“Art is essentially your mind guiding where the pencil wants to go. When you start out, you follow specific guidelines and barriers, but throughout the years, you grow into your own art style that varies from some of the techniques that you’re taught. I enjoy coming to art class knowing that I have a piece to finish, but it doesn’t feel like pressure to work, but more like a hobby where you can let your stress out with whatever creativity you have.”

—Sierra Lin, Visual Art

“I started in Symphonic Orchestra, and I think I’ve gotten exponentially better since then. Mr. Case’s passion for music reflects in his teaching, and I saw that the students took it really well. In orchestra, you meet a lot of people who are interested in music as well. That exposure helps you grow, not only as a person, but as a musician too. I’m really thankful that I joined orchestra at Northwood, it’s a really great thing to be a part of.”

—Kevin Monzon, Orchestra

“At the beginning of the year, I was mostly learning basic skills, and I didn’t have the skills I needed to create most of the projects. But throughout the year, we got to use our creativity in different projects such as shirts and tote bags, and it became really fun. I recently printed a tote bag, which I didn’t expect to do, and I learned how to actually burn the screens and then print them onto shirts. I’ve gotten to make a lot of T-shirts for my friends and family, which is really cool.”

—Mia Houng, Screenprinting

“When I first joined drama, I was pretty intimidated because there were a lot of talented seniors in the program, and I was scared that I wouldn’t get cast in productions. But in freshman year, I also found a nice community in the program.The program has made me a lot more confident and secure in myself with the types of characters I play, and by taking on more leadership positions, I can be an influential figure that I looked up to before.”

—Levi Lane, Drama