Red Devils embrace Halloween spirit

Students and faculty wore their spookiest Halloween costumes last Friday, and Hyphen photographers and journalists captured some of the scary moments through portrait photography. Click on the images below to see photos in the gallery.

Freshmen plan now for their futures

by Hailey Craynon

In 10 years from now, everyone will be off doing their own thing. What are you going to do? What makes you want to do this? How committed are you?  Where do you see yourself?

Freshman Kyra Gibson said, “I want to be a criminal investigator. I want to be a criminal investigator because I want to understand why criminals do the things they do, and I’m planning to achieve this by staying focused in school and graduating from a good college.”

Gibson has been passionate about being a criminal investigator since she was in sixth grade, as she found it exciting and interesting.

“I have always watched documentaries with my mom and tried to solve them, and it got me into criminal investigations.”

Some students are interested in nursing.

Freshman Makhia Hall said, “In 10 years, I see myself figuring out what college I want to go to so that I can study for a nursing degree, and I’ve always been good with kids and just people in general. I’m going to achieve this by getting good grades, making sure my GPA is high, and paying attention more in classes.”

Some think nursing is maybe too hard and they give up on a dream, but Hall said to “focus on the impact you will have on patients’ lives and never give up.”  

And while some freshmen do not know exactly what they’d like to do in the future yet, they still plan to make the most of high school.

Freshman Serenity Dees said, “In 10 years, I would probably be either in or graduating college, hopefully with a job of some sort and living with a friend or on my own. To achieve that, I’ll need to keep my grades up and graduate from high school in the pathway I plan to pursue.”

Some people are uncertain what they want to do with their lives when they’re older, and that’s okay. They still plan to have a fun and sustainable life.

Freshman Tryston Looney said, “I see myself in 10 years in a nice house, and I’m planning to be a police officer because I have always wanted to be one. I plan to achieve this by saving up money and working hard. I want to do this so I can live a happy and decent life in the future.” 

Some may have a dream and think it’s too hard, or that they will never make it, but “fight strong and never give up on your dreams,” said Looney. 

No matter how challenging their dreams are, most freshmen plan to never give up on their dreams.

Eco Club inspires activism one small act at a time 

Club members hope their work makes a difference at JHS and in the community

by Chloe Newton

Before the recycling bins are rolled down the hallway, or a single piece of trash is picked up, the  Eco Club is already planning its next activity to help keep JHS a cleaner place. 

Every Monday after school, the members gather in a classroom that smells faintly of dry-erase markers and recycling ideas. The meeting begins with updates on who is recycling this week, which community event requires volunteers, and whether the tree planting partnership with the local tree board is ready to commence. 

What most people don’t see is the planning. Students check their schedules, sort donated containers, and brainstorm new projects. Sponsor and Spanish teacher  Jenna Felix moves between groups, answering questions and encouraging the nervous freshmen who are still finding their voices.

“Leadership is about reminders and organization,” Felix stated as a student leader snapped a photo of the new recycling chart for the club’s group chat.

On Mondays, students might spot a few members quietly collecting bottles and paper from classrooms. They joke and laugh while hauling bags, but they’re also very careful, ensuring that all recyclables are sorted and clean.  

Sophomore Rachel Ledbetter said, “It’s simple, but it feels good to know we’re making a difference and helping our school stay cleaner.”

Sophomore Monserratt Gonzalez added that “Eco Club is a place where I can go after school to feel better about myself because no matter the grades, I know I am making the world a stronger place.” 

Sometimes opportunities drop in unexpectedly. For instance, recently a local river sweep needed volunteers, or a new idea for upcycling plastic into benches popped up mid-meeting. The club thrives on these moments, turning small sparks into action. 

Sophomore Vivianna Hill shared that this is one of the things that made her want to be a part of the Eco Club.

“I joined because I wanted to help the environment, but I’ve learned so much more about how even small changes can inspire our whole community.”

Their biggest challenge? Convincing the wider school to reduce single-use plastics and see recycling as a last resort instead of a first. 

By the end of the week, the bins are emptied, plans are made, and the hallways look just a little better. Most students never notice the effort that the Eco Club puts into keeping JHS clean. The behind-the-scenes work is not about the attention, though; it is about creating a cleaner, more sustainable school and inspiring others to care for the planet, one small act at a time. 

