FOURCAST the
THE BRAT STAFF Hockaday teachers who are “brat Page 4
TEACHERS TRAVEL THE WORLD Hockaday faculty participate in programs abroad. Page 13
The Price of Fast Fashion
THE PRESSURE BEHIND THE POM POMS
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders show highlights the realities of cheerleading Page 14
Made by Fourcast
Young Voters Impact Elections
November elections draw attention from Gen-Z voters
By Caroline Ballotta and Danya Risam-Chandi Staff Writer and Managing Editor
In the past few months, both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions have played host to thousands of delegates, candidates and other influential guests. Both presidential candidates hope to sway one particularly large new voting block: young voters and, specifically, Gen-Z.
According to Tufts Center for Information and Research on Civic Life (CIRCLE), 41 million Gen-Z members will be eligible to vote in the November election, more than half of them minorities. Not only are there more Gen-Z voters than ever before, Gen-Z also votes at higher rates than previous generations at the same age.
Britainy Beshear, the First Lady of Kentucky, is a longtime advocate for youth engagement and frequently works to empower some of Kentucky’s most under-served children.
“What I’ve seen is that the younger generation understands what happens when you don’t vote,” Beshear said. “And so when I talk to kids and young adults in high school, I think people are a lot more dialed in than they used to be.”
Upper School government and economics teacher Kristen Blevins has seen anecdotal evidence that young voter turnout has increased in recent years. She also believes there are substantial differences between Gen-Z and previous generations.
“The younger generation is much more diverse, in many different ways,” Blevins said. “I think those different voices could be really impactful.”
Beshear often volunteers at Kentucky schools where she talks with students.
“It is always important to look to our younger generations and let them know that they have a voice and that their voice is important in our country and our political landscape,” Beshear said.
platforms. Kamala Harris has gone viral on TikTok in conjunction with Charlie XCX’s Brat album.
Beshear thinks that Harris’ platform works twofold: not only does it draw in younger voters, but Beshear says that it will spark the interest of older voting blocks.
“Some older people will think: ‘oh, that's really cute’ and then will need to know more,” Beshear said. “So I think it helps draw people in to kind of have those kinds of clickbait moments.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump frequents social media platforms like Truth Social. However, Blevins does not think that higher social media engagement always correlates with higher voter turnout.
“No matter how much engagement there is on social media, it doesn’t make a difference if people don’t vote,”
Blevins said.
Voters should keep in mind another issue regarding the use of social media to engage with elections: misinformation.
the polls.
Laura Laywell, Assistant Director at the Institute for Social Impact, also recommends that students look at the resources offered by the Close Up Foundation, a national organization that partners with schools around the country to educate and encourage students to participate in civic affairs and government.
Social media has also been an increasingly popular way for young voters to interact with candidates and campaign
“Being cognizant of where you’re hearing things or seeing things on social media is more important now than ever,” Blevins said.
Social media algorithms revolve around content being “personalized” to users, which can become dangerous when used to share biased news or information.
“You can get yourself in a sort of echo chamber of people who only address one side,” Blevins said.
Beshear echoed that sentiment, noting that many voters do not diversify their news sources.
“It’s hard to find accurate information because most people just go to a website or a news channel that tells them the things that they already think, and so you’re only backing up the things that you already believe," Beshear said.
Beshear thinks the best way to make your vote count is to vet candidates on both sides of the aisle.
“Every candidate out there is going to have things you agree with and things that you disagree with, but what’s important is that you find the candidate whose moral integrity most lines up with yours,” Beshear said.
While national elections usually center around more engaging and well-known issues, Blevins thinks that local elections have a larger impact on everyday life.
“We hear a lot about national elections and even some of the big statewide races, but you might not be as familiar with local elections and what’s actually on your ballot,” Blevins said.
Blevins recommends visiting dallascountyvotes.org, if you are a resident of Dallas County, to see a sample ballot. This will help voters research their candidates before going to
“I think it’s an excellent resource for young voters, specifically, because there’s so much information about what voting is and how it looks when you’re new,” Laywell said. “If you’ve never done it, sometimes that can be intimidating.”
For those who are not yet eligible to vote, Blevins recommends finding engagement opportunities that speak to you.
“Volunteering for a campaign might look like phone banking, text banking or block walking to get the word out about local races,” Blevins said. “If you aren’t necessarily passionate about a campaign, there are different interest groups that are more concerned about specific issues that will be influential in the election.”
Upper School Counselor Ashley Ferguson also holds a drive every year to help students register to vote. This year the drive is Oct. 3 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
“If younger voters would go out and vote, the world would be the way that we all know it can be,” Beshear says. “As there are more people coming up in politics who are young don’t want to get into the divisive politics that have become the norm in our country, I’m hoping that will help energize young voters to get out and vote.”
Charlotte Lauten '24 registers to vote
First Lady of Kentucky Britainy Beshear speaks to students
Daisies Shine at STARS
Seniors participate in summer research program
By Jenny Chu Staff Writer
For eight weeks this summer, seniors Abby Woodberry, Alexis Fan and Gabriela Gaona represented Hockaday at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s STARS
(Science Teacher Access to Resources at Southwestern) program.
Spending a minimum of 40 hours a week under the supervision of an instructor and a PhD mentor, the seniors conducted unique, lab-based research in biomedical fields.
Woodberry researched the role of Fic protein modification (AMPylation) in the unfolded protein response by observing the
effects of FicD mutations on skeletal health in the Orth Lab. Fan researched the Circadian rhythms of mice by observing their behavioral time-place learning in relation to the food-entrainable oscillator in the Yamazaki lab. Finally, Gaona researched airway M cells in the Shiloh lab.
Interns were in only their labs during weekdays, while senior lab members came in every day to check on their data. On Wednesdays, a guest speaker presented a seminar on topics relating to their research. However, each intern usually had a unique project schedule.
“I would get to my lab at 9 a.m., greet everyone in my lab, then go to my desk and compile a list of all my tasks for the day,” Gaona said. “I’d then do my routine tasks, such as feeding my cell cultures, conducting flow cytometry and testing DNA and adenoid samples with my mentor.”
Despite working in different labs, the Daisies still forged a community with their fellow interns. Besides eating lunch together, two optional social events were held before and during the program, providing all students a chance to meet outside of a formal setting.
“It was really cool hearing about everyone’s schools and unique life experiences,” Fan said. “Everyone was talented, smart and friendly.”
At the end of the program, interns were paid a stipend and presented their research results at a July 26 symposium. The Hockaday interns also present their findings at Hockaday’s annual fall research symposium along with other students who conducted research over the summer and academic year.
"I loved STARS and I would recommend it to anyone interested in science," Gaona said.
All About New Faculty New Upper School teachers share fun facts
By Audrey Liu News Editor
Q – Who or what inspired you to become a teacher?
A – I come from a family of teachers, and I think I always acted like one. I was always taking younger kids under my wing in school and showing them the ropes. But on the English side of things, we have a family connection to Bram Stoker, the author who wrote "Dracula."
Q - What is the best piece of advice you would give to students on success?
A – Always admit when you don’t know something, and do the reading. Also, if you can learn to survive the experience of humiliation or embarrassment, you can succeed because if you ever feel embarrassed we get this feeling of, “oh, I would rather be dead,” but if you can survive that, it's like you've survived death. You're unstoppable.
