Junior Elisabeth Schapmann became involved in theatre since she was young and that passion hasn’t died.

“In the fourth grade, I was in the musical Treasure Island. But before that, I took improv and drama classes,” she said.

The feeling she got from being on stage inspired her to continue pursing acting.

“It was a mixture of the adrenaline rush I got from performing and the joy I got from entertaining,” Schapmann said. “Seeing the audience smile, laugh, and at the end, applaud, got me addicted to theatre. Now, I love that I get to create and tell stories to so many people.”

Even though theatre is a huge part of her life, her parents did not initially support her decision to join.

“Once I started doing theatre at West and became a Thespian, I don’t think my parents understood why I dedicated so much time to put on ‘some silly little plays.’ As the they realized that theatre was important to me, they have generally become more supportive,” she said. “They still aren’t thrilled about all the time I’m at school because of theatre.”

Another reason she chose to continue her involvement with the school plays was because many of her friends are involved as well.

“A lot of my friends are also involved with the arts, so I think my parents understand why I’m so hooked. They think I’m a little crazy for putting in so much time, but they get it,” Schapmann said.

In order to dedicate more of her time to theatre, she chose to quit marching band after participating in it for two years.

“At the end of the day, my heart wasn’t in it. I was mostly in it because my friends were in it and I didn’t want to upset them by quitting. I wanted to be in theatre where I really loved the work I was doing. It took me forever to tell my friends that I was quitting,” she said. “They were disappointed and they didn’t like my decision at first, but they eventually accepted it.”

Even though Schapmann prefers to be on stage, she also enjoys participating in crew.

“Out of the thirteen productions I’ve been involved with, I’ve been on crew eight times and on stage five times. It’s definitely a different experience. In scenic crew, which is building the set,” she said, “there is an immediate satisfaction after completing a set piece. At first, it was sort of hard adjusting to the fact that after a performance, people weren’t going to come up to me and say, ‘Wow, that set was put together beautifully!’ Through crew, I’ve learned how to be happy with the work I produce and not have that happiness be based on the approval or praise of others,” she said.

Theatre instructor Andy Sinclair believes Schapmann is one of the most mature students he’s worked with.

“Elisabeth is an adult in a teenager’s body. Her responsibility and maturity are second to none,” he said. “She’s a jack of all trades. My favorite thing about her is that she never does anything half way — even the things that scare her.”

Her friends appreciate the work she puts into crew.

“Elisabeth keeps a lot of us on task, but still makes working on the set a fun experience,” junior Samantha Abbie Padillo said. “Working with her almost always ends with us laughing until we can’t breathe.”

Schapmann’s work is important to many of the members of crew.

“She really puts in a lot of hard work in anything she is given. Whether it is on stage, backstage, or putting together the set, she is always working and helping others as well,” junior Asha Lodhia said.

Sinclair appreciates her work backstage.

“She is competent backstage managing, and she takes advantage of the entire department. She excels at everything she does,” he said.

Galileo Galilei once said, “Mathematics is the language with which God wrote the universe.”

According to Math teacher Ms. Seema Chanadrana, math has always been the one subject she felt a connection towards.

“Studying number patterns and relationships has always been like decoding a personal, private messages from the Divine for me,” Chandarana said.

Spirituality is a daily aspect of Chandarana’s life. It is something that grounds her and helps her see the world in a different way than most people.

“I think I was born on a spiritual path,” Chandarana said.

Yoga came calling to Chandarana after 9/11 happened and the world seemed to “bleak” to continue.

“Yoga, which means union (of the body and the spirit), has been a process of purifying my inner vision and allowing a brighter, clearer view of the external world,” Chandarana said.

She practices yoga every morning and sometimes makes her students join during math.

“She makes learning math fun and tells the most amazing stories,” said sophomore Stephanie Schmidt.

Chandarana says yoga begins within her and helps her feel in control of her mind and body.

“The practice of yoga – spirituality – is every breath I take,” Chandarana said.

“Sports have never changed my life. They are my life,” freshman Edita Mackic said.

Mackic’s parents have pushed each one of her siblings to do a sport. Mackic chose to play soccer.

