It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong. You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you Bishop Kenny High Schoolalso | Jacksonville, want to be healthy, but you Fla. have to be thin. You Volume 71, Issue 1 have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean. You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas. You're supposed to love being a mother, but don't talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman, but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men's bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of the sisterhood. But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It's too hard! It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault. I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don't even know. I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don't even know.
““It is literally impossible to” be a woman”
-America Ferrera
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader, In Issue 1, we set our focus on the impactful message that the critically acclaimed film Barbie has inspired for people around the world, and especially women. She shows us that you can do anything that you put your mind to and be whatever you want to be with determination and humility. In our opinions section, we explore more of these themes from Barbie and what they mean for young women as they blossom into adulthood. Although society has many views on what a woman should be, women today are changing that game and breaking past those stereotypes. Once we are able to realize and grasp our potential and capabilities, we are truly able to accomplish whatever we
Editor in Chief: Anna Bass A & E and Opinions Editor: Rheece Singletary Features and Sports Editor: Giovanna Bettega Feitoza News Editor: Gloria Gjuraj Business Manager: Gabby Nunez Website Manager: Emily Wheldon Staff Reporters: Chloe Barron, Madison Bolen, India Brophy, Lorelei Carlton, Glory Dansou, Parker Fluhr, Leah Fullerton, Sophia Gredenhag, Serenity Mead Ally Milonas, William Wainwright, Sami Whitney
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put our minds to. In our features section, we listen to the stories of people whose lives have been touched by the tragedy that is breast cancer, and the message of hope that triumphs all. One of these women is Donna Deegan, who not only has survived breast cancer 3 times but has also overcome the challenges of male dominated professions and became the first female mayor. She is an ideal role model to look to for proof in the fact that determination and dedication are the keys to success, in spite of circumstances that are not in your favorable control. In our arts and entertainment pieces, we look at some of the products and companies that Barbie has left her mark on in the past year. Because of her positive and inspirational
Adviser: Jessica Durbin Mission Statement: The Shield is a student news magazine, published quarterly by journalism students at Bishop Kenny High School, dedicated to empowering and informing the student body by delivering timely, accurate and engaging stories. We strive to uphold Bishop Kenny’s core values while fostering a sense of community, promoting critical thinking and celebrating the diverse voices and achievements within our school. Through our commitment to journalistic integrity and creativity, we aim to inspire and connect our readers, creating a culture of informed and engaged students. The Shield is a member of FSPA.
message, brands around the world are collaborating with the Barbie franchise to create new and unique products that help to remind consumers of the significance of the movie. Additionally, we have included a recap of some of our fall sports at Bishop Kenny as their seasons come to a close. The News Recap details some of the highlights and biggest events of the first quarter. Finally, we have included a food review of some of the best fall treats around Jacksonville and a lookbook for the perfect autumn outfits. After ten weeks of constant effort and deliberation from our hardworking staff, I am beyond proud to be able to share this Issue with you, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Policy: The policy of The Shield is to provide a forum for student expression. Advertising: If you are interested in advertising in The Shield, email newspaper@ bishopkenny.org for more information. Questions, Comments, Concerns: Letters to the editor are encouraged; submit to room 224. Names can be withheld upon request. 1055 Kingman Ave., Jacksonville, Fla. 32207 (904) 265-9390 fax: (904) 398-5728 Cover | Anna Bass
CONTENTS THE SHIELD | OCTOBER 2023
07 10 14 16 17 20 21 22
STORIES
GOLDEN AGE FOR JAGS
Spokesperson Brian Sexton comments on Jaguars newfound success
‘SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN’ Barbie movie’s impactful messages of feminism
THINK PINK
05
Stories of breast cancer on campus
KEN SPEAKS TO MALE FRAGILITY
AP Literature Seniors analyze poetry
BARBIE BRANDING
Companies collaborate with blockbuster film
madi’s media
04
Impact of film adaptations on book sales
glow with glo Florida fall fashion guide
kenny kravings
Reviewing pumpkin treats around Jacksonville
12
ISSUE 1 | CONTENTS 3
NEWS RECAP
National Merit Seniors Bridget Sutter, Melanie Staples and Davis Johnson were named National Merit semifinalists in the sixty-ninth annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Run by the College Board, the program selected these students based on their
exceptional performance in both academic and extracurricular fields. The College Board will announce the finalists for the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program in February, according to nationalmerit.org.
Photo | Carla Chin
Leah Fullerton | Staff Reporter
Homecoming Dance
Ally Milonas | Staff Reporter
New School Mascot
Student Council hosted the annual Homecoming Dance on Saturday, September 23. Previously the dance was held on Friday night following the Homecoming football game. For the first time, it was changed to the
night after the game. The decision to hold the dance on Saturday instead was made by the student body via a Google Form. There were 500 tickets for sale originally, but more than 700 tickets were ultimately sold.
Gabby Nunez | Business Manager
Cornelius the Crusader will be retiring and St. Sebastian will be the face of the new school mascot. The announcement was made on Instagram on August 25, but the official reveal of the mascot in full uniform will be on November 3 at the last home football
game. The decision of retiring Cornelius the Crusader was made by the marketing team as they thought it was time for a new change. They also thought it would be a perfect fit for St. Sebastian to be the replacement as he is the Patron Saint of Athletes.
New Priest Samantha Whitney | Staff Reporter
THE SHIELD SHIELD || OCTOBER OCTOBER 2023 2023 44 THE
As you enter the chapel doors, you may see a new face inside to welcome you in. Father Peter Dittus is the new priest to serve as school chaplain. At 14 years old, Fr. Peter received God’s call to enter the priesthood through a Gospel reading. When he was 20, he attended college
at Ave Maria University in southwest Florida, and then furthered his studies in Rome. So far, Fr. Peter’s favorite part of serving is the students. “To bring God’s mercy and His forgiveness to those who have come…has been a real gift from God.” Fr. Peter said.
