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Senior Spotlight: Isabella Goetschel

April 26, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Lilah Nick

In just about a month we will all have to say goodbye to our beloved seniors. While they are still here gracing our company, let’s talk about them. Here’s graduating Senior Isabella Goetschel.

I have known Izzy since I was a freshman. We’ve acted together. We share ASB responsibilities. So, I talked with Izzy and asked her some questions about high school.

How was your high-school experience?

I think I have had a pretty good high school experience. I have been so lucky with some of my teachers and the friends I’ve made have been…interesting. Interesting but hilarious. I’m truly grateful to have been able to enjoy it as much as I have.

Do you have any favorite memories?

There are so many funny memories. A lot of them are probably from lunch in the student lounge. I do have a really good one from golf, but I can’t expose Jane like that–lol.

What’s your favorite thing about high school?

My favorite thing about high school has got to be the people. My friends and teachers have just been the best!

What’s your favorite subject?

My favorite subject in my whole high-school experience was probably AP Government or Algebra II. I’ve just always loved politics and math. AP Gov really allowed me to learn more about the government and things going on in real time, which I loved. As for Algebra, I just find math to be fun when you understand it, and I just have fond memories of that particular math class.

Are you involved in any club?

In school, I’m the Captain of the Owls, Founder/ President of Amnesty International Club, President of United Way, President of Film Club, and Vice President of Junior Statesmen of America (JSA).

Are you excited to graduate from PVS?

Let’s just say I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited in my life.

What university are you going to?

As of right now, I’m going to UC Santa Barbara, but it all depends on whether I get accepted from the waitlist at UC Berkeley.

What are you planning on majoring in?

I plan on majoring in Political Science with perhaps a double major or minor in French.

What are your plans for the future? Dream Job?

I would love to become a civil rights attorney. If not that then something with human rights and perhaps public administration.

What are you most excited about in the future?

I’m definitely most excited about the independence and freedom that comes with college.

What are your favorite hobbies?

My favorite hobbies are definitely dancing and acting.

What are some things you do outside of school?

Outside of school, I’m usually at work. I work at the movie theater. I work at the Cinemark at the River. Honestly, it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve had in all of high school. I love working there! I also do dance! I mainly do contemporary and lyrical dance. I love hip hop as well, but I find it much harder to find a good teacher for hip hop. I tried to find a lot of places to dance here in the desert, but they were either too far or just not the right fit for me. I danced at Starlight Dance out here for a while, but then Covid hit. I plan on just picking up dance again in college rather than finding a place now.

What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

My favorite thing to do in my free time is read. I loveeee reading!! I also love to watch youtube. I can’t say I have a favorite book because there are just too many good ones, but one of my top books is for sure the Shadow and Bone/ Six of Crows series. If you read them, READ THEM IN ORDER!!! Do not start with Six of Crows!!

What’s a fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is that I used to go to a French school.

What is your favorite kind of music?

My favorite kind of music would have to be rap. I’m really the type to listen to everything from classical to rap, but there’s just something about rap music. I have wayyy too many favorite songs. I love music so much, I could never pick one, and they constantly change. Right now some of my favorite songs are probably “Lucky You” by Joyner Lucas and Eminem, “Parents” by YUNGBLUD, and “Achilles Come Down” by Gang of Youths. Veryyy different songs but all so good! I usually use the last one to study or do homework.

So, let’s all congratulate Izzy on her future endeavors. Izzy, keep us in the loop; drop us a line; let us know how you’re doing as a Gaucho or a Bear.

Luke’s Letter of Resignation

May 28, 2020 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

By Luke Langlois

Over the years, thebirdonfire.org has brought plenty of enrichment to my mind. First as a reader, then as a frequent commenter, and now as an author. Although it may seem like an elective that pales in comparison to something as grandeur as drama, blog class perhaps offers you the best opportunity to individually improve. It facilitates creativity, writing, collaboration, critical thinking, attention to detail, and, most of all, individual accountability given our small staff. At the same time, however, blog class is relaxed and almost never serves as a source of stress (unless you fall behind;, don’t fall behind). Plus, having published posts provide college admissions officers another look into the voice of a student, and getting into college is almost never a bad thing. Did I mention the glory? So much glory. Simply put, blog may not seem like an appealing class at first, but it has something substantial to offer to everyone.