“I started playing soccer when I was nine years-old. Currently, I play for a Montenegrin soccer team and for the Illinois Sting team,” Mackic said.

Soccer isn’t the only thing that keeps Mackic busy. She is also in orchestra, track, and plans on trying out for the volleyball team next year.

“I’m really excited to try out. Joining a sport is really cool at Niles West because you get to meet other people and befriend them.”

Mackic was nervous when she started Niles West, but having an older sibling helped.

“My sister, Merima Mackic, is a sophomore. She introduced me to upperclassmen and pushed me to get involved in school,” Mackic said.

Mackic pushes herself to excel in everything she does. She looks forward to her high school years and is excited for the various opportunities she could get through the years.

“I like it here at Niles West. I get be someone completely different and really put myself out there. The only thing that sucks is that it’s so huge. I probably will continue to get lost until senior year because I’m bad at directions,” Mackic said, laughing.

On May 8th, 1997, senior Michael Byrne was born eighteen minutes before his twin sister, Elizabeth Byrne. They grew up in Niles, Illinois and attended Clarence E. Culver School from K-8th grade. They both prospered in different activities – sports for Michael and cheer for Elizabeth.

Best friends, partners in crime, siblings, and twins, Michael and Elizabeth are the siblings in class that always know how to make the best of everything. If it’s playing football, rollerblading with friends, or enjoying their mutual love for the Green Bay Packers, you’ll find these two inseparable.

Their close relationship isn’t only brought together by their love for sports and Wisconsin — they love being there for one another.

“I love the fact that there is always someone there for me. We talk with each other all the time about everything and anything. It’s nice because we know we both have each other’s backs no matter what. It’s also great being able to work on assignments from the same classes we have,” Elizabeth said.

A good friend of the twins, senior Julia Easter talked about how great it was meeting them during her time at Niles West.

“I met Michael during ninth period study hall, and Elizabeth while midnight riding. It’s great being friends with them because we all love sports even if we share a friendly rivalry (Bears vs. Packers). They’re the kind of kids that make me want to be as kind-hearted to others as they are. Overall they’re just nice, funny, and great friends to be around.”

Their compassion for one another and their friends doesn’t end there. The Byrne twins are a family of five in all.

“We’re both just as close with our other siblings as we are with each other,” Michael said. “We all like spending time with each other.”

With college coming up next fall for these two, the twin duo have hopes and dreams for the future.

“We would like to go to the same college, but we both have no idea where we for sure want to go yet, hopefully somewhere in Wisconsin,” Michael said.

While they might not have decided on the exact university they’re attending they still have big aspirations.

“Michael wants to major in forestry or some type of environmental science, and I want to be a teacher,” Elizabeth said.

Wherever their lives might take them, they’ll always be there for each other and will be forever changed because of each other. The Byrne twins are an inspiration and an example of what family first really means.

Every Wednesday when you hear a heavy accent in the hallways of Niles West, you can typically find Tatyana Gulak recycling with a team of students.

“I volunteered to be the primary sponsor of the ‘Go Green’ Club. I saw that the job wasn’t done properly.” Mrs. Gulak said.

Mrs. Gulak has been the sponsor of the “Go Green” Club since 2006, but she’s worked in Niles West since 2000. She plans to retire in two years.

“I like Mrs. T  a lot. She always helped me with my homework, and besides that, she gave me advice and life lessons. I started recycling with her since during my freshman year,” said the president of “Go Green” Club and senior Arbela Dadesho.

Mrs. Gulak is an immigrant from the Soviet Union who came here due to political fights. Her husband was against the ideals of the government. They had to make a choice to leave, or Mr. Gulak would end up in jail.

“I came to United States of America on Sept. 19, 1987. I came here with my three children and my husband. If I knew that Gorbachev would change Soviet Union into something better, we wouldn’t have left,” she said with regret visibly on her face.

Mrs. Gulak was a math teacher in Soviet Union. She taught students who were in first grade, and she would mathematically raise them, all the way until the end of their senior year. Currently, she is a math tutor in the ESL Department.