SPORTS RECAP
Volleyball
Chloe Barron | Staff Reporter Winkler was also awarded the Florida Coaches Coalition Beach Volleyball Coach of the Year. The girls varsity volleyball team has played 18 games this season and have a current record of 22-7.
Photo | BK Volleyball
Head Coach Suzanne Winkler was inducted into the Berks Catholic Hall of Fame during her twenty-first year of coaching volleyball at Bishop Kenny. Winkler has won 71% of all indoor games in her coaching career.
Girls Golf
India Brophy | Staff Reporter
The Girls Varsity golf team currently has a record of 8-4. So far this season, the team has taken big teams such as Bolles, Stanton, Fernandina and Paxton. They are ranked second in the District and sixth in the
Region. “I have a good feeling about this season because we’re good at working together as a team.” Junior Candace Aldridge said.
Swimming
Leah Fullerton | Staff Reporter
After winning all but one of its seasonal meets, 36 of the swim team’s 38 swimmers reached regionals on October 27. The girls swim team won second place while the boys swim
team won third in regionals. They will continue on to state championships during the first week of November.
Cross Country Anna Bass | Editor-In-Chief
Bishop Kenny hosted the twenty-fifth annual Katie Caples Invitational Race on September 16. The race is held in honor of Kenny student Katie Caples, who was 17 years old when she was killed in a car accident in 1998. She was an organ donor who saved the
lives of five people after she passed. The race encourages young people to become organ donors. This year, the Boys Elite and Varsity teams each placed ninth overall and the Girls Elite and Varsity teams each placed first overall.
ISSUE 11 || SPORTS SPORTS 55 ISSUE
6 THE SHIELD | OCTOBER 2023
GOLDEN AGE FOR JAGS
Spokesperson Brian Sexton comments on Jaguars newfound success Parker Fluhr | Staff Reporter Chloe Barron | Staff Reporter
T
Photo | Creative Commons
he Jaguars have entered a new age of prosperity. The team has finally become “relevant
in the championship conversations,” according to Voice of the Jaguars Brian Sexton. Sexton is the third longest tenured NFL broadcaster and has been working for the Jags for 29 years, since the start of the franchise in 1994. Sexton describes his job as “a story teller of the Jaguars present and past.” Father to Kenny senior Kolbe Sexton, who currently plays starting linebacker, and alumni Keegan Sexton ‘19 and Rian Sexton ‘23. This year, the Jags went undefeated in the preseason. This raised team and fan morale early on, which led to the team’s early success; winning in week one against the Indianapolis Colts. Sexton believes that the Jags “now believe in themselves.” “The Jaguars, for the first time in
franchise history, have the right coach and the right quarterback at the same time and that’s really a reason for excitement,” Sexton said. Speaking of the right quarterback, the biggest change made to the team in recent years has been signing Trevor Lawrence. Back in 2021, the Jaguars drafted the Clemson University graduate as the starting quarterback for the Jags. “The team needed him,” Sexton said, “and the town loves him.” “The quarterback is on a trajectory to stardom,” Sexton continues. The roster this season is very different from seasons past. Sexton describes this roster as, “the best roster they’ve probably had since 1999, when they went 14-2 in the regular season.” Just like in life, success in sports hinges on consistency. “Great teams are consistent. When you’re consistent in professional football, you have a chance to win every game no matter who you’re playing.” Sexton said. Any football fan would know that you can’t expect a perfect season, but you can expect the Jaguars to be graduating from scoring 20 points a game, to scoring 30 points a game. In Weeks 4 and 5, we saw success in London; winning back to
back games at Wembley Stadium and Tottenham. As of Oct 19, the Jaguars are seeded first in the AFC south with a record of 5-2. The Jags “will hopefully pull down more than one Super Bowl and really cement this team and this town together for eternity,” Sexton said. “The marketplace is growing.” There have been many aspects adding value to this franchise including the construction of a new practice facility, The Miller Electric Center and the new and improved Everbank Stadium, “All of these things have come together in 2023 to begin what I really believe will be a sustained period of excellence,” Sexton said. Throughout this season and future seasons, fans can expect to see a big turnaround from the Jaguars. The team has many factors working in its favor this year, including it’s strong new roster, its new spaces and equipment.
ISSUE 1 | SPORTS 7
8 THE SHIELD | OCTOBER 2023
With inspiring themes from the new film “Barbie,” we dive into what it means to be a woman and break past societal expectations to achieve seemingly unattainable goals. Anna Bass, Giovanna Bettega Feitoza, Emily Wheldon, Lorelei Carlton and Serenity Mead
Photos | Anna Bass
ISSUE 1 | BARBIE 9
‘She’s Always a Woman’ The Barbie Movie’s impactful messages on feminism Giovanna Feitoza | Features and Sports Editor
I
dentity is not something that comes easily to a woman. We are constantly being picked apart and judged for who we choose to be, no matter how hard we try to fit society’s ever-changing image of the ‘perfect woman.’ One moment, we are condemned for being multifaceted and remotely successful in more than one way. The next moment, we are shunned for focusing only on one aspect of our lives at a time, whether it be your career or family life. Women deserve a seat at the table no matter what they choose to be, free of judgment and unnecessary comments telling us to “smile more.”
