THE STUDENT VOICE OF ANTIOCH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
THE
Family ISSUE
THE SOCIAL GAME: TECHNOLOGY USE AND FAMILY DYNAMICS + 2016’s most anticipated movies + Chapa receives Quest Bridge Scholarship + Divorce’s impact
LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES: TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH +What it Feels Like to
Have a Deadly Allergy + THE HOMESCHOOLED SEQUOIT
VOLUME 54, ISSUE 4 + DECEMBER 2015 WWW.SEQUOITMEDIA.COM + @ACHSTOMTOM + @SEQUOITSPORTS 1133 MAIN STREET + ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS + 60002
DEC. 2015
CONTENTS
VOL. 54 NO. 4
JOHNNY HORTON
18 | BEYOND ISOLATION Cancer impacts more than the patient. For many families, there are hardships that come with a family member struggling with this devasating illness. 19 | A CHILD’S TWO BEST FRIENDS Parents and guardians make up a significant portion of family dynamics. For some Sequoits, these members are the people closest to them in the world. 20 | A SEQUOIT’S TRIUMPH For the Wagner family, a medical emergency led to a life-changing adventure. This adventure gave this family the gift of a lifetime. 22 | LOVE IS LOVE. OR IS IT? Same-sex relationships are becoming increasingly common in media images; this changing visual leads many to question if acceptance is ever possible. 23 | HITTING THE BOOKS Non-traditional schooling, such as homeschooling, gave some Sequoits an opportunity to explore themselves in a unique way. 24 | SEPARATE OR EQUAL Married couples have a 40-50 percent chance of getting a divorce, which is changing the meaning of family forever.
FAMILY AND TECHNOLOGY 15 CHANGING TECHNOLOGY
AND SOCIAL MEDIA Communication among families is rapidly shifting as more technology is being introduced. For some, this transition has hindered the success of their families. 16 PARENTAL SUPERVISION
Social media provides a quick and easy opportunity for parents and guardians to monitor their children’s behaviors. Sequoits find it increasingly difficult to be themselves knowing that a parent is seemingly always looking right over their shoulders. 16 STAYING CONNECTED
With miles between them and technology at their fingertips, families now find new and unique ways to stay in touch, which allows for increased communication and opportunities for sharing greatness.
THE STUDENT VOICE OF ANTIOCH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
THE
Family ISSUE
THE SOCIAL GAME: TECHNOLOGY USE AND FAMILY DYNAMICS + 2016’s most anticipated movies + Agatha Christie to be performed on ACHS stage + Divorce’s impact
LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES: TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH +What it Feels Like to
Have a Deadly Allergy + THE HOMESCHOOLED SEQUOIT
VOLUME 54, ISSUE 4 + DECEMBER 2015 WWW.SEQUOITMEDIA.COM + @ACHSTOMTOM + @SEQUOITSPORTS 1133 MAIN STREET + ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS + 60002
ON THE COVER Sequoits pose for an “awkward family photo” to showcase the many facets and faces of a family. Editors Note 4 Staff Editorial 5 News 6 Lifestyles 9 Sports 25 What it Feels Like 28 One|Sequoit 30
P
EDITOR’S NOTE
BEYOND BASIC EXPECTATIONS
Traditionally those who are immediate to us are the easiest to define as “family.” In the end, what might be more important are the people who aren’t just blood related, but are the ones who are willing to stand by us forever.
W
e assume family means blood, and just because you’re blood, doesn’t actually make you family. A real family is people who are there for you, just as you are there for them. The ones who you have no hesitation on being dependent on or for. When I first started brainstorming how exactly I was going to write this, I had no idea what I was going to say. It wasn’t exactly a topic that I could relate to, or at least in
the TOM TOM staff
2015-2016 executive team
NICHOLAS DOROSAN Editor-in-Chief PATRICK R. JOHNSON, CJE Adviser MADISON PADDOCK KRISTINA ESDALE Managing Editor Print Director NATHAN BORRIES GRANT HAIDER Senior Editor Creative Director MADELYNN SOBERANO NATHAN FORMELLA Digital Director Advertising Director department editors
DAN MEADE Sports PAIGE GRUBER Lifestyles YASMIN LARA News LAUREN PONZETTI Copy Chief/News
GENNIFER GEER Copy Chief CHRISTINA MICHEALS Assistant JOHNNY HORTON Photo Editor JESSICA GUZMAN Social Media Director
staff journalists
Nathaniel Alexander Nick Andre Jayme Bailey Danielle Bay Rachel Beckman Chris Bedolla Brittany Bluthardt Grace Bouker Daniel Brito Rebekah Cartlidge Alexandra Comer Jack Connelly Haley Edwards Abigail Ellsworth Jillian Everett Matthew Farrell
Booker Grass Ella Gruber Benjamin Gutke Dylan Hebior Megan Helgesen Symone Henderson Kennedy Hettlinger Brenna Higgins Emily Holmes Paige Hope Lauryn Hugener Marc Huston Gabrielle Kalisz Nicolas Kilian Theodore Martinek Kaleigh Miller
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
4 Tom Tom December 2015
Chloe Moritz Haley Nickles Nicole Peterson John Petty Natasha Reid Matthew Rowe Alexander Ruano Abigail Russell Kaylee Schreiner Lauren Slack Shane Sorensen Jordan Staten Tyler Steele Olivia Szwajkowski Clay Vesser Jason Wood
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.
the way I felt I was expected to relate to it. It’s not that I don’t have a good life at home or a family that isn’t there for me, because I do; but really, how much can you say about that, that hasn’t already been said? It’s quite ironic actually, because the more and more I thought about how I was going to write this editors note about family, the more the aspect of being there for someone no matter what seemingly kept being brought up or occurring in my life. From talking with friends, watching TV shows, being at the Quill and Scroll International Journalism Honors Society induction, and even experiencing it first-hand when certain friends made it their goal to find out what’s been going on with others or me, I was constantly being reminded of this kind of care. I realized that’s what family meant. It’s not whether or not you share the same blood type; instead it’s who will truly be there for you no matter what, even when you tell them everything’s okay and you know it’s not. They know because family knows. Family is who you care about; the people you love, the people you trust, the people you can drop anything and everything for in times of need. You may look at certain people now and think: yeah I like him or her, they’re pretty cool. But what are they going to mean to you in several years when they’re off to college. Anything? Those people aren’t forever. Forever is even when you’re off to college or apart from them and they’ll make it their goal to find out what’s been going on in your life and you would do the same for them Forever is when you get together after not seeing each other for awhile and don’t have to play catch up, because you already know what’s been going on in their life, and they with yours. Family means forever. Family is forever. This magazine is dedicated to family, all versions of it. We explore divorce, health, wellness, love, relationships and children. We took an in-depth look at technology and social media and how that impacts relationships and communication within the family. We attempted to figure out what family should mean. This magazine comes from family as well. One thing that many people don’t understand about what we do is that it requires everyone to get to the final product, and it requires countless hours of working together to get there. This is our family: we fight, we bicker, we share meals, we work hard and we care about each other. This magazine is a perfect example of this, from start to finish. As you explore the pages of this magazine, I urge you to think differently about family and who is family in your life. Why are they there? Who are they there for? Are they willing to help you move at a moment’s notice? Are they willing to stay up until 2 a.m. making sure your version of “okay” is finally, genuinely okay? Are they willing to call you out when you aren’t being yourself? If they are, they aren’t just a friend; they’re family. TT
NICHOLAS G. DOROSAN Editor-in-Chief
STAFF EDITORIAL
SOCIAL MEDIA: A TRUE JUDGE OF CHARACTER
FREE SPEECH
As admissions decisions approach and application final deadlines pass, Sequoits begin to rethink some of their social media decisions, questioning if they’ll impact their futures.
I
THE TOM TOM BREAKDOWN
50 12
Yes, because social media can reveal your true personality, that can’t be seen on a college essay. Matt Adams, Senior
DISAGREE
AGREE
BY THE NUMBERS: THE SCHOOL
In a recent Tom Tom poll of 210 students, 23 percent believe that colleges and university should not be allowed to deny admittance into their institutions because of someone’s social media presence. On the other hand, a 77 percent majority felt this was appropriate.
