November issue by Michael Gluskin

NOVEMBER 2015 VOLUME 89, ISSUE 3

The Security Bunch Pages 14-17

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 Katie Vrba, Social Media Editor Sara Thunga, Copy Editor Jillian Ruff, Community Service Coordinator Kate Vittore, Staff Fun Director

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact us at doi@lhswildcats.org

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 Carly Wegren Emma Williams Emily Yates Kaitlyn Zabadal

Michael Gluskin, Faculty Adviser November 2015

the

Rea der s

Letter to

2015-2016 Staff Listing

Hey readers! You may be confused as to why you’re reading our November issue in December, and I’m here to explain why. Our Drops of Ink staff feels that as the school’s news source, it’s our obligation to be transparent not only with the faculty and administration, but with the student body (you guys). So, here I go... On Wednesday, Nov. 18, our staff was informed that our November issue, that was scheduled to be put out on Thursday, Nov. 19, would not be passed out due to an executive decision made by the administration to withdraw it. This decision was made because of an inaccuracy in our magazine. This inaccuracy resulted from misinformation given to us by a source. We did not include an individual who is a part of the security team on the cover because we were originally informed that he was in the position of a monitor. This individual was placed in the section with the monitors, but not on the cover with the rest of the security team, as he should have been. As soon as we were made aware of this, our staff worked hard to fix the errors and get the magazine out to our favorite readers ASAP. As a student-run publication, instances like these are inevitable. We, as a staff, always try our best to make sure all content in the magazine is accurate, but mistakes do happen. This mistake was not ours, but we still felt we should fix it to make sure we honor all of the members of our beloved security staff who work hard to keep us safe. But hey, look on the bright side --you get to read TWO DOIs in ONE month! As always, our staff is open to answering any questions you may have. You can shoot us an e-mail at doi@ lhswildcats.org, and we will do our best to give the best response we can! We’re sorry that our issue was delayed (I know you were all looking forward to reading it), and we appreciate you bearing with us during this frustrating time. Also, make sure you are participating in our contests throughout the year. In each issue, we have a key word or phrase hidden in the magazine. This month’s key phrase is “Christmas Day.” Once you have located the phrase, direct message us @LHSDOI with the key phrase, article title, and page number as well as our hashtag--#ThinkInk. Each person who does so by the end of the day on Sunday, Dec. 6 will be entered into a contest to win a $10 giftcard to Starbucks. By the way, this issue is awesome, so start flipping the pages. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Maddie Werner Online Editor 2

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4Orchesis Provides New Changes 5Coming Soon to Netflix 7 November Trends 8-9 Dealing with Divorce During the Holidays 10-11 IMEA 12-13Making Waves 14-17Standing Tall in the Halls 18Staff Editorial: Ctrl-ing our education? 19 Column: “What did you get?” 20 Column: Describe a time you overcame adversity. 21Triple Threat 22-23 Hustle, Hit, and Never Quit With a recent shift in the Orchesis schedule, the season will take place during the spring this year.

From movies to television series to documentaries, Netflix has a variety of new shows coming soon.

Along with cold weather, new November trends are rushing in.

The holidays are a stressful time for almost everyone, but for students with divorced parents, even more complications arise.

Numerous talented students made the highly selective Illinois Music Education Association’s festival.

Between styling celebrities and designing her own products, this LHS alumna has had a great deal of success after her days at LHS.

Security guards are familiar faces to much of the LHS student body, but many don’t know their stories.

When is the recent addition of new technology in the classroom too much?

Throughout people’s high school careers, one major force pushes students to get higher grades; intellectual competition.

The college admission process can be a long and stressful one.

The varsity football team had one of the strongest seasons in program history.

Senior Katherine Liu started playing badminton in seventh grade and has been playing ever since.

Contents written by Hadley Van Der Bosch Cover photos by Kayla Fiore; Design by Kayla Fiore & Becky DeAcetis Contents

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Orchesis Provides New Changes By Brianna Baez

Photo by Sam Nelson Juniors Annie Obereiner, Meredith Cashman, and Amanda Mudd wear last year’s Orchesis shirts in the cafeteria, where Orchesis previously practiced.

The director of Orchesis Mrs. Eryn Brown, has confirmed that there are new changes to the program this year. The rehearsal season will now be in the spring and performance times were moved to the middle of May. Previously rehearsal times were in the winter and performances were within the first week of March. The main reason the changes were made were to have a more safe rehearsal space. Due to the fact that there is no dance studio space on the school grounds, the JV and varsity poms teams, and the Orchesis company, have all shared the cafeteria after school for rehearsal time in previous years. Several years ago, there was a multi-purpose floor installed on one portion of the room just for this reason. The other side of the cafeteria is not a safe surface for the practice and the work done by Orchesis and other teams. Therefore, the changes made allowed the team to practice to their full extent and allows more students the opportunity to participate in Orchesis. Mrs. Brown has said directly that “We have not begun rehearsals yet, but I believe this change will make a huge and very positive difference for both Orchesis and Poms groups. It will also help us avoid cancelled rehearsals due to snow days that we had to worry about in the winter.”

News

Libertyville High School’s Orchesis group is an extracurricular student dance company. The LHS fine arts department offers Orchesis to both male and female students ranging from grades 9-12. Orchesis performs a variety of dances throughout their season. Their goal is to broaden the students’ creative abilities and develop their choreographic and performance skills. Auditions will be held in February and the performances dates are in May. Each year, 60-80 people audition, and last year in Orchesis, there were 46 dancers with an additional 18 dancers participating in the Orchesis Men’s Ensemble. Orchesis provides materials such as costumes and props by using their budget and the items in their pre-existing costume library. Orchesis does not provide items such as dance shoes, tights, or other dance materials. The directors at Orchesis encourage anybody who is interested in dance and working with people from different dance backgrounds to show up for the 2015-16 Orchesis auditions. Flyers will be posted around the school along with an informational meeting that will be held in December as tryouts get closer.

Drops of Ink

COming soon to Comedy

By Kaitlyn Zabadal Layout by Becky DeAcetis Photos: Netflix and Ew.com

The Ridiculous Six

Fuller House

Degrassi: Next Class

Tommy (Adam Sandler), who was raised by Native Americans, discovers that he has five half-brothers. Together, they go on a mission to find their father. This film is a basic satire of westerners.

The beloved D.J. Tanner from Full House is now all grown up, widowed, and a mother of three. She reaches out to her best friend, Kimmy Gibbler, and her sister, Stephanie Tanner.

This series is a reboot from the original series Degrassi: The Next Generation, and it tells the stories of new students navigating high school, which is filled with drama.

Stranger Things

Luke Cage

A young boy disappears into thin air and his mother must confront terrifying forces to get him back home safely.

Another Marvel comic book character will be brought to life in this new series, featuring Luke Cage, an ex-con with superhuman strength and unbreakable skin, who now fights crime.

Jadotville

War Machine

First They Killed My Father

Jadotville is a war-drama starring Jamie Dornan, as Commander Patrick Quinlan, based on the 1961 Siege of Jadotville (in the Dominican Republic).

Based on the novel The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan by Michael Hastings, this film shows the story of a man who fought in Afghanistan.

Based on the novel by Loung Ung, this film shows the struggles of war from a child’s point of view.