Glass Ceilings
In today’s world, the media shoves the idea of female empowerment and possibility into young women’s minds, and proceeds to disappoint them greatly when they try to strive for that kind of lifestyle. This situation is created by a glass ceiling, or an imaginary limit that society has placed above women’s heads to keep them confined to an assigned amount of space that they are “allowed” to take up. You would assume the biggest enemy to breaking the glass ceiling would be the politicians and businessmen who drag women down for their accomplishments, or the misogynistic old man behind the counter of your local grocery store who uncomfortably flirts with teenage girls, telling them to “smile for him.” However, the biggest enemy of modern feminism is actually the widely praised and admired “girlboss.” Social media coined the phrase “girlboss” as a nickname for women who become more successful than their male counterparts in maledominated fields, all the while maintaining a perfect hairdo in a pink pantsuit and impossibly high stiletto heels. Although the image seems progressive and encouraging at first glance, in reality, it sets yet another impossibly high standard for women seeking fulfillment for themselves and acceptance from others. In the past, women were confined to a tight box labeled “housewife.” That box was characterized by the expectation to be a caretaker for her husband and kids and who belonged in the kitchen. Strict societal rules
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that deemed what was proper and what was “unlady-like” strictly governed women of the past (and present), keeping them in a box for decades. Flash forward to modern day, people would
be surprised to notice that women are still being put in boxes, although it’s a different kind of box. The age of the girlboss throws women to the opposite side of the spectrum and tells them the ideal kind of woman is career driven and independent, as well as beautiful and elegant. The girlboss emphasis on encouraging women to be independent from men in every aspect, whether it be financially or emotionally, is so intense that oftentimes women feel embarrassed to admit they want to find their prince charming and fall in love, or that they want to build a family of their own.
Barbie is Born
What if there was a female role model that represented everything a woman could be all at once? Barbie inventor Ruth Handler kept this idea in mind when she created the doll’s slogan: “Because Barbie can be anything, Women can be anything.” In the years after its release, the doll exemplified its slogan by appearing in a variety of different careers. Little girls
all over the world played with Barbies portrayed in traditionally male careers, such as Olympic Barbie, Astronaut Barbie, Doctor Barbie or even Rockstar Barbie. By her example, girls realized they had the potential to be anything they wanted, and no longer felt confined to the typical housewife destiny that most women were left with in the time period that Barbie first hit the shelves. Decades later, the iconic doll has been brought to new life in Greta Gerwig’s new film, “Barbie” (2023). The film is meant to be a celebration of women and all they have accomplished and still have the potential to accomplish in our society. Right off the bat, the film stayed true to Barbie’s slogan when a series of career oriented Barbies including a nurse, lawyer, pilot, chef and president smiled towards the audience. The film begins in Barbie Land, an alternate world in which women hold all positions of power and important jobs in society, which further reiterates the Barbie slogan, “you can be anything” and represents the desire shared among women across the world to break the glass ceiling. Seeing a female president in Barbie Land was refreshing, and served as a reminder that we have an endless world of possibilities within us despite what the rest of the world may tell us.
‘She’s Everything’
Social media crazed over the tagline for the Barbie movie: “She’s Everything, He’s Just Ken.” Users coined the phrase as a way to raise women up and give them the confidence to build their personal identities independent from the presence of a man. What is important to note about
this tagline is that upon first glance, it seems to be insulting and dragging down Ken, while suggesting that Barbie is considered more important or superior to him. But, after watching the movie, a double meaning within the tagline became clearer. As I left the theater, I threw away my expectations of pure woman empowerment throughout the film, and instead carried a better understanding of what it means to call a woman ‘everything’. To be a mother, career woman, wife, housekeeper and more all at once is stressful enough, and more so when society scolds you for not being enough of a mother when you focus on being a career woman, or vice versa. In an empowering monologue, the human character Gloria states that when women want to be career driven, they “have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people.” When they want to focus on her health “you have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin.” When they want to be a devoted mother, then “you’re supposed to love being a mother, but don’t talk about your kids all the damn time.” The ending line of her speech truly illustrates the feeling that women carry in their heart every day when she defeatedly says, “I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us.” Gloria’s monologue on the struggles of womanhood is the climax of the film, and carries the heart of its messages. But despite the detailed commentary she gives on feminism, Gloria notably emphasizes one idea in particular: allowing women to just be ordinary. Women have been expected to be extraordinary all of the time. From a young age, we are led to believe that we always have to be excellent in every way in order to be loved. I feel as though I always have to make my life
a performance outstanding enough to entertain others, but not so over the top or intimidating that it makes others uncomfortable. All of this, just for a chance to be taken seriously or respected. Meanwhile, men are not only respected, but sometimes even praised for simply living their lives. A father could be taking their child out for a walk in the park and be praised for being “such a good dad”. Meanwhile, a mother could do the same thing and no one would bat an eye. I mean, she’s just doing her job, right? Similarly to men in the real world, Ken never faces scrutiny for just being Ken. In Barbie Land, Ken is not disrespected by the Barbies, but instead seen as a friend who is free to share in the fun activities they do everyday. Furthermore, in the real world, he learns that just being a man can earn him respect, power, success, and even love. When Ken first enters the real world, he feels empowered by the people staring at his outrageous neon skating outfit. Meanwhile, Barbie feels insecure about herself
for the first time. So, “He’s just Ken” is meant to comment on how easy it is for men to live comfortably in society without having to face as much pressure to be extraordinary in the same way women do. So, why can’t women have the freedom to choose what they want to be? The beauty of Gloria’s monologue is in the fact that she rejects both ideals of the present and of the past, and suggests a future free of any ideals
at all. Women should have the freedom to exist as their whole, genuine and perfectly imperfect selves peacefully. If they dream of being a stay at home mother with a husband that she loves, that should be perfectly okay for her to do. If she doesn’t want a husband or kids and would rather spend her time climbing the corporate ladder, that is also perfectly okay! And if she wants to do both, neither, or anything else in between, she should have the freedom to do whatever brings her happiness, free of scrutiny.
