Liza McCarthy is a senior who is excited for her second and final year on staff. This year, she is taking on the new role of Podcast Manager which will help her step out of her comfort zone as she works on this project. She enjoys hanging out with her family, friends, and Oliver, her dog. When she’s not playing tennis or going to get ice cream with friends, you can find her reading, writing, and painting. Traveling and hammocking make her happy in the summer months, and she loves the beautiful leaves in the fall.
I’ve always been one to believe that everything happens for a reason and that there is a right time for everything, including when to move on to the next adventure in life. And the current wild adventure...
Scrolling through endless Instagram reels and YouTube shorts, I usually bypass most videos after the first few seconds. However, when I see the familiar soft frosting look of food that looks fake, I stop...
Unlike some students that enjoy the convenience of having a job close by, senior Katie Wilson’s work commute is notably different.
Located in the quaint, small town of Bellaire, Michigan, about two...
Once the highway starts to trail off and parallels rickety railroads of seemingly rarely used trains, you know you're getting close to the Windy City. Stemming from every which way, the tracks point to...
In her new—and very first—album titled with her own name, Sofia Carson takes her listeners through a journey of heartbreak, love, and revival.
Carson has been a minor figure in my life ever since...
In the midst of the sometimes chaotic theater show performance preparations, senior Abbey Calderwood plays the mediator amongst the cast, crew, and adult staff.
The official term for that role is...
Thank goodness I am a very decisive person. Every single day, decisions loom over me, never leaving until a direction is chosen. This has never overwhelmed me, and I feel like it makes cruising through...
Believe it or not, the new Netflix movie, The Adam Project, was my first time ever having the pleasure of watching a movie starring the esteemed actor, Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds is known for starring in...
What started as a struggle to get volunteer hours for the National Honors Society has now sparked a passion for volunteering in senior Gabby Partlo’s life.
Every year, junior and senior students...
I have worked with many unique people all my life—especially in high school.
So, it isn’t surprising to me that there have been times that I have had discrepancies and disagreed with the views...
My first concert was OneRepublic, with one of my really close friends at the time. I can still remember it so clearly—the disco ball shimmering from the top of the Van Andel Arena ceiling, the pyrotechnics...
On one Tuesday night in downtown Grand Rapids, senior Grace Fitzgerald found herself accidentally knocking someone's glasses off while performing a dance move.
Having never tapped a toe to the dance...
To my travel buddies,
As we venture to places all over the world, there are no other people I’d rather do it with.
Oftentimes, it is necessary to wake up ridiculously early the morning of the...
Would you propose to someone you have known for less than one week? Actually, an even better question: would you propose to them having never laid eyes on them?
The Netflix original series Love is...
As freshman Alex Fletcher’s playlist hit an angsty, splenetic-sounding song, she grabbed her art supplies and got to work.
“Last night,” Alex said, “I was drawing, and I was listening to angry...
From a very young age—pretty much since I knew what a veterinarian was—I knew I wanted to work with animals. Instead of most kids who would set up doctor’s offices in their playrooms at home and...
Sometimes I get that deja vu moment where I know I've seen, heard, or experienced something before. But the thought of it is almost comforting to have something familiar around me.
Kevin Quinn’s new...
Since 1886, we have been watching a fifteen-pound rodent act like a meteorologist and predict when our springtime will arrive.
If the groundhog emerges from his little burrow and sees his shadow,...
Melting under the scalding summer sun, I wish for fragile flakes to descend from the sky.
In the thick of the unforgiving winter season that brings frigid temperatures and unpleasant driving conditions,...
I am still very much a child at heart; there’s no doubt that I’d choose to watch movies or TV shows that stray far away from the horror or sci-fi genres. Disney movies, cheesy Netflix comedies, and...
As beams of soft sunlight stream across her bedroom walls displaying her past and present artistry, sophomore Saniya Mishra can often be found sprawled on the floor with a pencil in her hand.
For...
Life is not meant to be trekked through alone, and I can confidently say that my partner in crime through it all has never left my side.
Though we are technically cousins, that doesn’t mean we’re...
Though the song “Merry Christmas” has such a simple title, the song lyrics are packed full of holiday nostalgia.
All of the warm and fuzzy feelings pouring into the cherished season have been wrapped...
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.
I...
If you have only seen the first Princess Switch movie, you probably wouldn’t even believe all that goes on in the next two movies—especially the third.
In the first movie, baker Stacey De Novo...
For Senior Roman Kalaczinski, any experience that allows him to interact with students in younger grades is an opportunity he enjoys. So when he heard about Project Charlie, a program that teaches young...
Lauren Batterbee and Rachel Marco—for close to 12 years of friendship
We are Mike, Sully, and Boo. They always say good things come in threes, and that phrase definitely applies to us. It’s so crazy...
I tend to keep every place, experience, and notable circumstance with me in one way or another.
Part of the reason I love to travel and experience new things is to accumulate irreplaceable memories....
Netflix may be one of my favorite streaming services, but that certainly doesn’t mean I’m a fan of all the original content that they put into the world of TV and movies.
