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

THE STUDENT VOICE OF ANTIOCH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

WHAT I WISH I KNEW ABOUT:

RECKLESS DRIVING SEXUAL ASSAULT

TARNISHED REPUTATIONS BULLYING GETTING A LICENSE

PROM, BEAUTY AND JOBS

SPRING SPORTS TAKE THE FIELD, DIAMOND AND COURT + What it Feels

Like to be Dyslexic + WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE A REFEREE

TOM TOM TRIES POLE VAULTING + Hlinak, Foote and Flatley: Spring Sport Profiles

THE

What I Wish I Knew

ISSUE

VOLUME 54, ISSUE 8/9 + APRIL 2016 WWW.SEQUOITMEDIA.COM + @ACHSTOMTOM + @SEQUOITSPORTS 1133 MAIN STREET + ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS + 60002

TIME TO MANAGE YOUR OWN MONEY? TELL YOUR PARENTS YOU’RE READY TO TRY WITH:

WINTRUST STUDENT CHECKING Available to students 16 to 25 years of age.

FREE ATMS! Use any Allpoint, MoneyPass, or SUM network ATM in the country PLUS we’ll refund you up to five times per statement cycle for any out-of-network ATM transactions.1

IT’S SO EASY! There’s no minimum initial deposit needed, we won’t charge you any monthly fees, and you don’t have to maintain a minimum balance. Plus, if your parents bank with us, they can transfer money into your account at any time!2 AWESOME TECHNOLOGY! You practically live on your phone, you might as well be learning how to manage your money at the same time. You can with these super cool features all within our app: online and mobile banking3 • remote deposit3 Person-to-Person payments3 • Cardless Cash3 • online bill pay3 • e-statements3 • and more!

A COOL CARD OF YOUR OWN. We offer a MyFamilyCard Prepaid MasterCard® for those under 18.4

Antioch • Genoa City • Grayslake • Kenosha • Lake Villa Lindenhurst • Round Lake Beach • Spring Grove 847-395-2700 | www.sbotl.com 1. The bank does not charge its customers a monthly card usage fee. No transaction charge at any ATM in the Allpoint, MoneyPass, or Sum surcharge-free networks. Other banks outside the network may impose ATM surcharges at their machines. Surcharge reimbursements do not apply to transactions performed on MyFamilyCard Prepaid MasterCard®. Up to five (5) surcharge fees assessed by owners of other ATMs outside the network will be reimbursed per statement cycle. Reimbursement does not include the 1.10% International Service fee charged by MasterCard® for certain foreign transactions conducted outside the continental United States. 2. Up to $250 per day when linked to a parent/guardian’s account. 3. Third party message, data, and/or internet fees may apply. Use of online Banking is required for access to Mobile/Remote banking and Person-to-Person payments. Mobile/Internet connectivity is required. Remote Deposit requires established Checking, Savings or Money Market deposit account for personal, family or household purposes with the Bank for at least 30 days and has had no more than six overdraft occurrences within the past or current calendar year. Person-to-Person payments require a Checking account. Cardless Cash requires a checking account and debit card with the bank and is available only at Wintrust Community Bank ATMs. 4. See a personal banker for more details.

APR. 2016

CONTENTS

VOL. 54 NO. 8/9

TYLER STEELE

5 | STAFF EDITORIAL

WHAT I WISH I KNEW

6 | NEWS IN BRIEF

10 TARNISHED REPUTATIONS

Being put on a pedestal may seem rewarding, but the “golden children” of ACHS feel the pressure to be successful daily. THE STUDENT VOICE OF ANTIOCH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

12 RECKLESS DRIVING

Getting in a car and driving is taking a risk every day. Unfortunately, Antioch has experienced the pain of reckless driving first hand. Life can change in a second, and taking precautions to prevent this can make a difference.

WHAT I WISH I KNEW ABOUT:

RECKLESS DRIVING SEXUAL ASSAULT

TARNISHED REPUTATIONS BULLYING GETTING A LICENSE

PROM, BEAUTY AND JOBS

SPRING SPORTS TAKE THE FIELD, DIAMOND AND COURT + What it Feels Like to be Dyslexic

+ WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE A REFEREE

+ TOM TOM TRIES POLE VAULTING

+ Hlinak, Foote and

Flatley: Spring Sport Profiles

THE

What I Wish I Knew

ISSUE

VOLUME 54, ISSUE 8/9 + APRIL 2016 WWW.SEQUOITMEDIA.COM + @ACHSTOMTOM + @SEQUOITSPORTS 1133 MAIN STREET + ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS + 60002

15 BULLYING

Hundreds of students walk through the halls of ACHS, each of which are bullies, bystanders or victims. For many, the bully is someone who should stop and think about the impact of his/her words. 18 SEXUAL ASSAULT

Rape culture is beyond pervasive in American society and culture. The saddest part is that despite the distance of the narratives, rape also occurs equally close to home.

EDITOR’S NOTE

WHAT WE WISH WE KNEW

What it meant to be a leader, to be a follower, to be a friend and, most importantly, to be an editor-in-chief.

the TOM TOM staff

2015-2016 executive team

NICHOLAS DOROSAN Editor-in-Chief MADISON PADDOCK Managing Editor NATHAN BORRIES Senior Editor MADELYNN SOBERANO Digital Director PAIGE GRUBER Digital Director

PATRICK R. JOHNSON, CJE Adviser KRISTINA ESDALE Print Director GRANT HAIDER Creative 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

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 April 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.

ot many people know the amount of pressure, responsibility, time, patience and care it takes to be a leader. The tough part is, no matter what the circumstance you always have to be a leader. That job title doesn’t just fade away, nor does the pressure or responsibility. Instead, it requires the time to lead, the patience to listen, and the care to understand. You have to put everyone above yourself. Regardless of the situation, the leader always has to take the fall. But sometimes that fall is worth it more than anything. Watching your team grow in front of your eyes is an experience that others don’t get to have. Thinking back, we wish we knew really what it took to be a leader, but for each of us, this journey was undoubtedly different. NGD: Yes, I’ve always been a leader when it comes to sports, but when it comes to leading something such as a newspaper it seemed very foreign to me. The thought of leading a group of academically-inclined students compared to a group of jocks on a field left me thinking about what I wish I knew. And what I wish I knew is our excuse of being afraid, our way of dwelling on the thought of not being good enough. I grew up playing sports and memorizing patterns in a playbook. I am naturally someone who can be good at sports because I can not only execute what’s in that playbook, but also use it to teach and lead others. I was perfectly content with being a leader on the field; therefore, what I wish I knew if I’d be good enough for everyone else. I have a fear of things I can’t control. In football, I’m constantly eager to help teach other players to be in the position they need to be in, to run the routes they need to run, and to execute a play with ease. My problem is that I want to control it, and if I can’t, I just want to do it for them. This was why being the leader of the Tom Tom felt so foreign to me. Taking control of the staff didn’t come with a playbook to memorize, which for the first time forced me to control more than just No. 6. It also meant that I had to let others take control of themselves, and I would soon come to realize that it wouldn’t be a problem with how incredible of a group I was able to work with on this staff. KME: Being a leader this year was something completely new to me. I had always been the younger one who would sit back and watch the action take place. I was used to sitting silently on the sidelines. But once I was given the responsibility of stepping up this year, I went at it full force. I was so consumed by everyone else’s problems that I somehow learned to keep masking my own. But, this seemed perfectly acceptable to me. Being a leader had its drawbacks. But it was a sacrifice that I was willing to make for everyone on the Tom Tom. I believed that the main purpose of being put into the position that I was in was solely to help others. What I wish I knew was that I didn’t have to completely ignore my problems when helping others. No one’s problems got left unnoticed with a staff that has as close of a bond as ours. As Editors-in-Chief, we are among a select group of people—only two of nearly 500 EICs of programs in Illinois—who understand what it means to be a leader of a publication: diligence, time management, balance, ownership and faith. For both of us, these facets of leadership were needed for us to learn how to grow and develop in our roles and in leading our staff. But, most importantly, all of these aspects of leadership are what afforded us the opportunities to watch our staff excel into what they are now—both as the current EIC and the upcoming one. This student life magazine is the last we are working on as a staff of 63, which in itself is bittersweet. The “What I Wish I Knew” issue is full of opportunities for reflection, both in the stories and as a staff on our time and careers with the Tom Tom. For some of us, that means starting a new chapter of our lives, ultimately wishing we knew how to actually say goodbye. For others, this final magazine as a whole staff brings forth nervousness. With the nerves comes countless questions and thoughts about what we wish we knew in an effort to make not only the school and district proud, but also honor the legacy that our seniors are leaving behind. Most of all, we want to make them proud. For

the two of us, this magazine’s theme was the perfect final reflection for us to work on together. The “What I Wish I Knew” issue is not about regrets, nor is about questioning authority. Instead, this magazine is built around the idea of learning to grow from experience. The features in this magazine are diverse in nature, but still are connected by a common thread of reflection. From cars to fashion to eyebrows, we’ve focused our attention on improvement. Beyond those, we’ve delved deep into who we are as humans to understand our reflections on impact and pain. Senior Jordan Staten focused on reckless driving and the loss of loved ones, while senior Danny Meade explored the feeling of being a “golden child” and fearing a tarnished reputation. Additionally, senior Brittany Bluthardt looked at the impact of bullying and the role the bully plays in sustaining a negative school culture. Finally, senior and managing editor Madison Paddock decided to truly give voices to the voiceless by writing a haunting story about rape and how it is closer to home than we oftentimes think. Moving forward, we have two final issues: senior and dreams. The extra large senior issue will arrive right before the senior class takes finals and says goodbye. For the rest of the student body, the final magazine of the year, the “Dreams” issue, will follow shortly after and will offer a unique perspective on a topic so imperative to our human nature. Until then, we hope you enjoy what is one of our favorite magazines of the year, and truly an innovative look at something we think about all too often. TT Krissy, from the moment I was told that you were going to be EIC, it didn’t come as a surprise. You are by far the most capable person to fill this role. You are one of the strongest and most compassionate I know. I cannot wait to see what you do next year; I know it is going to be great. *There is so much more I could say about you, but we wrote too much and there is no room. NICHOLAS G. DOROSAN

Editor-in-Chief 2015-2016 KRISTINA M. ESDALE

Editor-in-Chief 2016-2017

STAFF EDITORIAL CARTOON BY NATHAN BORRIES

TO GO TO PROM, OR NOT GO TO PROM

FREE SPEECH Are you going to prom?