Q - What is the best piece of advice you would give to students on success?
A – Everybody might be in a different place in life and academically, but I really encourage that if you’re passionate about it, just believe in yourself. It doesn’t matter where you are right now, just continue and go for it.
Q – What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching?
A – I’m a huge fan of Arsenal and have been following this club for over 10 years. The second thing is I am interested in investing in stocks and financial assets.
Q – What is something that might surprise students?
A – I went to four different high schools, one for each year.
Q – What is your favorite thing about math?
A – I believe that mathematics, specifically calculus, is the single greatest accomplishment of our human life to support civilization.
Q – What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching?
A – I like to play video games with my wife. Mostly, we play "Diablo." I also like to cook with her.
Q – What is the best piece of advice you would give to students on success?
A – Be persistent. Take challenging classes. Engage in complicated thoughts and ideas, no matter how challenging, and once you develop that relationship of student versus a challenging concept, and you have proven to yourself you can close that gap, you realize that you have limitless possibilities.
Mr. Parker Stoker - Upper School English and Writing Center
Mr. Simon Lee - Upper School Math
Mr. Chad Gilliland - Upper School Math
Gabriela Gaona '25 presents her research
Alexis Fan '25 explains her project
ARTS &LIFE
The staff
Hockaday teachers that exemplify a popular trend
By Juliette Friguletto and Aneeka Tansen Staff Writers
Brat: a recent fashion, music and lifestyle trend fueled by Charli XCX and her new 15-track album. From Vice President Kamala Harris’ coconut tree edits to Charli’s “360” being the song of the summer, the trend has taken the world by storm. The “brat” trend defines a person who is brutally honest, poised and unapologetically themselves in all they do.
Inspired by Y2K and the messy party girl style, the trend embraces rebelliousness, confidence, and playfulness. In Charli XCX’s album cover, “brat” is portrayed through the bold lime green and low-quality underscore font. However, the true essence comes from the traits of a brat person – the one who is unapologetically themselves. Achieving brat means to accept the messy and imperfect side of yourself.
Not to be confused with being “a spoiled brat,” Charli XCX’s "brat" is a compliment to your character. Though the label has recently been formed, the brat personality has lived in the Hocka-community for years. Particularly, in these six Hocka-teachers.
Director of the Institute for Social Impact Laura Day works daily to intertwine Hockaday students and opportunities. Her confident attitude promotes a positive environment surrounding social impact activities. Day has unique ideas that make her “brat” throughout her home and school life from creating a women in sports podcast to playing in an adults' soccer league.
At Hockaday, she is known as the teacher who walks in like she owns the place and immediately warms up to her crowd. To her, "brat" means self-confidence.
“Somebody that seems to own it or be proud about who they are,” Day said. “I think it took a long time to get to where I am, but I am unapologetically myself. I unapologetically dress who I am, the way I am. I have crazy ideas that I say to everyone and I really believe in myself.”
Day’s advice to our generation on being ourselves, confident and “brat,” is to persevere.
“Chase the yeses and ignore the no’s,” Day said. “You can’t get beat down.”
Physics and Forensics teacher
Brittany Pendleton is both a guide and friend to her students, making them feel comfortable coming to her with their problems. Reflecting on why she was chosen as “brat,” she credited time as an aid to understanding herself.
“It’s taken a long time to be comfortable with being myself,” Pendleton said. “I’ve learned things are going to happen to you and sometimes they’re not always going to be the best things, but you have to roll with the punches.”
Citing the song “A-Okay,” Pendleton summarized her “brat” mentality.
“I see lemons coming my way and I’ll be making that lemonade,” Pendleton said. "That’s what I’ve done my entire life.”
Director of Theatre Jeremy Hays is a multi-faceted artist with roles in numerous movies and TV shows including “The Blacklist” and “The Oath,” as well as Broadway’s first revival of “Les Misérables.” Hays is known, among many other things, for his jaw-dropping production of “SIX” performed by the Upper School and is the epitome of “brat.”
His room features a green plush
chair with a sequined Ruth Bader Ginsburg pillow, and although he was not aware of the "brat" trend, he is a huge fan of Charli XCX.
“I never imagined anyone would think I would wear an all-green jumpsuit and be at Charli XCX’s party,” Hays said. “But hey, the green shirt, my green chair, is very 'brat'.”
Hays defined "brat" in reference to music genres and ages.
“'Brat' means hip-hop counterculture that almost has a throwback punk, 80’s flair to it,” Hays said. “You can’t try to be 'brat'. It’s kind of something you’re born with, and you just exude.”
Dr. Claire Cothren is an Upper School English teacher with an endless passion for literature. She loves to spend time with her sons, read and watch shows in her free time. Although Cothren has limited knowledge of what “brat” is, she describes it as someone who doesn’t follow the rules.
“Somebody who is rebellious,” Cothren said. “Somebody who doesn’t care about following the norms all the time. Someone maybe a little bit defiant and bold.”
Cothren thinks aspiring to be "brat" could be a good thing.
"Especially in a school where people tend to veer toward perfectionism a little bit, that can be so overwhelming, to try to be perfect all the time," Cothren said. “Go have fun, be messy and don’t make everything perfect all the time," Cothren said.
Aquinnetta Mims, Administrative Assistant to the Head of Upper School, is a reading, exercising and shopping lover known among the students for
consistently having perfect style. Her attention to detail in her outfits coupled with her confidence make her a fashion icon on campus. To her, "brat" means self-love.
“A woman that is confident with herself, loves herself and is unique in her own way,” Mims said.
She said that “brat” is a personal journey.
“There’s no need to be anybody else,” Mims said. “You are perfect just the way you are.”
Parker Stoker is a freshman English teacher, Writing Center Faculty and Assistant Rowing Coach. When Stoker realized he was identified as “brat” by students, he credited his pink Stanley tumbler as the defining reason.
At first, he thought the trend was about bratwurst sausages and it being cool to be bratty. Despite his initial confusion, he quickly grasped the essence of the term and described it as somebody who always has a presence when they walk into the room.
He explained that “brat” is effortless.
“The less you think about it, the more you can do it,” Stoker said. “So don’t try to be brat.”
Day showing the items she thinks represent "brat."
Pendleton posing with "brat" items.
Hays posing with his "brat" items.
Hays' chair and RBG pillow.
Cothren poses with her "brat" items.
Mims poses with lime green "brat" items.
Stoker poses with his green "brat" items. PHOTOS BY ANEEKA TANSEN
The science behind jewelry
There is more to jewelry than what meets the eye
By Katie Ma Staff Writer
Gold or silver? Rings or necklaces? Whether your style is dainty and minimalist or loud and colorful, jewelry is likely a key part of your self-expression.
“I love how jewelry gives your clothes personality and a personal touch,” sophomore Athena Wen said. “Jewelry makes any basic outfit look good.”
Why are certain gems more commonly used than others? What is the difference between 14-karat and 18-karat gold? Do you consider the science behind the piece?
Caroline Im, director of Gems and Minerals at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, explains that a gem is a mineral that has been cut and polished. Some minerals are too soft to hold up as gems. Additionally, some minerals are more difficult to cut into gems than others.
“You have to pick a mineral that's able to withstand everyday wear,” Im said.
“There has to be enough of it to sustain the jewelry market. And third, there has to be marketing behind it, so people know what you're talking about.”
