Class of ‘15 alumni, transitioning into the college life
By: Kaycee Campbell
College classes have finished their first semester and moved on to their final one of the year now. So The Vault is catching up with some members of the class of 2015 to see how they’re feeling about college life. (Others featured in previous issues)
Faith Miller
Attending: Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Majoring In: Nursing (Bachelors degree of science and nursing)
After School Plans: To work as a hospital nurse. Ultimate goal would be to work in the ER or with newborns. After having a steady job, would like to go back to graduate school and get practitioner's license.
Best thing about college: “You don’t really have a whole lot of time to do a whole lot of anything but studying. So I guess studying for anatomy is my favorite. lol”
Transition from high school to college: “In high school I could get by without studying and still pass my classes and get good grades on my test, but not with nursing school. If you do that, you will fail. There is no way you can just get by with looking, you have to know your material in order to move on. It was a huge wake up call when I got done with my first semester.”
Jake Adkins
Attending: Princeton University
Majoring In: On a Pre-Health Track but uncertain on major and leaning towards Molecular Biology
After School Plans: Planning to attend medical school
Best thing about college: “The increased freedom and flexible schedule, but you have to be disciplined to do work on your own time.”
Transition from high school to college: “The transition came pretty naturally, but the work here is definitely much more challenging.”
Sarah George
Attending: Ohio State University
Majoring In: ?
After School Plans: Working to become a respiratory therapist and work in a hospital
Best thing about college: “Meeting new people in every class and listening to different points of views.”
Transition from high school to college: “It was difficult and confusing at first but once you get acquainted with others you fit in and enjoy every second of it!”
Kayla Jasper
Attending: Ohio State University
Majoring In: Psychology
Double Major: Adding in either Chinese or Neuroscience
Best thing about college: “Meeting new people and constantly experiencing new things.”
Transition from high school to college: “The transition from high school to college was NOT easy. I thought it was pretty independent in high school, but being thrown into adulthood is a whole different level of independence. You have to learn and get used to so many things so quickly. It’s very overwhelming but worth it!”
Gavin Shank
Attending: Ohio State University
Majoring In: Business finance
After School Plans: Working for a corporate business
Best thing about college: “All of the freedom you have and all the new friends you meet. You are on your own and it’s fun.”
Transition from high school to college: “Was not hard but it definitely took me a week or two to get used to college and be on my own.”
Alexis Absten
Attending: Ohio State University
Majoring In: Nursing
After School Plans: Going to graduate school to become a nurse practitioner
Best thing about college: “That you only have your classes a couple of days a week for a couple of hours, so you don’t have to stay there all day long and definitely the breaks!”
Transition from high school to college: “It was definitely a change of pace, but after the first exams I got a feel for how my classes were going to be and I figured out what approaches for studying worked best for me.”
-Kaycee Campbell (’17) is a second-year Vault staff member and Public Relations Manager. [email protected]
By: Kaycee Campbell
College classes have finished their first semester and moved on to their final one of the year now. So The Vault is catching up with some members of the class of 2015 to see how they’re feeling about college life. (Others featured in previous issues)
Faith Miller
Attending: Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Majoring In: Nursing (Bachelors degree of science and nursing)
After School Plans: To work as a hospital nurse. Ultimate goal would be to work in the ER or with newborns. After having a steady job, would like to go back to graduate school and get practitioner's license.
Best thing about college: “You don’t really have a whole lot of time to do a whole lot of anything but studying. So I guess studying for anatomy is my favorite. lol”
Transition from high school to college: “In high school I could get by without studying and still pass my classes and get good grades on my test, but not with nursing school. If you do that, you will fail. There is no way you can just get by with looking, you have to know your material in order to move on. It was a huge wake up call when I got done with my first semester.”
Jake Adkins
Attending: Princeton University
Majoring In: On a Pre-Health Track but uncertain on major and leaning towards Molecular Biology
After School Plans: Planning to attend medical school
Best thing about college: “The increased freedom and flexible schedule, but you have to be disciplined to do work on your own time.”
