Julia Walkowicz
Class President Niko Lorantos:
State your name and occupation.
“My name is Niko Lorantos. This feels like a murder trial. I work at Holiday Pizza in South Deerfield and I am also the senior class president at Frontier.”
What are you thinking about right now?
“I’m thinking about college essays and applications and stuff. Because time is running out and it’s pretty stressful.”
What is your favorite class and why do you think that is?
“My favorite class that I’ve taken at Frontier was an independent study I did with Mr. Murphy. I honestly think I like it because I had the ability to do whatever I wanted every day for 80 minutes and I got to learn about something I actually cared about.”
And what was it that you did?
“I did a study on blockchain technology”
What do you think needs to change at Frontier?
“ I think students should have more control over what classes they are taking. I think they should take classes that have some sort of relevance to what they want to do in their lives. And I think Mr. Owens should get rid of the beard. Keep the mustache.”
What do you think is a misconception people make about you or teens in general?
“I think that the views that adults have about teenagers are pretty accurate. We are pretty easily distracted by TikTok and Snapchat and a lot of us really lack ambition. “
Do you think that for teens now, growing up with the tech that we do, worsens those things?
“I think it’s certainly easier for kids to be more distracted or just be doing their own thing. In the zone, sitting on their phone. But also there are so many positive aspects of technology.”
What’s the earliest thing you can remember?
“So. I’m not sure if it was a dream or not. I genuinely don’t know. I had this vision where I was in my stroller and I was going over the most absurd-looking bridge, it was rounded, and around me, there were colorful futuristic objects.”
Do you think it was the bridge of flowers?
His eyes widened a moment before he replied laughing, “Yes. I think it could have been the bridge of flowers in Turners Falls”
What do you want to be when you grow up? There seemed to be some hesitation in his response. I rephrase the question, It doesn’t have to necessarily be a job. Where do you see yourself in the future?
“I want to be somebody who is a leader in their community, whatever that means. I want to be able to make change happen and know how to work with and talk to people. I don’t want to be sad and depressed while I do it.”
Skittles or M+Ms?
“Skittles, I had skittles last night after the soccer game.”
Do you think that all skittles taste the same?
“No.” he replied confidently, “I’ve taste tested, I’ve blind taste tested, yellow is so easily distinguishable, red and orange and both sugary“ He dissected his well-thought-out experiment for a while,
What music have you been listening to recently?
“I recently discovered Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny. I have no clue what he’s saying, but it’s really good. I am also relistening to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, by Kanye West of course which seems to happen every few months. Also, shoutout to Bacon Egg and Cheese and Billy Eilish”
What’s your favorite place? Why?
“Physical place? I like cities, I don’t have a specific city in mind. Because it’s such a busy atmosphere and it seems like everyone is doing their own thing and focused on chasing their goals. I think it would be really cool to live in a city, there would be a lot more going on than in South Deerfield.
What are your three core values? (Shoutout Ms. Blair)
“I like to think that I am fairly creative, I try to also be ambitious. I think it doesn’t hurt to chase what you want to do in your life, and I try to be a good friend and community member.”
Assistant Principal Scott Dredge:
State your name and occupation.
“Scott Dredge. Assistant Principal. Frontier Regional school.”
What are you thinking about right now?
“I am thinking about a lot of emails I need to respond to.”
What was your favorite class when you were in school?
Why do you think that was?
“I took an honors history class my junior year and it was my favorite class because it was an in-depth, deep dive into European history. A lot like Ms. Walters’ class. “
What do you think is something that needs to change at Frontier?
“Oh.” He replied quietly before collecting his thoughts, “This is a continuation I think, of what we are trying to do. I really really want people to be a LOT more empathic and kinder to each other. On social media and in middle school right now, they are being vicious with their words to each other and I want that to change.”
What do you think is a misconception people have about you or adults in general?
“Well, I’m pretty sure the misconception about me is that I’m like some big bad wolf that goes around just looking to get kids in trouble. I don’t think that’s the case, but I can understand why I would be perceived that way. It’s kinda what comes with the job. I think with adults in general, a misconception is that we don’t care about kids as much as we know we do.”
What is the earliest thing you can remember?
He smiled and responded quickly, “This is a good one. I remember my first vivid memory. I was a little kid, I grew up in England and I was walking in a parking lot with my mom. Somehow, I did a classic stupid little kid thing and I had some rocks. I put a rock in my mouth and I was choking on it. So my mom freaked out, in the parking lot and she just bypassed the Heimlich maneuver and just whacked me in the back and we got the rock out.”
When you were in high school, what did you want to be when you grew up?
“ I thought I wanted to be a history teacher.”
Was it because of that really good class?
“Yes, yeah.”
Do you think there was a moment after high school when that changed?
“Yeah. I ended up in human services. Then running a residential program, like a house, Then came back into education, taught special education, and then school administration.”
Skittles or M+Ms?
“Oh. M+Ms.”
What music are you listening to right now?
“I’m listening to whatever’s in the car when I’m driving my guys around, my kids. But I like Morgan Wade, she’s a new kind of alt-country singer. I listen to dispatch radio on pandora.”
What’s your favorite place and why?
“Maine. I love the ocean and beach area. I like being at the water and the beach, but what’s cool about Maine is that you can go into the woods too. It’s got the best of everything.”
What are three core values you think you have?
“I think I am honest, direct, and despite what perceptions may be, caring.”