Josh Cameron Profile: Freshman Has Acted in 33 Plays

By Jacob Montenegro

Staff Writer

When Josh Cameron was 7, he saw the shows Oliver  and Annie and he was amazed. He loved the drama, how suspenseful the shows were and how well the actors played their characters.

He decided he wanted to try acting, but there was a problem. “I wanted to start acting, but my parents said that I would be too shy.”

But Josh was determined, so his parents said that they would let him give it a try. They signed him up for a show and he has turned out to be a great actor.

Now a freshman, Josh has been in a total of 33 plays, both inside and outside of school, including Emperor Jones, Fiddler on the Roof, 13, and Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing. Last year, he played a main role in Woodlynde’s high school production of Footloose, even though he was still in Middle School. Dr. Simmons said "Last year for the upper school play, the main actor who was going to play a huge role, stepped down and Josh stepped up to the role and learned all of the lines and he was a great actor."This year, he is going to act in Grease, which premieres March 6.      

Josh enjoys acting because he likes to be in character and be someone different every time he is in a play. He also loves the thrill of acting.

“I used to get butterflies a lot, but my director said that getting butterflies was good,” Josh said, “because when you get butterflies, you are more cautious on stage and you can channel your nervous energy to remember your lines and ques.”

Josh’s favorite play that he has been in is Ragtime. He liked the story and there were excellent actors in it and it was emotional. “The play was historical and it was very dramatic,” Josh said.

Josh has other hobbies, as well, like watching his favorite T.V. show, “Everybody hates Chris,” which he thinks is hysterical. The main character Chris reminds him of himself. “I can see myself in the same situations and I can relate to the show,” Josh said. “The show gives me the chance to laugh at the stupid things a kid my age would do.”  

Josh has been attending Woodlynde for seven years. He plays basketball and runs for the Cross-Country team, which he likes because he gets to talk to his friends on the team while he runs. “I find cross-country interesting because I get a lot of exercise, and not a lot of kids do cross-country and it’s a great experience,” Josh said.

He added: “Cross-Country builds stamina [and] endurance, and it teaches you not to give up.”

Caroline Kothari: Going Gluten and Dairy-Free Works Wonders

By Caroline Kothari

Staff Writer

I have psoriasis on my scalp. Scalp psoriasis is a common skin disorder that produces raised, reddish, and often scaly patches. It can spread beyond the scalp to the forehead, back of the neck, or behind the ears. I have had this ever since I was little and it’s really annoying. 

My doctors have always told me not to drink milk because it affects my health. For the last 17 years of my life, I have not been following the doctor's advice because I have always thought that just changing my diet wouldn’t help my psoriasis. However, it turns out that it really does make a difference.

Recently, my mom decided what if this would actually work? So, after we got back from Italy in August, my mom told me that we should go on a gluten and dairy-free diet for a month and see how it turns out.

Being gluten free means I can’t eat bread, pasta, pastries, donuts, bagels etc. Being dairy free means I can’t drink milk, or have yogurt or butter, etc. Many of these gluten foods I used to eat all the time. My favorite foods that are gluten that I can’t eat are bread and pasta. 

So as I went through the month, things started to turn around for me. My psoriasis started clearing up and my head started looking like normal. It was like magic and I was thrilled. 

In addition, I felt so much more energetic and happy. I felt like I was drinking multiple cups of coffee a day, but I wasn’t. It was the change in diet!  I loved how I felt, so my mom decided we should do this for the rest of our lives. Sure, sometimes we may go off it for holidays, but other than that, we will be completely gluten and dairy free.

Not only does this diet help my psoriasis and my energy level, it also helps my mood. Now, trivial situations that used to seem like a big deal are actually not at a big deal at all. Being less sluggish helps my mood regulate because when I am not exhausted, I can actually function and feel good about everything in life. 

I think becoming gluten and dairy free has absolutely been the best thing for me. In fact, I think everyone should try it. This diet will make you feel like you’re Superman or Superwoman. It may be a bit more work, but it is worth it.

Student Profile: Will Boswinkel Enjoys Food and Japanese Entertainment

By Daniel Fink and Nikki Goldman

Staff Writers

           Will Boswinkel has a strong interest in food and Japanese entertainment, such as video games.

