As the new semester begins, students and teachers across campus are setting goals that reflect both personal growth and academic success. From improving grades and earning certifications to recovering from injuries, building new friendships and creating projects like handmade kimonos, these goals highlight the many ways members of the school community are looking ahead with purpose. This interactive feature offers a glimpse into the ambitions shaping the semester and the motivation driving everyone forward. Click the blue buttons on each image to learn more about the goals behind them.
Leveling up in quarter three
Freshman Zayne Earl
Freshman Zayne Earl
‘New year, new me’ is what everyone says on the first day of every new year. However, being injured can hinder that goal, especially if you are a student-athlete. Overcoming that hindrance and setting goals for yourself can help motivate you throughout your recovery.
“I want to get back into football and get better after I fully heal from my injury,” freshman Zayne Earl said.
Taking time off and healing is a top priority, “same as keeping good grades and having a good GPA,” Earl said.
Senior Lanorris Patterson
Senior Lanorris Patterson
Goals are an important part in starting off the new year with a bang. Maintaining good grades as a senior is really important. Senior Lanorris Patterson is no exception.
Patterson’s goal is to “have passing grades for college, getting all A’s and B’s.”
Checking off your goals brings confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
“It’s all about keeping that pace,” Patterson said, emphasizing how setting goals has shaped his year.
Sophomore Malachi Payne
Sophomore Malachi Payne
With everyone establishing their goals for the new year and the second semester, sophomore Malachi Payne works on keeping his grades up and staying on the A/B honor roll.
“If you’re talking about sports, I also want to improve myself in a lot of aspects,” Payne said, underscoring how he plans to balance school, extracurricular and social goals this semester.
As the school year continues, Payne said he will keep working toward both academic success and building new friendships.
Art teacher Katharyn Jones
Art teacher Katharyn Jones
2D art teacher Katharyn Jones is designing clothes with the Sewing Club.
“That’s our goal this year: to make kimonos,” Jones said.
Jones wants to show Sewing Club students an example of how to make and decorate kimonos. This step is important because the project must be completed in stages, allowing all students to begin with a basic design before moving on to decorating and personalizing their garments. The project provides students with a hands-on opportunity to practice sewing skills while also expressing their creativity as they start the new year.
Weightlifting and exercise science teacher Jermaine Wilson
Weightlifting and exercise science teacher Jermaine Wilson
Weightlifting and exercise science teacher Jermaine Wilson is working on earning his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification, which all college and NFL coaches must have in order to coach at the professional level.
“That is my one goal that I really want to knock out this year….I’m treating it [the certification training] as if it were a college class,” Wilson said.
This goal is important to him because it requires dedication and the same level of commitment as a college-level course.
