d e v i l s ’
a d v o c a t e
February-March 2022
a conversation with tomi adeyemi- p.8 runaways - p.12
hinsdale central high school | volume 100
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t’s easy to feel like the summer is sooner than it is. Especially in Illinois, where the weather hates us. Regardless of whether we will get more snow or not, it was time for Advocate’s early spring issue. This issue, coming up on the goliath that will be our senior issue and its ensuing headache, I wa nted to take the time to do s ome spring cleaning of this magazine. I hope, to all of our readers, that this issue is clean, clear and fun. We were lucky enough to grab the amazing opportunity to interview Tomi Adeyemi, a m et-gala-visiting Hinsdale Central allum with a t ruly impressing writing resume. Nadia, Managing Editor, had a wonderful time speaking with her, and we funneled that experience into our interview profile with her, fit with some fun throwback photos. For the rest of our magazine, we took a lighthearted look at Teacher Friendships in “Always Better Together”, and asking big questions about senior spring break in “ Runaways”. Our perspectives highlight some central student opinions, an enneagram personality test and some trends for the prom season. We hope that everyone is as excited for spring as we are here at Devils Advocate, and I hope everyone enjoys this issue.
12 Battleground Contributors
Club Contributors
Section Editors
Editor-in-Chief
Danyal Jawed
Hanna Florence
Grace Myall
Mara Severts
Katie Parkins
Kendall Florence
Maximillian J. Pohlenz
Managing Editors
Photo Contributor Grace Myall
Isabella Salti
Nadia Burt Killian Hughes
Copy Editor Christine Leung
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mara Severts
Cover Design by Karen Tan Devils’ Advocate seeks to provide an open and diverse forum created by and for the students from Hinsdale Central. ἀ e staff of Devil’s Advocate aims to bring news to the community of the school and the surrounding area, by wokring with students, parents and faculty, as well as reporting on events in a fa ir and balanced manner. ἀ e publication strives to inform, educate and improve, the atmosphere and student body by sharing information and recognizing and ideas. 2 | Contents
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c o n t e n t s .....................
ISSUE 02
around campus 04 05 06
TRENDS CURRENT EVENTS DAILY DEVIL
profiles
08 08
A CONVERSATION WITH TOMI ADEYEMI
Tomi Adeyemi’s words of wisdom and avice for future generations
11
ALWAYS BETTER TOGETHER
Teacher duos throughout the school combine work and play
perspec tives 19
features
14 14
RUNAWAYS An exploration into senior spring break
20
ENNEAGRAM TWO TAKES ON FOOD
23 24 25 26
PHOTOSPREAD BATTLEGROUND E2H EDITORIAL DEAR DEVIL CONTACT ADVISER, CHERISE LOPEZ CLOPEZ@HINSDALE86.ORG 630.570.8361
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PROM?
It feels like just a f ew years ago that prom dresses were all sparkly bodicies and big poofy skirts! Now, as we aproach prom season, here are the statstics on the ἀrst 79 prom dresses submitted to the HCHS 2022 P rom account on instagram. You might be suprised by some of the ἀndings!
NECKLINE
11.33% V-NECK 12.66% STRAPLESS 8.86% OFF SHOULDER
COLOR
16.46% BLACK
11.39% RED
13.92% BLUE
SHAPE
THE MOST POPULAR DRESS IS.... 88.6% A-LINE 48.10% STRAPPY
88.6% A-LINE
6.92% BALLGOWN
48.10% GREEN
2.53% OTHER
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c u r r e n t
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by Killian Hughes designed by Mara Severts
Photo Credits: https://pide.org.pk/blog/prices-matter-inflation-forecasts-for-pakistan/
Freedom Convoy Canadian trucker protests send worldwide waves
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n recent weeks, Hinsdale Central has experienced a protest, board meetings, and policy changes regarding COVID policies. And while the case numbers and speciἀc dynamic present at Central is unique to the school, the issues are not. During February, a “Freedom Convoy” has been moving its way through Canada, led by truck drivers protesting vaccine mandates. The convoy has blocked off bridges and in Canada’s capital of Ottawa, and Canadian authorities have called the movement a threat to public stability. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested, and many had their assets frozen as a wa y for the Canadian government to stop their ability to mobilize. Supporters of the protesters say they are ἀghting for freedom from government control on matters relating to COVID-19, while detractors say they are a fa r-right extremist group peddling misinformation and causing billions of dollars in economic damage. The Canadian government has successfully quelled the protests, but the movement has continued to spread in various forms across the world, including to the United States. Although the protests do n ot directly affect any policies at Hinsdale Central, the issues raised about government control versus public health will continue to reverberate throughout the school in various ways as a maskless spring continues on.
Photo Credits: https://commons.wikimedia. org/wiki/File:Canadian_COVID-19_protest-
Ukraine Russia Invades Ukraine
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ussia: Throughout the month of February, President of Russia Vladimir Putin built up troops on the Russian-Ukrainian border and issued inflammatory statements against Ukraine’s sovereignty. On February 22, 2022, R ussia launched troops into the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces of Ukraine, which each have a dedicated Russian-backed seperatist group already ἀghting against the Ukrainian government, and on Feb. 24, t hey opened ἀre on the capital Kyiv. Russia has made it clear they wish to annex all of Ukraine, but Ukrainian ἀghters have provided much stiffer resistance than the Russians expected. While 1.45 mi llion Ukrainians have fled the country as of March 6, according to Axios, Kyiv remains under Ukrainian control. Russia’s actions have provoked nearly universal condemnation from world leaders ranging from Joe Biden to Boris Johnson to Tajyip Erdogan. The United States and its European allies have imposed broad sanctions on Russia in response, and have recently started shipping arms to Ukrainian forces. The impact of this aggression, although taking place thousands of miles away, reaches into the halls of Hinsdale Central. Senior Dmitriy Shvydkoy has family, including his grandparents, living in Ukraine, and spoke to the fear they and others are experiencing right now. “I am worried about my grandparents in Ukraine,” Shvydkoy said. He went on to voice his support for Ukraine in t he tensions, and added that his familial ties to the region stretch back to the 1940s, when all four of his great-grandfathers fought in World War II.
Inflation Across the United States, prices are rising
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ne of the questions Devil’s Advocate received for the “Dear Devil” advice column was “Why did t he lunch prices rise? ” Unlike some of the other questions, the answer to this one is not conἀned to Hinsdale Central. Inflation, or the general increase in p rices for goods and services beyond the value added to them, has hit an annualized rate of 7.5% a year since the beginning of 2022. This is the highest rate of inflation that the United States has experienced since the early 1980s. This bout of inflation has been caused by a mixture of sustained low interest rates from the Federal Reserve, leftover stimulus money, and sky-high demand mixed with staggering supply chains. As The Wall Street Journal reported in various late February and early March articles, some of the hardest-hit markets have been energy, where prices increased 27% between February 2021 and February 2022, and used car prices, which have increased 40.5%. The war in Ukraine has only deepened the issue; oil futures hit $130 a barrel on March 6, nearly 40% higher than just two weeks before. Across the country, people are seeing the effects of inflation, and although economists do expect it will wane sometime in t he next year or so, Americans will continue to feel its effects for a w hile. So, to answer the question posed to “Dear Devil,” the reason lunch prices at the school are going up is because inflation in the United States is hitting a high point, and the school has to compensate for the rising prices of all of the supplies, labor, and energy that goes into cooking lunches for Central students.
