When he was 15 years old, Spanish teacher Carlos Silvestre experienced his first huge cultural shock when moving to America from the Dominican Republic. Silvestre was born and raised for the majority...

I was in seventh grade when I first became obsessed with The Hunger Games. I read the trilogy within a couple of months—which, for me, was incredibly fast. I watched the movies over and over, and,...

She had been told she lived a rich life. The tales told of her show her walking among her riches. Golds and jewels line her castle and adorn her wrists and neck. She dresses in the most elegant of threads...

To The Central Trend staff, for making my final year extraordinary Every year, I walk into the TCT room that first day of school not knowing what to expect. Of course, without a doubt, I walk out of...

During one of the weekly excursions with the Forest Hills Northern Gone Boarding class, senior Sam Wordhouse and FHN senior Jaden Polizzi strayed away from the group while wakeboarding and discovered something...

The night of Aug. 18, 2015, was, to this day, one of the best nights of my life. For my ninth birthday, my parents got me tickets to see Taylor Swift in concert during her 1989 World Tour in Chicago....

Everything happened all at once. One moment, it was calm. There was not a single ripple in the water. It was completely still, and I could breathe. At that moment, the sun was beaming down from a...

It was a dark and stormy night. The clouds were low and green, and lightning lit up the entire sky. Rain was pelting the ground with no remorse. Senior Lily Ohlman—who was almost a junior at the time—was...

For 11 years, I was told how things were going to be when I went to college. I blew it off; why would I think about college at eight years old? The most I did was pretend to care about the Michigan...

As the common Swiftie saying goes, I have lost the “Great War.” I lost it a great number of times, actually. I lost it last November; I lost it in June, in July, and in August. To put it into...

In the midst of pouring rain and biting cold, a sea of eager high schoolers dressed head-to-toe in black clothes cheered for their football team as they won their Homecoming game. Within the crowd, senior...

I will never not love a good music video. I have always enjoyed watching them since I was little. Whether the video had good visuals, a storyline, or dancing, I would watch them for hours at a time. When...

In this moment, I am livid. I walk out my door with a face of utter disgust. I huff in frustration. It is 80 degrees outside. The auburn leaves have barely made their glamorous appearance. The biting...

Senior Andrew Shier and his family own upwards of 40 different board games. The classic form of bonding between board games is taken to another level at the Shier household. Starting at a very young...

Growing up, I watched almost every single Disney movie that was put into theaters. I watched Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder fall in love and discover that she was the lost princess. I watched Lightning McQueen...

For 11 years, I was the spectator. I sat and watched from the sidelines, watching them all go through it. I didn’t know most of their names, but I envied them. I wanted to be them. I wanted to...

“If [the song] moves you when you’re writing it, you’ll probably move someone else.” This was a quote said by none other than Andrew Hozier-Byrne, more commonly known as Hozier, while on an...

For over a year, I had zero desire to watch the first season of The Summer I Turned Pretty. I had nothing against the show, but it did not interest me in the slightest. However, when one of my close friends...

As we grow older, everyone will be telling their tales of triumph and defeat, of enamored passion and devastating heartbreak. They will recount their adventures filled with action and magic, with princesses...

Vibrant wildflowers cascade across the field, blending in with the tall green grasses. The wind is gently weaving through her dark brown hair as her fingers trace the yellow and purple petals.  She...

I know, I know. You’re ready to go. But please, stay just a little bit longer. I have yet to run out of things to say. Yes, even I am surprised that, after three consecutive years now, I still...

It did not take the entirety of her adolescence for Spanish teacher Tammie Dykhouse to know what she wanted to do for a living. Teaching had always called her name ever since she was a kid. And, once...

To be transferred from one world to another with the simplicity of words flowing through one’s mouth is no simple task. They must be eloquent; they must be eager; they must be passionate. However,...

Three years. It has been three years since I first walked into room 139. Within those three years, I have had to say goodbye to far too many people. And, once again, I have found myself crying...

It’s normally not difficult for me to write a good column. Usually, I can quickly type how I feel on a Google Doc with ease. Today, I cannot seem to find the words. I am reaching the season...

Senior Allie Beaumont, Editor in Chief of The Central Trend, was not always known for her talent of writing.  Instead, she grew up with her teachers telling her parents that she was behind in her language...

Since I started high school, Lana Del Rey has released three albums, one in each grade. Freshman year, it was Chemtrails Over the Country Club. Sophomore year, it was Blue Banisters. Her most recent...

My chest has felt awfully tight lately. I cannot pinpoint the exact reason as to why. It could be the weight of every class and exam and standardized test pressing onto me. It could be because of...

