The Senior Issue THE QUILL BY STALLIONS FOR STALLIONS 2022-2023
InThisIssue Picking your topic for your college essay can be the most stressful part of the fall of senio year. Read “The Dreaded Draft” to get a sense of different ideas on what to write about and to hear the wide variety of different topics. Being a princess, astronaut, or doctor were just a few of the differe things kids said they wanted to be when they grow up. Read “When I Grow Up”, to hear some o the crazy ideas seniors had on wha they wanted to be versus what the are going into now. Everyone has had times where your parents drive you crazy. Read “How to Leave the Nest: Get along with the Rents”, to get some tips on how to get along with your parents best. CHIEF EDITOR - Anna Blubaugh EDITORS - Pierson Bryan, Kat Gunther-Reveal, Norah Gustafson, Caroline Reither, Lucy Wills, Cierci Yeager WRITERS - Arianna Allen, Sam Couchman, Brooke Eader, Ava Faiella, Ale Garcia, Joseph Mannion, Emma Rice, Meredith Scott, Walter Sibley, Ila Allen HEAD DESIGN EDITOR - Gretchen Langhans ASSISTANT DESIGNER - Anna Schneider DESIGNERS - Blake Carawan, Aaron Firmalan, Colin Easley, Camren White, Chloe Ray, Elena Vanasdale, Elizabeth Reash, Gabriel Offei, Kevin Nguyen, Sarah Neighbor, Stella Hocker, Owen Hartsough, Nicholas Ezyk, Thomas Dougherty, Hailey Balik, Declan Mcnamara
farewell seniors! r ” s ent e of at ey
Saint Francis DeSales has a wide variety of seniors with different life paths. Whether it’s leaving for a far away college, staying close to home, or even taking a year off to truly discover what your passion is, seniors are taking their own individual directions after high school. The Quill decided to ask several different members of the senior class about their plans for after graduation. Below are just a few of the various paths seniors are taking. Path to the Future Written By: Emma Rice Designed By: Owen Hartsough
w Michael Hunsaker will be a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at The Ohio State University. He will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering. This was not just a quick decision; a lot of thought went into his decision. Hunsaker received a huge scholarship from ROTC. He mentioned that “Ohio State has been a focal point throughout my life. Both of my parents went there, and they’ve been diehard football fans. I knew it was the right choice.” He realized ROTC was his passion last summer when he and his family went to visit the decommissioned USS midway in San Diego. “I felt a calling,” Hunsacker expressed. His goal is to serve his country with passion, leadership, and GRIT. Isabella Trostel will be attending Michigan State University in the fall. She will be majoring in Psychology and will also be a part of the gymnastics team. She made her decision to attend this university because she fell in love with not only the campus, but the school itself. “I felt a sense of comfort with the team, coaches, and the academic opportunities and knew MSU was the place for me!” When asked what she sees herself doing in the future with her athletic career, Trostel mentioned that there are not many opportunities with gymnastics after college, but she could see herself coaching later on. Trostel wasn’t sure what she wanted to major in until she took her first psychology class here at DeSales. Isabella Trostel Michael Hunsakerl
Joe Wiseman Carter Folian Joseph plans on taking a year off before entering the Marine Corps. Wiseman plans on working on himself, as well as his job. His plans for the future aren’t necessarily going to college. He wants to enlist in the Marine Corps as an infantry machine gunner (MOS 0331). If he is unable to join the Marines, he has a Plan B: attend a college that offers a 6 to 9 month program to receive a diploma in a certain field. Carter Folian will be attending Sussex County Community College in New Jersey with a major in Business Administration. He chose Sussex because of the opportunity for growth in baseball. With many stressful decisions with D1, D2, and D3 offers, Folian didn’t know which college was right for him. But he loved the campus and everything that they provided for him. Even though he thinks Sussex is a great school and loves the environment they have, he plans on transferring out and into a D1 school where he will complete his last years of eligibility. Folian has plans to someday play in the MLB ( Major League Baseball), which has been his dream ever since he was a little kid. “ I have no plans to stop chasing this goal any time soon...I love the game of baseball, and wouldn’t give it up for anything.” He was inspired to choose a major in Business Administration, due to the workload being a little lighter so he can focus on sports.
