April 28 issue by Michael Gluskin

APRIL 28, 2016 VOLUME 89, ISSUE 8

TOXIC TRUTH Pages 17-19

R ea de rs

GO CHECK OUT THE ISSUE!

Lett er t o

icle n o r k Ch n I of s p o Dr The

Meanwhile...

About a month ago, LHS students were unaware that our Editor-in-Chief went undercover to speak at Writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Week.

g uctin d n o C vei ws Inter

The staff then secretly meets to discuss their opinions for the staff editorial.

Our editors and staff meet to propose and choose the contents of our next magazine.

Snapping photos and designing the layouts...

Checking the proof for final errors...

Sincerely,

Kayla Fiore Photography Editor

...The DOI staff successfully saves the day again with another issue.

April 28, 2016

Drops of Ink

6 Prom 2016: Under the Sea 7 Transgender-friendly changes coming to LHS 9 What’s Trending 10-11Wildcat Hall of Fame 12-13 ReLAX, He Doesn’t Give a Flux 14-15Autism: Putting the Pieces Together 16 LHS Trivia Crossword Puzzle 17-19 Two Sides to Every Story 20 Is Chivalry Dead? 21“How to: Feel Less Ugly” 22 Senior Year: It’s more than just a blow-off year 23 Why senior year does not (really) count toward college admission Cats Attack College 25-27 28-29Inside the Batter’s Box 30-31 Goals Set High Juniors and seniors will have a night to remember “Under the Sea” as LHS Prom 2016 will take place at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago for the first time ever.

New changes to the transgender policy at LHS are coming including new bathrooms, changing stalls, and more.

LHS Principal, Dr. Marina Scott, models some of this month’s trends such as Chicago sports gear, unique dance moves, and the ABC countdown.

LHS has generated some great alumni including Mark Suppelsa, Philippa Soo, and Ike Reilly.

Many LHS students stand out for their various talents; Cam Foltz is no exception with his interests in astrophysics, lacrosse, and mountain climbing.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a mental disorder that affects many people, including students here at LHS.

How well did you read this issue? Test your knowledge with this fun crossword puzzle!

Explore the rationale behind underage drinking according to LHS students as opposed to the anti-drinking advice that is typically preached to the student body.

Is chivalry still alive or has the hookup culture and the rise in technology killed this historic code of conduct?

One DOI staff member explores the impact of society’s emphasis on physical attractiveness.

Does senior year really matter? One DOI member argues the importance of this final year.

Does senior year really matter? Another DOI member asserts that senior year is not worth the effort exterted.

Nineteen superior senior athletes have committed to play their respective sports at the collegiate level; DOI takes a closer look at eight of them.

Senior Jamie Stevens plans to finish out her softball career at LHS and continue her passion at Tufts University next fall.

The girls’ soccer team have large shoes to fill following the boys’ state championship title in the fall.

Cover photo by Kayla Fiore Contents by Emily Yates

Contents

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Hannah Boufford, Editor-in-Chief Maddie Werner, Online Editor Gabby Struik, News Editor Tia Petrzilka, Features Editor Jake Luce, Opinion Editor Josh Bragg, Sports Editor Manal Ahmed, Entertainment Editor Kayla Fiore, Photo Editor Becky DeAcetis, Layout Editor Sara Thunga, Copy Editor Jillian Ruff, Community Service Coordinator Kate Vittore, Staff Fun Director

2015-2016 Staff Listing Blair Abington Lola Akinlade Brianna Baez Grace Bloom Nathan Campbell Tanner Dorow Alo Garcia-Escobar Max Friedlander Demi Glusic

Jenna Grayson Olivia Griffith Abbey Humbert Hannah Hutchins Jack Kosowski Jarrett Malec Mary Kate Mieszala TJ Murbach Sam Nelson

Dolores Palmieri Alyssa Stokovich Maria Thames Stephanie Thomas Hadley Van Der Bosch Katie Vrba Carly Wegren Emma Williams Emily Yates Michael Gluskin, Faculty Adviser

Letter to the Editor Though not frequently submitted to Drops of Ink, Letters to the Editor are common amongst most professional newspapers. In these letters, readers are able to bring concerns to the editorial staff, and their concerns are usually published in the next issue or edition. To find out more about Drops of Ink’s policy for Letters to the Editor, please visit lhsdoi.com/about-us/editorial-policy. We love to hear from our readers; you can also contact us on our social media accounts or at doi@lhswildcats.org. The following letter was shared with us by Ms. Amanda Wine in regards to juniors and seniors attending Prom. Last year, I sat down to read a staff editorial in the May 2015 issue of “Drops of Ink” entitled “Should Juniors Be Allowed at Prom?” I had assumed that the editorial would answer the question posed in its title with a resounding “Yes! Of course!” However, instead of detailing the reasons why Juniors shouldbe welcomed at the Junior-Senior Prom, the editorial set forth a list of reasons why Juniors should instead be excludedfrom Junior-Senior Prom saying “it would introduce different couple combinations that don’t belong at Prom.” As a 2007 graduate of Libertyville High School, former Student Council Executive Board member, and former DOI staff member, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I was disappointed that a longstanding tradition of inclusion of all upperclassmen at Prom was now being questioned and that Juniors were feeling intimidated about going to Prom by Seniors. Because Prom season is quickly approaching I now feel compelled to address the Junior-Senior Prom issue that was brought up in DOI last year. Having a Junior-Senior Prom has been a longstanding tradition at Libertyville High School. I myself attended the Junior-Senior Prom as a Junior (with a Junior date) and still remember it as one of the best memories of my years at LHS. Last year was my first year serving as a Student Council Adviser and I was troubled to learn that the Junior-Senior Prom had unofficially morphed into one of Senior privilege and Junior exclusion. The time has come to lose this misconception that Prom is for Seniors only and return to the tradition of welcoming all Juniors and Seniors at this event. For Juniors and Seniors alike, Prom can be a huge bonding moment. Students talk about how Prom brought their class closer together and was such an important weekend in their high school experience. For Seniors, two weeks after Prom the class graduates and moves on. Imagine having the Prom experience your Junior year and being able to carry that spirit, bond, and positive experience into Senior year. What it really comes down to is thisLibertyville High School is better than this. The Libertyville High School that I am proud of Stands Together and Prom should be no exception. Class of 2016, you have impressed the faculty and staff at LHS with the kindness and spirit of inclusion you have shown throughout your nearly four years at LHS. I ask you to leave one last legacy before you graduate: please help Student Council return to the tradition of welcoming all Juniors and Seniors to Prom. Afterall, the dance floor will be big enough for everyone! Amanda Wine Special Services Teacher Student Council Adviser

April 28, 2016

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Prom 2016: Under the Sea

By Jarrett Malec

Photo courtesy of the Shedd Aquarium A preview of this year’s prom venue which will be under-the-sea themed. dents will then head upstairs, where the aquariums are, for dinner. After dinner, students are then free to explore all of the upstairs levels of the Shedd. Last year, Highland Park High School visited the Shedd for their Prom, and for the first time in 16 years, it wasn’t at a local venue. Prom at the Shedd was a decision made by the Highland Park Class Council as well as feedback from peers. “Our Shedd experience was fantastic! From the view, to the exhibits, food, and dancing; the space provided was a perfect venue for hosting a Prom,” stated Highland Park High School Activity Director Mrs. Lesa Friedrich. Similar to what LHS students are going to experience, Highland Park was allowed to tour the dolphin and penguin exhibits upon arrival. “I believe this venue offers more options of engagement for all students. If you do not want to dance, you can hang out at a table and talk or view the exhibits. I believe this was the experience both classes were looking for,” said Mrs. Friedrich. Highland Park plans on attending the Shedd again for this year’s Prom, as well. Last year while Highland Park was at the Shedd, LHS was on the Spirit of Chicago and the two schools could see each other and wave as the boat passed. “Planning Prom for the Exec Board was actually fun. This ranged from deciding how to publicize Prom and it’s theme to stuffing invitations. A lot of hard work went into it, not only from the Executive Board, but also the senior and junior class councils decided our theme as well,” stated senior Executive Board member Jordan Mitchell. Mitchell is most excited for everyone involved to see just how amazing the Shedd Aquarium will look when set up for Prom: “It’s truly a sight to see.”

Next month, the 2016 Libertyville High School Junior-Senior Prom will be at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Last year, Prom was on a boat (the Spirit of Chicago), and this year’s change came due to the growing size of students attending and the desire to try something new. “We always like to try to change it up and do something cool and fun. We got a lot of good feedback from last year, so we might bring [prom on a boat] back again in future years,” stated Student Activities Director Jennifer Uliks. One reason for the change was so that juniors who go to Prom have a different venue for their senior year. Along with giving students a new atmosphere and experience each year, there were problems with not having enough room on the Spirit of Chicago. “Once we boarded the ship, it was a little small, and for moving forward, we would have had to move to the bigger ship: the Odyssey. We decided that if we had to change venues, then let’s change it to something different,” noted Student Council Advisor Ms. Andrea Lara. Due to wedding and event complications, the Shedd had to be booked right around last year’s prom. In Chicago, there aren’t many places that can fit an entire class or even more, which makes the Shedd a logical site. On May 21, LHS is renting out the entire Shedd Aquarium, which will result in an $5 increase in ticket prices. The tickets for Prom this year will be $100. “We [StuCo] think that it’s in line with proms all around the North Shore. To get transportation, dinner, dancing, and general admission to the Shedd, it’s a pretty good value,” Ms. Lara said. Mrs. Uliks stated informed that “When the students do arrive, for the first hour they’re going to be able to go where the dolphins are, the amphibians, the sea lions, as well as the outdoor terrace.” After the first hour, those three exhibits will be closed off and stu-

News

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Transgender-friendly changes coming to LHS

