Welcome to the Student Blog— a new club at ASU Prep Digital where students get to share their voices, writing, and experiences through a digital medium.
These students know first-hand what it’s like to be a student at ASU Prep Digital, so along with posting their own stories and opinion pieces, they will be able to tell about their experiences as a student; navigating online classes and clubs, forging connections in a digital environment, and taking advantage of all the opportunities an online school offers for a student’s future.
Read a little bit about every new blogger here:
Hannah Stewart (Founder)
Graduating Senior
Hey! My name is Hannah and I’m a senior (about to graduate!) here at ASUPD. I travel and move around a lot— I’ve lived in Macau, Hong Kong, and am currently living in Jeju-si, South Korea; this lifestyle makes ASUPD perfect for me. My favourite things include:
- Coffee— I spend wayyy too much time at Starbucks;
- Teaching— I tutor kids in English and math;
- Writing— I promise I will eventually finish that novel I’m trying to write;
- Marvel movies— seriously, I rewatch one at least every two weeks and now tear up every time I hear Back in Black;
- Reading— not as often as I should;
- Gaming— my favourites are The Witcher 3, Portal (1 & 2), Uncharted 4, Spider-Man, God of War, and many others.
I’ve been here since the very beginning, so you can ask me pretty much anything about our school and I should be able to answer it. You can expect blogs about online learning, travel, writing, games, Marvel, etc.; pretty much anything in my life.
Rachel Barker (Editor-in-Chief)
Rising Junior
Hi! My name is Rachel, and I’ve gone to ASUPD since my freshman year. I live in Sierra Vista, Arizona, where I take a lot of dance classes and enjoy going on long walks at night. I also like music, like every other person I’ve met (my favorites are pop/alternative/indie/etc. but honestly… Songs from every genre are awesome.)
I enjoy writing about everything; I’ve written a few short stories and novels, and endless articles or essays on my interests. Some of my favorite topics are writing strategies, mental health, nutrition, self-care, studying tips, and random science facts. (Science is acceptable before math gets involved.)
Illia Solano (Head Blogger)
Rising Senior
Hi there, my name is Illia (pronounce I-lee-ah), and I am currently a junior at ASUPD. I am originally from Costa Rica where my dad is from, though my mom is from the Philippines. I moved to Arizona almost 5 years ago and I currently enjoy being a student at ASUPD. A couple of facts about myself:
- I’m basically bilingual, I speak both English and Spanish.
- I enjoy watching Netflix… a lot.
- I am also an avid movie-goer. Mostly sci-fi, action, fantasy, comedies, and some dramas,
- Cannot for the life of me watch horror movies.
- Occasionally read, when I have the time.
- Love spending time with my two dogs.
- I enjoy both DC and Marvel comics. I even had a class about comic books last year.
In a nutshell, that’s me. I look forward to writing just about anything that comes to mind or that I have previously experienced. Expect the unexpected.
Cayla Baucom
Rising Sophomore
Hello! My name is Cayla Baucom and I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but I’ve lived in Arizona for most of my life. I started high school last August as a freshman here at ASU Prep Digital.
As hobbies, I enjoy skating, playing guitar, and listening to all kinds of music. I am very goal and career-oriented; nearly nothing will halt me if I put my mind to it. I am ambitious and like to keep my interests open for new opportunities. Once I get into university, I am hoping to study biology and criminology, as well as have several independent research projects.
I enjoy writing about ways to motivate my peers so that they can reach their true, full potential. Success in high school will lead to success in university and life, which is why I want to help fellow students as much as possible. I believe in having a strong online community here at our school, and this blog is a wonderful way to do so.
Mackenzie Fox-Jackman
Rising Junior
Hi. My name is Mackenzie Fox-Jackman, I’m 16 years old, and I’m a sophomore currently attending ASU Prep Digital.
I’m originally from a small town called Hays, which is located on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in north-central Montana. I am an enrolled Gros Ventre (pronounced GROW-VONT) and Assiniboine member, and also a descendant of the Blackfeet Nation in Browning, MT. I grew up living the “western way of life”, so to speak and owned many animals. My family and I owned a ranching operation. I spend my fall, winter, and spring in Arizona and my summers on the rodeo trail traveling across some northern states to barrel race in the Indian National Finals Rodeo circuit. I’ve qualified for the INFR 3x in the Jr Barrels throughout my barrel racing career. I hope to learn more by continuing my craft. My family and I moved here with the intention to better our lives and get off of the rez to pursue bigger goals.
