The Tom Tom | September 2016 by Antioch Community High School Tom Tom

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19 SEPT. 2016

PERSPECTIVES

CONTENTS

VOL. 55 NO. 1

LIFESTYLES

4 | EDITOR’S NOTE

10 | FALLING INTO FASHION

5 | STAFF EDITORIAL

12 | SLEEP: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS

7 | DON’T BOTHER

14 | LIFESTYLES IN BRIEF

13 | BEST HORROR MOVIES TO WATCH DURING OCTOBER

14 | THREE SCHOOLS, ONE SPIRIT

ON THE COVER Senior Liz Taylor embodies originality as the Editor-in-Chief of the Sequoia yearbook, as well as being involved in speech team and the theatre program. Taylor is a silent, yet active, leader who is respected by both her peers and teachers. On the cover, she exemplifies our lead headline: “Once Upon a Time.”

the TOM TOM staff

2016-2017 executive team

KRISTINA M. ESDALE Editor-in-Chief PATRICK R. JOHNSON, MJE Adviser PAIGE HOPE Managing Editor REBEKAH L. CARTLIDGE Digital Director JACK A. CONNELLY Digital Director JILLIAN M. EVERETT Print Director JASON R. WOOD Print Director Editorial Board DEPARTMENT EDITORS Rachel Beckman Grace Bouker Booker Grass Benjamin Gutke Lauryn Hugener Gabrielle Kalisz Abigail Russell Kaylee Schreiner SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORS Haley Edwards Dylan Hebior Megan Helgesen Marc Huston SENIOR EDITORS Christina Michaels Natasha Reid

staff journalists Jayme Bailey William Becker Lauren Bluthardt Nico Chiappetta Jared DeBoer Emma DeJong Abigail Ellsworth Taylor Feltner Branden Gallimore Chloe Grass Griffin Hackeloer Emily Hanes Daeshaun Hawkins Symone Henderson Brenna Higgins Emily Holmes John Howe Jacob Johnson Michael Kawell Jessica Lamberty Chloe Moritz Anthony Murray Nicole Peterson John Petty Alexandra Rapp Ashley Reiser Steffanie Richardson Matthew Rowe Alexander Ruano Allison Smith Ashley Stephens Annie Wagner Logan Weber Kyle Whitley Monica Wilhelm Kat Zamudio mission statement

The Tom Tom provides fair and balanced news reporting for the Lake County area. The Tom Tom is a student-run news organization that serves the Antioch community through a monthly print news magazine and daily online content. It is our duty to encourage the involvement of town activities and sporting events. The Tom Tom is an open forum publication and strives to inform, educate and improve the atmosphere and student body at Antioch Community High School.

EDITOR’S NOTE

ONCE UPON A TIME This magazine and year are dedicated to being an original: someone who doesn’t make excuses, but instead makes things happen. KRISTINA ESDALE // Editor-in-Chief

ost fairy tales start with the same four words: once upon a time. These stories are timeless tales meant to teach us life lessons, establish morals and provide happy endings. Each story—complete with princesses and princes, dragons and mythical creatures, and evil witches and wizards—has a unique spin crafted from the golden thread of each classic writer’s spinning wheel. The words weave tightly to create tales that are passed on from generation to generation. These unique narratives are the works of originals—people who choose not to make excuses, but instead choose to make things happen. This magazine, this year, and this staff are dedicated to just that idea. We as a Tom Tom staff are seeking to break boundaries and build captivating tales of our own through each of our magazines this year. The first, “O,” starts our journalistic odyssey. What readers will notice is that our cover is quite empty. All that can be seen is a faint letter “O” overlaying a Sequoit original, senior Liz Taylor. We’ve made it our goal to theme each magazine in an “out of the box” way and create the features inside to reflect absolute originality. Our magazines, when complete, will spell the word “originals,” our theme for this school year. Each section of features will be filled with cliche headlines, the most unoriginal pieces of writing. Instead of relying on this lack of originality, we thought we would make the unoriginal original again. Our covers will also feature a variety of students that we feel are originals in the school community—each special and unique in their own way. For me, this magazine and journey in itself is meant to be original. This magazine and journey all begin with four words: once upon a time. Once upon a time, I was a small, voiceless sophomore who had the dream of making a difference in the lives of others. My story started with me sitting in the back corner of the media lab on my first day of Tom Tom. Being one of two sophomores surrounded by all upperclassmen, I was petrified to even talk. Fast forward two years and I feel as if my real story has finally begun. Now, being the person that I’ve changed into over time, I don’t have the option to be quiet and sit in the corner. Instead of always questioning myself, I get asked the questions. Instead of being able to cower in the back, I stand

4 Tom Tom September 2016

PHOTO // NATASHA REID

at the front of the room. Instead of writing short, fluff pieces buried in the magazine, I’m responsible for writing the note that sets the tone for all of the magazines. Going from the shy girl who didn’t know her place in the world to the woman in charge made me evolve into someone I was proud of: a leader, an Editor-in-Chief, an original. I will not make excuses. I will make things happen. This magazine is full of impact. Our features look at controversy and comfort. The first, “Once in a Blue Moon,” written by senior department editor Rachel Beckman, finds one Sequoit’s story of pain a once-in-a-million chance. The fourth, “On a Soapbox,” written by senior digital director Jack Connelly, looks at the characters in stories who aren’t afraid to express their opinions. Sandwiched in between are features written by myself and managing editor Paige Hope. Paige’s feature, “Out of the Woods,” shows how sometimes great challenges inspire a new, positive outlook on life. My feature, “One Thing Led to Another,” anecdotally addresses one of our most secretive behaviors: sex. Outside of these original stories are a variety of department pieces that include horror films to watch this Halloween season, makeup tips, fall fashion, sleep cycles, up-to-date news and sports and so much more. Come with us as we embark on a journey; one that begins now. One that begins with four simple words: once upon a time. TT

“

I will not make excuses. I will make things happen.

“

{Perspectives

KRISTINA M. ESDALE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

OH MY GOODNESS An eye for an eye, a tweet for tweet—punishment should always be equitable. TOM TOM STAFF // 47 of 49 Agree

or the last century, Sequoits have roamed the halls shouting chants in favor of our school and using expressions like “A-Town Takedown” and “Crush the Rush.” More recently, however, a new phrase has come to surface that more and more students seem to be using: “Luck Fakes.” Of course, students don’t mean this phrase with any intended harm; they’re just using it as if it’s another school spirit chant. But school administration seems to think otherwise. While in previous years students have gotten away with their “luck fakes” posts, recently some of our very own Tom Tom staff members met with administration concerning this topic. A couple staff members were in the background of a picture with the caption “#luckfakes,” the picture was put on a Snapchat story, the story was screenshotted and the picture found its way back into the hands of ACHS administration. That day, these students were called down to the office where they were stripped of some of their homecoming privileges, all because they were shown in a picture with an “offensive” caption. In the student/parent handbook, which all students signed at the beginning of the year, it says on page 52, under the Student Activities section, that students are to “use only those cheers that support and uplift the teams involved.” Obviously, students aren’t going to start chanting “uplifting” cheers like “Go Lakes!”, but our cheers could show better sportsmanship. But nowhere in the handbook does it state that students or athletes will be punished for this behavior; it only states the expectations for players. And while in the “Code and Eligibility Requirements for Competitive, Extracurricular Athletics and Activities” it reads that “students are expected to refrain from actions that...degrade others’ self esteem.” These are expectations, not rules. And for these actions to “degrade” another’s self-esteem, that would

ILLUSTRATION // JILLIAN EVERETT

mean that the victim would have to feel attacked or offended. The students at Lakes must not be that offended if they themselves add the signature “#luckfakes” to some of their own tweets. So where do we go from here? Firstly, if students got in trouble for something that was on a Snapchat story, does this mean that administrators will be monitoring all social media? Will students have their Facebooks, Instagrams, Twitters and any other social media accounts under surveillance now, and will those students be held accountable for their actions? And where does administration draw the line? If saying a phrase such as “luck fakes” on a Snapchat story is considered “inappropriate,” then surely there are other students that should be punished for their tweets or their pictures on Instagram. And that brings another issue to light. If administration is going to punish a very small fraction of the students who use the phrase “luck fakes,” then they need to maintain that punishment for all students who use this phrase. They need to set a standard, and not pick and choose when and how they want this rule to apply. This should be expected of administration when applying to any topic. If one athlete is benched for his actions, and his teammate makes mistakes of equal severity, the punish-

FREE SPEECH // SHOULD ALL PUNISHMENTS BE EQUITABLE?

SYDNEY MORROW // SENIOR “Yes. It’s not fair if people are favorited because then they don’t learn from their mistakes.”

JOSH LAHTI // SOPHOMORE “Yes, because if it isn’t fair; it should be the teacher that gets in trouble, not the student.”

ment should remain equal for both. A coach cannot make an exception just because the team might suffer from the player’s absence on the field or court. When one student is expelled from a club or activity, anyone else who commits those offenses should face expulsion as well. If we want to build an equitable culture within our school, we feel as though the administration must create a set punishment for certain wrongdoings and keep these penalties consistent for all students. Decisions should be guided by a rule of equity, not a rule of exceptions. To achieve a just system in school, we also find it necessary to set precedents. If a prior punishment has not been made, administration must be clear on their expectations when they institute a new set of disciplinary rules. The athletes that faced consequences for their actions on Snapchat did not know the end result would be sitting in the principal’s office, meeting with him and other staff members to discuss their punishments. If new rules are suddenly going to be created, then students need to be made aware of this. Otherwise, students may think their behavior is still considered acceptable. The aforementioned athletes/staff members weren’t aware of the repercussions; now, they want others to be aware as well. TT The “O” Issue

News

POWERFUL BLAST BRINGS UNEXPECTED THREAT TO NEW YORK An explosion shakes up NYC after injuring several in a Manhattan neighborhood.

