Meet clay’s Senior Editors for the 2022-2023 school year!
Hey everyone! I’m Dianna Pledger, a senior from Florida. This will be my sixth year with TPS and my third year with clay. I’m taking AP Calculus AB, AP Spanish, AP U.S. Government, Belhaven High Scholars Year 2, and Constitutional Law. In addition to being a Senior Editor, I also got to work as the Spotlight editor and the Open Mic editor. Some of my favorite hobbies include working at Chick-fil-A, volunteering at my local animal shelter, playing the piano, bullet journaling, blasting Taylor Swift, annoying my cat, and sleeping a little too much.
Hi everyone! I’m Misa Stanton, and I’m a senior from Colorado. This is my fifth year with TPS and second year with clay. This year, I’m taking AP Calculus AB, AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science, College World Literature and Composition, Spanish 4, and Worldviews Through Movies, Music, Art, and Social Media. Last year, as a part of clay, I was an Arts and Culture editor. My hobbies include playing violin, skiing, hiking, reading, and doing 3D puzzles.
This year, we’re continuing the tradition of answering all the serious and silly questions our staff members threw at us to tell you all a bit more about ourselves.
Corinna Choi (Historical Serial Story): What are your least favorite foods?
Misa: I have an extremely strong dislike of asparagus.
Dianna: I can’t stand breakfast food (especially Waffle House).
Lily Tang (Alumnus Spotlight): I know that you’ve had a few years of experience with clay now, but why did you choose to work for clay in the first place?
Misa: Being part of clay seemed like a great way to connect with the TPS community, and since I didn’t want to write articles, I became an editor.
Dianna: I always wanted to be more involved with TPS, and my brother had written for clay and suggested it to me. I was too scared to write articles every month, so I applied to become an editor and enjoyed it ever since.
Ava Dargel (Humorous Art Columnist): Pineapples on pizza?
Misa: I think it’s a great idea.
Dianna: I tried it once and loved it; it’s the perfect combination of salty and sweet! But I only got it one other time.
Zoe Leung (Music Columnist): If you could choose any name for yourself that isn’t your already given name, what would it be?
Misa: I like my name quite a bit, so I don’t think I’d change it.
Dianna: Since I can’t see myself with another name, I’d just change it to Diana because that’s how Princess Diana and the Roman Goddess spelled it. And it’s not technically my given name…
Joie Koo (Crafts Columnist): What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
Misa: I’ve eaten fish eye, shark, and blowfish.
Dianna: I think I ate ants and dirt when I was little…
Isabel Rogers (Arts & Culture Editor) and Eliana Cetola (Theater Columnist): If you could pick any fictional universe to live in, what would it be, and what’s the first thing you would do there?
Misa: I’d pick Middle Earth because I’d like to see Rivendell.
Dianna: I’d pick Story Thieves because there’s a character named Bethany that can jump into books. Therefore, I’d be able to go to any other fictional universe I wanted. The first thing I would do is befriend Bethany, or my whole plan would be pointless.
Isaac Jo (Theology & Worldview Editor): What’s your serial killer trait?
Misa: I don’t like potatoes in any form.
Dianna: I prefer to eat my french fries cold.
Kate Martin (News Editor): What is your favorite flavor of jelly bean, and how do you eat your jelly beans?
Misa: I haven’t eaten jelly beans in so long I can’t remember what any of them taste like.
Dianna: I don’t think I necessarily have a favorite flavor, but I generally like blue and green candies the most. I like to bite half of it off, stare at the inside, and then eat the other half.
Emma Martin (Poetry Columnist): What did you do over summer vacation?
Misa: I attended a music camp, went on a couple trips, hung out with friends and family, and got a lot of sleep.
Dianna: I worked a lot, hung out with friends, slept a bunch, and I also got to attend two different church camps – one in Florida, and the other in Tennessee. Both were super fun, and I got to meet a lot of new people!
Sasha Kuhlmann (International Correspondence Columnist): If you could create a good-tasting jelly bean what would it be? On the flip side, what bad jelly bean flavor would you create?
Misa: I love tropical fruits, so mango, pineapple, or something like that would be awesome.
Dianna: My ideal flavor would be for it to taste like a sour skittle. I imagine Sharpie would be a pretty bad flavor.
Lauren Kim (Arts & Culture Editor): If you could guest star in any film or show, what would it be and why?
Misa: I don’t have much of an interest in acting, so I’d probably pass up the opportunity.
Dianna: I always thought it would be fun to do voice acting, so I’d probably pick one of my favorite cartoons as a kid, like WordGirl.
Nicole Sua (Apologetics Columnist): Would you rather never have homework, but in place do just as many exams as homework, or always have surprise tests alongside homework, but never exams?
Misa: I’d rather have no exams. Just as many exams as homework would be way too many exams.
Dianna: I think I’d rather never have exams since they’re stressful, and homework can be fun a lot of times.
Cara Pisani (Open Mic Editor): If you had to get rid of one holiday, which one would you choose and why?
Misa: How about Valentine’s Day? There’s way too many heart decorations put up around that time of the year.
Dianna: I’d probably get rid of some random national holiday that no one’s ever heard of – did you even know there was a National Sponge Cake Day?!