The Mohs Hardness Scale ranks minerals on a scale of one to ten, with one being the softest and 10 being the hardest, on their scratch resistance. A mineral should have a hardness high enough to resist scratches from everyday objects, such as fingernails and steel keys, if it is made into a gem.
the brick ends and not in the middle.”
The mineral is made of microscopic crystal structures, Im explained. These small structures repeat in all directions to form a bigger crystal. Crystal structures can be complex or simple. When the crystal breaks, its pieces will always maintain the same structure, even if the shape of the pieces are different.
“Let’s say that you have salt. Sodium chloride is always attached to each other in a cubic arrangement. It’s always going to break that way,” Im said. “At the very basic crystal structure, it doesn’t make sense for it to break at an angle that is not 90 degrees, because that’s the way the bond forms at an atomic level.”
or splinter when hit along a fracture.
A fracture occurs when a mineral breaks unevenly, compared to the clean break of a cleavage plane. This can happen if a mineral has fracture, which most, but not all, do. A gem may fracture
Fracture, although sometimes unpredictable, is preferable to cleavage when in gem cutting. Cleavage has a much higher chance of splitting a gem along a plane, which could ruin the stone and alter its size. Minerals with cleavage can also be less durable than those without.
Diamonds, the hardest naturally occurring substance, define the top of the scale at ten.
“[Before diamonds became popular in the 1940s for engagement rings], more commonly used gems were sapphires, emeralds, and rubies,” Im said.
In addition to their vibrant colors, these gems were what was known and readily available.
The second factor that determines if a mineral is suitable to become a gem is whether it has cleavage, which refers to the point at which its crystal structures connect and split when subjected to force. The bonds between atoms are weaker there, which makes it easier for the mineral to break along those planes. Cleavage is not desirable because accidentally hitting a cleavage plane could split a gem.
“A cleavage plane is like when you break Legos apart,” Im said. “It would break along the line where
“Different sides of the [crystal] structure can have fractures and others cleavage. So, if a mineral has four planes, you can have three planes of cleavage and one plane of fracture,” Im said.
Paige Furr, Upper School Ceramics and Sculpture teacher began creating jewelry when she was a sophomore in high school.
“I learned how to solder, how to cut with the jeweler saw, how to pierce, how to bend metal, and how to clean it up,” Furr said.
After becoming an educator, Furr signed up for various jewelry workshops and created her own jewelry toolbox.
“When I came to [Hockaday], I thought I would introduce small metals, or jewelry, to the ceramics program,” Furr said. “We’ve been gradually bringing in different tools and starting off the students this year with small metals.”
She has introduced jewelry making into the intermediate ceramics program.
Have you ever had a ring turn your finger green? If so, you aren’t alone. One universal experience for jewelry wearers is low quality jewelry turning their skin green.
Most metal alloys in jewelry contain copper. When copper reacts with oxygen or moisture, it creates a compound called copper oxide. The reaction creates a greenish film on top of the copper, which then rubs off onto the skin, Furr explained.
“Your body produces specific sweat, and depending on your body chemistry, some people are more acidic than others,” Furr said. “The acidity in the sweat, the salt, causes the copper to start to oxidize, and in the process of oxidizing it turns green, from red to green.”
Furr explained jewelry that is higher quality, such as gold with higher carats, contains a lower ratio of copper to gold. Because gold does not oxidize, these higher quality jewelry pieces are less likely to turn skin green.
However, you can prevent lower quality jewelry from turning your skin green by: paint a coat of clear nail polish to your jewelry to stop the metal from oxidizing.
Wen believes that understanding the science behind jewelry is extremely helpful when shopping for new pieces.
“When you are buying jewelry online, you can understand if the jewelry is high quality,” Wen said. “Sometimes, you might have bad reactions to poor quality jewelry, and so by understanding the science behind jewelry, you can keep yourself safe.”
Sophomores Betty Liu and Sanjana Rajagopalan show off the jewelry they wear.
Junior Jada Muhia's daily bracelet stack.
Senior Lily Brown exhibits her gold jewelry.
Junior Kaitlyn Chen shows off the bracelets she likes to wear.
PHOTOS AND GRAPHIC
ARTS &LIFE
Movie spreads awareness while causing drama Stars and Scandals
By Elizabeth Farrell Staff Writer
The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s “It Ends with Us” starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni received an overwhelming amount of attention, good and bad, following its release on Aug. 9. Based on a relationship between 23-yearold Lily Blossom Bloom and 30-year-old Ryle Kincaid, the movie unpacks the complex web of emotions and decisions surrounding being in an abusive relationship. Like any book-tomovie adaptation, some elements of the two productions differed from each other.
To put the viewers in Lily Bloom’s position, the movie accurately depicts how she could simply justify her injuries from Ryle as mistakes rather than intentional. In the beginning of the movie, viewers see Ryle injure Lily in multiple instances; however, in each case his actions truly appear as though they were accidental. Later in the movie, as Lily is trying to come to terms with her dire situation, a montage of the earlier clips of her getting injured clearly display acts of intentional abuse, symbolizing Lily’s realization of what her husband is doing to her.
Sophomore Avika Guttigoli claimed that the book as opposed to the movie was more complex, especially when related to topics such as domestic violence.
“[The book] was a little darker and just got more in depth with the characters and what was going on in Lily’s head and how she felt with her situation,” Guttigoli said. “I don’t think they romanticized domestic violence, but I think it was bypassed a little bit.”
A missing part of the movie, according to sophomore Lillie Lopez, was information about Lily Bloom’s past.
“The book had more information about the background, and the movie kind of gave like a quick flashback and then mostly talked about the present,” Lopez said.
Atlas, Lily’s old high school boyfriend, was a more prominent figure in the book than in the movie. As Lopez mentioned, much of the book took place in the past where it dove deep into the romantic connection between Lily and Atlas whereas the movie had one or two brief flashbacks to their relationship.
Freshman Alexa Chavez described the actors’ portrayal of the sensitive subject of domestic abuse as “phenomenal.”
“They displayed the difficulties and patterns that follow abusive relationships,” Chavez said.
In her novel, Hoover repeatedly used the phrase “just keep swimming” from the movie
“Finding Nemo” as a motivation al mantra to keep Lily and Atlas strong no matter what life threw at them. This quote, although not directly stated in the film, is portrayed through a “Finding Nemo” poster on a wall, a Nemo plush toy and a game of “Go Fish” at the beginning of the movie. This artistic choice sprinkles some hope into the overall depressing setting of the movie.
Aside from the movie itself, Lively and Baldoni received a great amount of hate regarding how they handled the “It Ends with Us” press tour. Forbes Magazine describes Lively’s interview responses as “tonedeaf.” In many viral clips of Lively during the press tour, interviewers asked deep questions surrounding domestic abuse and Lively either gave a half-hearted response showing little to no empathy or she found a way to bring up fashion or one of her brands.
One interviewer asked, “What has been your favorite part in making this particular movie?”
Lively avoided the question and instead said “I’ve noticed so many beautiful crystals on teeth. Is that a big fashion thing here?”