RACHEL BECKMAN // Department Editor

Just days after the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, New Yorkers were put in a frenzy when a window-shattering bomb exploded in Chelsea, Manhattan on Saturday evening, leaving 29 injured and many nervous. With confirmation that the explosion came from a dumpster in a nearby alleyway, its force shattered windows, damaged cars and left people running in all directions from the packed sidewalk. “I want New Yorkers to be confident when they go back to work on Monday that New York is up and running and we’re doing everything that we need to do,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference. Shutting down a large section of Manhattan, the police continued to investigate the crime the following Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, finding a homemade bomb a few blocks away that closely resembled that which was used in the Boston Marathon bombing. After thorough trackings of video cameras on surrounding streets and specialized robotic bomb testing, the police narrowed down the perpetrator behind the attack along with the specific source of equipment used, revealing the official manhunt and arrest results to the public on Monday. Found sheltered from the rain under the doorway of a bar in Linden, New Jersey, offender Ahmad Khan Rahami

PHOTO // ASSOCIATED PRESS SUBSCRIPTION

was arrested and taken by ambulance after a shoot out with police Monday morning. Arrested for being the culprit behind both the Manhattan bombing and an explosion in New Jersey the same weekend, Rahami was later charged with seven counts, including five counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, resulting in a bail set at $5.2 million. Not only did the bombing in NYC leave Americans nervous this weekend, but also did a stabbing that took place in a Minnesota mall, injuring nine people, and a bomb explosion outside of a public, U.S. Marine Corps charity race in New Jersey. The New Jersey bombing resulted in no injuries and a cancelled 5k event. “There are angry people willing to go to drastic measures to get what they want,” senior Haley Nickles said. “It’s always going to happen and there really isn’t a way to prevent it.” Although ISIS claimed responsibility for the Minnesota stabbing, details behind the other two explosions from the weekend remain unconfirmed. However, investigators recently suggested that Rahami’s source of action was inspired by Al Queda and the Islamic State based on a detailed analysis of his journal. TT

THE TRADITION CONTINUES Homecoming and its week of festivities would not be complete without the established traditions of the parade, bonfire. LAUREN BLUTHARDT// Tom Tom Staff

PHOTO // GRIFFIN HACKELOER

6 Tom Tom September 2016

lthough football games dominate the minds of a majority of students for the first few months of school, homecoming is a week-long event that sets students up for a hopeful beginning of the year. “The atmosphere was hype,” sophomore Sebastian Schofield said. “Everyone enjoys the dance and gets ready for the following Friday night lights.” The classic homecoming parade that took to the streets of Antioch had excited families and friends lining Main Street in order to see the proud Sequoit alumni, athletes, clubs and Homecoming court make their way down to the bonfire and pep rally at the sta-

dium. As an important aspect of Homecoming, the elected court rode with style during Thursday’s parade in vehicles sponsored by Raymond Chevrolet in Antioch. Not only did all court members receive sashes of honor, but the crowned senior king and queen (pictured left) Booker Grass and Jackalyn Geraty led the parade to the bonfire, as has been done for decades. Following the dozens of floats, crowds gathered together at the stadium to root on the varsity sports teams’ dance performances and celebrate the burning of the Grant Bulldog mascot—Friday’s game’s opponent is the neighboring Fox Lake school. “Seeing everyone come together was special,” freshman lord Jake Bay said. “I am excited to spend time with my date at homecoming.” With much spirit and appreciation in the air, Homecoming continues to be a top event in the opinions of most Sequoits, creating unforgettable memories while uniting all grades in pride for the school and community. TT

VOICES FROM VENEZUELA The South American nation faces economic and political downfall, leaving citizens in a struggle for necessities and survival. RACHEL BECKMAN // Department Editor

aving the largest oil reserves order to continue the socialist policies in the world and the beautiful the previous governments created. terrain of both snow-capped Despite the efforts of the government, mountains and Caribbean beach- the price of oil has plummeted recentes, Venezuela thrived as a prosper- ly, which took Venezuela’s governing country in the late 1900s, easily ment with it. passing up its neighboring Spanish “It was better before the Neo-comand Portuguese speaking munist government took nations in South America. control,” senior Alvaro LoHowever, the reduction of pez said. poverty, improved school Lopez lived in Venezuesystems and increased acla; he recalled the Chavista cess to clean drinking water forces parading their victhat appeared at the turn of tories in the streets before the century have now dishe left for America and appeared, and the country ALVARO LOPEZ // witnessed the dark side of SENIOR is facing a major political socialism the country has and economical crisis. fallen into recently. The problems in Venezuela were Venezuela’s wealth stems from its triggered by various actions that cur- massive oil reserves, and it became a rent president Nicolás Maduro took in major oil supplier for the rest of Lat-

DID YOU KNOW? VENEZUELA IS THE MOST OILRICH COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. HOWEVER, WITH THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT, THE COUNTRY IS NOT GAINING THE BENEEFITS IT SHOULD BE AS THE PRODUCER. SOURCE // WORLD ATLAS

in America and North America. But when oil prices decreased after the Great Recession, going from $100 per barrel to less than $30, the Venezuelan people were left unable to sustain their previous way of life. While trying to make living costs affordable and equal for all citizens, the government created massive inflation, which hurt their economy even more. “Normal life there is survival,” Lopez said. “The inflation is horrid and the money is almost worthless. Oftentimes, people trade commodity items in exchange for other things through the black market.” Although the government tries to conceal its issues from the outside world, protests and uprisings within the country have raised awareness about the poverty citizens are dealing with as a result of President Maduro’s weak-handling of the country’s economic affairs. The people of Venezuela are not the only ones against Maduro; parliament has a large majority against the president; however, Maduro claimed that parliament has “lost [their] political validity.” TT

ILLINOIS EDUCATION BUDGET IN CRISIS

Current Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and the entire state of Illinois forced to move to drastic measures. GABRIELLE KALISZ // Department Editor

As a result of an Illinois financial deficit, the amount of debt Illinois collected has grown dramatically. Since 2010, the state of Illinois has racked up a balance of over 768 million dollars needing to be paid to state school systems. This means that for every student attending public schools, the state isn’t paying school systems $1,100, according to rrstar. com. This lack of funding has caused schools to cut corners on lunches, make pay cuts to faculty and, in more extreme cases, caused entire schools to close. The consequences of this lack of funding is best illustrated in the Chicago Public School System, where countless schools have

been forced to close their doors. While the Illinois financial problems seem to continue to get worse, a solution also seems to be far from the state’s grasp. Rauner, who has been serving in office since January 2015, and Speaker of the House Michael Madigan cannot seem to come to an agreement on the state budget. It has been over a yearand-a-half since the last official Illinois state budget was passed. With no budget in sight and the lack of funding in schools, Rauner and the entire state of Illinois have been forced to take alternative measures. On June 30, Rauner issued the Stopgap Bill. This bill is a temporary allowance of money issued

PHOTO // EMILY HOLMES

to Illinois state education systems to help keep them afloat. “Now, just because we were promised this money from the state doesn’t necessarily mean we will receive it,” Community High School District 117 Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Nolde said. Stopgap, by definition, is an improvised substitute for something lacking; a temporary expedient. In the case of the Illinois state budget, this is a temporary six month fix. This is to help keep the state of Illinois financially positive, and to help assure that

schools were able to not only open their doors, but fully function this fall. The state of Illinois, through this Stopgap Bill, owes District 117 over two million dollars. “It’s ridiculous that we are paying taxes to our government and they can’t even give us money to help fund our schools,” senior Kasey Clark said. Since the funds have not been received, the Stopgap Bill has not yet been able to fund several Illinois state education systems that are in desperate need of the money. TT The “O” Issue

News

COLLEGE APPLICATION CRAZE

With the start of the school year comes the beginning of the strenuous college application process for many seniors. ALLISON SMITH // Tom Tom Staff

COLLEGE APP REMINDERS According to the ACHS Student Services Department

Check to see what schools accept the Common App Early decision deadline is generally on November 1. Get your letters of recommendation early. Set up dates to visit the schools you are interested in.

PHOTO // ALLISON SMITH Senior Sean Bering received his first and last acceptance letter. Bering applied to University of Iowa at the beginning of the school year through their online application. “I love that I am now done with the application process because for the rest of senior year, I don’t have to worry about it,” Bering said.

ollege applications can be stressful; it is hard to know exactly where to start with so many steps going into the process. Making the application process as easy as possible is important to reduce the added stress of senior year. For the student services department, the yfeel there are a few easy steps one can follow. Step one of the application process is simply choosing which schools to apply to. Narrowing down schools based on their size, location and what majors they offer is a good place to start. The best way to get a feel for a school is going on a campus tour. Senior Sean Bering fell in love with University of Iowa the second he stepped on the campus. “I couldn’t stop smiling at everything that Iowa had to offer,” Bering said. “Altogether, it just felt like home.” After choosing a few schools to apply to, the actual application process begins. The Common Application is a popular option amongst many students because of its simple format. The Common App is a way for students to apply to multiple colleges at once, which allows for only one essay to be written. While this seems like a great option, it does not work out for everyone; not all colleges

8 Tom Tom September 2016

use the Common App. Before applying, check to see what schools offer the Common App and which do not. One of the most stressful steps to applying is the essay portion. Essay prompts change every year, but they are usually a personal statement about an important time or aspect of the applicant’s life in 500 words or less. Admissions Director at Northwestern University Jamie White thinks the best thing an applicant can do is be themselves. “Your essay should sound like you—it should be a reflection of your voice and personality,” White said. “It is your chance to give the Admissions Committee an insight into who you are as a person.” Applying for college can be a long, stressful process. Setting enough time aside to make sure everything gets done correctly is important. The application process is never ending; there is always a next step,” senior Amy Reiser, who started applying to schools this past summer, said. “For me, the process is going slower than I hoped, but I am getting through it all slowly but surely.” While the application process seems like a hassle, receiving acceptance letters makes the time and effort worth it. TT

Set aside an amount of time every week for applications. Do not be afraid to ask for help; counselors are a great resource. Don’t forget to RELAX... this process may be stressful, but the work is worth the reward.

THE RACE TO 270 Democrats, Republicans and Independents are coming upon the political final stretch. Who will garner enough support to take home the coveted title of U.S. President?

LAUREN BLUTHARDT // Tom Tom Staff

DEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICAN

Q&A WITH SENIOR COLLIN SAVAGE

TOM TOM: Are you going to be 18 in the next election? SAVAGE: Yes. TT: Will you be voting this fall? SAVAGE: No, I will not be voting.

TT: Why are you choosing not to vote? SAVAGE: I am personally very conservative, but I feel that Trump does not represent what I believe in.

TT: How do you feel about this election? SAVAGE: This is not what America should be. Trump is not a good representative of what the Republican Party believes in. Clinton represents the Democratic Party well, though.

stronger border control [...] reform to Both Republican presidential-nom- slow the speed at which we allow iminee Donald Trump and Democratic migrants into this country.” Immigration reform is one topic presidential-nominee Hillary Clinton that is focused on in the media. Along are spending a substantial amount of time and money suppressing their with many other issues currently facpast negative statements, actions and ing the country, Clinton and Trump partnerships. According to the Wash- will address this topic during the first presidential debate on September 26. ington Post, Clinton’s With opposing views long-standing private on immigration and the email server scandal acceptance of refugees has stirred the pot for into the United States, both sides. the debate will be fuAlthough it is a naeled with strong pertional election, it boils spectives between the down to a state-bytwo candidates. state competition to determine the next LIBERTARIAN American President. Despite the According to USA.gov, long-standing, two parthe process that occurs every four years follows this sched- ty tradition, Trump and Clinton are ule: the candidates first announce not alone; Libertarian candidate Gary their intention to run, followed by Johnson’s hat is in the ring, pulling the primary and caucus debates that voters from all political parties, often start up the nomination conventions, those who won’t vote for either of the leading nominees. Accordand finally the presidential ing to Rolling Stone, Johndebates are held this Sepson is estimated to earn tember and October. 0.99 percent of votes this American people have election year. the freedom to cast their Lee believes Johnson is vote for the candidate that the candidate to follow. most closely represents “The American electortheir beliefs. A popular topate have started to reject ic that has caused controSALLY BESSETTE the ‘lesser of two evils’ noversy this election year is // JUNIOR tion,” Lee said. “This elecimmigration reform. tion could be very historic; Libertarians, Repubthis election could be the first where licans and Democrats continue to third parties receive significant supdisagree. The New York Times lists port.” that 11 million undocumented immiA third party candidate portrays grants are in the United States, down American democracy in its purest from 12 million in 2007. Discussions form. The additional third party proover illegal immigration turn into vides all individuals, those undecided arguments over economic policies towards undocumented immigrants as well, the chance to voice an opinand border security. Sally Bessette, ion; a right that is available to all cita junior at ACHS who sides with the izens. According to the Libertarian National Committee, Johnson is one Republicans, agreed. “It should be hard to get into the of the outstanding presidential candicountry illegally, but not quite so hard dates since the founding of the Libertarian party in 1971. The Libertarian to get in legally,” Bessette said. “We have a broken system,” soph- party is continuing to cause uproars omore Benjamin Lee said. “We need in the polls leading up to election day this November. TT

