Students are flying throughout the halls as summertime approaches, cracking energy drinks left and right.
Whether it be Monster, Red Bull or even coffees, caffeine crowds store shelves and leaves them just as fast. Classrooms are littered with cans, but opinions on them vary.
The Lions’ Den staff’s Energy Drinks on an average day.
Photo by: Ever Schmidt
“Energy drinks are the highlight of my morning,” junior Kaylee Foley said. “Monsters are my favorite, personally; I love that it can give me the energy I need in just one drink. It helps me work better and gives me extra energy to help me finish the day fully energized.”
According to Nova Medical Centers, energy drinks have some positives. They help to “improve students’ mood and attitude, to eliminate feeling groggy. Being able to buy a drink that will give almost instant energy for only one to five dollars can be very convenient.
With every positive, there are also negatives. Regardless of the good they bring to some they can also affect the way people act and feel in the opposite way.
“The first time I had an energy drink, I had a bad experience and will probably never drink one again,” junior Adrianna Scalzo said. “It made me feel so sick that I’ve haven’t had one since then.”
According to The National Library of Medicine, energy drinks can be a health risk. There have been nine cases of cardiac arrest in recent years, three of them being fatal. They have concerns that they can cause nervous system disorders and addiction.
“I think they are terrible for you, they mess with your hormones and your heart,” Health and Physical Education teacher Mrs. Alyssa Lukatch said. “It’s a whole-body disrupter.”
Energy drinks contain caffeine and sugars which can be associated with a decrease of insulin sensitivity, causing the body to have resistance to the hormone insulin. It also can give risks like anxiety, hallucinations, headaches, tooth decay and more, according to Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials.
“People drink them for energy just to crash harder a few hours later, when you really should be looking at why you don’t have any energy,” Mrs. Lukatch said.
GS dove headfirst into the fight to cure pediatric cancer.
On Saturday March 15 GS students hosted the 10th annual Mini-THON. This year’s theme was centered around a beach theme, leaving the gym and halls decorated with jellyfish and blue lights.
“The theme came from our slogan,” senior Katie Shea said. “Our slogan was, Waves of Hope and Tides of Change.”
The goal of Mini-THON is to raise as much money possible. This money is then donated for research in the fight to cure pediatric cancer. This year GS Mini-THON members were able to raise a grand total of $63,505.47.
“Our goal was originally set at $100,000, but we quickly realized that was going to be an uphill battle,” Shea said.
While Mini-THON leaders always set a goal for the year, the overall goal is to raise as much money as possible. GS Mini-THON’s highest total ever was $71,502.68.
“We weren’t able to beat the highest total, but we were proud to have the second highest ever,” Shea said.
The night of Mini-THON is split up into two different parts. The first three hours, which take place from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., are known as Community Hours, meaning that families and community members were invited to participate and take part in activities that were offered by Mini-THON members.
Senior Sabrina Kasic donates her hair during Community Hours.
Photo Courtesy: Courtney Paul Photography
The second half of the night directly followed and consisted of an overnight lock in at the school until 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Students who spent the night stood all night long and participated in different games and activities to show support for Mini-THON.
“This was my first time attending Mini-THON,” senior Alice Wilkinson said. “If I would’ve known how much fun it was before, I would’ve gotten involved way sooner.”
GS Mini-THON members also invited a speaker to the event who shared her story and set the tone for why GS believes Mini-THON is a good cause and continues to fight for it every year.
“When we went to Hershey’s pediatric cancer hospital our liaison toured it with us and informed us that she was a Four Diamonds kid,” Shea explained. “From there we asked her if she would share her story at this year’s Mini-THON.”
GS Mini-THON members with this year’s liaison.
Photo Courtesy: Courtney Paul Photography
After all visitors left, the rest of the night was filled with games and entertainment to keep people moving and on their feet.