CLub members develop their sense of purpose through small, sustainable acts

by Miaa Caporale and Kenshawn Schilling

When most people hear about an eco club, they picture recycling bins and posters about how to save the planet. But there’s so much more going on behind the scenes. The Eco Club is characterized by team work, sharing ideas, and taking steps to improve the school’s environment. 

“It gives me a sense of purpose by joining the Eco Club and helping our community,” sophomore Ellyana Chattin stated.

Sophomores Ellyana Chattin and Kenzie Myers pick up recycling from classrooms for the Eco Club. Photo by Miaa Caporale.

From clean-up days to starting new recycling projects, members stay busy making a difference on school grounds. 

 “I joined the Eco Club because I wanted to learn more about the environment and help out the community in every way I can,” said sophomore Jordyn Jaggers.

Her motivation reflects the club’s spirit; students come together not just to learn, but also to take action that makes a difference.

“The club encourages students to recycle not just at school, but also at home,” said sophomore Zoey Breeden.

This shows how Eco Club’s influence reaches further than the hallways of JHS, reminding students that even small actions can make a big difference in the world. 

“We are all passionate about the same cause, and it feels good knowing that all of us just want to make a difference,” said sophomore Graciela Sanchez. 

Her words reflect the sense of community the Eco Club has built for students, bringing students together who share the same passion.   

“Small actions matter. Just because we are a high school club doesn’t mean we aren’t making a difference. If everyone does one eco-friendly thing every day, together we can make a huge difference,”  Chattin said.

Sophomores Ellyana Chattin and Kenzie Myers pick up recycling from classrooms for the Eco Club. Photo by Miaa Caporale.

That belief is what pushes the Eco Club’s mission, reminding students that small steps added together can create a real change at JHS.

“Being in the Eco Club makes me more mindful about my choices, like recycling and saving energy by turning off a light when it’s not being used,” Breeden said.

This mindfulness is what the Eco Club wants to inspire students to do. Even a simple change like flipping a light switch can help save energy. By encouraging these small habits, the club hopes more students will become aware of their impact and choose to live more eco-friendly at home and at school. 

“My message to my classmates would be to become friendly; you don’t have to change your whole life. Small changes really matter, and if every student works together, the difference could be a huge impact on our community,” said Chattin.

‘Once Upon a Mattress’ cast prepares for opening night this week

by Areli Hernandez Romero

The cast and crew of “Once Upon a Mattress” is excited to announce their grand opening night, which is Nov. 1. With the support of directors, cast, and crew members, they anticipate taking over the stage and bringing life to their roles.

Show dates are also performed Nov. 2, Nov. 3, Nov. 7, and Nov. 8.

Graphic by Areli Hernandez Romero.

All photos by Areli Hernandez Romero and Abygail Lawson.

David Callan brings professional experience into WJHI broadcast program

by Abigail Hall

Broadcasting teacher David Callan waves his hands animatedly as he explains the basics of editing.

“Drag and drop your video onto the timeline.”

While he appears normal or a generic teacher to a passerby, he has quite a history. Very few people know that he was a producer and executive director at WDRB before he came to Jeffersonville. 

“I did audio, graphics, technical directing, directing, and eventually became the boss. So I did every job you can do in production,” he recalled.

David Callan assists WJHI student journalists with projects in the broadcast production lab. Photo by Abigail Hall.

However, he started out as a courier. 

“I started off as the station runner. So back then, they had people who went to different TV stations, radio stations,” Callan said. “I went to the movie houses to get what they called movie trailers.”

He tells his students about his time in the production world very fondly, but everyone around him is grateful he made the switch to high school teaching.

Senior broadcasting student Alyssa Jendrick said that Callan has positively impacted her school experience in many ways.

“I’d describe him as a great guide to help others,” she began. “After understanding what you need, it’s nice to help others and even inspire them if they’re willing to dream big and open their minds.” 

Other students often speak highly of Callan, stating how great a teacher and mentor he is. However, it’s not just students; his colleagues also admire him.