“My children were involved in Niles West theatre and choir. Anytime I came to school to see them, I always helped them and other students however I could. At that time, a lot of Russian foreigners were in this school. I remember Mrs. Philbin asked me if I want to be a tutor. I knew I wouldn’t be able to teach because of the language barrier and heavy accent, so I became a tutor in the ESL Department.”

“Mrs. T. was my guide and the one who helped me the most with math. Although there was a language barrier, she always made me understand things I didn’t understand in class. With the only words she knew, she always explained everything to me better than my teachers did,” senior Mernah Polus said.

A large number of students sit in a classroom, nervously discussing their charity research papers with their peers, hints of excitement lacing their voices. As soon as English teacher Ms. Sharon Swanson walks in, the usual questions and comments begin to arise. “When’s the due date?” “My charity won’t answer!” “Who do I ask questions?” “I need a hook for my paper. Many pregnancies are unplanned.”  Ms. Swanson answers each and every question with sass, the occasional answer dripping with sarcasm, and fits of laughter erupt from her students.

Every year during mid-October, Ms. Swanson assigns a research paper to her classes. Each student picks a charity, spends time doing thorough research, and explains why their charity is the best.

After going through all the papers, Ms. Swanson picks the paper she thinks best explained why its charity was better than the others. Students will donate money towards the winning charity and Ms.Swanson will match the money raised from her own pocket.

“Every year around Christmas, you know how people collect for the Salvation Army, someone put gold coins, just some random guy puts gold coins in the kettles that they collect and no one ever knows who they come from. It’s been going on for a long time,” Swanson said.

Many years ago, Ms. Swanson was reading about the gold coin giver in the newspaper and slowly, an idea began to blossom that expanded into something much bigger.

“I thought, God, that’s really cool, how some people give to charity and then I started thinking about how I’d like to give to charity. Then I started thinking about how my students have no clue about charities or anything else and how it’s a good thing for them to know about. And that’s how that got started.” Ms. Swanson said.

Many students have expressed what it’s like being in Ms. Swanson’s class. The most popular answer? Never boring.

“Her class is never boring,” sophomore Megan Buduan said, “not a single moment. She’s got this outspoken personality and she’s just so passionate about the things that she teaches. Especially about A Tale of Two Cities.”

“A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens is Ms.Swanson’s favorite book and something she doesn’t mind reading over and over again. Everytime she reads it, she discovers something new and intriguing that she didn’t notice before. She says the book is like a “puzzle” to her.

“The thing I like best about [ A Tale of Two Cities ] is the fact that my students hate it at the beginning, but at the end, so many of them say that it’s the best book they ever read and it’s their favorite,” said Ms.Swanson.

Her students agree with her and many of them are already calling it their favorite book, despite not being finished yet.

“We just finished this one chapter in particular and it left us with the biggest cliffhanger,” said sophomore Erin Kaihara, “and Ms.Swanson is making us wait until Monday to read the next chapter. This isn’t nice at all. You don’t understand how badly I want to read.”

What many of her students don’t know is just how passionate she is about A Tale of Two Cities and teaching. So passionate, that she doesn’t see herself retiring. At all.

“I don’t want to retire because I love what I do. I can’t imagine a more interesting way to go than to be in front of my class, teaching my absolute favorite book, waving my arms wildly around, and just keeling over,” she said, laughing.

Many Niles West students involved in Niles West’s band, Choir and Orchestra programs tried out for the 2014-15 Illinois Music Educators Association Festival and twenty of them were accepted. The festival is an opportunity for the district’s top musicians to be honored in performing together in their respective musical ensembles.

Tomorrow at New Trier High school the band, orchestra and choir qualifiers will perform at New Trier high school.

The senior band consists of four students of Niles West’s symphonic band under the direction of (Justin Johnson). They consist of:

When a journalist is describing a big sports moment in an athlete’s life, they say things like, “she goes up for the jump shot, she shoots, she scores!” or, “the pitcher throws a fast ball, she swings, and there it goes! A homerun!” But in a story like this one, there isn’t only one sport I can choose to talk about.

