Rachel Toole is a sophomore entering her first year on staff. Rachel loves to travel and explore new places, as well as try new foods. Rachel also enjoys playing volleyball and soccer for the school and for club teams. She is very excited to be on staff and grow as a writer while she meets new people.
Favorite food: Sushi
On a Friday night you will find her: Hanging out with her friends
Here’s the goodbye to the best and worst year of my life: sophomore year.
You were like a roller coaster constantly wavering between highs and lows. I both loved and hated you at the same time, but...
Ever since sophomore Sydney Lauer's dad received a new job in Massachusetts back in November, her whole life has changed right before her eyes. As she spent her very last year in Grand Rapids, she stayed...
“The summer after eighth grade I was fishing with two friends at the dam in Ada. It was a great summer day including lunch from McDonald's. After fishing, we were going to walk back to my house, and...
We all know the story of a widow trying to regain her happiness after her husband passes away, but Dead to Me took a cliche plot and created something I never expected.
At first, the Netflix original...
Film: Mafia Al Dente
Producers: Abeer Khan, Mark Kemp, Elena Nasser
Interviewee: Elena Nasser
1. What’s your film about?
“This girl who's from a long line of people who are in charge...
For the past two weeks, I have not been able to walk up stairs. I had to learn the proper way to use crutches, and I had to learn how to walk normally again.
I tore my ACL and meniscus.
A few Wednesdays...
After a stressful seven hours at school, I decided to treat myself to some sweet treats. After driving about twenty minutes, I found myself in front of the cute, simple, and aesthetically pleasing Cakabakery...
Isn’t it funny how we have so many friends but can’t remember when these friendships started?
I always think back to the beginning moments of my various friendships, but as I tried to recall those...
"One time, I was going down a water slide on a blow-up playground when I was about 12 years old at my cousin's house. While I was going down the slide, my little sister sat down on my finger. At first,...
While Alyssa Zadel’s senior year filled with dance team practices and dance competitions comes to end, she trades in her Ranger dance uniform for a Michigan Wolverine uniform. During her college years,...
After sitting in my car for over ten hours watching episode after episode of The Office, I decided to venture away from the comfort of my several simple shows and watch something that might actually educate...
This past week, I lived with my toes in the sand and the sand in between my fingers. As cliche as that sounds, this past week I was the happiest I had been in a while. As my stomach jumped with each wave...
After entering high school last year, sophomore Sukhpreet Singh decided to join Science Olympiad, a team that not only expanded his learning of science but introduced him to a whole new group of friends...
Biggby’s iced teddy bear drink is my go-to coffee, but I decided I’d be a bit adventurous and make my way to downtown Grand Rapids to a little restaurant/coffee shop named Local Mocha.
Online,...
The grey days overpower the sunny days. The sad overpowers the happy. The bad days overpower the good days.
Whenever I’m asked the question “How is your day?” I immediately respond with either...
Trading the dance floor for the stage, junior Sarah Buchanan finds herself backstage as Assistant Student Director/Head of Deck Crew preparing for the role of Student Director her senior year.
Next...
“One time, about five years ago, my mom took my sister and me on a trip to Florida for Spring Break. Instead of flying—like we usually do—my mom thought it would be a good idea to drive for the experience....
Being the Disney fanatic I am, seeing a movie named The Little Mermaid made me quickly reminisce about a young red-headed princess I had grown up adoring. Although, within the first few minutes of the...
Juggling a persistent social life, arduous school schedule, and copious sports practices, the various snow days did nothing but complicate life for junior Ivana Webb. As late April and early May--or more...
There are 365 days in a year.
Shockingly, in 2018's 365 days, 312 of those days included a mass shooting.
Gun violence has become an extremely controversial topic within the past few years. The...
Located on Monroe Street in downtown Grand Rapids, right across the street from Madcap Coffee, a cozy cafe sits awaiting hungry customers. Little Bird not only filled my stomach, but it filled my expectations...
“Over spring break last year, my family and I took my friend Morgan Mittlestadt to Gatlinburg, Tennessee— somewhere we had never been before. My family rented a log cabin in the mountains, but it didn’t...
Don’t drink. Don’t smoke. Don’t do drugs.
I used to think that if I abided by these few rules, I would grow up to be an exceptional child; although, I have learned that just making those three...
Wrestling has always been viewed as a sport only for boys, but this year, when FHC introduced a girls wrestling program, everything changed. Now, eight girls make up the biggest girls wrestling team in...
As my power flickered out in my house and boredom kicked it, I traveled the icy roads to a movie theater nearby. The ice storm raged outside, but I was warm and joyful inside watching The Upside in a comfy,...
Yesterday, I was bored for the first time in five months.
As a child, being bored was common to me; my summer days and afterschool activities consisted of no responsibilities. Whenever I found myself...
During the month of February, as snow dusts the ground, teachers pile on the homework, and cabin fever sets in, the students of FHC greatly anticipate the biggest event of Winterfest Week: Macho Volleyball,...
Buffalo Wild Wings has become the go-to spot for wings in Grand Rapids, but that is all about to change. Four miles from school, the chain restaurant called Wingstop just opened on 28th street, ready to...
When I was about seven years old, I would look at 11-year-olds and wish I was them. When I was eleven years old, I would look at 15-year-olds and wish I was them. When I was 15 years old, I would look...
Ten minutes into watching Bird Box, a brand new 2018 original Netflix movie, I had to pause the movie, breaking the trance I was cemented in. My hands typed fast, but my heart was beating even faster....
Our world is cliche.
It’s hard to stray from the vicious normalities of life. Being unique and different is hard. You might be viewed as weird or strange, but is that really what we fear?
I have...
Located in Room 154, in the basement of the school, lies a class like no other: Gone Boarding.
From building surfboards all the way to longboards, the students of Gone Boarding spend their block class...
Intense and action-filled movies are not my favorite.
Each time someone gets hit, I flinch and cover my eyes. Although, while I sat watching Creed II, I was mesmerized by the fights occurring on the...
My biggest dream.
The University of Michigan.
Every since I was a little kid, I have loved school. The unnecessary homework assignments I would receive in kindergarten—that consisted of counting...
Small, sparkling, shining lights on the tree, piping hot chocolate on the counter, and the movie Christmas Chronicle playing on the TV. A perfect recipe for a perfect Christmas.
While watching The Christmas...
Pounding feet hit the floor while heavy breaths fill the warm, humid air. Jazzae Ford and Crystal Delgodo, new FHC dance team coaches and best friends, are learning a new dance that they will be performing...
Kelsey,
As the holiday season creeps near, and family time becomes more frequent, I realized something.
You're my best friend.
As we shop for pointless gifts for my family, the laughs we share...
A countless number of Christmas movies come out during the holiday season; however, none can compete with the iconic Grinch movie. Once I heard that a new, updated version of The Grinch was being created,...
My six best friends- for being the people who know me better than myself
From the Friday night chaotic dance sessions to the Saturday morning groggy breakfasts, you guys never fail to put a smile on...
It eats away at the back of your head; it makes your hands sweat, and it makes your heart beat too fast for your body. Guilt.
Guilt travels in a variety of forms; it spans from allowing your eyes to...
Standing on the illuminated stage, junior Ella Guikema—immobile and dressed in ragged clothes—looks out into the crowd. Hot, bright lights burn her eyes, and the conversations of her fellow cast members...