Colleague and fellow broadcasting teacher Fred Cowgill said, “He is a great broadcaster, enormously talented, but he’s a better man. He spews integrity, he works hard, he has incredible standards and none higher than for himself.” 

Callan and Cowgill work hard together to make the class a fun and educational place for students to be. In the future, they hope to improve the quality of the program in many ways.

“I’m hoping I’ll have some time and I can get into Adobe certification,” Callan stated. “I’m going to put myself through it, so I understand what you need to do as a student.”

Besides editing, broadcasting students work on many other things. They are involved with producing livestreams of sports games that go on here at the high school. 

“We’re trying to elevate the production level of the game,” he added. “I don’t expect you guys to be at the level that I had when I was working at DRB early on. These people, these were professionals who knew how to do the jobs. But what we want to do is we want to get in a learning step.”

Regardless of what he decides to teach, students know that they will enjoy it, just as much as they enjoy his mentorship and presence. He continues to help others in their learning and life experiences, always putting them first.

“Our goal, Mr. Cowgill’s and I, and our goal is to make you better people, to get you more informed as a citizen.”

Better broadcasters, but also better people, is the goal of WJHI media adviser Fred Cowgill

by Jaxon Sturgeon

When Fred Cowgill walked into Jeffersonville High School, his first impression was simple: “A place that was very … what’s the expression? Best kept secret in America.”

Cowgill, who spent nearly five decades in TV and radio, including more than 30 years at WLKY, now leads the WJHI broadcasting program. But for him, the goal has never just been about producing future broadcasters.

The JHS broadcasting team Dave Callan and Fred Cowgill in the WJHI studio soon after they were hired last school year. Cowgill brings nearly five decades of broadcast experience to the job. Photo by Bruno Diaz Cerro.

“We’d love it to be in broadcasting, but we believe what we’re trying to accomplish and teach goes well beyond that,” Cowgill explained. “Better people. Better people to function in society, better prepared for whatever they decide to do with their lives.”

Cowgill always reminds students that the studio isn’t just about lights, cameras, and editing software. It’s about building real world skills, responsibility, problem-solving, and collaboration that last far beyond high school. “We tell them we’re TV dads, and they’re stuck with us for life now,” he said with a laugh.

To him, what makes WJHI stand out is the family atmosphere they’ve built. “We tell them this is a safe place. If they’ve got a problem, come,” Cowgill said. “We’d like to make this a better program, a better school, a better community, and it takes time.”

Cowgill said he’s always looked at his time at WJHI through a “five-year window.” He knows he won’t be teaching forever, but in that time, his mission is to build something lasting, an operation that runs smoothly long after he’s gone.

“The goal has always been five years, because I’m not a kid,” Cowgill said with a laugh. “But in that time, we can make this a turnkey operation where we hand off to the next people, and they have a framework for what we’re trying to accomplish.”

That plan, he feels, is already beginning to take shape. Year one, he admits, was “flying blind.” But now, in year two, the vision is sharper. With the help of teacher Dave Callan, the program is really finding its rhythm.

“We’re establishing year one, we were flying blind,” Cowgill said. “But year two, we’re laying a foundation. The culture’s better.”

Students say they’ve noticed that shift, too. Robert Tucker, a sophomore in the program, said Cowgill has a way of pushing them without ever making the work feel overwhelming. “He’s tough in the best way.” 

Tucker said. “When you know his background in broadcasting, you want to kind of rise to his level. It makes you work harder, but it also makes you care more.”

For him, though, it’s not the big projects that matter most. It’s the little things he sees in the classroom. “I see kids  do something cool that I didn’t expect, didn’t see coming. Makes my month,” he said.

Kaden Westbay, another student in the program, said that encouragement sticks with him. “The smallest compliment from him feels like a huge deal,” Westbay said. “Because when he says you did something right or good, you know it’s legit coming from a guy who’s been doing this for what 50 years?”

What ultimately sets the program apart, Cowgill believes, is its connection to the real world. 

“My 50th anniversary in broadcasting is Sept. 1. Forty-eight and a half of those, give or take, were in TV and radio. We know what works. We know what’s going on in the business. We know what to teach,” he said. 