Senior Atorena Michael has played sports her whole life. Starting in grade school, she played softball, soccer, basketball, and volleyball. But coming in as a freshman, she knew the three to stick with and tryout for. After going through a pretty rigorous, yet exhilarating summer at volleyball camp, her first high school season started. She had a blast during the season, and before she knew it, she would already be done with her next two sports seasons as well, basketball and softball.

“It was great to get to start high school by playing a sport because I got to meet great people and make amazing friends. I learned that athletics weren’t only about being a great athlete, but also about those important teammates you spent every day with. I knew I could rely on them through out my high school career, and I’m so thankful for them,” Michael said.

Athletics have had a big impact on Michael because it taught her good time management, how to dedicate herself to something, and even taught her how to be a good teammate. In her opinion, the definition of a “good teammate” is someone who will push others on the team to become the best athletes they can be, and to always try their hardest. She also believes it is important that everyone is always there for each other, and brings people up when they are frustrated.

“It’s really hard because sometimes when you’re playing a sport, you are so focused on what you are doing and when you mess up, it ruins your whole vibe. Thats why it’s crucial for teammates to have faith in each other, and to make sure there is enough positive energy going around,” Michael stressed.

Not only does Michael believe that being a good teammate is important, but she also is looked at as a role model on all of her sports teams.

“Atorena is one of those girls that you would always want in the game because of her mental and physical abilities, which was why libero was the perfect position for her on our volleyball team. She would throw her body for everything, and never cared about the bruises on her hips and elbows. She became more than just a teammate over the last four years, and she is one of the people I hope to keep in touch with after senior year,” said senior and volleyball teammate, Delanie Kwiecinski.

At this time of her senior year, Michael has so far been accepted to her top two choices: University of Arizona and Indiana State. Although dedicated to athletics for all 12 seasons at Niles West, she has decided to focus on her studies so she can be successful in the future once she gets to college, and not play any sports at the collegiate level. Michael is still undecided about what she wants to study because she is waiting until she knows exactly what she wants to do, and knows the field is right for her.

“Being a three sport athlete all four years of my high school career really shows me that all of my hard work has paid off. I have dedicated so much time into becoming the best athlete I can be, and knowing that I have created a little legacy that I get to leave behind to all of my under class men teammates means the world to me. I have truly made some life long friends, and it’s going to be hard for us to go our separate ways, but college is just another chapter in my book,” Michael said.

Oftentimes you can find senior Nina Saro scrambling between classes trying to fit as much studying and debate work in as possible. It’s no doubt that Saro is dedicated when it comes to her top extra curricular activity.

“Niles West debate has become a new home to me, and being a part of a team that cares so much about every single person on the team always leaves me feeling included and welcome. I honestly cannot say I’ve ever been taken in so gladly by any other activity I’ve ever participated in,” Saro said.

Debate has provided her with an abundance of opportunities whether that be travel or more extensive knowledge.”Traveling around the country and learning all these things that I’ve never even taken the time to consider before has influenced me for the better too, and I really hope more people discover debate soon enough too!”

Although debate has influenced Saro’s high school experience tremendously, her background has also played a huge role in who she is today. “ I was born in Al Hasakah, Syria in 1997 and lived in a small village with my parents and two siblings for a while before we relocated to a lot of different areas in the Middle East,” Saro explained.

Saro’s family was a Christian minority in the country which led to political tension and ultimately her family’s relocation. But her homeland still holds its influence in her life. “I think it’s made me more open minded, not only to new cultures, but new ideas in general. I have a better understanding of the world around me because I realize that there’s always going to be something out there that is different from anything I’ve ever known before.”

When it comes to plans after high school, her dream school is University of Chicago, while her other top contenders are University of San Francisco and UMich. “I’m mostly considering going into political science, and that’s largely influenced by my interest in international relations. I’m really, evidently, into women’s studies as well.”

Those who have left a mark on Saro throughout her high school years are her debate coach Eric Oddo, along with her close friends. “As my head debate coach, he’s been someone to talk to and support me in whatever my current goals are. He’s one funny dude too. Besides that, everything around me has probably influenced me in some way or another, but mostly my close friends Lucy Rees and Rachel Brown…and Imran Khan is always an inspiration.”

