Most teachers in the current educational system in the United States teach in a manner that leads to about a 30% information retention rate for students. With several alterations, students could be retaining...

I used to be able to skim my textbook, call it studying, take the test, and scrape by. This worked for me for a long time, until it didn’t. School got harder, and I needed to up my game. Now that I have...

I’ve always had a weird obsession with some pretty stomach-turning content, but based on the number of views on each of the YouTube videos, I’m certainly not alone. It is one of the most satisfying...

Even the best of outfits is incomplete without two key elements: a matching, stylish pair of shoes and accessories to bring out the best in the rest of the clothing. Whether these aspects are flashy or...

This fall, a family-favorite board game will fall off of closet shelves and onto the stage of the FHC auditorium. It is no mystery that Clue will be the next big hit of the theater program, but the unknowns...

It’s safe to say that I was enthusiastic about the release of Mercury — Act 1 based on my prior review, but when I realized there was an entire second act being released, I was the best kind of startled....

From awkward tweens lip-syncing on musical.ly to the Hype House celebrities of TikTok to the most intelligent dogs of Instagram Reels, brief, 15-second to 1-minute videos are not strangers to the internet....

Tom Hanks movies never fail to make me laugh, cry, and everything in between. From Forrest Gump and its timeless tales, to Castaway’s stressful and lonesome intensity, to the tear-jerking innocence of...

Ephemeral, warm summer winds, constant for only the blink of an eye, somersault and cartwheel through the otherwise rigid air, being the sweet exhale of the oxygen so long held in for the winter.  It...

I nearly dropped my phone when I viewed my favorite indie-pop artist’s Instagram story; Addison Grace announced that they were going to release their debut EP on May 6th, 2022. I could hardly believe...

What was your reaction to getting on prom court? "I wasn't really expecting to get on court and ended up really surprised when they announced my name." What are your short-term future plans? "My...

What was your reaction to getting on prom court? "I was really surprised when I got on court; I was [not expecting it], but I was happy." What are your short-term future plans? "My short-term...

CeraVe has a longstanding award in many skincare drawers; it’s gentle yet effective, and despite not being especially cheap, it isn’t overly expensive either. It is dermatologist tested, and loved...

I didn’t expect to become obsessed with a single-season animated Japanese show that was released eight years before I was born, but before knew it, Cowboy Bebop became one of my all-time favorite anime.  From...

Stemming from a young child who snatched printer paper to scrawl her amateur doodles, senior Meggie Kennedy has let her sketches develop into a fully-rendered version of herself and her skills. From her...

With Easter in the rearview mirror, I have finally escaped the awkward greetings that come alongside religious holidays. Each time I heard “Happy Easter!” on Apr. 17th, I smiled awkwardly and nodded,...

Sophomore Parker Ludwig has a memory sticking with him for ages of doing donuts on a golf cart alongside some of his best friends while at a meet with his cross country team. Although this particular memory...

With pride month on the horizon, it gives allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community alike a summer month dedicated to the celebration of their identities to look forward to. In addition to parades, festivals,...

Although my skateboarding skills are subpar, my love for skate shoes and brands far surpasses my physical abilities. Santa Cruz, Thrasher, and Vans products are among the most populous in my drawers as...

Most readers treasure their favorite books and plan to never part with such works. However, AP Literature and AP Language teacher Lisa Penninga thinks that allowing someone else to have the opportunity...

We’ve all heard of the “fake fan” in different fanbases; from TV shows to music groups to aesthetics, there are always a select few who will be accused of being a poser because they are not overly...

Due to my curse of indecision, I haven’t gotten a haircut other than a trim in years. As the years pass by, I am left reminiscing on the different types of impactful statements such topical haircuts...

Most girls have a phase from toddlerhood to young childhood in which they are completely enthralled with horses, ponies, and everything equine. However, senior Claire Richardson took her childhood dreams...

For a solid three years, my outfits were almost exactly the same: some sweatshirt with a cheesy phrase and pitch-black leggings that I wished were Lululemon instead of Gap. I’d like to say that I have...

