Most students don't realize what they're missing out on when they’re offered the chance to go to a convention. Students should take advantage of opportunities like the National Student Press Association or Future Farmers of America. When going to these conventions, they provide experiences that go beyond the classroom. Students attend workshops and sessions that teach skills you don't always get in a school setting.  The best part about going...

All year, I have been hearing people around me saying: “Enjoy senior year! It's your final year of high school!” But admittedly, I can only feel a sense of relief that these nine months are over. While previous years have carried their own fair share of problems, I can say without a doubt that this year has been the worst for me so far. First with my grandma dying in August, then with my beloved cat Shadow (who was my best friend in the whole...

At some point in everyone’s lives they’ve probably considered themselves a perfectionist, someone who strives for the highest degree of excellence by setting extremely high standards for themselves or others.  Wanting to do the best that you can may help you in many ways but perfectionism goes hand-in-hand with a fear of failure, so when this mentality isn’t managed it creates an unhealthy relationship with your self-esteem by only focusing...

At the beginning of high school, I couldn’t grasp that it would end so quickly. I thought it would feel like forever - and though in the moment it felt long, it now feels like it went by too fast. When I was little, I would always watch movies about high school and dream about it. Now I can fully say that it is NOTHING like the movies at all. You can only wish that your experience is like “Kickin It” or any other Disney movie from the early...

High school is a lot like a reality TV show if you really think about it.  You are put into close quarters with people that you don’t like. Put into situations that are complex and that you thought you would never be in. You are making connections with people unlike any that you will ever have again. You are doing all of that while going through big life changes, deciding what you want to do with your life and being a part of some of the most...

Senior year never feels like your last year; until the final days are here and it all hits you.  At the beginning of the year, you think you have all the time in the world to figure things out, do the things you’ve always wanted to do; that’s not what it feels like now that we’ve reached the end. Now, everything seems a little more real and I am wishing I slowed down and took everything in. Over the years, I’ve learned that living in...

When people used to say “high school goes by so fast, you blink and it’s over”, I used to bat my eyelashes hoping it would go by faster. But high school really does go by so fast. I thought high school was supposed to be like “High School Musical”.  It’s not.  I thought I would meet my Troy. I didn’t, but it’s okay. Throughout high school, I have made many friendships and lost many friendships. That’s the whole point of growing...

Def Leppard.  North Dakota. Jessica Alba.  With just three things anyone in Albert Lea already knows who we’re talking about. 2026 impact teacher, Jim Haney. He has taught for over 30 years in just our building, but before that he did his student teaching at Grand Fork Central High School in 1985 and graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies and master’s degree in History in 1986.  Haney...

“She is always so positive, and includes everyone,” said Senior Ivory Davenport. “She has also helped me with not only my faith, but staying motivated.”  The senior class has chosen Calleigh Noble as the Impact Student of 2026. The Ahlahasa sent out a survey to the senior class where they had the opportunity to vote for this year's impact student.   “I never really thought I was going to be able to receive an award like this,”...

“Fake Skating” is written by Lynn Painter and is a young adult novel about childhood friends who are fake dating. It is a sports rom-com and is set in Minnesota specifically the town of Southview. It was easy to feel a connection to the book because it mentions lots of recognizable places around Minnesota such as it mentions they compete against Smiley and other towns you've probably heard of as well as they take a trip to the Rainforest Cafe...