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

THE STUDENT VOICE OF ANTIOCH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

Senior THE

ISSUE

VOLUME 54, ISSUE 10 + MAY 2016 WWW.SEQUOITMEDIA.COM + @ACHSTOMTOM + @SEQUOITSPORTS 1133 MAIN STREET + ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS + 60002

MAY 2016

CONTENTS

VOL. 54 NO. 10

Throughout this magazine cutlines or credits will not appear with photos. Each of the photos in this magazine were taken by seniors Johnny Horton and Tyler Steele, and juniors Natasha Reid and Grant Haider. They were taken on a backdrop created from the signatures of the class of 2016. The Tom Tom staff attempted to capture as many members of the class of 2016 as we possibly could. This was either done through a variety of opportunities for diverse storytelling. As your graduating Tom Tommers, we hope we’ve made you proud.

ON THE COVER THE STUDENT VOICE OF ANTIOCH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

Senior THE

ISSUE

VOLUME 54, ISSUE 10 + MAY 2016 WWW.SEQUOITMEDIA.COM + @ACHSTOMTOM + @SEQUOITSPORTS 1133 MAIN STREET + ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS + 60002

The graduating class of 2016 is ready to celebrate as 311 students will walk across the stage Sunday, May 22 at 1 p.m., a day that marks the start of something new. Danny Meade will be the student speaker and English and media teacher Patrick Johnson will be the faculty commencement speaker.

EDITOR’S NOTE

LEAVING HEART AND HOME

Being a Sequoit was always a dream, and now my time as a student is coming to end. In the end, being a Sequoit has mattered, and the people I’ve spent my time with have made all the difference.

the TOM TOM staff

2015-2016 executive team

NICHOLAS DOROSAN Editor-in-Chief MADISON PADDOCK Managing Editor NATHAN BORRIES Senior Editor PAIGE GRUBER Digital Director GRANT HAIDER Creative Director

PATRICK R. JOHNSON, CJE Adviser KRISTINA ESDALE Print Director MADELYNN SOBERANO Digital Director NATHAN FORMELLA Advertising Director JOHNNY HORTON Photo Editor

department editors

DAN MEADE Sports YASMIN LARA Lifestyles LAUREN PONZETTI Lifestyles

BRITTANY BLUTHARDT Lifestyles GENNIFER GEER News JESSICA GUZMAN Social Media Director

ne of the truest things that I have ever heard is when people say, “the next four years are going to fly by.” When I look back at my freshman year, it seems like it was so far away; yet, in an instant I’m already a senior staring down my last few days at Antioch Community High School and all the memories that come with that time. It all feels so surreal that in a few days I’ll be done with high school and in a week I will have officially graduated. Each year we go through school, followed by a few months of summer break, and then back to school we go—in the same town, with the same friends surrounding us. Until now. For many of us, we’re not going to return to the same town surrounded by the same friends when the summer ends. For the past 13 years, I’ve been stuck in the mindset that after summer ends I will go right back to the same place I go every year. I go back to the comfort of my town and my school, only to wait countdown again until the summer day I get out and to do it all over again. It’s hard to wrap my head around that something I’ve been doing the majority of my life is going to change, and at the end of the summer I won’t be going back to the comfort of being a Sequoit--one of the most significant things I looked forward to as a kid. I remember observing the high school kids at all the football games, dreaming of the day when I would be following in their footsteps by putting on that cardinal jersey and grey helmet and playing for my town as my heroes did on that field before me. It’s crazy to think that soon I won’t be on the field; instead, I’ll be on that sideline as an alumnus, supporting the team that shaped me, and watching the kids who had a dream much like the one I had when I was their age. Time is comfortable because it’s controllable. Much like time, football was something comfortable to me; it was with me for a big part of my life and something I could control. But now, as others may experience, that comfort has come to an end. Although it may seem scary not to have that comfort around, it is always something that will be a part of you from having been a part of it. Now, instead looking forward to becoming a Sequoit, I look back at how it made me who I am today as I start the new beginning to my life. In the end, the most important thing is we are who we are because of our experiences, whether how positive or negative they may be. Of all those experiences—people, places, things, ideas—there are those core moments that will forever make us the best version of ourselves. And for me, I will forever be grateful for them. TT

staff journalists

Nathaniel Alexander Nick Andre Jayme Bailey Rachel Beckman Chris Bedolla Grace Bouker Daniel Brito Rebekah Cartlidge Alexandra Comer Jack Connelly Haley Edwards Abigail Ellsworth Jillian Everett Matthew Farrell Booker Grass

Benjamin Gutke Dylan Hebior Megan Helgesen Symone Henderson Kennedy Hettlinger Brenna Higgins Emily Holmes Paige Hope Lauryn Hugener Marc Huston Gabrielle Kalisz Theodore Martinek Christina Michaels Kaleigh Miller Chloe Moritz

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.

4 Tom Tom May 2016

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

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.

NICHOLAS G. DOROSAN Editor-in-Chief

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

TO THE CLASS OF 2016: DEFINE YOURSELF

Each year the Tom Tom seniors select a teacher they would like to write a letter of advice to their class. This year, the senior Tom Tommers selected Marni Polakow, physical education and health teacher. Dear Seniors, Congratulations on reaching this great milestone. You have just completed one more step in this game we call life. Leaving high school and moving on to the real world gives you the opportunity to figure out who you want to be and where you want to go. I want to leave you with these words that I have used throughout my life as I have moved from one facet of my life to another. Dedication: Find your passion and commit to it. Exploration: Travel the world and see as many places as possible. Fun: Have fun, but not too much fun! Independence: Learn to rely on yourself. Nurturing: Love others and foster meaningful relationships. Educate: Be a lifelong learner. Yes: Say yes to things. Try new things. Try things that scare you and that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not good at. Optimism: Be hopeful and confident. Unique: Celebrate what makes you special and different from others. Responsibility: Always make smart choices. Selflessness: Do things for others. Eagerness: Have enthusiasm and exuberance for opportunities that come your way. Loyal: Be supportive of others and their needs. Friends: Keep old ones, but make new ones In the end, the goal is to define yourself. What it means to grow and become an adult is to learn who you are, who you are supposed to be, and why you are supposed to be that way. Find a purpose. Find you. Define you. Love always, Coach P

The Senior Issue

COLLEGE BOUND

The college experience is looming, but for some Sequoit alumni it wasn’t exactly what they expected it to be. TED MARTINEK Tom Tom Staff

ost people have a bright outlook on the future. They think that their next step in life, no matter how small, is going to be better than what it is now. Whether they are starting a new job, moving into an apartment, or, the big step that many of us seniors are about to take, going to college. Seniors tend to imagine easier classes, more free time and courses that they will actually use in their lifetimes. Sadly, while some visions may be accurate, a lot of them are faulty. College is portrayed as the best time of our lives, and probably will be, but there is baggage that comes along with it. “I thought it was going to be a lot more of an independent thing, that I can’t rely as much on my teachers as much, and, of course, on my parents because I was not going to be living at home anymore, at least not for the first year in college," Antioch Community High School graduate Wesley Skym, a junior at Columbia College Chicago, said. "I thought it was going to be independent, and I thought it was going to be easy. It wasn’t.”

