In a theater production, Cameron Carnes has to stay hidden from audience view to do her job.
As Carnegie Theater Co.’s stage manager, she’s there behind the scenes calling every cue in the show, bringing order to a machine made up of countless departments and roles.
“It’s a lot of responsibility, but I love it. I get to lead, problem solve and bring all these moving pieces together to make something magical happen,” Carnes said.
Carnes, who initially joined Carnegie Theater in her freshman year, is now also the president of both the theater company and CVHS International Thespian Society.
“Honestly, I stuck with our theatre company for all these years because it became so much more than just a ‘thing I did after school,’” Carnes said. “After that first show, I realized how much I loved being part of something bigger than myself.”
Throughout these four years and 10 productions Carnes has been involved with theater, her favorite memory — a close call between several other candidates — was making blood pack props with Gabi Lisbon for the theater company’s 2024 UIL One-Act Play show.
“We went into the green room and would make [blood packs] for hours on end, and [we] got to gossip, listen to music and laugh,” Carnes said. “It’s always a good time with that girl, so getting to do that task with her was so fun.”
Though she won’t miss having to help set up (and later take apart) a whole UIL stage set in just seven minutes, it’s those very people who Carnes works with that she will miss most about Carnegie Theater Co.
“Every single person that has come into the department has inspired me with some aspect of their personality, whether it’s Gabi’s humor, Tiana [Christie-Law]’s kind heart, Ryan Chen’s brain, Lexi [Smith-Cooper]’s talent, Derek [Lohmann]’s commitment, and so many more,” Carnes said.
With all that she has learned and gained from theater, Carnes plans to apply her skills at Texas State University, where she will be majoring in fashion merchandising.
“My experiences in Carnegie Theatre Co. have taught me how to lead a team, listen, compromise and adapt quickly when things don’t go as planned,” Carnes said. “More than anything, it gave me confidence in my voice and my ideas. I know how to take initiative.”
Taking initiative — that’s one of her core philosophies and pieces of advice for others. As she puts it, “Do not be afraid to put yourself out there.”
“Opportunities come and go, and my best decision throughout high school has been accepting any opportunity that comes my way,” Carnes said.
And if that opportunity doesn’t pan out?
“[High school is] only 4 years of your life! I always tell myself, ‘It is what it is,’ and that is so true,” Carnes said. “If something fails … ‘It is what it is.’”
Aretha CCOkeke, captain of the Girls Basketball club, has been accepted to Tulane university, while also awaiting a decision from West Point Military Service Academy. She has been captain of the CVHS girls basketball club for two years.
Her duties as basketball captain included organizing team workouts, communicating with managers, and making sure the girls show up to practice.
Apart from all the technicalities of her role, CCOkeke has realized an important lesson during her time: communication.
“Not just communication as a captain but also with managers, girls, and not being afraid to be hard on them, letting them know that they need to come to practice. I think that’s very important for college, especially when you need to be a leader around people I don’t know and learn to stand up and then out — especially people from all over,” she said.
CCOkeke also looks back fondly on the friendships that have developed between the players, and the memories that they have shared together.
“I grew closer to the girls this year and they also gave me a going-away gift which was very nice and very sweet… just going to practice, laughing with them, especially with the freshmen,” she remembered.
Her favorite memory was when they won their first game in the club’s history her junior year.
“We were just excited because we had never won a game before, so just going in there and seeing the score we won knowing that we could actually do that after years of defeat just really uplifted us — it was nice to see everyone’s faces,” she stated.
CCOkeke hopes to continue playing basketball in the future — but on a more recreational level.
“I plan on continuing for sure, but I’ve realized I’m not a d1 player — not even close to that. So definitely intramural,” CCOkeke said.
Her time at CVHS has given her a means to grow as both an athlete and an individual, allowing her to learn important life skills.
“I’ve realized It’s okay to be afraid. Coming into CVHS I came from years of being top of the class, and coming here is a completely different environment. Learning every year that it’s okay to not be the best and it’s okay to be afraid because in the end it’s going to be worth it — just go with the ride,” she said.