Ian Anderson Ian Anderson will be attending Coastal Carolina University for Marine Biology. He chose this school because they are extremely well known for Marine Biology. Ever since he was a kid, Anderson has been in love with the ocean and always had a love for animals. Even though he took Bowling Green State University into consideration, Anderson mentioned that Coastal is a perfect fit for him. He loves warm weather and the beach, and he would also be able to learn about Marine Biology better somewhere out of state where there is the ocean around him. The hardest part about living far away is being separated from his family, but his sister lives in North Carolina, so he has some family that he can visit. He has a love for soccer, but decided not to continue it throughout college due to all the pressure. He doesn’t know if he could do soccer for four more years, but definitely could see himself playing club for the fun of it! Jillian Conroy Jillian Conroy will be heading off to Notre Dame, Indiana, going to Saint Mary’s College for Theology and Psychology. Once accepted, Conroy realized “ I felt that this place was different.” She loved how their acceptance letters were personalized. Once she visited her college, she knew it was perfect for her. Conroy liked how she didn’t just seem like a number. Jillian was inspired to major in Theology and Psychology because of her love of helping others. In the future, she plans to be a mental health counselor.
As we can see, these are the last few moments the senior class will have together. Many of them have different passions, as well as future plans after their highschool experience. They will be taking on the real world and saying goodbye to the place they called home for the past four years Senior Class 2019-2023
Business Classes ELEC The school year is coming to an end to start thinking about classes for next 1 or 2 electives each year when there a electives to choose from, anything you ces, semester or even year long classes fortunately a few SFD students have st recommendations for your Computer Science Classes Another big part of the electives here are the computer science classes. These classes range anywhere from beginner to advanced levels of broadcast journalism, productions, and computer science. SFD junior Isabella Felter says, “When I was a freshman I took productions 1 and it has remained my favorite class that I’ve ever taken at DeSales! I had so much fun creating videos and working with others, it was laid back, but also taught me how to create videos of high quality. Also, Mr. Gedeon was a great teacher and I learned so much from him.” Taking classes like these help students form great relationships with their classmates and become better at working together. Mr Gedeon says, “You should definitely take one of my computer science classes because the future is technology.” As society progresses, having computer skills becomes more and more beneficial. Also, these classes create a space to become more familiar with new technology and get some hands-on experience with special equipment and computers. As you can see, there are so many grea getting out of your comfort zone here at new is a great way to expand your know your future! Although you only got insi available, you can find out more inform online. For any further information, feeselor and don’t forget to enjoy your ex One aspect of the elective courses is the business classes. Trying out one of the many marketing, accounting, or personal finance classes can help you build your college resume, discover your passion for a job in business, and even earn you some college credits! Senior Camryn Lowis says, “My favorite elective class was definitely accounting. I enjoyed it because I got to put my math and analytical skills to the test. Taking this class taught me many beneficial life skills and even helped me choose my major in college!” Business classes teach real life skills in a classroom setting and help prepare students for the real world. Written By Designed by:
RECS and you know what that means…time t year! It can be difficult to choose just are so many options. SFD has about 60 can imagine from art to business courss. All of this can be overwhelming, but tepped up to give you the best elective schedule next school year! at elective opportunities for learning and SFD. Personally, I think trying something wledge and gain valuable experiences for ght on a few of the many elective classes mation in the SFD course description book el free to reach out to your guidance counxperience! Good luck in your scheduling! Gym Classes There are also plenty of visual art elective opportunities for all grade levels. Art 1, drawing, ceramics, jewelry, and art history are just a few of the 21 fun classes that you can choose from. Junior Devin McInerney said, “I took Drawing 1 as a freshman and I really enjoyed it. I learned new skills and made lots of friends in my class and my teacher was very helpful.” Art classes may seem intimidating from the outside, but the amazing art teachers at DeSales make these classes worthwhile! As you may know, there are also elective gym classes to help form well rounded students and bring physical activity into daily life at school. There are many opportunities including gym, advanced gym, yoga, weight training, all girls, all boys, and nutrition classes. Junior Holden Osborne explained, “Taking weight training class formed me into a better athlete and helped me get stronger. I learned proper lifting techniques that I still use today as a baseball player here at DeSales. I definitely would recommend taking this class, especially if you enjoy working out.” For all you student athletes, it sounds like a weight training class might be beneficial to you, but if you aren’t into that, there are plenty of other gym classes that provide plenty of benefits to your physical and mental health! art classes : Ava Faiela Colin Easley
have a great, safe, happy, wa rm summer everyone!
