GreatNews.Life Student Voices: CPHS kicks off the new year

What’s recently happened?

Crown Point High School (CPHS) students attended Turnabout, themed A Night in Paris. The event transformed the venue with elegant décor, music, and a Paris-inspired atmosphere as students gathered to celebrate the dance.

For many seniors, the night marked a special milestone. Samantha Uren shared her experience attending the event.

“It was fun because it was my first time going but also because it’s my senior year. I got to go with all my best friends, and it was new,” Uren said.

Turnabout gave students the opportunity to dress up, spend time with friends, and create lasting memories. With music, decorations, and a lively crowd, the dance provided a memorable experience for attendees as the school year continues.

What’s coming up?

The Mock Trial team is preparing for its upcoming competition, which will take place on February 21. The event gives students the opportunity to put their legal knowledge and teamwork skills to the test while competing against other schools.

As the competition approaches, team members are focused on practice and preparation. Alyssa Torres shared what she is most looking forward to this year.

“I’m most looking forward to being able to compete again and potentially make it to State,” Torres said. “Last year, my team didn’t make it to State, so this year I hope we work hard enough to be able to compete against more teams.”

With weeks of preparation underway, the Mock Trial team is entering the competition with determination and optimism as they aim to advance further than in previous years.

Staff spotlight:

English teacher Laura Huisman brings a passion for reading, writing, and creativity into her classroom at Crown Point High School. Teaching a range of courses, including honors sophomore English, dual credit composition, and dual credit creative writing, she finds value in each for different reasons.

“I don’t know if I have a favorite. They all have different aspects I really like,” Huisman said.

While she appreciates each class, creative writing offers a unique outlet, while her other courses provide meaningful discussions and growth opportunities for students.

“I really like creative writing just because it’s a different type of outlet. I really like the conversations and the nonfiction pieces we read in dual credit comp,” Huisman said. “With my honor sophomore class, it’s fun helping them develop their writing and read fiction pieces, so there’s different elements that are all appealing.”

Huisman’s journey to teaching was not always direct. Before entering education, she worked in a different English-related field but found it unfulfilling.

“Just a love for reading and writing,” Huisman said. “I did have a different career before teaching, and it was in English, but it was a different medium. It was not uplifting or engaging in any way. So I quit that and went back to school for my teaching license pretty quickly and just felt kind of more naturally into teaching.”

Through her experience teaching high school students, Huisman has gained new perspectives and developed important personal qualities.

“It’s definitely taught more patience, more open-mindedness, and a different perspective on texts that I’ve taught for a while,” Huisman said. “Students always look at things in a different way than you do because you’ve taught it so many times. It’s refreshing to see different viewpoints.”

Outside of the classroom, Huisman stays active and connected to nature through a variety of hobbies.

“I’m a runner, so I love to run. I sign up for races, so I race all the time,” Huisman said. “I am doing the Chicago Marathon this year. Running, gardening, I love gardening. I have a huge vegetable garden and animals. I have chickens, a tortoise, and two dogs.”

Whether she is guiding students through literature or training for her next race, Huisman’s dedication to growth both in and out of the classroom highlights her commitment to living a balanced and fulfilling life.

Student spotlight:

Junior Aubria Harris is channeling her passion for dance into both performance and personal growth. This past weekend, she took part in a showcase with her studio, Origin Dance Academy, where dancers of all ages performed their competition routines for friends and family.

“It was a showcase for my dance studio, and we performed our competition routines for friends and family that won’t be able to make it to competitions,” Harris said.

Harris performed in three different pieces, each offering a unique experience on stage.

“I performed in three dances,” Harris said. “One was a solo to ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston. One was a trio to a cover of ‘Don’t Speak’ with my two friends, and then one was a small group to ‘I Got You’ by Alicia Keys.”

While each performance held significance, one stood out the most to her.

“My trio was my favorite because I love dancing with my friends, and it’s a very bittersweet year because this is our trio partner’s last year dancing with us,” Harris said.

Beyond performances, dance plays a deeper role in Harris’s life, serving as both an emotional outlet and a source of strength.

“Probably the release that it brings to me,” Harris said. “Being able to express myself through something that I love so much has gotten me through some tough times.”

Harris began dancing in 2021 and has remained committed ever since, even after facing early challenges.

“I actually did try out for the middle school dance team my first year dancing and I didn’t make it, but I wanted to grow from that experience,” Harris said. “My yearning to get better at what I do kept me in dance, along with making new friends and my love for it.”

Through dedication, resilience, and a genuine love for her craft, Harris continues to grow as both a dancer and an individual, using dance as a way to connect, express, and persevere.