Proudly Plastic
As a woman, I find certain parts of my identity to be more appealing to the world around me than other parts. Online, my desire to pursue a career in STEM would be highly encouraged and praised. Since a “woman in STEM” is now considered an emblem of strength and success, the girlboss image is essentially the sister term to a woman in STEM. However, I am also involved in pageantry, which receives a more mixed reaction from those around me. Pageant queens are commonly thought of as shallow, airheaded and “just a pretty face.” I could not find this stereotype to be more false. From my experience, the girls I have met through pageantry are some of the most ambitious, talented and brilliant women I have had the pleasure of knowing. The girls competing in Miss Senior High, my current pageant circuit, have maintained 4.0 GPAs, won national awards for community service as well as for academic merit and have plans to pursue degrees from some of the most selective universities in the country after completing their high school career. So, why do people assume pageant queens are nothing beyond their beauty? What people fail to realize is that most pageant circuits are entirely based on community service platforms and serve
as a nursery for innovative ideas. Young women from all over the world will bring ideas for a better world, whether it be through improvements to environmental conservation or awareness towards a disease, and compete for a chance to bring those innovative ideas into action using the platform that their title provides. For example, the current Miss America, Grace Stanke, is a nuclear scientist who openly advocates for cleaner renewable energy sources. She uses her platform to give speeches that educate new and old minds from energy companies’ headquarters to high school classrooms, on the uses and benefits of renewable energy. Personally, I am advocating for accessible and affordable women’s healthcare as a contestant for the Miss Senior High title. The voice I’ve been given by my title as Miss Bishop Kenny has opened doors to the many ways I can advocate and make steps towards affordable and compassionate healthcare becoming a reality for more people. So, the next time someone tells you that pageant queens are pure plastic, think again. It takes true strength and integrity for a woman to be multifaceted and genuine to who they are at the same time, and that strength should never go unnoticed.
ISSUE 1 | BARBIE 11
We Girls Can Do Anything
Donna Deegan’s survival, resilience in navigating personal health, careers Anna Bass | Editor-in-Chief
E
ntrepreneur. News anchor. Journalist. Mother. Runner. Mayor. All these terms are accurate roles that can be best used to describe Donna Deegan. But most importantly, she is a Survivor. Deegan’s journey begins with her roots in Jacksonville, where she attended Bishop Kenny High School. “I loved it,” Deegan said. “Kenny was 100% like family to me. Probably one of the best times in my entire life was spent at Kenny.” An active and involved force from the start, she participated in cheerleading, student government and The Shield student newspaper. As a staff reporter, she explored and furthered her passion
for writing and reporting, leading her to pursue a degree in communications at the University of Alabama, but transferred after a year to Florida State University after missing life in the Sunshine State. While studying in Tallahassee, she interned at an ABC affiliate television station, which ultimately turned out to be the springboard for her career. Despite her out-of-town successes, as soon as she got the chance, she returned back to Jacksonville. “I was so homesick I couldn’t stand to be that far away from home,” Deegan said. Tied to her love for her hometown, she became a news anchor for First Coast
News in 1993, where she would remain for almost 25 years. However, Deegan was unexpectedly diagnosed with breast cancer at 38 years old. She received chemotherapy, but the cancer came back two years later. Refusing to give up, she took her diagnosis as a lesson instead of a hardship. After conversing with other breast cancer patients and survivors, she realized that she was fortunate enough to have a health insurance plan and financial resources to aid in her fight against the disease, whereas others were not so lucky. “So maybe I can use this megaphone that’s attached to my mouth to do
something good,” Deegan said. “And so I started the Donna Foundation.” Coupled with her passion for running and breast cancer diagnosis, Deegan created the first national marathon to raise awareness and support for breast cancer victims. Since the foundation’s inception in 2002, Deegan and her team have helped thousands of families with their critical needs while they’re going through breast cancer and raised millions of dollars for breast cancer research. But more importantly, the foundation and the marathon have left a larger impact on people than simply financially or physically. “I think we’ve given
Meet the Mayor! Favorite Restaurant
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Pet
Favorite Color
Favorite Hobby
“I think that sometimes it’s those things that we don’t wish to do but that God places in our path that we learned the most from and that we ended up growing the most from, you know,” Deegan said. “So I wouldn’t change any of it. I don’t think I would have accomplished half of what I’ve done in my life.” Once she came to the realization that she did not have full control of everything that happened in her life, she started to live the life she was given and use it to make the world a better place and no longer lived in fear of the unknown. “I’m not afraid of anything,” Deegan said. “I better just get up and be
grateful for every day and do everything I could on that day because you don’t know if you’re gonna have tomorrow.” She left her position as a news anchor at First Coast News in 2012 to focus more on the Donna Foundation. During this time, she became very involved and informed with healthcare policy, which quickly became her new passion. This passion was what originally moved her in the direction towards politics, as she realized she could only do so much from a position of philanthropy, but could enact real change from a position with more power. “I always tell people, you know, follow whatever your passion is, wherever it’s telling you to go and that’s really just what I did,” Deegan said. “I became very passionate about health and then became very passionate about policy because I was passionate about people.” Pursuing a new platform, Deegan ran for Congress in 2018 on the healthcare issue, but did not win the seat. Shifting her view to the community she loves, she decided to run for Mayor of Jacksonville after many people approached her and mentioned how she could move a lot more policy locally than in Washington. “But I never saw politics as being something I would do. I was always on the other side of it as a reporter and an anchor. I was always, you know, talking to people about policy, setting policy, and sort of holding people accountable to policy, but I was never really part of it,” Deegan said. But it was the foundation that brought her closer to running for office, because she truly wanted to enact change for healthcare policies. Her initial position in politics was in 2018 when she was a surrogate in Jacksonville for a gubernatorial candidate that
she admired in the race, and this was the point when she began to very seriously consider becoming the Mayor. She then went on to run for the office and get elected as the 9th Mayor of Jacksonville on July 1, 2023. Deegan is the first female to be elected to this position, which to her is a huge honor. “It’s been sort of amazing to think about but I’m grateful for the opportunity to do it, especially given everything that I’ve been through surviving breast cancer three times and thinking that I wasn’t going to be here at all, you know, I’m just incredibly grateful to be here,” Deegan said. Her position as the first female mayor is groundbreaking for women in Jacksonville, but it also has a real impact on women and their abilities. As an advocate for breast cancer patients and survivors through the Donna Foundation, Deegan has a strong connection and passion for women empowerment. In fact, there are more women in her administration than there ever have been before in that position. She serves as a symbol for other women that there can be great success in male-dominated professions through passion, hard work and consistency. “I think women are fantastic,” Deegan said. “They’re collaborative. They’re inventive. They don’t care who gets the credit. They’re smart.