When asked what he likes about video games, he responded, "Because it takes me to another universe -- it’s really fun and it takes you away from reality.”

Will also likes anime and manga. “I do manga in my free time and constantly go to comic book stores," he said.

In fact, he goes three times a week because "it’s a fun and interesting place and you can talk to other people in the store who also like exactly what you like and know about it. While there, Will does the following: "I read comics, talk to other comic book fans, and play the games that are there.”

Will is not just into anime and manga, he also strongly enjoys food. His favorite is tacos because, "There are so many options to tacos and there are infinite possibilities, but my favorite is guacamole, cheese, and beef".  

Will is constantly seen with a bag of potato chips and when asked which kind he prefers, he said, "Jalapeño Heat. The burst of flavor is great.”

Although he loves food, Will can't stand fondue, saying, "I don't like dipping cheese and bread together."

           Will's favorite movie is the Avengers because "It gets better everytime you watch it." His favorite character is Thor because he was the first superhero Will ever read about.  

When asked what super power he would like to have, he said to "duplicate" Then he could do several things at once “like chores around the house".

Since the age of five, Will has had an interest in and played soccer. Having friends on the team also impacted his playing. "If I'm on the field with them I do better because I know what they are going to do. It's fun to play with your friends."  

Since Will started soccer, he has always played midfield. Will takes the sport seriously and even without his friends on his team he would still play.

Getting along with everyone is important to Will so he can make friends.  "The team supports you most of the time. Because sometimes you make a stupid move and they are like -- are you kidding me?"  

Will is inspired by soccer and enjoys being a part of the game, as well. "Soccer is a fun and exciting sport that you can play all around the world."

Student Profile: Daniel Fink Loves Hanging Out with His Cousins

By Nikki Goldman

Staff Writer

     Ever since sophomore Daniel Fink was a child, nothing has been more enjoyable for him than spending time with his cousins.  

"They'll always be there for you," Daniel said. He has at least forty cousins and they are all very important to him.  

Seven of his cousins are the closest and they meet twice a week. One of their favorite activities is having a comical conversation and joking around.

"I'm happy with them as cousins [rather than brothers] because if you know someone too well, then they'll start to drive you crazy," Daniel said.

On vacations they usually go to Mexico. "My family is Hispanic, so we love going to Mexico all the time."

However, Daniel hasn't gone to Mexico in three years, because, "Recently, because Northern Mexico is getting really unsafe because of the drug cartels."

Going to Mexico with his family has always been entertaining. Daniel and his cousins mostly hang out in the hotel. They also walk around the city together or visiting family members. "I have some family in Mexico, so it sort of feels like a vacation but it also feels like home, as well," he said.

Daniel also has many loyal pets.

In his household, there are two dogs, two birds and eleven fish. One dog, Leah, is a border collie and the other, Ginger, is a shih tzu. Leah is mostly shared between Daniel and his father, but Ginger is mostly his dog and they spend a lot of time together.

Daniel would like to have another pet --  a golden retriever, and he would name it Luke. "They are very smart, very gentle and a lot of fun to be around and they also don't cause much of a ruckus like a border collie." Daniel said.

His birds are named Keko and Jimmy. Jimmy is more Daniel’s sister's pet and Keko is more Daniel’s pet.

Daniel’s love for animals and his family mean the world to him and he enjoys spending free time with them. “I can’t imagine my life without them,” Daniel said.

Student Profile: Liam McNeil Enjoys Homework and Soccer

By Elizabeth Carney

Staff Writer

When students are asked what is appealing about school, a probable answer would consist of hanging with your friends, or that the teachers are nice.

Homework would normally be at the bottom at the list.

However, that's not the case for freshman Liam McNeil. He said that homework is, in fact, one of his favorite things about Woodlynde. "It's not too challenging, but not too easy, either," Liam said.

        This ends up being a good thing that it doesn’t take up all of his after-school time, because for his extra-curricular, Liam played Varsity Soccer. 

"I get to hang with my friends and I get the extra-curricular points," Liam said. “It’s a sport I’m good at.”

Liam has been playing soccer for four years, all thanks to his parents, who forced him into playing.

In addition to playing soccer, Liam hangs out with his two dogs, Charlie and Lilly. His family got Charlie, a chocolate lab, in 2007. In 2010, they got Lilly, who is a mixed breed.

