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The Student Voice of Forest Hills Central

The Central Trend

The Student Voice of Forest Hills Central

The Central Trend

The Student Voice of Forest Hills Central

The Central Trend

Autumn VanSolkema

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer

Autumn is a junior entering her first year on The Central Trend. She loves a good romance novel, but loves her corgi more. If she is not belting out Taylor Swift songs, she is teaching herself new songs on the guitar or ukulele. You can find her cheering on the sidelines of football games or coaching her little fourth-grade cheer team. Autumn has grown up loving the theatre, being both on the stage and in the audience. She has performed in many shows and regularly begs her parents to take her to New York again to see more Broadway productions. Autumn is an avid photographer, with her camera roll being filled with 19k+ photos over the last two years.

Her least favorite things in the world: Balloons and Styrofoam.

Her favorite musicalsWaitress and Mamma Mia

Number of surgeries she's had: 7

Her favorite condiments: Mayo and Ranch

Favorite season: Just like her name, it's autumn

All content by Autumn VanSolkema
A collage of some of my many favorite memories of this past year.

The contents of my camera roll, taking it “bird by bird”

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer May 31, 2024

Here I am, lying on my bed. My phone is in hand, and my favorite app, my camera roll, is open in front of me. I move my fingers across the screen, and the moments fly by. I pause, stopping on a picture...

The airport where so many memories are stored for me.

[Photo] The melting pot: in memoriam

Rowan Szpieg, Staff Writer May 31, 2024

The airport where so many memories are stored for me.

A photo of Whalen, her husband, her children, and more

Rose Whalen is moving on to a new stage of her life after 36 years of teaching

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer May 29, 2024

Many years ago, while giving an Algebra 2 test, a student in the front row farted, and teacher Rosemarie Whalen was the one laughing the hardest. It is a memory she will never forget from her teaching...

The Young Sheldon poster for the show's seventh and final season.

After a seven-year run, Young Sheldon finally comes to a heart-wrenching and wholesome ending

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer May 20, 2024

At the beginning of my junior year, I was browsing through Netflix, trying to find something new and interesting to watch. I then stumbled upon a show called Young Sheldon. It seemed like a nice, kind-hearted...

Some of the lovely people I got to spend my week with last year

Forever and a day

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer May 17, 2024

The calm but loud water was full of life and excitement as kids went in and out throughout the day. Fire circles of poems about going back to the city were read, and tears were shed about having to return...

The movie poster for Netflix's Unfrosted, released May 3

The movie Unfrosted made me question how the Pop-Tart truly came to be

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer May 13, 2024

The Pop-Tart.  A classic American breakfast item consisting of a rectangular-shaped pastry with flavored filling on the inside and icing on the outside.  The inventor of the Pop-Tart, William Post,...

A collection of Barrons AP test prep books used by many students

The best ways to study for AP exams

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer May 11, 2024

Amid AP exam season, I have been trying to find the best way to prepare for my tests. The test material has components that students have been learning since the beginning of the school year, covering...

An image of my friend and I at a playground (third place).

[Photo] How the third place deficit bolsters teenager’s chronically online habits

Elle Manning, Staff Writer May 17, 2024

An image of my friend and I at a playground (third place).

Arpita Das has found her way through high school through various activities

Arpita Das has found her passion for business through Model U.N. and DECA

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer May 1, 2024

At a Science Olympiad competition at the University of Michigan, senior Arpita Das got lost amid the Ann Arbor campus.  She eventually found her way back to the group; this was one of the many memories...

The ball of yarn slowly unraveling as time progresses forward

The skein of yarn is slowly diminishing

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer April 25, 2024

Knitting is a simple concept. Use two needles to tie string together with knots to create almost anything someone can think of. Simple enough. But what happens when one knot comes loose and the whole...

Me in my princess dress with Cinderella at Disney World in 2010

I’ve always longed to be a princess

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer April 23, 2024

I sit on the carpet; my young eyes gaze at the glowing screen. Encapsulated by the scene in front of me, I watch, eagerly anticipating what will happen next. I am drawn in by beautiful gowns, princesses,...

Maddie Sizemore posing for the camera in front of a beautiful background.

Through fashion and makeup, Maddie Sizemore expresses her creativity

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer April 19, 2024

From edgy one day to preppy the next, senior Maddie Sizemore loves to experiment with her clothes. For Maddie, choosing her own fashion is a way of self-expression and helps her find what she likes...

