Blogs

Following the re-election of former United States President Donald Trump, Managing Editor Jane Ripps struggles to come to terms with the implications of the result.

Social Media Staffer Iliana Tejada reflects on the independent women who raised her.

Journalism I student Isabella Hammock discusses her interpretation of what it means to be Southern.

My classmates can see that I’m not typing like them. They can see me pulling my hair, trying so hard to simply read.

ODYSSEY Newsmagazine Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell reflects on her time in the program.

Senior and Viewpoints staffer Amya Hopkins writes about how her reasoning for joining ODYSSEY has changed as she has spent more time in the program.

ODYSSEY Media Group Broadcast Staffer Daniel Cruz reflects on his short but transformational time in the program.

Photography Editor and Journalism I Facilitator Aza Khan reflects on her four years in the ODYSSEY.

Digital Editor-in-Chief Anna Shaikun, a senior, reflects on her time in the ODYSSEY Media Group.

News Staffer Angel Jara speaks on his time in the ODYSSEY and how it’s impacted him.

News Editor and Journalism I Facilitator Isabella Westrich, a senior, reflects on her time in the ODYSSEY Media Group.

  A photo gallery depicting highlight from Cadence Schapker’s time in the ODYSSEY (2020-2024)…

ODYSSEY Media Group Social Media Coordinator and Journalism I Facilitator Isabelle Duncan reflects on her short but valuable time in the program.

Managing Editor Maya Clement discusses the importance of community during her nearly four years in ODYSSEY.

Variety Staffer Maggie Monk reflects on her experience joining the ODYSSEY Media Group in the second semester of her senior year.

ODYSSEY Media Group Business Manager and Journalism I Facilitator Audrey St. Onge reflects on her four-year journey.

News Staffer Angel Jara discusses the significance of the movie “Step Brothers” and what it means to him as he prepares to enter the adult world.

Journalism I student Jazlyn González-Albarran shares her dream of success and how she attributes that desire to her parents’ sacrifices.

Sports Editor Cadence Schapker discusses her struggles with understanding her identity as a biracial American and the steps she took to grow her confidence in her culture.

Managing Editor Maya Clement shares her experience going skydiving after waiting for 10 years.

Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell writes a letter to her 14-year-old brother, Sam, and her nine-year-old brother, Nate, about the many ways they have impacted her life.

Viewpoints Staffer Samaya Ellis reflects on her history of suffering split holidays within her family and how that dynamic has changed over time.

News Editor Isabella Westrich reflects on how her perception of her hometown has changed as she’s grown up.

Digital Editor-in-Chief Anna Shaikun describes her experience at the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program and how it improved her confidence.

Variety staffer Abigail Holloway discusses how owning a tortoise as a pet impacts her life.

Visuals Staffer Temprince Battle talks about their experience being on the inaugural Georgia High School Association flag football team in the CCSD.

Social Media Staffer Isabelle Duncan looks back on why she became vegan and the importance of transitioning to her new lifestyle.

Variety Editor Isabella Westrich reflects on the role that her grandpa, a chef, and the food he makes have played in her life.

Journalism I student Peter Atchley shares how the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill would affect LGBTQ+ education and the ways that it relates to him personally.

Digital Junior Copy Editor Riley Ramsey describes how her relationship with her uncle was impacted by his genetic disorder, Cystic Fibrosis.

Viewpoints Editor Janie Ripps and Viewpoints Staffer Mykolas Kumpis discuss the upcoming midterm elections.

Viewpoints Editor Janie Ripps writes a letter to fall expressing the love she has for the season.

News Staffer Miles Lawrence reflects on his experience being the twin brother of someone diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and how that diagnosis has impacted his life.

Viewpoints Staffer Mykolas Kumpis reflects on his move from West Virginia to Athens and the overwhelming changes he experienced.

Viewpoints Staffer Antonio Starks writes about his experience with having stereotypes forced upon him as a young Black male.