Prom season is upon us and many Sequoits have to decide if the cost and experience is all worth it. Ten reasons you should definitely go to prom: 1. It’s a cherished high school event that everyone should experience at least once. 2. For seniors, this is one of the last times you will be all together before college. 3. You get to get dressed up and be fancy (something that doesn’t happen often in Antioch). 4. There will be countless pictures of you and your friends looking amazing. 5. Why would you want to sit at home while everyone else is having fun at prom? 6. You get to see your favorite teachers all dressed up. 7. The food is delicious (not to mention the unlimited Kiddy cocktails). 8. Two words: Grand Geneva. 9. It’s the last big school event of the year, and, for seniors, of your high school lives. 10. It’s just plain FUN. TT

Ten reasons you should definitely NOT go to prom: 1. It’s ridiculously overpriced: tickets, shoes, a dress (or tux), accessories, flowers; everything costs money. 2. The new dress code. How is it possible to find an appropriate prom dress No, because I these days? wasn’t fond of the 3. You can no longer “juke” — whatidea of wearing a ever that is. dress. 4. Chances are, the delicious food at Sydney Morrow, the buffet will all be cold by the time Junior your table gets in line. 5. If you don’t go to prom, you can avoid the struggles of having to choose a prom table. 6. Avoid the hassle of having to come up with a ‘promposal’ to ask your date of choice. 7. More importantly, avoid the hassle of trying to find a date. 8. Long dresses and tuxedos are inYes, because I’m credibly uncomfortable. hoping it will be a 9. There are hundreds of other places good time and I’m to go on a Saturday night that are probahoping to slay. bly just as fun. Elizabeth Taylor, 10. Prom is overrated. TT Junior The What I Wish I Knew Issue 5

NEWS IN BRIEF ELECTION UPDATE Primary voting for the 2016 election is in full swing as Donald Trump approaches the necessary delegate count for the nomination. With many members and supporters of the Republican party hoping they can keep Trump from reaching the needed delegate number, Republican candidates Ted Cruz and John Kasich have joined forces, both releasing statements. This is all in an attempt to stop Trump from reaching the number of delegates needed for the nomination. If no Republican earns that amount by the national convention, the delegates will have to choose amongst themselves a nominee. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is rapidly approaching the mark to clinch her party’s nomination. With recent primary voting, the amount of delegates Clinton has received is increasingly more than opposing candidate Bernie Sanders’ delegates. Although Sanders has tremendous support online and with millennials, the polls tell a different story. With this turn in trend, the election may return to how Clinton’s campaign expected, with Clinton dominating the polls. TT BY GABRIELLE KALISZ

GABRIELLE KALISZ

EARTH DAY FAIR CLOSES OUT SPRING SPIRIT WEEK

In addition to spring spirit week last week, environmental club hosted their annual Earth Day Fair during lunch hours in the auxiliary gym last Friday. Local organizations such as U of I Master Gardeners, ECO Promotional Products, Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, Lake County Forest Preserve and Earthly Goods set up booths around the gym, offering handouts and samples of eco-friendly products to students. “The purpose of the fair is to spread environmental awareness, yet also showcase to students how many different ways there are to be ‘green,’” social studies teacher and organizer

Stephen Rose said. Classes of all areas merged into the gym to see the alligator named “Bubba.” “They are learning about how Bubba learns, senses, and interacts with the environment… [and] why animals like Bubba have survived mass extinctions,” Rose said. From face painting and do-it-yourself gardening sets to recycled shirts and organic grass juice, the fair articulated all forms of local conservatism towards the environment. TT BY RACHEL BECKMAN

SEQUOIT SOUNDOFF

TRENDING:

“It’s about time. Let’s face it, as a society we take a long time to do things and to have a woman, and African American woman, to be on currency is exactly what we need.”

Tu b m a n t o t h e 2 0 Harriet Tubman is officially being placed on the 20 dollar bill after an announcement last Wednesday. Tubman, an African American woman historically recognized as a Union spy during the Civil War, is replacing Andrew Jackson on the 20 dollar bill. Previously, American currency has only included the faces of men. Tubman will be the first woman placed on an American note.

AUDREY NAGEL-SCHOOMAKER ENGLISH TEACHER

311

BY THE NUMBERS

SENIORS The Class of 2016 is gearing up to walk across the stage on May 22. With only a few weeks left and finals standing in their way, the seniors are ready to finish strong. 6 Tom Tom April 2016

NATHANIEL ALEXANDER

Spring spirit week offered up a plethora of celebrations, one of which include a new addition to school spirit: the staff versus students games. The first game, which pit the girls varsity volleyball team against the staff, ended in a tie. The second, shown above, ended in a loss by the staff to the varsity boys basketball team.

Tubman was originally pitched to be on the 10 dollar bill, which opposed the original idea by online organization “Women on 20’s.” After the widespread popularity of the Broadway Musical “Hamilton” the executive decision has been made to keep Alexander Hamilton on the 10 dollar bill, moving Tubman to the 20.

BY GABRIELLE KALISZ

IN BRIEF

Sequoit Snapshot

SAM WORDEN

Sophomore RJ Vazquez sings in the spring fine arts production of Footloose: The Musical. The show sold out three of its four nights. The What I Wish I Knew Issue

IN BRIEF

Sequoit Snapshot

PE teacher Jamie Waltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Advanced Fit For Life class participated in a 5k on April 27. The class and run are meant to promote a healthy lifestyle. JOHNNY HORTON

8 Tom Tom April 2016

if only I knew/why couldn't I have known/I wish it could change/if someone would've told me/I wish it could be fixed/why didn't I know/ somebody could have told me/why me/ tell me more/if someone told me/I wish you were there/what would you have done/can we go back/it was simple back then/I remember when I didn't need to know/hindsight hurts/if only I could have learned/why now/why me/it could have been different/what would you have done/what do you know/mistakes hurt/why would I do that/why didn't anyone tell me/if I could've known/wishing to go back/do I get a do over/what now/I can't live with that mistake/why was I dumb/who was there for me what I wish I knew The What I Wish I Knew Issue

I WISH I KNEW

HOW NOT TO FEAR A

TARNISHED REPUTATION

The fear of not being “good as gold” is more pressure than one may think. DAN MEADE Sports Editor

ALLISON CRAUN

hroughout any and every high school, there are certain people that excel in particular categories more than others. It could range from the most athletic student performing well on the field, to the smartest student scoring high in the classroom. Society tends to praise this “special individuals” and put them on a platform. Or at least it is perceived that way. Many students strive to be more like these above and beyond students who are at the top of what they do, but do they really know the price at which it comes with? It is a well kept secret that being top dog is not all it’s cracked up to be. Don’t get it wrong, being one of the best at a certain something isn’t a negative thing, but their are negative traits that come with it that we as society create. The amount of pressure our peers put on these students to maintain their role that they have worked so hard to achieve can be extremely stressful psychologically on a shining student. A student that is normally the smartest in class may feel that they must know the answer to every question, especially when other students ask for their help. This is the same thing as how a star athlete is always expected to make the great plays, or how a performer is always expected to have a good outing and nail their scenes every single show. But, the key

10 Tom Tom April 2016

word there is the word expected. Society puts extra pressure on the golden kids of today and always expects the best every time no matter what they are good at, forcing them to fear a tarnished reputation. GOLDEN INTELLIGENCE Having a reputation as the smart kid may sound pretty nice at first, always knowing all the answers, getting good grades, etc. But, that’s not all there is to it. The pressure is everywhere, and star pupil freshman Natalie Hill knows it. “Being known as the smart girl usually doesn’t bother me,” Hill said. “Most of my friends are in all of those honor classes with me and are just as, if not more intelligent. However, there are a few occasions where I get volunteered to go first for presentations, or I’ll answer the teacher’s question and kids say, ‘Oh of course Natalie got that right.’ It adds to the pressure I put on myself, because now I feel like I have to meet not only my expectations for myself, but also my classmates.” Living up to the expectation and having the pressure of always getting the ‘A’ can be a struggle. A big part of life is how you are perceived by others, and in today’s world, it is a constant struggle, even among the smartest kids

in school. “I do have a little regret about the way others see me, but at the same time I feel that I should be lucky they think highly of me in this regard,” she said. “It gets a little confusing, and then I have all of the guilty, ‘people struggle in class and you’re complaining about doing well,’ thoughts.” Nowadays, the last people that should be feeling under pressure to perform well in the classroom are 4.0 GPA students. Yet, what is expect out of the golden academic students can be a lot to handle. GOLDEN PHYSICALITY On the field is a similar story to the one in the classroom. Star running back senior Griffin Hill can’t help but be compared to past superstars in ACHS history. For every yard rushed, there was a mumble for Hill being compared to Cameron White, Antioch’s superstar running back of the 2008 state semifinal football team. This can usually wear down an exceptional athlete, always being compared to someone else, but this didn’t phase Hill all too much. “Being compared to White is something I couldn’t really avoid with our running styles being so similar,” G. Hill said. “But, it has really

cds

JOHNNY HORTON

given me something to strive for over the years because of all the records he’s broken. It has allowed me to have the mindset of not wanting to be compared to him, and wanting to make a name for myself.” Although G. Hill handled the pressure, the pressure still persisted--it wasn’t easily shaken. Having the reputation as one of the best players on the field can bring a lot of attention their direction. “Being a good athlete can be very pressuring at times because you know in a close game people are going to be looking to you to make the big play, but it is also a cool thing because if you think you’re a competitive person, then you should live for the pressure, which I do,” G. Hill said. Many athletes have fell to the pressure and have been in such a bright spotlight that their reputation had demolished itself. This may have happened to White, after recent incidents with the law, but regardless of how great someone is, the golden egg can spoil. GOLDEN PERFORMANCE Performing can be one of the hardest things to conquer for anyone. As if there isn’t enough pressure standing on stage in front of a large audience, being the lead role in a musical can add

even more pressure. Sophomore RJ Vazquez acknowledges the risk on this reputation and takes it in full stride. “Being the lead is a lot of pressure,” Vazquez said. “It’s tough to learn all the lines, songs and dances all at once. It really is a lot to take on. And being an athlete, [being the lead] is very comparable to sports. The more hard work you put in, the more you get out. The fine arts family is also one of the most welcoming areas of the school which really helped me through everything.” Vazquez realizes there will be critics, but stayed comfortable through the support of the great atmosphere of the fine arts department. GOLDEN RIVALRY What can be even harder to see than a golden kid struggling because of pressure, is being a family member of a “golden child.” Senior Nick Filippone knows his freshman brother Dan is an up-and-coming basketball star. It’s not always the athlete that may feel the need to constantly perform well, but also their siblings, who feels the need to live up to their brother or sister. “In theory, I really shouldn’t compare myself to my brother as we have different athletic playing styles, we are different people, etc,” Filippone said. “But, in reality, I do at times. I

get a little jealous of his 50 point games and his future with basketball and things, and I do feel embarrassed that I haven’t made it as far as he has. There is pressure from others as people will look at my brother and I and make the comparison that shouldn’t be made in my opinion.” It can be a lot to handle having a sibling that is amazing at something you’re not so talented at but Filippone handles it exceptionally well. “In all honesty, it’s going to affect everyone in some way,” Filippone said. “But we really shouldn’t let what others say bother us. As I feel I’m doing a much better job of this, I also believe that everyone can learn from anyone and I still keep my mind open for progression in my life.” With an open mind, Filippone is able to handle the pressure of having the reputation as a brother of a golden child. They are everywhere and in every category. There is always golden children that are placed on pedestals just to be critiqued at by society and to be broken down. But why does society feel the need to add more pressure on these shining kids and make it harder for them to do what they are so very good at? It’s can be hard to see, but being top dog sure does have its challenges. TT

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

I WISH I KNEW SPEED HAD CONSEQUENCES

ECKLESS DRIVIN

ccording to the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association, In 2013, every 52 minutes a fatality occurred in the United States due to reckless driving. Essentially, that is 11,896 people killed behind the wheel either because of reckless driving or because they became a victim of someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reckless behavior. JORDAN STATEN Tom Tom Staff

12 Tom Tom April 2016

BEHINDTHEWHEEL

The IHSCDEA reported that of those 11, 896, 46 percent of the perished victims were under the influence of alcohol while operating the vehicle. Reckless driving is nothing short of a serious matter and the consequence is often fatal. Not only does reckless driving put the life of the driver in danger, but it puts every single pedestrian, passing car and surrounding individual in danger as well. Reckless driving is more than just a caution, it is a threat to all those involved. Reckless driving is more than just a DUI. The consequences can be endless. When choosing to get behind the wheel of a vehicle intoxicated, one is also choosing to put themselves at risk for possible jail time, a possible $2,500 fine, required driving school and, above all, convicted of a Class A Misdemeanor. The biggest consequence of all? Letting life slip away because of simply a wrong decision. In Illinois, state police reported reckless driving as the single largest call for service in Chicago. This is no surprise considering that out of all car accidents, one-third of them are due to a reckless driver. The consequences will leave any guilty driver remorseful; however, some cannot be fixed and will remain for the rest of his/her life. Taking the life of another person is a risk that most are unknowingly taking while driving under the influence. The families of these victims are victims as well. A wrong choice can take the life of someone’s loved one at any moment. One would never imagine reckless driving to be a major cause

of death in their own little town, but they would be very mistaken. 2013 was a devastating year for Antioch to say the least. Within such a short time, there was great loss. Three students lost their lives that year and two of those students lost their lives due to reckless driving. Three lives that can never be taken back, but will never be forgotten. On February 18, 2013, one of ACHS’s own was a victim of reckless driving. A son, a brother, a boyfriend, a student, an athlete, an unforgettable person was taken much too soon from those who loved him most. Split seconds determined life and death of an innocent person and a major loss in so many people’s lives. Joel Wittkamp and girlfriend Ashley Seay, both 16 at the time, lost control and veered into a tree going 94 mph because of black ice, sending them into a second tree that took their lives. Wittkamp and Seay suffered multiple traumatic injuries and passed away within seconds. Following the collision, Wittkamp’s absence in the halls and the town was felt immediately. This tragedy still remains in the minds and hearts of every person Wittkamp touched. For his mother, Sarah Wittkamp, Joel’s death took a piece of her heart that will always be missing, but she continues to honor his life every single day. Three years later the void has only been filled with God’s grace and hope. Three years later the memories are still vivid. Three years later it still seems like yesterday. “9:30 rolls around and I started to freak out,” Sarah said. “I told my husband that something was really wrong.”

