James Bowles, Managing Editor
James Bowles is a senior and is the Managing Editor for The Blaze. In his third year on the paper staff, he still thoroughly enjoys his experience working with everyone associated with The Blaze, and wouldn’t give it up for just about anything. When he compared his previous experience with the student paper as a staff writer versus his current position as an editor, he denotes that both are crucial positions for the paper to run smoothly, though he does appreciate the pseudo-mentor role he has as an editor. He’s also incredibly grateful that the paper has allowed him to spend more time with his brother in academia. One word of advice he hopes to be helpful to the newcomers of the staff is to just hang in there; you will struggle to get in the groove in the beginning, especially when it comes to the more unconventional sides of this work, like photography and interviews, but the knowledge will slowly creep on you, and soon you’ll be able to self-guide through it with ease.
![Junior Diya Arun stares out a window. For Arun, the winter season brings out the holiday blues. “ I think [the winter] has a negative effect on my mental health because I feel like the cold weather and people around me are also sadder [and] that affects me,” Arun said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8047-1200x800.jpg)
![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.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)
![Rushing down the court, senior Cora Bowen (2) makes her way from the Phoenix’s side to the Titans’ hoop, capitalizing on her team’s efforts in getting the ball back from the Titans. Coach Gordon Neal is proud of the team’s ability to work together and play effectively off each other. “[We] work on cohesion as a team [with] everyone playing together,” Neal said. “[So] that everyone is increasing their skill.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0108-1-1098x1200.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)
![Family and consumer science teacher Shannon Hunter guides her early childhood education (ECE) class through the assigned text. Starting in room L503 last year, the first space Hunter used was decorated to mimic the atmosphere and feel of a preschool classroom. This year, Hunter teaches in room L508. With a room more than double the size of her first room, she’s planning to personalize and refine her ECE courses. “I got a lot of help in terms of curriculum instruction [last year on] like how to structure lessons or what order to put them in,” Hunter said. “So I have changed the order, changed some of the activities that we did, I added to the information, it’s like I have to make it my own.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8396-1200x800.jpg)