Perspective

DON’T BOTHER It doesn’t matter if you vote or even who you vote for, simply because the president has little power over the nation. Most of the president’s day is spent meeting with other world leaders and holding press conferences. Nothing that the president does has a direct effect on the typical American. Even if the president did matter, it’s impossible for anyone to have a deciding vote. Typically, most states vote the same way every time; always have, always will. Usually a person’s vote is decided based on what the candidate has to offer or their position on a topic. For example, a voter might think about the different ways in which the president affects the economy. “People vote Democrat when they’re worried about unemployment, and they tend to vote Republican when they’re worried about the budget or inflation,” Justin Wolfers said in a “Freakonomics” podcast. Other opportunities for voting decisions rely on values: family, education, marriage, marijuana legalization, war and more. Yet, does the president’s appointment have any pull or impact or direct correlation on a citizen? While policies he or she makes will eventually impact one in some capacity, what will affect one most in the immediate? If you want your vote to matter more in the outcome of the country, a great place to start would be local elections. There’s an average turnout rate of around 20 percent for the elections, meaning your vote actually does matter, especially in a small town. Voting in the elections actually increases your voice, rather than hoping for the best when voting for president. So, really, in my opinion, this election season it isn’t just about getting out there and voting for the president. If you’re going to take up the your civic cross, carry it by voting in local elections—the one’s that will hit close to home. NATASHA REID // Senior Editor

The “O” Issue

Lifestyles

FALLING INTO FASHION There is no doubt that each person has their own unique sense of style; however, there are always trends that are on the rise that people incorporate into their wardrobe. This autumn, many new trends have risen while others have fallen like the leaves. HALEY EDWARDS // Social Media Director

PHOTO // NATASHA REID Sophomore Cole Niemi is showing off his fresh hair by the front office to give a new look at hairstyles.

PHOTO // NATASHA REID Senior Haley Nickles is wearing her favorite pair of jeansâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a go to piece for fall days this school year. Nickles was posing in the schoolyard enjoying the brief separation from school to enjoy the outdoors.

10 Tom Tom September 2016

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For those who are not a fan of wearing jeans, dresses are a great alternative.

“

For those who are not a fan of wearing jeans, dresses are a great alternative. Sophomore Alexis Yaris said she always sees girls in the hallways wearing dresses, especially t-shirt style dresses. The popularity of dresses has made a comeback this back-to-school season. Whether the dress is something form fitting and fancy, or more casual and t-shirt like, it is sure to be in style. Jeans have always been a go-to clothing item that are a staple piece in any wardrobe and continue to be trendy season after season. However, ripped jeans are back on the rise with more and more people incorporating ripped jeans into their everyday looks. For boys, back-to-school style is more casual. The focus seems to not be so much about the outfit itself, but instead about the hairstyle. “My go to outfit is a Hollister or American Eagle shirt with some jeans with spiking [my hair] up to the side,” junior Nicolas Chiappetta said. “I’ve noticed that the spiked hair and flow hairstyles are really popular lately.” For both boys and girls, layering has been a reoccurring trend as well. By adding a jacket or flannel to an outfit, it enables one to dress for days where the weather is all across the board. “I feel like flannels and other [types] of jackets are good for layering because it makes outfits unique and versatile,” senior Emma Miller said. “It’s easier to buy clothes and dress for when it’s so cold in the school but so hot outside. You can just add or remove layers.” TT

PHOTO // NATASHA REID Sophomores Gabriella Michaels and Eve Reid pose in a classic t-shirt dress to feel good in the first weeks of school. T-shirt dresses have been a new trend this fall, as the mix of simplicity and class builds a perfect outfit for the new year.

DID YOU KNOW? THE FLANNEL PATTERN ORIGINATED IN 1500s SCOTLAND. SOURCE // BUSTLE.COM

“

...ripped jeans are back on the rise with more and more people incorporating ripped jeans into their ever yday looks...

PHOTO // NATASHA REID Junior Kourtney Coppernick is wearing her flannel with a white t-shirt to show her ideal outfit. Layering has become a major influence this past August in Antioch.

The “O” Issue

“

Lifestyles

PHOTO // GABRIELLE KALISZ Senior Emma Miller takes a break before resuming her studies because she didn’t get enough sleep the night before. She went to sleep late the night before because she had homework from multiple AP classes and varsity cheer practice. “In order for your brain and body to work properly, you need adequate rest,” math teacher Andrew Benton said.

SLEEP: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS

Though often overlooked, sleep is as important to the functioning mind and body as eating, drinking and breathing. GRACIE BOUKER // Department Editor

ardly any high school student can go through a full week without muttering, “I’m so tired” or “I went to bed so late last night.” According to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the healthy amount of sleep for adolescents ages 13 to 18 is 9.25 hours, but adolescents today average about seven hours of sleep each night, and the effects of sleep deprivation can have some intense drawbacks. There are some pretty obvious things that losing sleep can do. Junior Gabriel Tijerina has experienced the effects of sleep deprivation. “[Sometimes] I find myself dozing off or struggling to pay attention if I don’t get enough sleep the night before,” Tijerina said. The loss of concentration, crabbiness and drowsiness just scrape the tip of the iceberg. While asleep, the brain does some

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DID YOU KNOW? SLEEP HELPS YOUR BRAIN WORK PROPERLY. WHILE YOU’RE SLEEPING, YOUR BRAIN IS PREPARING FOR THE NEXT DAY. IT’S FORMING NEW PATHWAYS TO HELP YOU LEARN AND REMEMBER INFORMATION. SOURCE // GARY H. GIBBONS

important business. For one, it consolidates and links memories during REM and non-REM sleep. This is why sleep is so vital for learning: it helps cement the information learned, so that it can be recalled later when it is needed. “Sleep after learning is essential to help save new information into the architecture of the brain, meaning that you’re less likely to forget it,” Matthew Walker, a University of California– Berkeley sleep researcher, said to the National Institutes of Health. Think twice before pulling an all-nighter to study for the next day’s exam; Walker estimates a 40 percent drop in learning information as a result of a lack of sleep. On the flipside, rapid weight-gain can be directly linked to sleep deprivation because a lack of sleep promotes higher levels of insulin, which induces fat storage and even increases the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, according to Harvard

Medical School. Turns out, sleep is just as important to maintaining and losing weight as dieting and exercising. Another side effect of sleep deprivation is microsleep. This is when someone seems awake, but isn’t truly conscious for seconds or minutes. Technically speaking, it can be considered “sleeping with your eyes open.” Some instances of microsleep may include simple things like brushing teeth in the morning or putting on deodorant. Microsleep can be especially dangerous while driving, proven when the driver doesn’t remember the drive to a certain place because he was technically awake, but unaware because of he was experiencing microsleep. “I have often caught myself later in the day unable to remember if I did everything to get ready that morning,” senior Breanna Carley said. Whether it be for simply feeling refreshed during the day, retaining information, losing or maintaining weight, or avoiding life-threatening circumstances, sleep is a massive part of daily life and should not remain overlooked. TT

Perspective

MUST WATCH HORROR

“I never talked about making a horror film. We always felt we were making a film about the mystery of fait,” director William Friedkin in an interview with National Public Radio said. Friedkin’s statement is ironic since it has become one of the most well-known horror films of all time, spawning a number of sequels and now a television show on Fox.

This horror-fanatic has a list to make October terrifying with these five unique, iconic and thrilling movies. CHLOE GRASS // Tom Tom Staff

THE SHINING

“The Shining” is a 1980 horror film that has turned into one of the greatest classic movies of all time. The movie’s unique plot doesn’t include jump scares to terrify the audience, but instead uses interesting and suspenseful methods to create a chilling movie. Throughout the movie, the audience is constantly trying to solve the mystery at hand while being immersed into one of the most enthralling of all of Stephen King’s stories. The audience leaves with many questions and theories that make the movie even more interesting and creepy. Although “The Shining” might not seem as terrifying as it did in 1980, it is a truly fantastic film that everyone should enjoy to get in the spirit of Halloween.

SAW

“Saw” is a franchise of nine films and it is rumored there will be yet another one coming in October 2017. This series is presented in a disturbing, yet interesting, way. People find themselves trapped and the only way to escape is to play along and make deadly decisions set up by the disturbed killer, Jigsaw. Jigsaw uses creative and disgusting methods and contraptions to “test” his victims that will make any audience member cringe. The first four movies in the series are said to be the best and are all are highly recommended. This modern classic horror movie will be sure to make the audience’s skin crawl.

THE VISIT

PHOTO AND MAKEUP // CHLOE GRASS The makeup applied on the model is a recreation of the main character, Regan, from “The Exorcist.” “I thought ‘The Exorcist’ was very creepy and I was scared of getting nightmares,” freshman Jadda Pope said.

THE EXORCIST

“The Exorcist” is an iconic film that sparked many ideas and possibilities for horror films that still terrify the masses today. “The Exorcist” is loosely based on a true story of a 12-year-old girl that becomes possessed and her family’s fight to get their daughter back through an exorcism. This film immediately became widely successful and popular due to actions that were never before seen in horror films, such as the fantastic makeup and special effects—cue the spider walk, which is oftentimes a deleted scene in theater showings and some video reproductions.

PHOTO // CHLOE GRASS Redrum is being spelled out in blood to reveal an errie message. Redrum refers to “murder” spelled backwards seen in the film “The Shining.” “I really liked the movie, but I was more confused than scared,” sophomore Kenzie Michalski said.

“The Visit” is a fairly new movie produced by M. Night Shyamalan, also the producer of the classic film “The Sixth Sense.” After not producing a lot of quality films, Shyamalan gains his popularity back with this horror movie that has everyone talking. Its popularity is due to techniques not usually seen in horror films and its unusual ending that no one saw coming, a traditional staple to Shyamalan films. The movie starts with a brother and sister going to visit their grandparents for the first time. Not long after arriving, the siblings notice that there is definitely something strange about their grandparents. The movie ends in a very unexpected way that made the film that much more interesting and exciting. Not only was “The Visit” very creepy, but it also has lots of comedic elements that made it more enjoyable, which isn’t seen or appreciated in most horror films.