Cowgill’s mission is clear: build broadcasters, yes, but more importantly, build better people.

Social media impacts fashion in teens

by Brennan Zoeller and Jilliann Denbo

Men’s Fashion

Many fashion styles have changed over the years, some good, some bad. Teens’ fashion, specifically boys, however, changes the most, usually from social media impacting the way they dress. Seeing the way many people style and express themselves impacts how a lot of people dress, in many different ways.

When seeing other people on social media make outfits in different ways, it changes how students want to dress.

Class of 2025 graduate Shawn Boyd stated, “By seeing other types of clothes and styles, it gives me a broader imagination on the different types of styles I can mix and match.”

Many teens don’t necessarily get their outfits directly from social media, but they get inspiration from it.

“I get a lot of inspiration from different fashion influencers and wouldn’t know a lot of brands without advertisement on social media platforms,” sophomore Isaiah Valenzuela said about how much social media impacts his style.

Social media lets students express themselves in ways that they’ve wanted to do but couldn’t because of the pressure of it not looking good. Now with social media, they can express themselves in ways they want.

Boyd said,”Social media really allowed the things I wear to be more acceptable and accessible,” while Valenzuela said,”I wouldn’t really think to put some things on without seeing it on social media first.”

Sophomore Ryder Lott also stated, “The things I wear are meant to express myself.”

The way that students dress isn’t entirely changed, but it’s inspired and blossomed out because of what they see on social media.

“The way I dress really comes from how I feel within. I’ve gotten to a point where I just use social media to see the different types of clothing that are available, rather than following the latest trend,” Boyd said

Women’s Fashion

Most girls sit in front of their closets and wonder what they are wearing for the day, while others scroll on their phones trying to pick out outfits. Social media helps most girls pick out their outfits; it also can influence them to change their styles all the time. But others don’t use social media at all to pick their outfits.

“I don’t feel pressure to change what I wear. But the way I keep up with fashion trends is normally when I think a style is cute I’ll look up inspiration. But I normally don’t rush to change my style every couple of months,” said sophomore Cheyanne Bogan

Despite some girls not using social media for their outfits, others typically rely heavily on social media for those reasons.

“Social media definitely affects what I wear because I constantly see new styles and outfits when getting on Tik Tok or Instagram. It makes me feel like I need to buy new items and wear what that person is wearing to feel confident and to feel like I look good,” said sophomore Miaa Caporale

Most girls also like to have many different outfits and styles, but a lot of the time they need help figuring out which ones to choose from.

“Influencers definitely affect what I wear. If I like what they are wearing, I buy outfits off of that. I normally use different influencers to choose from multiple different styles,” said sophomore Malloree Fletcher

While a lot of girls think it is a positive influence, changing styles when trends change is hard to keep up with, along with most girls thinking they have to change styles when others do.

“I do feel pressure to wear what I do because I don’t want to be left out or not fit in a trend. With Tik Tok and many other social platforms, there’s so many new trends that it’s hard to keep up with. These trends make me feel like I need to adjust my style to fit in,” said Caporale. 

While it’s tempting to jump on every little trend, always know that a style is about a person’s personality and lifestyle. And not always about the latest trends and looks.

Culinary classes offer creative atmosphere to learn confidence, employment skills

by Ameerah Gbadamosi

The culinary class is not just a place of baking, it’s a place where students can feel free to fully express their creativity on the treats and desserts they make. 

 “Cooking makes me feel good, it puts me in a state of peace,” senior Coryon Cornet said.

Senior Jasmine McLeod scoops and bags Snickerdoodle cookies for the homecoming dance as part of her culinary class. Photo by Liliana Castellanos.

Some people choose culinary class in order to learn more about cooking and increase their culinary skills.

“I chose this pathway to learn more about cooking and the hospitality, I wanted to learn more about the backstory of cooking,” senior Liliana Castellanos said.

According to culinary teacher Amy Whitaker, the culinary class is also a place for her students to express their confidence through cooking.

“I really enjoy seeing the growth and confidence my students gain through cooking,” Whitaker said.

“I’m preparing students for a future in the hospitality industry while developing soft skills for employment.”

