Lakes Community High School | 1600 Eagle Way, Lake Villa IL 60046 | lakesstudentmedia.com | @talontimes | @TTimesSports

May 8, 2015VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 5

SPECIAL EDITION: SENIOR ISSUE

Congratulations to our favorite students. You know who you are!

-Mrs. Caflisch and Ms. Messner

Congratulations to Isabel McKenzie! Izzy, I am endlessly proud of you! You have worked hard for four years, met every challenge, and accomplished everything you tried. You have developed your mind, writing ability, and management skills, and you have a wonderful future ahead. I love you!

-Evan McKenzie

The Administration and Staff would like to say thank you to the stu-dents of the class of 2015. It has been a wonderful journey watching you mature into young adults. We are proud of your accomplishments and we have high expectations for your success in the future. Please build on the foundation of Respect + Courtesy = Pride.

Soar to the top Eagles! --Mr. Newberry

Congratulations Choir Seniors!

Thank you for your dedication, leadership, and singing excellence in choral music. Thanks for making my first years at Lakes tons of fun. You will all be missed and I wish you all the best. Be sure to come back and visit.

Much love, Mr. Johnston.

To the AMAZING and FANTASTIC senior dean’s office aides: Sam Callahan, Nikko Conn, Brittany Dourlian, Zach Fuller, Morgan Forker, Bryan Gross, Jocelyn Pineda and Bryan Thommes. THANK YOU for being the hired help without actually getting paid. I KNOW you will all do good things for the world!

-Ms. Sprague

Congratulations to Conor McKenzie! Conor, you have grown as a young man, an athlete, a scholar, and a musician. I am so very proud of you. I have enjoyed all your performances, from street fairs to coffee houses. I know you will make the world a better place!

-Evan McKenzie

Congratulations Senior Boys Basketball Players.

SWEET SIXTEEN! - Boys Basketball Coaches 100/0

TALON TIMES | VOLUME 10.5 | SENIOR ISSUE | MAY 8, 2015

SENIORS

contentsClass Records

Favorite High School Memory

Senior Assasin

Graduation Speakers

CLC Stigma

Yourself in 10 Years

Record Breakers

Q&A with College Althletes

Trends

Artists You Should Know

MadLibs: Graduation Speech

Records broken by the graduating class of 2015

Details on student graduation speakers, Sarah Heuschele and Aaron Navarro

Seniors reflect on their favorite memory over their four years at Lakes

The bad reputation behind going to CLC, exposed

The story behind senior assasin and some of the tellings of those involved

Seniors foretell where they see themselves in the near future

Records broken by the student athletes of the class of 2015

The Talon Times gets the answers from students playing sports in college

A look at the best and the worst trends over the last four years

A compilation of the all the artists recognized by the Talon Times throughout the past four years

Fill in the blanks to complete your own graduation speech

Wow, I cannot believe high school is almost over! It felt like it would last forever. I knew it

would not, but it felt that way. Anyway, over these past four years, Lakes has treated me pretty well. Honestly, I am glad about everything that has happened to me in high school. Whether my experiences have been amazing or just straight awful, I am truly grateful for them because they have taught me to know who I want to be. Do not get me wrong, I am still pretty confused about life in general, but I am way better off than I was four years ago. So thank you to everyone at Lakes I’ve met. Thanks for the awesome experiences. In closing, I would like everyone to remember “the haters gonna hate and the ain’ters gonna ain’t.”

It has been such a great experience being on staff this year. It was an

honor to be part of such a fun, creative, hardworking and diverse group of students. Not only has being on staff allowed me to learn about Lakes and the students that make the school shine, but it has given me the chance to discover my inner-writer. I want to thank my friends and family for all their support throughout my four years at Lakes. High school may not be the best four years of my life, but I know that they have set the cornerstone for the person who I want to be. It is about the small moments: reenacting the High School Musical finale “We’re All in This Together” in the empty main gym, taking refuge from grinding at homecoming and exploring the Denver Art Museum with my newly found newspaper friends.

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TH

ESENIORS

FRO

M2014-2015 Staff

Editor-in-ChiefIzzy McKenzie

Managing Editor Aaron Navarro

Design EditorStefano Quaranta

News EditorNoora Reffat

Opinions EditorMolly Polirer

Features EditorLiam Fitzpatrick

A&E EditorAnjali Patel

Sports EditorsGavin GoodAndy Olson

Social Media CoordinatorHalley Kenney

Business ManagersJosh McQuadeInda Montes

Staff ReportersMolly BartlettEvan BrandesCaitlin FarrellJohn Gossman

Samantha GreenSarah KumpulaAnees PardesiNicole TowneAnkit Vasavda

AdviserJamie Born

lakesstudentmedia.com@TalonTimes

@TTimesSports

These past four years of high school, and past two years of

working on the Talon Times, have been a complete blast. Granted, four out of 18 years only count for 22 percent of my life, but it is definitely my favorite 22 percent. The Talon Times, especially, has given me so many opportunities to learn, to travel and grow as a writer and a leader. S/O to my friends and family for being some of the most supportive people out there, I appreciate y’all. My first story I ever wrote for an issue of the Talon Times was about Kanye West, so I only think it’s fitting that I end my signoff with this quote: “I hate when I’m on a flight and I wake up with a water bottle next to me, like ‘oh great now I gotta be responsible for this water bottle.”

A A R O N N A V A R R O

It’s hard to believe that my time at Lakes is coming to an end. Having the opportunity to

be a member of the Talon Times has impacted my experience in high school more than I ever could have imagined. I would like to thank the Lakes faculty and the students at Lakes for affecting my life in such a positive way. A huge thank you also goes to Mrs. Born and the Talon Times staff, who have been an amazing influence on many aspects of my life and have helped make my senior year unforgettable. I love and will miss you all.

G O O D B Y E S , T H O U G H T S A N D R E F L E C T I O N S

F R O M C L A S S O F 2 0 1 5 T A L O N T I M E S M E M B E R S

N I C O L E T OWN E

H A L L E Y K E N N E Y

S A R A H K UM P U L A

Graduation.

For the first time in the history of the Talon Times, we are releasing a fifth and very special edition of our magazine: the senior issue. In a full 34 pages, we look back at Fall 2011 through Spring 2015, from the first days of freshman year to these final weeks until graduation. It is all here: regrettable fads, favorite memories, advice from alumni and a spread that features where all college-bound Lakes seniors are enrolling.

Before we get into the stories, seniors on the Talon Times staff reflect on these past four years, thank those who made the years so special and share their wisdom:

Next time you are bored, go to a public place and people watch. Life is really entertaining, especially the ornery sales clerk or the frazzled

nanny. Everyone has a past, a definite reason they are where the are today. Never be afraid to ask about someone’s story; it is usually way cooler than yours. Especially old people.

Before leaving high school, I would like to take a moment and thank all the amazing staff members and students at LCHS who have encouraged and supported me

over the past four years. My high school career would not have been nearly as impactful if not for their support, so thank you to all of those who have believed in me!

The Talon Times staff has given me the best times and helped me through the worst. The staff consisted of the funniest, nicest, most honest people within Lakes

Community High School, and it was an honor to work beside these amazing people. Thank you to everybody on the staff for all of the great times you have given me. I truly love each and every one of you and think of you as my second family. One more big thank you to Mrs. Born for being the greatest and most influential teacher I have ever had. Goodbye, Lakes. Goodbye, Talon Times. Hello, Chapter Two of my life.

I am not one to become sentimental over thoughts of high school; however, when I consider the past four years of my life, I am sure that the most meaningful

memories will forever be the ones that were formed in room C303: the newspaper room. It is difficult to imagine a life where I was not part of this wonderful staff and did not have the chance to work under Mrs. Born, one of the most brilliant and insightful women I have ever been so lucky to know and learn from. This year spent as Editor-in-Chief of the Talon Times has been exciting and inspiring, as well as challenging and exhausting. Between the staff, our advisor, students, Lakes staff, administration and the community, I have so many to be grateful towards for allowing and helping our program to thrive. Without the collective contributions and support from so many, the Talon Times would not be able to exist, and its staff would not be able to do what we so love to each day. It is to these people and all else who read and contribute to our magazine that I am so grateful towards for making what we do here possible. Thank you.

It seems like I was just a freshman yesterday. How is it that I am senior, and a senior that is about to graduate at that?? Though high school wasn’t the best years of my

life or the worst years, I wouldn’t want to alter my time spent here at Lakes in any way. I just want to take this time to thank all the teachers and students at LCHS that have made these past four years one of the most interesting experiences in my life thus far. I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to be a member of the Talon Times and spend my senior year with such a wonderful staff and adviser. Lastly, I want to give a big thank you to everyone involved in student council, especially the senior class officers as well as Ms. Malec and Ms. Cross. I love all of you and will miss you guys.

Hey guys, I’ve never had a year go by so fast. There is something empowering and terrifying knowing that high school is over. Knowing

that you’re leaving the place that has been apart of so many memories and shaped who you are is a weird feeling. I want to thank those who made high school the emotional roller coaster it has been. I have learned so much these last four years and know that Lakes Community High School and the people in it have prepared me for another four years and making new friends, disgusting cafeteria food and trying not to fall asleep in class. Make the best of your time. You’ll regret it if you don’t.

When I joined the Talon Times staff this year, I did not expect to have as much fun as I did throughout the year. From KEMPA all the way to this senior issue, it has been a

non-stop blast. Thanks, everyone, for reading. “Writing is hard, but don’t be afraid of that, embrace that. Everyone feels those anxieties.”-Wayne Drehs

I would like to thank the Talon Times staff for providing me with a home within Lakes my senior year. Through thick and thin, in the world of

journalism and every other aspect of life, our amazing staff has bonded together and supported each other, and I could not ask for anything more from such an incredible group of individuals. I would also like to thank all of you, our readers, for letting us exercise our passion for journalism and bring you the news this year. Finally, I would like to thank Mrs. Born for being such a wonderful role model and irreplaceable influence in my life. There is nothing I will miss more at Lakes than Talon Times, but I am so excited to move onto the next chapter of my life at The Ohio State University. Go Buckeyes!