The Senior Experience with I think it’s safe to say that Covid sucks. We’ve all personally had our go with Covid, but how was it for our seniors when the pandemic started? As an eighth grader when the pandemic hit, it was definitely hard, but I still had all of my friends and teachers that I knew so well. How would it have been to be thrown into a new school and, only halfway through the year, be forced to learn from home? Here’s an inside look at what their life was like during the Covid-19 quarantine for our current seniors. In Class, Online, and Back Again Written By: Walter Sibley Designed By: Declan McNamara
“Overall, my experience with Covid… it wasn’t terrible, not the whole time… I’m not gonna complain about it. I didn’t really hate it because I just adapted. I knew my work ethic, and I knew I was going to be able to keep doing what I was doing. It was still very isolating, and I remember going through, like, the lack of talking to people because I wouldn’t really reach out to people, unlike school where I could talk to anyone, it felt weird to reach out and try and talk to people. Looking back on it, the most stressful part about it would’ve been not having that many people to talk to. I don’t know if that would be stressful or just the worst part of it. Everyone else is gonna say school, but school wasn’t bad for me at all to be honest. It was just something that I had to do. My year before the initial two weeks was me staying after school every day and just talking to my friends until, like, four, and just trying to enjoy life the best that I could. A bunch of those memories are faded because I remember more of Covid than the actual pre-covid part. Learning at home wasn’t terrible for me… I knew that I had to get things done and I did get things done. I still have that work ethic and I’m happy about it, I guess. But I just remember trying to come up with creative ways to pick a spot to be productive and continue to do my homework and such. The hardest thing about learning at home freshman year was just the being alone part. Sophomore year though was half-virtual and half in person and it was terrible because my schedule isn’t always the same and I would be home and I could do whatever at home and I just didn’t have that same ‘go get em’ attitude. More often I would just lay in bed and then tune into the zoom meetings and then zone out and not listen. My social experience has probably changed for the better now and I think that I missed out on a lot of experiences and a lot of normalities and I couldn’t have been able to say I’ve had a normal year of highschool up until now.” “I couldn’t have been able to say I’ve had a normal year of highschool up until now.” Anna Schneider
Kat GuntherReveal “My experience with Covid was honestly fine. I feel like Covid really just enhanced the fact that if you were good at school and organized… that stayed the same, and you were fine. If you were not organized, or school wasn’t your thing before Covid, Covid only amplified that and made it worse. So it took either your best or worst attributes and made it worse. I always liked school, and I was always pretty determined. Because of this, I was fine learning on my own and Covid was kind of a piece of cake. The most stressful part about it for me was I am a planner, I like having a schedule, I like knowing when and where things are going to happen, and Covid kind of just turned that all upside down. I didn’t know when we were going to be back, and I didnt know what it was going to be like. To be fair, nobody did. My year before Quarantine was kind of just the standard freshman stuff and we were really lucky because we got all of eighth grade done and that made going into highschool as a freshman better. We still got that traditional feel of a freshman year, because not that much stuff as freshman happens at the end of the year, so we got a little lucky in that regard. The week that Covid happened, like in the initial shutdown, we were in the beginning to middle of musical season. We were going to do ‘Sister Act’, and we were all really excited. The day that we got shut down and sent home for our ‘“two week break”’, was the day we got costumes, so we had already cemented our characters. It was a little unfortunate that the day that things became ‘real’ was the day that we realized we weren’t going to be able to do it. I think the hardest part about having to learn at home was that not only were we forced to learn about new technologies like Zoom or Google Meet, our teachers were forced to learn at the same time. A lot of the time it was frustrating because we didn’t have control of the internet or stuff like that, so when we went to ask teachers for help, they didn’t really know the answer either. It was just frustrating because everyone was learning at the same time and nobody was an expert with the new technologies. Honestly, when we came back from Covid, I was more social because, especially freshman year, I already had a lot of people from my feeder school. But after Covid I realized I’m very much of a people person when I want to be an extrovert. I really like talking to people when I’m in that mood. So when we got back to school in Sophomore year, I think having connections with people made me want to grow more connections with more people. I’m very glad for the new people I’ve met.” “The day that we got shut down and sent home for our ‘“two week break”’, was the day we got costumes…”
