I read 62 books last year and while I’m currently falling behind my goal of 100 this year, here are my top 5 from last year!

• A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck

This novella is about a Mormon man who dies and ends up in a hell full of books. It ends up being an infinite library filled with every possible book and to escape, you have to find a book that tells the story of your life. While I was originally skeptical of the concept, the themes of the book were super interesting and impacted me more than I expected.

• Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

Open Water is about two young black artists who fall in love centered around societal pressures and being Black. I went into the book with high expectations and it exceeded them. The writing was beautiful and I was so invested that I finished it in a day.

• The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

This book is about Joan Didion’s experience with grief in the year after her husband died, while her daughter was sick. I thought it was a very raw and interesting commentary on grief and her writing style made it feel very personal.

• The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

This is about a 12-year-old and a concierge who live in a Paris apartment building. I started this book 3 separate times before actually finishing it and it was so insanely good when I finally finished it that I’m kind of mad that I didn’t fully finish it the first time. The ending completely took me by surprise and I cried.

• Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Metamorphosis is a story about a guy who turns into a massive bug. All things considered, this book is really only here due to the circumstances in which I read it. I purchased my copy of this book in Kafka’s home and read it while traveling through Prague, which heavily influenced my enjoyment of this book.

 

In this day and age, the only thing that comes to mind when I hear “prom date” is a glorified raisin in a suit and tie, and many girls school-wide agree with me. The whole “chivalry isn’t dead” concept has become increasingly popular in recent years, yet it doesn’t touch homecoming or prom. A homecoming ask is pretty rare I’ll admit, with an exception to pre-existing relationships, due to the annual and more casual nature of it. But prom is a one-time dream for many little girls, whether it’s documented in a scrapbook like Blair Waldorf, talked about for hours in middle school, or sketched with detailed extravagance in your elementary art class.

Now these girls are tirelessly preparing in the next three weeks like it’s the next NASA launch, and what do they get in return? The knight in shining armor they were told about in cheesy high school TV shows has run away on his horse, and instead a fairy-tale promposal is a medieval arranged marriage situation.

The business deal typically goes as follows: a set up between two friends or classmates is sealed with a text, and the victims of this transaction will talk approximately twice before avoiding each other all night at the dance.

This year, I have participated in five asks, two of which I solely planned and executed. Most of these were for homecoming, but my Valentine’s Day one deserves at least an honorable mention. Despite many dating accusations that came my way all because so-and-so’s boyfriend wouldn’t make her a poster, the simple act of writing something on a piece of paper and spending 5 dollars paid off every time.

But for the sake of it, I guess I’ll help with asks once more. I will get you a piece of paper. I will tell you how to spell it. Four letters, starts with PR, ends with OM and a question mark. Some flowers if you’re feeling extra fancy. But please, don’t make me do an ask for yet another disappointed girlfriend. It’s getting a little sad.

I have been an intern at the Shaker Writing Center for two years, and that means I’ve written a lot of blogs. When I first started at the Center, I was very confused at the concept of a blog. Writing about whatever I wanted and then sharing my writing with others sounded freeing and simultaneously terrifying. Even now, every time I start a blog, I begin from a befuddled and intimidated state. I’m so glad to have been forced to get over that state because it has allowed me to reflect and share my thoughts on all kinds of things. I’ve written a lot of different types of blogs as an intern, and I’ll be honest, I’ve phoned in a couple of them. There’s a few blogs I finished at 11:59 the night before a due date, and a few times I’ve missed the deadline entirely (sorry editors). However, occasionally I produced something vaguely legible and coherent, and I thought for my last ever blog, I would give you my top three. 

 

• No, Frankenstein (2025) is the Genius, the Audience is the Monster – I had written a couple movie reviews before this one, but I loved writing this blog. Frankenstein is one of my favorite books, and Frankenstein (2025) was such an amazing movie. This was my main analytical blog, and it was extremely pretentious, but I had so much fun writing it. I went on a Letterboxd deep dive reading people’s reactions to the movie and jotting down my thoughts. If you haven’t read this book or watched the movie, I would highly recommend them.
• Someone Please Explain Gender to Me – Was this blog coherent? No, not really, but it was nevertheless one of the coolest blogs for me to write. I’d always been really interested in gender expression and identity, but I’d never taken the time to delve into it. For this blog, I did a bunch of research on defining key terms and labels. From there, the entire piece of writing is pretty much just my (censored for school) internal monologue, hence the incoherence. It wasn’t the cleanest thing I’ve ever written, but it taught me a lot about myself, and this was definitely my most personal blog. 
• Goncharov (1973) – Yet another movie review, but with a twist. I still love the concept of Goncharov (1973), and writing the general story of its creation was hilarious and enlightening. I cited several sketchy Google Docs, I’m pretty sure I quoted a Tumblr user, and to this day, this is the only school assignment I’ve ever completed that included fanart. This blog is the pinnacle of my nerd heart, and I will always be proud of it. 

 

Blogs, while being super fun, are honestly such a small part of what makes the Writing Center amazing. As soon as you enter the classroom, you can feel that it’s almost a separate universe within a (generally very chaotic) school. I’m so glad I’ve gotten to be a part of this community for two years, and it has been one of my favorite parts of my high school experience. Senioritis has hit like a truck, so I am very excited for summer, but I will miss the center. If you’re ever thinking about becoming an intern, or even just swinging by to chat, I urge you to go for it. The Writing Center, and all of the wonderful people in it, might just make your day.

This is most definitely a step up from the most recent blog post that I posted, which was reviewing the best cars in the $50,000 price range.  Now we will be reviewing the best cars in the $150,000 range.  These cars have their own unique advantages, and even some hidden downsides that I will review in this small excursion on the cars.

The first car is the Aston Martin DB11 Volante (RWD).  This Aston Martin DB11 is a Grand Tourer that exclusively uses a Mercedes AMG-sourced V8 engine, also offering an option for a v12, which is only reserved for the coupe in this model year.  It has a 4.0-liter Twin-Turbo V8, 528 horsepower, and produces 513 lb-ft of torque at 2,000-5,000 rpm.  It has a zero to sixty in about 4.1 seconds, a top speed of 187mph, and comes in an 8-speed automatic.  This absolute beauty of a convertible features the iconic swan-hinded doors, and a signature aeroblade to manage airflow without a large rear wing.  Though this is a very nice car, it does have its downsides.  This car along with the Aston Martin brand in general, is known for their relatively high maintenance costs and low reliability.  This is an expensive car, so paying a lot for repairs is to be expected.  This would be a very nice weekend car, and/or daily driver depending on where you live.  Overall, I really like this car and would definitely not mind owning it in the future, but the next one up for review is a personal favorite.

The second car is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 AWD/4WD.  I’ve always liked Mercedes’s AMG GT models since I was a kid, and I’m very happy that they’ve decided to keep them relatively the same in terms of function and overall silhouette.  The GT 63 comes in multiple trims, most notably the standard V8 and the record breaking hybrid “E Performance”.  For the sake of the blog, I will only be refering to the standard V8 since it’s way better, and electric cars are not real cars.  The AMG GT 63 Coupe has a 4.0 liter Twin-Turbo V8, with 577 horsepower that produces 590 pound feet of torque.  It has a 0-60 in about 3.1 seconds, which is noticeably way faster than the previous Aston Martin.  The AMG GT 63 has Mercedes’ signature drivetrain, 4MATIC+ with Fully Variable AWD, and has a top speed of 196 mph.  For the first time, the GT Coupe offers optional real seats, making it a direct competitor to the Porsche 911 in terms of daily utility.  To be honest, there are no downsides to this car, and if there are, they don’t exist.

The last car on the list is the 2024 Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 Roadster 2D.  This unique Porsche convertible is a mid-engine, real wheel drive roadster that many enthusiasts consider the “sweet spot” on the lineup because it pairs the high revving soul of a naturally aspirated flat six with more daily usability than the track focused Spyder RS.  The GTS 4.0 is defined by its displacement, using a version of the 4.0 liter engine that’s found in the 911 GT3, though it is tuned differently due to the difference in the chassis.  The GTS 4.0 comes with a 4.0 liter naturally aspirated flat six engine, and has 394 horsepower that creates 309 pounds feet of torque.  It has a 0-60 of about 4.3 seconds when in the manual version, and about 3.8 seconds in the PDK.  It has a top speed of about 182 mph and comes in another 6-speed manual or a 7-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission.  Unlike the turbocharged four-cylinder in base Boxsters, the GTS 4.0 provides a “primal scream” that revs all the way to a 7,800-RPM redline.  Its mid-engine layout provides a 45/55 front-to-rear weight distribution, making it famously predictable and agile when cornering.  A small complaint among reviewers from Hagerty and AutoGuide is that the manual’s gears are too long.  For me, this doesn’t seem like a problem, because who doesn’t like long shifts?

So what is the best car to own in the $150,000 price range?  Well, why not own all of them, that solves that problem in the best way possible.