December 11

2016

Early 2016

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Knights of Siddonia: Season 2 2016

A thousand years after nearly all humans have fled earth, Nagate, who has lived in isolation nearly his entire life and is brought to fight a terrifying monster in the Hopeless War.

2016

Action

2016

Family

Dawn of the Croods

A Very Murray Christmas

Mascots

This new series is a prequel to the hit 2013 movie The Croods, which tells the story of a prehistoric family and their adventures.

Bill Murray stars in his own Christmas-themed musical. He worries no one will show up to his T.V. special, due to a very bad snow storm.

This “mockumentary” portrays the events of the 8th World Mascot Association Championships, starring Christopher Guest, who also directed the movie.

December

Feature

December

2016

Drops of Ink

CHECK OUT THE WEB #ThinkInk LHSDOI.COM

Congratulations, soccer! To relive their triumph in playoffs and at state visit LHSDOI.com.

“Finals will possibly take place prior to winter break in 2016” By Emily Yates, Staff Writer

“LHS Students of the French Exchange Program give their reactions to Paris attacks” By Emma Williams, Staff Writer

Photo by Alyssa Stokovich

Photo courtesy of Margot Rouxel

“Behind the Cover of DOI: What it’s really like to be a student journalist” By Maria Thames, Staff Writer

Tidbits

http://doi-tidbits.blogspot.com/

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

Photo by Grace Bloom

“Social media dominates our world today. It’s how we interact, how we present ourselves, and how we distract ourselves... I wondered what it would be like to not have access to these platforms, and to take a break from having to be putting myself out there on my SnapStory and my Instagram feed. So for the next week, I’m going to give up social media in its entirety...” Read the rest at Tidbits! Feature

Photo by Lola Akinlade

“For me its not really what has happened but what I do about it. I can’t erase my experiences, but I can choose how I let them affect me.” Rape victim who requested to be anonymous for privacy reasons 6

Drops of Ink

Photo by Katie Vrba

Starbucks Holiday Red Cup

On Nov. 1, Starbucks released its famous red cups to launch its holiday season. The new, and now unadorned cup, recently sparked controversy in November. You can find these cups for a limited time at Starbucks across the globe.

Photo from www.media.breitbart.com

No-Shave November Every year, November is the time for “No Shave November” where guys can decide to not shave their beards all month. Drops of Ink would like to thank those who participated in the #DOINoShave contest on Twitter and Instagram. The rings have recently grown in popularity during Pandora’s recent 3-for-the-price-of-2 promotion. With a wide variety of colors and styles, the rings can be purchased in store or online at www.pandora.net and range between $35-$135 each.

By: Alyssa St okovich

Photo

Acapella

Timberland Boots

With styles for both men and women, these popular fall boots can be purchased in a variety of stores or online at www.timberland.com and range between $120-$160.

Nove mbe

With growing popularity of funny videos on Twitter, this new singing app lets users record videos and layer them on top of each other to make a complete song. You can download this app for free in the App Store.

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www.

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issot o.com

Photo from www.pandora.net

Trend s

Photo from www.snopes.com

Pandora Stacking Rings

Photo from www.pinterest.com

“American Horror Story: Hotel”

The American Horror Story saga continues into its fifth season, which centers around lead actress Lady Gaga set in the haunted Hotel Cortez in downtown Los Angeles. You can catch it on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX.

Feature

Chicago Bulls

Photo from www.imgoz.com

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the Chicago Bulls kicked off their regular season with a 97-95 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the United Center. In November, their season was in full swing with 7 additional wins up to the Nov. 20 game against the Golden State Warriors. The Bulls’ first December game is on Wednesday Dec. 2 against the Denver Nuggets.

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Dealing With Divorce During the Holidays The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone: all the food, all the planning--but for some students with separated families, the holidays can be especially difficult. “The holidays can be challenging for any student. Between seeing relatives you haven’t talked to in a year, your opinionated Aunt Hilda, maybe a lot of travel, cramming for finals, and just being out of a routine. Anyone can feel stressed,” explained LHS G-P LST social worker Mrs. Jenny Andersen. “When a family has experienced a divorce, there may be unique stresses, like splitting time between different houses or changes in family traditions.” LHS social worker (A-F LST), and one of the leaders of the Changing Families support group at LHS, Mr. Greg Loika explained that one of the hardest aspects is figuring out how to split up time among family members. “I think probably for students dealing with a separation or divorce, it just becomes an element of figuring out time. How do you visit everybody? How do you spend time evenly with everybody? That just becomes logistically a little more difficult because there [are] more places to go,” stated Mr. Loika. Senior Kathryn Kamees, whose parents are divorced, shared why the holidays can be stressful for her. “The holiday times can be stressful when trying to coordinate schedules in case extended family on either side is coming into town,” she said. Besides a jampacked schedule, the holidays can also bring negative feelings to the surface, especially for students who are new to their situation. “It brings up some feelings of ‘I wish’ or ‘[want] things to be back the way they [were].’ Especially for students who are going through a newer situation, I think it’s just a change from what they might be used to. That can bring a whole lotta stress,” explained Mr. Loika. While the holidays can be difficult, Mrs. Andersen expressed that planning and communication are essential and can make things go more smoothly. Mr. Loika stressed the importance of talking about how you feel. “It’s important to talk with your parents whether they’re together or not about how you feel because they don’t always know. In fact they more often do not,” explained Mr. Loika. “Divorce is hard for kids. Very often they feel that they’re stuck in the middle and it’s a hard place to be...But the more that I think kids openly communicate about what they want, the more they can feel that they are a least a part of the decision-making,” stated Mr. Loika. In addition, Mr. Loika explained that friends of those with changing families need to be supportive and understanding around the holidays. Every family has their own situation and own way of handling the holidays; every family experiences different negatives and positives. One common way that the holidays are handled is by splitting them up between parents. Often times, this is accomplished by celebrating Thanksgiving, for example, with one parent or family one year and the other the next. “For holidays, they switch off each year, so for one year, my dad will have Thanksgiving and my mom will have Christmas, and then the next year, they will switch,” explained senior Tara Schneider.

Feature

By: Tia Pertzilka Photo: Maria Thames Layout: Kaitlyn Zabadal

Senior Nina Reiter, who lives with her mom, spends the holidays in a similar fashion. “Every holiday is usually left up to me to decide who I want to be with,” Reiter explained. “My dad always goes to Michigan for Thanksgiving and Christmas to visit our family there while my mom stays home. Depending on how I feel each year, I split the two holidays - one with my dad, one with my mom.” According to Reiter, she, “[has] been splitting up time between [her] parents since [she] was about 5. “I’m pretty used to this stuff by now,” said Reiter. Other families, including Kamees and her parents, choose to break each holiday into two by having two celebrations instead of one. “I normally spend the day of the actual holiday with my mom and then celebrate with my dad either the day before or after,” said Kamees. While less common, some families even come together as one during the holidays if the parents continue to have a strong relationship. Schneider explained that sometimes this is the case for her. “My parents are pretty good friends still, so if my dad has Thanksgiving dinner, he will invite my mom over if we happen to be home,“ she shared. While many people with divorced parents have the ability spend time with both of their parents, this is not the case for everyone. For some people, the holidays can be devastating reminder that they cannot see their parent. “Holidays are a difficult time [for me] because everyone is with their families and I don’t get to be with mine,” shared an anonymous junior, who chose to remain anonymous due to her situation. According to the student, her mom has full custody and she is not allowed to see her dad. Even though a person may not be able to see a parent, there are still other ways they can communicate. “There [are] circumstances where you don’t have a relationship with somebody where you can’t see them,” explained Mr. Loika. “Sometimes students, as they become adolescents, start to really determine who they have a relationship [with] and who they don’t. So I guess it depends if it’s a situation where you’re not spending time with someone because you are choosing not to--if it’s just logistically you’re unable to spend time with them--[try] to find ways to spend time [with them].” While the holidays can be tough, they can still be a time to come together, regardless of the way they’re spent. “The holidays are all about celebrating family, and, even when a family changes, there is so much joy in being with each other. New traditions can be made, and, maybe, double the presents can be had! In all seriousness, the holidays can be a wonderful time, no matter what a family looks like,” shared Mrs. Andersen. Reiter believes the holidays are a time for her to come together with her extended family. “The main thing that is stressful for me (or still difficult) is feeling like I don’t get to see each side of my extended family enough,” expressed Reiter. “It’s hard for me to see all of my cousins and grandparents and aunts/uncles throughout the year, so the holidays really allow us all to come together.”