Throughout the history of the United States, there have always been strenuous tensions between Russia and countries that are a part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). These tensions aren’t...

The FHC Athletic Hall of Fame has been on hold for a couple of years--thanks to COVID-19. Now, however, the FHC Athletic Boosters Club is excited to announce that on May 6, the inductions will get rolling...

Some amusing anecdotes and one-liners that elicit a laugh can travel through the generations, carrying chuckles with them. However, most jokes are trapped in the era they originated in, leaving both the...

Having a mom who cringes at “Can’t Stop” and a dad who sings “Give it Away” every time he selects it, it was pretty up in the air about what my opinion of the Red Hot Chili Peppers would be....

Senior Kayleigh Ford was taken by surprise when the customer at the Starbucks drive-through where she worked was not answering any of her questions. When the customer finally pulled up to the window after...

I love the typical “strong” female character in any type of media—her no-nonsense approach to encounters, her lack of need for a man in her life, and her rough and tumble or dignified and professional...

Sadly, most series, including widely beloved ones, lose their spark over time and either stop releasing original content or stray so far from the classics that the first fans are beyond disgusted. Thankfully,...

During the height of the pandemic in June of 2020, English and Theater teacher Robbin DeMeester found herself investing in the newest trend despite the reservations of many. Although many see cryptocurrency...

ENFJ, or the Protagonist. The extroverted, intuitive, feeling, judging person who is represented by a long-haired, wizard-looking man cloaked in emerald with a large sword. That odd warlock figure is what...

When reading an article on the local news last year, junior Amant Grewal was shocked to find out that even within her own community, there are many instances of racial injustice. While national headlines...

Over a Sunday breakfast several days prior, a new restaurant by the name of Bobcat Bonnie’s was pasted all over beneath a fold of the Grand Rapids Press. Since I hadn’t eaten at a new restaurant in...

I have never been one to wear my hair up—whether it be because I have a massive forehead or my ears get cold without my hair to insulate them, I almost always have my hair down if I’m not doing highly...

I had a longtime grudge against Bruno Mars throughout my childhood—I deemed him obnoxious, full of himself, a complete pick-me boy, and as my sister once put it, a “simp.” I could only see his music...

Reposted all over Snapchat during the height of quarantine was a picture of senior Bella Beckering’s duck on Zoom, captioned 'duck on zoom.' Mr. Duck may have experienced a rise to fame on social media,...

Opinions expressed in editorials on The Central Trend are the view of the individual writer and are not the opinion of the entire staff of The Central Trend or the Forest Hills Central staff or administration. Many...

Opinions expressed in editorials on The Central Trend are the view of the individual writer and are not the opinion of the entire staff of The Central Trend or the Forest Hills Central staff or administration.  Usually,...

Penny O’Meara, for being the one I can always count on to read my mind I know I’ve let you down a few times, but you’ve never left me hanging. I feel like I can tell you anything—your ability...

Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds are polar opposites: one has muscles that many viewers envy, and the other has a sense of humor that draws many in and boasts gaining popularity among teenagers on the...

When students walk into English teacher Lisa Penninga’s classroom, they don’t usually imagine reading a cold, gothic, and creepy book in such a warm and inviting classroom. However, this is precisely...

Before it dissipated, my love for Ed Sheeran was rekindled by all of the spectacularly ridiculous TikToks about the artist. When I discovered that another operation was being added to his series of albums...

Many people's ideal time in Florida would be spent basking in the sun, exploring one of the many theme parks, or enjoying nature in the Everglades. However, freshman Dia Sriram spent her time in the Southern...

Since I had been waiting fifteen years to meet you, I certainly considered the chance that I would be mildly emotional and that I could possibly shed a tear of joy when you finally were in my arms. However,...

"A couple of weeks back, around one [or] two months ago, the fellas and I went on an expedition to a supposedly 'haunted' spot up in Rockford. I think the area was called Friske's Creek, and basically,...

