The Hilight- Senior Edition 2026_cpmpressed

The Hilight

Writing Since 1935

Table of Contents

Editor Sign-Off

It’s a surreal experience that this will be my last publication with the Hilight–the last time my name will appear in the bylines of something so crucial to my identity. For nearly a century (yes, 100 years), Cullman High School has maintained this publication and, in all honesty, upheld one of its best traditions. It’s so amazing to me that so many students have come and gone before me as well, so many graduates have spent hours, just like I have, on this school paper, and dozens of kids near my age have expressed themselves and their opinions through what many would think is just a futile high school paper.

I know not everyone reads the paper, and I know that, evidently, at the end of the day, these pages are thrown away or collect dust on a shelf. But I think I like that. My favorite part of the Hilight room is this single drawer on the bottom left-hand corner. Whenever I somehow find the time, I spend a second or two to look through the old, crinkled past editions tucked away in that corner. There are papers from the 70s and 40s in there–each is hand-pressed, with many of the illustrations being hand-drawn by students, and quite a few grammatical errors. It’s all very real- a reminder that someone worked hard on something, and a reminder that even 40 years ago there was a teenage girl doing the same things I’m doing now: sitting in her room and trying to figure out what to write about, and she’s scared to death that it won’t be good enough–and it probably isn’t, but hey, nobody should be paying that much attention anyway. In my senior letter in the first issue of this year, I made it very clear that in no way am I perfect. I’m a last minute kind of person, and often embarrass myself as every teenage girl should. But I’m grateful for it. I love my friends and have really cherished the experi-

ences I’ve made for myself over the years. In part, Hilight is the thing that allowed me to feel all these things. I was very shy my freshman year, and not half the person I am now, but in all reality, nobody comes out of high school the same. So, for the last time, I would like to say that this paper has meant everything to me over the years, and I am forever grateful for the passions I found through this publication and the bravery I had to join it in the first place. I am honored to have been a part of this organization at all, and am glad I have the ability to look back on my teen years through this publication. I wish Elizabeth Smith the best of senior years, and know she will do a phenomenal job as Editor for the 20262027 school year. For Mrs. Lunsford, thank you for being one of the kindest women I’ve met, teachers like you are the reason students like me don’t drop out (I’m being serious.)

“In the beginning I was so young and such a stranger to myself I hardly existed. I had to go out into the world and see it and hear it and react to it, before I knew at all who I was.”

-Upstream by Mary Oliver

Editor

Aubrey Shaddrix

Junior Editor

Elizabeth Smith Staff Writers

Cyrene Agustin

Macey Apel

Madison Carroll

Kyle Ferrell

Maggie Hope Hetrick

Avery Hice

Jacob Larker

Claire McPhillips

Blyss Murphree

Alex Rodriguez

Will Davis Simmons

Tessa Trucks

FEATURES 3

The Earth Without Art is Just ‘Eh’

We Don’t Read and Write Poetry because it’s Cute.

Claire McPhillips, Staff Writer

Imagine this: you are immortal, and you’ve been able to see all dif ferent parts of the world from all different walks of life. One day, in the early 1600s, you go to London in hopes of seeing a good play, and lo and behold, there’s one called Romeo and Juliet You watch it, many of the themes imply ing the un fairness of love and bringing to attention the ways in which tionships can alter the way one’s life goes. Shakespeare is one of the most famous playwrights and poets in world history, his stories pro viding humorous yet meaningful means of entertainment. Only now, when a high school student must read one of his writings, there is hesitation, complaining, and some may opt out of reading completely. Though, that is not to say that his contributions to the writing industry are now unimportant.

And this happens not only with writing, but other forms of art as well: sculpting, music, films, and different methods of drawing are all affected by an indi vidual’s feelings like anger, disgust, even confusion. One may feel re volted by the true meaning of a piece of art, but that is, in the end, the entire purpose of it: to convey feelings about a truth that may be too hard to hear.

Despite such a purpose, people indulge and involve themselves in the production of artistic pieces. The question is why humans do such a thing.

Why does a society like ours find so much enjoyment in things like this? Why do the words that sting in person now suddenly have a deeper meaning in theatrical shows? Aspects of our own selves, parts that we may hate on us, seem beautiful when placed on a sculpture or painting. Individuals find ways to bring themselves down,

and parodies of films and music might even elicit more emotions than professional pieces do. The inexpensive qual ity of certain pieces of media can invite motivation and hope for the youth that desire to create such items. Perhaps one isn’t quite sure where to start in building their experience. Examples of at-home productions offer one way to get started, and then suddenly there are people getting inspired off of that person’s work, and the cycle continues, connecting each person in a desire to contribute something

our lives by seeking ways to reach far and wide into our feelings and express them so that others can experience something new. And, if that concept isn’t new to a viewer, then they realize they truly are not alone, that others understand them and want to share those parts of

Not only do humans want to connect with others, but they also want to feel something other than their own emotions.

So many feel berated for having human feelings and human reactions to things, and they might need reassurance

ent: they are valid, and they matter. Emotions are evoked through all arts: a sharp divot carved into a mouth, a slight shift in a facial expression or line delivery, a detailed description that carefully -

man action. Having these separate emotions conveyed further helps people understand that, while they may feel specific ways presently, they are capable of feeling other emotions too, which may even alter what they believed the future held for them.

Art doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to good productions, either. Cheap YouTube short films

longer do people really want to express their interests in media; instead, they value the appearance of being calm and unbothered. When one acts in this manner, it can discourage others from showing interests in the arts, and then the cycle continues.

As Beyonce once said, “Peo ple don’t make albums anymore.” Unfortunately, her words do indeed hold some truth, and not just in the music industry. Though it doesn’t apply to all of them, movie pro duction companies and famous artists will release new content that feels

ASMR--which can indeed thought of as an artistic outlet---and recreating reality shows (think Fruit Love Island). While these things might seem amazing to a lot of the general youth population, it is actively contributing to lesser focus on man-made art. Artificial creations do not invoke emotions in the way that natural ones do, but because not many people are recognizing such a threat to the creativity that younger generations have, AI is still being used to make something that is not made with the love that artists include. Every detail holds meaning, whereas most details with AI creations are blurry and meaningless. Despite many setbacks in modern society that are affecting the art industry as a whole, individuals continue to find peace in what they love: creations meant to invoke strong emotions and tell a story through artistic interpretation. Even though art has changed over the centuries, the impact remains the same, bringing together commu-

FEATURE 4

Book vs. Movie Adaptations

Do Movies Fail to capture the essence of emotions?

Cyrene Agustin and Tessa Trucks, Staff Writers

It has always sparked a debate of both movie watchers and book readers on how there’s a noticeable difference between watching a storyline unfold visually and experiencing it through reading the pages in a book. An argument of frequent readers expresses that the movies usually don’t encapsulate the emotions well and are less detailed, leading to overall inaccuracy. Movie-watchers tend to express that movie adaptations shouldn’t be accurate and should have its own creative touch, keeping both the movie and book unique in different ways. There are multiple movie adaptations out there that’ve been criticized, mainly by readers saying that the book wasn’t represented well and doesn’t give out the full picture.

A well-known author, Jenny Han, is one of the best examples as she’s recognized for her book trilogies that have been adapted into movies and series. As these adaptations start to get more recognition, especially in social media, readers of Jenny Han’s book criticizes it as these adaptations fail to capture the full complex emotions written in the books. These readers mostly claim that books are more immersive and detailed than movie adaptations. As the trilogy includes more description, it draws the attention of the majority with the character’s development through out the trilogy. Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before perfect example on how much details differ from one another. The book holds such ex treme emotion as it doesn’t focus on the romance aspect but rather the personal struggles, realization, and growth of the main character, Lara Jean. The trilogy film adaptation created with Netflix, specifically the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movie, is more of a simplified version and is shifted to a romantic story as it centered more on her love experiences and struggles within it. Though there aren’t major changes in the main storyline itself, trilogy readers tend to express that the emotional depth of the characters from the book isn’t that well captured in the film adaptations, but they still praise the movie for doing well in condensing it.

didn’t act on it as she loved her sister, Margot, dearly. In the book, Josh played a bigger part in the plot than in the movie as he got extremely involved in Lara Jean’s conflict. Josh and Lara Jean decided to kiss each other, which wasn’t included in the movie. This created such emotional conflict not only within Lara Jean’s

tion would be The Picture of Dorian where avid readers had similar thoughts about adaptations with Jenny Han readers.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, written by Oscar Wilde in the late 1880s, tells the story of an innocent and youthful aristocrat named Dorian Gray. The central theme of the novel is Dorian’s gradual realization and demonstration to the readers of how sin corrupts the soul. At the beginning, Dorian is absolutely pure in nature, and most mature concepts fly over his head. However, as the story progresses, he becomes influenced and begins committing increasingly darker sins. He only recognizes the true consequences of his behavior when confronted with a physical representation of his corrupted soul.

be the three-season television series on Amazon Prime Video based on a different Jenny Han trilogy, The Summer I Turned Pretty. The plot of The Summer I Turned Pretfeatures more of a drastic change in all aspects, not just romantic plot wise. One of the highlights in this trilogy would be the character in the series,

One distinct factor the film failed to include lies in Dorian’s physical appearance. In the book, his blonde hair and blue eyes symbolize his youthful innocence and “cherubic” nature.

In the movie, however, his hair is changed to brunette and his eyes are brown, which takes away from Wilde’s integrated message.

Dane’s Music Twin

fantasy

Jacob Larker, Staff Writer

When I was younger, I always preferred the original version of the album Twin Fantasy, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to love the 2018 version, and I think that in itself is indicative of something. The 2011 version is more cathartic and emotional because it depicts the process of growing up as it happens, allowing it to be clouded by emotion. The 2018 version explains the process of growing up after the fact, from a more mature perspective.