L I A M F I T Z P A T R I C K

A N D Y O L S O N

S T E F A N O Q U A R A N T A

N OO R A R E F F A T

J O S H M CQ U A D E

I N D A MO N T E S

It’s weird to think that my time here at Lakes is done, it’s something that I will never take for granted. Remember all of the experiences that you have acquired

over the time you spend at Lakes. In the last four years I’ve learned many lessons but none more important than appreciate your friends because they will be your best support system when times get rough. Don’t take any of your experiences for granted, even the bad ones because you can learn from them. If I could leave you with one quote it would be: “Thank You Based God”-lil B

A N K I T V A S A V D A

C A I T L I N F A R R E L L

I Z Z Y M C K E N Z I E

SENIOR ISSUE

Cross Country#9 All-time Lakes History - Daniel Miller

Track100m Dash (10.88) - Corey Hertz200m Dash (21.49) - Corey Hertz400m Dash (48.26) - Corey Hertz4 x 100m Relay (43.59) - Tyler Ibarra, Corey Hertz, Jake Balliu, Cameron Ruiz (Non-Senior)4 x 200m Relay (1:28.68)- Corey Hertz, Ayman Reffat (Non-Senior), Jake Balliu, Shaun Beutlich (Non-Senior)4 x 400m Relay (3:19.96) - Corey Hertz, Jake Balliu, Alex Murray (Non-Senior), Brandon Thiel (Non-Senior)800m Sprint Medley Relay (1:36) - Corey Hertz, Jake Balliu, Alex Murray (Non-Senior), Tyler IbarraLong Jump Relay (76’9”) - Izayah James (Non-Senior), Devyn Cedzidlo (Non-Senior), Cameron Ruiz (Non-Senior), Tyler IbarraShot Put Relay (190’4”) - Ryan Mullen, Steven McVicker, Ian Anderson, Zach LahrDiscus Relay (501’) - Ryan Mullen, Steven McVicker, Colin Orchard (Non-Senior), Zach Lahr

Receptions/Game (12) - Jake BalliuReceptions/Season (62) - Jake BalliuReceptions/Career (77) - Jake Balliu

TD Receptions/Game (4) - Jake BalliuTD Receptions/Season (16) - Jake BalliuTD Receptions/Career (19) - Jake Balliu

Receiving Yards/Season (952) - Jake BalliuReceiving Yards/Career (1,259) - Jake Balliu

TDs/Season (23) - Jake BalliuReturn for TDs (tied with 3) - Jake BalliuPATs/Game (10) - Cody BrummPATs/Season (61) - Cody BrummPATs/Career (108) - Cody BrummCareer Tackles (220) - Dan Recker

2011-2012: won state for Team Dance Illinois in the 2A kick division for the first time in Lakes dance History and placed 3rd in the 2A hip hop division.2012-2013: The team qualified for the Illinois High School Association State competition out of 80 2A teams. They finished 13th in the state the first year being recognized as a sport by IHSA.2013-2014: The team won their sectional competition and advanced to state. They placed 4th at state, making it to the final day the first time in the history of Lakes. Setting a school record for a team placing in the top 5 for an IHSA State tournament.2014-2015: The girls again advanced to the State tournament by placing 3rd at sectionals. They were 2nd place after the preliminary rounds at State and finished the State competition 4th at finals.

Assists (2014 season with 8 assists) - Jessica Ward - 3rd highestDefensive Saves (2013 with 106 saves) - Emily Marison - 3rd highest

The Class of 2015 has won State all four years of their involvement with the program.

Most Rebounds in a Game- Ethan Sage 16 (2013-2014 season)Most Steals in a Game- Ben Haviland 7 (2013-2014 season)Most Blocks in a Game- Dalton Solbrig 7 (2014-2015 season)Floor Dives in a Season and Career- Jake Balliu- 22 (season) 41 (career)

Only Lakes girl to win a match at State - Morgan Visser

Record BREAKERS

Football

Boys Track & Cross Country

Reflecting on RecoRds bRoken within lakes spoRts pRogRams thRoughout the past fouR yeaRs

Dance

Girls Tennis

Winter Guard

Field Hockey

Boys Basketball

SENIOR ISSUE

GRADUATION AT A GLANCE

MR. PHELANBrian Phelan is a math teacher and one of the math team sponsors. This is the second time he has been chosen to speak at graduation.

ERICA TERRYErica Terry is the 2015 Outstanding Senior Girl.

MATT NATSHKEMatt Natshke is the 2015 Outstanding Senior Boy.

@TALONTIMES

Lakes Community High School 2015

MS. INGRAMCathryn Ingram is an English and speech teacher. This is the third time she has been chosen to speak at graduation.

By Inda MontesBusiness Manager

As this school year comes to an end, the class of 2015’s high school career

is wrapping up as well. On May 17, an

estimated 1,000 people will be attending the 2015 graduation ceremony at Lakes Community High School, where over 350 students will receive diplomas. The students, their families and Lakes staff members are expected to be nothing but smiles as the school pays tribute to the hard work and accomplishments of the graduating seniors.

The graduation ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. on Polley Field, if weather permits.

“The ceremony at Polley field is picturesque. When the sun is shining, parents and friends in the stands, graduates on the field, it is an amazing visual spectacle. Last year, for the first time, the school was the backdrop of the ceremony. This is a great culminating experience for the students. During the ceremony, it is great to see all the student involvement from the music to the emcees and the student-chosen speakers,” said Rebecca Holst, Lakes Associate Principal for Student Services.

The staff members speaking at the ceremony this year are Brian Phelan and Cathryn Ingram; both have spoken at graduation in the past. The student speakers are Aaron Navarro and Sarah Heuschele.

The two seniors who have earned the honor of Outstanding Girl and Outstanding Boy are Erica Terry and Matthew Natschke. The two students were nominated for this honor by their classmates due to their outstanding efforts and achievements in their schoolwork and extracurricular activities at Lakes.

For the first time, many at graduation this year will be gaining recognition for their achievements through the District 117 Cum Laude program. Cum Laude recipients receive this distinction based on six criteria: pride, excellence, responsibility, volunteerism, character and scholarship. In order to meet these requirements, students should earn a minimum 26 credits, earn zero suspensions, volunteer at least 40 hours, earn 95 percent attendance, complete three capstone classes and participate in four extra curricular activities at Lakes. The honor is not based on academic achievement.

Those with a high GPA will be recognized through the Honors and High Honors awards at the ceremony.

Students will receive their diploma case from members of the school board at the ceremony, who will rotate handing out the cases throughout the ceremony. The board consists of: Wayne Sobczak, Ronald Vickers, Sandy Jacobs, Nick Ciko, Geoffrey Guttschow, and Bart Winkler. Students will receive their actual diplomas from their counselors following the ceremony.

When: Sunday, May 17, 2015

Time: 1:00 PM Seniors are to report to the Small Gym at Lakes no later than noon the day of graduation.

Where: Polley Field (weather permitting) or Lakes Main Gym (for inclement weather)

Graduation Ceremony

#LCHSGRAD2015

PEOPLE TO KNOW AT THE CEREMONY

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SENIOR ISSUE

BEHIND THE SCENESCOVER PHOTOS

By Anjali Patel & Samantha GreenA&E Editor & Staff Reporter

The cover of each issue of the Talon Times is more than just a photo; it is the story of a thousand words. With each cover, the staff strives to convey the story of a person or

a group of people in a creative and effective way. The first issue of this school year featured Robin Jung as

her scare character at the Dungeon of Doom. A&E Editor Anjali Patel was invited to photograph Jung in her element before hours, and Jung was again featured in the Features section as she was interviewed about her job as a character.

The next issue featured freshman Troy Kraly throwing a baton into the air as he practiced a routine. Kraly met with Patel after school one Friday afternoon to stage several photos. Once the photos were uploaded, design editor Stefano Quaranta was faced with the challenge of fitting the baton into the photo with Kraly, which Quaranta did by using Photoshop.

The February issue of the Talon Times showed Opinions Editor Molly Polirer and Business Manager Josh McQuade posing as a couple to emulate the

idea of a high school relationship. This photoshoot captured their silhouettes and was used on the cover to match with the theme of love and relationships, which was carried throughout the magazine.

The final traditional issue of the year included a Lego house built by Patel’s younger sister, which featured a Lego man admiring his hard work. The concept for the cover stemmed from the underlying theme of the magazine: creation.

Finishing the year with one last issue dedicated to the seniors, this cover captures the senior staff members letting go of balloons. Though a seemingly simple photo, it has an interesting story. Sixteen helium-filled balloons were dropped off in front of the school on a brisk, overcast morning with underdressed staff members braving the weather to follow through with the photoshoot. Junior and sophomore staff members took the pictures as the seniors enjoyed their moment in front of the camera. After hours of editing, what resulted was a sentimental and symbolic image of seniors bidding farewell.

Photo by Anjali Patel Photo by Jamie Born Photo by Molly Bartlett

Photo by Molly Bartlett Photo by Jamie Born

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SENIOR ISSUE

70.2

70.0

3.25

By the NumbersA look at the graduating class of 2015 through the lense of statistics 2nd

highest PSAE Reading percentage

2nd highest PSAE Science test percentage

Weighted GPA

22.0 578

19.6

Average ACT* score for the class of 2015. This year’s seniors scored an average of 16.8 on the Explore test, good for second in Lakes history.*The class of 2015 ACT data is not complete. Scores will continue to be recieved over the

summer

Total AP classes taken this year by the class of 2015. 61 percent of this year’s seniors are currently

enrolled in at least one AP class

378The class of 2015 is the largest in Lakes history, with 378

graduating students

Total AP classes taken this year by the class of 2015. 61 percent of this year’s seniors are currently enrolled in at least one AP class

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SENIOR ISSUE

The CLC StigmaCommunity college students are often sterotyped as unmotivated, lacking in potential. Former, current Lakes students address this misconception.

Infographic by Nicole TowneData for the the Lakes class of 2015 was collected by the yearbook staff. Previous class data was provided by the school guidance office.

“I think many people definitely have a negative connotation towards attending community college. Some see it as a last resort, or where students who [either were] lacking in motivation or good grades end up at.” -Natalie Laczewski

By Nicole TowneStaff Repoter

Community colleges have been stuck with bleak associations. The College of Lake County is often coined as the “College

of Last Chance.” Sometimes it is viewed as the drawer at the bottom of the desk where all the miscellaneous, random objects end up. Not only are these misconceptions completely inaccurate, but they are hurtful to students considering and pursuing this option for higher education.

