This month we continue our series of profiles of the PUHS senior class of 2023. Look for more profiles of these talented and interesting young people in upcoming issues of the PRT.
Olivia Caroline Marianne Blystone
Participation in school clubs and sports: I was in volleyball junior and senior year, managed basketball senior year, and I played tennis junior and senior year.
Extra-curricular activities outside of school: I have participated in Club theater for many years, it is a joyful experience and I think so many more kids should experience it.
Plans for next year: Attend U of A to get a BA in East Asian Studies, and make side money! (I plan on residing in Mrs. Hayes’ ceiling and scaring the freshmen every year.) That too, Mrs. Hayes.
Favorite teachers: MRS JOURNEE HAYES. I LOVE HER THE MOSTESTTT NEVERRRRR FAILLLED, ALWAYS PASSED HER CLASS THOUGH UNTIL THE LAST SEMESTER THATS WHEN IT ALL WENT DOWNHILL YEPPPPPPP. But really, my favorite teachers are Mrs. Journee Hayes and Mr. Gudenkauf, with the occasional Mr. Hayes.
Favorite subjects: Art, up until I couldn’t take the class anymore, and then math surprisingly, not very good, but I still like it.
Which one memory will you remember forever about your time here? I will definitely remember this year’s pep rally, Mr Hayes hit that floor and the whole room lit up with laughter.
What has been the highlight of your high school years? All the bonding that I and our classmates have had. We had a lot of time together. Growing up with all of them helps.
Where do you imagine yourself in ten years? In Japan, making a lot of money, hopefully. Either infiltrating the mainframes or teaching some kids English.
What is one piece of advice you would give to underclassmen? Okay, coming from me, I didn’t take this advice myself. DO YOUR WORK, my Lord, it is so important, on time too, so you don’t get any points taken off. Be yourself, don’t be afraid to do it, you’ll find the people that live for it and don’t have to be with those that don’t. Appease Mrs. Hayes. Be us, but better. (Impossible, but try anyway.)
Nicholas Dekhtyar
Participation in school clubs and sports: Throughout high school, I have participated in soccer and tennis since freshman year, student government as vice-president in my junior year, national honor society since my sophomore year, and as a Gear-up math tutor mentor in my sophomore and junior year. In my senior year, I was involved in the masterpiece, “Cafe Murder,” directed by the visionary Mrs. Hayes. Through this performance, I was the assistant director throughout this play, and I was a surprise actor playing the role of ‘Hippie’.
Extra-curricular activities outside of school: Throughout my time outside of high school, I have participated in several self-guided science fair projects, a star party program at the Whipple Observatory, an internship at the University of Arizona’s Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, an internship using CERN Supercollider data at the University of Arizona, part-time landscaping jobs, an Internship at Patagonia museum, president of the High School Youth Forum for Rangeland Management (HSYF), and work as a Borderlands EarthCare Youth Intern.
Plans for next year: Next year I am headed to Columbia University in New York City. Through this opportunity, I plan on pursuing a degree in physics. During this time, I will also begin constructing the laser-death-star-inator that will be used for my world domination in 2050.
Favorite teachers: Mr. Codding, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Gudenkauf, Mr. Porter, Mr. Lynch and Mrs. Hayes are my favorite teachers in high school. Throughout their classes, they create discussions that teach us to expand our horizons of thinking and how what we learn applies to our daily lives. In addition, they are great teachers to learn from, as they create exciting classes.
Favorite subjects: Math and science are some of my favorite subjects from school, and I have always enjoyed the many ways to apply these concepts to our daily lives. I became a huge fan of physics, diving into how mathematics and science play into how the universe functions, from enormous black holes to minuscule subatomic particles.
Which one memory will you remember forever about your time here? I think fondly back upon when Liam and I were sports commentators for the homecoming powderpuff game this year.
What has been the highlight of your high school years? Throughout my time in high school, I had the chance to gain so many great experiences, from internships at the U of A to laughs with classmates. This combination created a great balance between work and relaxation, allowing me to enjoy high school while preparing for college.
Where do you imagine yourself in ten years? In ten years, I plan to be a physicist working for Harvard as a cover so I can begin the implementation stage of my world domination in 2050. Through this, I will brainwash the brightest students worldwide into becoming my minions. Then the minions will slowly infiltrate governments across the globe and weaken our democracy to a pulp of lies, becoming the perfect victim to my domination.
What is one piece of advice you would give to underclassmen? I advise any underclassmen to make the most of their time in high school, participate in new experiences outside their comfort zone and maintain good grades. As I rebuild the world from its ashes in 2050 after becoming world ruler, I will only keep the most well-rounded individuals to rebuild society. If you take action now, you may also have a chance to experience the world’s rebirth and flourish in humanity at its finest. Vote Nick Dekhtyar for Supreme Overlord, 2050.
Alec Axel Escoboza
Participation in school clubs and sports: 2021-22 Soccer and Basketball 2022-23 Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball
Extra-curricular activities outside of school: Rec League in Nogales
Plans for next year: See what life throws at me but mostly college.
Favorite teachers: Señor Porter, Jefa Hayes, My boy Daniel, Ms. Yari, Ms. Ally, and Mrs. Gortarez
Favorite subjects: History and Weights
Which one memory will you remember forever about your time here? Can’t choose between all these memories.
What has been the highlight of your high school years? Freshman/Sophmore year was quarantine and Junior and Senior year was making all the memories with my friends and teammates and especially the times where we were being troublemakers during class.
Where do you imagine yourself in ten years? At least financially stable but really nothing much to it.
What is one piece of advice you would give to underclassmen? Appreciate it while you can.
Rebecca Ford
Participation in school clubs and sports: I was in Student Government as a Junior Representative and Student Body President, Editor in Chief of the yearbook during my Junior year, and National Honor Society.
What are your plans for next year? Next year I will be attending Lake Superior State University to study Cannabis Business/ Chemistry.
Favorite teachers: My favorite teachers are Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Gudenkauf, and Mr. Lynch.
Favorite subjects: My favorite subject is probably English.
Which memory will you remember forever about your time here? The one memory I will remember forever from my time here would be the 2021 prom and the 2023 Hoopcoming.
What has been the highlight of your high school years? The highlight of my high school years has been my classmates. Y’all make school a little less stale.
Where do you imagine yourself in ten years? In 10 years, I will have fulfilled my dream of owning a cannabis-related business.
What is one piece of advice you would give to underclassmen? High School is like waking up before your alarm goes off. You check the clock every ten minutes to realize it’s only been three minutes. You won’t escape.