It’s that time of year again. Staples’ shelves lie empty. The Outlets Park City are swarmed with parents and children finding that perfect first day of school outfit. 

The Park Avenue Starbucks is gearing up for a surplus of early-morning coffee orders. Students swap schedules with friends — hoping to land in the same courses with the same teachers.

It’s back-to-school season, although many students haven’t come to terms with this yet. 

Park City High School will welcome back its students once again for a year of academic growth and countless opportunities. The roster will remain the same as years past.

First, the giddy, nervous freshmen are ready to receive report cards that will actually make it to their high school transcript, though they will remain at Treasure Mountain Junior High for one last year. 

The class of 2029 will be the first freshmen to start off their year at the high school as the red ribbon is finally cut on the added expansions to Ecker Hill Middle School and Park City High School. 

Second, the sophomores will find their way around their new school while pumping their fists that they’re old enough to join the upperclassmen in the student section at the Friday night football games. 

Next, the juniors are preparing for their last year free of college application stress. However, no Common App deadlines doesn’t mean they’re ready to sit back and relax.

The junior class will sharpen their No. 2 pencils and take their seats for the official ACT test, as well as practice their answers for the constantly asked question, “What are you doing after high school?”

Last but certainly not least, the Class of 2025 will graduate next spring to explore the world of adulthood with their high school diploma in hand.

Senior year is jampacked with countless events, such as Senior Sunset, Powder Puff and the Senior Chairlift Ride. 

Athletes are preparing for what might be their last time playing their sports competitively, and thespians prepare for their last time performing on the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts stage. 

Students dive into their post-high school plans, whether it’s attending university, enlisting to fight for their country, carrying on their family business, becoming their own boss or taking a year to themselves for travel and self discovery. 

High school can certainly be daunting and overwhelming at times, but it doesn’t have to feel impossible.

Stellar seniors from Park City High School are ready to provide underclassmen with tips and tricks of their own. With their seniority, they also have years of wisdom under their belts. What have they accomplished, what were their challenges, and how did they come out as such impressive students?

Alli Helm is a High Honor Roll student with a 4.18 grade point average. She is an active member in Future Business Leaders of America, as well as the future Vice President of the Interact Club. Helm already has a head start on her college experience via an internship with a professor at the University of Utah.

Not only that, Helm is a varsity track star on the high school team and will be participating in a club team this year as well. As a star academic and athlete, she has a lot on her plate. 

When asked about her biggest accomplishment in high school, Helm said it was “finding a sport and team that I really enjoyed spending time with … It was fulfilling to have something to work towards and dedicate a lot of my time and energy to.”

She went on to say that she believes finding this supportive team made her more determined as a whole. 

Helm stated that her biggest challenge as a high school student has been “learning to balance workload with sports and freetime.” 

“I would stress out too much about tests and important assignments and only focus my attention on that one thing,” she said. “This caused my performance in other classes and activities to decline.” 

However, these challenges are not without the gift of wisdom. Helm’s biggest piece of advice to the underclassmen is “to work hard and give themselves lots of options for when it is time to apply for college.”

She also recommends that they make sure to enjoy their time in high school and allow themselves to have fun. It appears that more than anything Helm’s key advice for high school is dedication and balance- a time of growth as well as fun. 

Vince Billanti is a strong student athlete with a very impressive transcript. He’s worked his way up to a 4.2 grade point average, and he has three years on the Park City High School student council under his belt.

Last year, he was elected to be the Junior Class Vice President, and this year his peers await to see how he plans to build excitement in the student section as a member of the Spirit Squad with fellow senior Ella Ehrich.

Billanti helped lead the PCHS varsity hockey team to victory in the 2023 and 2024 state championships and has proven to be an extremely valuable player on the varsity lacrosse team as well.

This success does not come without obstacles.

Billanti’s biggest challenge is quite similar to Helm’s. As a student athlete who holds both his academic and athletic abilities to high standards, he struggles to balance the two responsibilities, as well as his social life and his passion for fly fishing. 

When asked about his greatest accomplishment in high school, Billanti replied that it was his Varsity hockey team’s victory in the 2024 state championship. 

Billanti’s advice for underclassmen was “to experience everything, that way you can find out what you want to do once you graduate.”

High school is a time for exploration, and it’s important for students to take advantage of that, he said 

Readers can follow Billanti’s flyfishing journey through his Instagram —@vincesfish. 

As this school year begins, it is essential to remember the importance of balance and the role it plays in the success of high school.

Students should dedicate themselves into creating a high school history of growth and accomplishments that they’re proud of, but they shouldn’t work too hard that they forget to savor these years and enjoy themselves.