Resort to Love, another...
When junior Sydney Bacon started this school year, she never imagined finding herself in front of various crowds holding a pair of cymbals.
Sydney is one of eight band members that got asked to join...
Long story short, I am an opacarophile—a lover of sunsets.
You can bet that anytime the sky paints itself into something even remotely pretty, I’ll have my phone out, ready to capture the moment....
Junior Emalea Rooke considers herself a competitive person with a knack for figuring out people’s gaming strategies.
So when her board game enthusiast friend, freshman Angel Dominguez, told her...
"I have a ghost named Stephanie. She lives near the side of my house, and I see her in the window sometimes. She has spoken to me before; she said, 'Hi, Lauren, it's me' in a very feminine voice. She sat...
Some might’ve used the COVID-19 lockdown as a time of self-reflection or decided to pick up a new hobby. Elton John, however, elected to make new connections and associates in the music realm.
Per...
I don’t think I say “thank you” enough.
I’m so unbelievably grateful for all the astonishingly significant people in my life, but sometimes I consider the possibility that I don’t express...
Though I can’t say I’ve had a lengthy career as a babysitter, I will say I do wish I would’ve known about some of the tips and tricks that the Baby-Sitters Club came up with.
Based on the book...
For most people, experiences at airports while navigating around the hustle and bustle of the crowd can be slightly stressful, but for freshman Avery Schanski, airports bring a feeling of excitement.
“I...
Product: Class Threads
Instagram: @FHClass_threads
Group Members: Hunter Robinson (manager), John Horky (finance manager), Madison Sizemore (sales department), and Carson Miller (supply help), Lagago...
Zoos have been around for millions of years. The idea of a place where you can observe many different animals all at once is simply not a new concept.
Even the rulers of Mesopotamia, China, and Rome...
Honors English 10 teacher Ken George works the hardest he can at making his class anything but ordinary.
Just this past week, the honors kids’ normal class time was held outside.
They cleaned...
What started out as a lighthearted Disney+ original series abruptly turned into a show with a much deeper meaning.
Starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jason Scott Lee, and Kathleen Rose Perkins, Doogie...
What was your reaction to hearing your name called?
"I was very surprised and didn't expect to be called at all."
Why do you think you were nominated for court?
"I feel [like] I am a very social...
When I grow up, I want to be the best me I can be.
When I grow up, I want to be able to say that I worked my hardest to get the life I want. I want all the years of school I spent sitting for hours...
It’s hard to believe that Pacifico Deluxe is only Surfaces’ fourth album.
The band composed of the duo Forrest Frank and Colin Paledecki has been meandering around in my Spotify for ages, and...
What made you decide to join Improv?
"I convinced myself that I was funny, and my friends also tried out."
What is your favorite Improv memory?
"Shingle Witch and Holy Donkey."
Why should...
When student teacher Natalie Belsito took the opportunity to work alongside the biology teachers here at FHC, she had no idea that she’d be working in the same building as a relative of hers.
“My...
The thunder rolls, and my world seems calm.
As I write this column, rumbles of thunder mixed with the pitter-patter of prominent raindrops rush through the trees outside my window.
Thunderstorms...
Predictability is one element of a story that really bugs me.
Why sit through a two-hour movie when you already know the outcome for the characters?
However, in Cruella, this was not the case....
*Lauren is in italics as she wanted to be fancy, and Liza is not because she wants to be taller.
Due to our matching golden locks of hair, we claimed to be sisters. We were attached at the hip, theoretically...
When I found myself at MercyMe’s Imagine Nation concert in the fall of 2019, I barely knew of the band; they’d only come up on some of the Pandora playlists at my house on occasion. All I knew was...
What started with her mom seeing a Facebook ad has turned into a life-long hobby that sophomore Katie Romijn has become passionate about.
Taking the chance to try something new evidently benefited...
Anyone who’s met me can vouch for me when I say I’m not the most outgoing person.
I’ve been that way all my life, and everyone knows I’m quiet; I’m not inclined to share things without being...
On my birthday this year—March 19—it was evidently a special musical-related day for someone else too.
Louis Knight, an English singer/songwriter who appeared on American Idol season 18, graced...
When freshman Ella Piontkowsky was only four years old, she already had her eye on the prize: a blue dance competition jacket just like all of her sisters’.
“When I was [young],” Ella said, “I...
Graduation and senior year always seemed to be a far-off thought for me until recently.
Whether we accept it or not, the class of 2022 will be in the same place the seniors this year were—graduating...
John Stamos is staring in the new Disney Plus Original series, Big Shot, and honestly, I think it could quite possibly have the potential to become a modern-day classic Disney series.
The series pilot...
Senior Chloe Teliczan is still unsure what her future will bring her.
Having narrowed down her college choices to Western Michigan University and Ferris State University, Chloe is still trying to...
I want to go back to the times when all I had to worry about was sunburns and tan lines.
Take me back to the palm tree-lined boardwalks that lead me to nothing but beautiful beach sunsets.
Fly...
Senior Abigail Cool’s college decision process was overall seamless, unlike most seniors.