By Jake Luce

Photo illustration by Kayla Fiore // Flag photo courtesy of Google Advanced Images Private changing stalls have been added to the locker rooms at LHS in order to accomodate students who prefer more privacy. With the increase in awareness of the LGBT movement, Libertyville High School will begin preparations to improve policy and accommodations for these students, as well as others who prefer more privacy, including the addition of non-gender specific bathrooms and changing stalls. Libertyville has already added private changing stalls in the locker rooms earlier in this school year, and next year, they will introduce the addition of non-gendered bathrooms. The locations for the new bathrooms have not been distinguished by administration yet. In addition, new showers, which will separate students more while being used, will be added as a result of new health regulations imposed on all schools. The private changing stalls have curtains and can be used by students who prefer to change separately. LHS Principal Dr. Marina Scott is supportive of the school’s new additions to the locker rooms. “[The private changing rooms] are for all students who would prefer a private place to change,” Dr. Scott noted. “Many students would want private showers and private areas in the locker rooms.” In addition to facility changes, Libertyville administration and staff will be taking steps towards creating an equal and respectful environment for LGBT students. According to Dr. Scott, a transgender support task force was set up by the district in order to educate teachers and students on topics related to LGBT students. “On the 27th and 28th of April, there is a teacher lunch and learn… it’s going to be about vocabulary, background information, and policies regarding our transgender population,” Dr. Scott stated. “Also, on May 11 we have a speaker coming in to talk to staff about

News

supporting children in classes.” Late last year, a civil rights case broke out in a Palatine High School where one transgender student, who was transitioning from male to female, was denied access to the girls locker room. According to ABC 7, many people in the District 211 community complained that the transgender student, who was still anatomically male, would make the girls feel threatened and uncomfortable. The student, however, claimed she was being discriminated against on the basis of her gender. According to the Chicago Tribune, town hall meetings were held and debates were sparked over the topic. Eventually, after the case was taken to court, the court decided to allow the student full access to the girls’ locker room, but she would only be able to change in private changing stalls within the locker room. When asked if the new Libertyville changes were related to that case, Dr. Scott replied that LHS was being proactive rather than reactive. “Whenever student needs come up in our community...we do our best to meet all of those needs,” Dr. Scott said. The current policies in place at Libertyville protect transgender groups just as it protects all students. No policies in place discriminate against the transgender population in any way. Because of this, the school will not be changing any specific policies regarding transgender and other LGBT students. However, Dr. Scott said the school will be doing its best to educate the students as well as the staff on how to treat all members of the LGBT community with respect just as all other students should be treated.

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CHECK OUT THE WEB #ThinkInk LHSDOI.COM “Libertyville High School’s second annual Color Run” By Manal Ahmed, Entertainment Editor Photo courtesy of LHS STUCO

“New pool plans progress” By Emily Yates, Staff Writer Photo by Stephanie Thomas

Humans of Libertyville http://humansoflibertyville.blogspot.com/

“Committing to play softball at the University of Dayton has really been a dream come true. All the time and dedication it took and sacrifices my family has made has helped me get where I am today. I couldn’t be more thankful for such an amazing opportunity and I’m so excited to be a part of such a great program. Go Flyers!”

Junior, Division 1 softball commit, Hannah Heraty Photo by Mary Kate Mieszala Feature

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By Tanner Dorow and Alyssa Stokovich

College Announcements

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wildcat hall of fame By Abbey Humbert and Dolores Palmieri Layout by Becky DeAcetis

Many faces have walked the halls of Libertyville High School over the past 99 years. Some of these faces went above and beyond after their time at Libertyville. Some have gone to become news anchors, Broadway stars, rock stars. Mark Suppelsa, Phillipa Soo and Ike Reilly did just that.

Mark Suppelsa After a long day of work or school it always feels nice to just kick back, relax and turn on the TV. You grab the remote and turn it onto channel nine to watch the evening news. The name Mark Suppelsa, may ring a bell because the WGN news at five and nine is home to this TV broadcaster. Along with WGN, Libertyville is also a place that Suppelsa can call home. Suppelsa did not attend Libertyville High School for all four years, but he did spend the majority of his childhood years in Libertyville. Even though he only attended Libertyville High School during his freshman and sophomore years, he certainly made the most of the time that he spent here by getting involved in many sports. “I would have to say sports dominated [my high school experience]. It was the friends within sports because you worked out so much that your time was consumed by getting ready for each season,” Suppelsa said. During his time at LHS, he did not get involved in journalism. He mentioned that he may have been too young or just too shy to think about getting involved at that point in his high school career. “I remember before school and I would hear the high school radio station and I remember thinking wow that sounds really cool,” Suppelsa stated. “But I remember I didn’t really think about [journalism] until just about my senior year of highschool when I was at Lincoln Way.”

Even though Suppelsa didn’t get involved in journalism at Libertyville High School, the town of Libertyville had a big impact on his future career. “When I moved from Indiana to Libertyville and you know the Cub games were on every day on channel nine, I just distinctly remember being in the backyard as a youngster having imaginary baseball games doing my own imaginary announcing,” he stated. “So it might have planted a seed there. It wasn’t necessary at the high school, but it was during my years at Libertyville that I began to think about broadcasting.” Suppelsa has been in the broadcasting business for the past 30 plus years, including work that he did in college. He is the co-anchor for WGN news and greatly enjoys investigative reporting. “It has evolved to the point where I really really like working on investigative stories that uncover things that people know about and that we didn’t even know about that might actually affect some sort of change,” Suppelsa said. “Those are the most rewarding.” Thanks to Libertyville, Suppelsa was able to find his true calling and his true talent. What started with reporting for imaginary baseball games in the backyard evolved into a life long career of reporting for the city of Chicago. Despite many people along the way telling him he wouldn’t succeed, he chased what he loved, and proved all of those people wrong. The advice that Suppelsa shares with all Libertyville students is: “Don’t let anybody talk you out of it because you may regret it in 20 or 30 years. I think the simple thing is, if you love something or think you love something, then chase it. And if you really want it, you’ll get it.”

Phillipa Soo In a few short months, the “grammy winning” Broadway musical, Hamilton will be coming to Chicago. Thousands will gather to witness and watch a talented group of actors tell a powerful story. The lead female role, Eliza Hamilton is played by the actress Phillipa Soo and for her, Chicago is familiar territory. Only an hour north of Chicago is a place where Soo can call home. A place where Soo’s acting career began. A place called Libertyville. Soo attended Libertyville High School for all four years and spent a lot of time in two rooms in particular. “I was very involved in the Theatre and Choir program, it was a great experience. Some of my most fond memories were in the theatre and choir rooms,” Soo stated. These are the rooms where she realized her passion for theatre and the art of acting. In these two rooms she spent hours and hours practicing and performing. Many people at Libertyville inspired Soo as well. The teachers along with the other students she met at LHS impacted her and the career she has now. They all persuaded her to pursue a career in acting and she did just that. Now, Soo is living the dream she has had from a young age.

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Being a Broadway Star is not your average career. Soo enjoys having a unique and extraordinary job where she gets to express herself through the characters that she plays. “I get to play pretend for a living! How cool is that!?” Soo said. However, even though Soo gets to play pretend for a job, she also has to live her life out in the real world. Many people come up to Soo and approach her after they have seen a play she has acted in and share their feelings about her work. To know that her work has inspired others makes it all feel real. Despite how far she has come since she walked the halls of Libertyville High School, Soo still appreciates all the support and opportunities that LHS gave to her. Her four years of high school seemed to fly by, but she made use of every moment. She encourages every current Libertyville student to do the same. “When I was in high school I remember being so impatient, but always remember to enjoy it, four years is not a long time,” she said. “You make it what you want it to be.”

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Ike Reilly “Paradise Lane,” “Born on Fire,” and “Hangin’ Around” are just a few of the hundreds of songs rock star Ike Reilly has written. Libertyville is where some of his inspiration comes from. More specifically, Libertyville High School. Living in Libertyville his whole life and attending Libertyville High School all four years, Reilly found his calling. Throughout the years, Reilly developed a passion for music. Writing, performing and touring with the band is something he has loved to do for 15 years. High school, along with other experiences, have shaped his music and writing process. “Every breathing moment affects it. That and everybody I meet and every job I’ve had. I’ve had a lot of jobs, doorman, gravedigger. Lots of different jobs to pay the bills until I can make a living doing this. The work I’ve had and affecting my writing and of course having a family really changes things and makes you have to look out for people other than yourself,” stated Reilly. Generally the music that is written by Reilly has to do with a vast variety. From work to love to lust to drug abuse to dealing with everyday life for American people. “We want people to come to shows and feel exhilarated and challenged, but sometimes in my songs characters say things that can be offensive or provoking. That’s the music I liked as a kid,” explained Reilly. At a young age, Reilly wasn’t involved with many activities that have to do with music. During high school, Reilly ran track for all four years and ran cross country for two years. On a more musical standpoint, he played the harmonica. He loved to go to the Brainerd building where there was a stair wells with great echos. He would just stand there and listen. These times in his life affected his writing in what he was told in high school. “I think at some point the things people say to you when you are in

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these formable teen years can affect you forever, especially if it’s negative or if it feels real,” expressed Reilly. Reilly’s high school experience was unique. When he went to school here, LHS was not as academically competitive. “I enjoyed my high school there but there was no pressure like there is now to achieve. Without the pressure to achieve, I was a fantastic underachiever,” said Reilly, laughing. For him, high school was not the most terrible experience but it was bad enough for his favorite part to be leaving. Running on the track above the gym of the Brainerd building was also the other favorite part. Reilly thinks it is pretty fulfilling when people come to the shows, know the songs and are able to sing along. A while ago, he got a taste of high schoolers that had a love for music. He and his band were playing a show and twelve high schoolers were trying to sneak in. Reilly thought that they were just high schoolers that were out doing things that young people should do. He let them into the show, that was 21 and older, and put them in a corner where they couldn’t drink but still watch the show. Although Reilly tours all around the country, he has only played in Libertyville twice. He performed here in 2015. Through it all, Reilly found what he loves to do and what he is passionate about. With some help from Libertyville, he has went on to follow his dreams.