Georgia Governor’s Honors Program graduates Sofia Balsamo and Ayanna Lonon reflect on their experiences in the program.

ODYSSEY Class of 2022 seniors reflect on their time in the program.

J1 students share their reactions to professor and award-winning poet Natasha Trethewey’s visit to CCHS on April 21.

News staffer Emily Couch talks about her experience deleting Instagram for four months and the new perspective she gained from the time away.

Photographer Aza Khan recalls memories with her younger sister and how they have shaped each other’s lives.

Art has been foundational for illustrator and Viewpoints staffer Antonio Starks, who uses visual art to reflect on aspects of his character and emotions.

Menu Editor Kalliope Samaltanos explains the ways grief has affected her life and how she views other people.

Print Managing Editor and Journalism I Facilitator Chloe Sears writes about her familial connection to Ukraine, and how current events in the country are impacting her.

Viewpoints editor Molly Harwell writes an open letter to perfectionism, about her struggle with feeling pressure to be the best and how she is working to overcome it.

Viewpoints Staffer Eleanor Robinson writes about the risk of online dating and how she herself fell victim.

News staffer Sofia Balsamo reflects on her struggles with being bicultural.

Beat Editor Maya Clement shares her experience with having a stepfather and how he has impacted her life in a variety of ways.

Sports staffer Cadence Schapker reflects on her time with the Georgia Children’s Chorus, her time growing up in the program, and the soon-to-be-absence of the departing seniors.

As he progresses through the college application process, Isaac Ramirez shares some words of wisdom with the Class of 2025.

Sports staffer Janie Ripps reflects on her first months of high school and academic experiences during a pandemic.

CCHS freshman Riley Ramsey shares her experience transitioning from public school to homeschool and back again in 2021.

Healthcare workers have done their best to protect the public from COVID-19. Now we need to do the same for them.

Viewpoints Staffer Eleanor Robinson speaks about her experience in freshman year during the pandemic, and how she grew from it.

Digital Managing Editor Natalie Schliekelman recounts her experience at the 2021 Governor’s Honors Program, where she formed strong friendships with other Communicative Arts majors.

Journalism One student Maya Clement shares her thoughts on the importance of being an ally to Asian Americans and the steps she takes to be one.

Beat Editor Gretchen Hinger, a junior, shares her belief that every moment matters and has an impact on the future.

Journalism I Facilitator and graduating senior Owen Donnelly congratulates the class of 2021 on their accomplishments.

Viewpoints Staffer Daniel García-Pozo reflects on his experience listening to Latin American music and how the music has allowed him to connect to his cultural origins.

Sports Staffer Lukas Cornish reflects on what he has learned from his time fishing and how it has helped improve his life.

Viewpoints Editor Maya Cornish writes a letter to her younger brothers, Clarke Central High School sophomore Lukas Cornish and Clarke Middle School seventh-grader Evan Cornish, about her experiences as their older sister.

In recognition of the one-year anniversary of Ahmaud Arbery’s death, Variety Staffer Isaac Ramirez shares his thoughts about what Arbery’s story means to him.

Webmaster Micah Shannon shares how his experiences with the criminal justice system has shaped his beliefs about how we should handle crime and punishment.

CCHS senior Tomás Dougan reflects on two important events in his life and how they’ve shaped his thoughts on compassion.

ODYSSEY Illustrator Lilli Sams reflects on her family from Rome, Ga. and its place in her heart during the holiday season.

Digital Staffer Micah Shannon recounts his experience with hiking in the mountains of North Georgia and North Carolina.

ODYSSEY Media Group Beat Editor Gretchen Hinger reflects on how her obsession with school supplies fuels her interest in learning.

Lead Copy Editor Audrey Enghauser reflects on how bullet journaling has changed her mindset about school.

Clarke Central High School senior Raymond Pan remembers his former Director of Bands Dr. Robert Lawerence.

Longtime Clarke Central High School and Governor’s Honors Program teacher decries defunding the program.