Liam also enjoys playing video games and has been doing so since 2005. “...I like the experience that comes with [playing] them.”

With so many video games out there, choosing one as your favorite can be a difficult decision. But for Liam, he has one in mind, “Arma 2, because I’ve had so many great moments, and it’s a game that I can never get angry at.”

Student Profile: Elizabeth Carney Is a Talented Musician

By Liam McNeil

Staff Writer

Elizabeth Carney is a talented musician who wants to be in this year’s play.  

Elizabeth, or "Lizzy" as she likes to be called, is planning to try out for a lead role in the play, which will be Grease, and she is excited to have the chance to be in it. Elizabeth has said that she wanted to be in Grease after she saw the movie. She is hoping to be a member the Pink Ladies.

Elizabeth clearly likes music, which is shown by the fact that she can play the piano and that she wants to be a singer when she grows up. Elizabeth enjoys playing classical music.

If Elizabeth had to be stuck in an elevator with anyone, it would be a musician named Avril Lavigne. Elizabeth really likes rock music, which led her to discovering the singer.

Elizabeth is a sophomore at Woodlynde. When asked what she likes about the school, Elizabeth said, "I really like this school because it has such nice and helpful teachers."

Another interesting thing about Elizabeth is that she has a dog named Jagger who can stand on his two hind legs, but only has three legs total.

Elizabeth has a younger sister named Alison, whom she gets along with quite well. Her mother is her role model and someone whom she looks up to. Elizabeth has said that her mom is such an important figure in her life because she is kind and brave.

Finally, Elizabeth is a follower of the TV show, Doctor Who. She really enjoys the show because she likes all the different monsters and the different doctors that change every few years.

Student Profile: Nikki Goldman is an Aspiring Artist

By Will Boswinkel

Staff Writer

Nikki Goldman is a fantastic artist, who likes to doodle and draw whatever interests her, like people, objects, animals and scenes.

She said she enjoys drawing, “Because it passes time and it is fun.”

Nikki has been going to Woodlynde since first grade. “I learned what I like and what I don’t like.” 

Nikki is often a quiet student, who enjoys activities after school, such as cross country, basketball, soccer and talking to friends. She watches anime and draws manga.

Her favorite TV show is Modern Family. “I find it to be amusing and I like that everyone is strangely unique.”   

Nikki also communicates with others very well. “Boys are easier to talk to,” she said, “because I think that some girls are obnoxious.”

Her favorite movie is The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, because she thinks it would be cool to manipulate time.

When asked if there is there anyone throughout history she would like to meet, she said one of her family members who passed away, “because I hear that they were funny… and they are dead so I never met them.”

Student Profile: Larissa Crater Aspires to be a Model

By Michael McGroary

Staff Writer

        "Ever since I was little, I've seen these magazines with models in them, and that's what I knew I wanted to be," freshman Larissa Crater explains, as she talks about her dream of becoming a Victoria Secret model.

Larissa thinks it would be cool to show off her style. At her mother’s suggestion to help get in better shape to achieve her dream, Larissa started playing for a local basketball team in the Lower Pottsgrove Athletic Association (LPAA) for four years. In one game she scored the winning basket in the last few seconds. Unfortunately, her LPAA days came to an end and she decided to play for the Woodlynde basketball team in her first year of school.

Larissa is now in her second year at Woodlynde, and she’s hoping that her school year will not be as dramatic as her first year. Larissa had a few challenges in her first year at Woodlynde with friends, who would sometimes get upset about things and drag her into the drama. Larissa says that she learned to usually ignore the problems, and just moved on, especially because she had to deal with a little sister at home.

Larissa and her younger sister, who is 11, have a love/hate relationship. Their parents try to make them get along with each other, but most of the time it doesn’t help. A technique that her parents have tried is having her little sister pick out Larissa’s clothes for her on the weekend.

Larissa is still trying to get fully used to Woodlynde, but she is doing well and is still holding on to her dream of being a model.

Student Profile: Michael McGroary Loves Electronics

By Larissa Crater

Staff Writer

Michael McGroary loves building robots in robotics class. The sophomore currently is constructing a ping pong catapult robot. “It’s basically an RC car with a catapult on top that will toss a ping pong ball.”