“My experience was very rough. Being home for the first two weeks was fun at first, but online school was pretty challenging. I had this feeling that nobody was focused, and I feel like nobody could’ve prepared for it. Everybody was, like, zoning out and not putting any effort in. Also, some classes were almost too laid back and it felt like some of the teachers really didn’t care. Trying to get work done quickly was difficult because everybody was more focused on getting back outside and that kind of interfered with my motivation. If you couldn’t go outside and do anything and just had to sit in your room, it was rough to realize that you still had to do a bunch of homework. You just kind of had to deal with it though. Before quarantine, it was actually very fun. It wasn’t that stressful when it came to school and it seemed more laid back. Coming back after Covid was pretty tense and nobody really let go of it all. It was pretty stressful trying to get back to school, especially since pretty much everyone was stressed, including teachers. I feel like I drifted away a little from friends, but when I got back to it we definitely connected again. Our bonds became a lot stronger afterwards, especially once we were in person again.” “Our bonds became a lot stronger afterwards, especially once we were It’s easy to in person again.” say that school during Covid was weird, but it’s especially relieving that all is finally coming back to normal. While our seniors had a rough go with the pandemic, it’s nice to see that everyone has come out of it alright and maybe even better than when they went in. Now that the seniors are coming close to their graduation, I think we can all agree that quarantine will be a time that everybody, especially our seniors, will never forget. Owen Hartsough
Dressed by DeSales With the Met Gala taking place recently, the internet has been taken by storm with all of the various looks. The Met Gala is a fashion exhibition that’s held every year on the first Monday of May as a charity event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s costume institute. The theme for this year was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty ‘’ in honor of late Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld. One of the stylists who was able to make many designs happen was Rob Zangardi, a former DeSales student. Rob graduated in 1995 and was an avid member of the drama club. While he is no longer on the stage, he still makes his mark from behind the scenes through styling celebs in the spotlight. Some of his most famous clientele include Suki Waterhouse, Cara Delevigne, Jennifer Lopez, Kerry Washington, Lily Collins, Hailee Steinfeld, Gwen Stefani, and Ciara. Let’s take a look at what some of these celebrities walked the Met Gala carpet in. Written By: Arianna Allen Designed By: Kevin Nguyen
Robert Zangardi Metgal
la 2023 Jennifer Lopez, singer, actress, and dancer, arrived at the Met Gala in a pink and black dress with an open midsection that goes off into two tails. Jennifer Lopez Mary J. Blige, singer and songwriter, attended the Met Gala in a long blue floral print dress with matching thigh-high boots Mary j. Blige
Lily Collins is a widely known actress who started her career by appearing in the sitcom “Growing Pains” at two years old. She wore a white and black dress with “Karl” written on the bottom in silver sequins. Suki Waterhouse, a model (Burberry Brit, Rhythm Fragrance), actress, and singer, showed up to the Met Gala in a sheer dress with a colorful floral print Lily collins suki waterhouse Metgal
la 2023 Cara Delevingne, an English actress and model (Victoria Secret, topshop, Chanel, and Burberry), was styled in a pastel blue wig and a white dress that was inspired by the white collar shirt worn by Karl Langerfeld. Kerry Washington is a producer, director, and actress known for her role in “Scandal” as Olivia Pope. She arrived in a black two-piece with a fishtail skirt. Cara Delevingne Kerry Washington
Senior Survival Guide how 3 of our seniors did it Written By : Alejandro Garcia Designed By : Anna Schneider
As high school seniors at SFD approach graduation, the class of 2023 has faced a year unlike any other. In the midst of a global pandemic, these students have had to navigate the challenges of remote learning, canceled events, and social distancing requirements. But for seniors in particular, this final year of high school holds a special significance as they prepare to move on to the next chapter of their lives. Despite the obstacles they’ve faced, many seniors have persevered and found creative ways to make the most of their senior year. This story is about how these students have adapted, overcome, and ultimately survived their senior year here at SFD. HOW TO “SENIOR YEAR” Intro ........................................ Celina Davis ........................... Mary Kate Moriarty.............. Wyatt Hanley ........................ Conclusion ............................