“My favorite activities from the night had to be volleyball and gaga ball,” freshman Ariana Guerrera said. “They were something I feel like everyone could enjoy.”
The games were split up by team or color of the shirt students who attended were given. The games also known as Color Wars consisted of different team games that would earn the teams points throughout the night.
The team with the most points was deemed the winner of Color Wars and got to be first in line for pizza for dinner after the games.
“My team didn’t win, but we still had fun playing each of the games,” Wilkinson said.
Students who successfully raised $400 or more on their donor drives were able to enter a V.I.P. lounge which was full of treats such as Chick-fil-A and chairs students could rest on.
“There was a bunch of stuff to eat,” Shea said. “There was also beach themed chairs people could sit on and use the massage guns.”
In between games, students kept themselves entertained with different activities found inside the gym.
“I think I played like 50 games of spikeball,” Wilkinson said. “It was a good way to keep me on my feet when we weren’t doing a group activity.”
After the doors opened around 7:00 p.m. the previous night many people were ready for the big reveal 12 hours later.
Around 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning students gathered to hear the announcement and find out how much money was raised over the course of the year. Students were also eager to get a break from the hours of standing throughout the night.
“It was my first time staying the night,” Guerrera said. “It was hard because you get tired, but the games and line dances keep you awake and having fun.”
Several Mini-THON members and students became emotional seeing the hard work pay off and celebrating their contribution to the fight to cure pediatric cancer.
The Mini-THON reveal for 2025.
Photo Courtesy: Courtney Paul Photography
“I was extremely proud to see our hard work pay off,” Shea said. “Seeing the final total felt made me feel good to be part of something so big.”
This being the 10th annual Mini-THON at GS made the night extra special for members. Mini-THON advisor Mr. Matthew Boe spoke about the program and how honored he is to be a part of it.
“I feel incredibly honored and pretty lucky at the same time,” Mr. Boe said. “For me, Mini-THON has grown into an extended family, and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such amazing people for an important cause over many years.”
GS students gather once a year to show their support for the cause and will continue until a cure is found.
“Pediatric cancer remains one of the leading causes of death and that’s not just an opinion, it’s a fact,” Boe said. “As a father of two young boys, I can’t imagine hearing the words, ‘your child has cancer.’ Mini-THON provides a platform for students to create real change by contributing to life-saving research and supporting complete strangers in their darkest times, when they need it most.”
GS has welcomed a new business-based club, Distributive Education Clubs of America, DECA.
DECA was put together in November of 2024 allowing students who joined a month to prepare for Districts. Although it was last minute, students persevered and nine of the students who competed qualified for States.
“Kids had less than a month to choose their testing area and prepare,” Business teacher Mrs. Rachael Pozik said.
Before DECA was formed, GS lacked a business club. This new opportunity allows students to further explore their passion or open new interests in the business field, whether that be finance, entrepreneurship, business management, hospitality, marketing or personal financial literacy.
“I originally wasn’t interested in business for the future, but DECA has made me think about possibly going into business,” sophomore Lola Slavnik said.
Students chose from the five categories to decide which one they wanted to compete in. Districts were held at Duquesne University and consisted of a 100-question standardized test in the area the student chose. The students then got a specific scenario and had 10 minutes to prepare and act out what they’d do in that scenario.
DECA club members pose for a photo outside of Duquesne University.
Photo Courtesy: Mrs. Pozik
“Students don’t know what scenario they’re getting, and they have 10 minutes to prepare,” Mrs. Pozik said. “After preparing, they then go into another room and present their solution to a judge.”
Not only does it allow students to explore their personal passions, but it gives them access to scholarships and new opportunities throughout college while exploring what they may be enthusiastic about learning as well.
“Business has always been something I’ve been interested in since I was little,” sophomore Bryce Ferace said. “I have always wanted to own my own business and still do; I have a photography business in the making that I’m opening in April. So DECA will also help me learn more information.”
Students and Pozik are continuously preparing for States, which will be held this month in Hershey, PA.
