At the beginning of Spanish class, my stomach felt queasy. I was nervous, I didn't want to give a presentation, especially in another language.  The teacher required us go in alphabetical order by...

One of the most cliché pieces of advice we’ve all heard growing up is that hard work pays off. For the most part, this has proven to be true. Take the “miracle stories” of people working their way...

They rise before the sun and return home well after dark. Division I college athletics is not merely fun and games. Most days are filled with conditioning, weightlifting and team meetings before their...

Communication is key. I know, I know. That sounds totally cliché. It's the first lesson in Relationships 101; it's the unsolicited advice your weird relative gives you; it's much easier said than…  said....

In January, we celebrated diversity and inclusivity with the MLK Day Activities. The purpose of the event was to learn about the civil rights movements and to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Yet as I...

I refreshed my Twitter feed while sitting in front of my living room TV on midterm election night, trying to get results as soon as they were available. I felt a growing sense of hope. At long last, it...

The NBA season is almost at the unofficial halfway point with the All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina this year. The official awards, however, are only for the regular season. Here are my picks...

Iowa has been a top state for agriculture, ranking number one in the production of pork, corn, soybeans and eggs. With 85 percent of Iowa’s land being farmed, it is no wonder that West High is getting...

As the night sky grows darker, the stadium lights begin to illuminate. Fans of all ages cheer at the top of their lungs. Football players fill the sidelines. The sounds of clicking fill the silence as...

Everything you do in high school has the chance of being noticed, questioned and even judged. No, West High isn’t an institution that breeds “mean girls,” popularity contests or anything else that...

Back when I was an underclassman, my bookishness was all people knew me for. For 11 years it was my defining characteristic and something that I was very proud of. I was almost never without a book. I...

I have a vivid memory of when I was in middle school. A guy was saying to a new friend of mine, “Thank God you didn’t know her when she was in elementary school. She was a total dork.” I also remember...