"Yearbook superlatives are something romanticized in TV shows, movies, songs, and media culture, immortalizing the tradition as something deeply embedded in American culture."
-Declan Mcmahon
Yearbook superlatives are something romanticized in TV shows, movies, songs, and media culture, immortalizing the tradition as something deeply embedded in American culture. The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes them as We have them here at OSA, so I, Declan McMahon, and my partner Triece Kushner decided to interview the 2018-19 Middle School Superlative Winners, in order to give you an inside look into what it looks like to win one.
6th Graders:
Most Likely to Be a Comedian: Cleo Menconi
Menconi said that she did feel like she deserved the superlative—however humbly adding that there were many students who were serious candidates who also deserved to win. As soon as Menconi saw that she was on the nominee list for this award, she told her closest friends—but not in a braggy way, just sharing the information with them. Unfortunately, while she had their support, many people she knew straight up told her they were voting for someone else. This made her doubt herself, and timidly think: “Well, I was kind of hoping to win it.” She didn’t, however, say that to anybody, because she thought it would be pushing them. For the same, reason, she didn’t bribe anybody with candy, make signs, or verbally campaign herself for this, because it was plainly against her morals.
Another reason she believes she deserves it is because she tries to take a new stance on comedy. Instead of trying to be funny wherever she went, with premeditated jokes, she reacts to certain situations, with humor on the spot. She also tries to touch on heavier, more serious subjects in her jokes, as she feels something serious can become more lighthearted and easier to confront when put into a good joke. She’s very surprised, proud, and happy that she won.
Cheeriest Person: Meirav Roisman
When I interviewed Roisman about her superlative, she said she was incredibly surprised and confused, because she doesn’t think she deserved the award. Many see her as a very cheery person, myself included, but she doesn’t wholly believe that herself.
“I don’t go around thinking in my mind oooh gotta make everyone cheery today,” said Roisman. “In fact, earlier today I was kind of being a jerk to someone, and now I feel bad.”
Well, all humans make mistakes—even the cheeriest Roisman said someone who she had practically grown up with, Tessa Cheng, was her inspiration for positivity, and that she was the one who got her to be kinder and cheerier. While she may not be confident in herself, on the whole, the OSA populace believes that she is the cheeriest middle schooler on campus.
Best Eyes: Nuala Caygill-Walsh
Caygill-Walsh is normally a very humble person, but she was very proud and adamant about winning her superlative. When asked in the interview if she felt she deserved Best Eyes, she said “I actually do because I’m so great and I have the best eyes.” It’s good to be confident in your beliefs and good qualities, and Caygill-Walsh sure was. According to her, she told everybody in the halls to vote for her, and shouted in the middle of class, “Vote Nuala for Best Eyes!” She was reportedly very confused how she had won, because it’s hard to spell her full name, but not surprised at all that she did win
Most Likely to Win The Voice: Monique Wethy
While Wethy is good enough to get into vocal, she doesn’t believe she should have won this superlative. She said she probably would never audition for The Voice anyway. However, she does feel good about winning it, and says she thinks it fits her, and she wouldn’t want to win a different superlative. Wethy says that although surprised and confused about winning, she’s glad and happy that others think she has a good voice.
Most Likely to Direct an Oscar Award Winning Film: Joaquin Montes de Oca
Montes de Oca said in the interview that it has always been in the back of his mind that, if he got the opportunity, time, and money, he might like to direct a movie. However, since he hadn’t told many people about this fantasy, he called it “creepy” that anyone would nominate him for the award. And while he was glad that he did win, not necessarily this, but anything, he would’ve preferred to win Most Likely to Publish a Novel. He joked about how “enraged” he was that he got no recognition from his peers on his accomplishment as a novelist, so show him some love. Overall, Montes de Oca is surprised, but proud.
Best Comebacks: Ansel Chan
Chan was the favorite to win best comebacks, ever since people saw him on the nominee sheet. While he maintains that he didn’t campaign himself, some others and I, seem to vaguely remember him spreading the word to vote for him. But nevermind that, Chan deserves it. He doesn’t think he deserved it, only because he says, “Nobody else does comebacks.” I wouldn’t doubt yourself so much, Chan. He does have a reputation for his wit. He says that he gets it all from reading, but he truly is like an insult mirror.
Most School Spirit: Kyra Easterday
When asked about why she decides to represent the school she so much, Easterday cackled and launched into a long explanation of her and her mom’s adamancy for school spirit. She said that every time she hears there’s a spirit week, her and her mom get super excited and dig through their closet and go shopping for whatever they needed. Easterday said she didn’t ever even need to campaign for school spirit, because she felt it was her obliged duty, and sort of her “thing” to dress up for spirit week. Though surprised she one anything, in the end, Easterday was not surprised that the superlative was “Most School Spirit”
Best Rapper: Levi Griffin
Griffin said he didn’t think he deserved best rapper, as he raps as sort of a joke, though he does have music on Soundcloud. He said that he jokingly told his friends to vote him for best rapper, but was very surprised that he actually got it. Griffin’s favorite rapper and inspiration is Lil Pump. When I asked him to walk me through the process of writing his songs, he said that all you have to do is copy other rappers’ best lines, and pretend that you’re rich and have a big car, and you’ll be all set.