ODYSSEY Media Group News Editor Maya Cornish shares her thoughts of becoming a senior and the anxiety that comes with it.

Sports staffer Gretchen Hinger reflects on her time during social distancing and her new attitude toward being away from her normal schedule.

Clarke Central High School senior and Viewpoints staffer Imani Sykes shares her fear of a disconnect with her twin sister Rosie Sykes as they head on to college.

Menu Editor Audrey Enghauser reflects on her passion for making collages and how the art form has given her a creative escape from the stressors in her everyday life.

News staffer Maggie Kelleher shares her thoughts on block scheduling coming to CCHS in the 2020-21 school year and how it will affect her plan to pursue a scientific career.

On Feb. 3, Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham spoke with humor and conviction to members of the Athens community, including students from the Clarke County School District about his life, during the Holmes-Hunter Lecture at the University of Georgia Chapel. Journalism 1 students share what made the trip memorable, and how it affected them.

News staffer Natalie Schliekelman reflects on her memories of camping with friends at Hunting Island, South Carolina throughout her childhood.

Many young children possess an innocence that allows them to view their peers and mentors of different races, cultures and religions without bias. However, this positive outlook is often corrupted at young ages as students are exposed to biased content in the U.S. education system.

News staffer Isabella Johnson reflects on what it’s like growing up with parents who have split custody, and how that has changed her day-to-day life.

ODYSSEY Media Group Sports Editor Alexander Robinson reflects on a cathartic experience he had in Berlin, Germany, as a sixth-grader.

Webmaster Ireland McCage reflects on her relationship with her brother Connor McCage, and the impact he has had on her life.

Practicing yoga has made a major impact on the life of Editor-in-Chief Elena Gilbertson Hall.

Visuals staffer Luna Reichert reflects on her struggles with low-self esteem and how she is learning to overcome it.

Business Staffer Isaac Ramirez reflects on his love for riding his bike.

Variety staffer Andrew Robinson reflects on the positive relationship he shares with his brother, Alexander Robinson.

News staffer Audrey Enghauser started school at Clarke Central High School last fall after attending a small private school for most of her life.

Sports Editor Alexander Robinson explores how his racial makeup has influenced his social life.

Variety Staffer Nicole Ramos shares how the loss of her mother affected her and how she has learned to heal from it.

Journalism 1 student Maggie Kelleher shares her experiences transitioning from Burney-Harris- Lyons Middle School to Clarke Central High School.

Journalism I student Natalie Schliekelman writes about her relationship with a friend who moved from Athens to Atsugi, Japan.

Variety Staffer Nicole Ramos composes a letter to her home country, The Dominican Republic, expressing how she feels after her recent visit.

Sports staffer Zach Donegan reminisces on his football career.

Variety Staffer Tecoya Richardson and Journalism 1 student Lilli Sams share personal stories about their grandparents.

Variety Staffer Tecoya Richardson speaks on how her relationship with her grandma may change once she leaves for college.

Journalism 1 student Lilli Sams reflects on how her grandfather’s battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) inspires her in sports and in her everyday life.

Journalism I student Natalie Schliekelman talks about her new motivation to make a difference in the world around her after attending the 2019 Holmes-Hunter lecture.

Clarke Central High School Journalism I student Audrey Enghauser shares her story about how her passion for playing the flute has developed over the last four years.

Journalism I student Samaiyah Ra’aid shares her experiences of being the youngest child , how she and her siblings’ interact and how their personalities work along with one another.

The East and West sides of Athens came together at Clarke Central High School on Jan. 5 for a basketball extravaganza.

Sophomore Roxanne Domizi reflects on her lifelong struggle with anxiety and her journey to getting better.

Viewpoints writer Maya Cornish shares her experience with a Russian family and the stereotypes that sometimes go along with it.

Clarke Central High School freshman Gretchen Hinger reflects on the lesson learned from the challenges of her new puppy.

