Voices Ringing Blog /

Jaylyn Fiori ‘24, Mercy House, with Mrs. Courtney (Griffith) Thompson ’16

Jaylyn has really been working hard this year to make improvements in her study and homework habits! She’s been excited to be at school this year and her grades have improved as well. She’s working hard to build good habits and relationships in her senior year.

-Mrs. Courtney (Griffith) Thompson

Favorite Restaurant:

Sake

Favorite Movie:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Who would you like to play in a movie?

If I could play anyone in a movie, I would choose to play Selene who is Played by Kate Beckinsale in Underworld.

Place you'd love to travel:

Vatican City

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part about being a student at Carroll would be how much the faculty cares about the students.

What should school “do” for you?

Something a school should do for us is teach us knowledge of what we need to know for when we graduate.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A lesson I learned when I overcame an obstacle, is that you are much stronger than what life puts in your way .

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to travel the world and see many different parts of nature.

How do you like spending your free time?

I enjoy spending my free time by going to the local skate park with my friends to paint the ramp and go to concerts.

Caleb Jackson '26, Mercy House, with Mr. Steve Merland

Caleb was out due to surgery for quite a while and got all of his work done within a few days of returning.  He had a positive attitude throughout the process of missing school, making up the work and transitioning to our current work.  He handled what could have been a really challenging situation responsibly like a true Carroll Patriot.

-Mr Steve. Merland

Favorite Restaurant:

Chick-fil-a

Favorite Movie:

Gone in 60 Seconds

Who would play you in a movie?

David Spade

Place you'd love to travel:

West Virginia

Activities you participate in:

I'm a member of the Cross Country and Track & Field teams.

What's your favorite part about being a student at Carroll?

The atmosphere and the other students

What should school “do” for you?

School should provide a social and educational foundation.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A lesson I learned was to do stuff in small increments. I learned this due to me being out for 2-3 weeks because of a surgery I had.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To not have to worry about budgeting my money.  I want to be very financially stable and independent at a young age.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to work on cars and trucks and hang out with my friends.

Kara Kates ‘24, Mercy House and Ascension School alumna, with Mrs. Meaghan (Crowe) Fite ’97

Kara bought lunch for someone who is not her friend or that she really even knew. She added the student's lunch to her account without skipping a beat.  Kindness goes a long way.

- Mrs. Meaghan (Crowe) Fite '97

Favorite Restaurant:

Red Robin

Favorite Movie:

The Bee Movie

Who would play you in a movie?

Melissa McCarthy or Tiffany Haddish

Place you'd love to travel:

Spain

Activities you participate in:

I participated in tennis for my first year as a senior. I am part of the Spanish club, I play lacrosse, and I played soccer for three years.

Favorite part about being a student at Carroll:

My favorite part of being a student at carroll is getting to see my classmates and teachers everyday at school

What should school “do” for you?

I think school should make you excited for the rest of your life, knowing that we are getting a quality education at Carroll will help us in the long run.  Doing anything in school should feel like an accomplishment.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A lesson I learned when I overcame a difficult obstacle in my life is that even though it may feel like you can’t open up about your struggles, you will ultimately always have someone in your corner even if you don't realize that they are there.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to grow up and be successful in my career and end up living on a lake with a beautiful lake house and family.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like spending my free time with my friends and family by watching a good movie or TV show or driving around singing and listening to music.

Ally Gozum ‘19 has always dreamed of a career working in entertainment.  When she graduates from The Ohio State University on May 7, that dream will come true thanks to an educational experience that began her senior year at Archbishop Carroll High School and went viral during her senior year in Columbus.

Throughout her final year as a Buckeye, Gozum has interned for the university’s communications and public relations team.  Her biggest and most visible task has been imagining and producing original content for the university’s Instagram and TikTok profiles.  Each post starts as an idea in a brainstorming session with the four member team of full time university employees who manage the accounts.  Once the team approves an idea, Gozum creates the post without much further input.  Sharing campus life with more than 500,000 followers has been a rewarding and educational experience.

“It feels unreal,” Gozum said.  “It’s opened my eyes to the world of social media, and I’ve learned a lot about it.  I love going to Ohio State, so I love being part of this team and advocating for a school that I’m really passionate about.”