Celina Davis Time management Care for yourself Find motivation Some of the biggest challenges Celina Davis faced during her senior year were the big senior projects. “We had to do all these big projects that we have, for example CAP and our journey project and just with our time management as well.” Celina also tells how she balanced her school life with her personal life. “That kind of goes back to time management. I made sure to have a study hall during my seasons so I had time to work on my classes.” Some advice she would give to juniors going into their senior year was to develop time management skills. “I would make sure that you stay focused on your work cause you know, you are getting closer, manage your time, and know the amount of effort you are putting into your work ‘cause that comes first.” Senior year can also be stressful. When Celina had times of stress and anxiety, she stated “sometimes I would just have to step away from the work actually and take a break to just manage the time by myself and find that peace and quiet by, like, listening to music. Or just talking to friends.” Some important lessons she learned throughout the year was that in the end, it was all worth it. “Obviously we haven’t graduated yet, but we are getting closer and closer every day. All that work I put in from freshman year to now it’s starting to get to me as… it all counted, you know.” Very inspiring. Celina’s main motivation mostly came from her grandmother.“I knew that if I graduated with good grades and an honor roll, I knew she would be proud of me.” Her family and friends had always motivated her to keep pushing and to not give up. “I felt like they all motivated me to keep going and to not give up. Because we all are going through this together.” Looking back on her senior year, Celina said that she would have studied more for big exams. But other than that she said she would not have changed a thing. “I think that everything I did was for a reason, you know.” Her final note she gives to the seniors is “to stay focused, because you are almost there until graduation time!”
Mary Kate Moriarty said that the biggest challenges she faced during her senior year wasthe college process. “It would probably be figuring out the whole college application process, and trying to figure out what I want to do next year.” Some ways Mary balances her academic, extracurricular, and personal life are to just focus and relax. “I guess I spent more time with friends and family than stressing about school.” She tells juniors that are going into their senior year to “not stress about it.”. “Don’t stress too much, because everything happens for a reason.” Whenever Mary had anxiety or stress during school, she said “I definitely leaned on the support of my family and friends.” I asked her about an important lesson she had learned during her senior year, and she said “not everything is as big of a deal as it should be.” It’s important to make memories and have a good time. Mary’s main focus was her goal. “I just reminded myself of my goals and what I wanted to achieve this year.” Her friends and family were also a big part of her journey through her senior year. “They played a big role. Just reminding me of all the senior moments you get to do.” Looking back, Mary said she wouldn’t have changed a thing from her senior year. “I believe everything happens for a reason and it turned out great.” Mary Kate Moriarty Everything happens for a reason Remember you have support Strive for your goals
Soccer player, Wyatt Hanley, also had to have a say on how he survived his senior year. The biggest challenge he faced during senior year was just trying to push through. “Just trying not to get Senioritis to be honest because a lot of people just stop doing their work. And then you have to do finals and no one wants to do finals.” Wyatt mostly has balanced his personal and academic life balanced. “I just made sure that when it was time to do sports I did my sports, and when I was at school or when I had to study, I made sure that I was doing it. And when I have freetime I have freetime.” He gives the same advice to juniors going into their senior year and more. “Don’t let the thought about you not being in school in a few months stop you. Just continue what you gotta do for the rest of the year and then just rest.” Great advice to the juniors. When all is said and done, Wyatt coped with his stress very well throughout the year. “Whenever I had stress or anxiety, I’d just tell myself that you’re gonna be okay, you’re gonna get through it, it’s not that much.” There will always be stress but it comes and goes. A big lesson he learned is that not everyone is going to stick around. “You are not going to be with everyone right now in the future, but the friendships you are able to build and make could last a lifetime.” His friends and family were a major part of his journey. “They helped me realize what I need to take value in, what I need to take priorities in. They mostly just helped me stay on the path I’m supposed to be on.” The only thing he would have changed from the last three quarters, would have been to be more positive and never letting the small things get in the way. Wyatt Hanley Be productive Everything will be okay Work on friendships
Seniors have come a long way from their freshmen year. It totally sucks that Covid-19 took away many opportunities for them in the beginning. But now we see how much seniors have grown just by these few interviews. The things these seniors think is the most memorable was walking down the senior courtyard and making the best of what they had. The college application process was hard. However, thanks to our guidance counselors, seniors were able to get through the difficult process with college applications. Seniors are our school role models and we wish them the best. We can’t wait to see what they do in their new chapter of life. Hang in there seniors, YOU’RE ALMOST THERE! our seniors did it!