@ACHSTOMTOM TWITTER POLL
50 50 AGREE
Yes, because inappropriate behavior could reflect poorly on the college that the student is going to represent. Allison Smith, Junior
PERCENT
31 percent of college admissions officers check on applicant’s social media accounts... 30 percent of these admissions officers found something on the applicant’s social media that negatively affected their chance of admission.
Should colleges have the right to deny you because of your social media?
PERCENT
t’s that time of the year where high school seniors rush to perfect their college applications before their deadlines: writing essays, getting letters of recommendation and recording academic credentials. One seemingly irrelevant aspect of these seniors’ lives that they neglect to perfect are their images on social media. While we are constantly conscious of the image we are presenting to our peers on social media—parties with our friends on Snapchat, the perfect selfie on Instagram, a tweet that is sure to get favorites—we don’t always think of how this image will look to college admissions officers. According to a 2013 survey by Kaplan Test Prep, 31 percent of college admissions officers check applicant’s social media accounts. What’s even more unsettling is that 30 percent of these admissions officers found something on the applicant’s social media that negatively affected their chance of admission. Is it fair that the entirety of someone’s hard work can be thrown away by a few posts online? More importantly, can a spotless reputation on social media override a high school career full of slacking? Can social media be a true judge of someone’s character? There is no clear black and white when it comes to this issue, on one hand, a person who posts pictures of themselves drinking and smoking may not be the best candidate for a university, but then again, someone’s personal life may have no correlation on whether or not they will succeed at college. Colleges shouldn’t have to worry about a prospective student’s social life; they should care much more about the student’s actual application. Admissions officers always seem to say that credentials on a college application don’t tell you everything about a person, which is why so many colleges require essays. If these academic credentials cannot truly define a person, then why should a Facebook account? Ultimately, whether or not it is fair that colleges judge us on our social media accounts is irrelevant. If we want to have the best chances of getting admitted to our top choice we have to do what we did in every other aspect of our lives and clean up our acts. We’ve been taught since the beginning of time not to post anything we wouldn’t want our grandma or mom to see, but maybe it’s time to think of what a college admissions officer will think of our Instagram picture or our latest tweet. TT
DISAGREE
The Family Issue
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EVENTS
FINALS SCHEDULE DECEMBER 16 PERIOD 1 PERIOD 2 PERIOD 4 DECEMBER 17 PERIOD 3 PERIOD 8 PERIOD 5 DECEMBER 18 PERIOD 7 PERIOD 6 MAKE UP’S STUDENTS SHOULD CHECK THEIR EMAILS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT BUS TRANSPORTATION
NEWS IN BRIEF
EMANUEL MAKES MONUMENTAL DECISION FOR CHICAGO PD
Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, fired Gary McCarthy, the chief of Chicago police due to the recent police brutality incidents. More specifically, the most recent case was of a white police officer shooting a African American teenaged boy 16 times. Now, Emanuel faces finding someone to take over the position of Chicago Chief of Police, while also balancing political termoil surrounding the schootings. This decision could define his legacy as mayor of Chicago. TT BY CHRISTINA MICHAELS
JOHNNY HORTON
D
PROTESTS IN THE WINDY CITY
uring the 102nd annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Millennium Park in Chicago, “Black Lives Matter” protesters made sure they had their voices heard. Protesters started pulling the lights off of the tree during the ceremonial lighting. Although this left many angry, the protests did not stop there. Recently, many protests in the city of Chicago are following suit major city across the country to combat violence and police brutality. Not only have they not stayed peaceful,
T TRENDING:
Holiday Giving Every child deserves to get a present on Christmas and the Sequoits took up this charge for this holiday season. Antioch Community High School students and staff helped send small presents to children in third world countries. The boxes cost seven dollars to ship and inside students filled them up with small surprises for children to open on Christmas.
JOHNNY HORTON
This week, students were asked to donate books for the holiday book drive, sponsored by the National English Honor Society. The English class with the most donations will receive a prize during next week.
6 Tom Tom December 2015
“ I think it is good that people set aside their personal needs to think about someone who has much larger needs” ,said Jordan Delara Non perishable items, toys, toiletries were all included in boxes.
BY YASMIN LARA
but they have also become very disruptive. On Black Friday, shoppers were blocked by protesters linking arms in front of stores of Michigan Avenue. The protests developed as a result substantial news coverage surrounding recent cases of police brutality in the city. A number of city administrators have moved to find opportunities to combat the violence and reestablish a code of safety and ethics in the emergency personel industry. TT BY YASMIN LARA
SEQUOIT SOUNDOFF
“When I look at all the [political] candidates, all I can think is about how these men just want to watch the world burn.”
BEN DRUSE SENIOR
BY THE NUMBERS
102
YEARS
This year marks Chicago’s 102nd annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The ceremony took place on November 24 at Millennium park in Chicago.
IN BRIEF
Sequoit Snapshot
Students were treated 8th hour to visiting vocalists, the Acafellaz from Illinois State University, before being released early for Thanksgiving break. JOHNNY HORTON he S Fports amily Issue The FTall
7
N U-CHICAGO CANCELS CLASSES AS A RESULT OF DANGEROUS THREAT University of Chicago closed on Mon., Nov . 30, because of online threats pledging to murder 16 students, staff and police officers. Twenty-one-year-old Jabari Dean posted the threat on social media and the FBI soon took action. His motive was to avenge the murder of Laquan McDonald who was shot 16 times by a white police officer. Classes resumed Tuesday but security measures are being taken to keep students and staff safe. Dean is now being charged for the murder threats. TT BY YASMIN LARA JAMIE ATKINSON
A
SIDEKICKS TAKE TO THE COURT
fter many weeks of fun-filled practices and dedicated work from teachers and students alike, the Sequoit Sidekicks played their first ever basketball game on Sat., December 5. Many of these students have not previously had the chance to participate in organized sports, so this event gave players the opportunity to participate in a team environment and have fun with their peers. Steve Schoenfelder coached the teams with Marni Polakow and Jamie Atkinson, and led practices in order to prepare for the event. Schoenfelder had only positive comments on
the players and the crowd who came out to support them. “These kids really emphasis what we want students to represent in this school,” said Schoenfelder. “They worked hard, were very enthusiastic with their participation, and were the most respectful group of students I have ever worked with.” In the future, the Sequoit Sidekicks look to hold other events such as trips to Jump America, a soccer game, a track meet and formal dance. TT BY KALEIGH MILLER
CHAPA EARNS QUESTBRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP Hard work does not end after finishing the ACT junior year. Deciding what colleges to apply to is just an additional step in the stressful trek before high school graduation. For senior Serena Chapa this lengthy process became even more elongated once she became a Questbridge Scholarship finalist. “I applied for the initial scholarship late September and then I had to wait until the 21st of October, so it was only a few weeks to find out if I was a finalist or not,” Chapa said. “Then after that I had to get all of my applications in with my transcripts, I had to send in my scores and had to send in financial aid forms before November 1 for 10 different schools. After that, I was done and had to wait until December 1 to see if I was ‘matched’ to any of the colleges.” A month is not even that long, but when a potential full-ride to the school of your dreams is on the line, it feels like a lifetime. When Cha-
8 Tom Tom December 2015
pa was notified of her full-ride to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. excitement was an understatement. “It was pretty surreal. I didn’t really expect much and kept my hopes a little low because it is kinda big. It felt crazy. It is insane,” Chapa said. All recipients of the Questbridge Scholarship are guaranteed admission to one of Questbridge partner colleges along with a full, four year scholarship, worth over 200,000 dollars. This scholarship covers the student’s tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, as well as travel expenses. To be chosen, the applicant must have high academic achievement, particular financial qualifications, and be a citizen of the U.S. TT BY KENNEDY HETTLINGER
JOHNNY HORTON
Finals week is here and the ILC is prepared to acget the Sequoits ready to pass their tests. The ILC designated quiet study areas and will be host cramming with cocoa after school next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
TOP 5
ANTICIPATED MOVIES OF 2016 1. FINDING DORY
After almost 12 years since the release of “Finding Nemo”, June of next year is what we are all waiting for. Finally, we will be able to see deep down into the ocean of what Dory has in store for us.
2. BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN
The battle between two of the biggest superheroes known is almost here. Batman and Superman will fight for the spot to be the hero the world needs.
3. DIVERGENT SERIES : ALLEGIANT
In the third installment of the Divergent Series, the journey continues as Tries to venture outside the fence, into the unknown would.