Visuals staffer Audrey Kennedy explains how she sought comfort through her art when dealing with the aftermath of her parents’ divorce.

Journalism 1 student Luna Reichert shares her experience with having a mom with multiple sclerosis and how it has affected her life.

Managing Editor Elena Gilbertson Hall and Senior Copy Editor Valeria Garcia-Pozo share their experiences from their summer at the 2018 Governor’s Honors Program.

ODYSSEY Media Group Managing Editor Elena Gilbertson Hall reflects on her time at the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program where students were willing to listen to those of different political affiliations.

Land of the GHPhree: Senior Copy Editor Valeria Garcia-Pozo poses with the girls from her residence hall at the Governor’s Honors Program on July 4. Garcia-Pozo attended GHP, a four-week residential program hosted at Berry College, as a Communicative Arts major from June 17 to July 14.

Senior Gabriel Mantione-Holmes speaks at the Senior night of reflection on May 15 in Mell Auditorium. Mantione-Holmes reflected on high school, education and the future.

Sophomore Lily Bruce-Ritchie addresses the impact her educational career has had on her and the issues she sees with her schooling each day.

Senior Karla Dougan recounts her emotions and experiences following a severe car accident on Dec. 31, 2016.

Journalism I student Andrea Matta-Castillo shares her love for soccer and the reason she has continued to enjoy the sport.

Journalism I student Elena Webber writes of the memories she shared with and love she had for Clarke Central High School junior Kate Jones, who passed away on Feb. 17.

Social media influencer Kylie Jenner, recently gave birth to her baby girl on Feb. 1 and has received an enormous amount of support from family, friends, and fans.

Senior Copy Editor Jordan Rhym reflects on the 2018 Holmes-Hunter Lecture presented by University of Georgia 1963 graduate Charlayne Hunter-Gault.

Clarke Central High School junior Bria Echols writes about her younger brother and how they were seperated for a year.

Journalism I student Cate Goldman reflects on her expectations about high school and how they compare to the reality.

Journalism I student Owen Donnelly gives insight on the phone addiction epidemic.

Clarke Central High School senior and Co-Editor-in-Chief Lucia Bermudez reflects on her parent’s divorce and one of the best things that has resulted from it: a new set of family members.

Sports writer Caedmon Churchwell shares his love for the University of Georgia football team.

Broadcast Editor Kelly Fulford reflects on how a behavior disorder diagnosis helped her find academic confidence.

Journalism I Student Natalie Ripps shares how being in an interfaith family has affected her life.

The war of words between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump is irresponsible and dangerous, and could have catastrophic consequences.

Viewpoints writer Sam Mattern-Parkes reflects on having a British father and the experience it brings.

Viewpoints Editor Valeria Garcia-Pozo believes that teens should get their driver’s licenses early on.

Viewpoints staffer Madeleine Ingle shares the legacy of being a pianist in her family.

Teen Vogue has expanded its political coverage over the past year, and this coverage has been met with a mix of support and surprise.

Staff writer Crystal Fox’s dad left 12 years ago, but didn’t realize that he took more than just a suitcase.

ODYSSEY Media Group Senior Visuals Coordinator Julie Alpaugh reflects on her experience photographing prom as a freshman and her thoughts on the event.

ODYSSEY Newsmagazine news staffer Prana Maldonado Collins shares how having twin half-sisters has changed her life.

Staff writer Mackenzie Caudill revisits the topic of graffiti culture when a major, salient painting spot in Athens has plans of being torn down.

News Editor Delia Adamson recounts her experience in attending the Georgia Basketball State Championship game on March 8.

Clarke Central High School sophomore Coles Ehlers and a group from Emmanuel Episcopal Church went and served dinner at the Bigger Vision Homeless Shelter. While there, they met with the people and gained a new perspective on the less fortunate residents.

In spite of the popular belief of art being a wasted degree, the “starving artist” stereotype is just that — a stereotype.

Freshman Madeleine Ingle shares her mother’s battle with cancer and how it has impacted her.