FROM THE BEGINNING: The Feud of the Century Written by: Anna Blubaugh and Norah Gustafson Designed by: Elena Vanasdale
Feuds have long existed in the halls of DeSales. However, no one has had as much of a hatefilled relationship as Norah Gustafson and Anna Blubaugh. The feud began freshman year, but hate only flourishes with time. Now both graduating seniors, the two are fully fledged enemies. If you’ve ever passed them in the hallway, you surely have seen the glares and insults thrown back and forth. For the last issue of The Quill, both Norah and Anna have come together to set the record straight before they go off to college. Without further ado, this is From the Beginning: The Feud of the Century.
I’ve met many soul-sucking, demonic creatures in my 18 years of life, but never have I ever met someone as inconsiderate and twofaced as Norah Gustafson. Those of you who don’t know her well would assume that she’s simply a normal girl, and I get it; looks can be deceiving. However, once you dive down and actually get to know her, you’ll find that her deceiving blue eyes hide a monster from within. On December 6, 2019, Norah flippantly abandoned her teammates, who needed her to be present during a cherished Chirtsmas show performance. The elementary school kids in the audience were crushed. I could see them filing out of Westerville Central, fat tears leaking from their eyes. “There was a spot open on stage,” sobbed one child. “Who didn’t want to perform for us?” they chanted in hoards. I’ve never seen a group of kids so sad. I could see the hope draining out of their bodies, realizing the harsh realities and disappointments of the world one by one. I wonder how they’re all doing today. Do they still remember the bitter taste of betrayal, the feeling of getting a rug pulled from under your feet? I sure do. Norah was at school, receiving her “CPR certification.” I personally would never trust Norah to save a plant (the one I got her for her birthday died), let alone another human life, so I’m not exactly sure why she found getting a certification to be more important than the hope and joy of innocent children. Like the caring and humble teammate I am, I showed up for the performance and still received my CPR certification. She very well could’ve made the time and effort to perform for the children and save the Christmas spirit. But, like the selfish person she is, she didn’t. However, Norah doesn’t just stomp all over the feelings of others; she also manages Anna to ravage the beloved private property of others wherever her twisted ankles go. Let me set the scene: it’s the week before Christmas 2020. As is my usual luck, the forces of evil aligned and forced Norah and I to be on the same gingerbread house team. Like the generous person I am, I volunteered to host the event. After all, how could Norah destroy my sanity in my own house? Big mistake. Like the conniving Scrooge she is, Norah promptly broke my beloved dishwasher before midnight had even struck. In a feat of engineering only possible of Satan’s strongest demon, she managed to make my innocent dishwasher emit the nastiest odor to ever have graced my nose. There’s no doubt in my mind that this was pre-planned. I can imagine her bent over her journal (no doubt filled with witchcraft and other nefarious material), brainstorming ways to sabotage Christmas for everyone. In my deepest and darkest nightmares, I can still smell the scent of broken dishwasher and blatant betrayal, haunting my memory forever. I could’ve “the poor machine reeks of Norah’s trademark greed and desperation”
passed that dishwasher down to my children, preserving the family memory forever. However, now the poor machine reeks of Norah’s trademark greed and desperation. I have a few other sources of contention with Norah. Now that I write this out, it seems that most of our battles occur during Christmas time. Don’t be mistaken; our feud is a yearround commitment. That being said, Christmas is an especially volatile time in our tumultuous relationship. Anyways, Norah had the nerve to accuse me (ME) of calling Hermey the Misfit Elf from “Rudolph” by the name of Herby, Herby of all things. I will admit that I have a history of mispronouncing words, however that history stops when it comes to cult-classic Christmas films. I know my Rudolph lore like the back of my hand, and to insinuate otherwise is a massive blow to my integrity. Let it be known that it was our dance friend who thought Hermey was Herby, not me. Norah tends to let her deteriorating memory control her, ultimately leading to double-crossing treachery. Additionally, Norah constantly puts others down for her own enjoyment. Her recent target? Michael Cera. If you know me, you know Michael Cera is near and dear to my heart. “Scott Pilgrim,” “Juno”, and “Arrested Development” are absolute works of art. If I had it my way, they would reside beside the great works of Michaelangelo and Rafael, upheld by the greatest art critics today. However, Norah takes time out of her day to vilify Mr. Cera and inferiorize those who enjoy his comedic prowess. Insult my pronunciation skills all you want, but I draw the line at Michael Cera. Many of you may be wondering; how have you gone three years in a feud without strangling each other? To be quite honest, I wonder the same thing each day. There are times when I have to resist pushing her out the open window of 214 and letting her fall to her timely death. I suppose my better instincts prevail. However, Norah and I have hashed