Jennifer Dietz, who is headed off to Rice University to study Biosciences, began her running journey in the seventh grade. Dietz has held two captain positions in both Girls Cross Country and Track and Field.
Joining the running family at CVHS provided Dietz with a unique freshman year experience, giving her a slightly different start to high school.
“For cross country we start practices before school starts so before my first day of high school I was familiar with the school and have been practicing with the team so I already felt sort of at home. For me that transition was probably easier than it was for a lot of people,” Dietz said.
Dietz credits this experience to finding something she’s passionate about, and building a community centered around it.
“[At] CVHS, we are all very connected because it’s such a small school and I think for a sports team that’s even more so the case because it’s a pretty small team… throughout the season everyone grows tight and it was really nice to have that community,” she explained.
Her time as captain of both XC and T&F consisted of many tasks, such as organizing team meets, leading workouts, and motivating her teammates; however, some of her most memorable moments with the team were off the running field.
“For track this past year we had a movie social and we went over to a person’s house and we watched the Barbie movie. That was super nice and helped to bond the team,” she recalled.
For cross country, a highlight of her time was the most recent season where the team won districts.
“It was a pretty close race and we knew it was going to be close so the nerves were high and once we found out we got first it was really relieving to see all of our hard work pay off, so that was an amazing experience,” she said.
Throughout her time at CVHS, she found athletics to be an addition to her life rather than a stress.
“[Running] was my outlet that was a way for me to unwind and destress and the perfect way to get my mind off of schoolwork,” she stated.
As she looks forward to her time in college she reflects on the lessons she’s learned from running and everything in between.
“I think running gives you a lot of discipline and it’s really hard to wake up at 6:30 in the morning all days of the week and balance a bunch of stuff… being a part of those sports has really helped me to become more disciplined and be able to push myself and I think those are skills that will definitely come in handy,” she expressed.
Dietz imparts advice for CVHS students.
“Find what you like and build a community around that,” she said.
Alex Du, who plans to major in psychology on a pre-medicine track at the University of Texas at Austin, is the current president of CVHS’s Interact Club, one of the largest student organizations on campus.
Having been part of the organization for four years, Du said that the club’s focus on diversity and charity drew him to the club.
“I’ve always believed in helping others, and this club allows me to actively pursue that belief and make a meaningful impact in my community,” Du said.
That usually comes together in the form of donation drives like Operation Shoebox or schoolwide events like CVHS’ annual International Festival. Du’s favorite memory was getting to organize this year’s 13th annual festival.
“Every year, I-Fest is the best event and while hosting it is incredibly stressful, attending the festival and witnessing its success always makes the hard work feel completely worth it,” Du said. “I think of it as the most exciting school event I’ve attended while at Carnegie and I am incredibly sad to have to leave it behind.”
As Interact Club’s president, Du has had to delegate tasks and problem solve his way out of problems that come up — even during events.
“While there were so many stressful times, I know that I gained so much out of them,” Du said. “There is nothing that I regret from joining this club and I am so grateful to have been part of it.”
His advice, whether for school, daily life or even running a large event, is simple: “What you’re not changing, you’re choosing.”
“If you run into problems or things you don’t like, constantly complaining about it rather than taking action is not a solution,” Du said. “Do something. It doesn’t have to be anything big, but taking baby steps towards solving your problems is the least you can do to improve yourself or your situation.”
And to the underclassmen out there — Du says to hang in there.
“The struggle is worth it,” Du said. “Once you make it to senior year and senioritis hits, you’ll end up looking back on your time here [at CVHS] with nostalgia.”
Rachel Gubbay served as the captain of the girls tennis team during her senior year at Carnegie Vanguard High School. As the most experienced player on the team, she said her focus was on supporting her teammates and helping them prepare for competition.
“As the most senior member of the tennis team my role was to use my experience to help guide the team,” Gubbay said. “This included prepping new team members for what districts and regionals will be like, setting an example by showing up to practices, and helping cultivate a healthy team environment.”
Gubbay will attend Rhodes College, where she plans to major in psychology on the premed track. She said she joined tennis because her dad encouraged her, but she ended up staying for the sense of connection she found.