The post Park City High School seniors share back-to-school tips appeared first on Park Record.

As home to the Sundance Film Festival, for now, what would Park City be without their own Miner Film Festival for its high school students?

Park City High School will host its annual Miner Film Festival on Friday, May 10, and the event first began in the 2000s to gather the community for an evening of laughter, admiration and applause as the student films are displayed on the big screen of the Eccles Theater. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help support the Film Program at PCHS.

The films will also be live streamed on the PCHS Live YouTube page, youtube.com/live/vFwmvqaquok.

The film program at Park City High School, home of the Eccles Center, is directed by Kyle Fish, who teaches a variety of film classes that cover different formats from television broadcasting to advanced cinematic arts. 

While the Miner Film Festival is a culmination of all that the students have worked on throughout the school year, film students and non-film students are eligible to submit works.  

Entrants undergo an application process in order to be shown at the Miner Film Festival, and once accepted, they show their films in the lecture hall after school one day for a viewing by Fish, film students and other participants, who provide feedback on the filmmakers’ personal spreadsheet.

Afterwards, everyone gives their opinion on which films should be shown during the festival, with Fish having the final say. 

Students work all year on their films to be shown in this end-of-year festival, and the films have the opportunity to win certain awards.

Some of these awards include Best Actor, Best Audio Design, Audience Choice and the Maddux Award, which is named after the founder of the Park City High School film program Chris Maddux, who passed away in 2011.

Maddux’s legacy is carried on as students continue to use their young creative minds to produce masterpieces for this festival.

Some of the finalists moving on to this year’s festival are “LDS: The Secrets Beyond,” “Mediators: Miami Mayhem,” “Storm,” “Monument” and “The Rot.” (See list below for full lineup)

• “LDS: The Secrets Beyond” is a comedic mockumentary that a group of students created to poke fun at a few of the practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as the career of being a missionary. It follows an interviewer and his experience while observing two missionaries as they make their way through a neighborhood, door to door. 
• “Mediators: Miami Mayhem” by Chase Campbell and Zach Minter, is the second film of the “Mediators” cop-thriller series. The first film, which followed two cops — Dick X and Chase McCord — on their adventures together in catching criminals won several awards at the 2023 Miner Film Festival, and “Mediators: Miami Mayhem” is about those same two cops as they work to overcome challenges in the dark world of illegal activity.
• “Storm” is a short, animated film that follows a small critter and its adventure through a thunderstorm. 
• “Monument” is a classic ski-edit created by Park City High School senior Carson Lolli who has been a part of the film program for several years now. 
• “The Rot” was created by a junior student, Seamus Martin, who casted and directed the film, which was made from an original script he wrote. 

The Miner Film Festival gives students the opportunity to showcase their creative work, and the event provides attendees with a better understanding of the skills and accomplishments of those within the film programs, as well as an evening of entertainment and community building.

This is a very exciting event for the film program and other students at Park City High School, and it is a demonstration of the true time and effort put into the fine arts in Park City.

Miner Film Festival 2024 films and filmmakers

• “Monument” by Carson Lolli
• “Toasting Bagels with Harper Nagel: Sundance Edition” by Carson Lolli, Harper Nagel and Zachary Minter
• “The Mediators 2: Miami Mayhem” and “Fish & Friends” by Chase Campbell, Zachary Minter, Carson Lolli, Harper Nagel, Maisey Mansson and Nash Clevenger
• “Van Man,” “Paranoia” and “Steezus” by Zachary Minter
• “Stuck on Static” and “I Want Watermelon” by Kate Bertha and Charlotte Ball
• “Rotary” by Garret Leaf
• “Beyond the Storm” by Katie Olson
• “LDS: The Secrets Beyond” and “‘O9” by Quin Pulham, Drew Hoots, Nate Hadar, and Hugh Hutchison.
• “American Sigma” by Dylan Rifkin, Declan Poe and Josh Sharkey
• “Food for Thought” and “Turn Out the Light” by Sage Adler
• “The Pit” by River McFadden, Huxley Dosher, Axel Enroe and Luke McNally
• “I Will Survive” by Sebastian Bodily and Sean McKone
• “The Rot” by Seamus Martin, Brandon Paupore and Maren Simon

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In an effort to raise awareness about bettering both the environment and air quality, community members have come together to start an idle-free campaign. 

Students will do so by acquiring help from peers, classmates and others from all of the Park City School District schools. 

They will start with Jeremy Ranch Elementary School and have the students record how many cars that are picking up students and dropping off are idling. 

Then, the campaigners will use this data to educate these young children on the dangers of this habit and why it is so important community members break it. 

