Humans of DeSales (The Quill 2020-2021)

Hey look us over! Don't pass us by!

HumansWe are the stallions of Desales High!

We wear the colors purple and white

You just name the time and place and

We'll be there to fight and fight!

OfHey look us over! Don't pass us by!

Fight, fight until the end will be out battle cry!

Cause we're the best in every way

DESALESand this you can't deny because

We're the stallions of Desales High!

2020-2021

Inspired by the blog and books called Humans of
New York written by Brandon Stanton, The

Quill presents to you Humans of DeSales.
For the past five years, The Quill has taken one

issue to tell the stories of some of our students.
Our writers and designers have been inspired
and motivated by the stories of the students and
faculty here at DeSales. We know that everyone
has something to share about their life.
Everyone has a story.
For more information on the Humans of New York
series, visit http://www.humansofnewyork.com/ or
follow @humansofny on Instagram and Twitter

The Quill
For Stallions By Stallions

The picture alone, without the
written word, leaves half the
story untold.

James Lafferty

Actor

Nicole Corn and Faith Corn

“It’s definitely convenient to have your
best friend with you all the time. We can
“sense” if the other person is having a
rough day or is upset without being to-
gether. However, since we are together so
much we know how to get on each other’s
nerves” - Nicole
“Even now, doing this interview we can’t
agree on what to say. Nicole is four min-
utes older and yes it is used in arguments.
If the argument gets to the point where it
is used as leverage, I walk away because
I’ve heard it too many times to the point
where it’s extremely annoying” - Faith

Zane Neuhardt

“First I was excited about Covid-19.
It was 3 weeks off from school and it
sounded nice. Then it hit nine months
and it was starting to get old. It was ac-
ademically challenging for me because I
felt like I was distanced from the class-
room due to my health issues. I felt like I
was afterthought. I felt like I was just lis-
tening in rather than being taught. It was
also socially challenging. I wanted to be
in conversations more, but I couldn’t be-
cause I was so distanced from everyone”

Antonio Williams

It was the first time I had ever seen the
ocean, walking on the sand and seeing how
big the water is. It kind of just made me re-
alize that I’m really insignificant in terms
of everything else. It also gave me a sense of
knowing that life is short. You have to live
everyday to the fullest, because you don’t
know when you’re not gonna be here. The
world is huge, and you can make an im-

pact in the daily lives of other people.

Avery Jehn

When I was in preschool, we would have
nap time and I would go home because I
didn’t like to take naps at school. Before I
left to go home, I would go and tuck in all
of my friends and give them a kiss good-
night. I have always had a big heart and
compassion for other people, even when
I’m struggling in life with my job and stress-
ing out over school, I still try to find a way
to make other people. One of my biggest
aspirations is to become a surgeon and to
help people. My goal in life is to be happy
and make other people happy. I want ev-
eryone that I ever met to remember me as

a kind and caring person.

Ava Vendetti

My sister Camille was born in Novem-
ber 2019. It had been a few years since
my last sibling was born, so we were sur-
prised when it happened. She is only 1
½ , but she’s really sassy which is hilar-
ious because my mom says she’s exact-
ly like me. She loves to run around, she
loves climbing on things that she’s not
supposed to, and she definitely sees my
brother and copies exactly what he does.
It’s a little terrifying because they’re grow-
ing up while I’m growing up. It’s also ter-
rifying because the gap between me and
Camille is sixteen years and since I’m so
much older I have to set the standards
for her. I try to parent her, almost, even
though I’m the older sister and I’m sup-
posed to be the “fun one.”

Claudia Mendez

I think it would be difficult for anyone
to transfer into a new school where you
don’t know that many people. You don’t
know how anyone acts, what is consid-
ered cool, and what is considered not
cool. Starting something new, or joining
something new, is always challenging. It
always takes a very long time to feel com-
fortable stepping out of the box, and with
that means overcoming struggles.

Kenneth Gilbert

I like to listen to music when I’m feeling
low. Music Is a big part of my life and I
also like to create music. I started making
music because my older brother inspired
me. My brother is a rapper. He’s not fa-
mous but he’s getting there.

Tyler Richards

I originally had 5 allergies. Milk, eggs, soy, pea- We went to the hospital as I was clutching onto
nuts and treenuts. Now I have 18 allergies, my life but I didn’t know it, because I’m just a little five
most severe and most complicated is corn. Even if year old, so I don’t have that much life in me to begin
I touch corn, I’ll get really sick and vomit through with. I remember the doctor going off on my mom
one of my more mild allergies. It’s hard because and was accusing her of trying to murder me and
corn is in everything. Sometimes in the cafeteria he’s chewing ear out as I’m on life support. That was
my wrist will just get really red and I’ll get rashes. probably my most major allergic reaction, but lucki-
Having disinfectant wipes makes it so much bet- ly, I am still here today.
ter.
My first reaction was when I was around four or
five. When you’re that young, you can’t compre-
hend dying, you know, so it was the type of thing
where my parents were like , “Don’t eat anything
we don’t give you, you’ll feel sick.” I tried to be a
good son so I listened to them.
There’s this train park near Otterbein and there
was a Reese’s cup on the ground, in the sleeve, un-
touched and I was thinking that it looks good. I
still remember it, I thought it was delicious and I
ate the whole thing. Instantly, I started to feel bad
and I was confused and I didn’t have the adjec-
tives to explain how I felt so I went to my mom
and I was like, “I’m feeling bad” and she’s asking
me what I mean. I was just repeating that I’m feel-
ing bad. I eventually explained that I ate some-
thing. After hearing me say that, my mom started
freaking out. I was feeling worse and worse and
we didn’t know why because I reacted differently.
I didn’t get hives, nor did I get any physical symp-
toms that I usually do when I’m going into ana-
phylactic shock.

