Final thoughts: The biggest thing I learned from high school that I would want to tell others is to just be yourself. You never know what someone else is going through, so when in doubt, show love. Always find the positive in things, and vote Greenhaw, 2032.

On FCA: I think it’s a great place for people to go and see that they’re not alone at school and that there are other people who have the same faith as you. And whether it’s in athletics or in life, you want to glorify God in everything you do.

On the wrestling team: The wrestling team was one of the biggest things in turning me into who I am today because not only are there a bunch of great guys on the team, but that sport develops a person more than any other sport that I’ve played. Plus, at a 12-hour tournament, you have to figure out how to have fun, and that’s a good life skill too.

On being a role model: I think it’s a really great honor that people would say I’m influential because that’s kind of like my life goal: to make an impact on people’s lives.

Andrew Shaw

On the senior song:
It was an amazing experience. The other two groups that auditioned I’m sure had great auditions and would have done great as well, but it was an honor to be chosen with such competition. I was really nervous to perform the senior song because that was my first time performing on the piano in front of an audience, but the performance was great and it was awesome to be able to perform for my senior class for the last time.

Advice:
My advice would be to get involved in as much as you can during your high school experience. You will not only be able to meet new people, but you will get to work with the great staff that Northwest has to offer.

On Big River:
It was the most fun and rewarding production in my four years of high school. Being able to work with my best friend, Teddy Trice, was so much fun.

The high school experience:
Now that I have been through four years of high school, I definitely view it as less intimidating. High school was a great experience for me. It was even better than I expected.

On being president of three clubs:
It helped me learn that you can be a good leader without being bossy, and being a good leader is working with other people, rather than having them work for you.

On her favorite activity:
Varsity cheerleading. I don’t know what my life would have been like without it. It took up a lot of my time, and it’s something I love to do. It’s how I met most of my friends, so it changed my high school experience. Cheerleading made me get out of my shell. It didn’t change my personality, but it definitely made me less afraid to get in front of people and be who I am.

On how she surprised herself:
Five or six years ago, if you would have told me in a few years I would be standing by myself with a microphone in front of 2,000 people, there is no chance I would have believed you. At that time, I was in my own little world. There was no public speaking or coming out of my shell.

On being remembered:
I hope to be remembered as the person who lived high school without any regrets and made the most of her experience to the best of my ability and treated everybody with the most possible respect.

1. Junior Deep Desai throws a t-shirt into the hundreds of students that attended the 6A Soccer State Semifinals. The team ended up losing the game 2-1. The boys’ soccer team went on to win the third place game the following day, giving them their highest finish of the season in recent years. Photo by Daniel Bauer

2. Chalking her hands, Senior Molli Bird prepares for uneven bars at senior night on Oct. 8. Photo by Kevin Buie

3. Junior KC Waterman avoids the attempted tackles of Lawrence Free State defenders on Oct. 9. Photo by Kevin Buie

4. Doing the butterfly stroke, senior Hannah Singhal completes her coach’s assignment for that practice. Photo by Hannah Williams

5. The boys’ soccer team celebrates their third place game victory over Dodge City. Photo by Daniel Bauer

6. Sophomore Amanda Hedrick plays her violin in the pit orchestra for Paint Your Wagon on Nov. 10. Photo by Caitlyn Massy

7. Senior Tyler Amble shields senior Nolan Warn from water balloons at YoungLife Shawnee Mission’s annual Muckfest on Sept. 17. Photo by Andrew Keith

8. Senior Shane Jennison examines a monarch butterfly that he caught on an Enviornmental Ed field trip. Photo by Ashley Lane

9. Senior Tricia Brensing turns to her father in suprise after winning second runner-up Homecoming Queen on Oct. 30. Photo by Ashley Lane

10. Senior Adam Giacalone pitches to a Lawrence Free State batter on April 8. Giacalone has pitched two perfect games thus far this season. Photo by Brittany Bonsignore

On changing NW:
I wish more people would get involved, with spirit stuff especially. A lot of people do already, but I wish it was kind of like some other schools, where everyone is participating because that stuff is just awesome.

