Lainey Maniak’s graduation from Edina High School also concludes her Zephyrus career. Although Lainey’s departure from Zephyrus is a bittersweet goodbye, she leaves behind two productive years as a great writer and conscientious copy editor.
Lainey initially joined Zephyrus during her junior year, and her first article has always been one of her favorites. “My first article that I wrote was about whether or not the monarchy should exist in the [United Kingdom],” she said. “I got to work with an artist, Hope Berge, and… we worked well together and I liked the article.”
For her senior year, Lainey earned the role of copy editor, which fit her nicely because of her eye for detail. “I’m really picky. Copy editor fits well with my personality and the things I care about. I like things to be right,” she said. In the same year, she wrote another favorite article, a piece about comedian Matt Rife and cancel culture recognized by the national Best of SNO news publication, who she describes as someone who “hasn’t really lived a life.”
Aside from the writing, Lainey’s favorite aspect of Zephyrus is the connection it builds between her and the community. “A lot of my closest friends are on staff, so [Zephyrus] got me closer to them,” she said. “It just makes me a more engaged person with the school.”
Outside of Zephyrus, Lainey is co-president of both Art Club and Knitting Club, a percussionist in Concert Band, a quad section leader for Marching Band, and works on the Edina Education Fund STEAM and Mental Health LEAD teams. Perhaps because of all her extracurriculars, she has failed to show up on time to even a single K-pop Club meeting this year but aspires to make one before the school year ends.
Post-high school, Lainey’s short-term goals include getting flung off of a mechanical rodeo bull at a graduation party while her long-term ones involve feeding her nitpickiness through accounting. As for Zephyrus, she hopes younger Zephyrites continue to improve their craft, care about their work, and “pay the snack man” (Devarsh Borah).
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on May 24, 2024
