GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Tis the season for giving back and big games in Merrillville

What’s recently happened?

The Merrillville High School (MHS) Varsity Cheerleading team took a new approach on giving back to the community by volunteering at the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. The team came in bright and early to help set up for the line that went for over a mile long and each team member was able to take part in a different role to ensure the efficiency of the food drive. 

“Volunteering at the Food Bank, I learned that we fed around 900 families. That’s more than I’d ever expected. To know that we took part in helping those families fills my heart with great joy and gratitud,.” Cheerleader Malia McGhee said.

It is the season of giving, and MHS Varsity Cheer is showing the community what it truly means to be a cheerleader. It is not always about the big and flashy football games or exciting and fast basketball games; it’s also about showing up for the people who need it most. 

The team’s dedication to the sport is clear not only through their hard work and cheering on the field, but the hours of volunteer work that they put in off the field that ultimately sets them apart from the rest. This team is something special and the community thrives off of their diligence.

“Something that I believe is special about giving back to the community is to see all the people you’ve helped in ways you may not realize and to understand the difference in everyone’s situation. The little help you gave could’ve impacted someone’s life in the greatest way,” McGhee said.

The impact made on hundreds of families is something like no other. Being able to support families in need in a small but special way through the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is an amazing way to give back to the community.

What’s coming up?

The MHS Football Team has secured quite a few wins over the past weeks. They defeated Hammond Morton High School (28-7), earned a sectional win over Munster High School (44-14), and had a regional win over Michigan City High School (34-14). The Pirates are now ready to fight once again as they take on the Concordian Minutemen in the Semi-State Playoffs.

While the Pirates have won nine consecutive games in a row, the focus for the upcoming week going into semi state is crucial, and each player has to be on their A-game in order to secure another win on the road to the state finals.

“I am feeling great going into semi-state. We have practiced and prepared to do the things that we need to do going into a big game,” Senior Darnell Bowles said.

As a wide receiver, Bowles is in his last year with MHS Varsity Football. It is a bittersweet time as the end of the football season is near. 

“My senior season is kind of crazy, because I remember when I was just a freshman looking up to the seniors playing their hearts out with a bond you could never forget. When they told us time flies, it really does, because playing now feels like the season flew past. Now we are coming close to an end and I’m gonna really miss my brothers dearly, because it might be the last time we ever play together on the same team,” Bowles said.

Though the football team is on a roll with their win streak, the team is so much bigger than just the wins and trophies they bring home. It’s about a brotherhood, camaraderie, and a team they call family. 

“What I feel keeps the team motivated throughout the season is our team chemistry, we strive to push ourselves and make each other better day by day, through good or bad practices,” Bowles said.

The Pirates football team is a great representation of what it means to have strong bonds as a team throughout the season to keep them driven to give nothing less than everything they’ve got every Friday night.

Staff Spotlight:

Angela Escobedo, Career and Technical Education (CTE) assistant principal, is a graduate of MHS and currently in her eighth year of working in the Merrillville Community School Corporation (MCSC). She’s pursued other professions within the MCSC like being a Spanish teacher, department chair for World languages, and Dean of Students.

“I have the privilege of overseeing the CTE pathways that equip students with hands-on skills, certifications, and experiences that prepare them for college, careers, and life,” Escobedo said. 

There is a gift in education, and being able to instill success into younger generations of students is a crucial part of the education system all together. Escobedo has found the true meaning in what it means to be an educator, even through the work of an administrator. 

“What makes my job special is the ability to directly shape students’ futures by connecting education to real-world opportunities.”

There are so many opportunities at MHS to find your path to a successful career. Escobedo strives to ensure each student at MHS is able to utilize the opportunities given to them and carve out a meaningful and useful education in doing so. 

With such an experienced past in the MCSC, Escobedo is confident in her abilities to witness greatness from each and every student at MHS. Her background directly relates to her current role as the CTE assistant principal, and it shows the dedication and hard work put into the careers Escobedo was able to build at MHS to allow her to be someone students can confide in as an authoritative figure.

“Each day, I get to collaborate with teachers, business partners, and community organizations to create meaningful learning experiences that open doors for our students. Beyond academics, I get to witness students discover their strengths, gain confidence, and realize that success can take many different forms.”

Student Spotlight:

Sophomore Charles Hardiman is a standout combo guard for the Varsity Merrillville Boy’s Basketball team. Joining the team as a freshman, Hardiman is a key component to the success of the team. 

“My role on the team is to lead, score, defend, make my teammates better, and be the ultimate leader and guy,” Hardiman said.

Though Hardiman has just begun his journey with Merrillville basketball, he has a long journey of success ahead of him. Being on the team offers more than success on the court, but also a responsibility to be an exceptional student that highly represents the team off the court.

It takes focus to balance homework with the physical and mental demands of the sport, but the drive and perseverance always comes through. Once game day arrives, the hours of unseen effort start to pay off, and the confidence in skill pushes forward.

“Merrillville basketball makes me a better student because of discipline, learning and applying skills so I can be the best I can be,” Hardiman said.

While working hard in school, there is also a great amount of training and hard work put in behind the scenes to guarantee brilliance on the court. Long practices, early workouts, and constant repetition are all part of the routine that most people never see.

“I prepare to have a great season by having a relationship with God, putting my trust and abilities to him, and knowing what I’m doing this for,” Hardiman said.