26 minute read
Brave for Books
Books have always been a part of her life. They make her laugh, make her cry, make her happy. That love for books is part of the reason Dawn Jones became an English teacher. Now that admiration for books has helped to dream up another goal: to become a librarian.
“Books hold power and words hold power and I love that as much as I love technology and I think it’s important, I don’t want us to ever forget about books,” Jones said.
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Jones has been an English teacher for 17 years and has loved the job. She currently teaches English for juniors and seniors. She felt the call to become a librarian, also known as a media specialist, around three years ago and has been working toward her goal ever since. Jones passed the certification test two years ago and since then has been getting hours shadowing other librarians.
“I love discussing books with students and finding books that they enjoy so I’m really just getting more hours for myself to feel more prepared,” Jones said. According to Jones, everyone has been supportive of her goal and to some it’s no surprise. Her fellow English teacher, Kristen Johnson, was the first person at FHN who Jones told about her goal. “She is seriously one of the hardest workers I know,” Johnson said. “I’m not just saying that. Like I said, she just sets a goal and she will pretty much stop at nothing to achieve it. I feel like she’s got that whole resilience and grit factor going that you just can’t deny how much hard work she puts into the things that she does.”
Jones has experienced some difficulties along the way that have prevented her from becoming a librarian. She went through a personal family issue last year and has been focused on her children and family since then. She credits her connection to her faith on how she got past this trying time. Now she feels like she is in a good place and she readily awaits the future.
“I want to be a librarian, I am really trusting God’s timing,” Jones said. “I really believe that I’m going to land right where I’m supposed to.” Not rushing to end her career as an English teacher, Jones will start applying for jobs in spring 2020. She hopes to stay within the district to be a school librarian but is open to anything.
“I feel like I’m going to get the best of everything I love as an English teacher without necessarily the daily tasks in the classroom,” Jones said. “[Also] being able to put my energy into technology and books and students and teachers.” by Sydney Ellison sydney.ellison55@gmail.com English teacher Dawn Jones comments on a question being asked by a librarian. Jones has been an English teacher at Francis Howell North for 17 years and has recently planned to be a librarian. She is a FHSD Tech Ambassador and she’s immersed herself in PD (Professional Development) that will prepare her for her future role as a librarian. (Photo by Sarah Williams) BRAVE FOR BOOKS English teacher Dawn Jones is working to become a librarian MORE INFO Check out more about Dawn Jones here: bit.ly/NSJones
MOVING WITH THE WIND
Moving often, packing lightly and living in completely different environments every two years. Friends come and go as freshman Aubery Crespo and her family blow in the wind. Aubrey’s father, Joshua Crespo, is an Air Force veteran- a job that comes with responsibility and sacrifice. Joshua, 38, recently retired from the Air Force. He has a different job within the military, but no longer has to move his family around for his job. His wife, Angelica Crespo, is also an Air Force veteran. Joshua and Angelica have two daughters, Aubrey and Lily Crespo.
“He was a staff sergeant,” Aubrey said. “My Dad now works as an imagery analyst. It’s like a geography thing, he looks at landscapes to find bad people.”
When Aubrey was eight, she moved to Osan Airforce Base in South Korea. Two years later, she moved to California and stayed there until she was 11.
“The worst place I ever lived was California because everything is dead there; you can’t really go outside,” Aubrey said. “South Korea was the best place I lived because the food was great and the culture was cool.”
Before Aubrey and her family moved for the first time, her father was deployed to Afghanistan for seven months. He was never on the battlefield, but he did work in dangerous conditions.
“I don’t remember how I felt, I was like five or six. I was sad that he was gone, but I knew he would be back.” Aubrey said. “I remember we would Skype him every once in a while. We also sent him giant boxes filled with things like cookies and cards saying we miss him. We also would put stuffed animals in there.”
Moving homes can often affect a child and their ability to make friends. Even though Aubrey has met people and left people, she doesn’t let that keep her down.
“She had to move away from her best friend. If I were in her situation, it would be lonely,” Adrian Hensley said. “She keeps her spirit.” (Brief by Ivy Lowery)
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FHNTODAY.COM From Livestreams to Podcasts to Stories about FHN community members, we’ve got it all.
Visit FHNGAMEDAY.COM, our sports site: Our Sports section of FHNToday features stories and photos of FHN sports from the Fall to Spring seasons. Stories range from recaps of games to features on athletes, and there are photos of every sport from bowling to football. On this section of FHNToday is also links to game schedules and athlete rosters.
