May 2014 Edition

Our mission: to enlighten and to entertain http://dulaneygriffin.org

Dulaney High School Timonium, Maryland

Volume 54, Issue 7 REMEMBERING

the griffin

A Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medal Winner May 13, 2014

Major decision vexes graphic by avalon bonlie

see page 2 # TO KNOW

sarah hampton & adam hemmeter, staff writers andrew oh, deputy editor uring his first days at the University of Maryland in 2010, alum Kevin Njau planned to major in bioengineering. Then came nutritional sciences. Then kinesiology. Why the changes?

“I was captivated by the glorious parts of being a bioengineer or doctor and failed to realize the great amount of work required plus the need to maintain high grades to stay competitive,” Njau said.

Four years later, after some brutal course work in pre-med, Njau has finalized his career decision—interoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). Translation: he’ll monitor patients’ nervous systems to help surgeons and anesthesiologists.

His path isn’t unusual. Many don’t decide a major until they’re in college, guidance counselor John Komosa said.

28

D

number of seniors who will be playing college sports, as reported by coaches ACHIEVING

see major, page 2

see page 11

# TO KNOW

4.3

percent of students who dropped out during the 20122013 school year TRAVELING

see page 16

INDEX 2-3 news 4-5 opinion 6-7 senior map 8-9 profiles 10-11 sports 12-16 features

Most seniors see brighter days ahead

B

jessica hung, deputy editor etween remaining positive for what lies ahead and worrying about paying taxes, laundry and finding food to eat – seniors have a lot on their plates.

Regardless, students like senior Sarah Fisher said they are optimistic for the future.

“I think everything is going to get better from here,” Fisher said.

Those who have friends who have attended or are attending college cite their experiences and stories. Senior Anna Vuong said that the people she has talked to regarding college have made her excited to start.

“A lot of my older friends say college is the best years of their lives,” Vuong said.

Senior Monica Kuo said taking rigorous

classes helped prepare her for surviving college.

“I think I’ve developed a good work ethic,” Kuo said.

Senior Sarah Schaeffler agrees.

“Managing my time was the most important,” Schaeffler said. She added that the Advanced Placement courses she has taken also helped with teaching her how to balance her workload.

Some students like senior Kevin Feldscher said their choice in school boosts their outlook.

“I think I’m going to be good when I get a job,” Feldscher said. “My school has good internships and research opportunities.”

In terms of preparation, Fisher also maintains she is ready to go, despite saying she doesn’t know how to do laundry.

“College is a bubble. It’s not real,” Fisher said. “I think I’ll be okay.”

On the other hand, senior Dean Sproul said that high school doesn’t necessarily prepare students to be on their own.

“You’re not ready to deal with managing time and money in college,” Sproul said.

“You’ll be all alone in college.”

Others echo the same sentiment, despite having taken either Economics and Public see brighter days, page 2

Alum blasts off soon

Class of 1993 graduate and astronaut Reid Wiseman (center), astronaut Steve Swanson (left) and astronaut Alexander Gerst (right) conduct an emergency training session at the Johnson Space Center last winter. The crew prepared for their flight to the International Space Station May 28. Wiseman is the flight engineer for the six-month mission. photo from http://www.nasa.gov

FYI: Senior Prom

May 16 7 p.m.-11 p.m.

M&T Bank Stadium

Open Mic Night May 22 6 p.m.

Amphitheater

Last Day for Seniors May 23

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

Graduation

May 28 7 p.m.

SECU Arena, Towson University

SAT

June 7 Report at 7:45 p.m.

Auditorium Lobby

End of Underclassmen Exams June 13 End of the school day

2

the griffin

news

may 13, 2014

Major decision vexes Major, continued from page 1 “That’s why most colleges don’t require you to declare a major until you’re a junior; they give you those two years to sort yourself out and figure out what direction you’re going in.”

At least 50 percent of students go into college undecided, Komosa said.

Other sources verify this. The New York Times reported two years ago that at Penn State University, 80 percent of freshmen say they’re unsure about their choice of major. The article adds that at the University of Florida, 61 percent of students change their major by their second year of college. The school now offers an exploratory track for students unsure of their careers.

A similar program is in place at the University of Maryland at College Park. It’s called Letters and Sciences, an advising team that helps students pinpoint the best fit among the 90 majors offered at the 10 UMD campuses.

Vacillation occurs at Ivy League schools too. Dan Fordyce, a 2013 grad at Cornell University, labels deciding on a major “decently hard.”

Originally interested in an

scene

economics-math double major, Fordyce pondered a switch to electrical engineering but abruptly changed his mind.

“I took an intro to circuits class, and it was ludicrously hard, and I just didn’t enjoy it,” he said.

This spring Fordyce decided to major in operations research and information engineering, or ORIE. “This is basically an applied statistics and optimization major, a precursor to finance and consulting,” Fordyce said.

Brittany Deise, a 2013 grad, also reports changing majors. Now a freshman majoring in pre-business administration at Towson University, she recommends students look to extracurricular activities for help.

“I got involved with the Baltimore County School Board when I was a freshman in high school, which helped me to determine that I was interested in education policy,” she said.”

Another way for students to discover their interests is through career inventories. Websites like mymajors.com provide quizzes that help students select majors and colleges. Komosa recommends that students invest time in them.

“I get a general idea of their likes and dislikes, so that I can help them

dulaney

get a general sense of direction,” Komosa said, adding that the new college and career readiness software Naviance will improve this process.

Even if a major stays constant, some still make changes.

Dana Sicko, who played varsity lacrosse here, graduated in 2007 and headed to the University of New Hampshire planning to play lacrosse and study to become a registered dietician. Before long, she quit her sport and started to question if being a dietician was really right for her.

“I loved food more than I loved telling people about food,” Sicko said.

She graduated with a nutritional sciences degree, but rather than become a registered dietician, she opted to become a personal chef and now runs her own business (Nutreatious) in Baltimore, overseeing a team of eight employees who create, plan and cook healthy meals for clients in the Mid-Atlantic. Her business flourishing, Sicko has a new philosophy.

“I’ve realized that wonderful things come when you don’t plan every little detail.”

Chemistry teacher Karl Geckle, who changed his major in college, endorses open mindedness.

NEWS LINE

TURF INCHES CLOSER

Above: class of 2007 grad Dana Sicko cleans up after completing meals as a personal chef. photo by sarah hampton

Below: Class of 2010 Kevin Njau flashes his Terps pride with Testudo, the University of Maryland mascot. photo from njau

COMPETING SOON

“At least try to take some classes outside of your main focus to see if there’s anything else out there that you like,” he said. “Be thoughtful and honest with yourself. Work hard and everything will fall in line.”

Students’ rates of optimism about the future on a scale of 1-5 (1 being not optimistic and 5 being very optimistic) 4 or more 3 or less The pen-and-paper survey was conducted in all senior English classes. For where graduating seniors are headed, see map, pages 6-7.

Brighter days ahead

Luminaire. Senior Carolyn Taras performs a cobra pose as part of a yoga routine producing a work of abstract art at the art festival May 2.

The festival, in the auditorium lobby, featured dozens of artist and performers.

brighter days, continued from page 1 or AP Economics.

“I don’t even have a credit or debit card,” senior Nick Bond said.

“I don’t know how money works.”

Besides that, senior Nick Bond feels optimistic and prepared.

Vuong agrees with Sproul to some extent. She said that leaving home is something she is not completely ready to do, but she

photo by kyra twohy

A

gina lee, projects manager memorial for Mike Stonik should occur in months, according to a Facebook post by the former senior’s mother.

Stonik, who died suddenly late last month, was to be cremated, the April 30 post said. The family planned a private ceremony after.

Friends lamenting the loss of Stonik, an avid skateboarder, said they would especially miss his sense of humor.

“He was always joking around, making everyone laugh,” junior Sean Flanagan said. “There was never a moment he wasn’t trying to put a smile on someone’s face.”

Junior Morgan Persinger noted irony in the songs for a skateboarding video Stonik recently produced.

“One was ‘Only the Good Die Young.’ The other was ‘Live Young and Wild and Free.’”

feels confident.

“The classes I have taken in senior year have taught me how I study and handle stress levels,” Vuong said.

Kuo said students would have to face some challenges no matter where they are going.

“You won’t always be 100 percent prepared,” Kuo said. “You can’t expect the future.”

Dance fields questions at forum

Students mourn loss A musical number was performed in tribute to Stonik’s memory at the school’s May 1 Senior mike stonik dance recit- photo from facebook al. Seniors Kelli Goetz, Charlotte Groseclose, Hayley Mullen and Stephanie Ford choreographed “Make Your Mark,” a contemporary dance, to Beyonce’s “I Was Here.”

Stonik, who transferred to an alternative school in November, impressed Persinger with his good nature. She cited a middle school experience when Stonik’s chair broke during an afternoon at a local pool. Months later, people still mentioned it, she said; Stonik always laughed with them.

S

kristin meek, staff writer tudent motivation, drop-out rates and the new S.T.A.T. program (Students and Teachers Accessing Tomorrow) were some of the concerns addressed by Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dallas Dance during a town hall meeting attended by five students from the school April 24.

Dance said to improve student motivation BCPS will focus on increasing activities for students in middle school while rewriting the curriculum.

“When you transition from fifth to sixth grade, sometimes we lose you,” Dance said. “Sometimes the courses are not strong enough, and the quality is not necessarily there for you.”

In high schools, drop-out committees are being added. These will help students in need of just

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

It’s still possible that athletes could hit turf fields when they return to school this fall, athletic director Richard Reed said. Reed would not disclose the amount of money that has been raised, but earlier this spring he said that he hoped the fundraisers could raise $2.1 million by the end of April, setting the stage for Phase One of the stadium remodeling.

Phase One calls for two new turf fields by fall. Phase Two would place a building complete with weight rooms and more at the stadium. Phase Three would cover painting and moving equipment into the building. If all goes as planned, the $15- million project would be finished in a year and a half, Reed said.

a few credits retake and pass classes they’ve failed as quickly as possible.

