James Baron

Tennis player, James George Baron, 16. He was at the age of 6 when he first got interested in tennis. So, he has been playing tennis for 10 years. He has lived in Roanoke, Virginia since he was born and lives with a family of five, mom, dad, and his two brothers, 12 and 15. James’s parents got him interested in tennis to begin with.

You may think tennis is an easy sport, right?  Well not for everyone, James Baron broke his arm when he was playing a long match on clay. “I’ve played for 7 hours straight before, it’s interesting, because it gets harder and harder the further you go up in the matches,” said James. One day he had a very complicated match. It was a normal day until he looked up and realized the sky was darkening up, he didn’t panic even though he knew it was going to rain. Next thing he knew it was raining and it wasn’t his first match in the rain, so he kept playing like nothing was going to happen. It was already his fifth hour playing and he was a little exhausted, but he didn’t let that phase him. The other person hit the ball to him and he went to hit it and he slipped, landed on his arm in an awkward position. James went to move his arm and it wouldn’t move, while he was trying not to cry. “Tennis takes a strong mental game and a lot of dedication, although it can be an easy sport to learn,” said Baron.

James plans on playing tennis for the rest of his life, he wishes to pursue a career with playing it. “You can always improve, no matter what. There is no getting worse, improvement,” said Baron. James wants to go to college that has a really good tennis team. “It’s so much more fun when you play with your friends, but you always need to concentrate,” said James. Every sport is important to pay attention too so you know the proper techniques to do.

                                                                                                            By: Alexis Peggins

Hannah Childress

Angelie Aboujaoude

Angelie Aboujaoude is 16 and her hobbies include singing, dancing, and shopping. She lives with her parents, and her younger brother (12), and little sister (6). She finds the most interesting part of high school being band. She wants to have a nice career, but she doesn’t know what that career with be yet. 

She has traveled from Los Angeles to Apple Valley to Anaheim and many other places in California. She was born in Los Angeles and has lived in Apple Valley and Ontario, California. “There are so many beautiful cities, Anaheim is where Disneyland is at and that whole area is gorgeous,” said Aboujaoude. “One time, one of my best friends and I went to Vidcon which is a video convention for all of the YouTubers at the Hilton hotel in Anaheim. There’s this guy that we’re huge fans of named Chester and he was walking around signing autographs and such. So when he went to his room a few people got into the elevator with him including us. We got to have a conversation with him and everything,” said Aboujaoude.

                  “Hollywood is crowded and dangerous, but it’s still really cool.” Said Aboujaoude. So whether it’s Los Angeles, Anaheim, or Apple Valley she has seen and extensive portion of California. “I am definitely a California city girl”, said Aboujaoude

Alex Brogan

Zach Farmer

For many people, a vacation is a time for relaxation and recreation, but three years ago, Zach Farmer, 16, took a unforgettable trip to New Mexico. In 2012, a thirteen year old Zach Farmer took a trip to hike the Sangre De Cristo mountains in New Mexico. “It was rough, but it was worth it,” said Farmer.

The varsity lacrosse player traveled to New Mexico with 8 others including 5 friends, two older brothers of one of his friends, and a friend’s dad. The hike was a total of 2,000 miles and about 12,500 feet in elevation, and the hike took Farmer and his group about three weeks to complete. “The hardest part was Mount Baldy. …. The trail up to the top was almost vertical,” Farmer explained. During the duration of the trip, Farmer had no access to a shower, and the only food the group was given access to was a bag given to them at the beginning of the trip. For the three weeks, Farmer and his group ate only nonperishable food items such as: spam and squeeze cheese. After a long grueling hike, the group finally reached the end! “When we reached the end besides feeling super tired and hungry, I felt a sense accomplishment, and I was actually sad to leave.” said Farmer.

            Farmer has plans for future hikes, but right now, he is focusing on school. Farmer also has a job as a Kroger employee, and he currently lives with his parents and his two younger siblings, Zoey and Zane. He has thought about hiking Mount Katahdin in Maine. Farmer wants to travel again for more hikes, but he has hopes of becoming a physical therapist and opening his own branch of physical therapy clinics. “I would like to go back out west and hike in Colorado or Arizona,” Farmer said.