Netflix has just pulled off one of the smartest marketing methods of the year. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 was released in 2015, which was eight years ago. However, due to such a gripping...

For the longest time, “Take Me to Church” was the only song by Hozier that I knew. Eventually, “Cherry Wine” was added to the list as it was another one of his popular pieces. However, since...

I told myself I would live during the month of March. I told myself that, no matter what, I wouldn’t get engulfed by every taxing chore that took up my life. Yet, that is exactly what is happening...

Junior Liam Bennett goes thrift shopping almost every day. After dropping off his little brother at the YMCA on Burton, he promptly makes his way over to the Goodwill that's not even a minute away....

I have always wanted to travel to Alaska. The breathtaking mountain ranges and the aurora borealis are absolutely beautiful. The animals roam freely, and to me, it is one of the most beguiling states...

The world’s finest cuisines are always described to be located in five-star restaurants with decadent presentations, wowing those who eat it. However, for junior Alex Chen, one of the best foods he has...

The last time we heard from the Pogues, they were stranded on an island they proclaimed to be named Poguelandia.  With a dramatic finale to season two of Outer Banks, I was left speechless, waiting...

On the weekend of Feb. 18, the Science Olympiad team found themselves running across the University of Michigan campus to get to each of their competitions. Going up against 60 different teams at this...

The 2023 Grammy awards were filled with iconic moments in history and controversy like no other. For the past month, I have heard all about the drama surrounding how Beyoncé should have won Album of the...

Today, I saw dust particles flying through the air. Spotlighted by the sunlight beaming through my bedroom window, the particles danced with one another, basking and rejoicing in the beautiful day that...

How do you feel about being on Winterfest court?  "It's very exciting. I was definitely shocked, but I was really happy about it." What was your reaction to the announcement?  "I was definitely...

How do you feel about being on Winterfest court?  "I was very surprised that I made it on the court, and I'm also really excited because I think I'm the only person who wants to do the lip sync, just...

As widely known to the American public, world-renowned journalist Barbara Walters passed away on Dec. 30, 2022.  Her death shocked the country as she was beloved by all and known for her fantastic...

Girls Annie Douma Sarah Dunn Megan Fox Ali Grendel Sophie Kovachevich Boys Raymond Cargill Aden Pomeroy Everett Phipps Jack Manchesky Chris Shang

January, February, and March are my least favorite months. Nothing good has ever come of these ninety days, simply hazy skies tainting my skin in a dull gray. I trudge through those months, waiting...

On the first day of school, seniors Lara Butlevics and Allison Kelly ran up to their classmates and asked them their thoughts on senior year. Now, this was not without motive, as Lara and Allison have...

Each year towards the middle of January, every dancer across the nation—including myself—turns their undivided attention to the UDA College Dance National Championship. All the college dance teams...

In the fifth grade, my favorite book was A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. My teacher read it to the class as a read-aloud, and, lucky for me, a movie based on the book was released later in the...

As a junior in high school, Dylan Pomeroy swiftly slices through the water as he races down the pool. And, while he loves to be in the water now, his passion for swimming did not have a voluntary beginning...

I used to think of reading as a chore. I thought it was boring, and I would groan whenever my teachers handed me a reading log to complete. There would be small bursts where I would find myself engrossed...

With my frigid feet, I was standing on frozen grounds. Not a single crack was visible from five feet and four-and-a-half inches above—I was standing on solid ice. I tried walking, but I couldn’t...

Her head is pounding. She is racing through the mental list she has made herself over and over again, hoping it won’t take hours to complete. But that is never the case; she will always have something....

December is only a mere few days away. With this, the holiday season is drawing near. Black Friday came and went, just like Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. An abundance of sales has prompted...

To The Central Trend staff, for brightening my day as we walk into room 139 Eva, thank you for entertaining me with incredible stories and gossip during sixth hour. Kiera, thank you for always being...

I’ve always loved pictures. They’re a moment in time, a frozen piece of life that can be preserved forever. I spend my free time when there’s nothing else to do scrolling back through the years...

Senior Val Garza remembers exactly when she believes she became a true Taylor Swift fan. While she grew up listening to “Mean” on repeat on her iPod Nano and Red on CD in her family’s minivan,...

I hate to admit it, but I have fallen under Colleen Hoover’s spell. I have heard of her best-selling novel, It Ends With Us, for years now, and with her books gaining a lot of traction on TikTok,...

I can’t remember a time in our lives when we weren’t attached at the hip. When we were young, we would play "restaurant" with imaginary food and guests—unless our family was willing to indulge...

Grade: 10 Role: Unexpected Cop Why do you enjoy being in the play? "I think it gives me a good opportunity to express my acting ability, and I get to hang out with my friends all the time. I...