“Every single kid cannot fit into the same option,” Dance said.

To kick start the S.T.A.T. program, tablets will be given to lighthouse school teachers in May. Lighthouse schools (elementary schools piloting digital conversion) will also add Spanish acquisition classes for fourth graders starting next year. Dance said the overall goal of the new technology is not to move paperless, but to provide materials for students to learn at their own pace online.

Other topics discussed were the upcoming eight-period schedule, the SAT for juniors, funding for school improvements and college preparation.

For more see our website.

Six Future Business Leaders of America members have qualified for the national convention this summer due to their high scores at the state competition.

Heading to Nashville in June are: seniors Mac McShane (first place in business procedures) and Michelle Njau and CeCe Ukejiany (second place, marketing team); freshman Francesca Larocca (third place, business procedures); and sophomore Samuel Kamue (third place, introduction to business).

Qualifying but unable to attend the convention are: sophomore Ni Tial (second place, introduction to parliamentarianpProcedures) and junior Vincent Song (second place, mobile application development).

CHESS TEAM WINS The school’s chess team won first place at the team level at the county tournament April 27. Freshman Nate Huynh – undefeated during his matches – also took first place in individual play.

Competing for the team win in addition to Huynh were junior Steven Zhang and senior Steven Han, who placed third and fifth respectively in individual play, sophomore Yiyi Kuang, who placed seventh at the individual level, and junior Rex Ledesma.

Junior Michelle Ko deserves partial credit for the team’s success at the event, chess club sponsor Karen Turek said. Known as the backbone of the team, she organized the school-level tournament that determined who qualified for the county competition.

Students Honored Senior Alex Mengers’ drawing has been selected for use in the 60,000 state brochoures, 20,000 booklets, 2,000 T-shirts and 250 posters, all promoting safety at senior week in Ocean City.

Junior HVAC student Thomas Kellner has passed the four-part test to obtain universal certification in refrigerant. To do so, he passed a 100-question test.

3

advertisement

the griffin

XXX YJCJU[ OFU

Designers & Fabricators of:

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

may 13, 2014

4

the griffin

opinion

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Advanced Creative Writing students composed their letters to the editor in their preferred form of verse.

Ode To Seven-period Day Dear, departed seven period day We’ll miss your beauty and scholarly spell; Tightly packed schedules, and of course, the way The noise in the hallway would always swell When students from lunch would back to class stray Between each deafening peal of the bell; (And teachers in class would threaten to slay The students whose voices they could not quell.)

Now ninety minutes we must suffer through – Bells will ring less, we can’t so often run Through the halls between class, although we knew Teachers were angry at our having fun.

What will we do without breaks, without you Without class so short we leave work undone?

Seven period day! Miss you we do – Well we remember your days in the sun!

Fleeting 30 Minutes

- Hannah Feustle, senior

Oh 30 minutes, how fleetingly you Flee, after a chat with friends, there’s no time For me, to eat the concoction of café 30 minutes, communion of day Oh 30 minutes, I need more of you 45 for classes, 5 to move about But only 30 to enjoy my treat BCPS I need more time to eat

A Limerick

-J. Gourdin, senior

Dallas Dance danced a Texas Tango Adorning a suit, the color of mango.

He demanded block periods, and the core curriculum, A call for technology, and we were the victim; To the superintendents super fandango.

- Alex Wright, senior

A Rap @ Your Superintendent’s Twitter Dallas Dance put me in a trance Gave them the eight periods, a change without a chance, To argue, And what Student Forums ask, do they do?

So many questions got me faded, The neglect from the county got me jaded And from that I arise; Stronger I survive, To see another broken heating system, The use of tax dollars a thing to condemn.

When I’m shivering from the cold, And I feel I’m growing old, Experimenting the policies, Superintendents think it’d be a breeze.

It’s stagnant, Complacent to the student irrelevant, So write me a schedule, Hashtag it- try to make it cool But we will always see the covered mistakes of a fool

-Lizzie Muangrat, senior

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

@dulaneygriffin

Caring about net neutrality stephanie rountree, staff writer on Netflix. The modification comes As members of the millennial age, after multiple federal courts struck we’ve been gifted with technology. down the F.C.C.’s net neutrality rules, With the internet as our guide, we which required providers to charge a were able to explore every aspect of uniform rate for all legal web content. our world in record time. Think about Net neutrality promotes creativity it, you can zoom from one YouTube video to another in less than four seconds. The time it takes to tweet and snapchat is in millisecond territory. We were raised at the speed of light.

Now, imagine if that just slowed down, or stopped altogether. If you want your NASCAR- fast internet back, you’ll have to pay extra. Only a select few can afford what was once free. As impossible as it seems, it might come sooner than you think.

According to an April op-art: avalon bonlie New York Times article, the Federal Communications Commit- and commerce, prohibits providers tee announced new regulations which from blocking content and prevents proposed bisecting internet traffic discrimination. into fast and slow lanes. When put With an open internet, we are able to into action, subscribers to broadband create and innovate in ways that were providers like Comcast and Verizon never possible before modern technolwill have to pay extra for access to ogy. When it became open to the masscertain media, like streaming videos es, the internet was a light; we became

Dulaney High School 255 E. Padonia Rd. Timonium, Maryland (410) 887-7633 co-editors Franny Brancati, Becca King, Kyra Twohy deputy editors Jessica Hung, Andrew Oh, Thea Zurek business manager Kyra Twohy adviser Maria Hiaasen project managers Audrey Fanshaw, Gina Lee

illuminated with the immense amount of information that is now accessible.

So much of our economy comes from internet exchanges that it is vital to maintain its neutrality. If broadband providers are allowed to slow down and speed up internet lanes at differing prices, it puts impoverished people at a disadvantage. Even now, the cheapest American broadband package is more expensive than those in 14 out of 17 industrialized countries.

The internet may be a relatively new medium, but the impact of taking it away after offering it for free would have the same effect as removing a limb. In 2007, President Barack Obama noted that one of the greatest things about the internet “is that there is incredible equality there,” and assured that charging “different rates for different websites” would eliminate net neutrality. Seven years later, it seems that this will be so.

EDITORIAL:

Community college choice deserves respect

B

livvy klunk, staff writer hen seniors commit to their college of choice, everyone somehow finds out who’s going to the biggest, most well-known schools. If you’ve chosen a community college, you may feel like an outlier.

Don’t.

Reasons behind choosing a community college over a university, including pricing, the ability to be closer to home and the ability to “ease into” college, are far greater than just not being ready for the workload and effort.

Students attending community colleges can easily transfer to a four-year university with college credit in their back pocket. The National Student Clearinghouse figures for the 20052006 school year showed that out of all community college transfers, 60 percent earned a degree within six years.

This also saves a ton of money. If you attend the Community College of Baltimore County for two years and then transfer to Towson University, for example, you can save around $9,740. You’ve saved a large sum of money yet you’ve

Prominent issues demand attention eyond the switch to block schedule, we believe there are at least three areas the school should focus on improving when school starts next year.

1. Class Crowding. It’s pretty straight forward. We need to spend more money to have enough teachers to have smaller classes. This year we had over 80 classes in our building with over 30 students. We are sick of climbing over backpacks to get tissues or sucking in our stomachs to pass through desks. This need trumps the need for laptops and tablets. With the new eight period schedule next year, the county may cut back on teachers, increasing class sizes. We need more teachers—not fewer.

2. Bathroom cleanliness. We are sick of holding our breaths while using the bathroom, sick of drying our hands with our t-shirts and sick of not having soap or warm water to wash our hands. Bathrooms need to be checked more often by custodians and better taken care of by the student body. If students flush toilets themselves, throw away their own garbage and keep the toilet seats clean while the custodians make sure to fix plumbing issues and re-stock necessary supplies, then a more sanitary environment will result. It takes a team effort. WR1!

3. Teacher creativity. We aren’t teachers, but it’s pretty obvious that each year teachers become more and more unhappy with the minimal longitude the county gives them to teach. From mandatory county exams to artifact binders, teachers are becoming tied down to a strict curriculum—they can’t be creative anymore. If the county gave the teachers standard material highlighting what each subject must cover instead of giving definitive lessons, teachers could create more stimulating experiences for the students. Students will learn more and the building as a whole will be happier. What worries us is this: at what point will everything become just too much for teachers to handle?

Weigh in on the issue. Tweet the editors (@DulaneyGriffin)

the griffin

may 13, 2014

W

still taken proper advantage of higher education.

Community colleges are also great options if you’re planning on maintaining a job. My father attended CCBC after retiring from the Baltimore City Fire Department, where he’d worked full-time for 30 years. Because of the flexible class schedule, he was able to get a part-time job and earn a degree at the same time.

Many people are under the impression that edu-

“You certainly will not be sacrificing a good education.” cation at these colleges is subpar. But they fail to recognize the variety of classes, honors programs and scholarships offered.

So for the 56 of this year’s seniors who are enrolling in a community college next year, don’t feel embarrassed. You certainly will not be sacrificing a good education.

with #fixit.

news editors Franny Brancati, Becca King, Meghan Reinhardt features editors Kalie Paranzino, Thea Zurek opinion editors Alex Goldberg, Ben Merenbloom sports editors Joe Pezzula, Drew Van Wagner chief technician Andrew Oh deputy technician Sarah Feustle photography/art editors Jen Siegel, Katie Walters copy editors Tyler Beckey, Christine Condon, Liz Gillum, Sophie Golden, Yusuf Mahmood, Daniela Rice deputy sports editor Andrew Sugarman Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

The Griffin welcomes story ideas, commentaries and letters to the editor. These may be brought to room 115, placed in Maria Hiaasen’s mailbox in the office or emailed to dulaneygriffin@ bcps.org. All submissions are subject to editing and must be signed. The Griffin Editorial Board makes all final decisions regarding content.