                                                           

                                                                                                            By: Kerri Smith

Tyanna McKinney

            For most girls its fashion, beauty, and trying to fit in. For Tyanna McKinney, 17, it’s about grades, college and finally on to life at law school.  She wants to attend a college like Virginia Tech or UVA to major in Pre-Law to get some experience before entering 3 years of law school. “I have always been pretty good at arguing my cases, causing me to want to be a lawyer”, said McKinney.

            Growing up with two parents, three older brothers, and one younger sister, McKinney has had many opportunities to develop her argumentative skills.  She was born in Galax, VA, then moved to Roanoke, VA, in second grade, so it has become easy for her to live closely with her siblings. McKinney also has two older relatives that went through law school and were lawyers also. “I want to follow in the footsteps of my great aunt and older cousin”, said McKinney.

            “At the end of three years in law school, you have to take a bar test, which is one of the hardest tests”, said McKinney. Passing the bar has always been one of her biggest goals, and for McKinney, college has always been a dream. She knows exactly what she wants to do and what to major in to get her into law school. After law school, it’s off to being a lawyer just like her relatives.   So for now, she is currently working on grades to pursue the Career she’s been hoping for.

By: Nathan Schmidt

Rachael Lumpkin

            If you’ve ever wanted to go to England, than you might get along well with Rachael Lumpkin. Rachael, 16, born in Roanoke Virginia, has always seen herself living in the UK. She lives with her Mom, Dad, and older sister Taylor. “There are so many places to visit, and I love the music there.” said Lumpkin.

            Lumpkin has gone to Cave Spring Elementary, Hidden Valley Middle, and is now in Hidden Valley High. “I’ve always wanted to live in London” (Need more quote). Her exotic pet of choosing is a Koala Bear. “They’re just so calm, not to mention they’re soft and huggable.”  Said Lumpkin. Her favorite sport is softball, which she has been playing for 5 years.

            She currently works at Annie Moor’s Pub, and is also currently working on a book! Her favorite school year was her freshman year/1^st grade. Her favorite song is the man who sold the world, her favorite artist is Nirvana, and her favorite genre of music is 90’s rock. She has been in Virginia her entire life, and still looks towards her future in London!    

Nathan Schmidt

When Schmidt was ten years old “his family flew to the Cayman Islands for a vacation, it was the most fun I’ve ever had” said Schmidt. At the islands Schmidt said you could go scuba diving right off the shore and that they had sand bars in the middle of the ocean were you could just hang out and eat. While Schmidt was there, he went swimming with the dolphins and the sting rays. To this day Schmidt wishes he could go back and do it all over again.

Nathan Schmidt was born in Roanoke Virginia on July 1^st 1999. He is an only child and lives with his parents and they’ve lived in Roanoke their whole life. When Schmidt first started going to school he went to Oak Grove elementary and from there he went to Hidden Valley Middle School, and after that he attended Hidden valley High School and plans on finishing his last two years of high school at Hidden Valley.

Schmidt likes to play baseball, he’s played baseball ever since he could walk. He has loves the game and has played all the up to now. When he came into the High School he went out for the team, made it, and has played for the school ever since his freshman year. Schmidt also likes to snowboard in his free time during winter, especially when his family goes on vacations were its snowing.

After high school, Schmidt plans on going to the University of Tennessee for all 4 years of college and after he graduates he plans on working for an airport for a while. Meanwhile Schmidt sees his self in ten years settled down and married to the love of his life and with a baby on the way. But for now Schmidt is only worried about graduating high school and getting into his dream school Tennessee

By: Tyanna McKinney

Matthew Terwilliger

            Have you ever really had to go? Matthew Scott Terwilliger, 16, born and raised in Roanoke County, VA did one fateful day in Floyd County. With his mother, an insurance sales-woman, and his sister Sara, 22, they took a trip to “see all the cute towns from the 1700s and visit all the stores” Terwilliger said. The day started off normal, just a family day trip, but as they were done looking at all the stores it all went downhill from there. As Terwilliger describes the restaurant, “I don’t remember the name but it was just a family owned restaurant that didn’t have much to offer”.  After eating their below average meal, they headed home when the ride took an unexpected turn for the worse.