“I think many people definitely have a negative connotation towards attending a community college. Some see it as a last resort, or where high school graduates who [either were] lacking in motivation or good grades wind up at. And I find it really sad and unfortunate that such a large majority of students get classified under this category even though they are attending community college for multiple other and smart reasons,” Natalie Laczewski, Lakes Community High School 2014 graduate, said.

Laczewski is currently a freshman at the University of Southern California studying communications, after spending the fall semester at CLC. Early on, USC grabbed Laczewski’s attention.

“I visited the campus during my junior year, and it was the one campus where I got that feeling that I could really see myself going here,” Laczewski said.

During her senior year in high school, Laczewski applied to USC and got in as part of the spring admittance program. This meant that due to the large amount of college freshman applicants, she received admission but could not start until the second semester. Laczewski did not want to give up on her dream school and accepted the offer. She was still left with the decision about what to do for the first half of the year. She thought about working full time, but decided it would be a valuable use of time and money to take some classes at CLC.

“I literally saved thousands of dollars,” Laczewski said.

Laczewski emphasizes the importance of working with both the community college and the school to which one plans to transfer.

With the high costs of college, a wide variety of students are looking to get a college education without the steep university prices. For the upcoming school year at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, tuition and fees for Illinois residents ranges from $15,636 to $20,640 depending on the major. Students also have to take room and board into account as well as various other costs. The final total ranges from $30,346 to $35,350. In comparison, students who attend community college often commute from home and have no housing fees. For a full time student at CLC during the 2014-2015 school year, tuition and fees ran $3,388. Even with the $1,568 estimated cost for books,

one year of tuition rounds out to be just under $5,000. It is important to consider that this does not include

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SENIOR ISSUE

Could Community College be the right ChoiCe for you? take the quiz and find out!

transportation and food, but still, students can save anywhere between $25,000 and $30,000 a year.

Lakes senior Robert Biegalski has decided to start his post high school education at CLC and then transfer to a four-year university after two years. He applied and got accepted to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is considering a major in computer science, but has decided start at CLC to save money and take more time to think about his options. In terms of negativity with community college, Biegalski does not buy into it. One of the few downfalls is missing out on campus life and the large student community that universities can provide.

“The only thing you’re missing out on is that social aspect, if you wanted to go to a bigger school, but that’s not as important,” Biegalski said.

Looking at the big picture, building a base of general education credits at a community college before transferring a larger university will still allow students to graduate with the bigger-name diploma.

“When you are applying for jobs and that kind of thing

[employers] are not going to know you went to CLC; they’re just going to see where you got your diploma from,” Biegalski said.

1. What are you looking forward to most about graduating?

a. GETTING OUT OF HERE!b. Continuing my education in a different environmentc. Gaining more responsibility

2. Which of the following causes you the most anxiety about going to college?

a. Getting along with my college roommateb. Leaving my pets behindc. Moving out of the house

3. Do you know what you want to study in college?

a. I have a fairly good idea.b. I’m not completely sure yet, but I have some ideas.c. I have no clue.

4. How do you feel, overall, about your high school grades and standardized test scores (ACT or SAT)?

a. I worked hard for the grades and scores I received. I’m happy with them.b. For the most part, I feel satisfied.c. My grades and scores could have been better.

5. Students who attend community college often stay at home while some of their friends go off to school. How would this make you feel?

a. I would feel lonely.b. It might be a little difficult at first, but I can always Skype with friends on the weekends.c. I think I could manage. Regardless of where I am taking my classes, I will still have the opportunity to meet new people and build new friendships, while still staying close

with my high school friends.

6. When I think about paying for college I feel...

a. Okay. I talked with my parents and we have a plan.b. A little nervous. There are still details to work out.c. SOS!

7. Which famous female figure inspires you the most?

a. Emma Watson. She is gorgeous, smart, graduated from Brown University and starred in my favorite movie series. b. Miley Cyrus. She is a little out there, but she was able to make a name for herself.c. Michelle Obama. She grew up on the southside of Chicago, but took her education seriously as she graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

Infographic by Nicole Towne Tuition and Fees data for Illinois public colleges is from www.collegeillinois.org and www.clcillinois.edu.

Mostly A’s

You are ready to go and gain greater independence! You have a plan for paying the hefty college bill and are eager to get started at a four-year university.

Mostly B’s

Whether you are nervous about moving out, overwhelmed with choosing a college or still ironing out the details about paying, starting at a community college may be a choice to consider. Apply to some four-year universities so you have all your options open.

Mostly C’s

The college decision is quickly approaching and you do not want to rush into a big decision. Spending a year or two at a community college will allow you to get organized and prepare for life on your own. Not only will you save money, but it would allow you to prove yourself as a successful student before transferring to a bigger university.

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SENIOR ISSUE

High school offers students an opportunity to learn and grow, but also puts students at risk of losing themselves in the process. By Noora Reffat, News Editor

And these feelings are widespread, even at schools as incredible as Lakes Community High School. In a recent LCHS survey, students have said that high school is “miserably stressful,” “makes [them] want to cry” and even “feels like prison ” to one student. A total of 56 percent of juniors, sophomores and freshmen believe that their high school experience will not make up the best four years of their lives, with many stating that high school is just the beginning. Sixty-six percent of all respondents stated that high school should not make up the best four years of anybody’s life, with many stating that they can not wait to graduate so that they can experience the “real world.”

Ultimately, students feel stuck in school and, according to Peter Gray, a journalist for “Salon,” compulsory education is simply a broken system that is damaging students more so than helping them.

“In recent decades, we have been compelling our children to spend ever more time in this kind of

setting,” writes Gray, “and there is strong evidence … that this is causing serious psychological damage to many of them.”

This damage begins to show physical effects during senior year when the pallor of students’ skin becomes a sickly pale, their eyes

High School, Best Four Years of Your Life?

Before starting high school, I remember countless people telling me to enjoy it because high school will “fly by” and will make up “the best four years of my life!” I immediately realized that this was not the case and I have spent the past four years trying to convince myself that I really, truly, enjoyed high school. Though there were aspects of my high school career that I liked, as a senior preparing to graduate I can absolutely say that high school will not make up the best four years of my life and many other Lakes students can concur with this sentiment.

gloss over and senioritis takes its deadly grasp. Senioritis, synonymous with what you would see affecting the zombies in “The Walking Dead,” is an ailment resulting from motivation hitting an all time low and effort in school dwindling. The stress put on the bodies of seniors due to school work, friend drama, college applications and financial aid, clubs, sports, jobs and social lives is astronomical and, once caught, senioritis spreads quickly. Side effects of senioritis include mental breakdowns, periods of extreme anger and rage, exhaustion, irritability, incessant whining and inconsolable crying.

“ Even the ‘best students’ (maybe especially them) often report that they are “burned out” by the schooling process… Most students — whether A students, C students, or failing ones — have lost their zest for learning by the time they reach middle school or high school,” writes Gray

If students are not already weary of learning by the time they enter high school, this “zest for learning” is absolutely diminished by the times students are ready to graduate.

The bottom line is that high school is simply exhausting. Even students who love to learn are willing to admit that the demands of school are often too high to meet without making sacrifices, whether these sacrifices are hours of lost sleep or breakdowns in the bathroom. But, it is important to remember that even if high school won’t consist of the best four years of your life, it still makes up four long years of your childhood. As the educational system does not seem to be changing for the better anytime soon, it is important that students find healthy ways to cope with the long and stressful years that high school will offer, as not coping will ultimately cause you to resent high school as I do now.

“High school is what you make it,” writes one anonymous LCHS student.”If you want it to be positive you have to make it that way for yourself. The experience is great but if you peak in high school then the rest of your life will probably not be that great for you. There is more to life after these four years and way more opportunities than any school can offer.”

According to a survey with 52 senior respondents, 48 percent of Lakes seniors preparing to leave LCHS have mixed feelings about thier experiences in high school.

Photo by Anjeli Patel

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SENIOR ISSUE

LCHS SENIORS SHARE THEIR

FAVORITE MEMORIES

ANNIE BURTON

“Literally everything that has to do with theater.”

COLLIN ANDERSON

“Winning state freshman year for math team.”

RACHEL HANSEN

“The NBC five in the morning assembly. It was literally the most amazing thing ever.”

“Being named MVP at the ‘Laramie Project’ kickball game.”

MATTHEW PUTMAN

“The moment I walked into this school freshman year.”

BRANDON TOWERS

HANNAH GREENFIELD

“Meeting Andy Olson.”

Lakes Community High School 2014-2015

Photo by Samantha Green

Photo by Samantha Green

Photo by Samantha Green

Photo by Samantha Green

Photo by Samantha Green

Photo by Sarah Kumpula

ERIN KELLY

“Winning our powder puff game for the second time.”

MELISSA GEORGE“Dancing on Friday nights at Football games with my beautiful team!”

RACHEL HAWLEY

“Having 8th Hour Study Hall Senior Year with my friends.”

TREVOR BIGGERSTAFF

“Senior Night for field hockey.”

ALISHA HEDRECK

“Junior year when I pranked Mr. Rowells and Mr. Mertens with all the Nick Cage photos.”

TOMMY CYBERSKI

“Helping lead the Royal Rush this year with Steven and Dalton!”

NIKKO CONN

“It hasn’t happened yet.”

SAM COUNTS

“Moving here.”