“Mr. Brinton is going to States with us, we’re both chaperoning,” Pozik said. “It should be fun, I’m excited, but the last month has been stressful.”
From ballet dancing to “My Heart Will Go On,” to starring in a Eugene-O’Neill-written play, Pittsburgh’s 2024 Performer of the Year has always been a star.
GS graduate and Point Park University alum Melessie Clark was named the 40th annual Performer of the Year by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for her work in Pittsburgh-produced plays in 2024.
Clark starred as Josie in A Moon for the Misbegotten, a story of love and redemption written by O’Neill, and Elizabeth Darcy in The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley, a play celebrating forgiveness by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon.
Clark as Elizabeth Darcy in The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley.
Photo Courtesy: Jan Hoover
“Being named performer of the year is an accomplishment I’m still taking in,” she said. “It means so much because I believe it’s a culmination of years of work. It’s one of those things where you say, ‘oh, how nice would that be.’ And, because it wasn’t something I was necessarily aiming for, it just means that much more.”
Past performers acknowledged by the Post-Gazette include Billy Porter, Wali Jamal and Monteze Freeland, all of whom shine a light for her on the influence she can have on her audience. She described the recognition of her work in doing what she loves as “priceless.”
“In this career, there’s moments that prove to you that, ‘oh, I think that I can actually do this,’” she said. “Most recently, I got to do a Eugene O’Neill play which was an incredible highlight, getting to tackle that kind of material. It was really nice getting to dig my teeth into a play with heavy themes like that.”
Clark as Josie in A Moon for the Misbegotten.
Photo Courtesy: Beth Barbis
She found her way into performing through dance, having taken lessons at Darlene’s Dance Company, a Greensburg studio, when she was 10 years old, eventually moving onto Sandra Lynn’s. She explained she “couldn’t wait” to be in high school and to be a part of GS’ musicals, Bye Bye Birdie being one of the productions that sparked this flame.
“I don’t think he’s there any longer, but Dr. Orange, who taught choir, was really my entry point into theater,” she said. “Mr. Lenzi also played a pivotal role in me appreciating writing when it comes to theater and literature in general. He introduced us to excellent playwrights and writers, like Lorraine Hansberry. I think my favorite memory was getting to cold read A Raisin in the Sun in class; I really think that was the start of me exercising my cold-reading-skills for auditions.”
Ms. Maurissa Auer, who was a junior when Clark was a freshman, performed with her on two musicals for the school: Thoroughly Modern Millie and Hello, Dolly! Ms. Auer explained that Clark “always gave it her all” regardless of what part she was playing, also adding that she had a “powerful personality.”
“Melessie always stood out; she was such an outgoing kid who lit up any room she was in,” Mr. Mark Zahorchak, who taught Law and Economics her senior year, said. “You never know how far a student is going to take it, but I’m not at all surprised with what she has accomplished. She and her brother are two of the best to come through here; they’re just great people.”
Some GS students, like senior Declan Joseph, have seen her perform live and have even met her. Joseph stated that her stage presence was “really exciting to watch.”
On top of acting in musicals, as well as in multiple TV series, she has modeled for brands such as Macy’s and Gabe’s; she has done runway shows in collaboration with local Pittsburgh artists; hosted two red carpet events; done voiceover work for companies like Sheetz; judged pageant competitions and much more.
“The first time I really got to step into a lead role was my senior year when we did Sweet Charity,” she said. “I researched the musical and wanted to be Charity so badly, so I prepared and auditioned. All of those skills that I learned really prepared me for my future.”
After being named Performer of the Year, next up for Clark is a new musical production this spring at the Public Theater in Manhattan titled Goddess. The Public Theater has been the home of various musicals that have made it to Broadway, such as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton and, more recently, Hell’s Kitchen by Alicia Keys.