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By Gabby Struik Layout By Jillian Ruff We all see the world differently. For some, it’s painted in vibrant, angry colors; for others it’s filled with muted grays and blues. For senior Cam Foltz, the world is a jumble of quantum mechanics, spacetime, black holes, and parallel dimensions. His own life is in itself a sort of parallel dimension, as it’s hard to believe that one person could be made up of so many contrasting interests.

Fight! Blue Devils, Fight! Foltz will be joining the Blue Devil Class of 2020 at Duke this upcoming fall. To give a sense of what an accomplishment admission into Duke is, according to naviance.com, the average ACT for admittance is a 35 and the average GPA is a 4.54. Only two students were admitted this year from Libertyville High School and the acceptance rate was only 10.4% out of all the applicants. He considered other schools, including the University of North Carolina as well asa lot of California schools, but ultimately Duke won him over. Photo by Abbey Humbert “Honestly, I chose Duke because for some reason in third grade, I just had an overwhelming desire to go Duke for no apparent reason, and I don’t even know where it came from,” shared Cam Foltz has committed to Duke where he will pursue a carreer in astrophysics. Foltz. “That kind of died down until like junior year, and I went back and visited, and they honestly just had one of the most beautiful campuses and also had a lot of resources offered, like they have a great physics laboratory and other stuff like that.” Foltz is extremely excited to be attending Duke and looks forward to being independent and taking advantage of undergraduate programs at the school.

Astrophysics Matters Out of all the subjects in school, one stood out, grasping Foltz’s interest and causing him to change his perspective on the world around him. During his sophomore year in chemistry class, a NOVA science video on the universe and all its complexities was shown, sparking the flame that would soon burst into a passion for astrophysics. Foltz is currently enrolled in AP Physics I and II at LHS, but finds other ways to engage himself outside of school by reading books on astrophysics as well as seeing Neil Degrasse Tyson(famous American astrophysicist) speak when he has time. Whenever he finds something interesting that he can’t wrap his brain around, he goes and discusses it with his physics teacher, Mr. Michael Cook. “He’s always working outside of class, reading some article; there was one question that he brought in about researchers taking thermodynamics down to the atomic level and doing it with literally atoms,” shared Mr. Cook. “He’s always doing something more than what he needs to be doing just for the class.” Foltz hopes to major in general physics at Duke since there isn’t a specific astrophysics major offered and then pursue a P.h.D in astrophysics or quantum physics afterwards.

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give A FLUX Up in the Air

Photo courtesy of Cam Foltz Over the summer, Foltz went on an excursion through the mountains.

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Most people over the summer attend concerts or hang out at someone’s lake house; instead Foltz took a different route and decided to head into the mountains for 30 days. Foltz found out about the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) through his dad, who had participated in years prior, and was immediately intrigued. According to www.nols. edu, NOLS “takes students of all ages on remote wilderness expeditions and teaches them technical outdoor skills, leadership, and environmental ethics.” Foltz has participated in two expeditions through the program, one this past summer and one the previous year. The first one included hiking in the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming, and the last one that he participated in was a mountaineering course in Wyoming where the group traveled over glaciers using ice axes in order to summit mountains. Both expedition groups consisted of around only 12-14 people and two instructors. Also, during the last four days of the course, the instructors leave the group and challenge them to find an “X” on a map by the end of those four days. “At one point we each got two ice axes and crampons, which are liked spike shoes, and we got to just climb up like a 100 ft ice wall on the side of a glacier” shared Foltz. Foltz participated in the first expedition solely on his own, but for the second, he brought fellow senior and friend Max Michelotti along. “I remember that as we were climbing Gannett, the highest peak in Wyoming, and as we were halfway up, this biplane just came in through the valley and just swung in around the mountains, and it was really cool because you don’t really see anybody out there, and that was like the only person we saw in three weeks,” shared Michelotti. Foltz plans to climb the Denali range in Alaska, which includes Mt. McKinley, during college and summit some other mountain ranges that peak his interest.

Foltz finds himself between the two dimensions of athletics and academics in that he has been playing lacrosse since fourth grade. He plays the midfield position and first started playing on the Warriors club team. Foltz has played throughout high school starting on the freshman team and then eventually playing on varsity his junior and senior years. “Honestly, it’s like the only sport I’ve really been good at,” shared Foltz. “I also just like how it combines everything else: you have to have really good coordination, and there is also a physical aspect, so it just kind of has all the other different sports in one.”

Defining the Universe

Foltz also uses writing as a way to express his thoughts about the universe and our role in it. “Writing for me is just a way to get my ideas out there and have people know what’s going inside my head,” shared Foltz. “I think that you can use a lot of different powerful tools within your writing to make a big impact on people.” Foltz has participated in Writers Week at LHS for the past two years and read pieces about the effect his Wyoming trip had on him to the impact that we all have on the outside universe. Once Foltz became interested in astrophysics during his sophomore year, writing served as an outlet for him to organize and release his thoughts. If he is reading a book on astrophysics, he uses writing to clarify and understand some of the surreal concepts. He hopes to use writing as a tool in the future as he continues on with his studies.

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Photo courtesy of Cam Foltz Foltz in action at a Libertyville high school lacrosse game.

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Autism: Putting the Pieces Together By Jillian Ruff

Layout by Olivia Griffith

With tens of thousands facing an autism diagnosis each year and April being National Autism Awareness Month, Drops of Ink felt it was important to conquer the myths versus facts regarding autism in the hopes of promoting awareness and acceptance.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by repetitive and characteristic patterns of behavior and difficulties with social communication and interaction. The symptoms are present from early childhood and affect daily functioning.” Since there is no one characteristic that defines autism, it is considered a spectrum disorder, covering a wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of disability in functioning. Some people with autism are fully capable of performing all daily activities, while others are more profound and require substantial support. LHS Special Education Teachers (SPED) Amy O’Neill and Amanda Wine explained that there are a wide range of disabilities within autism itself, which can impact a person socially, educationally, and/or functioning depending on the spectrum. Due to such varying degrees, persons with autism are not all the same. Sometimes students may be so severe that they may need to go to a special school while others go unidentified. The spectrum is leveled according to the severity, such as a level one being of a lesser degree than a level two of the disorder. All of which, determines the amount and type of service a student would need. Wine explained, “Many students need assistance with setting up a routine in which they need to follow in order to be successful. The SPED teachers prepare the student for transitions throughout their day because sometimes students have difficulty with changing from one task to another, such as doing a worksheet to watching a video.” LHS offers several different programs for students with autism depending on their need. Both O’Neill and Wine stated that many LHS students receive SPED services for expected versus unexpected behavior, how to handle executive functioning issues and social skills along with support for academics. Most students have a case manager to help them work through challenges in the academic setting, but there are also such groups as Best Buddies and Bridge Group, which help by working on social skills and social opportunities for students. In addition to the special education teachers, persons with autism work with the social worker along with the speech pathologist to work on pragmatic language and the understanding of social cues, which may be innate to those without autism, but often need be taught to spectrum students. According to Wine, the biggest problem within our LHS community regarding autism is the way the student body reacts to a person with autism. “I just think a lot of times people are quick to judge people who may be socially awkward or have difficulties communicating or might not work well in group settings in classes, but I think it is important for people to remember sometimes there can be more going on. Sometimes it can be autism. Just think and respect that people have challenges in

all sorts of areas including social and communication needs. I have had students that have made an amazing amount of growth, which is so awesome to see.” District 128, as a whole, offers a wide range of special education programs. According to Karen Morgan, Supervisor of SPED, “We have a continuum of basic skills course. If a student is able to maintain in that level of curriculum then they stay at LHS. Vernon Hills High School has a program specifically designed for students with autism. Sometimes that program may be a better fit if they are severely on the spectrum. It really is quite a continuum.” Morgan noted that LHS currently has students with autism in everything from AP classes to instructional programs. “The interesting thing about autism is their academic ability. They can have average or high average or superior academic ability, but still can’t perform in a general education class because they get lost. They get lost in opening up a notebook and their chrome book and listening to the teacher’s directions. They have to do things more step by step. If the ability is there, we often put a 1:1 or a teacher’s assistant in those classes so they can help set the students up, make them comfortable, help them with whatever those needs are so they can get the level of curriculum that they can handle.” Autism occurs in every race and ethnic group, and across all socioeconomic levels. However, boys are significantly more likely to develop autism than girls. The latest analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 68 children have autism. With this statistic in mind, O’Neill feels it is important to know how to address the subject, “There is a big push to say a ‘person with autism’ instead of an ‘autistic person’ when speaking of autism.” Senior Jessica Cartwright knows first hand what it feels like to have autism. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism, Cartwright relates autism to being like the character Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory. As Cartwright explained, “Sheldon basically has Aspergers. He is my spirit animal. When he does something, I just get it.” According to Cartwright, “Sometimes people with Aspergers are really smart, but sometimes they appear dumb. Whatever we are passionate about, we are very smart in. Such as the case of Sheldon with science and me with animals. I am passionate about animals and everything else, I just don’t get. I watch documentaries, read things, and trick myself into learning through the depths of Youtube. I am interested to the point, that I don’t really mean to be. It is like you cannot control it.” Although Asperger’s Disorder is considered by many professionals as a less severe form of autism, a common thread that runs through autism is significant trouble with social situations.