The sunset she had raced home to see on her second night in Houston

The end is just as beautiful as the beginning

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer April 11, 2024

As she looks at the time, she realizes she will be late. She jumps in the car, the others following behind her, as she says, “Come on, we’re going to miss it!” They’re off, cruising down...

The cover photo and movie poster for Irish Wish on Netflix

Irish Wish made me wish to shut it off

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer April 10, 2024

If I’m being frank, I hated this movie. Irish Wish popped up in my Netflix feed a few weeks ago and I knew this would be a ride. I went into this movie with an open mind and low expectations. My expectations...

The progress of each student's research in the class on the whiteboard

AP Research students explore deeper into information about Disney, effects of yoga, and AI

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer March 18, 2024

What impact does doing yoga before a math quiz have on students' test scores?  How can artificial intelligence be utilized in digital media creation?  How does changing a character’s race and...

The seven women who make up the 
 Big Dipper constellation in my life

My life playlist: “A Sky Full of Stars”

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer March 14, 2024

When I gaze up at the night sky on a clear evening, I’m in awe at the abundance of stars there are in the endless, black abyss of space. There is something special about breathing in outside air and...

Three preteen girls going through their skincare routines together.

Can we normalize kids being kids?

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer March 11, 2024

Why are kids washing away their childhoods? We live in a day and age where kids are encouraged to grow up faster than they need to. Preteens—children—are dressing like they’re 16 or older when...

Kate and some of her friends at Unity jujitsu.

Kate Bakhuyzen finds an expressive outlet through jujitsu and photography

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer March 4, 2024

When junior Kate Bakhuyzen took her boyfriend to one of her jujitsu classes, it resulted in a bloody nose and a funny memory for both of them. Jujitsu is a form of martial art and fighting; it does...

A 17-year-old just trying to live her life in the moment.

My life playlist: “When I Grow Up”

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer February 29, 2024

People always ask her, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” When she was younger, she would respond with one of the common answers many kids have when they are little: a teacher, a princess,...

Costco vs. Sam's Club, highlighting their similarities and differences

Costco vs. Sam’s Club: what’s the difference between the two massive warehouse retailers?

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer February 26, 2024

In this day and age, there are two mega subscription superstores in Grand Rapids: Costco and Sam’s Club. Many consumers have a membership to either one or the other because they are essentially the “same,”...

My friends and I excitedly awaiting our Culver's Kids Meals.

[Photo] Culver’s Kids Meals are underrated but should be more commonly consumed

Juliana Lieuwen, Staff Writer February 22, 2024

My friends and I excitedly awaiting our Culver's Kids Meals.

Two year old me smiling at my reflection in the window

My life playlist: “You’re on Your Own Kid”

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer February 20, 2024

I long for a sibling. Always have, always will.  My house is built for two.  Built for two kids running around, playing together, or talking the night away.  My bedroom and another room connect...

A collage of photos throughout our friendship.

[Photo] My jewelry box: rose quartz

Juliana Lieuwen, Staff Writer February 21, 2024

A collage of photos throughout our friendship.

Taylor Swift announcing Tortured Poets Department at the Grammys

The easter eggs behind the announcement of Tortured Poets Department explained

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer February 12, 2024

Taylor Swift is known for being a “Mastermind” for her use of easter eggs in almost everything she does. From her Instagram posts to her website and even sometimes her outfits, she almost always has...

Jordan Koning dribbling the ball down the court

Jordan Koning’s involvement in sports has grown her confidence as both a player and person

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer February 9, 2024

Ever since she was little, sports have been a vital aspect of junior Jordan Koning’s life. Jordan has played basketball and lacrosse since she was little, her older brother, Jake, has had an influence...

The star tower filled with thousands of gold stars

My life playlist: “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes”

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer February 1, 2024

“Finally,” I had thought as I boarded the plane. I had been awaiting this mission trip for months and the moment had arrived for me to go. The next day, we took our tour of the Give Kids the World...

The cover of the novel Wildfire, by Hannah Grace

Wildfire by Hannah Grace is a warm-hearted novel that embodies the feeling of summer

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer January 29, 2024

Aurora Roberts and Russ Callaghan thought they would never see each other again after last night. They both were headed off to somewhere new later that week and didn’t exchange information to stay in...

A collection of some TV shows from Disney Channel

Childhood TV shows hold a special place in students’ hearts

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer January 25, 2024

Hating a vegetable and talking in a British accent, diving down to the bottom of the ocean to save marine life, and nannying four kids with insanely wealthy parents are just some of the many plots in children's...