A Facebook post from a friend sending prayers to those involved in a car accident on Wilmot Road caught Sarah’s eye that night. In fact, she could not get it out of her head and prayed that her son was anywhere but involved in the accident. Unanswered texts left her trembling with anxiety and fear as any mother would. “It was like I felt like I was going to throw up,” she said. “I absolutely knew something was wrong, and I knew it was him.” Sarah then called the police station in hopes of finding out who was involved in this fatal crash or any details that could ease her mind, and still no answers. “I sat in my rocking chair and waited, and all

“It was like I felt like I was going to throw up. I absolutely knew something wrong, and I knew it was him.” Sarah Wittkamp

of a sudden I saw a car pull up,” she said. An unmarked police car and an Antioch police car pulled into the driveway. She hoped that Joel was about to walk out of the car with the police officer, but the officer stood alone on the doorstep and knocked until there was an answer. “I tried to tell myself everything was okay, but I knew what was coming,” Sarah said. Immediately Sarah yelled to her husband in the next room and he flew to the door. He was filled with anger and disbelief. He yelled for the police officer and coroner to leave, as if they did he would not have to listen to what was coming next. It would not be real. The officer informed them that Joel had been in an accident. The roads were filled with black

GRANT HAIDER

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

JOHNNY HORTON

Each year, ACHS hosts a pre-prom assembly to inform the junior and senior classes of the dangers of making destructive decisions. This year was the return on the crash simulation; however, due to weather, the assembly was hosted in the auditorium. Despite the scene change, the message was still just as clear: reckless driving has more than one impact, and those impacts aren’t good ones. ice. Even an ambulance attending the scene slid off the road due to the ice. Confused and in denial, Sarah asked, “Well where is he?” In her head, it wasn’t reality. He had to have been in a hospital bed somewhere being worked on by doctors. The only response she received back from the officer was, “I’m really sorry.” “I felt like God took me out of my body so that I wouldn’t have to experience a pain that would surely kill me, and that, that began the journey with life without Joel,” she said. The next day, Sarah stepped on the scene of the accident. Immediately a hole in her heart appeared that was sure to never fully recover. “It was so surreal and unnatural,” Sarah said. “As a parent you don’t want to ever believe that your kid is going to die.” The wreckage was unbelievable. Debris lined the road for days afterward, Sarah explained. “It was like a dream manifested broken on a cold hard ground,” she said. “It was so tragic.” This brought about a newly found hope that would only grow. Joel may be gone, but his family’s love for him surely never will be. “I know Joel thought he was being cool, but fast is not cool. Fast is dead,” she said. She knew he thought he had control, but control nevertheless is disregarded when rules are broken. Ignorance led to an invincible feeling that he was going to be okay in the end. Driving is an obstacle and a test. A test of deviance and responsibility. Speed limits are in place to protect drivers and pedestrians. The limit is so much larger than what it seems. Breaking these limits opens up opportunity for disaster in almost any circumstance. There is no control when it seems like you versus the world and every tree that lines the pavement passes by as a blur. After the accident, Joel’s family was broken to say the very least. It began an experience of learning how to walk, talk and live again without a huge piece of their life. “Every day since that day has been the work of believing and having hope that anchors us,” Sarah said. Joel’s close friend Lexy Vetter, a 2014 alumna, said, “Losing Joel has impacted every single thing I do. Every day I am reminded of him and the fact that he will never be able to go to college or work like I am now, so I remember to do absolutely everything the best I can because I am lucky enough to be living this life.” When one is forced to believe something because it did happen, it exposes the rawness and the realness of the value of life. No one is promised tomorrow. “After Joel’s funeral I hung his funeral card around my rearview mirror to always remind me to drive as safely as possible,” Vetter said. “It’s so easy to drive too fast or text and drive, but I hope everyone realizes how selfish it is. You’re taking the chance of putting your friends and family through the worst pain ever imaginable.” For Vetter, she had one last piece of advice: while driving, drive with regard to life. Do not be selfish with the sacred life that you hold in your hands when behind the wheel. TT

14 Tom Tom April 2016

UP TO SPEED The use of a cell phone while driving increases your chance of getting into a crash by 400 percent.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 6,000 people died last year in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive

More than 90 people die in car accidents everyday.

Six percent of accidents end in fatality, 27 percent of accidents end in non-fatal injuries, 72 percent of crashes just end in property damage. One in every 7 people actually wear their seatbelts while driving.

B Y S T A N D E R

V I C T I M

I WISH I KNEW THE IMPACT OF MY WORDS BRITTANY BLUDTHART Lifestyles Editor

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

WHAT IS A BULLY? There is a constant power struggle within American culture over who is the best, who owns the greatest possessions, or who is the most intelligent. This opposition and want for a challenge is a human instinct that is continued throughout life. People begin to learn about this form of battle from the earliest stage of life: childhood. Beginning in kindergarten, a child is told to “play nice,” to “share,” and to “have good manners.” This quickly transitions with age to “be kind to others,” “be a leader, not a follower,” and “be accountable for your actions.” Now, in high school, it is “be responsible, be respectful, be proud” and “be safe.” In general, these words of advice have stayed the same because these simple rules to follow are not diversely different from age to age. There is not a new set of words to follow by granted on each year that someone is older. Specifically, at a young age, society tends to group those that do not follow these guidelines into one category: bullies. Bullying can take many forms, and more often than not, actions are often categorizes as anything other than bullying. The word has a negative connotation that many do not want to associate with, for valid reasons. A bully is viewed as brutally mean, terrorizing, assaulting and all-around terrible. This vision in the minds of many is that a bully is the worst villain from a superhero comic or the world’s worst dictator, and nothing short of a nightmare. In all actuality, this bully could have brown, long hair and blue eyes. She could be on the honor role and captain of the volleyball team. This girl could have a great group of supportive friends that thinks she are kind and respectful. With all of these positive attributes, is the girl truly a bully? This bully could have blonde, short hair and green eyes. This boy could be a straight-A student, member of the math team, varsity track runner and scored a 26 on his ACT. Is this boy truly a bully? Both students have one thing in common: normality. A bully is any normal, simple person with true feelings, emotions and thoughts. Everyone can be a bully because everyone can feel and react. Even the most kind person can become that fearfully common association with society’s “worst nightmare.” Now, the real question: How do most distin-

16 Tom Tom April 2016

guish what bullying is? There are set perceptions of what a bully could be, but more often than not, the “bully” that’s identified is who some might least expect. Schools try to prevent this “bullying” that is occurring by setting rules and consequences for such behavior, but the real issue is not always up front and shoved into the faces of those that view the problem. A quote by Einstein seems to sum up any way to combat an issue: “If I had only one hour to save the world, I would spend fifty-five minutes defining the problem and only five minutes finding the solution.” The root of the problem is not clear and identifiable at first. The original issue has been shoved into the back of the bully’s mind and is the cause of his or her’s irresponsible and rude behavior that overtime has evolved and developed into a whole new monster. Society tends to turn a shoulder on the bully side of any bullying situation and focus merely on the victim’s perspective. Yes, more often than not does the bully truly impair and harm, either emotionally or physically, the victim. They do not deserve recognition or sympathy on this end, but it is imperative to identify the root of the problem, spend a bit of time healing the individual, and then develop a solution to the problem.

ROOTS OF THE PROBLEM Every person generally comes from a different background, a different family and a different living situation. Walking down the halls, students do not know what each person or friend is dealing with on a daily basis. Whether they

have a separated family, little to no money to pay basic house bills, dealing with mental issues like depression or anxiety, or a combination of a thousand varying situations, every student and adult must live each day as if those problems are not affecting them. It is when the pain, fear,

“Bullies will fill their emotional void of misery by making others miserable too.” Psychology Teacher, Anton Borchert and stress seeps through the cracks of the thick, shielded wall that someone has built around themselves, where a true glimpse of the backstory surfaces. According to many psychologists and therapists, bullying has endless potential causes. Whether it is an internal power struggle, a history of bad experiences, or a strong need to dominate, a bully can be harvested and grown from a variety of pasts. “A lot of times people who bully others are so emotionally off in that they have this void in their lives, usually it’s because someone in their life has not validated them, so they don’t see value in themselves and they do not see value in treating others well,” social studies teacher Anton Borchert said. “Bullies will fill their emotional void of misery by making others miserable, too.” This emptiness inside a bully fuels the fire of

anger and aggression. “We think that the road or the situation ends with them, and what we need to do is take it one step farther and figure out who in their life has done it to them, Borchert said. “Bullying is a learned behavior. We don’t naturally make others feel miserable. We learn how to do that. We are way too harsh on bullies and need to learn where they have learned it from.” Borchert believes we should be trying to solve a bullying issue, rather than just shoving the issue away and punishing automatically. English teacher Sarah Ogborn also believes that bullying is a learned behavior and that it is based around negativity. “Bullying occurs because people are insecure in themselves and have low-self esteem,” she said. “They bully so they can feel better about their own flaws/feel like the ‘bigger man/woman.’ In reality, I think a lot of kids who bully are just trying to cover up pain they are feeling by making others, who the bully perceives as weaker/uglier/dumber/whatever feel pain.” This negative behavior is one that might just be a reflection of internal struggles and pain. “It doesn’t help the bully just deflects what ever emotional trauma they are experiencing,” Ogborn said. Bullying begins at home and at the place in which we often feel most comfortable. It is for this reason that it is extremely imperative to identify the root causes of a bullying issue before jumping conclusions and placing labels on students that are suffering.

NO, IT IS NOT A PHASE Bullying is often associated as a phase affecting only children and teenagers, but in all reality bullying occurs well into adulthood and even affects current leaders and politicians today. “Have you seen Donald Trump? He is the classic bully,” Ogborn said. “In fact, he is bullying an entire nation of people by making racist comments, inciting violence, etc. The sad thing is that the media is allowing him to act like this. The even more shocking thing is that he is getting the votes! It scares me that he could become president.” Age does not restrict behavior, nor does it represent that someone is automatically respectful or mature. The media has only made bullying easier in a sense because it is an outlet for people to express the pain they have been repressing.

“I can see how cyberbullying could be easier because they don’t have to see or hear that person’s emotional reactions,” Borchert said. “They are just throwing comments out there and not really realizing how it is affecting people.” Bullying is prevalent online and in real life. “Online bullying just makes it ‘easier’ because the bully doesn’t have to see the person’s reaction,” Ogborn said. “It is easier to type something on a phone’s screen, Tweet a ill-worded comment, or post a shaming picture on Instagram and Snapchat. Apps like Whisper, Yik Yak, or the multitude of new apps that allow you to be anonymous just make it easier and easier to bully.” The multitude of mobile applications and websites have only expanded the capabilities for people to relieve their emotions, which more often than not is not a positive way of reacting to a situation. In today’s fast-paced society, people forget to reflect or think before they act, which is one of the main reasons why bullying and hate continues to occur so rapidly.