Lively completely disregarded the question and instead started a conversation on the teeth crystals the interviewer was wearing. Fans also compared Baldoni’s intentions to Lively’s intentions of promoting the movie. After the release of his movie, Baldoni put a link in his Instagram bio for people suffering from domestic abuse to seek help. By doing this, the actor used his platform and recent publicity to spread awareness and help people in need. Unlike Baldoni, Lively’s Instagram bio remained the same, containing links to her alcohol brand.
Lively also reinforced her “tone-deaf” promotion of the
tagram post on Aug. 4, “when your company throws a florist themed party for your movie.” She again mentioned her movie lightheartedly, focusing on the beautiful floral theme of her party rather than its content.
To make matters worse, Lively made another post on the same exact day launching her new haircare brand, “Blake Brown Beauty.” The comment sections on both posts are flooded with negative comments and opinions about Lively’s use of her recent publicity to promote her brands. These recent actions have made fans skeptical of how empathetic Lively is when it comes to difficult issues such as the ones portrayed in her movie. Fans have now named Lively Hollywood’s newest “mean girl.”
Rumors also circulated about beef between Baldoni and the rest of the cast. The actor did not appear in any of the movie’s promo photos which made viewers suspicious of tension among the cast. Baldoni served as the director for the movie while Lively served as one of the producers, allowing fans to pin the cause of their apparent tension on creative differences between the two stars. Lively and Hoover also unfollowed Baldoni on social media which only made suspicions worse. It is still unclear what went down on the “It Ends with Us” set.
“Many fans are also praising Baldoni for being vocal about the true nature of the film, while spreading awareness about the intimate partner violence,” Forbes Magazine said. “On the other hand, there is speculation that Baldoni may have been a difficult director to work with on-set, adding to the unverified rumor mill.”
PHOTOS
Handbook Haute Couture Unique ways to personalize your school uniform
By Larkin Clouston Arts & Life Editor
Whether you like it or not, the green and white plaid skirts are here to stay. If you want to show your personal style while also adhering to the dress code (no infractions today ladies), then I have suggestions for you.
1. 2. 3. Jewelry Bags
Sweatshirts
While there are many cute Hockaday sweatshirts and sweaters found at the bookstore, there are also other options to wear to show your own style as well. According to the handbook (page 68), we are allowed to wear sweatshirts that are “plain crewneck, no logos, buttons, or zippers.” One of my favorite sweatshirts is the Aritzia’s Cozy Fleece Perfect Hoodie. It is super comfy and thick for the cold Hocka-hallways and can be worn every day.
The first way I like to show my style while following the dress code is to wear fun jewelry. While I wear the classic jade ring, I also add other statement pieces like earrings and necklaces to make my uniform more unique to me. I'm a big fan of layering necklaces, which is a great way to add some personality to a look. Along with this, many Hockadaisies love to mix metals and stack jewelry to show off their own personal style while still being in uniform.
Another fun way to show your inner fashionista is through your choice of backpack. While some Daisies opt for the chic Longchamp tote bags, others go for something funnier, like a cartoon Walmart backpack, to add a touch of humor to our school days. For those who prefer something more functional, the classic North Face backpacks offer lots of colors and styles while still being super durable for all those heavy textbooks.
What's up with Glen Powell? Actor Glen Powell takes over Hollywood and the internet
By Audrey Liu and Emilie Illum News Editor and Staff Writer
Looks or skill, why is Glen Powell popular suddenly? Glen Powell, a 35-year-old American actor from Austin, has been acting for 20 years. Whether you are a day-one fan or just saw him in his latest movies, it is undeniable that his popularity has sky-rocketed recently.
How did he become popular? Powell, born in 1988, began acting in 2003, at age 15. From 2007 to 2013, he lived in Los Angeles where he struggled to get roles. His career finally kickstarted in 2014 when he received his first major role playing a hacker in the movie “The Expendables 3."
After his performance in the movie, he landed more roles including a main role in the TV series “Scream Queens." In 2016, he played John Glenn, a main role in the series “Hidden Figures."
After 15 years of acting, Powell had his first breakthrough in 2018 as Jake “Hangman” Seresin in the sequel “Top Gun: Maverick”.
The global response was fantastic with fans and movie critics leaving comments such as “thrilling,” “exceeding expectations with flying colors” and “a worthy sequel."
With this boost, Powell was officially put on the major movie industry radar.
After this breakout role, he co-starred with Sydney Sweeney in sleeper hit “Anyone But You” which received $220 million worldwide. Even though this movie wasn’t expected to succeed, media speculations about a potential romance between Pow- ell and Sweeney off-screen stirred influencers. Although they both later admitted that it was part of a marketing tactic, the speculations boosted the movie’s success and Powell’s general popularity.
His most recent movie, “Twisters," garnered the most social media attention with Instagram fan pages creating edits of him from the movie.
Due to these fan pages, he clearly has caught the attention of several Hockaday students including freshman Olivia Pearson.
him before from reels, edits and TikToks.” However, his success and fandom have raised the question of whether he’s popular due to his attractiveness or his talent as an actor.
“I think he’s a good actor because he plays different parts so well,” sophomore Eres Stone said. “I don’t think his looks are the main reason why he has such a good fan base, but I think they definitely help. I think he’s attractive and he appeals to those young and old, and definitely me.”
“The first movie I saw him in was “Twisters," Pearson said. “But I knew
Sophomore Lauren Lee said “Twisters” was the first and only Glen Powell movie she had seen.
“I actually didn’t know he existed until “Twisters," Lee said. “I think he’s a good actor to play country guys, but I don’t see him as a sad and deep character.”
Whether or not his looks overshine his talent, it is known that Glen Powell is here to stay. Expected to play in upcoming thriller “Huntington” and film adaptation of “The Running Man," he will soon be seen in theaters on the big screen.
PHOTOS BY LARKIN CLOUSTON
PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Studying in style
Students share unique locations and routines
By Lang Cooper Sports Editor
Every student has a favorite place to study. Whether they prefer the pods on the third-floor library or the desk in their room, there is a location that works best for all. For some, places away from Hockaday and their homes provide the most productivity.
Ella Williams
Senior Ella Williams said that the second floor at Central Market grocery store and coffeeshop is one of her favorite places to work. Looking over the parking lot below, the outdoor patio offers a great view and typically a quiet space to study.
“The patio has super awesome tables where you can watch the
writes down what she recalls.
“Active recall really helped me absorb topics, especially in AP US History last year,” Williams said.
Fendley Obert
Although she studies at coffee shops such as Merit Coffee and White Rock Coffee, junior Fendley Obert most enjoys studying at the Starbucks cafe inside Barnes & Noble bookstore.
sunset and listen to music,” Williams said. “It’s a great space for finding inspiration while writing and other homework. The vibes out there are just amazing.”
Because the patio can sometimes be occupied by others not so keen on remaining quiet, the second floor offers a conference room, which is often available for personal use.
“I also really like the large conference room, because you're super isolated, but it's a bigger space so it is not cramped,” Williams said. “It was the perfect spot to study for AP biology.”
Over the past three years, Williams has developed study habits that work well to keep her engaged. Once she has her SumoGrip pencil, AirPod Max headphones, electrolyte water in her Owala water bottle and an iced coffee in her mug from LDU, Williams is ready to study either at Central Market or the cluster of four tables on the second floor of the US library before class and during the school day.
“I choose Barnes & Noble because it's normally really quiet, and there are a lot of students from SMU and some from other high schools, so it helps to see other people locking in too,” Obert said. “The Starbucks also has pizza pretzels, cupcakes and other unique food items that I love to munch on.”
as quiet, and sometimes when I’m doing ACT practice tests and other work it is a little frustrating.”
As soon as her toasty pizza pretzel from the Barnes & Noble Starbucks is ready, Obert begins to study in her favorite place.
“My main study hack is to order a really bad drink and force myself to stay and study until I finish it,” Obert said. “I read my summer reading book for like five hours one day.”
Sundays to prepare for my week for a long portion of my day and get a lot of work done.”
During the school week, Brown arrives at school most mornings around 7 and studies on the second floor of the library: a similar environment to Half Price Books. With her noise cancelling headphones and a pencil and paper, Brown is ready to focus.
Lauren Lockhart
After being invited by a friend to go read at the cafe one afternoon, Obert was immediately enthralled with this environment, which is perfect for getting homework done.
“I realized it is kind of like a gold mine because it has a library vibe that keeps everyone productive,” Obert said.
“I'm a big user of graph paper. It organizes everything so nicely and makes it so much easier to conceptualize concepts,” Williams said. “It's a simple way to make things more straightforward in my mind.”
Another way Williams consumes information is by listening to a video on a topic while taking notes on a white board. After she watches the video three times, Williams
Obert’s typical routine on a busy school day involves studying at Merit Coffee at 6:30 a.m. before heading to school at 7:25 to work out before class. On Saturdays, she heads to Barnes & Noble right at 10 a.m. when the café opens. On Sundays, she drives to White Rock Coffee at noon and does any studying not done the day prior.
“I also really like studying at White Rock because it’s pretty dark and compact. The standing desks help me really lock in,” Obert said. “The only problem is it’s not always
Persia Brown
Senior Persia Brown has discovered that coffee shops are not the best place for her to study. However, she did find Half Price Books to be a great place to work.
“I'm not the type for coffeeshops because they’re too busy for me, and I need to have a desk to spread out,” Brown said. “Half Price Books has the spacious library vibe but you're still almost alone. It's a great change of scenery.”
Half Price Books has both communal tables and personal study nooks along with a small cafe. Its only flaw in Brown’s eyes is the limited number of electrical outlets.
Sophomore
Lauren Lockhart enjoys studying at Sip Stir Coffeehouse in Uptown. Lockhart found the coffee shop to be a great place to study before and after church because of its proximity.
“One day before church, me and one of my friends wanted to get some coffee,” Lockhart said. “We found this place, walked over and got great coffee from a really cute shop.”
Lockhart and her friend discovered that this spacious spot has plenty of places to work. Since then, she often returns on Wednesday and Sunday, as well as Satur-
“I put my headphones on and sit in front of a big window where you can see buildings and cars driving by,” Brown said. “You're also surrounded by books and your table, which is really nice and calming.”
Growing up book shopping at the same Half Price Books, Brown only recently rediscovered the location as a good place for studying.
“In my junior year, school was really picking up, and it was hard to begin college research and to keep working on my JRP,” Brown said. “I would go to Half Price Books on
day on occasion.
“The vibes are really good,” Lockhart said. “They have great coffee, amazing avocado toast and other food.”
Although sometimes annoyed by the occasional loudness of other guests at Sip Stir, Lockhart has found the environment perfect for focusing during both short and long periods of time.
“It's very chill, and everybody's minding their own business,” Lockhart said. “It's a pretty big space, but still feels pretty cozy.”
BY
Central Market: 10720 Preston Rd Suite 1018
Barnes & Noble : 7700 W Northwest Hwy Unit 300
Half Price Books: 5803 E Northwest Hwy
Sip Stir Coffee House: 3800 McKinney Ave Unit 180
PHOTOS
AMITHA NAIR
Conquering the commute
Students manage lengthy drives
By Anika Shah News Editor
Rising before 7 a.m., she’s on her way to school by 7:15 a.m., yet only arrives right before class starts at 9 a.m. Rushing to class, she rubs her eyes to wake up from her carnap and slides into her seat just in time.
Junior Cortney Buford lives in Princeton, 35 miles from Hockaday. On a usual school day, she spends around a total of two hours commuting to and from school.
“The biggest impact of my commute is that I have to wake up much earlier than a lot of my friends to ensure I get to class on time, so that definitely affects the amount of sleep I get,” Buford said. “Typically, I wake up at 6:30 a.m. and get home from school at 6:00 p.m. I ideally try to get to bed by 11:00 p.m., leaving me a decent amount of homework time.”
Junior Sara Kocurek, who lives in Allen, agrees that getting to school on time is an issue for a lot of commuters.
“I can leave my house an hour before school starts and sometimes still arrive late” Kocurek said. “The unpredictability of traffic and accidents makes it difficult to consistently arrive on time.”
Senior Peyton Gentry, who lives in Aubrey, has adapted to her long commute by utilizing her time at school to complete her work.
“I make sure I use my free periods and WIN’s to try and finish my homework and studying,” Gentry said. “I usually arrive at school a lot earlier to counteract getting home later.”
Gentry’s approach also helps her with sports as a member of the rowing team.
“On school days, I try to get my homework done during the day so by the time I get home after practice, I can usually just go to bed,” Gentry said. “On the weekends, I have to make sure I leave time to get to the lake on time for practice,
so if I go out the night before, I often stay the night with a friend.”
Gentry is a lifer at Hockaday and has been commuting throughout her time at Hockaday.
“I feel like it has never really impacted me other than just always getting up earlier for school,” Gentry said. "Especially when I was little, I didn’t know anything different.”
Buford has found that her biggest struggle with her long commute is the school events that are held in the evenings.
“For most students, before these events they have enough time to go home, eat, change or do whatever they need to do, but for me, that’s only enough time to get home.” Buford said. “So typically, when Hockaday has evening events, I either have to stay at school or miss out so I can get home before it’s late at night.
Long commutes also lead to spending less time with friends and spending a significant more amount of time at home.
“I often feel pretty isolated because a lot of my friends live close to each other so it's easier for them to see each other rather than for them to come see me,” Buford said. “When I do want to hang out with my friends, it’s almost always me driving to them.”
However, Kocurek says there are benefits to the long commutes.
“One of the best things about my commute is having lots of time to listen to music. Ever since
Senior Spending
I started driving to school, I’ve gotten to listen to a bunch of new albums and explore different genres of music,” Kocurek said.
Carpooling has also become a popular option for students who live far away.
“The long trek to school has led to me carpooling with Lola Lambert, another student who lives near me, and we have become close friends,” Kocurek said. “It’s nice to have time to talk with whoever I’m driving with.”
With both upsides and downsides, long commutes are a staple for many Hockaday students. Student’s lives and schedules are arranged around their commutes, leading them to balance schoolwork, sports and social time around drives.
Price tags on experiences impact student viewpoints of senior activities
By Amitha Nair JADE Editor
One more time. The last year. Graduation. Senior year is filled with a range of emotions: happiness, sadness, worry, anticipation and expectation.
It is also filled with expenses. Lots of expenses. On average, the Hockaday senior spends around $2,000 on senior merchandise and activi ties.
One expense that seems to hold its pop ularity: senior merch. From water bottles to hoodies to socks, the Class of 2025 logo adorns it all.
Samantha Wu thinks that the prices for senior merch have become excessive.