GOODNIGHT MOMMY

“Goodnight Mommy” is an Austrian film with English subtitles, but don’t let that be intimidating. The film shockingly had very little dialogue, which helps let the audience focus on the plot and not on reading the subtitles. Having little dialogue also made the film much more of an eerie mystery. “Goodnight Mommy” is about a mother who returns from the hospital after getting plastic surgery. Her twin boys immediately notice strange unusual behaviors and start to believe that she is not their real mother and go to extreme measure to find out the truth. It isn’t a horror film that is filled with jump scares or super scary settings, but it had everyone on the edge of their seat wondering what was going to happen next. It received an 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics had very positive reviews. ”The tension in ‘Goodnight Mommy’ owes everything to our not knowing who to trust,” reviewer Alison Willmore wrote. “Things don’t always need to come rushing out of the darkness to be frightening.” The film is not widely known, but should gain popularity for its unique plot. TT The “O” Issue

Lifestyles IN BRIEF Harry Potter Originals v. The Cursed Child The Harry Potter series was only seven books long; that is, until The Cursed Child was written. At the end of the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the readers got a glimpse into the future of Harry being a parent. The Cursed Child, a play inspired by J.K. Rowling’s stories, picks up years after the conclusion of the seventh book. “I like the style of reading in the originals,” senior Brittney Zuidema said. “The new series was confusing at first because of the jumps in the timeline.” The Cursed Child is the first of a new series that will follow one of Harry’s sons. The cursed part is that Harry’s son is sorted into Slytherin, which is the opposing house of his father. The reality of the new present drastically changing the past and affecting history happens smoothly in the story. Altogether people enjoy reading the new story because it continues the story many around the world grew to know and love. When The Deathly Hallows ended in 2009 people wanted more; now, in 2016, a new series starts with The Cursed Child and will go on for at least two more books. NICOLE PETERSON // Tom Tom Staff A Second Chance for Snail Mail Since the time of cell phones, stationary has been deemed “old school” and “unnecessary,” but this is far from the truth. Aside from bills, the only letters people receive nowadays is a birthday card once a year from their great-grandma. Many fail to see the importance of reaching out through script like she does, and this has cost society more than just penmanship. Cursive has become an unknown language to the young pupils of today, and handwriting is far from legible.

THREE SCHOOLS, ONE SPIRIT The three ACHS feeder schools may have their differences, but they come together to form one union. KYLE WHITELY// Tom Tom Staff

igh school is the time to reinvent oneself. It’s the time to get involved and meet new people. Most of all, it’s the time to grow up and mature into functioning members of society. Despite having three main feeder schools at Antioch Community High School, these groups come together to form one family. The majority of Sequoits come from Antioch Upper Grade School, allowing a good portion of the students to know each other prior to high school and making it easier for them to acclimate to high school life. “It’s been really easy to adjust to ACHS,” freshman Madalyn Amodeo said. “Everyone is really nice and really wants to help you get around and feel more comfortable, but not only that, they treat you with more respect and accept the opinions you have.” The second largest school that feeds into ACHS is Emmons Grade School. This past fall,

Emmons graduated a total of 28 students. Getting to know new people is almost necessary and unavoidable when entering ACHS from a smaller school. This can be made easier and more fun by getting involved in a club or a sport. “I’ve had a lot of fun so far; I’ve made a lot of new friends and playing field hockey was definitely a good choice,” freshman Allison Beckman said. “At first it was kind of hard, but once you get to know everyone, it’s really fun.” Grass Lake School is located about one and a half miles down Grass Lake Road, off of Route 59, and some Sequoits have never even heard of it. This is a surprisingly easy thing to do as the largest graduating class of this century at Grass Lake was the class of 2013, with a whopping 29 people. This past year’s graduating class was only 16 people, most of which have had every single class together since they were five years old. “I am still friends with a lot of them,” freshman Ben Wilson said. “Once you’re friends with the same small amount of people for nine years, you grow close and it’s not just easy to get forget about those people. However, I have made new friends and I am really excited to see what comes next through my four years at ACHS.” Although these three schools are very different, all three come together and write one story: the Sequoit story. TT

“I love writing letters because sometimes words are easier to say in writing,” junior Emily Luc said. “I like to physically write what I want to say and I feel like it is more effective to know that a person actually wrote the letter himself. It makes me really happy when I receive a letter because the letters are like little pieces of the person who sent them.” Writing a letter provides the recipient with gratitude, empathy and detail that a text simply cannot live up to. It is important to take the time to let imagination run wild and let pen meet paper. There is nothing more wonderful than sharing a piece of one’s heart through the art of letter writing. JESSICA LAMBERTY // Tom Tom Staff

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PHOTO // NATASHA REID Freshmen Allison Beckman (Emmons) and Madalyn Amodeo (AUGS) call ACHS their new home for the next four years. Although Emmons and AUGS both feed into ACHS, the schools are all too different. Even still, ACHS is full of new opportunities and welcomes the incoming students. Beckman looks forward to ACHS because she gets to, “see more of [her] friends and do more things that interest [her].”

PHOTO // CHLOE MORITZ

DO IT YOURSELF: APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS

These sweet, fresh, delicious apple cider doughnuts are so good that you’ll need to make multiple copies of this recipe.

CHLOE MORITZ // Tom Tom Staff

FOR THE DOUGHNUTS: 2 red apples 1½ cups apple cider 3½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 4 teaspoons baking powder 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt

WHAT YOU NEED ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg 2/3 cups sugar, divided 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening 1 large egg, plus one egg yolk ¼ cup buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract vegetable oil, for frying

o start off, take two red apples and wash and core them. Then coarsely chop them into smaller pieces. Once the apples are chopped, place them into a medium saucepan along with apple cider, and cook on high until the cider is almost completely evaporated. After the apples finish cooking, pour them into a food processor and blend on high until smooth. In a medium size bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, salt, baking soda and nutmeg. In a larger bowl, mix, with a hand mixer, the sugar and the vegetable shortening. This mixture should be mixed together until it has a sandy look. After, beat a large egg and the applesauce from the mixture before into the sugar and vegetable shortening mixture. Then, add buttermilk and vanilla extract into the larger bowl. Once mixed together, add the remaining flour mixture, while also making sure that the mixture does not become over mixed. Next, place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie pan, and then flour the surface. Using floured up hands, place the dough on the

FOR THE GLAZE: 1 cup apple cider ½ cup powdered sugar FOR THE CINNAMON SUGAR TOPPING: 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

parchment paper, and then flatten out into the rectangle shape of the cookie pan. Then place the sheet in the fridge to chill for about an hour. When the dough is done chilling, take it out of the fridge and transfer it onto a floured surface. In a deep fryer, add two inches of vegetable oil, and set the heat at 350 degrees fahrenheit. Set a plate lined with paper towels to the side of the fryer for when the doughnuts finish frying. Then roll the dough into 1½ inch sized balls and flatten them out into little pancakes with a hole in the middle, like a typical doughnut. Place five doughnuts into the fryer at a time and flip until golden brown. When making the glaze, simmer the apple cider in a small saucepan over medium heat until it reduces to about ¼ cup. Once that finishes, whisk powdered sugar into the saucepan until the glaze is sticky and smooth. Then in a seperate smaller bowl, whisk together the the sugar and ground cinnamon for the topping. Dip the doughnuts in the glaze, and finish them off by adding a layer of the cinnamon-sugar. TT The “O” Issue

Lifestyles

GETTING LOST IN THE MAZE Annual tradition brings family fun, friendly competition and a little fall spirit to the Lake County area. ALEXANDRA RAPP // Tom Tom Staff

ut of the hundreds of corn mazes in the world, none can compare to the finesse and detail of the Richardson Corn Maze in Spring Grove, Illinois. This is the largest corn maze in the world, stretching over 33 acres of live corn with a new design each year. This fall, in celebration of the 50th Star Trek anniversary, the corn maze paths form iconic faces such as Leonard Nimoy as Spock, and William Shatner as James T. Kirk. Also featured in this design is the starship enterprise and the Star Trek logo. The maze website and marketing department invites guests to “head out into the maze and ‘live long and prosper!’” Also included in this maze are five corn maze games for kids of all ages. These games vary in length and difficulty, some lasting for 10-20 minutes, and others stretching to approximately two hours. The trails of the maze range from 1.6 miles to 3.7 miles, so guests can do a brief trail or a longer one. “I love corn mazes because it is a great experience to share with family,” sophomore Evangeline Swanson said. “We can all get together and have genuine fun.” However, not everyone shares her feelings. “It seems pointless,” junior Kaitlin Geer said. “We could use that

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PHOTO // ALEXANDRA RAPP

corn for feeding livestock or people. We could use that land for other things.” Whatever opinion may be had on corn mazes, everyone can agree they are an easily recognizable trademark of fall. Another fun happening on the Richardson Farm is the “Maze ‘Til Midnight” Event, in which guests can stay and run through the maze until midnight. Unfortunately, these activities only take place on full moon weekends during this season. This year, the full moon weekend falls on October 14-15, so people should come down and face their trial by trail until midnight. As is known, no fun comes without perils, and although no one has needed rescuing from the Richardson Corn Maze, many people have gotten lost in another enormous corn maze in Dixon, California. According to ABC News and the local police department, the visitors said, “We’re stuck and they close at one. We’re very worried and we can’t find a way out.” These troubles have not, and hopefully will not, be duplicated in the future. The Richardson Corn Maze is the epitome of family friendly midwestern fun. If people feel sad in fall, a corn maze is the answer to all their problems. TT

PHOTO // GABRIELLE KALISZ Junior Megan Brichetto shows off her make up that includes a mixture of cruelty and cruelty-free makeup. Brichetto prefers certain brands over others, but believes that everyone should be cognizant of brand agendas when purchasing.

ANIMAL TESTING: THE BRANDS TO BUY AND AVOID Many high-end and low-end brands still test on animals to this day. EMILY HANES // Tom Tom Staff

osmetic brands have been testing on animals for years, as animal testing has been a huge topic of conflict. Many claim that animal testing is useless and only harmful to innocent animals. Many brands test on animals just to do it, but some brands test on animals so they can sell their products in other countries, like China, because it is required to test on animals. There are a number of cruelty-free options in the cosmetic world. Popular brands like Hourglass, Too Faced, Tarte, Urban Decay, E.L.F, Hard Candy, Wet ‘N’ Wild and NYX are only a few of the PETA approved cruelty free brands.

When it comes to animal testing, people usually don’t know what brands actually test on animals, and it’s almost always the most popular brands. Popular brands like Mac used to be cruelty-free, but they needed to expand their brand with Estée Lauder, and to do that they had to test on animals. The main reason people are against animal testing is the fact that there is no need for it. “It’s really unnecessary, there’s no reason to do that to an innocent animal, humans should test on themselves since it’s for them, not for the animals,” sophomore Serena Noble said. “Animals do not benefit from this, it only hurts them.” There are more brands that do test than those who don’t. Usually, it comes to the quality of the product. Brands like Mac, Revlon, Maybelline and Tom Ford are still using animals for cosmetics. It is mostly drugstore brands that are not cruelty free. People think that when it is tested on animals, that it is safer for humans. The difference is that animals don’t have the same skin types as humans; animals and humans skin types don’t correspond. There are plenty of highly successful brands like Lush, known for their bath bombs and skin care, and Anastasia Beverly Hills, known for their Glowkits, that are cruelty free. Brands that are cruelty free, tend to have more natural ingredients and are actually safer for humans to use. Among the beauty world, there aren’t as many Youtube beauty gurus that promote cruelty-free makeup. Almost every well known beauty vlogger uses at least five products that were used on animals. People’s opinions on testing does differ, even though many would like to think that everyone doesn’t want to harm animals. Some people don’t care that they use products that are tested on animals; it doesn’t affect them. Popular makeup artists like Kat Von D promote their brand for being cruelty free: “Kat Von D Beauty never tests on animals— and never will,” a statement on her website reads. When it comes down to it, brands usually test on animals so they can sell more products and get more money. When shopping for cruelty-free makeup, there should be a hopping bunny on the packaging will indicate that it is cruelty free. Animal lovers everywhere are cleaning out their makeup collections in fear of using something that was tested on an innocent animal. Luckily, there are many cruelty-free options, so it’s easy to find something that works for every makeup user. TT

DID YOU KNOW?