Lola Tanaguay

School was definitely really stressful at
first, especially with COVID. I was wor-
ried that I wouldn’t find anyone that I re-
ally clicked with, or would have a hard
time feeling comfortable in a new place
with all these things happening. I think
after everybody came back it got easier,
and I think the year is going pretty well.
I adjusted. I think that the teachers have
been really accommodating. I definite-
ly feel like I could reach out to them and
they could help me.

David Chintala

I started playing lacrosse in 3rd grade
and have been in love with the sport ever
since. I love lacrosse because it’s fun, I
make great bonds with my teammates,
and it teaches me a lot of life lessons. Last
year, my season was taken away because
of the pandemic. It made me work hard-
er and not take anything for granted.
During that time, I went outside and shot
everyday along with hitting the weight
room and lifting. My favorite memory
from my lacrosse career would be beat-
ing Watterson in districts 2 years ago, and
beating Watterson this year. If I were to
tell future generations coming to DeSales
to play lacrosse, I would tell them to en-
joy it because it goes by fast.

Lauren Mitevski

I think DeSales has helped me grow in lots
of ways, mainly, I am no longer weird. Just
kidding, I am weird, but I have found my
friends that are weird with me. I think in
all honesty, my eyes have opened up and I
am no longer in my little “Westerville bub-
ble.” DeSales has given me lots of memo-
ries. I appreciate the little ones most like
mornings in the parking lot to all of the
sporting events. The people of DeSales are
by far the most important and impact-
ful aspect of the school and my life over
the last four years. I have appreciated and
loved my time at DeSales and will always

remember it.

Joshua Martin-Hayden

My big cousin Jelani was my biggest inspi-
ration growing up. When he came over to
our house, I would adopt his stuff and play
his video games that he left over after he
left. Back in 2015 or earlier when Project
M (A popular fighting game mod) started
to pop off, was the time both of us real-
ly got into watching competitive fighting
games. We hacked the Wii, and we weren’t
sure if it was going to work, but then we
saw all of these new characters show up
on the screen, and we were crazy excited
to play. After first playing, we got online
to watch videos of professional players’
games and sets, which led to following the
players, to watching tournaments. He was
already pretty into fighting games, but that
was my first introduction. We both learned
a lot of techniques of the game watching
those players. Since that experience, every
year we would have a cookout and stay up
watching the biggest fighting game event
of the year: Evolution championship series
(nicknamed EVO), which was awesome.

Lariah Evans

This year is my last year at DeSales, and
I have had to do it all online. My senior
year really has not been all that because
of COVID, but I am glad that we will still
be able to walk across the stage with my
friends and classmates. Also, I still had 2
½ years to enjoy high school. My favorite
memory is definitely the Football Friday
Night games, so I guess it’s not all bad.
I chose to go to DeSales because most
of my family are graduates from there.
Also, I heard that they had great educa-
tion opportunities. I am excited to finally
be able to graduate. After all these years,
the time is finally here, and I’m super ex-
cited about that. I am going to Ohio State
University Newark this upcoming school
year. I chose this college because it is
close to home, and it is the one of the col-
leges that stuck out most to me and my
future plans. Also, my stepmom is a nurse
at Ohio State which means I will get half
off tuition.

Norah Gustafson

I am a competitive dancer. I started danc-
ing when I was two years old and now it
is truly my passion and my favorite way
to spend my time. Jazz, ballet, contem-
porary, and hip hop are my escapes, and
after a long day at school or just a stress-
ful day in general I can leave everything
behind and express myself through mu-
sic. And, winning dance competitions is
almost as rewarding as dancing itself be-
cause it shows that all my hard work has
paid off. One of my best friends, Katie
Cavanaugh, has also grown up with me
through dance. She inspires me everyday
and helps me to become a better version
of myself and shares my love of and pas-
sion for dance.

Nicole Corn and Faith Corn Designed by
Skyla Blumenscheid
Written by Antonio Williams

Zane Neuhardt

Written by Kelvin Konadu

Antonio Williams

Written by Lily Hartman

Ava Vendetti

Written by Beau Gantz

Avery Jehn

Written by Francine DeMedeiros

Lola Tanguay

Written by Stella McClafferty

tyler Richards

Written by Stella McClafferty

Claudia Mendez

Written by Wyatt Hanley

Joshua Martin-Hayden

Written by

David Chintala

Written by

Lauren Mitevski

Written by Owen Kirk

Kenneth Gilbert

Written by Jason Lopez-Hernandez

Lariah Evans

Written by Kylee Bateman

Norah Gustafson

Written by Kat Gunther

We are all storytellers.
We all live in a network
of stories. There isn’t
a stronger connection
between people than
storytelling.

Jimmy Neal Smith
Founder of the International
Storytelling Center (ISC)

Across the years we'll sing your praise
Our alma mater dear
We'll treasure every memory
of carefree days and friends so near
To God and country, we'll be true
Your teachings will light our way
We pledge anew our loyalty
To you Desales, to you!