Transition from high school to college: “The transition came pretty naturally, but the work here is definitely much more challenging.”
Sarah George
Attending: Ohio State University
Majoring In: ?
After School Plans: Working to become a respiratory therapist and work in a hospital
Best thing about college: “Meeting new people in every class and listening to different points of views.”
Transition from high school to college: “It was difficult and confusing at first but once you get acquainted with others you fit in and enjoy every second of it!”
Kayla Jasper
Attending: Ohio State University
Majoring In: Psychology
Double Major: Adding in either Chinese or Neuroscience
Best thing about college: “Meeting new people and constantly experiencing new things.”
Transition from high school to college: “The transition from high school to college was NOT easy. I thought it was pretty independent in high school, but being thrown into adulthood is a whole different level of independence. You have to learn and get used to so many things so quickly. It’s very overwhelming but worth it!”
Gavin Shank
Attending: Ohio State University
Majoring In: Business finance
After School Plans: Working for a corporate business
Best thing about college: “All of the freedom you have and all the new friends you meet. You are on your own and it’s fun.”
Transition from high school to college: “Was not hard but it definitely took me a week or two to get used to college and be on my own.”
Alexis Absten
Attending: Ohio State University
Majoring In: Nursing
After School Plans: Going to graduate school to become a nurse practitioner
Best thing about college: “That you only have your classes a couple of days a week for a couple of hours, so you don’t have to stay there all day long and definitely the breaks!”
Transition from high school to college: “It was definitely a change of pace, but after the first exams I got a feel for how my classes were going to be and I figured out what approaches for studying worked best for me.”
-Kaycee Campbell (’17) is a second-year Vault staff member and Public Relations Manager. [email protected]
Andy jams his heart out
By: Karie Smith
As he sits there on his Ohio State stool, with a guitar on his lap tuning it, he listens. He’s listening for that perfect tune. The tunes he’s been memorizing for so long. He listens for the note he knows and then begins playing the different riffs he learned. He goes from one riff to a different one, and he makes the silliest faces as he plays along.
Andy got his first guitar at age three, a plastic blue one and played Bob the Builder songs and phrases. He didn't have that for long, and at age five, his uncle gave him an old acoustic guitar. He would sit in his room for hours of strumming, and often playing the same couple of notes over and over. The first song he learned was "Smoke on The Water" by Deep Purple. He had heard this song at a party in his garage by his neighbor.
Andy doesn't necessarily learn any “songs.” He mainly just plays riffs and licks from songs and has only mastered a few songs. He enjoys playing country, rock, and jazz. He has a 150 watt amp, which is considerably larger than the one he got for Christmas one year, when he was 7. His aunt and uncle lived with him for a winter a couple years ago, and gave it to him. It's a line six amp, with a foot pedal. He bought his acoustic guitar about a year ago. A person on Facebook was selling it for fifty dollars, and he bought it. Andy has said that it’s worth about that, but at the store it was probably about a $150 guitar.
Andy learned to play guitar by himself and by listening to youtube videos and searching websites for the notes; he has taken guitar lessons a few times, but he thought they were horrible. He was also inspired to play by listening to music, and that’s also why he wanted to play. Andy says that he’s no good at playing guitar, but according to Andy’s mother, Crystal Watson, “To hear Andy to play the guitar, it’s a blessing.” She also proclaimed that Andy has played the classic tune of “You are my Sunshine,” but he claims that he has never played that song and that he doesn’t even know any of the notes.
When Andy tries to learn a new song he follows it by listening to the tempo. He was in Music Theory and has recently helped him in learning music notes/chords better. Three top bands and artists that have helped inspire Andy are Mozart, Aaron Lewis, Angus Young. He said that he likes playing his electric guitar more than his acoustic. He has said that he doesn’t want to pursue a career with his guitars but he’d do side jobs or at least make it a hobby.
Mrs.Watson has said that, “Andy’s natural talent in several areas makes it hard for him to realize he is good.” She also states that, “Andy will find out what a wonderful world this is, by being able to experience the adventure of what he has to offer to others.”
