Gabriella Cusmano, staff writer, freshman: A teacher that has left a positive impact on me is Ms. Jessica Geyer, business teacher at LRHS. In my time at Lakeland, Ms. Geyer has shown me how productive, kind, and helpful she is towards her students, and has taught me the importance of an industrious work ethic. She is always willing to work on bringing her students together, giving us a number of constructive projects that allow us to creatively interact with one another. She also has shown a notable amount of kindness towards me, as she is always willing to talk and listen both inside and outside of the classroom. Ms. Geyer has made me feel more secure with my knowledge of the business world, and the work I have done in her class has ignited my interest in future business courses, such as marketing & business management. Ms. Geyer makes sure to check in on every one of her students, greeting them with a smile no matter the day, and manages to light up every room she walks into. Thank you for all you do, Ms. Geyer!

Joshua Jaquez, staff writer, freshman: One teacher that has left a positive impact on me is business teacher Ms. Jessica Geyer. Ms. Geyer has made a class that I initially didn’t expect to enjoy one of my favorite classes this year, as she has made the class both fun and informative. She has caused me to become more interested in a field I previously had no interest in. One skill she has tried to improve for all of us is our presentations skills through various projects she has given us, which will be seriously important in our lives. Ms. Geyer has taught me to not be scared of having to do presentations and even enjoy it to some extent.

Allison Doran, editor, senior: One teacher that has had a positive impact on me is art teacher Ms. Valerie Gawron. When I had her during my sophomore year for Art 1, she helped to inspire me to gain confidence in my art. Ever since, Ms. Gawron has continued to encourage me to have fun with my art, and to be unafraid to add my own twists. She is very kind, supportive, and passionate— making it so that her class is always fun. Thank you, Ms. Gawron, for being such a dedicated teacher!

Mia Frasca, staff writer, freshman: In the course of the school year many teachers have had an impact on me, but one stood out the most. Gym teacher and football coach, Mr. Jared Luciani, had one of the greatest impacts on me this school year. Mr. Luciani has never failed to cheer me up when I’m down with his constant positive outlook throughout the day. Mr. Luciani is always able to give advice, making sure you take the first step in the direction you want to take your life in. He always encourages you to do what you want to do, and makes sure no other factors besides your own opinion matters. 

Bethany Lamberti, junior, editor: A teacher who has inspired me is Ms. Tammy Ozdemir. I take her computer applications class and consider it to be extremely interesting. From computer basics, to resumes, the things I’ve learned can be used outside the classroom and applied my future. I plan to take more courses with Ms. Ozdemir next year to learn more life skills. 

Samantha Lara, staff writer, freshman: Many teachers have helped me throughout the school year, but one that had the most impact on me was Mr. Thomas McCormack. He has helped me with sports and school, and taught me ways I should manage my time between them. Mr. McCormack has always been there for me and his classes are always so much fun. He also gives me a bunch of advice for sports when I am feeling down about my performance. He never fails to put a smile on my face even when times are rough. Overall, Mr. McCormack has always had a positive influence on me and helps me reach my full potential.

Ava Radice, staff writer, freshman: During my time as a freshman at LRHS, there have been multiple teachers who have left an impact on me. The one that has especially impacted me would have to be Mr. Joseph Cervino. Mr. Cervino is a fan favorite for many students, but there are specific reasons why I would say he has impacted me. An important thing I picked up from him was to keep going and ‘stick with it.’ I was a brand new wrestler this past year, and Mr. Cervino coached me through and led me and the rest of the team to have successes. There are valuable lessons he has taught me that are more than sports or school. Mr. Cervino never fails to put a smile on anyone’s face and is able to light up a room with a simple joke. Overall, Mr. Cervino’s advice will follow me in the future, and he has helped to build me as a student, athlete, and even shape me as a person.

Christiana Ranft, editor, senior: One of the teachers that has positively impacted my time at Lakeland is Ms. Jamie Cawley, teacher of English. Ms. Cawley is extremely creative and allows her students to engage with the works they read through several different artistic means. She has always been able to challenge our viewpoints, inspire captivating conversations, and call attention to details that may have gone unnoticed. We have worked all year in preparation for the Advanced Placement English Literature test, and Ms. Cawley has made me feel comfortable with my knowledge and confident in my abilities moving into the test. The work I have done in Ms. Cawley’s classes has ignited a passion for English and helped me pick the subject as my major in college. She cares deeply about each and every student she comes across and teaches with such admirable joy and passion each day. Thank you, Ms. Cawley!

Sam Stokem, editor, senior: Speech therapist Ms. Amanda Costagliola has once again made a positive impact on me. I first came to her with struggles, but over the years she has helped me overcome them. She’s given me advice – not just relating to my struggles or school, but also everyday guidance. Matching my energy, she’s allowed me to discuss and rant about things I’m passionate about while lending an attentive ear. I also credit her with helping me break out of my shell a bit and become a more self-assured person. My relationship with Ms. Costagliola has evolved beyond a teacher-student dynamic into something more like a friendship, and I credit that as to why she’s made such an impact on me.

Sean Walker, editor, senior:A teacher that I truly appreciate is Mr. Jon Lauder. Mr. Lauder has had a positive impact on my time at Lakeland since my freshman year, as I took his Video 1 class. This positive impact has only continued as I’ve gone through the years here, with him being my study hall teacher last year, and my podcasting teacher this year. Mr. Lauder is always positive, even on the most boring days, and always knows how to brighten a class. He is also extremely knowledgeable on what he does, and he’s excellent at spreading this knowledge to his students. Mr. Lauder is an excellent role model for the future as well, as his positive energy that he brings to his classroom is something that I want to bring wherever I work in the future. Thank you Mr. Lauder for being both an incredible teacher and person.