 

As Senior Project approaches, I realize that I only have eight instructional days left in high school. While I am excited to experience what life holds for me in the near future, I am a bit sad to depart from Shaker and all the great memories it has left me with. Let it be known that everything has not gone according to plan, and I have endured my fair share of hardships and mistakes. But, I like to look at these moments as “guiding lessons” and not as things that define me. Beyond these instances though, I am so grateful to have experienced the most formative time of my life here at Shaker. So, I want to give some thank you’s to teachers, places, and groups that made my time at Shaker meaningful.

 

Ms. Johnston

Thank you, Ms. Johnston, for teaching me the importance of kindness and reserving judgement. I am so thankful that you showed me early on how simple it is to be a good person. 

Ms. Kendall

Thank you, Ms. Kendall (though I knew you as Ms. Porta), for challenging me in class and helping me explore my passion for numbers and math. I loved to do our weekly arithmetic timed tests and work with you to improve my skills. 

Mr. Gillette

Thank you, Mr. Gillette, for your light-hearted sense of humor and playing kickball with us. I can’t wait to see you again during clap out!

Onaway Elementary School

Thank you, Onaway, for so many great memories, whether that be recess basketball or kickball, Onaway Little Theater, carnivals, or other events where I got to know a lot of great people.

Herr Szalay

Thank you, Herr Szalay, for introducing me to German. You made learning fun and easy, especially when it was difficult with COVID, and got to see me connect with Germans who I consider good friends during the 2025 Goslar Exchange. I wouldn’t have understood the importance of knowing a foreign language without your expertise and fun personality. 

Ms. Davis

Thank you, Ms. Davis, for instilling me with a diligent work ethic. Your high expectations and knowledge of your subject inspire me to be passionate about whatever I pursue in the future and continually work hard no matter the obstacles. 

Mr. Thomas

Thank you, Mr. Thomas, for providing me with a class that I always looked forward to attending. Starting my day off with conversations about daily life and recent sports news prompted me to have a positive outlook on the rest of my day. Also, you made calculus seem like a simple subject and I loved to learn from you.

Ms. Sekicky

Thank you, Ms. Sekicky, for emphasizing the importance of language and speech and creating a space for students to discuss the real world. It has been a pleasure to be your student in both Sports Writing and AP Composition where I analyzed and created writing from a new angle. 

Mr. Fleming

Thank you, Mr. Fleming, for always being energetic and wanting to connect with your students on a deeper level. Also, the content I have learned in your AP Psychology class has given me explanations to things I often inquire about.

Ms. Vokes

While I have only known you for one year, thank you Ms. Vokes, for guiding me through the college application process and helping me find the place that is right for me for the next four years. 

Shaker Writing Center

I didn’t forget, don’t worry! Thank you to the Shaker Writing Center for helping me improve on important leadership and communication skills as well as giving me a relaxing space to come into every day.

Shaker Heights Men’s Lacrosse

Thank you to this team for making me fall in love with a sport I once didn’t want to try, introducing me to teammates who have become my good friends, and coaches who constantly push me to be the best player I can be. 

Shaker Heights Men’s Soccer

Thank you to the soccer team for giving me the opportunity to play the sport I have loved since I was four with fierce competition, whether that be my talented teammates or opponents. I will hold on to the memories that this team has given me for the rest of my life.  

 

 

According to the dictionary, a “guilty pleasure” is defined as an activity, food, or media—trashy TV, sugary snacks, or nostalgic pop—that someone enjoys despite feeling shame, embarrassment, or judgment for liking it. 

Typically, my mind goes to the pints of ice cream lining my freezer or the subscriptions to an obscene amount of TV platforms. While those are great and all, I have really found a knack for something else recently, a guilty pleasure that I try to refrain from sharing with people. 

I am addicted to political debates and police body cam footage. 

One day, as I was scrolling through TikTok instead of doing my work, I came across a creator known as Dean Withers. He was live-streaming on TikTok and debating politics with people. I am not going to get political with you, but you should check out his videos because they are extremely entertaining. 

But from there, it was truly love at first sight. Every shower, I have to bring my phone to listen to debates. Washing my face? Debate is on. Eating dinner after work? Debate. Getting ready for school? DEBATE. In fact, on multiple occasions, my parents have walked in on me and wondered why grown men arguing was constantly playing on my phone. 

TikTok live is short-lived, though. Dean and I live in different time zones, and therefore, he cannot always cater to my debate needs. I have had to expand my horizons by watching Youtube compilations instead. If you don’t believe me, here are some of my recent searches. 

1. “Top 10 Most Heated Debates of 2025)
2. “Killer Realizes She’s Been Caught 27 Years Later.”
3. “400 Cambridge Students Debate”

Occupying the 2nd spot is my secondary source of satisfaction, police body cam footage. This tends to find me at times when I want something less political, more action-packed. I once watched a 16-part video at the airport about a 19-year-old boy getting arrested. 

