It was Youtube that inspired her to learn English so that she wouldn't have to read the subtitles for her favorite British YouTubers. Learn English, or continue to read Russian subtitles. The choice was easy.  But Olya Zherebkina didn't imagine the opportunities and experiences she would gain as...

She walks down the streets of Downtown Bloomington, camera dutifully strapped around her neck. It’s a quiet day- but she never misses the opportunity for a picture. Eventually, she stumbles across what just might be the perfect shot. A street musician sits across from her, quietly strumming his ukulele...

She wipes the sweat off her face and then dusts off her shoes. The burning sensation in her lungs reminds her it's the fourth quarter and she is exhausted, but her ankle is strong.   Her legs are worn out, they could cave under her weight at any moment now, but her ankle is strong. She is deaf...

Capture. Filter. Caption. Post. Watch the likes roll in. 76. 132. 348. 348 Instagram likes on a single post is a lot for the average high school student. Their followers are made up of friends, teammates, their mom. But for a select group of NCHS students, 348 likes is only the beginning....

#1: Most of the teachers As hard as it is to admit, we’ve all been blessed with the faculty at NCHS. No matter what subject, there are teachers who go above and beyond to connect with their students.   Senior Megan Moore appreciates that “Miss Scott used to bring food in AP Lang. She’s...

The whisper of skates on ice, the feeling of flying, the momentum, the adrenaline rush. The spotlight is on Sandra as she weaves her own history into the ice, back and forth, left and right, leaping and landing. Sandra Yordy (10) cannot see the fans in the bleachers but she knows the fluidity of...

It is December 27 and you've done it all... made the trip to Peoria for the Festival of Lights, saw The Miracle on 34th Street at the Normal Theater, binge-watched so much Netflix that you are muttering theme songs in your sleep. So what now? With just a little bit of holiday money left - you have...

Her hands are the first thing anyone notices. They are never steady; fingertips constantly finding new terrains to explore. Their favorite spot is the space behind her ears, where hairs will be tucked serially. Her hands shout to observers. They wear her anxiety like a cape, displaying it for all...

Any given day during fifth-hour lunch, he can be found leaning nonchalantly against the atrium wall near the far stairwell, quietly plucking the strings of his small guitar. Clad in glasses, a grey t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, he sits secluded, but not invisible. Students and teachers glance his...

The final exam policy at Normal Community allows seniors with a grade of a B or better and 6 or fewer absences in a class to be exempt from that course's semester final. NCHS students share their thoughts on the current finals policy.

1000 miles per hour. The rate at which Earth constantly rotates. One giant sphere in space, steadily orbiting one enormous ball of power. Astronomers argue we are only moving in a circle, repeating our path. Summer. Fall. Winter. Spring. Repeat. Philosophers argue that with every new season...

Every teenager finds their four years in high school to be a bit weird. Puberty. Relationships. Finals. But for senior, Adriana Kuilan, her experience at NCHS has been stranger than most. From the age of 5, Adriana attended military school where she trained to in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps...

Rader Family Farms closed to the public on October 29 after their annual 2-month run of corn mazes, pumpkin picking, hay rides and all-around agritainment. But when the fun stops for the public, the real work begins for the Raders as they prepare for the off-season.  Since 2009, Rader Farms has...