“I joined the team because my dad insisted that I did freshman year. At that point I was really struggling with the mental side of tennis, however I was able to work through that through the team’s encouragement and the examples that the seniors made. After that I stuck around for the community that I found in the tennis team.”
Her favorite memory came during junior year.
“My favorite memory was Junior Regionals. It was the first time our team stayed overnight for the event, and by then, I had built strong connections with everyone,” she said. “That trip gave me the chance to bond with my teammates beyond school and competition. It was also bittersweet, as it marked the last time I’d compete alongside the seniors before they graduated.”
Though she will not continue with competitive tennis in college, Gubbay said the experience still left her with useful skills.
“Although I don’t plan to play competitive tennis in college, the technique and movements used in tennis are applicable to a lot of popular college sports like ping pong and pickleball, so I will definitely be taking those skills to college with me.”
Looking back, she said she would gladly do it all over again.
“I would definitely take it. I’ve grown so much as a person since freshman year, and being on the tennis team played a huge role in that growth,” she said. “It taught me how to manage stress and handle expectations, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.”
She said she will miss the social moments the most.
“I’ll miss everything about the team from our dinners, to gossip sessions on the bleachers while watching matches, and most of all celebrating our wins together,” she said. “I definitely won’t be missing the anxiety and expectations that are associated with the lead up to districts and regionals.”
To current students, Gubbay gave one piece of advice:
“Grasp every opportunity that you get at Carnegie because before you know it your time here is gone and you’ll never get those opportunities again.”
Teddy Herce, captain of the CVHS varsity baseball team will continue to pursue baseball at Wharton County Junior College on scholarship while majoring in business. Herce has played baseball at CVHS since Freshman year.
“I’ve always played baseball, and my older brother was also a member of the team. I’ve continued playing not just because of my passion for the sport, but also because of the brotherhood we’ve built,” Herce said.
The brotherhood aspect has encouraged him to keep going and foster an atmosphere that makes the sport all the more enjoyable.
“We’re all close friends and support each other, which has created a really positive environment. I’m excited to continue playing baseball in college because the game means so much to me,” he said.
As captain of the team for three years, he’s cultivated skills that will continue to serve him in the future.
“Each year I’ve grown as a communicator and leader. That growth has helped lead us to our most successful season yet and to making the playoffs for the first time in school history,” Herce explained.
One of his more memorable moments on the team was when they won against Northside Highschool his sophomore year.
“We won in extra innings on a walk-off single. It’s my favorite memory because it took a full team effort. Everyone contributed, and that made the win even more rewarding,” he said.
If he had a chance to relive every moment of the CVHS boys baseball team, he would.
“I’d definitely do it all again. I’ve grown so much since freshman year, and a lot of that growth came through the experiences I’ve had with the baseball team, both the highs and the lows,” Herce said.
Herce has grown on a both and physical and mental level, however, whether he was on or off the field he could always rely on his fellow teammates.
“What I’ll miss most are my teammates. Over these past four years, we’ve built strong relationships, and I truly consider them my brothers,” he reflected.
As he continues to pitch forward, Herce reminds us to do the same.
“Hard work is rewarding. People often try to take the easiest route to success, but real success comes from effort and learning through failure,” he said.
Catherine Hu, co-captain of the Carnegie Dance Team (CDT), is passionate about precision, performance and nurturing a strong sense of community among her teammates.
Hu, who plans to attend the University of Florida to study Microbiology and Cell Sciences, has spent much of her high school career dedicated to CDT, choreographing routines, managing practices, and pushing dancers to new heights.
“On the team, my role is to teach our dancers routines and clean them for competition. We organize schedules, practices, find learning opportunities, and foster a serious yet comfortable environment,” Hu said. “The Carnegie dance team is about enjoying what you do just as much as it is about winning.”
Hu initially joined CDT because of her love for dance and performing, and she stayed because she “wanted to be able to help others grow as dancers and find joy in being part of the team.”
Her most cherished memory illustrates how important friendship is: “My favorite memory with CDT would probably be going and winning first at nationals my junior year,” Hu shared. “Although winning and proving our growth is a big part of why I enjoyed our nationals trip, I also felt like I really got to know my officers more and it was when I felt most connected with my girls. The night after we’d stayed up just talking and catching up and really allowing ourselves to relax and appreciate the result of our hard work.”