On being remembered:
I want to be remembered as a guy who was really involved in school and as a guy that others could come to for anything, real easy to come up and talk to and ask for help. You know, always be there for everyone.
Advice for freshmen: Don’t take high school for granted; it goes so fast, so live every day the best you can.

On influencing his fellow classmates:
I think they just think that I’m a good guy. I think people know that they can always come to me for help when they need it. No one is intimidated by me; they know I’m easygoing.

Giving thanks:
Definitely my parents, Mrs. Boren—she has really pushed me this year. Mrs. Dent and Mr. (Van) Rose because I really look up to him. And my brother and my grandmother. She has always helped me with anything.

On his accomplishments: For senior year second semester, I set six goals for myself and could accomplish four of them: finishing the talent show, attempting the senior song, graduation speech, win state in baseball, be an influential senior and do the poetry slam.

On changing in high school: About halfway through junior year I experienced what John Mayer calls a “social bender.” My personality and social awkwardness just shifted toward a better place, and I feel like I’ve finally become comfortable with myself.

On how he surprised himself: I never expected to be an influence in anyone’s life early in high school because I had no faith in myself. Luckily, maturity has brought a positive outlook to my everyday routine, and I’ve seen how anyone can be an influence if they really want to be.

On how he wishes to be remembered: As someone who didn’t judge or criticize and just let others do their “thang.” I hope I’ve treated others with enough respect to earn theirs. I think everyone should find their calling in life and roll with it.

On her greatest achievement so far: The first time I medaled in cross country was really exciting. That’s a lot of physical endurance and work that you’re doing just to finish. It was a really big deal to me because I was like, “I did that, beating all these other people.” It was really big knowing, not just physically, but in all aspects, that I could push myself to do really good things if I worked hard enough. It was symbolic, not for just running, but for life.

Overall: I feel like I don’t have any regrets from high school. I feel like I spread myself around enough, tried the things I wanted to try and am comfortable with things that I’ve done.

On having a busy schedule: It’s always hectic, and I always wanted a break, but I enjoy being busy. With too much downtime, I’d go crazy. It was overwhelming sometimes, but in a good way.

On the importance of community service: I’ve been able to work with so many different types of people, like kids at school who are doing community service for the same reason. When you help out people, you learn a little bit about them and what their story is. Meeting new people is the best way to learn things.

On being the NHS president:
I was so excited to be NHS president because I think it is such an honorable club. Everyone has great character and is great academically.

Advice for people:
I wish I wouldn’t have realized how much of an impact I could have made until this year. I wished I would have figured out what I wanted to do and what my goals were, just made more of an impact than I have. My advice would be, don’t change for others and follow your beliefs and your morals even if it is hard; pick the right path; and make the right decision.

On cheerleading:
It got me out of my comfort zone and forced me to meet new people. Just getting close to the cheer girls; I love all of them. It’s helped me with everything because I had to branch out and trust people.

On CADET teaching:
I wish I could talk about that the whole time. The kids are so great because they are smiling and always in a great mood, and they just brighten my day every day.

On the Poetry Slam: The last two years I’ve placed third, and this was my final shot. As soon as last year’s slam was over, I went home and started writing. The poem I performed was one I finished in the summer. It gave me the ability to express myself more since I knew it and didn’t have to hold a piece of paper.

On the senior song: I’ve always thought it was amazing that one song could unite an entire class. I was so proud to be a part of it and share my originality.

On his career path: I’m going to JCCC, but my career path is unclear. I think being a teacher would be good for me; I love inspiring people. Teaching high school would give me the opportunity to make the greatest impact.

Most embarrassing moment: During freshman year at the class competition, we had to get on our stomachs and slide across the gym floor on dollies. Well, I didn’t wear a belt that day and as soon as I stood up, I realized that my pants had fallen down and I was in front of the entire school in my boxers.