“I think the price we are paying for a generic piece of clothing with some extra embroidery on it is unfair,” Wu said.
To lower the feeling of peer pressure, Hockaday offers students on financial aid a set of merch: a pair of socks, a short sleeve polo, a short sleeve button down shirt, a yard sign and a decal. In addition, they help with expenses like graduation and senior pages.
“To further assist [financial aid] qualifying students, we provide supplemental support to cover a variety of costs above our tuition, such as books, uniforms, graduation dresses and hats, enabling our students to fully participate in the true Hockaday experience,” Cyndi Lewis, Director of Enrollment Management, said. Although financial aid provides a support for some students, activities not included in aid or students who do not qualify for financial aid have to pay out of pocket.
Senior pictures are a long-standing tradition that can come with extra costs. Senior Diya Cadambe believes senior pictures are an expensive activity, but one that cannot be passed up.
“I do feel like it’s almost an expectation to spend money on a few senior activities such as yearbook advertisements and graduation outfits,” Cadambe said. The biggest unofficial event that seniors look forward to is the senior spring break trip. This trip usually has the heaviest price tag.
“I know a lot of se niors who are planning to go on the senior trip, including me,” senior Zoe Littlejohn said.
“I am really looking forward to the trip, and although it is pretty costly, I be lieve the benefits vastly outweigh the price tag.”
While not all students are affected by the cost, others have to take it into account before clicking yes on the RSVP form.
“While I am privileged enough to not really have to worry about rethinking decisions for senior year, I know that many people do because a lot of the unnecessary things can add up to a lot of money,” Cadambe said.
PHOTOS BY AMITHA NAIR
GRAPHIC BY CECILIA CHEN
THE PRICE OF FAST FASHION
BY AADHYA YANAMADALA AND EMILY MCLEROY FEATURES EDITOR AND SPORTS EDITOR
Introduction
Fast fashion means exactly what it sounds like: quickly produced clothing to fit the constantly changing trends. Although it has become a larger phenomenon with the emergence of stores like SHEIN, fast fashion has existed for decades and is here to stay.
The fast fashion business model started in the 1970s but took hold in the 1990s through companies such as Forever21 and ZARA.
Balancing Budgets vs. Beliefs: Student Perspectives
Despite understanding the problems with fast fashion, many Hockaday students still utilize brands such as SHEIN, Edikted, ZARA and Brandy Melville, due to their cost effective and trendy appeal.
“I have to use my own money to buy clothes,” junior Louella Jacobsen said. “And since I don’t have a lot of disposable income, I like to buy from fast fashion brands to save money.”
She estimates that around 70 percent of her wardrobe comes from fast fashion stores, especially swimwear, which she buys exclusively from SHEIN.
“I think social media really helps perpetuate fast fashion,” Jacobsen said. “Trends change fast on TikTok. SHEIN, Edikted and other fast fashion brands can keep up better and make clothing that’s more up to date.”
However, a study by Vestiaire Collective determined that the “cost-per-wear metric” for fast fashion brands is much higher than that for other companies. This means that consumers typically wear fast fashion clothing for a much shorter period of time than slow fashion.
a clothing company. They design, manufacture and sell tops that are meant to last longer than fast-fashion shirts.
With help from Laura Day, Director of Innovation and Collaboration, and the Social Impact Program, the sophomores launched their website (sloanethebrand.org) and social media page (@sloanethegram). Day also helped them find manufacturing contacts that use sustainable, environmentally friendly and ethical resources. A large portion of the company’s profits are donated to Fashion Revolution, a non-profit organization working to fight fast fashion and support alternatives.
Chen and Hohenshelt recognized the paradoxical nature of both carrying trendy clothing and eliminating the unethical labor practices associated with it.
“We believe in timeless fashion,” Chen said. “We’re really hoping to create a business that is essentially a sustainable Brandy Melville.”
“The quality of clothes from Edikted or SHEIN is a lot worse than other stores,” Jacobsen said. “I can really only wear swimsuits from those brands for one season.”
Some students, however, are working towards a solution to cut into the fast fashion market sector while still providing affordable and fashionable alternatives.
Sophomores Cecilia Chen and Margaret Hohenshelt love fashion, but felt discouraged when they were shopping and noticed the amount of fast fashion brands out there. To take action, they teamed up and started Sloane the Brand,
To reduce environmental damage, they use a blend of bio-degradable cotton and recycled polyester to strengthen the fabric. To combat the ethical problems in clothing manufacturing, they did significant due diligence in finding a company that paid fair wages and provided healthy working conditions for employees.
Currently, they sell their clothing on their website, the Hockaday bookstore and retailers around the Dallas Metroplex.
“Fast fashion, in the long term, does so much more harm than it does good,” Hohenshelt said. “We want to make fashionable clothing that follows ethics and morals, while also preserving the environment.”
Long sleeve jersey tee
Quantity over Quality: How fast fashion companies work
The true appeal of fast fashion lies in its ability to be on trend at an affordable cost. This is the business model of these types of companies.
These companies look at current highend styles and quickly produce a surplus of products, hoping the clothes they create will be popular with customers. Quality is sacrificed as companies choose cheaper and less sustainable materials to keep the production costs down. This often results in products that can only be worn once and are more likely to be thrown away than worn again.
Companies can quickly respond to market demand for their products, meaning restocks are fast.
Many of these companies produce collections in a matter of weeks, or even days. Keeping the design to production stage as short as possible keeps their
consumer appeal alive. The speed of their design and production improves their profit.
To keep the cost of their clothing cheap, fast fashion companies often take advantage of the cheaper labor costs and less regulations in developing countries. Many brands avoid dealing directly with the supply chain as much as possible to avoid legal liability for manufacturing accidents. Past issues have included buildings that have collapsed due to structural issues, killing and injuring many of the people inside. The workers are paid very little, even though they deal with dangerous working conditions and work for very long hours.
Beneath the Bargain: Fast Fashion's Environmental Impact
While fast fashion is financially affordable, its environmental cost is significant in its use of water and production of waste and harmful microplastics.Cotton is the most widely used natural material in the fast fashion industry, which takes a significant toll in the ongoing water crisis.
According to a study by George Washington University, a fast fashion brand normally uses 700 gallons of water to produce a single shirt made from cotton.
Additionally, the same study found that dying and finishing textiles is responsible for over 20 percent of global industrial water pollution.
The fast fashion industry also generates 97 million tons of waste annually, according to the Royal Waste Service. Recycling efforts do little to ameliorate the problem.
“Right now, only around 12 percent of fast fashion garments are recycled globally,” Melissa Allan, Hockaday’s Fashion vs. Fiction class teacher, said. “And of that 12 percent, only one percent of those clothes are reused and made into new clothes.”
Fast fashion not only impacts the greater
discussing how to reduce the use of fast fashion and wasteful fashion.
They read “Overdressed” by Elizabeth L. Cline to learn about the fast fashion industry and are encouraged to research more modern statistics about its impact.
“The book was published in 2012, so some of the research statistics surrounding fast fashion are dated now,” Allan said. “But when students look up newer statistics on the environmental impact, they find that they’ve only gotten worse for the most part.”
Each year, students hold a competition where groups pitch different ways to increase fashion sustainability around Hockaday's campus.
environment, but also the consumers and communities who wear them. According to a study by the University of Galway, almost 70 percent of fast fashion clothing is made from synthetics such as acrylic, nylon and polyester.