Drops of Ink

Infographic: Katie Vrba

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Feature

Gabby Struik & Jenna Grayson

What is IMEA: IMEA is one of the largest of the 52 affiliates of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). NAfME advocates for arts education programs on a local, state and national level and works to educate more people about different forms of music. According to the IMEA official website, “the mission of [IMEA] is to promote lifelong music learning and to provide leadership for music education.” This organization is nonprofit and contains more than 5,000 members statewide. The state is broken up into nine districts; LHS falls into District 7. Each school is allowed to have a certain number of students try out for each of the four main sections: choir, orchestra, concert band and jazz band. “Usually, the band has a set number that it’s allowed to send. So they send 16. The orchestra just depends. I usually send five to 10, somewhere in that realm or similar amounts,” shared Orchestra Director Mr. Jeremy Marino. “They also have a limit, you can only send a couple people per part. Something in between 25 to 35 people.” By making IMEA, students also have the chance to qualify for All-State. It’s a rule that freshmen and sophomores can’t audition for All-State, but any juniors or seniors that make it to the IMEA festivals have a chance. Depending on each district every year, the IMEA board members decide how many people to take from each district. They typically take the people who had the highest scores for the IMEA regional audition or who were sitting in the highest chairs at the festivals. Each district has individual festivals and Mr. Marino describes the day of the Festival as taking “during one of the first three weekends of November and they go and they show up at 8:00 a.m. and they rehearse all day with people that they never met before and they rehearse with a guest conductor and then, usually about three o’clock, there is a performance and the band and the choir and the orchestra will perform.”

How the Process works: Before the actual auditions begin, students in choir, band and orchestra are pre-screened by their directors. Auditions are open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. The students also receive different pieces that they must have prepared before the actual auditions. For band and orchestra, the majority of participants receive a set of scales -- all of the 12 major and melodic minor scales -- two etudes and sight readings. Choir students must present tonal exercises, as well as a couple of prepared pieces along with some sight readings. All three sections of IMEA share in the sight reading component. The sight reading component takes place during the audition when participants are given a small passage they have never seen before. They are given 30 seconds to look over the passage and then must play it to the best of their ability. This tests how well the students can play a piece that they weren’t given the opportunity to prepare. Choir, band, and orchestra all meet in different places at different times for their auditions. For example, this year the senior chorus audi-tions were hosted here, at Libertyville High School, on Oct. 5; senior orchestra auditions were hosted on Oct. 6 at Wheeling High School; and senior band auditions took place at Stevenson on Oct. 7.

Festivals for IMEA: Performances for IMEA take place next year from Jan. 27-30. However, District 7’s Elementary Festival and Senior Festival took place on Nov. 7 and the Junior Festival took place on Nov. 14. The final District 7 event takes place on Nov. 21 at Niles West High School. IMEA is an incredibly high honor for any orchestra, band or choir student and those participating in the program are admired for their talent and dedication.

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IMEA Students:

Hannah Manetsch

Sarah Broughton

Band:Sarah Broughton, Sam Clawson, Gillian Filler, Meredith Goldin, Allison Goldman, David Lee, Jeffrey Lee, Harriet Legan, Annika McDermott-Hinman, Laurie Niederbrach, Eli Roller, Annie, Thompson , and Alex Wells Orchestra: Hannah Manetsch Jazz: Maxwell Chan, Jonathan Groebe, Andrew Jacob, Jesse Moderwell and Sam Scheck Choir : Mia Akers, Collin Bartsch, Patrick Dunleavy, Ellie Frega, Jonathan Groebe, Anthony Milunas, Philip Nauman, Jackie Ovassapian, Zach Pearson, Sarah Pirih, Adam Pozdro, and Taylor Skie

Instrument: Flute Section: Wind Ensemble Grade: Senior What IMEA means to her: “It is a great honor to be part of IMEA, and I am proud to be representing my school in a musical manner.” Broughton adds to this that she feels “music is part of my soul.” Musical Background: Broughton has been playing the flute since fourth grade when she joined band at Butterfield Elementary School. Her main reason for joining was that her siblings had done it before her and she was interested in following in their footsteps. She still enjoys band because every song can be interpreted in different ways, which she said never stops being intriguing.

Instrument: Violin Section: Chamber Orchestra Grade: Senior What IMEA means to her: “It is a huge honor. I auditioned my sophomore year and didn’t make it; it’s really hard to make it, so I’m excited to be able to have a new experience in a different orchestra setting.” Musical Background: Manetsch first started playing the violin in third grade. She has been a part of orchestra for eight of the nine years that she has played. She said she still loves playing the violin because each piece creates a special adventure and even old pieces change and teach you new things every time you play them.

Adam Pozdro

Jeff Lee Instrument: Clarinet Section: Wind Ensemble Grade: Senior What IMEA means to him: “It means that the long years of dedication and practice have all culminated into something, it’s like a visible and tangible reward for all the hard work that you put in.” Musical Background: Lee began playing the clarinet in fourth grade back in New Jersey. He originally joined band because he liked how it is a different way of working and learning since it focuses on different things like artistic ability and technicality of notes.

Vocal: Tenor Section: Choir Grade: Senior What IMEA means to him: “IMEA to me is a recognition of my talents as a singer and is a great honor. Being able to sing with 250 of the most talented singers in our district is a truly humbling and invigorating experience!” Musical Background: While Pozdro has always sung, his first serious experience in singing came when he was required to take a vocal music class at Oak Grove for the eighth grade play. Design by Blair Abington

Photo by Jenna Grayson

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Making Waves Written by Carly Wegren Photos by Lola Akinlade and Sam Nelson Layout by Sara Thunga of them were. After periodically helping out with shoots like these, Potempa quit her job at the time, at a salon in SoHo, and announced her official availability. After that, the world of hair was at her fingertips -- literally. Her first true experiences as a stylist were with Bob Racine, a painter discovered by Andy Warhol. “For two full years, I hardly made any money. I worked 15-hour days, and sometimes I’d make $100 but I just did it, I loved it so much,” said Potempa. During a shoot in which Racine requested that the model have snakelike detailed hair, Potempa showed her true expertise. She showed him how to do a French fishtail that prompted him to call the agency to suggest they take her on as an artist. All the while, Potempa was working with the artist Daniello, a celebrity stylist for musicians such as P!nk and Cindy Lauper. Eventually, Potempa’s hard work and time with both Racine and Daniello resulted in her being signed to their same agency, Wallgroup. At the time, she was only 22, making her the youngest member of the agency. By age 23, she was also signed as a spokesperson for Aussie.