6 Tom Tom May 2016

Although there were plenty of things to get used to at college, most of the surprises when going off to college were good. “I then went to a university that had smaller classes," Skym said. "I was expecting a giant lecture hall with one teacher teaching 50 or more students, but no. We had classrooms of 15 kids where we all knew each other's names and the professor knew our names. It was actually much nicer that way.” John Jadrich, currently a freshman at Illinois State University, also found his college lifestyle to be different than expected. “It is different because I have to share a dorm with somebody, and I also have to share a bathroom with 25, 30 other people," he said. "It is a little much. And I can’t have home cooked meals; I have to have dining hall food, which is terrible.” Often, a big ten school comes to mind when college is mentioned: a place like the University of Illinois or Michigan State with massive lecture halls, multi-story dorm rooms, sprawling campuses and industrial scale food service. These

colleges have the most attention from the news, leaving many smaller ones out of the picture. “Make sure you are going to the right place for you," Skym said. "I went to the University of Illinois—Springfield, and that was the only place I applied for. Soon as I got in, I was like, ‘Oh, sweet. I guess I don’t have to try any more. I am set.’ That was definitely not the case, because I am much happier at Columbia. I did research around and figured out this is the school I want to go to.” In the end, Jadrich said going to college isn't as intimidating as some seniors fear. “Relax," he said. "If I were to say anything before going into college, I would say to relax. Because it is really not scary, the people are awesome and even if you don’t think that the people are awesome, then you could just not talk to them. It is that simple. Do well in school, get good grades. Don’t let other activities mess with that because in the end, your end goal, what you are paying money to do, is go to school. And your first year, it is really good to get a good GPA. It sets a great foundation." TT

FACULTY

CLASS OF 2016

ACHS SAYS GOODBYE TO

BECKMAN Beloved English teacher to say adieu to her Sequoit family after over a decade of dedicated service. LAUREN SLACK Tom Tom Staff

fter 15 years, English teacher Kathleen Beckman plans to pack up her room one last time. After teaching all levels of sophomore English, AP Literature and Composition, reading improvement, media literacy, introduction to journalism, newspaper journalism, life resource management, foods 1 and advisory, Beckman is set to retire. As an accomplished teacher, Beckman has experienced many things throughout her years working at ACHS. Despite the many memories, one of her favorites includes advising the Tom Tom and the controversial content covered throughout the issues. “My editor and I filed a FOIA together, a first for me and for her, and we also worked with some attorneys to investigate the legal aspects of a few stories they worked on," Beckman said. "Additionally, I remember having great discussions about some of our staff editorials and the responses we received from people in the community. I remember one strongly worded letter to the editor from a former superintendent who was critical of a staff member’s stance on legalizing gay marriage; it was shocking that a public school administrator would use his office and write his comments on District letterhead as if he/she were voicing the opinions of the District. What followed was a memorable discussion on the separation of church and State and the power of the press. They were all wonderful learning experiences and I was proud of the thoughtful, articulate and professional writing my students published.” Teachers are some of the most important people in our lives, and not only do they teach us, but we teach them as well. Interacting with our teachers every day brings us new ideas and mentalities as we bring out the same in them. For English department chair Dee Andershock, Beckman's retirement means a significant change in the culture of the English department. "Ms. Beckman is like a mom to all of us in the department and her students," Andershock said. "She treats her students like they're her own children. She celebrates their victories and pushes them when they aren't doing their best. She cares for them like a mom would and she does the same for

us teachers. She's the first to call you out if you're doing something wrong." Beckman reflected on what she has learned from students and how they have affected her overall. “I’ve learned—or have had reinforced—that everyone has a story,” Beckman said. “Each student who sits in my classroom comes to school with a different set of expectations and needs. He or she also comes with a different work ethic and interest level. I’ve learned different ways to try to reach each student, and sometimes I’m successful and sometimes I’m not. It’s hard to accept that every student is not reaching for ‘excellence’ but that’s okay. They might not reach for excellence in English class, but maybe they are reaching for it and achieving it, in theater class, or science or art or math class. I hope my students have left my classes knowing that I truly care about them and want the best for them.” Just as many of the seniors are going to experience leaving ACHS in just over a month, Beckman too will leave the people she has grown to love and become close with at ACHS. “I’m going to miss the bubbly energy that I am exposed to each day as my students share what is going on in their lives,” Beckman said. “I’m going to miss working with students individually to help them produce writing that they are truly proud of. I’m going to miss sharing great pieces of literature with young adults and having them make connections between that literature and the world today. I’m also going to really miss the people I work with. My fellow English teachers are a wonderful group of educators; I have so much respect for each one of them. They work incredibly hard to engage, teach and encourage the students here at ACHS. They are also some of the funniest people I know. As a department we have had traditional ‘parties’ and get-togethers that I have thoroughly enjoyed and that I will really miss.” Beckman plans on spending her retirement engaging in more active learning. She explained how her seniors have inspired her to start new, as she considers returning to school to continue her learning. “I’m excited to see what new opportunities I will encounter and I’m anxious to make a positive impact in the world,” Beckman said. TT The Senior Issue 7

ON YOU SEQUOITS... ON

Rodriguez to leave post as Assistant Principal of Student Services at ACHS to move to Middleton High School. DAN MEADE

Sports Editor

Citron, Kamin, Potter-Nelson and Sutherland will also depart Antioch for new districts, new opportunities and new adventures. BRITTANY BLUTHARDT

aving only been here for three years, Assistant Principal Omar Rodriguez had made his an impact on the ACHS community. For those who know Rodriguez, they know he is a very caring man who attended the University of Wisconsin, and is in love with the city of Madison. Due to his great love for Madison, he could not resist the opportunity of working at a high school nearby. “I spent five wonderful years in Madison at UW—Madison. I always pictured raising my family there, and an opportunity presented itself, so I threw my hat in the ring,” Rodriguez said. “For me, it would be an accomplishment to form a family legacy at UW.” While Rodriguez pursues his dream of settling down near his old school, he will be greatly missed by the students at ACHS. Senior Kayla Vazquez, who is currently a member of the Latino Leadership Group (La Selección) run by Rodriguez, has been greatly impacted by Rodriguez. “Mr. Rodriguez has had a significant impact on my life,” Vazquez said. “He helped turn rushed, crazy mornings into a good day, just by saying ‘good morning, how are you?’” Not only did Rodriguez brighten Vazquez’s day, he encouraged her and her La Selección classmates to rise above and prove academic excellence. “In times that I wanted to give up on grades and slack with school, he forced me to continue to push through and work hard for what I wanted in my future,” Vazquez said. “He taught me that things do not come easy, but we can succeed in what we want if we try hard enough. Mr. Rodriguez helped me find myself in high school, I am sad to leave him and sad for the fact that he will not be able to do the same for anymore students here at ACHS. I hope that whoever gets to know him next realizes how lucky they are to have someone as great as him.” Possibly Rodriguez’s greatest impact on the school is his development of the Latino Leadership Group. “I love helping all students find their voice and ultimately find their direction,” Rodriguez said. “Last year we started up the Latino Leadership Group and I’ve had the privilege of working with some really outstanding kids.” But, not only has Rodriguez helped improve ACHS, but ACHS has helped Rodriguez as well. “Without the three years here at Antioch, I don’t think I would’ve been able to achieve another life goal like relocating back up at UW,” Rodriguez said. With his last few days here at ACHS, be sure to wish Rodriguez good luck in his future in pursuing his dreams. Rodriguez has been a caring man for the students here since day one and hopefully whoever steps up to the plate to take his spot here can do what he does, because just as Rodriguez said, “What I do, I do from the heart.” TT

