Mainstream – May/June, 2026 – Full Issue

Luise-Emerson Terrel, Zachary Kamba, Rayisa Islam, Serenity Pittman, Samantha Tewodros, and Macoura Niambele

June 3, 2026

Welcome to the third and final print edition of Mainstream for the 2025-2026 school year! Throughout the year, our staff has come a long way by developing their skills as writers and
editors. Student journalists continued to grow in their ability to produce meaningful articles, while also exploring new forms of journalism, such as podcasts and photojournalism. Editors
have strengthened their skills in assembling the newspaper through designing layouts to bring each issue to life. We’re incredibly excited to share this final edition with you!

In this print issue, our news section covers important school events from across the community, including, MCPS students electing a new Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB), retiring staff members, the 2026 prom, and International Night. Our feature section reflects on significant transitions, from seniors looking back at their four years at PB to a heartfelt goodbye from one of our administrators, Dr. Mugerwa. Our senior goodbyes section provides a platform for our Mainstream seniors to say goodbye to readers. Our opinion section dives into a variety of topics such as ending homework for students, a junior taking a look ahead to senior year while also looking back, and a pro/con that dives into whether zoos and aquariums should still exist. In entertainment, readers will find coverage on recent movies including The Devil Wears Prada 2, exciting upcoming film releases for the summer, and Zara Larsson’s pop resurgence. Looking
into sports, some senior athletes take time to reflect on their journey. To celebrate the Class of 2026, our center spread features a special spotlight on seniors, along with a showcase of their destinations post-graduation.

We would like to thank our student journalists and editors who were able to make this final issue possible, and most of all, we extend our gratitude to our advisor, Mr. Woodward, for his guidance and support throughout the year. As we close out the year, we are incredibly proud of the growth and dedication of our staff and we hope you enjoy reading the last edition of Mainstream for this school year!

by: Rayisa Islam

About the Contributors

Luise-Emerson Terrel, co-Editor-in-Chief

Mainstream co-Editor-in-Chief Luise-Emerson Terrel is excited to be in his senior year and to experience some new things this year. Luise has brought a number of strong articles to the pages – and online posts – of Mainstream and has continually strived to inform readers of what’s going on, especially here at Paint Branch and in the community. This year is no different, as his goals for the class are to “write good articles and get 100% each quarter.” When he’s not writing for the school newspaper, you can find him playing video games or watching his favorite shows, which include Survivor and The Amazing Race. When Luise wakes up, he enjoys the smell of his favorite meal, eggs and bacon, which gets him going for the day.

Zachary Kamba, co-Editor-in-Chief

When you walk around the halls of Paint Branch High School, you can often see PB Senior Zachary Kamba in different hoodies. When asked which one is his favorite, it’s a green Missouri Southern State (MSSU) one because even though he doesn’t plan to go there for college, his favorite color is green. As for why, Zach says that he doesn’t really know, but claims he has been “infatuated with the color green since a young age.” Like many other people, Zach likes to listen to music. His top three favorite music genres are: R&B, Rap, and Pop; and his favorite artists include Young Thug, Jorja Smith, and Kesha. Two of the four seasons, fall and winter, are known for their beautiful surroundings. Zach prefers fall over winter because his birthday occurs in fall and he likes it when “the leaves turn brown and stuff” and prefers it over snow. On the topic of winter and snow, a holiday associated with both those things is Christmas, which, besides the presents and joyful songs it brings, also delivers many great movies. Zach’s favorite one is The Polar Express because it reminds him of Christmas and a popular wintertime beverage, hot chocolate. Another thing Zach enjoys is traveling. Out of the seven continents in the world, he has visited North America, Africa, and Europe, and hopes to visit the other four soon. Places he is interested in traveling to in the future are the Caribbean, Japan, and Russia, because of their beauty, qualities, and differences from the United States. Sometimes on the internet, you can find various people explaining how a trip they took went disastrously, but fortunately for Zach, he hasn’t really experienced anything too bad besides people kicking the back of airplane seats, and he hopes the same happens in his senior year at Paint Branch. By: Luise Terrel

Rayisa Islam, Entertainment Editor

High school represents four of the main essential years of our lives. It’s where we start to figure out who we are and who we want to be. Rayisa Islam, a junior at Paint Branch, is in her third year of high school, trying to navigate through life all while balancing a busy academic schedule. As the years begin to pass and she looks beyond high school, she is very excited for what life has to offer. In the short term, she is looking forward to the fall season and all it brings, homecoming, cooler weather, and eventually the Thanksgiving and winter break. She is also thrilled about driving and will soon be getting her license! Rayisa has lived in Maryland her whole life, with all of the schools she has attended only five minutes away from each other. Perhaps that’s why she says that she desires to stay close to home after high school. Rayisa enjoys travelling, and shares that one place she would really love to travel to is Switzerland. She says, “The mountains and the scenery are very beautiful. Figuring out who and what we want to be can be difficult and confusing at times, and Rayisa is no different. Though she is not sure what she wants to be in the future, she does know that she wants to go to college and major in business and finance. Future businesswoman Rayisa already has a busy schedule and describes her life as a bit chaotic. She states that she would title her life with the song “I’m A Mess” by Bebe Rexha because “that’s how my life seems,” she says with a laugh. By: Serenity Pittman

Serenity Pittman, Opinions Editor

On a scale of one through ten, how would you describe your excitement in life at the moment? Do you feel nervous, or are you thrilled for what comes next? Paint Branch junior Serenity Pittman, returning to journalism for her second year, rates her excitement in life as an eight out of ten, saying, “I’m excited to start driving more and experience the back-to-school season.” While juggling the stresses of being a junior, including AP exams and the upcoming SAT, Serenity is also pursuing the Medical Science, Academy of Health Professions pathway at PB, a challenging program, with the hope of becoming either a nurse or a physician’s assistant. As a way to relax from the chaos of school and all of its challenges, music serves as an escape from reality for Serenity. She expresses her enjoyment of going to music-related events, such as concerts, and notes that her favorite artist currently is PartyNextDoor. Music provides a boost of energy and motivation to help her stay on top of her busy schedule. Although Serenity has lived in the area her entire life, attending school football games and participating in other local activities, she has also ventured outside the country. A memorable experience was visiting the Bahamas, where she explored the colorful villages, sunny beaches, lively street life, and went on a cruise. “The cruise was a fun experience, but I’d only go back if I had WiFi,” says Serenity as she laughed. Serenity is the oldest of five children and at times, feels like she has the most responsibilities weighing on her. She shares a close age gap with most of her siblings, ranging from one to three years, and says, “One day we’re best friends, and the other, not.” She adds, “Especially with my youngest brother, who’s an iPad kid.” As she navigates through her junior year and looks toward her future in healthcare, Serenity embraces each moment, excited for the opportunities and new experiences that lie ahead. By: Rayisa Islam

Samantha Tewodros, Center Editor

Macoura Niambele, Front/Back Page Editor

Mainstream Staff, Staff

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Mainstream – May/June, 2026 – Full Issue

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