The 2023 Senior Experience: Then and Now

Sing it Guurl: Jared Kuhl, Ezra Stewart, and Ethan Golda sing their hearts out at After Prom.

Presley Smith, Editor

Life for teens have significantly changed over time, but one thing throughout generations has stayed the same: high school. It’s fair to say the faculty at PHS had different experiences than today’s students. To highlight how times have changed, The Charioteer asked teachers and students how they approached similar obstacles and challenges of high school life. 

How did you take your notes?

Jerry Layher (North Platte High School ‘82): “I took notes poorly.”

Raina Dunston (Hillcrest Lutheran Academy ‘06):  “We didn’t have computers at the time, so we used paper and pencil. Actually if you were cool, then you used penseven.  Cooler if you had the erasable ones.”  

 Amy Thayer (Platteview High School ‘86): “Spiral notebook and a pencil, but as my graduation present I got a typewriter and I was so excited.”

Bella McAtee: “I take notes in Google Docs and share the document with kids in my class.” 

Kawinthida Haase: “I take electronic notes on Goodnotes or Google Docs.” 23’

Tyler Menke: “I take notes with Goodnotes as bullet points.” 

Katelyn Gillen: “My iPad.”

John Sanderson (Pallion Monarchs ‘06): “The old pen in paper…when I took notes.” 

What do you do in your free time?
Aaron Boyle (Westside ‘13): “When I was in high school I was in theater. I would go onto the catwalk and adjust lights or help with design.” 

Nick Crouse (Red Oak High School ‘09): “I didn’t have much free time with sports and hanging out with friends” 

Haley Kienow: “Watch Tiktok.” 

Gage Ryba: “Baseball. It’s non-stop.”

Camden Hazy: “I hang out with my friend.”

Genevieve Drummond: “Hike and play soccer.” 

Claire Peoples: “Sleep.” 

Andrea Anneberg: “Go to my studio and dance.” 

Jase Renz: “I sleep and work. I also hang out with my buds.”

Brooke Williams: “Sleep.”Paige Fritz: “I walk around my neighborhood with my dawg. And I shop online.”

 

How do you prepare for a test?

Joshua Siske (Ralson ‘06): “I did a lot of study group.” 

Elizabeth Harms (North City ‘11): “Notecards. I remember on Friday nights I would be studying while my friends went out.” 

Logan Pearrow: “I make study guides.”

Ava Dominguez: “Study the night before.”

Kyle Marsden: “I make quizlets before tests.”

Kayla Jeffrey: “I use quizlet or use reviews in class.”

Ashley Lynch: “Quizlet.” 

Jolene Trumble: “Quizlet.” 


How did you get to school?

Daniel Craney (Bellevue ‘74): “I walked to school all four years of high school because we lived so close.”

Jon Comine (Omaha Burke ‘86): “I got to school in a beautiful 1970 Mercury Kaperee.”

Brooklyn Williamson: “I drive my car to school.”

Bailey Korenoski: “My car. It’s red.” 

Ava Saunders: “My car.” [See page 4]

Mary Houlton: “I drive myself to school.”

Trey Smith: “I drive.”

Bennett Beecham: “I drive.”

Carli Wiese: “I drive myself.”

 

Do you have a curfew? 

Andrew Hopp (Fall City Public High School ‘01): “No, but I didn’t really go out too much.” 

Mary Middleton (Floyd Valley High School ‘87): “No, I was a nerd and so were my friends, so we didn’t go out and party.”

Evan White: “My curfew is midnight.” 

Leilou Guerrero: “I don’t really have a curfew, but I am always home before 12 most nights.”

Ty Orwig: “I tell my parents I’ll be back at 10 o’clock, and if I’m not home, I’ll be in trouble.”

Chad Pierson: “No, I don’t have curfew.”

Kalin Gray: “ I just try to make the best of my time that I will have at home.”

Carter Shemek: “No, not really.” 

 

Do you play games?

Bethany Stewart (Waukesha Academy ‘97): “Of course I was super into Sonic the Hedgehog.”

Anna Hartwig (Conasauga ‘00): “No, I was in sports – plus I worked, so I didn’t really have time for video games.”  

George Zanker: “I play snake way too much, not gonna lie.”

Logan Aleck: “I play a lot of fighting games like Streetfighters.”

Kaitlin Musch: “I only play Minecraft, but Animal Crossing when I’m in the mood.” 

Greg Oloff: “Yes, I love playing video games.” 

Carter Krajicek: “No.”

Seth Noggle: “Yes, Minecraft and Call of Duty.”

Camden Heese: “Call of Duty.”

 

What were your favorite movies in high school?

Amie Christiansen (Appleine ‘07): “Harry Potter.”

Scott Jenson (Platteview High School ‘89): “That’s a lot of years to look back on, beginning years of high school. Top Gun, but towards the end Bull Durham.”

Mike McLaughlin (Bellevue West ‘86): “Animal House.”

Alex Dostal (Sribner-Snyder ‘09): “Remember the Titans.”

Piper Penney-Hall: “Kill Bill.”

Andrew Dierking: “Star Wars.” 

Annalise Becerra: “The Edge of Seventeen.”

Sean Laughlin: “Star Wars: revenge of the Sith, Episode 3.”

Peyton Gates: “Top Gun.”

Chloe Winfield: “Ready Player One.”

 

What music did you listen to in high school?

Michael Bos (Millard South ‘09): “Everything, especially Nelly.”

Laura Lovercheck (Humphrey High ‘09): “Alternative rock and metal.”

Darin Johnson (Platteview High School ‘91): “Country, but also a lot of ‘80s hair bands.” 

Charles Crisp: “Mostly Country like Jason Alden and Cody Johnston.”

Olivia Kohl: “Zack Brian” 

Kennedy Karshner: “Mostly 80’s music.” 

Alexander Glynn: “Rock music, mostly.” 

Halle Christiansen: “Pitbull and country music.”

Jesse Block: “Rock music.”

Matthew Rudie: “I listen to video game soundtracks, mostly.” 

Bailee Spencer: “Taylor Swift.” 

Dakota Robb: “Rap.”

Peyton Gates: “Top Gun.”

Chloe Winfield: “Ready Player One.”

 

What music did you listen to in high school?

Michael Bos (Millard South ‘09): “Everything, especially Nelly.”

Laura Lovercheck (Humphrey High ‘09): “Alternative rock and metal.”

Darin Johnson (Platteview High School ‘91): “Country, but also a lot of ‘80s hair bands.” 

Charles Crisp: “Mostly Country like Jason Alden and Cody Johnston.”

Olivia Kohl: “Zack Brian.” 

Kennedy Karshner: “Mostly 80’s music.” 

Alexander Glynn: “Rock music, mostly.” 

Halle Christiansen: “Pitbull and country music.”

Jesse Block: “Rock music.”

Matthew Rudie: “I listen to video game soundtracks, mostly.” 

Bailee Spencer: “Taylor Swift.” 

Dakota Robb: “Rap.”