Photo by Lola Akinlade Bridge Club and Best Buddies put blue slips on lockers for Autism Awareness month

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As Cartwright concurs, it is common for a person with autism to not respond to social questions and/or cues. This inability can be seen through the lack of eye contact or inability to read social cues. Autistic individuals have a difficult time reading others’ body language, start or maintain a conversations, and take turns talking. “If people don’t know I have autism they treat me like I’m rude and awkward. For instance, if someone asks me how I am, I answer, but never ask them about themselves. Then they give me a look. When they know I am autistic, some people are understanding. It really depends on what they know about it. If they rely on what society believes then they don’t treat me well, but if they are educated it’s pretty good.” Cartwright stated. Cartwright’s rationale for the lack of eye contact has to do with how an autistic person feels. As she describes, “I usually do not speak unless spoken to. Eye contact is a big thing. I don’t give much eye contact. I feel it’s like I’m giving them access to my sole with eye contact. I was called out for not giving eye contact. It’s usually seen as rude. We are not trying to be rude, we’re just uncomfortable.” Although many have a good social understanding of what of what autism is, Supervisor Morgan believes that awareness is the key to autism acceptance. “I feel as though there is a good social understand in general of what autism is, but I don’t think that often times people realize how common it is or what it exactly affects within the students. It is important to teach the school so the ring of spreading knowledge and awareness is important. Students with autism are great to work with and have a lot to offer. If you find the right formula for supporting them then they thrive just like any other student.” No one knows this better than Madelyn Herberger, a sophomore with autism. Herberger explains autism as being unique to each individual. Just as everyone has their own attributes, so do persons with autism. “I would describe myself as quiet, but once people get to know me, I am very outgoing and artistic! I also love languages, Youtube, and anime.” Herberger feels that people often treat her the same as any other “normal” person, but frequently does run across individuals who treat her differently, “I think it’s just because they don’t understand that I have autism and that it can affect how I think and get around.” Herberger would like people to know that autism is a prevalent disorder, yet those with the disorder are still people. “I would like LHS to know that autism is more common than people think. I would also like them to know that autism comes in many different forms, and that everybody should be treated the same, even if they have autism.”

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Infographic by Olivia Griffith

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Crossing Your Mind: Issue Triva By Stephanie Thomas

Test your knowledge on this month’s issue of DOI by completing the following crossword puzzle.

DOWN

ACROSS

1.Which LHS senior will be playing football at North Dakota State College of Science in the fall? (See pages 25-27)

7. Which LHS alumna stars in the Grammy-winning Broadway musical “Hamilton” as the lead female role, Eliza Hamilton? (See pages 10-11)

2. Who said, “Some people like the way it feels, some people wanna kill their sorrows, some people wanna fit in with the popular”? (See pages 17-19)

9. What sport will senior Jamie Stevens be playing next year at Tufts University? (See pages 28-29)

3. In order to accommodate transgender students many schools, including LHS, are imputing non-gender _________. (See page 7)

10. Which LHS soccer coach believes that having a good mentality is important to the road to success? (See pages 30-31)

4. What other local high school will be going to the Shedd Aquarium for their Prom? (See page 6)

12. What 18-year-old female Pakistani activist was also the youngest-ever Nobel Prize winner? (See page 21)

5. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that 1 in ______ children have autism. (See pages 14-15)

14 . All four captains of the girls varsity soccer team have been members of the varsity team for ___ years. (See pages 30-31)

6. According to Senior Sara Thunga, does senior year matter? (See page 23) 8. Who is the editor-in-chief of DOI? (See page 4) 11. Where will senior Cam Foltz be attending college in the fall? (See pages 12-13) 13. How many of the “What’s Trending” images feature Dr. Scott? (See page 9)

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The Other Side of the Story

If you ask Libertyville students how they spend a typical Friday or Saturday night, they’d tell you they usually hang out with friends, watch a sporting event, or maybe just chill at their house. Another activity, however, is also common for students, but they won’t admit it to just anyone. Considered taboo to bring up, Libertyville’s most poorly kept secret is underage drinking. More common than a student would like to admit or a teacher would want to imagine, the truth is that drinking is an incredibly popular pastime for LHS students. For obvious reasons, the students’ perspective on this controversial topic is often not heard. Parents and teachers alike know that drinking takes place, yet the students’ viewpoints are swept under the rug. It’s time to remove the rug, break free of some boundaries, and discuss the other side. No story is complete without a well-rounded understanding, and many students are ready to let their side be known. In order to get a more complete picture, I spoke to students of various genders and ages. Students who don’t drink were not interviewed, as this story is not trying to pit two sides against each other. Rather, the goal was to get in the head of a teenage drinker and better understand why they do what they do. This feature is not endorsing underage drinking and nothing here is my opinion. This is simply the students’ words and secrets translated onto paper.

and stressful environment and need an escape: “there’s not much to do in this town,” stated the honor roll senior boy, and, according to him, drinking allows him to enjoy himself without even having to leave his house. Additionally, some students say they drink to prepare themselves for college. Incredible academic opportunities (for the slight fee of a $40,000 tuition) await, yet what excites some students most are the parties: “everybody drinks [in college], so I want to be a little bit prepared so I don’t, like, die in college, you know,” explained an LHS 18-year-old girl.

Why Students Drink

We’ve all heard the adult perspective of underage drinking and why students should abstain from it, but one has to wonder how much of what these adults say shapes what students truly think. As a general consensus among the interviewed students, adults telling them not to drink has really had no influence on them, as they have come to form their own beliefs. Each student reiterated that they don’t believe underage drinking to be bad if done responsibly: “Obviously no drinking and driving, don’t drink to the point of getting alcohol poisoning, but… as long as you are smart about it and keep it safe, I don’t think it’s that bad,” stated an LHS senior male honor roll student. In his opinion, drinking is a personal choice that is doing no harm to anyone: “There’s a lot worse things out there that I could be doing instead,” he added. There are countless reasons as to why students drink. In the words of rap icon Kendrick Lamar, “Some people like the way it feels, some people wanna kill their sorrows, some people wanna fit in with the popular.” Varying from simply looking for a fun time, to trying to help forget a negative in their life, to trying to fit in and be “cool,” drinking is a multidimensional tool that teenagers use. When asked why he drinks, a 17-year-old male student athlete responded, “I enjoy it. I don’t feel like there’s any downsides to it really. I’ve never had anything bad happen to me because I drink. Why not do it when it’s fun?” This “why not” mentality is widespread amongst teens. Alcohol can boost confidence and make any average student feel like king of the world. Students feel like they are stuck in a boring

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How Drinking Defines You

Some people may drink because they think that it will boost their social standing, but according to those interviewed, this is a ridiculous proposition. Drinking means nothing to one’s standing in high school society, they say. Once thought of as something that only the “fast crowd” or “popular” kids do, that mentality is now gone. Drinking is found in many groups and cliques at LHS, and, although some may think it makes them cooler, the majority of students scoff at that idea. Many adults try to ward students away from drinking by saying that it won’t make them look better among their friends, but this is a futile attempt to scare off teens because they already know this. Teenagers don’t really seem to care what others are doing in regards to drinking; instead, they have the mindset that if something makes you happy, then go for it. LHS students generally don’t judge someone differently if

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they know that they drink, and many stated that they don’t care at all. “No, I don’t really care,” said the 18-year-old girl. “As long as they’re not being stupid — I will judge people who drink and drive because that’s very unintelligent, but if they’re being safe about [drinking] then I don’t care.” The students interviewed brought up the fact that we’ve always been taught not to judge people who have differing viewpoints than you, and they question why one judges when it comes to drinking.They feel that each person is entitled to their own life choices, and the students interviewed expressed that if no one is put in danger by one’s decision to drink, then they should be left to do as they please. A freshman boy who I spoke to, however, did think that drinking says something about a person: “I don’t really care… and I don’t judge them solely on that… but it does say a little bit about them.” A common and often misguided stereotype is that people who drink are automatically considered “bad” people, however that word may be defined. Adults might overlook the positive attributes of a person and shape their judgements simply around something that the kid likes to do for fun, something that is legal in a few short years. This notion is not true among those interviewed, as these students all excel in the classroom and outside of it. All are either current or former athletes, and most boast a well-over 30 ACT score. The 17-year-old male athlete put it best, stating that “there are bad people who drink, but not everyone who drinks is a bad person.” There are exceptions to everything, and the students interviewed believe that grouping every student who partakes in drinking as “bad” seemed rather unfair. The honor roll senior boy did state that drinking could end up defining who you are but only if you let it. “If someone makes it a habit to drink, like multiple times a week or every day or something, then that could end up defining them,” he said. Overall, students felt that there is much more to a person than if they drink or not: “If they’re a good person or a bad person, it’s regardless of that. It’s about their personality,” stated the freshman boy.

the tragedies out of the minds of those who drink. The students I talked to all endorsed drinking and said it’s nothing more than a good time, but all stated they knew when to draw the line: driving while intoxicated. Considered the absolute dumbest and most dangerous thing one can do while drunk, each student said that they have never driven or even considered driving while under the influence. Drinking is thought of as an enjoyable pastime, but all good intentions are thrown out the window if driving is involved. Regardless of what people do, and regardless that underage drinking has become somewhat of a norm amongst many teens, drinking as a minor is illegal. Teenagers risk getting in trouble with their school or parents, not to mention the legal trouble that could take place if caught. Despite this, many students simply don’t care, saying that drinking has become so mainstream that it doesn’t even seem bad anymore: “I never even really think of it as illegal,” said an LHS junior female athlete. This was the consensus among those spoken to. “I never think I’m actually going to get in trouble,” shared the 18-year-old girl. “When you say ‘breaking the law,’ it sounds a lot worse… other things are a lot bigger deal.” She added that it wouldn’t be possible to catch every underage drinker, and that makes it feel a lot safer. The honor roll senior boy admitted that he gets scared about getting caught, but once he starts drinking, all fear dissipates. “It’s fun to do, and I don’t think about the consequences when I’m doing it,” he said.