4. ZOOLANDER 2
Our favorite models are back once again. As they continue to do what they do best: be good looking. In the film, other companies feel threatened by Derek and Hansel and plan to take them down. With a substantial amount of cameos, this film shouldn’t disappoint.
5. JUNGLE BOOK
Jungle Book has been re-released numerous times in different formats. In 2016, the film will make another comeback, however this time it will be live-action. BY REBEKAH CARTLIDGE
GRANT HAIDER
FALLING INTO WINTER
The first snowfall of the year already hit town, which means that traditional autumnal activities are beginning to change into winter and holiday cheer. KAYLEE SCHRIENER
A
Tom Tom Staff s the weather outside begins to change, so do the pastimes of students and teachers. Although more people seem to prefer summer over winter, there are still plenty of activities that people do to beat the cold. These events include indoor sports, sledding, watching movies, reading and more. For people who do not like the cold, staying inside is the obvious choice. Besides staying inside, others prefer to embrace the cold and use it to their advantage. People like to snowboard, sled and even ski. “I love to read,” sophomore Deighton Butenschoen said. “I can spend hours on end just reading and feeling the warmth of my coffee.” Sophomore Briana Pinto spends most of winter celebrating and getting ready for Christmas. “I like to go ice skating and listen to Christmas songs,” Pinto said. “My friends and I hang out and watch festive movies together with hot cocoa and marshmallows because it gets us in the Christmas spirit.” Winter limits the amount of activities that can be done, but a lot of students agree that it just makes it
easier to relax. Many people admit to simply sitting by the fire, drinking hot chocolate, and relaxing. Students say relaxing in the winter is easier than during the spring and summer, their schedules are very busy and filled with sports and hanging out with friends. “I like winter because I can finally relax for once,” freshman Megan Lawrence said. “I’m usually outside playing softball during the summer because there is no school.” Another activity that many students participate in during the winter is basketball. “Some of my closest friends play basketball and it’s nice to play with them,” freshman Piper Foote. “It’s nice to get together with people I don’t usually get to play with.” Even though many favorite activities like swimming and going to the park are not an option in the winter, students find ways to replace those activities by ice skating or simply being with their friends. Whether it is playing a sport, reading a book or watching movies with friends everyone finds different ways to beat the cold by doing things that they enjoy. TT
The Family Issue
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SEASONAL FASHION Layers, boots and flannel top the list of Sequoit must have items for the fall and winter months.
JASON WOOD Tom Tom Staff
JOHNNY HORTON
10 Tom Tom December 2015
JOHNNY HORTON
JOHNNY HORTON
R
ecently, layers and layering took over fall and winter fashion. Layering became the go-to style for men and women in order to beat the cold. A flannel covered by a winter vest is now a frequent fall outfit worn by women. Sweaters, half zips and pullovers combined with button ups or even plain t-shirts are practically everywhere in men’s clothing stores as soon as October hits. When the goal is to stay warm but look good as well, there are multiple ways to achieve it. Senior Abby Pierce and Sophomore Derek Olson each have different approaches on cold weather fashion. “I feel like there are a lot of flannels [worn during the fall and winter] since they’re great along with scarves,” Pierce said. Pierce knows that there is more to an outfit than just the top. She loves to wear her brown boots and boot socks, paired with either leggings or jeans to match almost any look. Modeling a simple flowing long sleeve shirt, leggings, boot socks and of course; her favorite boots, she is ready to tackle the upcoming season. The dark red of the top and black leggings are brought out by the light brown of her boots. The boot socks add a simple splash of beige to tie the outfit together. Each item works in its own way to create a comfortable look that is cute and refined at the same time. While she isn’t wearing this outfit, Pierce likes to wear a scarf to add something extra to her clothes. She generally shops at PINK, Tilly’s and Forever 21. Other shops like PacSun or Calvin Klein can carry the missing shirt or pair of pants she’s looking for. Olson is well known throughout the school for his ability to consistently dress well. When asked about men’s fall and winter fashion, he also brought up layering. Olson demonstrates layering with his favorite cold weather outfit in these pictures. “Usually I just wear t-shirt on the bottom so if I get warm I can take my coat off and then I put a windbreaker or sweater on,” said Olson. He shows his style here, wearing a maroon t-shirt and light gray pullover. Matching this look with dark blue jeans and dark brown boat shoes helps contrast the light gray of his pullover; keeping the look casual but classy. A simple black watch adds the finishing touch to this comfortable but stylish outfit. When an event requires him to dress up a bit more, he likes to switch out the t-shirt for a simple base color button up. In order to beat the cold, these undershirts can be replaced with a thicker flannel, to stay even warmer. These looks also work well with a pair of oxfords or boots, depending on what the weather demands. Men looking to recreate this outfit or something similar can find the different pieces at stores like Polo, American Eagle, Kohl’s or H&M. For the shoes, G.H. Bass & Co. or Sperry can carry the perfect pair for every outfit. The cold weather shouldn’t stop people from looking good, there are plenty of options for warmth and style out there. TT
JOHNNY HORTON
JOHNNY HORTON
The Family Issue
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L
SAYING ‘HELLO’ TO NEW MUSIC 2015 concludes with powerhouse artists topping the charts, leaving many hopeful for music in 2016. MEGAN HELGESEN Tom Tom Staff
E
verything in the music industry was relatively calm two months ago. However, it’s nothing but the opposite now: the chart toppers are changing weekly, artists are producing new albums while most everyone forgot they even existed and fans are adjusting to a new styles of music. With all of these productions happening simultaneously, huge competitions are occurring between artists. Unfortunately, only one producer can come out on top and their success is completely dependent of their fans. Albums and singles are being released at an abnormal rate compared to the usual seasonal releases. “I think fans wanted something different apart from summer music and every artist sort of realized that all at once,” said junior Haley Aldersebaes, regarding the rapid releases. Artists such as Drake, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd have been holding top spots on the iTunes charts for a while now, but may not last long up there due to up and coming artists. Fans are more than excited to see performers like Justin Bieber, Adele and Selena Gomez back and stronger than ever with new releases. “[Justin] Bieber has a complete new sound which may bring in new fans, so that is a plus for him, but it may be concerning to other popular artist,” said senior Jaylene Sparks. Not only is Bieber competing with multiple returning artists, he is also going up against one of the most popular bands in the world: One Direction. Unintentionally, the competition is even more stirred up; both artist’s albums will be released on the same date. However, Bieber and One Direction have separate plans after the promotion of their albums. For Justin, it’s the beginning of his return after a few years, but for the four boys of
GRAPHIC BY CLAY VESSER
One Direction it’s the end while they take a break until 2017, possibly allowing different artists to get the spotlight. On the other side of the industry, a few artists did not see this as a great time to break through with new music. “I would have liked to seen more things from the EDM industry, preferably something new from Martin Garrix,” said junior David Lonski. Although some genres didn’t see the charts this season, there were quite a few songs that shot directly to the top: “Sorry” by Justin Bieber, “Hotline Bling” by Drake and “Hello” by Adele. Despite 2015 coming to an end, these artists’ journeys are just beginning. TT
STUDENT TEACHER, TEACHER STUDENT This semester the math department welcomed Brian Palmer to assist in his dream of becoming a teacher. MADELYNN SOBERANO, PAIGE GRUBER AND JESSICA GUZMAN Digital Director, Lifestyles Editor and Social Media Director
Starting off as a high school student at Vernon Hills High School, Brian Palmer made his way to Northpark University and is currently finishing his student teaching as a math teacher for Ryan Hlinak. Coming into a new environment unsure of what to expect, especially since Palmer has attended schooling in the Windy City. “The students here have different mentalities from other suburban high school students,” Palmer said. “I was in a Chicago Public School where kids didn’t value education as much as they do here. They are very appreciative for what they have, so it is a little bit different from any past experience. When I was at Vernon Hills, everything was more competitive.”