Culinary Arts Teacher Amy Whitaker

Whitaker makes sure that her students understand the process of cooking; she makes sure that she explains each step of cooking carefully and makes her class fun while also making sure that her students learn.

Castellanos said,  “My favorite part of this class is the teacher because she is always willing to help you if you need it.”

The culinary class is more of a hands-on learning experience; it allows students to know more about cooking by making the treats themselves, so students can learn from their mistakes.

Senior Timothy Brown makes 100 fruit sticks for the homecoming dance As part of the homecoming preparations, the Jeff chefs prepared over 800 treats for the dance. Photo by Liliana Castellanos.

“The class itself is fun and entertaining, and it’s very hands-on learning. The teacher is very understanding about getting your work and making mistakes,” senior Jasmine Mcleod said.

She ensures that she expands her students’ cooking knowledge in order to prepare for the outside world.

“I make sure to build upon and improve each student’s culinary skill,” Whitaker said.

She makes sure to teach and prepare her students about cooking and what they can do or who they can become once they fully know all about cooking.

“I’m preparing students for a future in the hospitality industry while developing soft skills for employment,”  Whitaker said.

Tea Club provides a stress-free, relaxed atmosphere to socialize

by Rain Gresham

Everyday life is filled with stress, whether that be school, work, or responsibilities. A place to be yourself is desirable, a place like say, Tea Club.  

Tea Club was founded in 2019 by dedicated student September Kaugchak when people were in most need of a relaxing social club — a place where people could come together, talk, and relax over their shared love of tea without the stress of the real world. 

Stepping inside students could feel the difference, the stress of bustling hallways during school hours melting away as they stepped into the surreal welcomeness of Tea Club. 

Tea Club members gather during their after-school meeting in the Media Center. Photo by Rain Gresham.

“Everybody talks to each other,” said German teacher and sponsor Lisa Stumler. She makes sure that everyone stays safe and has fun. 

From the Blackberry citrus to Darjeeling, Tea Club is full of all kinds of tea fitted for all types of different students to come together and enjoy the simplicity. 

“I realized being a part of something that can help students develop their social skills is one of the key elements to them being successful adults,” stated French teacher and sponsor Dana Schenk.

Everybody has their own ways of falling into the things they love, whether that be a friend, a student, or even just stumbling upon it. 

“Ms Schenk, the French teacher, she mentioned she was asked to be the teacher sponsor and she thought it’d be great if we could be teacher sponsors together, and I thought it’d be a great idea as well,” said Stumler.

“I fell into it because one of my students (current president and senior Toby Wilder) asked me if I can sponsor it and I assisted to some of those last year,” Schenk shared. 

“I saw them on eighth grade night;  they had tea bags and rainbow flags together. I thought it was cute and welcoming,” reminisced Wilder, the current co-president of Tea Club. She takes care of the fundings. 

“I joined the club because my friends invited me and I thought it was cool,” stated senior Marianna Bush, the other co-president. She plans events.

Tea Club is a social club and a successful one at that, as they rake in about 40-50 people at the beginning of each quarter.  “First weeks of the quarter always have a lot more,” emphasized Wilder

First time Tea Club goer Lilly Wright thought that it was “pretty chill. I liked the snacks and tea.”

Visitors walking into the Media Center after school on an average Friday would be met with the sight of Wilder and Bush setting up the tea and snacks. 

Making way to one of the tables, you could interact with any of the people in the club. 

Once everyone has gathered and they have finished setting up the tables, Bush and Wilder come around telling people they could now go up to grab  tea and snacks.

The selection of tea for members in the Media Center after school. Photo by Rain Gresham.

The selection of tea bags to choose from varies drastically, from sweet to savory to earthy. 

Wilder and Bush make sure of that. The two cherish the club and think of it as home, away from home a place where they can relax from the stress of the week. 

The club has been a big part of their life for the past four years and even after they graduate from high school, it will hold a place in their hearts. 

 “I want it to continue, as it was found as a safe space for people,” said Wilder.

Straight to the Point

Archery Club Teaches life lessons and boosts confidence

by Liddia Waterbury

Captain Tobey Wilder of the Archery Club walks up to the bow rack. Coach Robert Russell blows the whistle twice, and Wilder grabs a bow from the rack. They then walk to the line, standing in front of the quiver with the bow to their toe. 