Michael has already assembled a remote control car -- made of half a cube with four wheels, gears and wires -- which had to go through a maze and other obstacles.

Michael wants to build electronics that look “cool.” When he came to Woodlynde last year, he saw there was a robotics elective and he went right for it. Now he really enjoys the course and completing a project.

“You have this mental picture in your head and when you finished it, you think to yourself, ‘I just finished that,’ and it’s the greatest feeling in the world.”

Michael has some other interests that he enjoys, including acting and stage crew.

He likes stage crew because he is behind the scenes, and works with all the sets and props. He also has the opportunity to be on stage and build robotic objects.

“You get to move stuff,” he said. “You kinda get to act like a ninja because stage crew isn't supposed to be [seen].” Michael does a lot of painting of the sets, as well as building and setting it up. “You do it as fast as possible.”   

His favorite play that he has worked on was at his old school when he was in eighth grade, because he and his classmates wrote it themselves.

Michael runs cross country. “I don’t know why I like it,” he said. “It’s like watching games on YouTube. I don’t know why I like that, either. I just do.”

Michael used to play piano, but he stopped awhile ago because he didn't really like it.

Michael has two brothers he said he doesn’t get along with very well: Sean, who is 12, and Owen, who is 10. 

If he could be stuck in an elevator with anyone, it would be Justin Bieber so he could hurt him because the music hurts Michael’s ears “His voice is very annoying,” Michael said.

Profile on Jacob Montenegro: Sophomore Enjoys Running

By Joshua Cameron

Staff Writer

Jacob Montenegro has always had great speed and endurance. In fifth grade, his dad introduced him to running and he was great at it.

Jacob started running for the Woodlynde cross country team in 6th grade; he is now the fastest runner on the team. He is also the team captain, even though he is only a sophomore.

“It is a big honor to be the captain,” said Jacob, who finds running fun and challenging.

Jacob has some amazing memories running Cross Country.

In 6th grade, in the championship meet, he came in 15th place, overall, and helped lead Woodlynde to a first-place victory.

In 8th grade, he won sixth place in the championship and earned a medal. While he has not yet won any races, he has come in second.

His ultimate goal is to run in the Olympics. “It looks so much fun to compete and race for your country. Also, you get a lot of money, too, but I've always wanted to go because I get to see other countries while I run. I've seen track and field competitors and stuff. It looked so much fun.”

Outside of school, Jacob competes in other sports. He has been swimming since he was six. Jacob has won medals when he was 11, 12 and 13 in the 200 Medley Relay.

"I love sports like cross country, swimming and track because it helps build endurance," Jacob said.

Jacob says he is looking forward to competing with the new indoor track team Woodlynde is forming this winter.

"It will be nice because a lot of schools do track and [it] will give students a chance to do something different."  

            Jacob is now in the 10th grade and he loves Woodlynde and all the kids that go here. He plans to keep on running for Woodlynde until the day he graduates.

Profile on Larissa Crater: Wants to Be a Model

By Michael McGroary

Staff Writer

      "Ever since I was little, I've seen these magazines with models in them, and that's what I knew I wanted to be," freshman Larissa Crater explains, as she talks about her dream of becoming a Victoria Secret model. 

Larissa thinks it would be cool to show off her style. At her mother’s suggestion to help get in better shape to achieve her dream, Larissa started playing for a local basketball team in the Lower Pottsgrove Athletic Association (LPAA) for four years. In one game she scored the winning basket in the last few seconds. Unfortunately, her LPAA days came to an end and she decided to play for the Woodlynde basketball team in her first year of school.

Larissa is now in her second year at Woodlynde, and she’s hoping that her school year will not be as dramatic as her first year. Larissa had a few challenges in her first year at Woodlynde with friends, who would sometimes get upset about things and drag her into the drama. Larissa says that she learned to usually ignore the problems, and just move on, especially because she had to deal with a little sister at home.

Larissa and her younger sister, who is 11, have a love/hate relationship. Their parents try to make them get along with each other, but most of the time it doesn’t help. A technique that her parents have tried is having her little sister pick out Larissa’s clothes for her on the weekend.

Larissa is still trying to get fully used to Woodlynde, but she is doing well and is still holding on to her dream of being a model.