Listen to our Podcasts on FHNTODAY.COM: FHNToday has an all new Podcast program, posting new content every week. There are weekly and biweekly shows made by students on a variety of topics. Some on the regularly produced content includes shows like Jakes Gamer Talk, Goonie Gab, and Around the World in 30 minutes. Podcasts are available on Podbean and FHNToday.com
Check out the In-Depths on FHNTODAY.COM:
FHNToday has written, photo and video stories. Each edition of the North Star is virtually published onto the website. There are previews and recaps of events on FHNToday, including events like plays and different fairs the community holds. Emily Hood’s Life After piece features stories about life after prisoner’s incarceration. INFO Follow this link to read the three part series: bit.ly/NSLifeAfter
Follow @FHNTODAY: FHNToday is active on social accounts including Instagram. Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook. Search the user “@FHNToday” on any of those platforms in-order to find our accounts. They feature news updates, previews to videos, and information about students.
The North Star Presents...
THE POWER OF IDENTITY
To be continued...
YOU DEFINE
YOURSELF
by Sydney Ellison sydney.ellison55@gmail.com Identity affects all aspects of our life and high school is an important place to discover it I dentity. Defined as ‘the distinguishing character or personality of an individual.’ It’s something that shapes our society and gives meaning to our lives. Its presence can influence decision-making, relationships and much more. High school is one of the most important times to discover identity. High schoolers have the chance to try new things, meet new people and discover who they truly are.
“Identity is I guess really a person’s sense of who they are and/or how they present themselves to the people around them,” FHN principal Nathan Hostetler said. “So, I think there’s an aspect of identity that is internal and an aspect that’s external as well.” Identity is most commonly identified with things like race, gender and sexuality but it doesn’t have to be limited to that. Identity is what makes up a person. It answers the question, who am I?
“Kids grow as kids go through their years in high school. That sense of identity starts out very external, sometimes it’s built around the color of one’s skin or sexual orientation, gender or just the clothes that people wear and over time that sense of belonging becomes much more internal,” Hosteler said. “People really start to have a better sense of who they are [through high school].”
At FHN, the idea of identity has become much more relevant. Events like the cultural festival allow students to connect with their culture. The language signs hanging around school are constants that students see. The variety of clubs and activities give students a chance to try new things and decide whether it’s something they love.
“We do a good job at supporting one another and accepting everybody for who they are,” FHN counselor Stephanie Johnson said.
High school can be such an important time in discovering identity because it’s a time of changes to the body, to the mind and to the soul. It’s a time of trying to be independant and learning the way to life. New things are constantly being introduced in a way where it may have an effect on identity.
“People come in as a freshman and they’re a little bit frightened, they kind of have some sense of who they are, but it’s not nailed down by any stretch of the imagination and they spend the next four years starting to really sort that out and there’s a huge change that happens,” Hostetler said.
According to Hostetler, identity is directly connected with belonging. Belonging can be important in high school because many students need acceptance from their peers.
“Human beings really need to feel like we belong,” Hostetler said. “Part of the reason human beings have been as successful as we have as a species is the fact that we depend on one another.”
In the future, Hostetler hopes to get more student input on ways to make FHN a better place for students to feel comfortable and discover their identity.
“If people feel like things are done with them, then there is a sense of belonging,” Hostetler said. “Even if it’s something that you ultimately are not going to be really pleased about the outcome, if I work with you instead of doing something to you then you’ll at least be able to say ‘I don’t like where this ended but I understand how we got here’ and that makes a big difference. So that is really what the student voice is about. Doing things with kids, not to kids.”
STUDENT TAKE WHAT IS IDENTITY AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU?
“Identity is having your own sense of self and doing your own thing. It’s important to have your own personality.” Grace Bales, 12
“It [identity] is one’s individual worth. Without it no one would be different.”
Breanna Hood, 11
“Identity is who you are, not who everyone else wants you to be. It is important to have your own place and be a person that you’re happy with. Bailey Scarbrough, 9
FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | IN-DEPTH “I think identity is what defines you and what actions you make in life. Everyone has their own identity without any difference everyone would be the same.” Emma Jones, 10
Cailyn Hodges finds confidence through dance
by Skylar Vogel svogel400@g.fhsdschools.org
Identity is how we express who we are. Identity is what makes all of us different and unique. For sophomore Cailyn Hodges, her identity is found in dance. Dancing for most of her life has shaped her into the person she is today.