Interested in advertising in The Griffin or purchasing any photos seen in this issue? Use the same contact information.

The Griffin is printed seven times a year and is distributed in homerooms.

5

the griffin

opinion

Don’t choose what you love D

sarah ruehle, contributing writer o what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.

Sounds familiar right? That’s because it’s the dictum of every self help book and television show. The image brought to mind is always the same: a person, fresh out of college, living on a lot of faith. Suddenly, he is discovered and spends the rest of his days being paid for his passion. It’s a nice story, but it is not good advice. The guidance of doing what you love for a living is easily contradicted by social patterns, psychology and the politics of business.

The main reasons behind the belief is that it promises happiness and more pay. In fact, according to my Advanced Placement Psychology textbook, 73 percent of people believe they would be happier if they had the higher salary that dream jobs promise. It turns out that money has little to no effect on happiness. People are so adaptive that the rosy glow of a dream job soon fades as a result of diminishing returns. It’s like watching a funny movie a couple times and it getting less funny. In addition, there is no scientific evidence to support a connection between passion in a job and happiness with it. Also, depression is very common in people in their early 20’s because people at that age are under intense pressure to find the perfect job.

To understand why people are having so much trouble with this advice, you have to look deeper into the psychology of people. One problem is that preexist-

ing passions are rare and without this preexisting passion, people find it difficult to find that perfect job. The main problem deals with the psychological factors of intrinsic and extrinsic motiva-

The “book of majors” is shelved in the guidance department for use by those in need. photo by chloe messier

tion and over justification. Intrinsic motivation is the motivation you feel within yourself. Then extrinsic motivation is the motivation from outside forces like money. Over justification is when you replace and intrinsic motivation with an extrinsic one. Suddenly, your dream has now become a job like any other.

Many companies will use people’s craving for a dream job to their advantage by paying them a smaller salary.

Should people feel that they are less happy as they should be with a dream job? Employers suggest that it is simply

a lack of passion. According to Guardian writer Heather Long, people believe, to feel that passion, they must work harder. So you may be thinking, what about people who believe in this like Oprah?

Or Steve Jobs? They seem to be doing pretty well for themselves. Most of the time, though, it is usually the well off who can afford to start their own major corporations. I know many people who have started their own small businesses and I know you can’t start companies without a fair amount of money. The fact is that dream jobs are, unfortunately, not for the majority.

Some may say that you can only enjoy your job if you are passionate, but passion is a fleeting thing and hard to come by to begin with. Absence of passion does not mean an absence of a job you can feel good about going to every day.

Here are the two main things you must look for in a job. First, what you are good at is what you should do. If you do something that you love, you will grow tired and stop loving it. If you do something you are good at, it will be easy and you won’t be stressed. Secondly, you should look for a job that provides responsibility and creativity. With this, you will feel more accomplished and happier. Renowned writer and Pulitzer Prize winner Pearl Buck said, “The secret of joy in work is contained in one word- excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.”

Lot congestion causes alarm

T

livvy klunk, staff writer he bell rings and suddenly everyone’s rushing. Students and cars scramble to flee school grounds as soon as possible. In the commotion, tires screech and car horns blare.

This is nothing new in the senior parking lot; this happens on a daily basis.

Exiting from the senior lot means not only dealing with all of the other cars trying to leave at the same time, but also dealing with the traffic of parents picking up their kids on Padonia, the busses—which usually depart around 2:23 p.m.—and kids who walk home.

Parents are also guilty of parking illegally in the fire lane adjacent to the patio outside the auditorium. You can see them lining up around 2 p.m. At least five cars were parked ther awaiting students’ dismissal May 1.

How can we expect students to follow safety rules

in the senior lot when parents blatantly flout them?

Guitar teacher Brian Dickson helps to monitor the senior lot at the end of the day.

His job is to assure the safety of students who are leaving the school.

“It’s scary,” Dickson said.

“Kids who are driving themselves should watch their speed.”

He stands by a sign alerting cars that the senior lot is exit-only from 2:15 to 2:25 p.m. on school days. But the sign’s purpose failed last month when I observed a tiny gray car try to pull into the senior lot before noticing the sign, only to be forced to make a U-turn and further back-up traffic.

One of the scariest and most urgent aspects of the lot to Dickson is the walkers. Most of the time, he said, kids are weaving through moving vehicles with their headphones in, not paying attention to the traffic around them. I’ve

may 13, 2014

10 percent sanity

How not to write Common App essays thea zurek, deputy editor

S

ix hundred and fifty words. They’re all that make up a Common App essay. And yet, in all likelihood, they’ll be the deciding factors determining which colleges you’re admitted to, and thus your future. A task this important shouldn’t be left to chance; therefore, juniors, when you pick up your pens this summer and begin the rough draft of the rest of your lives, consult the Common App reference all experts recommend: a humor columnist. The following are my suggestions for answering three Common App prompts.

1. “Reflect on a time when you challenged an idea.

What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?” Of all the literary devices, from flashy similes to subtle litotes, one of the most under-utilized techniques is this: telling people you own a 3,000 pound hammer. Simply write an essay about a time you really wanted to go somewhere, but some silly person thought you shouldn’t, and you were forced to challenge their idea by destroying everything that person loved with your ginormous hammer. Of course, I’m not suggesting you threaten colleges with violence, but I’m not not suggesting that either. Just throw in phrases like “beautiful-and fragile-campus,” “shame if an unfortunate accident

“The most persuasive literary device is a 3,000 pound hammer.”

Traffic Jam. Left to right: Juniors Jess Bohn and Will Aviles and senior Caroline Christofano weave through the line of traffic in the senior parking lot May 1. photo by jen siegel

had to slam on the breaks a few times to avoid hitting a student who runs through the traffic without a second look.

As for accidents, the Baltimore County Police Department’s Public Safety Information Officer Corporal John Wachter has records of six accidents that occurred in or around the lot since last January, one of which was a hit and run.

However, not all accidents are reported to the police department, including one involving two seniors who

collided in the lot at the beginning of 2014 when one of them was pulling out of their parking spot. The incident has since been resolved.

If more parents and students followed the rules of the road and used common sense, congestion in the senior lot could be greatly reduced.

It’s virtually impossible to end all of the parking lot confusion. But, for now, greater enforcement of the rules and student responsibilty will have to suffice.

The perks of being a senior take hold

op-art: ben gienow

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

happened” and “mwahahaha.” I’m sure you and the college can reach an understanding.

2. “Recount a time when you experienced failure.

How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?” This question is tricky. You’d think it was asking you to share a time when you were faced with disappointment, moved on and learned a valuable lesson, right? Wrong! If you persuade your colleges you can accept failure, they won’t feel guilty about rejecting you. You want to write an essay that convinces colleges you’re a whimpering blob of over-sensitive goo who’s thrown into psychological disarray at the slightest hint of a mistake. Try a title like “How Accidentally Buying Fair Trade Kumquats Instead of Fair Trade and Organic Kumquats Turned Me into a Cocaine Addict.”

3. “Some students have a background or story so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

The filibuster-it works for Senators and it can work for you. Questions as open-ended as this are the perfect invitation to go on, and on and on. Sure, the Common App has a word limit, but that shouldn’t stop you- you’re a complex individual with dozens of stories central to your identity and colleges should know. Submit your first essay with the Common App, and then mail another to colleges the next day. Send your colleges essay postcards, essay packages, pigeons that tap-dance your essays in Morse code. The college will be so impressed by your determination that they’ll have to admit you!

Or charge you with aggravated verbal harassment.

But hey—the tale of how your four years in federal prison influenced your identity will impress your new dream school, right?

6

senior map

Seniors reveal post-grad plans Maryland Bowie State Tembo, Thandiwe Zurek, Thea

CCBC

MICA Davis, Quinn Morgan State Clark, Chris

Mount St. Mary’s

Asher, Jacob Colegrove, Keegan Gourdin, Johana Kinyanjui, Sam Roberts, Max Todd, Andre

Anderson, Imani Anthony, AJ Bates, Madylin Biser, Mary Kate Cahalan, Lauren Carroll, Nicole Deshpande, Chetali Dundas, Jessica Epstein, Brooke Evans, Bobby Foltz, Peter Ford, Stephanie Friedel, Rebecca Gartrell, Barry Gayleard, Armando Gude, Jake Ha, Zi Hall, AJ Harkerl, Andrew Sai Kellner, Noellie Klunk, Livvy Lamdin, Brent Lannon, Mitchell Moradi, Elaina Nash, Tyler

Goucher

Lawson, Jason Slaughter, Emily

Harford Community College

Schammel, Laura

Howard Community College

McElheny, Samantha

ITT Technical Inst.