100,000,000 ANIMALS ARE KILLED A YEAR BECUASE OF ANIMAL TESTING.

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Lifestyles

BELIEVING IN THE ZODIAC

ILLUSTRATION // EMMA DEJONG The alignment of the stars form the different zodiac signs. Depending on the positioning of the Earth certain formations are more prominent than others, which means certain signs have more power at that time. Those who subscribed to this belief put a lot of emphasis on looking at the night sky. “I feel that people adapt their own lives to fit the dynamic of their zodiac sign,” sophomore Alyssa Velascl said.

How one gets by might just be destined by the stars. EMMA DEJONG // Tom Tom Staff

he validity of astrology and zodiac signs has been argued seemingly as long as the stars have been in the sky. Early records of astrology date back to 1700 BC and include references to China, medieval Europe and ancient Rome, and now extend to present time across a multitude of cultures. Benjamin Franklin even once said, “[astrology] is one of the most ancient sciences, held in high esteem… by the wise and the great.” Whether or not the alignment of stars and the year in which someone is born has any effect on their life is still undetermined and left open to the imagination. Who is to say whether or not a Scorpio (anyone born between October 23 and November 21) has a secret desire to triumph, or a Libra (anyone born between September 23 and October 22) pursues a consistent life? According to

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Universal Psychic Guide, whether believing this is true or not is up entirely to the individual. This open-ended science is partially based on faith and belief. It is almost impossible for a person to deem astrological statements true or not in this nearly entirely subjective science. A person can use their zodiac sign to find compatibility and get relationship advice, figure out important life decisions or better understand themselves. Astrology has evolved from star records being recorded on scrolls, to horoscope apps on phones

like Daily Horoscope (app by Telemaque). Firm believers in astrology check their horoscope, a forecast of their future, usually describing their character, often. It is possible that when a person figures out what his/her sign is, he/she can succumb his/her beliefs and relate whatever it says to his or herself. These zodiac statements tend to be rather vague and general, making it easy to connect with oneself. Just because a Leo is described as “kind with an air of loyalty” and that person is born between July 22 and August 21, does not

necessarily mean they are nice people. On the contrary, many think the planets in our solar system have no effect on humans. So where a planet happens to appear in the sky against a random pattern of unrelated stars can be essentially meaningless; it is all dependent on beliefs. According to the Psychic Library, these are personality traits describing each sign. Find your sign and read the attributes it gives you. So you decide for yourself: do zodiac signs prove to be true? TT

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 21)- hardworking, straightforward, loyal, uncontent until at the top

Taurus (Apr. 22-May 21)- good taste, sensual, down to earth, pleasure-seeking

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 21)- successful, likes to please, clever, can lead others on

Aquarius (Jan. 22- Feb. 21)- sets trends, innovative, admired distant, eccentric

Gemini (May 22-Jun. 21)- dynamic, many talents, likes games, twofaced, mischievous

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 21)- irresistible, adventurous, lavish, indecisive, complicated love life

Pisces (Feb. 22-Mar. 21)- alluring, free, sensitive, can’t function alone

Cancer (Jun. 22-Jul.21)- friend-orientated, practical, hates to argue, forgives but does not forget

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21)- self-reliant, powerful, wise, dominant, secretive

Leo (Jul. 22-Aug. 21)- creative, popular, faithful, dominating, too much pride

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)open-minded, achiever, loving, insensitive, cold

Aries (Mar. 22-Apr. 21)- brave, independent, assertive, impulsive, hates to be restricted

DID YOU KNOW?

SOURCE // ASTROLOGY-ZODIAC-SIGNS.COM

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON 1. Not very often. 2. Rarely. 3. Almost never happening. RACHEL BECKMAN // Department Editor PHOTO // NATASHA REID

or many, “that will never happen to me” is a common occurrence—the denial that physical, mental and emotional ailments can impact one’s family, one’s friends or oneself. That is what senior Skyler Searle always thought when she “passed the room of mentally disabled students at school,” or those “unable to participate in the normal, everyday activities of a kindergartener and first grader.” However, it wasn’t until her second year in elementary school that she was hit with a disease more rare than those seen in the special education classes, and she was forced to live in a lifestyle different than those around her. “She wasn’t able to play with her friends,” Tracy Searle, Searle’s mother, said. “It made her grow up faster and she had to get used to people always looking at her strangely.” Being in a wheelchair at eight is difficult for any kid. But as a girl that was in love with cheerleading and being active with all the rest of the “normal” eight-year olds,

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Features

“

I did not understand why I was in a wheelchair at this age. “But I knew that through its rarit y, I received different treatment in comparison to others.

“

20 Tom Tom September 2016

it was hard for Searle to grasp the reasons behind the hindrances she faced. While wheeling herself from classroom to classroom and putting her best effort into enjoying activities normally, she was suffering from the diagnosis of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP). Her legs were abnormally swollen due to inflammation and bleeding occurred within small blood vessels in her body. “I did not understand why I was in a wheelchair at this age,” Searle said. “But I knew that through its rarity, I received different treatment in comparison to others.” Although she was eventually able to leave the wheelchair, Searle went through elementary school with various problems concerning her body, and never quite understood the disease or if there was something more to the symptoms that were constantly affecting her. Throughout most of her middle school years, Searle was able to participate in a sport like many of her friends. While heavily involved in cheer, she competed nationally through different teams and was able to perform tumbling and stunts normally, having only minor physical incidents. However, after repeated accidents in this sport, she was finally taken to the doctor to seek out more information and verify if these problems were merely symptoms from HSP, which she had been dealing with for several years now. There, after many tests that involved numerous needle prickings and blood samples, she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which explained her being hurt easily through physical activity. The genetic disease that impacts very few people is caused by unstable tissues, which lead to organ and joint pain in the body. When she discovered this, Searle was a bit more limited in terms

BY THE NUMBERS

200,000 LESS THAN 200,000 CASES OF HENOCH-SCHÖNLEIN PURPURA ARE REPORTED IN THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR.

of physical activity, yet was still able to participate with more caution than before. “By this time in my life, [myself] and those around me were pretty accustomed to my medical problems,” Searle said. “It wasn’t out of the ordinary when I walked into class with a newly casted wrist, arm sling or crutches.” The news her family received, though degrading in terms of healthiness, was a relief as more answers were revealed towards Searle’s constant pain. It wasn’t until six months later, as the physical illnesses continued, that Searle found herself passing out easily and fainting on a frequent basis. With recurring visits to various doctors in order to gain more details on the symptoms she was having and the proper medicine needed for them, Searle grew more nervous. It was difficult to find a doctor that understood her problems and could diagnose them based on the explanations and blood samples Searle gave. But after frequent days off of school, the leaving of her cheer team and many clinic visits, she found her current doctor who was able to further pinpoint the source of the problems. “If we weren’t comfortable

with an answer, we would search for a different doctor that sheand I could trust,” Searle’s mom said. “[We wanted] a second opinion to feel comfortable with the diagnosis we received.” The inclusion of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) as her third disease was, again, a relief as it provided an explanation for the frequent fainting spells Searle encountered. When she woke up from short naps and stood, the immediate fuzziness and weakening control within her body was a result of reduced blood volume, making quick and sudden movements unbearable for the already fragile organs and bones, as explained by one doctor. In addition, the clarification provided Searle with medicine that, today, continues to help with her weak blood vessels and easily irritated body. “As a parent, it increased my worries a lot,” Searle’s mom said. “And it was hard finding the line between restricting her and letting her go live her life.” Despite her growing up with many problems concerning her body and health, the diseases Searle has are rare and lead to more caution in her day-to-day life. Unlike many other people, she cannot participate in phys-

ical activity with the amount of effort needed, and is easily hurt. “When I was stuck in a car crash with friends, I was the only one affected, receiving a concussion that lasted for weeks, while the others were barely scratched,” Searle said. Similarly, her friend accidentally broke Searle’s toe while lightly pushing Searle’s leg off of a couch. These are all examples of how the uniqueness of this disease affects Searle’s life in a way that, according to Dysautonomia International, only .3 percent of Americans relate to. Although it may have a negative impact on her life physically, undergoing these diseases taught her to build up self-esteem and inspired her future career path. After hundreds of doctor, pediatrician and physical therapy visits, she gained an interest in the medical field and is planning on pursuing a degree where she can help others that face similar situations, both physically and mentally. “I do not look down on the fact that I suffer with the rare diseases of POTS and EDS, and will continue to for most of my life,” Searle said. “[Instead], I deal with my body’s issues and try to use my experience to impact those around me positively.” TT The “O” Issue

Features

ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER 1. An event or activity results in another that you have usually not planned. KRISTINA ESDALE // Editor-in-Chief PHOTO // NATASHA REID

Doing the dirty. The horizontal mambo. Mattress dancing. Getting it on. Hanky panky. The birds and the bees. A home run.

o matter the reference or outcome, it all starts in the same place. In the end, one thing always leads to another. From never having had sex to a twentieth time, sex can be perceived and thought of in many more ways than one. Sometimes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thinking of it as simply as Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past-time: baseball.

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I don’t think you should regret the sex that you’ve had, but I think that the stories are more regretful when you tell them.

“

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Features FIRST BASE

Even though sex is oftentimes considered one of the most primal acts in the animal kingdom, the desire to participate in it is something left to the human mind. For some people, sex is more than a physical act; rather, it is an act of love reserved for “forever.” Sophomore Nikolai Kuvshinikov believes that waiting to have sex until marriage is an important piece of his moral compass. “Sex is a really special bond that you can’t just throw away on some chick; it’s an emotional bond as well,” Kuvshinikov said. “Sex is a really important thing in a marriage. It’s a special bond between a husband and a wife. It’s when you’re in your most vulnerable state, and this openness with somebody should really be the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with. When you save sex for marriage, it sort of proves that you are with that person because you love them for them, not because they’re hot or something. It’s a great way to test the relationship and practice self-control.” Growing up in a Christian household, Kuvshinikov’s parents raised him to abstain from

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sex and have greatly influenced him in keeping his pledge to wait to have sex until marriage. From his point of view, waiting to have sex until marriage should be an obvious decision to everyone. Having sex not only makes or breaks a relationship, but it also shows that there is a special bond between the two participants. “With sex comes a very intimate and emotional bond, and if you break up with that person after you’ve had sex with them it could lead to a major heartbreaking breakup. That’s kind of how sex works. Sex is designed for marriage. If you have sex before marriage, with someone other than your spouse, then you’ll most likely compare the two.” Other than waiting for “the one,” there are also a lot of other casualties that come along with having sex too early, or before the person is ready. Unwanted pregnancies and STDs are a big concern when it comes to having premarital sex. The concern of being aware of your partner’s past suddenly becomes primary. “I have stuck with this pledge my whole life and I’m obviously not ashamed of it,” Kushinikov said, “Why wouldn’t you

want to save something so incredibly special for the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with? Personally, I

SECOND BASE

want to save this special moment for my wife and I want to know I’m with her because I love her, not her sexuality.”

