What’s recently happened?
Hobart High School (HHS) students are back in school and are ready to finish off the school year. The first semester concluded on December 20 and was followed by a two-week winter break. With that said, the second semester is a great chance for students to reset and start fresh.
The most important tool when continuing through the year is to set goals. Audrey Turley, a sophomore at HHS, takes all honors classes while also participating in cross country and track. Many student athletes like Turley work hard to balance school and sports life.
“Setting goals gives me the direction to focus my attention and the structure to be able to reach where I want to go in the future,” Turley said.
HHS provides wonderful resources to help students achieve their greatest potential. In particular, the newly founded writing center is a great resource for students struggling in writing. Here, students can make passes to get assistance from senior tutors.
“Since the writing center is open every day, it allows for students with a busy schedule like me to get help,” Turley said.
Taking advantage of resources like this will benefit every student. Additionally, fostering a proactive approach to seeking support can contribute to academic success.
What’s coming up?
Brickies can look forward to many activities this coming semester. The most notable may be this year’s spring musical: “The Spongebob Musical.”
“‘The Spongebob Musical’ follows the main characters of the cartoon as they learn there is a giant volcano about to erupt and destroy Bikini Bottom,” said Anna Young, a current sophomore at HHS who has been part of the theatre department since her freshman year.
Giving insight into the preparation process, Young revealed the cast has roughly six weeks, starting from casting and first rehearsal, to bring this production to life. This period involves learning harmonies for each song, mastering choreography, memorizing lines, and perfecting acting techniques.
“We have rehearsals nearly everyday with varying times, and then tech week, the week before opening night, we rehearse from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.,” Young said.
The dedicated commitment from the cast and crew reflects the passion and effort invested in delivering a memorable, theatrical experience for the audience.
Tickets won’t be available until closer to opening night on March 1. Keep an eye out online or buy them directly at the booth.
Staff spotlight:
Having been at HHS for the last 10 years and also the business department chair, Valentine Torres did not go to school for education; in fact, she started off in a variety of careers, including restaurant management and retail sales at T-Mobile USA.
“I really learned a lot about customer service, that the customer’s always right,” Torres said.
Corporate America played a significant role in shaping Torres’ journey by highlighting the need for continuous education to young people. This led her to get a bachelor’s degree in business management through tuition reimbursement at T-Mobile.
The desire to bridge the gap between corporate America and students led Torres to become a guest speaker in high school classes. Recognizing the need for practical knowledge, Torres now teaches essential skills such as résumé building, job interview techniques, and digital portfolio creation.
“I'm a big advocate for resetting yourself,” said Torres, “I found myself looking for planners, going to bookstores, and just not finding one that fit me.”
Motivated by the frustration of not finding a suitable planner in stores, Torres crafted a personalized solution. During the 2023 holiday break, Torres created “The Power Planner: Organizing Career Success, One Day at a Time” – a tool that emphasizes the importance of daily actions in achieving long-term goals.
“You just have to be able to treat your own life as a business and constantly remind yourself that the opportunities are there to grow. You just have to want to grow with it,” Torres said.
With this mindset, Torres encourages individuals to constantly seek opportunities for advancement, urging them to “put respect on their name” and actively engage in the process of personal development.
Student spotlight:
“If you’re wanting to make money and have an idea, go for it!” said HHS Senior Anthony Greene.
Greene is currently taking college-level marketing and business classes as a high schooler. His freshman year, Instructor Torres assigned the class a project where they needed to create a mock business plan. This is where he created his first ever business: Greene Bee Honey.
Drawing inspiration from his business classes, Greene integrated newfound knowledge into his business endeavors, particularly in digital marketing. Greene manages his online presence through Facebook and Instagram pages for his family’s dog training business, Greene Dog Consulting.
“You can learn anything as long as you are setting your mind to reach your goals,” said Greene.
For those aspiring to start their own entrepreneurial journey, Greene advises thorough research and the importance of crafting business and marketing plans. Greene believes that with determination and goal-setting, anyone can acquire the knowledge needed to turn their ideas into successful businesses.