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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

Kiera Kemppainen

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor

Kiera is a senior continuing her writing journey with The Central Trend for a fourth, and final, year. Being on staff for the past few years has been one of her favorite parts of her high school experience. Besides writing, Kiera spends her fall as a part of the FHC varsity golf team and her winter on the ski team. She also has been coaching a youth golf team for the past three summers. For the rest of her time, Kiera likes to be around her family and friends. Kiera looks forward to making the most of her senior year while being part of The Central Trend for the last time.

Favorite book to gatekeep: The Green Glass Sea, by Ellen Klages; it was her fifth-grade book project book that her mom recommended

Current obsession: Headbands

Favorite movie: 10 Things I Hate About You

Has she gotten over hating steak? No, and don’t expect her to

All content by Kiera Kemppainen
The color white encompasses every color of my life, from freshman year until now.

The colors of my life: white

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor May 2, 2024

At the end of my freshman year, I defined white as one color of my life. It was the color of my summer, the color of my feelings. It knew me and every other color of my life. This year, I have identified...

These are some of my favorite custom finds for colleges on Etsy.

Etsy offers the best custom college gear

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor April 25, 2024

All I can think about is college gear: hoodies, t-shirts, pennants, keyboard stickers, and confetti. As I have finally made a decision on college, these thoughts have infiltrated my brain even more....

On Tuesday, I met cream and crimson for the first time, surrounded by stone and trees.

The colors of my life: cream and crimson

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor April 19, 2024

As I reflect back on the main colors of my life, I am just beginning to meet a new pair.  They have been slowly reaching for me. They have known me for years. Streaming through the blood of my relatives,...

A cloudy sky of murky grey similar to the mist that covers my mind.

The colors of my life: murky grey

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor March 15, 2024

I see the world through a vision of blur.  The clouds have covered the sun, though perhaps my mind has done it, not nature herself. Then, the sun comes out, but blurry she is. A murky grey filter has...

A photo of one of my old teammates—who I coach with now—and I in our blue jerseys.

The colors of my life: orange and blue

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor March 1, 2024

I first learned of orange and blue in a fit of tears. My mom told me that I would be joining my local PGA Jr. League team; It was the very last thing that I wanted for my summer. I didn’t want to...

These are my top picks for trendy, bright sneakers this spring.

Bright shoes are in for spring

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor February 28, 2024

Through the past year, I have been seeing an influx of colorful sneakers.  Adidas particularly has been largely in the spotlight. I hopped on the colorful shoe trend last fall with a birthday gift...

A picture of me and my dog during my last season competing in Ranger Green.

The colors of my life: Ranger Green

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor February 20, 2024

I have been competing and cheering in Ranger Green for as long as I can remember. My brother was already a Ranger by the time I was born. I grew up in the stands of his football games, basketball games,...

The bow trend originated with just hair bows, as seen above, but has morphed into something greater.

The bow trend has gone too far

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor February 12, 2024

I love bows.  I have strands upon strands of ribbon to tie into my hair. I weave long ribbons into my braided hair; I tie a slick back with a bow. I knot a strand around the belt loop of my jeans. And...

One of the greatest places I saw rocky red was at the Valley of Fire in Nevada.

The colors of my life: rocky red

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor January 19, 2024

At seven years old, I met rocky red.  It hid beneath the glistening snow. It pokes its head through the dirt on the mountainside. But I did not yet know how much I would get to see of rocky red. I...

A big group hug with my Goodwillie family a few weeks ago.

The colors of my life: Goodwillie blue

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor January 10, 2024

For the first time in six years, I was home with my family.  Not in my literal home, with my literal family, but it feels the same. I was back with about half of my classmates from Goodwillie Environmental...

Moments before silent whispers turned into the tune of 'happy birthday' in the candle's copper glow.

The colors of my life: copper

Kiera Kemppainen, Social Media Manager December 11, 2023

In my life, copper isn’t a color; it’s a place. It’s people. It’s a feeling. It’s a lifetime. It’s a week. I have been lucky enough to get to spend the past two Thanksgiving break weeks...

Some of the key accessories in my habit of using cherry red as an accent.

The colors of my life: cherry red

Kiera Kemppainen, Social Media Manager November 6, 2023

Cherry red is the color of ladybugs. Every spring, they swarm my windows. Dozens of ladybugs adorn my windowsill. I don’t know where they come from or how they get inside, but without fail, they arrive....

The Nestlé Toll House cookies that I made the other day.

Fall is the perfect time for these cookies

Kiera Kemppainen, Social Media Manager October 30, 2023

When the air turns cold and the leaves lose their green, there is nothing I want more than a warm, fresh-from-the-oven cookie. I love to bake but cannot stand to be working with the oven during the...

The sunrise a few weeks ago in the front of the school.

The colors of my life: red-orange

Kiera Kemppainen, Social Media Manager October 26, 2023

In middle school, I got into an argument with my friend over the color of my shirt. I said it was orange; she said it was red. While it could’ve passed as either, it was definitely a red-orange: too...

A corner of the sky blue room that has watched over the majority of my life.

The colors of my life: sky blue

Kiera Kemppainen, Social Media Manager October 9, 2023

I am surrounded. It’s everywhere. It’s on my walls, it’s in my veins, it’s in the sky and the lake. It adorns my wardrobe: the furniture and the clothes. It’s in my eyes. Sky blue is everywhere. My...

Neon green is associated with my ski helmet and my time at Copper Mountain last year.