Photo | Donna Deegan
people a whole lot of hope along the way because there’s nothing like the physical tests that you put your body through in a marathon and when you come through the other side of that you feel like you can pretty much do anything,” Deegan said. “So I think all of it has been very, very positive, but that’s why we did it.” After being five years cancer free and with the success of the foundation, Deegan desired to further her life in the direction of philanthropy. This was all the plan until she got diagnosed with breast cancer for a third time. Once again, she took this as an opportunity that she could use for the betterment of herself and others, with a positive survivor mindset that kept her going.
They’re there.” Deegan’s goal as Mayor is to move the health numbers in a positive direction. She desires to create a community that allows for people to become their healthiest and happiest selves in the most affordable and accessible way possible. “I don’t think you can be a productive member of society if you’re not healthy. So to be able to to affect that would be a big thing,” Deegan said. But above all, her message is to love. “I think if we all sort of looked at things that way through a lens of love instead of one of fear, I think we would go a lot further,” Deegan said. “And I think women are very accomplished at that.”
ISSUE 1 | BARBIE 13
TH NK P NK Stories of breast cancer on campus Emily Wheldon | Web Manager
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reast cancer affects one in every eight women in the United States, but women push the fear of a breast cancer diagnosis away, telling themselves that they will never be just another statistic. They’ll be the other seven, healthy, happy and carefree. But breast cancer doesn’t target a certain group of people. Breast cancer doesn’t care how old you are, your family background or who you are. Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women after skin cancer, according to Mayo Clinic. Breast cancer develops in the cells of the breast tissue and spreads to the rest of the body when introduced to the lymphatic system or blood stream. Though there is no way to avoid being diagnosed with breast cancer, you can decrease your chances, according to breastcancer. org. Be cautious of how much radiation your body receives, know your family history with breast cancer and avoid using or consuming products containing estrogen or progesterone that may increase your chances of developing breast cancer.
Being the 1 in 8
In December 2020, English teacher Victoria Crowell lost her husband, and just six days later, received a phone call from her doctor telling her she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. “And really I, I couldn’t talk because when you hear that word, you know when someone says cancer to you, it’s your immediate reaction,”
Crowell said. “It sounds like a death sentence, but you know it’s not.” Crowell was 66 years old at the time. In order to escape the crushing reality that surrounded her that Christmas, Crowell and her family packed their bags and spent time in Jekyll Island together, prepared to face the unknown. Throughout her radiation treatments, Crowell found that the two things brought her the most peace: listening to Christmas music and going to adoration. Crowell says that Christmas music ‘cheered’ her up, and adoration gave her a moment to “just sit there and breathe.” While it is most commonly found in women 50 years or older, cases of breast cancer can occur in young women and in men.
cancer at a much younger age than typical, usually around age 38. “Well they told me that day that, like, what my odds were compared to the average woman who has like an 11% chance of getting breast cancer, and I had like an 80% chance,” Durbin said. “So it’s pretty scary to hear that.” However the gene is very rare, found in one of 500 people in the United States. That’s less than 1% of the population. “She said the recommendation for people with your diagnosis is to remove your breasts, remove your ovaries.” After receiving the news Durbin had a big decision to make. Does she risk the possibility of being diagnosed, or does she have preventative surgery to remove her breasts and ovaries? In 2016, she had a prophylactic hysterectomy, and in 2021, a bilateral mastectomy. Thanks to BRCA1 testing, introduced in 1995, Durbin was able to eliminate her chances of being diagnosed. “I think all the negatives about it, like, are outweighed by the fact that I have Above, L to R: Dr. Crowell celebrates completing her treatments by peace of mind that, ringing the Victory Bell; Jessica Durbin wears a “Previvor” shirt at San you know, I did what Marco Square last October. I needed to do and I
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The Family Link
Psychology teacher Jessica Durbin has been affected by breast cancer her “entire life.” Her grandmother and four great aunts all died from breast or ovarian cancer before they turned 55 years old. “So when I turned 30, my physician said, ‘We want to do genetic testing, if you have a family history,’” Durbin said. “And so they ran a test to see if I was BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 positive.” Durbin tested positive for the BRCA 1 genetic mutation, likely passed on from her mother, who also died of breast cancer in 2020. Along with an elevated risk of being diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, someone with the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation will likely develop
L to R: Kalam and Ashley Daniel pose for a family portrait; Ashley, a Pink Heals tour bus, is dedicated to Ashley Daniel after her passing; Amanda Centeorrino and her husband, Michael, at a charity walk after her treatments ended. can move forward in my life,” In January 2011, Ashley Durbin said. passed away at the age of 23. “She always did things Spirit of a Fighter her way,” Daniel said. “So Not only can breast she was not gonna let the cancer happen to anyone, treatments or anything like it can also develop more that change what she did. than once, even after a full She was very, very motivated recovery. This was the case to obviously beat it and she for math teacher Kalam did what she was supposed Daniel’s sister, Ashley. When to do, but she was Ashley. Daniel was a freshman at She was always going to be Bishop Kenny, his sister Ashley.” Ashley, who was 21 at the time, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Daniel received the news from his father on the way to baseball practice, after his father received a phone call. “I remember hearing him telling, like, ‘there’s something wrong with Ashley’ obviously,” Daniel said. “And then just like nothing. I don’t remember what we did, I don’t remember going to practice, I don’t remember what happened afterwards. But I What a Survivor Looks Like remember, like, that phone At age 27, guidance call and, just, like, everything counselor and cheer coach changed from there.” Amanda Centorrino went Ashley underwent to her doctor because she treatments and was became aware of a lump on declared cancer free after her breast after watching a three months, but she was commercial promoting Breast diagnosed with breast cancer Cancer Awareness Month. a second time during Daniel’s A mammogram, ultrasound, sophomore year. breast MRI and biopsy later,
