Freshman Shashi Pokhrel is taking her first year of journalism class. Pokhrel is from Nepal and loves her ethnic culture. She is extremely determined in all of her studies since she is currently taking seven honors classes. This doesn’t change for her extracurriculars either. Pokhrel is currently training hard for cross country. She’s looking forward to the rest of her cross country season, joining the indoor track team, and also trying out for the girls tennis team. In her free time, she loves watching ‘Suits’. This TV show inspired her to become a lawyer when she grows up. She loves to listen to Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams. Pokhrel is excited to be joining the Crimson Times team.

Freshman Maria Luiza Dos Santos’ favorite artists are Taylor Swift, Noah Kahan, Josiah Grene, Elevation Worship and Lana Del Rey. Dos Santos is Brazilian-American which means that she was born in America but her culture and family is from Brazil. Maria said that if she could describe herself in other people’s eyes, she would describe herself as hardworking and caring. Dos Santos used these words because she never gives up in whatever she does and is always there for her friends whenever they need it. Dos Santos is a Christian and loves going to church and loves her youth group. Her favorite foods are coxinha, french fries and barbecue wings. Dos Santos plans for high school include doing cheer until her senior year and getting good grades. She would also like to go into the Health Assistance pathway. Her goals for after high school are to go to college and study nursing. She choose these goals because she loves to take care of people. Her favorite hobbies and her passions are baking, cooking, cheering and working out. Dos Santos says that she loves to do these things because they help clear her head and make her feel happy. One thing that people misunderstand about her is that most people think that she is carefree.