Through her journey with CDT, Hu developed critical life skills she’ll carry into her college years. “I think being on the team has taught me plenty of leadership and time management skills that I lacked before,” Hu explained. “Being in an officer position since my sophomore year has given me the chance to find my voice in large groups and overall just helped me learn how to branch out to others who I might not have gotten to know in the first place.”
Hu acknowledges the stress of managing competitive dance while balancing academics and personal life as one aspect she won’t miss. “The thing I’ll miss the least is definitely the stress that comes with organizing everything in the background,” she said. Yet, it’s clear that leaving her teammates behind is the hardest part: “I’ll miss my girls the most. I’ll always have other chances to perform in college, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance to perform with these girls ever again.”
Reflecting on her first days at Carnegie, Hu offered advice for others: “Go with what you think is right for yourself. For me, a lot of people said the course loads and extracurriculars I wanted to take would be overwhelming, and some days it is, but if you truly believe that you can take on the challenges you choose to face, then by all means, go for it.”
Abhiram Jyosyula will be attending Rice University to study computational Biomedical engineering with a potential double major in computational neuroscience. Jyosyula began running in the tenth grade and quickly climbed the ranks as captain of track, cross country and even cricket teams. As captain, he is in charge of watching the athletes grow, develop and most importantly — push themselves.
“I joined XC originally in 10th grade because I needed to get fitter and then I realized I was fast and I just kept doing it. I also realized I had a good kick at the end of the races, so I joined the track. And cricket, I’ve always liked the sport so I decided to create a cricket team,” he reflected.
His time on both teams gave him the opportunity to create a brotherhood between numerous runners and form lifelong friendships — especially when the boys got to celebrate wins together.
“My favorite memory was [my] 10th grade district Cross Country meet. We had a really tight knit group and a lot of brotherhood… it was a hard fought season and we won our first district championship that year, so it was pretty good to end off on a win,” he said.
Running, as a sport, was not only a time for him to form connections with his teammates, but to also grow on an individual level.
“All of the sports in general require discipline, especially with running. It’s not only grueling physically but also grueling mentally. Instilling that discipline in every facet of my life is something I can take away from sports and improve my life,” he said.
If he had to relive his experiences, he would — but with a small change.
“I’d probably start earlier, maybe in middle school so I could get faster. Maybe I could’ve continued in college and had that possibility, ” he reflected.
However, he hopes to pursue running in a more relaxed environment in college.
“I will continue not on a competitive level, but maybe intramurals or something like that,” he said.
In all of the memories he’s formed being apart of the three teams, he will miss one thing the most:
“That brotherhood aspect. Everybody loves the sport and everybody loves each other when playing that sport missing that brotherhood is something,” he stated.
As he looks back on all of his four years at CVHS, he leaves a piece of advice.
“Keep going. It’s a slog, it’s a grind, but just keep going. Trudge through and eventually you’ll make it out,” he said.
It would be an understatement to say that volleyball is important to Max Philippe.
Having played volleyball since he was 11 years old, competing both locally and nationally, it was a natural choice for Philippe to continue playing at CVHS through the school’s Boys Volleyball Club.
“The boys volleyball team has members from all grade levels and backgrounds, [and] getting to know some of the kids on the team has been so fun,” Philippe said.
Now as captain, Philippe leads his team in championship-style league tournaments and in introducing new members to the sport.
“I stuck with the team not only because I loved playing the sport, but I also truly enjoyed seeing new players grow and develop on the team,” Philippe said.
A member of the organization since his freshmen year, Philippe has also seen the club in size over time. Things finally came together last year when the team won the league title after playing an undefeated season — Philippe’s favorite memory of his time with the CVHS team.
“It was a representation of how far our club had come,” Philippe said. “I was also incredibly happy that we were able to win for David Trahktman, our former captain who did so much for the club during his time here.”
Philippe was also named that season’s league MVP, a special personal accomplishment for him. Although he focuses on improving his volleyball skills outside of school, Philippe said that playing recreationally with the CVHS boys’ volleyball club has helped him learn in other ways too.