            After Terwilliger and his family had finished their shopping and eating their lunch, headed back home when things started to get smelly from that point on. On the way home Terwilliger describes it as “the feeling you get when you know something in your stomach didn’t sit right”. When they were driving home Terwilliger began to get more and more uncomfortable by the second with the pain in his abdomen began to get unbearable. That’s when he knew what was going on. He was having a bathroom emergency but there were no bathrooms in sight inside of the car. His one and only option was to pull over at a rundown gas station and hope he could make it in time. He described the gas station as “a family owned, rundown gas station with toilets made out of wood and a smell so bad I can’t even describe it”. But he had no choice, he was having a code brown moment.  He took the bathroom key and braced himself for the disgusting bathroom and took care of business.

            As Terwilliger put it, “it was by far my most embarrassing moment and my family was not happy about it at all”. A little bit more on Matthew, his father works as a detective for Roanoke City, and he lived in Botetourt for a brief period before returning to Roanoke. He doesn’t have a job yet, but he says “I really like old people, I think they’re funny and have good stories so I would like to work in a nursing home”. He hopes one day to become a journalist and wishes to go college at William and Mary or Roanoke College. In his spare time he likes drawing and he is enrolled in Art III this year. He doesn’t have any pets, and his best friend is Mary Willa Foy and he describes her as “funny and artistic, and really dry and sarcastic so it’s a nice balance”.

By: Taylor Cundiff

Kianoush Behinaein

Kianoush Behinaein, 16, was born on November 10th, 1998 in Esfahan, Iran. Kianoush came to Roanoke, VA when he was four years old with his mom, dad, and sister, Ofegh, who was 12 at the time. They mainly moved to the U.S. so Kianoush and Ofegh could go to college because in Iran, college was not an option for them. When Kianoush first came to the US, he nor his family knew any English. “After maybe six months I was fluent in English,” says Behinaein. 

Soon after moving to Virginia he switched between Grandin Court, Raleigh Court, and Highland Park throughout elementary school, then went to Woodrow Wilson for middle school, and is now a junior at Hidden Valley High School. “At my old school it was acceptable to make fun of people because that’s just how we joked. When I started at Hidden Valley, I had to change how I acted towards people because it was different here,” says Behinaein. Now in his third year at Hidden Valley, Kianoush has comfortably adjusted.

            After leaving Iran, Kianoush has only returned once when he was nine to visit family and relive some old experiences. The Behinaein family stayed in Iran for one month over the summer of 2007. “The first two weeks I was there I had food poisoning from expired ice cream so I couldn’t do very much,” says Behinaein. After recovering, he hung out with his family, went some of the parks there, and went out to eat quite often. Kianoush says that besides the pizza, the food isn’t very good.

                                                                                    by Rachel Wills

Kerri Smith

                  Kerri Amanda Smith a sixteen year old who is currently attending Hidden Valley high school and lives with her mother Anne and sister Rebecca is a talented competitive dancer who has won many awards in multiple styles of dance. She is going on her 13^th year dancing and has performed in front of thousands of people in multiple states. She trains in 6 different styles of dance including ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, and musical theater. “Dance is my rock” says Smith. “It helps me when I’m down I do it when I’m bored it’s literally like my everything”.

                  Even though she trains in 6 different styles of dance she says her favorites are jazz and tap. “I like jazz because I really feel like I can be myself and show who I really am” says Smith. “A lot of people don’t do tap anymore so I like to think I’m keeping that art alive”. Being a talented dancer comes with a heavy commitment, Kerri said she trains 4-6 days a week year around with the exception of a week or two off at a time.

                  Even though Kerri loves dancing, she says she does not want to pursue a career in it after high school. She wants to go to the University of South Carolina and become a math or English teacher. “You have that idea of the perfect college in your head that was it for me” says Smith. She said one of her role models is one of her old English teachers from Northside named Mrs. Fry. “She was such a fun teacher and so engaging to everyone.” Says Smith. Even though smith doesn’t want to pursue a career in dance she still wants to practice her passion for years to come.