-Karie Smith (‘18) is a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Opinions Editor. [email protected]
By: Karie Smith
As he sits there on his Ohio State stool, with a guitar on his lap tuning it, he listens. He’s listening for that perfect tune. The tunes he’s been memorizing for so long. He listens for the note he knows and then begins playing the different riffs he learned. He goes from one riff to a different one, and he makes the silliest faces as he plays along.
Andy got his first guitar at age three, a plastic blue one and played Bob the Builder songs and phrases. He didn't have that for long, and at age five, his uncle gave him an old acoustic guitar. He would sit in his room for hours of strumming, and often playing the same couple of notes over and over. The first song he learned was "Smoke on The Water" by Deep Purple. He had heard this song at a party in his garage by his neighbor.
Andy doesn't necessarily learn any “songs.” He mainly just plays riffs and licks from songs and has only mastered a few songs. He enjoys playing country, rock, and jazz. He has a 150 watt amp, which is considerably larger than the one he got for Christmas one year, when he was 7. His aunt and uncle lived with him for a winter a couple years ago, and gave it to him. It's a line six amp, with a foot pedal. He bought his acoustic guitar about a year ago. A person on Facebook was selling it for fifty dollars, and he bought it. Andy has said that it’s worth about that, but at the store it was probably about a $150 guitar.
Andy learned to play guitar by himself and by listening to youtube videos and searching websites for the notes; he has taken guitar lessons a few times, but he thought they were horrible. He was also inspired to play by listening to music, and that’s also why he wanted to play. Andy says that he’s no good at playing guitar, but according to Andy’s mother, Crystal Watson, “To hear Andy to play the guitar, it’s a blessing.” She also proclaimed that Andy has played the classic tune of “You are my Sunshine,” but he claims that he has never played that song and that he doesn’t even know any of the notes.
When Andy tries to learn a new song he follows it by listening to the tempo. He was in Music Theory and has recently helped him in learning music notes/chords better. Three top bands and artists that have helped inspire Andy are Mozart, Aaron Lewis, Angus Young. He said that he likes playing his electric guitar more than his acoustic. He has said that he doesn’t want to pursue a career with his guitars but he’d do side jobs or at least make it a hobby.
Mrs.Watson has said that, “Andy’s natural talent in several areas makes it hard for him to realize he is good.” She also states that, “Andy will find out what a wonderful world this is, by being able to experience the adventure of what he has to offer to others.”
-Karie Smith (‘18) is a first-year Vault staff member and Jr. Opinions Editor. [email protected]
College basketball retiree doubles as Northridge’s favorite “cheerleader”
By: Caylee Lindsay
Despite her four inch high heels, Principal Amy Anderson measures up to a whopping 5’3. She seems to be the least likely person to earn a college scholarship playing basketball, but she unexpectedly worked tirelessly for 4 years on the court, racking up over 1,000 points at Malone University.
Basketball was introduced to Anderson at a very young age. Growing up with a basketball coach as a father, the sport was a constant presence in her life. In fact, she was born in the midst of waiting for her father to finish coaching high school practice before he and Anderson's Mom went to the hospital.
A smile grows upon Anderson’s face as she fondly remembers her college years. Although transitioning from the high school level to college basketball was challenging, all of the hard work and countless hours of practicing was worth it, she says. She played every single day, year round. The level of play in college sports is much greater, and Anderson had to get used to competing against players with a broader range of skills. “You really have to learn your role,” she says.
Practices and games would often take up most of Anderson’s everyday schedule. She confesses that balancing schoolwork along with the amount of time she spent playing basketball was difficult at times. Dealing with over five-hour van rides to games in a van packed full of teammates while trying to study isn’t always the easiest thing to do. “You had to be very disciplined to get your schoolwork done,” says Anderson.
It seems that Anderson was widely sought after. She was not only recruited by Malone University, but also by University of Toledo, a division one school, and Defiance College. She originally attended college to study business and accounting, hoping to become a certified public accountant. But, during her junior year, a field experience led to the decision to change career paths. She then chose to study teaching business and accounting.