Drinking Age

The current drinking age in America, despite the frequency of which it is broken, is 21 years old. This age is higher than many other countries, and the students interviewed think that this age needs to be adjusted. Interestingly enough, students didn’t cite wanting to be able to drink more as a reason to lower the age, rather stating that it would cut back on the dangers of drinking. “Having it at 21 makes underage people make more stupid decisions trying to get alcohol and be more rebellious. If it’s legal, then people won’t think it’s that big of a deal,” said the honor roll senior boy. American teenagers are always being shielded from alcohol, making them crave it even more. Some believe that simply having teens with more experience around alcohol could solve a lot of problems. They think of it like driving a car. When you’re 16, you don’t immediately hop into a truck on your first lesson and go 70 down the highway. You learn slowly and ease into it. You learn responsibility and how to be safe. You’re in a controlled environment, and you have people to guide you, so that when you’re ready to go off on your own, you can do it safely and responsibly. The junior female athlete explained that she feels like it has become the norm not to wait until 21 to drink, so one would be better off learning how to do it safely at a younger age than waiting to be unleashed at 21. The drinking age is a controversial topic, one that many in our nation go back and forth on. The freshman boy understands why it’s so difficult to pick an age, and even conceded that 21 might be the best way to go: “I feel like it’s hard to put one age on it because obviously people mature at different times of their lives. So some people would be more reckless [if the age was lowered] while others are ready well before they’re 21.” The overall belief amongst those interviewed is that 16 is an acceptable age to start drinking. They reasoned that if one is deemed responsible enough to drive a car, they should also have the freedom to drink. The students admitted that lowering the age to 16 would most likely never happen, but nearly all agreed

Is it Worth the Risk?

Many students view alcohol as an easy way to guarantee a good time, but that is not always the case. According to The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol plays a part in upwards of 4,000 deaths per year amongst minors, including a number of tragedies that hit close to home at LHS. Despite this, a large number of students still drink believing that they can stand above the statistic. Many things in life bring risk with it: simply crossing the street can have troubling results, and just because one drinks does not mean that they are putting themselves in peril, these students believe. Students feel that many of the terrible results come from poor decision making, adding that it isn’t too hard to be smart and safe. In the opinion of the students, drinkers just have to make sure they have secured a ride home and be able to control themselves enough not to overdrink. “It’s all about responsibility and knowing your limits,” shared the honor roll senior boy. “When I drink, I make sure I have somewhere to stay; it’s really not hard to be safe.” Many teenagers feel invincible, as if nothing they do can hurt them, and this is another factor that allows teens to drink without being scared of the consequences: “I think everyone thinks that, ‘Oh, that won’t happen to me.’ I think that. I guess it could be me, but no one ever thinks that it’s going to happen to them,” said the 18-year-old girl. This mix of naivety and confidence is what pushes

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Conclusion

that the age should at least be lowered to 18 years old. Many new freedoms come with turning 18. For one, you are now considered an adult. As an adult, you can vote, smoke, and join the military, among other things, yet you still have three years to wait until you can legally consume alcohol, a fact that brought differing responses from those interviewed. The honor roll senior boy stated that he doesn’t feel like there is a difference between an 18 and 21 year old: “If someone can decide what’s good for them at 18 years old. When they’re 21, they probably have the same brain power. There’s no difference.” The 18-year-old girl said that those three years don’t seem like much, but they could play a big role in one’s maturity and ability to handle alcohol. “I think those three specific years are big -- because you’re 18 and you’re in high school -- and then you’re 21, and you’re almost done with college. You’ve been through a lot, you’ve been independent,” she explained. She continued that she doesn’t think that the three years will have too much of an impact, but does see how the experiences could shape you.

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There are two sides to every story, even though this side of drinking is probably one that most adults don’t want to hear. Students, however, are willing and want to let their side be known, with some stating that they’d like to possibly reduce the negative connotation surrounding it. Additionally, some students explained that if one wishes to stop underage drinking, they have to get a better understanding of what makes the kid do what they do. The students did admit, however, that they don’t plan on stopping any time soon. Drinking is such a common theme in pop culture and music, it’s no wonder that people are being exposed and tempted by it at a younger and younger age. Students who drink understand that the law says they shouldn’t, but many don’t believe that there is any suitable reason for them not to. Their general feeling is as long as everyone is safe and responsible, what’s the harm?

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Is Chivalry Dead?

Chivalrous acts, such as holding the door open, have become common courtesy for both genders. As a man drops a door on a lady, listen carefully, and you will most certainly catch a whisper of the snide remark: “I guess chivalry is dead after all.” It’s noteworthy, however common it may seem, because this phrase is absolutely correct! Chivalry in the Middle Ages was a code of honor for proper knights to follow. This code provided horsemen and knights with guidelines for religion (fear God and maintain the church), morality (fight for the welfare of all), and for courage (live by honor and for glory). So yes, in fact, the chivalrous code by which knights once lived has disappeared, died right along with the last of the medieval knights, a clash of metal armor its final plea to be upheld. But although the knights may have vanished, the spoken word did not. In more recent lingo, chivalry took on the meaning of politeness and respect towards women, even though the original code only had one rule for women: treat them with respect. Men were expected to pay for dinner, give up their jackets when it got ‘chilly,’ and hold the door open for women (or — protip! — go first through the revolving door). Nowadays, even this translation is starting to fade. Members of the Drops of Ink staff feel that chivalry is not so much dying as it is transforming again, catching up with the equality that permeates our current culture. DOI believes that chivalry was sexist in foundation, but today can no longer exist unless it incorporates both genders. As feminism points out, females are just as capable as males; both genders can hold doors open, pick up the check, and just be gener-

Staff Editorial

Photo by Maria Thames

ally courteous to one another. Now more than ever, women are looking to assert their independence and sometimes, caring for themselves and others is just how they can show it. Thus, chivalry is becoming an equal opportunity for both men and women to show their politeness and respect toward anyone at all — something our society should strive to do, anyhow. An alternative reason for the decline in the traditional notion of men caring for women points to the hookup culture, evidenced through online dating websites, dependency on technology (the classic ‘here’ text instead of ringing the doorbell), and informal or casual relationships. Oftentimes people, especially teenagers, no longer feel obligated to walk to the door, meet the parents, or drop their jaws when they see their dates; all things squeal-worthy in every romantic film have become just a bonus surprise if you receive the added attention, the DOI staff agrees. Living close to a big city may also play a role. The urban scene is dominated by fast-paced hustle and bustle, where efficiency is everything. DOI thinks that compared to more rural areas or the south, the cultural disparities show a big difference between expectations for a man and a woman when it comes to their treatment of each other. Men put themselves last there, whereas here, it really comes down to the amount of effort each individual is willing to give. All in all, DOI members feel that if chivalry is dying, then it’s being reborn as a gender neutral code of respect and kindness. As DOI likes to say, we are all connected, so why not care for and respect every one of your fellow humans?

Note: As this piece is a staff editorial, it is representative of the opinions of the Drops of Ink staff as a whole. The staff is comprised of LHS students from each grade level and spans a wide range of opinions from two class periods, with 39 students total. The author(s) of this piece did not not place their personal opinions in the story; they merely reflected the staff’s thoughts. Opinion 20 Drops of Ink

“How To: Feel Less Ugly” By Lola Akinlade

Drawing By Leeanne Fang Physical beauty has become one of the most important aspects of our society, impairing what should be valued in our world. About two months ago, I came across this YouTube video from an indie filmmaker, Krist Yu. The video was titled “How To: Feel Less Ugly.” The title intrigued me because her videos were art and always had a deeper message; she was never one to place much emphasis on attractiveness. In the video, she mentioned that she came across a Tumblr post that read, “Feeling ugly? Spend 2 hours at Walmart.” So, she went to Target and observed people for two hours, just like the Tumblr post said. Her conclusion was that when you spend time in such an everyday store, you realize that a majority of people are ugly. One thing she mentioned really struck me. She divulged that, “Not everyone is beautiful physically, and I can’t tell you, ‘You are all beautiful physically.’” My initial reaction was one of anger because it was ingrained in my mind that everyone was physically beautiful in some way. However, after thinking about it, that logic didn’t really make sense. The reality is that not everyone fits society’s standards of physical beauty. If everyone was physically attractive, everyone would be models. On the surface this should be an acceptable concept because beauty is a physical attribute and hypothetically shouldn’t hold that much value in our world. However, the concept of physical attractiveness infringes on the way many live their lives. The desire to achieve society’s view of physical beauty often causes insecurity within one’s self. To put it bluntly, most people won’t reach society’s view of physical beauty, but that fact shouldn’t affect the way one views themself. There is so much more depth to mankind than the way we look. Obsessing over beauty is one of the most shallow aspects of

Opinion

our society. When we obsess over the physical, we lose a sense of ourselves. Our time is limited and uncertain on this earth, but we still waste time placing value in the symmetry of faces, instead of focusing on the more significant aspects of life. In the video by Yu, she revealed that, “When someone is so passionate about something, that is so incredibly beautiful.” I could not agree more. Passion is beautiful. Curiosity is beautiful. Creativity is beautiful. Beauty doesn’t just lie on a symmetrical face. People are consumed with society’s idea of physical attractiveness. Therefore, many are only drawn to people based on the way they look. In an informal survey conducted, 15 out of 17 students, who ranged from freshmen to seniors at LHS, said they were more familiar/interested with the life of 18-year-old Kylie Jenner, who is most famous for her face, specifically her lips, rather than 18-yearold Malala Yousafzai, who is a Pakistani activist shot by the Taliban while fighting for female education; she is also the youngest-ever Nobel Prize winner. Although this sampling is a bit disheartening because it further exemplifies the value of physical attractiveness in our society, it is not shocking. Our media places a larger focus on Jenner than Yousafzai. This is not a criticism of Jenner, rather one of our society. Media focuses on what they think people will be interested in. For a majority of my life, the focus in media has been on physically attractive people. Some may argue and say, “it’s not their fault they are attractive.” My answer to that is, of course, there is no harm in being attractive. The problem is the significance we place on being attractive. How much merit should physical attractiveness hold?