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SENIOR ISSUE

Trends

Gangnam Style

Ombre Hair

Bathroom SelfiesThe Harlem Shake

Ice-Bucket Challenge

Tan Pants Tuesday

A look at the biggest, most popular fashion, Internet and social trends from the past four years at Lakes

Photo courtesy of Republic of Korea

Photo courtesy of Olivia Padilla

Photo courtesy of Casey Fitzwater

Photo courtesy of ENN

Photo courtesy of ENN

Mandals

Photo courtesy of Mark Sockjersey

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SENIOR ISSUE

#BAE = Before Anyone Else

#YOLO=You Only Live

Once

#Squad= Close Friend Group

Lil BThe Based God

“Do It For The Vine”

Ice-Bucket Challenge

Hair Feathers

The Honey Badger

‘Like My Status For ATruth is’

Lingo Trends

Decoded

Photo courtesy of Ankit Vasavda

Photo by dandelionsalon

Photo by Earth Touch

Photo courtesy of Sarah Heuschele

Photo by Jamie Born

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SENIOR ISSUEWhere are Lakes Seniors Enrolling after High School?Abilene Christian University: Rachel StromslandArizona State University: Lindsey Grolmes, Bradley Dethloff, Emily SpragueAuto Diesel Institute of Michigan: Mason HerrickBall State University: Alisha Hendrick, Kia SutcliffeBowling Green State University: Austin ArchackiBradley University: Bailey CraigBrigham University of Idaho: Savannah ChiarolanzaCalvin College: David SweeneyCarroll University: Zachary Meyer, Cody NuxollCarthage College: Noah Zilligen, Sabiella Gomez, Andrea KlineCollege of Lake County: Casey Marie Aguila, Anthony Anderson, Ethan Avila, Anthony Baca, Logan Beatty, Robert Biegalski, Trevor Biggerstaff, David Bruggen, Alex Burnett, Destiny Caley, Kody Clarke, Kelly Clendening, Ivan Contreras, Brianna Cullen, Steven Cumbee, Anthony Delligatti, Ronan Delve, Aidan Dooley, Brittany Dourlain, Jeremy Drury, Zachary Dugger, Parker Edwards, Dana Even, Vanessa Flary, Morgan Forker, Philip Gagliano, Mateo Garcia, Frances Grant, Angel Green, Rodger Potochnik, Kaitlyn Hampton, Katherine Hansen, Rachel Hansen, Chrysten Harris, Olivia Hooven, Shelby Hoss, Michelle Houghton, Justin Hughes, Tyler Ibarra, Dakota Johnson, Benjamin Kargul, Anna Lebavitz, Oakley McIntire, Daniel Miller, Christopher Montanez, William Morris, Sarah Nagelhout, Matthew Natschke, Danielle Oliver, Pete Orkweha, Raymond Oritz, Dmytro Ozadovskyy, Alexandra Pettry, Morgan Phillips, Emily Pinta, Ryan Potochnik, Andrew Potter, Michael Solito, Montannah Speaks, Samuel Struif, Tully Tagliapietra, Miguel Tellez, Kaitlin Tiernan,William Urshan, Cory Vettese, Noah Weyrauch, Maiya Williams, Kayla Wood, Marija Zgonjanin, Alex Juarez, Timothy RiveraCoe College: Liam FitzpatrickColombia College: Allison Ten Eyck, Molly O’NielConcordia University of Texas: Evan MurphyConcordia University of Wisconsin: Alexander Jenrich, Madeline StresslerCulinary Institute of America: Alexander LenikDePaul University: Wioletta Dziekonska, Tristan James, Jeremy Mackey, Davin MilostanDrake University: Brittani Griesbaum. Danielle Griesbaum, Benjamin ValpeyEastern Illinois University: Kimberly Brask, Casey Fitzwater, Joseph MelbergEmpire Beauty School: Kimberly FlanneryFlorida State University: Alli PietrowskiFull Sail University: Chelsea HoltzHawaii Pacific University: Jayme JensonIllinois Institute of Art Chicago: Laurentina GarciaIllinois State University: Gabrielle Blanco, Marianne Burton, Lauren Clark, Samantha Counts, Hannah Greenfield, Steven Hibbing, Jacob Horn, Max Johnson, Brian Kelly, Emily Kennell, Nina Kodjavakian, Mateusz Kozlowski, Sarah Laslow, Faith Leonora, Justin Marocsik, Alison Myers, Andrew Olson, Ryan Parmly, Brooke Prais, Paolo

Quaranta, Stefano Quaranta, Kaitlyn Saam, Ethan Sage, Daniel Ward, Jessica WardIndiana State University: Brianna RosalesIndiana University: Alexandra Frost, Timothy Polanin, Allison GrandosIowa Central Community College: Cassidy SchaarIowa State University: Christopher Diaguila, Sarah Heuschele, Alfonso Johnson, Halley Kenney, Emily Marison, Elizabeth ThompsonLake Forest College: Lindsay Cohen, Stephanie Ramirez, Isabel McKenzieLoras College: Jack MonsonLouisiana State University: Cheyenne DuesterbeckLoyola University: Emilie Mies, Noora Reffatt, Morgan VisserMarian University: Matthew NordlundMarquette University: Haley Minella, Nikolina NovakovicMcHenry County College: Justin BlasinksiMiami University of Ohio: Ryan MullenMilligan College: Kaitlin WardMilwaukee School of Engineering: Alexander DiGiammarinoNorth Central College: Nolan Bellinder, Arika Falk, Ryan KelekianNorth Dakota State University: Olivia UmphreyNorth Park University: Nikkolas ConnNorthern Illinois University: Mack Anderson, Oscar Bahena, Amy Djus, Alexander Girona,Twila Henkel, Sean Keane, David Macias, Mackenzie Weis, Anna ZradickaNorthern Michigan University: Christopher BakerNorthwestern University: Courtney Skula, Christian TorresThe Ohio State University: Garrett Clarke, Caitlin Farrell, Marisa Merges, Megan WayneOklahoma State University: Benett HavilandPurdue University: Arden Berzon, Aderonke Jackson, Elizabeth Mooney, Hannah Metzelaar, Alexander RothermelRipon College: Rachel HawleyRobert Morris University: Alexander FlemingRoosevelt University: Kara JonesSan Francisco State University: Fiona FlodenSanta Barbara City College: Ankit Vasavda, Sarah Lawrence College: Genesis Rico, Valerie RicoSeton Hall University: Olivia RodgersSouthern Illinois University: Julia Bobeng, Tyler D’Ambrose, Christopher Green, Nathan Hooven, Ryanne Olson, Anthony Sorto, Candice LoweSt. Xavier University: Kevin ColeTexas A&M University: Madison ShirleyTribeca Flaspoint Academy: Marissa HesslerUniversity of Alabama: Erin KellyUniversity of Arizona: Ashley Cook, Brandon Evaristo, Dakota Mathez, Daniel ReckerUniversity of California, Santa Barbara: Melissa ReyesUniversity of California, Santa Cruz: Meghan HebbardUniversity of Central Florida: Brett BuccholzUniversity of Eastern Kentucky: Michael Barry

University of Hawaii: Dalton SolbrigUniversity of Illinois, Chicago: Athena Ratilla, Daniela RubioUniversity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign: Thomas Cyberski, Kyle Munson, Collin Anderson, Elijah King, Michael McElduff, Jocelyn McNeany, Aaron Navarro, Matthew Stetson, Katherine Julkowski, Allison Vancrey, Samantha DavisUniversity of Illinos, Springfield: Conor McKenzieUniversity of Iowa: Samantha Chinick, Kaitlin Craven, Ashley Espinosa, Joseph Gajda, Ellyson MartensUniversity of Kansas: Jacob Kasperski, Jocelyn Pineda, Joshua McQuadeUniversity of Minnesota, Twin Cities: Ema Boehm, Jordan Diaguila, Meghann Silagan, Nicole DenmanUniversity of Missouri: Ryan Dalley,

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SENIOR ISSUE

John Gossman, Nicholas Hough, Tyler Keilwitz, Sarah Kumpula, Zachary Lahr, Olivia Melberg, Gretchen MetzgerUniversity of North Dakota: Bryan BakerUniversity of Northern Iowa: Madison Rinaldi, Corey Hertz. Melissa LemkeUniversity of Northern Colorado: Hailey TuohyUniversity of Northwestern: Chatham HedgesUniversity of South Alabama: Jared AbellUniversity of Southern California: Brandon TowersUniversity of St. Andrews: Sarah HokeUniversity of St. Thomas: Tyler TriggUniversity of Wisconsin, Green Bay: Michael WallenfangUniversity of Wisconsin, La Crosse: Maya SchmittUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison: Erica Terry, Lisa Buehler, Trelyn CannonUniversity of Wisconsin, Milwaukee: Cody Brumm

University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh: Melissa George, Bryan Gorss, Levi Smith, Austin SummersUniversity of Wisconsin, Parkside: Kimberly KittlesonUniversity of Wisconsin, Platteville: Jessica CardinellUniversity of Wisconsin, Stevens Point: Olivia Pawlak, Austin GoodsonUniversity of Wisconsin, Stout: Connor HagmanUniversity of Wisconsin, Whitewater: Tiffany Bober, Nicole Cooper, Jakeb Knepper, Bryan Thommes, Savannah Tanneberger, Katheryn Stanley, Zachary FullerUtah State University: Jacquelyn KesselValparaiso University: Lauren ZeebViterbo University: Nicole D’Ambrose, Justin NiebowWabash Valley Junior College: Chase SlotaWestern Illinois University: Christian GlistaWinona State University: Jacob Balliu, Mackenzie Bergeron, Lauren Hucker, Steven McVicker

Illustration by Sarah Kumpula

Top 15 Schools Students are Attending

Alyssa BreyChelsea HolbachJohn TrustyPreston VanBogelen

Samuel CallahanAlyssa HerronJacob PalmerChristopher Walker

Derek EspinosaLucas GarciaZachery Schirato

Gregory Rubo

U.S. Mlitary

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SENIOR ISSUE

By Caitlin FarrellStaff Reporter

As Lakes seniors are finalizing commitments to their college choices, they are beginning to

consider what their various current relationships will look like next year.

Many students have continued friendships throughout high school that developed in their elementary years. For example, seniors Nicole Denman, Brianna Rosales and Maya Schmitt and have been friends since third grade. Their nine-year friendship has forced them to think about what college will be like when they finally go down separate paths, however, the three never really discussed going to the same college. They varied greatly in what they valued in their potential colleges, so finding a school that worked for all three of them would have been nearly impossible.

“I knew that we really couldn’t look at the same colleges and it was kind of an unwritten rule we had. We all had different things we were looking for in a school. Maya wanted to play soccer, I wanted a big school and Brianna just did her own thing as well,” Denman said.

Denman, Rosales and Schmitt

recognize that being apart will probably weaken their relationships. Denman is going to University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Schmitt is going to University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, and Rosales is undecided, as of press time. The three are optimistic and plan on maintaining contact by texting, FaceTiming, hanging out over breaks and going to Schmitt’s soccer games.

“I am excited for Maya because she gets to continue playing soccer in college. I hope Nicole and I can come watch her on the field next year,” Rosales said. “I am going to miss Maya and Nicole a lot next year, but we have such a close bond, I do not think distance could ruin our friendship.”

Seniors Benett Haviland and Zachary Meyer have been friends since first grade and plan on splitting up next year for college as well.

“I plan on being a physical therapist and Ben wants to be a pilot, so we never really thought about going to the same school,” Meyer said.

Both Haviland and Meyer realized that, realistically, they probably could not attend the same college early on.

“We always joked about [going

to the same school]. but I don’t think we ever would have because we had different interests career wise. Of course, it would have been awesome to attend the same college and room with your best friend, but there comes a time when you have to venture in your own direction,” Haviland said.

Although there is some anxiety resulting from splitting up from their best friends, there is some hope in maintaining these friendships. Purdue Communications Professor Glenn Sparks conducted a 19-year study on nearly 2000 college friendships. The results found that relationships established early on in life can be maintained through communication and effort from both individuals.

“Maintaining quality long-term friendships is difficult today because people move frequently and there are many technological and media distractions,” Sparks said. “Friends from our youth anchor us in this age of constant mobility.”

The study found that friendships from elementary years tend to last longer than friendships developed later on in life, providing optimism to seniors nervous to split up from their friends next year.

Testing the Distance:

Splitting up from Lifelong Friends for College

Lakes seniors talk about the challenges of leaving their friends next year as they move towards their future goals

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SENIOR ISSUE

Photo courtesy of Benett Haviland Benett Haviland and Zachary Meyer began their friendship while attending Millburn West Elementary School in Lake Villa, Ill.

Photo courtesy of Nicole DenmanMaya Schmitt, Nicole Denman and Brianna Rosales pose for a picture for their final soccer season together at Lakes.

Photo courtesy of Maya SchmittMaya Schmitt is committed to the University Of Wisconsin-La Crosse for soccer, where Nicole Denman and Brianna Rosales plan on visiting to watch her play.

“We all had different things we were looking for in a school.” -Nicole Denman

“It would have been awesome to attend the same college and room with your best friend, but there comes a time when you have to venture in your own direction.” -Benett Haviland

“I am excited for Maya because she gets to continue playing soccer in college. I hope Nicole and I can come watch her on the field next year.” -Brianna Rosales

1. PARTICIPATERegardless of how trivial you think a “welcome all freshman” assembly or orientation will be, get yourself out there. It is so easy to think you have moved past going to welcoming committees, but then you may be stuck doing absolutely nothing, which is arguably worse. And maybe if you go and it is super cheesy, you find someone there who feels the same way and leave with a new friend.

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SENIOR ISSUE

By Anjali PatelA&E Editor

The idea of going off to college is typically bittersweet. The excitement of a new start mixed with the fear of moving out leaves new high

school graduates in mental chaos amidst a whirlwind of emotions. Mental wellness, an often underrated state of being, is a very important aspect of dealing with college and everything that comes with it. Preparing to deal with a different kind of educational stress that college implies while being away from family can be overwhelming, especially with the added inner turbulence of starting fresh without familiar faces to greet at every corner. Nicole Repa, Lakes Community High School guidance counselor, began her counseling endeavors at Eastern Illinois University as a resident assistant and went on to be a resident director at Connecticut State University. During her time working with residents at the college halls, everyday was different as she found herself dealing with everything from homesickness to shaving cream fights at 3 a.m. Having handled such a wide variety of conflicts, she can sum up how to not only survive, but thrive in college with three simple guidelines.

HOW TO DEAL WITH COLLEGE: MENTAL WELLNESS

2. DON’T GO HOME WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYSGoing home to visit too soon can really hinder progress you have made by branching out. It is really easy to go back into your shell and not want to go back to school if you see your family and friends before you have fully gotten used your life as a college student. It is also a very liberating experience to just be away and on your own so do not fear it, embrace it.

3. MAKE IT A POINT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO A STRANGER ON THE FIRST DAYIt is likely that you have not had a new beginning in terms of knowing peers and professors within the last four years, so it is essential that you get back into the habit of talking to new people and being able to introduce yourself to others comfortably. Also, conversations do not have to end at “hey, my name is…”, allow that potential relationship to grow by going to a campus event or just hanging out.

PARTICIPATE

DON’T GO HOME WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS

INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO A STRANGER ON THE FIRST DAY

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SENIOR ISSUE

“Where do you see yourself in

10 years?”Lakes seniors share

“On a beach, retired, in the Caribbean, with

Colton holding my hand.” -Matthew Puttman

“I’m either still in school finishing a degree, or

possibly in a job being a biomedical engineer.”

- Gretchen Metzger

“I’ll hopefully have my degree in occupational

therapy, so I’ll be working as a therapist.”

-Rachel Stormsland

“I’ll be 27, so hopefully I’ll be starting a family and

hopefully be a physician.” -Sarah Nagelhout

Hoke Heads to Scotland

By Evan BrandesStaff Reporter

This fall, Lakes senior Sarah Hoke will embark on

her college experience in Scotland. Hoke will attend the 600-year-old University of St. Andrews on Scotland’s North Sea coast. Hoke made the decision to attend college

internationally because St. Andrews allows her to study what she wants to without taking the same general education classes she would have to take in the United States. In addition, the tuition at St. Andrews is approximately 35,000 dollars, which is less expensive than the cost of the private colleges she applied to in the United States.

The more personal nature of the university admissions process in Scotland impressed Hoke. “I feel like St. Andrews cared a lot more about who you are as a person, like it was more writing personal statements, communicating directly with the school and they made the application much more personal to you. They wanted to know

a lot more about your family life and what your interests are and I feel like that’s something American Universities didn’t really care about. You just fill out an application and send it in,” Hoke said. Hoke hopes she will run into St. Andrews alumni Prince William and Kate Middleton on campus.

“I hope to have a family, be married, have a good

college career, and have a good paying career.”

-Matt Natschke

“Hopefully as an athletic trainer or helping people

with special needs.” -Steven Cumbee

“Probably onto some other field of genetics. Maybe

studying to become a doctor or a physician’s

assistant.” -Emily Marison

“With a successful job and hopefully a place of my

own.” -Sarah Laslow

Photos by Sarah Kumpula

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SENIOR ISSUE

By Liam FitzpatrickFeatures Editor

T he game Assassin, or sometimes known by Gotcha, Assassins, KAOS (Killing as organized sport), Juggernaut, Battle Royal, Paranoia, Killer,

Elimination, or Circle of Death, has been around for years. The game’s first rulebook was published in 1982 by Steve Jackson in a book called “Killer: The Game of Assassination.” There is no specific way to play the game, as variations are made between one group to the next. Lakes Community High School, for example, has their own version under the name Senior Assassin. Explained by this year’s leaders Casey Aguila and Aderonke Jackson, “[Senior Assassin] is a student-run tradition where everyone playing is assigned a ‘target’ and must get them within two weeks. Once you get your target out, your new target was their target and so on. You can get your target out with water anywhere except any school held event, work, or place of worship.” As the seniors approach their last stretch of high school, students find the game a fun way to be involved in a senior-only activity that will not only help get their minds off of school, but leave them thinking about nothing else--leaving students petrified to go out in public in fear of getting a surprise douse of water and missing out on their chance of the grand prize. “The pot this year is $500,” Aguila said.

Photo by Nikolina NovakovicPhoto courtesy of Brianna Rosales

Photo by Samantha Counts

Senior Assassin

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SENIOR ISSUEby Brian Kelly

So it all started at Andy Olson’s house. Right when I got there, Andy and Hannah Greenfield told me that Montannah

Speaks was gonna [sic] show up after Aaron Navarro got to Andy’s house because they were plotting to get him out for whatever reason. So Aaron arrives and we decide where we’re going to go, [to] (starbucks to visit Ankit Vasavda at work) and we go upstairs to where Montannah is waiting with two open water bottles. She gets Aaron out and he freaks out. Literally 10 seconds after this happens, a group of 10 people or so arrive at Andy’s door asking for him to come outside. Andy, knowing this was his target, ran inside his house trying to avoid the pursuers. We strategically made a plan to have one of our friends go to a road behind Andy’s house so he could sneak out the back and ensure his safety. Montannah decided to join along because she was afraid of getting assassinated on the way back to her car. We successfully all piled into my friend Bryan’s Jeep and got Montannah to her car safely and to Starbucks without any trouble. At Starbucks, the gang we were with all met up with Ankit, Melissa Reyes, and Lizzie Tekampe. We all regrouped at Culver’s and shared the story of the experience we just had. I guess we all had a thirst for getting people out in Senior Assassain because we decided to make a night of it. Lizzie told us her target (Katie Hansen) whose twin sister (Rachel) is good friends with Stefano, Andy and I, so we decided that would be who we tried to get out. Stefano was planning on asking Rachel to prom, so we all agreed that would be a good bait for getting her to reveal her location. Stefano called Katie and told her that he was going to propose to Rachel. Convinced that that’s what was going to happen, she told us that her and a group of friends were on the hunt for people to assassainate as well. She told us they were going for Nina Kodjavakian. Melissa, being friends with Nina, knew exactly where she lived, so our huge group piled into two cars and drove to Nina’s neighborhood. I was in a car with Melissa, Stefano, and Lizzie. We passed the car that their whole group was in and quickly got Lizzie to get out of the car and go to a vantage point where she could sneak up and get Katie from behind. I told the rest of the gang in the other car to create a roadblock for the car so that gang of people couldn’t get away. We pulled up to their van and Stefano got out of the car with nothing, which seemed pretty suspicious on its own. A group of people got out of their car to watch the proposal. After about 10 seconds of Stefano making stuff up to ask Rachel, Lizzie came out of nowhere and sprayed Rachel. I then informed Lizzie that she had sprayed the wrong twin and cussing ensued. It turns out that everyone was suspicious of this from the start so they had strategized to keep Katie in the car. That’s really all there is to it.

by Olivia Padilla

I was out with the group of friends for my birthday on Friday, Megan being one of them. I wasn’t planning on assassinating her that night but due to unforeseen circumstances, I was forced

to. We were at the bowling alley when I found out who had me as a target (another close friend of mine), and he was planning to assassinate me by claiming he was going to show up to wish me Happy Birthday. Fortunately I wasn’t assassinated, but I thought I should probably get at least one person out before I am. So we went to get ice cream after bowling and I got a cup of water and used a spoon to throw the water on Megan. Yes, it probably looked ridiculous but I didn’t want to pour the whole cup of water on her! She said she wasn’t mad, but I still felt bad for getting her out. Although, I’m glad I lucked out getting Megan as a target which made my job a whole lot easier.

Photo by Ethan Avila Photo courtesy of Ankit Vasavda

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SENIOR ISSUE

ArtistsYou Should

Know

By Ankit VasavdaStaff Reporter

The music industry is one that is constantly evolving. Some artists can come into the spotlight and be kicked out of it quicker than they achieved

popularity. Over the last four years, the Talon Times has been reporting on artists that matter or are notable enough to listen to. This is a culmination of all of the Artists You Should Know of the last four years.

Jedi Mind Tricks are an underground hip-hop duo originally from Philadelphia. The group is comprised of rappers Vinnie Paz and Stoupe

The Enemy of Mankind. They are known mainly for including themes such as political uprising and social issues in the world.

Nas is a New York based rapper who has been considered a legend in the Hip-Hop scene since the release of his debut album “Illmatic” in 1994. “Illmatic” is recognized as one

of the landmark Hip-Hop albums because it was released at a time when Hip-Hop was not seen as something that could be used to provide commentary on social issues. Nas speaks on his time grow-ing up in Brooklyn, New York and the struggles that entails.

Migos are an Atlanta-based Rap trio comprised of members Quavo, Offset and Takeoff. After getting one of their songs remixed by Drake, Migos took the world by storm. Migos

have had a very large impact on modern-day Rap music because many artists draw from Migos’ signature flow and style. Set to release their first studio album in 2015, Migos are on track to be a commanding force in Rap music.

Kanye West is a Chicago-born, Hip-Hop legend. He is one of the most recognizable celebrities of the 21st

century, due to his eccentric public persona. West has released eight albums since his humble beginnings in 2004, all to critical acclaim. West is a success story because even though there were many doubters in his career, he was able to flourish. Although there has been talk that West might quit music after the release of his ninth album, West has already solidified his place as a legend in the Hip-Hop and Rap scene.

Local Natives are an Indie-Rock band from Los Angeles. Local Natives was started in 2005 by three friends attending Tesoro High

School. Since the inception of the band they have released two very strong albums named “Gorilla Manor” and “Hummingbird.” The band has spent the last few years touring the country and playing many international festivals.

Immortal Technique is a Peruvian-born rapper who was raised in Harlem, New York. Technique adopts a more alternative style in

Hip-Hop in that he raps about many controver-sial topics in global politics. Lyrics of his contain commentary on class struggle, socialism, pover-ty, religion and the government.

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SENIOR ISSUE

Nas is a New York based rapper who has been considered a legend in the Hip-Hop scene since the release of his debut album “Illmatic” in 1994. “Illmatic” is recognized as one

of the landmark Hip-Hop albums because it was released at a time when Hip-Hop was not seen as something that could be used to provide commentary on social issues. Nas speaks on his time grow-ing up in Brooklyn, New York and the struggles that entails.

Frank Ocean is an R&B singer originally from Ladera Heights, Calif. Ocean was originally a member of Los Angeles Rap collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them

All, but later branched out into a very successful solo career. In 2012 Ocean released his critically-acclaimed album “Channel Orange” but has gone into seclusion to work on his second studio album tentatively titled “Boys Don’t Cry.”

ShowYouSuck is another Chicago-based rapper who takes a different approach to making Rap music. With a heavy punk influence, ShowYou-

Suck has a fun vibe to his music. His message includes the fact that he wants everyone to be positive and to get along. He executes that by making almost comedic rap songs such as “Girls & Nachos.”release of the albums.

Travi$ Scott is a rapper from Houston who has been rising to the top of the Rap game. Scott started his venture into the music business as an in-house

producer for Kanye West but was later influenced to start rapping himself. After releasing two very successful mixtapes, Scott is currently working on his debut album.

Anthony Jeselnik is a stand-up comedian from Pittsburgh who is known for his dark style of

comedy. Jeselnik takes an amoral approach to comedy by going against what is typically considered the societal norm. Jeselnik has two stand-up specials under his belt titled “Shakespeare” and “Caligula.”

Justin Timberlake is a mod-ern-day Renaissance man. He is an actor, writer, producer,

businessman, but at the base of it all, he is an R&B singer. Tim-berlake got his start in boy band NSYNC but later branched out into a very successful solo career. Timberlake released “The 20/20 Experience” parts one and two in 2013 and has been constantly touring the world since the release of the albums.

Atmosphere is another hip-hop duo from Minneapolis that is comprised of rappers Ant and Slug. Atmosphere’s story is an interesting one because they

took a different approach than most artists who decide to enter the music industry by going independent. Ant and Slug started Rhymesayers Entertainment in 1995 and have been continuing to release albums under the label since.

Mac Miller blew up into popularity with his party-anthem hit “Donald Trump” in 2011 but has evolved into a much different artist since.

After falling into a bout of depression, Miller decided to change his approach toward music and abandoned the party lifestyle of his earlier releases for a more serious and dark direction for his critically acclaimed 2013 album “Watching Movies With The Sound Off.”

Illustration by William Ward

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SENIOR ISSUEQ&A: 2015 Student Graduation Speakers

As the school year comes to an end, this year’s student graduation speakers, Sarah Heuschele and Aaron Navarro, are preparing to present their speeches at the upcoming senior graduation ceremony. The two wrote and presented their speeches in front of several

members of the student body and a faculty member, and in the end Heuschele and Navarro were the chosen speakers.

@TALONTIMES

Why did you choose to audition as a graduation speaker? Did any of your family, friends or teachers’ influence you?

Not sure! It kinda [sic] was just placed in front me and it was one of those 'Why not?' situations. Our Talon Times adviser, Mrs. Born, did tell me to go for it, though that kinda [sic] just confirmed whether I wanted to do it or not. [My] friends didn't really know I was applying, but when I told them I got it was a pretty welcoming response, so that kind of made me feel more confident in my decision to apply.

Was it difficult to write the speech? How long did it take you?

I literally finished my first draft of the speech eighth hour in study hall, the day of auditions. It wasn't too hard, just a little interesting because I essentially have to speak on behalf of like 300 kids, but I'm not too psyched out about [speaking].

Were you interested in doing this, or was it more of a spur of the moment type of decision?

[It was] definitely a spur of the moment thing.

Was it difficult for you to remember different memories or experiences from these past four years?

Not at all. If something is really memorable, it will always be in my mind. This year especially I've found myself reflecting at my time here at Lakes, and the app “Timehop” kinda [sic] helps too.

What is the overall message of your speech?

Well, I use this one quote from this comedian as the basis of my speech. But it is basically my honest thoughts on our class, both good and bad, and how we can really achieve amazing things in the future if we aren't afraid.

Are you nervous/intimidated to speak to the large crowd at graduation?

Yeah. Kinda [sic]. I don't know. I've played concerts and other events before in front of many crowds, but I was usually in a group or ensemble. This time, the spotlight [is] on me, and while I am becoming more and more nervous every time I think of it, I'm excited to make the most of it.

By Inda MontesBusiness Manager

SARAH HEUSCHELEWhy did you choose to audition as a graduation speaker? Did any of your family, friends or teachers influence you?

Ms. Ingram, who was my speech teacher at the time, persuaded me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.

Was it difficult to write the speech? How long did it take you?

It took me about three days to write my speech. It was really challenging to find a balance between talking about the future and reflecting on the past.

Were you interested in doing this, or was it more of a spur of the moment type of decision?

I became interested in becoming grad speaker from an assignment I did in advanced speech first semester.

Was it difficult for you to remember different memories or experiences from these past four years?

It was hard to remember “appropriate” memories. A lot of fights/drama were the first things to pop into my head.

What is the overall message of your speech?

Remember everything you’ve learned, through class and experience, and relay it onto your future battles.

Are you nervous/intimidated to speak to the large crowd at graduation?

I am extremely nervous to speak at graduation; however, Ms. Ingram is helping me learn techniques when it comes to speaking in front of large crowds.

AARON NAVARRO

WITH #LCHSGRAD15

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SENIOR ISSUE

How welldo you knowlakes?

SCAN BELOW FOR ANSWERS

HOW MANY MARRIED COUPLES CURRENTLY WORK AT LAKES?

WHO AUTHORED THE SCHOOL FIGHT

SONG?

WHAT IS THIS YEAR’S PROM

THEME?

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED BY THE LAKES THEATRE

PROGRAM?

WHAT IS THE LAST WORD IN THE

SCHOOL MOTTO?

WHICH TEACHER DID NOT START AT LAKES DURING THE YEAR IT OPENED?

WHAT IS THE EAGLE MASCOT’S NAME?

HOW MANY QUOTES ARE ON THE WALL

BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND MATH

HALLWAYS?

WHAT COLOR ARE THE SCIENCE

HALLWAYS?

TwoThreeFourFive

Dave NewberryBrent JohnstonRebecca HolstMatt Kastor

Oklahoma!RumorsChicagoThe Crucible

ProudPridePrizePrime

Bryan PlinskePaul CookLuke MertensKurt Rowells

OzzieErnieOscarEddie

FiveThirteenFourNine

GreenGoldBlueOrange

The Great GatsbyArabian NightsUnder the SeaVintage Circus

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SENIOR ISSUE

BATTLEof the BANDSBy Ankit Vasavda

Staff Reporter

BATTLE OF THE BANDS IS AN ANNUAL showcase of the local talent we have in District 117. Bands from Antioch and Lakes participate to win

the top spot of best band. Over the last few years, the bands have gotten more diverse in genre ranging from Jazz to Rock and even Rap and Hip Hop. Here is a look at some of the bands that have participated in the past.

Hopeless was a hardcore punk band that participated in Battle of the Bands in 2013, comprised of former students Carlos Cardenas, Nick Marshall, Jack Kelly, Caleb York and Kyle Orchard. Though they did not end up winning the competition that year, Hopeless went on to tour the Midwest and play shows as far as New York City. The band, after several lineup changes, disbanded in late 2013 due to lack of interest by members.

HOPELESS

Taken the Coast was a Pop Punk band originated at Lakes. They performed at the competition in 2011. Led by Lakes Alumni Chris Sorenson, Taken the Coast had a very strong following in the years they were together. They were able to take the band on a tour. They later disbanded.