Her experience running a social media account started with a much smaller audience in the fall of 2018.  As the Communications Captain for Mercy House, Gozum first learned how to create and schedule content for social media.  The skills she learned at Carroll enabled her to grow at Ohio State.

Carroll helped me so much as being a great foundation for all of my college classes.  I had to take Spanish here for a few credits, and those classes at Carroll really prepared me.

“We talk about our content strategies and planning, so it’s really cool being able to apply the knowledge I learned at Carroll into this job.”

Gozum also spent the summer before her senior year at Ohio State interning for a global public relations firm in her hometown of Chicago.  Working with influencers to promote consumer good brands like Ninja, Shark, and Whirlpool all while networking created a portfolio of demonstrated skills to strengthen her resumé for her job search.  

Although she is preparing to sign out of the Ohio State account one last time, Gozum has already accepted a spot in NBC Universal’s west coast Page program after rounds of interviews and collaborating with other job candidates to design a marketing campaign.  She will rotate through programs in public relations, marketing, and communications to help promote NBC Universal’s scripted television shows and feature films.  As she moves west to begin her career, Gozum credits Carroll with laying a foundation for her success.

“Carroll helped me so much as being a great foundation for all of my college classes.  I had to take Spanish here for a few credits, and those classes at Carroll really prepared me.”

Lucy Buhrman '24, Mercy House, with Mrs. Linda Edwards

Lucy has accepted to major responsibility of being next year's yearbook editor.  She has spent this semester getting ready for a great book her senior year!

-Mrs. Linda Edwards

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in Tennis and Yearbook.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

The community. I think having a small student body makes it so much better because everyone knows each other, and it is a lot more personal.

What should school “do” for you?

I think school should set you up for a good future to be successful.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Turn to music!! When I'm going through a hard time, I find that Taylor Swift always has a song that can relate to it. Listening to her songs can always help me get through it. You could do that with any artist you like, too!

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To meet queen Taylor Swift!

Gunnar Shiverdecker '25, Mercy House, with Mrs. Nicole Druck

Gunnar is an all around great kid.  His school spirit stands out as he went especially all in for Homecoming Spirit Week bringing a smile to everyone’s face.  He is very kind to everyone as well.

What activities do you participate in?

I'm a member of Chess Club and considering trying out for the Bowling Team.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is probably the sense of community, because despite me not being the most outgoing person, it took me almost no time to open up to others and make friends.

What should school “do” for you?

School should give me a place to not only prepare for the future that lies ahead of me and help me build friendships with people that will be there for me years after I've graduated.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I've come to learn from my obstacles that what comes after an obstacle is always worth pushing for, even if it's just a sense of accomplishment.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to give back to the BMX scene. With how much it has given me, I'd love to give back in any way possible, whether it be starting my own brand, opening a bike shop, or just helping the next generation of BMX riders by giving them extra parts or advice on a trick they can't seem to figure out.

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend the majority of my free time outside of school riding BMX, laying down some nasty riffage on my 5 string bass, trying to figure out what to make for breakfast as a vegan, or playing video games with friends.

Roberto Coronel Ramirez '26, Mercy House, with Dr. Cody Smith

Roberto has been very engaged and works hard inside and outside of the classroom. While he prefers to work alone, I have noticed that he is willing to get outside of his comfort zone and work with his classmates during group activities. He is always one of the first students to attempt to answer questions and will ask questions when he needs assistance. While these are all great qualities in a student, the thing that I think puts him over the edge is at the end of class, he will go around the classroom and put up any chair that doesn't get put up by other students before he leaves for the day.

-Dr. Cody Smith

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in soccer.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

The teachers at Carroll are what I like the most.

What should school “do” for you?

School should help me with what I need to achieve my goals.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Never giving up is very important.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

Leading a happy life.

How do you like spending your free time?

Playing soccer with my friends.

Lauren Morquecho '23, Mercy House, with Mrs. Mary Ollier

Lauren Morquecho is the Inter-House Captain for Mercy House.  She is particularly skilled at welcoming, encouraging, and including her fellow students in activities and events. Lauren is upbeat and positive, and she's a champion for a student who may feel unincluded or is having a tough day. On schedule pick-up day, Lauren worked with native Spanish-speaking families to help those families complete the tasks needed for the start of the school year, and on Meet the Teacher night, she led our Family Room session by describing the academic, spiritual, emotional, and community benefits of Family Room and our House System.