12 Tom Tom December 2015
When hoping to become a high school teacher, one must experience what it’s like first hand to work with students in the classroom environment. After sending a mass email to surrounding schools in the area and having an interview with math department chair Jill Farrell, Palmer started teaching alongside Hlinak. After a few short weeks of getting used to the daily routine, Palmer soon took over the classroom and has been teaching solo ever since. As first semester comes to an end, Palmer will be leaving the Sequoit family in hopes of finding a full time teaching job in this district or beyond. “I’m definitely going to miss [my students],” Palmer said. “Everyone’s different, but overall [my students] were entertaining. It makes coming to school fun for me. I’ve had a good time being in class and it was a great experience. Wherever I go, I’ll definitely miss this school.” TT
FAMILY
AND
TECHNOLOGY Families are using technology more and more. Social media use, especially with immediate and distant family members, allows for increased connection unheard of a decade ago.
From parents monitoring their children to opportunities for increased communication, social media and technology are becoming the thread that holds many families together. MADISON PADDOCK, NATHAN BORRIES AND JORDAN STATEN Managing Editor, Senior Editor and Tom Tom Staff
The Family Issue
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14 Tom Tom December 2015
CHANGING TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA Since Feb. 4, 2004, when the world was introduced to a social media site with the largest number of users among any other social media site on the internet, communication was bound to change and continue to advance. Facebook is where this change in communication started. On college campuses all over the world, the idea of “The Face Book” was brought to students attention to become familiar with their fellow students and be able to put a face with a name. In 2004, sophomore at Harvard, Mark Zuckerberg, brought entertainment, creativity and connection into the lives of people worldwide and changed the idea of The Face Book to fit more modern times. He created a website. Within 30 days of the creation of this site, over half the undergraduates at Harvard at the time were members of Facebook. Not only had Zuckerberg recreated communication for Harvard students, but he had updated the idea of what the 21st century would be like from then on for people of all ages. Facebook has changed, continues to change and ultimately will change communication in the future between friends, students, co workers, relationships and most importantly family members. The convenient click of a send button has drastically changed communication as technology has continued to improve and advance. Facebook was just the beginning of this social media movement. Since then, Instagram having 300 million users, Snapchat having over 100 million, Twitter having 307 million users and many other popular social media websites and apps contributing millions more users have all played a part in this movement as well. Facebook messenger, photo sharing, direct messaging and snapchatting are just some of the many ways to communicate with others over
social media with the simple click of a button. In the United States, 51 percent of high school students carry a smartphone with them to school every day and 91 percent of teens go online from a mobile device at least occasionally. Every one of these social media sites are accessible through either the Play Store or App Store on almost every smartphone. This task takes almost no effort and continues to get easier and easier as apps are updated and technology advances. Face-to-face conversations or even a quick phone call are becoming less common because easier ways have been introduced to society at the tips of our fingers. A phone call almost seems out of the ordinary to younger generations because social media communication is now becoming normal and expected in society. It is almost scary to think of how the childhood of kids in the future will be different even a short 17 years later than the seniors of ACHS. This behavior among teens is becoming the social norm in society and for future generations, this is all they will ever know as “socializing” or method of communication. Intelligent conversation and human interaction is somewhat necessary for child development and growth. Face to face conversations make for more social interactions and without them that social growth, learning and experience is either lacking or lost completely. But what about the older generations? The generations that don’t necessarily use or know how to use social media websites and apps? Scott Magnuson said, “Without a doubt, social media has becoming a normative practice among many teenagers as well as more and more among my own peers. But at what cost? I think it is fair to say that we’ve diluted our social interactions when we rely so heavily upon it. We’ve allowed social media to define the type of interactions we have thereby replacing what
we know to be more meaningful and authentic with something that is expedient but generally counterfeit and stale. To make matters worse, we are completely distracted by it all and we can’t seem to find our way clear of the labyrinth we’ve created for ourselves. In our pursuit of a social network... we’ve been networked.” In society, it is taught to respect elders, pay attention to conversation, stay off phones while others are talking, put phones away at dinner, only use a certain amount of data and so many other things to create a balance between this new norm and what older generations were taught to better the future. Reality is, that these things to create a better balance are constantly broken and disregarded. As technology and communication advances and changes all around the world, the amount of respect and hard work shown by younger generations should not decrease as a result. Society as a whole should not lose itself in the commotion of social media and lose sense of morals and motivation, but rather take advantage of the advantages social media does offer to users. But this social media movement does not always bring negatives to our future. These easily accessible sites make for a very quick way to stay in touch. As much as it concerns older generations that face to face conversations are becoming less common, Internet access makes for much more frequent conversation. At the click of a button, catching up is much easier than it once was. Online invitations make gatherings easier to organize. Making plans are more convenient and take up less time than ever before. With so many advantages, it becomes almost worrying to think about how much actual conversation will be lost as technology continues to advance into much greater things.
NATHAN BORRIES
The Family Issue
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18 PERECENT OF SURVEYED ACHS STUDENTS HAVE PARENTS THAT MONITOR THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.
90 PERCENT OF TEENS HAVE ONE OR MORE SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY COMMON SENSE MEDIA. 16 Tom Tom December 2015
PARENTAL SUPERVISION Even more worrying than the thought of actual conversation being lost is the thought of what it will be replaced with. As social media becomes the hub of teenage communication, many parents wonder what goes on in the secret worlds of Facebook and Twitter. In a survey of 123 students, only 18 percent of students said that their parents monitor their social media accounts. Monitoring social media can range from a parent just being ‘friends’ with their child’s account to check up on them to having a conjoined parent-child account on social media. Some parents feel that high school aged children should be trusted to make good decisions online, while some teenagers feel that it is a complete invasion of their privacy to be monitored on social media. Parents who do choose to monitor their teenagers online do it for all the right reasons, though Senior Valerie Wilczopolski said, “I use Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Tumblr. My parents monitor my accounts to make sure I’m only posting appropriate things. My mom just watches what I post and makes sure it’s appropriate. She also has passwords to my accounts so if she is suspicious of anything she can log in and check.” What might feel like an invasion of privacy is really just a parent’s effort to keep their children safe. Just as a parent watches out for their child in real life, they can watch out for them online. Although it might be hard to understand exactly why parents worry so much about their children, many teenagers who are monitored by their parents respect the decision because they know it is for their safety. If nothing else, a parent monitoring their teenager on social media can serve as a quick reminder in the back of their mind that what they post
will, in fact, be seen, and will help them stop and think before they post. Wilczopolski said, “I stay conscious of what I’m posting online. If I think I’m going to get in trouble for it, I don’t post it. A major problem with Facebook, though, is that pictures your friends ‘like’ show up, so a few times I’ve had to go back and ‘unlike’ something just in case. It’s not worth getting in trouble for.” Just like with most aspects of technology, there are upsides and downsides to parental monitoring on social media. Many would say that the level of trust that parental supervision requires brings their families closer. Wilczopolski said, “Having family on social media isn’t bad and can help you keep in check. All in all it really has helped me stay in contact with family. I have family members in other states with kids and even though I never see them, I can still be apart of their lives and watch their children grow.” Even if it is not a case of parental supervision, it is still not a bad idea to be aware of what is posted on social media. In a technology-based society like today’s, more and more employers and college admissions officers use candidate’s social media accounts to get a glimpse of their character. Although Facebook, Twitter and Instagram may seem like secret worlds, they are truly SOCIAL media and are very public places. STAYING CONNECTED The revolution of staying connected has come pretty far. Starting from the pony express, to passing notes when the teacher wasn’t looking, to present day with the use of many means of technology to stay updated and connected with as many people someone might know, messaging and staying connected has become a must in many
students’ lives. From the creation of social media in 2004, families have begun to use social media more and more. Children today are ignoring the agerestrictions and diving into the forms of technology receiving cell phones at the average age of six years old. With many students with family living outside of their everyday lives, they are depending more and more on the use of technology, including texting and social media, in order to stay connected. It is no question it is hard to stay updated with a relative who isn’t in someone’s everyday life. To fix this problem, they turn towards social media to bridge ACHS junior Kar Toman has sisters in college who she doesn’t see very often. She said, “I go to my sisters a lot for advice. Giving each other advice is a way that we stay close.” Without the use of phones and technology, she feels like it wouldn’t be the same; she wouldn’t be able to go to her sisters whenever she wanted. “If we didn’t have technology to help us communicate regularly, it would separate us a lot. If I didn’t have them there for me during the times I needed them, what would be the point in waiting a few weeks til they come home to ask?” Siblings being in college is an obstacle many kids face growing up. Looking up to them, kids at home miss their older siblings and need a way to communicate and stay connected. Students with siblings in college utilize social media and rely on the technology of the 21st century to stay connected as if their siblings never left. Needed connections between family members does not stop at siblings at college. Family members with distant relatives often face the same trouble: staying updated. Whether it is a new baby, or a cousin’s graduation, families to-
day use social media to stay updated with the relatives that they don’t communicate with on a daily basis. ACHS junior Gabriella Hartnett and her family utilize different forms of technology to communicate with family members not residing with her. “All of my family members have some form of social media and they all have phones, including my grandparents. I’m able to share pictures online for all of my family members to see and we can all keep up with each other,” said Hartnett. Grandparents having forms of technology for better communication is not that uncommon. In a survey conducted by the Tom Tom, 40 percent of surveyed students claim to have grandparents that have social media. Although some grandparents may have trouble with technology, the ones who can utilize it take advantage of the opportunites today’s technology brings. These older relatives are able to keep up with family members and friends as traveling might become more difficult.