Most Likely to Win an Oscar: Kiva Jones
Jones said that though she felt that she didn’t deserve this superlative, she is happy that she got it, saying “Oscars are cool.” She talked a lot about what actors she liked, Cole Sprouse being prominent among them. Jones said that while she didn’t promote herself, nor get any recognition from her peers for being nominated(she didn’t even know she was nominated, in fact), she was hoping to get that, or Most likely to be on Broadway.
6th Graders:
Most Likely to Be a Comedian: Cleo Menconi
Menconi said that she did feel like she deserved the superlative—however humbly adding that there were many students who were serious candidates who also deserved to win. As soon as Menconi saw that she was on the nominee list for this award, she told her closest friends—but not in a braggy way, just sharing the information with them. Unfortunately, while she had their support, many people she knew straight up told her they were voting for someone else. This made her doubt herself, and timidly think: “Well, I was kind of hoping to win it.” She didn’t, however, say that to anybody, because she thought it would be pushing them. For the same, reason, she didn’t bribe anybody with candy, make signs, or verbally campaign herself for this, because it was plainly against her morals.
Another reason she believes she deserves it is because she tries to take a new stance on comedy. Instead of trying to be funny wherever she went, with premeditated jokes, she reacts to certain situations, with humor on the spot. She also tries to touch on heavier, more serious subjects in her jokes, as she feels something serious can become more lighthearted and easier to confront when put into a good joke. She’s very surprised, proud, and happy that she won.
Cheeriest Person: Meirav Roisman
When I interviewed Roisman about her superlative, she said she was incredibly surprised and confused, because she doesn’t think she deserved the award. Many see her as a very cheery person, myself included, but she doesn’t wholly believe that herself.
“I don’t go around thinking in my mind oooh gotta make everyone cheery today,” said Roisman. “In fact, earlier today I was kind of being a jerk to someone, and now I feel bad.”
Well, all humans make mistakes—even the cheeriest Roisman said someone who she had practically grown up with, Tessa Cheng, was her inspiration for positivity, and that she was the one who got her to be kinder and cheerier. While she may not be confident in herself, on the whole, the OSA populace believes that she is the cheeriest middle schooler on campus.
Best Eyes: Nuala Caygill-Walsh
Caygill-Walsh is normally a very humble person, but she was very proud and adamant about winning her superlative. When asked in the interview if she felt she deserved Best Eyes, she said “I actually do because I’m so great and I have the best eyes.” It’s good to be confident in your beliefs and good qualities, and Caygill-Walsh sure was. According to her, she told everybody in the halls to vote for her, and shouted in the middle of class, “Vote Nuala for Best Eyes!” She was reportedly very confused how she had won, because it’s hard to spell her full name, but not surprised at all that she did win
Most Likely to Win The Voice: Monique Wethy
While Wethy is good enough to get into vocal, she doesn’t believe she should have won this superlative. She said she probably would never audition for The Voice anyway. However, she does feel good about winning it, and says she thinks it fits her, and she wouldn’t want to win a different superlative. Wethy says that although surprised and confused about winning, she’s glad and happy that others think she has a good voice.
Most Likely to Direct an Oscar Award Winning Film: Joaquin Montes de Oca
Montes de Oca said in the interview that it has always been in the back of his mind that, if he got the opportunity, time, and money, he might like to direct a movie. However, since he hadn’t told many people about this fantasy, he called it “creepy” that anyone would nominate him for the award. And while he was glad that he did win, not necessarily this, but anything, he would’ve preferred to win Most Likely to Publish a Novel. He joked about how “enraged” he was that he got no recognition from his peers on his accomplishment as a novelist, so show him some love. Overall, Montes de Oca is surprised, but proud.
Best Comebacks: Ansel Chan
Chan was the favorite to win best comebacks, ever since people saw him on the nominee sheet. While he maintains that he didn’t campaign himself, some others and I, seem to vaguely remember him spreading the word to vote for him. But nevermind that, Chan deserves it. He doesn’t think he deserved it, only because he says, “Nobody else does comebacks.” I wouldn’t doubt yourself so much, Chan. He does have a reputation for his wit. He says that he gets it all from reading, but he truly is like an insult mirror.
Most School Spirit: Kyra Easterday
When asked about why she decides to represent the school she so much, Easterday cackled and launched into a long explanation of her and her mom’s adamancy for school spirit. She said that every time she hears there’s a spirit week, her and her mom get super excited and dig through their closet and go shopping for whatever they needed. Easterday said she didn’t ever even need to campaign for school spirit, because she felt it was her obliged duty, and sort of her “thing” to dress up for spirit week. Though surprised she one anything, in the end, Easterday was not surprised that the superlative was “Most School Spirit”
Best Rapper: Levi Griffin
Griffin said he didn’t think he deserved best rapper, as he raps as sort of a joke, though he does have music on Soundcloud. He said that he jokingly told his friends to vote him for best rapper, but was very surprised that he actually got it. Griffin’s favorite rapper and inspiration is Lil Pump. When I asked him to walk me through the process of writing his songs, he said that all you have to do is copy other rappers’ best lines, and pretend that you’re rich and have a big car, and you’ll be all set.
Most Likely to Win an Oscar: Kiva Jones
Jones said that though she felt that she didn’t deserve this superlative, she is happy that she got it, saying “Oscars are cool.” She talked a lot about what actors she liked, Cole Sprouse being prominent among them. Jones said that while she didn’t promote herself, nor get any recognition from her peers for being nominated(she didn’t even know she was nominated, in fact), she was hoping to get that, or Most likely to be on Broadway.