“[Dance] has made me a better person and has taught me a lot of life lessons from the different people I meet,” Hodges said.
Hodges began dancing when she was two years old, and it has remained a prominent part of her life since then, amounting to fourteen years of dance.
“Dance has really made me more mature and has given me a lot more confidence,” says Hodges. Hodges dances at Dance Connection Performing Arts Center, where she spends most of her time. The practices take up a considerable portion of her schedule, as she dances four times a week, with practice times ranging anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours. With all this time in the studio, Hodges has built strong friendships with
her fellow dancers, and some of her closest friends are at the dance studio. Yet Hodges tries to balance these friendships, as well as her time, between school and dance.
“It makes my schedule a little bit harder, but I can usually manage my time pretty well when it comes to practices and my busy school schedule,” Hodges said.
Still, she makes time for dance, because it matters to her. Dance affects her in many aspects of her life, changing her schedule, but more importantly, her identity. She finds it to be a way of expressing herself.
“It’s one of my creative outlets,” Hodges said. “I can be myself when I do it.”
Dancing has improved several facets of Hodges’ life. It has shaped who she is and how she approaches everyday situations. Hodges will continue to dance and it will continue to change her life every day.
“It has definitely made me more mature as a person,” Hodges said. “It has given me a lot of skills that I need to use in my life.”
THROUGH PRAYER EMPOWERMENT
Junior Zinat Ologundudu is a practicing Muslim and shares how her religion is important to her identity by Karsyn Williams karsyn.williams15@gmail.com
After a long day of school, junior Zinat Ologundudu kneels down and begins to say a prayer. Alongside her family, Ologundudu was born and raised practicing Islam and has been a devout Muslim her entire life. Her religion has become a major part of her life and her identity, as the faith has become a key aspect in her morals and beliefs.
“My religion is a very positive religion,” Ologundudu said. “You can learn a lot from it and better yourself through it.”
Everyday, Ologundudu finds and takes the time to pray. In Islam, there is one god, Allah, who Muslims worship and pray directly to. It is believed that as one prays, they recieve great spiritual benefit throughout their life. “I believe that in whatever you do, Allah is always behind you,” Ologundudu said.
Islam is the second most popular religion in the world, making up about 24.4% of the entire world’s population. As of 2017, there are about 3.45 million Muslims in the United States. Many practice the religion alongside others in their community, celebrating spiritual holidays together and sharing their faiths. Ramadan, an important religious holiday, is a month in the Islamic calendar where Muslims worldwide take the time for reflection, prayer and fasting.
“I personally didn’t know she was Muslim until she told me, which I kind of think is really cool because people don’t get to judge her off of that,” senior Salam Abouchleih said. Abouchleih is a friend of Ologundudu and is a practicing Muslim as well.
Alongside their prayers and daily practices, many Muslims also attend services at local mosques. This is another way many Muslims are able to connect with those of the same faith and pray together.
“I saw her at the prayer on Eid al-Fitr, which is a Muslim holiday, and that’s how I knew she was Muslim,” Abouchleih said.
Ologundudu views her religion as a key aspect in her life. Through practicing it, she finds that she is happier and feels more complete. The
religion helps Ologundudu maintain a positive outlook on life. While her faith isn’t something everyone who has met her knows about her, it’s a major part of her identity that she still remains proud of.
“When I have a bad day, I pray, and I always feel better at the end of it,” Ologundudu said. “It [religion] impacts how I think and how I see people around me and what I’m
doing. It allows me to be confident and be who I am today.”
Trips To Speaking two languages and from a different country, freshman Wonder Reed continues to be connected with her heritage by Anna Besancenez abesancenez03@gmail.com G oing back and forth from sleeping in nets that hung from the ceiling in Africa to sleeping in a bed in America, freshman Wonder Reed was born in Makose, Tanzania and speaks both English and Swahili. Wonder has been speaking Swahili since she could talk, but once she started going to an American school she started speaking English. Wonder and her mom came to America with her mother when she was around five years old.
“I speak English more since I go to an English school and I’m a little rusty on Swahili,” Wonder said. “I have gotten used to the fact that I speak English at school and Swahili at home.”
