Do AP’s matter?

On this month’s edition of The Spark, we will be discussing if AP (advance placement) classes matter or don’t.

Josiah Anderson, Tyla Simpson, Madelyn Tucker, and Devika Goureddy • June 9, 2026

Welcome to “The Spark”, a podcast where members of The Blaze review and discuss debatable light-hearted topics that impact the student body of Rock Ridge High School. In today’s episode, staff members Josiah Anderson, Devika Goureddy, Tyla Simpson, and Madelyn Tucker will be discussing if taking AP (Advance placement) classes matter.

Music provided by WeVideo.

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About the Contributors

Josiah Anderson, Staff Writer

Josiah Anderson is a junior and a new staff member of The Blaze. After receiving a recommendation letter to join the newspaper, he was immediately interested in contributing. His goals for this year are writing pieces people will actually enjoy and be interested in reading because he feels people his age don’t read enough anymore. Originally from outside of Atlanta, Georgia, Josiah has lived in Loudoun County for 6 years. Josiah is a veteran member of the Rock Ridge Marching Band, where he plays the Bass 3. In his free time, Josiah enjoys making rap and R&B-style music, drawing influence from artists like Frank Ocean and Tyler the Creator. He recently taught himself how to produce music using FL Studio. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with friends and gaming.

Tyla Simpson, Staff Writer

Tyla Simpson is a freshman and a first-year staff writer for the Blaze. Tyla’s motivation to write for the Blaze began with her striving to improve in writing and finding her own voice. She has a piqued interest in event-based coverage and photography, with her primary goal of capturing the energy of Rock Ridge’s student life. Outside of the Blaze, she runs for the Phoenix Cross Country team and participates in Care4Kiddos, which reflects her passion for teamwork and volunteering. She also has an aspiration of becoming a nurse. During her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and relaxing in her bedroom with a TV show on. This year, Tyla is excited to bring her enthusiasm to the Blaze, contributing to the stories that highlight the people and events that shape the community.

Madelyn Tucker, Staff Writer

Madelyn Tucker is a freshman and a new staffer for The Blaze this year. She has a passion for photography and is interested in multimedia journalism and gaining exposure to podcasting and video journalism. Madelyn is also extremely family-oriented and actually developed her passion for photography through her time with her grandmother. This year, she aspires to write an article that will make her family proud and grow a lasting relationship with other members of The Blaze. In her free time, Madelyn enjoys reading, and she is excited to be welcomed to Rock Ridge’s community. She sees herself becoming a big part of The Blaze as time goes on and is especially eager to improve her writing.

Devika Goureddy, Staff Writer

Devika Goureddy is a freshman this year, starting her first year as a new staff writer on The Blaze. She is excited to get comfortable with the camera and explore her interest in photography through taking many photos in event coverage, especially sports games. To diversify her skills, Devika wants to take on other forms of journalism, such as creating videos and podcasts, as well as writing opinion pieces. By joining The Blaze, she is enthusiastic to be a part of the journalism community and make lasting memories, along with improving her writing skills, to produce strong, good-quality articles. Outside of the newsroom, Devika is the freshman class president of the Student Council Association and is on the Rock Ridge volleyball team. She is also planning to join the basketball and tennis teams for future seasons and participate in clubs such as Model UN.

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Do AP’s matter?

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