A RESOLUTION IN SIGHT? People will not stop the hate they spread any time soon; instead, it must deal with this throughout life simply because most will always be faced with challenges that affect moods and and overall view of life. “The key is that the victim has to decide when they are no longer willing to be a victim,” Ogborn said. “Standing up for oneself is important, but that has to be done in an appropriate manner. I’d hate to see hate fuel hate and violence. Sometimes we need to ask for help. Going at it alone is isolating and heartbreaking.” It is extremely important to seek help and resources that could stop the bullying before it happens.

“If you find yourself being the bully, I think it is truly important to reflect and then to apologize,” Ogborn said. “An apology might not totally repair the damage done, but it is better than doing nothing.” Bullying attracts readers and viewers, even those that the bully might not think are looking. As high school students, colleges and teachers can easily view tweets, posts, or pictures that are surfacing on the Internet. Rarely are these hateful comments brought to light, but when they are, the consequences are harsh and often legal. “We don’t really realize who our audience is and the possible repercussions for what we are doing and how we are treating someone,” Borchert said. Today, there are multiple organizations and groups that are created to prevent bullying and to spread positive encouragement. People can pledge to stop bullying on websites like “The Bully Project” and “Do Something,” as well as learn more about the statistical data that has been collected over the years. According to BullyingStatistics.org, “About 80 percent of all high school students have encountered being bullied in some fashion online,” and “about thirty percent of students in the United States are involved in bullying on a regular basis either as a victim, bully or both.” The numbers continue to rise throughout the country, especially with the influence of social media. Bullying is also not just a physical issue; it’s also mental. It affects the victim, as well as the bully, despite our society’s emphasis on highlighting the effects, rather than the causes. People must begin to focus on the problem, rather than the solution, when it comes to solving bullying issues in general. Bullying is never okay, but behind all of the hate, fear and pain, there is a suffering person that is unable to ask for help. TT

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

“NO”

I WISH THEY KNEW WHAT MEANT MADISON PADDOCK Managing Editor

18 Tom Tom April 2016

Rape: one of the most talked about subjects in today’s society, but yet rarely spoken about in the right light. Constantly warned about, but, instead of prevented, it is promoted with a culture of rape jokes; victim blaming and shaming; and subtle promotion in music, television and advertisements. Many argue these insensitivities are the reason sexual assault occurs less than every two minutes in America, and each year there are 293,000 sexual assault victims and 98 percent of rapists will never spend a day in jail. This is rape culture, and, although it may not be obvious, it’s everywhere. It seems that women are taught from a young age not to walk home alone at night, especially in a dark alley; not to talk to strangers; and how to defend themselves against a predator. But why are the same steps not taken to teach people not to sexually assault? On the contrary, popular culture promotes rape through songs such as “Blurred Lines” and athletes who seemingly get let off the hook because of their celebrity status. Despite the promotion of rape culture, the media can still be beneficial in raising awareness of sexual assault, such as with the recent I Stand With Ke$ha movement in which celebrities and social media users around the globe stood up to show support of singer Ke$ha after her alleged rape and abuse by her producer, Dr. Luke. But even so, many of these stories of rape and sexual assault tend to focus on it happening to celebrities or it being an issue solely on college campuses. Oftentimes the fact that rape happens in high school is completely overlooked. In fact, 44 percent of rape victims are under the age of 18, but yet a staggering 68 percent of sexual assault cases never even get reported to the police. “I think that some high school and college boys are manipulators,” senior Andi Leineberg said. “It’s not always obvious when [sexual assault] is happening, which is sad and scary.” Part of the reason for these misconceptions and lack of reported cases of sexual assault are the assumptions society has created for what rape is and isn’t. Rape doesn’t just mean you were cornered in a dark alley and forced into sex. Rape can occur if you are awake or unconscious, the rapist could be a stranger or a close friend and consent does not just consist of giving in to the other person. If there was force involved, or the victim felt too scared to physically resist or say the word “no,” then it was still rape. The lines of sexual assault are oftentimes not black and white, which allows for the victim to often feel too embarrassed, scared or dramatic to report to incident. “I think that sometimes victims feel that what happened to them was not rape,” senior Amanda England said. “But really they were convinced or forced by their rapist to do something that they really didn’t want to do just so the guy wouldn’t be angry with her. I’ve seen so many things on social media about girls being beaten or killed just for saying no. Feeling uncomfortable in school or in a social setting should not be acceptable the way it is right now.” The stigma that surrounds rape is that only women can be raped. Not only are cases of rape against men rarely talked about, but many men themselves are even in denial that rape can exist between a woman against man or a man against a man. “We are a country founded on stereotypes, especially stereotypes that construct our gendered identities and beliefs,” English and media teacher Patrick Johnson, who spent his graduate school career studying masculinity and its impact on identity, said. “Traditionally, men are expected to be powerful, dominant and in control. Any sign of weakness is a sign of femininity, which creates a culture of misogyny and hate. This in turn affects our understanding of situations related to power struggles.”

Rape is not about a gender or weak and strong people. It is about the violation of human rights and those affected by it. As shocking as it may be, one in every 33 men will experience an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime; that means that 2.78 million men in the United States have been raped or otherwise sexually assaulted. “Rape and sexual assault are problems that can happen to anyone, no matter their race, gender, class, age, religious belief, sexual orientation and more,” Johnson said. “The true problem, however, is that we stigmatize the victims and solidify this problem as a gendered one.” There are many misconceptions of rape across the board, but especially so when the victim is a man. Many like to believe that girl against girl, man against man or girl against man rape is not “real” rape. It does not matter who the victim was, it just matters that there was a victim. “Men can be sexually assaulted,” Johnson said. “It isn’t a sign of weakness. It isn’t a sign of femininity. It isn’t a sign of metaphorical castration. Dudes can feel pain and be preyed upon because they are human. When we stop thinking of sexual assault as a gender issue, we may begin to find a solution of how to talk about it, address it, and, hopefully, fix it.” Cases where men fall victim to women are often taken far less seriously than when a woman is assaulted by a man. The misconceptions about what it means to be raped and who can get raped are all part of the rape culture that society has built. When rape is spoken of, more times than not it is referring to a woman being raped, which in turns leaves the male victims voiceless and damaged. Despite the statistics, the news stories, the media campaigns and the warnings, rape still remains a distant topic to most. Rape and sexual assault always seem an arm’s length away, always happening to someone else, somewhere else. What many neglect to realize, or rather, what many hide in the back of their minds, is that rape happens at the places closest to home and even within the halls of Antioch Community High School. *** At 14, most girls are worried about how their hair looks for school, or what movie to go see with their friends this weekend. For Betty, a student whose name was changed to maintain anonymity, things weren’t that simple. At just 14 years of life, she was forced into a situation that many will never have to encounter in their lifetime. At 14 years, Betty had to experience what every parent wishes for their daughter to never have to

NATHAN BORRIES

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

endure. At 14 years, she was stripped of her most basic human right: to say no. “I had my first encounter with rape when I was a freshman in high school,” Betty said. “I was pinned down and raped by someone I had known my whole life.” After the assault, Betty, like so many other victims of rape, was too scared to tell anyone or report the incident, instead keeping it bottled up inside for years. In the years following, Betty was put in the same situation many times to follow, only this time, it was with her significant other. “I don’t think people realize that rape can occur with someone you love. It’s not always someone in a dark alley, y’know?” said Betty, “there were times it was consensual, but many times I was being abused. It’s such a hard situation to know you are being abused by the person who you loved.” Like so many others who fall victim to these terrible events, Betty didn’t speak out after her first sexual assault, or her second or for many, many more times after. Who do I tell? How do I tell them? Is this going to get me into trouble? What if they don’t believe me? Will people think of me differently? Being in a situation similar to Betty’s is never easy. It’s never easy to tell such a traumatizing experience to another human being, but eventually, it must be done. After gaining the bravery to tell her mom what had happened, Betty escaped from the relationship and the sexual assault. “To anyone who is in the situation that I was in or is in that situation one day, my only advice is to get out,” said Betty, “they say it won’t happen again, but it’s more than likely that it will. Over and over again. And you need to get out as soon as possible because it will only get worse.” *** The cries for help from the voiceless are not going unnoticed, especially when it comes to rape and sexual assault at both college campuses and high schools. In recent years, an effort to uphold Title IX--which provides the basis for eliminating hostile environments and sexual assault within public schools--and to educate individuals on their rights guaranteed by Title IX has spurred. Title IX protects any person, regardless of gender or sexual identity, from sex-based discrimination and requires that every school has a clear and safe plan to deal with sexual assault inside their halls. Groups such as Rape Abuse & Incest National Network, Know Your IX and Stop Sexual Assaults In School are working towards educating the public, providing a support system for sexual assault victims and promoting the active implementation of Title IX in all schools. Together, they are trying to put a stop to campus assaults. There are enough statistics about rape, sexual assaults and rapists to read all day long. But at the end of the day, it’s not about the number. It’s not about the statistics. Because each victim of sexual assault is not just a number. Each victim is a human, a human that was deprived of their most basic right, a human that deserves justice. It’s not about reading a statistic about sexual assault and having it go right over your head. It’s about putting an end to the rape culture that allows rape jokes, gender stereotypes and victim blaming. It’s about creating a truly safe environment for everyone, no matter the gender, no matter the race, no matter the sexual orientation, no matter if they are at home or at school. It’s about putting an end to rape. TT

“I had my first encounter with rape when I was a freshman in high school,” Betty said. “I was pinned down and raped by someone I had known my whole life.”

TED MARTINEK

20 Tom Tom April 2016

what I wish I knew about

PROM What you should know before you start planning the best night of high school.

ABIGAIL ELLSWORTH Tom Tom Staff

rom can be very stressful, but knowing the right things to do and when to do them can make all the difference. Many girls know that getting ready for prom can be complicated and overwhelming. Luckily, prom is not as stressful for guys. Men need to find a tux, purchase a corsage and take care of other small preparations approximately two weeks up until the day before. Girls, on the other hand, must find a dress, plan a hairstyle, set time for makeup, find the right accessories and sometimes even more. All of this can be difficult for many to remember or keep organized. Prom tips and advice will make planning much easier and less stressful, as well as ease the overall process. According to Seventeen Magazine, some of the best places to go and buy prom dresses are LuLu’s, Missguided, ASOS, Prom Girl, Go Jane, Rent The Runway and Unique Vintage. Deciding how to get hair to be done and trying out some things a couple weeks before prom can also be helpful, as well and make things much less overwhelming rather then deciding the day before or even the day of the dance. Asking someone who has already been to prom can be helpful, too. Not all proms are the same, but getting some kind of idea on what to expect could make things easier. Some Sequoit teachers felt there was plenty they wish they knew before attending this iconic, end-of-the-year dance. “I most enjoyed hanging out with my friends," science teacher Melissa Moore said. "For both proms—junior and senior—I went with a large group of friends and had a great time at each. For me personally I did not have any negative experiences with prom. I did have a few friends who were involved in some boyfriend/girlfriend drama, and I remember feeling sorry for them that their experience was ruined by those issues." For special education teacher Kelly Johnson, prom was not only about the event that day, but also about the planning. "When I attended prom, juniors did all the fund raising, decorating, etc," Johnson said. "I was class president my junior year and was in charge of a lot of the details. It was exciting seeing and hearing the seniors remark on the great evening we were able to put together. My senior year I enjoyed just hanging out for the evening with my friends for the last formal evening with all of us. Everyone attended, all 24 students in my senior class." Moore believes that sometimes too many people put too much pressure