TAKEN THE COAST

Yardbird’s Dilemma was the winner of the 2014 Battle of the Bands, due to their unique sound and exhilarating live performance. Comprised of Lakes Alumni Taylor Dahlen, Kyle Schardt, Christopher Lewis and current Lakes students Conor McKenzie, Christian Torres and Aaron Navarro. The group incorporated elements of Jazz, Funk and Hip-Hop. Navarro and Lewis provided the group with Rap vocals over a jazz style. Yardbird’s Dilemma is currently inactive due to the members going to different colleges.

YARDBIRD’S DILEMMA

Names Aren’t Important was the winner of Battle of the Bands 2015. Names Aren’t Important is comprised of Lakes students Aidan Dooley and Andrew Casher as well as Grayslake North seniors Andrew Kruk and John Steffen. The Alternative Rock group is currently still together and are working on new material. While Names Aren’t Important is a very successful venture, Dooley is also currently working on his solo material which ranges from Jazz to Soul music.

NAMES AREN’T IMPORTANT

Faceplant is another hardcore punk band that also participated in Battle of the Bands. Comprised of former students Kyle Orchard, Nick Valent and Caleb York, the band brought its high energy performance to Lakes. Faceplant is still together and plays shows in the Lake County/Kenosha area every once in a while due to conflicting schedules.

FACEPLANT

Photo courtesy of Faceplant

Photo courtesy of Emily Cody

Photo courtesy of Taken The Coast

Local Talent Takes on Lakes Auditorium in this Annual Event

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SENIOR ISSUE

Next Level Talent

MATT PUTMAN The Starting Middle Infielder for Lakes Varsity baseball is continuing his playing at Carroll University.

RYAN MULLEN The Lakes Football captain is excited for the new challenges that Division-I football presents to him.

NICOLE D’AMBROSE After years of Lakes and club soccer teams, D’Ambrose is ready to make the move up north to Wisconsin to continue her career.

ANDY OLSON: What would you say is your favorite baseball memory of the past four years?MATT PUTMAN: That’s hard. I would say my favorite memory is Sophomore year on that team, we would always bring back a souvenir from every away game. One [time] it was a light bulb from Antioch’s dugout, another was just a brick from a dugout. We found a bible in one of the Waukegan fields. There was a dead bird from somewhere else.AO: Did you take the dead bird with you guys?MP: Yea. (Laughter) We made a display for it in the locker room. There was what looked like a helicopter blade from Deerfield, but I really don’t know what that was. And then part of a lawnmower.AO: If there was one Major League team you could pick to play for, who would it be?MP: Definitely still the Cubs. They’re my favorite team. The best place to go is Wrigley [Field]. That

would be awesome.AO: Who is the funniest guy on the team?MP: I would say Liam [Fitzpatrick] and [Zach] Fuller together. [Those] two together are really funny.AO: If you could have one teammate back you up in a fight, who would it be?MP: I would say Joey Ruefer because he’s got his squad. (Laughter)AO: Who were you drafted by in MLB 14: The Show?MP: I think it was the A’s. I tried to get a trade, though, to get out of there right away. (Laughter) So, yeah, I was stuck with the A’s.

Check out the full interviews from Andy Olson at LakesStudentMedia.com.

ANDY OLSON: Why did you choose to attend the Miami University of Ohio?RYAN MULLEN: I picked that college because out of all the options that I had, it was the best combination of everything. Great athletics, great academics, great campus, and great student life.AO: What is the mostexciting part of going to play football in college?RM: I would say the most exciting part is... I mean, high school football is wonderful, but being a senior in high school, you’re ready for something different and college football is unlike anything else.AO: What’s your favorite memory from four years of football at Lakes?RM: I think my favorite memory from high school football is not necessarily one memory but just being together with the team. You know, it’s just a brotherhood, and everyone says football is a brotherhood and it really is. Being together with

70 guys, just hanging out and having fun. There’s nothing like it. [It is] just a cool feeling.AO: What’s your favorite Miami Redhawks uniform combination?RM: Well obviously I haven’t seen them all yet, but they have all kinds of stuff in the vault.AO: What does personal life Ryan Mullen enjoy?RM: I love music. Music is a big part of my life. I play a couple instruments, I just love listening to music. Most of the time I do a lot of sports, and grades and homework and whatnot. But when I do have a little free time, I enjoy music.

ANDY OLSON: Where are you playing soccer at?NICOLE D’AMBROSE: Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin.AO: What position do you play?ND: I play forward. For my club, I play goalkeeper, so it’s kind of a big transition from playing goalkeeper to playing forward. If Kara [Jones] ever got hurt I’d probably take her place

but she’s doing pretty good.AO: Is there a specific professional soccer player you want to play like?ND: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. (Laughter) He’s a legend. He is the man.AO: Do you have a favorite soccer team?ND: I would have to say Chealsea from the Barclays Premier League. Worldwide, I’d have to say... Well,

I don’t have a specific country I like, just different players.AO: What was the draw to Viterbo for you?ND: They have a very beautiful nursing building, and just the town of La Crosse in general, I think, is really pretty and for some reason I wanted to go to Wisconsin and have a small school so it just kind of fit.

Photo by Andy Olson

Photo courtesy of Nicole D’Ambrose

Photo courtesy of Visual Image Photgraphy

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SENIOR ISSUE

recapFINE ARTS

FALL PLAYSSPRING MUSICALS

2011-2015

Looking back at past Lakes Community High School theatre productions

This March, students and community members—and a few young girls donning Belle’s iconic yellow ballgown—arrived at the auditorium to experience

the fine arts department’s captivating rendition of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.” Across

multiple sold-out performances, brought to life was the classic story of the

cold-hearted Prince-turned-Beast whose fate is changed when an intelligent, spirited bookworm,

Belle, enters his life. The audience was transported to the small and

lively French village, the wolf-infested forest, and the Beast’s lavish castle as the

cast, in ornate, awe-inspiring costumes, sang and danced across the set, much of which was

constructed at Lakes. Just below the stage, Lakes pit band members enchanted the audience with their flawless collective musicianship, seamlessly accompanying cast members as they performed iconic Disney songs such as “Tale as Old as Time.” This production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” successfully brought love, comedy and magic to Lakes.

SPRING 2015

Fall 2014 saw “The Laramie Project,” a play in the style of a documentary drama. With each line of the production transcribed from real-life interviews that took place in 1998, the play depicts the events that surround a hate crime against a gay male in Laramie, Wyo. The production was moving and emotional and delivered an overall message of respect towards the differences of others.

FALL 2014

SPRING 2014

Check out the “Fine Arts” section under A&E on lakesstudentmedia.com to stay updated with what is happening within Lakes Fine Arts!

Photo by Sarah KumpulaCast members of Lakes’ “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” production visited with preschoolers for an afternoon while in costume.

By Izzy McKenzieEditor-in-Chief

In Spring 2014, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” which hit Broadway in October 1961, came to the Lakes stage. Originally based on a book of the same name, the storyline sees the young J. Pierrepont Finch rise from lowly window washer to chairman of the board of the World Wide Wicket Company. Finch works his way up the New York City corporate ladder with the guidance of a how-to handbook for turning oneself into a high-powered tycoon. Seeing unorthodox business practices, sharp wit, vibrant attire and electrifying music, the production acts as a satire of big business: office parties, backstabbing co-workers, love and the like. This production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” was electric, sharp and captivating and surely a spectacular testament to the talent of those in the Lakes Fine Arts Department.

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SENIOR ISSUE

Fall 2013 saw the Lakes Fine Arts Department take on one of William Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage, executed with a modern twist. Shakespeare’s comedy, believed to have been written in the late sixteenth century, portrays three interconnecting plots which surround the celebration of the marriage of Duke Theseus of Athens and Hippolyta. Set in a realm in which fairies run wild and mischievously, these winged creatures induce much mishap and adventure between a group of lovers, actors and the like. Lakes’ adaptation of the play, differing from the Shakespearean original, was set in the intoxicating, radical culture of the 1980s. This meant fairies with bright, glam rock-esque hair, bold attitudes across the board and a show that was sure to entertain.

FALL 2013

An iconic, captivating musical was brought to Lakes in Spring 2012: “Bye Bye Birdie.” A satire on 1950s American society, the production tells a story that surrounds rock-and-roll idol Conrad Birdie, who has just been drafted into the U.S. army. Chaos ensues as the small town of Sweet Apple, Ohio awaits Birdie’s arrival, who has been scheduled to kiss one lucky fan on national television as a final farewell before his departure. Imaginative, energetic and sweet, the production stole the hearts of all who attended.

SPRING 2013

“This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” is a complex contemporary fairy tale that took the Lakes stage in Fall 2013. The Fine Arts department enchanted the audience with immersive staging and richly textured characters that brought to life the interweaving narratives of three sisters who take three different paths. Abandoned in the forest, one sister goes one way, one the other, and one stays where she started. Thoughtful, passionate and dappled with witty dialogue, the production invited the audience to engage their imagination and meditate on the bittersweet journey of growing up.

FALL 2012

Photo by Natalie LaczewskiIn Lakes’ adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the fairies donned wildly-colored wigs and bright makeup.

SPRING 2012

A quirky, dark and beautiful production absorbed all who attended in Fall 2012. It was “The Ash Girl,” a play that acts as a nod to the classic story of “Cinderella,” mingled with hints of the eeriness and gloom that is characteristic of tales originating from the Brothers Grimm. The production sees the Ash Girl, her mother dead and her father far away, living with a stepmother and two step sisters. When an invitation to the ball arrives from the prince, she finds the strength to attend from an assortment of interesting entities. Lakes’ “The Ash Girl” was a well-executed exploration into beauty, terror and the human condition.

FALL 2011

Spring 2011 saw the Fine Arts Department bring “Chicago” to Lakes. The production is set in Prohibition-era Chicago and acts as a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the idea of the “celebrity criminal.” Delivered to the audience was one electric song—complete with astonishing dancing—after another, effortlessly transporting all attendees to the Windy City circa the roaring 20s.

Photo by Anjali PatelThe cast of “The Laramie Project” aimed to promote acceptance of others throughout the Lakes community.

SENIOR ISSUE

Junior- Matthew O’Connor (Class of 2012)DePaul University

Here are a few tenets that I have chosen to live by that have made my life a little easier after high school.