“Nina somehow has this ability to be able to carry on a conversation with anyone, and make complete strangers laugh after just meeting her. I don’t know how she does it. She puts effort into school, and works hard to improve in debate, all while juggling the other aspects of her life, so she doesn’t always have it easy,” senior Rachel Brown said.

“I think anyone who knows her recognizes how she has the ability to make literally any situation hilarious; she can lighten the mood so easily and make anyone laugh. She is incredibly easy to talk to, and overall an amazing friend. If you don’t know her, you’re missing out,” senior Lucy Rees said.

Ever since freshman Jonell Moore was 11, she knew she wanted to do horseback riding. Her interest in horses had a big impact on her decision.

“Horses were my favorite animal when I was younger, and to this day, they still are,” Moore said.

Not only does Jonell horseback ride, but she is also on the freshman B volleyball team.

“I like volleyball, I’ve been playing since middle school,” she said. “I tried out for fun and I slowly started to enjoy it, so I played every season at Lincoln.”

But if Jonell had to choose between volleyball and horseback riding, she’d choose horseback riding.

“I just fell in love with the sport,” she said. “Plus I visited the barn a lot. Horseback was all year round, so it kept me occupied unlike volleyball.”

Entering a new school, Jonell found it hard to manage school, horseback riding, and volleyball at the same time. Only having her lunch and study hall periods to do her homework, she was struggling.

“On Wednesdays she sprints out of the locker room to get to her mom’s car and they drive an hour away so she can prepare for her horseback riding competition. Not to mention, she comes back home really late,” said freshman Nicole Hedean, who plays volleyball with Moore.

“It’s not easy having to commit to both activities, plus being a student at the same time,” said best friend and freshman Lisa Jahjah. “I could only imagine how stressed she is.”

Overall, Moore likes high school so far, especially with the freedom that comes with it. But, she wasn’t expecting to consistently have so much homework.

Maybe you know senior Keiann Williams from her easy-going personality in her classes or as a starter on the varsity girls’ volleyball team this year. She’s spent her years at West playing volleyball competitively in and out of school.

“Volleyball kind of helped me adjust and cope with high school because it’s been a huge emotional roller coaster. I think the hardest part was learning who I was and finding reasoning as to what I wanted to do with my life, ” Williams said.

There’s no doubt volleyball has been a crucial factor in Williams’ high school years. She utilized the sport to come to her own personal realizations throughout the years.

“In essence, my high school experience has been a collaboration of failure and success. I’ve learned that I’m probably better off learning through trial and error. Trying something new, possibly failing at it, and then finding new tactics to achieve and strive. I do better at my own pace, doing it my own way.”

But when it comes to plans after senior year and for life in general, volleyball isn’t in the picture. Williams hopes to find happiness wherever she goes. But going to a  historically black college (HBC) is definitely atop of the list.

“My biggest goal in life is to live comfortably and be happy. Also, to have an awesome story to tell to my grandchildren on my death bed,” she said. “In regards to college, I just would like to be around people who relate to me and that I relate to too. I like Niles West and I like the diversity. I meet people who aren’t like me, but i just love it when I can be around people who share the same background and similarities.”

Staying familiar with her roots while learning whatever she’s passionate about is important to Williams, hence why she plans on attending a liberal historically black college.

“Historically black schools also provide a higher education of learning, meaning some of the material is not taught in regular, formal universities like DePaul, UOI, ISU, etc. I would rather learn something I can benefit from and enjoy at the same time. It’ll be fun, and I can reunite with my kind again.”

Even though she doesn’t have a major in mind, going to a liberal arts school has been key in Williams’ college process.

“I’m into liberal  studies so I’m kind of in my own world most of the time. When I’m not playing sports I’m probably at home watching weird documentaries about the world or on the internet reading about climate change,” Williams explained.

Collectively, volleyball and her goals for the future have shaped Williams’ high school experiences and friendships.

