#1StudentNWI: Griffith Advocates for Success

#1StudentNWI: Griffith Advocates for Success

What’s Happening:

Motivational speaker Ted Wiese visited Griffith High School to speak to the National Honor Society and work on improving their leadership skills. Through fun, interactive activities the group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors learned the key components to becoming an effective leader: trustworthiness, honesty, communication, and teamwork.

Students were split into eight groups of 10 for the day, participating in most of the activities as these teams. Members were able to get to know each other better and worked closely with people that they might not have been very familiar with. One activity that the groups had to complete was bouncing a stuffed animal into the air off of a tablecloth, flipping the tablecloth, and catching the stuffed animal on the reverse side of the fabric.

Of course, high school students work best when there’s a competition, so the groups competed against each other to be the best flippers. This is just one of the many competitions the groups partook in to improve their leadership skills and realize what it takes to be an effective leader.

Guest speaker Wiese has travelled to 47 states to give his presentation and workshop, and has been at Griffith three times so far.

“I love coming here. It’s one of my favorite schools to present my program at,” said Wiese, who has been travelling around the country presenting to kids, teenagers, and even adults.

Sophomore Catherine Byrzycki was chosen to attend the workshop, and really enjoyed the program.

“I got to meet new people that I have never talked to before which was great because I love meeting new people. Overall, it put me in a really good mood and I’m very happy I was invited to it.” said Byrzycki.

Student Spotlight:

Senior Laura Reid was chosen to be one of the six recipients of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Lake County. The scholarship covers tuition for four years of undergraduate study at any public or private Indiana college or university, along with a yearly book stipend.

Reid is very involved at GHS and is the Class Council Treasurer, President of the Best Buddies Club, and a member of the National Honor Society. Reid is also a very active member in the drama club, elected as State Thespian Officer and receiving an honor bar after giving over 600 hours of service toward the drama department.

Outside of school, Reid volunteers with the food pantry at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Griffith. She loves working with kids and helping teach Spanish to elementary school students. She works at the YMCA in Griffith and Hammond, teaching ballet to three to five-year-old children.

Reid attended the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership, or HOBY, in the summer after her sophomore year. At this 3-4-day seminar, sophomores discover their personal leadership strengths and how to use them to positively affect their community. At this conference, Reid became an ambassador, and was a volunteer the following summer. She also attended Hoosier Girls State, or HGS, the summer going into her senior year. At HGS, she spent a week learning about the government through interactive activities and created a government. Reid was one of six girls to receive a state position, out of a total of 600 girls.

Reid wants to change the world, and she knows that everyone has to start somewhere. Her favorite quote to follow is, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why,” by Mark Twain.

Teacher Spotlight:

High school math teacher Sara Cohen has been helping students excel for 11 years at GHS. Cohen also runs the National Honor Society with Cindy Leber and runs the fine arts academic super bowl team. Cohen attended Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, where she got her degrees in mathematics, computer information systems, and math education.

Cohen is looked up to by many students because she helps kids with both math problems and life problems. Senior Hannah Ramirez has been a student of Cohen’s and has been on the fine arts team for all four years of her schooling. Cohen was also one of the people who inspired her to run for NHS president, which she won.

“Ms.Cohen isn’t just a teacher – she’s my mentor. She helps me with any problem I have, understands the way I learn, and helps me become successful. She has such a caring heart, and genuinely loves each and every one of her students,” said Ramirez, “She’s protective over us. I know I can come to her for anything. She’s family to me.”

Senior Julian Rutherford also shares a close bond with Cohen.

“Cohen pushes me to study and do the best I can on quizzes even when I don’t think I’ll do well. Whenever I have a question or need to talk to somebody, I know I can go to her to get good advice,” said Rutherford. “I had her as a freshman and I was immature, and throughout the years of having her, I believe she’s seen me mature, and part of that is from her helping me and showing me right from wrong.”

What’s Coming Up:

Spanish teacher Castulo Perez is organizing the second annual futsal tournament on Monday, January 22 in the GHS fieldhouse. The event was started last year by Perez, who continued the tradition from Clark High School, where he taught and held the futsal tournament for three years. Perez hopes to make this an annual event that will last as long as he teaches at Griffith.

“It is a great way to raise money and the kids have a great time playing and competing against each other,” said Perez.

The futsal teams are created by students, and consist of seven to eight players. The game is much more fast-paced than regular soccer because the ball is smaller, and it is played on a basketball court, which allows the ball to move quicker. The tournament is full of friendly competition. Senior Cameron Bobos is playing with his friends for the second year in a row and is excited to play with his teammates and watching other teams play one more time before he graduates.

“It is definitely some friendly competition which leads to some laughs and funny moments, but a fun, competitive atmosphere,” said Bobos, “It’s always fun to play against my teammates because it’s a chance from always playing alongside them, but it also adds a fun element to the game.”