LOGS ON FACEBOOK
Whether it be siblings in college or grandparents and relatives that aren’t able to visit often, social media and other means of technology enable families to stay connected. I an ever changing world, the concept of family and the way that families communicate is also evolving. With changes over time, technology has enabled families to stay connected. Although it may be too soon to tell if social media has a positive or negative effect on the family unit, it certainly caused a revolution in the way families operate. TT
Having family on social media isn’t bad and can help you keep in check ... I can still be apart of their lives and watch their children grow. CARTOON BY NATHAN BORRIES
GRANDMA SENDS FRIEND REQUEST.
WHY DOES GRANDMA HAVE A FACEBOOK?
GRANDMA SENDS MESSAGE
“DO I HAVE ANY GRANDThe FamilyKID IssueS YET 17 ?”
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BEYOND ISOLATION CHRIS BEDOLLA
Fighting cancer impacts more than just the patient. The family can also find itself grasping for air amidst tragedy. MADELYNN SOBERANO Digital Director
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ccording to the American Cancer Society, more than a million people get diagnosed with cancer in America each year. Whether it’s a sibling, spouse or parent, showing support and love is important during this battle. Being diagnosed with cancer is a journey that thousands have traveled and continue to travel everyday. Not only does cancer affect the patient, but the patient’s family and friends. The hope, bravery, fight and reassurance is shared within all members of a family. Standing by one another and walking hand-in-hand through this journey is important. For junior Quinn Landl, having a parent that is fighting cancer is an obstacle that he and his family must face on the daily. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 13,776,251 people in America are living with some sort of cancer and that number is continuously growing. For the Landl family, having a member with cancer brought them together with communication and countless reassurance. “My mom has stage two breast cancer, she was diagnosed in 2012. I remember when my dad told me; it was after school one day. I really didn’t believe it was happening,” said Landl. “I always saw these sad stories on television, but I never thought it could happen to me or my family. No one else in my family has cancer, so it came out of nowhere.” For Landl, seeing his mom fight this battle with constant strength and courage lead him in the direction to help others. Seeing the courage and strength that she has everyday made Landl see and appreciate the smaller things of life. “I never use want to help people, but now when I see someone in need I want to help. I want to be a biomedical engineer to help people fight cancer,” said Landl. “Seeing my mom fight every day sparked the need for me to help others who have cancer too.” Teacher Phyllis Fay was diagnosed on March 13, 2015 with stage four non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is a cancer that begins in the immune
18 Tom Tom December 2015
system. Fay went to the doctors that day assuming the pain in her side was just kidney stones. She hoped to receive the antibiotics she needed and then go on with the rest of her day. “When the doctor said he saw some concerns in my catscan, he sent me to the hospital right away. I still didn’t think much of it. I had things to do that day and just wanted to get out of there,” said Fay. “But once it set in that I had cancer, it was shocking. The day of your funeral does pass through your head, it’s really scary.” Nowadays, cancer is no longer a death sentence. Although this journey is a scary one, coming face to face with this monster with loved ones can makes it easier. “The thing that worried me the most was trying to find a way to tell my mom. She had just recently gone through cancer. They didn’t check into it originally because neither of our cancers were hereditary,” said Fay. “In my case, my family was in denial. It was my friends that were my support system. I had one friend that went to every single appointment with me, every blood work, listened to all the information that was given and just went through the whole process with me. It was truly my friends who got me through it.” Whether friends or family, support can always be helpful especially at one’s weakest. This process can be stressful on both the caretaker and patient. Lots of patience and understanding is important. “For anyone is trying to support someone, trying to make life as normal as possible was important to me. It was the simple things like cleaning my house or having meals ready because the usual small things became these huge activities,” said Fay. “The isolation is the hardest. People either try to stay away from you because they think you’re contagious. When you lose all of your hair, you look scary, you scare yourself and people tend to shy away.” For these two Sequoits, cancer is a big part of both of their lives. Whether supporting someone or having been diagnosed. The journey is never an easy one, but can be made easier with love and courage from others. TT
A CHILD’S
TWO BEST FRIENDS
Sequoits find support from some of their most immediate family members: their parents and guardians. MADISON PADDOCK Managing Editor
They’re loving, nurturing and protective; they’re funny, even when they don’t try to be, and they’re caring--maybe a little TOO caring-and they’re probably two of the most under appreciated people in many teenagers’ lives: parents. As a teenager, getting along with one’s parents can often be an uphill battle and a love-hate relationship, to say the least. During adolescence it is often hard to accept that parents are still an authority figure in life. Curfews, rules and pointless arguments where both parties think they are right are the essence of the teenage years living with parents. The other side to this love hate relationship, though, is something truly special. For many people, parents are the ones who were there for them since the very beginning and will be lifelong friends. While countless things come and go in life, family is forever. For senior Shannon Cacciatore, her life would not be the same had it not been molded through her relationship with her parents. “My family is a big, loving Italian family and my parents are the most supportive and positive parents I could ever ask for,” Cacciatore said. “[My parents] support me in everything and have raised me to be a very positive and strong women.” Sophomore Mikaela Jordon also has a close relationship with her parents. “Some may say that it’s weird that I am close with my parents and I enjoy hanging out with them, but to me, it’s awesome,” Jordon said. “They are kind of like my best friends because
I am always honest with my parents and let them know what is happening in my life. I love to make jokes and just enjoy their company.
SHANNON CACCIATORE
I talk to them about when I am upset, when I am happy or what kind of things I am doing in school, other little things like that.” As cliché as it may sound, parents are the ones who will be there no matter what happens. In good times and in bad times, the support of parents is what helps many survive. “I tell my parents almost everything and always look to get their advice,” Jordon said. “Growing up in a military family, it was always hard to move around and not always have someone there for you. My parents were there for me no matter what and always made me feel better.” As a teenager, there are imminent changes in life as the future approaches. Supportive parents are often the biggest blessing a stressed teenager can have in life. “[My parents] are my guide and always know how to keep me from becoming stressed and irritated with things,” Cacciatore said. “They are the ones who are always there when I fall or when I need help when I get upset. They love to be supportive of my dreams and never question my path for the future. They have been behind me every step of the way towards supporting my career path of becoming a music educator in orchestral studies.” Maintaining a good relationship with one’s parents is not always easy, though. After all, it’s a love hate relationship most of the time. So what is the secret to staying close with one’s parents despite the fights and busy schedules
with little time to spend together? “I maintain my good relationship with my parents by never hiding my problems from them and always talking with them about everything,” Cacciatore said. “They are here for me and I know that when I need something or someone to talk to that my parents will always be there for me and nothing is going to change that. I am not afraid and not worried about being judged when I talk to my parents. We always maintain good communication.” Despite the stress of being in a military family that is constantly moving around, Jordan manages to maintain strong relationships with her parents through the quality time they spend together. “I am always honest with my parents and let them know what is happening in my life,” Jordan said. “I may not always agree with what my parents say but I always honor what they want. We all really enjoy spending time together. I love to make jokes and just enjoy their company. My best memories with my parents would definitely have to be when we go on vacations to Disney World. They always make things hilarious and are always there for me.” Although they may be a little too caring and protective, and they may enforce ridiculously early curfews, parents can be one of the greatest support systems for a teenager and can truly be a child’s best friend. TT The Family Issue
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My parents decided that they would take Jimmy any way that they could have him, regardless of the outcome. My parents spent six weeks, day and night, at the hospital.