McDaniel

Holliday, Robert

Eversmier, Caitlin

Beauchamp, Danielle

Johns Hopkins Brancati, Maddy Kamran, Sam Encarnacion, Santiago Khatib, Omar Phillips, Amicia

Loyola

Spillane, Tim Dougherty, Jack Jackson, Atinuke

Notre Dame

Graves, Armani Syed, Fareeha

Providence Fire Academy Buonsignore, Charlie

Salisbury

The Sheffield Inst. for Recording Arts Swann, Jaquon Stevenson

St. Mary’s College

Anderson, Maribeth Bafford, Barbara Bowden, Julia Cook, M.E. Hershey, Christina Sheridan Jr., Michael Um, Ennis

Towson Ahmad, Aliya

Afghani, Arash Beckey, Tyler Bettencourt, Justin Cook, Bradley Davila, Nathaniel Eller, Joey Fakhar, Samad Gienow, Ben Griffin, Ethan Gurung, Sukh Jawed, Taha Jones, Ben Khan, Akram Knobloch, Jahia Lebovitz, Andrew Lucas, Matt McCaffray, Ryan Muangrat, Lizzie Nassar, Moustafa Nguyen, Khai Paudel, Hemanta Poffenberger, Shelby Sack, Michael Sadarananda, Morgan Sadiq, Moiz Sadiq, Raza Walters, Katie

UMD: College Park

Cerf, Kenny Christofano, Caroline Feeley, Brenna Harrington, Rosie Howatt, Alexis McGucken, Abigail Schwartz, Alison

Gambino, Nick Klosteridis, Elaine Konstant, Nicole Lavenstein, Brett Moody, Mark O’Neill, Caroline

Nichols, Melaney Porter, Katherine Pyne, Emily Quackenbush, Danielle Salas, Gabe Schlossenberg, Megan Shrestha, Asim Simanski, Garrett Tasselmyer, Matt Thomasian, Harry Towle, Michael Vinas, Gaby Wall, Brooke Wright, Alex

UMBC

Alexander, Kaitlynn Ayala, Sintia Bean, Jazmin Bosley, Bailey Bowers, Brandon Carmichael, Keona Cecil, Carrie Cortez, Lorenz Cromwell, Jazmine Davis, Shynnaura Faulcon, Pache Fickling, Jerome Fontinell, Maddy Forbes, Mackenzie Fortune, Kayla Gimenez, Catherine Gross, Marcus Kim, Andrew Knight, Chasity Le, Tommy Luciw, Mark Ma, Tien-Hui Martin, Roy McMillan, Breanna Moore, De’Shawna Olmedo, Alia Patterson, Ka’nesha Powderly, Brian Ravandeh, Ghazaleh Richardson, Harmony Robles, Camilo Roth, Paris Rozema, Emily Ruggiero, Rosie Sachs, Daniel Sachse, Jesse Sanchez, Marelli Pintor Sharpe, Danielle Silas, Chris Sinibaldi, Lisa Smith, Logan Mercedes Smith, Savana Sousa, Abby Spring, Wesley Szoke, Danielle Szoke, Haley Thormann, Rachel Tolbert, Ian Tolentino, Vianey Trajfar, Arya Vealey, Erin Walbeck, Christoph Waugh, Alex Weitzel, Zach

Frostburg State

may 13, 2014

the griffin

Bank, Amanda Batlas, Lauren Boellner, Alex Cahalan, Abby Chen, Kathy Cummings, Hannah Deepak, Nikhil Delgado, Nick Dufrane, Johnny Dziejma, Peter Edwards, Lindsay Fisher, Sarah Garcia, Isabel Gladstone, Aaron Goetz, Kelli Halliday, Kevin Harris, Greg Hubbert, Mark Irechukwu, Britton Kim, Jason Kim, Seyeon King, Becca Konstant, Anthony Lagomarsino, Matt Lang, Morgan Liu, Taylor Longest, Brandon Lodge, Christopher Mendon, Kanta Mistretta, Ashley Moini, Justin Mulpuri, Teja Njau, Michelle Park, Thomas Pavoni, Sebastian Pezzulla, Joe Raveesh, Aishu Sarker, Prateeti Schwanebeck, Ashley Sproul, Dean Taleb, Rashid Tan, Peter Thibeault, Kyle Ukejianya, Cece Vecchioni, Alex Vuchula, Shreya Wu, Frank Yang, Mandy Yoshioka, Valerie Yu, Johnny Zhang, Joshua Zou, Iris

United States Naval Academy Ingliss, Jenny Klein, Lily Moon, Jane

U of Baltimore Alrub, Becker Chalise, Jarna Faison, Monica

Washington College McGrain, TJ Slavin, Liza

Alabama Calhoun

Conroy, Devin

California

Fashion Inst. of Design & Merchandising Smith, Lexi Santa Barbara City Savin, Marley

UCLA Delanois, Allie

Colorado

Air Force Academy Sless, Aaron

UC Boulder

Coulson, Samantha

Delaware

U of Delaware Boltz, Katie Giannino, Julie Harlan, Hannah Larkin, Patrick Peremel, Blake

Wesley

Crawford, Clyde Fingles, Joe Fingles, Will

District of Columbia

Georgetown Hudson, Maiya

Florida

Florida Atlantic Zasypkina, Anya

Full Sail

Sprehe, Haley

Stetson

Hardisky, Savannah

U of Miami

Chen, Chris

U of Tampa

Chenowith, Mariah

Illinois

Northwestern

Gao, Ivy

U of Chicago Judson

Knio, Mazen

German, Stewart Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

7

senior map

may 13, 2014

the griffin

Indiana U of Notre Dame Twohy, Kyra

Kentucky

U of Kentucky Mullen, Haley

U of Louisville Jangam, Jessica Sulpar, Adam

Massachusetts

Amherst Vuong, Anna Bentley

25+ seniors

McShane, Mac

Boston University Pentikis, Liz Emerson Peacock, Malik Harvard Park, Handong Northeastern Bond, Nick Tufts Schaeffler, Sarah

New Jersey

Drew

Johnson, Sage

Morris Short, Zoe Margarett Rider Stokes, Krishna

11-24 seniors 5-10 seniors 1-4 seniors

Elizabethtown Szczawinski, Andruw Franklin & Marshall Lee, Hye Rin Gettysburg Groseclose, Charlotte Witty, Brian Miller, Alicia

Rutgers

New York

Millersville Thompson, Blaik Penn State Cheek, Remy

Hwang, Ji Hye

Columbia Anukem, John Culinary Inst. of America Haldeman, Erin Hofstra Gomel-Dunn, Julia Harmeson, Chandler

Ithaca Heubeck, Abby Trosh, Katy

Saint John’s Tyson, Gabby Saint Rose Nassiri, Kaylee

North Carolina

Duke Barmer, Tionne

Brancati, Franny

East Carolina U of North Carolina: Willmington Hallengren, Karson

James Madison

DiNardo, Lizzie Glinowiecki, Carly Konstant, Elena Quinto, Mia

Liberty

Swarthmore U of Pennsylvania Griffith, Isabel West Chester

Finley, Paul Landon, Tristan Ramsey, Cooper Smith, Logan

Cheng, Mindy

Lynchburg

Ewers, Kurtis Sheppy, Julian

Bromley, Meredith

Randolph Macon

York College

Sprinkel, Sara

Regent

Cayce, Michaela Hentz, Vernon Talansky, Christopher

Hung, Jessica

Charleston

Franciscan Rice, Daniela

Pennsylvania

Drexel

Black, Brittanee Shapiro, Amy

Brocato, Jenna

Coastal Carolina Daugherty, Andrew Manzoni, Maddie

Limestone U of South Carolina Armstrong, Jeremy Svoboda, Darla

Ranjbar, Jessica Williams, Kati

U of Western Ontario (Canada)

Lopez, Isabel Tucker, Scott

Feustle, Hannah

Wisconsin

Green Mountain

Advanced Technical Inst.

Grasso, Dino Bridgewater

Scranton Bowen, Tiona St. Joseph’s Baker, Natalie Susquehanna

West Virginia

Hambor, Jake Hewitt, Azia Snyder, Nicole

U of Wisconsin

Virginia

Dettor, Carter Mengers, Alex Reinhardt, Meghan Siegel, Jennifer Stem, Beka Strouboulis, Ted Sweigart, Emily Van Wagner, Drew

West Virginia

Southern Methodist Oh, Andrew

Price, Nathaniel

South Carolina

Ohio

Vanderbilt Giordana, Natalie

Vermont

Briggs, Erin

Rosenberg, Kate

Wake Forest

U of Tennessee

Shin, Erica

Texas

La Salle

Lycoming

Tennessee

Taylor, Hannah

Roanoke Toombs, Gaby UKuo,ofMonica Virginia Viginia Tech Bagwell, Chloe Du, Justin Eppers, Lanie Spigelmire, Hunter Williams, Megan

Washington

U of Washington Mullen, Sam

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

Feldscher, Kevin

International

Taras, Carolyn

U of Santa Isabel (Phillippines)

De Guzman, Ernesto

Armed Forces

Jones, Ashad McBryde, Richard Metcalfe, Robert Smith, Stephon Williams, Eric Yudha, Muhammad Zurmuhlen, Nick

VOLUNTEERING Peace Corps Pierce, Maura

WORKING Harris, Matthew Kelly, Ryshiem Manuli, Josh Passas, Niko Primeaux, Ryan Roden, Jerrod

GAP YEAR Aguilo, Andrea Kim, Sam Myers, Travis Park, Cindy Rogers, Maddie Ruiz, Dylan Smyth, Sam Senior map compiled and designed by coeditors Becca King, Franny Brancati and Kyra Twohy; news editor Meghan Reinhardt and staff writer Mady Bates.

the griffin

8 profiles

10

1

may 13, 20144

Sen

1John Anukem holds positions in nior year. 2Hayley Mullen, dance

to smile about. For more, see page 13

4Prateeti Sarker was awarded the Eli a her research at Johns Hopkins University. 5Mazen Knio, a se 6Michelle Njau is the president of Future Business Leaders o need. 7Lauren Cahalan tried soccer, lacrosse and softball befor a combat rescue team.

Vuong , Distinguished Young Woman of Greater Baltimore an psychology.

9Greg Harris, technology whiz, knew how to con

10Nick Bond, track enthusiast and senior class vice president,

For more on these seniors, see our website: http://dulaneygriffin.org

photo by jen siegel

2

photo from sless

photo by jen siegel

3

photo by jen siegel

4

5

photo by jen siegel

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org

9

the griffin

profiles

may 13, 2014

niors 2014

photo by jen siegel

of

The following people were chosen because...

n many groups, including the National Honor Society and marching band; he transferred here his ju-

er and avid horseback rider, maintains there is a ton of life to become saddened by, but there is more

3.

3Aaron Sless sees himself as a captain in the Air Force in 10 years, piloting a gun ship or leading

and Edythe Broad Student Research Fellowship by the American Gastroenterological Association for

elf-proclaimed Neo-luddite, is armed with red pants, striped fashion and humor to spread to others.

of America and part of Giving it Back. She wishes to hold a mentorship to help African Americans in

re falling in love with gymnastics. Last season she finished 23rd in the National Invitational.