“Keiann is the type of person whose mood affects everybody around her. She is someone everyone would be happy being friends with, and I’ve had the pleasure of playing volleyball with her and knowing her on more of a personal level,” friend and senior Atorena Michael said. 

Music is a big aspect in sophomore Merima Mackic’s life and it isn’t going away anytime soon.

Mackic began playing the violin when she was in the fourth grade. Back then, she just found it interesting. It wasn’t until junior high, when she began to tackle some difficult pieces, that she discovered how much she truly enjoyed playing it.

“When I’m playing the violin, to me, it feels like I’m telling a story to people through the violin. I love the way emotions seep into the music,” Mackic said.

Mackic says her dad pushed her towards orchestra and playing the violin.

“My dad really likes instruments and music. He thought it would be a good change for me because I’m always involved in sports. I found myself liking it and I found it relaxing,” Mackic said.

Playing the violin helps Mackic clear her mind when she feels overwhelmed. She focuses solely on the music in times of stress.

“When I’m playing the violin, I get so focused on the musical notes and only on the music that everything stressing me sort of fades away into the back of my mind.”

Mackic admits she doesn’t want to play on a professional level. She says she finds playing the violin fun, but she just doesn’t see herself wanting to pursue a career in it.

“It’s more of a hobby and an opportunity. I find playing the violin fun and a way to relax. I’ll most likely play until my senior year because I’m very committed to it, just not on a professional level,” Mackic said.

Mackic says being in orchestra and playing the violin opens up new opportunities for her.

“We’re taking a trip to Costa Rica for orchestra and I’m really looking forward to that. It’s one of the perks of being part of orchestra. You get to travel to new places,” said Mackic.

Ever since she was young, senior Emily Cardona has been passionate about singing.

“At church when I was three or four was my first time singing and my grandma basically bribed me with a dress,” Cardona said. “She said if I wanted it I had to sing in front of everyone, and I finally sang.”

From there, she decided to become more involved in singing.

“I became a back-up singer for the praise band for the Hispanic Congregation at church,” she said.

Last year, Cardona decided to leave orchestra in order to devote more of her time to singing.

“I wanted to be in choir since I started at Niles West, but my mom wanted me to stick with orchestra,” she said. “I asked my mom if I could do choir, and I got into High Fidelity.”

Cardona didn’t have enough space in her schedule to participate in both orchestra and choir.

“Not having a lunch was hard, so I decided to leave orchestra for choir and take private lessons,” she said.

Joining High Fidelity has been one of the highlights of her high school career.

“I love music and making cool music. When everyone hits the right note, it’s so amazing. There’s something great about hitting the right chord,” she said.

Her mother was very supportive of her choice to switch from orchestra to choir.

“She knows how much I love singing,” Cardona said. “She encouraged it and understood that I was in both, but said it was okay and she would still support me.”

Her friends are also supportive of her joining choir.

“I love going to their concerts because each group sings well and I am amazed every time I hear them,” senior Reyvin Reyes said. “I love seeing Emily up on stage singing in High Fidelity, and it makes me happy and proud to see her performing up there.

Every Wednesday after school you can find a wide variety of students walking their instruments over to Niles West’s Rock and Roll Club. Typically split up between two classrooms, students break themselves up between the acoustic and electric rooms. The acoustic room has a more relaxed vibe as opposed to the hard rock of the the electric room. Each has their own characteristics that appeals to every student in that room.

The goal of Rock and Roll Club is to provide a sort of community and outlet for Niles West’s own Rock n’ Rollers. Senior Paul Kundzicz, the club’s president, commented on the purpose behind their club.

“The goal behind the club is, at it’s core, to simply unite Rock and Roll players and enthusiasts to play, talk about, discuss, and perform rock music. In doing this, the Rock and Roll club fulfills another greater goal that is to give students today the opportunity the classic experience of being in a high school rock band,” he said.

Unlike in previous years, where all the members were in one classroom together, this year they’ve had to split themselves up due to all the new members that have accumulated. The club was initially started by Spanish teacher David Malatesta, but later on was passed down to the current sponsor and Spanish teacher Steven Lander. The club is now going into its seventh year and has made several improvements along the way.