Profile on Caroline Kothari: The Courageous Firewalker

By Blair Epps

Staff Writer

Caroline Kothari has walked on fire!

Yes, she actually walked on hot coals as part of an empowerment organization that the sophomore was part of at Omega Teen Camp.

Caroline spent a week preparing for the event. She broke boards with her hands, bent arrows with her neck, changed negative beliefs into positive affirmations, and drew the positive affirmations as a henna tattoo on her arm.

“It was an incredible experience and I never thought it could be done,” Caroline said.

After walking through the hot coals, she had a “small fire kiss” on her feet that she said represents her strength and courage. She also felt a glow of happiness and was ready to take on any challenges awaiting her.

“Fire walking is not dangerous, it shows you what potential you have in life,” Caroline said..

She would even do it again, because she thinks the experience taught her a lot about walking through things in life and being able to accomplish anything.

Caroline wants to be a motivational empowerment leader and speaker for her career because she wants to help people reclaim their inner warrior.

“Over the past few years, I have learned to change my beliefs. It’s showed me that you can easily change your life and I want to show people it’s possible to make a change in your life at any time,” Caroline said. “My friend and facilitator, Nancy Chernoff from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, has taken me out of the dark and has helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel. She has helped me to see a brighter future.”  

Along with firewalking, Caroline has other interests.

Her favorite show is “Extreme Weight Loss Makeover Edition”, and her favorite movie is “Parent Trap”.  Her favorite food is Indian because she has grown up eating it.

Caroline's favorite Muppet is Kermit the Frog because she thinks that he is pretty cool due to his original name.

She has been attending Woodlynde for five years, and likes it because, she says, Woodlynde “lets everyone be friends.”

Caroline, 16, has a twin sister, and a brother, age 11. The twins get along okay, Caroline said. They don't hate each other but they are not best friends.

If she had to be stuck in an elevator with someone, Caroline said she would choose Anthony Robbins who is a 21st century empowerment leader, who motivates people to break through their barriers and make changes in their lives.

Caroline has two dogs, Sweetie and Lucy, and she likes to watch TV with them and hang out on the couch.

One of her main goals in life is to share how important it is to never give up.

"I would like to public speak to a group of 1,000 people before I die,” Caroline said. “I really want to spread the message of persistence."

Profile on Blair Epps: Tragedy Turned to Safety

By Caroline Kothari

Staff Writer

When Blair Epps was 10 years old, she was walking home from her bus stop to her grandma’s apartment, when a stranger took her hand and told her to get in his car.

Thankfully, she knew enough not to listen, to avoid being kidnapped. She ran away and called the police, who took her to a woman who worked for the FBI. In the end, the man was caught and sentenced to two years in prison, and Blair is safe and sound.  

When asked how she felt about this experience, the freshman replied, “I don’t feel like I’m so special, or like I'm an important person.”

She added: “I don’t need anyone to treat me like I always need supervision, or always need to be protected.”

“I am an independent young woman and I can handle myself. What happened that day was a test and I passed that test. That doesn't mean that I won't have any more tests like that, but that day proves that I am strong enough to handle myself. I’m afraid of that day, but I'm not spooked.

She added: “I am glad that I remembered to run away and not listen to him.”

Blair wants to become an actress when she grows up because she feels that acting comes naturally to her. She says acting is something that flows for her. Her desire to act started when she was little and she always wanted attention; she soon found that she can get attention through acting.

Blair also wants to be a writer when she is older because it lets her use her creativity. She says she loves to write poems and short stories. Blair spends a lot of time working on each piece to make sure it’s strong.

Blair, who has two sisters named Jamiri and Monique, has always had a strong interest in skydiving. "I want to skydive before I die because I always wanted to fly."  

Blair has a cat named Bell Bell and a dog named Jojo. Blair named her dog Jojo after a friend came up with the name. Blair’s sister named the other cat Tinkerbell, but when she went off to college, Blair renamed the cat Bell Bell.

Blair is a new student at Woodlynde, and the freshman says her favorite thing about Woodlynde is that the school meets her learning needs and the teachers help her one-on-one.

“I love Woodlynde School. I picked it because it suits my learning strategies. Everyone is very nice, pleasing, and we are all here for the same reason. I believe that I can shine in this school and be the best learner I can be.”