Sex can seem to be a very scary concept for most young teens.The thought of risking one’s health, heart and reputation isn’t something a high schooler takes lightly. For freshman Christopher Penn, sex is being too afraid to step up to the plate. “None of my friends have had sex,” Penn said. “I don’t think a lot of freshmen really think about it.” As a freshman, the thought of having sex so early can be terrifying. From insistent parents to health classes that condemn the very act, sex can seem like a foreign language. According to the ACHS health curriculum, the chance of getting pregnant or catching an STD isn’t worth it when you aren’t even trying to have sex. “Last year in health they talked about the STD’s and unplanned pregnancies that could result from having sex, and to not do it when you’re so young because the odds of those things happening are very high,” Penn said. “My parents haven’t really talked about it at all, they assume I’ll get educated from school.” Coming into high school can open one up to many new experiences, and oftentimes sex can be one of them. Being exposed to an older and more mature atmosphere can in turn force a teenager to believe he or she needs to be more mature, and perform more mature acts to fit in. But according to Penn, not every single freshman is striving to lose his or her virginity so quickly. “Being a freshman looking at upperclassmen, you see them as mature adults. On the topic of sex, I would say I’m not ready for that.”

THIRD BASE

In most every high school experience, there comes the time that opportunity knocks to finally “get lucky.” A girl and her boyfriend are finally home alone, or in the heat of the moment at a party—no matter the situation, the possibility of having sex can be scary as well as exhilarating. But deciding if it’s the right time and place is a commitment that is undoable. For Anna, a studentwhose name has been changed for anonymity, her chance to seal the deal had shown itself multiple times. “There were two situations where I almost had sex,” Anna said. “The first one I was just hanging out at my boyfriend’s house, and we had been dating for about two months at the time. This specific day was the first close call we ever had, and it was completely in the moment and we got about as close to doing it as you can get without actually doing it.” Wanting to give up something so valuable comes with having

HOME RUN

certain boundaries. When Anna and her boyfriend were caught up in the moment, something told her that it wasn’t the right time or place to lose her virginity. “Right when it was about to happen I snapped out of [it] and told him no,” Anna said. “Prior to this day, we had talked about sex multiple times but I wanted to wait. He was the first guy I had ever done anything with, and when I did decide to have sex I wanted to be 100 percent positive that I wanted to. I never thought he was going to leave me after we did it or anything, I just didn’t feel ready and if I would have done it that day I knew I would have regretted it later.” When one makes the decision to have sex, it shouldn’t be influenced by anyone other than the two people who are deciding to participate. But oftentimes, the opinions of others can pressure two people into having sex too fast. Everyone, regardless of sexual history, has the right to

For some people, sex is just that: sex. No matter who it’s done with or how many times, the amount of sex he/she has doesn’t define them. But as a high school student, being judged for one’s sexuality and sexual behaviors is inevitable. And in some cases, one’s closest accomplices can be the biggest critics. For Jennifer, a student whose name has been changed for anonymity, sex is something that she is judged harshly for. “I have a lot of sex,” Jennifer said. “It’s not that I’ve had a lot of sex with different people; it’s that I’ve had sex over and over with the same people,” Jennifer said. “I get slut

say no. So when Anna decided the time was right, she was grateful that she waited until the stereotypical “perfect” moment. “This day was maybe about a few weeks to a month after the first close call,” Anna said. “The reason I told him yes was because I honestly just felt bad.

shamed a lot, especially last year. But, since people have noticed that I don’t sleep with everyone, they know I’m not that person they thought I was. I don’t think you should regret the sex that you’ve had, but I think that the stories are more regretful when you tell them.” Jennifer finds sex to be something that she uses to express herself. From random hookups to an intimate moment with a significant other, sex can have multiple meanings and hold various types of feelings. “With some of my past boyfriends, sex sometimes means something and sometimes it is just the lust of it, not necessarily loving that person,” Jennifer said. “If it’s like

He’s 18 and he was still a virgin, plus I could tell he really wanted to have sex. He never intentionally pressured me into it by any means, but at the time I just felt like I was keeping him from it when he could have been dating a girl his own age that would have wanted to. So I said yes.”

a certain event or the feeling is there, that connects with love. But if we’re watching a movie and something connects and then we just [do it]; that’s not love.” Jennifer doesn’t feel the need to be ashamed of her past lovers. For her, keeping a list of her sexual encounters is smart. Knowing the people that she has slept with makes it easy to identify people in the case of a pregnancy scare or an STD. “I keep a list because I feel like I need to know; it’s important in case something ever happens,” Jennifer said. “Freshman year I had a pregnancy scare with my first boyfriend, but it ended up being because of my birth control. I went to my mom to talk to her because I was scared. I was young.” Having younger siblings makes the opportunity to teach the pros and cons of sex relatively easy for Jennifer. But when she gets reprimanded the most by members of her family, that makes her situation slightly more difficult. “I have freshmen ask me all the time what it’s like and what to do, and I’m open and honest,” Jennifer said. “I mean my little sister is one of my biggest slut shamers. She asks me questions and I’ll answer them, but when she does slut shame me I still hold true to being open and honest about my body. Maybe I shouldn’t be as open with people, but it’s important to talk about it.” TT The “O” Issue

Features

OUT OF THE WOODS

1. To be past a difficult or complicated problem. 2. No longer in trouble or danger. PAIGE HOPE // Managing Editor PHOTO // NATASHA REID

rials—we all have them. Whether it be an upcoming test that one has to cram for, or tryouts for a team or club, everyone has problems in their lives. But some have it worse than others.

OFF YOUR ROCKER

Over the past few months, many people who roam the very halls of Antioch have faced far more extreme difficulties than their classmates, each of varying degrees. One person who used to walk the halls is former ACHS student Devan Babcock. Although he should be a senior this year, some of his decisions contributed to his absence in the hallways. Right in the middle of one summer afternoon, Babcock broke into Lakes Community High School in hopes of stealing some expensive technology equipment and then selling and making a profit off of it; however, Babcock was unsuccessful in his attempts and was arrested. “I didn’t resist arrest,” Babcock said. “They took me to the Lake Villa Police Department and the detective interrogated me. They asked me if I wanted to talk to my mom, to which I said yes. I talked to my mom and she told me to tell

26 Tom Tom September 2016

“

Even when she was at her worst points, she would always be smiling and laughing and telling us ever ything would be fine. Even when my dad would be breaking down, she’d be telling him it’s fine and that she’ll be fine.

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The “O” Issue

Features

them everything and to cooperate completely. I then told them everything. They were happy to have had a family that cooperated with the police.” Although he describes his experience as being “not that scary,” Babcock still learned a lot from his mistake that day. “When you make a mistake, change your future,” Babcock said. “There’s nothing you can do about your past but to make better decisions in the future, and that’s what I’m doing.” For Babcock, he already feels as though he is out of the woods. “[To me, being out of the woods] means that I accept that I made a mistake and I want to share my experience so that others might not make the same mistakes as me,” Babcock said. Despite what happened, Babcock has already faced the reality of his faults and feels as though he has overcome them. But not everyone is able to overcome their adversity and be at peace as easily as Babcock. For a different, current ACHS student, his trial would last for years.

ON A WING PRAYER

AND

It was late 2013. Senior Quinn Landl finally thought that he and his family were out of the woods. After suffering from cancer for a year, the tumor his mom had went away, and she was seemingly cured. But that relief only lasted for a few months. Fast-forward to mid-May 2014. Landl’s mom discovered another tumor on her body and decided to get it checked. The

28 Tom Tom September 2016

results were what anyone would dread to hear. The cancer was back. “You would think that could never happen to you,” Landl said. “That your family is invincible. But it’s not. It can happen to everyone.” Landl’s mother started chemotherapy and radiation. “We would always keep our hopes up,” Landl said. “My mom would never let us have despair. Even when she was at her worst points, she would always be smiling and laughing and telling us everything would be fine. Even when my dad would be breaking down, she’d be telling him it’s fine and that she’ll be fine.” However, despite how much the Landl family hoped, the treatment just never really did anything. After two more agonizing years of treatments and appointments and more treatments and more appointments, the Landl family was hit with the harsh truth that nothing would help their mother. She was checked into hospice care so that, although not ideal, she could at least be a little more comfortable before she passed away. But the weeks that followed were anything but comfortable. The cancer spread to Landl’s mother’s bones, breaking her bones and causing her pain if she tried to move. She lost feeling in her legs and couldn’t move below her waist. She began to have trouble breathing, and was forced to be “hooked up to a machine to help her live.” She eventually stopped responding. A week later, she passed away. Even after watching his moth-

er struggle with cancer for years, and then losing her, Landl isn’t bitter or angry about the events that transpired. For him, letting his emotions out has been a coping mechanism, a way to come to peace with what happened. “Talking to people helps a lot,” Landl said. “I tried [keeping my emotions in] at first, and I just got really angry all the time. I thought everything was against me. Then I started talking with my friends and my family and I just felt a weight go off of my shoulders.” Not everyone is able to come to terms with a loss like that so easily. Their mother’s death hit Landl’s brother hard. He was much closer to their mom, and is still angry about her passing. As for Landl’s dad, he is also taking it hard. Having lost his own fa-

ther just weeks after losing his wife, Landl’s father has not gotten much better. “I can’t do anything to help him,” Landl said. “I’m just trying to keep a positive attitude around him.” And keeping a positive attitude is something Landl constantly tries to do, just as his mother did when she was still going through treatments. Although losing his mother did make him more wary, it also made Landl more thankful for those around him. “I’m a lot more grateful to my friends and my family because I know that I’m really never out of the woods, and that nobody is,” Landl said. “When my mom died, I realized that I can lose anyone I care about at any moment.” He recommends to live life to

the fullest, and be happy with the decisions made in life. “Don’t take the people you love for granted,” Landl said. “You don’t know when you’ll lose them. Anything can happen in the blink of an eye, so just keep your hopes up.” As one family struggles with the passing of a loved one, another family in Antioch is just beginning.