One of my favorite memories is playing guitar in the trunk of the car while watching the sun set

[Photo] The melting pot: a string of opportunities

Rowan Szpieg, Staff Writer January 24, 2024

One of my favorite memories is playing guitar in the trunk of the car while watching the sun set

The Diagon Alley inspired street we accidentally came across

My life playlist: “All Things End”

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer January 18, 2024

I no longer love Harry Potter. My passion for making scarves out of yarn has long been forgotten. The wands and skeins of yarn are now in my closet, not being used. When I was 12, I was obsessed with...

One of the many posters for the 2024 version of Mean Girls

While some songs fell flat, the Mean Girls movie musical was a new twist on an iconic story

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer January 16, 2024

“This isn’t your mother’s Mean Girls.” On Jan. 12, Mean Girls the musical movie was released in theaters. I decided to brave the blizzard and make my way to the theater on its release day. As...

one of my favorite moments and photos from my 2023.

My life playlist: “New Year’s Day”

Autumn VanSolkema, Staff Writer January 12, 2024

Every chance I get, I open up Spotify and hit play. Whether it be singing in the car or having a song playing in the background while I study and read, music is a vital part of my life.  Like many...

Autumn and I after spending far too much money on these useless items.

[Photo] The useless pieces of plastic are collecting dust in my basement

Juliana Lieuwen, Junior Writer December 14, 2023

Autumn and I after spending far too much money on these useless items.

The trees in late November when it snowed frequently

The timing is right, but the feeling isn’t

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer December 11, 2023

It’s December—the end of yet another year that flew by. Blankets of white, frosty snow should be covering the grass of seasons past, but it isn’t. The forecast has been in the high 30s to low...

The lights and ornaments hanging on all the booths around the market

The Grand Rapids Christkindl Market is a spectacular way to celebrate the holiday season—if you don’t mind long lines and lots of people

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer December 6, 2023

Walking through the glistening lights, hearing Christmas songs blaring over the loudspeaker, and smelling hot cocoa wafting through the air are the most festive of feelings. My senses captured these feelings...

Art done by (from left to right) Yasmin Tomaz, Alex Fletcher, Jake Barnes

FHC artists are breaking reality and painting their own paradise

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer December 4, 2023

Throughout the halls of FHC, there are many talents and passions among the students. One interest that is constant in the lives of many students is something they have been doing since they were little:...

The water lily in my hair on my first trip up to the cottage

A water lily and a memory

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer November 27, 2023

For as many years as I can remember, my family and I would head up to the cottage. It wasn’t our cottage but our neighbors. Then, one year, we stopped. I was told it was because we were getting too old...

TCT's The Countless Thanks 2023: Autumn VanSolkema

TCT’s The Countless Thanks 2023: Autumn VanSolkema

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer November 20, 2023

To Elle Manning, for being the sister I never had I have known you for ten years at this point, and I am beyond thankful that little Elle moved across the street from little me way back in 2013. I have...

A collection of all the different versions of the story of Matilda

It’s time to stop making existing stories into musicals; I crave an original

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer November 15, 2023

In recent years, there have been many storylines portrayed in different forms of media. Stories like Matilda, which went from a book to a movie to a musical to a movie musical. This is not the only plot...

A photo of Meredith and Christian in Costa Rica

Meredith Bethea’s brother is her built-in support system

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer November 13, 2023

Sibling relationships are unique in each family. They can be the ties that bind people together or sibling rivalry can prevail. For Junior Meredith Bethea, having a sibling is a great thing in her life. Meredith...

Some of the photos I took this October.

A moment is worth capturing

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer November 6, 2023

19,687. To this date, that is how many photos I have taken over the past two years. Ever since I was little, photos have been a constant aspect of my life. My parents have a file folder on our hard...

A collection of the items from the shows: playbills, posters, and confetti

“The Sparkling Diamond,” Mormons, and “Ex-Wives” of Broadway made my weekend magical

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer November 1, 2023

I recently had the pleasure of visiting one of my favorite cities in the world: New York City. I have loved NYC all my life and was thrilled when I got to go back to the magical city on the East Coast.   I...

The members of the book club have a passion for reading that they love to share with others

FHC’s Book Club is expanding their personal libraries with every new book

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer October 30, 2023

Diving through a world war in The Divine Rivials to a fictional college setting in The Secret History, the FHC Book Club is exploring different stories and worlds together. The book club meets every...

A collection of some of my favorite memories within this car

Dear Subi

Autumn VanSolkema, Junior Writer September 22, 2023

I spent 324 days of adventure with you, but now, I have to take that journey with someone else. I won’t see you and be filled with excitement anymore, but I’ll never forget you. I won’t be...

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