The colors of my life: neon green

Kiera Kemppainen, Social Media Manager September 25, 2023

It was never my favorite color; it still isn’t. It’s too bright and eye-catching, but I associate it with some of my favorite memories. I’ve been wearing a neon green ski helmet for ski racing...

A younger me in my carnation pink crown with the princess I used to dress up as.

The colors of my life: carnation pink

Kiera Kemppainen, Social Media Manager September 11, 2023

I learned to ski in a carnation pink helmet. Some of my earliest memories are at Caberfae, with a ski leash on my back and a pink helmet on my head. That helmet stayed with me from my early days on...

In a lilac dress, I tried to remember my younger self.

The colors of my life: lilac

Kiera Kemppainen, Social Media Manager August 28, 2023

As I rifle through a green bin of dresses, I grin. I see a mass of lilac and ribbon. I put it first on myself, then dressed my American Girl doll in a matching one. I place a braided crown of gold on her...

The mountains I know will stay tall and snowy, no matter where my life goes.

A year of silence

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer May 30, 2023

This year, I’ve learned to love the silence, of both my brain and environment. I live in awe of its beauty. There is such peace in being able to sit and exist. Not every moment needs to be filled with...

Josie Nugent dancing in a competetion.

Josie Nugent dances her way through life

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer May 24, 2023

After running off stage during a performance, freshman Josie Nugent was struck with the realization of her mistake. “One time at a dance competition,” Josie said, “I accidentally went off stage...

The bowl of pistachios I ate throughout writing this column.

These are my thoughts on pistachios

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer May 8, 2023

I hate pistachios.  They are, by far, one of the stupidest foods. Who would ever want to snack on a type of food that you have to work for? And don’t get me started on the pre-shelled ones. Despite...

Did you see the sunset on this day too, or are we too far apart to share a view?

A love letter to those I’ve never known

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer April 25, 2023

I miss you. I miss you more than the trees miss the sun on a cloudy day, more than they yearn for it during the winter. I miss you more than how badly the grass needs the rain—even more than the sun...

These are my two favorite patterns of Chaco sandals currently.

Step into this summer with new sandals

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer April 17, 2023

A few years ago, I was obsessed with Chaco and Teva sandals. At this time, I was going to overnight camps over my summer break. I never knew what shoes I was supposed to bring when the packing list, year...

A glass my mom had made when my aunt was diagnosed, filled with a Shirley Temple—yet another pink thing in my life.

Through the eyes of an angel

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer March 7, 2023

Everything is changed. Pink was the color of life. It was Aurora’s dress and that girl from Team Umi-Zoomi’s hair. It was covering my walls and windows and bed. It was happy and bright. It was innocence...

Some of my favorite finds at T.J.Maxx from the brands I search for.

Let’s destroy T.J. Maxx

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer March 6, 2023

If you get any TikToks on your For You Page about T.J. Maxx, you've likely heard the words of Avery Katherine Wood. Wood makes videos about products she finds at T.J. Maxx. She forever opens these videos...

Senior Quinn Brennan, who is sporting his absolute favorite camouflage pants.

The men at FHC embrace their style

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer March 1, 2023

When searching through one of his go-to thrift stores, senior Quinn Brennan found unique pieces of clothing to expand his closet, including a piece from over thirty years ago. “I have a vintage band...

An image of a building in Ukraine following Russian attacks.

Tragedies are not trends

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer February 27, 2023

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The Russo-Ukrainian War had been ongoing since 2014, and I had heard nothing of it. But right after the invasion, it was all anyone could talk about. My TikTok...

Some of the highlights of this year's Converse Valentine's Day disappointment.

I expect more from Converse than this

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer January 30, 2023

Dear Converse, what is this? This year’s Converse Valentine’s Day collection is a compilation of unoriginal shoes. When I initially looked at this drop, I liked it. But as I scrolled through the...

"The city never sleeps at night," and neither do I.

There’s no rest for me

Kiera Kemppainen, Staff Writer January 19, 2023

I used to have trouble sleeping.  There were monsters under my bed, in my closet, and outside my windows. My room was too dark. Nightlights filled the gaps of every open outlet. I would lie in bed...

My tried and true, everyday Converse; neutral yet fun, exactly what I like.

This season’s top Converse picks

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor December 12, 2022

I absolutely love Converse. Yet with a small collection of five pairs (plus my mom’s two pairs), I always reach for the same pair. They’re light green and light gray. The green makes enlargened flower...

The view from halfway down the hill after a ski racing practice at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

What if the mountains really are calling?

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor November 29, 2022

“The mountains are calling, and I must go.” Yes, I must.  I find peace in the brisk air. It fills my throat with ice after a run. My throat burns as I inhale more and more, trying to slow my heartbeat....

These are five dresses from Rent the Runway that I would much prefer to see for school dances, as compared to plain ones.

Homecoming shopping from a hypocrite

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor November 7, 2022

I want to preface this by saying that I am a hypocrite.  I buy my dresses for school dances at Von Maur and Macy’s, and I always attempt to find one at Windsor. My dresses are often plain colors....

If my love on sunsets reflecting on the lake isn't already a part of my puzzle, I hope a new piece appears on a table.

A puzzle without a picture

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor October 28, 2022

The pieces of the puzzle are scattered. They litter the entirety of the table that they are sitting on. At one point, portions of other puzzles were thrown in the mix as well. Those pieces have now either...

The light at the end of the tunnel: 100 stories written, who knows how many to go.

Here we are

Kiera Kemppainen, Copy Editor October 14, 2022

These are the words I thought I’d never write. This is my 100th story for The Central Trend.  100 stories written, (nearly) 100 stressful nights spent writing. Two, going on three, years have...

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