![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-1200x800.jpg)
![With the energy and effort the Bolts were bringing to the game, the Phoenix had to step up and match them to make it through their first game of the season. Many of the girls on the team, including freshman Nazly Rostom, have been playing soccer since their childhood and have grown a love for the sport as a result. “It was fun to see how we actually played in a [real] game,” Rostom said. “Even though the outcome was not what we were hoping for, I’m still happy we got to play together.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0154-1200x800.jpg)
![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
Final Senior Breakfast Ends With Decision Day
As seniors get ready to leave for college, they gathered together for their final senior breakfast, posing for photos in front of a screen showing the college of their choice.
During Decision Day, the school set up a screen with college names where students could go up and pose in front of the college they are attending.
June 8, 2023
On Friday, May 5, the senior class gathered in the main gym to celebrate the last Senior Breakfast of the year and participate in a long-standing tradition known as Decision Day.
Decision Day is usually on May 1, which is the deadline for high school seniors to decide what they will be doing after high school. For many seniors, Decision Day is also when they decide which college they will be attending.
Already with their minds made up, whether it was attending college, taking a gap year, or joining the military, seniors celebrated the end of a year full of application processes and tough choices. . Senior Jatin Talvai got accepted into Berkeley College in New York City. Talvai believes that because his application was full of community service hours he got into Berkeley. “[For Juniors], you’re going to hear this a lot, but make sure you have a spike in your application –that really pushes you into being a very unique applicant,” Talvai said.
The breakfast started at 8:30 and lasted about an hour. It included a generous selection of drinks, fruits, and food such as donuts, granola bars, and muffins.
In addition to the food provided by the parents and students, the Phoenix staff had set up a photoshoot for students to participate in, and seniors were able to request a backdrop of their college and take pictures with friends and family.
As the year comes to an end, seniors reflect on their time in high school and share their favorite moments. Senior Morgan Fowle’s favorite memory was with the swim team and building it back up after Covid. “After its devisite in covid year, the swim team took a big hit because no one wanted to do any sports, and I helped build something coming back up,” Fowle said.
To see where the senior class is headed after graduation, check out our senior print issue here.
![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-600x400.jpg)
![Senior Fatima Qaderi grew into the person she wanted to become when she was younger and continues to work towards growing more confident in using her voice when it matters. “I didnt get treated the way I wanted to be treated, and I realized that it wasnt just them treating me the wrong way, it was me treating me the wrong way,” Qaderi said. “I forced them to like to look at me in a way where Im someone who needs to be respected; they cant just disregard me, they cant just look over me because I have a different opinion, because Im a woman, because Im Afghan, because Im Muslim, or whatever. It just took going through different experiences to figure out how [I wanted to] be heard.” Photo courtesy of Fatima Qaderi.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3870-600x471.jpeg)
