NOCTILUCA December 2016

NEWS Appleton, Wisconsin December 2016 Volume XXII

Issue III Page 2

Price, NaNoWriMo, from page 1

Art of Music Kayla Schang, a senior, has been surrounded by music all her life. “We used to have opera day at my house, where we would sing everything we were go- ing to say.” To the delight of her moth- er, a strings teacher herself, Schang started playing the violin when she was in sec- ond grade, after her younger brother picked up the instru- ment as well. Her passion for the instrument has only grown since then. Schang has participated in many events that allow her to showcase her talents with the violin. She has played for Solo Ensemble, and has been a part of other orches- tras including the WSMA State Honors Orchestra, both at the middle and high school levels. She has been a part of the Fox Valley Youth Or- chestras for many years, and has worked her way up to the Youth Symphony. “It’s neat hearing all of the different parts to symphonies, and violin is a way to be a part of that. Music in general is just been something that I’ve grown up with. It was just a natural thing to do, to pick an instrument and join in.” Schang does not feel pres- Mariano, Independent artists, from page 1

In February and March, you will be taking the ACT with writing and the ACT Work Keys tests, which are important decision factors for most colleges and universities across the country. Starting to study for these tests now is recom- mended, even if you start off slow by only reviewing a few problems a week. Resources such as Kaplan’s ACT Question of the Day can help you prepare for the test come spring. Also, con- sider building your resume through volunteering or a part-time job. Earning both experience and money may be important factors in your college acceptance and decision, so it’s a good idea to start thinking about that as soon as possible. “Ballet has taught me disci- pline,” said DesRochers. “The classes are intense, it’s time consuming, but I just learn so much. So much effort goes into making it look effortless. On stage people see a confi- dent dancer, they don’t see the insecurities. We have to be athletic but still graceful. It’s physically demanding, and mentally challenging, but each class I have something new to work on. It’s difficult to reach perfection but I can always strive to be a better version of myself.” Art of Dance Senior Abbey DesRochers began dancing when she was 3 years old. She joined the Makaroff School of Ballet when she was 10. When asked why she focus- es on ballet, DesRochers said “Ballet is the foundation of all styles, it’s the core of dance, it gives me the strength and ability to explore other styles if I [do] choose.” DesRochers has been a part of the Makaroff Youth Bal- let Company for the past four years, and has been a part of productions including the Nutcracker and various other shows. Through Makaroff she has participated in events throughout the community, “exposing the community to the art of classical ballet.” When asked what she loves about ballet, DesRochers paused. It was clear she was trying to put into words a feel- ing that is hard to describe: passion.

Many of you will have already applied to schools with the Nov. 1 deadlines, but it’s important to still be fully engaged in the college search process. Research- ing financial aid and scholar- ship options at colleges and university is often integral to choosing the best post high school option. Visiting schools and asking ques- tions to current students and faculty is also highly recommended; making sure to look at the people of a school can be just as impor- tant as evaluating the pro- grams offered. And, make sure to check your email often. Even if you’re inun- dated with college emails on a daily basis, make sure to sift through the emails you get in. just to get something written. “It still has some kinks, but this is only a rough draft,” said Iwanski. “The plot has changed throughout the month. Mainly I’ve struggled to find the antagonists in my story.” While not writing final drafts, writers still benefited from the writing process in many different ways. “Participating [in NaNoW- riMo] has made my writing style cleaner and more defini- tive,” said Zajkowski. “It’s less rigid than a school set- ting. You can write whatever you want in your own person- al style.” Besides providing a plat- form for writers to join to- gether, NaNoWriMo is also a non-profit organization. Donations are optional, since signing up to write is com- pletely free, but money raised helps to send Young Writer’s Program classroom kids to over 2,000 classrooms around the world, organize in-person write-ins around the world, and keep their website run- ning. It encourages people across the world to take time out of their days and write. “You can always make time to write,” said Iwanski. “You have to make time, because it’s worth it. At the end, all you can think is ‘Oh my god, I did this.’ It makes me proud of myself.”

Above, Kayla Schang plays in Fox Valley Symphony Youth Orchestra. Left, Simon Garb, who works with a variety of artistic outlets. Photo above by Jamie Lafreniere and photo at left courtesy of Simon Garb.

you’re probably getting a better idea of what inter- ests you at North. Even if you’ve started settling into certain niches, make sure that you continue to keep looking for what you’re interested in, be- cause there are plenty of options for engaging your various interests. And start thinking of your fu- ture and what you would like to do over the next three years and after high school. As your options open up over the next few years, it’s important to have an idea of what courses you’re interested in as soon as possible, so keep investigating your opportunities. sure from her musical family to continue her study of mu- sic, yet she still plans to make it a part of her life, no matter what she chooses to do. Art on Canvas Simon Garb, a sophomore, is unique in the variety he has with his art. Through email, Garb said, “My roots are in visual art but I create all different sorts of things. I make music, I have an al- bum out and am currently working on another. Me and my friends have a podcast series, I just released a 30 minute documentary called FKA PA$TA $QUAD, so re- ally I’ll do anything if I have an idea that I like and care

yourself to excel at your courses and extracurricu- lars. Now that you’re more comfortable at North, it’s important to not only be in- volved, but to increase your involvement, not necessar- ily by joining more clubs or sports, but by working hard to achieve your goals in the activities that you are a part of. The first step in this process is setting both short-term and long-term goals for yourself for the next week, month or even your entire high school career. Even if these goals change throughout your time at North, starting to set goals early helps to provide multiple finish lines for you. about and I’ll pursue it.” It is rare to have someone with so many creative out- lets. However, Garb is known by most for his paintings and drawings. He paints people in a distorted manner, and enjoys drawing realistically. Garb has been selling his art for some time. When asked about pursu- ing art in the future, Garb has many plans. “I want to have a music career, and just be an independent artist that makes paintings and films and music and such and other projects of art that are geared towards affecting society and making the world a better place for everyone,” Garb said.

9 10 11 12 About three months into the school year, During fall of your sopho- more year, challenge Continuing with college preparations throughout December By Erik Bakken

Each month, the Noctiluca will provide college advice for each grade level at Apple- ton North in the “Noctiluca University”. Advice will be specifically tailored to each month in order to provide the most timely help. Juniors and seniors: pick up a copy of college readiness timeline in the guidance office for more in-depth information regard- ing the college application process.