out our disagreements before, specifically on December 8, 2022, just two days after our 3 year Hate-a-versary. It was a cold and snowy night, and the clock had just struck 8:45 pm. Fight Club immediately commenced. The first match of the evening? Norah and I, duking it out in the hallowed basement of our dance studio. I, of course, beat the demon and took home a welldeserved victory. No surprise there. Although she was wronged me many times, I will admit that Norah has had her good moments. One (1) time, she defended my honor at Dave and Busters, from a weasel who couldn’t keep his paws to himself. However, as you can see, the good does NOT outweigh the bad. Ultimately, I write this article as a cautionary tale. I have no doubt she will play the victim in her article, but I know you all will see the truth. We all have monsters in our life, who make it a point to eradicate all sources of happiness. Mine just so happens to be Norah. But I urge you all to rise up, lift up out of the trenches. It takes a lot of courage to face Norah everyday, knowing that she only has the worst in mind for me and for those around her. But I make the decision to get up each day and laugh in the face of my biggest hater. I hope you all do the same.
Norah I would like to begin with a defense statement and justification for the accusations that have been implanted upon my character. Not only was Anna’s testimony inaccurate in many aspects, it was also immature and defamatory. I will not sit here and hurl insults at my opponent as I beg for the support of others. I already possess a strong alliance of witnesses to Anna’s behavior, and I only wish recovery for her, because jealousy is a disease. Firstly, the Christmas situations must be addressed. I could only laugh when reading her recap of the debacles, because they reeked of desperation. You mean to say that you have an aversion towards me because I wished to better my education and receive my CPR certification, while you illegitimately received yours? Please. Get a grip! And the dishwasher situation is peak comedy. Excuse me for being a considerate guest and offering to wash the dishes in your basement! How was I expected to know that hell’s stench would be released when I opened your underused/ appreciated/NEGLECTED dishwasher? As for the Hermey situation, I accept full responsibility. It takes a certain breed to hold grudges like these, but I respect your feelings and desires to put your seemingly useless knowledge into action. I also will continue to openly dislike Michael Cera, if it means I can take my frustrations out on a celebrity, rather than a peer, like Anna does. Silly, silly Anna. Why would you put yourself in the position of being proven wrong? You’ve shown time and time again that you put down others, sometimes literally. Fight Night is just one example of your aggression towards me. The slander and libel exemplified on the daily has become too much for a singular person. I’ll never forget the day that I pulled into the crowded parking lot at dance, eyeing a singular open spot. I initiate my turn signal to secure the spot, and am inches from pulling in, when all of the sudden, a red blur forces its way in front of me. Before I know it, Anna is parked in my designated spot. Stealing is yet another fault of hers, as my hockey stick has been wasting away
in her room for TWO YEARS. Why are you collecting my possessions Anna? Are you obsessed with me? Is that what all of this is about? Well, I can tell you, this is not how we should treat other people’s belongings! Might I remind you that last week, when you left your water bottle in the courtyard and forced me to fetch it, not only did I return it refilled with ice water, it was also back in your hands that same day. After consulting some fellow classmates about how they have personally been affected, I received three main annoyances; her “ear harassment,” her ability to educate others with her mispronunciation of every word in her vocabulary, and her concerning amount of Timmy pins. Anna makes others uncomfortable with her unsolicited smirking, consistent whining, lack of vocal vocabulary execution, and her hoarding of invasive pictures of Timotheè Chalamet. Please reach out for any receipts you may inquire about, I dwell on the side of truth. As I pledged in the beginning, I am merely here to state the facts and prove my innocence. You can side with Anna, I am not here to force my beliefs upon you. However, I must warn you that you too will soon fall victim to her manipulation and doom if you choose to befriend her, I am only here to help. Peace, love, and blessings.