Coldplay’s name has been floating around for decades, but I had yet to sit down and listen to an album by the band prior to the release of their newest album Music of the Spheres. Similara to the song...

If not for her high school physics class, physics teacher Amy Stone would never have fallen in love with the subject and found her career at FHC. To make sure all students could experience an array...

Product: Snacks 2 Go Instagram: snacks2go_fhc Group Members: Michael Campbell (management/leadership), Chris Dongmo (sales), Bennett Nieuwkoop (supply chain), Tyler Nass (marketing), and John...

While some countries have dogs, chickens, or even goats wandering around outside of a shelter, the most commonly seen outdoor animal in the United States is cats. Though many are feral, a large number...

I was thoroughly confused when I heard the solely major key kick off Addison Grace’s remake of “Overthink,” which was called “Why I Overthink.” Rather than starting off on a twisting minor tune,...

Most Halloween costumes are either frights or fantasies. For freshman Jake Barnes, however, it was his future. When Jake was four years old, his mom hand-made him an FHC band uniform—this was a burst...

I can laugh and I can yell, but I cannot cry. When I am in public, I subdue any sensitive emotions with my sarcastic smirk and horrible humor. Even most of my closest friends have yet to see tears trickle...

As soon as I hit play on the musical In The Heights, I knew the six dollars I had paid for the rental of the movie were well spent. I couldn’t sit still in my seat—I had to pause the movie for a moment...

Sophomore Class President Lucy Wu has never had the opportunity to go to a Homecoming dance, even though she's in her second year of high school. Due to the COVID-19 virus, many events, including school...

What was your reaction to hearing your name called? "I was so surprised—my hands flew over my mouth. When I was walking down with [senior] Ian [Goodman], I was still processing the whole thing—it...

Very rarely is it that I find a song that I will listen to on repeat; I can probably count the number of songs that get this honor on one hand. But “Follow You,” one of the singles in Imagine Dragons'...

While in their room one day, freshman Ava Malinowski was visited by the presence of one of their ancestors. This marked a new chapter in their spiritual journey—ancestry communication. Spirituality...

For the past eight years, the same memory has haunted me.  I was almost seven years old—my birthday was that week. I had just arrived in the Dominican Republic, eager to begin exploring a country...

After listening to the single “Shy Away” by Twenty One Pilots, I was extremely concerned about their new album, Scaled and Icy, that was soon to be released. I was so nervous that all of the risky,...

I hated the wind. Not the wind that softly lifts my hair and cools my face, but the kind that shoves in my ear. The kind of wind that feels like it is flapping against my eardrum, shuffling in and blocking...

In a world sophomore Ellie McDowell has created, a woman must fight her tyrannical brother for the inheritance of the royal throne. However, before she can take hold of the throne, she must end a life. This...

Banging drums, belting guitar riffs, originality, and a lack of structure are all things that I typically look for in my music choices. Despite not meeting any of these criteria, brent ii was not as bad...

Laws are laws, and they are there for a reason. No matter what people’s social statuses are, they are not exempt from following these laws. This was solidified when two YouTubers, Leia Se and Josh...

Junior Emily Smith doesn’t believe that it’s only what's inside that counts. As an aspiring packaging engineer, Emily knows the importance of not only the product, but of the container it is in...

Flashing lights, a dramatic performance, blasting speakers, and a crowd hopping to the beat while screaming the lyrics to each song at the top of their lungs. This is what I experienced at the most exhilarating...

I am not the person who has profiles written on them. I lack a voice for singing, legs for running, a hand for writing, a face for beauty, fingers for painting, a brain for academics, and a soul for...

Just two photographs were all biology teacher Kristy Butler needed to see to know the positive impact the trip to Iceland had on her students.  In the photograph taken shortly after their arrival to...

While watching Into the Beat, I had to switch my TV on and off multiple times before I realized why none of the words matched up with the mouth movements. The film, released on Netflix on July 16, 2020,...