This movement is known as the “PCSD Idle-Free Campaign.”

 It first began on the idea that many environmental groups typically take smaller steps in their community to obtain one larger goal, and these campaigners have been utilizing this concept to help build a better future for the earth.  

Idling is a very quick fix — as people simply need to switch off their engine when they’re not driving. 

Sonja Preston, a sophomore at Park City High School, is one of two students from the school that are involved. 

When asked about the brainstorming behind this concept, Preston said, “Once people understand how small changes and habits can make a difference, it is much easier to orchestrate large sustainability efforts, such as composting, LEDs, etc.” 

There are many daily habits people practice that can create huge environmental impacts, positive or negative. And most people fail to notice these habits because they have grown so accustomed to them, according to Preston. 

The importance of this campaign is built on the value of air quality improvement and being environmentally conscious, she said.

According to the American Lung Association, Salt Lake City was ranked number ten for most polluted cities in the United States in 2023, which demonstrates how important it is that measures are taken to ensure there will be no repetition of this, Preston said. 

Preston took a dive into the scientific side of this campaign. 

She discussed the impacts of pollution on young people and said, “Studies show that kids breathe in more air relative to their size than adults do. Plus, their airways are still developing, which prevent pollutants from doing harm. This means that pollutants in our air, like carbon dioxide, are much more detrimental to kids than they are to adults.” 

Preston went on to say that the increased amount of quality time children spend outside means they have more exposure to these harmful pollutants. 

She also talked about how schools were a great place to begin because so many students spend such a large portion of their childhood there. 

Preston brought up another benefit of using schools as a starting point and said, “Community members are much more likely to embrace an initiative if it involves younger kids and their education.”

The “PCSD Idle-free Campaign” is not only teaching the community the costs of leaving vehicles running for longer than necessary but also giving students real-world experience with making observations, analyzing and utilizing data, and advocating for social change, she said. 

Moreover, they are demonstrating the importance of smaller strides to achieve large goals to change the world. Preston said. 

She wrapped up with one final message.

“In Park City, we pride ourselves on our beautiful outdoor spaces, which provide so many amazing educational, economic, and recreational opportunities,” Preston said. “Idling and other forms of polluting, like littering, pose a major threat to such spaces and will continue to do so until we work to cultivate a culture where turning your car off and picking up trash are the norms, not the exceptions.” 

The “PCSD Idle-free Campaign” is an innovative movement created by community members for a better future, and this is just the beginning.

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From the beginning of time, humans have had traditions — whether they are recognized or not. 

An important question to start with and answer is, “What is culture without tradition?” 

Well, tradition is what keeps groups of people tied together and connected again and again.

Traditions follow everyone’s daily lives year round, starting with saying “Happy New Year” to going door to door hoping to receive a treat instead of a trick, and  wrapping up gifts for loved ones.

Sometimes, these practices are part of religious beliefs, and they can stem all the way back to the beginning of humanity. 

Sometimes, these traditions were started just a few years ago or maybe even a few days ago. Every religion, culture or group has its very own traditions. Oftentimes, the practice of them becomes so natural that we can’t remember a time without them. 

This time of year is the perfect time to reminisce on traditions. Whether families celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Winter Solstice or simply just enjoy watching the snow fall and spending time with each other — traditions are everywhere. 

Braden Jones is a junior at Park City High School, and he shared his family’s holiday tradition of watching Bob Clark’s 1982 comedy, “A Christmas Story,” every year on Christmas Eve.

The movie, directed by Bob Clark, came out in 1983 when Jones’ mom was a young child, and she always watched it with her family each year on Christmas Eve. 

That’s where the tradition began. Jones said.

“My mom loves this tradition so much,” he said. “We still do this today.”

Jones also said the film helps his family get into the Christmas spirit. 

“The movie is so funny and joyful, and it illustrates the magical and joyful part of Christmas,” he said.

It is a really beautiful idea that something as simple as a holiday comedy can help bring a family together to appreciate the beauty of this time of year. 

Each year, the Jones family can come together to laugh and also sympathize with the character Flick when he gets his tongue stuck to a frozen pole. 

Lilah Farhm, is also a senior in Park City High School. She shared that one of her favorite holiday traditions is putting cranberry and popcorn strings on the Christmas tree.

“My grandmother did this, and my family’s done it every year since,” she said. “It makes me really happy because it reminds me of my grandma, and it just feels like home a lot.”

Farhm also talked about how this tradition was so special to her because “It brings me a lot of joy because it makes me feel like I am really in the Christmas spirit.” 

Like the Farhm family, other families have traditions that have been passed down generation to generation.

