Despite LaQuilah Sharp’s self-proclaimed love for Drew’s class and teaching style, she admits running track is a much bigger part of her life. Sharp, sopho-more, competes on the track and field team, in addition to running on a year-round team, and hopes to one day get a college scholarship for track.

Not only does Sharp use track as an opportunity to attend college, but she utilizes the positive effects it has on her daily life.

“I like track because it helps me with my mood,” Sharp said. “It calms me down and helps me focus better on school, work and chores.”

Although avid about running, Sharp’s main focus is to perfect her college resume in hopes of attending the University of Missouri-Colum-bia to further her education.

“My resume means a lot to me. It will shape my future in college,” Sharp said. “I want to bet-ter myself with a future.”

Whether attending college for track or aca-demics, Sharp acknowledges it is track that has left the biggest impact on her life.

“[Track] helps me overcome challenges in life, you know, everybody faces them,” Sharp said. “Track helps me manage mine.”

For Ashley Guirl, junior, her seat in English class is just a small detail in her hectic life. Dance is what occupies the majority of Guirl’s busy schedule.

Since 7th grade, Guirl has spent four to five hours each night Monday through Thursday at the Laurie Stream Dance Inc. studio, but has some how been able to manage her time wise-ly to squeeze in her schoolwork.

“I make sure everything gets done before I have to leave [for dance], and don’t stay up too late because I can’t function the next day,” Guirl said.

In addition to her seven dance classes, Guirl also competes. Guirl will do a solo, and a group routine this year.

“You learn to really trust your-self [when competing],” she said.

Guirl also demonstrates for the younger dancers at the stu-dio. “[Being a demonstrator] has helped me become more com-fortable around kids,” Guirl said. “[Demonstrating has inspired me to] want to be a pediatrician, I re-ally like working with kids.”

Alex Geary, sophomore, admitted to enjoying his lit and comp class, but his real passion lies on the football field as a wide receiver/defensive end on the varsity football team.

According to Geary, playing foot-ball, basketball and track have a huge effect on his life. Playing a sport every season of the school year along with practicing in the offseason does not leave Geary with much free time.

“I like the competitiveness of foot-ball,” Geary said. “We can’t play on other football teams during the year, but I still workout and play football with my friends to practice.”

Geary hopes his work on the field will one day pay off in the form of college tuition.

“I hope to get a scholarship for football, but I’m also pretty committed to playing basketball,” Geary said, but with the sup-port of his friends and family he is not worried about his future

for now.“My friends and family are so important to me be-

cause they help me through everything,” Geary said.

Features12

The seating chart: students hate it, teachers love it and kids claim it always finds a way to separate them and their best friends. However, the seat-ing chart in Simao Drew’s English classes determined more than the arrangement of his students; it placed four completely different people in one spot for 54 minutes each day. The only thing connecting these students: the desk they share.

Walking down the hallway, paintings by her sister and mother cover the walls. Art has always been in her blood, but not until taking classes at KHS did she realize her true passion.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve been interested in art,” Ellie Van Camp, junior, said. “My mom is an artist, and so is my sister. My family is artsy.”

“It’s nice to have something to focus on, and have a break from school during the day,” Van Camp said. “It’s a relief from the stress.”

Van Camp has taken the art classes: Ceram-ics 1, 2 and Drawing 1.

“I mainly just doodle, but class is nice be-cause they give you specific things to do,” Van Camp said.

She currently works at Michael’s craft store. “I heard they were hiring and I thought I might as well [apply],”

Van Camp said. “I got another job, but I didn’t quit Michaels because I like it, and the hours are nice.”

As much as Van Camp enjoys art, she does not believe it will be her profession in life.

“I’m one of those people that really has no idea what I want to do yet, but I would love to continue doing [art] as a hobby,” Van Camp said.

Classroom connections: four students, one deskTara Hawkins features writer

Lucy Dwyer features writer

5th 7th

3rd 4th

Eli Costfeatures writer

Below are some of the items on the class of 2013’s “senior bucket list” (submitted via Twit-ter using #callbucketlist).

Perry Tatlowartist

Senior Bucket List

@RealjKurth Jared KurthGo bar down to win the soccer game. Swag.

@_thatbigdude Matt BerryWIN STATE.

@itsMeghanR Meghan RintoulSleep at the school on turkey day hallway night or be mentioned in The Call.

@shotsofGIN Peter McGinleySet a record for the most cars in the senior hallway during hallway decorations.

@downbythe_BANK Ryann Bank Eat lunch on the roof of the school.

for more tweets online, visit

The Kirkwood

Callthekirkwoodcall.com or follow us @thekirkwoodcall on twitter

Sarah Heet photo editor