Skip to Main Content
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

Meredith VanSkiver

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager

Meredith VanSkiver is a senior entering her final year on staff, which makes her bittersweet but still ready to work. In addition to The Central Trend, she is also involved in student council (board president) and is a part of both the improv and debate team. She participates in theatre and has been a part of last year’s musical and this year’s play. She has lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan her whole life but hopes to travel more in the future.

Favorite thing about being on staff: Getting to be around some of the most interesting people at FHC and getting to write about some of the most interesting people at FHC

Favorite type of story: Reviews!

Hobbies/interests: Reading, writing, arguing, movie watching, sleeping, being with her dog, and advocating for the oxford comma.

Favorite book: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

On a Friday night, you will probably find her: Cheering on the rangers at a football game, (re)watching a movie, or spending time with friends.

Zodiac sign: Capricorn

Meyer-Briggs Personality Type: ENFP

All content by Meredith VanSkiver
10 movie recommendations for quarantine

10 movie recommendations for quarantine

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager April 23, 2020

Here are two indisputable facts: I love movies, and I have way too much free time thanks to quarantine. So, I have been gifted with ample time to rewatch old favorites or enjoy movies I’ve never seen...

Myka Hoyer isn’t afraid of big decisions

Myka Hoyer isn’t afraid of big decisions

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager March 11, 2020

It isn’t very hard to come to the conclusion that our physical appearance is usually the very first thing people notice about us. When meeting someone new you take notice of their clothing, their smile,...

Loud and proud: how I found my voice

Loud and proud: how I found my voice

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager February 20, 2020

Chubby, cherub cheeks framed my boastful smile as my grabby fingers clung to the picture book. My jittery leg kept up its tap tap tap in rhythm with my anxious heartbeats. It felt like the small and compact...

Your guide to the 2020 Oscars

Your guide to the 2020 Oscars

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager February 6, 2020

Over time, I’ve developed a deeper love for movies with each passing year; the more movies that I watch, the more refined my taste becomes, and I am able to more easily distinguish the good movies from...

Little Women delivers big

Little Women delivers big

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager January 30, 2020

Of all media in the world, Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women, seemed to be a story that was not lacking. In addition to the original novel, there have been four movies, three mini-series,...

My anatomy: fire and ice

My anatomy: fire and ice

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager January 23, 2020

I sometimes feel like I am a being of flame--not on fire, but made up of it. Heat and passion and energy pulse through me as I go through life with a smile that could melt metal. My laughter is encompassed...

RAT Q&A: Kaylee McGuire

RAT Q&A: Kaylee McGuire

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager January 16, 2020

Name: Kaylee McGuire Grade: 12 1. What is your act?  "Hula Hoop Dance." 2. How did you prepare? "A lot of practice." 3. What made you audition with your act?  "I love it." 4....

RAT Q&A: Susan Toppen

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager January 16, 2020

Name: Susan Toppen Grade: 12 1. What is your act? "For RAT I will [be] playing a song on the ukulele and singing." 2. How did you prepare? "I have prepared for RAT by practicing for a good...

1917 is the new standard of what a movie can be

1917 is the new standard of what a movie can be

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager January 16, 2020

There’s something eerily powerful about starting a movie with “based on a true story,” knowing that what you are about to watch is rooted in reality, with real-life serving as almost more than inspiration.  1917...

I'm not good at painting my nails

I’m not good at painting my nails

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager December 3, 2019

I am not good at painting nails; I never have been.  Maybe it started by the horrible fine motor skills that I have had since I was a child or maybe it was so difficult because of my lack of confidence...

Life happens in the hidden moments

Life happens in the hidden moments

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager November 26, 2019

There are moments that are less like reality and more like floating. Those fleeting flakes of existence lie somewhere off the realm of normalcy. They are real-life that has been soaked in a movie and delineated...

Books are my own brand of magic

Books are my own brand of magic

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager November 12, 2019

“Books are uniquely portable magic.” -Stephen King  With a trip to the mall this past weekend to fulfill some errands on my checklist, I found myself having completed everything on my docket...

A quiet change

A quiet change

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager November 5, 2019

“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.” -Marry Shelley in Frankenstein With a weekend bracketed by one of my last high school football games and the senior dinner...

What's in a name?

What’s in a name?

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager October 29, 2019

“What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” -William Shakespeare Amongst a candid conversation with my family, I learned that the next choice for my name,...

Homecoming spirit days

Homecoming spirit days

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager October 9, 2019

Monday Pajama day + "The Shirt"   Tuesday  Tie dye Tuesday   Wednesday Workout Wednesday   Thursday Throwback Thursday/Retro day   Friday  Green...

The Lion King is a roaring disappointment

The Lion King is a roaring disappointment

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager October 1, 2019

I think that the best movies are the ones that make a point—the ones that have something to say. All successful movies have a message, though said message may vary in level of profoundness.  That’s...

Downton Abbey is a royal delight

Downton Abbey is a royal delight

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager September 24, 2019

The Downton Abbey movie was akin to enjoying a warm cup of tea with a friend you haven’t seen in many years, knowing you won’t see them again for a very long time. It was warming, though heavily...

Student Q&A - Maxime Larmande

Student Q&A – Maxime Larmande

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager September 20, 2019

1. When did you first learn about the new phone policy? "In the summer around August." 2. What was your initial reaction? "I was pretty mad [about] it." 3. What did you think the implementation of...