According to America’s Favorite Gourmet Popcorn, putting strings of popcorn and cranberries actually began almost 200 years ago in 1842.

German-American immigrants made this decorative craft more popular here in the United States. They decorated strings added a beautiful pop of color to the trees. The strings were both beautiful and edible, and this tradition is still very common today.

Blake Solomon is in the eleventh grade and a classmate of Jones and Weissman. Her family celebrates the Jewish holidays, as her father grew up in the religion and has shared these practices with his wife and children. 

Solomon talked about her family’s tradition of the big Jewish dinner they eat together on the last night of Hanukkah. Her dad makes it every year, and family members enjoy traditional Jewish foods, such as latkes, matzah-ball soup and homemade challah, while sitting around the dinner table, lighting candles and spending time together.

“This started long before I was born as a tradition my grandparents did with my dad as he grew up,”  Solomon said. “This is a tradition I plan to continue with my children some day, and I hope it continues for many generations to come, as it is something I look forward to each and every year.” 

Solomon’s wish is truly inspiring, as it is important to continue traditions that bring her current and future family joy. 

The holiday season can be an amazing opportunity to practice traditions, celebrate culture and spend quality time with family and loved ones, and there are so many events in Park City that are open to the public, if people are looking to continue a tradition or start a new one during the winter season.

The post Local teens share favorite holiday traditions appeared first on Park Record.

Park City is an incredible place, and its residents are well aware of this. 

From some of the best ski hills in the nation to beautiful wildlife to all of the incredible shops and sights Main Street has to offer, this town is truly a gold mine.Park City gives so much to both local residents and  tourists, and it is important for us to remember to give care and thoughtfulness to the town in return. 

Before the miners and the settlers, there were animals. 

This mountain town is home to so many amazing creatures. Moose, deer and bears — oh my — and so much more. 

Park City is also filled with mountains and beautiful scenery, so the people of this small town practically live in a Bob Ross painting. 

While nature is powerful and beautiful, nature is not always strong enough to fight back against the irreversible damage that the human inhabitants on this planet can create — whether it is on purpose or purely by accident. 

Every piece of litter on the ground and every plastic bag carried into the car when leaving the grocery store has an effect on the environment.

No matter how many times people tell themselves, “Well, it’s just one little thing. My actions can’t make a difference,” these statements should never hold any reassurance, especially when there are seven billion others saying the same thing. 

Think about it this way: Maybe sustainability does begin with just one person trying to make a difference, and that one person can lead a movement for so many others. 

This is what truly makes a difference, and it has to start somewhere. 

Mother Teresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

Here are 10 environmentally friendly tips from Recycle Utah thatwill help people make a difference in creating a happier and healthier planet.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

The three R’s are a very common environmental tip, and most are familiarized with them. This advice is repeated again and again because of its importance to the health of the earth. However, it is often ignored in today’s society. 

While plastic is cheap and convenient, in the long run it is very damaging to the earth, as it never breaks down or can be composted. It is important to remember to recycle. Glass, metal, plastic (including bags and bottles) and paper can all be recycled.

It is also essential to reuse items. 

The glass jar that once held the jam purchased from the grocery store can be used as a vase for flowers or a pencil holder on a desk. Consumption of single-use products can be reduced simply by being more mindful. Instead of people using plastic straws every time they buy a beverage, they could purchase metal straws to use over and over again. Starbucks gives a 10 cent discount to those who bring a reusable cup. To some, that might not seem very motivating, but like the small good deeds of people, overtime it can make a huge difference for their wallet and more importantly, the earth. 

Conserve Energy

Using energy-efficient appliances, saving electricity, and using renewable energy sources to power homes are all great ways to practice conserving energy. 

Using an energy-efficient refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, ceiling fan, or microwave oven are all just a few ways people can lessen their energy consumption. It is also important to turn off lights when they are not being used. 

Before people leave the house, they should make an effort to turn off all of the lights to save electricity. Solar panels, wind power, and hydropower are also excellent ways to conserve energy, as they are renewable energy sources. 

Next time someone is looking over their electricity bill, it would be worth it to just consider using a renewable energy source. 

Save Water

Saving water is a key principal in benefitting the environment. Approximately two billion people in the world do not have access to clean water, so water in Park City is not something that should be taken advantage of. 

Fixing leaks is a basic one, but it really does make a huge difference. Installing low-flow fixtures is also a great way to save water. For example, a low-flow toilet saves water when flushing. Another way the community can be very helpful is using rain barrels and buckets to collect rain water for outdoor purposes, such as watering plants.

There are other simple habits people can break to conserve water, like turning off the water when brushing their teeth and taking shorter showers.