As a blogger, I want to write about my life experiences (the important lessons they taught me), managing obstacles through life, school, work, and becoming a better version of myself through writing and sharing.
Taylor Hubbard
Rising Sophomore
My name is Taylor Jane Hubbard. I was born on the 7th of August in the year 2005 A.D. I live in Phoenix, Arizona, where in summer it’s literally hot enough to cook bacon on the sidewalk. My household consists of five children (including myself), a mother, a father, two dogs, a turtle, and seven plants named Gary, Mark, Debbie, Mary Lou, Kai, Shea, and (the latest addition) Marlene. I can usually be found on a bike ride or outside swimming because I wasn’t joking, it’s hot in summer.
When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, strategy games, and knowing random fun facts (examples: did you know a group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope? John Adam’s last words were “Thomas Jefferson still survives” which is ironic because TJ died earlier the same day). I love writing, all types. My personal favorites (for blogging) are poetry and reviews, specifically reviews of books and music. Aside from that, I also enjoy fanfictions and short stories.
Gigi Estrada
Rising Sophomore
Hey! I’m Gigi Estrada. I live in Phoenix, Arizona, I have 2 older siblings and 1 younger sibling, and have 2 pets, a dog and a cat. This is my first year doing ASUPD. I love to spend time with my family, hang out with my sisters, sing/play volleyball with my friend, and help out around church. My favorite things are:
- Starbucks (strawberry acai with lemonade, blended)
- Netflix (‘Law and Order’, ‘Stranger Things’, ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’)
- Music (Shawn Mendes, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, etc.)
- Sleeping
- Eating (hot cheetos)
So you can expect things from me that are about life. I can relate a lot about things that ASUPD students go through. I won’t just be talking about me, but I will talk about how to get through it and just stuff you can start believing. So I hope that I can have a great impact on people, and that I can help people through my words.
Zion Schneider
Rising Sophomore
My name is Zion Schneider. I am originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana but I now live in Queen Creek, Arizona. I have been homeschooled my entire life until I switched to the amazing school of ASUPD. My favorite classes are (right now anyway haha) English and Math. I have a huge interest in screenwriting, architecture, and the overall design of homes.
I exceedingly love to audition and perform in any show I can at Queen Creek Performing Arts Center. As well as performing in musicals I love to watch them. I am obsessed with music and almost love every genre! I am a major writer, and I adore writing fantasy and fiction, as well as non-fiction and encouragement for others. As well as performing and writing, I love to draw and read! I have two lifelong dreams which are getting one of my books published and getting a recording contract after competing on America’s got talent (I am a singer/songwriter).
Meysa Roberts
Rising Junior
I’m Meysa Roberts. I am originally from Grantsburg WI, but moved to Hereford AZ a few years ago. I love most creative activities; such as: writing, art, and music. I love playing instruments; I started by learning the flute in middle school, and am self taught in piano, guitar, cello, and violin. My art consists of lead and charcoal drawings, paintings, and some Special Effects Makeup.
As for writing, I have been working on my own books, and hope to share many short stories through the blog for those who are interested in fictional writing. I would like to make the first few blog posts a bit of a, “Follow me in My Writing Journey,” while working on my second book (which does not yet have a title). My next post will be a more in depth description of the book, and how I got the idea. If this short idea seems interesting look out for later posts: A girl named Willow Winters shares her journey with her viewers on how the world discovered her powers of shapeshifting, and elemental control before she did, and how she became the most sought out military weapon.
Nur Khan
Rising Sophomore
Hi! My name is Nur Khan, and I’m a freshman. I love to travel and explore new places, and these experiences have helped me develop and evolve my creative writing skills. Some of my favorite things include writing, playing basketball, swimming, robotics, roleplaying, reading, and trying out different healthy cuisines- a local favorite restaurant in AZ is True Food Kitchen (yum!).
ASUPD is perfect for me because not only can I study, but I can focus on my hobbies and enjoy other things in life too. For blogging, I was thinking writing about how to make the best out of online school, tips for success, and topics that are interesting and inspirational to the audience!
