The Paw Print

By Alexa Gola and Kieran Blake, Editors-in-Chief

“Everyone is excited for you,” Principal Shabazz said to the National Merit semifinalists. 

Except for us. Outside the school’s front doors, students gathered for what was technically the second time to take a group photo. Some students hid toward the back, while others kept a straight face when told to smile. 

Minutes before, students mingled in the hall, waiting for administrators to emerge from their offices. While some made easy conversation, others wondered why they were locked into enrichment to take a photo. Some had clubs to run, some had college visits to attend and some just did not want to be there. 

“What if we just leave?” one student asked. 

“We could go now,” another replied. 

Their words echoed exactly what happened the previous week, when students were emailed to meet at the front entrance to take a semifinalists’ photo for the first time. While many initially gathered, they soon dispersed to their own enrichments, leaving a handful of latecomers to do the same. 

The original email, under the subject line “2026 National merit Scholarship Semifinalists,” read:

“Congrratulations,

Dr. Shabazz would like you all to come down at the beginning of enrichment today to take a group photo.  

Thanks

Mrs. Grubich”

A week later, students received a more detailed, personally addressed email from Assistant Principal Moon-Sarudi:

“Dear [Student] 

We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments! I know you already registered for an enrichment today, but I am pulling you for a special enrichment with Dr. Shabazz to capture a group photo and honor your achievements. 

Please come to the main office today at the start of enrichment! After the group photo, you are released to your original enrichment.

Thank you for your time!”

This is not the first time students have received such a photo-op request. Last June, 37 Payton juniors received a similar email from Assistant Principal Arabie:

“Hello Junior Students,

Dr. Shabazz would like to congratulate you for achieving a perfect score on the ACT.  Please come down after 3A/12:05 by the security desk where we would like to take a picture with all of you in front of the school.”

Reluctantly, 36 of us met downstairs on the first floor atrium in the middle of the school day to take a group photo. We did not want to take the photo then, and we still do not want to take the photo now. 

In fairness, we appreciate our administration’s efforts to celebrate student success. Payton students should be supported in their academic endeavors and recognized for their efforts. 

That said, Payton should celebrate students in a way we would like to be celebrated. If a student does not wish to publicize their test scores, their wishes should be respected, even more so if test scores are private—like they were with the ACT. Group photos should be framed as an invitation to those who would like to participate, and students’ explicit consent would be appreciated before publicizing their (sometimes private) academic information. 

Truthfully, we are excited for ourselves. We enjoy celebrating our classmates’ success, and we hope to continue to do so throughout the year. We only ask to celebrate in a way that respects all of our wishes.