As a graduating senior, it will become a bit more difficult to be a staff writer for thebirdonfire.org. Yes, it would be possible for me to send a post as an alumnus, but some things just need to have a strong ending. As such, I am officially resigning from my position as a staff writer, and there will be no reboot. Nonetheless, every single time I put fingers to a keyboard (or, the outdated method, pen to paper), the flare I gained from the blog will shine in my writing. I thank anyone and everyone who ever read my posts, even the internet bots floating around that stumble upon our blog. Now, I must prepare for the long journey (two hours down the freeway) to the slightly larger playing field at USC. Luckily, my absence from the blog will hardly be a factor due to the fully capable people reading this post right now: the students. You guys have incredible writing talents that are just waiting to be uncovered and, well, blog class is waiting. Keep up the legendary name of thebirdonfire.org and create your own little twisted digital masterpieces. Anyways, it’s been real. So long, farewell, and thanks for all of the Oxford commas.

The Last Editor: Katelin Slosky

Quintus says “Good Bye”～

May 28, 2020 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

The school year, this strange year, is at an end. Quintus is off in quarantine in Shanghai. Before he left for home, he wrote this “goodbye.”

By Quintus Ni

Let the wind blow; let the rain fall; let years change; quietly stay in the fleeting time; fearless to the world’s vicissitude. To the end of mountains and seas, the most unforgettable one, in dreams, there you are, keeping your faith.

In a delicate world, with your promise to me, you held up the sky above your head, muttering to yourself with a few thoughts, constantly seeping, the sea of hearts from outside of the world.

Now I am, looking at the sky blue, with drops of tears, waiting for the wind, yet fascinated by the wind, facing the shadow, but feeling dizzy because of the shadow. I’m sad but the sadness won’t decrease. I’m missing someone, but that person hasn’t come back. Looking back again, the road is far. Holding on to the broken dream, I still won’t let it go.

A hot heart, with hot feeling, through the dreams of youth. Standing in this secular world, even if the mountains are high, I must see it all. I am not afraid of thick snow, long autumn rains, waiting for the warm spring, spreading the sun in summer, until once again into the covered, left edge of the dream.

Hold a pot of tea, standing under the eaves. Look away at the falling leaves. Quietly watch the change of clouds. Carefully listen to the breeze, ringing through the screen window. Life’s hardship and honor become nothing important.

However, in the dreams who would know time has a limit? Flying flowers scatter like smoke. In the hot air above the tea, even memories are like wisps of smoke. They emerge then disappear, gradually fade out, down the long road.

When the scent that flows into the bone marrow is swallowed, from time to time there come waves of bitterness, like those deep and shallow memories, suddenly bright then suddenly dark. When I’m not paying attention and shaking the body of the cup, the tea leaves rise and dance, float and sink, trying to find their position. Perhaps it’s because they are not resigned to the calmness. I repeatedly stir the bottom of the cup. Isn’t life like this, go back and forth, until the water is clear, which can be known by one glance. But the life always twists and turns, when the world washes away the dust, purifies, creates a completely sober self, not because we lose too much, but try to find a best balance point that belongs to oneself in this lifetime.

We are often walk in this world, afraid to be stung by this world. I suddenly no longer ask the truths.

The fragrance of flowers is slightly light after the rain. Facing hesitation, counting the torments, beside helplessness, listening to the heart, in the end one discovers, the life of a person is nothing more than being ordinary. Looking at the tea turning over and over, around for a few circles, and back to the original point of purity. The truth is, after growing up, looking back, it has long been destined that people’s lives are like a process of running around a circle.

The Last Editor: Katelin Slosky