Walking from her living room to her bathroom, talking on the phone in her New York apartment, Sarah Potempa suddenly realized she has no clue why you have to hold your curling iron upside down and wrap it backwards in order to curl your hair into perfect, beachy waves. She promptly hung up the phone with her sister, Erin, and sketched out the idea of a rotating curling iron. Erin had been having some trouble in her law firm in Chicago, feeling undervalued as a woman. Potempa asked if her sister would want to start a business with her - solely based off a sketch of a rotating curling iron. Erin promptly quit her job and joined Potempa to transform an idea into a reality.

The Beachwaver is Born Through her four years of experience in makeovers with Aussie, Potempa found that she loved to help women and make them feel beautiful. “We literally follow around celebrities, it’s insane. Any photo you ever see of them, I’m often in the background. We follow them to make every photo perfect so I feel like there are easy ways to show girls how to do that and also explain to them that [the photos] aren’t all real.” Not only were celebrity photos misleading, but beauty editors were at fault as well. Beauty editors everywhere - who wrote articles on how to curl hair - had no clue how to actually do their own hair, Potempa said. She saw a huge disconnect between the girl at home who does her own hair and the girl writing the article that just gets her hair done because she can afford it. To help bridge this disconnect between everyday girls and celebrities, she created the Beachwaver, an innovative rotating curling iron. But the curler wasn’t created overnight - in fact, it took years to perfect. Continuing to style hair in joint with her efforts to create a new business,

Background Sarah Potempa grew up in the Midwest along with her four siblings, attending Libertyville High School and The display of Sarah Potempa’s hair tools even winning Homecoming are located in her vibrant and trendy office Queen in 1998. Besides space. being an active member of the Swing Dance Club, the Student Council President, and a member of the choir, Potempa also loved participating in sports like basketball, tennis, volleyball, and softball. Her interest in braiding her teammates’ hair was what initially sparked her desire to explore her passion for hair. Laughing, she recalls scouring the Yellow Pages in hopes of finding a salon in need of help. She truly struck gold in Mundelein’s Hair Directors, which was run by the single, female owner. The owner mentored Potempa, from having her examine advertisement after advertisement on her first day to watching instructive VHS hair tapes. The owner inspired Potempa to pursue her dream in hairstyling. Despite her inclination to skip college, Potempa attended NYU with the support of her parents and earned a background in business. As a Resident Advisor at NYU, Potempa attained a connection to a producer of celebrity photographers through mutual friends. “She’s [the celebrity photographer] pretty much the one that changed my life”, Potempa affirmed. “She totally set me up.”

Experience Without any portfolio or images, Potempa embarked on one of her first photo shoots with a famous photographer and model (set up through her NYU connections), having absolutely no knowledge of who either Feature

Sarah Potempa uses her unique and popular Beach Waver to curl senior Carly Wegren’s hair. 12

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Potempa was sucked into a whirlpool of success after gaining connections to a man who worked for QVC, a cable television network specializing in home shopping. Rachel Zoe, celebrity fashion stylist, was upset with the models QVC had booked for the launch for her clothing line. “I was doing her hair and she was like, ‘OK Sarah, you’re modeling.’ And I was like, ‘Oh God, no. She put six-inch heels on us and a huge fur vest and like bangles up to here [gesturing to her elbows] and I was like, ‘I can’t! I don’t even wear heels!’” During this event, Potempa grew close to a guy who worked for QVC at the time, as they shared laughs concerning Sarah’s modeling moment mishap. Later that year, Zoe had another event in New York to actually launch her line. At the time, Potempa was pregnant and “felt like a mess,” but she suggested her curling iron idea to her QVC friend, who was also an attendee of the event. He immediately introduced her to members of QVC who then invited Potempa to meet to discuss a future pitch meeting, which led to talk of a prototype. A prototype of such an iron created through a design firm would cost at least $10,000, though, and she didn’t even know if her idea was going to stick. Utilizing their skills in engineering and business, Potempa and Erin sought out a team to help create their prototype. For about a tenth of the cost of what the prototype would’ve costed through a design firm, The Beachwaver was born, and it was an instant success.

Since creating the Beachwaver, Potempa has designed an entire collection of haircare items available for purchase. She claims their straighteners are just as awesome as the notorious Beachwaver. Her bubbly humor creeps through clever titles of products like “Help your selfie,” which includes a book on how to take the perfect selfie along with a clutch and styling brush. While the Beachwaver Co. already possesses substantial popularity, Potempa sees the company becoming even more popular after the airing of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this winter. Yet she fears that the international publicity will incite customers from other countries to purchase the Beachwaver, which is an issue as its outlets are only compatible with U.S. outlets. Will the Beachwaver’s waves reach other corners of the world? We’ll find our answer in the coming weeks.

Q&A Q: Why move back to Libertyville? The company was started in New York and you loved it so much there. A: “I have two kids, a 5-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, and Erin, my older sister, has two kids. I never thought we’d come back; I still work in New York, and I’m there every week, but my husband is also from the area, and my sister was actually the first to come back. It was like one of those moments where [we were] like, ‘Okay, we own the company, we have all this stuff, we’re growing so rapidly,’ and my sister really felt that family is so important.” Q: I read that your Beachwaver is the Official Hair Sponsor of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show? That’s amazing! A: “It’s a big deal for us as a company. A year ago they used the tool and had wanted us to be a part of it, but we were too small. We’ve never done this before, so, for us, the only reason we’re doing this is because it’s the perfect tool for the show. Every girl has told us in their reviews that they’re obsessed and feel like a Victoria’s Secret Angel. It kept coming up and coming up and it was perfect when [Victoria’s Secret was] like, ‘We want you to be the sponsor of the show.’” The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will be airing internationally on Dec. 8. Q: What was it like styling the President? A: “So, he was actually a senator at the time, and it was a photo shoot in D.C. for the inside of Vanity Fair. I went there, and the photographer wasn’t done setting up, so [the president and I] ended up talking for about 45 minutes. We were just chatting, and he was like ‘Yeah, I’ve been to Libertyville, I know your hometown.’ It was just a really normal, random conversation. When I went in and started the photo shoot, and the photographer I had worked with at the time asked him, ‘Oh, did you know Sarah’s from Chicago?’ and he was like, “Yeah, she’s my homegirl.” For that photo shoot, the one thing I really wanted to do was trim his eyebrows because they were really unruly. After that shoot, his assistant called and I came back and did the cover for Vanity Fair, which actually ran twice, with the photographer Annie Leibovitz. It’s one of the many crazy experiences I’ve had.”

Sarah Potempa smiles while standing in front of her colorful office wall.

