Credit: Maddie Zajac

Join Staff Reporters Maddie Zajac and Marissa Mendoza as they interview six WHS humans about the school year so far.

In the second chapter of Humans of WHS, Staff Reporters Maddie Zajac and Marissa Mendoza interview some students and staff about their experiences during their first semester this school year.

Senior Missy Prince

What is your proudest moment this school year?

“Finishing all of my college applications. After the whole process, getting it out of my hands feels good. It just kept dragging on, and it was definitely stressful, but it’s nice to have that weight lifted off my chest.”

Who is someone who was essential to helping you make it through this quarter?
“All my friends. Without hanging out with them and seeing them and talking to them, I would have been so much more stressed out throughout the year or the quarter.”

What are you most afraid of right now?
“Spring coming up and all the change that is going to happen. It is going to be hard leaving everything I know, but I am also excited for the future.”

What is something you are looking forward to?
“I’m looking forward to spring in general. There’s so many fun activities that happen in the spring. I think [after] getting past the first half of the year, things will start to lighten up and be more fun and exciting.”

English teacher Nancy Florez

What is your proudest moment this school year?
“Cooperating with a student teacher (Erin Kish) and planning and teaching together. Coordinating units and assignments has been very gratifying.”

Who is someone who was essential to helping you make it through this quarter?
“My student teacher. I think she helped me just as much as I helped her. I’m sad that she finished her practicum in December.”

What are you most afraid of right now?
“Finishing all of the units and books that I would like to teach. I’d like to introduce a poetry unit to my freshmen and a graphic novel unit with my juniors. I’m just worried about timing and fitting it all in by the end of the year.”

What is something you are looking forward to?
“My freshmen are going on a field trip with Miss Bowden’s freshmen to see “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Strand Theater in Boston in March. So, we’re rearranging our teaching so we teach the play earlier in the year.”

Freshman Rose Halpin

What is your proudest moment this school year?
“My proudest moment is getting a 21 out of 21 out of my biology test today. I think [I got this grade because] I focused a lot in class and didn’t laugh.”

Who is someone who was essential to helping you make it through this quarter?

“Z’Naiya Holman. Her advice emotionally helped me and with [my] schoolwork. She helped keep the smile on my face throughout rough times.”

What is something you are looking forward to?
“Something I’m looking forward to is getting a puppy in the spring. It [will be] a golden retriever. I already have one now, but we’re gonna get a boy and I hope he’s big and cute.”

Junior Evan Brown

What is your proudest moment this school year?
“I’m in musical ensemble and we’ve had some [really] good performances.”

Who is someone who was essential to helping you make it through this quarter?
“A lot of my friends, [like] Steven Landsittel. I have him in almost all my classes and he’s been great.”

What are you most afraid of right now?
“I’m getting my wisdom teeth out soon. I’m hoping the surgery goes well. I want to have a quick recovery. I don’t want things to go wrong.”

What is something you are looking forward to?

“I’m going to Florida during February break to row. Then I’m going to Spain in April. I’m looking forward to both of those trips.”

Sophomore Erica Wilson

What is your proudest moment this school year?
“My proudest moment [is] when I joined the swim team. I was very apprehensive about it at first and then I ended up really loving the community and the team.”

Who is someone who was essential to helping you make it through this quarter?
“Definitely Mrs. Dinno. She was my bio teacher last year and I go to her almost every day. I love her so much and she gives such good advice.”

What is something you are looking forward to?
“Summer [and] definitely the fourth quarter of the school year. I feel like it’s the most fun.”

Student Supervisor Paul Bonfiglio

What is your proudest moment this school year?
“The consistency [of] going through attendance everyday. Day by day, keeping up on that was a lot of review that [had] to occur. It can be a grind at times. Sticking with that is something that I’m most proud of.” 

Who is someone who was essential to helping you make it through this quarter?
“For one individual, I think that Sean Gas is terrific. We bounce ideas off of each other everyday. He has a tendency to keep things light and he makes work enjoyable.”

What is something you are looking forward to?
“I’m looking forward to winter week. I’m looking forward to the spring sports season, [when] we can get back outside and the weather warms up a little bit because this is pretty awful, this weather that we’ve had for the last two weeks. I’m definitely looking forward to that.”