8Anna

9

nd Key Club president, hopes to channel her compassionate and blithe nature to teach calculus and

nstruct electrical circuits at 8 years old and said to teach a new skill, it takes stepping to a new level.

, creates original songs in his free time and intends to major in computer science and interactive media.

10

8

photo by jen siegel

photo by jen siegel

photo by jen siegel

6

photo by jen siegel

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org

7

10 sports

may 13, 2014

the griffin

Commending 12-season athletes photo by jen siegel

Senior Franny Brancati participated in junior varsity soccer, basketball and outdoor track her freshman and sophomore year. She advanced to varsity soccer and basketball her junior and senior years, ran varsity track her junior year and played varsity softball her senior year. The best part for her?

“Just meeting new people. I would have never met 90 percent of the teammates I’ve had the past four years if I hadn’t played. I can’t imagine high school without knowing them,” she said.

photo by jen siegel

Senior Nick Bond has participated in four seasons of cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, transitioning from junior varsity to varsity in each sport after sophomore year. His most memorable moment?

“Going to cross country camp at Appalachian State University over the summer. Spending the week with the cross country team was one of the best weeks of my life,” he said. “I have made some of my best friends through running. The team really is a family.”

Senior Alison Schwartz ran two years of junior varsity cross country and indoor track and one year of outdoor track before being moved up to varsity for all three sports for the remainder of her high school career.

“I loved running and I never wanted to skip a season,” she said.

Schwartz said the hardest part of running is not giving up on yourself and that her most important qualities are her commitment and motivation.

photo by jen siegel

Senior Lily klein participated in junior varsity cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in her freshman year.

She moved on to participate in varsity cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in her last three years of high school. For Klein, the end is bittersweet.

“The hardest part is when it is getting close to the end of senior year, and you realize soon you won’t be with these incredible people,” she said.

Her most memorable moment?

“When the boys and girls team won regionals in fall 2013, and Coach Boyle let us take pictures in the bed of his truck.”

Senior Isabel Griffith has been a four-year varsity athlete throughout her 12 seasons of cross country and indoor and outdoor track. What drives her commitment?

“The accomplishment and satisfaction of being a 12season athlete comes not only from the results but from the great friends and bonds I have made. I challenged myself to compete for 12 seasons and I have learned so much about myself through the experience,” she said.

photo from klein

Senior Megan Schlossenberg has participated in junior varsity and varsity cheerleading every season throughout her high school career. She said dedication is the most important quality of a 12-season athlete and that remaining so dedicated to her sport and her teammates has been easy.

“I’ve always loved cheering and loved being a part of the team,” Schlossenberg said.

photo from Facebook

Senior Jessica dundas has maintained her commitment and positive attitude for 12 seasons of cheerleading. She started on junior varsity in her freshman and sophomore year and continued on to varsity in her junior and senior years.

Her experience has been positive, credited to, “being a part of all of the different games,” Dundas said.

photo by jen siegel

photo by jen siegel

photo from Facebook

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

Senior stephon smith has participated in junior varsity baseball, junior varsity and varsity football and varsity indoor and outdoor track. Smith credits hard work and dedication for his successes.

“There is never a time to fully rest. In between seasons, you get about a week and a half to rest. There is summer break, but if you want to be successful, you have to want it like you want to breathe,” he said.

11 sports

the griffin

Coaches

year

New role model achieves success meghan reinhardt, news editor arsity field hockey coach Kellie Fialcowitz said she was nervous entering her freshman year of coaching the Lions.

“I told my friends ‘what if we don’t win a game? What if we don’t win a game?’ just because I didn’t have a clue. I didn’t want to fail.”

However, failing wasn’t a problem for the team. Fialcowitz led the team to achieve both county and regional championship titles.

What was her main goal going into the 2013 fall season?

“Survive. I didn’t know really where to set my goals, I just didn’t want to lose,” Fialcowitz said.

Fialcowitz said, upon starting the season, she was challenged with staying true to herself and figuring out

V

her role, a role that she ultimately came to love.

“You can’t beat the group of girls I had.

I love being called coach as much as I love being called mom,” Fialcowitz said.

According to players, she had an influence on and off the field.

“Coach instilled values in us that we will carry on throughout the rest of our lives,” senior and captain Sarah Schaeffler said. “By leading the workouts herself, the whole team became players working hard for each other, rather than individuals just trying to get through the pain for themselves.”

Senior and captain Liza Slavin said Fialcowitz taught the team not only about the game, but about themselves and each other.

bfs practice. Left to right: freshmen Calli Coles and Tessa Madsen, varsity field hockey coach Kellie Fialcowitz and freshmen Kiley Bolonda and Emma Samels perform lunges at an April 9 Bigger Faster Stronger practice. photo by kyra twohy

This year, the team’s theme was “one.” It meant everyone was on the same page, Fialcowitz said. All the coaches and players of both junior varsity and varsity were going to have one goal and be one program.

Senior and defender Lauren Batlas recalled “the little

things” Fialcowitz did that made her final season “truly unforgettable,” including game day surprises and motivational quotes to put in shin-guards.

“She always talks to us about taking snapshots in our head—moments and feelings to remember forever— and this season was

full of great memories,” she said.

Fialcowitz attributes many reasons for the team’s success, one being the new athletic director Richard Reed.

“I think they were excited for change and I was excited to get back into it so there was all this energy,” Fialcowitz said.

Veteran coach advances team’s triumphs is well-earned. In this past year alone, Boyle was named the Maryland Cross Country Coach of the Year and senior and cross country runner Isabel Griffith took home a state championship and competed in the national competition in Portland, Ore. Both the girls and boys indoor track teams took home the regional championship, and the boys indoor track team went on to and compete in the national regional meet. track practice. Assisstant track coach Anne Patron One aspect of Boyle’s (left) and head track coach Chad Boyle (right) recoaching style that senior flect on the team’s April meet at Parkville High and 12-season runner Nick School during their practice April 9.

Bond likes is the “Race of the photo by alex wright Day,” where the coaching staff recognizes several athdrew van wagner, sports editor e pushes athletes who letes after each meet that had excepchallenge themselves tional races.

“It’s great because not only does and takes them where they want to be,” junior and track Coach Boyle recognize the top varrunner Kristin Newman said. “I sity runners who score points for the think that’s what makes our pro- team, he also recognizes the hard work and effort of less talented rungram so unique.”

Praise from cross country and ners who may have achieved a new track coach Chad Boyle’s players personal best,” Bond said.

“H It’s not crazy, It’s sports

Teams wrap up, prep for regionals

T

joe pezzulla, sports editor he school year is coming to a close, along with the regular spring season for sports

teams here. The season has been marked by youth, hard work and success.

Varsity Softball: The varsity softball team stands at a record of 8-9 at press time. According to team captain Becca King, sophomore pitcher Emma Bevard is a team leader. She has pitched a no-hitter, a one-hitter and a three-hitter, King said.

Tennis: Boys double’s champions are juniors Ricardo Del Olmo and Matt Laird. These Baltimore County champions have dominated this season, failing to drop more than one match against any team. “Ricardo has given

Initially a varsity soccer player and outdoor track runner, Boyle committed to running full-time in his junior year of high school and was recruited to run by University of Maryland Baltimore County after recording an impressive twomile time. As a result of an injury temporarily prohibiting Boyle from running, an open teaching opportunity and a junior varsity girls track coaching vacancy, Boyle embarked on what would become an unparalleled 17-year coaching career.

“I had no intention for doing this more than a year. It’s funny how life works sometimes,” Boyle said.

The first year Boyle began coaching, there were five girls on the junior varsity outdoor track team, and a runner on the team took home a state championship.

Boyle’s favorite aspect of coaching is the sense of community the athletic program here fosters.

“It gives positive social opportunities, builds school spirit and creates a lot of positive friendships that students wouldn’t otherwise have,” he said.

our boys doubles a boost,” sophomore Will Paranzino said.

Varsity Baseball: The team is fighting hard as they approach playoffs, with a press time record of 11-7.

“We’re a very young team, but we are also the right group of players,” senior captain David Chong said.

Track and Field: Senior sprinter Tionne Barmer is ranked first in the 4A state division and second in the state. The outdoor track team is continuing their tradition of dominance. “We haven’t lost a single meet.

We have a lot of qualifiers for regionals and we definitely have a shot at states,” senior captain Nick Bond

said.

Varsity Girls Lacrosse: At press time, the team has a 6-5 record and is poised to make a playoff run. “We are planning on causing a big uproar in the regional playoffs,” junior captain Sarah Hampton said.

Varsity Boys Lacrosse: The boys lacrosse team has its sights set on the state championship. At press time, the team is 12-3, with comeback wins over Urbana High School April 19 and Franklin High School April 25.

For information on four-year varsity athletes, visit our website.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

may 13, 2014

athletes

month

Top seed still triumphs sara glasser, staff writer enior Handong Park is accustomed to winning.

Park, who will be attending Harvard this fall, is captain of the varsity tennis team and holds the number two singles spot. Park has been ranked either first or second in the county every season since his handong park sophomore year because of photo by chloe messier his drive and dedication.

Park said his competitive drive has grown with experience, although he has always been passionate about everything he does. This has not gone unnoticed by tennis coach Sharon Spangenberg.

“I’ve really seen a lot of growth in him over the years,” Spangenberg said. “He knows what he wants and he goes after it.”

However tennis requires mental finesse, not just physical strength.

“The toughest part of tennis for me was always the mental game—having a fighting spirit and never giving up,” he said.

Park’s improvement in his mental game is evident.

Last year he placed thrid in boys singles in the Baltimore County championship, and this year he placed second.

Recalling a difficult match against a top-seeded singles player from Towson High School, Spangenberg said, “You could see his mind working. He was determined.

He was going to win. And he did.”

Park’s remarkable skill and zeal, and his ability to overcome his weak points, are not small accomplishments.

