The dreaded junior year. Boy did I get the schpiel coming into it.

“The hardest classes of your high school years,”

“Good luck with the ACT!,”

“you’re almost ready to apply to college.”

And yes, I sure did have my fair share of challenges during the seemingly “most difficult” year of high school. But, to a certain extent, it has also been one of my favorite school years. So, with the ins, outs, highs and lows that come with 11th grade, I thought I’d share my most and least favorite parts.

In order of most to least enjoyable:

1. College Visits

There is nothing I love more than taking a long weekend trip to visit colleges. This past weekend I went to warm and sunny Virginia to visit three schools and had an absolute blast. Aside from the tours of each school, my dad and I explored historical landmarks, cute college towns, and exquisite restaurants. I truly love everything about visiting colleges and it just makes me even more excited for my future plans.

2. My teachers!

This year I am so lucky to say that I have some of the best teachers I could ask for. With the emotional roller coaster of junior year, there is nothing for comforting than having amazing, helpful teachers by your side to get through it. I have truly learned so much this year, and every day I come to school (for the most part) I have a great day, which is in part because of my teachers! Big shoutout to Ms. Lawlor, you will be missed in your retirement.

3. Driving underclassmen

Surprisingly fun. I love hearing freshman drama and having someone to accompany my before-school Starbucks trips and post-practice East Coast Custard runs.

4.  Upperclassman Privileges

These go off the radar, but I am loving the unspoken privileges of being a junior. For example, I feel like I have earned a new level of respect from adults at the school. Not to mention, senior [full attendance zero absence] day meant eating in the senior lounge for the first time, an amazing sneak peak into what life will be like next year. A second shoutout to the Writing Center as well, because it is a junior privilege to be a part of this class.

5.   The whereareyouthinkingaboutforcollegewhatdoyouwanttostudy conversations

I made it one long word to mirror the slew of questions being thrown out faster than I can answer them. You would think that as a junior (because all I’ve done on Common App is fill out my name and address) it’s way to early to have people asking you such in depth questions about college. THINK AGAIN. Never in 365 days have I been asked so many questions about my future plans. It is a little bit of a relief that I have some plans for my college years, so I am usually able to satisfy whoever is interrogating me.

6. Standardized testing

Dead. Last. I mean is this surprising? Waking up at 7:30 on a Saturday morning to end up getting the same score each time is nowhere near fun. Not to mention the countless prep books, practice tests and tutoring sessions ON TOP of AP classes, sports, after school clubs, and TikTok brain rotting time. I can’t catch a break, but I am STOKED to be (hopefully) taking my last ACT this upcoming June!!!

All this to say, I wish the rising junior class the best of luck in their 11th grade endeavors. It sure does have its highs and lows, but I am very happy that I have another year of high school under my belt, I learned A LOT along the way.

 

 

 

Only apply to places you love

One of the worst mistakes I made while applying was applying to so many places. This was mostly because I didn’t know what I wanted in a college, and because I wanted to hedge my bets of getting into somewhere good. Instead of “hedging my bets” what ended up happening was that I had more college essays to do than I had time for and all of them suffered because of it. If I could do it all over again, I’d apply only to places that I loved— or at least as much as I could love somewhere you barely really know. Doing this makes sure you only use your precious time on paths that you’re actually interested in going down, and that what you do ends up spending your time is the best reflection of you and your ability. Another benefit of focusing on places you love is that your essays will feel more authentic to the university. While great grades are always good, more and more it feels like they’ve become pre-requisites rather than things that distinguish you from other people. I myself know like 20 people who have never gotten a B and have taken like at least 8 AP courses. Unless you have crazy extracurriculars, a 4.4 is gonna get a little less millage than you might think it would (this is true more so for the really selective places). How you can distinguish yourself then is through a love for the place that premiates into your writing.

Do everything wayyy ahead of time

If you can help it, try to finish everything before you need to. Finish your college essay in September. Take your last SAT mid-September. Know all the places you want to apply to ahead of time, and keep everything you need to write for them in a doc. Do fafsa and CSS as soon as they open. Also keep in mind that for a lot of schools applying early doesn’t make that much of a difference so if you need that extra month to fine tune stuff or give yourself more time to focus on 1st semester work, do that. The worst thing that can happen is to be in those last two weeks of October and still have five supplementals to write while quarter 1 is ending.

Trust yourself to get to where you’re going

College is really just a means to an end, with that end being your goals. You going to x place won’t matter if you don’t have the drive, talent, or ambition to make something of it, and you not going to that place won’t take these things away from you either. You’re gonna make friends and find community all the same, and you’re gonna find great opportunities and success all the same. What I’m trying to get at is that although admissions season is important, you still deserve to enjoy your life and take care of yourself during it. Go out—play squash and pickleball, don’t start skipping the gym, and don’t forget to enjoy now because of tomorrow. You’ll do great cause you are great, and what some college decides based off of a summary of 4 years worth of experiences can’t take that away from you.

Goodbye and good luck.

Go Bears!

– Winston

here’s to endings and new beginnings

to friends old and new

to the place of all your winnings

to clear skies of blue

 

here’s to the places you’ll go 

to the wonders you’ll see

and the things you will know

all across land and sea

 

here’s to hard times too

because sadly it’s true

that struggles and troubles will happen to you 

 

but despite all of that you will hold your head high

you will stretch out your wings

and you will learn to fly

and how far you will soar, past palaces and kings

 

so raise a glass, you’ve come so far

go wear your gown and go throw your cap

for four years now you’ve been quite the star

and now you can leave with no need for a map

 

so what are you waiting for? today is your day

after all your time here, there’s no need for you to stay

you’re off to great places, so go, get on your way

 

Condiments…the things that can make or break a meal.

 

Today I am going to be talking about my favorite condiments and what I like to eat them with.

 

First, hot sauce. Hot sauce is my most universal condiment, I think it can pretty much be used on anything savory. My favorite thing to eat it with is eggs. I can’t remember the last time I ate an egg without Tabasco sauce. This brings me to the next thing: my favorite hot sauce. I think Tabasco is absolutely superior to any other hot sauce, specifically the red one. 

 

Next, mustard. I know this is a wildly unpopular opinion but I love mustard. I put it on pretty much any sandwich I have. Let me clarify: not yellow mustard!!!! It’s not that I don’t like it but I pretty much only use Grey Poupon which is Dijon mustard. I also like to have this on any sausage or hot dog that I eat.

 

Next, ranch. Ranch can also be pretty universal just like hot sauce. I don’t like any bottled ranch from the store though. The only time I’ll have it, if it’s homemade or from a restaurant. I like to have it with salads or pizza.  

 

Next, hummus. Hummus is actually so, so delicious. I like most hummus like the Sabra brand with olives in it. My favorite type would have to be a homemade one or the one from Taza. I also find hummus to be a pretty universal thing for me. I like it with veggies, pita, and sandwiches

 

Finally, Barbecue sauce. This is the condiment I’m definitely most picky about. I only like one type of barbecue sauce from the store which is called Sweet Baby Ray’s, I very much recommend it. I also like the barbecue sauce from Winking Lizard. Those are the only two I’ve actually tried and liked. I also don’t have this sauce very much. I really only have it with chicken.

 

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.