8 Tom Tom May 2016

Lifestyles Editor

t is a bittersweet goodbye for four more teachers that are leaving the Sequoit family this year. Howard Citron, Nicole Sutherland, Elizabeth Potter-Nelson and Larry Kamin have truly impacted and affected the student community, as well as the supporting staff, throughout their years of teaching. Citron taught physics and AP Physics for the short time he has been at ACHS, but nonetheless, he has made an incredible footprint on the minds of the students he has taught. For eleven years, Sutherland taught English to juniors and developed the reading improvement program. She was instrumental in making reading and writing an enriching experience. Potter-Nelson is the current science department chair, and has successfully taught chemistry to students over her past five years at ACHS. And Kamin will close out his storied career at ACHS by retiring from the math department. Citron obtained a Bachelors degree in physics from West Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. His love for physics has transferred into teaching at ACHS, where he has been teaching since 2014. Although physics may not be the easiest topic to cover, Citron has prepared his students over the past couple years for Advanced Placement testing and for a general understanding of the scientific world. "I just love talking about and exposing kids to science in a fun, relaxing environment,” Citron said. “I think it's important to remember that you're teaching physics to 14/15 year olds, and that isn't always going to be simple for people of any age, let alone 14/15 year olds." Citron has taken a teaching position at Deerfield High School, which is closer to his home and family. His aspiring goal would be to become a college professor in California in the future, as well as to continue teaching throughout his life. "[Leaving] is really bittersweet,” Citron said. “I'm so incredibly appreciative of the opportunities I've had here. The students and my colleagues have been so amazing to me. I've felt so welcomed and comfortable since day one." For his students, Citron left a word of advice, "My favorite movie quote is from Ferris Bueller, and considering how much I love movies, it feels fitting to leave you with it...'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.’" Sutherland received multiple degrees to enhance herself personally and professionally: a bachelors in English from Illinois State University and a masters in reading from Concordia University. She began her career in 2005 teaching at ACHS. BEing a teacher was something she has always aspired to be since she was little.

N TO SOMETHING NEW CITRON

RODRIGUEZ

SUTHERLAND

POTTER-NELSON

"I enjoy the connections with the students, helping students find books that they enjoy and hooking a teen on reading," Sutherland said. In the future, Sutherland hopes to make a difference in the area of foster care and DCFS. "Someone needs to step up and figure out how we can help more kids aged 10-18 out of group homes and into loving environments where they can thrive and move on to successful paths in life," Sutherland said. "Right now there are not enough people or resources in DCFS or our state to be able to support this large number of kids. I have been blessed with an amazing foster daughter, but I feel like there is still more that I can do to help." In leaving ACHS, Sutherland left quality advice to students, "Put your phones down so you don't miss what is happening in the world

around you. I am worried about what phones are doing to today's teens; addiction to technology is happening rapidly and I can see it impacting more and more each year." Potter-Nelson attended Iowa State University and Aurora University, receiving degrees in physics and secondary science education. She has been a teacher for ten years, arriving at ACHS five years ago. Before teaching at Antioch, she spent about four years teaching science at Lakes Community High School. Potter-Nelson was inspired during high school to become a teacher. “In college I made the decision to become a high school teacher after serving as a teaching assistant for an entry level astronomy course," she said. Not only does she love teaching both chemis-

try and physics, but throughly enjoys spending her days with teachers and students. Her next step is to obtain her PhD in science education at the University of Connecticut in the fall. In leaving, Potter-Nelson has mixed emotions. "I spend my days with awesome students and teachers; which will be difficult to leave,” she said. “However, I am excited for my next adventure." Potter-Nelson's final piece of advice to students is, "Chase after your dreams because your dreams won't chase after you." Larry Kamin, math teacher, is set to retire from teaching in Illinois at the end of this school year. He will be packing up his room for the last time in over 30 years, only to be going over the border to finish his career teaching middle school math in Wisconsin. TT The Senior Issue 9

MOMENTS IN HISTORY: FROM KINDERGARTEN TO SENIOR YEAR NATHAN BORRIES

Senior Editor

Photos from AP Subsription // GoMoxie // WB Subscription

KINDERGARTEN: 2004

FIRST GRADE: 2005

movie: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie event: Facebook launches on February 2 song: Yeah! by Usher feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris sports: Summer Olympics are held in Athens, Greece movie: SkyHigh event: Hurricane Katrina strikes New SECOND GRADE: 2006 THIRD GRADE: 2007 Orleans song: Gold Digger by Kanye West sports: White Sox win World Series

FOURTH GRADE: 2008

movie: Cars event: TV show Friends comes to an end

movie: Transformers event: Steve Jobs, Apple announce the first iPhone

movie: The Dark Knight event: Fidel Castro steps down from the presidency in Cuba

song: SexyBack by Justin Timberlake

song: Beautiful Girl by Sean Kingston

song: Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) by BeyoncĂŠ

sports: Winter Olympics held in Torino, Italy

sports: Duke lacrosse players blamed for hazing.

sports: Summer Olympics held in Beijing, China

10 Tom Tom May 2016

FIFTH GRADE: 2009

movie: Avatar event: Barack Obama becomes 44th President of the USA song: Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus sports: Steelers beat Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII

SIXTH GRADE: 2010

EIGHTH GRADE: 2012 movie: Pitch Perfect event: Benghazi attack takes place song: Gangnam Style by Psy sports: Summer Olympics are held in London, England

FRESHMAN YEAR: 2013 movie: Frozen event: Boston Marathon bombing song: Royals by Lorde sports: Oscar Pistorius is arrested and later charged with murder

SOPHOMORE YEAR: 2014 movie: Despicable Me movie: American Sniper event: Congress reevent: Boko Haram of Nigeria kidnaps 280 peals Don’t Ask, Don’t girs Tell Act song: Fancy by Iggy Izalea song: Like a G6 by sports: UConn wins men’s and women’s NCAA Far East Movement basketball tournaments sports: 2010 FIFA World Cup held in JUNIOR YEAR: 2015 South Africa movie: Frozen event: Terrorist attacks in Paris, France SEVENTH GRADE: 2011 song: Watch Me by Silentó movie: Bridesmaids sports: American Pharoah wins the event: Al-Qaeda Triple Crown leader Osama bin Laden is killed SENIOR YEAR: 2016 song: Super Bass by movie: Deadpool Nicki Minaj event: Embargo on Cuba is lifted sports: Penn State song: PILLOWTALK by ZAYN sexual abuse scandal breaks sports: Kobe Bryant retires from the LA Lakers The Senior Issue

0 2 P AT

TOOMENTS

12 Tom Tom May 2016

S H C A

YASMIN LARA & LAUREN PONZETTI

Lifestyles Editors

FRESHMAN YEAR 1. Flash Mob at the homecoming assembly to Gangnam Style 2. Homecoming: The Roaring 20s 3. Principal Jim Whitehurst Retires 4. Spring Musical: Legally Blonde 5. ACHS alumna, motivational speaker Kristin Anderson returns for inspiring speech SOPHOMORE YEAR 1. Sophomore football went 18-0 2. Driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ed/Getting Licenses 3. Dance Team goes to State 4. Varsity football made playoffs after three-game winning streak 5. Soccer wins first of three regional titles for class of 2016 JUNIOR YEAR 1. Japan trip 2. Field Renovation 3. Prom 4. Centennial Celebration 5. Girls Basketball Reaches Elite 8 SENIOR YEAR 1. Toga Day 2. Dance and cheer go to state 3. Disney, lots of Disney 4. Italy Trip 5. Boys basketball wins regional title for first time in 20 years

The Senior Issue

POP GOES A SEQUOIT What would Rob say?

ROBERT BEDNARZ

TEAH MULCAHY

ARNOLD GLAPAJONE

FAVORITE DOG

Pit Bull

CHEVY OR FORD

Chevy

FAVORITE CLASS

Math

Piano

Lunch

FAVORITE EMOJI

Crying Laughing

Smiley Face

Gun

IDEAL FRIDAY NIGHT

Chilling

Sleeping

Partying

WHAT WOULD ROB WISH FOR?

Immortality

$1,000,000

To be rich

DREAM JOB

CEO

Cafeteria Lady

CEO

WHICH TIME PERIOD DESCRIBES YOU?

20s

90s

80s

YOUR STYLE

Shob

Fresh

WHAT MOVIE WOULD ROB BE IN?