His pride and passion are apparent in every match he plays.

“The proudest moment for me isn’t really a single moment. It’s every match where I come out and do my best,” Park said. “If I’ve given my best effort, played to the best of my ability, then it’s a proud moment.”

S

Captain controls court sarah feustle, staff writer onsistent” and “positive” are two words tennis coach Sharon Spangenberg uses to describe junior and captain Kelsey Hill.

Her freshman year, Hill was ranked second in doubles, and in her sophomore year she ranked first. This year kelsey hill she’s ranked first in singles. photo by messier “She’s an amazing captain; she makes sure everything gets done. I really look up to her as a sister and as a player,” freshman Alli Hill said.

Kelsey Hill has played ever since she started taking lessons at Hillendale Country Club when she was eight.

“My parents play it, so it’s like a family thing,” Hill said.

Kelsey Hill is particularly proud of a recent match against Hereford High School April 25.

“It rained so it got half canceled out, so we started our match and I was down 2-1. Monday we finished it and I ended up winning 6-3 6-0, so it was a good comeback.”

Spangenberg commends her persistence.

“We were playing tennis against Towson High School and her opponent was very skilled, and Kelsey did not give up, and she ended up winning the match,” Spangenberg said. She also admires Kelsey Hill’s ability to remain calm during matches.

“Kelsey was just able to block [emotion] out. She just stays focused and keeps on playing her game.”

She is also conscious of her own performance, saying she thinks it has improved over the year.

“Next year, I might want to do regionals as singles, because this year I’m going to do doubles, but next year if I play singles I’ll be able to get first or second and go on to states.”

“C

Junior varsity athletes appear online. Visit dulaneygriffin.org for Christine Condon’s profile of baseball player James Morton and for Maya Lapinski’s profile of softball player Lacy Wall.

James morton

lacy wall

photos by chloe messier

12 features

may 13, 2014

the griffin

‘Wheel that holds spokes’ stepping down A alex goldberg, opinion editor fter 40 years, she says it’s time.

This year will be Librarian Christine Senft’s last year here, and for many, she will be missed. “Mrs. Senft is the hub of the school. Everybody knows her and she knows everybody. She’s like the wheels that hold the spokes together,” art department chairman Jim Kuhlman said.

Senft said she loves her job. Her favorite part about being a librarian? The students.

“I feed off of the kids. It’s what makes me happiest,” she said.

Senft began her career not as a librarian, but as an elementary school teacher for 13 years. After getting her master’s degree in library science, she became a librarian full time.

Here, where she has worked for 14 years, she found her niche. As a librarian, Senft said she enjoys working with students and staff, knowing that she’s helping them whether it’s finding a book or whatever else they may need.

But she said the road here wasn’t always easy. Previous superintendents eliminated library positions and Senft eventually ended up at the high school level. In the end, however, she found satisfaction.

“I love my job. People think it’s weird, but I love Dulaney and I love my job,” Senft said.

Students like junior Kayla Hines will miss her kindness.

“Whenever I’d stay late in the library for assignments and need a pass to go back to class, most teachers would be like, ‘Oh man, you should have thought of that before you stayed late,’ but she would always give me a pass.”

Biology and forensics teacher Marci Phillips said she and Senft often discuss a variety of topics including books and healthy eating.

Librarian Christine Senft assists junior Kayla Hines last month.

For the future, Senft advises the next li- photo by alex wright brarian to keep the library a user-friendly don’t always ask her to pull books out; kids just go straight and safe environment for students. She hopes that they will also continue the popular peer-tutoring to the computers.

After she retires, Senft hopes to travel with her husband program. But as technology continues to advances, Senft said she fears for the printed word and for the role of the in their recreational vehicle, and continue to learn new librarian. In the early parts of her career, Senft said most things anyway she can, including by reading more and atresearch was done from books. Now, Senft said, teachers tending lectures.

Trio of teachers set to move on for career, family changes

Science teacher Kathy Maddox DeBarra is moving to New Jersey because her husband just got a job at Drew University. She said she will miss her students and the faculty.

She has taught for five years and only here.

English teacher Morgan Lefevre got engaged this spring and is moving to Florida with her fiancée. Lefevre had a hard time picking one thing she’d miss here.

“If I could take Dulaney with me to Florida, I would,” she said.

photo by erin briggs

photo by alex wright

Yamato Sushi 51 W. Aylesbury Road, Timonium Fairgrounds Plaza (410) 560-0024 http://yamatosushionline.com/

Hours: “It shook the very foundation of my sushieating identity.”

~ Baltimore Magazine

Mon.-Thurs.11a.m.-10p.m.

Fri. 11am-10:30 p.m.

Sat. noon-10:30 p.m.

Sun. noon-10 p.m.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

Chairman of World Language Department and Spanish teacher Meghann Ervin has decided to take a leave after 11 years of teaching to take care of her children. She said she will miss seeing her students and coworkers every day.

She hopes to come back and teach in the near future. photo by erin briggs

13 features

may 13, 2014

the griffin

an among us: Senior shows versatility

Overcoming limits

D

jessica hung, deputy editor edicated, positive, inspirational.

These are words used to describe senior Hye Rin Lee by fellow peers and teachers.

“She never gave up no matter how tough it was to get it done,” English teacher Debbie Hamilton said.

Lee struggles with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which confines her to a wheelchair, but said it shouldn’t make her any different.

“Just because of my physical abilities, people shouldn’t count me out or give me attention,” she said.

Science teacher Katharine Maddox-De Barra said Lee excels at what she does.

“She works so consistently,” Maddox-De Barra said. “She is still accelerating and is committed to learning.”

Lee also takes time to help out the community and tutor students despite her busy schedule.

Over the summer, she volunteered with GBMC, archiving files and organizing the gift shop

display.Volunteering at the hospital allowed her to realize she could give back to her community.

“I was able to help others,” Lee said. “It wasn’t a big deal, and they said they appreciated it.”

De Barra said Lee doesn’t let hard work get in the way of learning and sets a good example.

“If there is something you want, go for it.” De Barra said. “A physical limitation doesn’t limit your learning capabilities.”

This fall, Lee will attend Franklin & Marshall College and plans to focus on neuroscience or Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

“Rainy Night in Tokyo,” was placed,” Strouboulis said.

As he got older, his choice of chosen for inclusion in a BCPS mediums matured but his eclec- art exhibition and displayed in ticism remained.

Strouboulis the offices of a Towson law firm, has worked in oil pastel, chalk as well as published in the 2012 pastel, watercolor, Sharpie, ori- edition of Sequel. He also serves gami, acrylic paint, colored pen- as president of art club, where cil, charcoal and photography, his versatility manifests itself yet as well as studying piano, guitar again, as he is both a comical and and Greek dancing. Strouboulis compassionate leader.

“He’s very, very funny, and he said this diversity inspires him.

“Without combined parts we makes these kind of off-the-cuff would not be able to fully learn, remarks under his breath concomprehend and appreciate any- stantly that are very entertaining. thing. I would not have drive But he really just genuinely cares if the different parts of me— a whole lot about other people,” Top: Rainy night in tokyo. musical, artistic, naturalistic, art teacher Joanna Waring said. spatial—did not interact and Below: Strouboulis poses stands next to fuse into adaptive abilities and his display at Luminaire May 2. integrated thought processes,” photos from strouboulis he said.

Junior Angela Nam also comthea zurek, deputy editor ments on Strouboulis’s eclectic or senior Ted Strouboulis, approach. art has come naturally from “He doesn’t look at art as art the very beginning. Legos. on paper, he sees art through “I would make a whole eclectic all these different telescopes,” scene sometimes involving small Nam said. plastic dinosaurs to Lego creaStrouboulis’s talent has won senior ted strouboulis sketches the tures to plastic soldiers to minrecognition- a chalk pastel piece background on a projector in the dance iature plants. Everything would he created in grade 10, entitled concert May 1. be meticulously and realistically photo by chloe messier

F senior hye rin lee does her English homework in the library Jan. 13.

photo by franny brancati

Decade-old flick makes mark among Class of 2014

franny brancati, co-editor & maddy brancati, staff writer ho here has ever felt personally victimized by Regina George?

To our generation the answer is everyone. About two weeks ago, “Mean Girls” reached 10 years of pink-wearing, tiara-tearing, plastic-bewaring success. But why do we love “Mean Girls?” After all, it stars Lindsay Lohan, Hollywood’s most messed up celebrity; the

W

Senior Malik Peacock sports his “Mean Girls” inspired sweatshirt. photo from Facebook

REVIEW:

Bizarre bookstore, cryptic code entice

I

sarah feustle, staff writer ’ve always found books kind of magical, for lack of a better word. A book is always the same every time you open it - it’s predictable and simultaneously comforting in that way.

There’s also the fact that some have been around for centuries, giving you a slice of the past when you read them. And more often than not, there’s a hidden meaning, whether it’s political criticism or a human truth.

But what happens when a book is in indecipherable code, was written by the inventor of italic type in the 16th century and the hidden message is the secret to immortality?

In “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore,” Clay Jannon will search for an answer to this question. Laid off from his job as a web designer during the recession in 2008, he starts looking for work. His new job is quite unexpected: the night shift at a strangely shaped bookstore, called, believe it or not, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.

Bizarre characters run into the store at late hours of the night to check out volumes from the back of the store, which are all

movie’s designated eye-candy— Aaron Samuels—is gay in real life, so if any teenage girl had a chance with him before, they certainly don’t now and the movie makes teenagers look like superficial and emotional disasters drenched in cliché themes.

But we love it because Tina Fey’s overly exaggerated, plot surrounding, high school life puts actual high school into perspective. The scene comparing the school cafete-

ria to an African jungle taught us that high school cafeterias are segregated and we are not qualified to sit at the cool Asian table. We also learned that “fetch” isn’t going to happen.