A Sequoit’s 20 Tom Tom December 2015
KRISTINA ESDALE Print Director
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icture the perfect family day. For many, this could range from going out to nice dinners together to staying in and having a game night. Spending quality time with loved ones is extremely important to creating positive relationships and bonds among family members. But imagine if that wasn’t possible. Junior Gretchen Wagner’s family consists of her mom, dad, sister and three brothers. Despite her family “looking” picture perfect on paper, Wagner’s perfect family day and family, don’t reflect what many others’ might perceive perfection to be. On July 10, 2000, Jimmy Wagner was born at a healthy nine pounds, 10 ounces and 21-inches long. Up until his five month checkup, he was believed to be a perfectly healthy baby. But on Dec. 14, everything the Wagner’s knew would change. “My mom was going to cancel the check up because it was so snowy outside and she didn’t have a babysitter for my sister and me,” Wagner said. “But she went anyways because she knew there was something wrong with Jimmy. He had been throwing up for the past couple of days and was unable to use his neck to lift his head.” What seemed to be a typical check up turned out to be the start of an incredibly long journey for Jimmy and the rest of the family. As the doctor measured his head, he immediately recommended an MRI. Jimmy’s head had grown an excessive three centimeters in the short amount of time of one month. The doctor diagnosed Jimmy with an Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid brain tumor. Upon his diagnosis, the doctors rushed him into surgery. Jimmy’s type of tumor is very rare and rapidly growing. These type of tumors can grow anywhere in a person’s brain. But for Jimmy, his tumor was growing in the area of his brain that controls basic bodily functions like balance and the muscles in his face. The Wagner family was in a state of panic and shock. At Jimmy’s young age, the odds of him surviving the surgery or the course the tumor would take on him was not likely. Luckily for Jimmy, the doctors were able to remove 99 percent of his brain tumor. Unfortunately, the turnout was not what they were expecting. Although the surgery seemed to be fairly
successful, that was not the case. During the extensive surgery to remove the tumor, things took a turn for the worst. The doctors had made the mistake of coming too close to Jimmy’s vocal chords, paralyzing them in the process. As he awoke from surgery, the discovery was made that Jimmy was unable to swallow any sort of food. From that point up until age 12, he would have to get his nutrition from feeding tubes that would go through his nose or straight into his stomach. For the next several weeks, Jimmy was put into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. He began his chemotherapy treatment, but was only able to have four rounds of treatment instead of the usual six because he was too small. His body could not handle another two rounds of treatment. After his body had fully recovered from the chemotherapy, Jimmy started radiation five days a week for six more weeks. Usually, radiation is not given to children under the age of two. “My parents asked the doctors what they would do in our situation,” said Wagner. “The doctor said they would give their child a chance. My parents decided that they would take Jimmy any way that they could have him, regardless of the outcome. My parents spent six weeks, day and night, at the hospital. My sister and I had to stay with different family members throughout that time. We only got to see my parents once in awhile, for brief periods of time. He was so sick that we only got to be in his room to see him about six times during that whole year.” Jimmy’s situation put a strain on his family. Through all of the surgeries, treatments and
check ups, the Wagner family had no time to be together without the constant flow of nurses, doctors and concerned family members. “Other families were able to sleep under one roof, go out to places together and see each other on a daily basis. My family was unable to do that,” Wagner said. “When we were all together for once, there was always nurses and therapists at our house, along with most of our family members.” Wagner was only 18 months old when Jimmy was diagnosed. Although she doesn’t remember much of that time, she knows that she was always missing the part of her family that was stuck at the hospital for extended periods of time. But Wagner was not the one that Jimmy’s cancer had the biggest impact on. “Now a days it’s a struggle to get Jimmy to talk or laugh,” said Wagner. “He struggles with communicating, being social and showing any emotion. Learning is definitely his biggest struggle because of his traumatic brain injury which disabled his ability to learn like a normal teenager.” On September 11, 2001, Jimmy finished his last treatment. Today, he is a very healthy 15-year-old freshman. Jimmy’s neurosurgeon claimed that his brain is beautiful. He told his family that Jimmy is a “miracle” and an “angel,” but Jimmy walks around ACHS and has struggles like every other student with a learning disability. “Jimmy is quiet, shy and great at video games,” Wagner said. “He is one of the funniest people I know and I love him no matter what.” For children younger than three, the cure rate is below 15 percent for Jimmy’s type of tumor. TT
JOHNNY HORTON
The Family Issue
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LOVE IS LOVE.
OR IS IT?
BRITTANY BLUTHARDT Tom Tom Staff
BEGINNINGS The United States thrives and has grown to power because of its uniqueness, diversity, and contrast from the norm. The basic liberties every American considers custom today were not always granted at a whim, especially the concept of love. Human passion drives every action and decision, and by resisting this undying fervor, the human species itself is limiting its possibilities for greatness. Under most circumstances, marriage is an accepted tradition. In the typical story book tale, a princess marries a prince and they live happily ever after. But, what if the prince falls for another prince? What would happen to these two human beings that cannot control who they love? Indefinitely, these human beings would not be treated like human beings, but anomalies and oddities. With every century passed, society becomes better, but like all things, never perfect. Love is love. Or is it? Currently, the teenage generation has the world in their hands. They determine what is “cool” or “in.” No government decision or politician’s opinion can impact their thoughts, merely because their focus is not on politics, but on the internet and media. Social media sites like Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter broadcast the newest trends and dictate what the majority of internet users view on a daily basis. It is this influx of change that has introduced the LGBT community to old school America, but the great country of the “free” is not the first country to legalize marriage between two people of the same sex. “The word marriage does not have a specific meaning to it,” junior Francisco Alfaro said. “It should just mean that two people love each other and they want to be with each other forever. That is what marriage is, the trusting of one another to be there for each other.”
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In today’s changing world, diversity is of utmost importance. The LGBT community has successfully impacted society, but continues to struggle in the battle for universal acceptance. The Human Rights Campaign, a loyal supporter of the LGBT community, as well as the Rainbow Alliance Club at Antioch Community High School, continue to spread awareness of LGBT issues. The RA club has been intact at ACHS for three years and participates in a variety of school events to educate the community and students. The Day of Silence, “Wear Purple” events, and a booth at the International Fair are a few ways the club is involved. “There are so many different people, especially in our country, that you have to learn to get along with,” Audrey Nagel-Schoonmaker, English teacher and supporter of the RAC, said. “Starting in high school, or even younger, it is good for people to learn about diversity and that there are other people in the world who are going to be different than you, but are ultimately the same as you. They should be as accepting to you, as you are to them.” But, this acceptance is not common for all high schools and areas throughout the country. LGBT teens and adults are subject to hate and discrimination even in today’s largely open society and are still considered “different” and minorities. TODAY: ACCEPTANCE? In a diverse country, based on the foundations of a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures, there are unique walks of life around every corner. Diversity is continually shaping the American culture and enhancing our values. “Diversity is so important today because our world is always changing, and with change comes different things and people, aka diversity,” senior Jesse Balay said. “No one is exactly like another person, no matter how similar, we’re all unique. Diversity gives us an identity, it’s not a one-color-fits-all sort of thing, and that’s why it’s so important to have and to un-
derstand.” One outlet for expression, and a double-edged sword, is social media. It is an outlet for expression, for agreement and disagreement. Balay believes that the Internet has impacted the LGBT community in both ways. “For the positives, it helps to broadcast awareness, and televises and corrects common misconceptions that other people have about LGBT ordeals,” Balay said. “It can help to show our goal [to promote gay rights], to be understood and to be accepted. On the other hand, it can do the exact opposite. Reality shows that project flamboyant or obnoxious behaviors displayed by few LGBT members show the wrong message to the public, which only reinforces misconceptions. It’s sort of a yin-yang, both good and bad.” Freshman Emily Krock also believes that the media can do wrong. “I think it has impacted the LGBTQ+ community in a rather negative way considering that there are little portrayals of LGBTQ+ people in the media, and those who are represented are represented incorrectly a vast majority of the time,” Krock said. The LGBT community continues to struggle in today’s “accepting” time, but in comparison to the past, society has progressed quickly to adapt to these differences. “Our school is very much excepting of children of different sexuality and gender,” Alfaro said. “Everyone is open about ‘different’ people. The more we except people the better the world gets. The world is getting better, let’s keep it that way.” From small high school clubs, to powerful protests and marches, the rainbow flag continues to fly highly and with pride, and is gaining more supporters by the minute. TT