Anna Brane (Cooking & Baking Columnist): What’s your favorite book?
Misa: I enjoyed Watership Down by Richard Adams.
Dianna: I really liked Endless Night by Agatha Christie.
Abbie Daigle (Pet Spotlight Columnist): If you could choose to live forever, would you? Why or why not?
Misa: Heaven sounds like a much better place, so I’d say no.
Dianna: Of course, then I could ensure my dictatorship lasts forever!
Kenzie Young (Engagement Manager): If you could teach any TPS class which one would it be and why?
Misa: I’m a musician so maybe something music related. Either that, or I’d teach a math or science class.
Dianna: I really enjoy history from thousands of years ago, so I think I would teach a course about the ancient world.
Hope Berry (Spotlight Editor): If you could travel back in time to any time era in history, what period would you travel to and what would you do?
Misa: I would love to go to Ancient Rome and see it with all the architecture and technology in full glory.
Dianna: To continue from the previous question, I would travel anywhere and anytime in the ancient world – Greece, the Roman Republic, Babylonia, one of the Chinese Dynasties… Though my answer is quite vague and there were many diverse places back then, I’d simply be happy to see any part of the world before modern technology took over. Since I’m time traveling, I don’t think turning invisible is out of the question – so I’d just wander the streets and spectate daily life back then without being questioned or executed or who knows what.
Anise Kim (Books Columnist): What song and film character do you relate to the most?
Misa: I’ve actually never found a character I relate to.
Dianna: I relate to The Snuggly Duckling’s diners from Tangled – just like the ruffians and thieves, I’ve got a dream.
Miguel Paul (Guys’ Spotlight Columnist): What is your number 1 bucket list item?
Misa: I’d love to go on an African Safari.
Dianna: To see the northern lights.
Mercy Wideman (Girls’ Spotlight Columnist): Would you rather make fifty rubber band balls or make five hundred cookies?
Misa: I’d make five hundred cookies because it seems slightly less tedious than making rubber band balls.
Dianna: Probably five hundred cookies because I don’t know what to do with one rubber band ball, let alone fifty.
Samantha Carollo (Humor Editor): Favorite Disney royal?
Misa: Cinderella. She was my favorite when I was little.
Dianna: Princess Tiana!
Emma Chung (Christian Novella Columnist): If Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes were to transmogrify you into one thing, what would you want to be transmogrified into?
Misa: Can I just stay the way I am?
Dianna: I would just want him to transmogrify me into a tiny version of myself. It would give me a new perspective on life… literally.
Sabina Boyer (Serial Story Columnist): If the whole world including your loved ones as well as people you have never met before could only remember you for one thing after you passed away, what would you want that legacy to be?
Misa: I’d hope they remember me as a person with kindness, compassion, and care for others.
Dianna: Not to give a Sunday school answer, but I’d genuinely hope they’d be able to tell that I loved Jesus first and foremost.
Lili McFarland (Humor Columnist): If you rubbed a magic lamp and a genie popped out and said you could make three wishes, what would you wish for? You cannot wish for more wishes.
Misa: I would wish for the power of invisibility, never have stress, and be able to freely travel the world without thinking about the cost.
Dianna: Have you ever watched Little Einsteins? In a Christmas episode, each character from the main cast gets a wish box. Since they’re technically not actual wishes, I’d just keep wishing for more wish boxes. But since that probably doesn’t count, I’d wish for discipline, the ability to buy anything I wanted without losing money, and the power to fly.
Sarah Neumann (Church History Columnist): If you could relive one of your memories, which would it be and why?
Misa: I would go back to the day I was at the Alta Ski Resort, and there was two feet of fresh powder with more coming down throughout the day. That doesn’t happen very often, and it was a blast.
Dianna: I remember there was a stormy night a few summers ago that resulted in the power going out during dinner. Since all our lights went out, we got to see the purplish, goldish sunset from outside. I was absolutely amazed by how beautiful the clouds were. Ever since then, I’ve made it a habit to take pictures of the clouds whenever I can. I would probably go back to that night since it started my cloud obsession.
Natalie Mulford (International News Columnist): What animal best represents you and why? (Can be fictional).
Misa: Maybe a working dog. I like to always be doing something.
Dianna: Although it might be basic, I relate to cats. At least the lazy ones. They like to sleep during the day and are awake at night.
Lily Wallaker (Bible Spotlight Columnist): Why do you choose to follow Jesus, and what Bible verse would you share right now with an unbeliever?
Misa: I’ve been raised in a Christian household, so I’ve been a believer for as long as I can remember. As I’ve gotten older, my faith has strengthened, and I’ve developed a deeper understanding of God. One verse that comes to mind is Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” While this verse might feel a bit cliché, it summarizes our need for salvation and the method by which we can receive that salvation.
Dianna: Just like many others, middle school was pretty tough for me. I felt extremely lonely as I was figuring out my relationships with friends, but through that, I got to focus on my walk with Christ and see what a good friend He is. I love the Psalms, and there are so many to share with unbelievers, but one that comes to mind is Psalm 8:4: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (NIV) I believe many people share similar feelings of loneliness and hopelessness – but this verse emphasizes God’s steadfast love. Despite the fact that humans have turned from Him time and time again, we can find hope that He still cares for us individually.