THE
HURON EMERY
@THEHURONEMERY
HURON HIGH SCHOOL, 2727 FULLER RD., ANN ARBOR MI 48105
VOL. 9 ISSUE 6
Isolation to celebration: the journey of Huron’s class of 2024 ANJALI NADARAJAH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF As
graduation is approaching for high school seniors at both Huron High School and across the world, they hold a unique distinction: they are the last class of students to have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic during high school, a time that shaped their education and social lives. After missing their eighth grade graduation, many were hopeful for a return to ordinary life, mainly for the return of inperson learning. They started their freshman year in 2020 amidst the world-wide pandemic, but the world looked a lot different then than it does now. Sri Tharika Jothipuram Jayakumar is a Huron senior. Her high school experience was largely impacted by the pandemic: from daily Zoom calls to mask mandates. “I feel like it made it really hard for me to connect with my peers when we were online,” Jayakumar said. “Especially because we didn’t really have an eighth grade graduation, trip or dance so I was really disappointed.” Jayakumar has been on the class of 2024 exec board all four years and led online social events for their class during their freshman year. “I remember the kids met up to play Among Us and play online \
GRAPHIC BY ANNA LEE
ice-breakers just to try to connect,” senior class advisor Sara-Beth Badalamente said. “During their “masked year”, which so many other districts did not experience, the exec board planned outdoor events like a “Friendsgiving” under the arch to give kids a chance to see each other mask-free.”
Now that the pandemic has subsided, mask mandates have been lifted and in-person learning has returned, her life has made a complete change. “Obviously, life is so much better after the pandemic,” Jayakumar said. “I’m able to
make more connections and meet with people in person. It’s easier to connect with teachers when you’re struggling in a class.” But the transition from middle school to high school was certainly a challenge for Jayakumar, especially with the added complexities of the pandemic.
Getting to know new friends and the maze of hallways at Huron with the addition of masks and social distancing was no easy feat. “It really took a while to get used to everything,” she said. “But with the added
See GRADS, PAGE 2
Ñ! #PAZ Magazine: showcasing student excellence ASHLEY KIM NEWS EDITOR
Each semester, an edition of the Ñ! #PAZ magazine is created, featuring the works of Daniel Verdugo’s Spanish students demonstrating their progress, learning,
and proficiency in the language and the culture through their writing, reflections, and artwork. The newest edition was released on May 30, 2024, exhibiting the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Sustainable
FEATURE PAGE 4 BREAKING BARRIERS
Development Goals, Re-thinking Militarism, Quino, and the Ñ! #PAZ Spotify playlist. This edition was a collaborative effort between the students, as well as the Huron HS PTSO, Jennifer Colby, and Chris Erickson. Students with standout
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMET PAGE 7 BRIDGERTON IS BACK
works are labeled as Star Contributors, with this edition’s being ¿Indiferencia? ¡No Más! by Junior Jackson Harris, Es NUESTRO Mundo by Senior Minseo Lee, and Lecciones en Medio del Caos by Junior Lucy Paliani.
SPREAD PAGE 8-9 FACTORY FARMING
“Being featured in the Ñ! #PAZ magazine is a tremendous honor, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the publication and share my message about the necessity of peace throughout the world,” Harris said.
The front page of Ñ! #Paz ARTWORK COURTESY OF Ñ! MAGAZINE
Scan here for more content on our website