Indiana Area Senior High School

By SHAGUFTA HAQUE – Anyone who knows senior Ethan Black will know how dedicated he is in every club, sport, and event he gets involved in.

A popular figure at IHS, Black is a first-year reporter on the High Arrow staff. His interest in writing is what compelled him to join the high school newspaper.

“The pandemic let me explore who I really am, what I like and dislike, and how I can push myself forward.” Black remarked, “I’m so happy I got to explore journalism and this side of me.”

At IHS, Black has been a part of ninth-grade boys basketball; Key Club Executive Board; track and field (winter and spring); Senior Leadership (Mini-THON, Wall of Fame); Ambassadors, senior class representative, student government, and boys tennis team.

“I will always miss how much fun my classmates and I would have in Key Club. I already miss the feeling of accomplishing something for the greater good of our school and area.” reflected Black.

“It feels like years have gone by since we were out in the community doing service, but it comes and it goes. I savor the memories and time I had working within the club,” he concluded.

Black has received the “Boy of the Month” award from the Optimist Club in February 2021. He has also been a winner of the Challenge program in the “Excellence in community service” category.

Outside of IHS, the senior has an Instagram page called “PaperboyVintage” where he runs his business of selling vintage clothing.

One of Black’s favorite classes at the high school is French. He credits his liking for the subject to Mr. Dykun.

“No period or class during the day makes me feel happy and energized like French class. Monsieur Dykun has not just been a teacher to me and our tight-knit group of French V students, but also a friend.” Black described, “It could be something as small as a problem within your friends or something as catastrophic as a global pandemic, Monsieur was always there, with listening ears, an open heart, and loaded with a joke or two.”

He continued, “Monsieur Dykun changed mine and other’s high school experiences, and I could not be any more grateful than I am to know I spent the past four years of high school studying under him. Thank you, Monsieur.”

Black’s favorite years in high school are his sophomore and junior years. He “learned the highs and lows of high school, like the ones portrayed in every teen drama. Those two school years were filled with memories that will last a lifetime.”

Of those memories, he shared his favorite one, “Our French III trip to Washington DC – exploring and visiting different art museums within the city was so much fun that I don’t think a day goes by in our French class that we do not mention it.”

Black is grateful to have been a part of the nurturing atmosphere at IHS, and of course, the High Arrow.

“When you ask how this class impacted me, I want to say that it filled an elective credit, but on a real note every part of the High Arrow – the class, the people, the work – fulfilled and revealed a new part of me, and I couldn’t be more appreciative,” he stated.

Black will be attending the Indiana University of Pennsylvania this fall in Eberly Honor Business and Communications with a major in accounting.

Good luck to the stellar senior on his future endeavors!

 

Shagufta Haque

Reporter

Shagufta is a senior and a first-year reporter for the High Arrow who plays on the high school tennis team, is a member of the Science Club, and enjoys writing more than anything. As a first-year reporter for the High Arrow, she wants to be able to provide others with entertaining and informative articles to read.