“I had to step up as a leader and teammate while also managing my competitive spirit and understanding that it was more important to have fun than it was to win,” Philippe said.
As he continues his volleyball career at Brigham Young University, he tells people to “never lose sight of a big goal for yourself.”
“It doesn’t have to be a great duty or higher calling, just something that you are passionate about,” Philippe said. “I had volleyball, and I was able to tie in my academics, health and many other things into this goal.”
And while you’re at it, Philippe says to have some fun too.
“Choose to do something that makes you happy and creates a better version of yourself,” Philippe said. “Happiness and contentment always come from within.”
Sarah Ramos is the head captain of the CVHS varsity girls’ volleyball team, playing as the team’s setter in her senior year.
But that wasn’t always her plan.
“I used to play softball,” Ramos said. “Seeing that [CVHS did] not have a team [then], I channeled my energy into my secondary sport of volleyball instead.”
Despite this pivot, Ramos says that volleyball gave her “a sense of purpose” as she “watched the progress” of herself and her teammates through every season.
“I love all of the memories I made during my seasons,” Ramos said. “Even the bad games we had make me laugh now.”
Her all-time highlight with volleyball, however, was when the team won the last game of the season against Galena Park, who Ramos describes as CVHS’ “biggest competition.”
“This year, we lost our first game against them, so there was a sense of payback when we beat them and tied our season records,” Ramos said. “We were all so excited when we got that final game point, and it felt so rewarding knowing our hard work paid off.”
Besides being a way to meet or stay active, Ramos said that her volleyball experience — especially as captain — further developed her future goal to enlist as a Navy officer. She currently plans on majoring in aeronautical engineering technology with a minor in naval sciences at Purdue University.
“I think I learned so many important lessons throughout these experiences, and it has shaped me into the person I am today,” Ramos said. “It’s a vital part of my life.”
Even though she plans on playing for club or recreation volleyball teams at Purdue, she says that she’ll miss the preseason period at CVHS. That’s when the new team gets together for one of its first times, playing in tournaments that can last up to three days, with four games on each day.
“Being on the court feels amazing and I love the sense of community we all share around the net,” Ramos said. “It is so tiring but so rewarding being a setter, [because] I am involved in every play and every game. I used to get home so tired but so ready for the next day.”
Her advice for underclassmen? “Enjoy every moment,” and “never try to rush through your years.”
“I got too wrapped up in all the work we do every day and ‘just making it to Friday’ that I seemed to forget all of the positives,” Ramos said. “I wish I could pause this [moment] before graduation is here and life gets too real too fast.”
Emely Romero, a senior on the Carnegie Vanguard girls’ varsity soccer team, has spent her high school years doing more than just playing the game. She has been leading by example.
“As a senior, I try to be both a leader and a supportive teammate,” Romero said. “I help encourage the younger players, especially during tough practices and close games, and I make an effort to create a positive and uplifting environment.”
For Romero, soccer was never just about the scoreboard. It was personal and tied closely to her relationship with her father.
“I stuck around because soccer became a way for me to connect with my dad. He still plays to this day. His love for the game is contagious, and growing up watching him play made me want to be on the field too,” she said. “Playing soccer became more than just a sport. It became our shared language, something that brought us closer and reminded me of where I come from and who I’m playing for.”
Romero hasn’t decided yet between Northeastern and Boston University, but she plans to major in biomedical engineering on the premed track. While she doesn’t plan to continue competitive soccer in college, she said she still wants to “keep the sport in my life because it’s something I genuinely enjoy and it helps me stay grounded.”
Her favorite memory with the team came during a hard-fought game against Milby.
“My favorite memory has to be when we finally beat Milby, a school we’d never won against before,” she said. “The energy was unreal. We were all cheering, jumping, and hugging like we’d just won a championship.”
What made that win meaningful was what it represented.
“It was a culmination of our hard work and persistence. It showed us that progress is real and that sticking with something, even when the odds are against you, can lead to incredible moments,” Romero said.
She said the team helped her develop skills she’ll take into college including resilience, time management, and the value of community. If given the chance, she said she would do it all again. “Yes, I would in a heartbeat. There were highs and lows, but every part of it shaped me into who I am now.”