ON PINS AND NEEDLES

Rewind to May: a young girl had an inkling that something was off with herself. Taking a test just to be sure, her suspicions were confirmed. Junior Tiffany Koerper was pregnant. “I really didn’t know how to feel,” Koerper said. “I didn’t cry or panic or anything. I was just shocked it was real. I wouldn’t say I was excited at that point, but I knew things were going to change real fast, and I was okay

with that.” Koerper informed her boyfriend of her pregnancy shortly after finding out, happy to discover that he was excited and would be supportive of her. She also told her two best friends about the pregnancy right away, knowing that she would need their help and assistance along the way. “I was scared at first to tell them because I did not want to be judged, but I thought about it and realized they love me and support me in everything else, so why wouldn’t they support me now,” Koerper said. “And they did. They helped me through so much in the beginning.” But even though her friends knew almost immediately, just as any soon-to-be teen mom would be, Koerper was scared to tell her parents. She kept it a secret from them for months, which she doesn’t recommend. “If anyone is pregnant or be-

PHOTO COURTESY // TIFFANY KOERPER Feautured above is an ultrasound image of Tiffany Koerper’s unborn child. She’s waiting to know the sex of the baby until the day of birth.

comes pregnant, I do not suggest waiting three months to tell your parents,” Koerper said. “You need to get to the doctor right away.” As these concerns ran through her head, Koerper’s friends encouraged, and even slightly pressed her to tell her parents. She eventually gave in and turned to her mom first. “I straight up said, ‘Mom, I’m pregnant,’ and she said, ‘I’m happy, now let’s eat,’” Koerper said. Koerper’s mom was also a mother at a young age, and this is the same response that Koerper’s grandpa gave when her mom told him. But then came the more difficult confrontation: her father. Not wanting her mother to feel uncomfortable around her dad, or find it necessary to lie to him, Koerper knew she needed to tell her dad that same night, too. “My dad and I don’t have a great relationship, so it really scared me to tell him,” Koerper said. “I told him what I told my mom and he just said, ‘I’m going for a walk,’ and he called his best friend and they talked for awhile, and then he came to my room to talk to me. He took it a lot better than I had thought he would.” Even though telling her family was one of the hardest things Koerper has had to deal with so far, she is glad she confronted them, as everyone is extremely encouraging of her. “All my family is super excited for our baby to come into the world and I never thought I’d have so much support from them,” Koerper said. “It really is a great feeling.” But although she now had the support of her family, Koerper was still not out of the woods.

The next issues she faced were attention and criticism. Koerper has never been one to enjoy being in the spotlight, and once word got out about her pregnancy, more and more people began talking about her. Nevertheless, she tries to block out these negative comments and not let them get to her. “I will have to deal with the stares and the negative comments for the rest of my life, and I am willing to do that for my baby,” Koerper said. Koerper still has many more struggles she will have to face, such as financial problems and education. While balancing school and a job won’t be easy, it is something Koerper is determined to do so that she can give her baby the best life possible; however, Koerper realizes that the hardships won’t end when her baby is born, and that a whole new set of challenges will make their way into her life. Similarly to Landl, Koerper does not feel as though she is out of the woods yet, or that she ever will be in the near future. “Being a parent is hard in general, but being a teen parent is even harder,” Koerper said. Everyone faces adversity, no matter how trivial or drastic their troubles. Both Landl and Koerper know they are not out of the woods, and will not be anytime soon; and even though Babcock feels as though he is out of the woods, he recognizes there are many difficulties still to come. In life, we’re never truly out of the woods because just as one problem dissolves, another one will surface shortly after. TT The “O” Issue

Features

ON A SOAPBOX 1. Preaching to anyone who will listen. JACK CONNELLY // Digital Director PHOTO // NATASHA REID

t happens to the best of us: sitting in a classroom full of our peers, all twentysome-odd students not saying a word in what the teacher hoped would be a lively class discussion. Far less frequently, this happens: sitting in a classroom full of our peers, all twenty-some-odd students all clamoring to make their opinion heard in what the teacher hoped would be a tame class discussion. For many students it is the middle ground that sticks with us: sitting in a classroom full of our peers, with most of the twenty-some-odd students dead silent, and one or two letting the rest know exactly how they feel about any given topic on any given day. This is the situation that a third hour AP class fell into on most days of the week this year. The teacher spends much of the class time lecturing, and it is on these days that the third option is seen: for one reason or another, perhaps five of the nearly thirty students in the class make a consistent effort to speak. On one hand, there is the silent majority. Seniors Reece Eldridge and Nino Galante spend nearly every third hour quietly taking information in; they rarely publicly bounce their ideas off of the teacher or question other students’ ideas. Galante is the first person to admit he prefers to remain quiet. “A lot of times I don’t feel like doing it, but sometimes I just don’t want to be wrong, so I let other people go for it,” Galante said. Eldridge echoes Galante’s sentiment. “There are some times where I feel like the teacher doesn’t need to ask [the ques-

30 Tom Tom September 2016

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This is the true divide bet ween those who talk and those who do not—those who regularly get on a soapbox and those who stand next to one.

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The “O” Issue

Features tion],” Eldridge said. “Sometimes the question has an obvious answer.” Some of their lack of motivation to speak is a problem that students and teachers across all fields face: most subjects do not interest most students. When asked if they considered the class a possible career path, or even something they were interested in learning about, both responded decisively: “Nope,” Eldridge said. “Not even a little,” Galante said. When looking across the aisle, it becomes immediately obvious that this is the most blatant difference between those who stay silent and those who speak up. Take senior Gabby Morgret. She is the opposite of Eldridge, Galante and most other members of the example class. She’s the most open, vocal member of the class and, like Galante, is the first person to admit it. Morgret is avidly interested in social studies, and often complements her classwork by learning outside of the classroom through online news shows; however, her motivation to be vocal does not just stem from her love of social studies; it is in her nature. “I used to be really quiet,” Morgret said. “I was quiet, I never talked much, and when I did talk, the teacher would be like, ‘Gabby, speak up.’ So I started speaking up more. As I grew up, I became more outgoing and eager to share my thoughts.” Now, Morgret is far different. Part of her motivation to speak comes from her drive to help her classmates learn. Whether it’s an untrue statement or a tidbit she’s gleaned from her knowledge from outside of school, Morgret feels it is her duty to help those around her be more informed about the world around them. Nowhere is this more important than in a social studies class. Just that day, she built off the teacher’s lesson with her own knowledge about the factions within the Chinese government. It is not just a student’s individual interest in a class that determines how involved they become. In fact, the real culprit comes from those around them. Eldridge, Galante and Morgret were all asked the same question: “Do other people’s opinions of you influence how involved you may be in a class?” Their answers are not surprising: “Yeah,” Eldridge said. “Definitely,” Galante said. “It never runs through my mind,” Morgret said.

Eldridge and Galante are both worried that others will think differently of them when speaking out in class. Galante specifically mentioned that he feels “judged” when in the spotlight of a class. Meanwhile, Morgret denies others the ability to faze her. “If other people don’t like that I speak and participate a lot and try to actively learn in class, then that’s them,” Morgret said. “I don’t care about what they think. I really don’t.” This is the true divide between those who talk and those who do not—those who regularly get on a soapbox and those who stand next to one. An individual’s interest, not just in coursework but in any event in life, is important. Knowledge on a subject is essential, too, and both do play a role in who speaks up and who does not. However, assuming that the playing field is leveled and everyone is interested and informed on the topic at hand, there is only one thing that will truly stop one person from speaking up: the opinions of others. So, to those already standing on a soapbox: stand there, and stand tall. All three seniors believe there is nothing wrong with using the resources and opportunities provided to better oneself and others, even if it may worry some inner doubts. However, a word of advice: there’s a good chance that others can help, are scared to talk, or can’t seem to find room on the soapbox. They could probably use a hand. To those who have yet to find a soapbox, or just don’t want to: everyone can have their own. All opinions matter far more than others about oneself ever will. Additionally, there’s no harm in trying. Getting the most out of these four years will prove to be an essential building block as life continues; making that block as strong as possible can only be of benefit. Plus, the odds are good that someone is willing to help you step on the soapbox. The ability to communicate is one of the greatest gifts humans have. Sometimes, all we need is to get on a soapbox to communicate. TT

PHOTO // NATASHA REID Nearly five days every week, students sit, oftentimes docile, engaged in a discussion with their teachers and peers. For some, however, the classroom environment becomes a place for consistent sharing of their views.

32 Tom Tom September 2016

SOCCER

The start of the boys soccer season was a little rough, but the boys are working hard on and off the field to reach their team goals. “Our goals are to compete against the teams who are better than us, come away with some good conference wins and once again compete for a regional championship,” coach Marni Polakow said. The boys are looking to fix some of their tactical problems on the field, including finding what pieces work in their lineup. Ultimately, the team is hoping to play hard and finish with a successful, winning season. TT BY KAYLEE SCHREINER

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY The boys cross country team has put themselves in a better position than last year—starting the season off with a 3-3 record. “We’ve been pushing through every match with everything we have, but sometimes that’s not enough,” freshman Charlie Smith said. Other players that are turning heads and taking charge are seniors Kevin Vettese, Patrick Schoenfelder and Jack Connelly. Other returning runners who plan to take charge are junior Max Barton, and freshmen Josh Linck and Charlie Smith. TT BY DAESHAUN HAWKINS

IN SEASON

PHOTO // ABIGAIL RUSSELL Senior Hannah Cook poses for the camera on September 12 during the girls golf meet against Lakes Community High School. The Sequoits fell to the Eagles with a score of 202-201.

GIRLS GOLF

The Sequoit girls golf team hopes to keep up the strong play throughout the rest of the season and into the playoffs. The girls have worked hard all season and are finally seeing results. They hope to improve on their sixth place regional final finish from last year. “We are trying to keep it loose and have fun,” senior Abigail Tyrell said. The team is looking to keep a positive attitude and go on an exciting postseason run. TT BY MICHAEL KAWELL

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY The girls cross country team is having an impressive season thus far placing first, fifth and ninth in three of their meets. “I am very happy with how the year is going,” junior Alexandra Knight said. “Even though I had a concussion in the beginning of the season, I am ready to go and excited to join my team for the next meet.” This year, the girls are trying even harder than they did last year, working toward the postseason. They are excited to see what else they can accomplish this year. TT BY STEFFANIE RICHARDSON

FOOTBALL

As far as this season goes, the varsity football team has been successful. Currently being 4-0 is a big step up from this time last year. But, varsity still has a lot of work to do if they want to make it to the playoffs at the end of October. “I think the season is going pretty well considering we started off to a 3-0 start,” Varsity captain and senior Brandon Lind said. “But we still need to clean some stuff up.” Although the game against Wau-

PHOTO // KAT ZAMUDIO

conda wasn’t the greatest game they’ve played, the boys continue to put in the effort to prepare themselves for more difficult opponents in the upcoming weeks. The team dominated Grant at the homecoming game with a score of 28-0. Working on their communication skills and teamwork, the Sequoits hope to not have problems the rest of the season. TT BY SYMONE HENDERSON

The “O” Issue

Sports

IN SEASON

Sequoit Snapshot Sophomores Callie Tubbs and Carrie Miller link pinkies during the National Anthem. “We do it for good luck,” Tubbs said. 34 Tom Tom September 2016

PHOTO // JR JOHNSON

FIELD HOCKEY

Girls Varsity field hockey proved they are worthy of a victory after a number of strides and attempts towards improvement. The start of the season had few rewards to offer as the Sequoits fell short on multiple occasions, dropping games to tough opponents: St. Ignatius, Loyola Academy, New Trier and Glenbard West. However, the players didn’t lose hope. In the last week, the team made a statement as they beat Lakes, Naper-