“There have even been articles out about how the chemicals in some athletic wear heat up as you sweat and exercise, and the microplastics enter your bloodstream,” Allan said.
Students in Allan’s semester class learn about these environmental effects, where they spend the social impact portion of class
After a winner is chosen by Mrs. Day and other teachers and faculty, the winning group implements their plan.
Last year, they held a clothing swap event where seniors sold their old college merchandise, club and sports apparel to other students for a heavily discounted price.
“I think this is a great way for Hockaday students to help reduce their fashion environmental footprint until they can do things on a larger scale,” Allan said.
Randhar writes her way to the top Naisha Randhar's journey to Dallas Youth Poet Laurete
By Sophia Salem Staff Writer
On April 10, sophomore Naisha Randhar held her head high as she was named the second Dallas Youth Poet Laureate. The opportunity was inspired by acclaimed poet Amanda Gorman, who won the title of the first National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017.
After researching Gorman’s background, Randhar discovered that Gorman was the Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate only a few years before she was named a U.S. Poet Laureate in 2017. Randhar also wants to become a nationally recognized poet.
“I was trying to figure out how I can get the title,” Randhar said. “Then I learned about the Dallas Youth Poet Laureate.”
Randhar applied for the program in eighth grade. However, she never heard back. One year later, Randhar submitted the online application yet again, but as the months stretched long and she didn’t receive a response, she felt discouraged.
“In mid-February, I was like, this is definitely not happening,” Randhar
said. “But then in March, I got it. I was told I was a finalist.”
With new-found vigor, Randhar completed the second part of the application, an interview in which she revealed that she wanted to focus on censorship and making sure kids had the right to read whatever they wanted. After reciting one of her original poems to them, the interview concluded and Randhar again waited to hear back.
“It was really late, I remember,” Randhar said. “And I had just gotten back from Houston when they sent me an email, and then I started screaming.”
Elated, Randhar headed to Dallas City Hall for the presentation ceremony in the Flag Room. Dallas Poet Laureate Mag Gabbert attended along with Mayor Eric Johnson.
"I’ve been able to have a relationship with the Poet Laureate Mag Gabbert, who is one of my favorite poets,” Randhar said. “She mentors me.”
As Youth Poet Laureate,
Randhar travels to schools and public areas to spread her message of advocating against censorship. She has even opened for Gabbert at poetry festivals and went to Oklahoma to visit the American Pigeon Museum, where her poetry is going to be featured.
“I go to workshops, and also perform for different city events. So that really gets your name out there,” Randhar said.
As she begins school this year, Randhar is learning to balance her many obligations as Youth Poet Laureate with academics. But she isn’t letting that discourage her, and in September she will be aiming high by creating a social impact program to give underserved children access to poetry workshops.
one, and it’s one that shows the power of determination.
“It’s opened up a lot of doors
for me, because I feel like before, when I was writing, I never had in mind that other people would ever experience it,” Randhar said. “So that’s really a great opportunity.” Randhar poses with her trophy.
Despite the challenges, Randhar said her experience so far as Youth Poet Laureate is a positive
A close up look Student leaders attend their first CloseUp Foundation training
By Alexa Muñoz Copy Editor
Talking about politics at the dinner table is easy.
While that statement will likely remain untrue for the foreseeable future, navigating this topic at lunch with friends or at club meetings is oftentimes more challenging.
That’s why in late August, The CloseUp Foundation taught the student leaders and sponsors of all 15 affinity groups, the Student Diversity Board, the Executive Student Council, the Social Impact Board, the Young Republicans and the Young Democrats Club how to make hard conversations—well, not so hard.
The relationship between Director of the Institute for Social Impact Laura Day and the CloseUp Foundation goes way back. Following their collaborative work in the founding of the Empowering Girls’ Voices program, Day invited CloseUp to speak to faculty and staff regarding election-year antics. Four years later, Day wanted students to get involved.
“Right now in our world, not as many people want to talk about things that are controversial or hard—a lot of people avoid it,” Day said. “I think as an educational institution we want to make sure that we’re equipping students with the tools to have these conversations with each other.”
With the 2024 election season
in full swing and novel social and political issues rising each day, Sante Mastriana, Director of Professional Development at the CloseUp Foundation, agrees that students need the vocabulary and skills to frame and respond to such circumstances.
“In essence, so much of the language that we use around politics is very divisive,” Mastriana said. “The goals of these conversations are to build a level of consensus and understanding, not simply to convince people we have the better answer.”
During the training, Mastriana instructed attendees, including Middle Eastern Student Association (MESA) president Laure Ghorayeb, to resolve a hypothetical administrative conflict using healthy deliberation techniques.
“The way we handled having different perspectives and combining them together to come up with ideas was really nice,” Ghorayeb said. “Everyone was vert willing to cooperate which was also super wwhelpful.”
Because Hockaday emphasizes the school as a ground for civic advocacy and community engagement, Mastriana hopes students viewed this practice as a way to problem solve. This way, students may build an environment that
reflects Hockadaisies’ vast spectrum of beliefs, even if disagreement presents itself.
“Our hope was that the training would help students take on that role and start applying this kind of approach to whatever they do, whether it be a politicallyaffiliated student-led organization or a sport’s team,” Mastriana said.
In Ghorayeb’s case, she hopes to bring her skills to planning the annual MESA Bazaar.
“We always have different ideas on where to donate the funds, so we need to have a conversation about where our priorities lay and which cause we want to help,” Ghorayeb said.
conversation at and beyond Hockaday, listening to learn serves as a common thread. Mastriana said that, in the age of social media and its terrible rulebook for how to conduct oneself, it
is important to emphasize the common goals or objectives among a group rather than taking the “my way or the highway” approach.
Similarly, Day hopes students learned that with the right parameters and structures, it’s entirely possible to have uncomfortable conversations. She plans for the students who attended the training to lead more schoolwide conversations and to serve as role models for younger students. Among every productive
“Something we take for granted is the willingness to hear somebody out and expect the same thing in return,” Mastriana said. “CloseUp tries to give students a more positive outlook on how they engage with people when they encounter different viewpoints.”
Anu Akingbade '25 talks to Affinity Council sponsors.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SALLY HUDSPETH
PHOTO COURTESY OF SOPHIA SALEM
Teachers travel the world
Hockaday faculty participate in programs abroad
By Sarah Moskowitz Features Editor
During the summer, teachers across divisions participate in a variety of programs supported by Hockaday.
Among these teachers were Allison Perani, who taught in Nepal, and Ryan Hobby, who traveled to Morocco. Elizabeth Bennett had the opportunity to study in Cambridge.
Allison Perani, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher: Nepal
Looking to make a sustainable impact with her travels, Allison Perani traveled to Nepal for 28 days,
Ryan Hobby, Middle School History Teacher: Morocco
After postponing his Prentiss Grant trip from 2020 to Egypt due to COVID-19 and the birth of his daughter, Ryan Hobby shifted to Morocco due to safety concerns in Egypt, traveling for a week with his wife.
“I wanted to go somewhere different from where I have gone before, and I’m interested in observing intersectionality in culture where different kinds of people had melded together,” Hobby said.
immersing herself in the culture.