on the event. "I think for some people prom can be more stressful than it needs to be and it ruins their memories of the dance," Moore said. "I wish I knew how fast those nights would go; I would have tried to live in the moment more and not taken for granted the experience I was having. I had a great time anyway, but I think I would have taken more pictures and just taken time to really appreciate it." Prom isn't always the way it's seen on the silver screen. It too comes with some disappointment. "The thing that disappointed me most was that my senior year was the first time no after-prom was offered," Johnson said. "Not because the actual prom wasn't fun, but that you could be formal at prom, then continue and hang out afterwards and chill." Social studies teacher Emma Craig believes prom was simply one of those magical nights. “My favorite part of prom was getting dressed up and having a great time with my friends," Craig said. "It's always fun to get all dolled up for a special occasion and I went with a group I'd been friends with since the start of freshman year, so it was a really great way to celebrate the end of our time in high school." The food and being shoeless, however, weren't Craig's favorite parts of the night. "It was some kind of pasta dish with green sauce and, for whatever reason, they garnished it with a flower," she said. "It was not super appetizing having to pick flower petals out of my food. I wish I knew to bring a spare pair of flip flops in my purse because I ended up taking my heels off during dinner and going barefoot most of the evening. Despite that, my prom was a ton of fun and I had a great time celebrating the end of my high school years with some of my closest friends." Prom is not just about finding a date, seeing who has the best dress, or winning prom king and queen. Go out and enjoy some of the last moments as high schoolers with classmates. Take plenty of pictures and live fully in the moment of the big night, and make the best of it. Or, like Johnson, realize it's a day to feel special and be with friends. "Being from a small town, having a special night to dress up in a tux was special," he said. "[Prom] would officially be the last time we would all be together outside of school and realize that no matter how hard we try, never see everyone together again.” TT The What I Wish I Knew Issue 21

what I wish I knew about

HAVING A JOB

Working 9 to 5 might be the norm for adults, but as a high school student, a job comes with plenty of questions.

CLAY VESSER

Tom Tom Staff igh school. The meaning of those two words drastically differ depending on who one asks. This is because what students choose to involve themselves them in during these four years of their educational career varies. Some choose to take a path of science, math, fine arts, business or tech. Not only do students have a choice of what to involve themselves within school, but also outside of it, such as jobs. For many students in high school, they spend the majority of their four years learning and preparing for a future at a college or university. Post-secondary education is viewed by many as a necessity to gain financial stability, a secure career, and success in general. Due to the high costs of colleges and universities throughout the nation, many high school students opt to get a job in order to save up for the hefty price tag that comes with pursuing a degree or another form of certification. And for some students who have a job while currently in school, there are a few things they wish they knew beforehand. Just recently, senior Andrew Pimpo acquired a job at Dunkin’ Donuts. “I have college to blame for [getting a job], as the numbers on cost can be sincerely scary,” Pimpo said. “In order to afford a degree, something I am constantly told I cannot really live without, I had to have some form of income. I would say my parents had a lot of play in it as well as they pressured me to keep applying and asking around for jobs. After a long search I was given a job at Dunkin’ Donuts and have, in my own opinion, progressed fairly.” Despite getting the job there are still a number of things that Pimpo wished he knew before accepting his new role. “Certainly that my life would get less unpredictable,” he said. “Ye,s I would have a lot more to do, but I knew it would happen and would be trained to do it. The hardest part of the job search was asking for a job. I cannot pinpoint a reason, but I felt like cringing the entire time I would interview or apply for a job and follow up on it. After actually getting one and having a group of people that I knew and a schedule, it was a far more manageable type of stress. Knowing that would have made the process less of a behemoth.” Many students stress out about both the process of applying for a job, waiting for an interview, and the actual interview. Those are sometimes the most difficult parts of acquiring the job, simply because all that can be done is to wait, and hope that you are fit for the job and that you did your best during the interview. “[I wish I knew] how demanding some people are,” senior Stephanie Masse said. “Being a waitress is already a fast-paced job, but when you get crabby old people it’s horrible.” After serving at a restaurant, Masse has some advice for those looking to get a job waiting tables or a just a job in general. “Never get a job you’re not going to enjoy,” she said. “Ask for a realistic amount of hours: for example, 12-18 hours. Also, if you’re in sports look for a job that is very flexible [with that] schedule. But always remem-

22 Tom Tom April 2016

ber, school comes first.” Pimpo agrees with Masse. However, he also believes that the work environment is also extremely important to consider when apply or accepting a job. “Go where other high schoolers are working,” Pimpo said. “If the managers are familiar with what a student needs, they will be far more amiable and that is super important. Now really that doesn’t narrow it down, as [high schoolers] are kind of a lot of places. But it is still important.” Senior Seth Wright also contributed some advice. “I would say get a job that allows you to work weekends, and has a fairly flexible outlook on scheduling,” Wright said. “I am very lucky with my job at Antioch Pizza, in that the schedule is so flexible for its workers. At my job, I can get any day off that I want as long as no more than one other person is also taking that day off, and I give two weeks notice, or if I can get someone to cover my position. This allows me to easily take off work without penalty for school functions such as the plays/musicals that I am involved in.” Wright finds scheduling to be one of the most important factors to think about when going for a job. “When high school is a factor, jobs that allow you to work weekends and less than 15 hours are beneficial, and you can always pick up more hours if you feel it won’t get in the way of school and homework,” Wright said. Overall, these students felt as if finding a job with a flexible schedule was most important. Balancing school and a job is difficult, and ultimately it is in a person’s best interest to focus on academics. Therefore, if looking for a job, try to find one that allows a focus on getting good grades, while also saving up for the next step in an academic career: college. TT

LLINOIS I WHAT I WISH I KNEW WHEN

I GOT MY LICENSE

Turning 16 means getting a new freedom. It also means additional responsibilities. BOOKER GRASS Tom Tom Staff

here are many aspects of driving that teenagers wish they knew before they learned how to drive: to not be scared, to not get cocky and to always be careful. There are also things that they wish they could add to their knowledge after they learned: including how to change a tire, do general repairs, dealing with police, and driving a stick shift. Many teens look back on their past where they were first learning how to drive and shake their head in disbelief or shock. “When I first learned how to drive I was so excited," junior Jordan Hart said. "I wanted to be free. Two weeks after I got my license I drove to Chipotle in Round Lake with three other friends. Let's just say I didn't get away with it, and my parents were very unhappy.” Many younger drivers become so caught up in the idea of driving and freedom that they begin to drive unsafely or think they will not get a ticket. “Repairs and tickets are expensive and no matter how well you think you drive you will get a ticket if you break the law,” senior Taegan Gandolfi said. Learning to drive can also be very scary, but their should be no reason to be so scared to not want to drive and get better. I, personally, had a very hard time learning how to drive my car. When I bought my car, I didn't think I would never want to drive it. But that is what happened. I had a very hard time learning how to drive stick shift and when I would see a red light it made my heart beat out of my chest. Starting from a full stop in a stick shift car is different than anything any beginning driver is used to driving. You have to learn the specific timing to shift your feet from brake to gas and the very steady release of the clutch. When I would take my foot off of the clutch I would do it incredibly fast which would cause the car to jolt forward and the engine to die. There was one time where that happened to me where I got so angry at myself that I had to pull over and sit on the side of the road to calm down. I would get so scared and angry at myself when I drove. If I could get another chance to live that part of my life again I would just try to calm down and not be scared of driving because now, after I got through those difficulties, I prefer stick shift over automatic any day. There are also many things that people wish they knew about cars after

they learned how to drive. “One time my car ran out of gas while I was driving and the car just stopped driving," junior Donovan Sanchez said. "I wish I knew what to do in the situation because it sucked when I had to call my dad to bring me a gallon of gas so I could get to the nearest gas station.” With a drivers license comes many more lessons like how to handle driving in snow, how to change a tire, and how to do general repairs on a car that many teens wish they knew how to do. According to "Teen Driving," a website dedicated to resources for new drivers, the most important things to remember about driving are to calm down when driving, how to do simple repairs like changing a tire, and how to handle things like cops. Websites like "wikiHow" can help show how to do those things that aren't commonly taught in drivers education, as well as what one wants to know about driving. Just remember to not take driving so seriously and that driving should be fun and freeing. TT

PAIGE GRUBER

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

BEAUTY: what I wish I knew about

PIERCINGS AND EYEBROWS

CHRISTINA MICHAELS Tom Tom Staff

aking care of one's body and being confident in one's appearance is very important. Keeping hair healthy, making sure eyebrows are well-shaped, and preventing piercings from getting infected all play a major role in maintaining a good appearance. For some girls, they had to learn this the hard way. “I got my bellybutton pierced freshman year at Good Family Tattoo," senior Sarah Sheffield said. "It turned out very nice and it didn’t hurt too badly. But when I went to my soccer game I had to take it out. So later that night when I got home from my game I tried to put my bellybutton piercing back in. I had to shove it through because it was already starting to close up, and when I did, the piercing ended up being very crooked. Five months later I had my friend re-pierce it because she has had good experience with learning how to pierce things. It turned out good; it just hurt really bad and took a while to heal. I regret taking it out, I wish I let it fully heal in the first place.” It’s very important that when dealing with getting a bellybutton pierced that it is professionally done to assure that it will turn out good. According to Body Piercing magazine, keeping a bellybutton piercing in for one year is important because it usually takes about that long for it to heal. Also, make sure to clean it thoroughly everyday to avoid infections because this area is prone to getting infections easily. Along with steering clear of infections, Redbook said it’s also import-

24 Tom Tom April 2016

ant to make sure to keep hair healthy by avoiding things like hair dying multiple times, bleaching or applying a lot of heat to it. “I use to have very long hair from never straightening it or using heat products the summer before freshman year, then I dyed the ends bleach blonde," senior Kiki Wennstrom said. "After I was sick of my ombre and needed a haircut I just had to straight cut off the blonde. I wish I knew that by bleaching the ends of my hair that I would be killing all of the proteins and vitamins. I fixed my hair by not dying it to such a light color like I once did before.” Next to hair being a favorite thing for girls, eyebrows have become a big obsession this past year. The site "College Fashion" believes making sure to keep them full and natural looking with a slight arch is the look everyone is trying to pull off recently. It’s important to make sure to not pluck them too thin or make them look too unnatural. “When I was younger I use to pluck my eyebrows so they would turn out to look very thick with no shape," freshman Gabriella Michaels said. "When I started to get older I started to understand how to do my eyebrows correctly. I now get my eyebrows done at Ulta, but it took me a few months to grow them out to how thick they use to be. I would recommend girls to always get your eyebrows professionally done unless you really know what you are doing, and to also always go with the more natural look.” Many girls have had their own rough pasts with hair, piercings and eyebrows. Luckily, most girls have learned from their mistakes and know how to maintain fleeky eyebrows, healthy hair, and healed piercings. TT

BEAUTY TIPS: KENNEDY HETTLINGER Tom Tom Staff

Teenagers nowadays do not take the precautions they should before beautifying themselves; for example, going fake tanning can at first make one feel confident and bronzed, but has the potential to be seriously damaging to the skin. Senior Heba Abdellatif shared three tips for those who have not experienced tanning in a tanning salon. These tips of advice are ones that Abdellatif wishes she would have known before fake tanning herself. 1. "If you do burn easily, I would not recommend tanning because you are more prone to skin cancer and tanning is a huge risk factor to that.” 2. “They even say before you go on vacation where it is very hot and there is a lot of sun, to first go get a base tan to help you get protection from the sun.” 3. “I would recommend just a spray tan, they are much better for you than the UV beds and also make your tan appear darker right away.” Going to the nail salon with friends before dances, or just for the heck of it, is always fun. However, having fake nails can be a nuisance at times. Junior Erika Gallimore, shares her three tips of advice for those who have not experienced day-to-day life with fake nails and what she wish she knew. 1. “If you get really long fake nails be prepared to not be able to put in your earrings because it's hard to hold them.” 2. “Don't get fake nails if you play basketball or other sports. They will break and it hurts really bad when they get ripped off.” 3. “It takes a really long time to get your nails done, so make sure you have time because it takes forever. Also, make sure you get a color you really like because they stay on your fingers for awhile.” Lastly, contouring. Contouring is a makeup technique most girls wish they knew how to perfect. Freshman Gianna Chiappetta, shares her three tips that will teach you how to contour flawlessly every time. 1. “I wish I knew the difference between cream and powder contour. Cream makes it more of a natural look, and powder makes it harsh, showing that obviously you're wearing makeup.” 2. ‘“The darker you go with the contour color, the more defined the places you are trying to contour will look.” 3. "Both powder and cream contours smudge during the day. I recommend a setting spray that will keep it in place.” Avoiding trial and error when venturing with ways to enhance your beauty routine is always nice. Hopefully, these tips help those from regretting certain beauty decisions. TT