One of the major details that wasn’t included that tends to shock viewers is how the relationships were displayed in the first book. The movie displayed Lara Jean’s romantic feelings for her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh, but she

Belly’s best friend, Taylor. Taylor barely had any appearance in the book, originally having her as a side character who wasn’t close to Belly. In this series, Taylor was added as a main character to be able to add depth to the plot, despite being a side character in the trilogy. This change expanded the friendship dynamic of the movie, allowing the series to have a variation other than the conflicts Belly face romantically. The longer screen time for Taylor also allowed for an additional subplot. Taylor’s presence increased more with the “on-off” situation with Bel ly’s brother, Steven, who is Taylor’s love interest in this series. There are more inaccuracies and changes that’s pointed out for each trilogy, but a different movie adapta

Another key difference is how Dorian’s sins are portrayed; in the novel, Dorian’s soul is corrupted by a wide range of immorality, like opium use, murder, gluttony and worse. There is no emphasis on a specific act he commits, which highlights the overall message that he’s partaking in every sin, rather than just one specifically. The movie, on the other hand, simplifies this for the audience, focusing more on aspects that would appeal to a general audience rather than presenting the full complexity of the story. By highlighting certain aspects and skimming over others, it detracts from Wilde’s overall message.

Lastly, and most importantly, the ending of the movie is significantly different from the book. In the book, Dorian attempts to destroy the painting, the object that bears the weight of his sins, in a desperate act of redemption. This action ultimately results in his death, showing the true connection between sin and the soul; how they are interconnected and cannot be separated. In contrast, the film shows Dorian throwing himself into a burning building along with the painting, which completely disregards the symbolism in

Regardless of these mixed opinions, these films often receive praise as hundreds and hundreds of books are condensed into 1 hour movie or episodes, featuring its own uniqueness to it.

There is an interpolation of 1 Corinthians 13:11 at the end of one of the songs on Twin Fantasy (2018). It says, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. At the end of my childhood, I put these ways behind me. For now, we see only a reflection, as in a mirror. Then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” We never fully understand ourselves, even if that part of ourselves is always there, just waiting to be understood. As I’ve gone through such a confusing time in my life, I always thought I understood everything. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. I remember listening to the 2011 version of this album as a middle schooler, thinking, I get this, I resonate with this. This album has stuck with me over the years. I thought as I grew up, I understood it more and more. Being a Senior has given me a lot to think about. Through that thinking, everything has started to make more sense. But I do have reason to believe that I still don’t know how to fully make sense of it all, and that this album will stick with me until I can. Because now I know in part, then I shall fully know.

Music has been such an integral part of me throughout middle and high school, and I know that in the future, there will be a time when I listen to that music and am reminded of the life I used to live, because it truly holds so many memories. I don’t think my high school experience would have been the same without it, because there is something so special about being such a naive sophomore or middle schooler, and having an obsession with an artist that is so important to you.

Artemis II Launches New Space Age

Diverse Crew Inspires, Sets Stage for Moon Return

Will Davis Simmons, Staff Writer

With a successful splashdown just off the coast of San Diego, Artemis II has officially reignited human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. Artemis II was the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis program, marking the first human spaceflight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17, NASA’s crewed moon mission in 1972. On board the 322 ft tall, 5.75 million pound rocket, sat four astronauts consisting of the first female (Christina Koch) and African American (Victor Glover) to go beyond earth’s orbit. With this goal, Artemis II launched a new generation of people into the next era of space exploration.

The Artemis program is a part of NASA’s plan to bring back human spaceflight. The Artemis program is a widespread program that consists of five officially planned missions. Artemis I, which launched in November of 2022, used the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket to orbit the moon uncrewed. Now with Artemis II we have sent humans aboard the SLS rocket successfully and orbited the moon. With a launch date set

Alabama’s Governor Showdown

Why 2026 Could Change Everything

Will Davis Simmons, Staff Writer

If you have been scrolling past political headlines thinking, “this doesn’t affect me,” the 2026 Alabama governor’s race is one of those moments where it actually does, whether you’re paying attention or not.

With incumbent Governor Kay Ivey term-limited and stepping out of office, Alabama is about to

already has statewide recognition, he enters the race with a builtin advantage; however, that also means higher expectations.

Democrats are trying to make the race competitive in a state that typically leans heavily Republican. One of the most recognizable candidates is former U.S. Senator Doug Jones, who previously

power, which is a big deal in a state where Democrats often struggle to compete statewide.

The race isn’t just about the two biggest names, but rather that mutiple candidates in both parties are trying to break through, especially in the Democratic Primary where figures like Yolanda Flowers and Will Boyd are pushing different visions for the state’s future. That matters because primaries often decide how extreme or moderate a party’s final nominee will be.

So why should anyone under 18

Because this election isn’t just about politicians arguing on TV, but it is about the policies that shape everyday life in Alabama. Education funding and how schools operate, job opportunities, healthcare access, and even everyday infrastructure. The governor has real power over decisions that directly impact students, families, and the future workforce aka

Political analysts currently still lean Republican for the general election, largely because Alabama has voted consistently red in recent statewide races. But open-seat elec-

tions are unpredictable (especially gubernatorial races in which voters are more likely to stray from their registered parties in voting). Races like the 2026 gubernatorial race in Alabama have unpredictable turnout, especially among young voters, which can change the tone of a race faster than people think.

The primaries in May 2026 will be the first major test. That’s where each party decides who actually makes it to the final election, and where campaigns start to show what kind of strategy they’re running on.

Even if most high school students won’t be voting yet, this race is a preview of the political world they’re stepping into. Campaigns are already targeting issues like education quality, job readiness, and the future of Alabama’s economy. These are basically the exact things that affect where students go afer they graduate.

The 2026 gubernatorial race isn’t just another election cycle but rather it stands as a turning point for who gets to shape Alabama’s next chapter and what that future actually looks like.

The Ouroboros

Why Every Experience Is Repeated

Madison Carroll and Tessa Trucks, Staff Writers

It’s summer once more. The trees and foliage are growing lush, green, and sweet-smelling in a way only those few hot months provide. A tiny garden snake slithers through the grass, before pausing and staring; something has caught his eye. He strikes, and clamps his little jaws down, before returning to stillness. In his mouth is himself. He forms a familiar position: the Ouroboros, a serpent depicted as chasing, and often eating its own tail. This symbol begs the question: can what sustains you also destroy you? This question of self-consumption is something that could be explored, ironically, forever. The best way to research this is to sift through the origins of the Ouroboros symbol, from ancient times to the modern.

The Ouroboros’ earliest known place of origin is ancient Egypt, originally having multiple meanings in both the language and as a symbol in general; it represented protection, encapsulation, prosperity, and more. It appeared in the Ancient Egyptian’s creation myth: a story in which an “explosion” of order amidst chaos swirled outward like a coiling snake. This churning figure was named “Mehen,” or “the coiled one.” It was said to hold the “ordered world” within its scaled borders, safe from darkness and chaos—whether the world represents the entire physical universe or the metaphysical one is up to interpretation. It’s from this the Greeks adopted the symbol and began implementing it into their magical and alchemic texts.

In this iteration, the Greeks believed in its significance on a cosmological scale, much like the Egyptians. Unlike the Egyptians, however, they believed this in a purely spiritual and otherworldly way, rather than literal. One of the most notable texts depicting the Ouroboros (the modern name by which we adopted from them, meaning “tail-preying”) was in Greek Chrysopoeia texts (meaning “gold-making,” although it was a generalized alchemic work), written

sometime in the late Hellenistic period. It’s in this interpretation that the most popular depiction of the Ouroboros, that of a serpent or dragon with its tail lodged in its jaws, came about. It characterized

serpent that encircled Midgard (Earth) and latched onto his tail. Supposedly, the moment in which Jörmungandr released the hold on his tail, would signal Ragnarok (the end of the world). In this

In Norse mythology, the Ourob oros was less of an abstract idea or hieroglyphic, and more of a character in the stories of gods, mortals, and their respective planes. There are plenty of serpents and dragons brought to life in these ancient stories, but none so integral as Jörmungandr (sometimes spelled Iormungand). Jörmungandr was the son of Loki, but was cast from Asgard into the oceans of the Earth to containhis destructive power. While in the oceans, he was described to have grown into an unfathomably colossal sea

modern era, humans in a gener al have moved on from mystical practices into more philosophical and scientific ones. For example, Friedrich Nietzsche, a well-known 19th century philosopher and writer, reintroduced the idea of “eternal return” or “eternal recurrence.” Eternal return is the idea that the universe in its entirety is annihilated and reborn in an infinite cycle—this was originally a more physical belief held by Greek philosophers and early thinkers, but faded with the rise of Christianity. Nietzsche, while it wasn’t his

primary work, reintroduced this cyclical idea of life. His idea of universal rebirth was represented as a thought experiment, rather than a genuine belief that time and space repeated itself in perfect copies. He believed that if the universe, the world, and one’s life were to be repeated for eternity, then they should try to live a life of freedom, kindness, and self-improvement. This also meant to live a life that one can be proud of and willing to return to over and over.