Grade: 12 Role: Miss Scarlet Why do you enjoy being in the play? "I enjoy being in the play because all the people in it are so amazing to be around, and they make me so happy every time I see...

Grade: 10 Role: Wadsworth the British Butler Why do you enjoy being in the play? "There's a really good sense of community and it's a lot of fun. It's a place you can be yourself in and it's...

There will one day come a time when all I will have is my stories. It will be after I have paid my dues and served my purpose; a time when all I can give to the world is memories from my past. I...

Senior Tara Brace was about to go onstage to perform for Odyssey of the Mind World Finals when she got the news that would forever alter the course of her time in high school. She had reached the goal...

During the years of 1957 and 1958 in Brighton, East Sussex, a beautiful, yet forbidden love story touched the hearts of many viewers. Those viewers included myself and alumna Jessie Warren, who I always...

For my ninth birthday, I got to see Taylor Swift in concert for her 1989 tour in Chicago. It was the first real concert that I ever went to. We were about ten rows from the very top of the stadium,...

Every day, junior Jonas VanderWoude goes to bed at around 8:45 p.m. so he can wake up at 4:45 a.m. He devotes himself to this daily regime before school so that he can work out for basketball, as he...

Name: Chad Scholten When do you normally go to bed and wake up? "I personally try to get about eight hours of sleep. I find that that's when I work best. In the school year, I will try to get up...

Name: Alex D'Alexander Grade: 9 When do you normally go to bed and wake up? "[Around] 11:30 p.m. and I wake up pretty early. I wake up at like 5:30 a.m." Would you say that you have a consistent...

Name: Grace Berlin Grade: 10 When do you normally go to bed and wake up? "I wake up super late in the day, super late compared to most people. I usually wake up at like 6:45 a.m. I get ready...

Every day, after attending school from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., high school students across the nation enter their packed lives outside of the classroom. They meet at their clubs, they join their teammates...

I know it’s getting worse when I wake up in a daze. When my lights are still on and my computer is still open; when my music is still playing and I have papers still scattered around my bedroom floor;...

She stands there, motionless, peering into the dark abyss beyond the streetlights. Barefoot, she stands in the flooded streets. The water is cool, and the hem of her red, plaid, pajama pants were carelessly...

In high school, the most basic, yet dire, necessity is sleep. It is also what many high schoolers are deprived of the most. I can admit that I am a part of the fraction of sleepless students. Sleep, though...

What was your reaction when you heard your name called? "I was very surprised. I had a couple people come up to me and tell me that they voted for me." Why do you think you were nominated? "I...

A few years ago, I wrote down a list in my Notes app of all the shows I would, someday, like to watch. On that list was the Netflix original The Umbrella Academy. I don’t remember what exactly prompted...

What was your reaction when you heard your name called? "I was definitely surprised, but it was a good surprise. I was really excited." Why do you think you were nominated? "I'm a very chatty...

Girls: Allie Beaumont Emma Costello Katya Berjawi Lucy Mclean Paris Gooch Boys: Crandall Quinn Gavin Cai Ian Mahoney Kyle Friar Travis Bolt

Last year, the choreographer for FHC’s Cinderella musical told sophomore Keegan Redmond that he at least had “great effort” while rehearsing a ballroom dance. Keegan admits that he is not the...

September 22nd was the first day of fall. Coincidentally, it was the first day of the year when the air felt noticeably cooler, and there was an extra nip in the morning. That night, I slept with...

The first time I ever watched an Emma Chamberlain YouTube video was in my neighbor’s bedroom inside her massive blanket fort.  We watched her drive around in her car and drink coffee while she showed...

Recently, along with the disheartening news following H.M. Queen Elizabeth’s death, articles and posts popped up on my social media remembering the impact of Princess Diana of Wales on the world. Her...

To AP World History teacher Brad Anderson, comradery within the classes is one of the most integral aspects of the ideal high school experience. FHC has been continuing a unique tradition since 2004,...

I was never one to avidly listen to Elvis Presley. Of course, much like the rest of the world, I was fond of the King of Rock, but I was no superfan. I knew some of his more popular songs such as “Jailhouse...

In the fourteen years since we last embraced, I forgot what she truly looked like, how she smelled, what she sounded like, and one last important aspect: how much I love her. At age two, I could...

It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I’m writing this right now. I would fantasize over this moment just two years ago, back when I thought my dreams were unrealistic. I remember...

On the West Coast of the US, states are being engulfed by the unforgivable, unremorseful flames of forest fires. Specifically in California, homes are being destroyed, many people have been either killed...