The Electoral College has been taking power away from the people and creating unfair and illogical presidential election results since its creation in 1787.

Print News Editor Delia Adamson writes a letter to her best friend and Broadcast Editor Karla Dougan, who survived a car accident on Dec. 31, 2016.

In recent years, vocal fry and upspeak, generally speech trends attributed to women, have…

The cancer dances around his body. It begins with a slow embrace of the colon, intertwining itself with his anatomy, becoming one. But the disease is a selfish partner, always wanting more to dance with. It begins to seduce the liver and softly cradle the lungs. Every day, is painful. Every day, the clock ticks even faster.

Freshman Madeleine Ingle shares her father’s struggle with addiction.

This Thanksgiving has called for Print Junior Copy Editor Andrew Caldwell, a sophomore, to reflect on the past year, and give thanks to those who have impacted his life.

Sophomore News Editor Valeria Garcia-Pozo reflects on her love for theater and the reason she got involved.

Freshman Mackenzie Caudill shares her love and knowledge of the graffiti culture in Athens.

Senior Kennae Hunter discusses her feelings about being in her final year at Clarke Central High School.

Sophomore Caedmon Churchwell details life with three brothers, and how he has been affected by them.

Senior Fajr DeLane received some shocking news on the evening of April 20th, 2016.

Freshman broadcast staffer Flora Lechtreck writes on her love for thrills through extreme sports and exciting adventures.

Fourteen years after her adoption, 16-year-old Hannah Gale addresses her birth mother in an open letter.

Freshman Ana Aldridge looks back to the reasons behind her decision to be a vegetarian until the age of 20.

Junior Kennae Hunter speaks on her experience as an African-American teenager.

News Editor Jurnee Louder reflects on her own experiences with discrimination in Downtown Athens and how it can be stopped.

Abrupt changes can cause dramatic differences in one’s life. Instead of looking at the negatives, Copy Editor Christina Kurian turned her focus towards the brighter aspects of moving. In fact, what she expected to be the worst experience of her life, became the most memorable instead.

High school is probably not going to be what you’re expecting. Let me save you the trouble.

World renowned British actor and director Alan Rickman died of cancer Jan. 14 at the age of 69. His fans now grieve and show gratitude for his characters and roles in their lives.

A reflection on the passing of ,and personal goodbye to, David Bowie, England born, nationally renowned, music icon.

Freshman Valeria Garcia-Pozo recounts her experience with a back brace after being diagnosed with scoliosis and the challenges that came with it.

Variety writer Kieffer Farber faces constant comparisons to mother and sister.

After attending “A Conversation with Alice Walker” on Oct. 15 at the Morton Theater, sophomore Suncana Pavlic discusses her discoveries with the connection between Alice Walker and her family.

The story of Malala Yousafzai is one that people in our culture generally have no experience with, but the movie He Named Me Malala manages to make Malala’s story both relatable and empowering to people of any background.

Print staff writers Graham Collins and Jamia Echols share their thoughts and memories of Halloween and how the holiday’s traditions have effected them.

Junior Sophie Fernandes speaks about her idea to begin a Women Studies club at Clarke Central and why she feels it is important.

In a recent viral video, YouTuber Nicole Arbour takes her comedic skills and makes the Internet cringe as she rants about overweight people.

Freshman Ana Aldridge looks into the roles that gender and intelligence play in teen girls’ lives.

Senior Tierra Hayes looks into her fears of being just another high achieving student.

Junior Amelia DeLamater has struggled with her self confidence about her height her whole life. At 16 years old, she is learning to accept being 5-foot-10.

Sophomore Jordan Rhym reflects on the good and the bad of having a sibling leave for college.

Junior Sara Goodie defends pit bulls, her favorite breed of dog, and explains why they do not deserve a bad rap.

Straight Outta Compton shows how N.W.A. rose to stardom and gives a glimpse of the police brutality and the hate African-Americans endured in the early 80’s.