Archery Club captain Tobey Wilder shoots arrow during archery practice on Sept. 16 in the cheer room at JHS. “Trusting the process is ending up making you get better overall and accepting that you’re not going to do a fantastic job every single time,” said Wilder. Photo by Liddia Waterbury.

When Russell blows the whistle once, Wilder grabs an arrow, moves it up and over the bow, and nocks it onto the string. They then shoot at the target. After quickly shooting five arrows, Russell blows the whistle three times, and Wilder heads to the target to pull the arrows out. 

Once a week, kids like Wilder from every grade, just starting or shooting for the last year, walk into the cheer room. They help the coaches set up the targets, and then they get out the bow rack along with the arrows.  

“Back in 2022, I signed up for a grant, and it was about a $5,000 grant, through what is called the National Archery and Schools program,” said Russell. “It was something I’ve been wanting to do for a while…I thought it would be pretty cool to have an archery program here at the high school.” 

The program has since grown, providing students with the opportunity to learn archery. Unlike many sports that focus on speed, strength, or teamwork, archery teaches players precision, patience, and focus.   

“It’s all about consistency, it’s about perseverance,” said Russell. “Archery just takes a lot more discipline, and you can’t get frustrated; you’ve got to keep on doing it because the more you do it, the better you’re going to get.” 

Russell’s advice highlights the importance of perseverance, as archery requires time to improve. Even advanced archers know that learning the harder skills means being patient. 

“Trusting the process is ending up making you get better overall and accepting that you’re not going to do a fantastic job every single time, that you’re going to struggle through some parts and accepting that,” said Wilder. 

“It’s all about consistency, it’s about perseverance. Archery just takes a lot more discipline, and you can’t get frustrated; you’ve got to keep on doing it because the more you do it, the better you’re going to get.” 

Archery Club Coach Robert Russell

Archery isn’t about instant success; it’s about patience and steady progress. For beginners, that mindset makes it easier to enjoy, like one member who shared why they joined and how they’ve loved it for a long time. 

“I’ve loved archery since I was really little, and literally for the first Christmas I can remember, I asked for a bow and arrow,” said beginner member and freshman Finch Schardine. 

To make it better, beginners don’t need any special equipment to get started. They just need a standard Genesis bow, arrows, and a safe place to practice. Coaches also provide extra guidance to help archers build more confidence.

“When I’m working with beginners,” said coach Brian Cleveland, “there are about seven elements that they have to learn to do; they have to master each element at a time.”  

Teaching archery involves breaking down the process into manageable steps, allowing new archers to focus on one skill at a time. By building confidence, he sees beginners start to see their own progress. 

“The biggest motivator in the world is the discovery that you can do something,” said Cleveland. “If I can get you on the target and shooting a group, the discovery that you can do that will motivate you. Practice makes permanent. It doesn’t make perfect, you have to make it perfect.”   

That sense of progress when practicing keeps the members motivated, and for some, it leads to trying out competitions. This is where they can test their skills in a new way, both inside and outside of school. 

“NASP, the organization that regulates the competition, does competitions regionally, locally, or statewide. They usually take place at some other school, so like on a Saturday morning, someone who’s competing would train and prepare here but then go wherever they’re having a competition,” said Cleveland.

Competitions change the atmosphere of practice, moving from regular training to a more serious focus as the members prepare for the competition ahead.  

“Near competitions, it’s very serious and all of us are really trying to get better before our final push before our competition,” said Wilder.  

Wilder then explained that being close to a person while at a competition, having fatigue, and not being able to focus are big challenges.  

For the archery team, it’s not just about hitting the target. It’s about patience, focus, and steady progress. From beginners to advanced members, each person learns that with practice, every shot brings improvement.  

Click on Behind-the-Scenes photo essay on Archery Club below:

Faculty, students share their modern day heroes

by Gabriella Kraft

Everybody has a modern-day hero. Whether it be a family member, a famous artist, or a poet; they have one. For Spanish teacher Suzanne Padron, her modern-day hero is her daughter. 