BOYS GOLF Boys golf season is in full swing with their season about halfway done. Senior captains Reece Eldridge and Nick Farino have led the team through their first half and are looking to keep up the hard work this season. “The team is doing well and working hard,” Eldridge said. The varsity team currently has a record of 4-2, wth a recent win over the previously undefeated Grayslake North team. According to Eldridge, the team is getting to know each other more as the season goes on and is looking forward to more wins in the rest of their season. TT

ville North and Homewood-Flossmor in back-toback-to-back appearances. Junior Julia Murillo credits their recent success to better chemistry and individual skills. “We’ve grown a lot closer on and off the field; we have a bond and it has increased over time,” Murillo said. TT BY JOHN PETTY

TENNIS

Tennis started off the season strong with a record of 5-2 overall, and a record of 3-1 in the new Northern Lake County Conference. In their recent game against Round Lake, the team performed extremely well, dropping only two out of the 86 total games against the Panthers. The doubles team of seniors Emma DeJong and Elizabeth Gardner shutout the Panthers in their game. “So far, we are doing very well; we have been winning matches that we haven’t in past years,” Gardner said. “Both our singles players and our doubles teams are pretty strong, so I’m hoping that we will continue to have a great season.” TT BY LOGAN WEBER

UPCOMING

SOCCER SEPTEMBER 27 Home v. Lakes TENNIS SEPTEMBER 26 Home v. North Chicago BOYS GOLF SEPTEMBER 24 @ Lake Forest GIRLS GOLF SEPTEMBER 24 Home VOLLEYBALL SEPTEMBER 24 @ Harvard FOOTBALL SEPTEMBER 30 @ Round Lake CROSS COUNTRY SEPTEMBER 24 @ Aurora Central

PHOTO // WILLIAM BECKER

VOLLEYBALL Volleyball is currently 8-5 after starting off the season very well. Last season was a highlight for the Sequoits’ volleyball program, and they planned to continue that success this year. The team is led by seniors Kayla Spera and Jackalyn Geraty. “We started off very strong and are currently in a small slump, but seeing the enthusiasm and improvement that we’re displaying, I believe it’ll begin to only go up from here,” Geraty said. Despite being in a small, three game slump, the energy throughout the team is electric and every girl on the team is

The Heisman Trophy is the ultimate goal of college football players and is awarded to the most outstanding player in college football each year. Here are the leading candidates through the first month of the season. 1. LAMAR JACKSON, QB LOUISVILLE The sophomore quarterback Lamar set an ACC record of 610 total yards while combining for eight touchdowns as his team crushed Syracuse 62-28. Jackson later led the Cardinals to an upset victory by defeating Florida State University. 2. CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, RB STANFORD Last year Christian McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders’ longtime record for all purpose yards with 3,864, which earned him second place in the race for the Heisman Trophy last year. McCaffery has already accumulated over a combined 400 yards on the season.

BY ABIGAIL RUSSELL

FIELD HOCKEY SEPTEMBER 24 @ Lake Forest Academy

TOP 5 HEISMAN WATCH LIST

confident in each other. “The farther into the season we go, the more we’ll click with each other,” Geraty said. “We all need to be on the same page at the same time and we’re working on getting closer and closer to having that.” The team also features junior Katherine Barr who is a powerhouse in the front row, combined with senior Erika Gallimore who was also a contributor last season. These two players will help the team be successful in the new Northern Lake County Conference. TT BY BENJAMIN GUTKE

3. J.T. BARRETT, QB OHIO STATE Barrett has thrown for 650 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 159 yards and three touchdowns in three games as Ohio State opened the season 3-0. 4. GREG WARD JR., QB HOUSTON Ward Jr. was the leading rusher for his team against Cincinnati with 26 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns. The successful quarterback will look to add to his 647 passing yards as his season continues. 5. DONNEL PUMPHREY, RB SAN DIEGO STATE Pumphrey rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns against Northern Illinois, and was named Preseason Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year. ALEX RUANO // Tom Tom Staff

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Sports

TomTomTries:

FOOTBALL

When two dancers decide running routes and catching footballs are a good idea. KRISTINA ESDALE // Editor-in-Chief

HALEY EDWARDS // Social Media Director

PHOTO // REBEKAH CARTLIDGE

e were scared for our lives when Mr. Johnson informed us that we, the shortest, weakest and prissiest girls on staff, would be trying football for a day. Being two dancers, let’s just say that football isn’t our forte. Dancers aren’t made to tackle 200 pound men, or even catch a ball for that matter. Prior to the beginning of practice, we were frantically texting back and forth about our apprehensive feelings on what we had just agreed to do. We didn’t know where to go, what to wear or if we needed pads and a helmet. When we arrived at McMillen Field we started off by conditioning with the entire football team. At first, we were comfortable because a lot of the workouts were similar to what we would do at a dance practice. The only difference being that we could kick our legs quite a bit higher than the rest of the boys. But once practice finally went into full swing, we were given a reality check. As much as we would love to say that dance is a sport, it’s really not. It requires balance, flexibility and other physical

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WANT TO WATCH? Haley and Kristina spent a ton of time, well an hour-and-a-half, at football practice this summer. If you would like to see how well they did, or at least watch them try their best, head over to sequoitmedia.com, click on this story and watch the video by senior digital director Rebekah Cartlidge. Don’t want to go through all of that clicking? Scan the QR code below to go right there.

attributes, but nothing that would be comparable to playing a game of football on the field. We would like to think of ourselves as people who are somewhat coordinated. To be a dancer, you have to have some type of natural grace and presence—two things that aren’t required to catch a ball. So it made total sense when we together caught a total of about five balls during all of practice. We went into this practice practically blindfolded; we had no idea how the sport of football worked, nor did we understand a single football term. So when we started doing drills, we were completely lost. We felt like a deer in headlights, which also resembled what we looked like. Coach Vinny started us off by teaching some basic football stances and technique for blocking. Although they were fairly simple, we felt a little clueless. One drill involved us starting in a 3-point stance and then driving up into a dummy which was held by senior Marino Martinelli. Marino seemed caught off guard when Haley first hit the dummy stumbling back and saying “woah.” His friends teased him in a rowdy way for not being able to take hits from girls. After working with Coach Vinny, we felt as if we were starting to grasp the concept of football. However, next we moved on to catching and throwing a football and were then put back into our place. Junior Branden Gallimore taught us the proper throwing and catching techniques… or at least tried to. Being the tiny people we

are, we have small hands making it difficult to properly spread our fingers across the laces of the football in order to throw it. We gave up on throwing after a mere five minutes. Despite only catching a combined total of five balls, the wideout drills were where we excelled the most. We did various drills: getting out of a jam, running routes, ball drills and blocking drills. Kristina was better at running to where the ball was being thrown, but struggled to catch the ball. Haley caught the ball more frequently, but was always off on where to run to resulting in her getting hit by the ball... a lot. The boys must have been impressed that we were keeping up though saying, “she has better hands than Nelson.” Don’t expect to see us in a football game anytime soon or even standing on the sidelines of a game. We will stick to dancing and now truly understand what it takes to be a footballer player. TT

The “O” Issue

{Perspectives

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO

BE OBJECTIFIED CHRISTINA MICHAELS // Senior Editor

omen everywhere are noticed pointed out, and talked about or talked to, not because of their beautiful inside, but because of what is on the outside: their “revealing” and “naked” outside. Every single day women are expected to wear society’s view of what is appropriate. Every single day, women are looked down upon and punished if they defy this unwritten law. Words like “intelligent,” “empowering” and “beautiful” evolve into “slut,” “whore” and “ho.” So what exactly defines being a woman? We are told that the school enforces a “dress code” so that boys do not get “distracted.” Children everywhere are instilled with this message. It teaches boys that it is okay to classify women as being nothing more or less than a sexual object, and, as this is teaching young boys a mortifyingly incorrect message, it is also punishing young women into feeling sexualized. How are women supposed to use all of the tools they learned in school to be successful in a “man’s world”? “Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot; keep your head down; do not make eye contact with anyone; move fast and get to your class.” These are the commands I have hardwired into my head every time I step foot in the hallway, where my body is exposed and open for others to fill their minds with harsh judgement. With each step I take, I feel multiple pairs of piercing eyes scanning my body up and down, giving disapproving nods. What a terrible feeling it is to be valued as

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something much less than a human being; to be valued as a sexual object. I know what it is like to be objectified. I know what it is like to be picked out from the rest of my peers, to have fingers pointed at me, to have voices raised at me and be flat out humiliated because of the fabric I have on my skin. As this humiliating episode went on each day, I started thinking to myself, when is enough, enough? I decided enough was enough when I came to school one day wearing an olive green sleeveless turtleneck, jeans and brown boots. But unfortunately, I was approached. This same scenario has happened far too many times to me, so I walked away unfazed. As I entered my class, I thought this trouble was over; I thought wrong. I felt uneasy and anxious to leave my class,because I knew that past these four walls of protection was a whole new atmosphere, where the air would be thick with judgment. As I entered the hallway, I was not surprised to see a security guard waiting to escort me to the dean’s office. I sat impatiently in the dean’s office, with my eyes glued to the clock, and with each minute that ticked by the lower I sank into my seat with disbelief that I was missing classtime for this. When my dean finally arrived, I felt a cloak of fear drape over my body as I was looked up and down. I was asked to stand up and sit down to see if any inch of my midriff would peek out underneath my thick turtleneck, which it never did. My dean decided to call in for a second opinion. I felt my skin starting to burn with anger and the tips of my fingers buzzing with impatience. The “second opin-

ion” could not see anything wrong with my outfit either. I thought I was going to be okay, and that this would all just become one big misunderstanding, but this was only the beginning of this objectifying phenomenon. Instead, I was questioned, and that my midriff had to have shown at some point throughout the day. I felt every single pair of eyes from all the students in the dean’s office on me,; I felt drops of sweat rolling down the back of my neck, my breathing going from slow, deep breaths to short and fast ones, and hot salty tears rolling down my cheeks as my dean was going to grab an old, oversized shirt for me to change into. This was the moment when I decided I was done being publicly humiliated in front of my peers; this was the moment when I decided I was done being objectified. Crying hysterically at this point, I cleared my hoarse throat and demanded that if I was going to have to change that I would go home. I was not going be a prisoner of the dress code. Luckily, this time, I was let off without having to change my shirt. The dean let me go back to class, but gave me no words of comfort to sooth my tears. Instead, I was sent straight back to class where I sat feeling like a ticking time bomb ready to burst at any second. I had to restrain myself from doing so; I did not want to embarrass myself in front of my peers—not again. I know what it is like to be viewed as a sexual being and not a real human being. And, unfortunately, many women all around the world feel this way every day, too. So what does define a woman? TT

PHOTO // NATASHA REID

The “O” Issue

. . . K C I R T THIS IS PA HEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A SENIOR.

Scan here to watch a video about Patrick and why he loves being a Sequoit. https://youtu.be/tT8cxiELiK0 PHOTO // JACK CONNELLY

40 Tom Tom SepTember 2016