Josh Foster

Josh Foster is 16 years of age and now goes to the high school of hidden valley.  He has a part time job at Woods – Rodgers law firm, where he is the computer tech there. When I met Josh he seemed like your ordinary high school student, but no he isn’t.  Josh has 8 black belts in martial arts. Including, taekwondo, aikido, judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program), apache Knife, and kung fu. I was astonished at those accomplishments of his, when I was thinking in my head how someone of his stature has that type of talent in the martial arts world.  Josh was very open in telling me why and how he does martial arts. “I am not in the sense of gifted and naturally talented, but I use martial arts as a stress reliever, for everything else that goes on in my life”, says Foster.

Josh doesn’t have any siblings and lives in an apartment with his mother. He took martial arts classes down on Brambleton taekwondo near Ed’s barber shop. That is where he began his skills and knowledge about martial arts and got his beginner belts. Now Josh is teaching martial arts to students back at Brambleton taekwondo and giving back to the  community and giving the students’ knowledge about the sport and what martial arts is and what purpose it is used for.  Now Josh didn’t play a sport that his high school offered to students.  “I didn’t really like all the other conventional sports at the school, that’s probably why I love martial arts as much as I do now”, says Foster.

Martial arts for Josh may seem like something he is wanting to pursue through the rest of his life, but Josh has other plans. When Josh was talking to me about his future plans other than martial arts, he seemed very adamant in his response. “I have always wanted to attend the college of Radford and get my degree in computer science and come out with a job in that field and not have to pay off school loans”, says Foster.  Josh likes to kick, punch, and knock people out cold to relieve him of his stress. But at the same time wants to go to school and get a degree and live a traditional life as well. But if you ever see Josh walking around the halls best try not to make him angry, because you never know what type of black belt he might pull out and most likely beat you with.

By: Jack Tresky

Jack Tresky

High School Junior Jack Tresky is ready for anything as he starts to big changes regarding his future. After playing baseball since 3^rd grade Jack found that he likes the lifting more than the playing. This is what sparked his new hobby of bodybuilding.  As he continues to study to be a physical therapist Tresky learns more and more about what he can be. He wants to use this knowledge to help other people out of tough times and become a role model for anyone who needs it. First off on Jacks list is to get past the expectations set for him. “On top of just enjoying lifting it gives me a way to break the plan that has been set on me by my parents,” says Tresky.

Eventually Tresky would like to be an image of success for other people. He wants to help them either by speaking to them or just by example. “I’d like to be on stage just to show people what they can do” says Tresky. An example Tresky used is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold is a huge mentor and role model to Jack. “He moved to America and became an Olympian body builder, then a successful actor, and then a state governor. Three different careers in one life is a huge accomplishment,” remarks Tresky. Once he finishes school at Radford University with a degree in physical therapy Jack plans to get a job in the field. He hopes this will allow him to move out of his mom and dad’s house and in with his girlfriend in their own place.

Pursuing Physical perfection is just one of Jacks many goals. Without the true support he needs he has found it hard to move on past the negativity. Jack hopes that he can speak to kids or adults in order to get them past some of the same negativity he has faced. He does not like the idea of a parent ruling how a child spends their life and wants to help people see the problem with that.

By: Josh Foster

Rachel Wills

Rachel Wills, a sixteen year old going to Hidden Valley High School, has a very big family, has a job, and still manages to do well in school and has ambitions to go college. Wills lives with her father, step mother, step sister, half-sister, and other times lives with her step father, mother, half-sister, and her step brother. When asked about her plans for college Wills said, “… Liberty Maybe… I am interested in Psychology, speech therapy, physical therapy, and stuff like that. I like working with people.”

Growing up Wills went to three different schools. From kindergarten to sixth she went to Faith Christian. She was homeschooled in 7^th grade and transferred to Hidden valley Middle school. “It was hard transitioning from homeschooling to a public school because all of the kids had known each other from elementary school and already had formed their cliques,” recalls Wills, of making brand new friends. She said that she didn’t realize how much of an impact socializing has on your life before homeschooling, and how she prefers public schooling over homeschooling.      

