The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon
The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon
The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon
Aanika Hirode

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Class of 2023

When I'm not panicking about academics, I spend a concerning amount of time watching Gilmore Girls and trying to figure out the release date of Taylor Swift's next album from her cryptic social media posts. I also enjoy playing the piano and singing in my free time. Writing is one of my most gratifying hobbies, and I am excited to be a part of student press this year!

All content by Aanika Hirode
Best Coffee Shops to Study at in Austin

Best Coffee Shops to Study at in Austin

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
May 17, 2023
Cars speed across the stage as the top-level choir performs Life Is A Highway. The choirs worked hard on choosing unique songs this year. Life Is a Highway was a fan favorite of all the families in the audience.

Bye Bye Bye: Choir Concludes Year with Y2K-Themed Performance

Aanika Hirode and Eshaan Chopra
May 5, 2023
Pitcher Dorothy Ziebell 24 launches the ball towards the batter with a powerful throw.

[GALLERY]: Softball Hosts Pre-Season Tournament

Hannah Ashtari and Aanika Hirode
March 2, 2023
NGHS commemorated Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27. Through posters and announcements, they remembered the victims, spreading awareness . Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

#WeRemember: NGHS Partakes in Holocaust Remembrance Day

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
February 14, 2023
Horizons Best Albums of 2022

Horizon’s Best Albums of 2022

Aanika Hirode, Amy Simon, Hannah Ashtari, Indy McBrearty, Jayant Bettadpur, Oliver Barnfield, and Sabrina Kim
January 13, 2023
Korban Murphy 24 attempts to pass other athletes to move up the ranks. Murphy placed the highest out of all the varsity boys, with his 26th place finish leading the team to their qualification.

Varsity Boys Cross Country Claims Victory and Advances to State

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
October 27, 2022
Ganesh Kumarappan ‘23 and Korban Murphy ‘24 celebrate their success after the race. The boys finished in 23rd and 10th place respectively and will be competing at the regional meet.

Varsity Boys Cross Country Qualifies For Regionals

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
October 18, 2022
The varsity girls team celebrates their second place ranking. This meet marked the most medalists the team has had this season.

Cross Country Competes at Final RRISD Invitational

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
October 12, 2022
The SAT seems to have quickly lost importance in recent years, mainly due to most colleges being test-optional. However, it can still be a helpful way to estimate a student’s performance in university, given that access to resources is provided and colleges continue to evaluate applications holistically.

The SAT Isn’t the Problem

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
October 5, 2022
Priya Gangadharan 23 races to the finish line in the 5000-meter run. The team worked hard all summer in preparation for this meet and the rest of our season.

Cross Country Reaches New Heights at Giddings Invitational

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
October 5, 2022
Arjun Bhardwaj 25 and Aarvin Hirode 25 engage in a German conversation based on the discussion questions provided by the officers. Both students are new NGHS members but have experience with learning and using the language.

German Honor Society Kicks off with Kaffeehaus Social

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
October 4, 2022
Preston Sanderville 23 competes in the competitive 5000-meter run. Sanderville ended up earning eighth place in the event, securing a new personal record with his time.

Cross Country Begins Their Season at Vista Ridge Invitational

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
September 1, 2022
On July 1, Netflix released Volume II of Season Four of Stranger Things. This highly anticipated chapter was marked by stellar acting and unique storylines. Graphic by Aanika Hirode.

Stranger Things Turns World Upside Down with Season Four

August 8, 2022

Class of 2022 Makes College Commitments

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
May 28, 2022
Students are now able to move through the hallways during the passing period between first block and flex, but cannot use the flex software to change their flex location yet.

Students Begin to Transition Back to Regular Flex Schedules

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
April 12, 2022
The most significant musical accomplishments of the year were honored at the 64th Grammy Awards on Sunday, April 4th. The big winners of the night were Jon Batiste, Silk Sonic, and Olivia Rodrigo. Artists stunned viewers with their unique outfits and electrifying performances.