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE

DYSLEXIA BY KATRINA PETERSON AS TOLD TO GABRIELLE KALISZ

olid line, dotted line, solid line. I pick up my pencil. Every curve and every edge separate me form from my own identity. Everyone around me is done already; they’ve moved on. They know how to spell their names. They know how to write their names. I can’t even figure out if the “a” comes before the “t,” or if something is wrong with me. While everyone around me is moving in what seems to be fast foward forward, I’m frozen. Four white wlals... walls, with a light in the middle. I feel myslef... myself sliding, sinking, falling. As I come to the ground I take my place in the corner. I sit away from the light, away from everyone else. I sit in the corner of the room, hoping I can be invisible. They’re looking at me. I’m looking at them. For a moment I want to talk to them. I want them to be my friend. I want them to see me. I stay in my place. I can’t tell if the air doesn’t come out of my lungs, or if it’s because I can’t find the words. I stay in the dark, as much as I want to leave I don’t. The light is unreachable, and although there are people around me, I convince myself that I’m alone. Words are more than just letters, words are an ever-building barrier between the light and me. Between the eyes and me. Between me and me. Words are what comes out of someone’s mouth when they don’t understand. Words are my mask to who I really am. Solid line, dotted line, solid line.

26 Tom Tom April 2016

Dsoe. Deos. Dose. Does. Does anybody see me? Does anyone know that this isn’t my fault? Does anyone believe in me? The thing is this isn’t my fault. There’s nothing I can do. I sit there writing “does” over and over. I think about what I say over and over but it never comes out right. I open a book and the words float above the page; I don’t know that they’re words. Just like how I don’t know how to talk to you, or how to talk to anyone. I think, almost too much. I try so hard to not do anything wrong, because If do something wrong they’re going to leave. I will be alone. I am alone. I think about what I want to say. I make it perfect; I say it perfectly. But when my thoughts meet the air and the sound travels, it’s not what I meant. I say things that I don’t mean. My words aren’t who I am. All anyone hears is what I say, but what I say isn’t who I am. I’m alone. Solid line, dotted line, solid line. Saw. Wsa. Asw. Was. Was it something I said? Was it something my dyslexia said? Was it something I can fix? I close my eyes to get rid of their eyes, to get rid of the pressure. I breathe to remind myself that I have control. That I am capable. “You will never be able to read a book.” “You will never be able to be like everyone else.” I am not like everyone else. I see with my hands; I read with pencil and paper. I pick up a pencil, and I don’t need to close my eyes; it’s just me. Dyslexia is an entirely different world, a world that I live in away and isolated from ev-

eryone else. I pick up a pencil, and I’m in my world. Writing words doesn’t make sense, but drawing a word opens up my world. I’m a girl in a tunnel. I’m walking towards a light as the tunnel gets longer, light gets dimmer, and the end is harder to reach. I pick up my pencil, and I’m in the light. Every part of me is visible, every part of me that people can’t see when I talk, the part of me that disappears when brain takes over. I am me. I am dyslexic. “You will never be able to climb a mountain.” I climb a mountain every day, every minute, every second. I climb a mountain when the teacher calls on me in class, when I can’t find the words, when my words are broken and interrupted by the repetition of my stutter. I climb a mountain every time someone walks away from me because they don’t understand. I have climbed hundreds of mountains, and everytime I get to the top you still think I’m incapable. Hvae. Eavh. Vahe. Have. Have you seen me? Have you ever tried to understand? I can’t fix what isn’t broken. I am not broken. The words are broken, the part of my brain where I formulate sentences and words gets jumbled around is broken. Every time that you view me as broken the barrier between me and the words gets bigger. The barrier blocks you from who I really am, the person that wants to know you, that wants you to know me. I’m outgoing in every sense of the word, except my brain is shy. There’s a disconnect from my identity and how I am seen. I am a girl trapped inside a body of confusion. TT

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

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IN SEASON

Sequoit Snapshot

JOHNNY HORTON

Varsity soccer senior Courtney Coleman dribbles around her Grayslake North opponent. Coleman is currently the leading scorer on the team. The What I Wish I Knew Issue

IN SEASON

Sequoit Snapshot

Varsity baseball player Fletcher Neville throws a pitch during a past game against Marengo. JOHNNY HORTON

30 Tom Tom April 2016

IN SEASON

Sequoit Snapshot

TYLER STEELE

Varsity softball player junior Jillian Foote puts the ball in play during their game against Libertyville The What I Wish I Knew Issue

IN SEASON

Sequoit Snapshot

Sophomore Kyle Boudreau of the boys varsity tennis team serves against Lakes on the district home courts at Lakes. GABRIELLE KALISZ

32 Tom Tom April 2016

IN SEASON

Sequoit Snapshot

JOHNNY HORTON

Varsity hurdler freshman Diana Anghel competes on her home track in this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meet against Grant. The What I Wish I Knew Issue

IN SEASON

Sequoit Snapshot

Senior boys volleyball player Tommy Howe practices for the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s match this past Wednesday at Grant. JOHNNY HORTON

34 Tom Tom April 2016

IN SEASON

Sequoit Snapshot

TYLER STEELE

Varsity boys pole vaulter junior Brandon Lind attempts to beat his personal record in his latest track meet against Grant. The What I Wish I Knew Issue

TRIES:

POLE VAULTING KENNEDY HETTLINGER

Tom Tom Staff

midst all the commotion, I overheard Mr. Johnson asking Danny Meade, the sports editor, who he wanted to try pole vaulting for the next â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tom Tom Triesâ&#x20AC;? column. Right away, even though I had no idea what was going on, I became overwhelmed with excitement and volunteered myself. I secretly have always wanted to attempt pole vaulting, so here (obviously by fate) was my chance. However, when someone speaks of pole vaulting, a person sticking a giant stick into the ground, screaming and flailing themselves through the air, plays in my mind. Well, sounds pretty freaking awesome to me and fairly simple. As soon as Mr. Johnson agreed, with laughter and his signature smirk, that I was definitely the right Tom Tom candidate to try this graceful sport, I got my phone and texted pole vaulter Emma Miller to find a time for me to give it the ole Tom Tom try. After many texts, we finally scheduled a time and place, and eventually that day finally came. 36 Tom Tom April 2016

TYLER STEELE

SATIRE

SPORTING EVENTS

SURVIVAL

GUIDE

Do you find yourself lost and confused at sporting events? Do you cheer for the wrong team or dress in all white when the theme is blackout? Then this is the list for you. These five essentials will get you set for any sporting event, no matter how Cardinal Crazy you are. 1. Your phone. Clearly you will not be paying attention to any of the action right in front of your face, so your cellular device is an essential item to have to keep yourself entertained the whole time.

TYLER STEELE

It truly was a mix of emotions once I started making my way across the turf to the pole vaulting mats. There was no doubt that I was excited, but I was becoming increasingly more nervous and unsure of this commitment. For some reason I never really thought I would have to learn any particular technique before I just ran and jumped aimlessly onto the mat. But, actually, there is quite a bit of technique and preparation that goes into each jump. Thankfully my amazing pole vaulting instructors, Taegan Gandolfi and Miller, provided me with all the necessary tips I needed before I made an absolute fool of myself... oops. The first step in the preparation was to find a pole that correlated with my weight. After, I practiced stepping and how to correctly lean into the jump. I used the soccer goal as a place to push the end of the pole against so I was able to get a sense of how much pressure I would need to exert into the ground and forward. Once my coaches felt like I had a good enough understanding of the motions, it was time for lessons on hand positioning. Hand positioning when pole vaulting is very important. If you aren’t careful, an error in hand positioning could result in serious injuries or even death. Well, not death, but seriously it is important. After I had the positioning down, they had me combine the steps with it. For the

first couple attempts I just ran with the pole on the turf to get the feel for it. It took a while for me to perfect the technique, but when I did it was time for the first trial run of putting all the steps together with the actual mat. This was the exciting part, the moment I had been waiting for this whole time. I could feel the spotlight and everyone watching and wondering if I was going to even leave the ground... which I did by the way. I moved back three steps from the front of the mat, tried to compose myself, laughed a bit, and just went for it. I ran to the edge of the mat planted my pole into this metal hole that I don’t know the name of and tried jumping up as much as I could. It felt very awkward, but I’m sure it’s a motion and feeling you get used to after a number of attempts. After my first and second attempts, I somehow talked them into letting me jump several more times. My instructors both continued to smile through their tears of laughter, as well as my photographer, Tyler Steele. PSA: pole vaulting is not as simple as it seems. Despite the laughs and judging looks from the rest of the pole vaulting team from observing this hot mess, I learned that pole vaulting is a lot of fun and I would no doubt try it again. Hopefully, I can get a little higher next time. TT

2. A blanket. Sure, you’ll want to keep warm the whole game, but the real purpose of bringing a blanket is so you can nap during timeouts. Or, even better, for those of you that really like to sit as far from the action as possible--getting the perfect panoramic viewing--you can use it to sleep through the whole game. 3. A whistle. Say goodbye to being fed up with referees’ calls. As long as you have a whistle with you at all sporting events, you can make your own calls. I mean, IHSA highly frowns upon that kind of behavior, but it’s not like you’re gearing up to take a fan section on an imaginary ride or anything. So, in reality, a whistle might just be the tame choice. 4. A snuggie. Just in case the blanket doesn’t cut it, and you can get them in all types of patterns and colors. You could even find one for any theme: blackout, whiteout, neon, zoo, or, a Cardinal Crazy favorite, country camo. 5. A FatHead of every person on the team. This doesn’t need much of an explanation. Not only are FatHeads festive, but they can block everyone else’s view who is sitting behind you. They also might help you out in the weather to combat the wind, sun or snow—depending on the season of course. Happy super fanning, Sequoits! BY MADISON PADDOCK

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

THE BATTLE OVER THE DIAMOND

An age-old question of which is better, baseball or softball, leaves these spring athletes competing over difficulty and passion. DANIEL BRITO AND LAUREN SLACK Tom Tom Staff