Her most memorable moment growing up was when her step father proposed to her mother on a cruise in the Bahamas when she was around five or six. When asked about her future plans, Wills described, “I want to have finished college, have a steady job, with a good income, and maybe a kid.”

Dale Worrell

Grandfather sparks interest in computer technology from a young age. Dale Worrell, 16, lives with his Mom (Karen) Dad (Mike) and two sisters Amanda and Victoria. He enjoys sports but loves computers. Worrell has always loved computers, he finds them to be very interesting and looks forward to the future with them. “I credit my grandfather for my love in computers, because he had always loved them too” says Worrell.

“Back in 1981 my grandfather started a company called Carlen Controls and they design, manufacture and service feedback transducer systems for Mill automation. To this day we are still running, and the company has grown rather large. We make parts and send them to bigger companies to help them finish or start one of their own projects.” Says Worrell

Worrell sees himself living pretty close to home with a big family and hopes one day to work with computers like his grandfather once did. Before attending Virginia Tech, the college of his dreams, he plans on going to Western for two years. At Tech he hopes to learn everything his grandfather knew plus more.” I have always seen him as my hero and I always will.”  Says Worrell b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b bb b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b

By: Alex Brogan

Christian Galleo

Galleo, age 16, was born in Roanoke, Virginia. “I’ve always lived in Virginia never really been anywhere else”, Christian stated. At first sight you wouldn’t notice the difficulties Christian faces every day. Christian’s younger Brother Aidan has Duchene’s muscular dystrophy which in this variation of the disease his younger brother’s muscles deteriorate slowly over time until he can no longer use them anymore.

Christian was doing a research project in his seventh grade English class and he decided to do his project on the disease his brother, Aidan, had Duchene’s muscular dystrophy. After doing plenty of research on the subject Christian realized just how bad the situation really was for his younger brother Aidan. “I had to leave the room after reading about it because I didn’t realize it was so bad”, Christian later remarked. Christian knew what would eventually happen to his brother and he knew he couldn’t tell his brother about it, so he tries not to talk about it with his brother Aidan. Christian’s life would be drastically different than many other people’s life, and Aidan’s life would be the same way as well. The disease has many variations, but the variation Aidan got is one of the more fast acting forms and his life expectancy isn’t very high. “It’s hard watching that happen to my brother day after day”, Christian explains. Christian won’t let that get the best of him though because he will cherish all of the memories he has with his younger brother Aidan.

Christian’s father works as an officer of the law and isn’t home too often, but Christian looks up to him and would like to become either an officer of the law or join the Air Force if the opportunity presents itself. Christian went to Oak Grove Elementary School, then to Hidden Valley Middle School, and is now currently enrolled at Hidden Valley High School. He would like to go to a college in state not too far away from home. He would like to get a job where he can work with computers. He also plays Trumpet in marching band, and often listens to music from the 80’s and 90’s.

By Rachael Lumpkin

Caleb Hart

         
  You might know Gregory Caleb Hart, maybe you have had some classes with him. Perhaps you have seen him in the hallways, but did you know he has playing Lacrosse for almost seven years? “It’s a good way to vent out anger and stress after a hard school day,” Hart says.

            Let us Flashback to seven years ago when Caleb first joined Lacrosse. “When I started out I wasn’t the best no one can be when the start something,” Hart says. His Mother, Father, Sister, and Brother have supported him all the way through the years. Eventually during Hart’s 3^rd year playing Lacrosse he managed to score 10 goals for his team leading them to victory! Due to this event it caused him to push himself harder working himself to the goal of playing on the school team.

“During my freshman year at Hidden Valley High School, the Lacrosse team had made it all the way to states! It was a tough game and we didn’t end up winning but, I was able to play the entire last quarter of the play even though I was only a freshman,” Hart says. Hart never won all the games, but that only made him strive to be a better player. Even when games were not going well his Mother, Father, older Sister, and younger Brother supported him win or lose.

            So as Hart has said, you cannot win every game but that strives you to be a better player. With the next season starting up soon Hart will have to work hard to get the chance to go to the State Finals again. All he needs is more support from friends and family. Who knows, if he keeps putting time and effort into the sport, Hart could get a scholarship to a college such as Radford or Virginia Tech, only time will tell.