Giveaway

Prize: a Wrap Up and a Half Up (Retail $15) To Enter: Follow “thebeachwaver” Instagram account and follow DOI’s Instagram account “LHSDOI.” A photo will be posted of Sarah curling someone’s hair and you must post a comment tagging a friend in the photo in order to enter your name in a random drawing to win the prize! The photo will be posted the day the issue comes out and the winner will be selected December 10. Feature

Drops of Ink

Standing Tall in the Halls By Hannah Boufford and Hannah Hutchins Layout by Hannah Boufford In the parking lot. At the front desk. Stationed in the hallways. Libertyville High School’s security team has a ubiquitous presence at school. Each member of the team brings their own unique traits to the job, allowing the group to function dynamically with wide ranges of knowledge and experience. From being police officers to professional baseball players to fire chiefs, the LHS security team has done it all. Among their responsibilities here, security is in charge of scanning in visitors to the school at the main and studio theatre entrances, checking over 50 exterior doors, and being visible and available in the hallways. This team of eight professionals have the security of the building and safety of students as a top priority. However, interacting with students and forming relationships with them come as a close second. Each of the eight security guards said that interacting and forming relationships with students as they mature in their four years at LHS is one of the best parts of the job. “They teach me a lot, and we teach each other a lot,” Ms. Joan Boro said, regarding the students. Head of security Mr. Mike Dolan commented, “It’s fun, every day is a little bit different, and you know, we just all really enjoy it. We really enjoy your company and seeing your faces everyday.”

Mike Dolan Head of Security

As head of the security and safety department, Mr. Mike Dolan is the longest-tenured security guard at LHS. He is currently completing his eighth year as part of the LHS security team. In his position as head of security, he is not only responsible for the safety of the building, but he also helps manage the team and give our scheduling assignments. “I think the biggest thing is you can’t take yourself too seriously, you know, by saying you’re head of the department because I’ve got pretty, pretty sharp people working for me,” Mr. Dolan said. However, his eight years in security haven’t been his only years at Libertyville High School. Mr. Dolan grew up in the town and graduated from LHS. Mr. Dolan played soccer, ran cross country, and played a bit of football and baseball. He also participated in Student Council and was a member of the L Club, designed for athletes who had won major awards in their sports. His three children also graduated from Libertyville. From there, he went to Illinois State University for college and got a job as a firefighter. He spent nearly 33 years in this position, 30 with the Libertyville Fire Department, and received many awards and accomplishments. Among them, he retains a certificate from the federal government deeming him as an executive fire officer and has three archived research papers in National Fire Academy’s library. He was also a paramedic for 25 years, per requirement. From 1975-79, Mr. Dolan was a firefighter and paramedic for Lake Forest Fire Department, and in 1979, he became a firefighter and paramedic for Libertyville. In 1996, Mr. Dolan was promoted to Lieutenant, and, in 1997, he was again promoted, to Assistant Chief. “I was also in one of the first three or four paramedic classes in Northern Illinois,” he further explained via email. “Guess you could say I was a pioneer of sorts.” Mr. Dolan retired from his position as Assistant Fire Chief in November 2007 and took a job as a security guard at LHS. Throughout the past eight years, his favorite part is watching the students mature every year between their freshmen and senior years. “This is an outstanding group of kids, and I’m just glad to say that I know a lot of you guys,” he said about the senior class in particular.

Photos above by Blair Abington Feature

Drops of Ink

Tim Akers, Security Guard Meet Tim Akers, or just Akers, as he is known to most students. As a part of the security and safety team, Akers’ job is to watch the doors, direct traffic, roam the building, and most importantly, make sure the students at LHS are safe. “It’s an unfortunate position that we have to have, but I’m glad to be able to be a part of a team that helps monitor the safety of the students and assist with providing a safe place where students can come for their education,” Akers said Unlike most of the guards, Akers doesn’t come from a law enforcement background. Before joining the LHS security staff, Akers was a substitute teacher, and before that, he was a minister. Akers was involved with youth ministry at a church in Wisconsin, but chose to leave to pursue other career options. As a security guard, Akers is able to interact with kids on a daily basis, which he enjoys. This is Akers’ third year as a security guard at LHS, and he loves the Libertyville community. “I just think Libertyville High School is a great place with a lot of opportunities, and I’m glad to be able to be a part of it,” said Akers.

Photo by Blair Abington

Joan Boro, Security Guard While most students know Ms. Joan Boro for her position as the only female on the security team, they probably don’t know about her volunteer work. For about 20 years, Ms. Boro has been using her free time, and living space, to help foster dogs. Eight years ago, Ms. Boro helped found Underdog Rescue, a volunteer-based, non-profit foundation that helps rescue dogs and find them homes. In eight years, she has helped others adopt more than 600 dogs. She also worked with a phone company for 22 years and was a 911 dispatcher for a little bit, providing her with background in management, emergency, and awareness. Ms. Boro’s favorite aspect of her security job is knowing and interacting with the students while protecting them at the same time. Not only does Ms. Boro enjoy the relationships formed with students in her job, but the atmosphere appeals to her as well. “I enjoy just the environment altogether. You know, participating in all the different events and seeing the accomplishments within the school that the students have... whether it be for theater, for choir, for football or sports,” she said. “Just knowing that and seeing that, and seeing the level of energy -- it’s a good feeling.”

Photo by Blair Abington

Dave Field, Security Guard From deputy chief to private investigator to LHS security guard, Mr. Dave Field has done it all. “I was a police officer for 32 years. I retired as a deputy chief from Lake Forest Police Department,” said Mr. Field. After attending Western Illinois University for law enforcement, Mr. Field immediately began working for the LFPD, eventually rising to position of deputy chief. However, he didn’t originally want to go into law enforcement. Mr. Field had always wanted to be a park ranger, but due to the lack of contact with people, he decided to take another route. At the age of 55, Mr. Field retired, and soon joined a friend’s private investigating company. After a few years with the company, Mr. Field decided to look for alternative options, and saw the ad for a security position. Mr. Field has lived in Libertyville most of his life, and decided that becoming a security guard would be his way of giving back to the community he has been a part of. “You want to give back. After living here and raising my kids in this town, you just want to give back,” Mr. Field said.

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Drops of Ink

Photo by Hannah Boufford

Donald “DJ” Johnson, Security Guard

Photo by Hannah Boufford

Mr. Donald Johnson, more affectionately known as “DJ” to most of LHS, has been working at LHS for 21 years. He received an undergraduate degree in radio, TV, and film and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where he also played football. After graduating, he worked for CBS in Greensboro, North Carolina; NBC in Charlottesville, Virginia; and NBC in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was also a general assignment reporter. He then came to Libertyville in 1993, working as the head of media at LHS for 16 years. He taught a media course and ran CatTV, and under his lead, the program started video streaming on the Internet. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, DJ also helped coach football with Coach Kuceyeski. Though DJ occasionally still works for FOX Sports Net as a broadcaster, he became a security guard about six years ago when the security department was shifting their duties and responsibilities. DJ also explained that, due to additional department shifting, he currently works as a study hall and cafeteria monitor but still retains a security title. In this role, DJ’s number one priority is to keep people safe. He also loves to interact with students and form relationships with teachers and staff members. “You realize, too, later on when people become adults, maybe you don’t think you’re having the impact that you think you’re having on them, and you see them when they’re grown up and they come and go ‘Oh, Mr. Johnson! By the way, I appreciate what you said or did’ and that’s when you realize that your role is important, no matter how small or large,” DJ said. “In this community of students and people, your role is important.”