she was given a diagnosis: Stage 2 breast cancer. Upon hearing the news, Centorrino didn’t know what to think or feel. “You think for a second, ‘does the doctor have the right patient?’ You know, ‘are they looking at the right medical records?’” Centorrino said. “So you’re very, like, confused. And then you start to feel all the different emotions, you’re angry, you’re upset, you’re sad, you’re worried and you’re anxious. I felt all those different types of feelings, because I thought ‘how could this happen to me?’” Centorrino had friends and family to support her throughout her journey. “It really showed how much support I had, and it made me want to fight even harder and it just brought me that peace,” Centorrino said. Now, she and her cheerleaders show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness during October with pink bows, pom-poms and socks. “Letting people who have had breast cancer or are currently undergoing treatment know that we are supporting you,” Centorrino
said. “And if it means that we can, you know, go to one of those breast cancer walks and cheer people on who are fighting for their lives, that is something that is important to me, and then it’s important to the cheerleaders and dancers that I coach.” There are millions of breast cancer cases every year, and every year there are new developments in treatment. Early detection is key, according to The National Breast Cancer Foundation, which along with The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation, offers people access to mammograms and diagnostic service. If you or someone you know are looking for a way to get involved in support of breast cancer patients, survivors or those who fought bravely, the teachers interviewed recommend these charities: The American Cancer Society, Mayo Clinic, a 5K race called Pink Up The Pace hosted in St. Augustine, the Donna Marathon, In the Pink Boutique in Jacksonville Beach and the Girl Scouts of America.
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Ken Speaks to Male Fragility AP Literature Seniors analyze poetry
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Anna Bass | Editor-in-Chief s a part of their poetry unit, senior students in Amanda Ferrari’s AP English Literature and Composition class were presented a text and tasked with an analytical essay. The text, which was to be
read like a poem, was Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” from the critically acclaimed film “Barbie”. Students uncovered deeper and more tragic meanings to the text, which initially read in a light-hearted and innocent tone. Focusing
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Doesn’t seem to matter what I do I’m always number two No one knows how hard I tried, oh-oh, I I have feelings that I can’t explain They’re drivin’ me insane All my life been so polite But I’ll sleep alone tonight ‘Cause I’m just Ken Anywhere else, I’d be a ten Is it my destiny to live and die A life of blond fragility? I’m just Ken Where I see love, she sees a friend What will it take for her to see
on the author’s utilization of poetic devices, students identified the complex nouns that encompass the theme and message of the song.
The man behind the tan and fight for me? I wanna know what’s it’s like to love To be the real thing Is it a crime? Am I not hot when I’m in my feelings? And is my moment finally here or am I dreaming? I’m no dreamer I’m just Ken Anywhere else, I’d be a ten Is it my destiny to live and die A life of blond fragility? I’m just Ken Where I see love, she sees a friend
What will it take for her to see The man behind the tan and fight for me? I’m just Ken (and I’m enough) And I’m great at doing stuff So, hey, check me out, yeah, I’m just Ken My name’s Ken (and so am I) Put that manly hand in mine So, hey world, check me out, yeah, I’m just Ken Baby, I’m just Ken
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Ryan Gosling | Ken Photo | Anna Bass
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In the song, “I’m Just Ken” by Andrew Wyatt and Mark Ronson, Ken questions his identity in an emotional narrative. By utilizing AA rhyme scheme in Ken’s selfanalysis, and repetition of his message to the world, the authors illustrate that Ken was initially caught up in despair about his identity, and upon later reflection, gains a sense of confidence and pride in who he is. In the introduction of the song, Ken expresses his immense despair about his identity by emphasizing his fruitless efforts to be appreciated in Barbieland through AA rhyme scheme. As Ken is reflecting on his life, he sings hopelessly
Isabella Hutchins | Senior 16 THE SHIELD | OCTOBER 2023
about how he will never be as loved and respected as his female doll counterpart, Barbie. He woefully says, “Doesn’t seem to matter what I do/I’m always number two.” The rhyme between “do” and “two” emphasizes the two main ideas of the song: Ken’s actions and his second class rating. This pair of words stresses Ken’s belief that his lack of recognition in Barbieland is a direct result of Barbie taking away his spotlight. The AA rhyme scheme gives his story a chant-like feel which conveys Ken’s frustration at consistently trying and failing to be the best. Ken expresses that he has exhausted all of his talents, charm, and
efforts in an attempt to be number one. His rhyming evokes the feelings of his perseverance through rejection and constantly trying to be the most popular doll. The continuation of the end rhymes gives the song a rhythm that unifies Ken’s entire story and emphasizes key stages in his thought process. After Ken identifies the problem emphasized by “do” and “two,” he sings, “Cause I’m just Ken/Anywhere else, I’d be a ten.” The AA rhyme scheme carries through with the words “Ken” and “ten.” Together, these address the shift in Ken’s thought process from realization of what has happened to consideration
of how this impacts his self-image. The word “Ken” represents the idea of Ken’s identity, while “ten” represents the idea of Ken rating himself. The end rhyme creates a rhythm in the song and sets a repetitive tone. This emphasizes that Ken’s profound sense of insecurity comes from repeatedly being graded lower than Barbie. The emphasis on “Ken” and “ten” reveals Ken’s strong desire to be considered the best as his self-esteem depends on praise. The AA rhyme scheme develops a cohesive feeling that takes the listener through Ken’s realization of his feelings to further rumination on his insecurities.