We love that every year when calculus classrooms all across the nation come across a function with a vertical asymptote for the first time we can hear the voices of 30 plus teenagers shouting “the limit does not exist!”

written in code. The store has ingly less believable and a little next to no normal customers. To too perfect. In the end, everytop it all off, Clay must record the thing and everyone somehow exact appearance and behavior of come together. The book ends every person who enters the store with a saccharine and almost in a huge and ancient book. The gag-inducing moral about the owner of the store, Mr. Penummagic of friendship; moral aside, bra, is a bit odd himself, keeping the conclusion is satisfying but a many things secret from Clay little abrupt. and posing odd questions.

Despite its few faults, I still The story begins as a charmsmiled and enjoyed myself ing and enticing mystery, with through the novel. With a good quirky characters, a slower-thandose of wit, a smattering of necessary plot that’s still griplaugh-out-loud passages and an ping and quick, sarcastic writing original plot, “Mr. Penumbra’s on the part of the author, Robin 24-Hour Bookstore” is, overall, an easy, enjoyable – and dare I Sloan. However, as the motley crew of characters traverses the say magical – read. country and finds themselves involved with the secrets of a overall rating: cult, the story becomes increas-

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

We love that, no matter what, Glenn Coco never fails to receive 4 candy canes and that there are none for Gretchen Wieners.

We love to wear army pants and flip-flops.

We love it because of its quoteability and predictability.

In the most positive and humorous way possible, “Mean Girls” tells us we’re stupid, irrational and prejudiced, and we love every second of it.

mr. penumbra’s 24-hour book store. photo by sarah feustle

the griffin

14 features

may 13, 2014

Scoring big with college essays Music wows T

nick bond, contributing writer he room is small – or cozy, rather. I’ve lined the walls with ukuleles and guitars so I can reach out and instantly strum a tune whenever I’m feeling inspired. My drum kit lives in one corner next to a giant amplifier and a bin with at least a hundred drumsticks tucked inside. My concert snare drum and glockenspiel reside in the opposite corner. Towering over them is a microphone stand cradling a Shure SM-57 for recording drum hits and particularly loud noises. A winding cable runs from the end of the microphone down to the floor and slithers into a jumble of wires and chords. Against the back wall, a bookshelf houses my bright red toy piano, ocarina and tambourine.

I sit at a desk in the middle of the room with a keyboard stretched out in front of me. Off to the side is a computer and audio interface with buttons and knobs for manipulating tracks. A pair of studio headphones and an MXL V63M vocal microphone hide behind the computer. Every piece of equipment is arranged in an organized mess to create my bedroom recording studio.

I first began assembling my studio several years ago when I decided to invest prize money won from a songwriting contest into my first microphone. Immediately, I set out to teach myself how to properly record and mix my own songs. I spent countless hours researching online articles and library books. An obsession was sparked. I’ll be honest – the first songs I ever recorded in my bedroom turned out rough. The equalization was wrong on just about everything and the recordings were layered with mistakes.

After several months of experimentation and learning, I would be able to create my first decent-sounding tracks.

From there I started recording music whenever I could find the time and I haven’t looked back.

I love to close my door and shut myself off from the world so that it’s just me and my studio. In this intimate space I can grab a guitar and notebook and write songs about whatever comes into my head. I pour myself into my music. All of my emotions are written on a page, sung into a microphone, twanged on a guitar, beaten on a drum.

I create the songs that I’ve always wanted to hear. It’s a fantastic feeling.

After I’m finished recording, I open myself up to the world again. An even more incredible experience than crafting my art is sharing it. After receiving an uplifting amount of support from my friends and family I decided to create a website where people from all over the world could listen to and download my music for free. The response has been absolutely unbelievable. I was blown away when my last album received thousands of plays and hundreds of downloads within the first week of uploading. Here I am – a kid in his bedroom recording songs and posting them online, and suddenly I have an audience. My voice is heard by thousands. From my modest bedroom I can create art and project it onto a world stage.

I once heard someone define music as “organized sound.” I’m enthralled by the idea that I can capture my favorite noises, sequence them and stitch them together with a message for anyone who chooses to listen. I write my music mainly for myself. That’s why I’m in awe that people listen and relate to my creations. Honestly, I’d be content if it were just me in my bedroom, spilling my heart out into a microphone with the bedroom walls as my only audience.

Bond’s music is available at NickAndTheLines.com

Senior Nick Bond records himself singing and playing the ukelele in his recording studio in early April. photo from bond

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org

Fairy tales enchant hannah feustle, contributing writer am the next Joseph Campbell.

I never intended to fall in love with fairy tales. They weren’t something I spent much time thinking about after second grade, and I wouldn’t have thought about them again if it hadn’t been for a case of writers’ block. I was fifty pages into writ- Senior Hannah feustle types on her computer ing a fairy tale retelling, but realat home third quarter. ized that I was out of stories. I photo by sarah feustle went to find a copy of “Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” intending to flip through the table of contents, remember an obvious story that I had forgotten and move on with my day.

The book was 400 pages long. Before I knew it, I had read the whole thing and I wanted more. It turned out that there were dozens of fairy tale collections from around the world, and I read all of them. It was only when I hit the 15th book that I realized the stories were similar. The names changed, but characters did the same things, and I started looking for patterns as I read. I halfexpected my interest to fade, but it didn’t.

Around that time, I found Joseph Campbell’s books on mythology. He set no impossible standards like the Grimms, who are almost myth themselves, but wrote about a subject he loved. He wasn’t the only person who had done that, which proved something that I had hardly dared to hope for. Folklore was an actual field of study.

People researched fairy tales; they saw the same things that I did and spent their lives sharing it. As Campbell said, they follow their bliss, and I can do the same.

When I say now that I love fairy tales, people don’t take the time to hear the rest. They comment on the newest movie that’s out, thinking that I only like them because I watched Hansel and Gretel with machine guns. I didn’t. I smile to myself, and wonder if it’s an invitation to bring up the story itself. Usually it’s not, but I can’t wait to get to a place where it will be.

I

the griffin

15 features

Crafting stellar responses to college application essay questions earned these four seniors admission to their top schools. On the far left, Nick Bond will attnd Northeastern University. On the near left, Hannah Feustle will attend Susquehanna University. Below, Isabel Griffith is headed to the University of Pennsylvania and on the right, Kyra Twohy will join the Fighting Irish at the University of Notre Dame.

Regaining footing after loss

M

isabel griffith, contributing writer surrounded by my large extended family and close y best friend climbs onto my lap, bur- friends weaving safe, warm spaces to cushion my rows her face into my neck sobbing, un- confusion and sadness. My healing continued veiling her grief for the first time since it when my mom took us at 12, 9 and 7 years old, on happened. I feel her tears running down my neck a different kind of journey to Costa Rica for a year, as her whole body cries and her heart splits open. to mark the indelible loss. With eight suitcases of I, of all people, know there are few words that stuff, we left the United States as a broken unit. make sense in that moment. I hold her, weep with We arrived to a simpler life in a wild and intensely her and say these few words, over and over: “I am green landscape, the Cloud Forest of Monteverde. here for you. I am so sorry.”

We had no TV, cell phones, car or high-speed InOn Sept. 11, 2013 my best friend’s dad passed ternet, but sometimes there were monkeys on the away. roof or scorpions in our backpacks. And plenty of When I was 10 years old, I lost my dad to an 18- undistracted time for long walks and rich converyear-old who had fallen asleep at the wheel one sation, which became the building blocks of my summer morning of our family vacation. No alco- confidence. hol, just tired. He hit my dad who was off his biMy mom set us up to redefine ourselves. This cycle by the side of the road, killing him instantly. was oddly freeing. As an eighth- grade “gringa” in He didn’t have the chance to say goodbye to me, a Costa Rican school, I experienced the discomfort my mom, my younger sister and brother. We still of difference as a launching point to understanding imagine what he would have said to us. myself, realizing that most of what seems different Six years later at my best friend’s house, I’m re- does not count for much. Good humor, flexibility, living the sad faces, the distant smiles, and the at- empathy and curiosity – these are the things that tempts to find distraction. Peace seems distant, yet helped me overcome and embrace this discomfort I know it’s possible. Standing again in the shadow and have been vital to my healing. We came back of loss illuminates my incredible journey of healing from Costa Rica indelibly changed and whole. and what strong If suffering is a fact medicine it can be of life, as the Buddha to share healing says, I believe healstories. ing is too. My life has Like so many expanded because of of the important the loss of my dad, things in life, healand I think he would ing takes effort. probably tell me, “It’s It takes time, will a vulnerable life: take and a lot of love. risks, work hard, love Looking back, I deeply and live pascan understand sionately.” that my healing journey began as Seniors Sam Smyth (left) and Isabel Griffith (right) pause along a soon as I lost my hillside in Monteverde, Costa Rica during the summer of 2012. dad, when I was photo from Facebook

Higher SAT & ACT Scores Start Here.

may 13, 2014 ly manage on land. For the five minutes of my routine I am an aerial ballet dancer in a leopard print unitard mirroring the same cat stretching in a tree. With one spin, stress and worry escape into the air, and I’m flying.

Once, the catch got stuck around my foot and I was marooned upside down. That’s when I felt like I was in the super villain’s lair. It took five minutes to untangle my foot, but it felt more like an hour.

Yet it wasn’t danger that I was in, but a predominance of safety.

Evidently, it is possible to be too safe. Not that I don’t value seat belts, life vests or any other Circus Camp. Senior Kyra Twohy poses for a photo on the Spanish Web before safety gear. Yet sometimes safety the Berkshire Children’s Circus Camp’s gets in the way of an experience show in August 2009. or adventure. Lines drawn by photo from twohy societal predispositions and cultural rules stop many from lifechanging experiences. Just like if I had followed my mother’s definition of safety, I would have never ended up at Circus Camp in the first place and especially not hanging upside down by my kyra twohy, co-editor foot. wenty feet off the ground, As I spin faster and faster worry hanging by a foot with all fades and is replaced by adrenayour blood rushing to your line and excitement, the joy of the head may sound like a scene moment. The Spanish Web taught straight from a super villain’s lair, me that there is a point where but it’s my freedom. The Spanish there is a balance of thrill and safeWeb, a piece of acrobatic equip- ty. Because of this balance I know ment consisting of a rope, a loop that I won’t be falling from 20 feet to put an hand or a foot in and a and I will still be able to get down. catch to secure the given limb, is When the yin of safety equals the my circus apparatus of choice. yang of thrill, I am content. My How I got a circus apparatus of adventurous spirit flourishes, but choice starts with my first year at with the breathing room of a safeCircus Camp. I was in awe of the ty net. older girls who graced the trapeze.

Even as I slow down, the smile The first time I tried the trapeze can’t be wiped off my face. I will I fell flat on my face; apparently return to the ground and stumble it was not for me. That’s when I through life, but I will always found the Spanish Web. crave the sense of balance I feel in Pirouettes and arches give me the air. the grace I can’t seem to complete-

Acrobatics brings peace

T

TEACHER? LAWYER? ENGINEER? NURSE?

Start College Now! “I loved my experience at C2. The tutors really helped me work on improving my ACT score. I also received help with my schoolwork. The tutors genuinely cared about my progress in school, and this allowed me to reach my academic goals.”

-Isabell K. Attending Johns Hopkins University

$

Try us for

139 (regularly priced at $420)*

You receive: • A C2 Academic Assessment and in-person review of the results • Two 2-hour tutoring sessions

SAT · ACT · PSAT AP · IB Exams SSAT · ISEE College Admissions C2 Timonium 2080 York Rd. Timonium, MD 21093 410.308.1100

It’s never too soon to start thinking about your future. The Community College of Baltimore County offers high school students the opportunity to get a jump start on their college education and career training with our Parallel Enrollment Program (PEP). Juniors and Seniors can enroll in college courses while still in high school. Talk to your parents and guidance counselors to see how you can start getting ready now.

State Testing Study Skills Summer Programs Subject Tutoring

Get Started at CCBC!

Request more information and get your own customized web page at ccbcmd.edu/requestinfo

The incredible value of education. www.ccbcmd.edu

www.c2educate.com

*New students only. Participating centers only. Applies to students in fourth grade and above. Expires 5/31/14.

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org

the griffin

16 features

may 13, 2014

Students explore before college

A

jessica hung, deputy editor mong college decisions, a few students are planning something different. A gap year.

Seniors Maddie Rogers and Samantha Smyth

are taking time off before returning their sights to education. Rogers plans to travel before college.

“I know I’m not going to have that much of an opportunity to do that after college,” Rogers said.

Seniors Sam Smyth (left) and Isabel Griffith (right) take a break while hiking to San Louis Waterfall in Monte Verde, Costa Rica in July 2011. photo from smyth

Smyth also attributed her decision to take a gap year to her love for travelling, which she discovered after two eye-opening trips to Costa Rica. She said one aspect she liked was how you get to meet new people from scratch.

“They don’t care if you run cross country, or if you’re a candidate for a prestigious college,” Smyth said. “People know you and like you for who you are and the way you treat them.”

A gap year is exactly what it sounds like. According to US News, it is time taken to explore other interests.

During a gap year, students use their experiences as education.

Rogers will travel to Zanzibar, Africa, where she will be teaching English, while Smyth will be an au pair a nanny that lives with the

family - in La Frontera, Spain from September to February.

The decision to take a gap year isn’t easy. Rogers said it is a time to make sure “it is really what you want to do.”

“I’ve been sitting in a school for twelve years of my life,” Rogers said. Senior maddie rogers (left) makes crafts with Fabricio (right), an or“I’m pretty sure [teach- phan who lives at the Josephine House in Cusco, Peru last August. ing] is what I want to do, photo from rogers but I’ll be able to test it be costly, and Rogers and their choices were spur of out more.”

Smyth will be shouldering a moment. Both applied Smyth agrees, emphasizthe costs differently. Being to college and intend to ing the importance of takan au pair, Smyth will have attend at a later date. Aling whatever path is right her living arrangements though Smyth and Rogers for you. and food paid for so she can will travel seperately this “Never make a huge life save her money to travel to fall, their original gap year decision like college based other European countries. plans were made together. on if everyone around you “It’s funny because we Rogers, on the other hand, is taking that route,” Smyth had this plan to travel towill not have that luxury. said. “Because if you don’t “There is a lot of fund- gether,” Rogers said. “We see value in going college raising involved in the pro- aren’t doing it together, but right out of high school, gram, and I have to do more we actually ended up doing don’t.” it.” as I progress,” Rogers said.

Taking a gap year can Rogers and Smyth said

REVIEW:

Gotta try the guac

I

daniela rice, staff writer f you’re stuck at home this summer and looking for a local exotic experience, La Tolteca is the place to go.

Bright reds and oranges along with bustling waiters and the table-side guacamole cart being pushed from table to table were the first things I saw when walking into the new Mexican restaurant.

Our Salvadorian waiter, Tego, was extremely attentive. He took our order within minutes of us sitting down and offered sug-

gestions on the menu. Although the menu had numerous choices ranging from quesadillas to tacos to fajitas to burritos to numerous sides and appetizers, the tableside guacamole was the best of all. Everything cost from about $5 to $15.

On top of a gray rolling cart, avocados and other ingredients lay in little clear plastic containers waiting to be scooped out and placed in a black stone bowl to be mixed together. You can get all of the ingredients mixed together or you can just choose which ones

Driving to Ocean City? Try some of these catchy tunes

you want. Options include jalapeños, cilantro, tomatoes and onions. Although the table-side guacamole costs about $6 versus the $2 normal guacamole, the tableside guacamole has that slightly chunky texture that makes guacamole good, and which the normal version lacks.

Aside from the heavenly guac, the presentations of all of the dishes were beautiful and creative.

The Hawaiian fajitas were served in half of a pineapple with cheese sprinkled atop, and the table-side guacamole was served in a black stone bowl in the shape of a pig.

I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful our food was. We enjoyed the Black and White Que-

post Staff writer Christine Mckinnie sat down with stage crew member and senior Sarah Fisher, who will be backpacking through Europe this summer and then attending College Park this fall.

Reading?

1. “Talk Dirty,” Jason Derulo

2. “Baba O’Riley,” The Who

3. “Pompeii,” Bastille 4. “Hey Brother,” Avicii 5. “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons

6. “White Walls,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 7. “Panama,” Van Halen

8. “Life is a Highway,”

Rascal Flatts 9. “The Man,” Aloe Blacc 10. “Wake Me Up,” Avicii Compiled by staff writer Adam Hemmeter.

Tweet us your suggestions @dulaneygriffin

This year has been my classics year, where I decided I should read all the classics because they’re free on my Kindle,which is good except it turns out a lot of them are super boring, which is not good.

I have been trying to read “Little Women” for like six months now.

I read “Wuthering Heights,” I didn’t like it, I actually hated it. But what matters is that I read it. It’s just that they were all so needy and: ‘I love him but he hates me,’ ‘We are trying to ruin each other’s lives’….I wasn’t a big fan of that one. I read a lot of travel books, because I am going to Europe this summer.

So like “Europe through the Back Door” – it’s huge! That’s

sadilla, a vegetarian black bean quesadilla, and the chorizo dip, which had a pleasant spice to it, as we enjoyed the guacamole and fajitas. Everything there had incredible seasoning and was inexpensive.

With chairs being carved with authentic Mexican scenes and painted vibrant colors, speedy table-side service and food equally delicious as it is presented, La Tolteca is certainly a restaurant that you cannot miss out on.

La Tolteca (410) 683-3340, 10010 York Rd.

overall rating:

significantly more interesting, I really like reading that book more.

Watching?

I got a Netflix, so I just binge watch things off Netflix. I started “Supernatural.” I’ve seen the first six or seven episodes, and I like it, it’s kind of like ‘Ghost CSI,’ so I really like it, but I’ve b e e n slacking, so now my

HAWAIIAN FAJITAS are among the tasty dishes at La Toletca. photo by daniela rice

a month. It was bad. I didn’t talk to anyone. If I was sitting I was watching “How I Met Your Mother.“ But I love it so much.

Listening?

A lot of Lana Del Ray, like a lot. And Marina and the Diamonds. Those two especially, but Lana Del Ray is coming out with a new CD in spring, so I am super excited about that.

I went to the Miley Cyrus concert, and it was super freaking awesome. I had so much fun.

Following?

Okay, I don’t really social media that much, I mean. I got an Instagram a little while ago. I guess I can follow famous people, but I haven’t yet, like do I really want to see pictures of all of these famous people in like Florida while I am here while it’s raining? I don’t

photo by jen siegel

friends are mad at me because I was supposed to finish the first season by spring break, and I haven’t, like at all.

I binge-watched “How I Met Your Mother” on Netflix, seven seasons of it, in like

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

need that. I already get that from my friends. I’m not good at social media, except Instagram because I really like looking at pictures.

Eating?

So me and my friend have this ethnic food day, it’s ethnic food Thursday, but it’s not usually Thursday, okay, I call it ethnic food Thursday, it’s actually a Wednesday a lot. So we go to a different ethnic restaurant and we don’t repeat, at least not yet. We’ve been to Indian, Vietnamese, we really prefer Asian. We just went to this really good Middle Eastern place. That was good. We went to a really good Turkish place downtown. We went to this Afghan place, the Helmand, ah that place was really good.

Other than that…Girl Scout Cookies, a lot of them.

Changing?

Okay, so me, my friend Allie and my cousin who goes to Towson High School are all go- ing to Europe for six weeks this summer. So that’s kind of like our big hurrah. We graduated, hopefully, fingers crossed. But we leave June 5, so we are basically gone for the entire summer. And we are going to France, Spain, Italy, Germany with a stop in Austria and we are stopping in Iceland for three days. I’m really excited about that.