When asked to share her favorite memory from playing college basketball, Anderson already had an answer in mind. “All of the camaraderie,” she replied. Competing stimulated something inside of her that brought the excitement she felt to the court. “It was a big thrill beating larger schools in higher divisions.” Nothing inhibited Anderson from maximizing her potential, not even a torn hamstring she obtained during college. Although she needed treatment before each game after the injury, it didn’t stop her from giving her all on the court.
Anderson didn’t fall short when asked to offer some advice to basketball players at Northridge. “You need to play a lot, even during other sports, you still need to practice basketball. You must develop skills year-round,” she says. Dayna Martin, a player on the Junior Varsity Girls’ Basketball team at Northridge, loves seeing Anderson attend high school games. “Knowing that Ms. Anderson is an accomplished basketball player, it means a lot that she comes to support us,” says Martin.
Although college was a challenging and sometimes stressful experience, Anderson regrets nothing. She wouldn’t have changed a thing, even if she could do it again. According to Anderson, she had a great experience at Malone. “I learned so much about myself. There are going to be times when you fail. You have to show good character, pick yourself up, and try again.”
-Caylee Lindsay (‘18) is the Jr. Photos Editor and Jr. Print Editor-in-Chief. [email protected]
By: Caylee Lindsay
Despite her four inch high heels, Principal Amy Anderson measures up to a whopping 5’3. She seems to be the least likely person to earn a college scholarship playing basketball, but she unexpectedly worked tirelessly for 4 years on the court, racking up over 1,000 points at Malone University.
Basketball was introduced to Anderson at a very young age. Growing up with a basketball coach as a father, the sport was a constant presence in her life. In fact, she was born in the midst of waiting for her father to finish coaching high school practice before he and Anderson's Mom went to the hospital.
A smile grows upon Anderson’s face as she fondly remembers her college years. Although transitioning from the high school level to college basketball was challenging, all of the hard work and countless hours of practicing was worth it, she says. She played every single day, year round. The level of play in college sports is much greater, and Anderson had to get used to competing against players with a broader range of skills. “You really have to learn your role,” she says.
Practices and games would often take up most of Anderson’s everyday schedule. She confesses that balancing schoolwork along with the amount of time she spent playing basketball was difficult at times. Dealing with over five-hour van rides to games in a van packed full of teammates while trying to study isn’t always the easiest thing to do. “You had to be very disciplined to get your schoolwork done,” says Anderson.
It seems that Anderson was widely sought after. She was not only recruited by Malone University, but also by University of Toledo, a division one school, and Defiance College. She originally attended college to study business and accounting, hoping to become a certified public accountant. But, during her junior year, a field experience led to the decision to change career paths. She then chose to study teaching business and accounting.
When asked to share her favorite memory from playing college basketball, Anderson already had an answer in mind. “All of the camaraderie,” she replied. Competing stimulated something inside of her that brought the excitement she felt to the court. “It was a big thrill beating larger schools in higher divisions.” Nothing inhibited Anderson from maximizing her potential, not even a torn hamstring she obtained during college. Although she needed treatment before each game after the injury, it didn’t stop her from giving her all on the court.
Anderson didn’t fall short when asked to offer some advice to basketball players at Northridge. “You need to play a lot, even during other sports, you still need to practice basketball. You must develop skills year-round,” she says. Dayna Martin, a player on the Junior Varsity Girls’ Basketball team at Northridge, loves seeing Anderson attend high school games. “Knowing that Ms. Anderson is an accomplished basketball player, it means a lot that she comes to support us,” says Martin.
Although college was a challenging and sometimes stressful experience, Anderson regrets nothing. She wouldn’t have changed a thing, even if she could do it again. According to Anderson, she had a great experience at Malone. “I learned so much about myself. There are going to be times when you fail. You have to show good character, pick yourself up, and try again.”
-Caylee Lindsay (‘18) is the Jr. Photos Editor and Jr. Print Editor-in-Chief. [email protected]
English teacher gets Masters, benefiting students
By: Cora Dorman
The piles of books grew and grew, the classwork became tough, the essays started to pile up, the English classes were getting tougher and tougher. With May graduation ever closer on the horizon, the excitement of receiving a Master's degree grows even more.