Student Q&A - Ella Kelly

Student Q&A – Ella Kelly

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager September 20, 2019

1. When did you first learn about the new phone policy? "I learned about it from my mom [at] the beginning of August." 2. What was your initial reaction? "I was really surprised, and I wasn't sure...

The Goldfinch is a surface level flop

The Goldfinch is a surface level flop

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager September 17, 2019

In order to practice the movie-obsessed mindset that I preach about every day and in other works on this site, I try to stay as up-to-date on Hollywood’s latest endeavors. So, when it was first announced...

It Chapter Two delights, not frights

It Chapter Two delights, not frights

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager September 10, 2019

With a monstrous tome of over 1100 pages as source material, a part one installment that was the most commercially successful horror movie of all time, and loyal fans of both, it suffices to say It Chapter...

Falling Inn Love only falls flat

Falling Inn Love only falls flat

Meredith VanSkiver, Public Relations Manager September 3, 2019

Surprising no one who knows me, I can proudly say that I love rom coms.  Let me amend that; I love good rom coms. A romantic comedy that’s sharp, fresh, and well thought out can become an instant...

Student Council Q&A: Sean Stone

Student Council Q&A: Sean Stone

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer May 29, 2019

Name: Sean Stone Grade: Freshman Running for: Treasurer 1. Why are you running? "I've always liked treasurer and what they have to do." 2. How do you believe you can help your grade? "I can...

Student Council Q&A: Maurielle Hayes

Student Council Q&A: Maurielle Hayes

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer May 29, 2019

Name: Maurielle Hayes Grade: Freshman Running for: Trustee 1. Why are you running? “One of the main reasons I am running is because I want to be involved more within our school. I believe...

Student Council Q&A: Ben Lowen

Student Council Q&A: Ben Lowen

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer May 29, 2019

Name: Ben Lowen Grade: Sophomore Running for: Secretary 1. Why are you running? "Because I want to see a change in the way that our class handles its challenges." 2. How do you believe you can...

I refuse to have a whitewashed education

I refuse to have a whitewashed education

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer May 23, 2019

As is not unusual, during the start of my sixth hour, I caught up with my fellow journalists and friends on The Central Trend about what's new in their ephemeral last few weeks of school. One of them brought...

Class of 2020, it's almost time

Class of 2020, it’s almost time

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer May 9, 2019

Ever since the start of second semester, in my opinion at least, it has felt as though the conversation of the senior class almost leaving was a topic bordering on taboo for the juniors. The threads of...

Ujean - Filmfest Preview Q&A

Ujean – Filmfest Preview Q&A

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer May 3, 2019

Film: Ujean Producers: Brendan Wendlandt, Will Cammell, Jake Lenderink, Ian  Interviewee: Brendan Wendlandt 1. What’s your film about? "Our film is about a character from the film we made...

Humans of FHC: Meribell Varghese

Humans of FHC: Meribell Varghese

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer May 2, 2019

“I’m doing track and field this spring. It’s going okay. I’m doing discus, which is different for me. [Discus] is just like throwing a hard disk. It is full of boys, so I’m like the only girl....

Humans of FHC: Cakki Mehney

Humans of FHC: Cakki Mehney

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer May 1, 2019

“I went to Europe with my dad this past summer, and that was really fun. We went to London, Paris, and Amsterdam. That has probably been my favorite vacation. We were actually in Paris the day France...

Five things the musical has taught me

Five things the musical has taught me

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer March 21, 2019

In the early days of a seemingly lack-luster December, I made the decision to try out for the spring musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I had been vacillating between whether or not...

Humans of FHC: Sarah North

Humans of FHC: Sarah North

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer March 8, 2019

"We're doing crew right now; we have non-mandatory practices. A week ago, I was running sprints before the warm up, and I partially tore my hamstring. Normally, I don't get super upset when I get hurt....

Humans of FHC: Parker David

Humans of FHC: Parker David

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer March 7, 2019

“Freshman year, during The Little Mermaid musical, I was sitting, waiting for my cue for the finale, and a bunch of the ensemble kids were just sitting on the floor. Now-graduated Evan Kuiper was fake...

We need to crave the moments in between

We need to crave the moments in between

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer March 7, 2019

I think that it comes as no shock for me to say that we as humans define and measure our lives by the massive, memorable, and mesmerizing moments. We focus on the scrapbook-worthy, framable events that...

A frozen world

A frozen world

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer February 11, 2019

I woke up, and the world was frozen. Not glistening with frost or fluffy with snow, but frozen. The previous night’s freezing rain had left behind a coating that was as thick as a pinkie finger and...

I’m seventeen, what’s the big deal?

I’m seventeen, what’s the big deal?

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer January 10, 2019

I am a newly-crowned seventeen-year-old. It’s odd, really. It doesn’t bring about the promise of being able to drive like turning sixteen does. It doesn’t signify the start of adulthood like eighteen...

Sound is the best part of our lives

Sound is the best part of our lives

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer December 13, 2018

My over-imaginative brain has provided me with many inquiries that occupy thoughts and keep me awake. I’m always one to bug my friends and family with odd, hypothetical 'would you rathers' and 'what...

Words are my world

Words are my world

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer November 26, 2018

I’ve always had a thing for words, almost an obsession with them-- how they look on a page, how they taste in your mouth, their cadence and pattern; the power they hold is infectious. As a child,...

The life of an oldest child

The life of an oldest child

Meredith VanSkiver, Staff Writer November 15, 2018

Being an oldest child is kind of like being the president; it’s a fun position in theory, but a ton of repercussions come with it. It's a glamorous, glorified, golden title that I’ve had all my life,...

Load More Stories