![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)
![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.jpeg)
![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)
![Gracing stages, football games, and even the big screen, Taylor Swifts popularity doesn’t seem to be declining anytime soon as she’s been almost everywhere on social media, and just this December, [Swift] won TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year award. This brought along magnificent pictures of Swift, articles praising her, and some controversy between Swifites (Swifts most devoted fans), and other people on whether or not she should have won this award.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/taylor-swift-person-of-the-year-1-1094x1200.png)
The School Within Our School
Rock Ridge students reflect on their progress at ACL.
Standing tall, the newly built campus houses many of our Rock Ridge peers.
January 18, 2019
At Rock Ridge High School, students are here one day and gone the next because of the Academies of Loudoun. The Academies of Loudoun (ACL) is a facility that specializes in furthering Loudoun County students’ knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) curriculum.
Senior Marie Mpofu, a student enrolled in ACL’s justice program, compared the ACL to higher education because “it offers a lot of freedom.” Although Mpofu enjoys the ACL curriculum, she also experiences the difficulties of balancing the ACL curriculum with the Rock Ridge curriculum. “My Rock Ridge classes don’t really allow me to get help from teachers, which makes it harder if I don’t understand something,” she said.
Senior Jai Malhi is enrolled in the ACL’s biotechnology program. “I was originally in vet science and was interested in biotechnology,” Malhi said, “but if I had another year, I would be interested in taking emergency medical technician.” As with Mpofu, Malhi is satisfied with ACL curriculum. “ACL has a lot more hands-on learning. . . you can get knowledge in the field you want to go into in the future,” she said.
Junior Aiman Siddiqui was first introduced to ACL when her older brother was enrolled three years prior to her. Siddiqui, who is a part of ACL’s medical laboratory program, attends ACL with a focus on the future. “I’m studying at ACL to expand my knowledge about the medical field, and to create a better foundation for myself regarding the basics of medicine,” she said. Siddiqui also pointed out some positives of attending ACL regarding the social aspect, explaining that she chose to go to the school to introduce her to a new environment and new people.
ACL is a helpful step for Loudoun County students. Mpofu, Siddiqui, and Malhi encourage their Rock Ridge peers to participate in the program. “Everyone chooses to be there and comes with a new sense of hope for themselves, and the career they hope to go in,” Siddiqui said.