Kim Garee, 11th grade English teacher, has been working since March of 2014 to receive her Master’s degree in English through Southern New Hampshire University, so that she can make the lives of students easier.
Garee says that because she is earning her Master’s, she can now teach college classes, which gets students out of the tough Advanced Placement test. The students also receive college credit for taking her course and they could save thousands of dollars by taking the class now and not later in college. If the students choose to take the class with Garee and get other English, humanities, and communication courses through Mrs. Grow in twelfth grade, the students will never have many of their "gen ed" requirements for college done before high school graduation.
Along with Garee, Grow received her Master’s in English. Garee focused on American Literature, and Grow focused on British Literature.
Garee adds, “The reason why Mrs. Grow and I did this was to help out the Northridge students. We did it because it was the best thing for them.”
Grow says, “Because Kim and I are doing this, there are about 100 students that are receiving college credit that would otherwise not receive it for free.”
After beginning her Master’s degree in Education several years ago, Garee felt that she wasn’t learning as much as she would like to, and she felt that it was a waste of money to continue those classes. She took a year off to help out her mother-in-law with health issues. Garee decided to get her Master’s degree in English after Principal Amy Anderson asked if she had ever thought about getting her Master’s degree in English to teach college classes at Northridge. Garee decided that earning a Master’s degree was the right decision for her students and herself.
Garee says that writing the equivalent of three essays per week for her college English classes has made her a better writer and it has helped her teach her high students how to better write essays.
After obtaining her Master’s degree, Garee will also gain a slight pay jump on the salary schedule.
The time commitment was the toughest for Garee. It requires 10 hours a week for each Master’s class, along with teaching five other high school classes. Garee says, “For me, balancing my coaching, teaching and three kids’ schedules is the hardest part.”
Garee has two more classes to complete, in order to obtain her Master’s degree.
“It will be nice to do something else besides read,” Garee says.
-Cora Dorman (‘18) is the Jr. News Editor and Jr. Public Relations Manager. [email protected]
By: Cora Dorman
The piles of books grew and grew, the classwork became tough, the essays started to pile up, the English classes were getting tougher and tougher. With May graduation ever closer on the horizon, the excitement of receiving a Master's degree grows even more.
Kim Garee, 11th grade English teacher, has been working since March of 2014 to receive her Master’s degree in English through Southern New Hampshire University, so that she can make the lives of students easier.
Garee says that because she is earning her Master’s, she can now teach college classes, which gets students out of the tough Advanced Placement test. The students also receive college credit for taking her course and they could save thousands of dollars by taking the class now and not later in college. If the students choose to take the class with Garee and get other English, humanities, and communication courses through Mrs. Grow in twelfth grade, the students will never have many of their "gen ed" requirements for college done before high school graduation.
Along with Garee, Grow received her Master’s in English. Garee focused on American Literature, and Grow focused on British Literature.
Garee adds, “The reason why Mrs. Grow and I did this was to help out the Northridge students. We did it because it was the best thing for them.”
Grow says, “Because Kim and I are doing this, there are about 100 students that are receiving college credit that would otherwise not receive it for free.”
After beginning her Master’s degree in Education several years ago, Garee felt that she wasn’t learning as much as she would like to, and she felt that it was a waste of money to continue those classes. She took a year off to help out her mother-in-law with health issues. Garee decided to get her Master’s degree in English after Principal Amy Anderson asked if she had ever thought about getting her Master’s degree in English to teach college classes at Northridge. Garee decided that earning a Master’s degree was the right decision for her students and herself.
Garee says that writing the equivalent of three essays per week for her college English classes has made her a better writer and it has helped her teach her high students how to better write essays.
After obtaining her Master’s degree, Garee will also gain a slight pay jump on the salary schedule.
The time commitment was the toughest for Garee. It requires 10 hours a week for each Master’s class, along with teaching five other high school classes. Garee says, “For me, balancing my coaching, teaching and three kids’ schedules is the hardest part.”