Abigail only applied to one college: Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. This college also happens...
As the stage glows with immeasurable amounts of spotlights, the 2021 season of American Idol Top Ten is crowned.
This year, the amount of talent displayed on the Idol stage is astounding; never in...
In life, there are the people, places, and things I never let go of.
The serendipity of the springtime includes sweet baby bluebirds chirping from their nests hidden high in the branches amidst the...
As a kid, having a “Yes Day” would be the best day ever.
The movie Yes Day on Netflix gives families a feel of what that kind of day might be like: kids going crazy, bending all the rules, and having...
Senior Joe Clancy has accomplished something that very few students have done before at FHC. Though it wasn’t something death-defying or inherently dangerous, it did take a lot of endurance and skill.
Joe...
The years of my life are sufficient with milestones. Unique to each person, these prominent or succinct moments contour how lives turn out and who is the most influential.
I am beyond grateful for the...
Growing up, I’d often find myself perched in front of my tv after eating lunch. Tom and Jerry was an after-lunch favorite; I loved seeing Jerry the mouse scamper across the screen with Tom the cat chasing...
In all the years that FHC has been around, having an open campus lunch has never been a serious consideration. Although, Principal Steve Passinault admits that the discussion has come up a few times within...
The smell of the sweet cotton candy and salty popcorn drifts all around the bustling place. You can’t just sit in your seat and not crave the mouth-watering goodies that people around you are going nuts...
As the 2021 season of American Idol has begun, it made me curious to see how last year’s top contestants have been faring in the world of music, and as I was looking, I stumbled upon one of my favorites.
Julia...
It’s game night.
Friends gather around to play a night full of fun games with difficulty levels ranging from Monopoly to Machi Koro.
New York Seltzer sodas in a variety of flavors get passed...
Just by the sound of the first note of a song, you could tell that it was written by Surfaces.
On February 28, 2020, the group released their third album, Horizons. Honestly, I think this album—chocked...
As the production of this spring’s musical High School Musical Jr. progresses, there seems to be one key element theater teacher Robbin Demeester is looking forward to: the show being filmed as a movie.
Last...
While I walk on the crumbling, crunchy snow, I take a breath that ices its way through my lungs. The smallest little crystalline flakes find spots to rest temporarily on my brow before melting away into...
My favorite part of Pixar Popcorn is not what you would expect from this short little collection.
The arrangement didn’t have too much packed into it; I guess there’s not an incredible amount...
As unexpected as it may seem, freshman Emma VanTongeren’s horse, Vinnie, claims Poptarts as his favorite food.
Emma has been riding horses both for fun and with the intent of competing for about...
Name: Paige Fron
Grade: 10
1. How are you acclimating to the switch to Canvas?
"[I am not acclimating to [Canvas] the greatest right now because the Canvas platform is similar to Google Classroom,...
Name: Chad Scholten
1. How are you acclimating to the switch to Canvas?
"For me personally, Canvas is what’s called a Learning Management System, which is a fancy website that allows you to organize...
Name: Jacob Tishon
Grade: 10
1. How are you acclimating to the switch to Canvas?
"It's actually pretty easy. It took a little bit of getting used to, but it's not [that] different from Google...
To grandmother’s house, we go. But unlike the famous song, the five-minute drive is not necessarily over the river and through the woods, yet we still get to my grandparents’ house all the same.
The...
Although it took a while, Shawn Mendes finally released his new album.
On December 4, 2020, all 14 of Mendes’ new songs—including the previously released single, "Wonder"—were released into...
For FHC Math teacher Tracy Will, what started as “all her husband’s idea” turned out to be a great blessing for her family.
In June of 2020, Will and her family purchased a family cottage on...
One of my very closest friends to this day is in the background of one of my family pictures, one from when I was merely 3 years old.
In the 2007 picture, it’s a typical crisp fall morning, and my...
Freshman Natalie Hedger looks forward to one trip every year.
When school and sports get stressful, sometimes it’s helpful to have a nice relaxing family vacation to look forward to every year....
Shawn Mendes’s documentary on Netflix, In Wonder, was released at just the right time: under a month before Mendes’s newest album, Wonder.
The documentary was a combination of little moments that...
As I write this, my furry best friend is laying at my feet.
The twelve-pound Bichon Maltese that we elected to name “Oliver” has become the center of attention in my family.
Resting his sweet...
The snow is not junior Seth Bush’s friend.
For a new driver, driving in the snow can be very intimidating. One month into having his driver’s license, disaster struck on the road one snowy morning.
“I...
It’s not like I was intentionally longing for a continuum of The Princess Switch, but hearing the announcement of The Princess Switch 2: Switched again undeniably got my attention.
The Princess...
Mom and Dad: for everything
Thank you for everything you do for me. Whether it's helping me with math homework or painting my nails, I’m thankful for every moment. Thank you for giving me a chance...
Junior Jack McNamara’s dog has a knack for escaping.
Jack’s family loves to travel and get out of the house; he and his family rent a cottage every year in Grand Haven. His dog, Ranger, a miniature...
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