Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Upstate Teen Demands Portrait With Cat & Lasers Be His Yearbook Photo
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 11, 2014
Modified Sep 14, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 11, 2014
Modified Sep 14, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A 16-year-old Schenectady High School student has preemptively started an online petition so he can have his yearbook portrait be this fanciful photograph of himself with his cat Mr. Bigglesworth and lots of laser beams. Draven Rodriguez explained to The Daily Gazette, "I don’t want to go in the yearbook with the generic ‘I-look-like-everyone-else’ photo. I wanted a ‘He looks great. Only he would try that’ photo."
School district spokeswoman Karen Corona told the Gazette, "That will not appear in the portrait section," because it'd obviously be very different from the others, but added that there "are other places in the yearbook where those photos can be placed... It doesn’t mean the photo won’t be in the yearbook. It just means it won’t be in the section where the more professional photos are.”
But it's clearly a professional photograph! Still, a spokesman for the neighboring Niskayuna Central School District gave this statement, "There are no specific guidelines, but 99.9 percent of the time there are professional-type head shots. You do need to consider the consistency and decorum of the section." Niskayuna Central School District—raising sheeple!
Jezebel is pro-cat photo, while Daily Intel is worried he'll regret the photo later in his life. Perhaps Draven should submit the picture sans lasers:
He was hoping for 500 signatures, but there are currently over 1,000. Draven told the Gazette, "I’m not trying to make any statement other than my photo is ridiculous and this is how I am."
Here's the alternate:
Tagged
cat
Mr Bigglesworth
Schenectady
upstate
yearbook
yearbook photo
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman spar over immigration, cost of living in debate
The Democratic incumbent repeatedly invoked President Donald Trump. The Republican challenger largely avoided bringing up New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
By
Jon Campbell
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 9:05 p.m. ET
Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says
Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says
Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.
By
Giulia Heyward
Years of bus headaches start Thursday as Port Authority advances Midtown terminal work
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Carol Chen
ICE admits to using Roxbury, NJ warehouse site to process immigrants
By
Mike Hayes
Dolan's offer: Donations to Blakeman for Knicks tickets
By
Walter Wuthmann
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .