Devil's Advocate (Vol. 32, Issue 2) by Devil's Advocate

devilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advocate stanton college preparatory school

Voices of Stanton

Fifteen students share stories from their lives By Liam Ngo

number 2

december 2015

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vol. xxxi, no. 3

devil’s advocate

volume xxxii

number two

Stanton College Preparatory School

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Sports

Devil’s Advocate Challenge Stanton’s most athletic compete in the

By Chisom Ukoha

DA Challenge to see who is the most athletic.

Photography Student Life

Tiny Roar! Small dinosaurs explore the not so small world of Jacksonville.

By the Devil’s Advocate Photography Department

For the Love of Film Stanton film students take on the challenge of

By Walker Miller

creating a short film in 77 hours.

Student Life

Bryce Williams: A Survivor’s Story Freshman Bryce Williams is

By Trystan Loustau

profiled in this story of survival, triumph and excellence.

Features

Voices of Stanton Stanton students share stories about their lives.

By Liam Ngo

“I dabble in all the arts. I seek beauty and creativity in everything I do. Art has given me an outlet to express my feelings since I come from a background that did not let me feel my emotions. Art is the way that I show who I am.” —Glacys Agustin, 12th

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Opinions

Editorials Two editorials from the Devil’s Advocate Editorial Board, and

By the Editorial Board

an editorial cartoon from Stanton artist Iman Hinz.

Opinions Opinions

Columns Seniors Tim Shea and Elsie Platzer debate whether or not students should be required to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.

By Mary Allison Kane, Elsie Platzer and Tim Shea

Life in Estonia Senior Victoria Mityul reflects on her summer abroad

By Victoria Mityul

in Estonia.

Photography

Dernier Cri Stanton students express themselves through the power of a single outfit.

By the Devil’s Advocate Photography Department

Editor’s Letter

Zoë Reyes Editor-in-Chief

Stanton College Preparatory School is well known for its diversity; in this issue, we hear unknown perspectives of Stanton’s very own in our piece, “Voices of Stanton.” This piece reveals the interests, hopes and struggles of our fellow classmates while showcasing candid photography, similar to the style of Brandon Stanton, creator of the “Humans of New York,” who we got inspiration from. In Sports, we cover the very first

“Devil’s Advocate Challenge.” The event was an energetic display of physical skill and endurance of Stanton’s athletic diversity. Top competing students included seniors Janaya Chambers, Anthony Thomas and Daniel Smith. These students participated in a wide variety of challenges, testing a range of abilities. In the end, senior Daniel Smith was voted Most Athletic. In Student Life, we chronicle

Contributing Advocates: The Devil’s Advocate is searching for contributing writers, photographers and artists. Contact Editorin-Chief Zoë Reyes at zoe.reyes@icloud.com or Technology and Media Editor Spencer Nachman at rosegate8@aol.com Ads and Sponsorships: The Devil’s Advocate is dependent on our advertisers and our sponsors. When you purchase an ad with us, it reaches a diverse student population that can help your business. We can also design your ads. Our prices are: $25 (1/4 page), $50 (1/2 page), $75 (insert), $100 (full page b/w) or $125 (back page color). Contact Vanessa Han at vanessa.han21@gmail.com or Mr. Knight at knightl1@duvalschools.org

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the events of the Four Points Film Festival, in which a team of Stanton students wrote, directed and produced their very own film within a 77 hour time limit. The film, “Perdu et Trouvé,” is the story of an entomologist and is shot largely in a parallel world that fits the genre of film noir. In our second Student Life story, we feature Bryce Williams, a freshman who lost his leg to cancer when he was younger. Williams now swims

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at Stanton and his perseverance in spite of hardship has led him all over the world, including to Edmond, Oklahoma to compete in the second stage of the Paralympic trials. We all sincerely hope you all enjoy our second issue!

Adviser: Larry Knight Editor-in-Chief: Zoë Reyes Managing Editor: Vanessa Han Layout and Design Editor: Stewart Gideon Senior Photography Editor: Amber Weitzel Technology and Media Editor: Spencer Nachman Features Editor: Sarah Page Opinions Editor: Lily Tehrani Sports Editor: Hudson Back Student Life Editor: Valerie Starks Associate Media Editors: Shriya Gupta, Shruti Murali, Grace Trombley Reporters: Trystan Loustau. Walker Miller, Liam Ngo, Chisom Ukoha Photographers: Chloe Giroux, Mary Allison Kane, Maya Lee

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Sports

DEVILS ADVOCATE CHALLENGE

iiiiiIn 2015, four Stanton senior athletes were nominated by their classmates and peers as the most athletic seniors at Stanton. Though their athletic merits may be undeniable, the created a contest competitions known to man, in order to test whether they truly were the most athletic Stanton seniors. iiiiiThis is the Challenge.

By CHISOM UKOHA, Sports Reporter

LIANNE MANANQUIL

NOAH HALL

JANAYA CHAMBERS

iiiiiSenior Lianne Mananquil has played soccer for 13 years and has dedicated her entire life to the sport. Mananquil has travelled to Costa Rica, England, and Italy to participate in multiple soccer tournaments, but she has also been a part of the prestigious Region 3 team In 2012, Mananquil received the honor of being chosen as a member of the Region 3 team, which represents eleven states in the Southern United

iiiiiSenior Noah Hall has played football at Stanton since his freshman year and mainly plays safety and running back. Hall was named Most Valuable

iiiii playing basketball and volleyball and running track since the eighth grade. She began her athletic career

his sophomore year and this year was

basketball and became interested in track and volleyball subsequently. After Chambers made the basketball team, her coach encouraged her to try out for track and volleyball. Since then, track has become her favorite sport to participate in. iiiii“Track is my best sport and the one I excel in the most,” said Chambers. “Track has become my life; I eat, sleep and breathe track everyday.” iiiiiChambers spends almost every day playing and practicing for the different sports she plays. She runs track for both Stanton and a track club outside

school activity; it takes up a lot of her time and affects her life in many ways. “Soccer is time-consuming,” said Mananquil. “You have to be willing to really go to parties or go out with my and soccer.” iiiiiWhile soccer does require a great amount of devotion from her, Mananquil has clearly reaped many rewards from her hard work. Intent on pursuing soccer after graduation, she has already committed to Rice dedicate her high school career as well as her college experience to soccer her. What some may see as a hobby or something to watch for entertainment, Mananquil has an immeasurable appreciation for. iiiii”Soccer is my life”, said Mananquil.

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safety and the second team all-area 3, including Stanton, Yulee, Ribault, Suwannee, and Paxon. iiiiiThroughout his years at Stanton, Hall has displayed the dedication and commitment it takes to maximize athletic potential, as well as the talent necessary to compete. According to Hall, there is no real off-season for football; between camp, training, and the actual season, the sport is a fulltime commitment. iiiii“Football is year-round even though

afternoons. iiiii“After track practice at school ends

ANTHONY THOMAS iiiiiSenior Anthony Thomas has been playing football since the eighth grade and is currently a running back. He decided to play football due to encouragement from friends and now plays for the Stanton football team. iiiii“My friends all planned on playing football in eighth grade and they said that I should try out with them so I did,” said Thomas. “I like the atmosphere of being on a team and getting to play football with friends.” iiiiiThomas practices after school four days a week for football and despite the time commitment playing football people through football than he would have otherwise. The team-oriented environment surrounding football helps to foster strong friendships. iiiii“On a football team, the players are almost forced to work together and get to know each other,” said Thomas.

out three times a week for two hours at school twice a day, and we have camp in August.” iiiiiBeing an athlete has not only personality. He said being an athlete has opened him up and broken him out of his shell. iiiii spoken,” said Hall. “Being an athlete has changed my personality a bit. Now

club,” said Chambers. “I practice everyday after school and occasionally on Saturdays as well. Sundays are my only days off.” iiiiiLast year, Chambers was the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) 400m 3A state champ, ranking her at number one in Florida. She has also been Gateway Conference Champ for three years in a row. Chambers recently accepted a four year scholarship at University of Georgia and intends to continue her

most of my friends through football.” iiiiiThomas said that playing a sport has taught him a lot about what it means to work with a team and has molded him into a stronger, more responsible person. Football has also required complete diligence and enthusiasm from Thomas and has exposed him to new opportunities and challenges. iiiii “I would have made less friends and lost a lot of valuable experience.”

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THE GAMES

photo by Mary Allison Kane

iiiiiOn Nov. 23, the Devil’s Advocate held a highly intensive and athletically rigorous competition in the senior courtyard in which the four nominees for the “Most Athletic” superlative underwent four grueling challenges in order to answer one question: Who really deserves the title of “Most Athletic”? Due to the unfortunate absence of athlete Noah Hall, walk-on participant Daniel Smith competed in his place. Phase One of the competition started off with a plasma scooter race, followed by a hula hoop station, and a Jell-O eating contest; Phase Two concluded the events with a game of four square. The four competitors took their places upon their respective plasma scooters at the starting line and, when the whistle was blown, they were off. Lianne Mananquil began the competition with a heavy lead on the plasma scooters, racing around the courtyard lunch tables and, with Daniel Smith following closely behind her, pulling over to the hula hoop station first.The participants were to successfully rotate the hula hoops around themselves 20 times before moving on to the next challenge. Smith struggled with this section, widening the formerly narrow gap between himself and then frontrunner Mananquil and allowing her to get a head start on the next challenge. iiiiiThe third challenge of the competition was a Jell-O eating competition. While Mananquil made it to this station first, she slowed down significantly and was quickly overtaken by Smith and his renewed enthusiasm. This bumped Mananquil down to second place. She was set even further behind by surprising surges by both Chambers and Thomas, who were both previously stuck on the plasma scooter challenge. iiiiiUpon their completion of the first challenge, they breezed

—Janaya Chambers, 12th through the hula hoops to meet their fellow competitors. Once Chambers and Thomas did make their ways to their respective plates of Jell-O at station three, however, Daniel Smith was claiming first place as he swiftly finished his plate of Jell-O. Anthony Thomas finished soon after, followed by Janaya Chambers and Lianne Mananquil, who, despite her earlier lead, completed the challenge last. The final standings for the first portion of the competition held Smith in first place with four points, Thomas in second place with three points, Chambers in third place with two points, and Mananquil ultimately in last place with one point. iiiiiStage Two wrapped up the competition with an intense

december 2015

photo by Mary Allison Kane photo by Mary Allison Kane

game of four square assessing the competitors’ hand-eye coordination. Scores for this section were calculated based on the number of rounds each competitor was able to maintain their spot in the king’s position; said number was then added to each participant’s preexisting scores, which were obtained during the first section of the competition in order to tabulate the final scores of the competition. Lianne Mananquil occupied the king square first and proved resilient to her competitors’ attempts to force her out of her position. She ultimately maintained her spot for eight rounds and the king position was then handed over to Anthony Thomas. Thomas’ reign ended rather quickly after two rounds and was followed by a similarly unimpressive performance from Janaya Chambers, who kept her spot for only one round. Daniel Smith then took over the king’s position and held firm control over the game for the next seven rounds, making himself eligible for first place against Lianne Mananquil. The tallied scores left Chambers in last place with three points, Thomas in third with five points, Mananquil in a close second at nine points and, in a surprising turn of events, walk-on participant Daniel Smith was left in first place with a total of eleven points. iiiiiThere is clearly no set of challenges that could truly yield a result encompassing all of the facets of athleticism, let alone one that could decide who qualifies to be dubbed “Most Athletic.” Nevertheless, despite the clear levity in this pseudoathletic competition, it is important that the student body recognizes the exceptional abilities Stanton’s top athletes possess. While Stanton College Preparatory School’s very academic reputation has been rightfully earned, the athletic achievements of students should not be overlooked.

photo by Mary Allison Kane

“The plasma scooter challenge was hard; I couldn’t get the technique down of how to move forward.”

photo by Mary Allison Kane

(Above) (Left to Right) Seniors Daniel Smith, Anthony Thomas, Janaya Chambers and Lianne Mananquil line up to begin the challenge. (Far Left) (Left to Right) Seniors Patrick Borgman, Raven Jackson, and Lianne Mananquil race on plasma scooters in the second staging of the games. (Left) Lianne Mananquil looks on in horror as Daniel Smith plunges his face into a plate of Jell-O. (Below 1) Lianne Mananquil dismounts her plasma scooter and picks up a hula hoop to begin the next phase of the challenge. (Belowi2)iAnthony Thomas serves a ball to Lianne Mananquil as they face off in the Four Square portion of the competition. (Below 3) Janaya Chambers gets ready to serve the ball to begin another round of Four Square.

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photo by Maya Lee

photo by Mary Allison Kane

photo by Maya Lee

photo by Mary Allison Kane

Student Life

For the Love of Film Dadams Family Takes on the Four Points Film Project however, did not halt the team’s determination. iiiii“The things we do for art!” said senior Mandy Harris, production director. Cringing, she watched as junior David Garcia, who played Raphael in the film, scaled the barrier, using a car parked parallel to the field as a stepstool. iiiiiAnother challenge involved dodging moving vehicles during a scene shot on Sanctuary Boulevard, a busy road near Harold’s subdivision. Repeated takes also took their toll on the crew. Despite these hardships, the cast of “Perdu et Trouvé” stayed enthusiastic throughout the project. iiiii“I drank more than two liters of ginger ale in one day,” said senior Brandon Schröeder, who played Raphael’s abusive, alcoholic father, Angel, in the film. “It was ridiculous and painful, but we couldn’t use real beer.” iiiiiThe production crew also enjoyed the production of “Perdu et Trouvé,” despite not sharing in the glory of the camera. iiiii“I loved being behind the scenes and seeing everything,” said junior Cassidy Bowen, who worked in the production group of the film. “I think it’s a really cool experience to see how everything’s made. I’ve never been in something like this before.” iiiiiThe consensus among the Dadams Family was that the so-called “jar scene” was the best scene

photo by Chloe Giroux

iiiiiFrom Nov. 13-16, a select team of 23 Stanton College Preparatory School film students undertook a stressful, competitive, fast-paced, high-pressure, pizza-fueled challenge. Known as the Four Points Film Project, this contest’s only instructions came in the form of the genre film noir, an entomologist character named Raphael Vargas, a remote control prop and the line of dialogue, “That is the last time I’m going to do that.” Each element had to be incorporated into the team’s film. With the potential for a $3,000 grand prize and screenings at the Cannes Film Festival and Filmapalooza if the team won, the stakes were high. iiiiiThis year marked Stanton Film’s first attempt at the Four Points Film Project. The team, christened “Dadams Family” to honor team sponsor and Stanton film teacher Joel Adams, had to operate smoothly and efficiently to write, produce, stage and edit a four to seven minute film. The three-day time frame left little margin for error. iiiiiProduction began at 7 p.m. on a Friday night in the home of junior Lauryn Harold, the Dadams Family team leader, whose house served as the group’s base of operations during production. Led by head writers Anthony Paul and Spencer Nachman, the students gathered to brainstorm plot devices that incorporated the project’s required elements. The end result, “Perdu et Trouvé” (French for “Lost and

photo by Chloe Giroux

By WALKER MILLER, Student Life Reporter

Photo captions (from top): 1) Senior Mandy Harris (left) and junior Lauryn Harold (right) are seen filming “Perdu et Trouvé.” 2) Members of the Dadams Family are pictured discussing elements of the film. 3) Junior Lauryn Harold (right) and senior Mandy Harris (left) are pictured filming a scene from “Perdu et Trouvé.” 4) Junior David Garcia, who plays Rafael Vargas in “Perdu et Trouvé,” is seen in a frame from the film. 5) Junior Teresa Perry, who plays an unnamed “femme fatale” in “Perdu et Trouvé,” is pictured in a film frame.

Visit http://devilsadvocatepaper.com to watch “Perdu et Trouvé.”

december 2015

photo courtesty of the Dadams Family

from “Perdu et Trouvé.” In it, Raphael’s father Angel drunkenly snatches his jar containing a rare insect and hurls it out of a second-story window. Because of the precise timing needed for the scene, multiple takes were needed and team members had to stand outside the window to catch the heavy jar after each take. iiiii“The jar scene was definitely the most complicated and strenuous effort, with the multiple takes,” said Garcia. “We got it in the end, and I think it’s a really cool effect.” iiiiiThroughout the duration of the contest, leaders and team members alike discounted the goal of winning the Four Points Film Project, instead focusing on the creation of a high-quality finished product. iiiii“Most people who make films end up making films they think would be good to a judge,” said Paul. “But we want to make films that would be good to ourselves.” iiiiiFor now, at least, the results from those judges will have to wait. According to competition officials, the first round of contest results will not be available until late December, more than a month after the production of “Perdu et Trouvé.” Whatever the outcome, participating in the Four Points Film Project was certainly an unforgettable experience for everyone involved in the Dadams Family group.

photo courtesty of the Dadams Family

Found”), focused on a boy named Raphael Vargas who wants to become an entomologist due to his fascination with insects. iiiiiTo fit the genre, a large part of the film was shot in a parallel film noir world, where the events deviate from the reality of Raphael’s life. iiiii“In real life, Raphael lost his rare bug, but in my reality, the bug is actually a brooch,” said junior Teresa Perry, who played a mysterious, unnamed “femme fatale” in the film. “What I’m persuading him to do is steal the brooch for me, where in real life, he’s trespassing to get the rare bug back.” iiiiiOn Saturday, the Dadams Family began shooting scenes for “Perdu et Trouvé,” an often tedious process involving multiple takes and hilarious bloopers. The scenes were either shot in Harold’s house or in the surrounding wooded area. Actors often deviated from the original script while filming, which team members agreed improved the quality of the film. iiiii“The film is pretty well put together, but a lot of it was improvisation,” said junior Andrew Lauer, who played Raphael’s best friend, Charlie. iiiiiSuch improvisation took a different turn on Sunday. After driving the actors to nearby Seabreeze Elementary School, the Dadams Family discovered that a field where they had been planning to shoot was on the other side of a chain-link fence. Trespassing,

photo by Chloe Giroux

“Most people who make films end up making films they think would be good to a judge. But we want to make films that would be good to ourselves.” —Anthony Paul, 11th

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Student Life

Bryce Williams: A Survivor’s Story By TRYSTAN LOUSTAU, Student Life Reporter iiiiiOver one million new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States alone, according to a 2015 National Cancer Institute report. Fifteen thousand of those cases develop in children. Despite these statistics, the number of people who live beyond their cancer diagnosis continues to increase. The strength and resilience of cancer survivors against this devastating disease is nothing less than inspiring. iiiiiBryce Williams, a Stanton College Preparatory School freshman, is one such survivor. In December of 2009, at the age of eight, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a severe bone cancer. iiiiiWilliams endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy and was given only a 15 percent chance of living. In an effort to eliminate the cancer, doctors at Wolfson Children’s Hospital were forced to amputate his left leg. However, with the support of his friends and family, Bryce slowly recovered, and was pronounced cancer free on Sept. 30, 2010.

photo by Chloe Giroux

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“I felt like the only reason why anyone was friendly was because they felt bad for me. For most of elementary school and almost all of middle school, I felt like I only had fake friends.” —Bryce Williams, 9th iiiiiToday, he wears a prosthetic limb and actively participates in multiple sports. However, before Williams was able to get back to a “normal,” cancer-free life, he endured a long, hard recovery. At first, after returning to school, he battled selfconsciousness and exclusion. iiiii“I felt completely disconnected from everyone because I had been gone for almost a year and a half,” he said. “I felt like the only reason why anyone was friendly was because they felt bad for me. For most of elementary school and almost all of middle school, I felt like I only had fake friends.” iiiiiEventually, Williams was able to overcome the isolation he felt. iiiii“I strove to outgrow these emotional obstacles and I realized that I had both friends and family that love and support me,” he said. “Today, I don’t think about it too much. I actually sort of brag about it. Like, ‘Hey, I already faced death.’ A lot of people think it’s cool to go through neardeath experiences.” iiiiiWilliams’ positive attitude played a key role in his recovery process. iiiii“There’s a lot of people who have cancer and will just sit on the couch and watch T.V.,” he said, “but there’s also the people, the people you care about, who are insanely athletic.” iiiiiAnother critical part of Williams’ recovery was the support he received from his family and friends throughout his treatment and after his surgery. iiiii“My husband Shane and I were very honest and real with Bryce throughout it all,” said Mrs. Michelle Williams, Bryce’s mom. “We allowed him to be a kid in an adult situation, but we made it fun however and whenever we could.” iiiii Frequent trips to Walt Disney World, family movie nights and junk food helped take Williams’ mind off of his painful treatment. iiiiiFive years after being pronounced cancer free, Williams engages in numerous sports and recently competed in the first stage of the Paralympic Games qualifying competition. After coming in second place at the national level, he qualified to compete at the Central Oklahoma Para-Swimming Open, which is being held in Edmond, Oklahoma next March. There, he will compete for a spot in the Paralympic trials. iiiii“My experience was really amazing,” said Williams. “The

“Bryce never wanted his disability to ever gain him any sort of advantage. What drove him was wanting to be the best swimmer—not just the best swimmer with one leg.” —Mr. Paul Ohmann

competition not only changed my view of the opportunities available to me, but also of the world around me.” iiiiiThe Paralympic Games are held every two years following the Olympic Games and feature a series of multi-sport competitions for disabled athletes. Next year, the Summer Paralympics will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This is Williams’ first year vying for a chance to compete. iiiiiWilliams is a model athlete not only for people with disabilities, but also for those without. iiiii“Bryce has amazing determination. He is a fierce competitor, yet has a great sense of sportsmanship,” said Mr. Paul Ohmann, Williams’ former teacher and swim coach at Kirby-Smith Middle School. “Bryce never wanted his disability to ever gain him any sort of advantage. What drove him was wanting to be the best swimmer—not just the best swimmer with one leg.” iiiiiArguably the biggest struggle for people with disabilities, other than the disability itself, is being accepted as an equal. Such individuals are often offended when people hold them to incredibly low standards simply because they assume they are incapable. Williams not only desires to be treated as an equal, his exceptional athletic abilities demand him to be. iiiii“Bryce has made a great impact on me as both a teacher and a human being,” said Mr. Ohmann. “He has made me proud to be both his coach and teacher, and most importantly, his friend for life.” iiiiiWilliams appreciates the support he has received from his friends and family and hopes to make a similar impact

“Bryce is Bryce and that is who we encourage him to be. We like to say that Bryce takes the disout of disability because he is only able.” —Mrs. Michelle Williams through his involvement with organizations that advocate for cancer awareness and disabled athletes. In August, he attended a camp hosted by the Challenged Athletes Foundation. The camp, which trains disabled teenagers in triathlon competitions, lasted five days and took place in San Diego, Calif. iiiiiMr. Travis Ricks, a counselor at the camp who refers to Williams as a “gentle giant,” was amazed by how the other campers gravitated toward his personality and sense of humor. iiiii“It is our hope to not only change other people’s perceptions of what people with disabilities can do, but to change their own perceptions,” said Mr. Ricks. “Sometimes it takes others to believe that we can accomplish something for us to actually start to believe it as well.” iiiiiSelf-confidence can be a struggle for any teenager, whether they have two legs or one. Those who learn to embrace all aspects of themselves, flaws and all, usually have an easier time dissolving their insecurities. Williams embraces his disability, and is determined to not let it prevent him from accomplishing great things. iiiii“Bryce is Bryce and that is who we encourage him to be,” said Mrs. Williams. “We like to say that Bryce takes the disout of disability because he is only able. People forget that no matter what, people are people. People with disabilities still want to be included and appreciated.” iiiii After losing his leg at such a young age, Williams not only continues playing sports, but competes at international-level competitions. He not only remains active, but encourages others like him to do the same. Bryce Williams has not only lived beyond his cancer diagnosis, but he has thrived.

vol. xxxii, no. 2

photo by Rich Cruse (Challenged Athletes Foundation)

photo by Mrs. Michelle Williams

photo by Rich Cruse (Challenged Athletes Foundation)

Photo Captions

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photo by Mrs. Michelle Williams

Photos 1-4: In August 2015, Williams was one of 12 people nationwide who were invited to participate in the first Youth Paratriathlon Camp hosted by the Challenged Athletes Foundation. The event was held in La Jolla, Calif. Williams is pictured participating in the various events that were held. Photos 5-6: Williams is seen during a mission trip to Chontala, Guatemala in March 2015. The trip was sponsored by the Ortega United Methodist Church, and Williams helped build a security wall for the church in Chontala. He also helped host a Vacation Bible School for the children. This was his second trip to Guatemala within the past year.

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Voices of Stanton There are nearly 1600 students at Stanton. They are committed. They are emotional. They are creative. They are diverse. These are their voices. photo by Amber Weitzel

By LIAM NGO

“I’m a Mormon, I’m LDS [Latter Day Saint], and I was born into the church, so ever since then LDS has been shaping what I see as right and wrong. It taught me to have faith in religion, have charity, be humble, and be kind to others. It also taught me to have a love for everybody, not a romantic one but a caring one. Even if someone is rude or mean to you, you have to forgive them and move on. It has helped me be more appreciative of what I have, and to have gratitude. LDS has made me develop a more optimistic view on life. I feel like I have led a happier life because of my religion.” —Ethan MacIsaac, 9th

photo by Amber Weitzel

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“I’m not sure if I am going to commit to a college for swimming, I definitely have pressure from my coach and family and I don’t really want to stop yet. I have spent so much time swimming and I have gotten so much better that I want to keep going. There are some days that I dread going to practice. Those days it is especially hard to get in the pool, but I like being good and I like racing. I feel like if I stopped right now I would miss swimming. I’ll probably walk on at the University of Miami or Georgia Tech, but it has been a really long and stressful process that I am still trying to figure out.” —Katherine Cameron, 12th

photo by Amber Weitzel

“I’m an exchange student from the Netherlands and I like being an exchange student a lot. In the beginning it was hard because I did not know what people would think of me. Now I have learned a lot more about the American way of talking and doing things. People here in America are easier to talk to in the beginning, but they talk to you less afterwards. In the Netherlands people are shy in the beginning but open up more once you start to talk to them. Another thing that is different is in the Netherlands I do not have any siblings that live with me. Now I have a host sister and it is pretty different. In the first week I liked her a lot and she was nice, but the next couple weeks I didn’t like her at all. We had a lot of bad conversations. We didn’t fight but it was pretty bad. Now, two weeks later, we are communicating better with each other and she is nicer but she’s still not my person. I t is also on me because I need to adjust to share the attention.” —Jamaru Verhoeven, 11th

“I grew up in the Philippines, and it was really hard. Everybody there had so little to eat, but my dad worked everyday to make sure that did not happen to us. My mom made so many sacrifices to be home all the time. Most of the kids there were trouble, they stole things from shopkeepers and messed around. A lot of stuff was terrifying. When we moved to America I knew my dad had made the right choice. Once I went to school I realized how much better of a place we moved to. Although I did not suffer too much in the Philippines, there are people that do not have simple things like clean water. Clean water is everywhere here. There are so many more simple rights and opportunities in the United States.” —Nathan Esteban, 10th

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Voices of Stanton There are nearly 1600 students at Stanton. They are committed. They are emotional. They are creative. They are diverse. These are their voices. photo by Amber Weitzel

By LIAM NGO

photo by Amber Weitzel

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photo by Amber Weitzel

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photo by Amber Weitzel

Features

photo by Amber Weitzel

“In the future I will hopefully be working for the NFL in some capacity. Football has given me direction in my life, showing me that I want to be heavily involved with sports. It has given me something to be passionate about. Coach Healey has had a huge impact on me, showing me how a real football program should be run. Coach Healey’s experience will hopefully prepare me for future involvement with collegiate football teams. I love managing the Stanton football team right now because of the bonding and the fact that I have made lifelong friends. I feel like I have a second family.” —Logan Mullins, 12th

“I am involved in Best Buddies, an organization for the intellectual and developmental disabilities of different groups of people. Best Buddies has taught me that people are more alike than different, and we can learn something from each person we meet, especially in the special needs community.” —Jackson Dillard, 11th

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photo by Amber Weitzel

“Before my freshman year of high school I had never really had a first day of school. I have been to eight different schools. My parents moved from Jacksonville to Canada to New York, and then back to Canada. We moved because of different reasons, whether it was our house that my mom did not like or my dad’s job. I ended up going to four different schools all in the second grade. I never had a real first day of school until this year, in high school.” —Nova Haque, 9th

“I regret my lack of participation in extracurricular activities. I recently saw Stanton’s play “It’s All Greek to Me” and I was really sad I was not a part of it because I really enjoy theater. I was really busy and lacked transportation, but now I have my own car. I do not have an excuse anymore, if I do not participate then I am just lazy.” —Christian La Cara, 12th

vol. xxxii, no. 2

photo by Amber Weitzel

“My parents were raised in Ethiopia, and it was a struggle for them to get to America. Their efforts have motivated me to further myself and my learning. I have to make sure I remain grateful, because I would not be in a good place right now if it was not for them.” —Sami Ali, 10th

“I regret not taking my freshman year more seriously. It turned out to be my easiest year at Stanton, and if I had taken it a lot more seriously my grades would have been a lot higher. I also would have been a lot more proud of myself. I still did well, but I could have done a lot better. Luckily, in my sophomore year I did well. My advice to the current and incoming freshmen would be to do well when it is most opportune.” —Ioannis Gugia, 11th

december 2015

photo by Amber Weitzel

“My sister is Savannah Connelly, and she goes to Stanton as well. She’s a senior, and I feel like without her things would be a lot different from the way they are now. She will be going to college soon and I am starting to slowly realize that in about nine months my sister will be gone. Even though we have had our ups and downs and we fight sometimes, I still love her a lot. When Savannah’s gone it will be a lot emptier and lonelier in my house. Having one of my go-to friends not there to help me with problems will be strange because I will not have that lifeline to go to when I need her. She helps me with so many things— relationship problems and everyday stress like Stanton and homework. Without Savannah there will be a big change in my life, and the little things I take for granted may change a lot.” —Cooper Connelly, 10th

“Religion is my life. Jesus is the rock that I live my life upon and through him I feel security and that I can do all things through him. There is nothing that I want to do more than to share that light with others. I have always been a really happy person, I have never really had any traumatic event happen to me. I know that there are people out there suffering because they are so wrapped up in their grades and worried about the future. What motivates me is helping those people through spreading the word of Christ.” —Anna Huynh, 11th

devil’s advocate | 13

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Opinions Unattainable Standards According to a study conducted by Yale University, only 22 percent of 22,000 high school students surveyed across the country reported they were “happy.” The cause of this is not a surprising phenomenon, but rather the result of the high stress culture that has developed in our society. This culture has been created by overbearing parents, nit-picky college admissions officers and school board directors who for example, in Duval County, believe that as many as 23 standardized tests per year are acceptable for students to take. Many of the tests given require students to have learned two sets of standards, one for the International Baccalaureate curriculum, the other for the Advanced Placement curriculum. Then, they are given the much lower caliber state and county exams, which are often not based on a set of rigorous standards. One must ask, what is the toll of this on students? Who truly benefits from this? The whole month of May alone is dedicated to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests. This serves as the striking symbolism of the saga of the stressed out student. For those two weeks, lives seem to be dictated by exams as they drain student’s energy and motivation. These exams become a detriment to a student’s wellbeing when they base their self-worth off of test scores. However, in our last issue, the controversy over AP testing was discussed. Certain top tier colleges will not even accept AP credit anymore since the courses were deemed unfit for providing total mastery of the subject to students. For IB tests, students only receive college credit for the subjects deemed Higher Level, thus making the rest of the tests only necessary for a piece of paper known as the IB Diploma. Of course, there

Reduce, Recoach, Recycle By STEWART GIDEON, Layout and Design Editor

The motivation to excel in school for the sole betterment of ourselves is quickly fading. are the cliché sayings about how standardized tests do not determine a student’s ability or what they will amount to. Yet these tests, among the SAT and ACT, do seem to determine our college future. In fact, they are the only way to ensure that students have a college future. A future that has become the “norm” if you want to amount to anything close to being “successful” by the standards of today. This is because admissions officers expect to see AP or IB courses on a transcript since these are supposed to be an indication of our drive and future potential as college students. This is seen especially at Stanton College Preparatory School, where students continually over-burden themselves with extracurricular activities. Students commit themselves to a long list of school organizations, sports and leadership positions. Why? I guarantee you it is not because it is something they love doing or because they feel they can make a genuine impact on the world. It is because that is what you have to do if you want to be on top. Students have to be the “president of something,” they have to have a high class-rank and it is imperative to start an obscure club that we all know won’t really accomplish anything. Yet students work tirelessly because it looks good on college applications. The motivation to excel in school for the sole betterment of ourselves is quickly fading at the hands of the desire to succeed. Then, the deceptive cycle starts all over again when students are admitted to what they deem a college good enough to meet, what are essentially, one’s own unattainable standards.

devil’s advocate established 1983 I Stanton College Preparatory School

2015-2016 Editorial Staff Zoë Reyes Vanessa Han Stewart Gideon Spencer Nachman Amber Weitzel Sarah Page Lily Tehrani Hudson Bäch Valerie Starks

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Layout and Design Editor Technology and Media Editor Senior Photo Editor Features Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Student Life Editor

The Devil’s Advocate serves as the official newspaper of Stanton College Preparatory School. It is produced monthly by members of the Journalism class. The editors reserve the right to edit any material submitted to the paper for content, grammar, length, and accuracy. The Devil’s Advocate is a public forum for student expression, which encourages free exchanges of opinions concerning controversial and non-controversial community and school related issues. The ideas and advertisements expressed within the newspaper are not necessarily those of the newspaper adviser, school administration, or the Duval County Public School Board. The Devil’s Advocate accepts advertisements from all businesses in the Stanton community. The ad format can be given to the staff or the adviser, Mr. Larry Knight. Students, faculty, and parents may contact the staff and adviser at (904) 630-6760 ext. 143 or at knightl1@duvalschools.org.