“I hope everyone knows their dreams are possible,” Clark said. “If I can do it, you can too. Don’t be afraid to ask, don’t be afraid of feedback from your mentors and peers. That is the core of growing and moving forward. Keep dreaming big.”
A group of seniors rushed to get their binders in preparation to graduate early.
Most of the students graduating early presented their projects on Jan. 29. This day was delayed because of snow days.
“The biggest challenge was trying to do everything in a timely manner,” GS graduate Wynter Scarpa said. “With limited time to complete my senior project, I had to navigate to get everything done timely while also efficiently.”
A list of senior requirements in the senior project binder.
Photo By: Emma Helmick
Most students who were planning to finish early attempted to get their projects approved in the summer to make their deadline more manageable.
“To graduate early, students would have to prepare in their junior year, so we would be scheduling accordingly,” Guidance Counselor Mrs. Laura Klipa said.
There were originally around 11 students planning to finish early, but only eight ending up following through.
“I think graduating early can be beneficial if someone already has a very clear idea of what they want to do,” History teacher Mrs. Beth Simone said. “I mean one of my seniors actually had to miss the last couple days of our semester because his college classes started.”
Students who have graduated early are still able to attend prom, but can no longer be part of school sports.
“I decided to graduate early to get ahead in my college career and to get into my Nursing career quicker,” GS graduate Brandon Fazio said.
Although starting college early could be beneficial, it is not the only reason for leaving high school before everyone else.
“Now that I have graduated early I can begin working full-time to save for a car, housing and other future expenses,” Scarpa said.
Graduating early can give students opportunities to start working and saving or even get a jump start at furthering their education before the rest of their peers.
“The high school curriculum wasn’t challenging for me anymore and I wanted to expand my knowledge since I have already reached the highest classes you can reach in our school,” Fazio said.
Under the bright lights of the PIHL All-Star game, three student-athletes from GS proved their talent amongst other Class A athletes.
Three GS hockey student athletes were selected to play in the PIHL All Star game. These student-athletes worked tirelessly all year to be able to earn their places in the game.
“This season my goal was to gain more confidence on the ice to be able to play in the All-Star game,” sophomore Cooper Outly said.
The PIHL All Star game combined top hockey players from Class A to showcase their talents together. The mixture of schools provided intense competition and advanced skill to the hockey game. All-Star athletes from all Class A schools created a thrilling environment with their impressive skills and talent.
The All Star players after their game (pictured left to right: Cooper Outly, Luke Dieter and Jacob Fink.)
Photo Courtesy: Luke Dieter
“I was most excited to play with [Jacob] Fink out of anyone,” junior Luke Dieter said. “We play on the same team, but not on the same line, so being on the same line as him was awesome, especially when we scored the two goals for the team.”
On Dec. 19, 2024, student-athletes were informed about the selection process through the Trib newspaper. The selection process took place at Robert Morris University and all coaches were responsible for voting and nominating the players. After the selection, the coaches and team were informed of the players who were named All-Stars. The selected athletes played on Sunday, Jan. 26.
“I was in my basement stick handling and shooting pucks when I found out,” sophomore Jacob Fink said. “I was grateful and honored to represent the school and score two goals for the All-Star team.”
GS had a very successful year last year with a record of 13-5-1. All three All-Star players were contributors last season. With 10 seniors graduating in 2024, returning players faced the challenge of stepping up to fill the void and continue their winning tradition.
“It was very special to have the opportunity to play and it was special seeing past teammates get selected,” Dieter said.
This season, GS is a young team, with many players getting their first taste of Varsity experience. The coaching staff has shifted slightly and brought new energy into the team.
“All three of them have a lot of individual skill, but without the help of the team they’re really nothing,” Business Teacher and Coach Mr. Tyler Brinton said. “It’s helpful when there’s a whole team around them that they can feed off of.”
The young team at GS is looking at the future with All-Star players gaining experience with potential collegiate opportunities. The All-Star games serve as important exposure for the considerations of collegiate level hockey.