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Column Face-off: It does Hadley takes the stance of working hard so that your senior year classes pay off in your first year of college; AP credits and higher level math classes in high school allow you to exempt out of some college courses and become familiar with more difficult material.

Senior Year: More than just a blow-off year By Hadley Van der Bosch

enior year of high school is one of those things that everyone always seems to look forward to. Upperclassmen and parents tell stories of how their senior year of high school was the greatest year of their lives, and it gets fantasized in movies all of the time. Underclassmen look forward to the many fun traditions that senior year has to offer, like the annual water balloon fight, senior ditch day, and the coveted prom. When final exams roll around, the underclassmen think about how nice it will be senior year when they might not have to take all of their finals if they have A’s. Many juniors who are tired of coming to school and taking standardized tests on weekends look forward to the relaxing year that is ahead when they can just blow off all of their classes. But is senior year really a year to slack off? While your final year of high school should be spent making memories that will last a lifetime, school, your grades, and attendance still matter. The beginning of senior year is the time when most people begin to finalize their lists of schools and apply to colleges. That being said, most colleges will see your first semester schedule when you apply. Meghan McHale Dangremond of Tufts University’s admissions office stated in an online admissions blog, “[Senior Year] is not an occasion for laurel-resting, so avoid the temptation of early dismissal AND two study halls AND those wacky electives in underwater basket-weaving.” Taking challenging courses instead of an “easy A” will set you apart from other students. In addition, the rigor of your classes is one of the only things college admissions have to judge your senior year on if you apply early action or early decision. As the semester progresses, taking your classes seriously will pay off. It will make it much easier on yourself when first-semester finals roll around. Even if you have already been accepted, mid-year transcripts, which show your final first-semester grades, are sent to most colleges. Colleges and universities that you apply regular decision to will factor these grades into their initial decision of admission. “As we review applications and find students who may be borderline candidates for admission, we often request that mid-year grades be

Opinion

sent from high school counselors,” stated Mariah McLane Giardino, an admissions counselor from Rochester Institute of Technology. “Do not underestimate the importance of mid-year grades; they can sometimes result in a make-or-break decision for your application.” Once second semester starts, senioritis really begins to sink in, and at this time, it is most important to fight it. Your final grades from second semester will also be sent to the school you decide to attend. Colleges and universities can rescind acceptances and/or scholarships if your grades drop significantly. A 2009 State of College Admission Report stated that during the Fall 2008 admission cycle, 21 percent of colleges reported that they had revoked an admission offer, compared to 35 percent in 2007. The most common reason that colleges indicated for rescinding admission offers was final grades (65 percent), followed by disciplinary issues (35 percent) and then falsification of application information (29 percent), according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. And if the revoking of admissions isn’t enticing enough to make your senior year matter, taking challenging AP and honors classes in high school could make it easier on yourself once you are actually in college. By getting AP credit in high school, it might be possible to exempt from classes and free up credit hours for something fun or more interesting. For example, this year I am taking Calculus even though I will probably have to take it again in college. Because I am taking it now, it will make it that much easier for me later on in my education. I would have done myself a disservice had I not taken the course in high school. Senior year is special for a multitude of reasons, and it is clearly not all about grades. It is a good idea to reward yourself for working hard for three years by having fun and making memories that will last throughout college and the rest of your life. However, senior year is still important for college and expanding your education. Although it is important to enjoy your final year of high school, you should maintain good grades to make the most out of your senior year.

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Does Senior Year Matter?

Seniors Hadley Van Der Bosch and Sara Thunga debate whether or not senior year really matters in the broad scheme of things.

Why senior year does not (really) count toward college admission By Sara Thunga

o start off, I would like to point out the obvious that I am in no way encouraging students to blow off their classes. I am simply entertaining the idea that students can be more lenient in doing their homework and studying in their senior year of high school. I came upon this notion after receiving an email from the University of Texas in Austin, one of the colleges I applied to, after I notified the admissions office that I had decided to drop a class second semester. The email I received read that the university was “not looking at coursework past the end of your junior year.” I’m not sure if this is the case for other colleges, however, colleges that have November or December deadlines for admission applications will have senior year grades noted as “in progress,” meaning their decisions will be made on students’ grades from their freshmen through junior years. That got me thinking. Instead of stressing about grades senior year, perhaps students could take that time to learn more about themselves and spend more time with the friends, whom they will be parting with soon enough. After all, how much could senior year really matter? It is true, colleges do require a final-year transcript, but only to ensure that you have graduated and passed your courses, which should be an achievable goal for this year anyway. Only a drastic change in senior year grades, dropping required courses, or any negative behavior revealed on this transcript could result in a college’s reconsideration, according to U.S. News and World Report. Students often stress about the possibility of their second-semester grades resulting in a reversal of decision from their college of choice. But, according to Huffington Post, there are two types of letters students could receive from colleges regarding this subject: one is from an admissions team, which will note a drop in grades or class changes and would like an explanation, and the second is a revoked acceptance without warning. The former is the most common, but only a drastic change in grades or scheduling (for example, dropping all AP or honors classes for electives) will provoke it. In response, you should acknowledge what you’ve done and explain your reasoning behind it. The latter of the two possible

letters is pretty rare and is usually reserved for non-grade-related infractions, like cheating or getting arrested. I believe, with reason, that junior year is the most important year, and students should focus most of their energy and academic performance on this crucial year. It’s the last full year of high school that colleges see in admission applications, and it should be the year with the hardest course load you can get a “B” or higher in. Your junior year teachers will most likely write your recommendations, and this is the testing year for your ACT or SAT scores, according to PrepScholar. Although it is important to be consistent with class levels from junior year to senior year (whether it’s AP, honors, or regular), slight grade slippage senior year goes under colleges’ radars, according to Huffington Post. Your grades should simply look similar to years past. What students should do senior year is go for those tougher classes, as some universities don’t see grades during admissions process and only count the number of honors or AP classes a student is taking that year, according to getmetocollege. This allows students to be able to be more lenient in doing homework and studying, as their grades aren’t seen by most colleges while they are making their decisions. However, the rigor of these classes may not appeal to some seniors, understandably, so these students can take an easier schedule, but they should fill up that free time with a part-time job, volunteer work, or possibly an internship. This will prove to colleges that a student is using his or her time wisely, even if it is not with school-related studies. So current and forthcoming seniors, fill up the limited time you have left of high school with even more memories because I’m sure you do not want to remember your senior year as the most stressful time of your life thus far. Take a load off, to some degree, and enjoy the final few months you will have left at LHS with no regrets because it will go by fast.

It Doesn’t Sara feels that junior year should be the time to focus on grades and test scores, while senior year should be a time for students to learn more about themselves, spend time with friends, find a part-time job, or participate in activities to better themselves before heading off to college.

Photos by Sam Nelson Layout by Hannah Boufford Opinion

Thundercats fencing team enjoys great success this past season By Mary Kate Mieszala The Thundercats fencing team at Libertyville High School has only strengths and weaknesses. Jackim placed in the top eight in most tournagrown from its debut season in 2013 and had a great deal of success this ments this season, and continued to improve as the season went on. past season. She emphasized that her favorite part of being on Thundercats is “the Three years ago, the Thundercats had 21 students in the program, and sense of camaraderie that accompanies such a close-knit team.” this year their numbers have more than doubled, to 48 participants. Captain of the men’s sabre team, Brian Lemay, thought that the team Junior Andrew Bringle and sophomore Emily Hamilton both added “had a lot of experienced fencers, as well as very quick-learning beginto those numbers because of their connections with friends who were ners that really made our team great this year.” He loves to share his already members of the fencing team and encouraged them to join. passion for fencing with others and help players improve while coming Hamilton expressed that even though it was her first year fencing, it together as an effective team. was a good place to start and the unique sport is “really fun and easy to This was the first time in more than 20 years that a school other than pick up.” Stevenson, New Trier For those who may not or Culver has won the know, the goal in fencing is Conference Champito score touches against your onship. opponent. Each weapon, Price, who just foil, epee, and sabre, have learned how to fence different rules about how and last year, won the when you can score touches. gold medal in the These rules evolved from the men’s epee event historical origins of the weapat the Illinois State on and make the strategy and High School Fencing tactics different for each one. Championship. The foil weapon is a lightBoyle also won the weight sword with a blade gold medal in the that is thin, rounded, and JV Championship in flexible. Epees are are similar men’s sabre this past to foils but generally heavier, season. and the sabre sword tends to Several of the Thunbe wider, flat, and less flexidercats fencers wish ble, except towards the tip. to continue fencing Photo courtesy of LHS/VHHS Thundercats after high school, as “In three short years, we’ve gone from being the newest fencing scholarships Members of the men’s sabre and men’s epee team after winning the conference championship. team in the Great Lakes High are one of the biggest School Fencing Conference unfulfilled scholarto winning the conference dual meet championship in men’s epee and sa- ships in college athletics. bre,” Head Coach Rick Jackim stated. “I’m also very proud that several “While many colleges have fencing teams, the most popular option of our fencers have won gold medals in both men’s events.” is to fence at the club level in college. Many colleges offer competitive The women’s sabre team won second place in the conference dual club programs that travel to other schools for meets and tournaments,” meet. The championship men’s teams’ consisted of sophomore Dylan Coach Jackim stated. Boyle; juniors Bringle, Tore Posterli, Brian Lemay, Brian Weiss, Joe Bringle stated that he definitely plans to fence in college, most likely Fusco, Avi Limer; and senior Remington Price. The team also brought on a club team. Next season, the Thundercats wish to continue to do as home 10 medals from the first two open tournaments. well, and even better, than they did this past year. Junior women’s sabre captain Skyler Jackim thought that the team Jackim indicated that she is “looking forward to helping bring my worked incredibly. women’s team to first place in the conference and building a solid base hard this year while working together and learning each other’s for when I am gone.”