“We’re in our seventh year and in that time we’ve purchased a drum set and a PA system so we’re able to put songs together,” Lander explained.

Members are able to bring new songs to the table, teach one another new techniques, and bring new music to the table. The club has undoubtedly become a welcoming outlet for many.

“I joined because I like to play music, and I don’t know a lot of people who also play music, so it’s good to know people who enjoy it as well,” freshman Peter Conenna said.

Rock and Roll club has become a community in its own throughout the years.

“Personally, the Rock and Roll club has influenced my high school career by helping me become more organized and reliable to others. Being a part of a band that depends on every one of its members for it’s success sort of forced me to be more dependable to others,” Kundzicz added.

Any and all interested students are welcome to join. Rock and Roll club meets every Wednesday at 3:30 in room 1605.

Ajete Kolari contributed to this article. 

Imagine it’s December 1994 and you are forced to escape a deadly war. There is nobody you know in the United States except your boyfriend who lives in Chicago, a city you’ve never been to and have little knowledge of. You have no choice but to leave your family, friends, job, and education behind. This is what math teacher and mom of triplets Jasminka Jukic had to do.

“I came as a war refugee. Leaving was very difficult because you had to do it. It wasn’t a choice and coming to the United States was a huge culture shock since you had to learn a new language, get used to a whole different culture, and so many more things had to change,” Jukic said.

When reminiscing on the old days, Jukic explains how the school system here is very different from the school system in Croatia.

“The school day is different, the curriculum is different, methods are different, and the resources are different. Working there and working here are two very different jobs.”

Jukic experienced change when coming from schooling during wartime to American schooling.

“I taught for two years at an electroengineering school and there is a lot of high math there. It was a very difficult school and there were very poor resources for the students. You know, 20 years ago, there weren’t computers available at school. But the hardest part of the schooling was the fact that you didn’t know if you would survive or not,”she said. “I tried everything to engage the students, but, fortunately, some of them knew that if they received a good education then they can leave this land and give themselves a good, safe life.”

Jukic incorporates the Bosnian and Croatian culture and tactics of learning into her everyday life.

“For Algebra 2, long division is important in many units, so I teach my students the way I was taught how to do long division. Sometimes my students go into the Literacy Center to get help and their tutors, who didn’t have me as a teacher, will have no idea how this process of long division works, However, once the tutors figure out how to do long division the way I teach my students, they say how much easier it is to do long division that way,” Jukic explained.

Jukic celebrates the holidays she did when she lived in Croatia, she continues to cook traditional Croatian food, and she ensured that her children were fluent in the language. She has triplets that are juniors at Niles North High School and she is proud to say that they can read and speak in the Serbo-Croatian language.

Jukic has had a very large, positive impact on many students at Niles West.

“She [Jukic] is one of the most respectful, kind, caring individuals I have ever met. I have been in Bosnian and Montenegrin Club for the past 4 years and I had Ms. Jukic as an Algebra 2 teacher, so I know her pretty well. As a club sponsor, she is very organized and creative. As a teacher, she is helpful and pushes you to do your best,” senior Anela Arabelovic said.

During the day you can find Mr.  Farrahadoon Durrani upstairs in the Chemistry Wing, but after school you can catch him leading the Cross Country or Track boys to victory.

Durrani started off teaching in 2010, and eventually started coaching in 2012. “I wanted to give back to my community. I honestly had no desire to coach at first because I just wanted to focus on my training.”

While teaching the sciences Durrani loves interacting with kids. “Each student brings something to the classroom and at any given moment there can be a spark that gets the classroom going.”

Besides teaching in a classroom, Durrani coaches boys Cross Country and Track.

“My high school coach was like a father figure to me. I looked up to him and appreciated everything he did to help me become a good person. I want to help mold students into better people like my coach did for me. Once I decided to retire from competitive running I decided to use my knowledge to help others improve their health. I coach cross country and track.”

Whether he is in a classroom, or on the field Durrani wants to help mold his students and athletes into better people. The best part of being someone of authority is inspiring his students or athletes to make positive changes in their life and making them healthier.