GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Arias and advice, Portage High School learns to let loose

What’s recently happened?

Glass-shattering notes ring off the walls of an opera house as PHS music and theatre students watch in awe. Every year in January, a sign-up sheet goes out for the students to get a chance to attend the trip to the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Getting the chance to go on this trip, which happened on February 4, is no small feat. Junior Madison Cloud went into detail about the process of getting on the trip.

“There was a very long waitlist. Only 80 people could go, and 12 of those were chaperones. Thankfully, I ended up making it,” Cloud said.

On the trip, students get to explore the story of “Così fan tutte,” an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, at the Lyric Opera. “Così fan tutte” is about two men who believe their fiancees would be incapable of stopping themselves from falling in love, so they decide to dress in disguises and seduce the women. The twist, however, is that the women already know about their fiances’ plans. A riveting story, many of the students were deeply captivated by it, including Senior Lillian Harbart.

“I actually really enjoyed watching the opera and trying to figure out what the ending would be, if the women would cheat on their fiances or not,” Harbart said.

While the opera itself is interesting, students got to experience several aspects of Chicago on the day trip into the city. Each year, they are taken to a nearby bakery and served different foods from across the world. Students also noted that the train ride is particularly fun, offering a chance to engage with their groups about their excitement. Students this year enjoyed the opera trip, and many more will for years to come.

What’s coming up?

Whether with friends or a partner, Winter Formal is a beloved annual dance for students of all ages at PHS. While not as flashy as Homecoming or as revered as Prom, the Winter Formal provides a fun opportunity for students to relax and let loose outside of school. Hosted at Duneland Falls, the dance will occur on the evening of Saturday, February 21 from 7-10 pm.

Former years have been dazzling, with sequined dresses and sharp suits. The dance is not just glitz and glamor; it is a place for lifelong memories to be formed. Senior Scarlett Palo is excited for the dance.

“I’m looking forward to spending the night with my girlfriend and seeing my friends. This is my senior year, and I’m going to be living every bit of it,” Palo said.

Staff spotlight: 

Few people can claim to be as dedicated to PHS as Joshua Cavan, an advanced-level English teacher. Being an alumni from the class of 1994, Cavan spent his formative years learning in the Portage school system. After graduating from Indiana University Bloomington in 1998, Cavan came right back to PHS where he has happily been for 26 years. 

“They’ve flown by. I can’t believe I’ve been here for 26 years. It feels like I just started here the other day,” Cavan said.

Several people inspired Cavan to pursue teaching. Notably, his father taught at Saylor Elementary School for 35 years. Cavan’s former English teacher, Jason Cope, also helped guide him into the profession.

“He was just so different from most of the teachers I had up to that point. He was really an inspiration to me,” he said.

Despite his clear passion now, Cavan almost did not become an English teacher. He envisioned his life a little differently.

“I always leaned more towards the sciences, and to this day I still love that field,” Cavan said.

Thankfully for his students, Cavan was told by a teacher one day that he should pursue the profession. Former teachers created the spark, but Cavan has kept the flame alive for all these years. He looks fondly onto the newer teachers in the English department, who he believes are improving the school.

“We are a very young department. It brings in fresh perspectives, which is nice. It’s different, but a good kind of different,” Cavan said.

Through his years of teaching, two specific areas to teach stand out to him: “The Great Gatsby” and his creative writing class. Despite rereading the book year after year, Cavan has not grown sick of “The Great Gatsby.”

“Each time I read it, I take something new out of it. It’s very relatable; there are just so many similarities between the 1920s and the 2020s,” he said.

His creative writing class is deeply personal to him. Cavan has had a love of writing for many years. Initially a high school outlet, his passion blossomed further into helping future generations. He sees it as a different way to express himself.

“Most English classes focus more on rules and strict structure, but with creative writing we get to throw out those rules and just have fun with language,” he said.

Every so often, Cavan will see a student who reminds him of himself at his age and will try to push them to be the best version of themselves. 

“I see kids that have potential to do great things and I show – not tell – them the importance of life. There’s a whole great big world out there, and you just have to take the blinders off to be able to see it,” Cavan said.

Student spotlight: 

Jesse Flores is a junior at PHS and a dedicated member of the school’s marching band and theatre department. He is a percussionist, meaning he plays a variety of instruments including marimba and drums. In his free time, he has also been teaching himself how to play the guitar. 

Flores credits the marching band, which he has been in for two years, as pivotal in his growth as a person. 

“The people are just unapologetically themselves, and it’s very encouraging. I feel a lot more comfortable in my own skin now,” Flores said.

Two specific people in the marching band helped Flores immensely, Sophomore Layla Collins and Junior Thomas Jones. 

“Layla, my best friend, is part of the Front Ensemble with me. She is very sweet and talented, and I think that’s rubbed off on me a bit. Thomas has helped me a lot with finding my value and not selling myself short,” Flores said.

Outside of music, Flores is deeply passionate about writing. He sees it as a way to learn and experience things he may not have in any other way.

“I can, in a way, step out of my body and experience someone else’s story. You really have to get in the minds of your character when you’re writing to portray their feelings. It helps you to be more understanding,” Flores said.

While many juniors are still struggling to think about what they may end up doing for their future, Flores has a plan: English teacher. Flores has always loved English classes, seeing it as a place where he has been encouraged to be himself. He wants to be able to provide his future students with that safe space, especially those who may be struggling. 

“I’ve always said that all it takes to save a life is one person. When someone is alone, it can feel like they’re drowning, but even one person – one teacher – can change that. If I can be that person, then I will feel happy with where I’ve gone,” Flores said.

Flores has one final piece of advice he wants people to know.

“No one cares about any mistakes you make. People don’t remember stupid things you said or how you tripped and fell. Don’t let that fear of judgement stop you, just be yourself,” Flores said.