The document discusses the impact that teachers and mentors can have on students' lives. It describes how two teachers, Mrs. Fliehler and Herk, helped the author succeed in math and build confidence through their encouragement and support. The author expresses gratitude for the positive influence these teachers had and encourages others to appreciate those who have impacted them during their time in high school.

1. Giving thanks
for the impact
Although Kennedy is about taking the right classes to get your diploma and being
in activities that become part of who you are, more important are the connections we
all make during our years here. These connections and relationships will stay in our
hearts and impact our lives as we go forth. Sit back a minute and think about who has
made an impact on you during your years at Kennedy. It could be a teacher, coach, or
a special group of friends. There’s a hero in everyone’s back pocket, someone who has
taken time out of their day to help you to encourage yourself with a ‘yes, you can do it’.
As for me, as I’m leaving the crowded hallways of Kennedy, I know two people,
Mrs. Fliehler and Herk, who have made a huge impact on me as they go about their jobs
quietly and confidently. They may not be paid to get extraordinary results, but that is
what they are getting.
Math had always been the subject that didn’t come naturally to me. Mrs. Fliehler
was the teacher who showed me math wasn’t out to get me. I always had to work extra
hard for the grade I got by going in to get help before and after school. Mrs. Fliehler
was aware of my ongoing struggle with the subject and was always there to help me.
Every single day she encouraged me. She was the teacher that showed me ‘I can do it’.
She truly cared about me.
“Did you fall off the balance beam this week, Allie?” Hearing Herk ask me this each morning never has and never will get old. Herk
is not only a funny, witty man, but is a man who has taken his job to the next level. I honestly don’t think I’ve had a teacher that cares
more about his job than Herk. He truly wants the best for every student. He always knows when someone is going out of their way to
succeed, and goes out of his way to help.
The fine qualities of these two teachers have made big impacts on me. We all experience periods of difficulty or sadness, when we
could care less about schoolwork. There are people here on campus that are here to pick us up, to listen, and most importantly, to care
about us. These are your ‘impact’ people. Who has made an impact on your days here at Kennedy? The highest tribute we can pay to
that person is to show gratitude, and crazy as it sounds, maybe even let that person know how much of an impact they’ve had on you.
I guess I just did that – here’s to you, Mrs. Fliehler and Herk!
Allie Sindlinger
Appreciating the push
When I joined Torch at the beginning of this year, I had no idea what I was get-
ting into. All I knew was that Rachel Gilman’s fiery, red fury was forcing me out of AP
biology and into the journalistic world.
Most people know me from the Pod Cast (by the way, check out our YouTube
channel). I hope our videos have added a little something to your week. They are fun
to do and require little to no writing. Which leads me into this editorial;
I would say about a month ago, Riley, Rachel, and the Torch editorial board sat
the class down for our daily talk. Towards the end, Riley reminded us all about the
upcoming issue and the senior editorials. Of course, my lazy bum self wanted nothing
to do with it. But obviously I was pestered to write my heart away. So here’s my best
attempt at a well put together piece of satire and enlightenment.
Four years ago I walked into to halls of Kennedy thinking I was the stuff. I had
an older sister in the school and had lived a block away my entire life. I thought I was
set... boy was I wrong. The first day of school I was late to every class, didn’t eat lunch,
and fell on my face walking home. It was one heck of a start, but things got better. My
freshman year went by, then my sophomore and junior year. Then I ran straight into
the wall referred to as senior year. Senior year is all that people say it is. It’s the best
time of your life so far. There are your last football games, your last dances, senior
nights, prom, and finally graduation. With all of these fun and exciting things going
on in your life, it’s hard to remember school. I didn’t, and my grades fell to all-time
lows. If I have learned anything, it’s that you need to find a balance between fun and school. Although it is hard, trust me, you’ll
much rather prefer to be walking across the stage senior recognition night with all of your friends and accepting medals, instead of
sitting in the audience alone.
Enjoy your time at Kennedy. Enjoy being with friends in and out of school. Enjoy all of the school events, go to a girls basket-
ball game or a tennis meet. And of course, don’t forget your grades. Welp. Now I’m done with all my thoughts on high school so i’ll
ramble to 420. Ben Feltes

2. Finding humor in hell Editorial
High school is the ultimate definition of Hell. Yet, in retrospect, it has been
the best four years of my life so far.
All of you students following in the seniors footsteps, you’ll have your fair
share of embarrassing moments. The class of 2012 knows I’ve had mine…; ‘break-
ing’ my shin dancing in the locker room freshman year, squirting water out of my
eye for a spring pep assembly competition sophomore year, slipping and falling
on half of a grape in the cafeteria junior year, and dislocating my knee dancing to
the interlude at the homecoming football game this year. If you embarrass your-
self, do what I do; giggle and proceed. In the future, you’ll look back and find it
humorous.
I’ve made incredible new friendships, while managing to become closer to
my elementary and middle school friends as well. Never in a million years would I
have imagined that I would become best friends with foreign exchange students,
but I did. Mingle, people! You never know who you’ll come across.
A close friend, Lauren Houston, quoted a movie the other day, “Let your haters be your motivators.” Which made me think, and
admit, I do have a few people that dislike me. But as Josh Jahlas, another friend, would say, “Shit don’t phase me,” and truly, it no
longer does. If you get wind of having your own haters, in my advice, LET THEM HATE, BABY! You are always going to be faced with
people you don’t like, and people who don’t like you. Don’t let select individuals hold you back from being happy.
Crazy memories, however, make high school worth all the crap. I will never forget New Years at Paige’s, or staying up all night at
Lizzie’s house with my fellow classmates. I will never forget dubstep days with Sarah, or late night tennis with Lindsay. Church park-
ing lots with Lola and Allie, or St. Patrick’s Day with Autumn. Mexico with my family and friends, or camping with Mads, John, and
Alex. Lollapalooza with the greatest group of people, or even the gallon challenge with Haley and Hunteee. The list, literally, goes on
faaa dayyzz.
All in all, live it up. Laugh too much. Cry when necessary. Don’t fear to be wreckless a few days here and there...but stay classy,
nevaaa trashy. Make as many memories as possible, and forget the people who forget you. Test the waters, and figure out who you
truly are. Jessica Rowan
Nick Appleget
PAGES BY Rachel Gilman And Riley Galbraith 5