Barber Shop

Godfather

14 Tom Tom May 2016

EIGHTEEN

Senior year isn’t just about prom, graduation, the I-Search or saying goodbye. For many, it also means transitioning from being a kid to an adult. JESSICA GUZMAN

Social Media Director

he big one-eight: the year that changes everything. Being 18 means more than just being a “legal adult,” it means independence. It means college. It means starting a whole new life, a better life outside of a small town, and, for some seniors, turning 18 is a frightening wake-up call. This birthday represents not being able to act like a kid anymore. Senior Griffin Hill looks at turning 18 as a time to prepare one’s self for their life in the future. “I think being 18 is something to always keep in the back of your mind because every action you make is regarded as an adult action,” Hill said. “For me, being 18 is a time to learn how to take care of myself so I know what I’m doing before leaving for college.” Turning 18 is more than just an age with privileges of getting a tattoo or getting a chance to win the lottery; turning 18 is an age that transitions one from a kid to an adult learning to live without mom and dad. Senior Erin Koch came to the realization that even though she is considered an adult her parents still think of her as a kid, and even though she is still looked at as a “kid,” Koch feels like one when it comes to having to live on her own in a few short months. “My mom still makes my lunch for me and my dad still calls me his little girl,” Koch said. “Even when I want to do adult things I still need my parents around to help me. To them I’ll always be a kid. I think leaving for college will be hard, especially without my mom’s lunches, but living in Chicago I won’t be too far away from home.” Even for students turning 18, it may be hard for them as well because with becoming an adult comes a ton of responsibilities. Over the course of high school senior Kelly Johnson feels as if her last little ounce of innocence drifted away. Most of the time one wishes that they could go back to simpler days, back to the days before staying up until 3 a.m. to write a paper. “I miss having less responsibility, like being able to sleep in, being able to forget things, or if you forgot to do your homework it wouldn’t be a whole grade for a class,” Johnson said. “Sometimes even driving is an annoyance because you just want your parents to take care of everything.” Of course growing up there are some expected bumps in the road and there will always be some advice seniors going into college have to offer to those that still have a little bit of childhood left. “While you’re in high school, it’s normal for your group of friends to change and to get your heart broken,” Johnson said. “I didn’t expect for people to hurt me as much as they I MISS HAVING LESS did, especially boys. At the same time, I wish I could’ve RESPONSIBILITY, LIKE made more mistakes to learn from, and when you become an BEING ABLE TO SLEEP IN, adult, no one’s going to treat you like an adult if you don’t act like one.” BEING ABLE TO FORGET While turning 18 might seem super glamorous because THINGS, OR IF YOU FORGOT there is more freedom, cherish the little moments in high TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK school because before you know it graduation creeps up and life changes completely. Don’t try and grow up too fast beIT WOULDN’T BE A WHOLE cause many adults wish they could go back to their glory GRADE FOR A CLASS days in high school and relive it over and over again. TT

It’s the last

SUMMER NATHAN FORMELLA Advertising Director

The days until graduation are dwindling, which means another summer is soon on its way. This summer is different since it’s the final summer until the graduating class of 2016 officially becomes college students, full-time employees or head off to the military. So this summer may be a bit different compared to other summers. If you are struggling with how to spend your time over the summer here are a few suggestions.

PLAN FOR COLLEGE SAY GOODBYES WORK SUMMER ACTIVITIES If you’re not planning to do any of the first three, stick to traditional summer activities. Go to the beach or a pool with some friends on those boiling hot days. Get outside and enjoy the beautiful summer weather. Summer is a time to get out and be active with yourself, instead of staying inside binge watching some show on Netflix. Don’t spend summer being a lazy teenager, spend the summer experiencing new and enjoyable activities. Be productive with the time you have off and end the summer knowing you have accomplished something. Make it a summer to remember and enjoy it. Read the full story, with details about each suggestion, at SequoitMedia.com.

The Senior Issue

WHAT TO WEAR:

GRADUATION A senior Tom Tommer shares her thoughts on what Sequoits should be wearing beneath their gowns. KENNEDY HETTLINGER Tom Tom Staff

ith the school year ending, planning what to wear underneath a graduation gown should not be stressful. Being comfortable in what to wear is the main goal, but graduation is a perfect day to look your best and try out a new look. Here are several fashion tips for the big day. GUYS TOPS: Polos are simple and always an easy answer. However, make sure to keep your shirt wrinkle-free no matter the style. If you are feeling dressier, pick a pastel colored or checkered dress shirt. Depending on the dress shirt and your entire ensemble, you will want to decide how many buttons to leave unbuttoned and also how high you want to cuff the sleeves. This only pertains if you decide to cuff your shirt at all. BOTTOMS: Khaki shorts and dress pants go with any type of polo or dress shirt. If you want to change it up a little and don't want to match with majority of the senior class, wear bright but cooler-toned bottoms. For shorts, a color like teal or periwinkle will no doubt set you aside from the other graduates. As for dress pants, the classic black or khaki colored pant are both safe calls. SHOES: A pair of Sperry boat shoes go perfectly with polos and shorts. Also, a pair of oxfords can complement an outfit of that style. Any type of dress shoe is an obvious option for what to wear. Brown is a safe color that will look professional and clean in all settings. These kinds of shoes tend to be high in price, but are more than worth the money. Hence, you will find yourself wearing them frequently, and not only at graduation. ACCESSORIES: A leather belt and a nice watch will add an extra touch that you need to look exceptional underneath your graduation gown. Be sure to match the leather band of the watch to the color leather of your shoes. GIRLS DRESSES/SKIRTS: Avoid maxi dresses because wearing a dress longer than your gown will look odd. A right-above-the-knee dress

16 Tom Tom May 2016

with a cool pattern, in any color your heart desires, is a good decision. Personally, I think an off-white or bright color complements any body type or skin tone. The same guidelines work for skirts. They should be right above the knee and either solid or multi-colored. BOTTOMS: If you are not a dress or skirt person, white jeans are your next best bet. Regular jeans are not dressy enough and it will be the middle of May, so avoiding pants all together would be a smart idea. Don't forget to cuff the bottom of your pants about three inches to add a spring flare to your outfit. TOPS: Any blouse, tank or short sleeve will work with white jeans. Again, any color or pattern will make a statement with a pair of white jeans. As long as the top is made of a dressy material and is not extremely obnoxious, the outfit will work. SHOES: Heels or flats? Whether you choose to wear jeans or a dress, heels will look good. Stick with wedges. They are easier to walk in especially when you will be walking all over the turf and grass at some point. Sandals are an option, too. A gold, black or brown sandal will complement any outfit. Try and stay away from white shoes. Don't feel like you have to wear heels either, it is important to take all precautions if you want to avoid tripping while walking to get your diploma. ACCESSORIES: Obviously, you cannot forget this step. Add Alex and Ani bracelets with a watch if you are into that. You can never go wrong with a beaded cuff bracelet as well. For your necklace, depending on the neckline of your dress or top, it is important to not go crazy, but add enough color and sparkle to make a statement. If your dress is very colorful and has a loud pattern, try to go on a more simple route. However, if the colors are solid and the top has a high neckline, I encourage you to wear a shorter, larger necklace that will add color and a eclectic vibe. If your dress or top has a lower neckline, go for a longer chained necklace. Rings are not always a necessity, but they can add a personal touch to the gown. This is similar with earrings, as studs are a better idea if you choose a bigger necklace and vice versa. TT

The Senior Issue

18 Tom Tom May 2016

THE MANY FACES OF

the Class of

2016 From athletes to actors, military-bound to college-bound, the class of 2016 is certainly diverse in where theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been and where theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going. Find out just who some of these senior are and how being a Sequoit has impacted their futures. The Senior Issue

Auburn Univeristy Austin Marsiglio

Augustana College Jessica Greene

Aurora University

Duke University Ashley Hare

Illinois Institute of Art Raegan Griffin

Mardochee Kamanga

Ball State University Danny Brito Jordan Keller

Beloit College Kelly Johnson

Brigham Young University - Idaho Melissa Sloat

Butler University Brittany Bluthardt

Bradley Univeristy Alicia Vasquez Nathan McNaughton

Carroll Univeristy Anna Arden Jesse Balay

Illinois State University Johnny Horton Madelynn Soberano Jaylene Sparks Caitlyn Redd Shannon Caccitore Paige Gruber Ian Flatley Peter Tognarelli Jake Cloe Matt Adams

North Central University Quintin Tallian

Northeastern Illinos University Hyacinthe Ingram

Northern Illinios University Jared Bolton Nick Fillipone Lauren Ponzetti Lillian Holmes Julia Emer Michael McCue

Not all members of the class of 2016 are represented on this map. Students listed responded to an online survey asking about their postsecondary choices.