In this instance, the Ouroboros is not something to dread and escape, but rather something to ease the peace of mind. It serves as a reminder that everything experienced will be experienced again. Along with the repetition in all experiences, the Ouroborus also represents the connections between life and death. The head, or the start of life, is the largest part, because being born is seen as the largest event in an individual’s existence. The snake continues from the head, and gets smaller and smaller as it reaches the tail, symbolizing the decaying of life as it reaches the end- but then the tail and head overlap, with the tail lying inside the snake’s open mouth. This could mean reincarnation, for some, or more widely recognized, life after death. The snake is commonly seen as a sign of sin among Christianity, but the Ouroborus just as easily could symbolize the escape of the mortal world at death and the acceptance into heaven, hence the never ending loop.

The Ouroborus should bring the confidence of renewal, as the cycle repeats itself. In every mistake made, the snake eating its own tail ensures that there will be an opportunity to make the mistake again, or to propose a different outcome. This applies in many things to society, as humankind is consistently putting our primary focus on the mistakes we make. What walks away will walk in a loop, according to the Ouroborus. What leaves will eventually return, and quoting Ecclesiastes 1:9, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again.”

Rock & Rolls Come Up

The struggles of Rocker and Rollers in the early days

Maggie Hope, Staff Writer

Led Zeppelin, Guns and Roses, Metallica, even The Beatles… These are all household names of music people all over the world love… But once upon a time, they stirred up quite the controversy. From restrictions as simple as parents not allowing their children to listen to Elvis Presley on the radio, to complete bans on radio stations across the globe. Rock and Roll proved to have an extremely difficult come-up in the music industry.

In the 1950s when Rock first started to emerge, the main artists included Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry. The majority of rock being produced at this time was labeled as “Rhythm and Blues”, which was a blend between African American Rhythm & Blues with white country music - effectively bridging two racial divides at a time where segregation was at its highest. This is where the controversy really started to grow rampant. Critics claimed that the music was socially challenging, caused a drift between generational norms, and some even stated it was a “communist conspiracy” intended to corrupt young American teenagers. Violence broke out, covers were made, and bans were put into place - preventing not only this music from being played on the radio, but halting its ability to broadcast.

Musicians such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, & Little Richard faced extreme racial distaste… And what did record companies do as a reaction? They gave songs written by these artists to white performers to “cover” for white audiences, to prevent any further complaints. The main problems people had with this new genre of music were consistently rooted in the idea that it challenged racial, societal, and traditional normalcy that had been in place for the last century. Broadcasting companies and record labels even went as far as altering lyrics in songs before playing them for the national public, finding flaws in even the most miniscule lines of music.

But let’s take a closer look at one musician in partic ular: Elvis Presley. Elvis became both a national & international icon in 1956, shortly after his signing with

RCA Victor in late 1955. His first single “Heartbreak Hotel” was released in January 1956, and became his first #1 hit - selling over one million copies. It was Presley’s first Gold Record, and was sold 300,000 times within the first week it was released. Shortly after, he was deemed a controversial figure by parents all over the United States due to his “suggestive” and “animalistic” style on stage. On June 5, 1956 Presley performed “Hound Dog” on the Milton Berle Show - directly after, critics began attacking him for the movements he made on stage, and even nicknamed him as “Elvis the Pelvis”. Censorship quickly followed him everywhere he went… From television broadcasts only filming him from the waist up, to even measures made by the police to ensure he was not moving his hips on stage during a performance in Los Angeles. Elvis was watched in every which way, and was deemed as extremely inappropri ate by both critics and parents all over the US. In 1957, a religious school even took it as far as suspending girls for attending his concerts - and by this time, these claims and controversy had already become his reputation. Another musician that received massive heaps of criticism was Jerry Lee Lewis, who made himself to be one of the foundations of Rock and Roll music. He came to fame after two of his songs gained lots of popularity throughout the United States - this included “Whole Lotta Shakin ‘Goin’ On” (1957), and “Great Balls of Fire” (1958)... These two hits proved Lewis to be a pioneering Rock and Roll artist, and was loved by people all over by his “high energy

formance style” , and even developed a reputation known as “The Killer”, which stemmed from his usual intense stage performance. But where there was love in the 1950s… There’s always hate that follows. Which in all fairness, Lewis did not help himself whatsoever - especially considering the fact that he married his thirteen year old cousin. But aside from this blatantly obvious flaw, Lewis’s lifestyle was under keen observation from the public eye. Many criticised him from his rather violent and erratic lifestyle, and his drug usage and addiction was almost just as popular as his own music career. On top of both these two clear issues - which were made very public - he was also married several times (besides just his wacky marriage to his underage cousin), and faced pretty significant financial problems throughout his career. Jerry Lee Lewis definitely did not help the upcoming Rock scene whatsoever by his lifestyle, which was constantly under public scrutiny, and definitely managed to put a bad taste in people’s mouths regarding the genre. As time progressed, and we entered the 1960s, Rock music became more and more questionable. With more and more bands emerging sharing the same style, sound, and spotlight - lyrics became more rooted in rebellious themes - such as antiwar sentiments and political expressions. This was most definitely out of the norm for traditional society at the time, and parents tried to keep their children and fur

ther away from Rock and Roll music. Songs quickly became more bold, consistently challenging generations of societal normalities - which prompted further censorship attempts. Physical attacks at concerts even began to break out - such as the Altamont Free Concert in 1969, which is often viewed as the “end of the Peace and Love era”. Violent outbursts were depicted at this concert when a Santana audience member was beaten, and “Jefferson’s Airplane Marty Balin was attacked.”

The Beatles, specifically, were a big band that received lots of backlash for continuously challenging societal norms at the time, which is crazy, considering the fact that a lot of their music is some of the most peaceful rock out there. They had a rapid come-up in 1963 following “Beatlemania” in the United Kingdom, and reached a level of global fame in 1964 after appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show. But nevertheless, they were considered extremely controversial for challenging the current youth culture, “causing mass hysteria’, and what they were most known for - John Lennon’s comment that they were “more popular than Jesus” in 1966, which ended up leading to several record burnings. While this comment was definitely out of place and would obviously cause massive backlash within Christian communities… While some of the hate received was completely deserved, a lot of the distaste these bands faced was unprecedented and signaled a turning point in society.

These artists and bands who signaled the start of the Rock and Roll industry had a rather rocky start, but ultimately, the controversy surrounding rock acted as a catalyst for social change, challenging racial barriers at the time, and generational norms. While there were heaps of people who were absolutely against this music style, the world would not be what it is today without it.

SPORTS 8

Senior Athletes

A

interview with our senior athletes

Macey

Apel, Staff Writer

With the end of spring sports and our senior athletes seasons coming to an end, 5 senior athletes were interviewed on their times playing at Cullman High School. The following questions were asked

1. How has being a Senior impacted your season?

2. What is the best memory from your program?

3. What will you miss most about playing

4. What would ypu like to say to younger people joining your sport?

Greyson Meharg- Varsity Boys Soccer

1. It inspires me to be a leader and to be someone the younger players can look up to. It also inspires me to leave everything I’ve got on the field and to play every game like it’s my last because it’s almost over.

2. My favorite memories are the 6:00 AM summer practices. They were rough at the time, but looking back on it, I’m grateful I got to play the beautiful game with a good group of guys.

3. Sharing the field with

Audrey FloydTrack and Cross Country

1. Cross Country and Track

It has helped me stay motivated to keep pushing because I know I won’t get anymore second chances

2. Probably the bus rides back home from meets

3. My teammates 100%

4. To not take the time for granted and that it will go by so much quicker than you would expect

Tyler Brock- Varsi ty Baseball

1. Allowed to more in the development of our team

2. Beating Bob Jones in the Hoover tournament

3. Going out to eat after practice or games

4. Don’t take for granted the times you spend with the team

Lily Lambert- Varsity Girls Soccer

1. I would say give it everything you have and trust the process. Football is the only sport that builds a bond like no other, creating a brotherhood that lasts far beyond the field. The lessons you learn on and off the field as a football player are invaluable, from discipline and teamwork to perseverance and leadership. Stick with it, because the memories and growth you gain will stay with

2. My favorite memory is watching Mighty Ducks as a team the night before we played Hartselle and became Area Champions. These moments of overcoming our nerves and showing up for each other stick out to me

3. It’s hard knowing that there will be a bunch of “last times”: last practice, last game,

ceed. Overall, it made the season rewarding and unforgettable.

is the last laughs games. I think feeling of being

so many years. I’ll team—

cer, it was about memories.

4. I would tell younger play ers to soak up all the mem ories, even the parts that might not always feel so great in the moment. The hard practices, hard talks, and tough losses all end up feeling just as important as the wins. Most importantly, play because you love the game, not for the recogni tion or the broken records. Play and hold onto the feel ing you get when you are out there on the field do ing what you love, because someday that is what you’ll be missing the most.

Audrey Floyd- Track and Cross Country

1. Cross Country and Track It has helped me stay mo tivated to keep pushing because I know I won’t get anymore second chances 2. Probably the bus rides back home from meets 3. My teammates 100% 4. To not take the time for granted and that it will go by so much quicker than you would expect

Jack Cabri- Varsity Football

1. Being a senior made my football season more mean ingful because I knew it was my last chance to play with my teammates. It pushed me to work hard er, lead by example, and appreciate every practice and game. I felt a stronger sense of responsibility to support the younger play ers and help the team suc

2. There are so many, but the one that comes to mind is beating Jasper in the pouring rain at Jasper my junior year.

3. What I’ll miss most about playing football is my teammates and being part of something bigger than myself. I’ll miss the energy of the Friday night games, the adrenaline, and the atmosphere at Oliver Woodard that cannot be replaced.

4. I would say give it everything you have and trust the process. Football is the only sport that builds a bond like no other, creating a brotherhood that lasts

SENIOR 10

Senior Playlist

Avery Hice, Staff Writer

Core Memories

Peek at the Memories of some 2025-2026 seniors

Cyrene Agustin, Staff Writer

Questions

1: What senior quote would you use to represent your experiences in CHS?