Garee has two more classes to complete, in order to obtain her Master’s degree.
“It will be nice to do something else besides read,” Garee says.
-Cora Dorman (‘18) is the Jr. News Editor and Jr. Public Relations Manager. [email protected]
People of Northridge
By: Aili Barbee
Maddie Parrill (‘17)
One thing Northridge students might not know about junior, Maddie Parrill, is that she is really a ginger. Parrill’s favorite activity is singing, and her favorite song is "Death of a Bachelor" by Panic! At the Disco. She has always liked to sing which led her to do musicals starting her freshman year of high school. She is in the school’s musical this year as a chorus member and continues to do them because they “make her happy and she really likes all of the people who participate in them.” Parrill plans on attending either Ohio University or Ohio State Newark after high school, where she hopes to major in nursing. “I want to be a nurse because I really like helping others,” she said.
By: Aili Barbee
Maddie Parrill (‘17)
One thing Northridge students might not know about junior, Maddie Parrill, is that she is really a ginger. Parrill’s favorite activity is singing, and her favorite song is "Death of a Bachelor" by Panic! At the Disco. She has always liked to sing which led her to do musicals starting her freshman year of high school. She is in the school’s musical this year as a chorus member and continues to do them because they “make her happy and she really likes all of the people who participate in them.” Parrill plans on attending either Ohio University or Ohio State Newark after high school, where she hopes to major in nursing. “I want to be a nurse because I really like helping others,” she said.
Phalen Huhn (‘18)
Phalen Huhn is a current sophomore at Northridge. She just recently moved here from Liberty Union. Huhn’s favorite activity is playing basketball. She’s been playing since she was only in second grade, but she doesn’t want to continue her basketball career in college. Huhn’s favorite part of basketball is shooting, and her least favorite part is dribbling. Teammate, Jamie Swickard (‘16) states that Huhn is “a killer at basketball and makes a great addition to the team." When Huhn grows up she hopes to become a business owner just like her parents who own the businesses Donna Sue’s and Thirsty Jake’s. Besides playing basketball, Huhn enjoys watching Netflix, especially the show "One Tree Hill," and her favorite color is pink.
Phalen Huhn is a current sophomore at Northridge. She just recently moved here from Liberty Union. Huhn’s favorite activity is playing basketball. She’s been playing since she was only in second grade, but she doesn’t want to continue her basketball career in college. Huhn’s favorite part of basketball is shooting, and her least favorite part is dribbling. Teammate, Jamie Swickard (‘16) states that Huhn is “a killer at basketball and makes a great addition to the team." When Huhn grows up she hopes to become a business owner just like her parents who own the businesses Donna Sue’s and Thirsty Jake’s. Besides playing basketball, Huhn enjoys watching Netflix, especially the show "One Tree Hill," and her favorite color is pink.
Audrey Ashbrook (‘16)
Audrey Ashbrook is a senior a Northridge who absolutely loves video games: especially Skyrim. “It’s just so cool,” she laughed “mostly because it has dragons but also because you can be whatever you want to be in the game. It really gives you a lot of creative freedom.” Ashbrook’s second favorite hobby is reading. “I fell in love with reading when I was very little when my mom used to read to me,” she told me. This love of reading helped her decide what she wants to be when she grows up; she hopes to become either a book editor or publisher. Ashbrook hopes to get her English degree from either Ashland University or Ohio State Newark.
-Aili Barbee ('16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Print Editor-In-Chief. [email protected]
Audrey Ashbrook is a senior a Northridge who absolutely loves video games: especially Skyrim. “It’s just so cool,” she laughed “mostly because it has dragons but also because you can be whatever you want to be in the game. It really gives you a lot of creative freedom.” Ashbrook’s second favorite hobby is reading. “I fell in love with reading when I was very little when my mom used to read to me,” she told me. This love of reading helped her decide what she wants to be when she grows up; she hopes to become either a book editor or publisher. Ashbrook hopes to get her English degree from either Ashland University or Ohio State Newark.
-Aili Barbee ('16) is a third-year Vault staff member and Print Editor-In-Chief. [email protected]