College Of Lake County Samantha Beltran Samantha Brands Joshua Breezee Anthony Caldwell Dylan Cox Nathan Formella Abbie Lubkeman Lima Mercedes Riley Miller Jaidyn Stephens Bianca Tuliao Derek Veal Hannah Zaveson

Cornerstone University Anna Locklear Andrew Pimpo

DePaul University Chris Nixon

Dubuque University Jacob Gross

Dominican University Jessica Guzman

20 Tom Tom May 2016

Illinois Wesleyan University Mikayla Christian

La Salle University Braden Ward

Loyola University Erin Koch Emily Quinett

Loras College Andi Leineberg

Marquette University Lauren Klees Brandon Faber

Miami Unversity Kennedy Hettlinger Thomas Howe

Michigan Tech University Gregory Horton Shane Sorensen

Northern Michigan University Haley Baum

Northwestern University Serena Chapa

Olivet-Nazarene University Yasmin Lara-Salazar

Rice University Gennifer Geer

Sam Houston University

Troy University

San Diego State University

Texas Tech University

Spencer Heney

Taegan Gandolfi

Southern Alabama University Alice Bessette Anna Reimer

Southern Illinois University Logan Boyce Nick Dorosan Dylan Duckworth James Tiernan

University of Mississippi Natalie Nielson

Kassandra Jimenez Nathan Novack

University of Nebraska Rae Horner

University of Alabama Hope Reband Lauren Slack

Univeristy of Arizona

University of North Carolina-Wilmington Toree Briggs

Kaleigh Miller

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Benjamin Hermes

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Zachary Frye

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Morgan Price

University of Dayton Nathan Borries

University of Wisconsin - Parkside Andrew Jacobson Stephanie Masse

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Meghan Bohn Allison Gelander Fletcher Neville Megan Resurreccion Lucas Semitka Tyler Steele

Stephens College Claire Roeker

Syracuse University Madison Paddock

University of Wisconsin - Superior

University of Iowa Nick Andre Danny Meade Derek Snellman Karissa Wennstrom

Bella Gigliotti

Valparasio University Jasmine DeLara Brenda Herman

University of Massachusetts - Lowell Courtney Coleman

Tallahassee Community College Amanda England

University of Minnesota Ashli Appling

Winona State University Kayla Guenveur Kayla Vasquez

The Senior Issue

Questions

Answers:

SEQUOITS HEADED TO THE MILITARY

NICKLAUS ANDRE Tom Tom Staff

TYLER WILKINS

United States Marine Corps

+Why did you decided to join the military?

Serving my country is the most important thing I could ever imagine doing.

+What MOS (military occupational speciality) do you plan on pursuing? I plan to be a Diesel Mechanic.

+Have you set any goals for yourself?

I want to serve a complete 20 years, so I can retire knowing I served well and I will be content with my job and lifestyle.

+Have you had any family members in the military?

My stepfather has served a lot of time in the military and even though he suffered through a lot, he is proud of it and so am I.

TED MARTINEK United States Army

+Why did you decided to join the military? My family has a tradition of going into the army: my dad enlisted, my grandpa enlisted, my great uncle was a paratrooper. For a while joining the army has been something that I have wanted to do just to continue the tradition. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a way for me to pay for college or a trade school once my enlistment is done.

+What MOS (military occupational speciality) do you plan on pursuing?

I planned on becoming 15T blackhawk repairman, but there were no openings for it and I found out that I am colorblind so they wouldn't let me choose it anyways. I ended up going infantry,11B because from my list of options that was the only appealing one. The others were a bunch of desk jobs that I would have hated.

+Have you set any goals for yourself?

My one goal is to find a way to get into jump school. Becoming a paratrooper has been a dream of mine for a long time and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier for me to do since I am infantry.

+Have you had any family members in the military? 22 Tom Tom May 2016

Four of my cousins, my dad, both of my grandpas, one of my uncles and my great uncle were all in the military.

LUCAS NELSON

United States Marine Crps +Why did you decided to join the military?

Well, I have always thought about the military as an option for myself, but never actually really decided to go through with the idea until this year. My final decision was when I had a two-hour-long talk with a veteran who told me about how proud he was of his country and a lot of what he went through inspired me to go through with my dream of becoming a United States Marine.

+What MOS (military occupational speciality) do you plan on pursuing? My MOS is CR, which is diesel mechanics.

+Have you set any goals for yourself?

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already achieved one of my goals by coming out of boot camp. I will be PFC (private first class.)

+Have you had any family members in the military?

My grandpa was in the Air Force, my cousin was in the Marines and I have another cousin going into the Air Force.

CHRIS BEDOLLA

United States Marine Corps +Why did you decided to join the military?

I decided to join the military because ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a soldier and as I got older my brother joined in 2008, weeks after his high school graduation. That just pushed me more and more because I wanted to follow in my brothers footsteps and continue the family legacy.

+What MOS (military occupational speciality) do you plan on pursuing?

I want my MOS to be artillery, like my brother, but after a couple years of that I want to go into sniper school and become a scout sniper.

+Have you set any goals for yourself?

My goal is to be the perfect Marine. Twenty-plus years if God lets me. In addition, I always wanted to be like my brother, but this time I want to surpass his military accomplishments; a little brotherly competition.

+Have you had any family members in the military?

Yes, my brother is currently serving. He reenlisted after eight years and after this enlistment it will be 12; then he is planning to enlist for another four years. He is currently a Sergeant in the Marine Corps and next year will be promoted to Staff Sergeant.

THEO HILL

United States Navy +Why did you decided to join the military?

I joined the military because I personally like structure, organization and interacting, as well as working with other people. Being able to travel the world and having a college education paid for doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hurt either.

+What MOS (military occupational speciality) do you plan on pursuing? I plan on working in the medical field.

+Have you set any goals for yourself?

My goal is to get a medical degree, most likely in pediatrics or cardiology. As far as ranks go, I would like to be a Master Chief Petty Officer; that would be amazing.

+Have you had any family members in the military? My grandfather was in the National Guard.

The Senior Issue

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP...

I WANTED TO BE A...

24 Tom Tom May 2016

The Senior Issue

26 Tom Tom May 2016

The Senior Issue

SENIOR PROFILE

CANDACE NELSON

She can pull off any style.