Pat Kelly, Security Guard As the newest face of LHS security, Mr. Pat Kelly takes his job very seriously. “I take pride in what I do and do it to the best of my ability,” Mr. Kelly said. Mr. Kelly began working at LHS three years ago as a lunch room and study hall monitor and this year, he was officially added on to the security and safety team. Before Mr. Kelly worked at the school, he worked at the Mercantile Exchange in the Chicago Board of Trade for 16 years. Before that, Mr. Kelly was a minor league baseball player for the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays organizations. Due to his love of sports, Mr. Kelly helps coach the freshman girls basketball team, an activity he said he loves doing. Mr. Kelly enjoys being a part of the security team and being able to get to know the students, as well as the staff. “It’s a pleasure coming to work everyday, and in life, if you can enjoy coming to work every day, or enjoy going to school, or whatever you end up doing… if you enjoy it, that’s all you can ask for,” Mr. Kelly said.

Photo by Blair Abington

John Linden, Security Guard

Photo by Blair Abington

Prior to becoming an LHS security guard nearly three years ago, Mr. John Linden was a police officer. He spent 30 of those 34 years at the Glenview Police Department, though he lived and raised his three sons in Libertyville. As an officer, Mr. Linden worked undercover narcotics, was a deputy in a rural area of the state, and then worked more patrol jobs while working at the Glenview PD. While there, he was a detective for five years, before spending another five years in the public relations. To around 14 schools, he was known as “Officer Friendly.” During this time, he finished his master’s degree in education, helped write health and safety programs for kids, and was a school resource officer. “I was in a middle school for a year, and then, after that, I got promoted, so I went back to patrol,” Mr. Linden explained. “I ended up as Commander overseeing the facility and all the equipment for the police department.” He was also in charge of all training. After 34 years as police officer, Mr. Linden retired because the timing was right. “I wanted to leave at a young enough age where I could do something and enjoy it, and not stick around too long, but I still maximized my pension,” he said. As a security guard, he feels that his police experience has helped him in his position and allowed him to teach others, as well as learn from them. His favorite part of the job in interacting with students, watching them grow and getting to know them on a personal level. “I try to have fun with the kids,” he said. “We’re here to help protect them and keep them safe, but there’s no reason why you can’t do that in a fun, lively, engaging way.”

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Drops of Ink

Mike Madden, Security Guard Mr. Mike Madden is the man most athletes, performers, and club members are familiar with. Mr. Madden is the night guard at LHS, with a shift from 1:30 to 10 p.m. However, most students don’t know his actual name. Mr. Madden gained the nickname “Moose” in high school wrestling. “There was a professional wrestler called Moose at the time I was in high school. I mean, I don’t know why people think I look like a moose, but it stuck,” Mr. Madden said. Mr. Madden graduated college with a degree in biology and soon worked several different security jobs before going into the microfilm business. Soon after, Madden got a job consulting, and later went on to go into the consulting business on his own. “When I went into business myself consulting, I was primarily helping with productivity improvement in businesses,” Mr. Madden said. “I traveled the world, I was all over, mostly remote areas.” After traveling the world helping with different businesses, Mr. Madden decided to leave that job and pursue another one. He decided to go back into security, as he was familiar with it and wanted to stay active. “I’m not one to stay retired, I like being with people. I think it keeps me younger, being around the kids,” said Mr. Madden.

Photo by Hannah Boufford

MEET THE MONITORS Sheryl Barbian 3 years at LHS Position: In-School Detention Monitor

Diane Bauer 10 years at LHS Position: Cafeteria Monitor

Kim Booy 2 years at LHS Position: Cafeteria Monitor

Photo by Hannah Boufford

Photo by Blair Abington

Photo by Hannah Boufford

Also creates the “School News” links on the lhswildcats.org homepage

Minerva Lara About 14 years at LHS Position: Monitor

10 years at LHS 5 years in security Position: Cafeteria Monitor

Nickname: Minnie

Feature

Joe Ravagni

Also known as: Coach Joe

Drops of Ink

Ctrl-ing our education? Staff Editorial

The Miami Herald/Tribune News Service

The more we progress in our society technologically, the more our education will have to do the same. Is there a moment in the day when we aren’t affected by technology? When it isn’t cooperating with us, it’s the end of the world! And that fateful moment you realize you forgot to charge your Chromebook overnight…we will all face that situation at least once in our high school careers. So with technology shaping the way the school and classroom operate, adapting is the only option; but is that a good idea? There are pros and cons to everything in life. And the technology dependency we have in school is yet another example. Many DOI staff members noted that they loved the fact that they don’t have to carry big, clunky textbooks from school to home and back, and from class to class. They also noted that new platforms like Pear Deck and Kahoot! make learning more fun and enjoyable. Not only do they benefit the students and their learning experience, but it also helps teachers keep their students alert and able to absorb the information, which means no more falling asleep in class. Email and social media connect teachers to students as well, which many DOI staff members said they enjoyed. Teachers and students can connect on a more personal level, which can help the students learn better. With the plus side, there also is a downside. Our staff believed that it is easier now for things to get deleted and/or lost. Re-typing that essay you spent five hours on is not ideal, right? We believe it is frustrating when technology fails us. Students may rejoice when

the Smart Board is unresponsive, but for teachers, it’s as annoying as your car not coming to life in the winter time. WHY WON’T IT TURN ON?! Lessons are then shortened and not all the information is taught, hampering the students’ learning experience. Our staff believes the distracting nature of a screen is also a concern. For teachers, it is vital for students to pay attention to the information that is being covered so that they then can do well in the class. Pros and cons aside, the amount of technology in school that we use depends on us. Of course, we can’t stop technology from integrating into the curriculum, but instead of typing up those history notes in a Google Doc, it can be more beneficial to go old school and write them with a pen and paper, which is said to help you connect to the information you’re writing down better than if you were to type it. We think that finding a balance is a way to combat how much technology controls our education.If ebooks work for you, great. If the good old textbook has you learning more efficiently, that’s okay too. Our staff believes technology is society: It is around us at all times of the day, every day, and it’s only a matter of time when paper materials are phased out altogether. The process has already begun and there’s no way to stop it. Teaching styles will change, and already have, and students have to learn in different ways. However, we must keep this old saying in mind: “everything in moderation.”

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 40 students total. The author(s) of this piece did not place their personal opinions in the story; they merely reflected the staff’s thoughts.

Opinion

Drops of Ink

“What did you get?”

By Emma Williams

Cartoon by Alex Pagura

well-adjusted for the future. But the way competition happens here is not conducive to an environment of growth. The need to beat and belittle others in order to feel secure in your own intelligence is not cooperative or healthy. You should feel proud of your work, always. You should feel safe to make mistakes, as you can often learn the most from them. What about the students who struggle? Or even the student who is consistently second-best, first place just barely slipping through his fingers? To equitably consider the negatives of competition, it is necessary to look at social facilitation’s evil twin: social inhibition. This states that when in the presence of others, an individual will perform difficult or complex tasks even more poorly than if he were alone. For students who struggle, this makes perfect sense. Here’s the lowdown of a potentially slippery slope: you don’t understand a concept. You’re too embarrassed to ask the teacher for clarification for fear of being ridiculed by your peers. You convince yourself that you’ll never understand it when you try to study, effectively terminating the chance for you to learn. You fail the portion of the assessment that focused on the topic. Again, you’re embarrassed when people ask you how you did on the test. You say you didn’t study as an excuse to avoid feeling dumb. And you feel a twinge as you recognize that you were the only thing standing in the way of learning. But that last part’s not always true. The reason for you standing in the way of yourself, for convincing yourself that you couldn’t do it, was that fear. That fear of being ridiculed, that fear of being called “stupid,” that fear of not performing well, even when you gave it your all. And while I know that story may have been overdramatized, it’s got a lot of truth in its frankness. The vicious cycle of intellectual competition scares people into justifying the slackage from being the best they can be. I’ve certainly experienced this in my high school career, and I know many others have similarly put themselves down at one point or another. So while competition may be capable of providing pressure, let’s strive for cooperation instead. Let’s teach each other, and support one another, and make everyone feel like they can always be their best.