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back to the classics The power of literature and importance of classics
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by Isabella Salti Design by Christine Leung
iterature is a powerful thing. Reading is a p astime that can unite generations, create friendships, improve mental health and thinking skills, and spark debate and conversations on important topics. As someone who loves to read for fun, I’m well aware of the beneἀts, but many people choose not to read unless they absolutely have to keeping only to important emails, schoolmandated books, or Instagram posts. Of course, there is plenty of middle ground, but for those who truly enjoy reading there are literally millions of options with new worlds, new skills, and new knowledge. According to Forbes, US p ublishers sold about 825 mi llion books during last year alone, so whether or not you read now, there has to be a book out there for you. When deciding what to read, one of the great decisions is classic vs. m odern literature. A “ classic” is a b ook that has stood the test of time, that has universally applicable lessons - t hink “Pride and Prejudice,” “Moby-Dick,” or “Great Expectations.” Some people (namely me) love to read classics - o ne of my all-time favorite books is Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.” But others, like Hinsdale Central sophomore Teagan Dunn, prefer more modern books: “[They have]more of a plot than classical books, and modern books get to the point faster.” Both classic and modern books span across genres, from science ἀction to romance to history, and aside from the time frame they can often share characteristics. Contrary to popular belief, modern literature is not all cheesy, trashy, or one-dimensional - there are many newer books that are incredibly meaningful and powerful. Modern books are often based on classics; they can share a lo t of the same basic ideas, and characters and plots frequently resemble each other.
It’s hard to ἀt so many books into one category. “Classics” can be incredibly different from each other so there are always exceptions, but it seems that the biggest difference for many is their accessibility. “Modern literature feels easier to get through,” said Leah Bradley, junior. It makes sense - c lassics are generally older books that use outdated language and can be more difficult to understand. It takes more time and more brainpower to get through, and untangling the Mrs. Bennets, Miss Bennets, and Miss Bingleys of the world can deἀnitely take a minute.
But despite these valid reasons, classic literature can challenge us and teach us valuable lessons, and it’s deἀnitely worth a try, even if y ou don’t consider yourself a reader. The next time you ἀnd yourself bored or looking for something to do, pick up a book and let yourself be transported to another world. From classics to adventures to meet-cutes, you’ll learn a lot (and maybe ἀnd a n ew series, /character, or/book obsession, too).
Photo credits: Pixabay
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Seniors from left to right: Luke Sutton, Grace Stafford, Vinny Galassi, Shivani Rao, Cece Lynch, Karina Khana Photos Courtesy of: @TAGhinsdale on Twitter
senior tag A look into the tradition of senior tag that brings together seniors for some fun Writing by Hanna and Kendall Florence Design by Christine Leung
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very year, the seniors at Hinsdale Central organize a g rade-wide game of tag using nerf guns called Hinsdale TAG. The game is among one of the seniors’ favorite traditions and this year’s game is well under way. Hinsdale TAG lasts from the end of January through May. It is a bracket-style, single elimination game. Here is what you should know: Every senior is sent a target through their email. The goal is to tag their target by shooting them with a nerf gun before the round is over. The rounds last about a week, but the catch is, your assassin is trying to shoot you. If an assassin comes to get you, there is a self defense rule where students can shoot their assassin. Once a round is over or you have eliminated your target, you get assigned a new target.
Another important rule in the game is the Hermit rule. To make sure the game progresses, when the Hermit rule is in play, students will be eliminated if t hey do not eliminate their target only if t heir target has eliminated their own target. The students track the progress through the Twitter page: @TAGhinsdale where the eliminations are updated as they happen. The ultimate incentive to win the game is the three cash prizes. First place wins $500, second place is awarded $150, a nd the player with the most eliminations gets $250. The stakes are high, so as the seniors say, trust no one. One participant, Paton Merhoff, had a lot of praise for the game. “Hinsdale TAG comes at a g reat time. Seniors have already submitted college apps and are awaiting prom. It is the perfect stress-free opportunity for the seniors to bond.” To play the game, each senior had to pay a f ee of $10. The fee goes towards
raising money for prom in April. “No one minds paying the fee. The money goes right back to all of us,” Merhoff said. Hinsdale TAG is something that seniors look forward to every year and the Class of 2022’s game is underway. Make sure to tune in to see the winner of this year’s game.
Photo credits: Clipart
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Always Better Together Teacher duos throughout the school combine work and play by Grace Myall designed by Grace Myall illustrations by Grace Myall
Rinngggg
ἀ e bell rings for the end of 10th period. It’s a Friday, meaning that the hallways are immediately filled with throngs of students pushing to get out the door. In the social studies hallway, Mr. Christopher Wilbur and Mr. Brian Mitchell stand against the wall, students moving around them in a continuous stream. Between small talk, students walk past and greet one or both of the teachers. After each student, whomever gets greeted adds a point to their tally. Within minutes of the bell ringing, the hallway is mostly cleared - only stragglers remaining under the LED lights. ἀ e winner (usually Wilbur) of the little competitions grins, victorious. ἀ e two play this game contiously, creating a rivalry for their students, while mentioning each other in various stories, or placing each other on tests and assignments that they give out to their classes. “ I have Mr. Wilbur on a lot of my tests, whether it’s fictitious countries like random Cloverdale or Wilburton -” Mitchell said. Wilbur added, “- Usually as the failing businesses.” Teacher friendships are everywhere at Central. Many teachers have become close with their coworkers over the years, connected by the curriculum, students, and the shared space they work in. When Mitchell began working at Hinsdale Central in 2005, he and Wilbur became fast friends - bonding over Friday morning basketball games and teaching in the same room. ἀr ough their friendship, they were able to create a lasting impression on their students - especially with their known back and forth quips and “rivalry.” Popping into each other’s classes allowed them to place a lasting impression on students in those rooms, as they exchanged funny stories and digs on each 8 | Profiles
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other - even if the other part of the duo was not in the room. “ἀ ere was somebody telling [Mitchell] about the fact that they were going to be out this weekend for the state forensics team,” said Priyanka Patel, a s enior in M itchell’s AP Macroeconomics class. “And he goes, is that with the red haired coach, I guess coach is a little bit much - more of a supervisor.” For Mitchell, these digs a re not out of the usual, as he frequently told stories of Wilbur, such as describing a co worker of his that was eating one day, only claiming he was eating orange-colored foods, such as cheetos and baby carrots. Having teachers who are friends with other teachers creates a p ositive environment where students can come into a classroom feeling comfortable because they already heard everything about Mr. Wilbur from Mr. Mitchell and vice versa. With students noticing when teachers have a connection, it’s not surprising that these teacher friendships affect the classroom and learning. ἀ ese teachers share how their camaraderie enables them to add even more to their experiences in t he building with not just the students, but themselves as well. Teachers are able to tweak their teaching styles into something more helpful for their students due to the friendship they have with their coworkers. “We collaborate when we can and [Mitchell has] made me looser, in s ome ways,” Wilbur said. “As a t eacher, you find those moments of levity and looseness and the passion, but you also have expectations, and they’re clear and gets held on.” ἀ ough their classes are not connected, influencing each other as teachers allows them to have a p ositive impact on their students. Another teacher friendship, Ms. Stephanie Hiffman and Ms. Kate Saunders, came to the same conclusion. ἀ ey’ve been friends since Ms. H iffman came to work at Hinsdale Central in 2005, a nd have reflected on each other’s teaching styles, and even how they connect with the students. “I feel like knowing that you’re a successful teacher makes me feel more comfortable,” Sa unders said. “Because I know I c an be silly and also be a g ood teacher.” Students seeing their teachers as friends sometimes don’t have anything to do with teaching directly, but rather how they view
their teachers as people, rather than just as educators. “I think sometimes it’s fun for kids to have teachers that don’t take themselves so seriously 24/7,” Hiffman said. “It’s humanizing,” Saunders added. Having teachers who are not only friendly but friends, not only impacts their own teaching style but the students’ learning as well. Patel, a s enior, is going into second semester with a class with both Wilbur and Mitchell, coming in with stories from older students who only warned her by telling her that she is in for an interesting experience. “They’re both very into what they’re teaching. And I r eally love that. I think they have very similar hand movements,” Patel said. “And the way they look at us when we don’t reply, they really want us to participate, which I really like.” Students are not just profiting from their teachers being close, but acknowledging their appreciation for it. ἀr ough project names, similar classes, and trading students back and forth - these teachers are able to keep a healthy and happy environment in their classrooms where students are already k n ow l e d ge abl e of their teaching style due to having the other part of their duo or hearing stories about it.
“I think sometimes it’s fun for kids to have teachers that don’t take themselves so seriously 24/7.”
- Stephanie Hiffman
“It’s humanizing.” - Kate Saunders
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A Conversation With
Tomi Adeyem
Designed by: Christine Leung Written by: Nadia Burt
This past September, one of Hinsdale Central’s most notable alumni was inducted into the HCHS Hall of Fame: Tomi Adeyemi. Adeyemi graduated from Central in 2011 and since then has received a degree from Harvard, published Children of Blood and Bone and Children of Virtue and Vengeance as part of her bestselling Legacy of Orisha trilogy, and is in the midst of producing the movie version of her novels. In early February, I had the chance to Zoom with Adeyemi and talk with her about her time at Central, her inspirations, and advice for the future generations of learners and writers. The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.
Nadia: So with speech specifically, what were some of the events and topics you competed with?
Tomi: My Original Oratory was about me talking about how I’d always written and then I realized through what I was writing that I desired to be things other than myself. It’s funny, my college essay came from it too. I was writing my fantasies, but in my fantasies, I was white or had red hair or lighter skin or something. And it was about basically my journey to self acceptance, building awareness of the fact that there was a deἀcit that was only shown through my writing, which is sort of a window into my subconscious. With my DI (dramatic interpretation) I was playing a homeless woman in New York who’d lost her baby.
Adeyemi’s Senior Ad courtesy of El Diablo (2011) Nadia: So can you tell me a little bit about your time at Central, the things you were involved in, the teachers you remember, etc?
Tomi: Oh gosh, I was in multiple activities. I loved being in ἀrst period orchestra with Mr. Wirtz and start(ed) all four years like that. Forensics was my big thing. Senior year I competed in dramatic interpretation and Original Oratory; Forensics was very much my sport. So Mr. Woods and Mr. Wilbur are very dear to my heart. I was in the J. Kyle Braid foundation with Mr. Wilbur, and that was very special to me, and Break Down the Walls with Mrs. Kalafut. I also did track and Basketball Poms. I really loved dancing and then I did a lot of dancing outside of school. And then a lot of writing in my room! I was always writing in my room. So I never qualiἀed because it wasn’t an activity, but I got to come back for the Hall of Fame Induction in September and it was so surreal.
Nadia: Oh my gosh. Its definitely a very uniquely speech kid experience.
Tomi: Yeah. And I k ind of refused to watch them because can you imagine a DI where it’s basically a 12 year old girl screaming ‘my babyyyy’. I can’t believe I did it once, let alone exclusively over the course of a year. Like performance schizophrenia. It’s insane really! But again, there’s nothing more important [than speech] because when I became a public ἀgure, they asked ‘Have you had media training? ’ And I was like, No, I did s omething weirder. For four years, I would memorize words, put on an ill-ἀtting suit, wake up at 6am and get on a cold bus to go to a cold school and I would stay there for 12 hours for a very stressful day. And then wait at the end to see if I had done well enough to go on stage. If anything, I’ll say that you’re prepared for what life throws at you.
Nadia: You said speech was like your media trainingdo you think it’s helped with being a public figure?
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mi
...words of wisdom and advice for future generations
Tomi:
With communicating, it is a superpower. And when you can think and speak and write and communicate your thoughts, you don’t realize how special it is until you are forced to meet and talk to so many people. I think Forensics is the most valuable thing a kid could do. Your ability to get into a room and say, This is who I am. This is why you want me. This is why I would want to work with you. It’s special and it’s important. It’s the most valuable thing I did in high school.
Nadia: That’s great to hear. Because I’ve already felt the benefits in my life that speech has given me, with confidence especially. So what was it like coming back to Hinsdale Central to be inducted into the Hall of Fame - what was going through your mind at that moment?
Tomi:
I hadn’t been back to Chicago and Central in a minute, but it was like coming home, and it was surprising to me. I had a really lovely time at Central,but there weren’t a lot of kids who looked like me and so I did feel very much like an outsider, even though I felt very much involved in the community and accepted and loved and supported in so many amazing ways. And so to come back and be like, oh my god, this is my home. That was the most surprising thing. It feels good. The people feel good, which I know is a strange thing to say but felt like coming home in the best way.
Nadia: Once you left high school, like, what were some of those new environments? What were some of those challenges?
Tomi:
When it came to the book, I would say the hardest part was when I hadn’t accepted that I was going to do this job and fully commit to writing. And so I was working really hard at it, but it was with this desperation of when you send the book out to someone and you’re trying to get it published. You really want them to say yes, so you can leave this job and that’s a space where it’s only anxiety. For four years, my ἀrst book got rejected 63 times. I went through my pity period, but then I had a moment of “I want this.” I tried really hard. It didn’t work out and I still want this. That means I’m doing this. It’s my decision. And now I can calmly embark on the journey to getting what I want, but it is no longer about waiting for permission to get what I want.
Nadia: What was that turning point for you, so that you could go out and accept your journey? Photo courtesy of Tomi Adeyemi
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Tomi:
We think our dreams are silly. We pretend they’re silly because they mean so much to us. And that’s very scary. But once you accept that and you’re like, OK, this is happening, I am doing it, then you get to use all those skills. The turning point for me was looking at how far I got in things I wasn’t passionate about or didn’t understand. I did ἀnance internships, and I don’t understand ἀnance at all. I saw I worked hard and got amazing results in things I wasn’t passionate about. So now what do you do with this actual passion? Let’s treat it like a curriculum. Let’s treat it like a course. Let’s make deadlines and a reading list for yourself. Let’s have things you have to learn. And once I took that mindset and gave myself over to the dream, life really has been just this rocket. Life is full of challenges. But you get stronger.
Nadia: What has it been like for you now that you’ve given yourself over to your dream?
Tomi:
It’s pretty interesting. I think you accomplish one dream and you have more. For me, the biggest dream has been seeing CBB on screen and getting to make that happen. I’ll say I love this space I’m in now because I believe in myself. I feel strong and I feel centered and I feel focused. I feel not like I’m just getting started, but I’m saying “wait to really see me go”.
get to meet certain people and especially girls. I love talking to girls because I want them to go out there and take it because this entire world can be yours.
Nadia: Yeah. You are such a great example to people all over, because you took your dream and you made it a reality. That’s something everyone can learn from. But now we have the opportunity to learn from you in your creative writing classes, The Writer’s Roadmap, right?
Tomi:
Yes. We have an enrollment. There’s a new generation of classes starting. We’re doing a partnership we’re about to announce. I am always thinking about what ways can you get back and teach and interact? We’re in a place of really curating our interactions and so I ἀnd I really like talking to writers. You can have your own chance to speak and collaborate with Tomi Adeyemi through her writers workshop, Writer’s Roadmap, and by joining her program’s waitlist at thewritersroadmap.net, you will receive a free writing guide. For those of you who are excited to see CBB in theaters, you may have to wait a while, with an anticipated release in 2024.
Nadia: You mentioned your movie, getting to your book on screen. How did it feel to have the rights to your book picked up by Paramount?
Tomi:
Yes. So Paramount is making it now and then I’m writing the script for it. And that was like the ultimate goal, the ultimate dream. Now that I’m here, I don’t have to ἀght or maneuver and instead I get to put it all into just creating something special. It’s a whirlwind. It can be very dizzying. But coming home for the Hall of Fame was incredibly centering, because I was put face to face with the girl who literally was just sitting in this class doing chemistry. And now you’re going to the Met Gala.
Nadia: From the classroom to the Met Gala, that must’ve been a pretty insane experience!
Tomi:
That was a whirlwind. I loved the dress I was wearing. I got to hug Rosalia and I love her music so much. I got to tell Channing Tatum how much I love him. That was a highlight. I was like “I have watched you since Step Up. And I like you. I like the way you look. Or you make me laugh.” I didn’t like the food but I liked the experience. I love anything that lets me put on a fancy dress but honestly, the most meaningful things are when I get to talk to you guys, because your hearts are big and you’re still dreaming. Adults forget to dream, right? When you’re growing, you’re still dreaming. So I’ll say for all the glitz, for all the glam, that’s still the best thing when I just 12 | Proἀles
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an exploration into senior spring break by maximilian j. pohlenz
| runaways |
14 | Features 14-17.indd 2
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Max Aschinberg
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Senior Spring Break. ἀ e trip itself is a longstanding staple for some of Central’s seniors. Every year, a l arge portion of the senior class, often numbering in t he hundreds, all travel to one location for a week of social gatherings and fun with their classmates. ἀ e trip is often tropical, taking some of Central’s seniors out of the country to sunny beaches and picturesque vistas. Max Aschinberg has a m ane of hair, seemingly unruly, but perfectly styled and combed. He walks into the coffee shop for the interview with an almost enthusiastic swagger; the pirate king of Hinsdale. He is one of the seniors going on the trip. “I’m really looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a g reat time for friends to bond … it’s also going to be great to destress and forget about school. A little getaway at the beach, you know?” Aschinberg said. Indeed, for people like Aschinberg, this ability to see friends is important. With busy schedules, it often can be hard to find time to get together. What’s more, the sheer number of students going on the trip means that one is bound to bump into people that they wouldn’t otherwise hang out with. “People like me only see certain friends a couple times a m onth, because we’re all busy,” Aschinberg said. ἀ e friends component seems to be an essential part of the trip, especially in Aschinberg’s mind. “I feel like it definitely wouldn’t have gotten as big if i t was just like a f ew [people]. If none of my friends were going, I probably still would’ve done a trip, but it would’ve been very different. It probably would have been…going to visit some family somewhere,” Aschinberg said. Without the fact that multiple friend groups are going on the trip (thus attracting different people from different friend groups), Aschinberg said he feels that it wouldn’t have reached the size i t
achieves currently. “What it is now, I f eel like friends influenced it. And I wa nt to spend time with my friends,” Aschinberg said. ἀ e trip has a long history at Central. “I’ve talked to other people, former alumni. ἀ ey all knew what I was talking about,” Aschinberg said, when talking about mentioning the trip to Central alumni, such as his track coaches. ἀ e oldest alumni he’s found that was familiar with the trip went to Central in the 1980s. In addition, Aschinberg said that the trip seems to be something unique to Central. He said that he feels one of the reasons that it is unique to Central is the community that Hinsdale has. “I feel like the community at Central, as well as other factors all play into a central theme of organizing it,” Aschinberg said. “I feel like the parents are very interconnected, mingling on Facebook, so they definitely have a b ig part in organizing it. Central is a lo t less clique-y than other schools— as a w hole we interact with each other pretty well across groups and ideologies. Everyone’s very friendly and that helps. Everyone knows each other.” He also points out that another reason the trip is so easy to be a part of is the fact that everyone has the same travel agent, bypassing confusion and other snags that could come up when planning with such a large group “How it works is the travel agent puts together a p lan. You call the travel agent. You’re like ‘hey, I want to be part of a part of the spring break.’ You pay the due. ἀ ey get you the room, they organize trips for everybody. Everything but the airplane rides, it’s all booked through one travel agent that a parent found,” Aschinberg said. ἀ e travel agency in question is Peterson Travel. ἀ e head of the agency is Kirsten Peterson, mother of a current senior at Central. ἀ e fact that the trip is uniquely a Central thing is supported by Lauren Deely, a senior at York. “York doesn’t have anything like that. I wish we did it though, especially for the seniors, because we don’t have anything like that where we can go together as a c lass.” Deely said. Despite this, Deely does say that, most students at York do travel for spring break, though individual groups comprised of only close friends (such as the ones seen later on in t his piece) are far more common. Deely’s experience at York seems to corroborate Aschinberg’s sentiment that
the trip is solely a Central thing. However, Deely’s sentiment may suggest that the motivation is universal. ἀ ere are other reasons, however, besides friendship, that motivate the trip, and motivate it to be in such an exotic place, such as the Dominican Republic (the location of this year’s trip). While Aschinberg cited the idea of being more spontaneous as one of his personal motivating factors, that was just one of several reasons. “One of the big reasons why they always do an international trip is it’s much nicer, and … t he Dominican Republic…it’s so beautiful,” Aschinberg said. “We’ve got somewhere nice, it’s dirt cheap compared to somewhere in t he U.S. … I h ad other friends looking at somewhere in the U.S. and it was about 10 t imes the price of staying down in the Dominican Republic.” However, the fact still remains that the Dominican Republic is a f oreign country, and there could be a p otential for new experiences. “It’s different for each person. For me, it’s going to be more about …bonding with friends, having a g ood time,” Aschinberg said. “For other people it might be about broadening your horizons.” Next year, Aschinberg will be attending Boston College. “ἀ ey do a ll kinds of trips like [senior spring break], but it’s officially through the school and you have great turnouts. While I might not see myself going on a trip like [senior spring break] with the exact same people from high school, I c an definitely see myself doing it with similar groups,” Aschinberg said.
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II
Dimitri Shvydkoy
Dmitriy Shvydkoy is platinum blonde, and wears glasses. He wears a black crewneck sweater and accompanying sweatpants. It unintentionally summons a ghost of Steve Jobs. He speaks softly, even when the room is loud. His spring break doesn’t involve any elaborate plans. “Stay home. Chill out … p lay video games, hit the gym. Hang out with some friends maybe. Sleep in e very day,” Shvydkoy said. To him, s pring break is a t ime of relaxation. A t ime to get away from the pressures and stresses that school brings. “I think it’s important because people need a break from school,” Shvydkoy said. “People just get overwhelmed with just months straight without any rest.” Shvydkoy said he feels that spring break is what it is. A few days off of school. Nothing more. However, that doesn’t diminish the importance of spring break. He said he believes that it’s a cr ucial means of preventing students from feeling overwhelmed. Shvydkoy is not going on the large senior trip, but still can see why people would go. “It sounds like a f un way [to spend spring break] just because as seniors, it is our time to party and relax. We’re finally done with high school. As long as it’s all legal, of course,” Shvydkoy said. For him, “our time to relax” may mean staying home and hanging out with friends, however he understands why others would interpret it differently. “I can understand it. If you can afford [to go on a trip], and a lot of your friends are going, it seems pretty fun,” Shvydkoy said. For him, most of his friends are staying
home for spring break, and he said he feels no need to really go anywhere. While he is hesitant about the senior trip, he does say that it would be something he’d seriously consider if hi s friends went, though he does add that they’d have to be extremely close friends - something that he does not foresee happening. However, he said that the senior trip is telling of the town itself. “Everyone going to [another country] just really gives off the impression that everyone here has money to go on vacation. At the drop of a hat like that,” Shvydkoy said. He said he feels that it displays Hinsdale’s wealth in an unflattering light, and perhaps may not be the best image for the school as a whole. “It’s just a good indicator that there’s kind of that mentality of ‘we can do w hatever we want, because we have a lot of money,’” Shvydkoy said. However, he said he feels that this isn’t a critique of certain people, rather, it’s simply just the way things are. And he has the utmost belief that such a m entality isn’t permanent. “People go off to college, they meet people from different backgrounds, and that mentality kind of dissipates,” Shvydkoy said.
Julia Ditrani
III
In Cancun, Mexico, Julia Ditrani’s trip lies. One week, 168 hours, seven days. With her five friends at her side, their trip lacks the size o f Aschinberg’s foray. Yet, it is a s enior spring break nonetheless, simply put, another way. They plan to bathe in t he tropical sun, to venture out into Mexico’s Gulf, and meet the sea before them, eyes open.
“I feel it’s definitely always been something I’ve been looking forward to since freshman year … j ust seeing my older friends going on senior spring break,” Ditrani said. “I’ve always been excited to go on a trip with my friends because I’ve never been able to do t hat - m y parents would never let me go on a trip with my friends [when I was younger].” She looks forward to the trip with anticipation, feeling that it is a n ew and exotic experience for her. In addition, she said she feels that this trip also allows her to spend time with her friends. “I just want to spend my last break here with my closest friends. And go to a different place that I’ve never been to before. Do different types of things that I wouldn’t do here [in places] like Florida,” Ditrani said. “I’ve gone to Mexico only once, and I wa s really young, so I do n’t remember it at all.” Since Ditrani has gone to Mexico only one time in h er entire life, this trip then seems to be full of incredible potential to experience new things. After all, she explains that it was the entire reasoning behind the group deciding on Cancun in the first place. ἀ ey wanted somewhere different. However, she also isn’t opposed to the more conventional approach to travel either. “One of the things we all really want to do is go on a b oat ,and go to the beach, and just do m ore touristy-type things,” Ditrani said. “[ἀ e trip is] definitely [being] somewhere really relaxing or doing something that [one] really like[s] to do, and gaining new experiences.” However, despite these desires ringing similar to that of Aschinberg, she said she didn’t want to be part of the large senior trip. Rather, she wished to participate in the “tradition” in her own, more private way. She felt that the large trip would be too chaotic, too crazy. “It’s always been a g ood idea. I do n’t know when it started. But I a lways thought it was a r eally fun last thing to do with your friends before going off to college,” Ditrani said. “I never really loved the idea of the big one, just because it’s not as relaxing [as opposed to] just being with your group of friends.” She went on to explain that it’s this personal experience with just her closest friends that she really values. It also explains why she said she believes that the monetary cost for the plane ride, hotel, meals, and excursions is a worthwhile endeavor.
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“I feel like it’s definitely a b ig factor, because going on a trip, leaving the country, it’s really expensive. So I f eel like it really just depends on the people you’re going with,” Ditrani said. Indeed, she said she feels like the type of trip that she has planned with her friends is quite similar to most schools in the surrounding suburban area, such as York and Lyons Township. “I’ve talked to people from other schools and they’re like ‘I’m going on a t rip with my friends.’ Maybe there’s no really big senior spring break for the entire class. But I k now at a lot of different schools people go on break together,” Ditrani said. Despite of this being her last trip before college with all her friends, Ditrani said she also hopes that it isn’t. Ditrani said that she can most definitely envision herself doing a spring break trip with the same friends next year, as opposed to any college friends. Indeed, she predicts that future spring break trips will not be to foreign countries, but rather back to her hometown and Chicago. “I feel like my spring breaks will always be returning back to Chicago … and I feel like I’ll always want to visit friends and family here,” Ditrani said.
IV Preston Hutchens
In less than forty-eight hours of the publishing of this piece, senior Preston Hutchens will exit from a B oeing-made commercial transport aircraft and into the sunlight of Miami, Florida, United States of America. If all goes according to plan, he’ll don a Stüssy designer tee emblazoned with a nature scene, and will be accompanied by a few of his closest friends. ἀi s includes his girlfriend, Maeve Lastname. Yet, whilst this may sound like a n ormal Spring Break, it
was in actuality, a backup plan. “Our first plan was Canada, because we wanted to see Canada.” Hutchens didn’t have a r eason for visiting Canada. He just wanted to go, and see what happened. It’s something that reflects his general worldview, which has been shaped by having lived in m ultiple countries throughout his life. “I think it really makes you just more worldly. As someone that’s moved around my whole life, I definitely wouldn’t be as open minded as I am now [without travel].” When it comes to Hinsdale, Hutchens is acutely aware of the reason why so many in the area can travel for spring break. “I think it shows that we are very fortunate to be able to go see the world, go see new places,” Hutchens said. He sees the ability he has to see the world as a blessing, and is determined to not waste said blessing. ἀi s ability to be able to see the world includes vacations such as the senior trip Aschinberg is going on. Hutchens himself is aware of the trip, but decided against going on it. “I wanted to do something smaller with the people I know the best,” Hutchens said. His perspective of travel is a m ore idealistic take. One should travel to see the world in full, to explore outside the picket fence surrounding Hinsdale. Yet, he said that this understanding also isn’t a given when it comes to travel. Oftentimes, it is up to the person themselves, and what they do while on vacation. “If they’re going to [another country] so they can drink, and like, that’s the basis of their trip? Like they’re really not going to get much out of it. But if they go and travel, and see, like, [the country], the locals, and how they live…” Hutchens said. He himself certainly sees himself as being in the latter category. At the end of the day however, he’s made clear that what he wants to do above all else is to make memories that he can cherish forever. “The priority for me is that I g et a good experience out of it and that and get to be around other people that I c an share it with. So it’s something that I c an remember,” said Hutchens. ns This value of he tc u memories is nH to es r re f l e c te d P in his
opinion on how somebody should spend their time on spring break. “It’s definitely based on the person, the values they have. If they want to have fun the whole time, there’s nothing wrong with that and they should. ἀ at’s your choice,” Hutchens said, “But there’s also the opportunity to go see somewhere that you’re not familiar with, and learn about it. ἀ en there’s the memory making aspects too. So really, it’s just based on the type of person,.” Hutchens would be unable to go to Canada this spring due to complications involving obtaining the necessary documentation required to cross the border (such as passports). It would lead him t o then joining his girlfriend, and planning to fly down to Florida. He himself said that it’s an option that is slightly more geared towards fun than it is understanding. “Florida would be one of the more fun based options … b ut Florida was because Mave’s going there,” Hutchens said. At the end of the day, Hutchens seems to value his friends. If his friends decided to stay at Hinsdale, he expresses that he’d enthusiastically agree with that plan, so long as he gets his sought after memories. “As a new student, they were the first people I really hung out with, and so to me, they’ve been the most significant people I’ve met here,” Hutchens said. Hutchens will spend his spring break with his friends, in Flo rida. When asked what exactly he’ll be doing in Florida, Hutchens said, “We’ll figure something out.”
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MORAL-PERFECTIONIST MEDIATOR-PEACEMAKER
HELPER-ADVISOR
1w9 Take a look at one of our managing editors, Killian Hughes for example!
LEADER-CONTROLLER
COMPETITVE-ACHIEVER
A classic 1w9, Killian is rational and balanced with strong morals. Here are three 1w9 characters for your viewing pleasure!
ELSA 1w9
OPTIMIST-ENTHUSIAST
CREATIVE-ROMANTIC
BATMAN 1w9
LOYALIST-SKEPTIC
T
QUIET-SPECIALIST
his fancy looking circle is called an “Enneagram”, ( En-Ee-ah-gram). Similar to something like a Myers Briggs, an Enneagram is a personality test that claims to tell you all manner of things about yourself. Your goals, your personality, your ἀaws and your fears. The most common way to type yourself using an Enneagram is with a “core type” and a “wing”. The Enneagram lists core personality traits around its 9 spokes, one of which is your “core type”. This is the main facet of your personality. They’re pretty self explanatory, if a bit random. If you hold your moral compass highly and you’re a detail oriented perfectionist, your core type is likely a “type one”. If you are a goal setting achiever with a competitive streak, you are probably a “type three”. But there’s more to an Enneagram than just a core type. You also have a wing, which can be the number above or the number below. For instance, you can be a 5 wing 4 or a 5 wing 6, but you cannot be a 5 wing 7. Once you have your base type, take a look at the wings around it. If you are a loyal type 6, are you more outgoing and enthusiastic like a 7, or quiet and speculative like a 5? From there you should be able to pick your wing. Enneagrams are written with their base first and then the wing, as so: 5w6, 4w3, 9w1, etc. So what’s the use for this? Some enneagram websites will give you communication tips,work strategies or possible goals based on your personality type. For fun, you can take a peak online of descriptions of different types to see what’s most accurate. But for me, I like to call enneagrams `` astrology for business majors.” It says as much about you as you want it to. Here’s the fun part- take a lo ok at “Personality Database.” It’s a website filled with user voted characters, celebrities and even songs and countries. If you plug your Enneagram ( or your MBTI) into the website, you will get thousands of characters that have the same type as you. It’s a lot of fun to see what parts of these seemingly random characters are like you or not.
THANOS 1w9
WILLIAM DARCY 1w9
TODOROKI 1w9
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t w o
t a k e s
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Review and photos by Christine Leung
Fourteen Sixteen
RATING: 8.4/10
I thought the chicken was a s uper interesting take and the ἀavors surprisingly worked well together. The potatoes were a little too mushy and lemony for my tasting, but the ἀatbread was very good. Overall, I’d say the food was a tad overpriced but a decent meal. I’d go back, but not very regularly.
Tensuke
RATING: 9.5/10
LOVE THIS PLACE. Tensuke is in Elk Grove, so it is a bit of a hike. It’s also not that well known around these parts so don’t go telling everyone (it’s a gem.) And boy, is it worth it. Tensuke is the highest quality sushi I’ve had in a semi local area that also does not break the bank. A set of around 8 california rolls and 5 pieces of nigiri (sushi grade seafood on top of rice) goes for about $15. Given the price, the sushi is high quality. This is also because Tensuke is actually a grocery store with a food court in the back. Everything is made in house and it’s extremely fresh and very authentic. While getting sushi you can also get a bunch of fun snacks like Pocky sticks, mochi, and fresh baked bread.
Standard Market Grill RATING: 9.2/10 A classic. You really can’t go wrong. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm, and there’s usually a de cent crowd of people and chatter that makes for a nice environment. The portions are generous and there’s a p retty big assortment of dishes to choose from. While on the pricier side (a s alad was ~$18), t he portion size a nd taste makes up for it. I g ot the parfait once for breakfast and it was decent, but nothing notable. The steak sandwich was great. Filling, warm, and crunchy bread. But nothing beats the THAI CRUNCH SALAD. As an absolute edamame fanatic, this salad had everything I absolutely love. I took out the bell peppers and was obsessed with the crunchy wonton pieces and peanut sauce. I added chicken for some extra protein and will definitely be coming back for this.
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . portrait of a taco bell at at 12:00 by Max Pohlenz
I
drive. I do n ot know where I am coming from. Only where I am going. When I left that house, there was pizza and pop, and cackling voices I did n ot know. Now on the road, the only voice is mine, though it does not speak. I drive. Drive past my house, where mother awaits my return anxiously. Past the Chipotle on Ogden. At night, you can see into the building as you pass. The tables are empty, but they insist on being open. I feel that if I went in there, some mobster would exit the restrooms with a gun and end my life. And then I drive some more, until I cr oss three lanes of traffic to pull into the parking lot of the Taco Bell on Ogden. I p ull up right to the door, placing my car perpendicular to no less than three handicapped spots. It is just me, and a white car with the engine on. I look inside. The building looks abandoned at first glance. I s ee the table where me and my friends sat at during the day. The rose seats are now dim. Silhouettes. From the kitchen, I think I can make out a light. I am unsure however. I set my car to drive, and begin to circle around. I can’t help but feel the slightest bit like a criminal. As if my very being here constitutes my introduction to a shrouded underworld. As I dr ive around, I s ee a singular guy working. He is tall, lanky. Wears a black baseball cap. Dirty blonde. I r emember him wearing earmuffs, though logic eludes me as to why he would do such a thing in an indoor building. In a kitchen no less. Perhaps I imagined it. I think he is the only one, as I drive slowly around, peering through the drive through window as the guy organizes things. I
don’t know what the things are. They look like cups, but they cannot be. They are dripping with grease. Or so my memory tells me, though I a m constantly paranoid that it is lying to me. I am at the front now. Through the ghastly tables, I m ake out a second man. I s ay man here, because he is definitely older than me. My mind though, thinks him a m an of monstrous proportions, prepared to assault me, kick my teeth against the curb, stirring up snow as he does. For some reason, I decide to risk a second loop around, to see if I can get a look at the white car. Its engine is still running, and it has a si lhouette of a p erson inside. I c annot tell what they look like, what they are doing. Perhaps they are eating a n umber one meal. Three Crunchy Tacos Supreme, fountain drink included. Or the number seven meal. Chicken Quesadilla, with one Crunchy Taco Supreme and fountain drink on the side. I do not know. As I dr ive past the car, I a m mesmerized by the white sedan with its lights on. There is a person in there. A person whose life I will never know, never meet. They do n ot know that I have spent a co nsiderable amount of time thinking about who they are. They don’t even know of my existence. I am just a M ercedes-Benz with the lights on. As I pass the white car with the lights on, I realize that I have not gotten the brand of the car. Was it Acura? Hyundai? For some reason, the detail drives me mad. If I cannot have anything else, I will have the make of the car. And so thus, not even halfway through my second lap around the establishment, I a m already planning my third and final voyage. As I pass the drive through window again, I b egin to grow paranoid. What does the guy and the man think of the MercedesBenz with the lights on. Do they think
I am some sort of criminal, staking out the place? A local weirdo, the type you get when you’re working the midnight shift? (In a way, I suppose I am). Or maybe they don’t notice me at all. I’m just another part of the set-piece they neglect, like the dead bush that separates this place from that cash for gold place. I exit my second orbit, preparing for my third and final orbit. This time, I drive slow enough to get the car brand. It is indeed an Acura. I do n ot even look or think about the man and guy inside, feeling guilty. I need to get out of here now. I take off, completing my third and final orbit with haste, turning right onto Ogden once more. I ἀy away. Away from that man and the guy. Away from that white Acura with the lights on and the silhouette. I ἀy past the police car that has pulled a man over. I ἀy past the pet store that supplied me all of my dead fish when I was a fifth grader. I ἀy towards a green light, trying to reach for it, trying to grasp it. If only I wa s a b it closer, I could bask in t he green glow, bask in the Gatsby sunshine. But it turns red.
Perspectives| 21
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p h o t o s p r e a d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sec tion Editor Grace Myall photographs a March 4 LGBT+ workshop on allyship in DuPage county
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b a t t l e g r o u n d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In the past several months, the concept of “cour t pack ing” has surfaced as a possible move for the Democratic par ty to overcome the conser vative 6-3 majority in the Supreme Cour t. Since 1869, SCOTUS has had 9 Justices, but this new measure would adjust the size of the body, likely to a larger number. voting members to the Supreme Court. would be completely betraying the ideas Many, both Democrats and Republicans, of bipartisanship and checks and balances. criticized the “court-packing plan,” seeing it ἀ e Supreme Court having a conservative as the progressive president’s way of filling majority today doesn’t justify changing the the court with individuals who would vote entire system or mean that it is flawed in any in his favor as he pushed his numerous way, because there will always be a majority. New Deal reforms. Way of defying checks And if this bill were to be approved, it would and balances. As President Biden himself set a precedent for generations to come that put it during a Senate Judiciary Committee if that majority misaligns with Congress in 1983, i t was a “ bonehead idea” and a and the President, no big deal. ἀ ey can just add more seats and turn the imbalance “terrible, terrible mistake.” But despite seeing the large backlash in their favor, creating an endless back and FDR faced for his endeavors, on April 15, forth of Supreme Court expansions by both 2021, Democrats introduced the Judiciary Republicans and Democrats. ἀ ere’s a r eason FDR’s bill wasn’t Act of 2021, seeking to expand the court to 13 justices. A bill that according to Speaker approved. And there’s a reason the Supreme of the House Nancy Pelosi, “should be Court has stood strong with nine justices since 1869. According to the Pew Research considered.” But it shouldn’t be considered, let alone Center, President Biden’s approval rating be signed by President Biden. According was 41% as of January 2022. With his poor to the Congress Research Service, the and declining approval rating, it is hard to Democratic Party already has a majority in believe that challenging a construct of over Congress. With Democrats controlling both 150 years and giving himself more power in n February 5, 1937, P resident the Executive and Legislative branches, the process would be in his best interest. In Franklin D. Roosevelt announced approving this bill and artificially creating my opinion, packing the courts would be a the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of a Democrat majority in the Supreme Court terrible, terrible mistake. 1937, which would allow him t o add six
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ustice Stephen Breyer is retiring from the Supreme Court, and President Biden should replace him with multiple justices.
ἀi s idea of packing the court, or increasing the number of Justices in t he Supreme Court, isn’t new. FDR introduced the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, granting him lega l access to adding members. ἀ e House furthered this posture with the Judiciary Act of 2021, introducing legislation that would create space for a total of 13 J ustices. In tandem with Congress, President Biden should pack the court to decrease partisanship. Firstly, there is a s trong historical precedent for altering the number of Justices to reflect the changing population. ἀ e Constitution does not outline the proper count for Justice, allocating that power to Congress. As a result, the number of Justices has oscillated with the times, starting at 6, moving to 5, and subsequently altering the number until nine Justices sat in 1869. W hile the fewest tally of Justices appropriately lies a t the beginning of the nation, the record number of Justices was set in 1863 a t 10 J ustices. Presidents and Congress realized that the highest court in the land must grow with the country.
ἀi s judicial plasticity has, of course, led to political manipulation. President Biden and Congress should pack the court to eliminate the dominating, partisan slant. Republican presidents have appointed 15 o f the last 19 SC OTUS Justices, resulting in t he current 6-3 divide. Many pointed out the hypocrisy of inducting Justice Barrett 35 days before the election after the same party prevented President Obama from appointing Merrick Garland 237 days before the election. ἀ e Conservative Supreme Court has taken many divisive cases, including abortion bans and LGBTQ+ rights. Given the scope of impact with these cases, it is crucial to restore bipartisanship and equal representation within the Marble Palace. ἀ e only constitutional method of reinstating this balance is expanding the court to ensure judicial equity for all citizens, regardless of political belief.
24 | Perspectives 24 RDD (1).indd 2
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s t a f f
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Time Well Spent by Vandana Sivakumar
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Time Well Spent 7 hours. 420 min utes. ἀ e length of an average school day at Hinsdale Central. Now, let’s say that the average student has 7 passing periods, and the student spends only around 2 of the 5 min utes socializing with their peers or relaxing in their classroom, added to a 25-minute lunch break which brings us to a cumulative 39 minutes of break during the entire school day. ἀ at means that around 91% of a student’s day is allocated to learning. But how much time is actually being spent? A study published at the University of Connecticut found “students spend about a quarter of class time distracted and unable to focus” (Godwin). ἀ e study found that teaching was more effective in smaller, more frequent, 20-minute lessons as opposed to a longer, 40-minute lesson without any breaks. This compared to 50 minute class periods usually involving sedentary work which lends itself to loss of concentration. Simply having 5-minute breaks for every 20 minutes of learning can benefit students and teachers by allowing time to redirect focus and optimize instruction time. Seems easy, right? So why aren’t all our teachers doing it? One common concern for teachers regarding classroom breaks is the time constraint on their lesson plans; however, implementing breaks into the class period will actually optimize student learning by allowing students to refocus, reflect, and possibly catch up, in o rder to better absorb the rest of the lesson. A survey taken of Hinsdale Central students found that 30% of the class period is used to redirect students and get them to focus. ἀ at’s 15 minutes out of 50 that is being used inefficiently by teachers and students. By incorporating two 5-minute breaks for every 20 minutes, teachers can save time dedicated towards instruction and students are more prepared to absorb the information during class time. In other words, breaks can be used to turn unproductive class time productive. Some teachers are also concerned about allowing distractions and spending time re-grouping after set breaks. However, ἀ e University College in London expresses that a break in class for just a few minutes, anything from a sm all stretch, to socializing with friends or to simply getting up and walking
Modified Grading Scales at Hinsdale Central
by Hali Dib
around, can have long-lasting effects on a student and help with memory retention and lower stress levels. “It’s like sometimes you doze off in class,” one student writes, “a break allows me to kind of snap back into reality and helps me focus more and actively listen to what is being taught”. Both teachers and students want to optimize class time. ἀ e introduction of scheduled breaks in lesson plans allows for students to absorb the content better and for teachers to maximize their lesson plans. So I implore teachers to do this for their students. A break could range from a yoga pose to a quick game of rock-paper-scissors. Just taking that pause helps both students and teachers to re-energize and get through the day. And that’s all we can hope for.