28 Tom Tom May 2016

“SEE-YA.” JORDAN STATEN Tom Tom Staff

enior Candace Nelson is unique to say the least. “She is one of the most unique individuals I’ve ever met both physically and emotionally,” senior Jaylene Sparks said, “She stands out from everyone else in both aspects and that is a huge part of her beauty inside and out.” Since freshman year, her independent and mature nature was noticed immediately. She always exceeded the expectations of her parents, coaches and teachers with good grades and a positive attitude. “Candace is one of the most beautiful, dark, twisted and unique people I know,” senior McKenzie Scott said. “People underestimate her. She is so wise and smart beyond her years, that makes her admirable. If she likes you then she is one of the most funny, loyal and easy going friends you will ever have. She is very easy to feel comfortable around and weird topics are not strange to talk about with her.” Her style is different and fashion forward. Unlike most high schoolers, Nelson is not afraid in the least bit to be herself in every environment. Her confidence is admirable and her beauty is radiant. With or without makeup, she can pull off any style. “She has her own style and lives for herself

and you can tell by the way she presents herself,” Scott said. “Candace is underrated.” “A lot of people look everywhere for approval to fit in, but in the end you should be looking to make yourself happy,” Nelson said. “You should seek your own approval and not be so fixated on the need for someone else to tell you something is okay. Ultimately, you are living your life for you, not them.” Nelson started dancing in second grade at Waterford Dance Academy. It was no surprise that she picked up dancing quickly and was amazing at it in no time. She continued dancing for eight years until high school began when she found her new passion: volleyball. For four years, Nelson played as Sequoit volleyball player and carried her team both as a starter and as captain her junior and senior years. Outside of ACHS, Candace played on four national club volleyball teams as an outside hitter for four years. Never once has she sat on the bench; even through multiple injuries, she found a way to fight through it. Her competitive personality has led her to many great opportunities. She was named among the top athletes of the fall season for ACHS sports, awarded with the All-Conference athlete her junior and senior seasons and received the All-Area award. In club volleyball, she was named the All-Tournament athlete three

years in a row. She has also attended the Junior Olympics twice and finished among the top teams. Her talent is unbelievable, but she has never been anything less than humble. “She was such a fun player to watch and even more fun to play with,” sophomore teammate Kat Barr said, “She is a very smart player and always knew where to put the ball. She can read the court very very well.” Nelson is someone that every teammate, no matter what age, is able to look up to and better themselves just by watching her. “She inspired me by being such a physically and mentally strong player no matter what situation,” Barr said. Next year, Nelson plans on attending University of Minnesota—Twin Cities’s College of Food Agriculture and Natural Sciences to study sustainability and environmental studies. “I am looking forward to getting a glimpse of independence and starting a new chapter in my life,” she said. “However, there is no doubt in my mind that I will miss the relationships with friends that I have built over the years that have shaped me into who I am today.” As graduation approaches and college is starting to become a reality, the ending is bittersweet. “See-ya,” she said. TT The Senior Issue

SENIOR PROFILE

HYACINTHE INGRAM She has a pretty awesome mom.

30 Tom Tom May 2016

“IT WAS A BIT ROUGH.” CLAY VESSER

Tom Tom Staff

enior Hyacinthe Ingram was forced to move around a lot growing up, ultimately settling in Antioch as a fifth grader. “Before then we moved around a lot due to financially hard times,” Ingram said. “And then once we got here the place just kind of clicked I guess.” It was hard for her to adjust at first, though. “I wasn’t really able to make friends at any of my older schools, and learning a new school was always fun...not,” she said. “It was a bit rough. After a while I would have friends and then I would have to move again and repeat the process.” High school is filled with cliches and stereotypes. Therefore, many students and their friends fall into groups with the same interests and personalities. Ingram is proud of the friends she has made during her four years in high school. “I love [my friends] to death,” Ingram said. “I think through these four years I have been able to form and reform the group I have. I think I got the best one possible now.” What Ingram is most proud of about her friends is that they don’t fit a stereotype or mold. “They are all caring, funny and kind people,” she said. “Our humor goes well together and we

work great as a team. We like the same topics and we can all hold intelligent conversations while knowing when our knowledge is out and we have to stop talking. The way we can read each other is also very good. We know what each of us need at whatever moment.” High school is not only an environment that produces academic growth in students, but also personal and intellectual growth. “I have definitely matured a lot,” Ingram said. “I used to be so stupid, and so hung up on things that don’t matter. I was also very moody and emotional as a freshman. I’ve learned to be a lot more chill and to really only react to things that are actually big. I’ve also learned that I am not in fact the smartest, funniest and coolest person there is. My pride is a lot less prominent then it used to be, and I tend to reserve feeling proud of a few things rather than of everything, as I used to be.” For many students, graduation means reflecting on the past: whether it be things they wish they had done, opportunities they wish they had taken, or things they wish they could take back. “Honestly, I don’t think that I have any regrets,” Ingram said. “Everything I did or didn’t do has shaped me in some way and that is who I am. I don’t believe in changing who I am, at least right now. Progressive, helpful changes are always welcome of course, but to look at regrets would to be changing an integral thing that

makes me, me. It would be sad.” Ingram’s plan for when she graduates high school is to go to college for a PhD and to later become a college professor. Her mother has really been an inspiration in her life. “I’ve always taken inspiration from my mother,” Ingram said. “She is a single parent who has always provided for me. I am also inspired by the people and the situations that try to hold me down. When something affects me and I’m expected to roll over and let it consume me, I refuse to. Instead, I use it as fuel for my next motivational fire.” While school takes up a majority of time out of the day for students, Ingram still finds time to pursue her hobbies. “I love bowling, and I like doing other athletic activities like biking, playing basketball and sometimes even playing soccer. Aside from athletics, I enjoy reading a lot and playing video games, especially PlayStation. One of my biggest passions is writing. I love being able to sit down and just write whatever is on my mind, whether that be what I feel or some fictional idea that is rolling around my head.” Her favorite quote comes from the song “Weightless” by the band All Time Low. “Maybe it’s not my weekend, but it’s gonna be my year.” TT The Senior Issue

SENIOR PROFILE

JESSE BALAY

He wants the best of both worlds.

32 Tom Tom May 2016

“I LIKE EVERYTHING.” GENNIFER GEER

Department Editor

rmed with a passion for video games, senior Jesse Balay will attend Carroll University to major in Computer Science with an emphasis on video game design. “I spend a lot of my time on the computer, and I also like math,” Balay said. “What am I going to do with my life? Math, video games, computers — I’ll go into computer science.” Balay’s future school Carroll is better known for its nursing and athletic training programs, but Balay said he trusts the strength of their computer science program, especially considering it shares classes with a more technical school. “While they do teach programming, the video game stuff is more at the other school,” he said. “It’s still the same degree. At first I was a little worried, but then I found everyone who graduates from Carroll with a computer science degree finds a job within six months and are getting paid just as much as anyone else.” Regretfully, Balay didn’t take computer science classes or attend camps while in high school due to the cost, but he had suggested to

administration offering next year’s AP Computer Science class. However, his lack of experience in computer science doesn’t deter him from pursuing his major. “I have watched a lot of videos on it, and it seems like something I’d like to do,” Balay said. “It made me really nervous because I’m jumping into a field I know nothing about. I’m good at math, so I’m hoping it works out. Even if it doesn’t, programming is always going to be with us, so it’s not like I’m wasting my time. I could always work in IT or software.” His love for video games started young, and he’s been exploring them ever since, including playing classic games like Halo, various massive multiplayer online games and role-playing games like League of Legends. “I play League of Legends every day,” he said. “I’m kind of really nerdy. It’s not like I’m set on one genre; I like everything. My dad bought an original X-Box, the box one, when it first came out. I was really young at the time, and it was father-son bonding time because I don’t like sports.” He said he likes the relative safety of computer science, saying it isn’t a risky field. Computer science is a major aspect in most technologies

and is applicable to several fields. Additionally, it’s based on a concept Balay loves: math. “In order to get my major, I need to take a bunch of calculus,” he said. “I’m not big on knowing why it’s used, but I have to take a math lab. I’ll see the practical reasons why it’s used. I just know that I need to know a lot of math, and I like math.” Video game design will also let him be creative as well as practical, though in different ways than people assume. “When I’m talking about design, I’m not talking about drawing,” he said. “That’s the graphic design aspect, like the programming and everything behind the story. I’ve been thinking about it, and I’m not really good at art.” For an end goal, Balay hopes to pursue his passion in the workforce. “League of Legends is one of my favorite games, so it’d be a really cool job if I got to work for them,” he said. “But, I also want to make my own video game one day. Best of both worlds is if I can work for them and on the side, make my own game. It’d be great to work on my own and work for a company I’ll probably love.” TT The Senior Issue

SENIOR PROFILE

JOSH BREEZEE Easy, “Breezee,” Beautiful.