You can feel it: eyes boring through your head to look at your paper, hot breath creeping closer to your neck. Then comes the question: What did you get? Competition is a wonderful motivator. It encourages perseverance, effort, innovation, and problem solving. No stranger to athletes, competition often energizes sports and is the reason for such dedicated practice. Football, soccer, and volleyball games often have overflowing stands of boisterous fans who want to feel like they have won when one of our dominant teams triumphs. But what about when it’s not just a game? What if there’s no team to support you? What if you’re judged on your mind or something it created? The green buzz of intellectual competition permeates the atmosphere of every classroom. From homework to group work to test scores, everything is shared and compared. The students with the best ACT scores are celebrated throughout the whole school. The best projects are boasted about to the class. Examples of stellar work are put on a pedestal in the hopes of inspiring improvement in others, and while those decorated students may burn red in the face, frustration may burn deeper in the students who were not distinguished. Undoubtedly, there are benefits to intellectual competition. Striving for the highest grades in the class often mean you have to work the hardest. Dedication and conscientiousness are just some of the traits a high-achiever probably has. In addition, social facilitation has proven that individuals will perform their talents at an even higher level of skill in the presence of others. So perhaps for the students who find tests to be a breeze, the fact that their behavior (i.e. test grades) will eventually be observed by their peers could actually make them perform better. Intellectual competition also breeds creativity. If you want to stand out, you have to be unique. You learn to trust in your own ideas. Realistically, it’s preparation for the rest of your life. Humans judge and compete, and if you can learn to thrive in the pressure now, then you will be

Opinion

Drops of Ink

Describe a time you overcame adversity. By Josh Bragg

Photo by Kayla Fiore

This is one of many Cats that will be headed off to college next fall. You prepare all summer for this moment. Blood, sweat, and tears went into the forging of a masterpiece. As the clock winds down, the reality of the situation begins to settle in. Before clicking send, make sure to run through your entire application for errors -- check that; run through it another time for good measure. The time has come to hit submit. Your reward? Nothing. Nothing but the sheer satisfaction of being put on hold for another six weeks. So … now what? The last several months have been devoted to boosting your resume with obscure clubs and random community service. Your only friend during this process was Naviance, who was always there to support you through your highs and lows with her charming ways. Now, you can talk to others who won’t shout about what your personality type means for your career path -- yes, you can also have a conversation without bringing up your ACT scores. Friday nights no longer need to be dedicated to exaggerating how many activity hours you have. The number 650 will never again be as important to remember as your social security number. Gone are the days where you’re lowkey using your Chromebook in class to finish up that dastardly Common App essay. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. If only you could write this essay after you open your dream college’s admittance decision letter ... The importance of this application should not be understated. I mean, choosing a college is only the biggest decision you’ve made in your 18-year-old life; the next four years are hinged upon these 650-word essays and if the teacher writing your recommendation letter doesn’t hate you too much. No longer are your parents going to be able to babysit you. It’s now the true beginning of your own adulthood,

Opinion

your independence. No big deal. But it seems like just yesterday you were that awkward freshman trying to write an essay on how the conch in Lord of the Flies is a symbol of order and power for lit class. Tumbling through Driver’s Ed was a tedious task, but well worth the reward. If you get rejected from your dream college, it’s not like it’s a feeling that you haven’t experienced before during your homecoming ask. Four years and seven semesters, and now it’s time to decide. Time flies as fast as how long it takes to get from class to class during a passing period. The weeks of November go by; you enjoy your turkey and, next thing you know, it’s already December, a few weeks away from D-Day (decision day). You reflect on your application, wondering what could have been better. Maybe if you would have actually cared in that blowoff class. Maybe if you would have gotten your ACT together and prepared for the big test. Maybe if you didn’t have an 89 in that one class right before finals. Time is ticking; the day of your Last Judgment is approaching, yet it’s still so far away as to keep you teased even longer. This dilemma parallels the mystique of Schrödinger’s cat. You’re both accepted and denied at the same time; your fate will only be revealed when you crack open the letter. I guess you can say your curiosity kills the vibe. The jolly, everyday mailman arrives at your driveway and deposits the message into your mailbox as you lurk in the background. The plot thickens as you open the seal and read: Dear distressed LHS student, if you’re reading this ...

Drops of Ink

Triple Threat

By Emily Yates Photos by Stephanie Thomas Layout by Mary Kate Mieszala The presence of strong leaders and skillful players was responsible for the Wildcat varsity football team’s incredible success this season. These three athletes fit both of these descriptions; they stand out among a group of talented seniors, doing everything they can to better themselves and their teammates.

Seniors Noah Moderwell, Riley Buncic, and Jon Evers have been top performers for the Wildcats this year.

Noah Moderwell Noah Moderwell, the starting running back for the football team, stands out for both his talent and his strength. His seven-year football career has culminated in an outstanding senior season both for him personally and for the team as a whole. He has been responsible for 10 touchdowns, many when the opposing team was least expecting it. If the focus is on the quarterback, Moderwell utilizes his speed and agility to score. He’s been able to play more this season than he ever has in the past, as he starts in every game. “His running has been a key part of our offense’s tremendous success,” declared Coach Budge. Moderwell noted that the unique bond between the team is one of the key reasons for their success. They are all very close both on and off the field. “We like to make fun of each other and make light of hard situations. We try to keep things relaxed under the pressure,” he stated. Moderwell reiterated how lucky he is to play alongside his talented teammates. They have learned how to work with each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Moderwell is one of the many senior leaders on the team whose experience and talent will carry them towards further success. Moderwell, like the rest of the team, has one goal this season. “All I want is to do well and win state,” declared Moderwell.

Riley Buncic

Riley Buncic, a first-year transfer from Carmel High School, excels in his position of middle linebacker. Buncic is in a unique position, entering into a talented, close-knit team in his final season of high school football. Luckily for him, he had been playing with most of these guys for seven years prior to high school through the Libertyville Boys Club. Because they spend so much time together both on and off the field, Buncic has been able to reconnect and revive friendships with his teammates. He revealed how exciting it is to be back with them, citing the team’s strong connection with one another as a vital component to the team’s winning streak. He recognizes that being a good teammate is one of the most important qualities of being a leader on the team. “We lift everyone up instead of bringing them down in the cases that someone doesn’t do well, and we have each other’s back so we always know there’s someone out there to help,” said Buncic. He has an important position on the team as he unites the defense and calls plays, making sure everything runs smoothly on the field. He puts all of his effort into helping the team succeed, and Coach Jones recognizes his talent. He described Buncic as “a natural athlete” with a “great size-to-speed ratio.” He is always a part of the action, delivering key plays at crucial moments, including an incredible 99-yard interception return for a Wildcat touchdown against Warren.