-Mrs. Mary Ollier

What activities do you participate in?

I am in Spanish Honors Society, Spanish Club, Innerhouse Captain for Mercy and Softball.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the nurturing of the House System Family Rooms and the welcoming community.

What should school “do” for you?

It should create a positive environment for minority students as well as opportunities for them.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

When you set your mind to something and you 100% know you can do it, do it don’t let someone else tell you that you can’t.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

For my family always to feel safe and protected.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like spending my free time playing with my little sisters or watching my nephews play their sports.

Evelyn Myers '24, Mercy House, with Mr. Aaron West '07

Evelyn’s work ethic pushes her to stand out among her peers in her success in the classroom, on stage, and in extra-curricular activities.  As a member of Carroll’s color guard, Evelyn’s performance qualities are captivating and draw you into her performance.

-Mr. Aaron West '07

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in Marching Band and also perform in Winter Guard.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is how involved the community is and the many activities the school has to offer. There are so many clubs and sports available for anyone to join.

What should school “do” for you?

School should be a safe place to further your education and also your relationships with others. It should be an area where everyone is comfortable to share their thoughts and learn important life lessons.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I learned the importance of resting when you need to, so you don’t break. If things aren’t working out the way that you wanted, it is best to take a step back and reevaluate the problem

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to become better at viola and art, so I can eventually share what I enjoy with others.  Most importantly, I want to have a family with a lot of cats.

How do you like spending your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my cats, reading, listening to music, drawing, playing video games, and making smoothies.

Jakob Burdick '22, Mercy House, with Mrs. Katie Baker

Jakob is a remarkable student.  His success with his TedTalk and his achievements in Latin class are truly outstanding.

-Mrs. Katie Baker

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in Youth in Government, Revolution, Boy Scouts, Cross Country, Indoor Track and Field, Baseball, Latin Honor Society, and National Honor Society.  I'm also a 2022 TEDxYouth Speaker.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the family environment that is present within the building each and every day. Carroll’s faculty and staff truly care about helping students become successful both in and out of the classroom.

What should school “do” for you?

School should provide a solid foundation for you to be successful outside of the classroom in the real world.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I have learned that everything happens for a reason and that you can always count on your friends and family to support you when you need it most.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to be a successful politician who truly works for their constituents, rather than just themselves. If nothing else, I would love to have a family and be there for my children.

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy watching the news and sporting events, going on a run, or hanging out with my friends.

Hannah Wagner '23, Mercy House, with Mrs. Allie (Walsh) Spurling

Hannah has taken on the leadership role in our family room as a Junior. She has organized events and really helped bring the Family Room together. Taking on a role like that when you are younger than your peers can be intimidating, but she has done it with such grace and poise. Her leadership has inspired others to get involved as well, and I am so grateful for her!

-Mrs. Allie (Walsh) Spurling '08

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in soccer, lacrosse, cross country and indoor track. .

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the  community around me and our school spirit.

What should school “do” for you?

School should help me develop new skills and turn me into the best version of myself.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A lesson I have learned when I overcame a difficult obstacle is to always have hope, because hope improves our quality of life.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to have a job that I can truly enjoy and put my heart and soul into.

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time, I like to hangout with my friends and go shopping with my mom and friends.

Destiny Wright '22, Baltimore House and Preston Davis '23, Mercy House with Mr. Chris Ochs

Both students went well above and beyond what was needed in their clean-up efforts in Study Hall and actually ended up cleaning the cafeteria as well as the hallway between the cafeteria and the gym.

All this was done on their own.  I did not ask them to do it.  They saw a need and a call to action and acted upon it.

To me, these efforts are symbolic of what a Patriot is and should be.

-Mr. Chris Ochs

Destiny Wright:

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in Lacrosse and Powder Puff Football, and I am a Football manager.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is being part of the House System.  I also enjoy how everyone here is so welcoming and nice

What should school “do” for you?

School should be like a second home where you can get a good education and in a friendly environment.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Sometimes you have to get knocked down lower than you have ever been to stand up taller than you ever were.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To join the US Air Force and to own a shelter for only squirrels.

How do you like spending your free time?

I enjoy spending my free time playing lacrosse and hanging out with friends and family.