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Cats Attack College By Hannah Hutchins and Alyssa Stokovich Layout by Olivia Griffith Being a varsity athlete takes drive, commitment, teamwork, heart, and even more to continue with the sport in college. So far, the Class of 2016 features 19 senior athletes who all possess these attributes and have chosen to pursue their various sports on a higher level after high school. While these are certainly not all of the seniors who will be playing a sport in college, featured here are six outstanding athletes in their respective sports.

Courtney Daugerdas School: Ohio University Division: NCAA-I Sport: Soccer Position: Forward/Attack Major: Finance Number of years playing: 15 Recruitment process: “I got offers from SMU (Southern Methodist University), Northern

Illinois University, and I was looking at George Washington University for a little bit. I was kind of looking everywhere, but Ohio University contacted me, and I went and visited, and I loved the school. I specifically loved my coach, so that’s why I wanted to go there.” Preparation for upcoming season: “I play with my club team; we play until June in the summer. And I’m working out at a place called All Pro Sports Performance, where I work on agility and speed. I’m also playing varsity lacrosse this year so I can be more in shape. And I work with a special trainer for soccer.” Future goals with soccer: “Just the experience, I guess. Playing for a team in college brings a lot of attributes to the real world, such as leadership and teamwork, and I love playing soccer. I really just look forward to playing four more years of a sport I love.”

Photos courtesy of Openclipart.org, Ohio.edu and Youtube.com

Ethan Fowkes

School: Olivet Nazarene University Division: NAIA Sport: Track Events: 400 meter dash and 4x400 meter relay Major: Criminal Justice Number of years playing: 5 Recruitment process: “The process has not felt that long, but ever since I visited

Photos courtesy of Academickeys.com, Csneaker.com, and portal.stretchinternet.com

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for the first time I received calls and emails from the coaches. At state my junior year I had the opportunity to speak with multiple coaches as well and get a feel for what schools were looking for in me as a runner to get to run in college. I got offers from a couple schools, but overall the coaching staff really helped my final decision. Most of the schools were what I was looking for and after meeting with Olivet’s coaching staff I knew that is where I wanted to go.” Preparation for upcoming season: “I am sent a summer workout that will consist of running and lifting until I get to campus. Once on campus there are lifting sessions a couple times a week and other training sessions leading up to indoor track season.” Future goals with track: “I am hoping to get better in my sport and learn new lessons that can be carried over to outside of sports as well. I am looking to also get new friendships out of meeting new teammates throughout my four years. I [also] hope to make it to the college nationals meet with a large portion of my team next year and for the years to follow.”

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Luke Uransel School: North Dakota State College of Science Division: NJCAA Sport: Football Position: Kicker Major: Business Number of years playing: 1 Recruitment process: “For football, I had to contact a lot of places. I sent my email and all

my highlights and everything like that out pretty much everywhere for football.” Preparation for upcoming season: “I’ve been put on a dieting plan to gain some weight, just kind of getting in and out of the weight room, staying healthy, and just working out is what it comes down to. Oh, and buying a big coat because it’s gonna be a little cold.” Future goals with football: “Ideally, I’m just trying to get out and see what happens. At the end of the day, I’m open to the fact that football might not even be my path. This gave me the opportunity to kick a football again, which is what I love to do.”

Photos courtesy of Amazon.com, Wikepedia.org and Glitternight.org

Emma Davellis School: Aurora University Division: NCAA-III Sport: Bowling Position: N/A Major: Nursing Number of years playing: Competitively for 5 years Recruitment process and decision: “It was a tournament outside of school that I

Photos courtesy of Colleges.startclass.com, Ncaasports.org and Wisgreek.org

found out about Aurora, and the coach contacted me saying ‘Hey let’s set up a visit.’ It was basically everything that the other schools had, like the best parts.” “ I signed and got done really early, like I think in November I officially signed.” Preparation for upcoming season: “I bowl a lot over the summer, I travel to different states to bowl, but academically I feel just kind of have to straighten out the priorities just to see where everything kind of lies.” Future goals with bowling: “I’m going to play it by ear. I want to make sure my academics coincide with bowling. I really enjoy it, like I think it’s fun to watch people do well, so I want to see what I can get out of college.”

Brandon Boulger School: Milwaukee School of Engineering Division: NCAA-III Sport: Lacrosse Position: Defender Major: Software Engineering Number of years playing: 6 -7 Recruitment process: “I got a lot of emails from a wide variety of colleges, [including

schools that are] much better at lacrosse. Playing lacrosse at this school wasn’t that big of an issue, so it was really just deciding which was the best academic fit for me. And this one seemed like it was the one for me.” Preparation for upcoming season: “Probably a lot of running and working out over the summer, as well as maybe teaching a couple of camps. I’m not sure.” Future goals with lacrosse: “Realistically, not that much. It just seems like it’s going to be a lot of fun, I’ll get a nice friend group, but there’s no future in lacrosse. For lacrosse, there’s no way to. It’s impossible.”

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Macey Neubauer School: Miami University Division: NCAA-I Sport: Swimming Events: 100 breaststroke, 100 fly, 200 IM, 200 fly, 200 breaststroke, and 400 IM Major: Business Number of years playing: 12 years Recruitment process: “I began at the beginning of my junior year by looking on

Photos courtesy of Thefire.org, Wikepedia.org and Etc.usf.org

CollegeSwimming.com and finding out the swim teams that my times would fit well with. Eventually some schools gave me offers, but I had already fell in love with Miami and knew that it was the school for me.” Preparation for upcoming season: “I will swim on my club team all throughout the summer to get me in peak shape for my freshman season.” Future goals with swimming: “No [I do not want to make a career out of it], but I do want to continue to swim throughout my entire life.”

Hannah Zerwas School: Clemson University Division: NCAA-I Sport: Rowing

Position: Starboard-3 or 5 seat

Major: Undecided; interest in business Number of years playing: 5 months Recruitment process: “I did a 2,000 meter test, and I sent those times in, and that

was the baseline. From there then I just sent my stuff to Clemson so they [could] see the ability and potential in me, so there is like that risk factor almost.” Preparation for upcoming season: “I’m going to do a lot of running and a lot of rowing in Crystal Lake to build up for those longer pieces.” Future goals with rowing: “I definitely want to row for all four years of college, and then if I love it there’s a lot of national teams that you can try out for, so maybe that’s an after, post-college thing just to continue rowing and being on different teams.”

Photos courtesy of Logonoid.com, Glogster.com and Bnwpix.com

Allison Watson School: Loyola University Chicago Division: NCAA-I Sport: Volleyball Position: Outside hitter Major: Human Services Number of years playing: 7 Recruitment process: “Mine was actually a lot different. My dad just started working at

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Loyola, and I was talking at other schools, and I didn’t have Loyola in mind at all. And my dad was watching one of my tournaments and was talking to the coach at Loyola, and he kind of said something about me playing there, and my dad thought he was kidding. And then I started talking to them, and it just worked out.” Preparation for upcoming season: “The summer workout packet that they give us.” Future goals with volleyball: “Just knowing people going into college will be nice, having the support and starting something new and knowing there’s a team I can go talk to.”

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18 Inside the Batter’s Box By Hannah Boufford Photos by Maria Thames Layout by Hannah Boufford

he crowd hushes for a moment before picking up in full force; the girls in the dugout hoot and the fans holler as she steps up the plate. She taps home with the tip of the bat and takes a breath. Then, hoisting the bat above her head and shoulders, she squares her hips and fixes her gaze on the pitcher. It doesn’t take long before bat connects with ball, doesn’t take long until the ball is far in the outfield, doesn’t take long for her to begin the sprint towards first base. Her cleats dig into the ground, kicking up dirt while she rounds first and has her sights set on second. As the dust settles behind her, it wasn’t a storm or a stampede. It was Jamie Stevens, and she’s on familiar ground, in the zone and focused on the game.

Stepping Up to Bat Initially joining the sport to play with her friends, Stevens started off her softball career in third grade, playing for the Libertyville Girls Softball Association (LGSA). Her mother also played softball at Northwestern University on a scholarship, so Stevens was familiar with the sport even before joining a team. “I loved it from the beginning,” Stevens said. “I loved the sport, I loved the camaraderie I have with my teammates, and I felt like it was the right sport for me.” Advancing from recreational league teams, Stevens joined her first travel team through LGSA in sixth grade and played up until her first year of high school. She joined Northern Illinois Lightning Fastpitch Softball in order to

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play at a higher level. Due to a lack of players at Lightning, Stevens joined Northern Ice during her junior year. In addition to her regular season travel teams, Stevens plays for the varsity team at Libertyville High School. During this time, her travel teams are on a break in order to give athletes the ability to compete in a high school setting; however, Stevens does consider travel to be the regular season for her sport. At the time of her first tryout for LHS, she was the only freshman to make the varsity team. However, her younger age didn’t deter her from playing the game that she loved. Though intimidating at first, Stevens felt extremely included on the team. “While she was the only freshman on the team, she definitely earned her spot,” former LHS teammate Michaela Mooney said. Mooney and Stevens met through the sport and played on the same teams throughout elementary and middle school. The pair then played high school softball together for Mooney’s sophomore through senior years. Mooney now plays Division II softball as a freshman at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. “She is always putting in the extra work. We were always the first ones to the field and the last to leave, which was a norm for us since we both grew up with parents who coached,” Mooney explained. “We were throwing partners every year we were on varsity together and we never rushed through warm-ups. She always takes extra reps until she gets it right whether it is a few more ground balls, swings, or even the fundamental drills we did every day.”

