#1StudentNWI: Slicers Promote Positivity in November

#1StudentNWI: Slicers Promote Positivity in November

Student Spotlight: Jaden Millard

Jaden Millard, a sophomore at La Porte High School, uses his love for art and botany to express himself and maintain a positive outlook on life.

From a young age, Millard was interested in art. He started out drawing, and, although he claims he was awful at first, he has certainly improved throughout the years. He has now won two art shows and will continue to win more as his talent grows.

“My sister, Savannah Tilford, definitely drew me into [art]. She was good at drawing, and I wanted to be just like her. She is and forever will be my inspiration. She has always been the star of the family. I try and live up to her, and I hope that I can be as good and as smart of a person as her,” Millard said.

Although he has a passion for art, it is not the largest portion of his life. In other words, it is more of a hobby rather than a career choice, as he has other plans in store for the future.

“My plans for college are not art related. Instead I hope to further my education in gardening, botany, and insect studies,” Millard said.

Botany is something Millard has been passionate about since he was a child. He owns several plants and hopes to become a botanist one day.

“In ten years, I hope to see myself out of college with my PHD in botany and an MBA in entomology. In twenty years, I hope to be living France with one adopted child,” Millard said.

Millard follows through with his ambitions because of his positivity. He is accepting of each and every person he meets and is always willing to stand up for what is right. That is why he names people like Lana Del Rey, Barack Obama, and Melissa McCarthy as his inspirations; they stand up for what they believe in regardless of the consequences.

“If I could describe myself in three words, they would be creative, intelligent, and optimistic. I always see the the colorful side of projects and try to make them as fun as possible, I strive for good grades and always do my best, but I am human and can accept when I fail. I am always positive no matter the situation,” Millard said.

Overall, Millard has done many extraordinary things in his mere two years at high school. He will grow, and, as he does, he will inspire others.

Teacher Spotlight: Lindsey Baugh

1Student-LaPorte-Nov-2017-02Most teachers respond passionately when asked why they became a teacher. English and Drama teacher Lindsey Baugh exemplifies this passion.

Baugh’s decision to become a teacher was not finalized until she was in her twenties, but that did not minimize her passion for it at all. She attended Purdue University for her Bachelor’s in English and earned her teaching license at Indiana Wesleyan. When her first year as a teacher finally rolled around, it brought her back to the place she adored the most.

“Teaching was always a small thought in the back of my head, but I didn’t fully realize that I wanted to be a teacher until I was in my early twenties. I was working for the La Porte County Auditor and found myself dreaming of returning to school. I was always a good student, and I loved going to school every morning. My teachers were always my greatest friends and inspiration growing up, and I dreamed of being that for someone else,” Baugh said.

Currently, Baugh teaches a variety of English-based classes, such as Contemporary Literature, Freshman English, Drama Arts, and Advanced Acting.

“I chose to teach English and Theatre because reading and acting have always been a very big part of my life. In my classes, my students can tell that I genuinely care about them and that I genuinely enjoy what I am teaching. I’m not afraid to get in front of my class and be silly in order to make a lesson stick in their heads,” Baugh said.

Her passion for teaching also follows with the passion for singing and acting. Baugh has been doing so since she was a child and has extremely large ambitions for her future.

“I have this dream that I will someday have a record deal and go on tour singing around the country. I also want to be in the movies. That’s a dream I’ve never been able to get out of my head, and I truly hope that it happens someday. Also, I encourage people to get more involved with community theatre in some way. My acting experience, both onstage and offstage, has helped shape me into the person I am today,” Baugh said.

Baugh’s dream may seem far-fetched for most, so in the meantime, she also has a second set of plans that she plans to accomplish in the near future.

“Ideally, in 10 years I will still be teaching, whether at the high school or college level. Teaching college is definitely something that I’d like to see on my horizon. I dream of getting my PhD and teaching at Notre Dame. Go Irish!” Baugh said.

Baugh is a dreamer, and, with that, she makes her class fun and entertaining. Her students drive her to improve as a teacher, and they might just be inspiring her to become a famous actor.

What’s Coming Up: Fall Ball

1Student-LaPorte-Nov-2017-03Fall has many exciting things in store for the students of La Porte High School this year. It is not just about the cold weather or the Halloween traditions; it is also about Fall Fling. This year, the theme for the annual Fall Fling is a first in the school’s history: masquerade.

The student body was able to put in their two cents this year as well, as each grade had the option to choose from a handful of themes. Ultimately, masquerade stole the show.

“For the first time we opened the theme up to the students and they voted on the Masquerade Ball by a landslide! It got almost 50 percent of the votes! I think it’s just a fun idea to get dressed up and go to a dance. Some of my most precious high school memories are going to the dances,” Student Council Sponsor Rachel Zeltner said.

Aspen Studios will take care of photography, and Kevin Deal will be the DJ. The La Porte police officers, teachers, and administration chaperone the dance, Mrs. Rice sells the tickets in the front office, and the maintenance crew helps the Student Council decorate the day of the dance. The Student Council has been having weekly meetings to construct the entire event. Decorations have been a main focus for the group, as it is what really ties the whole thing together.

1Student-LaPorte-Nov-2017-04“I really love Fall Fling. The kids have a blast at the dance, and it’s really been an enjoyable experience from a teacher standpoint to see everybody dressed up and having fun. Behavior at the dances since I’ve been a Slicer has been exceptional! Also, this year I think you’ll all be pleasantly surprised by a few additions and changes we are making,” Zeltner said.

The dance will take place in the LPHS Cafeteria on November 4 from 7-10 p.m.

What’s Going On: Kindness Campaign

1Student-LaPorte-Nov-2017-05As difficult as it is to say, high school can be a very negative place given the right circumstances. When most people idealize high school, they tend to gravitate their thoughts toward all of the embarrassing and upsetting memories. That is why LPHS English teacher Erin Parker has gone above and beyond to create a more positive atmosphere with the Kindness Campaign.

“The Kindness Campaign started in 2013 with a class that I had who just wanted to go out and make our school a better place after watching a Kid President video in class. It went from a class project to a school-wide project. Everything was so busy the last few years, so I couldn’t find time to keep it going, but I felt compelled this year to bring it back. We needed a boost of empathy and compassion, so I knew it was time,” Parker said.

The Kindness Campaign is a group of students who go undercover as “secret agents” to anonymously do kind things around the school. For example, some students opt to decorate “kindness stones” and put them in random places around the school. Students have also picked up trash in the halls, given out compliments, and done other things to bring positivity to LPHS. The “secret agents” will sign up for their act of kindness in Parker’s room with their agent name, and, as they accomplish these acts, they will take pictures for proof. All of this is anonymous; however, and most acts appear on the Kindness Campaign Twitter page. It is a way to spread positivity for the greater good, not to make it a competition.

“The Kindness Campaign means the world to me. I think we have a choice in life. We can buy into the negativity and let it consume us, or we can bring positive energy into every experience we are in. I think it’s so important to learn that at a young age. The students have the power to make LPHS the way they want it to be,” Parker said.

Parker has noticed that in the years that she has done the Kindness Campaign, more and more students are excited to participate. It is becoming a huge part of what makes LPHS so unique, but it is only useful as long as people understand why being kind is important.

“Kindness is never a sign of weakness; in fact, it’s a sign of great strength. Strong people look for the good in others and actively work to make the world better for no other reason than it is the right thing to do,” Parker said.

The Kindness Campaign is in full swing, and each secret agent is on their way to making the community a better place, even if it is a little at a time. Check out the LPHS Kindness Twitter page to see all of the campaign’s amazing efforts.