Preston Davis:

What activities do you participate in?

I play baseball and do service projects.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is how everyone works together and how we have such a good community.

What should school “do” for you?

School should help to push ourselves harder and excel in our academics so that we can be successful later in life.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A lesson I learned when I overcame a difficult obstacle was that no matter if you fail the first time, you should always keep trying and push yourself.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to be successful at what I end up doing for a career and to have a beachfront mansion in Longboat Key, Florida.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like spending my free time hanging out with friends, training my new dog, and trying new things.

Grace Norman '23, Mercy House, with Mrs. Linda Edwards

Grace is truly friendly.  I do not have her in class, but she speaks to me every day.  She has become my go-to for a shadow guide because she is just so nice.

-Mrs. Linda Edwards

What activities do you participate in?

I am currently in Spanish Club, and I am on the Girls Bowling team.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

Honestly, my favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the community we have. I love the teachers and how they are here for you regardless if you take their class or not. I feel that the teachers love their students and know that we are human too, and that we make mistakes and mess up. I feel like this is a really important thing some schools forget.

What should school “do” for you?

I feel like school should prepare us for life outside of academics. It should prepare us for college, but also give us skills for how to deal with life, if we decide not to go to college. I feel like you should be able to take at least one (hopefully more) thing you learned and be able to apply it outside of academics in a positive way. It should also prepare you well for college.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

That a support system of love can really be the thing you need to get through, and it is a lot easier to weather the storm when you have someone.  Also, a small act of kindness can go a long way when someone is having a bad day.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To find a job I love and surround myself with the people I love.

How do you like spending your free time?

I love to read, play games with my dogs and  spending time with my friends.

Aly Walter '21, Mercy House, nominated by Mr. Steve Merland

Aly always has an amazing, positive attitude in class. She is the first to say hello and always wishes me a good day when she leaves. She gives her all ever yday in class.  Every day that we've been online, she regularly chats me to ask how I am doing and has a daily joke for me. She is a ray of sunshine during this tough time. Thank you Aly!

-Mr. Steve Merland

What activities do you participate in?

Spanish Club and Pats Spirit Club

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is getting to be surrounded by a community of amazing people who want the best for you. All of the staff cares so much about the students and it makes you feel at home.

What should school “do” for you?

School should be a place where your best self is able to come through. Also, it should equip you with what you need to accomplish any goal you have.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned when overcoming obstacles is to accept what you cannot change. There is no benefit in letting yourself be upset about something not in your control, as it will only bring you down. You have to continue going further and instead of getting caught up on a problem, work to find the solution

What’s your biggest dream in life?

The biggest goal in my life is to travel the world so I can experience different cultures while meeting new people at the same time.

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy playing my ukulele and guitar. I also like to spend time with my family by watching our favorite movies together or taking our dog to the park. 

Not only is Grace super polite in class but, this week in Go Guardian chats and Google Meet, she thanked me and told me to have a good day at the end of each class.  I have always liked her positive attitude and friendly smile, but they are especially appreciated now.

-Mrs. Laura Wright

Grace Norman '23, Mercy House, nominated by Mrs. Laura Wright

What activities do you participate in?

 I participated in volleyball and bowling, I am an active member of Spanish Club and American Sign Language Club.

What's your favorite art of being a student at Carroll?

I really like being a part of a bigger school and being able to participate in and try so many different sports and clubs. I also like all the different ways the teachers teach.  I really love the teachers.

What should school “do” for you?

It should prepare you for college and expose you to real world situations with people.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

When you go through the difficult thing, you have your friends and family to lean on, but most importantly, you have the Lord to get you through it.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

I don’t really know yet, but what I do know is that I want to always to be surrounded by people that are important to me.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to spend my free time reading, and I really love to spend time with my friends. I also enjoy playing games with my dogs.
 

Kaleb Wourms '20, Mercy House, Nominated by Ms. Claire O' Malley

Kaleb's kindness is infectious. He always has something nice to say and betters the people around him with his positive attitude.

-Ms. Claire O' Malley

What activities do you participate in?

Muse Machine, Drama Club, French Club, National Honor Society, French Honor Society

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I am grateful for the wonderful education I've received and the relationships I've made at Carroll (also Ms. O' Malley)!

What should school “do” for you?