Travel with Sustainable Transportation

Carpooling with friends, taking the bus, biking and walking are all awesome ways for people to reduce their carbon footprints. 

Especially with high gas prices, it is also very helpful in saving money on fuel. Park City is lucky enough to have both buses and the High Valley Transit system, which helps the town carpool together. 

Utilizing these is a super convenient way to practice sustainable transportation. Walking and biking is environmentally friendly and provides the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Park City. Picking up a friend and carpooling together provides the benefit of quality time, while lessening the costs of a larger carbon footprint.

Choose Eco-Friendly Products

Eco-friendly products are very important to the wellbeing of the environment, and people hold a lot of power when they decide where to shop. 

Choosing products with minimal packaging is a great choice to make, as well as choosing environmentally-friendly certified products made from sustainable materials. Thrifting and shopping from second-hand stores is an awesome way to shop sustainably — and also discover some great deals and finds. Garage sales are worth checking out as well, and donating items and clothes no longer of use are helpful to both others and Mother Earth. 

Support Local and Organic Food

Buying locally produced and organic food is a fantastic environmentally-friendly habit to start practicing. 

Choosing organic options at the grocery store can help reduce the environmental impact of transporting foods, as oftentimes foods are coming from thousands of miles away — making a massive carbon footprint. 

While shopping locally and organically, people are also supporting local businesses, as well as sustainable farming practices. 

Reduce Meat Consumption

Believe it or not, meat consumption creates a very large carbon footprint. 

By limiting meat consumption, especially beef, this can help decrease that footprint. Trying new vegetarian or vegan recipes is an awesome way to do this.

Composting

Composting is a common practice to help reduce landfill waste and creating better soil using the nutrients from the broken down food. 

Composting can help gardens thrive with rich soil, and the organic waste that is composted will be returned to the earth. The herb plants will be happier, and the environment will be too. 

Sustainable Gardening

Gardening is a great hobby and a great way to live more environmentally-friendly. 

However, it is important to know how to garden sustainably. Using natural pest control methods and avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides will better support the plants and their home. It is also essential to plant native species, instead of invasive species that can be harmful to the ecosystem it lives in. 

Reuse, Repair and Repurpose

This habit helps people save the earth and money. 

Reusing things is a small step to take that can make a big difference in the future. One way to do this is just writing on the backs of paper after making a mistake, instead of reaching for a new one. Calling a repair man or getting out the tool box instead of the credit card when something breaks is another way people can lend a hand in protecting the environment. Repurposing old items is an awesome route people can take to practice sustainability and creativity. From turning that shirt that shrunk in the wash into a new shirt to using old newspapers and junk mail as wrapping paper- everything counts. 

Everything counts, and no matter how insignificant someone thinks their actions are, they do have an impact. For every item reused, every apple that is thrown in the compost, every piece of plastic avoided and every flower planted, the earth says thank you. 

The post Sustainability: 10 tips that can make a difference appeared first on Park Record.

With climate change being a very prevalent challenge in today’s world and making headlines every day, it’s important to stay informed. 

While it can seem like an obstacle that is quite impossible to overcome, if everyone does their part in helping the environment, bringing an end to the dangers of climate change can become a much easier goal to achieve. 

Luckily, there are many people and experts to help with this task, including Philip Morone, Park City High School’s AP Environmental Science teacher.

Morone graduated from Arizona State University, and he took the Medical College Admissions Test, with wishes to attend medical school after graduation. 

At the time, his father was working as a teacher at Park City High School, and Morone began substituting at the school to make some extra money. The gig led to a full-time job as a substitute teacher. 

Morone has taught several different areas of science: anatomy, physics, biology, chemistry and, of course, environmental science. He had originally focused his skills on teaching AP biology, but when the school was in need of an environmental science teacher, he was the perfect choice. 

“AP environmental science was a sort of side gig, and now here, it’s the main gig,” he said.

With more than one hundred students, many high schoolers have become intrigued by the earth and what creates and inflames the issues of climate change because of Morone’s teaching. 

When asked what he thought the most important thing people should know about helping and saving the environment was, Morone provided a few different takeaways for people to remember. 

“I think the main takeaway is just to understand that the reality today is very different than it was 100 years ago or even fifty years ago,” he said. “The reality is that many of the people in charge making decisions have kind of grown up in a world and (have a) worldview where there are far fewer people here and the impacts of those people are far less.” 

With a current population of almost 8.1 billion, the global population is increasing by one hundred thousand people each day. And this makes the earth’s resources that much more valuable and important to conserve. 