2: 2-3 core memories that you’ll definitely remember, even if you’re no longer at CHS.

1: My quote or saying is the one that is “the people truly make the place.”

1: “time will tell if you can figure this and work it out. No one’s waiting for you anyways so don’t be stressed out” - Blood Orange

2: One core memory would be having Coach Dingler in the mornings my freshman year. I’d eat my cereal in there every morning, and my best buds and I would basically fart around the entire time. Another would be volunteering at concessions for junior football games with Blyss Murphree (loml). Honestly, can’t remember what we did, but it was one of the more rapturous moments of my high school experience. My happiest moments were spent with my friends; no matter what, I will never forget the joy.

2: My core memories are being Homecoming Queen and Miss CHS, senior year overall, and cheer nationals every year in Disney. Along with all the relationships I have made through being in school here at Cullman.

1: idk

2: Trips with the golf team, Jacob Shiesty Stricklin trying to walk on a frozen pond and falling in at practice, basketball’s final four comeback

1: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

2: One of my core memories from CHS is definitely winning pomping three years in a row during homecoming week, and honestly just homecoming this year as a whole. Another is getting to start my mornings in the office with Mrs. Mk’ori and Mrs. Tidwell—I always loved starting my day with a laugh. I have so many memories from my time here, but one I’ll never forget is the genuine shock of hearing my name called for prom queen, and honestly, it still doesn’t feel real. More than anything, I’m so thankful to Cullman High School for giving me more memories than I could ever put into words.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

See where the Class of 2026’s next adventure is Elizabeth Smith

Wallace State Community College:

Reese Hopper

Kyleigh Gobble

Emily Mena

Sydni Bagwell

Johnathan Mauldin

Allie Krigbaum

Gianpaolo Cipollari

Raven Sparks

Levi Hokanson

Jacob Stricklin

Callie Swafford

Rhett Tysinger

Sadie Wood

Eli Bryant

Ethan Rabending

Olivia White

Auburn University:

Stella McGraw

Aubrey Shaddrix

Preston Johnson

Molly Dorough

Darcy Hall

Cameron Giddens

Kassie Privett

Allie Killette

Jackson Nixon

John Lunsford

University of Alabama at Birmingham:

Brendan Brown

University of North Alabama:

Valerie Hill

Madison Barnett

University of Alabama at Huntsville:

Rachel Hoffma

Evey Greenlee

University of Alabama: Kacie West

Audrey Floyd

John Luke Hornsby

Maggie Hope Hetrick

Avery Hice

Jerrisue Godbee

Jonah Browning

Abigail Wamsley

Stella Meyer

Leah Byrd

Blakely Brannon

Ella Abbott

Kate Hart

Emma Ray

Samford University: Lillie Hogue

Mary Katherine Greer

Ivaleigh Peppers

Jacksonville State University: Lily Abbott

University of South Alabama: Haleigh Giblin

Anna Farrell

KiAhna Coronado

College-bound:

Hailey Wigington

SENIOR 14

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

See where the Class of 2026’s next adventure is Elizabeth Smith, Staff Writer

Trade:

Joshua Koch

James Thomas Norwood

Abigayle Tillman

Blyss Murphree

Jacob Ray

Brandon James

Military: Jacob Taylor

Denison University: Madison Johnson

Vanderbilt: Parker Powell

Mississippi State University

Cassidy Mickle

Lipscomb University: Nolan Echols

Avery Hice, Staff Writer

1.) What if your favorite song right now?

a.) “Sleepyhead’- Passion Pit

b.) “Secret Garden”Bruce Springsteen

c.) “How It Is”- Chris Travis

d.) “Paranoid”- Dexter and the Moonrocks

e.) “Olympian”- Playboi Carti

f.) “Waters of March”- Art Garfunkel

g.) “Circles”- Kanye West Rome

h.) “Different This Time”- Cornelia Murr

2.) If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

a.) Jamaica

b.) Chicago

c.) Japan

d.) Mexico

e.) Greece

f.) Sicily

g.) Rome

h.) New Zealand

3.) If you could meet any celebrity, dead or alive, who would you meet?

a.) Jeff Buckely

b.) Ms. Lauryn Hill

c.) Princess Diana

d.) Chief Keef

e.) Kanye West

f.) Brenden Fraiser

g.) Bing Joon-Ho

h.) Elliot Smith

4.) What is your favorite movie right now?

a.) Dazed and Confused

b.) Bones and All

c.) Dirty Dancing

d.) Transformers Beast Wars

e.) No Country for Old Men

f.) Master and Commander

g.) Iron Lung

h.) Interstellar

5.) What is a fun fact about you?

a.) I can rap all of “Beef FloMix” by Flo Milli

b.) I made a 35 on the English ACT

c.) I’m great at Roblox obbys

d.) I’m good at editing videos

e.)I’m double jointed

f.) I’m a good speaker

g.) I can’t swim

h.) I can solve a Rubick’s Cube in under 30 seconds

6.) Who is your fa vorite youtuber?

a.) Wendigoon

b.) Caleb Hearon

c.) MoistCritikal

d.) Kurtis Connor

e.) Good Mythical Morning

f.) CreepCast

g.) PapaMeat

h.) Dead Meat

If you answered mostly A’s, you are most like Avery!

If you answered mostly B’s, you are most like Aubrey!

If you answered mostly C’s, you are most like Maggie Hope!

If you answered mostly D’s, you are most like Blyss!

If you answered mostly E’s, you are most like Kyle!

If you answered mostly F’s, you are most like Madison!

If you answered mostly G’s, you are most like Alex!

If you answered mostly H’s, you are most like Jacob!

SENIOR 18

Senior Bucketlist

Things the class of 2026 needs get up to this summer

Avery Hice & Maggie Hope Hetrick, Staff Writer-

Go on a roadtrip, whether it be planned or you just start driving with no destination until you run out of gas

Go to Hurricane Creek Park and walk though the Staircase to Heaven and the Twilight Tunnel

Createyourown superlatives

Clean out your nasty car with the decaying McDonald’s hamburger you ate 3 weeks ago after you left your boyfriend’s at 2 AM

Cry because now you can go to real jail for your actions

SGA Executive Committee Farewells

Final message of the CHS 25/26 SGA Officers

Elizabeth Smith, Staff Writer

ADS 20 APELSTEEL

CAMPUS NEWS 21

Thank You, English

Read my letters to the english teachers who created the writer and person I am Elizabeth Smith, Staff Writer

CAMPUS NEWS 22

Les Misérables Takes the Stage

A Visual Look Into the Show

Will Davis Simmons, Staff Writer

FYI on NAHS

Interviewing YOUR favorite art students Madison Carroll and Kyle Ferrell, Staff Writer

Q: How long have you been in NAHS? Since Freshman year.

Q: What was the most memorable part of any competition? Nothing I can really remember from the recent one, but the one last year for third place.

Q: Did you win anything? Where did you place in the competition? No, but in Fair, I did win first place.

Q: What was your piece about? It was sunshine and tulips, so just things that appeal to me!

Q: What is your biggest inspiration for art? I would say music and film.

Q: How long have you been in NAHS? For two years.

Q: What was the most memorable part of any competition? The most memorable part was when I got an award!

Q: Did you win anything? Where did you place in the competition? I won first place in painting.

Q: What was your piece about? I painted my mother in a field while reading a book with my cat.

Q: What is your biggest inspiration for art? Definitely my mom and the fact that art has run in my family through the generations. Each family member has chosen a different medium!

Q: How long have you been in NAHS? For four years now.

Q: What was the most memorable part of any competition? Entering it initially, and being able to improve afterwards.

Q: Did you win anything? Where did you place in the competition? I’m not sure what place I got, and didn’t win anything.

Q: What was your piece about? In this competition, it was a group of friends lounging around in coffee shop.

Q: What is your biggest inspiration for art? Probably just the people around me and TV shows I watch.

Q: How long have you been in NAHS? I’ve been in NAHS since the beginning of this year.

Q: What was the most memorable part of any competition? Mainly looking at all the works in the gallery—they were all very good!

Q: Did you win anything? Where did you place in the competition? No, but it was fine, because I still liked the art I entered.

Q: What was your piece about? It was a collage of a rose with an eyeball in the center of it—it represented an awakening of sorts.

Q: What is your biggest inspiration for art? Just watching my peers and seeing their own amazing works.

Musical Misinterpretations

The Miscontrument in Melodies

Avery Hice and Tessa Trucks, Staff Writers

There is an immensely repetitive theme that presents itself throughout all of media, and that is misinterpretation. Society will take the author’s raw, genuine thoughts and completely misshape the message into something it’s not- most commonly in music. An example of these misinterpretations are among artists like Johnny Cash, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Bruce Springsteen. Despite being one of Johnny Cash’s most popular songs, “Ring of Fire” is possibly the most misinterpreted. The average listener assumes that the tune is about, hence the name, a large wheel of fire scorching up its surroundings. The true meaning, however, goes much deeper. June Carter originally wrote the piece, and though first recorded by her sister, the song was a secret admission to Carter’s growing feelings for Johnny Cash, who was still married to Vivian Liberto at the time. Through lines like “bound by wild desire,” Carter presents her feelings for the married man, hoping to catch his attention. Attention was caught, to say the least, because Cash covered the song later that year, and it

immediately became one of his top hits. This complex backstory leaves a lot of room for listeners to completely misunderstand the meaning of the song. Though some of Cash’s other tunes like “Cocaine Blues” and “You’re the Nearest Thing to Heaven” are more articulate and better understood by listeners, there are others that fall under this misinterpretation, like “I Walk the Line.” This is another popular tune by Cash, and though people believe the song to be a pledge to his first wife, claiming loyalty and dedication; the truth is that it, too, was referencing the ‘other woman’ in Cash’s life: June Carter. “I Walk the Line” is actually Cash putting up a front, claiming he would “keep a close watch on [his] heart” and resist the temptation of falling for Carter. However, Cash broke his promise by divorcing Vivian Liberto in 1966 and marrying June Carter in 1968. Once again, there is tension woven throughout the song, all of which goes misinterpreted by listeners. That same pattern of misinterpretation becomes even more apparent when it combines with politics and war.

