Through the stressful tests and early mornings, one thing keeps us students going: our friends.
Not the kind of friends you stumble upon in class, share a laugh with and then go your own ways.
But the kind of friends that will be at your wedding, your baby showers, and all your stories to your kids.
For many, that friend is Austin Howell.
The people who know Austin know he has a strong capability to make anyone happy.
From his work as a photographer in the journalism class to his dedication to the wrestling team, Austin has no shortage of talent throughout the school.
“He almost always has a big goofy grin on his face and is cracking jokes; his humor and joy are contagious,” Ashley Marrazzo said.
Ashley has known Austin for years and is a prominent member of many of his favorite high school memories.
From their movie marathons to bus rides home from wrestling, the two are in many of each other’s good memories.
Beyond this friendship, Ashley holds a first-hand account of Austin’s growth throughout Austin’s final year of high school, specifically on the wrestling team.
“Watching his wrestling season and how he interacts with his teammates was incredible to see how the kid that was quiet in the back row for so many years can branch out and be as social as he is around a group,” Marrazzo said.
Austin has been wrestling since freshman year and has accomplished a lot, proving himself to be a powerful asset to the team.
“Austin is a funny guy. 99 percent of his humor is dark humor, but I’m practically the same, so I’d assume that’s why we get along pretty well,” Kros O’Brien said.
O’Brien has known Austin since kindergarten, but it wasn’t until middle school that the two became friends.
“Austin’s a good guy. No filter, but funny,” O’Brien said.
After High school, Austin is going straight into a career to save money and begin working immediately.
Although Austin insists on not attending college, some of his favorite times were spent in the classroom.
When asked about his favorite high school memories, Austin replied with Mr. Long’s geometry and Frank’s algebra classes.
And, of course, going to state for wrestling.
Regardless of the boring lectures and assignments, these two math classes shaped Austin’s school life.
Austin is known throughout Lakeland as one of the strongest and most dedicated wrestlers.
“If I could leave an impact, I’d want people to remember me as the person who tried their best and worked hard,” Austin Howell said.