“The take home message is we have to be cognisant of that and aware of that, and we have to behave differently,” Morone said. “We can’t do the same things that our parents and grandparents did. We just can’t, and it’s no fault of our own. It’s just a matter of limited resources and a lot of people.” 

So many experts say that humans cannot continue their past practices and habits because doing so will lead the planet down a devastating and irreversible path. 

“The second take home message is that there’s a lot of connections in the natural world and there’s a lot that we take for granted,” Morone said. “Sometimes, things appear to be very minor and superficial, like ‘OK, so what (if) I have some plastic bags?’ but those will end up in a landfill. Again, all of those things have far reaching impacts.” 

A huge factor in climate change is the idea that billions of people are making choices thinking that they make no difference in the planet. In reality, that large number of people can mean a large number of harmful decisions that can severely damage the environment, Morone said. He also said that change can start with just one person deciding to care and to do better. 

This simple idea can be the first step in saving the planet, but Morone goes on to note that it will take much more than that to get the job done.

“I think that the last take home message is that everything we do in a positive way helps,” he said. “Ultimately, for me personally, I don’t think that we can rely on people individually to make the necessary changes because to be quite frank we’re too wrapped up in our own lives. … We only live a small scale in space. We don’t see the bigger picture. We can’t see the bigger picture.” 

This idea demonstrates how it can be difficult for people to realize how severe climate change really is. When winter comes, and it is still cold, people fail to recognize the dangers and effects of global warming because how would they recognize it when there is still snow on the ground?

Despite this belief, global warming still negatively affects the world each and every day, and it is up to the earth’s most powerful inhabitants, humans, to do something about it. 

“Change has to happen from the top down. I think some people might disagree with that, but I think the change has to be legislated,” Morone said, expressing his support for regulations as a method of making real change and improvements in the world. “I’ll just use a small example to illustrate the point, and that’s plastic bags.”

There are people who go out of their way to bring their own reusable bags, but the vast majority of people won’t, Morone said.

“The best way to solve (this) is you just go to a store one day and there are no plastic bags,” he said. “Now, you will adapt as a human being. I guess that’s kind of a cynical approach to humans, but I just don’t think we have the time to wait.” 

Morone longs for people to understand the urgency of this global issue, because it is not a scientist issue or an issue created by wildlife. 

This is a human issue. If humans created this problem, it is possible that they can also find a solution. This doesn’t just require one or two people. This requires all 8 billion of us. 

The post Saving the world with environmental science appeared first on Park Record.

As more and more seniors start to apply for colleges, many are asking themselves the question adults have been asking them their whole lives, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Before most children even step foot into kindergarten, there is a future profession that draws their eye, whether it’s a doctor, a professional baseball player, a teacher or even Spiderman!

While some people decide on one exact, chosen career path when they are in elementary school, others are still weighing all of the different fields they could explore and work within when it’s the traditional age of retirement. 

There’s no real due date for deciding on one career for the rest of your life. You can have one, or you can have a dozen. It can take trying a lot of different jobs to really filter out what it is that you like to do. 

Many people settle for jobs that they don’t really love, and this makes working much more difficult.

Nobody really wants to wake up every day to attend a job that they don’t like to do, yet many people can relate to having that problem. 

People often face difficulties finding jobs that they truly love and are passionate about, but doing so can make a huge, positive impact on their life. Interests can emerge out of the experiences gained from people met, places visited and memories made.

Oftentimes, people fall in love with a career that they would have never predicted enjoying years earlier. And this is because as people grow and experience more, they are able to learn more about themselves.

The Park City High School seniors interviewed provided background stories for how they became so drawn to the career path of their choice, whether it was a specific event or years of practice. 

One senior that was interviewed is Sophie Neff, who has developed a passion for healthcare and wants to go into the field, more specifically the field of oncology. 

Neff first discovered this interest while in third grade after her aunt passed away from Diffuse large b-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

The loss of a loved one to cancer led Neff to feel more and more drawn to the oncology field, as she wanted to make a difference for patients with similar stories and circumstances to her aunt.

“I’ve always had a deep desire to become an oncologist because I would like to make a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of cancer patients,” she said. 

Neff’s admiration for this career path has developed more and more overtime, and one aspect that really helped her fascination and passion for oncology grow was volunteering and involvement in the field. 

“Witnessing the resilience and strength of patients while volunteering at Huntsman Cancer Institute has further inspired me to dedicate my career to medical research and compassionate care,” she said. 

The Huntsman Cancer Institute, which is located in Salt Lake City and is part of Intermountain Healthcare, offers volunteer opportunities for young people ages 16 and older. 

Not only did it provide Neff with more experience in the field, forming connections with the community and the patients there has also helped her to continue to develop her passion of giving others long, healthy lives. 