Jon Evers Jon Evers, a varsity starter of two years, has proven his abilities to lead by example. As a senior, Evers leads an experienced offensive line as the team’s left guard. He has been playing the sport for seven years and can barely believe his football career is coming to an end. Evers has started in almost every single game both this season and last. Head Coach Mike Jones calls him quick, physical, and smart. Coach Tim Budge, the defensive coordinator, describes him as the “anchor of one of our best offensive lines since I have been at LHS.” Coach Chris Davis, the offensive coordinator, stated, “Jon is incredibly consistent and works hard in practice day in and day out on his technique.” His work ethic and commitment do not go unnoticed by his coaches. When asked about his personal achievements, Evers always managed to bring the conversation back to his teammates, or as he likes to call them, his brothers. “We’re really just a family. [We] do things for one another, and I think that’s really made the difference this year,” said Evers. He plays his best for the sake of his teammates, quoting positivity and leadership as the two qualities he tries to bring to practice each and every day. He appreciates the consistent support from the fan-filled student section. Seeing the unity of the fans adds that extra motivation to win, according to Evers. His eyes are on the prize as he finishes up his last season, doing whatever it takes to win it all, not just for him, but for his “family.” Evers exclaimed, “Being with them...seeing them...doing it for them...we’re trying to win a state championship.”

Sports

Drops of Ink

Hustle, Hit, And Never Quit

Badminton is a physically and mentally exhausting game of strategic skills. It demands for the right timing and positioning to hit the birdie. Senior Katherine Liu knows the demand for such skill. Born in Florida, right outside of Disney World, Liu’s childhood was Goofy. She moved to Libertyville around first grade, where she and her family had to get to know a new area. The transition was difficult but worth it. Liu has many qualities that make her stand out from other students at LHS. Her love for puns contributes to her witty sense of humor. Making people laugh is something that makes her happy. Liu plays the viola and is involved in musical activities at the school. Her family loves to travel and explore new places. But what stands out about Liu is that she has a love for badminton. Badminton is not a casual interest for Liu but rather, a passion. According to Liu, her interest for badminton took off in seventh grade. In the beginning, it was just a “backyard sport” that was fun to play from time to time. One thing led to the next and Liu’s father started playing for a team. Occasionally, she would tag along. By Abbey Humbert Ever since then, the birdie has been flying off the racket since Liu learned the fundamentals of badminton. and Demi Glusic She responded, laughing, “This sounds really weird, but when you hit it right, the sound it makes, it’s really satisfying. Obviously I don’t play just for that sound, but I feel like that’s one of the biggest rewards.” Layout by Becky The sound might be one of the most rewarding moments, but the memoDeAcetis ries are rewarding as well.

What is Badminton? Badminton can be either a recreational or competitive sport. It is played on a court that is either slightly smaller or slightly bigger than a volleyball court, depending on if the game being played is singles or doubles, respectively. Liu plays singles most often, but is sometimes paired up with others (who do not attend LHS) to play in doubles matches. According to the Badminton World Federation, when played competitively, a match consists of a best-of-three games format, with 21 points needed to win a game.

Badminton, like volleyball, has rally scoring, meaning that you don’t need to be serving to score the point. Scoring points consists of hitting the shuttlecock, also known as a birdie, with a racquet over a rectangular net dividing the two sides of the court. A point is made when either the opponent lets the birdie fall to touch the ground, goes out of bounds, or is hit to the wrong side of the court. The current scoring also determines the side both opponents are standing on. “If your score is even, you stand on the right. If your score is odd, you stand on the left,” explained Liu.

Offseason During the offseason (June-Febuary), time commitment does not cease for Liu’s passion to play badminton. Finding spare time, Liu still tries to get out and practice as much as her sched-

This school year, as well as the past three school years, Liu has been the only person who plays badminton for LHS. Her situation tends to attract people’s attention, and then she has to explain her unique situation to them. When asked about how these conversations usually turn out, Liu had no hesitation with her answer. “I explain my situation, and then we become friends. I don’t

Sports

ule will allow her. Depending on the season, she sometimes has to take a lengthy 45-minute drive down to Schaumburg to play; she does this two-to-three times a week.

Single And Ready To Mingle know how that works,” Liu said, laughing. Through badminton, Liu has become close with her coach, Mrs. Judi Neuberger, a counselor in the A-F LST. “I have so much respect for [Katherine], as she is always willing to work hard and be present,” said Mrs. Neuberger. “I think she respects me as someone who believes in her and her ability to excel.” Mrs. Neuberger and

Drops of Ink

Liu met her freshmen year, but they previously knew each other from a friendship that consisted of Andy Liu, Katherine’s brother, and Matthew Neuberger, Mrs. Neuberger’s son, in second grade. They had not known each other on an athletic level yet; Mrs. Neuberger knew her solely as a loving sister. Liu is the only athlete Mrs.

Neuberger coaches. Therefore, playing against Liu at practice makes it hard to coach and make corrections while trying to concentrate on the game itself. This is something that Mrs. Neuberger has developed over time, along with learning new skills that contribute to the game of badminton.

The Supporters In Liu’s opinion, it is important to have the support of others. Because she doesn’t play with a team, there is not a big fan section. The people who support her are the fans that count. One of her biggest supporters is her father, who got her involved with the sport and has been supporting her during the whole process. Close friends and family support Liu, but her father is the one who shows up to all of her

invites and games. “He’s just always kind of been there, cause when you’re by yourself, [and] you don’t have anyone else, you learn to rely on [the supporters]. You don’t need that many, right, so then I’m like ‘Oh, my dad’s here,’ and then I can just see him. It’s just really supporting knowing someone’s there,” explains Liu.

Balancing Act Between sports and school, managing both at the same time can prove to be a difficult task. Badminton is no exception. At first, Liu only came to practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the days when intramural badminton was held. Come junior year, she requested a gym exemption, which meant that she must have practices every day to qualify. Arriving at school by 6 a.m. nearly every morning for practice has turned into a routine for Liu.

Liu joked that getting enough sleep for school is the biggest sacrifice she makes for playing badminton. Aside from that, she explained what her thinking process is. “You just pick out what’s important, like ‘Oh, I have a Spanish test today, but my grade in Spanish is high enough to sacrifice a few points,”” she shared. “You can’t do everything well, and that’s important to recognize.”

Achievements Years of practicing and hard work put into badminton for Liu have certainly paid off. In both her sophomore and junior year at LHS, she qualified to go down to state. Though Liu mentioned that previously she didn’t get far in state, she hopes to reach this accomplishment of qualifying again this year. Liu admitted that going to state alone was a bit lonely but also fun because she met new people who she still has a relationship with today. Mrs. Neuberger also mentioned that Liu won two tournaments at 1st Varsity Singles last year before moving on to Sectionals. To Liu, one of the most rewarding moments for her was not on such a

big scale as these other achievements mentioned: “Sophomore year sectionals, I was playing a girl and we were kind of the same level, so it was really close. Either one of us could win, and I’d be fine with it, because we were both kind of the same,” Liu explained, reminiscing. “It’s best two out-of-three. We were tied, and then I won and that was rewarding, because the score was something like 27-25.” Much of Liu’s personal success can be attributed towards her positive outlook on life and bubbly personality that she brings onto the court during every game.

Photos By Kayla Fiore State finals photos courtesy of Mrs. Judi Neuberger Sports

Drops of Ink

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