All About Sirena Troutt

Sirena Troutt hates two things: mispronunciation of her awesome name and all of the freaky scenes in the show Bridgerton. Sirena is pronounced sigh-reen-ah. Si is pronounced like sigh, fly, guy, and if you say it wrong, you could die (metaphorically). Our lovely, theater-kid copy editor is in her first year being a part of the MHS Auroran team. 

“I had a really fun time in Journalism One. I thought it was like a nice break from writing all the essays, and it was nice to be able to focus my writing on something a lot more casual.”

Being able to write about things she’s passionate about is more enticing compared to writing essays based on a rubric and grading off of high expectations. Writing for the MHS Auroran puts less pressure on the writer to explain everything in heavy detail. (because people who read our stories are soooo smart)

“You can rely on your readers to make inferences. And overall, I just think it’s like, it’s a nice breather for me from having to write these really long cases for my English class.”

Although the newspaper makes for a more casual setting of writing, the class is extremely collaborative. Each student has a role, and more than one person has to be involved with every single story. Though asking for help is encouraged, it has been a challenge for si to reach out first.

“My brain decides to tell me that’s, like, showing weakness.”

After being in harder classes and repeatedly meeting high expectations, needing assistance is just something she’s not exactly used to. 

“I can’t ask for help without feeling like secretly the person I’m asking for help is looking down on me in some way.”

She has chosen to challenge herself with Newspaper, an extremely collaborative class, and hopes she excels in her other classes as well. Another exciting class on her schedule this year is Independent Art Studio One.

“You complete nine projects over the course of the semester, usually in a field of art,  with materials that you want to improve on.”

While the class is still getting adjusted, they choose the medium that they want to improve on for the class, and si plans on using paint this year. So far

“I have honors English. It’s really fun. It’s been really chill so far.”

Writing and history are her forte, as opposed to math in science. In AP Lang and Composition, juniors are currently in their public speaking unit. This is easy for her; she shares that it bodes well for her.

“I don’t have much overlap with history in terms of like essay writing. History is the big thing that I’m going to be writing essays for.”

In history up to 1877, a concurrent year-long program offered at MHS, the class focuses on extensive writing projects and college-level work. Si is a bit nervous since the workload is heavier than an average history class, and on the second day, the students were assigned an essay over a nine-page-long source material. 

“I’m like, really excited for all of them.. But I have some definite dread about history.”

Though there is a lot of writing involved, stringing together words is her forte, so her essay was well written and turned in early. 

“Mine clocked in at like four pages because I could not shut up.”

Composing detailed stories and essays comes easily to si, which explains her excitement to be a part of the newspaper class with an important role.

“Because newspaper has a style of writing where what you’re writing about is something that you’re passionate about to begin with, I can turn it out a little faster because I’ll be operating on pure adrenaline.”

The incentive for her writing will mostly be based on passion and interest, driving her to dive into the topic the story is on, and making the work happen in a short amount of time.

“It’s kind of like stretching out the deadline because you get that extra time on top of any course you complete at home.”

On top of learning about certain time periods in school, Si is fond of Regency, specifically the Georgian era and nobility. Besides Jane Austen novels, she started getting into the show Bridgerton. 

“I really love, um, I’ve recently gotten like really into noble, like courting customs and like debutantes and the like social season where like all the girls would make their, like social debut and try and find a husband.”

Besides providing insight into the regency era in England, the show also includes some very frisky scenes.

“They were not lying when they said it was freaky.”

Other than bingeing Netflix with her mom, Si also traveled this summer, which ended up intertwining with some of her other interests. She took a trip to Minnesota to see Cabaret at the Minneapolis Guthrie Theater.

“I really love theater. Like, theater is my life. Ever since I started doing theater in middle school, I’ve been plunged, like, into this world that I can’t get enough of. 

This year marks 5 years of learning lines, memorizing stage directions, and acting them out on stage.

“I was in last year’s play, Radium Girls. I was Diane Reeder.”

The show, about the consequences young women faced from painting with radium, was performed by the mhs theater department. She had a fun time learning stage directions and the story that many girls experienced in real life.

“It was a really interesting show because there wasn’t really an antagonist. It was just people doing what they had to ensure, like self-preservation and survival.”

The downside of being involved with plays and musicals is the skills required to be involved. She doesn’t have any formal training in dancing or singing, but improvises in some shows by working behind the scenes instead.      

“Being in crew, because you’re behind the scenes, you get a lot more personal interaction. And it’s also a smaller group. So you have a lot more personal moments. Everything feels very tight-nit.”

As opposed to the quick pace and high pressure of acting, working with the stage crew provides a more laid-back way for si to still be involved with the show. In the backstage crew, members of the play place set pieces between scenes and clean them up. More than being in the show, Si also loves watching shows, her favorite being the Broadway show Hadestown.

“Ever since I was really little, I’ve been really into ancient stories and creation myths. I also think it’s really because I’m a hopeless romantic.”

Other than hopelessly fawning over love stories, she also hopelessly waits for people to pronounce her name right.

“Every time someone comes across my name for the first time, it’s literally a 100% guarantee that it gets messed up.” 

Due to the repetitive mistakes, she has decided to change what she goes by.

“This year, I’ve just started using my full first name. I feel like I shouldn’t have to shorten my name just because it’s, like, easier for other people.”

She continues to be her most authentic self despite people’s weak attempts at pronunciation. She shared that the inspiration for her name was her great-grandmother, Thelma Sirena Foster. 

“I would say that writing is definitely my creative outlet, and it’s allowed me to bring a lot of ideas that I’ve had to life, especially in fiction writing. I love writing fantasy and short stories, and sci-fi. I just really like out-of-this-world stuff.”

Si is filled with excitement to join the team, but also ecstatic to put a spotlight on theater. 

 As far as what I hope to get out of newspaper, I would like to give the MHS drama department a little bit more exposure. Definitely. I would like to highlight the creative side of MHS. 

Give our newest copt-editor a warm welcome by reading her newest story on the MHS Auroran Today!