Every village in Africa has its own specific tribal language. Swahili is the universal language for communication between the villages. Wonder grew up in a small village called Makose in the city of Lushoto. Wonder and her mom, Upendo Reed, try to visit their village whenever they are able to. Reed’s mother Upendo was named after love; the word Upendo means love in Swahili. “I have been through a lot,” Upendo said. “But I am very glad that all happened because it has made me wiser and understanding.”
According to Wonder, the heritage has shaped her identity due to how giving, understanding and accepting she has become. “It’s [Tanzania] such a happy place, everyone is so happy,” Wonder said. “People in America are more judgemental and strict. America and Tanzania are so different.”
The cultures between the two countries have some differences according to Wonder. In Tanzania they use their hands to eat while in America utensils are used with certain things.
“In my village, everyday is like a party,” Wonder said. “We are always celebrating and it’s just so much fun. In America it’s more pressure like getting good grades, while in Tanzania it’s just please do well.”
They eat African-based dishes at home. Her mother makes lots of chicken and rice along with goat meat and beef.
“I love chipsi mayai,” Wonder said. “You take fries and egg and mix them and then you put ketchup over it and it’s so good.” In their village they believe in spirits and witches. Her family believes that her great grandma was a witch. People in her village would see witches for fortune telling and future predictions.
“There is just superstitious things like you can’t whistle at night or else you will get murdered and stuff like that,” Wonder said.
Tanzania is, in some ways, a safer place than America according to Wonder. There is crime everywhere, but between the two countries it’s a little different. The danger in Tanzania is more revolved around the wildlife while in America the danger is more of violence.
“It’s such a nice place but it can be really dangerous, but not as dangerous as you think,” Wonder said. “There’s wildlife and that can be dangerous but it’s so nice. They won’t attack you unless you attack them.”
Upendo and Wonder, mother and daughter, have been shaped by their heritage. Wonder looks up to her mother and inherits her qualities from her.
“My heritage has influenced my identity because it has made me understanding and empathetic to others,” Wonder said. Tanzania
Racing engines, straight piped cars and hands slicked with motor oil. This is the dream of sophomore Mason Rigby, a car enthusiast-- better known to some as a gearhead.
Speed, skidding tires and beautiful cars are Rigby’s passion and a part of his identity. He’s been to over 15 car events, and hopes to go to more. From his car-printed clothes to drifting in his free time, it seems everything has to do with Rigby’s unconditional love for cars. “My dad influenced my interest the most because he is a mechanic,” Rigby said. “I’ve been into cars ever since I was born. My first word was ‘screwdriver’.”
Rigby’s dad, Darin Rigby, has been working at Pappas Toyota for the past five years as a mechanic. He previously worked at Chrysler.
“I think cars have made me a better person because I feel like it makes me more determined with what I want to do. It makes me more motivated,” Rigby said. Sophomore Ryan Redell and Rigby have been friends for over a year. The base of Redell and Rigby’s friendship is their common interest in cars. “Mason would be very different without cars,” Redell said. “He wouldn’t be with the people he’s around if he wasn’t.”
Cars have been such an important part of Rigby’s life. It affects the way he spends his money, what he’ll do for his career, along with who he chooses to be friends with and talk to.
“Without cars, my life would be very different,” Rigby said. “Before I wanted to be an architect and it just didn’t feel right. Now I want to be a mechanic, and maybe do body work. It feels right for me.”
In the future, Rigby hopes to own a 1989 Toyota Supra. Since Toyota is a Japanese car company, it is considered part of the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM).
“I own a 1990 Mazda Miata, and my father owns a 2011 Subaru STI,” Rigby said. “I grew up with every car in my family being American, and eventually they went to JDM. I guess I followed.” by Ivy Lowery ilowery408@g.fhsdschools.org BLOOD, SWEAT AND GEARS Sophomore Mason Rigby has a love for cars, and they’ve become a part of his identity MORE INFO Look at some of the 2020 car model releases here: bit.ly/NS2020Cars
Junior Riya Contractor celebrates her Indian heritage and Hindu religion, and believes that it makes her cultural identity unique
by Ashlynn Perez ashlynnkaeperez@gmail.com
Since she can remember, junior Riya Contractor has been a part of the rich culture of Hinduism. It was a part of her parents’ lives growing up, and now she celebrates it as a part of her identity.