december 2015

The Coaching Hot Seat Like any pass thrown by Florida Gators sophomore quarterback Treon Harris, the College Football situation is spiraling out of control. In sports, the coaching position is nicknamed the “hot seat” because of the high stress and volatility of the job. In College Football, the seat is on fire. Coaches with winning seasons are getting fired, legendary coaches are quitting and once ridiculed coaches are getting hired as head coaches. At the beginning of the season all of the hype was on Louisiana State University. Running Back Leonard Fournette was unstoppable leading the team to a 7-0 start. Then in week eight, Alabama stopped him and began the three game losing streak. In that low point in the season, the higher ups at LSU were calling for head coach Les Miles’ removal. Only his win over Texas A&M spared his career. The whole situation was a poor display by Joe Alleva, the athletic director, who almost fired Miles with a 111-32 record and a .777 winning percentage. To put that in perspective, Gus Bradley, coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, has a 11-32 record as his time as the head coach. It would have been a mistake to fire the prestigious leader of the TIgers who was taken the team to two Bowl Championship Series title games with a victory in 2007. However, Miles was lucky, because his contemporary at Georgia was not given the same mercy. The Georgia Bulldogs finished the regular season 9-3 like the Tigers, but unlike them, Head Coach Mark Richt finished the season looking for a new job. After 14 seasons without a National Championship, The University of Georgia decided they had enough. However, with a strong record and a .740 winning percentage it is hard to say he deserved it. Richt’s Bulldogs competed in the SEC, arguably the hardest division in College Football. With the SEC winning more than half of National Championship games since Richt took over in 2001, his record in such a competitive division is impressive. While it is arguable whether he should have stayed on or not, his removal is an indicator of the direction of the coaching situation. Miami, who fired their coach Al Golden after a humiliating loss to Clemson, lucked out from Georgia’s folly and hired Richt as the head coach. On the opposite side of the spectrum is the University of South Carolina. After notable coach Steve Spurrier stepped down after a disappointing 86-49 record with the Gamecocks, the school went with another historic coach from the University of Florida: Will Muschamp. Unlike Spurrier who won 81.7 percent of his games as the head coach, Muschamp barely hurdled 50 percent. Last season he was the defensive coordinator at Auburn, coaching them to rank 90 behind football powerhouse Bowling Green. While it is crazy to fire Richt, it is insane to hire Muschamp. He was terrible at Florida, and disappointed Auburn, yet South Carolina is giving him a shot. College Football is a business, with the sport drawing in millions of dollars to these schools, so it is only natural for universities to strive for success. There are only a couple Nick Saban’s and Urban Myers (and Jimbo Fishers), but definitely not enough to go around. Cycling through coaches does not seem to be the solution. It seems like the age old motto is becoming adopted by more and more schools: “Winning is everything.”

devil’s advocate | 15

Pledge of Allegiance Is refusing to stand for the pledge un-American? Or is it simply excerising free speech? Seniors Elsie Platzer and Tim Shea discuss the issue of whether individuals should stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. By TIM SHEA, Contributing Writer

Last year three girls from Maine—including a friend of mine, Gaby Ferrell—made headlines for altering their schools’ announcements by adding “if you’d like to” after the call to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. This sparked an unbelievable firestorm of disapproval from community members, all for the inclusion of four seemingly innocuous words. Yet these words disrupted the integrity of an unwavering script that’s been hammered into our collective consciousness since we were very young. Every morning we are goaded, “Please stand.” And stand we do. According to Supreme Court rulings, it’s entirely optional to participate in the pledge. If your educators attempt to dissuade you, you can contact the American Humanist Association with a complaint against your civil liberties. The laws are clear: nobody can pretend to argue that the pledge is obligatory. Forcing school children to recite a patriotic devotional would be solidly un‐American, wouldn’t it? Not everyone agrees. This is America, where differences of opinion are our bread and butter. Concerns about respecting veterans or expressing gratitude for our democratic freedoms abound. I personally choose not to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I’ve been uncomfortable with the pledge since fifth grade, in that promising my autonomous self, even symbolically, to anything as abstract as a country, a government, felt too much like being thrust into an arranged marriage that I had no say in organizing. As an author, I know words can be dangerous, especially the same words repeated over and over again. We are what we consume, so if this pledge barrages my ears and exits my mouth every morning, what am I becoming? Must I now agree with everything that America is or does, once I declared my no‐holds‐barred devotion? Am I the same Elsie, or am I only Elsie‐who‐pledges? After Gaby told me about the controversy at her school, I felt shocked at the amount of hostility she’d encountered. I wanted to support her. I wanted to serve as my own reminder—a representative of alternative choice. Initially sitting through the pledge was difficult, not so much from pressure to conform, but because standing at the sound of the intercom had become so ingrained in me that I had to consciously resist. In search for perspective, I began reading up on reasons why others opted out of pledging their allegiance. They are, naturally, manifold: some refuse out of protest against various laws and policies, such as mass incarceration; some are uncomfortable with the theistic implications of “one nation, under God.” All of these reasons seem logical to me. In the same vein, justifications for standing are just as viable. What I don’t understand is the reaction of those who can’t bear the idea of an optional pledge, who react with anger to see those who don’t participate. It’s as if individual expression is repulsive to them. America is halfway built on purposeful inaction, the ability to say “no.” The push and pull between tradition and re‐evaluation is what allows for societal evolution. So, if it suits you, put your hand over your heart and proudly recite our pledge with pride and dignity. And if it doesn’t, don’t.