1. ITS COLLEGE…JUST LET IT HAPPENAll of you are embarking on very different journeys at this point, some will go to big universities, some of you will live at home and commute to school, some of you will go to school in cities, many in cornfields and many far, far away from home. You guys will no longer be cut from the same cloth, and will have so much to share with each other that first four-week winter break home. With that being said, the thing that makes each of these experiences unique is all the crazy sh*t you guys are going to come across on this journey. Whether your thing is waking up at 6 a.m. to tailgate the football games, or going to indie concerts at coffee shops, you may find yourself at the threshold of something very new and cool. JUST LET IT HAPPEN. Absorb [all the] energy, every vibe and experience that may come your way. Meet new people, try new things, get in some trouble and learn how to cook things that don’t have instructions on the box.

2. THROW YOUR PARENTS A BONEThis one speaks for itself. If they call you every day, at least shoot them a text or something letting them know you haven’t been abducted by aliens. Seriously, they’re so worried about you they probably think that it’s at

Advice from AlumniFrom the Class of 2011 to the Class of 2014, Lakes alumni give some guidance for college life and life after high school

As Told to Aaron NavarroManaging Editor

Freshman- Miranda McDonald (Class of 2014)University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign

First, I’ll give advice for college:• Introduce yourself to your professors, and sit in/or near the front row. It might seem a bit intimidating, but they actually like meeting their students and seeing a familiar face! Go to their office hours, especially if you’re struggling or need help. My professors that lecture over 100 people claim that barely anyone comes to their office hours and they get bored, so stop by. This could influence your grade if you’re a couple decimal points from a higher letter grade.• I’m definitely not trying to scare anyone, but college is HARD. It’ll make high school and even AP classes look like a piece of cake. If you ever feel like crying, it’s okay, just let it all out and talk to someone. Don’t keep all that stress bottled up. Just make sure you’re getting enough sleep and taking care of your body.Advice for the real world (not just college):• You might not say this now, but you’re definitely going to miss your family, at least just a little bit! So make time to call them, because they’ll probably miss you even more than you do.• Start saving your money now because your parents aren’t going to be there to hand you an allowance.• Be timely. If you’re on time, you’re actually late. Make sure you show up to events and interviews early; it really makes a difference in your appearance.

32

Photo courtesy of Miranda McDonaldClass of 2014 alumna Miranda McDonald is currently a college freshman and studies Kinesiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.-Champaign

Sophomore- Mandi Polirer (Class of 2013)Illinois State University

Going away to college is not as scary as it sounds. Make sure to remember that. After leaving your family and friends to be immersed in a completely new place with completely new people, you are probably going to feel a little (or very) overwhelmed. That feeling passes with time. College is by far the greatest experience of my life, and I am so glad that I didn’t let my nerves get in the way of that. If you are scared you’re not going to make friends, don’t be. You absolutely will make friends. Every person going into college is in the same exact position as you. If you are scared that the classes are going to be hard, relax. If you are scared that college will disconnect you from your life you have now at home, that may be true, but it is not necessarily a bad thing. Going to college has a way of changing people. You will grow and learn so much about yourself by the kinds of people you become friends with and how well you are able to live your life independently. Sometimes this can cause you to separate from some aspects of your home life, but the things that remain important to you will stick around. Going off to college was definitely nerve-wracking, but so worth it.

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SENIOR ISSUE

Senior- Erin YarnallDePaul University

Hi Fellow Eagles! I am currently a Senior at DePaul University in Chicago, and it feels like I graduated from Lakes about ten minutes ago. If you’re going into college I could tell you what you hear from everyone older than you - get involved in school (seriously though, it’ll make it SO much more fun), enjoy every moment (again, seriously, it flies by), but I’ll pass on the most important advice I received in high school, from your own Mr. Auston: Study abroad. Almost everyone in their life wants to travel, and very few people really get to. I mean, actually travel, not go on a planned-out by a tour group vacation at a resort for five days. Through my study abroad experience I was

able to live in London and Rome, climb mountains, see where my ancestors were from in the 1600s (and have an emotional meltdown), go to movie premieres, meet the most fascinating people I have ever had the honor to meet and change in ways that I can’t even put into words. Studying abroad will enrich your life, and you will become a better person with a better grasp on what you want to do with your life for it. If you want advice beyond my desperate plea for you to better your life traveling the world, it’s to do what you love. I’m a journalism major. I am planning on never being wealthy in the future, I am always worrying about my job stability and I am planning on loving every moment. Journalism is the love of my life, and I hope you all find something you love just as much and stick with it. Good luck class of ‘15 and fly high you Lakes High Eagles!

Photo courtesy of Matthew O’Connor

Class of 2012 alumnus Matthew O’Connor is currently a college junior and majoring in Marketing & Sales at DePaul University.

Photo courtesy of Erin YarnallClass of 2011 alumna Erin Yarnall is currently a college senior and had the opportunity to travel abroad to Italy in her time at DePaul University.

Senior- Anthony Szuhay(Class of 2011)The Ohio State University

From Senior to Senior:I’m currently writing this bit o’ wisdom two weeks out from my college graduation ceremony. Excuse me while I throw up a little bit.I’ve had the honor and privilege of attending THE Ohio State University (you may have heard of us when we won the national championship the past four years) and I could not have asked for a better experience. There have been ups, downs, good grades, bad grades and everything in between. College is far more than going to class and getting an education; it’s about finding yourself and what it is you’re passionate about.

So here are a few things I’ve learned that will make your college experience as rewarding as possible:1. Keep your door openWhen you move into your dorm, you’re going to be among dozens of people in the same situation as you are. Even if you’re just hanging out in your room doing homework or watching Netflix, having your door open is inviting and lets

people know you’re down to clown.2). Get involved.Don’t just go to class and do your homework. You’re going to spend 15-18 hours a week in class. The rest of the hours? Up to you. Joining a student organization of some sort is going to enhance your college experience both in and outside of the classroom. The opportunities I’ve had from being involved with student government, being a campus tour guide, and working on campus would take up far too many pages of the Talon Times. Follow your passions and hobbies and you’ll find other people doing the same. On top of that, student organization and leadership experience looks great on a resume, and are incredible talking points in interviews for jobs and internships.

College is one of those things where you get out of it what you put into it. Don’t make the mistake of doing the bare minimum and skating through the next four years. Put yourself out there and embrace everything around you. Get ready for the time of your lives.

Go Bucks!

least a possibility. Regardless, try your best to communicate, care packages come more frequently when you’re nicer to them. Trust me, it’ll be nice to eat something outside of your dorm cafeteria.

3. KEEP CALM AND CARRY ONI believe that asking a country full of 18-year-olds what they want to do with the rest of their lives is a crime. So don’t panic, I personally have changed my major and minor three times. I could only name a handful of friends I know who have stuck with what they started with. Don’t stress yourself out too much about these next four years. THERE ARE FEW THINGS YOU CAN DO IN YOUR EARLY TWENTIES THAT COULD RUIN THE REST OF YOUR

LIFE. Bottom line, this will be the first four years of the best decade of our lives, so don’t let the stupid stuff eat you alive. Enjoy it, nothing is permanent if you don’t want it to be.

(plural noun)My fellow __________,

We stand here today on the

brink of the future. It’s not a distant

__________ anymore. It begins

here. It begins today.

We began high school as __________, but we’re leaving here

as __________. We’ve completed a/an __________ education that will serve as the platform

we use to launch ourselves into our __________. Some of us will go on to college, others

will go straight into the work force, some to __________, but each of us will travel our own

special path.

No matter where we go or what we do, there are __________ ahead of us. What I’m

asking from each of you, and from myself, is to meet those __________ straight on with

your head held high and your heart wide open. It’s not enough to simply try to get by in

life. You must try to excel in everything you do; strive for excellence in every __________,

large or small.

Imagine if every individual lived up to his or her own potential. Think about how

__________ that would be, and how much better off the world would be. Now imagine

if just half of those individuals lived up to their potential. The world would still be a/an

__________ place. If even 1/4 of those individuals worked to make their lives successful,

they could still make some __________ contributions to society.

Well, we may not have the power to __________ the entire world or __________ a

__________, but we do have the power to try to achieve it for ourselves. My challenge

to each of you, is to do all that you can do to reach your goals. If each of the __________

students in this graduating class is able to do that, just imagine the effect that would have.

The future is truly in our __________, so let’s make the most of it.

Thank you.

SENIOR ISSUE

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TweeT us a picTure of your speech! @TalonTimes wiTh #lCHsgrad15

wriTe your own

SpeechGraduation

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Athena, Elly, Jocelyn, Kim, Livy,Congrats to some of the sweetest, smartest, most hardworking, and fun people I know. I feel lucky to had been able to spend these past four years together. Always be true to yourself and best of luck!

#redvelvetcupcakes, #groupmessages, #karaoke, #sisterhoodofthetravelingpants

-Nicole

Conor, I am so proud of the young man you have grown into. Your mind, wit and humor, as well as your steadfast ability to see the truth through actions and words, never cease to amaze me. May your future always be filled with family, friends, love and music.

Love, Mom

Isabel,I am so proud of the young woman you have grown into. You have great strength of character and wisdom far beyond your years. As you journey forward and paint the canvas of your future, I remain blessed to call you my daughter. My little Iz.

I love you, Mom

Joey-To the kindest and the most compassionate young man I know, congratulations on a job well done! I can only imagine the paths you will travel.Livy-Your energy, drive, and determination are amazing. Your sense of justice inspires my heart. I know the world will become a better place because of you.

Nicole, you have worked so hard these past four years. You have amazed us in your accomplishments in school and in sports. We couldn’t be more proud of you. We look forward to seeing what great things you will accomplish in the future.

Love, Mom & Dad

I’ve had a really great four years at Lakes. I’d like to thank my cat, mom, dad and my fantastic friends for making high school such a fun time for me. Although I enjoyed high school, I’m very excited to start college at USC next year.

--Brandon Towers

FOLLOW US AT LAKESSTUDENTMEDIA.COM

TALON TIMEStwitter: @TalonTimes @TTimesSportsinstagram: @TalonTimesEAGLE EYE NEWStwitter: @LakesEENinstagram: @LakesEENAQUILA MOSAICtwitter: @LCHSMosaic