“I feel like it really helps define who I am,” Contractor said. “It just makes me really unique from other people, because not a lot of people are the same religion as me, so it is hard to relate to others, but it’s cool to be able to tell people and show people about my religion, because it is a really beautiful culture, and I love being who I am.”
Contractor describes Hinduism as an incredibly rich culture. While Hinduism is a religion- the third largest religion in the world- it is also an ethnic part of peoples’ lives, mainly practiced in India and Southeast Asia. Some staples of it are gold, jewelry and the festive holidays celebrated in place of traditionally American holidays. Diwali, a Hindu holiday, took place in November, celebrating how good triumphed over evil. Contractor and her family celebrated Diwali by decorating their house with lights. “Her culture affects her positively by helping her connect to her family and friends that have similar cultures,” her friend, junior Iris Lee, said. “It also helps her outlook on life by guiding her with its morals. It’s also just really cool.”
Despite the rich culture Contractor sees it as now, there was a time when being involved in it was a struggle for her.
“When I was younger, I used to be a little ashamed of being [a part of] my culture because I never really fit in, but then especially in this area, there’s not many Indian people, or even Muslim people, so I did feel a little ashamed,” Contractor said. Part of the shame came from how different her religion is compared to what many consider “normal”. In an environment full of people with beliefs unlike what Contractor believes, it sometimes felt like she was alone. “It really differs from what people consider normal, because most of my friends are just Catholic or Christian, so I have felt like an outsider,” Contractor said.
Her friends, such as Lee, have seen how it affected her life and her struggle to balance her identity in the past.
“I’ve seen her struggle before,” Lee said. “It’s very hard to balance your root culture self and your everyday society self. Since she lives in America and is surrounded by more American culture than Indian culture, it takes a while to be able to balance both cultures at the same time.”
However, she was not down for long, and in the past few years, she has become firmer in her identity within her culture. And instead of the shame that can come with being different, she now sees it as a source of strength and confidence.
“I’ve learned, as I’ve grown up, to embrace who I really am, because it sets me apart from everyone,” Contractor said. “It gives me that cultural identity that belongs to me.” Along with welcoming her culturalidentity on a personal level, Contractor has been encouraged in this identity by her surroundings. Instead of being alone in her beliefs, she is being surrounded more and more by people who she can connect with through their similarities and shared experiences.
“I get to see people who look like me, who have the same religion as me,” Contractor said. “It helps me relate to them and make new connections.”
Contractor attributes some of this to changes in the FHN community, which strives to support tolerance, diversity and individual identity. The changes in the school and its climate have bled into her life and have made her more comfortable in who she is.
“[My freshman year] I felt like a total outsider,” Contractor said. “But sophomore year and this year, I feel so much more involved, and I feel like there are so many more clubs and activities that help promote diversity and inclusion for everyone. I feel like Dr. Hostetler has really helped with that, as well.”
She continues to celebrate her vibrant Hindu culture and she stays proud of who she is, and who her culture has made her to be.
“I want people to know it’s different. It’s not what you’d really expect from a normal person,” Contractor said. “It really means a lot to who I am, and it’s just shaped me to be the person I’ve become.”
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RED LIGHT WARNING
Have you purchased your yearbook chronicling the 2019-20 school year?
ARE YOU SURE?
We just don’t want you to miss out and the price goes up in the coming weeks. Check the “Yearbook” menu item on FHNtoday.com to make sure your name is on the list so you don’t miss out.
If you need to buy your book, you still can in room 131 with Mrs. Kiel or online at FHNtoday.com under the “Yearbook” menu.
BEING IN THE JOURNALISM PROGRAM HAS TAUGHT ME HOW TO EXPRESS MY IDEAS IN NEW WAYS AND LEARN THROUGH THE PEOPLE I MEET.”
—Nadia Abusoud, Video Storyteller FHN Media
FHN media ENROLL IN A JOURNALISM CLASS FOR NEXT YEAR. Journalism - (Writing & Design Focused) - 1/2 Comm Arts Credit Broadcast Journalism - (Video Storytelling Focused) - 1/2 Comm Arts Credit Digital Photojournalism - (Photography) - 1/2 Practical Arts Credit ALREADY TAKE AN INTRO COURSE? JOIN STAFF. Applications for 2020-21 are due Jan. 16. Find out More at www.FHNtoday.com/TellMeMore
