By Axel Blake
As the Opinion Editor for his third and final year of The Yorktown Sentry, senior Ajay Allman is ready to close out his high school career and jump into great things. Allman already has his college studies planned and is looking forward to working in the medical field.
“I wanna go study Biology, do a pre-medical track and go to med school,” Allman said.
His passion for anatomy stems past just humans, though. Allman is a self-taught guitar player, specifically figuring out how chords work to make sound with the build and acoustics of a guitar.
“The anatomy of a guitar is similar in a way to [the] anatomy of a body,” Allman said.
He claims not to be a musician, but he does love music, ranging everywhere from Taylor Swift to alternative pop, like Magdelena Bay, throwing in electronic dance music as well.
“I like to always try and listen to something new, and I’ve realized it’s kind of everything … I feel it’s just really bubbly, an easy listen and really nice,” Allman said.
Other than music, Allman enjoys movies, his favorite franchises being the X Trilogy and Harry Potter. Harry Potter has a history in his childhood and is one of the only books he enjoys.
“I do not like reading … I’ve never liked it; I can’t find a book that’s interesting,” Allman said.
When asked for a life rule he lives by, Allman says to keep up relationships, and that you should always keep in mind what someone means to you, whether it be family or friends.
As well as a life rule, Allman also has a hot take: Wave to people in the hallways.
“Even if you don’t know someone that well, but you are a little bit acquainted to them … wave ‘hi’ in the halls … It takes half a second,” Allman said.
Despite living in Arlington his whole life, Allman has traveled outside of the country, with his favorite being India to visit extended family on his mom’s side. But if he had infinite money, he would want to live in New York City with a penthouse overlooking Central Park.
“I would live a really lavish life if I did not have finite money,” Allman said.
Allman has much to look forward to after his high school career, and is almost there. Already, he has left an imprint on our community, and will continue to be an inspiration to future students and reporters. Remember to say “hi” to him if you happen to pass him in the hallways.
By Ajay Allman
You can’t name a cooler person than sophomore Axel Blake. I mean, you can’t think of one thing he hasn’t done.
“I do a lot, mostly creative stuff. I draw, I write, I make scale models, I’ve bound a few books. I’ve made paper, I like camping,” Blake said.
That list in-and-of itself is mind blowing. Blake is overflowing with imaginative genius evident by his vast array of skills. Scale models? Come on, that’s something that has never crossed my mind but it seems like it’s an ordinary Sunday night for Blake. His inspiration to make scale models comes from his time living in Idaho, where he built actual houses.
“I was in the gifted program, and they had us make houses every year, so we would make trailer houses,” Blake said.
Blake is quite the renaissance man. Like his wide range of talents, Blake has lived in a wide range of places.
“I’ve moved about eight times to five different places. I was born in Florida, moved here, then back to Florida, then back here, then North Carolina, Alabama, then Idaho. And now, I’m back here,” Blake said.
Even though Blake has moved all around the nation, his family’s roots are in Argentina.
“The food is great. I love steak. I love grilled food, anything Argentine,” Blake said.
While he may like the food, he wouldn’t take up culinary arts as a career.
“I did want to be a chef for a while, but then I realized cooking was a me thing and I didn’t want to make it my career,” Blake said.
Perhaps a smart choice from Blake, but there is no doubt that he wouldn’t succeed in any area he chooses. With Blake’s visionary eye, he could make hamburger helper look like a work of art.
On the topic of art, Blake has a knack for visual arts; he holds his power with a paintbrush.
“I do a lot of digital art, but I love traditional painting, sketching, and stuff like that,” Blake said.
We will see Blake’s artistry this year on The Sentry as not only will he be a reporter, but also an illustrator. His interest in the paper stems from his craving to learn more.
“I’m big into true crime, so I’ve always loved interviews, asking questions, learning things, research,” Blake said.
When asked to elaborate about his fascination with true crime, Blake posed an interesting thought.
“I want to know more about the mystery. Also the psychology of it, learning why people do what they do, how they do it, why they think they can get away with it,” Blake said.
However, like cooking, Blake doesn’t think he will pursue a career in psychology. So, you might ask, with all these interests and skills, what does Blake see himself doing in 20 years?
“A veterinarian. I love animals. I’ve always loved animals. I have two dogs—a Great Dane and a Pointer—and I also have a snake,” Blake said.
What a future Blake has ahead of him. But before conquering the world, Blake has high school to get through. With his artistic and inquisitive nature, Blake’s future is bound to be as varied and impressive as his talents.