“I think this game was a big stepping stone to lead me to a future in hockey,” Fink said.
Donald Trump has recently taken office and officially claimed his spot as 47th U.S. president.
Students throughout GS were asked how they feel about his presidency and what they would like to see from Trump over the next four years.
“He has a past of being a good businessman, but I don’t believe he’s going to do well as a politician this time around,” senior Ksena Spencer said. “I can’t say I necessarily agree with his ideas.”
Ksena Spencer
Photo by: Adison Poole
“Based on what I’ve seen so far it seems he appears to be on somewhat of a power trip,” senior James Hugus said. “I’m hoping that streak doesn’t continue and harm his presidency. If prices drop in the next few years, I’ll be happy with it, though”
James Hugus
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think he’s going to do terrible and bring down the country, considering the fact there are a bunch of economists out there saying his plans are absolutely terrible,” senior Gracie Susick said. “I also feel that he’s getting into too much with deporting people, and he is creating more and more issues with other countries”
Gracie Susick
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think he’s going to be a good president because from what I see he is attempting to make things equal so that no one feels privileged,” junior Noah Dudek said. “He seems like he wants to make things equal for everyone instead of lifting certain people up over others.”
Noah Dudek
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I don’t even feel like he should’ve have been able to run again in the first place,” freshman Nico Hardaway said. “I mean he was convicted of a felony, and I think that’s plenty reason enough why he shouldn’t be allowed in office.”
Nico Hardaway
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think Donald Trump is doing a good thing by encouraging people to come to the country legally,” sophomore Casey Shwartz said. “He didn’t say they couldn’t come, he just wanted people to do it the right way.”
Casey Swartz
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I believe Kamala Harris and Donald Trump would’ve been equal no matter who ended up in office,” junior Maxwell Vargovich. “I believe Trump is going to take our country down a bad path.”
Maxwell Vargovich
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think he has the right ideas to be a good president but maybe not the right choice at the moment with everything else going on in the world,” junior Kasey Baxter said. “Due to his most recent actions, I’m not so sure about him, but I guess time will tell.”
Kasey Baxter
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think he’s a great guy and I’m glad we elected Trump instead of Kamala Harris,” sophomore Samuel Vassar said. “I agree with a lot of his ideas, and I think he’s going to lower prices.”
Bear Frye and Samuel Vassar
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think Donald Trump is going to be a good president because of his personality and the way that he thinks about everyone,” senior Bear Frye said. “He has talked about his support for African Americans multiple times and how he wants to help them. He also explained that he doesn’t want to stop the immigrants from coming in but encourage them to come over legally. I know he will rebuild the wall for things to be great again.”
“I think he’s taking us backwards on lot of things that past presidents have put in place,” senior Alexxus Reynolds said. “He keeps attempting to change things, such as issues from the 1900s. Things I feel most people have forgot about or moved on from he goes back to just to undo. I just don’t understand how we can make America great again if America was never great to begin with.”
TikTok has been the number one app in the AppStore for many years, but coming Jan. 19, that may change.
A TikTok ban is poised to take effect in the United States later this month. There is speculation that the app will remain on phones but eventually become unusable. Most teenagers around America are outraged.
A screenshot of the top entertainment apps in the app store.
“I think the ban is pretty stupid,” junior Alex Swatchick said. “People are worried that China is getting our data, but from what I have seen, I doubt that China is getting anything important.”
There are multiple reasons why TikTok is being banned; the main reason is that it could be a security risk. With TikTok shop taking off this past year, many are worried about personal information being leaked or stolen.
“As someone who doesn’t frequently watch the news, it seems to be my only way to keep up with current events that are happening in the world,” senior Sabrina Kasic said.
While many teens do get their information from the app, some of it can be questionable and it is often hard to separate right from wrong.
Some adults are happy about the change, as social media can be harmful to young people.
