Multiple-page research essays. All of chemistry. At this point, I hate the routine. But as graduation nears, I’m nervous about what’s next, too. I have an idea of what I’m doing and I have a plan but no amount of planning will keep me from feeling like I’m drifting between my options. I never thought about it until right now, but so many decisions are made for us. We’re given a basic outline of the credits and classes necessary to graduate, and there’s a noticeable progression in each class. Even though I’m sitting at home, all of the systems that school put into place make my life easier because I have fewer decisions to make. During my senior year, I’ve had more freedom than any other time in my life which means I’m forced to regulate myself and my work. In some of my classes, I get all the work done in less than an hour and I’m free to forget about everything I just learned. In others, it’s a struggle. I’m staring at my computer screen wondering if I’d do better if I was in class. Most of the time I feel like I wouldn’t. I’ve enjoyed the newfoundfreedom. I wake up and skate and seldom complete work. I’m blessed with an easy schedule. I have to remind myself that all of my time cannot always be free time. I will have to get serious. I’m thinking of a job beyond the summer and attending community college in the next year or two. Graduation is on the horizon. The thing I feel like I’ve been working towards for essentially my entire life is two weeks away It’s weird and scary to have the culmination of all of your work condensed into a single afternoon. Since third grade and the first End of Grade assessment, I have been thinking about this moment. The anticipation is killing me. So is the uncertainty of what happens after it's over.
Farewell, avolition By Jakyies Evans My high school experience was educational, to say the least. When I came to Riverside as a freshman I didn’t know too many people and was not the most social person. I had to step out of my comfort zone and try things that made me nervous, like joining the football team, the newspaper, taking honors/AP classes, and even trying out for the basketball team. This drove me to find and make some of the best friends I've ever had. I also met teachers like Mr. Christopher, Mr. Owens and Ms. Minnick, who became mentors to me. This set the tone for my sophomore year. I eventually found my “group,” key interests, and became an A/B student. That momentum was inevitably undercut due to COVID in March 2020. I enjoyed the short break from school but quickly realized how serious the situation really was. I quickly realized that adapting to lockdowns and virtual learning was quite difficult and taxing mentally, to say the least. As COVID pushed into my junior year, time became a blur. I lost motivation for school and the will to do anything in general. However, during this time the Black Lives Matter movement took off after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. This, along with the passing of friends, family and fellow classmates to gun violence in Durham and seeing the abuse of power by police in my neighborhood,
reignited the light in me. BLM gave me the motivation I had lacked and prompted me to go and advocate for what I believed in. I wrote a letter to President Biden asking him to say their names and charge the officers responsible for Breona Taylor’s death. This spring I wrote about Amir Locke’s death, the soft rules that are supposed to limit no-knock warrants but don’t, and just how little progress we’ve made. I marched in protests and witnessed all different types of ethnic and social groups come out and support each other under one cause . During these protests I was introduced to organizations such as NABCJ, Thrive Durham , and SpiritHouse NC, nonprofits that were built to help the Black community and the underprivileged. I never knew that they existed until that point, which taught me the lesson that I had to be more engaged with the community around me. Although the transition back to in-person was hard and there have been ups and downs, I remembered the lessons I learned from my teachers , from the hardships of COVID , and from fighting social injustice in my community. I kept focused on what I want to achieve and how I'm going to use my education to make this world a better place, not just for My people but all people. Goodbye to avolition (a term I learned in psych that means a total lack of drive or motivation for your goals) and to my classmates who aren't here with us to walk that stage. You will never be forgotten.
Class of 2022 Superlatives Most likely to win an Oscar: Donnel Estes Most likely to become president: Eva Egeghy Most likely to get married: Quentin DuVal Smith and Genaro Perez Most likely to win Jeopardy: Ryon Hovey Most likely to be banned on Twitter: Nate Gordon Most likely to become a ‘Florida Man’: Kyle Fitzpatrick Best smile: Lily Brigman Most likely to go pro in their sport: Ryan Weaver