JOHNNY HORTON

38 Tom Tom April 2016

pring is coming. That means warmer weather, better moods and summer is right around the corner. But spring athletes have other things on their mind besides summer. It’s time to put the endless hours of spring conditioning and training to work. For our spring athletes, it’s game time. Baseball is known as “America’s pastime.” Being one of the most popular sports in the country, baseball is played by many different ages. For head sophomore coach, Robert Hafer, baseball is more than just his favorite thing to do in the spring season. “Baseball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Hafer said. “My mom still owns my very first hat I wore as an infant, even though it doesn’t fit me today very well. I started playing baseball like anyone else as a kid. I went through all the little league games and summer camps and visited the batting cage with my Dad almost every weekend.” Starting his coaching career at Antioch in 2009, Hafer dedicated time and effort to sharing his love for the game with his team and students. “With coaching, not only do I get to learn about baseball and all the lessons that come with it, but I get the opportunity to teach oth-

ers as well,” Hafer said. “The best part about being a baseball coach is that even if I had the worst day possible at school; during the spring I get the chance to say to myself, ‘Let’s go play baseball!’” Senior Collin Runyard played baseball for 12 years and has spent the past two being an important player on the varsity baseball team. “I started playing because my dad played it for a lot of his life,” Runyard said. “Seeing how much he enjoyed it made me want to try it myself.” Just like any sport, a true love for the game is key to success. Without putting in the time, success will not become a reality. Runyard explains how important this can be for a team. “It takes a lot of dedication to practice,” Runyard said. “Not only with the team, but on your own to better yourself off the field.” For softball players, their hard work pays off as well as soon as they get to hit the fields in March. Junior Ashley Stephens has spent the past eight years playing softball. “The game takes a lot of dedication,” Stephens said. “You can’t just go play games; all winter long you train whether it’s hitting lessons, practice or speed and agility. Even though

softball is a spring sport, it requires work all year. You can’t take time off otherwise you lose what you’ve learned.” This is the case for many athletes; off season does not exist. Even though it takes unbelievable work to stay a dedicated athlete, it comes with loving the game. For sophomore Katie Sorensen she loves softball because of the energy her team has and being able to improve on her skill while having fun. “I started playing playing softball because of my dad,” Sorensen said. “He put me on my brother’s T-ball team when I was very young, and my love for the game just grew from there. Meeting new teammates and coaches and being around people that have the same passion for the game as myself is why I keep playing.” Loving the game you play is important when wanting to be successful. Having the heart to spend rainy spring days outside practicing and late nights finishing games is not easy to find in many people. The baseball and softball players put in the work to get the results they want, and along with this comes the love for the game. Who doesn’t love to win? Despite the endless excitement and undying passion, there are still signifanct differences beThe What I Wish I Knew Issue 39

only on

SPOTIFY achstomtom “pump up playlist”

TOP 5

WALK-UP SONGS 1. Kashmir by Led Zepplin tween these sports and the ultimately success of their athletes. Baseball and softball are nearly identical in many respects, but there are a few major differences between the two sports when one attempts to compare the two. Perhaps the biggest difference is the way the ball is pitched. The conventional overhand pitch from an elevated mound used in baseball is not used in the game of softball. Softball involves using underhand pitching on a flat mound. Another difference between the two sports is the ball. Softballs measure between 11.88 inches and 12.13 inches in circumference, and weigh between 6.25 and 7 ounces. The heavier and bigger ball makes it easier to hit, but harder to hit far. With a smaller barrel than a baseball bat, it makes it harder to get the whole barrel on the ball. While a baseball measures between 9 and 9.25 inches in circumference and weighs between 5 and 5.25 ounces, the smaller ball is thought to be harder to hit because it is smaller. According to the Youtube video “Sports Science the Speed of Softball,” it is actually harder to hit a softball than a baseball. A softball pitched at the speed of 70 miles per hour from 37 feet away will reach the batter in .35 of a second. While a baseball pitched at 100 miles per hour from 60 feet away takes .38 of a second. This gives a softball batter 25 milliseconds to react to the pitch. That is 55 percent less time than a baseball batter. Along with the speed of pitching, the field plays a major part in both sports. A softball infield is 7,200 square feet, compared to a baseball infield that is 16,700 square feet. The smaller field gives the infielders even less time to react to a hard hit ball off the bat, and gives 40 Tom Tom April 2016

them less time to throw to first and get the batter out. There are also differences in the style of hitting. In both sports there are the conventional power hitters who bat in the three and four spots. The difference though is typically in the leadoff spot. In softball there are batters who slap at the ball. These slappers are lefties that start running while they swing. It gives them an advantage as they try to reach first base quickly. This type of hitter is not used in baseball as the bases are longer so many hitters would rather try to hit for power. “I feel that power hitters are very useful to the game of baseball,” junior Thomas Boeh, a power hitter for the varsity baseball team, said. “Power hitters are what help keep the game flowing. The ability to be able to change the game with one swing and alter how pitchers start to pitch is a very important factor in baseball and softball.” With softball maybe not being as dependent on the long ball like baseball, there are still numerous home runs from the power softball hitters. The slappers add another element to how these two sports compare. It shows the quick pace of softball compared to baseball. “Softball is a much faster sport than baseball because of the smaller field and the speed the ball comes off of the bats,” junior Carlie Gaylord said. “I wouldn’t say that one is harder than the other, because there are different aspects of the game where the difficulty level is flipped.” With all the differences between the two, there are many similarities. Softball is a direct descendent of baseball. They share the same shape of field: the classic baseball diamond. The same positions are used in both sports as well. Each sport also has nine players at all times. TT

2. Black Betty by Ram Jam 3. Luxury Tax by Rick Ross ft. Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and Trick Daddy 4. Can’t Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers 5. Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd FOR A FULL PLAYLIST OF WALK-UP SONGS, FOLLOW @ACHSTOMTOM ON SPOTIFY. BY PAIGE GRUBER

TRANSITIONING: FROM THE OFF-SEASON

With the announcement of the senior iron men and women right around the corner, understanding what it takes to be a multi-sport athlete means hearing their voices. JOHNNY HORTON

KRISTINA ESDALE Print Director

or some athletes, the transition between sports is as brief as two weeks, barely enough time to recover from the previous season. For others, the gap of time between sports can stretch as long as three months. No matter the length of time, every athlete goes through physical and mental changes to adapt to their current sports season. Whether it be aspects of the mind, body or soul, athletes learn to adjust their everyday lives to fit the mindset, schedule and shape of being involved in sports.

MIND All high school athletes are also students, and being a student comes with a lot of stress and not a lot of time. Now add a sport or two on top of that, and the stress becomes overwhelming. “It is always difficult to find time after practice for something besides eating and sleeping swhen you end practice between five and six

It’s very important to me because I feel like I’ve been involved with the school and I’ve learned a lot of life lessons from the sports I played.

o’clock,” junior Marc Gillespie said. On the other hand, trying to balance sports and school helps students learn to manage their time better. The constant pressure forces athletes to find the best schedule for the combined stressors of a heavy workload and day-to-day practices. “Being a three sport athlete has helped me learn how to manage my time between homework, practicing and spending time with my friends,” senior Alexis Duehr said. “I’ve gotten used to it over my four years and I feel like it’s a good skill to develop. Sometimes it’s overwhelming when I have a lot of work for school and getting home late from a game and all I want to do is eat and sleep, but I manage to get my work done.”

BODY Transitioning between sports and downtime has a drastic effect on the body. Going from little to no exercise for three months straight to daily practices and draining workouts is not easy. As an athlete who has a large gap of time between his fall and spring seasons, Gillespie finds it slightly more difficult to stay in shape during his off-season. “It is pretty difficult to make the transition,” he said. “Unlike during a season, you don’t have a coach to push you to do rigorous workouts. So even if you do try, you’ll probably end up out of shape.” Unlike Gillespie, Duehr is a three-sport athlete who finds it quite easy to stay in shape, con-

sidering her ability to keep up with constantly having an after-school sport. The only problem she encounters is the way she prepares to get in shape for each specific sport. “It’s not that hard physically changing from sport to sport because you’re always in shape, but sometimes it’s challenging getting into a different sport’s shape,” Duehr said. “Being in shape for field hockey is different than being in shape for basketball. Transitioning from a short break isn’t bad; you get used to it.”

SOUL Although sports have a large impact on the body and mind of athlete, sports also build one’s personality and character. Participating in sports can satisfy the need of aggression and the need to compete with others, as well as being an outlet for stress. “Freshman year I set a goal for myself to do three sports for my four years in high school,” Duehr said. “I love sports in general and I’ve met so many great people playing different sports. It’s very important to me because I feel like I’ve been involved with the school and I’ve learned a lot of life lessons from the sports I played.” Prepping for an athletes off-season not only involves prepping their body, but also their minds. While the transition between multiple sports may seem to add on the stress of being a high school student, one can find that the positive effects of their sports is worth the rough transition into it. TT The What I Wish I Knew Issue

ONCE IT’S OVER, THERE IS NO GOING BACK

42 Tom Tom April 2016

GRANT HAIDER

THE END OF THE ROAD FOR SPORTS Graduates not only have to say goodbye to friends, but also playing the sport they love. NICKLAUS ANDRE Tom Tom Staff

veryone’s sports career comes to an end eventually; that’s just how life works. Whether stopping at middle school, high school, college or even professionally, the time as an athlete always seems to come to an end. At the beginning of the season, athletes commonly set personal goals for themselves. Some reach them and some don’t. Setting goals is a way to push oneself when down or just a way to feel accomplished when it’s over. Even if one falls short of the goal, it can still be looked at as an accomplishment. “I feel like I did accomplish some of my goals,” senior Stephen Frandsen, former varsity wrestler and football player, said. “My main goal was to make it down state, which I fell just short of junior and senior year. But this year, I really wasn’t expecting to make it out of regionals, but I did and I felt super accomplished.” Many athletes would tell the younger players to always set high standards and push to be the best because when the time runs out, one can’t just go back to fix it. During one’s last game, the anxiety doesn’t kick in until the game is about halfway over. The athlete gets a feeling that he/she has never felt and by striving to make one last play. “The whole game felt weird, like something was off,” senior Peter Tognarelli, former varsity football player, said. “I knew it was the last time I would ever play football again with all my teammates that I have played with forever, but it just didn’t seem that way. Everything was just weird.” While the clock ticks down, the emotions and nerves increase and just takes over one’s body. Ten seconds left on the clock, looking around seeing the teammates that have been around for four years and seeing the fans, that have been to hell and back with you, cheering in the stands. Then it hits. This is the last time you will ever be on the field. Every athlete reacts differently. There are the athletes that completely break down with a face full of tears, the ones that become completely

silent and avoid others, or just the ones that are thankful that it’s over. When it’s finally over, people have their regrets. Whether one looks back on a productive season that had a bad ending or just a poor season in general, that rush of sorrow, anger and blame all hit at once. “I could have done better” or “if I would have done this..or that,” start taking over one’s thoughts. Then many start to wish they could go back and change how much offseason work was put in, how much focus was directed towards their sport, or even just to change one single play. Once it’s over, there’s no going back. “If I could change anything it would be to practice more in the offseason because there is nothing worse than getting tired while playing,” senior Lucas Semitka, former varsity soccer player, said. Some athletes have gone all four years of high school doing multiple sports. With offseason workouts, summer camps, practicing all week, and then game nights, the schedule of one’s life is about to drastically change. “It will be way different without my sports schedule, even in times during the summer when I had to get up early in the morning for football and then go to wrestling camps at night,” Frandsen said. “I won’t be used to all of the free time.” At the last team meeting or banquet, the seniors on the team usually get time to express their thoughts or can just say anything that comes to mind. One by one, when the seniors approach to the front of the room, all of the emotions that was felt at the end of the game come back. Whether one looks at this as an opportunity to express how much love is felt for the team or to give advice to the younger athletes is completely up to them. “Younger athletes should put everything on the line because you never know when your last snap will be,” Tognarelli said. “It is amazing to be out there with all of your friends and teammates so just make sure to give it your all.” With all of the regrets, heartbreaks and goals that were so close to being accomplished, there is still a lot to be proud of when it’s over. One will cherish the moments they spent with their teammates forever. Some will go to the same college, some will make plans together every weekend or, who knows, maybe one of them will be the best man at your wedding one day. Athletes never realize when it’s truly over and til this day, some still can’t believe it. For every younger athlete that reads this, play your heart out. Even if you think you can’t keep going, push yourself. You can’t realize it now, but it will be worth it. It’s all fun and games until the last buzzer sounds. TT

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

THE GUY SPIKING THE BALL:

IAN FLATLEY LAUREN SLACK

Tom Tom Staff

t may be cliche, but senior Ian Flatley is ready to bump, set and spike his way into a successful final varsity season, and hopefully earning himself a spot on a college team. “[St. Peters] didn’t have many options for sports,” Flatley said. “So I thought, why not volleyball? It seemed fun and different, so I went for it.” Flatley first started playing volleyball in sixth grade, and ever since he’s been recognized as a hardworking teammate who shows dedication on and off the court. To be successful at a sport, it takes dedication. Picking up a sport at an older age can be more difficult, especially considering the amount of time missed to learn the basics and master them. Once getting to high school, it didn’t take long for Flatley to get noticed by coaches. “Coach Atkinson noticed me during my freshman year,” Flatley said. “She said I had great potential and could possibly make varsity the next year, if I put in the work and time. That motivated me to get more involved and improve my skill.” Flatley spends lots of his free time passing the ball around his house, playing pick up games with friends and watching other volleyball games to improve his knowledge and experience of the game. He is a team leader by setting positive examples for other teammates and putting in the work every day at practice and games. The family aspect of the team is a huge part of Flatley’s life. He makes sure that everyone on the team is comfortable and capable of playing to their best abilities at all times. “My team has great chemistry,” Flatley said. “It’s definitely one of our strong suits. We are very close and spend a lot of time bonding. Before games, we like to hang around and goof off with each other. We’ll also adventure around the schools and find things to do together.” Even though friendships with the team are important, Flatley knows when it is time to focus on his priorities. Juggling school, volleyball, friends and other things in his life can be difficult at times, but Flatley has mastered the art of balancing all of it at once. “My mornings consist of getting ready for school, which may include dressing up or wearing certain things on game days, and packing my volleyball bag,” Flatley said. “Then it’s a normal school day, which is followed with after school study sessions or getting food with the team. Game days are fun because we just get to hang out with each other and bond. But as soon as it’s game time, we settle in and focus on what we need to get accomplished to be successful.” Outside of his high school team, Flatley spent time playing for Club W, a popular volleyball club, eventually moving on to a bigger club through Lake County volleyball. Flatley’s current club is one of the top three volleyball clubs in the nation. “Playing club is very important if you are trying to improve overall,” Flatley said. “Playing for the school is great when you want to learn the

44 Tom Tom April 2016

skills, but playing for club is where you will get the most reps and playing time. The only way to get better at a sport is to practice, and playing for a club will help with that a ton.” Flatley definitely puts in the extra time and pushes himself to always work harder to improve. His main focus is to always push himself, and doing so will help in the long run. TT

JOHNNY HORTON

TYLER STEELE

DANIEL BRITO Tom Tom Staff

he lead off hitter must be able to reach the base at a proficient rate and be able to steal bases. Starting off the game, the lead off hitter posses the ability to put their team ahead. That is exactly what junior Jillian Foote does for the varsity softball team. Her speed and ability to make contact with the softball makes her a perfect lead-off hitter for the Lady Sequoits softball team. She knows it is her job to try and get on base as much as possible so her teammates can drive her home. “It is also nice to get more at bats to increase my batting average,” Foote said. Foote is a three-year varsity starter, with her high school career only looking more optimistic moving forward. As a sophomore, Foote was an all-state player with a batting average of .418. In her junior season she is looking to surpass last season’s stats and hopefully become a player on the all-state team once again. She has been playing softball for seven years, and has always represented Antioch. Foote started out playing with Antioch Youth Little League. While some might believe it is difficult for players to be as committed and focused as Foote is, but Foote would disagree. She cites her parents as her biggest supporters; her dad is a significant impact for why she started playing. “My dad played college baseball, so he has had a big influence on my softball career and where I am now,” Foote said. The competition of every game drives her passion to play day in and day out, and makes softball her favorite of all sports to watch and play. Just like the name, student athlete, Foote puts her grades before softball. She knows that keeping her grades up is more important than any-

thing during softball season because she wants to play as much as possible and cannot without good grades. “I try and get my homework done during school,” Foote said. “If I don’t, it is the first thing I get done when I get done with practice.” The usual day of practice contains starting off with agilities. Then the team throws, and then hitting. This is when Foote does what she can to make herself a better player. She tries her best to always get the most out of every practice no matter what they are doing. Putting her best effort into practice helps separate Foote from the rest. “Jill is one of the hardest working players on the team,” junior Annie Wagner said. “She is a great softball player and her work ethic in practice proves why she is one of the best.” Foote’s positive attitude and ability is a key reason for her success. While every hit, stolen base and defensive stop are positives in her athletic career, one moment stands out in particular. It was the regional game, her freshman year. They were losing by four in the fifth inning. “We ended up coming back and making the score to the game four to four. Then the bases were loaded and I came up to bat,” Foote said. “I hit a double to left center and we ended up winning the game 7 to 4.” As a junior, Foote is looking into the future for what softball may bring her. She is pursuing the option of playing college softball at the University of Wisconsin—Green Bay, a Division I university. “I went to camp there not too long ago, I am still waiting for a call back,” Foote said. “It was a very comforting campus, and the classes weren’t too big or too small. I also really liked the coaches.” Although the team is young, Foote has big expectations for her and her team. Having no seniors on the team, the ladies are led by a strong group of juniors. Knowing this, she will try her best to repeat the team’s success and her own. TT

THE GIRL ON THE DIAMOND:

JILLIAN FOOTE The What I Wish I Knew Issue

THE ALUMNUS FROM 1996:

RYAN HLINAK

MADELYNN SOBERANO

Digital Director

ath teacher. Four time conference champion. Sequoit. Ryan Hlinak. The former junior high wrestling state champ already made a name for himself before stepping on the mats of Antioch Community High School his freshman year in 1996—walking right onto the varsity wrestling team his freshman year at 103 lbs. Hlinak was destined for greatness. Former ACHS wrestling coach and current science teacher at Antioch Upper Grade School Ted Seickowski described that 1996 team as “aggressive, straight-up and always in your face.” “I joined cross country and wrestling in high school,” Hlinak said. “I was not really good at cross country. At all. Never did anything special for that.” What Hlinak lacked in cross country, he made up with all his achievements in wrestling. In his four years at ACHS, Hlinak made it down to state his sophomore, junior and senior years. He capped off his high school career by taking sixth at state and receiving conference champ for the fourth consecutive time. Hlinak’s next step for success was to attend the University of Illinois—Chicago, where he would wrestle and become a part of the University Athletic Association in 2003. “My favorite memory was when I went to the State Finals for wrestling,” Hlinak said. “My goal for the season was to place in state and when I accomplished that goal it was pretty special.” Throughout his time at UIC, Hlinak continued his passion for wrestling until his final match at Nationals in 2004. After practicing a special move called the “tilt” for an entire season, Hlinak was able to perfect it at his opening match of the biggest tournament in his career. After Hlinak retired from wrestling, he continued his studies at UIC to become a high school math teacher. “Part of me always knew that I wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn’t a reality until my sophomore year of college that I realized it fully,” Hlinak said. Hlinak returned to Antioch in 2006 and has taught math ever since. Not only does Hlinak take time out of his day to help his students, but decided to get back to running and helping coach the boys cross country team. “I wound up at Antioch because I started coaching wrestling here as a volunteer,” Hlinak said. “At that point, Borrero helped me get a teaching and coaching job here, for which I am eternally grateful.” “I really liked having Coach Hlinak,” senior cross country runner Tyler Glassman said. “He is a really good runner and continues to push his runners forward. Having a coach come out and run is kinda cool thing for me because it forces me to keep running and it makes me do my best and not to slack off. Also, on a run you can get in some quality talks and it was 46 Tom Tom April 2016

RYAN HLINAK

nice to have him running alongside me the past four years.” In 2005, Hlinak returned to wrestling and helped coach the ACHS team, but later stepped down since it took up a lot of time and effort. “I loved getting into coaching,” Hlinak said. “With cross country, I did love it a lot even though it wasn’t my strongest in high school. I love working with kids and getting to spend time with them. It was also pretty fun getting back into wrestling for a while.” Hlinak has been teaching for 10 years and plans to continue teaching and coaching for years to come. You can see Hlinak’s legend hanging in the wrestling annex alongside other champions of ACHS. Given his accomplishments, Hlinak is a true example of what “Once a Sequoit, Always a Sequoit” really means. TT

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO

BE A REFEREE BY DAWN DESERVI AS TOLD TO KALEIGH MILLER

don’t know if there is an average game. As I approach the field, if I know the teams or the coaches, it makes my job either a lot easier, or just that much harder. As a ref, you always have to figure out who is there because each coach has their own unique personality, and that personality can genuinely impact the game play. You get to know some of the coaches and they can be very encouraging and good to work with, while other ones are very abrasive and accusing. Those are the coaches I know i’m gonna have a tougher game with, and all that goes through my head is, okay, I have to have a lot of patience, a lot of tolerance, pick and choose which things to act on. Once I get “acquainted” with the coaches, I have to make sure all the conditions are proper on the field. The refs actually have the authority to completely terminate the game based on the conditions. Coaches, players and schools don’t like that, so you have to be ready for a conflict if that happens. I balance a lot of those different types of things, including making sure I have all the equipment, that I know any and all of the rule changes that come up throughout the season and then be able to answer questions that come up about anything. There are a lot of things running through my head and the game hasn’t even begun. When the game starts, I have to start dealing with the coaches, fans and players. The coaches unfortunately heckle you a lot. Some of them take it way too far where it makes you very angry. Me personally, I have a hard time enforcing

48 Tom Tom April 2016

the rules on the coaches because it penalizes the team, not the coach, and I don’t like to penalize people for what they didn’t do. I usually try to threaten a lot with the coach rather than actually enforcing it and hopefully get them to realize to shut up and play the game. And the fans, you expect it from them. One time at Lakes, there was a fan that was brutally heckling Antioch. A man was telling the Lakes girls to break an Antioch girl’s leg. And then the comments started coming towards me. I was trying to figure out who it was and it came to the point where finally the comment came to me and he said, “I’m just gonna come on the field and kill you.” I stopped the game and kicked him off the property. The players are a little different. One time, I had a player square off to fight someone, so that’s when you just have to throw them off the field. The worst coach I’ve ever experienced was from Lake Forest Academy. She was in the field following and screaming at me over a rule. It was the closest I’ve ever came to penalizing a team for a coach, and I really should’ve. But once again, I don’t want to penalize the girls for something they have no control over, and that’s what I’m hung up on as a ref. Finding the borderline between how much you tolerate and where you step in is one of the hardest parts of being a ref. Personally, one of my most difficult things is not coaching. There are so many times when I can see something that could easily be corrected to make a huge difference, but as a ref you can’t take that player

and correct it; you have to just let it go. So that’s very frustrating to me, knowing that there’s something that can make them so much better and it’s so easy to do. Reffing wise, the most difficult thing is actually watching the game because it’s completely different than playing. Your view gets blocked quite a bit to where a player knows something happened but as a ref if you can’t see it you can’t call it. You see them getting irritated that you didn’t call it and you know something was there but you can’t call it, so that gets very difficult. Just the interpretation, trying to figure out who to call a foul on when two or three people were there at the same time is very difficult. Even if you’ve played for years, your confidence level is low when you start to ref. You’re nervous to make the call, but after years under your belt you’re able to think, “Yep, that’s it, let’s go, let’s move.” The more I’ve reffed the more confident I’ve become with directing the players and controlling the game rather than allowing myinfluence to control how I run the game. It becomes easier and smoother with practice. In the end, I always go back to my years as a player. I remember my frustration when I played and there was a bad ref, and it really makes a difference in the game. It makes a difference in how much somebody likes a sport and if they’re going to continue with it, and how well they’re going to learn. You get a good ref, it helps improve the players and I love to do that. TT

GRANT HAIDER

The What I Wish I Knew Issue

. . . R A C S O S THIS I OUR SPANISH TEACHER.

Scan here to listen to hear about Oscar Najera and why he loves being a Sequoit.

JACK CONNELLY

50 Tom Tom April 2016

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