“The TikTok ban is positive because it will give students one less distraction,” Child Development teacher Dr. Tiffany Smietana-Lysell said. “I know that TikTok is used a lot during their free time, actually all the time.”
While TikTok does have many negative qualities, it also has some positive ones.
“The TikTok banning will impact our generation greatly because it has become a space that most of the world has and [we] can see people of all different backgrounds,” Kasic said. “When people don’t have this, they might not feel as connected.”
TikTok has also given a lot of small businesses a chance to branch out to the world and make them more successful.
“So many people use TikTok for not only entertainment, but also marketing and sales,” Swatchick said. “Many people would lose out on sales or even lose their business in total.”
The ban might have some negative effects on people economically, but it could have some positive effects on the way students handle their free time better by decreasing the time they spend swiping.
“I do not see it having a major impact on this generation or future generations,” Dr. Smietana-Lysell said. “There will always be new apps developed and new trends to follow, so the absence of TikTok will eventually just be a minor event in the past.”
Although the new year often brings hope and good fortune, 2025 began with tragedy for many in two major U.S. cities.
In the early morning hours of Jan. 1, a crowd of celebrating citizens in New Orleans, Louisiana were faced with the headlights of an oncoming truck and eventually the barrel of a gun. Only a few hours later, bystanders at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada witnessed an explosion from within a Tesla Cybertruck.
The street signs on the corner of Bourbon Street where the attack took place.
Photo courtesy: Adobe Stock Photos
Only three hours after midnight, there were 14 victims killed and at least 33 others were injured when Shamsud-din Jabbar drove a pickup truck loaded with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) into a crowd on the sidewalk of Bourbon Street in the French Quarter.
The incident has been determined as a premeditated domestic terrorist attack. Jabbar was a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Texas who showed no concerning behaviors to family or friends before the attack. He did, however, visit and surveil the area at least two times using Meta smart glasses to record in the months leading up to the attack. In videos posted online, he pledged his support to the foreign terrorist organization ISIS, and a corresponding flag was recovered from the vehicle.
In addition to the IEDs in the truck, Jabbar planted two coolers containing IEDs on nearby streets that did not detonate. After stopping the truck, he stepped out of the vehicle wielding a gun and was eventually killed in a shootout with police officers. Two officers were injured.
It was later discovered that he set fire to a rented Airbnb in a suspected attempt to destroy evidence.
He rented the Ford F-150 Lightning from a car rental platform called Turo, a service that allows owners to rent directly to customers, similarly to Airbnb.
The Tesla Cybertruck used in the Las Vegas explosion was also rented through Turo, but investigations found no connection. Turo claimed they background check all users and neither individual raised any red flags.
A Tesla Cybertruck similar to the one used in the explosion.
Photo courtesy: Adobe Stock Photos
“The use of a vehicle [for violence] has become commonplace and it’s honestly terrifying,” Law and Economics teacher Mr. Mark Zahorchak said.
37-year-old U.S. Army Green Beret Matthew Livelsberger ended his own life by gunshot just before the detonation of explosives inside the rented Cybertruck. At least seven injuries were sustained by bystanders, but no one was severely injured. There was also effectively no damage to the building as the steel body of the vehicle contained the majority of the explosion.
Letters and audio recordings of Livelsberger prior to the attack state the intent was to provide a “wake up call” to the public. He expressed support of president-elect Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and others involved with the Trump campaign. He held disdain for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, income equality, and the rising issue of homelessness. Investigations revealed his use of ChatGPT to research and plan the attack, which had not previously been seen in major criminal investigations.
Coming right at the start of the new year and just before Trump’s inauguration, the increase in national—and even international—conflict has created a social and political landscape brimming with negativity.
Mr. Zahorchak stated that there is “simply no place” for politically motivated violence, and that it was “obviously un-American.”
In recent years, there has been an uptick in political violence on a larger scale, from school shootings to assassination attempts, and even wars. Predictably, this has caused an increase in worry around the globe.