“My daughter is the hardest-working person I know. She works harder every day to grow her career, of which she has two, and never fails to stand up for what’s right,” said Padron.

She first realized her daughter was her hero in 2020, during the Black Lives Matter protests, because despite her not being in great physical condition, she kept going back to continue protesting.

“She continued to protest every day, even after she broke her foot, even after being hit with tear gas, even after being shot at with rubber bullets; she went back the next day to continue protesting,” Padron said.

Sophomore Kahlani Hunts modern-day hero, was very present in most of her childhood movies, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

“He is in a lot of my childhood movies, and his songs just bring me a lot of nostalgic memories. I first discovered him when I was nine years old in Moana, that’s when I first realized he was my hero,” said Hunt.

“His songs bring feelings of joy because his songs remind me of happy childhood memories, and sadness because the lyrics in his songs are so heartfelt they bring me to tears,” said Hunt.

Biomedical teacher Charles ‘Brian’ Patton’s modern-day hero is a bit more personal — it’s his father.

“He is my hero because he is everything I would want to be as a man, father, teacher, and person. He’s been my hero for as long as I can remember,” said Patton

For sophomore Rachel Ledbetter, her modern-day hero is the very famous author Kristin Hannah.

“She’s my hero because her books touch on important topics people should be more informed about. I was first introduced to her when I read her book ‘The Great Alone’ last year. I also read her book ‘“’The Nightingale’, which brought me to tears,” said Ledbetter

Chemistry teacher James Huffman’s modern-day hero is the ex-football player Dan Marino, whom he grew up watching.

“He is my hero because I loved the Miami Dolphins growing up, and I always wanted to be a quarterback even though I was a running back. I remember first watching him when I was 5 or 6 ‘til the time I turned 18,” said Huffman. 

 Sophomore Alia Griffith’s modern-day hero is a little closer to home, as it is her mother.

“She teaches me to be the person I aspire to be in the future. She’s who I looked up to my whole life. And that hasn’t changed as I’ve gotten older,” said Griffith.

For English teacher David Kummer, his modern-day hero is Greta Thunberg.

“For her to speak out about what she cares about, and not just environmental stuff, but also the genocide in Palestine, even when she put herself in danger, made me admire her,” said Kummer.

He first heard about her when he was in college and she was in high school because it was at that point that she started getting popular for how outspoken she was.

“I heard about her through social media, specifically about her environmentalism, and I thought it was cool that a high schooler was so outspoken about that,” said Kummer.

Everybody’s modern-day hero is different. They all carry various emotions, different people, and different goals. Our hero reflects on who we are as a person.

Teen goal setting helps students prepare for their futures

by Kori Washington

Freshman Jonayzia Dickerson has known that she wanted to be a forensic tech ever since eighth grade, and right now, that is her main goal in life. 

“This goal is important to me because I want to pursue a career in science and medical studies,” said Dickerson. 

Teen goal setting is more talked about and more pushed on today’s teens, so they can have successful and better lives.

Also, today’s teens have more opportunities, which causes them to be more motivated, according to health academy counselor Amy Colangelo.

“I think students are more motivated because there are more resources and there are more opportunities as they get older,” said Colangelo.  

“Find what interests you, come to school, set small goals; then, once you meet that goal, set a bigger one.”

Health Academy Counselor Amy Colangelo

For example, freshman Krislynn Hughes, who is pursuing her career goal of being a veterinarian, said, “My love for animals and not wanting to be broke when I’m older keeps me motivated to chase my goal.”

Also, according to Colangelo, it’s very important when setting goals for students to find something that interests them. 

For example, Dickerson said, “My love for science is what keeps me motivated. I love science because it combines all subjects into one.” 

Even though most teens have interests that keep them motivated, some teens have distractions that keep them unmotivated.

For example, business academy principal Matt Barker said, “Most teens have trouble with goal setting because of social media. It gets them distracted and not focusing on their goals.”

Despite these distractions, Colangelo still tries to give teens advice.

“Find what interests you, come to school, set small goals; then, once you meet that goal, set a bigger one,” she said.

Baker agreed. “Don’t set unrealistic goals; have short goals, then move on to bigger goals.”