As the end of my senior year and my time as a student at Fitch High School approaches rapidly, I wanted to reflect on my three favorite organizations that I have participated in over the years. I felt it would be fitting to have my last article with the Falcon Press be a bit of a meditation on the groups in which I have put so much energy and time into here. In reality, these groups have shaped me into the person that I am. They have molded me through a multitude of opportunities and experiences that I can confidently say I will remember and utilize in college and beyond.
I first wanted to touch on the Falcon Press. I would also like to include the Journalism course I took in my junior year. The class is taught by Rick Pecka, an English teacher at Fitch and the editor-in-chief of the Falcon Press. I had been doing music reviews on Instagram for a few years at that point, and I had a decent interest in the idea of journalism and reporting in the real world, so I took the class. I thoroughly enjoyed Pecka’s enthusiasm and knowledge of journalism, the way the course was structured, and the amount of information that I obtained from it. I can assure that the writing skills I learned in that class will be put to use in the Quinnipiac newspaper and perhaps elsewhere one day. My enjoyment of that course, the fact that my article assignments had gotten published in the Press, and my overall desire to continue writing stories and reviews motivated me to join as a staff member for the Falcon Press in my senior year. As will be revealed later, my other commitments made it quite difficult to really attend meetings regularly throughout the year. But that didn’t stop me from keeping contact with Pecka or any of the other staff members, and I continued to write for the Press. When it came to writing real news stories or features, I felt like they were a good test to keep me actively using my journalism and reporting skills, and often got me to engage with the community through interviews and sharing articles. My venture into longer-form album reviews allowed me to really deep dive into some of the pieces of music that I hold closest to my heart, and I felt like I could freely express myself through the Press. No matter what I was writing about, I felt like my work was valuable and that I was contributing to something bigger than myself. I know my fellow staff members feel similarly. Pecka was also endlessly flexible with my busy schedule and always gave me great feedback as well. For that and the opportunity he provided me, I thank him tremendously.
The next group I wanted to talk about is Fitch Falcon Theater/Drama Club (we don’t really know what is what). I joined the drama club at the start of my junior year with the goals of learning how to act and making new friends. I had been told that the first show we were doing would be a self-written musical and that we needed people to help write it. Being somebody who thoroughly enjoys writing, I automatically said yes to helping out. Along with a small group, I helped write our show, “A Smooth Takeover.” Midway between finishing the writing and actually performing the show, our director at the time had to leave. That’s when Erin Casey was hired to be the new advisor for the drama club. I didn’t know it at the time, but Casey would become one of my favorite people I have met in the last few years. Even though there were some obstacles, we ended up putting on “A Smooth Takeover” to massive success. That was my first time really acting onstage, and I was terrified. But I loved every second. During that time, I grew close with people who are still some of my best friends today. I grew really close to some now-alumni, who were part of the Class of 2024, who gave me invaluable advice and confidence in myself. The next show we did was “She Kills Monsters,” where I learned how to be funny onstage and really play into a silly character. I remember the grueling days of rehearsing in the cafeteria because the stage was being used, but those challenges made the performance so rewarding and emotional. Senior year, we got off to a slow start with our biggest show yet, “Puffs.” All the new freshmen were so energetic and eager to be a part of the drama club, which really boosted the morale of everyone when things got tough. Through the hard work of the cast and Casey, we managed to pull together “Puffs”, in which I also played my biggest and also my favorite role. The last show we did, “Grease”, went a lot differently than the previous shows I had done. If I’m being honest, it was really difficult. There were a lot of unforeseen obstacles, and it became draining. My life genuinely became consumed with putting on this show. I feel that, because of the challenge, though, it really did bring me even closer to my friends in theater. Although the process was a struggle, the actual performance of “Grease” was pretty fun. It was my first time being part of a musical, which was a whole new experience for me. All in all, Falcon Theater changed my life. Despite the end of my time in it not exactly being what I had hoped, I am still forever grateful for the skills and relationships I gained through this amazing group. I discovered how exhilarating it is to be onstage and to perform as someone else, and I found a group of people whom I know I can always count on.
The last group I want to share my experience with is the Falcon Music Department. Where do I even begin? For my freshman year, I was only part of the Honors Orchestra, playing the violin. After my first conductor left, the year ended with a substitute. Despite the challenges, I was already beginning to see how much I was going to enjoy concerts in high school. Being on the big stage just felt different. During my sophomore year and beyond, my new orchestra conductor was Sandra Hall. Hall provided me with countless opportunities from the moment she was hired right up until now. Without her generosity and desire to help me pursue my musical endeavors, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Throughout this time, I began taking my violin, bass guitar, and drum playing skills more seriously than ever before. I also formed my band with fellow seniors Ella Booc and Sam Alvaran during my sophomore year. Leading into my junior year, I had gained a newfound interest in jazz music. The previous upright bassist graduated from Fitch during my sophomore year as well. So over the summer, Hall allowed me to borrow an upright bass, which I taught myself, and played in the jazz band. Jazz band, conducted by Andrea Shabazian, is perhaps my favorite musical thing I have ever participated in at Fitch. It really sparked my passion for learning music theory and helped me grow my confidence in performing on stage. Before playing in the jazz band, I was extremely timid on the drums and really any instrument that wasn’t the violin. Now, performing those instruments on stage with my friends is my favorite feeling in the world. Through the jazz band in both my junior and senior years, I feel like my drumming skills and my musical knowledge overall have improved beyond my wildest expectations. I was also given the opportunity to meet members of the Coast Guard jazz band, which forever changed the trajectory of my musical career. During my junior year, Hall also helped me run my own club, The Afterschool Jam Club. In all honesty, it was pretty messy, but it was also quite fun, and the fact that I even ran my own club here is something that I am extremely proud of. There have also been two music department trips, one to Boston in my junior year and one to New York in my senior year, which are two of my personal favorite memories from high school. Through those trips, I grew even closer to my best friends and got to see two amazing shows (one being the Blue Man Group and the other being Hadestown on Broadway). I know that in terms of music, I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for Hall, Shabazian, and the music department in general. I also know that I have made numerous lifetime memories and connections through this little community.
I just want to give one last thank you to Rick Pecka, Erin Casey, Sandra Hall, and Andrea Shabazian. These adults really fostered my creativity and skills in so many different areas and changed my life, truly. I am going to miss these groups tremendously after I graduate, but I will forever utilize the lessons they taught me and cherish the memories they have given me.
