From blue-haired kid to national debater, Talan Lousignont has taken the journey of a Spartan that stands out among us.
Photos by Kiera Classen
The four-year journey of high school can transform a person from the child he was in middle school to a young adult ready to enter the world. That is exactly what has happened to Senior Talan Lousignont at Thomas Jefferson High School.
As a freshman, Talan was somewhat introverted and did not participate in many school activities. However, over the course of his four years at TJ, Talan has become a member of several clubs, including Improv Club and Knit-N-Lit, as well as serving as an officer in Skills USA and captain of the Debate Team. He is also one of TJ’s members on the Student Board of Education.
But in the beginning, Talan was a freshman; just one of many faces in the crowd. “He was nasally [voiced] and dorkier than you could imagine,“ said his friend Forest Lyons. Talan admits to being socially awkward as a freshman. He found himself with just a few friends; a small group of people with whom he ‘clicked’. Without the support of his friends, Talan says he would have never become who he is today. “We’ve become who we are now because of all the people we interact with. My friends and I have grown because we’ve fed off each other mentally,” said Talan.
Talan has had many events that changed him over the years. He says he could not have done this without the help of his friends; his friends would not have given up the experience of having Talan as their friend in high school. Senior Samantha Ockey, a long time friend of Talan’s, said, “High school with Talan has been a trip that I do not even know how to describe.”
But Lyons said it best: “He has gone from an introvert to an extrovert, lost the blue hair, got a normal haircut and become a man.” Talan said that his friends have taught him many things, but the biggest is to, “Be ourselves. My friends have helped me talk more. It’s all about finding people you like.”
Photo by Kiera Classen
Talan began to reach out and he started to gain recognition at TJ for his attributes beyond being “that kid with blue hair.” He started by joining the Debate Team. With his love to bicker over anything, it was a perfect fit. Debate gave him a way to connect with more people, make more friends, and to be recognized in the school community.
During his junior year he joined the ranks of TJ’s Skills USA team, a group that has students practice skills used in the workforce. Through Skills he earned the opportunity to compete at the state level of Skills USA, but was forced to decline because he made it to Nationals in Debate. At the National Debate competition, Talan and his partner, Danite, went to New York to take on teams from the rest of the country. Although they did not place at the national level, he says the experience is one he will never forget. “New York was an amazing experience,” Talan said. “I will always remember the experiences that I had while debating out there, such as visiting a giant Toys-R-Us and being able to ride in a giant ferris wheel with some drama kids I met out there.”
In addition to extracurricular activities, Talan takes a challenging class load. He has an academic letter and he may have found his calling last year when he says Honors Physics with Mr. Vore stole his heart. When he discovered his love for the mechanics of the world around him, he knew he had to take AP Physics. “I wanted a challenging class to take my senior year. And I had heard that this was one of the most difficult, and then the fact that I get to have Mr. Vore again makes it all the better,” Talan said.
As a student, Talan has grown in ways his teachers can see. Stacey Fornstrom, one of TJ’s CCT Magnet teachers, has had Talan for three years in both levels of Software Engineering. He is in the Capstone this year, which is the final level for Software Engineering and many other CCTM classes. “He’s always been creative, but now he’s getting more confident,” Fornstrom said. “I also think he’s doing a better job at focusing on his strengths.”
Talan says he is excited to finish his final year at TJ on a high note, and hopes to continue to make friends. He has some words of wisdom for this year’s freshman class and future freshmen: “Find people you like and don’t try to emulate people you think are popular.”