34 Tom Tom May 2016

“NOW I JUST TALK A LOT.” MADELYNN SOBERANO Digital Director

ach day more than 1,300 students crowd the halls of Antioch Community High School. Students come and go each year. For teachers, the new year brings new faces and new stories. Overtime those new faces may start to blur together, but one Sequoit stands above the rest. One that is more than just a familiar face. For some, ACHS is just a stepping stone to something bigger, but for easy, “Breezee,” beautiful senior Josh Breezee it was a place where he was able to fuel his passion for the fine arts and find himself because of it. From Reverend Shaw in “Footloose: The Musical” to being student director for “Up the Down Staircase,” Breezee has shown multiple sides of himself to audiences, staff, students and the community throughout his four years. From his freshman to senior year, Breezee knew he belonged to the fine arts family. Starting with concert choir his freshman and sophomore year, he then moved to acapella. He’s been a part of madrigals for all four year. He also took a chance in something that he wasn’t used to and decided to take part behind the scenes as a te-

chie and student director. “I’m very involved with fine arts, I’ve been a part of tech and even student directed a few plays,” Breezee said. “My favorite play to student tech was ‘Up the Down Staircase’ because of all the teachers were able to participate and act in it.” After high school, Breezee plans to attend the College of Lake County for two years and has been looking into the University of Wisconsin—Green Bay. “UW—Green Bay has a great fine arts school,” Breezee said. “I want to go into school therapy. I’ve always been involved with fine arts and music especially; music changed my life.” While at ACHS, Breezee has learned a lot about himself as person, he said he’s noticed his maturity grow, expecially this year. High school is a time for change and Breezee successfully accomplished that in his time here. “So far, most of our lives are in high school,” Breezee said. “I’ve learned you’re going to lose friends and make new ones. People change a lot and I think what changed most about me is that I found myself. As a freshman, I was stupid and made stupid jokes. Now I just talk a lot, but it

has more meaning.” With graduation around the corner, like many other seniors, Breezee finds himself looking back at his time here at ACHS and the people who helped him along the way, especially fine arts department chair Wanda Teddy. “Ms. Teddy has always been by my side since the very beginning,” he said. “She’s been pushing me to do things I didn’t expect myself to do and accomplishing things I couldn’t see myself accomplishing. She has been an amazing influence on me the past four years.” As the class of 2016 get ready to walk across the stage and spend their final moments as Sequoits, the doors open to the new class of freshman. As a tribute to his high school career, Breezee gives his final piece of advice to the classes of 2020 and 2021. “It’s the most cliche thing to say about high school, but get involved,” Breezee said. “No one ever says to not get too involved, but it’s so important to not get too involved. If you get too involved you get stressed out and don’t have anytime for yourself. Being involved in a lot of things made me find my group of friends and helped me grow as a person.” TT The Senior Issue

SENIOR PROFILE

BRANDON NOBLE He is also known as Sir Brandon the Noble

36 Tom Tom May 2016

“I GOT MY FINGERS CROSSED.” PAIGE GRUBER Digital Director

etting involved was key for senior Brandon Noble. Right off the bat freshman year, he set off to see what high school had to offer for the underclassman. Since Noble jokes about how he “wasn’t exactly built for sports, or sports weren’t built for him.” He went on to follow his brothers footsteps and signed up for Math Team and Academic Team. “Math Team; he was in it, I liked it,” Noble said. “I said to myself, ‘I like math, I’m going to like Math team since it’s in the name!’ So I then tried that out, and then I tried Model UN and did a number of functions here.” From there, he took advantage of other clubs or activities and tried those out, and, as the years went by, Noble was involved with a number of activities, from academic to board game clubs. “A friend of mine got a board game club started, and we did that for a couple two or three years,” Noble said. “That was fun. It really came into its own.” But Noble didn’t stop at just school activities. For a number of years, he has been a part of Boy Scouts; this was something he participated in every week. He did Boy Scouts to spend time with friends, but as time went on, a lot of them dropped out. Noble continued. This didn’t stop him because “it’s also for yourself. That you’re doing it for both; your friends and yourself.” TEACHERS TO THANK Starting at Antioch Upper Grade School, Noble has had a multitude of teachers leave great impressions on him throughout the years. To name a few, he mentions Kreuger from sixth grade and Tylka from seventh grade. “It really blew up from there,” Noble said. “A lot of my teachers, I don’t antagonize them, I

don’t know why I would, so it’s that sense that you can pick out the best out of everybody you meet and you try to be that, even if you can’t succeed in that it’s a good goal to have.” “NOBLE” ACCOMPLISHMENTS Being as intelligent and involved as this senior is, it is no surprise that he has a wide variety of successful accomplishments. But there is one that he claims to have impacted him the most; one that was a struggle but also made him stronger. ACHS’s Rube Goldberg team was looking for a leader. Noble, despite this being a new opportunity he had yet to experience, took a determined step forward to take the position. “I said to myself, ‘Oh, I did Boy Scouts and stuff, how hard can it be?’ And it was hard,” he said. “And it was as hard as it can be. So theoretically, it was a lot and it was an eye-opening experience for me. Out of everything I have done in high school, a lot of it is just partaking, participating and what the program has.” Just as any great leader, Noble admits there were some difficulties taking the leading role, but he never let these obstacles stop him. “This one was a lot of taking charge and stuff,” Noble said. “I mean, there were mistakes made on my part, mainly because I was new to it, but it was still an experience that I would never give up.” The team even granted him with an respectable nickname: “...they called me ‘fearless leader’ and that was a really cool nickname.” FROM ANTIOCH TO CHAMPAIGN “I’ve already forgot all four years [of high school],” Noble said with a laugh. “Well, less than half.” Since Noble is a wiz when it comes to math and sciences, he claims that he is not so strong

on the opposite end of the spectrum: English. With that thought in mind, coming into ACHS and taking English wasn’t so much of a thrill for Noble. “For me I never really considered myself that big in English,” he said. “All the years before high school, English was not my strongest. I didn’t read much. I didn’t write much. I hardly had a Facebook. I mean, I probably would’ve had a MySpace if I thought to be that dumb as a young kid.” But as the years passed, and the more Noble was exposed to writing assignments and reading books, he realized how beneficial and how much stronger and well-rounded the classes made him, thanks to entire class discussions and critical essays. “Now that I am thinking about it, in retrospect, English had become almost on-par with math and sciences as some of my favorite subjects during the school day,” Noble said. “So I guess it really just has to be a lot of the books we read in high school, and a lot of the writing assignments, as mundane as some of them could have been, it really helped me recognize that sort of thing.” As far as after ACHS, Noble has committed to University of Illinois and is taking his talent, witty humor and impressive knowledge with him for engineering. “Well, I hoped to go into college,” Noble said, “and it looks like that hopes been recognized.” After high school, Noble explains that there is one dream he wishes to fulfill in college. “I am just hoping that, I guess out of all the dreams that I have for post-high school, is one more hour of sleep,” Noble said. “I got my fingers crossed for college with that one; I know it might not be consistent because of midterms and whatever but that’s one of my dreams.” TT The Senior Issue

THE IRON ATHLETES Five athletes. Four years. Three sports. Two pages. One title. DANIEL BRITO Tom Tom Staff

he iron man and woman: an athlete who participated in twelve straight seasons of athletics, with each year broken down into three seasons over the course of a Sequoit's four years of high school. While many athletes get burned out during the four years, oftentimes forgoing playing all three seasons as they progress in their high school careers, the iron athletes rose above their teammates to pursue sports year-round. For the class of 2016, three boys are nominated for the Iron Man award: Nathan Borries, Stephen Frandsen and Dylan McBride; and two girls will receive the Iron Woman award: Alexis Duehr and Annie Horner. “I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty hard,” Borries said. “Ultimately, I have to take every opportunity I have to get my school work done. Whether it is a study hall, lunch or the bus ride to the game, taking advantage of every possible second I can to get my school work done allows me to balance school and sports.”