She will miss “the pregame pep talks, the bus rides, and the way we always looked out for each other.” What she won’t miss is “probably running laps in Houston heat during practice.”
For students just starting at Carnegie, Romero kept it simple. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.” Looking back, she said, “Stepping out of my comfort zone helped me find some of my favorite people and most rewarding experiences.”
“Being on this team has been one of the best parts of high school,” Romero said. “I’ll carry those memories with me for a long time.”
Daiki Sakai, who plans to major in biology on a pre-medicine track at the University of Texas at Austin, has been in CVHS’ National Honor Society chapter for two years.
He currently serves as the organization’s president.
“It was nerve-racking at first, but it was a good experience,” Sakai said of his time leading the club.
Having initially joined for the club’s prestige — potential members must meet GPA requirements and apply to join the club — Sakai said he ultimately stayed for the organization’s values: scholarship, service, leadership and character.
“I found [National Honor Society] to be a good way in which I can keep track of my goals of community service and leadership within my high school years,” Sakai said.
That all culminated in the organization’s annual field trip to Galveston, where club members help pick up trash from a beach as part of the Texas Adopt-A-Beach program. Sakai says his favorite memory was eating pizzas by the sea for this year’s beach cleanup.
“The beach cleanup was delayed 3 times, and the fact I was able to still relish the success was very relieving,” Sakai said. “[So was] seeing everyone’s satisfied and satiated faces.”
Leading a club, however, was a learning experience in and of itself.
“Leading this organization for the last year has taught me a lot of what it takes to be a leader, and a lot about connecting myself to other people,” Sakai said. “I’m going to miss leading my own club, as well as that experience of talking to a crowd.”
But it wasn’t always easy to juggle it all. With college applications being a major time sink for Sakai’s senior year, he emphasized the importance of work-life balance.
“Try to maintain a good balance between work and social life,” Sakai said. “I get that it’s hard, but you don’t want to regret [your time in] high school.”
Having sometimes overly focused on one aspect of his life over another, Sakai says he “at times I wish I could rewind time and do it over again.”
“Make sure you find a good group of friends while joining different clubs [and] getting good grades,” Sakai said. “Balance is key.”
Anjali Martinez, who will attend the University of California, Davis to study Classics on a pre-med track, has been the editor-in-chief of The Upstream News at CVHS during her senior year.
She first joined the newspaper class during her sophomore year because of her interest in creative writing. Transitioning from prose and poetry to objective reporting was a challenge, especially in learning AP style. But over time, she adjusted to the standards of journalism and became a stronger writer.
“I originally joined Newspaper because I always considered myself to be a strong creative writer and wanted to expand my palate,” Martinez said. “The journey from staff writer to Editor in Chief was not an easy one. I remember the first day I walked into newspaper class sophomore year, I already felt behind. Learning how to conform to AP style and understanding how to tell a story objectively was very difficult for me, as I used to pride myself on my ability to share my personal feelings through prose or poetry.”
Despite the challenge, Martinez stayed in the class because of the opportunity it gave her to grow. She saw the newspaper as a platform to uplift voices and tell important stories within the CVHS community.
“I’ve stuck with this class because it’s given me an outlet to write and give voices to those that may go unheard of within my community,” she said. “It’s also allowed me to have set time in school to just write, and at an academically challenging school like CVHS I soak in every moment I can to practice writing.”
Her favorite memories came from the everyday environment of the newsroom.
“I think my favorite memories with this class are when we’re relaxed and getting our work done,” Martinez said. “When there is conversation buzzing around the room, laughter, writers exploring new ideas, and overall an exciting atmosphere to be surrounded in.”
Looking ahead, Martinez plans to continue working in student publications at UC Davis.
“For sure,” she said. “I want to pursue newspaper at Davis and join their weekly publication. They publish print so I’m super excited to hopefully be a part of the organization.”
She says the class taught her how to advocate for herself and others, and helped her grow in ways traditional classrooms do not always allow.
“Learn to learn,” Martinez said. “Don’t scrutinize so much over a specific grade point average or grade – focus on things that make you passionate and the rest will come naturally.”
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