ITS YZY SEASON?

The Conflicting Return of Ye

Kyle Ferrell, Staff Writer

On October 8, 2022, Ye, formally known as Kanye West, proclaimed on Twitter that “I’m going def con 3 ON JEWISH PEOPLE.” Shortly after this tweet, Ye was banned from the platform and was also socially outcast from celebrity society. Throughout 2022-2024, Ye often appeared on podcasts and livestream platforms, stating his troubles with the industry and how many like him were being told what to do. While saying this, he would often specifically target Jewish people, claiming that they were the root cause of all of his problems in the industry. In February 2025, Ye would take to X, formally known as Twitter, where he went on a 12-hour rant proclaiming his affiliation with the Nazi party and spreading hateful white supremacy messages. He was, once again, suspended from the platform. After this situation, it left many Ye fans distraught and left the fanbase in a poor state. While many were disgusted by what he said, some fans took to his side. The words said by Ye divided the fanbase, left many confused, and justifiably caused many people to cut him off entirely. It seems as if Ye himself felt disgusted with what he said because on January 26th, 2026, Ye paid for a full page in the Wall Street Journal apologizing for his actions and asking the Jewish commu-

Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” has been blasted through speakers at rallies, celebrated as a patriotic anthem, shouted back by crowds as if it were a declaration of pride. But the song itself tells a different story entirely. It follows a Vietnam veteran who returns home not to gratitude, but to isolation and neglect. There is no triumph in his voice, there is only frustration, and the overwhelming sense of being discarded. The chorus, so often mistaken for celebration, is more symbolic of a cry of confusion or even betrayal. It forces a confrontation with a country that promises everything and delivers far less to the veteran who did not sign up for the costs of war. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” is even less ambiguous, yet it has suffered the same fate. It is not subtle with its lyrics, in fact, it is blatantly obvious. The song calls out the privilege that allowed the wealthy to dodge the Vietnam War while others who were not born with “a silver spoon in hand” were sent to fight and die. It draws a sharp, undeniable line between those who had power and those

who lacked it. However, it is played as if it were simply another piece of Americana, with its message being buried beneath the very imagery it condemns. Helicopters, flags, and explosions, with the visuals drowning out the words and turning Fogerty’s protest into spectacle. These artists were not writing songs to praise the United States without question. They were exposing its flaws, challenging its decisions, and demanding accountability from elites. Their music carried the voices of people who felt ignored, whether it be soldiers sent to war without purpose, citizens watching inequality unfold in plain sight, individuals grappling with personal and moral conflict, over time, those voices have been muted and molded into something more comfortable for consumers, something that no longer disrupts politics. These are not patriotic anthems, they are confrontations, and they are reminders that love for a country does not have to come without criticism and that loyalty does not mean silence. They are, at the core, acts of defiance, even when the world insists on misunderstanding

nity to forgive him. On March 28th, 2026, the long-awaited BULLY album was released. The album was met with mixed reviews as many people saw it as the return of the artist they once loved, while others thought it was an attempt by him and his team to get the public to forgive him. So the main question is left unanswered: is Ye back?

Many people would rush to agree with the statement. He has had recent success with his new album, with it charting in the top five on Billboard 200, as well as being on world tour. Many people would see the tour as a sign of people forgiving him as every single show was sold out. One memorable performance was his one in Mexico City, where both shows were sold out. For many, however, this was not enough proof for them to accept Ye back into the mainstream; even if he was going across the world

selling out shows, he was still banned in the United States from performing. That all changed when he was announced to perform in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 1st and April 3rd. Both shows quickly sold out, with Lauryn Hill and Travis Scott making guest appearances in the day two show. What many thought would never happen happened: a clear recurring theme in Ye’s career. The message seemed to be clear:

“We

forgive you, Ye.” It was even backed up with him headlining every day of the Wireless Festival. That would quickly change, as on April 7th, 2026, Ye was barred from entry into the United Kingdom. This was due to increasing worry from the Jewish community as they believed he would only bring possible harm to the country and its Jewish community. He has offered to sit down

with the concerned Jews to try and hear their concerns, though they politely declined. As the situation stands, it seems that the entire Wireless Festival will be cancelled, but it is an ongoing situation.

With all this in mind, is Ye back? Is it time to accept his apology for the damage he has done, or do we give him more time to prove he means his sorrow? The answer will be different for everyone. This article itself was meant to be positive, a memento to Ye’s latest achievements. However, as you can tell by the way this article has been written, it’s more of an article of someone who is confused. Someone who is confused on whether he should accept the apology of the person he looks up to so much or should he accept the damage caused by this person and separate himself from the artist? That is really the question proposed to the reader. Do we accept Ye now, or do we give him more time to prove himself?

ENTERTAINMENT 24

You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love

Olivia Rodrigo’s Third Studio Album release

Cyrene Agustin, Staff Writer

Typically individuals claim that your teenage years can be memorable because of how much of a rollercoaster it is. Most teens frequently listen to music as it not only helps them get through this rollercoaster journey, but it adds up to their identity and helps them get through these intense emotions. This results in most teens finding an artist to relate to through their music. Some can bring them comfort, but others can also use this as an outlet for them to express their feelings. Olivia Rodrigo is one of those artists teens adore as she expresses the concept of how “gutsy” being a teenager truly is. Olivia first started gaining recognition as actress Chan nel’s Bizaardvark High School sical: The Musical: The Series. Now she is a Ameri singer-songwriter who is extremely known for her complex and emo tionally charged pop-

rock music. Her albums shocked nearly the entire internet as she shifted her persona from this talent ed kid actor, who later on released her emotional and relatable debut album. This release caused Olivia to be more recognized

continued to connect with people emo raised the excitement as she teased her third studio album. The thrill of being that time.

color of wall on nue in Losgeles

sparked excitement and fan

Where’s Steel Ball Run....

Netflix’s Mistake That Broke the Internet

Alexander Rodriguez, Staff Writer

Steel Ball Run is the seventh part of Hirohiko Araki’s still ongoing anime and manga series. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. The series as a whole chronicles the supernatural struggles of the Joestar family across different eras and countries. However, Steel Ball Run introduces a new storyline, following Johnny Joestar,a former racing prodigy paralyzed from the waist down,and Gyro Zeppeli, a master of the mysterious Spin technique. Together, they join a transcontinental horse race set in the United States in 1890. Recently, Steel Ball Run has become one of the most popular and highly anticipated parts of the series, especially among fans eager to see it animated. When Netflix announced it would be releasing the adaptation and the first episode set to premiere on March 19, excitement erupted across social media. Fans expressed their enthusiasm online, thrilled to finally see this part animated after 21 years since the manga’s original release. When the episode finally dropped, it was an instant success. In its first week, Steel Ball Run ranked among the highest-rated anime on MAL, earned a 9.99 score on IMDb, and reached 4.7 million views on Netflix in its first week. The episode was praised for its stunning art and soundtrack, and many fans considered it nearly perfect. However,

theories. The wall started off with a lavender theme which features Olivia Rodrigo’s initials, the “OR” logo, which slowly shifted into a bright pink. This change raised significant thoughts on how this album of Olivia’s will focus on romantic feelings. Livies freaked out as the message included “You seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,” which led to speculations if this is a song lyric, a description of her new album, or the official album title. As theories added up, one main question was, “What’s the song title?” With multiple fans debating with each other on social media, one theory stood out most. This 4 letter title theory shined the most, stimulating thoughts of fans while weighing the possibility of her album being called LOVE. This matches with both her past two studio albums called SOUR released in 2021, and GUTS released in 2023. Others considered the possibility of LUCK, KISS, LORE, and BURN, but most argue that LOVE truly expresses Olivia well. These debates quickly ended as Olivia announced that the official album title was in plain sight. Olivia

disclosed April 2, 2026, that the album will be called You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love. Regardless of the debates that occurred, many expressed how bittersweet this title is. Others even express online that they’re not mentally ready for this album as the title itself already perfectly describes the state they’re currently experiencing. As they’re appreciating this title, the standard for this album quickly rises as Olivia released the lead single of this album on April 16, 2026. Her lead single Drop Dead quickly gained the attention of the media, with others expressing that they can’t wait for the album’s official release. Now that everyone currently has their expectations set high for this album, they’re still waiting pa tiently for June 12, 2026 as will the bum.

disappointment soon followed. After the highly praised first episode aired on March 19, 2026, Netflix did not immediately release a second episode, remaining silent about the schedule.

This left fans frustrated, recalling the “batch release” issues from the Stone Ocean adaptation. A few days later, Netflix announced that the first episode was only a standalone “1st stage” special, which outraged fans even more. This frustration sparked a meme-driven protest, with fans spamming social media comment sections,mainly Netflixs,with messages like “Where’s Steel Ball Run…” and Steel Ball Run characters mimicking the King Von Antiprivacy screen meme. The situation escalated to the point where fans were harassing staff members’ personal accounts which led to voice actor Damon Mills (Johnny Joestar) and others having to publicly

ask fans to stop harassing staff members. Eventually, Netflix responded to the outcry. On April 6, they confirmed that future episodes of Steel Ball Run would follow a weekly and batch release schedule starting in Fall 2026. While this announcement helped calm the media frenzy, many fans remained upset about the long wait and hoped that Netflix wouldn’t cause another Stone Ocean batch release incident.

