Jenna Stucky ’25 grew up in a household full of musicians, so music has always been an important part of her life. She discovered her love for singing and performing at a very young age, and soon began singing in choral groups and even combining her singing skills with acting by performing in musicals. Now a senior at PHS, Stucky has immersed herself in the musical community by singing in PHS Choir and co-leading the a cappella group The Cat’s Meow.

**When did you first start singing and why?**

[I started] when I was pretty young because my family is very musical, so I’d often sing with my siblings and with my parents.

**How do you handle performance jitters?**

I think it’s something that gets easier over time. The more practice you get in front of an audience, the easier that it gets. Sometimes you just have to embrace the nerves and do something even if you’re a little nervous.

**What’s it like being in an acapella group?**

I have a lot of fun. My group, we’re really close with each
other, so oftentimes in our rehearsals we’ll be talking more
than we’re singing. But, it’s a really talented group of people
and I love singing with them and we have a lot of fun together.
I love doing performances, too, sometimes in the winter we’ll
get gigs, so that’s a fun experience, and also performing at the
choir concerts. Also, in Italy we actually got to perform as well.

**How was your tour experience in Italy with PHS Choir?**

It was so much fun and I wish that I could go back. The spaces
that we performed in were gorgeous and stunning, and the food
was amazing, and it was just such a fun experience.

**What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have a favorite
band or an artist?**

I listen to a wide range of music, but recently I’ve been listening
to a lot of SZA and some Role Model.

**What are some of your other hobbies?**

I’m very musical, so I like to learn instruments. Recently I’ve been
practicing a lot of guitar.

**If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take
one thing with you, what would it be?**

I would take my kazoo, because I think that would be really
entertaining for me and would help pass the time.

**What are you going to miss most about PHS?**

I’m going to miss the communities here, especially the singing
communities. We’re really close and I’ve got to do a lot with other
artists and musicians at PHS.

**Are you planning on pursuing music in the future?**

Not as a profession, but it’s definitely something that I want to
keep doing when I’m older.

**What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?**

Don’t be afraid to try new things even if it might be a little
nerve-racking.

**What advice would you give to new singers and musicians?**

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and step out of your
comfort zone every now and then. Do things that push you and
help you grow.

Jenna Stucky ’25 finds community through singing

### Connecting through cultures

By Asma Frough

Thanksgiving, the heart and joy of November, is celebrated in the United
States and Canada every fall, when people gather with their families to ap-
preciate the blessings of the past year. The holiday holds a special place in
many people’s hearts, as it is a time for family reunions, celebration,
gratitude, and delicious food. It’s a joyful time of year that symbolizes
the transition from fall to winter, marking the cold weather. For me,
however, the joy of celebrating Thanksgiving always felt empty.

I was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. I grew up there as a Muslim girl,
getting to experience other joyful celebrations such as Eid and
Nawroz (the Muslim New Year). Those occasions, especially
Eid, have a special place in my heart. Every morning of Eid,
I would excitedly wake up and put on the new clothes that
I chose for myself. The scent of my mom’s cooking and freshly
baked pastries would fill the entire house as I waited for guests and
family to arrive so we could enjoy the delicious food together. Getting to
see my cousins and receive gifts from the adults made the celebration
all the more special.

When I moved to the United States in August of 2022, I was introduced
to a whole new culture and society that I was previously unfamiliar with;
I had never celebrated Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Although
I knew a little about how people celebrated Halloween and Christmas,
Thanksgiving was completely new to me. What was this celebration that
took up two whole days of school? That year, my family and I were invited
to our first Thanksgiving in a church by some friends. When I went there,
I saw so many people and so many different types of food.
I soon realized the holiday’s true meaning, which led me to dis-
cover that it is actually very similar to what we do during Eid. Even
though Eid is celebrated to end the fasting month of Ramadan for
Muslims, it brings people together, just like Thanksgiving. Since my
first Thanksgiving experience, my family and I have looked forward to this
holiday every year.

On Thanksgiving day, my mom prepares different dishes that mix
our own cultural food with classic Thanksgiving dishes; for instance,
she often serves the Afghan rice dish Qabuli with a turkey. On this day,
we all gather around to enjoy the meal and spend quality time with each
other, appreciating everyone and everything in our lives. My Thanksgiving
celebration connects me back to my country and to the joyful celebrations
of Eid, while helping me create new cherished memories.

### Finding magic in the mess

By Samantha Henderson

A long time ago, my dad and his siblings decided, to keep things fair,
that they would split hosting holidays. My aunt took Easter and my uncle
claimed Christmas Eve, which left arguably the most elaborate holiday,
Thanksgiving, to my family. Every year it sneaks up on us. Only when the
leaves have all fallen to the ground and November has begun are we suddenly
reminded of Thanksgiving.

A week or so into November, my family gathers with a spreadsheet from
the year before, going over all of the things we won’t do again. For example,
we always make way too many sides; every year we say, “This year we won’t
have leftovers for weeks,” and every year we’re still eating stuffing two weeks
after Thanksgiving.

Besides this initial spreadsheet making, for the first few weeks of November,
nobody is really worried about Thanksgiving preparations. As the day creeps
closer, however, this laissez-faire attitude slowly shifts to full-blown panic. I
know the Thanksgiving anxiety has fully set in when my parents struggle to
fit 20 chairs into our dining room. On Thanksgiving morning, the kitchen
quickly becomes a frenzy of activity. My dad and grandma will peer
nervously in the oven at the turkey as my mom stirs the cranberry sauce
on the stove and my brother and I hurriedly set the table.

When people start to arrive, this frenzy soon turns to chaos, as the house
begins to resemble the scene in “Home Alone” when the McCallisters are
leaving for the airport. In my house, football always blares from the den, where
everybody huddles around the TV, yelling at the Giants. I set out the placecards
in the dining room. My uncle uses every spoon in the house to stir canned
cranberry sauce into the pot of homemade sauce that my mom labored over
for hours. My brother and cousin playfully shoot each other with Nerf guns
while my aunt ducks, creamed spinach in hand.

When dinner is finally ready, I breathe a sigh of relief. Everybody drops
what they’re doing and rushes to make themselves plates. Once
we’re all gathered around the table, my grandpa, Big Mac,
begins a toast. “Let’s all go around the table and say what
we’re grateful for,” he’ll say. Every year as I listen to everyone
share what they are thankful for, it hits me all over again what
Thanksgiving is really about: giving thanks. It doesn’t matter if some
spinach got spilled on the floor or if the Giants lost or if there is way too
much cauliflower. Getting to sit around the table with my family is the most
important thing to be thankful for and, ultimately, that’s the reason why Big
Mac has made this same toast every year for as long as I can remember.

The Tower

Samantha Henderson's Work

The Tower