E H T E G M N O I T H T I H OKS AT BO Homeschooling offers unique opportunity to learn about the world and oneself. BRITTANY BLUTHARDT Tom Tom Staff
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magine the typical teenager of today: a high school student struggling with the early 7:30am class bell, piles of homework on their desk, and a social life straight out of the cliques in Grease. Most students are enrolled in a typical American public school throughout their years of education. Strip away the school spirit, a couple hundred peers, and the head-wrenching schedule, and what is left? A home schooled student. Becoming more common, some families opt to having their children be educated at home for their twelve years of schooling. Jumping from 2.2% to 3.4% in 2012, and gradually growing, the National Center for Education Statistics relays a common linear trend of home-schooled student statistics. The increase exhibits a change in the demographics and values of our society today, and comes to question if our public school system is up to par with the results of homeschooling and private schooling. What is the reason for cracking into the books at home? The choice to be home schooled can be driven by many reasons, but most commonly are religion, size of family, income, and location. Those that live in the extremes, rural or city life, often result to home schooling because of the cost of public education, as well as availability of a good education. Not all school districts, and ultimately students, are taught equally. Because of the Internet and numerous other technological advances, it is becoming easier to achieve a similar education at home, without the costs of a private or public school. In certain areas, it is safer and logical to be home schooled, and is not con-
BRITTANY BLUTHARDT
sidered an anomaly. For Bill and Matt Becker, their parents chose to home school them until high school and (for Matt) middle school. Based merely off of personal preference of the home school atmosphere, all of their siblings were taught by their mother and given a choice at the start of high school to transition to public schooling. Bill Becker states, “I really wasn’t too interested in being home schooled anymore. I wanted to do something else.” Looking for a change in environment, many students at Antioch Community High School, who were once home schooled, made the decision to enter the halls their freshman year. Senior Stephen Frandsen, recalls his first days of public school. “For me, my first day of school was honestly terrifying. I was super nervous. I really didn’t know what to expect because in my mind, high school was just like it was in the movies. After the first couple of days, I began to find a rhythm in my day to day life and it became a routine thing.” Home schooled students at ACHS are able to smoothly transfer into the community, thanks to freshman introduction programs, sports, clubs and the school’s family atmosphere. Becker said, “It wasn’t too bad. I went to the Freshman Academy and played football so I knew some people when I came”. Although not as dramatic and exciting as in the chic flicks, high school is still a time to experiment with your passions, make friendships, and become involved in the community. The perks of home school? Think about doing homework and learning in your pajamas.
Everyday. Besides the obvious, homeschooling allows for students to learn at the times they prefer, as well as give them opportunities to work and save money. Some choose the online schooling route, while others are taught by their parents or teachers that are brought in. It is a more personalized education, but has its downfalls, as do all education forms. Public school students are infused into a social setting where they can learn crucial communication skills at a young age, but the learning experience is almost impossible to be equally personalized to each student. Home schooling can limit the social life of a student, as well as possibly limit the opportunities available to them when it comes to college. Extracurricular activities involved through public schooling, like varsity sports, honor societies, and clubs, are appealing to colleges, but are not the ‘one all be all’ in decisions. Community efforts, such as volunteering, and recreational teams are available to both home school and public school students and look impressive on college applications. Similar opportunities are still available for home schooled students. Whether home schooling is your niche, or you prefer the public school style, both education forms are beneficial in the long run and can lead to success. Many students in the Antioch community, as well as all over the country, have been home schooled, are currently home schooled, or are making the decision to become home schooled. Every day, new teaching styles are being created and the possibilities are becoming endless to obtain the best education in today’s competitive society.
The Family Issue
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E T A R A P SE R EQUAL O
After 50 years, divorce rates skyrocketed where nearly half of married couples may be destined for marital separation. PAIGE GRUBER
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Lifestyles Editor
JOHNNY HORTON
24 Tom Tom December 2015
t seems as if something that was once so rare and unfavorable, has now become a common and normal trend within numerous American families. Why are divorce rates climbing to such grim heights? According to the American Psychological Association, married couples have a 40 to 50 percent chance of getting a divorce. If one were to look back about 50 years ago, these rates were only at 10 percent. So what happened to the so-called unconditional love? Senior Jaimee Campbell has dealt with the struggles of having divorced parents for nine years. Campbell’s parents had issues from money all the way to romantic affairs. “I think the younger that couples get married, it can also play a role in leading up to a divorce,” Campbell said. “That was another case for my parents I want to say.” When parents get a divorce, the family can change drastically. Older siblings may have to take on more responsibility over their younger siblings and holidays are split between the two parents and celebrated separately rather than traditionally all together. A lot of change takes place and it can put a lot of stress within the family. For some children, it can feel like their life is being divided in two. “The divorce of parents is a major life event, and it is something a child will be coping with well into adulthood, Psychologist Elizabeth Ozer said Having said that, kids can and do thrive after their parents’ divorce. As a parent, your role is to do all you can to help your child whether his transition.” Studies show that divorce can affect one mentally; such as depression, anxiety and other emotional health issues. In addition to that, divorce may even cause some to slip into unhealthy habits, lacking in school work and in some cases get into legal trouble. Some divorces affect children the rest of their lives. “It was sad, it was hard. My parent’s divorce was really hard. It’s still hard” said Campbell. “My siblings and I have definitely been put in the middle of things when it comes to our family. There was always a pressure of ‘who loves who more’, they use that against us a lot.” Campbell also struggles with going back and forth staying with parents. She said it can be difficult switching between the two since her parents live in completely different lifestyles and have personalities that in comparison are like day and night, something commonly found in some divorced families. “My mom is very strict, and my dad is very laid back. So of course, their parenting styles are very different.” Campbell said, “So it gives my siblings and I a sense of how we should act, and what is okay and what is not okay to do around them.” On the other hand, it is best to look at an event like this and make something positive of it. Divorce can be more than something major ending, but it is also a fresh start and a new chapter of life. Sometimes good things can blossom out of bad ones. TT
IN SEASON BOYS BASKETBALL
T
he boys varsity basketball team is off to a rocky start, most notably over Thanksgiving break when the boys played in the Woodstock North tournament and only won one game out of three. Since the tournament the boys took home their first win against Reuther Central High School (Kenosha) and their first conference loss against Wauconda. “It has been a good season so far but of course it has it’s ups and downs, but it’s early in the season,” said senior Theo Hill. “We are a great team who has a big ceiling so anything is possible.” BY JESSICA GUZMAN
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION TONIGHT In between the sophomore and varsity boys basketball games, the school will induct the 51st member into the ACHS athletic hall of fame, the 1966-1967 varsity boys basketball team coached by Roger Andrews. The team will be recognized for possessing the school record of most wins in a single season (26), defeating three state ranked teams in the IHSA state playoffs and winning the NWSC. BY DAN MEADE UPCOMING
DECEMBER 11 BOYS BASKETBALL @ HOME DECEMBER 12 BOYS BASKETBALL @ BRADLEY CENTER DECEMBER 12 GIRLS BASKETBALL @ UNITED TOWNSHIP DECEMBER 13 DANCE @STEVENSON DECEMBER 26 GIRLS BASKETBALL @LILSE HIGH SCHOOL
JOHNNY HORTON
Junior Logan Weber drives the ball towards the basket for a layup in a 66-41 win against Reuther Central High School.
DANCE
The girls varsity dance team started out their season the best way possible. The girls worked hard to prepare for their first competition and it all paid off because they took home first at the Mundelein Invite. In the fall, the girls were pushed with technique and flexibility, which has made the transition into competition season easier. They have been preparing by doing lots of endurance. They do it so they do
not get tired during their routine, specifically finishing the routine how they start it. Senior captain Anna Locklear is very happy with how the season is going. The girls next competition is this Saturday, where they look to repeat their success. TT BY DANIEL BRITO
“Our team is like a family. We laugh, joke around, and I know they have my back like I have theirs”
MICHAEL MCQUE SENIOR, LAKERS ALTERNATE CAPTAIN
CHEERLEADING
HOCKEY
After the first seven games with a record of 6-1, the Lakers feel as if they might be on the verge of their best season yet. The team looks to improve their record and gain momentum before their first tournament approaches in January.
