Irving de la Torre

   I am a runner! I run cross country and track. I am an IB student, a member of AASU and finally, a senior! I am also excited to be on the newspaper staff.

   Running and music are my passions. Without either of them I would definitely go insane. Outside of school, I work at Hollister, go to the gym, listen to the latest music, hang out with friends and, of course, do my homework.

   School and sports are something I care very much about. Education is one of the most important goals to achieve. Even though I plan on entering a field where advanced education is often not necessary, I realize that educated people are taken more seriously.  I hope to pursue a career as a music producer / critic.

Shelly Voss

   Senior year so far is the greatest year ever! My two favorite things about lovely Leander High this year are my sweet swimmers (my fellow mermaids make my day!) and going to school with my very favorite freshman ever: my baby brother Jake!

    Every day is an adventure for me, whether it’s an insanely amazing one or an intense one to muscle through because God is my Rock and foundation. The short list of my obsessions (limited to my cannot-ever-possibly-live-withouts) would be my Jesus and His Word, my beautiful family, Narnia, coffee, running, Adventures in Odyssey and yellow! But the most vital aspect of how I spend my time is that Jesus be involved in every second of it. When that’s the case, that’s when I know my life is not being wasted.

   I am on the newspaper staff because I love to write, combined with the fact that so many topics catch my attention and I love expressing what I think and believe.  I’m so insanely excited to have this opportunity! What a fun way to end my high school years! Life is good!

Ryan Carr

   I spend most of my time writing, working on stacks of homework, reading, listening to music, being generally anti-social and sleeping. I am currently in Newspaper 1 (and I plan to take it my junior and senior year), Creative Writing and Photojournalism. Writing, though, is my one and only passion.

    I plan on taking part in Green Paws, the Creative Writing club and part of the upcoming Film club, which I really look forward to being a part of. My favorite subject, besides Newspaper And Creative Writing, would have to be English. There is something about analyzing literature, especially modern literature, that I really enjoy.

    If I had to do a ‘goals’ paper, being published by 25 would sit on the very top of the list. As I’ve said in the above paragraphs, writing is my passion and the moving force in my life- whether my favorite authors (Bret Easton Ellis, for those who are interested) or my own.

Ashley Bagwell

   I am a senior at Leander High School and this is my third year as a writer for the Roar. My life gets pretty busy at times with all of my school work, but my main goal this year is to try my best and give all that I can to help make the Roar bigger and better than ever.

    The way of the future as it relates to journalism is online. I am very excited to accompany the Roar on its further journey into the ever expanding territories of online journalism and to be here to witness, with everyone else, the vast steps of our Roar as it continues to evolve and become so much more than ever before.

Lauren Smith

   You don’t meet someone like me, on a whim. Competitive cheerleading has given me a perpetual pep in my step, and not a moment goes by when you won’t find me smiling. I’m an active member of Thespian Troupe 5232, and the majority of my school days are spent in the theatre room. I love to be the center of attention and love to tell stories. I think like a writer, so all of my ideas are extremely prolonged and thoroughly scattered. I’ve always got a book in my purse, but I’m not your typical book worm. I love getting dolled up and going out on the town with my friends. Once you get me started, I can talk for hours on end.

   I care a lot of about my school work and try to maintain good grades. When I graduate, I am going to college and majoring in theatre, journalism, or psychology. Going excavating in Greece is also on my long-term agenda. I’m a total goofball and super vivacious. I have a tendency to live in my own world. It’s just like reality—only happier.

Caio Jahara

   I am the first Brazilian to write for The Roar. I am an exchange student that has been placed in a small city in Texas called Cedar Park for the next 6 months. I`m being introduced to a completely different world and I`ll do my best to learn from it as much as I can.

   My favorite sports are rugby and soccer, but I will be kicking for the JV football Team . I’m very talkative, sociable and I always try to make friends everywhere.

   And about the future? I have no idea what I will do for living, but I really like writing, reading and I`m very creative.

   It is easy to conclude that I`m up for new experiences. Travelling is great fun for me, there is nothing better than going to new places, meeting different people and being able to see the world through different eyes.

Emma Berkel

   As a sophomore preparing to take part in the IB program here at Leander, academics are an important part of my life. Yet rivaling that is a passion for writing, which is why it’s such a pleasure to contribute to LHS’s The Roar. To me, friends are a pretty big deal and are held almost as close as family. I’m a lover of animals and have taken care of nearly every kind of pet. I love to draw and, as a QUEST student, have quite the creative streak. While I’m at times quiet and reserved, I can also be surprisingly outgoing and outspoken.

   My plans for the future are to eventually become a Harvard graduate and fulfill my goal of becoming a successful lawyer. Although, because that doesn’t do much to incorporate my love of fiction, I also plan to write on the side and I feel that the experience I’ll get from newspaper will only better my literary comprehension.

  A dedicated new member to the staff, I’m looking forward to seeing our school’s online newspaper blossom and improve even more than it already has. Here’s to a great year!

Paisley Timm

   This year will be my first and last working on The Roar. This is my senior year at LHS.  I’m involved in the LHS theatre program, and I’ve participated in every fall production and spring musical since freshman year. I’m the president of the Anime club, and I’ve been on the cabinet for three years. This year I will also be in Creative writing club and GSA as Vice President and Co-Chair, respectively. It’s going to get really busy, really fast.

   When I’m not in school you can likely find me on the internet, both on networking sites, like Facebook, and on various forums. I also spend time reading, writing, listening to music, or drawing when left to my own devices. I also love studying new cultures and religions. When I’m not at school or other wisely self-confined to my ‘geek cave’ I’m at work at Sesa Tea.

   This summer I attended the SFA summer Theatre Workshop. I plan to go to Stephen F. Austin State University to major in Design Tech, with an emphasis on Theatrical Costume Designing. I’m deciding on if I want to double major in education so that I can teach a high school tech design class.

Kaitlin Hutson

   I am a fun, outgoing and pretty random person once you get to know me. I’m very easy to get along with and talk to. If anyone needs someone to talk, I’m all ears!  Some may say that I’m a girly girl, but don’t let looks deceive you. I’m a part of the cross country team and flag football team for two years running. I could spend all day running or just playing catch with my guy friends.

   When I graduate, I plan to go to college and major in early childhood education to become an elementary teacher or a social worker. One of my favorite things to do is travel; I love to take random road trips with my mom and sister all over the country. In my spare in time (besides doing homework), I work at Platos Closet.  I’m pretty much just your happy-go-lucky girl next door.