LAUREN ANGUS / Junior After swimming for 9 years, I always anticipated my high school swimming experience. Though I have been swimming in large competitions since I was little, WPIALS is a completely different experience. So, I was overjoyed to be able to go when I first qualified freshman year. I had no idea what it was going to be like, but I knew I had to work very hard so that I could find out for myself and see what was ahead of me. Being it was my first year, and I was a freshman in a relay race with seniors, I was extremely nervous. I knew I had to pull through for my team, and also I had to prove to myself I belonged there. I also needed to see how much I have improved individually, being that I was at the end of the season, and all my training was behind me. When I got to WPIALS, it was everything I had imagined, plus a few things I didn’t. There were so many people, more than I had ever seen on one pool deck, and just as many watching in the seating area. This only sparked more nerves and anticipation. After the meet was over, I had the best feeling of achievement. I didn’t place individually in my 50-yard freestyle, but I moved up 8 places and achieved a new PR. Our relay team also tied for 8th place in the 200 Free relay, so I was able to take home a medal. My freshman WPIAL champs was definitely one to remember. Swimming is definitely “my sport” and what I’m passionate about and I couldn’t imagine not doing it, no matter how difficult it gets. Last year, as a sophomore, my hopes were higher. I already knew what was ahead of me and started to set goals for myself to go further. I qualified in 2 events, rather than 1 as I did the previous year. I competed with a whole new relay team that also qualified all our events and even took home a 7th place in our 200 free relay. I was a lot closer with my teammates and I had started to get comfortable with the way high school swimming operated. I loved the atmosphere of swimming and the team, but it was a lot of work still, and more pressure. In the end, I didn’t get the result I wanted, but that only pushed me to work harder in my junior year. No matter what my times are, the season is never a waste because I love what I’m doing and the people that are there with me. Swimming is definitely “my sport” and what I’m passionate about and I couldn’t imagine not doing it, no matter how difficult it gets. It's been a crazy 9 years since I started swimming, and I still have so much more left to work towards. I’m so excited to get to work for WPIALS and have another chance to improve with some of my best friends. LAUREN ANGUS / Junior
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MR. SABO / ART Change positions? After 20 years of teaching elementary art? After 15 years working with the staff at Grandview sharing my enthusiasm for art? After spending so much time and energy working with young students and their parents to develop positive relationships? After working with administration and secretaries to maintain building policies and routines? After all this, why would I choose to start over in a different school? Will they remember me? Understandably changing schools came with a lot of anxiety. What would the students be like? Will they remember me? Will I remember them? Will the high school staff welcome me? After some time to ponder the idea, I found myself happy about changing schools. I had often questioned how I could maintain the same energy level to work with young students for another 10 to 15 years until I could retire. A change in schools has certainly rejuvenated my motivation to teach art. The move to the high school has forced me to reconsider my policies and routines. Although I am still realizing these adjustments, it has been an exciting challenge. Now, I welcome the chance to work more closely with colleagues who, up until this year, I hardly knew by name. During the next few years it is my goal to work with these teachers to create a high school art program that will best meet the needs of all DAHS students. Implementing changes to the visual art program has generated some immediate results. However, to bring about meaningful program change, it will take a few years and perseverance. My long range plans from initiation to realization will extend beyond the confines of one year. I have sometimes wondered what effect it would have if all teachers would be made to change grades after several consecutive years in the same assignment. Like many other professionals, teachers can become too comfortable in their current teaching assignment and established routines. I have sometimes wondered what effect it would have if all teachers would be made to change grades after several consecutive years in the same assignment. During the course of this year, I have definitely been made to reflect on my teaching skills, my classroom management techniques, and abandon old lessons for anew. The future will decide whether I made the right move. MR. SABO / Art Teacher
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