I wish I could tell you what draws me into these videos, but there really is no explanation. Something about them just speaks to me. If you’re ever looking for some fast-paced entertainment, I’ll send you the links. 

The best few month span of sports is here. March Madness, the Masters, the start of the MLB season, the NFL draft, and the NBA playoffs.

For possibly my last blog, I will be giving my predictions (and some analysis) for each round of the NBA playoffs

 

 

 

 

 

Round 1:

Detroit Pistons (1) vs Orlando Magic (8)- Two young playoff teams find each other in a tough first round match-up. With Magic taking game one in Detroit, the Pistons have to be a little nervous. At the end of the day I think the number one seeded Pistons led by Cade Cunningham will overpower the Magic.

Prediction: Pistons in 6

Boston Celtics (2) vs Philadelphia 76ers (7)- The Celtics powerhouse front court is finally healthy and too much for the 76ers to handle.

Prediction: Celtics in 4

New York Knicks (3) vs Atlanta Hawks (6) – A solid match up between a very hot and experienced Hawks team led by Trae Young versus a powerhouse Knicks team with multiple stars. Overall, the Knicks experience overwhelms the Hawks.

Prediction: Knicks in 6

Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs Toronto Raptors (5) – A solid four versus five match-up. The Raptors have been playing well but Ingram isn’t enough to take down the experienced Cavs team.

Prediction: Cavs in 5

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs Phoenix Suns(8) – The Thunder dominate form start to finish. Booker isn’t enough to even give them a scare and the Thunder walk to the 2nd round.

Prediction: Thunder in 4

San Antonio Spurs (2) vs Portland Trail Blazers (7)- Victor Wembanyama stars in this match-up versus an inexperienced Portland team. Deni Avdija has been playing well but the Spurs defense and three point shooting is hard to beat.

Prediction: Spurs in 5

Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs Houston Rockets (5) – The Lakers took game 1 after KD did not play. While many people think that the Lakers without Luka are unable to win, I disagree. LeBron James is that dude.

Prediction: Lakers in 7

Denver Nuggets (3) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (6) – My favorite first round series. Jokic vs Ant. A first round rivalry that I think has potential to either way but at the end of the day, the Nuggets have the MVP.

Prediction: Nuggets in 6

2nd Round

Detroit Pistons (1) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (4)- I am a Cavs fan. The Cavs win the experience battle in this series which I think is just enough to put them over and give them the series. Let’s hope that Harden and Mitchell keep balling.

Prediction: Cavs in 7

Boston Celtics (2) vs New York Knicks (3)- Two experienced teams who are meeting for the second straight year. I think Boston is too dominant.

Prediction: Celtics in 6

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs Los Angeles Lakers (4) – The Thunder walk to the conference finals. Nothing else to say.

Prediction: Thunder in 5

San Antonio Spurs (2) vs Denver Nuggets (3) – The best 2nd round series in my opinion. A phenomenal series that could truly go either way. The same thing remains though: hard to pick against the MVP

Prediction: Nuggets in 7

Conference Finals

Boston Celtics (2) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (4)- The Cavs run is cut short by Tatum and Brown. I think the Cavs give them a run for their money but ultimately end up short.

Prediction: Celtics in 6

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs Denver Nuggets (3) – I love Jokic and the Nuggets but I’m not sure if they can do it. The Thunder are so dominant and if they can stay healthy then I’m not sure they lose.

Prediction: Thunder in 7

NBA Finals

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs Boston Celtics (2) – I think the Western Conference could have put one of any three teams and they would’ve beat the Celtics. Tatum is good and I am not fully ruling them out but SGA and J-Dub are too good.

Prediction: THUNDER IN 6

 

Feel free to leave a comment or ask me questions. I hope you enjoy my predictions.

Summer

 

Of course, I am not sure that I know a single person who does not enjoy summer. The hot, sunny weather, the absence of school for three months, and the promise of many days at the beach are all great things to look forward to. What I also love abou

t summer is the near constant freedom to do as I please. If I want to spend a day doing absolutely nothing but watching episodes of Psych, I can do exactly that. If I want to stay out late with friends, I don’t have to worry about getting enough sleep so that I can perform well at Cross Country or Track meets. I enjoy working at Thornton Park as a lifeguard and being outside all day. I’m also a fan of going on late night runs since practice is optional.