The 64th Grammy Awards Were A Sparkling Commemoration of Music’s Greatest Achievements

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
April 4, 2022
The 94th Annual Academy Awards took place on Sunday, March 27. The ceremony had a drastic increase in viewers from last year, and many films such as CODA, Dune, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye took home awards in multiple categories.

The 2022 Academy Awards Recognize Diverse Talent

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
April 3, 2022
On Jan. 25, College Board announced that the SAT would be shifting to a digital format, among other changes. The new test will be implemented in spring of 2024. Students across the globe have varying opinions on the alterations. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Pencils Down: Students Discuss Future of Digital SAT

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
February 14, 2022
Westwood High School has been undergoing construction to expand and improve the campus since spring 2020. The new math wing has recently been completed, and the fine arts facilities are currently being renovated. Photo courtesy of Alana True.

Construction Alterations Have Negatively Impacted the Student Body

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
January 31, 2022
In December 2021, there were reports of alligators roaming in Austin. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has been making plans to remove the alligators. Photo courtesy of Robert Berkowitz

Investigatoring the Recent Austin Alligator Attacks

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
January 6, 2022
On Nov. 19, Adele released her highly anticipated record 30. The album captures the turbulent events of her life, and it became the top-selling album of 2021 just three days after release. Photo courtesy of Billboard.com.

Adele’s ‘30’ Gracefully Captures The Turbulence of Heartbreak

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
December 22, 2021
Three Westwood students earned a perfect score, meaning that they received every point possible on each section, on their 2021 AP exams.

Westwood Students Earn Perfect Scores on 2021 AP Exams

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
December 12, 2021
How Well Do You Know Winter Holidays?

How Well Do You Know Winter Holidays?

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
December 12, 2021
Texas abortion providers and the Justice Department brought legal challenges to the Supreme Court. Several political officers spoke in favor or against the challenge, and the conclusion of the trial shows that the challenge may be allowed to proceed.

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Abortion Law

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
November 26, 2021
On Nov. 12, Taylor Swift released her highly anticipated version of Red. An expressive vignette of heartbreak, Red (Taylors Version) intensifies the magic of the acclaimed album. Graphic by Hadley Norris.

All Too Unwell: ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ Resurfaces Decade-Old Emotions

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
November 23, 2021
Varsity choir, or Chamber Choir, brought the house down with their closing performance. The choir performed The Last Words of David by Randall Thompson, Sing Me to Heaven by Daniel Gawthrop, and When the Earth Stands Still by Don MacDonald.

Westwood Choirs Come Together For a Night of Music at Fall Concert

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
October 25, 2021
Lauren Jackson 23, Katie Liu 23, Zaina Jafri 23, Faith Gonzalez 23, and Promise Salinas 23 wore outfits reminiscent of the 1980s for Decades Day. These bright colors and baggy pants were extremely popular during that time. [My sweater] was actually a hand-me-down from the 80s, Gonzalez said. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to wear it.

That’s the Spirit: Students Showcase Creativity during Homecoming Spirit Week

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
October 25, 2021
Susan Hamilton 23 and Trinity Woods 23 work together on their Chromebook. Photo courtesy of Aanika Hirode.

Chromebooks at Westwood Have Eased the Learning Process

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
October 18, 2021
Amid rising COVID-19 case counts and the emergence of the Delta variant, the Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD) enforced a mandate requiring all students, staff, and faculty to wear a mask. Photo courtesy of Thirdman.

The RRISD Updated Mask Mandate Needs to be Strictly Enforced

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
September 12, 2021
At the RRISD Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 24, students, staff, and parents argued for and against a stricter mask mandate. Ultimately, Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez recommended that masks be required for all students, staff, and visitors with the exception of those with documented health and developmental concerns.

RRISD Tightens Mask Mandate

Aanika Hirode, Arts & Entertainment Editor
August 29, 2021
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