“She just wants attention.”  “He’s not really depressed.”  “I hate attention-seeking people like that.” These phrases have been spoken many a time by people around me, myself included....

Junior Joy Song's lifelong dream blossomed from the digestive system. Joy first discovered her interest in the medical field during the fifth grade human body unit in her science class. Once she had...

When my friend aggressively suggested that I should listen to AJR’s newest album OK Orchestra, which she had awaited since the previous album’s release, I knew I had no other choice but to check it...

They are on fire. The fumes of resentment taint the air around them—but the fire is solely internal for now. It flickers in their stomach, waiting for the moment to consume them entirely. Waiting. Waiting....

Senior Molly Vonk loves the ability to be an individual while being part of something bigger than herself. As she sings in her choir classes, she can paint her own voice in bold strokes while softly blending...

As a fan of the Jonas Brothers, I was intrigued when I heard that the man who had decided to create some of his music solo, Nick Jonas, was releasing a new album. Unfortunately, not one of the songs in...

Ten puppies are crammed into a rusty cage along with their mother who can barely even turn around. They’ve been sitting in their own mess for days, and they haven’t been eating nearly enough. Their...

Senior Emma Lobbezoo spends her days digging through culture, but not the way you might expect. The bins filled with clothing are both an instant teleportation all over the globe and a time machine to...

Being pulled from a class and taken to a classroom to play brain games while being labeled as “gifted” seems like a dream for most students. However, for senior Lindsay Larson, this experience wasn’t...

Many films strive to be original, but it is getting increasingly more difficult to come up with a storyline that doesn’t already have a similar counterpart or one that would be actually intriguing for...

Ever since my early days of being enthralled with the many clips on the popular app TikTok, I have consistently found one particularly irritating type of video on my For You Page. Over and over, time...

The sky was the exact color of my mood: gray, cloudy, and downright unpleasant. However, after being escorted into the small building recently relocated onto Ionia Avenue downtown, my mental clouds quickly...

The fingers of chilling frost wrap around me. I am pulled into the polar vortex of snow crystals. As I fight to pull away, the icy grip tightens. I cannot struggle anymore; I let myself be ripped into...

Senior Lily Campbell is unaffected by the socialization nightmares many face. At one time or another, most people get into a social situation that they’d rather not be in. Whether that be nervous to...

Since quarantine began, I have listened—and over-listened—to a large number of new songs. From rap to pop, I have listened to big-time artists who made their debut from all different decades.  However,...

Whenever somebody asks me what sport I do, I answer with the sole extracurricular I take part in: horseback riding. Their response about fifty percent of the time is the uneducated “horse riding isn’t...

Sophomore Mrrudhula Perumal looks up to a young girl named Emma. While most people’s heroes are a celebrity or a family member, Mrrudhula is in awe with an anime character. “[I look up to] Emma...

If there were Star Wars fans who weren’t drawn in by season one of Disney+’s The Mandalorian, they certainly have been by season two. Season two of The Mandalorian started out much like season one...

The person across the room is undoubtedly me. It’s me because of my long hair, which is either in a ponytail or hanging down. It barely conceals the short, choppy, fuzzy hair coating the nape of my neck—the...

Senior Hadeel Ayesh’s parents left their home country of Palestine to start a new life for themselves and their children in the United States. In doing this, Hadeel’s mother also left behind her dream...

I was not exactly looking forward to reading a book given to me by my mother, much less a romance book given to me by my mother. However, I was hooked after my eyes met the first sentence. David Yoon’s...

Movies are intended to be dramatic and over the top--it’s what people I like to watch. Disney+’s new 2020 Black Beauty movie took it ten steps too far. In the reboot of Black Beauty, I was eager...

Freshman Jonathan Mossner doesn’t like to be in the spotlight, but the character he’s playing does. Attention isn’t what Jonathan is looking for in theatre. Instead, he wants to assume a different...

When I heard that my favorite HGTV star was coming out with a documentary, I was skeptical. As much as I loved watching Jonathan Scott and his brother Drew flip houses on their well-known show Property...