There you have it. Two girls, who were once friends, now enemies. You make the decision. Was Anna right? Or was it Norah? Who truly is in the right within their feud? Perhaps we’ll never know, but it’s up to you to decide. Feel free to email The Quill, Norah Gustafson, or Anna Blubaugh with any questions, comments or concerns regarding this feud.
Remember How To Make It How To Make It One To (A Senior Bucket List) An Editorial By Kat Gunther-Reveal Designed By Chloe Ray
Before she graduated, my friend Mia Slanoc wrote me a letter that changed my perspective on high school. She had been a senior drama officer when I was a sophomore and had also gone to Saint Paul, so we were close. She advised me to make the most of my remaining years in highschool, but especially senior year. She encouraged me to “treat every night like it’s the weekend, because one day you won’t have weekends with your people.” In other words, go to the game, cheer on your friends, take each other out to dinner, commit to the theme for spirit days, savor all the little memories, etc.. And that’s exactly what I’ve done. Thanks to Mia’s advice, I don’t have just one favorite memory. I have a collection of several that I will cherish, all from junior and senior year. Allow me to share my Top Five Senior Bucket List!
Musicals Throughout my four years at DeSales I have been heavily involved in the performing arts department. I have found my family through the plays and musicals, however not everyone has been so lucky. Lots of seniors, especially boys, will audition for the musical on a whim, and it is very common for them to ask, why didn’t I do this sooner? Maybe singing and dancing isn’t your thing? There are still plenty of ways to get involved from set crew, lighting & sound, costumes, pit orchestra, and even as an audience member. Senior Mason Brown exclaimed that, “I loved every second of it and was smiling ear to ear the entire time…I’m so glad that you convinced me to get a ticket last minute because it was so worth going to…I definitely regret not going to see more of our school plays.”
Courtyard Another privilege that comes with seniority is access to the courtyard. The senior courtyard is first available on the last day of school junior year. Rushing out into the courtyard after the last bell is something you don’t want to miss! Not only is there food, music, and games, but it’s a little bittersweet moment for your class because it’s the first step in realizing that you are seniors, and you’ve finally made it! Throughout senior year, the courtyard is a nice, quiet place for seniors to do homework, read, talk with friends, walk some laps, and take advance of beautiful weather. Even if you’re not an avid user of the courtyard, spending some time out there is most certainly worth it.
Kairos What is Kairos? That seems to be the question that everyone wants to know, and only seniors have the answer to. Vaguely put, Kairos is a retreat experience in which you will come out knowing more about yourself, your fellow classmates, and your teachers. It will allow you to grow closer to both God and both your new and old friends. Kairos is one of those experiences where you will only get out of it, what you put into it. Kairos is something to be excited by, not nervous about. My advice: go into Kairos with an open heart, an open mind, and a good attitude. And remember that it’s a testament to the positive experience and power of Kairos, and what it means to seniors, that the events of Kairos still widely remain a secret. Hopefully, it’ll stay that way. The events of Kairos still widely remain a secret
Spirit Days and Games One of the benefits of being a senior is front row spots in the student section, so take FULL advantage. Go to games (of all sports), support your classmates, and have fun with your friends. Even if athletics aren’t your scene, at least one game should make it on your bucket list, because there’s only so many games you can go to. Going along with this, don’t be afraid to go all out for spirit days or themed games. You’ll have much more fun if you just embrace it and put in effort. Cheer loud, dress the theme, and have fun! Plus, spirit day outfits and memories make great journey project content… Cheer loud
d, dress the theme, and HAVE FUN!! Dances It doesn’t get more typically highschool than school dances. Prom, winter formal, and homecoming are all great events to attend. Whether you’re flying solo, going with friends, or if you have a date, dances should be on your bucket list. School dances are full of music, friends, (sometimes) food, games, and fun! Dances are also excellent places to people-watch and look at all of the incredible outfits, if you won’t be on the dance floor. And, if dances aren’t really your scene, I still suggest buying tickets because you’ll only have one senior homecoming, one senior prom, and in the class of 2023’s case, one winter formal ever. Better to buy tickets, go to see what it’s like, and end up having a great time, than to not buy tickets and regret not going.
So there you have it. Five items to add to your senior bucket list to make your senior year one to remember! Good Luck :)