Rounding the Bases As Mooney said, “No one really knows how much work you have to put into getting recruited to play a sport in college unless you go through it yourself.” This was especially true for Stevens, who visited 46 different schools to find her perfect college match. Ironically, Stevens actually found her match at Tufts University through a Naviance search and decided to check out the campus. “I was really looking for a school that had my major. Some people go to college to play the sport and their career is secondary, but I wanted my career after college, my future, to come first and the sport to come second, even though I love the sport,” Stevens said. “Tufts had everything that I wanted in a major and everything that I wanted to get me where I want to be later in life.” Tufts University, where Stevens wants to major in International Relations and Economics while continuing her softball career, is a Division III school just outside of Boston in Medford, Massachusetts. According to their website, Tufts boasts a “unique blend of research university and liberal arts college.” For the Class of 2019, Tufts had an undergraduate acceptance rate of 16 percent and an average ACT composite score of 32. Last year, Tufts softball went undefeated, ending their season with a 51-0 record; it is the best record in NCAA Division III softball history. The 2015 team also won the NCAA Division III Softball Championship. “I think it is amazing that Jamie is going to

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“She brings enthusiasm and love for the game on the bench, up to bat and on the field.”

Tufts to play,” said friend and former teammate Madison Dembinski. “They are a Division III powerhouse, and I know she loves the east coast, so Boston will be the perfect fit for her.” The two played on varsity together during Dembinski’s sophomore through senior years; Dembinski is now a freshman at the University of Dayton. After visiting the campus, Stevens attended a couple softball camps and found that she loved the coaching staff and the team. In order to be recruited at Tufts, a student-athlete must first be admitted to the school before they can say they are a recruit, so Stevens sent her transcript, test scores, and applications over in the summer after working with the coaching staff at camps. “For Tufts, you have to get into the school before they say that you’re a recruit, so I sent in my transcripts in August with my scores, my AP tests and all that stuff, and they said ‘Alright, you can get into our school.’ So I officially applied in November and got in in December. And then they called me a recruit after that,” Stevens explained, smiling. On Feb. 3, Stevens took part in National Signing Day at LHS and signed a general NCAA commitment form because no athletic scholarships are given out from NCAA D3 schools. “I think it’s amazing that Libertyville does something like that because I know neither of my parents got to do a signing day like that, and I know kids who also play softball and don’t really do a signing day, so it was awesome to kind of see where everyone’s going and what sports they’re playing and all the colleges,” Stevens said.

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Four Years, Full Count Though Stevens may consider travel softball to be her normal season, that doesn’t mean she puts any less effort into her spring seasons at LHS. “She is one of the hardest working players I’ve had the privilege of coaching,” said Head Coach Elissa Wisniewski. She is always 30 mins early to everything and willing to stay late if need be. She will never settle for just ok, she expects perfection from herself and she will keep going until she gets it. “Can I have one more?” is a daily motto for her.” Wisniewski has coached Stevens since her freshman year when she tried out for Wisniewski’s fall travel team; she is Steven’s coach for both travel and high school softball. Not only does Stevens have a strong work ethic both on and off the field, but she is also a strong teammate. At games, Stevens is always interacting with those on her team, whether it’s cheering from the field and dugout, sharing handshakes or congratulating her teammates. Though the team does not have official leadership positions like captain, Stevens is a strong leader on her team. “Jamie is someone who I’ve always looked up to,” said friend and teammate Kenzie Rother. “There’s never a moment that she doesn’t give it her all. I was really nervous my freshman year and she brought me into the team and made me feel like I was really meant to be there.” Rother is a year younger than Stevens, and though both played LGSA travel together, their

first year being on the same team was Rother’s freshman year. The two now also play for Northern Ice together. While Stevens acts as a role model for her younger teammates, she also acts as a positive force on the team, both in the dugout and on the field. “On the field, she would get so excited when our team would make a good play, and she would also be the first one there to pick you up after you made an error,” Mooney said. “She brings enthusiasm and love for the game on the bench, up to bat, and on the field.” Stevens brings this same enthusiasm to the plate and to the field in her position at third base. The power behind her swing and in her arm is incredible and would distinguish her from the rest on just skill alone. When asked what her biggest personal accomplishment was, she said either being recruited for Tufts or being named to the 2015 All-State team last year. However, Stevens talked much more animately about her team’s accomplishments and explained that her favorite memory in her softball career was beating Carmel Catholic High School in the regional championship during her sophomore year. “It kind of made our team legitimate because in the last 20-some years, Libertyville softball wasn’t exactly the greatest program; we just didn’t get very far,” she said. “The last time they won regionals I think was late ‘80s, early ‘90s, so we kind of became a legit team then. It just felt like we were one family; we weren’t separate. It was a pretty amazing experience.”

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Goals set High By Demi Glusic

Photos by Sam Nelson

Layout by Becky DeAcetis

The 2015-2016 girls’ varsity soccer team at Libertyville High School is looking to make a strong comeback from previous seasons this year. The team is working on skills that will take them farther in the state tournament than they have been in years.

The whole team in thieir hands Captains are the stronghold of any team. They are the ones who push team bond. “In years past, in my experience playing, if a team doesn’t the team to their limits in hopes of getting everyone to succeed. Whether get along very well, we haven’t done well.” the team’s spirits are up after a win or down after a loss, the captains are Being very close has also had a slight downfall for the team as well. the ones who lead by example. The captains expressed their thoughts of how the closeness of all of the LHS seniors Julia Neigirls can lead to distractions on the field. weem, Danielle Pacholski, “Sometimes, we get a little distracted Annie Thompson, and Ellie at practices when we should probably Daugerdas are this year’s not be,” said Thompson. Yet, even with captains for the varsity girls a little distraction, the team is working soccer team. All have been tirelessly in their strides toward success. playing soccer since at least The captains all stated that their goal preschool, some even longer. for this season was to help the team win Playing from such a young as many games as possible and get as age gave these girls a big far into the state tournament as they are head start when it came to able. playing for the Wildcats. After the boys team made it all the Since freshman year, all four way to state and won the championship of the captains have been game this past season, there is undoubtmembers of the varsity team. edly pressure on the girls to follow the Having four years of boys’ path to success. experience on varsity has Some of the pressure is coming from given the captains different the girls themselves, pushing themselves From left to right, captains Daugerdas, Pacholski, Neiweem and Thompson. perspectives in regards to towards a victory of their own; towards team bonding. All captains expressed how this year’s team has clicked the rings that their coach, Andrew Bitta, tells them about; towards the exceptionally well with one another. satisfaction of proving this year’s team is worthy of the accomplishment. “Our team unity is really good,” said Neiweem. “We are very close While sprinting to state is an achievable goal, there’s no doubt that it with one another, and we bond really well.” Having close relationships will take a lot of practice, preparation, and even luck to get there. with each other has helped them both on and off of the field. “It just has to do with how hard people are willing to work throughout “I think that’s going to help,” said Daugerdas, responding to the strong practices and games,” stated Pacholski. “We’ve got big shoes to fill!”

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Backing up to look forward After picking up momentum at the end of the 2014-15 soccer season, this year’s varsity girls soccer team is motivated to come back as strong as ever, and get as far into the state tournament as they can. Last year, the team finished with a 12-5 record. After having made it all the way to the state semifinals, the Cats ended up losing to Mundelein in a very tough, competitive game. Some of the key players from last season have graduated, but many others are now stepping in to fill their gaps to create a well-rounded team once again. This year’s team is led by head coach Andrew Bitta, who has been the coaching the boys and girls soccer teams at LHS for 31 and 23 years, respectively. He was named the Coach of the Year by the Illinois High School Coaches Association for girls soccer in 1991, and was entered into the Illinois High Schools Soccer Coaches Association Hall Of Fame in 2001. Practicing for nearly two hours every day after school, the team prepared themselves for the opening game of the season. A 3-1 victory against St. Viator was the start to a season the Wildcats had hoped for. At halftime, it was still anyone’s game with the score tied at 0-0, until the second half when the scores of juniors Taylor Underwood, and Natalie Jaroch led the team to their first victory. This first win set a positive outlook for what the team can accomplish this year if they work to their greatest potential. Shortly after the opener, the Wildcats fell to New Trier and Mundelein during the next two preceding games. “We’ve got to be ready for

everybody, because everybody wants to kick our butt,” said coach Bitta. “Everyone wants to beat Libertyville!” Strong motivation led to a comeback with the girls winning the following two games: first, against Grant with a 7-1 win and then again against St. Ignatius, which was also the first round of the Pepsi Showdown. Each hour of practice and each victory brings the Wildcats one step closer to the final win that everyone has their eyes and hearts set on. The boys winning state showed them that their hard work can pay off. “The girls, they want to be the same,” said coach Bitta. “They saw what the boys accomplished and they’re feeling like ‘why can’t we do that, too’? And they can! They really can; we just need to get better in a few places.” Everyone on the team wants to see that every individual is successful when playing in a game. Their close bonds help everyone to work well together to strengthen the weak spots on the field. Even if the majority of the girls on the team don’t go on to play soccer after high school, the main goal of the coaches is to teach them life lessons that they can apply in the future. Playing a sport can form skills that can be applied to many situations in a lifetime outside of high school sports. With more games in the future, anything can still happen. Yet, with the team’s willpower and determination, their dreams of making state is always a possibility. “Everyone’s been playing well,” expressed coach Bitta. “It’s just a great group to work with.”

‘‘“It just has to do with how hard people are willing to work throughout practices and games, We’ve got big shoes to Fill!”

‘‘

-Danielle Pacholski

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Spring has finally arrived. We look forward to seeing you following after-class practices and games. And you have time to come over any day for a quick lunch.

Spring is also party-planning time!

Our chicken and Greek potatoes. They star at many celebrations. We cater parties for a few and corporate events for many. Tell us your ideas and, together, we will plan a great celebration. Regular and catering menus www.fodraks.com Show your student ID card for a Regular Menu 15% discount or Free Fries with Sandwich Purchase.

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