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Branded by Barbie
Companies collaborate with “Barbie” film Lorelei Carlton | Staff Reporter Serenity Mead | Staff Reporter Photo | Kendrascott.com
1 Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott, a brand famous for its jewelry, released a collaboration with the “Barbie” movie. The collection consists of a variety of necklaces, bracelets and earrings that range from $60 to $140. The necklaces flaunt a gold or silver chain, some including a pink gem with “Barbie” inscribed lettering. The bracelets and earrings follow a similar design, one being a charm bracelet with a series of emblems that represent Barbie’s aesthetic. The “limited-edition capsule is all about positivity and individuality” to celebrate Barbie’s role in pop culture, according to KendraScott.com. The brand has also partnered with the Barbie Dream Gap Project to donate 20% of the price of its Emilie Stud Earrings to support a new generation of girl leaders throughout the world.
Photo | Crocs.com
2 Crocs
Photo | Xbox.com
3 Xbox
Crocs partnered with “Barbie” to launch a shoe collection that celebrates the release of the film in theaters. Customers can buy various shoes that range from $59.99 to $89.99. There are some charms also available including the “Barbie” cameo and Barbie’s pink convertible recognized from the film. The style and colors Crocs incorporated into the collection heavily reflect the characters within the film. Just as Margot Robbie and fellow “Barbies” are seen in mostly pink attire throughout the movie, the Crocs reflect these same color patterns, adding glitter and on-theme prints to the design of the shoes.
This Barbie is a gamer! Warner Bros. Pictures and Mattel introduced a Barbie-themed Xbox and 10 unique Barbie dolls accessorized with Xbox’s latest gear. In addition, it released a new Barbie-styled Xbox Series S console, which includes five unique individual wireless and adaptive controllers. The faceplates of the controllers resemble Ken and Barbie’s onscreen outfits along with custom consoles, designed to look like the iconic Barbie Dreamhouse. Its new creations hope to convey Barbie’s “persevering optimism, wide-ranging career journey and never-ending capacity for self-discovery,” according to xbox.com.
Photo | AirBnB.com
4 AirBnB
Located in Malibu, California, the Barbie-inspired AirBnB dreamhouse combines an oceanfront view with the signature Barbie flair. “Ken is inviting two lucky guests to stay in the newly revamped Malibu dream house in all its Kendom Glory,” according to AirBnB.com. Booking began on July 17 for customers who wish to experience the dreamhouse. AirBnB is also making a donation to “Save the Children” in celebration of the film’s release.
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MADI’S MEDIA
Comparing book sales due to movie releases Madison Bolen | Staff reporter
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et’s be honest. Most people would much rather watch a two-hour movie than read a book that could take days or weeks to finish. This is why producers search for opportunities for cinematic adaptations; the production of a movie or TV series from a book. Obviously, there will always be people who say that the book is much better than the movie, and for good reason. It can be frustrating when variations occur in film adaptations because the movie will leave out important parts from the book. But sometimes these differences inspire viewers to buy the book to see how the plot and characters vary from the book. This leads to skyrocketing book sales following the release of an adaptation. Take for example, the “Harry
Potter” series. The first “Harry Potter” film was released in 2001 and it made $90.3 million on opening weekend. Leading up to the release, the book sales more than tripled, selling around 956,700 copies, according to Nielsen.com. “The Hunger Games,” the famous young adult dystopian series by Suzanne Collins first published in 2008, stayed on the New York bestseller list for 100 weeks, according to wordsrated.com. The debut of this new series intrigued movie producers, and the first “Hunger Games” movie, produced by Gary Ross, debuted on March 23, 2012. Opening weekend sales exceeded those of “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” combined. “The roughly $155 million for ‘The Hunger Games’ opening weekend is the third biggest in Hollywood history,”
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according to the New York Times. “The Hunger Games”adaptation is still legendary, and given its success, producers decided to release the fourth movie, based off the prequel, which was a top selling book in the first half of 2020, according to scholastic.com. On November 17, 2023 the new “Hunger Games” movie, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” will debut. This book in total has made $3.5 million, but sales are predicted to increase with the new movie coming out, according to deadline.com. But it isn’t just movies that impact book sales. “The Summer I Turned Pretty”is a book series published between 2009 and 2011, but the adaptation into a popular TV series on Amazon Prime
Video has brought the book series back on Amazon’s top 20 best sellers list. Film adaptations, especially ones that turn into
franchises or series, have the ability to create a huge profit. But they just might also draw viewers back into the O.G. form of entertainment: reading.
GLOW WITH GLO Florida fall fashion guide
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Gloria Gjuraj | News Section Editor
s the school year progresses and the temperature drops, summer styles fade away and fall trends become more present in the world of fashion. Fall in Florida can be tough due to the constantly fluctuating weather. To help alleviate the stress of how to dress, I’ve composed outfits perfect for date nights, Friday night lights and Sunday Mass. These outfits range from higher in price to lower in price in order to provide you with a variety of essentials for fall.