The Class of Twenty-Six’s Redemption

How Red Dead Redemption ii Applies To The Seniors

Tessa Trucks and Macey Apel, Staff Writers

“My dear Arthur, you never showed up…” Does this line sound familiar? It should, considering its recent popularity on commercial platforms like Tiktok and Instagram. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t originate from a movie or TV show, but the video game Red Dead Redemption II. While at first glance, the main pursuit of this game seems to aimlessly revolve around gunslingers and outlaws in the 1800’s, there is much more under the surface. The story of Red Dead Redemp tion II show cases heroism, violence, and eventually vindication. Seven years later after the initial release in 2019, this game is still relevant,

not only for leisurely gameplay, but for application to daily life.

This “Heroic” story didn’t exactly start that way; Arthur Morgan, the subject of this redemption, was born into a life of crime. He joined a group of outlaws, the Van Der Lin Gang, at the young age of fourteen simply to stay alive. His entire identity was based on his own induction of fear and immoral decisions made mindlessly, as it was the custom. These very choices led him to his downfall; after attacking a sick man in search of ransom, he caught Tuberculosis, which was fatal at the time. This made Morgan realize how his entire life was wasteful. He had lost family, the love of his life, and all of his friends because of his corrupt deci-

sions. After gunning down innocent people and committing acts of terrorism, torturing, and arson, there seemed to be almost no hope for the main character. Only when he was sick and dying, however, did he change. But how does this Rockstar game relate to our very own senior class?

As depicted above, Arthur Mor gan’s life was not linear. It was a se ries of downs, lower and lower, and finished by a skyrocket to optimism and improvement. After living this life of crime, even at the very end, he recognized the error of his ways and shifted his perspective to be better. Though graduation for our seniors might seem far too close, and much more daunting than expected, it should not be viewed as an ‘ending’. Graduation is a gateway to new experiences, and a clean slate to start out on. Though you might believe that your grades are tanked, or you’ve done too many things to improve after high school, the truth is the exact opposite. As Arthur Morgan made bad choices but eventually saw the error in his ways, there is an

Harry & Meghan: Trouble in Paradise?

Rumors, Rifts, and Royal Pressure Return

Will Davis Simmons, Staff Writer

End of the fairytale? Are the mounting rumors acting as a ‘wrecking ball’ in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are fac ing renewed rumours about their relationship after returning from a trip in Australia. Many critics and fans alike are speculating that the couple’s relationship might yet again be in ‘hot water.’ In addition to the new rumors, the couple has faced many rocky periods in their lives in the past. With Prince Harry adding in his 2023 memoir, Spare, that in a 2019 incident, he and his brother, William, engaged in an alleged physical altercation over an argument about Meghan Markle. Needless to say, after a bold move to the United States, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been at the forefront of public criticism for the past couple of years.

The couple is once again in the spotlight, with critics pointing out the separation in their profes sional lives and interests. Meghan, who starred in the hit TV-series Suits, has been in recent times, has been focused on Hollywood, brand building, and social connec tions while on the contrary; her

opportunity for any individual to do the same. We are all more than

ADS 26

What Makes a Good Romantic Partner?

Universal dos & don’ts in a relationship

Avery Hice, Staff Writer

There is a quiet erosion that comes from being taught to accept less than what is necessary and what is deserved. This does not refer to the absence of perfection, but to the absence of what is fundamentally required to feel secure, respected, and whole within a relationship. Over time, people begin to mistake endurance for love and familiarity for safety, until lowering expectations feels less like compromise and more like necessity. At that point, even the bare minimum begins to feel like something to be grateful for rather than something that should have been guaranteed from the beginning.

Basic hygiene, communication, trustworthiness, and emotional stability are not luxuries, yet they are often treated as if they are rare qualities that must be appreciated when found. The fact that they are repeatedly listed as non-negotiables says less about what people are asking for and more about what they have already endured. No one should have to negotiate for basic respect, yet many people find themselves doing exactly that, slowly shrinking their expectations in order to preserve relationships that were never fully meeting them in the first place. Communication should not feel like a constant point of tension, yet it often becomes exactly that. People deserve clarity without being made to feel irrational for needing it, and they deserve responses that come from presence rather than avoidance. Silence and inconsistency are not neutral traits, but forms of absence that slowly erode connection. When someone is easy to talk to, it is rarely because they are flawless with words, but because they are willing to remain present, to listen fully, and to respond with intention rather than defensiveness. A good relationship does not make communication feel like conflict by default, nor does it turn vulnerability into something to be managed carefully.

Trust follows a similar pattern. People deserve to feel secure without constantly having to prove their loyalty or innocence. When insecurity is left unchecked, it rarely remains internal, as it begins to shape perception and behavior in ways that distort the relationship itself. It can turn into suspicion, control, and repeated cycles of reassurance that never feel sufficient. In many cases, the issue is not the partner’s actions but the inability to manage internal doubt. Love cannot remain stable in an environment where trust is continuously replaced by suspicion.

Respect is one of the most consistent indicators of the health of a relationship, yet it is also one of the most frequently overlooked. Being dismissed, minimized, or treated as

secondary is not a minor flaw, but a sign that something essential is missing. When someone says they want to be prioritized, they are not asking to be the center of every aspect of another person’s life. They are asking not to feel like an afterthought. The absence of that consideration gradually transforms the relationship into something that feels uneven and emotionally distant.

Time reflects respect in a way that words often cannot. The choice to spend time with someone, to remain present with them, and to treat that time as meaningful rather than interchangeable reveals how much value is placed on their presence. When that time is repeatedly interrupted, deprioritized, or treated as disposable, it communicates a lack of consistency that cannot be easily ignored.

Healthy relationships also require space, yet space is often misunderstood as distance rather than balance. The ability to exist independently within a relationship is not a threat to closeness but a condition that allows it to survive. Time alone, personal independence, and individuality are not signs of disconnection, but signs of stability. When a partner refuses to allow that space, it often reveals a deeper need for control rather than connection.

Imbalance becomes especially visible when one person begins to rely on the relationship as their primary source of validation or emotional regulation. In those situations, the relationship shifts from partnership to dependence, which places pressure on both people in ways that are unsustainable. A healthy relationship requires two individuals who can stand on their own while still choosing to build something together. Without that foundation, even care begins to feel heavy rather than supportive.

What ultimately stands out is the difference between what people say they value and what they actually experience. The best parts of relationships are rarely described in terms of intensity or grand gestures. They are described in terms of ease, comfort, and stability. Being able to talk without tension, laugh without hesitation, and exist together without strain becomes the clearest expression of connection. These moments may appear ordinary, but their consistency is what gives them meaning.

In contrast, the worst parts of relationships often trace back to the same absence of foundational care. Trust is replaced with suspicion, presence is replaced with neglect, and equality is replaced with imbalance. These are not small issues that resolve themselves over time, but indicators that something essential is missing.

A good partner is not defined by intensity or spectacle, but by

consistency in the things that matter most. They communicate with clarity rather than confusion, they trust without controlling, they respect without conditions, and they allow space without withdrawing care. More than anything, they understand that love does not excuse harmful behavior, but requires accountability for it.

People are not meant to be tolerated within relationships. They are meant to be chosen, consistently and deliberately, by someone who meets them with the same level of care they are expected to give in return.

INTERVIEWS

1.) What are some nonnegotiables in a relationship for you?

2.) What is an immediate turn off in a partner?

3.) What was the best part of a relationship you’ve had?

4.) What was the worst part of a relationship you’ve had?

5.) What was the final straw in a relationship you’ve had?

Anonymous #1

1.) Hygiene, good communication, easy to talk to, trustworthy, and not insecure 2.) Smells bad, bad at driving, low GPA

3.) Having a person to talk to and spend time with 4.) They were insecure, thought I was cheating, and had issues with everyone 5.) We were in the middle of hanging out and they took a shift in the middle of spending time with me

Anonymous #2

1.) Treats me like a goddess, communicates their feelings, and takes time to understand me

2.) Bad music taste, stupid, reckless, says slurs

3.) The ability to have fun no matter the circumstance 4.) Makes me feel small, does not put me first

5.) They were too needy and seemed like they only wanted a mother-like figure

Anonymous #3

1.) Able to spend time apart, they have good music taste, they’re able to sit on a rock and do absolutely nothing 2.) They have a peanut allergy, missing teeth, and/or a high-pitched voice

3.) Being able to laugh like a kid again, regaining the childlike joy I used to have

4.) Really controlling, dirty breath 5.) One time I asked for a morning by myself and she said no

EDITORIALS 28

Should You Be Young and Political?

Opinion on politics and being a teenager

Aubrey Shaddrix, Editor

At fourteen, politics was a headache. It grossed me out to walk into the living room and see my parents watching the news, because genuinely anything else had to have been more interesting. Why bother with the morning weather or local elections when Cartoon Network was playing the same Adventure Time reruns all week? I thought it was superficial, and even childish, to care about the decisions being made in the Oval Office, and obsessive to care about the man who sat in it. I simply could not bother; I was young and happy and did not care for the real world. But reality creeps in through children’s windows, and there comes a point where “being young” is not an excuse for your ignorance, and you have to start caring about something. I am a very political person, and in part, everyone really is– I just think some people have the ability to shun it away from themselves, especially in the community we live in. But a big question is– should people our age even care at all?