Miguel Villa
Rising Sophomore
Hey ASUPD students, my name is Miguel Villa and I am a new blogger for this school. Unbeknownst to many of you are a few facts which I’d like to share with you as I will hopefully be conveying opinions and general information with the student body in the near future.
I reside in a small town that is known as Nogales and am a 9th grader. Specifically, my abode is found north of Nogales by a few miles in the more sublime Rio Rico. A town derivative of a rural and Mexican hybrid that I call home. Some of my hobbies include trumpet playing. Specifically, Jazz, although I have been predominantly practicing classical due to technical exercises. I also enjoy nature and specifically the challenges presented through hiking and exploring. I am also quite fond of anything that has to do with technology. Specifically, the application of it which allows me to build different mechanical projects. Recently I have been intrigued by the making of apps and am taking an online course, due to COVID, to be able to improve these skills.
That’s a bit about me and I am exuberant about the idea of writing for this blog.
Marco Fernandez
Rising Junior
My interesting day to day life consists of long walks from my living room couch to the fridge and back. I then settle down and munch on snacks as preparation for my very involved and busy day which entails roller skating, playing my ukulele, drawing or painting, and petting my several dogs and guinea pigs. I am a foodie and from time to time I craft new recipes for my family. Usually my dishes are a hit or miss but no matter what everyone appreciates my effort. If I have extra time and energy by the end of the day I dance in front of a mirror. Things I think about often as I am drifting off into sleep are music, the latest episode of the TV show I might be indulging in, or what my next sewing project might be.
It is evident that I am a person of many passions but it doesn’t end there. My special interests include forensic science, poetry, current public social issues, and obsessing over cheesy rom-coms. My newest hobby is blogging. I am so excited to be on this team.
Mahayla Palachuk
Rising Sophomore
Hello everyone! My name is Mahayla and I am a Freshman with ASUPD. I live in Mescal, Arizona, I have been doing online school my whole life, and just recently came to and became an ASU Prep Digital student in January and am loving every minute of it! I am the Vice-President of the ASUPD book club, a member of the student government, and of course a blogger for the ASUPD Student Blog! Some of my favorite things are:
- Reading- I currently have approximately 641 books and I have read most of them!
- Writing- I currently have my first ever book, The Rise of The Crimson Archer in editing. When I’m not doing school, you can usually find me writing.
- Watching Movies- I am a huge movie fan and love all kinds of movies, especially MCU.
- Doing Schoolwork- When I’m not writing or reading you can usually find me doing schoolwork. ASU Prep Digital has made school fun for me again, and I wake up every day looking forward to seeing what I will do for school that day. While I have some days where I just don’t feel like doing school, or I can’t seem to get anything done, ASU Prep Digital makes it so easy for me to catch up. You can definitely expect blog posts from me all about ASU Prep Digital and my personal (and wonderful) experience with the school.
- Doing Crafts- I am very creative, and love to do different creative crafts and projects, such as paint by numbers and diamond art.
You can except blogs from me about my personal experience so far with ASU Prep Digital and doing school from home, Marvel, writing, reading, books, Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, and much more! Basically, you’ll see blogs about the many different things in my life!
Billie Fechter
Rising Sophomore
Bonjour! My name is Billie Fechter and I live in Scottsdale, Arizona. I enjoy spending most of my time outdoors and playing golf! I have been playing golf for my whole life, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t play.
School is something which is also very important to me. Finding the right balance between studies, friends, and extracurriculars is always a fun challenge. Staying organized is something I strive for but don’t always achieve. I love to write about the organization of almost anything and different creative writing pieces.
As a Taurus sign, honesty is my number one policy. The truth always matters to me, you don’t want to be a Pinocchio! A fun fact about me is that I have been doing online school for 5 years. Experiencing different cultures and traveling is something I love. My goal is to one day travel to over 30 countries! Trying new things and getting out of your comfort zone is hard but rewarding. ASUPD gives me the flexibility and support I need to pursue my passions while enjoying school from home!
Gabby Unangst
Rising Sophomore
Gabby is 11 years old and in 9th grade. Her favorite hobbies include drawing, editing pictures, performing in front of an audience, developing her website/blogging, and training her dog Sparky. Her passion for writing is the reason she wanted to become ASU Prep Digital Blogger.
We hope this blog is able to keep both current and prospective families informed and entertained, and we look forward to the content our bloggers begin creating.