“Yes, it concerns me,” social studies teacher Mrs. Beth Simone said. “I do sometimes question: are things worse now or am I just more aware?”
Tragically, the future likely holds an increase in these events.
“The idea of someone harming someone for political reasons is something I can unfortunately see increasing because we live in a volatile time,” Zahorchak shared.
Both Mrs. Simone and Zahorchak shared that it changes how they approach situations with their families, around crowds and at big events.
Although these events were important news, many students were unaware they even happened or missed most details.
“I just knew that there was a car involved, and it ran into a crowd, and there was a football game cancelled because of it,” sophomore Aiden Jackson said.
The cancellation of the Sugar Bowl 2025 game in New Orleans was the most common knowledge shared by students and staff.
Several, including Jackson, cited family and friends as their initial source for the information.
Others, like Zahorchak, first saw it on social media before researching on news sites.
Recently, more and more people find news on social media sites just as it happens. Although this can be beneficial for some, it can also over-stress and drown out other relevant events.
“It’s a sort of diffusion of information,” Simone explained. “There’s so much going on and being shared everywhere that we don’t know what’s important. Big picture, I don’t think it’s truly possible for anyone to stay informed at this point.”
While both Jabbar and Livelsberger were politically motivated, it has been determined that they were working alone, and their messages have not seemed to influence others yet.
“As far as using these events to send a message—that is ineffective,” Simone said. “Because there is so much happening, it won’t have much of an effect. We cannot control the narrative—it happens so often that people won’t know your name.”
Many Americans are desensitized to tragedies that happen outside of their community, and this can cause a disconnect in the population.
“We can still believe in each other, but it does concern me that it takes an event hitting home to realize that,” Simone said. “We tend to trust our neighbors, and we tend to be willing to help each other.”
From Pink Pilates Princess users to Boujee Football Rap users, students listened to hours and hours of music to get through 2024.
To end every year streaming services put out a “wrapped” which is made up of the users’ top artists, top songs and the number of minutes listened.
Students were eager to share their stats and talk about their favorite artists of the year.
“My top artists were Ariana Grande, SZA and Billie Eilish,” senior Greg Paravate said.
Artists varied from student to student, even teachers shared their music taste from the year.
“My top artist was Khruangbin, they make very chill music,” Math teacher Mr. Al Toret said.
Mr. Toret’s top five songs on Apple Music.
Photo courtesy: Mr. Al Toret
Spotify and Apple also released data from every user overall. This includes top artists from the year which would make Taylor Swift 2024’s Global Top Artist.
Following the top artists, users were able to see their total minutes spent listening to music in 2024.
“Overall, I had about 30,000 minutes listened,” Paravate said.
Other users only listened occasionally or used the music as background noise.
“I had 15,218 minutes because I only really listen when I’m driving,” junior Andrew Lehnhardt said.
Lehnhardt’s top Spotify artists and songs.
Photo courtesy: Andrew Lehnhardt
While these streaming services do provide several different pieces of information and stats for their users, many spoke of the things they wish they could see more of or what they would change if it was up to them.
“I’d want to see what song or songs I skipped the most throughout the year,” Lehnhardt said. “That way I’d know what songs I should probably take off my playlist.”
Students also wanted to see the minutes they listened to divided up into each playlist and how long they spent with each.
“I would really like to see stats on how long or often I listened to each of my playlists,” Paravate said.
While both streaming services release the users’ “stats,” many believe that the wrapped isn’t completely accurate.
“Most of my top artists didn’t shock me,” Mr. Toret said. “However, my fourth artist felt wrong. I don’t think I listened to her nearly that much.”
Many users claimed to have a few artists or songs in their wrapped that felt a little off, but for the most part felt like what they saw made sense.
“Some of them were shocking, but for the most part I guess it made sense,” Toret said.
The Lions' Den 