It takes no skill and really no effort to have empathy. I think this is the main determining factor when a young person decides to put themselves in the doorframe of political opinion–it’s all just whether or not they choose to see certain things. In such a digital age, it’s apparent that we see much more than we want to. Growing up, I was

subjected to frantic bodycam footage and recordings of dusted, exploding war zones, and as I got older, it seemed that America was rebuilding itself every year with major protests. It was all recorded, and it was all free to see. It’s not that I sought any of this out, or that I have always been crazy interested in our country as a whole. But when you grow up subjected to such things, it will evidently have an impact on you. How could anyone see these things and not care? Since America’s most recent affairs with Iran, so much of my online feed has been about the impossibility of living in America today. People can’t afford full tanks of gas or properly stocked pantries, and even past America, it seems that every other country is in some sort of humanitarian crisis, begging for help. The point is, there is no ignoring politics, and that’s evidently why I feel the obligation to care.

I used to hate America because of how much there seemed to be against it. I hated how divided it was and thought we had to be the weakest country to have such an argumentative society. And maybe some parts of this are true, but I’ve found that this line of thinking is ineffective and ultimately does nothing. If you care about your community and the concerns within it, no good can come from simply complaining. Something I’ve noticed when

Should We Have Senior Quotes?

it comes to people my age being so outspoken is that sometimes they aren’t really saying anything at all. It can become this never-ending back and forth of political-correctness. Most debate online just ends up sounding like a targeted assault between two teen girls, and the original argument is lost in translation. But even past teenagers, it seems that many adults speaking on national news have the same formula for argumentation, and it all becomes a neverending math equation of endless bickering and division. It’s like the empathy that draws us to be interested in social issues is bleached out of us in the process of being so opinionated–some things go too far, and we get angry instead of motivated to be effective. I don’t think there has ever been such a divided collective like there is now; every political party is described as two evils, both becoming extreme, and, depending on who you ask, only one can be right. When you’re young and gullible, it’s so easy to pick one thing and stick to it with no wavering. This commitment is the concern for teenagers today; it’s this issue that young people are being raised into hateful and biased individuals. This isn’t the fault of impressionable young people, but the adults who encourage it on every platform they have. You can’t expect our generation to be sunshine and rainbows when all we’ve seen on

A Form of Expression or an Outlet for Trouble-Making?

Claire McPhillips, Staff Writer

One of the greatest parts of a student’s senior year is finally being able to leave where they spent some of their most challenging years, and with this conclusion, many want to leave something meaningful behind, something that the students following them can read and follow. If not expressed in permanence, then how might one accomplish such a feat? The most obvious answer is a yearbook quote, only, our very own high school doesn’t include it in the experience.

That is not to say there isn’t a reason behind their actions. Many students may want to take advantage of this opportunity and leave behind a legacy that might “damage” a school’s reputation. But this is so much more than just that. It’s a student’s final chance to express themselves in a way that can be clear and concise, funny, or a meaningful quote or scene from a piece of literature. When someone is not given the chance to leave that legacy--a concept Cullman High School values dearly--it takes away from the graduating experience.

Many upperclassmen may

wonder why, after so many years, Cullman hasn’t opened up the possibility of senior quotes. Per-

thing bad, they’re fired; their entire department doesn’t pay the price of their actions.

TV is war crimes and grown men verbally abusing each other for the sake of the game.

To its limits, there is no shame in bringing emotions into politics, because if a person cares about something, they should have a reason. It’s better to be too opinionated rather than to agree with something blindly, because at least one of these options is independent. So much of politics is emotion, and maybe that is why so many people develop concerns for it once they get older. All we ever do is grow more into consciousness, so caring about what’s happening around you is an unskippable awakening. Despite where you live or who you are, at some point, you develop an opinion; it’s just important that you allow logistics and reason to grow with that.

At the end of the day, every decision impacts a real person. Voting is a collective, and human decision towards impact, and teenagers have every right to be active and present for this process. There is no maturity in idle protection, and that is why it’s increasingly important that people my age are involved in politics, and aware of current, and growing, issues. It doesn’t detract from the teenage experience to be a human being and care about something of greater importance; young people should be political.

Because yes, senior quotes do describe the characteristics of a person in some way when they say something from their favorite piece of media, or a quote from someone offering this, seniors can remember one that finally gave to the students

What’s Unraveling within our Global Political Scene

Iran,

America, Israel entagled in a stale war

Maggie Hope, Staff Writer

As we all well know by now, the United States is yet again at war with another Middle Eastern country. Yet this war is different than the ones we have grown accustomed to - this war has been characterized by a Naval blockade of Iranian ports within the Strait of Hormuz (a waterway that transports around 25-30% of the entire world’s oil stock), and air strikes made in attempt to prevent any further nuclear developments within the country. This war was initially started on February 26, 2026, when the United States and Israel initiated a joint military campaign - targeting the entirety of Iranian infrastructure. As of April 17, 2026, the US and Iran are now engaged in what has been labeled an “open, high intensity conflict.” While there have been attempts at maintaining a ceasefire, some sort of agreement, and even just the possibility of allowing commercial ships to pass through the strait - it seems it will be a rough process to get there.

As I’m sure you all remember, back in 2025 the United States carried out an airstrike on three of Iran’s main nuclear facilities as part of a twelve day war. These attacks effectively set Iran’s nuclear program back by months, and the sites were severely damaged - but were never destroyed. The Pentagon stated following this military operation that we set their developments back one to two years - but little did we know, Iran had other ideas for a nuclear strategy… They opted for a more covert tactic - they maintained an incomprehensible amount of nuclear capability after the US attempted to wipe them out. This is due to stored, advanced, and hidden assets that Iran had managed to keep safe, as well as a large accumulation of scientific knowledge and discoveries. By early 2026, Iran was working with Uranium enriched up to 60% U-235 - and had around 990 pounds of it lying around. This grade of Uranium is globally considered both highly enriched, and extremely dangerous if in the wrong hands. This amount of Uranium is than enough to create a highly pow erful nuclear bomb, and can be converted into 90% weap

reports from this April, President Donald Trump was able to figure out that Iran had access to this quantity of Uranium through intelligence systems - specifically, satellite images. This is what prompted the US’s further attack on Iran’s overall infrastructure.

But let’s get back to the Strait of Hormuz, shall we? For those of you who don’t know how all this world oil market thing goes, I’m going to very quickly offer some information. For starters - as previously mentioned - the United states doesn’t even receive 5% of their oil from this strait, which causes concerns all over the country. People are wondering why gas continues to get higher and higher, especially considering the fact that it is almost $10 per gallon in places like New York City. This increase in gas prices is because of something called the World Oil Market, which is driven by two globally known benchmarks (Brent Crude which is the global benchmark & West Texas Intermediate which is the US benchmark) that are used to price crude oil. What happens here is random ups and downs of prices are determined by these two traders, which is usually influenced by whatever is going on in the world at that current point in time, the oil business, and overall global market fluctuation. When one form of oil transport is down - while it should just affect the countries that primarily use that waterway - it ends up affecting the entire world due to a little something called bidding. Country after country comes in, and basically plays a game of betting - one country offers $60 for a barrel, another offers $75 , and then another comes in and offers $90… It’s a back and forth betting match, and the one who offers the most is the one who gets to take it home. This is what causes our gas prices to continue to fluctu- ate from $3.89 to $3.59. Its winner

takes all, and the loser gets absolutely nothing, so our government steps in and starts outbidding all of these other countries for foreign oil - which eventually gets back to us when we make it to the pump. You might also wonder why this even affects us if we have our own oil drilling & reserves? Well, this is because once again oil is on a global market - so even in our own country, prices will continue to be set according to international supply and demand, not the domestic supply itself. So if global oil prices rise due to a conflict or lack of supply, national producers will jack the price, and US refiners will end up paying it.

While there continues to be talks of a ceasefire, Trump continues to state that the war is well on its way to being over… It is very hard to tell what the outcome will truly be. A large issue that continues to drag this conflict out is the issue of who the US is allied with, which mainly has to do with our close relation to Israel. As of March 2, 2026, Israeli forces in Lebanon have increased dramatically, following Hezbollah rocket fire. This, in turn, has created a stagnation between Iran & America. Iran does not want to agree to a ceasefire due to the plain and simple fact that Israel is continuing to attack Lebanon, which is threatening a stable ceasefire significantly.

Israel has been intermittently bombing & participating in military excursions in Lebanon for the past fifty years, specifically targeting the southern areas since the 1970s. While many of these attacks were very significant to both Lebanon’s infrastructure and people, starting in 2023 the power behind them began to grow. In October of 2023, these attacks turned into “heavy strikes,” and even deployed the Israeli military onto the ground. These operations were initially launched with the key reasoning that they wanted to “halt Hezbollah rocket fire,” but as

time goes on it is easy to see there’s a whole lot of abuse of power on Israel’s side, and has resulted in a large scale humanitarian crisis - over 2,000-4,000 people have been killed, and tens of thousands of residencies have been completely destroyed, specifically following the more current escalation in March of 2026. More than 1,400 people have been killed just within the first few weeks of this conflict according to Lebanese health officials. As if this is not bad enough, over 15,000 people have been wounded, and almost 1.3 million people have been displaced all over Lebanon.