The experience inspired Neff to give advice to anyone struggling to find a career path that suits them. 

“For those who are uncertain about what they would like to pursue, I recommend exploring your passions and finding a career that will continue to excite and motivate you.” 

Neff’s insight is wise, as choosing an exciting career that you really love is so important for success. 

She also said, “It is also important to remember that no decisions are permanent, and it is always possible to change your mind.” 

A lyric from Baz Luhrmann’s hit song “Everybody’s Free (to wear sunscreen)” provided some insight on this topic.

Luhrmann reminded his listeners, “Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life / The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. / Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.” 

This message is important in advising not just young students but everyone that there is no rush in deciding what you want to be when you grow up, even when you are “grown up.”

Another senior, Sophia Kenton, is interested in dance.

She dances for Summit Dance Project here in Park City, and she has been since the age of three. 

Kenton has starred in countless showcases, competed in competition after competition, and has performed in the studio’s production of the “The Nutcracker” ballet, which she will do again this year. 

“I want to be somewhere in the dance field, whether that’s choreographing or performing or teaching,” Kenton said when asked about her post-high school plans. 

She said the reason for this desire to dance as her profession is because she’s dedicated 14 years of her life dancing.

“Dance makes me feel extremely fulfilled and accomplished, and if I can continue in this career, then why not? It is also a source of my ambition and my grit.” 

Kenton has an admirable dedication to dance, and has spent so much time on her art for over a decade. Her determination and stamina are commendable, and like many people, she feels her love for art cannot outweigh financial concerns.

“Don’t let money be a factor,” she said. “When I think about it, I would rather be trying to figure out money while doing something that I love and play it by ear. Especially in dance, there are so many opportunities that people don’t realize.” 

Each graduate will head in different directions after they walk across the stage, receive diplomas and toss their caps into the air. At the end of the day, after all the grades are finalized and the absences are counted, the career path that they choose after school is their own and it is what they make of it. 

The post ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ appeared first on Park Record.

Now that back-to-school shopping has rolled to a stop and school is back in full swing, many students find themselves struggling to stay caught up on the seemingly never ending list of assignments and their extracurriculars. 

With packed schedules ranging from varsity football to the school musical to student council to film club, many Park City High School students juggle all of the expectations that come with being a full time student and dedicating time to the things they’re passionate about. 

Students continue to go above and beyond in their hard work, determination and time management, but even the students with straight-A transcripts can struggle to complete their entire to-do list. 

In 2023, many colleges aren’t only looking for exemplary grades. They also want students with diverse talents and interests. Schools are looking for high schoolers that are in clubs, sports and dedicate time to their hobbies. 

This can feel overwhelming to many students who feel a lot of pressure from these expectations. 

Some of these students want to provide some insight to their high school experience, and give advice to others who may be feeling stressed now that school is back in session. 

Kelsey Blaszak, a  Park City High School senior and varsity volleyball player, said, “I do struggle to do well in school during volleyball season, but the thing that helps me the most to stay on top of it is just doing it as soon as I can. A lot of the time I do it on the bus, and typically there is always someone on the bus who has the class, or has been in the class, who can help you with the assignment.” 

The volleyball star’s schedule is packed with three-hour practices Monday through Friday, with the exception of game days.

Blaszak went on to say that staying organized, via to-do lists, helped her to stay ahead of the game in school and she makes sure to prioritize sleep, especially when her schedule is as busy as it is. 

“I really make sure not to stress myself out too much and always make sure I get good sleep instead of staying up stressing,” she said.

Owen Campbell, a varsity player on the Park City High School Miners football team, discussed his challenges juggling both school and his sport, as well as tips for other students. 

Not only is Campbell an exemplary student and outstanding player, he is also one of the three sports coordinators on the student council. 

His team practices five days a week from around 2:30 to 6 p.m., which typically includes a lifting workout, a meeting and then playing on the field, he said. 

Due to an injury called lisfranc, Campbell is out for 10 to 12 months, but he strives to inspire the fans through his perseverance and support for his team.

He also gave some recommendations to his fellow peers.

“My advice to anyone struggling with their own time management would be to just make a routine and get in the habit of it, but also allow yourself free time to do the things you like,” Campbell said. 

Like Campbell, two representatives from Park City High’s student council have some advice for their peers. 

Zach Minter is this year’s student body president, and Scarlett Brinton is the senior class president for the class of 2023. Both have done amazing jobs in their positions, along with Blake Solomon, the student body vice president, and Will Province, the senior class vice president. 

Minter balances his school work with film club, debate team, journalism and of course, his role as a leader of the student body. 

