Free pizza. Free pizza was the sole driving force behind my joining a program that would not only shape my high school experience but also change the trajectory of my life. So I guess that’s proof that deep down I have always been a foodie at heart (long live gangalang, fatty fatty, fatty). During one of the last days of my eighth-grade year, I left my lunch at home so I decided to ditch the cafeteria and go to the interest meeting that had free food, without even bothering to see what it was for.
Simply because I was forgetful and hungry, my name mistakenly made it on a list that had me walking through the doors of Advanced Digital Media in the fall. That, by far, was the best mistake I’ve ever made in my life.
I came to Fresno Christian the fall of my sixth-grade year; I had previously struggled in public elementary school with maintaining friendships. Though I didn’t quite understand it at the time, my parents did, bullying was the reason for my switch. I look back and fear how vastly different and tragic my story could have been if I didn’t have the opportunity to attend.
During my seven years on campus, it became more than my school. Fresno Christian became my community and the people in it, my family. Cheer, leadership, soccer, volleyball, CSF, basketball, The Feather, FLOC, book club, chess club, yearbook, drama, dance, you name it, and I joined it. It became my unintentional mission to cross paths with every person I could, to learn about their lives and cherish their stories and make them feel seen, hoping they might see me back.
When I walked through the doors of The Feather lab, I found the group of people who saw me best. The Feather is more than the popular crowd, or the outcasts, it’s more than the jocks or the nerds, the outgoing or the quiet; it is a sanctuary for all students.
It becomes a crucible for those brave enough to exchange hard work for indispensable life skills. It becomes a family for those willing to pair courage with vulnerability and forge those friendships that last a lifetime. And it becomes a lifeline for those like me who find themselves drowning on dry ground, lost in the waves of ambition without direction.
And oh boy, I truly did find direction with my ambitions. I learned to take my love of writing and use it to be an ambassador for my community. My phone transformed from a device that enabled my doomscrolling to an indispensable tool. My childish bossiness was refined with compassion and turned to leadership.
My most cherished memory can not be defined by a single moment in time, but the feeling of belonging that followed me all four years. Each year sharpened a new part of my mind and softened a part of my heart. Each team was filled with different individuals who fostered joy, all of whom I feel I owe my gratitude.
My freshman year, Natalie Garcia, ‘26, took a leap with me, taking a class together that neither of us had ever heard of. Kemya Hopkins, ‘24, welcomed me to high school with arms wide open. Taylor Beckworth, ‘23, introduced me to my self-declared film equivalent, Rory Gilmore, during our third-period binge sessions. Greg Stobbe saw a spark within me and nurtured it into a flame burning with the passion of storytelling, challenging me and calling me his little firecracker. To each of you, I say thank you.
My sophomore year, Sanjay Stephen, ‘24, taught me you don’t have to share blood to be family. Meilani Gilmore Young, ‘24, and Giada Gilmore Young, ‘27, waltzed into my life, and I gained two more sisters. I found my long-lost cousin and a lifelong friend in Chloe McDonald, ‘24. Ian Palsgaard, ‘25, and Owen Gainer, ‘25, became the problematic older brothers I didn’t know I needed but whom I now cherish. Miracle Neal, ‘24, blew my socks off as Editor-in-Chief and left me big shoes to fill. My sincere appreciation goes to all of you.
My junior year, my best friend, Delaney Meyers, ‘26, literally and metaphorically danced through the good, the bad and the ugly with me. Benson Elbert, ‘26, endured completely necessary Barnes & Noble runs and didn’t complain about my last-minute media request forms. Julia Castiglione, ‘25, held my hand through 57 flights of stairs, never once letting go. My parents gave me love and grace as I hit the insurance medical deductible for the fourth year in a row. I owe each of you my earnest gratitude.
My senior year, my mini me came into my life when Sophia Feldkamp, ‘28, joined the team. I found the little sister I always needed but never had in my sweet Kate Antonsen, ‘29, thanks to my awesome World History teacher, Robert Foshee. Selah Neal, ‘27, proved to be an absolute powerhouse and precious friend with a camera in her hand. My best friend Tayla Tarlton, ’26, and I celebrate seven years of friendship, choosing colleges only 14 miles away from eachother. Once again, I am so thankful for each of you.
And finally, the two wonderful women who were there for all of it, my fearless advisors.
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, you are my family. The connection I have with you has surpassed that of student and teacher, of athlete and coach. You stepped in as my on-campus mother, and I couldn’t be more grateful. You pushed me, sending back articles I thought I had perfected because you knew I was capable of greater. You opened my culinary eyes as we traveled the world together, taste-testing our way through NYC and Europe. Most importantly, though, you loved me like a daughter, making sacrifices to be by my side one last year, and I mean it when I tell you from the bottom of my foodie heart, I love you more than my next meal.
Kori James, the words “thank you” seem to fall short, how can two words encompass the gratitude I feel? You took my hand and showed me the world. You gave me the greatest gift, the gift of passion and the confidence to pursue it. Your impact isn’t just felt, it is seen, in the way I talk, the manner in which I present myself, a part of me will always reflect the impact you had on me and I couldn’t ask for a better person to be my mirror. Thank you for making this goodbye so easy because I know you will always welcome me back with open arms.
To Alex Asatrian, ‘27, you are so capable of leading this team, and I cannot imagine a more deserving or qualified person to be my successor. You don’t think you are ready and that is why I know you are. It is not about being the best writer, nor having the loudest voice, but it is about seeing in others what I see in you, potential, and nurturing it. I trust you will take this baton and run full speed, you’ve got this!
As I close this chapter of my life, I am beyond excited to continue my story as an Augustinian Scholar at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. I plan to dual major in History and Communications with ambitions to basically become a mini Kori James! Thank you once again to every individual who has made this journey so memorable and given me a home to always come back to at the corner of Cedar and Alluvial.
Peace out Girl Scouts,
Danielle Arndt
To read more senior sign-offs, read Senior Reflection: Georgia Karlson or Senior Reflection: Christian Martinez.
Fore more from The Feather, check out FC Drama brings Wizard of Oz to life or Director Susan Ainley retires after 25 years.
Blondie14 • May 20, 2026 at 4:56 pm
Love this Dani! Great reflection!