Israel has caused indescribable damage all across the Middle East, with claims of “halting terrorism” & “preventing further gunfire” from these nations - when in reality they’re actually displacing over a million people from their homes, family, and friends. This conflict has caused over 40,000 residencies to be completely destroyed all over Lebanon, has left schools and hospitals in shambles, and left millions without hope. This is very similar to what is currently and has been going on with Israel and Palestine since the late 1960s, but this conflict is very different because it is fueled by one thing: Israel’s desire for more land. I’m not going to sit around and delve into this topic - simply because it doesn’t relate enough to this one, but I do highly encourage those reading to look into the war crimes Israel is continuing to commit all over Palestine. But with that being said, the US-Iran war has fundamentally altered regional dynamics and will continue if not resolved quickly and efficiently. This war has severely strained global economics, resources, alliances, and overall relations - and brought attention to more pressing issues within less involved countries who are experiencing national famine and displacement that is unimaginable to the human mind.

Captivity vs. Rehabilitation

Reality and Debates on Zoos and Aquariums

Cyrene Agustin

People often visit zoos and aquariums mainly to see the animals up close, bond with their family and friends, and learn more about wildlife and its system. There are also people who visit a specific zoo or aquarium for a famous animal figure, like Punch the monkey and Moo Deng the Hippo. Though this raises concerns of multiple individ uals, especially ones on social media. With comment sections often criticizing individuals posting their visit in zoos and aquariums, claiming how it’s extremely uneth ical to fund these places. Is it truly unethical? Are these animals truly held captive since birth? Overall, is there truly a reason why these animals are in these facilities, or is it just for the sole reason of entertaining people? This has been a debate for a long time, making it an extremely complex and diffi cult topic to discuss and con

Redefining American Identity

What Does It Mean To Be an American?

Will Davis Simmons,

Too often we find ourselves mi red in debate about what it means to be an American. Is patriotism measured by the volume of one’s anthem-singing voice, the number of flags on a porch, or the frequency of backyard barbeques? Is the status of “real American” reserved for those whose families can trace their heritage back centuries or is it open to anyone who calls this country home? These questions echo across the national stage, shaping politics, dividing and polarizing groups, and also influencing our sense of self. Yet, perhaps the real answer is far more complex and far more inspiring than such surface level markers.

mitment to the ideals of liberty, equality, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity for all. It’s about actively participating in a diverse and productive democracy, recognizing that our strength lies in our differences not our uniformity.

When I first began to explore this topic, I, too, clung to familiar images: football on Sundays, fireworks on the Fourth of July, and the collective excitement of the Super Bowl. I believed that these cultural rituals somehow defined the American identity and spirit. However, as my curiosity deepened and my research expanded, I discovered that the essence of being American exceeds any single tradition, ethnicity, or demographic.

As I spoke to people from all walks of life, some common themes emerged. The first is a deep commitment to ideals. Americans, regardless of background, often express fierce devotion to democracy, individual freedom, and equality. These very founding principles, accompanied by our civic institutions enshrined in the Constitution, form the foundation of our democracy and the frameworks of our society.

Secondly, being American means practicing active citizenship. It is not enough to simply reside in this country; true belonging comes from voting, volunteering, and taking responsibility in our communities. Our democracy thrives when its citizens are engaged and invested in its success.

an animal can not much do in one place. These critics claim that it’s completely unnecessary to keep these animals captive for the entertainment of others, arguing that these animals should be released back to their

Overall, this topic is and will always be extremely complex and debatable due to the release of limited resources. It is extremely encouraged to research the specific zoo or aquarium that you’re gon

history but a present reality. Our culture is shaped by a vast makeup of backgrounds, languages, and cultures each adding to the richness of the American story and legacy.

With this being said, being American also means practicing a kind of critical patriotism, loving our country while recognizing its

Ultimately, being an American isn’t about fitting a predetermined mold. It’s about living up to the ideals on which the nation was founded and contributing, in your own way, to the ongoing project of creating a “more perfect union.” In this sense, the question of who truly is American can only be answered by each of us everyday, through our actions and our commitment to common ground and shared principles.

A Final Farewell to Our Teen years

Whatever childhood was, that was it

Aubrey Shaddrix, Editor

I don’t have many fears after graduation. I’m getting an apartment, I have great friends, and in all honesty, I’m not half the anxious mess I used to be. But there is one thing that concerns me– does anyone ever really know what they’re doing? I always felt this bit of safety since middle school that there would be a version of me that just knew what she wanted. Somewhere and sometime, there would be an Aubrey who knew exactly where she was going and exactly how to get there. But as I’ve gotten older, it’s clear to me now that nobody is really as sure as they think they are. It’s impossible for me to look at an adult and not think about the fact that they were once my age, and a million life experiences have carved them into what they are now, for better or for worse. But experience doesn’t change the reality that a person is a person, and oftentimes wrong and contradictory, just like anyone else. Over the years, I’ve been waiting for this solid feeling of security in myself, waiting for the moment I know exactly what’s going on. But I’ve now come to understand that I’m not fourteen anymore, and I can’t keep waiting for this magical moment where I can start calling myself a woman and understand exactly who I’ll be for the rest of my life. I’m still a teenager, and I’ll probably feel like one well into my twenties. I thought that the whole purpose of this “teenage experience” was to know something by the end of it. Well, I’m eighteen now and awfully close to moving out and being an adult, so why don’t I get it yet?

In part, I think I mostly have to blame myself. I blame the fact that I spent too much time enjoying everything to really care about figuring anything out. Thankfully, my teenage years were spent in my best friend’s basement, and I guess wherever else we wanted to go too, because when I wasn’t studying for the ACT or working my minimum wage jobs, I was with other equally confused highschoolers. I will never forget how Lily Abbott could always throw a good party, or our late night double features of Rocky Horror, or driving through Cullman trying to figure out what the hell to do. Now that I’m really reflecting, everything I’ve loved about high school is based on the relationships I’ve built over the years. There’s a certain feeling you get when you’re sitting in a room with the people you like, and you begin to understand that this is what people talk about. You see

in movies these young, beautiful people laughing and doing things with impractical and free motives. It’s the kind of youth that’s careless without being selfish, and I think that freedom is what so many people miss about being the age I am now. I’m beginning to understand more and more how rare it is to be so young and happy, because the older you get the more realistic you have to become. But for now, there is no regret in my body, absolutely nothing that could convince me I did this teenage thing wrong. Of course, in that same breath of enjoying your youth, there is the underlying understanding that randomly hits you - that one day you will be thirty and maybe not hear from any of these people ever again. We’ll get busy and drift apart and probably have kids or just fall off the face of the earth, either way, the only thing that’s certain is the fact that we will all just keep getting older and just keep getting different. It’s hard to think like that sometimes, and I wish I didn’t. But again, when you’re with the people that have made these past four years so good, sometimes you have to think of the fact it is all a fleeting moment, especially in May. Maybe you’ll be at a party or just in the car, and you’ll look at someone and think of how strange it is that they aren’t fifteen anymore, and neither are you. And you’ll find it even more bizarre that neither of you even noticed how much time has gone by, and the fact that you both look so much older.

I remember watching High School Musical 2 and every Disney graduation special, thinking of how nice it is that the characters we grew up with are capable of going off on their own, and also the fact that we know nothing about them afterward. It was like everyone got their own soft ending to brace them into adulthood. I think it’s nice how little we know about their conclusions, like maybe there’s a possibility that Liv and Maddie became washed-up influencers or that Troy Bolton ended up on Love Island. Who knows, y’know? Evidently, most of us will completely lose track of each other after graduation. Maybe we’ll be Facebook friends or send each other Christmas cards – but no matter what, there is very little connection more intimate than being locked in a building together for seven hours a day. Some of us really won’t see each other ever again. Maybe that’s a good thing, but there will always be the double sided complexity in

change. We can either celebrate the fact that we’re growing or reject it and dwell in pensiveness. I won’t lie, I’m still very excited to graduate. Despite how confused I will continue to be, I feel like I’ve been waiting quite a long while for the chance to go out and be a real person. I’ll probably be messy and gross in college, probably do things I’ll regret and have bad roommates and terrible boyfriends, but in all honesty, would it not be the most boring thing ever to be so good? I’d hate to keep trying to be perfect for a second longer, so maybe there’s a relief in embracing the possibility of future mistakes – God knows high school was full of them. Whether you’re going to college or not, this change is something approaching for everyone. As soon as we graduate, we all become a little more people-ish. We’ll get jobs and move on from whatever we thought was so important these past four years, and we’ll hopefully figure out whatever great big lesson we were supposed to have already found out – because there’s no rush anymore… at least for me – this article was my last deadline.

It’s also very apparent to me that all of our memories will become short stories we tell someone someday, whether that be our kids or our next adult chapter of people. We’ll all keep changing and learning, and maybe it’ll go by just as fast as high school did, and we won’t even notice how much has really changed. So that eventually, there will finally be a version of myself that knows what she wants. But for now, I’ll sit here with my closest friends and enjoy our last summer all together, occasionally thinking back on how much four years can really change a person, and I’ll patiently wait for August to come, and whatever else comes with it.

Maggie Hope Hetrick

“These will all be stories someday, and our pictures will become someone’s mom or dad, but right now these moments are not stories.”

-Perks of Being a Wallflower

Avery Hice

“If it ain’t that piece of paper, there’s some other choice they’re gonna try and make for you… Let me tell you this, the older you do get the more rules they’re gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin’ man, L-I-V-I- N.”

- Matthew McConaughey

Alex Rodriguez

“Nothing left to make me feel small. Luck has left me standing so tall”

2026 Senior Staff

Kyle Ferrell

“Three plus three plus three is nine.”

Blyss Murphree

“Nobody gonna listen, so speak your mind with confidence”

Aubrey Shaddrix

“I know I’m imperfect and not without sin. But now that I’m older, all childish things end.”

-The Ms. Lauryn Hill

“Love will call... love will make you fit it all in a car.”

-Cameron Winter

Signing Out