Brett Cooper

Usually when you go on a vacation, you expect to have a good time. Brett Cooper always loved going to Amusement Parks. “It was one of my favorite places to go”, said Cooper. When Cooper was 12 years old, he went to Busch Gardens with his family and a family friend, but he had pneumonia.

Cooper, 16, thought he was going to have a good time at the park but little did he know he was about to be rushed to the hospital. Cooper had been at the park for about 3 hours. He was fine on the less intense rides until he was about to get on one of the biggest rides in the park, The Griffin. “I was really excited to ride it again since I haven’t in a long time but all of the sudden I couldn’t breathe.” said Cooper. “Not being able to breathe is so scary, especially because I had no idea what was going on.” said Cooper about his lungs filling up with fluid. Cooper had to leave the park before he could go on his favorite ride. Cooper’s family friends stayed while his parents rushed him to the hospital.

Brett Cooper, of Roanoke, Virginia, grew up here all his life and was born on October 3, 1998. He lives with his mom (Karen) and dad (Jack) separately. Brett works at Famous Anthony’s. When Brett works he is a host. “Working there gets a little boring when there isn’t a lot of people because I just have to stand there and wait for people”, said Cooper. Cooper has a brother named Zach. (23) When his brother is in town for the summer, he works with Brett at the restaurant with him. Brett plans on going to a local college until he figures out what he wants to do.

                                                                                                By: Hannah Childress

Austin Collins-Smith

            A career choice was picked from unexpectedly loving a Journalism class. Third year of working his way up to his goal, Austin Tyler Collins- Smith, 16, keeps on learning to be more experienced in what he desires most. What goal does he want to achieve? He one day hopes to work for the LA times. In order to get there, he plans to intern for the Roanoke times, and also attend a college to pursue his education in Journalism. “I’d really like to go to California and do college over there,” said Collins-Smith.

             Starting from his hometown in Gainesville, Florida as an only child, and having to relocate to four different cities, definitely gave him quite the traveling experience. It made a big impact on his career choice. Collins-Smith said, “I think it definitely has something to do with my sense of exploration and wanting to write about it all.”

            About a year ago, he chose to take a trip to DC for a Journalism Convention. It gave him an opportunity to experience a bigger surrounding of the true meaning of what it takes to be a Journalist. “It really opened my eyes to how important media is to people,” said Collins-Smith. “I enjoy it because you also learn a lot about society.”

            Now that he has found what makes him happy, he knows to put in as much effort as needed to accomplish his goal. “He’s definitely interested in working hard towards being an editor in my class,” said Neale. Collins-Smith’s skills and dedication helps in daily social life and leads him to a very successful future. “His face lights up whenever he talks about Journalism,” said Jayla, 15. He has his goal set of becoming a Journalist, and he will work to make it to the top within time.       

By Angelie Aboujaoude

Alexis Peggins

            About a year ago Alexis Nicole Peggins, 16, was playing basketball for the first time after being cleared for an ankle sprain. “I went up for a layup and when I came down I landed poorly on the newly recovered ankle and broke my ankle,” said Peggins. Alexis Peggins of Roanoke, Virginia has had one of the worst injuries of basketball.

            It was an average winter day when Peggins was sent to the hospital in a hurry. When she landed on her ankle not only was it broken but the bone had come out of her skin. Peggins says, “When I hit the floor the pain was so bad that it made me feel sick and I was close to passing out.” She was taken to the hospital quickly and she says, “They put me to sleep and when I woke up it was four hours later and I had a big cast over my leg.”

            Today, Peggins remembers how much that impacted her life and how even if you are cleared you are not 100%. Peggins, a girl born Richmond, with a step- mom, 42, dad, 48, a brother, 29, and a sister, 32, now works at wildwood smokehouse and still plays basketball has learned the hard way about sport injuries. Peggins is a neat person by living in Greensboro, North Carolina and Tampa, Florida and attending many schools which means she has seen injuries from sports at other schools but has never seen something this bad.

           

By: James Baron