For Duehr, being able to play three sports for the past four years has always been a goal for her. “My freshman year I set a goal for myself to win the Iron Woman award,” Duehr said. “Always being in season makes me feel more involved with the school, rather than just showing up to school everyday.” Many of these athletes have had a huge impact on the success of the Antioch athletic program over the past four years, with numerous regional championships split among these athletes. Horner has impacted the tennis team as they have won numerous championships over the past couple years. Borries helped the boys basketball team win their first regional championship in twenty years. Duehr lead the girls basketball team to three regional titles. Frandsen and McBride both helped the wrestling team to win three out of their past four regionals. McBride has been a part of the football, wrestling and track and field teams over the past four years and has won numerous championships in wrestling. “Wrestling has been my favorite sport over the past four years,” McBride said. “I had an amazing coach that would not only prepare us to wrestle, but also prepare us for life.” Horner has been able to play three sports every year because she likes to stay active, while also being a member of the ACHS drumline. “I’ve always been really busy, so playing sports helps the school year go by quicker,” Horner said. “I kind of like the challenge of balancing everything.” The hardest part to playing three sports every year is the dedication to playing. The challenge of keeping their grades up, while still excelling at the sport at hand. Playing three sports in one year is a lot of time and dedication to doing that sport. It gives the athletes less free time, but they all still excel in the classroom and in their sport. Being nominated for this award is a huge honor to these five athletes. “It is cool to be nominated for something that barely no one else does,” Frandsen said. TT

NATHAN BORRIES

DYLAN McBRIDE 38 Tom Tom May 2016

MOVING ON A number of Sequoits are taking their talents elsewhere by playing their high school sports at the collegiate level.

ANNIE HORNER

KALEIGH MILLER Tom Tom Staff

STEPHEN FRANDSEN

COURTNEY COLEMAN Coleman will be attending University of Massachusetts–Lowell to play Division I soccer. Coleman is choosing to continue her soccer career because of the scholarship money and other benefits. GRIFFIN HILL Hill is excited to attend University of Minnesota–Duluth in the fall to play Division II football. Hill can’t wait to be surrounded by athletes with the same dedication as him and also be challenged by the new competition. MARDOCHEE KAMANGA Kamanga is excited to continue his football career at Aurora University next fall. Being a college athlete has always been a dream of his and he couldn’t pass up the opportunity of the scholarship money and promising athletic program. JACOB GROSS Gross will be attending University of Dubuque to wrestle in Division III. Gross has been wrestling since he was five years old and is excited to continue his career at the collegiate level. ANNA ARDEN Arden is excited to attend Carroll University in the fall to play tennis and run track. Arden is looking forward to meeting new teammates from all over the country and meeting her coaches.

ALEXIS DUEHR

TREVOR KOCH Koch will be attending Luther College next fall to play Division III basketball. Koch said he has been playing as long as he remembers and he is excited to continue his career at the collegiate level.

MADALYN MURILLO Murillo is excited to attend North Park University next fall to play Division III basketball. Basketball has been a huge part of her life for as long as she remembers, and she can’t wait to continue playing at the higher level, as well as experience everything that a college athlete does. KELLY JOHNSON Johnson will be attending Beloit College to play Division III basketball. With her senior season being cut short by injuries, Johnson is excited to continue to play a sport she’s passionate in every day, as well as looking forward to an eventual experience in coaching. BRADEN WARD Ward has committed to La Salle University to play Division I tennis next fall. Ward has always been a competitive player for Antioch and this drive has made him choose to continue in college. NATHAN DLUGOPOLSKI Dlugopolski will be attending University of Wisconsin–Whitewater to compete in Division III wrestling. Dlugopolski is looking forward to the challenge of high level training and competition, as well as seeing how far he can take his abilities. TYLER GLASSMAN Glassman has committed to Lindenwood University next fall. ANDI LEINEBERG Leineberg will be cheering at Division III Loras College next fall. Leineberg has been a member of the varsity cheer team at Antioch for four years and is excited to continue in college.

The Senior Issue

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE

TO SAY GOODBYE BY MADISON PADDOCK

ometimes I see my life split into two phases: before and after. But I guess a more accurate description would be with and without. With my best friend, and without her. With Nicole, and without Nicole. My best friend Nicole lost her life in a tragic plane crash when we were 14 years old. She was beginning high school, barely beginning life. When I think of the things I have experienced in the past four years, I can’t help but to do it with a sense of guilt because I know that Nicole will never get the chance to experience them. Nicole and I had known each other since the first grade; our friendship had flitted through the early stages of childhood, through the awkward stages of middle school, and finally on to high school. When she was here, it was never just Madi or just Nicole; it was always Madi and Nicole. We were inseparable. I remember when I first found out she was gone. All I could think was that there was no more Madi and Nicole. A part of me wasn’t just missing, it was gone forever; she was gone forever. It wasn’t that the dynamic duo no longer existed because our friendship ended on bad terms or one of us moved away; rather, there was no more Nicole. Most of my memories of before are flooded with your typical teenage things: laughs, stupid inside jokes and lots of sleepovers. My memo-

40 Tom Tom May 2016

ries of after consist of learning to be without. Without a friend, without a teammate, without those Friday night sleepovers and laughs, and without Nicole. After the accident, everything changed. My perspective on life, my relationships with those around me, my community, my life—everything had been affected. In many ways I cannot even picture my life, or myself, without this loss that defines me. I remember the days after Nicole’s death as a blur. A blur of tears and lots of purple—Nicole’s favorite color—that the whole school and community were engulfed in. It was in the days right after the accident that I began to notice and appreciate the love around me. There were so many people that cared—not just the people who knew Nicole: my family, friends and teammates. Nicole’s loss brought our whole community together; I had never seen anything like it before, and I haven’t seen anything like it since. The unwavering support and love from every corner of our small suburban town made dealing with this unthinkable event just a little bit easier. The accident happened only four days before Thanksgiving, and I just remember thinking how unfitting the idea of giving thanks was, but how at the same time there were so many people for whom I was so thankful for in my life. I think this deep appreciation for those around me

stemmed from not only the love and support I was given after Nicole’s death, but also from the realization that I should have told Nicole what she meant to me when I had the chance. In the years since, my whole world has continued to change. Nicole had been a dancer since she was just a toddler, and her loss resonated deeply within in the dance community. On the year anniversary of the accident, Nicole’s mother Robin—who is, by far, the most graceful, inspirational, and strong woman you will ever meet—opened a dance studio in her honor. Being a dancer at this studio and part of Robin’s journey has not only taught me strength and courage, but also has taught me the most important lesson I have learned: how to create something beautiful and positive out of something so negative. I think that anyone who has lost someone dear to them knows what it’s like to constantly wish they were back with you. Everything that you do, you wish they were right by your side. But there comes a point when you realize that is not the reality of things. They won’t ever come back, no matter how much you hope or pray. That’s when you learn to honor their memory and keep them in your heart each day. That’s when you learn what it feels like to say goodbye. TT

The Senior Issue

. . . Y E L H S A THIS IS OUR OUTSTANDING SENIOR GIRL.

Scan here to listen to hear about Ashley Hare and why she loves being a Sequoit. 42 Tom Tom May 2016