School should prepare anyone for a happy and productive life, both professionally and personally.

What's a lesson you learned by overcoming a difficult obstacle?

Through any obstacle I've faced, I've learned that it is important to never give up, believe in yourself, and lean on your friends.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream is to bring about positive and lasting change on a global scale.

How do you like spending your free time?

During my free time, I enjoy reading, playing piano, and spending time with my amazing friends.

As a community, Carroll High School excels in community service and donating.  Our students and faculty have lived up to this reputation recently with Bottles for Babies and Penny Wars projects by bringing in money to help these two causes.  Friday, February 28th during Family Room, our Houses had a competition to bring in pennies for Penny Wars.  This competition brings attention to communities without clean water around the world.  A donut party was the prize for the House that had the highest score based on the amount of money collected, and Mercy House won the reward!

Our Houses are deeply passionate about community service and helping others out. Mercy is no exception, and our students go over and beyond to help those in need. One student who embodies this amazingly well is Delany Conger '21 from Family Room 104. She went out of her way to help teach a fellow Mercy student some math they had missed from being out.  Mercy is the place to be!  Keep it up Mercy, and congratulations on your win of Penny Wars!

Mrs. Tara Ashworth and Anh Pham '20

Anh Pham '20, Mercy House

What activities do you participate in?

National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Mercy House Academic Captain, International Club, and Spanish Club

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part about being a student at Carroll is finding comfort in the fact that I walk into a loving community of teachers and students who care about me each and every day!

What should school “do” for you?

School should help you embrace your passions, develop your values and beliefs, and most importantly, help you discover the positive attributes and qualities that make up your identity and character.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I've learned that hard work and dedication truly pay off and that everything does not need to be perfect.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dreams in life are to live in Grenada, Spain, and to one day see the northern lights paint the sky in person.

How do you like spending your free time?

I love spending my free time playing the piano, volunteering, writing, biking, eating ice cream, and spending time with the people I love.

"Being a hard-working student at school and in school activities has helped Anh balance her grades and the need to fulfill her many commitments to organizations in the community. She is one of the most dedicated and unique Spanish Honor Society members that I have had the pleasure of teaching. In my years as an educator, I have not seen someone so dedicated to pursuing their dreams as I have seen in Anh. With her extremely well-rounded variety of gifts and talents and her extraordinary amount of dedication to succeed inside the classroom, I have no doubt that she will continue to work hard to achieve her goals in college." - Mrs. Tara Ashworth

Emily Walls '22 with Mr. Dennis Brun '85 

Emily Walls '22 Mercy House

What activities do you participate in?

Volleyball, Jazz Band, Mass Choir, Balloon Club, Spanish Club, Cooking Club, and Drama Club

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I like how there's so many different clubs and activities that you can get involved with at Carroll.

What should school “do” for you?

School should teach you how to be responsible and how to manage your time to help you succeed in the future.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I learned how to persevere, try my hardest, and never give up when something seems impossible. 

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream is either become a piano teacher or English teacher.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like playing piano at Mass, playing volleyball, or hanging out with my friends during my free time.

"I would like to nominate Emily Walls for her role in our liturgical choir. She gives of herself to be at practices, and she helped out on a weekend to play for the alumni mass, as well. She's an outstanding musician and is very easy to work with. I know she's also very busy with volleyball in the fall, so I really appreciate her commitment to helping lead our student body in prayer." - Mr. Dennis Brun '85

Joshua Fischer '21 with Mrs. Joyce (Potts) Dunham '83 

Joshua Fischer '21, Mercy House 

What activities do you participate in?

Marching Band

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love the people and all the teachers and staff!  I also really love the morals that Carroll strives to instill in the students.

What should school “do” for you?

School should be where you learn the necessities of life and help shape you for your future.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Stay strong and persevere!  If you're in a tough situation, just know it will get better.  Also, listen to your parents.  They're always right, even if you don't want to believe it.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

I would love to coach an NFL team or college football team.  I would also love to retire and buy a farm in Wyoming.

How do you like spending your free time?

I love watching and playing football, listening to music, finding new TV shows, 

"Josh will reach out to others and try to be a good friend to those who seem alone. He noticed a student sitting alone at lunch and he picked up his lunch and went to sit with the other student." - Mrs. Joyce (Potts) Dunham '83