SEQUOIT SOUNDOFF
“Our team is getting faster and stronger every practice and improving throughout the season,” Lakers junior forward Warren Sundt said. TT BY DYLAN HEBIOR
As the cheerleaders prepare for their first competition Saturday, Dec. 12, they are focusing on continuing their team cohesion and making a solid routine. “It’s competition season now, which is our main season that we really care about,” said junior Alexa Castino. “The work ethic is a lot different, we’re a lot more determined.” TT BY LAURYN HUGENER The Family Issue
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IN SEASON
Sequoit Snapshot
Sophomore Danielle Bay and the varisty dance team prep for their upcoming competitions. Their first of the season resulted in a first place victory. JOHNNY HORTON
26 Tom Tom December 2015
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Girls varsity basketball team is focused on repeating how well they performed last year with winning conference again as their ultimate goal. “I think it is going to be a fantastic year,” said junior Ashley Reiser. “I’m really excited for this season to play out and what we bring to the table as the season goes on.” The team is filled with experienced varsity players, making their chances and chemistry for this year even better. TT
TOP 5 GRANT HAIDER
WRESTLING
BY MARC HUSTON
BOWLING
As the girl’s bowling season came rolling in, the team, led by senior captains Erin Koch and Taylor Vickers, took second place in their first tournament, the Bakers tournament, on Nov. 28. The girls followed that up with a win against Stevenson on Nov. 30. The season is just starting and the girls are very excited to see where this season takes them. “I am looking forward to the growth the team will have in not only skill but as a family,” junior Jayme Bailey said. TT BY GABRIELLE KALISZ
P PLAYER TO WATCH: Reece Eldrige, Boys Basketball If there is one athlete to watch this fall, it is definitely junior varsity basketball player Reece Eldridge. So far into the season, you could say Eldridge has started out strong with a personal 15 point average per game. This past summer, Eldridge put in many hours training day in and day out in order to reach her goals this season, and so far, he’s on track. “I am proud of myself for being one of the top scorers, it shows that hard work pays off,” said Eldridge. Keep an eye on Reece Eldridge as she works his way to state.
BY LAUREN SLACK
The wrestling team has started their season off with a tournament and one regular meet. Led by captains Patrick Schoenfelder, George Bessette, Nathan Dlugopolski and Jake Gross. “At the tournament we placed someone in each weight class and placed eighth overall,” said junior and team manager Madison Oakes. According to Oakes the team plans to continue with their positive record for the rest of the season. TT BY ABIGAIL RUSSEL
LACROSSE
Starting in the 2017 spring sport season, lacrosse will begin as a hybrid of District 117 athletes. “We are looking to have a head coaching recommendation to the school board for their December meeting,” Athletic Director Steve Schoenfelder said. Without a coaching staff there is still a lot to be done, but in the future there will be more news about the new sport from the athletic office. TT BY DYLAN HEBIOR
GIRLS SWIM TEAM
Antioch’s smallest athletic group, the swim team, coached by English teacher Jim Hellen and Jim Peterson, consisted of five girls this season: junior Nicole Peterson, sophomores Lauren Annunzio and Aubrey Lonergan, and freshmen Grace Hellen and Katrina Peterson. This season ended successfully with each individual girl putting up strong swim times. Lonergan came within half a second of qualifying for state. “She certainly is a strong competitor to be able to [qualify for state] next season,” said J. Hellen. The swim team season itself runs from September to November, but the girls swim year round at various pools in the area in order to train and consistently keep improving their times. For next season, the team hopes to have at least eight girls to enable them to be able to run two relays, which each consist of four swimmers. TT
MOST WATCHED SPORTING EVENTS FIFA WORLD CUP
In 2010, the Netherlands played Spain for the Cup Final in Johannesburg, South Africa. As Spain triumphed for a 1-0 win in extra time, more than 700 million people tuned it, making it the most viewed sporting event in history.
OLYMPICS As the home for many events, the Olympics has been popular for a large portion of measureable time. The Beijing Olympics of 2008 was seen by an estimated 600 million people, making it one of the most-seen events ever.
2011 CRICKET WORLD CUP This match between India and Pakistan was not in the Championship Final, but in the semi-final. As the most-watched cricket match in history, as many as 400 million viewers were on hand.
SUPERBOWL XLVI The 2012 Super Bowl between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots drew about 11 million viewers. This was the most viewed NFL game in its history. The Giants won with a final score of 21-17.
MONACO GRAND PRIX Held in Europe, the Monaco Grand Prix is known as one of the most prestigious auto races in the world. It originated in 1929 and thousands of viewers tune in every year. BY JOHN PETTY
BY HALEY EDWARDS
The Family Issue
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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE A
DEADLY ALLERGY BY CAITLYN REDD AS TOLD TO NICK ANDRE
W
alking the halls at school everyday, knowing that anything or anyone could be a potential threat; knowing that the slightest touch can cause my body to react. My entire life I have had an unsettling feeling about my allergies, realizing I do not only affect myself, but others as well. If someone forgets something as little as washing their hands I can instantly start breaking out in hives and my throat will start to close, restricting a pathway for me to breathe. I was about 18 months old when I had my first reaction. When that happened, my family and I found out that I was severely allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds and watermelon, which would change my life forever. Being so young, I do not remember what happened, but my parents have told me the story over and over again, reminding me to be careful so I don’t have to relive past pain. Thanks to my family and everyone around me, I have not had another reaction since then. Having people know about my allergies help with that, so everyone is aware of what could happen if I came into contact with something I am allergic to. By making others aware, I hope I can help others in the future by making people more aware to anyone that may have a severe, life-threatening allergy around them. Outside of school can be a little bit easier. I share the same severe allergies with my brother and sister, which allows us to watch each others’ back. Having them around makes it easier for all of us to keep an eye out for anything that may cause one of us to have a potentially life-threat-
28 Tom Tom December 2015
ening reaction. My brother and I have the same allergies, but he’s just not allergic to watermelon. It’s nice having him so similar to me because it makes our home a lot more simple because we do not have to add more things to the list of stuff that our family and others have to watch out for. My sister on the other hand is completely different from the both of us. She is allergic to everything dairy, which is a more everyday product and she has to be a lot more careful. That being said, my family and everyone else has to be a lot more cautious also. While outside of school can be a little bit easier, my allergies affect my social life in many ways. I always have to be careful with the places I might be at, such as going to the mall or to a store and having to carefully pick up or use the things there. Going to a friend’s house can be tricky too. I don’t know what they might have touched or used last, or if I am eating dinner at their house I might not know what something is made with or out of. Thankfully, my friends know about my allergies and are supporting and are very careful. School started out to be the biggest challenge I’ve had to face. It can be just as dangerous for me as anywhere else, but after 12 years I feel like have finally gotten used to it. Even though it does not bother me as much anymore, I always get this “left out” kind of feeling. Whenever I see people eating the things that I cannot have, the curiosity starts to take over my mind, always wondering what does it taste like or why do peo-
ple obsess over it so much. Restaurants are usually the hardest part. When I go out to eat, I always have to let whoever is helping us know about what I am allergic too. Employees could do something as simple as not wash their hands in between cooking a dish and touch something I am allergic too or if I didn’t let them know, it could be cooked in peanut oil or there is a numerous amount of different things that could happen in the kitchen that could cause a reaction. While sometimes letting them know everytime you go out to eat or even the act of you telling them can be a hassle, it is to keep me safe. My allergies are a constant struggle. It dictates many of the things that my family and I can and cannot do. Having someone close to you that deals with the same thing is comforting because you always have each other to look out for and someone is always by your side. We constantly have to be careful with almost everything; whether it may be going to school, a restaurant, a friend’s house, or even in some cases our own home, anything could be a potential hazard. Hopefully, one day I can have a wish come true and someone could create a cure for food allergies so I and others like me, can enjoy and experience the foods that others can. By creating a cure, it could help save lives and never hold someone back from what they want to eat, try, or to just simply touch. TT
JOHNNY HORTON
The Family Issue
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. . . Y E S L E K S THIS I SHE’S A FRESHMAN.
Scan here to listen to audio about Kelsey and why she loves being a Sequoit. http://goo.gl/N0X6fO
TYLER STEELE 30 Tom Tom December 2015
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