Modified Grading Scales at Hinsdale Central For our entire lives we have been following the classic 90-80-70-60 grading scale in school. Now that we have the option to take honors and AP c lasses, especially science courses, we became aware of modified grading scales that accommodate for course rigor. However, per district guidelines for this school year, all classes are required to have the same standard grading scale, which is problematic as students are earning letter grades which do not reflect their knowledge on the material. ἀi s is especially a m ajor issue for the
many at Hinsdale Central who are taking numerous honors and advanced courses. A student taking AP P hysics 1 in p rior years would be graded using the class’s usual 80-65-55-45 scale because of the class’s intensity, but this year’s students were met with the news that the new district policy requires all classes to keep the traditional grading scale. As a result, teachers provide the students with modifications on tests to compensate for the difficulty of the course, such as allowing multiple attempts per question for partial credit and a large class curve. Despite seeming like a good solution, this does not teach students how to work efficiently to earn their deserving grade, and instead creates reliance on curves. As per the Collegeboard score distribution from 2020, only 51.6% of students get a 3 o r above on the AP Physics test. Collegeboard has an adjusted scoring scale for AP t ests to “standardize student performance across years and subjects’’, so wouldn’t it make sense for the class’s grading scale to correspond with that of the national exam taken at the end of the year? Why are we forcing a grading system that does not reflect our true effort and understanding of the subject? According to Matt Townsley and Tom Buckmiller, both well-decorated professors and authors, “grading experts agree teachers should update their grading practices to better align with the realities of how and what students are learning in schools.” Teachers in content areas know what their class needs to succeed and should be the ones deciding their class’s grading scale. And no, it is not too late for change. Even Yale, “the institution that started this history of grading more than 200 yr ago, is today still considering changes to its grading system,” said the Life Sciences Education. Students should be earning letter grades that match the intensity of the course and average grade distribution, meaning that more challenging and advanced classes should not necessarily be following the same exact traditional grading system. ἀi s would help students learn how to study efficiently as they are earning their rightful grade for the effort they put in. Even in college, many professors have their own grading scales and policies, so giving teachers the freedom to use the most fitting grading scale for their own curriculum would be beneficial in t he long run as well. It’s time to give credit where it’s due and bring back adjusted grading scales for advanced courses at Hinsdale Central. Perspectives | 25
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A purely Red Devil advice column to address your most pressing questions by Nadia Burt designed by Nadia Burt graphics by Mara Severts
How does one ask out a girl? I really like her but we have been friends for so long I don’t want to ruin things if she doesn’t feel the same way and I really don’t want to hurt her but I want to try you know? If you really want to try a relationship with this girl, then go for it! In my opinion, long friendships can often lend themselves to something romantic because there is established comfort in the relationship and how you interact with each other. You clearly want to ask out this girl, and I am optimistic that it will go well! First, make sure that you ask her in person - this shows that you are actually interested in her. Asking someone out over text or Snapchat doesn’t appear as confident, and might come off as if you are more indifferent than genuinely interested in hanging out. To actually ask her out, I t hink that simpler is better. ἀ ere is no need for a large declaration of affection: this can come off as a little overwhelming. Make it casual, and ask her to go get ice cream (yes even in the winter) at Oberweis or Coldstone, for example. Obviously, this is just one example of something you can do - you can also plan an activity centered around her interests. Taking initiative in planning a date is always a good move, but don’t worry about making detailed plans. Instead, it is best to present an idea, then be flexible to her suggestions as well. If you have been friends for a long time, wording becomes important so that she doesn’t assume it is a regular hangout. Say “Hey ____, do y ou want to go out with me and get ice cr eam this weekend? ” From there, be flirty and compliment her outfit, hair, earrings, etc. ἀ ere is a chance she declines to go on a date with you and that is OK. In the end, what is important is that you tried and were comfortable with that decision. I don’t know your situation perfectly, and there’s always a chance that she could say no. Just remember that your self worth doesn’t hinge on someone else’s affection. You are just as whole and just as loveable, even if she doesn’t feel the same way. If it doesn’t go well- give it a little bit of space and time to quell your feelings. And when you’re ready, feel free to reach out again. If the friendship is true, it will survive bumps like these.
Thoughts on bananas? Honestly, bananas are great. ἀin k about it. A banana is the perfect amount of banana. You never wish you had more, nor less. You never want a second one. One banana is perfectly satisfactory. ἀ e perfect quantity. Not to mention it comes with its own protective covering. No need to put it in something else like a bag or container. It comes with its own. God’s wrapping paper some might say.
ἀi s advice column is simply how I chose to answer the question - if you or someone you know needs guidance on other issues, reach out to your social worker. If you are unsure who your s information online at the Hinsdale Central Social Work page or through the guidance office.
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How do you become more involved with the school? I think that one of the best things about Central is the sheer number of opportunities we have! It is really important to be involved with the school in some way - not even to feel more connected to the school itself, but to broaden your experiences and interests. One way to fully throw yourself into school activities is to join a sport - for example, outdoor track is a great, no-cut sport that is welcoming to those of all skill levels. Due to the amount of time you spend with your teammates each day, you can meet incredible new friends and develop strong school spirit. If you are looking to get involved in a less committed way, then join one of the dozens of clubs we have at Central! Many of them are informal,which makes it easy to pop in at any point throughout the year. It can help to bring a friend with you, to avoid possible awkwardness of being in a new environment. To find a full list of clubs, sponsors, and meeting dates, look under the Activities tab on the Hinsdale Central website. I know it may sound obvious to just join a club or a sport but trust me - over my past 4 years at Central, I have tried 3 sports, 2 competitive activities, and over 8 different clubs. Did I stick with all of them? No. But I have made some of my best friends along the way, simply because I made an effort to be involved.
At Hinsdale Central, I’m surrounded by great people. Recently, however, I’ve noticed that not everyone is showing a high level of #GRIT. How can I best help people show more #GRIT in their Red Devil lives? ἀ ough we may joke about Hinsdale Central’s adoption of the #GRIT motto, in reality we can all work to help others improve their time and experiences at this school. As nearly every high school student knows, the word “tryhard” has become more popular in the past few years. Essentially a tryhard is someone who, well, tries hard! ἀ ey put in time and effort into their homework, their activities, their sports, etc. And for some reason, it has become something undesirable to make an effort and show #GRIT, and the connotation of tryhard has become increasingly negative. I agree with you - not everyone is showing the highest level of #GRIT in their lives that they could. However, that also falls on us, because we need to better support those who do have a high level of commitment to the things they do. By creating a positive environment, you can make sure that people feel comfortable and encouraged to embrace #GRIT. So the next time you see someone intently studying for a test, spending hours practicing for a swim meet, or absolutely dominating the court in FITS 1 pickleball, don’t call them a tryhard. Instead, let them know that you appreciate their talents and dedication to our Red Devil #GRIT.
sure who your social worker is you can find 27 | Perspectives 26-27 (2).indd 3
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Hinsdale Central High School c/o Devils’ Advocate 5500 Grant Street Hinsdale, IL 60521