Being Latino is an identity; it goes beyond physical appearance and stereotypes.

New feature documentary “She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry” highlights the unmatched fervor of the women’s movement during the ‘60s and ‘70s.

The time one takes to read a text can lead to an hour on your phone, time that could have been used completing something productive. Phones, nowadays, can be a towering distraction in one’s life.

Freshman Violet Merritt explores three conflicting ideas and their detrimental effects.

It’s hard to explain the terror of being a black man in America until you witness people who look just like you murdered once a month. I’m 6’2”, young and black, why should I even have to consider putting on a hoodie every morning?

Ella Sams combats her low self-esteem through her art.

Sophomore Grace Walker at age six on tour with mother Shelley Olin in 2005.…

People talk a lot.

A 2007 study by the University of Arizona found that, on average, people speak around 16,000 words a day. What if we could break that down? Maybe we talk about school, weekend plans, family. Now let’s go deeper.

On August 14, student-produced signs protesting the enforcement of the CCHS dress code appeared…

Outer space! FBI hijinks! Computer romance! Parental estrangement! Somali pirates! AIDS! Slavery! Leo DiCaprio doing cocaine! The 2013 film season was jam-packed with thrills, chills and soul-aching despair

Every day I have the same routine. Wake up, eat breakfast, take a shower, go to school praying that my next class will approach soon, never taking my eyes off the clock until school’s over. Then I go home, do my homework, and prepare for another painfully repetitive day.

Thanksgiving is a time when families gather to feast together and while the feast will continue, what I am thankful for will not.

When watching the 2012 edition of the Clarke Central High School vs. Marist School game, I was awestricken at the fashion in which the War Eagles and their triple option offense dominated in the second half, as they sauntered to a 30-13 win against CCHS.

What truly makes us happy? Features writer Mary Merritt speaks about how happiness can be achieved in us all.

The majority of students at Clarke Central believe in Gay Marriage, and those that do not have a harder time expressing their views without fear.

“Welcome to a world through Glass.” A very sleek, white and pristine web page is displayed before me. I click to explore, my curiosity fully piqued. Images of the future appear. Your standard eyeglass frame, stripped of typical lenses, dons a lone prismatic one to rest on the brow. Glass opens a window inside of this lense making viewing possible without stopping normal activity.

The 2012 film season was one widely-regarded as a revolutionary year for movies. Curveball independent films like Amour and Beasts of the Southern Wild surprised us with their emotional depth, and big-time, epic blockbusters such as Zero Dark Thirty and Argo held us on the edge of our seats. On Feb. 24, the much-anticipated Academy Awards will select the best of the best. But for now, we’re picking the winners.

Motherhood: the planet’s most intense job.

The halls of Clarke Central High School have experienced another form of decoration this year. Teachers have photos of themselves scotch-taped to the walls outside of their respective classrooms with an adjective that describes them.

With complete transparency, I am between 20 and 30 years old. I spent four, wonderfully confusing years

Coming into the 2011-12 school year, I joined the ODYSSEY staff as nothing but an eager student wishing to grow my passion for journalism.

On March 22, 2011, Athens resident Jamie Hood allegedly committed the terrible crime of shooting two Athens-Clarke County police officers, killing one and

I have always been afraid of The Scantron. Yes, to me it has always been a living creature–not human, though, always too monstrous and precise for such sheer mortality. And, of course, The Scantron is never wrong, thus denying the basic foundation of humanity: error.

Hungry after second block, I rushed to our school’s lunchroom but was stopped before I could even enter the Miller Jordan Jr. cafeteria.

Alright, so here’s the deal. Right now, I’m sitting at a computer with my feet up on the desk because I produce my best writing when I’m comfortable.

Former Clarke Central High School students Martay Mattox and Alan Posey are now members of South Eastern Conference football powerhouses

Prepare yourself for homecoming 2011

Stop by room 114 to grab a copy of the latest issue today.