Most of you witnessed or participated in one of the largest Twitter fights in the history of Stanton College Preparatory School. One side of the argument supported not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance every day, while the other side argued that this was disrespectful and un-American. I would like to clarify a few things here. First off, not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance is incredibly disrespectful. I personally see it as a slap in the face to every man and woman who has ever served this country and protected the Stars and Bars. I would also like to acknowledge that standing for the pledge and saying the pledge are two different things. While not standing for the pledge can be seen as unsupportive to those who protect our amazing country, I do not, personally, see the pledge as a necessary rhythm to an everyday Americans life. Do naturalized citizens swear their oath to the country everyday? Did my previous pledge expire? If so, why do I have to say it everyday in the same monotonous tone? In my view there is no real wrong in not saying the pledge, however, not standing for its recitation is disrespectful to every single serviceman and women to have ever served this country. All of the above considered, is not standing for the pledge un-American? Of course not, it’s very American. Where in history have Americans been respectful? Heck, we tossed a load of tea into the Boston harbor because lobsterbacks decided to raise its price. Disrespect is entirely American, and has been since the colonization of America. Did America respectfully take the land from the Native Americans? Was it respectful for us to tell Europe that the western hemisphere was our now and that they need to leave? Absolutely not, but this doesn’t change the fact that we are the greatest country to have ever existed. This whole issue of whether to stand or not to stand for the pledge is just a small example of a much larger issue. This issue is the demonization of both patriotism and nationalism. The modern day left has made it a point to make anything patriotic or prideful in the nation its enemy. I can’t visit twitter on July 4th without some social justice keyboard warrior ranting about how America is founded on stolen lands, which is true for almost every country ever. The implication here is very dangerous for our country’s survival. Without nationalistic pride or patriotism, what is there to unite the United States? Ethnicity? No. Race? No. Religion? Nope. Political Ideals? See the pattern? The U.S. is extremely eclectic for anything but pride in its ability to cohesively function to unite the Country. Without the basic love for our country, that is the roots of both nationalism and patriotism, there is nothing to hold our people together. There is nothing to hold us together. Really my problem with not standing for the pledge, along with the respect portion, is the drive behind it. The mentality of “I’m not going to stand for the pledge today” divides citizens where there should be no division. We should all love our country and strive to change the flaws we see in it rather than strive to pull ourselves away from people who differ in opinion. photo by Maya Lee

Stand for Rights

photo by Maya Lee

The Right to Sit By ELSIE PLATZER, Contributing Writer

Popularity and Success By MARY ALLISON KANE, Contributing Writer

photo by Maya Lee

Many believe intellectual ability is superior to social ability, because intellect is presumed to have a direct link to lifetime economic success. However, recent studies may have disproved this stereotype. Every occupation requires some form of human interaction that requires social competence, which makes popularity rather helpful. Understanding how to perform effectively as well as knowing how to think critically within a particular field is essential, but it’s not the only factor; social knowledge is often just as essential. If social knowledge is as significant as intellectual knowledge, do nerds really rule the world? Was the concept of a socially inept, bookish teenager becoming a Wall Street CEO ever true? In its 2012 Wisconsin Longitudinal study, the National Bureau of Economic Research found a positive correlation between high income and large friend groups. The study showed that by age 35,

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people that were considered more popular had incomes ten percent higher than individuals with fewer friends. Economic success is usually derived from workplace success. In order to do well, one must possess certain social skills. A well-liked, popular teenager has the opportunity to strengthen social skills that can be an advantage in any workplace. For example, an individual with an outstanding education but inferior social skills is not expected to perform as well as an individual with an average education and great social skills. Although he or she may not have studied at the greatest university or earned the highest GPA, they possessed amiable qualities. Not only is this an advantage, but a necessity, since it enables individuals to have a positive and fruitful relationship with clients. However, not all occupations demand these abilities. Being likable has never been considered a disadvantage, but in certain fields, it can be insignificant. For example, scientific researchers don’t need to be as socially adept as public relations representatives or television journalists since their success does not depend on outside opinions. The desire

to be an effective and well-liked communicator may even be a disadvantage to those in certain occupations. A researcher testing a highly effective, but also highly controversial cancer drug can not afford a need to be socially accepted. Moreover, a chemist does not depend solely on personto-person communication as much as he or she relies on the intellectual knowledge they have developed over time. Nevertheless, it is more difficult for a person to become extremely economically successful with great social abilities and a poor GPA or vice-versa. High earners must learn to maintain a balance between being social and knowledgeable. Physicians must be able to effectively communicate with patients and possess a vast amount of scientific knowledge. As with much of life, being economically successful requires one to be well rounded. Achieving a balance can be difficult, however, popularity and social competence can make it easier. Having a large friend group or the highest test scores isn’t the only way to be economically successful, it is up to individuals to find a balance that leads to their definition of success.

vol. xxxii, no. 2

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Life in Estonia

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By VICTORIA MITYUL, Contributing Writer

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Narva is considered more gloomy and dark because of it’s bombing in World War II. All of the old architecture was lost and the city was rebuilt during one of the poorest periods of the Soviet Union. Although parts of the city’s old town were preserved the rest of the city was much gloomier than Estonian cities.

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Although my inital interactions with my host family were a little off-putting, it was incredibly easy to form bonds with them. During those five weeks I was able to connect with my host famiy and friends. Evening walks on the Baltic coast and family dinners gave me a chance to improve my Russian and my relationship with my host mom and my fellow peers.

december 2015

Estonians value nature above all else. The emphasis on indiviual time spent with nature is reflected in social customs, as Estonians highly value privacy and personal space. They are also very quiet in conversation and can immediately identify Americans by their extremely loud voices. It took me weeks to readjust to using my ‘American voice’ instead of my ‘Estonian voice’ when I returned.

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During the summer, I received a scholarship from the US Department of the State to study Russian in Nava, Estonia with 12 other high schoolers. I lived with a host family, attended Russain classees at a local universty and had daily excursions to areas of local cultural imprtance, including the United Nations Economic Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage sites. I was able to improve my Russian skills and broaden my understanding of life in another country inlcuding the complex interactions between cultures.

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The most obvious and immediate cultural difference was the forwardness. Most Estonians and Russians didn’t participate in small talk, but instead were comfortable asking anything they were curious about or just enjoying what an American would call “awkward silence.” Russians and Estonians are very friendly people, however, their attitudes seem cold to many Americans since smiling witout reason or small talk are not a part of the culture. There was no significant cultual shock, and instead, Estonia quickly started to feel like home.

devil’s advocate | 17

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