He talked about how staying on top of his different roles in the school community hasn’t been too challenging.

“To be candid, I often like to get my assignments and work done ASAP, for example when I have homework for math or (biology), it’s usually done the same day it’s assigned,” he said.

Procrastination is an important habit to break in order to succeed as a student, and doing assignments the day you receive them is a great way to do that, Minter said.

While his school year so far has not been too challenging, he did say that he has had difficulties juggling his responsibilities between being student body president and his job as a server’s assistant at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. 

Although he enjoys both, Minter said it can be difficult to create enough time to prioritize both.

“Often as students we get pretty stressed, (and) that’s unfortunately the environment that school breeds for teens,” he said. “I need to work on this too, but (it’s important to) just realize that you’re probably OK. Don’t be too hard on yourself.” 

Minter’s last piece of advice for his peers is to get plenty of sleep, and a nap is never a bad idea, especially when school starts bright and early at 7:35 a.m. 

Brinton has also been a supportive leader for her fellow seniors. Not only does she dedicate her time to student council, she is also a figure skater, on the board on National Honors Society and she volunteers at her church once a week. 

“Since freshman year, I’ve had to go through a huge learning curve on how to balance all of my activities, family, school and friends,” she said. “Luckily, I think that this year I’ve gotten close to mastering it.” 

Brinton’s secret to success is to complete what she doesn’t want to do first, so it’s crossed off her to-do list and out of her thoughts. 

“It’s such a good feeling to be out with friends knowing that you don’t have any homework waiting for you back home,” she said. 

As a senior in high school, athlete, volunteer and student council member, Brinton has quite the schedule, but she doesn’t let that stop her from going above and beyond in and outside of school. 

It is important for students to remember that time management and self-discipline are important for success. They also need to know that giving themselves a break to relax and do the things that bring them peace is still valuable and necessary, because dropping out is not an option.

As basketball legend Michael Jordan said, “No brain, no gain. Stay in school.”

The post Time management in high school is a secret to success appeared first on Park Record.

Editor’s note: Park Record intern Maisey Mansson is a former Egyptian Theatre YouTheatre student

This summer, the local town theater is elated to once again bring its summer programs to the youth of Park City. 

The Egyptian Theatre is located in the heart of Park City right on Main Street, and its youth program is not an opportunity families should pass up. 

From puppetry camps, to a production of “Xanadu” on the main stage for the very first time, the Egyptian YouTheatre summer camps and classes have it all.

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jamie Wilcox. 

Wilcox is an incredible woman to represent the theatrical industry here in Park City. She has a background in theater, with a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Utah, as well as a masters degree from the Central School of Speech and Drama at the University of London. 

Wilcox is currently the Artistic and Managing Director of YouTheatre at the Egyptian Theatre. She has also directed many productions, as well as one play that she had written herself, “With You.” 

Not only is Wilcox dedicated to exploring the arts within her own life and challenging her creative skills, she has also devoted her time to helping the youth discover a love and fascination for the world of the arts. 

Wilcox said that when she first started teaching summers at the University of Utah’s youth theater program, it opened a whole new world for her. 

Her work at the Egyptian YouTheatre has sparked an admiration for the arts in so many children, and will continue to do so, especially with the talented staff of the theater.

When asked what sets the Egyptian Theatre summer camps apart from all of the other summer programs throughout Park City, she said, “Park City is such a sports town, but not every kid is a sports kid — but theater is a team sport. It teaches kids everything they can learn in a sport but through a creative lens.”

When kids don’t seem to find their place in sports or in school, theater is an incredible way for them to dive into discovering their passions and interests because it introduces them to so many different things. 

Within the realm of theater, kids can dance, act and sing, but they can also learn about storytelling, stage makeup, lighting, directing and other new skills. 

Theater also helps kids to feel more comfortable in their own skin and learn to be themselves in front of others without feeling insecure or second-guessing themselves.

When Wilcox was asked what inspired her to teach kids about her passions, she answered, “I really believe in the power of youth theater as an education skill. It is especially important in our current times for kids to be able to express joy and who they are.”

There is one huge aspect that sets these summer programs apart from all of the ones before.

As a result of a generous and anonymous grant given to the organization, all classes and programs that the YouTheatre has to offer are free for everyone. 

This year, there is a record number of registrations. Spots are going fast due to high demand. It is important to sign up for these opportunities as soon as possible. 

Any child from age 5 to 18 is eligible to register to take part in the amazing education and unforgettable memories that they will receive from these programs.

The Egyptian YouTheatre programs helps children to make new friends, discover their interests and passions, learn about the world around them, and most importantly — make amazing and fun memories. 

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