Friday Night Lights Everyone loves FNL, but not the struggle that comes with picking an outfit. For this FNL look, I chose to style the Aerie Offline Real Me High Waisted Crossover Flare Leggings which retail for $38.46 on the official Aerie website. A flare legging never hurts, given that the material isn’t too thick while
keeping you warm when the wind blows cold in the stands. I paired this with a simple Bishop Kenny shirt to show some spirit. School apparel can be purchased at Crusader Corner for roughly $15-20 dollars, or collected through sports and siblings. This is a simple yet cute FNL outfit that is perfect for the Florida weather.
The pieces I’ve chosen for a date night tend to be priced at a higher range. For a fall date night, my perfect outfit choice would be the white Marine Straight Jeans from Zara pictured below with links. These are my favorite jeans! They retail for $49.90 on the Zara USA website. Although they are somewhat pricey, the quality is definitely worth it, as I have owned these for two years and they have never ripped
Date Night
and the stains are easy to get out. The top pictured below is the Free People Low-back Seamless Tee. It retails for $38.00 on the Free People website. I recently purchased this in the color Ash which I find to be the perfect fall color. This tee pairs beautifully with the jeans and possibly a simple heel to complete the date night look.
Sunday Mass For Sunday Mass, I chose to style a satin slip dress with a cardigan. I got the satin dress pictured below from TJ Maxx for $19.99. The brand is called Paper Heart and the dress is a simple silk maxi dress with fall colors and other designs imprinted. The cardigan is the Universal Thread Open-Front Cardigan from Target. This retails for $30.00 on the
Target website and helps tie this outfit together. A cardigan is a simple and not too warm cover option which is perfect for inconsistent Florida weather. The cardigan is great to have on you, but the Paper Heart dress alone paired with a cute pair of sandals could do the job too.
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Kenny Kravings
Reviewing pumpkin treats around Jacksonville Rheece Singletary | A&E and Opinion Editor
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Cheesecake Factory
Fall has officially begun at The Cheesecake Factory with the return of the pumpkin cheesecake. Available by the slice for $10.50 or $64.95 for a full-size cake, you can indulge in this delectable fall treat by ordering online or in the restaurant.
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I ordered a single slice to-go and it came with whipped cream on the side. It was around room temperature, and I’d prefer that it was served cold so not the most desirable way to eat a cheesecake. But upon taking my first bite, I quickly forgot about these minor unpleasantries. The graham cracker crust was baked perfectly with a
crunch on the outside and a soft texture on the inside. I could also taste a hint of pumpkin flavor in the crust. The cheesecake itself was not too rich like most cheesecakes are, and had just the right amount of pumpkin flavor which paired perfectly with the crust. It wasn’t too special; it was kind of plain and normal, but with a hint of pumpkin flavor.
It was quite literally the perfect slice of autumn and had me wanting to go back for seconds. Overall, Cheesecake Factory’s pumpkin cheesecake was a delightful way to experience the flavors of fall.
that caught my eye was the pumpkin pie ice cream. I ordered two scoops in a waffle bowl, which came to a total of $9.29. It was a nice light orange color, and I was glad to be given a generous amount of ice cream, and get my money’s worth. I could taste all of the spices on my tongue like
nutmeg and cinnamon blended in. There was a slight sense of artificialness, but it still tasted like pumpkin pie. My favorite part of this treat was the chunks of graham cracker crust mixed throughout. They added a nice crunch to the smooth ice cream. They also tasted immaculate and I’ve never
had a crust taste as good as the ones in this treat. Because it’s not always sweater weather when fall season begins in Florida, ice cream is a great way to taste the fall season. I really enjoyed this treat and I’m excited to go back and get some more!
or cold, so I got it iced with whipped cream on top. It was a bright orange color and I could see the syrup pooling at the bottom of the cup before I took a sip, which is not a great first impression to me. The first sip tasted like a rotting pumpkin that was left out too long after Halloween.
It also tasted watered down even before the ice had time to melt. The drink reminded me of fall, but not in a good way. Although it may be controversial, I’m not a fan of this over-glorified latte. This news may be upsetting to some Facebook moms, but I personally would
rather indulge in other less intoxicating forms of pumpkin flavoring. I was very disappointed and I think I’m gonna steer clear of the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte from now on.
ensure that they would be freshly made and to beat the crowds, but there was a line out the door. At first glance, the donut was beautiful, light brown on the outside and light orange on the inside. A crystal clear sugar glaze covered the top but it didn’t stick to my hands because it wasn’t surrounding the entire
donut. This was a nice feature because this meant that the glaze was not overwhelming the donut, like a Krispy Kreme donut tends to do. The donut itself had a perfect balance of sweet and spicy pumpkin flavor. The flavor was also pleasantly sweet, and it melted in my mouth. It was strong but not too strong that it tasted
artificial. The donut also was moist and soft on the inside, not dense and hard like most other donuts. This was definitely the best pumpkin donut I’ve ever had! However, I had to take off a point for the stress that the crowds and the rush to get it brought me.
Kilwins Jacksonville perfect fall treat, so the one
Just a short walk down from the Cheesecake Factory, Kilwins has transformed its ice cream shop into an autumn wonderland. Even with over 30 flavors of ice cream to choose from, I was still on the hunt for the
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Starbucks
It goes without saying that I had to try the sacred epitome of all things fall: the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks. It can be ordered hot
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Cinotti’s Bakery
This family-owned bakery is known for its fine flavors of donuts that fly off the shelves as soon as the shop opens. The pumpkin donuts are released on September 29 at 12:00 am. I went the next morning around 7 to
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Photo | Anna Bass