Fall

The start of the school year always has great vibes. It’s sad that summer has ended, but also fun to get back into things. Cross Country meets have started, so I spend every Saturday trying to race a 5k faster than I ever have before, and every Friday with my team fueling for the race ahead of us. Football games are fun to go to and cheer on our team (even when we lose), and school hasn’t gotten too tough yet. I love when the trees change color, and everything is just so crisp and cozy. I always look forward to wearing costumes on Halloween, and eating tons on Thanksgiving.

Winter

I’m honestly not a huge fan of winter. I hate the short days, the weather, and the struggle of braving the cold for every single run I go on. I do not like school during the winter because of midterms and just more work in general. The few things that I do enjoy is when snow is falling, and its pretty, but its not sticking to the ground. I also do love having some hot chocolate and watching holiday movies with my family. It’s nice to have a brief break in meets,  but soon enough winter track meets start and I spend every other Thursday riding a bus to Spire (which I actually kind of love) to spend entire evenings trying to recover from the lack of air.

Spring

Spring is by far my favorite season. I love when the weather starts to warm, the flowers bloom, and the tree’s leaves sprout. The promise of summer is able to get me through end of school exams and AP tests, and everyone is excited to leave. My birthday is in April, so I always have that to look forward to. Track season has started, so I get to race my favorite event, the mile. Vibes have never been better and I am never more excited.

With spring in the air and the third quarter coming to a close, it’s officially time for what got everyone through this rough winter: spring break!! There are so many things to look forward to — the opportunity to travel if you’re able to, spending time with friends and family, or just relaxing in the time off from school. This year I am so fortunate to be heading to Europe, where the second part of my trip will be in Italy with my grandparents, who are arguably the most experienced travelers I know. With a mix of common tips and their knowledgeable advice, here are things you ACTUALLY need to keep in mind for the one detestable part of break, which is packing.

 

1. Do not wait until the night before (I sincerely wish I’d taken my own advice on this one, as it is now 11 pm and my half-packed suitcase is no doubt judging me for writing this). It eliminates so much stress and you’re much less likely to forget something.
2. Pack more than one pair of shoes. In terms of practicality, spring break guarantees at least one rainy day, and it’s not fun to wear soggy shoes the next day. My logic says that in terms of fashion, one pair of shoes doesn’t go with every outfit.
3. Packing cubes are non-negotiable. If TSA scans your suitcase, would they get second-hand embarrassment from the scrambled clothing and amenities that closely resemble a giant junk drawer? So unless your mom still packs for you, these delightful squares save room, my sanity, and any awkward TSA bag searches.
4. Weigh your bag beforehand. Nothing is worse than suddenly realizing you have to rearrange everything, no doubt flinging t-shirts and socks in the process to move five pounds into your already-sagging carry on — inevitably getting several sighs and eye rolls from the line you’re holding up. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay an insane amount, as if your trip is entirely free to begin with.
5. Dryer sheets! Even if you don’t have laundry access, just two or three of these can turn a bag of stale clothes into fresh-smelling luggage everyone will envy if you end up flinging t-shirts at baggage weighing.

In just a couple of months my very last year as a Shaker student will come to a close. It’s crazy to think about and has encouraged me to reflect on some of the things I’ve learned this year as a senior in high school. Here are my best tips to incoming seniors:

 

1. Embrace and take advantage of every moment.

A classic: every event that used to be an annual occurrence, is now officially your last. Your last first day of school, last homecoming, last spring break, last last day of school, and everything in between. But, it’s not only your last time doing all of the things you’ve enjoyed over the past three years, it’s your last chance to join the sport or the club you always wanted to join, or take the class you always wanted to take. So, make sure you take advantage of the time left!

       2. Spend as much time with family and friends as you can.

This is a common piece of advice, but it’s so true. In around a year, you’ll be planning a new life, meeting new people, and creating another home for yourself elsewhere. But, make sure you focus on the life you’re living now too. You’ll regret not spending as much time with family and friends as possible right now.

       3. Don’t get behind in your classes despite the senioritis.

Yes, senioritis is inevitable. There will be times when you don’t want to go to school, or don’t want to complete an assignment. But, trust me, just not doing work is not worth the stress of having to catch back up. You’ll be happier finishing the year out strong.

       4. It will be stressful, but remember to enjoy it while it lasts.

Kind of surprisingly, there’s a lot of stress that comes with Senior year. Specifically, applying to college while trying to get good grades, have a good social life, and do well in sports can be particularly challenging. So, remember to stay balanced, and don’t overload your schedule.

 

Senior year has been unlike any other school year I’ve experienced. It’s exciting, bittersweet, stressful, and fun all at the same time. You might hear at least a couple of these tips a lot during the process, but I think all of them are worth considering.