After meeting one of the founders of The Small World through Students Shoulder to Shoulder, Perani connected with Head of Upper School Lisa Culbertson, who took students to Nepal in the past and gave Perani tips on what to bring and what to avoid.
From there, Perani wrote her Prentiss Grant application explaining why and where she wanted to go along with the cost. The Prentiss Grant is awarded each year to Hockaday faculty, rotating through divisions.
Perani strove to support and interact with the students, engaging them in activities tailored to their learning objectives.
“The first lesson was ‘Glows and Grows,’ – glows being what they are good at and grows being what they want to get better at – and from there, I learned that they wanted reading, writing and conversational skills,” Perani said.
Perani organized practical applications, such as setting up chairs like an airplane and playing store, readers’ theater, interviews with future selves and a story writing workshop.
“The mountains were breathtaking, but the girls made the trip,” Perani said. “My biggest goal was to be there for the girls but not insert myself. I was blown away with their acceptance so early as they absorbed me into the community with such welcoming and grateful arms.”
As she absorbed Nepali culture during her month there, Perani reflected on how to carry the peace she achieved back to her life in Dallas.
“I had dinner with a Grand Llama of the area and asked how I could keep this peace in the chaos of the United States,” Perani said. “He told me to disengage by staying offline, continue yoga and meditation and continue it with Pre-K students and if you can’t change something in 30 seconds, don’t mention it because it will disturb the peace.”
Nepal inspired Perani to think about the true meaning of education and its value.
“You lose lots in life - a house, a job, a car – but you can’t lose education, and I saw that in my girls,” Perani said. “To educate means to pull out but not to push in, and the trip reminded me of this. I was reminded that the world “educate” originates from a Latin word meaning ‘to draw out,’ which contrasts with the common notion of an educator as someone who ‘pours in’ knowledge.”
Throughout the trip, Hobby and his wife had tour guides in Fez, Marrakesh and Casablanca, all of whom lived in their respective city for their whole life.
Each day, Hobby and his wife would wake up and enjoy breakfast in their riad – an old house converted into a small hotel – before doing a walking tour through parts of the Old City until early afternoon. Then, Hobby and his wife would go through markets and visit sights of historical significance, such as palace gardens and the home of Yves Saint Laurent.
“My favorite part was experiencing a new culture with my wife and seeing our different perspectives,” Hobby said.
During his trip, travel logistics posed to be the biggest difficulty, as his and his wife’s luggage got lost on the way to Morocco and they didn’t receive it until the way back to Dallas.
“Nothing we packed made its way over, which taught me a lot about what I really need while I’m traveling,” Hobby said. “I did without most things, and it was fine.”
Reflecting on his trip, Hobby said he realizes that he takes for granted what he has in the America. During one driving tour, he and his wife drove over a bridge, and their travel guide explained that there used to be water there and more communities when he was a child.
“It made me thankful for the abundance we have in the US, but also our geography,” Hobby said. “We don’t have to worry about not having enough water in a way that is immediate, and seeing a dry river and communities relocating feels foreign.”
His time in Morocco brought him experiences that he will bring into his history classes.
“Much of the direct interactions exist outside the scope of what I teach, but I talk about interactions between Jews, Christians and Muslims a lot,” he said. “So, I have great anecdotal evidence for teaching in those areas.”
Hobby valued the experience and the chance to immerse himself into Moroccan culture.
“It was a lovely trip and a wonderful opportunity that the school provides to the faculty,” Hobby said. “You should go to Morocco if you have the opportunity – just don’t check your luggage.”
Elizabeth Bennett, Upper School History Teacher: Cambridge
Elizabeth Bennett traveled to Cambridge for a week to participate in a media literacy course.
After receiving a brochure from a colleague, Bennett applied for a professional development conference.
Among the 40 educators there, Bennett’s class had five people, all of whom were teachers from different backgrounds. Bennett studied under Peter Lowe, who was the head of home news for Sky News – a prominent independent media outlet in the United Kingdom - until he retired and turned to consulting work.
For a typical day, Bennett would have morning classes at Cambridge, a tour in the afternoon, dinner and an evening event.
“It was nonstop and there was so much walking,” Bennett said. “When you’re at a program, you
don’t want to have a lot of time to sit around. You’re there to soak things up and learn, and that definitely happened.”
Throughout the week, Bennett not only got to know some of the other teachers, but she also heard from various speakers, such as war reporter Deborah Haynes and editorial director for The News Movement Becca Hutson. She visited various historical sights and landmarks that she researched before the trip.
“We went to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Trinity College, Wren Library, Samuel Pepys Library and toured Kings College Chapel,” Bennett said.
Among the program activities, seeing Wren Library’s treasure collection up close was one of the high points.
“We saw the manuscript for ‘Winnie the Pooh,’ book copies that belonged to Isaac Newton and the recently identified Thomas Cromwell prayer book,”
Bennett said.
Bennett believes that her trip broadened her perspective and energized her for the upcoming school year.
“It was inspirational, educational and fun,” Bennett said. “It imbued me with extra enthusiasm for what I study and for being back in the classroom.”
Perani and her students share a tearful goodbye.
Hobby rides a camel in Morocco.
Bennett captures her view of the Wren Library.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELIZABETH BENNETT, RYAN HOBBY AND ALLISON PERANI
Motivating the meadow
Four seniors transition into their new roles as Hypewomen
By Melinda Hu Arts & Life Editor
Established in 2021, the Hypewomen are the student super fans who make sure the Hockaday athletes are supported in their endeavors. This year, seniors Caroline Cohen, Zoe Heintges, Anika Kapoor and Jordan Lacsamana have taken over the role.
The Hypewomen show up to games, competitions and meets across all sports.
“We try our best to go to as many sports activities as possible,” Lacsamana said.
They also deliver timely news during games by posting live updates on their Instagram.
“We are there to highlight how incredible our athletes and students are,” Kapoor said.
These four Hypewomen are no strangers to athletics. As a young girl, Lacsamana tried a bunch of sports and as a middle schooler, she was one of the only distance runners at her co-ed school. Lacsamana will graduate as a three-sport varsity athlete, competing on the cross country, swim and track and field teams.
“Coming to Hockaday, I saw a female community in sports, and
I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” Lacsamana said.
Just like Lacsamana, Kapoor also found a way to involve herself in Hockaday athletics. Kapoor plays squash outside of Hockaday. To promote the sport at Hockaday, she founded a squash club. For her, becoming a Hypewoman was another way for her to get involved in Hockaday athletics.
“It’s a way for me to show my enthusiasm, especially because I’ve been here my whole life,” Kapoor said.
Coming from a big sports family, Cohen entered Hockaday in fifth grade and has since tried all the sports offered at Hockaday, excluding cross country and swimming. As a young girl, Cohen remembers going to the older girls’ soccer and lacrosse games and thinking about how old they looked.
Heintges also tried many of the sports at Hockaday including soccer and volleyball. She is on the varsity volleyball and soccer teams.
The example set by previous Hypewomen influenced the current Hypewomen.
Last year during a cross country meet in Fort Worth, former Hy-
pewoman Leila Tarighi ’24 showed up to support the team.
“I didn’t know she was coming, so I was so happy,” Lacsamana said.
“I think showing up means a lot.”
Heintges would also watch former Hypewoman Amalia Evans ’24 on the sidelines.
“It just seemed like a really fun way to support others,” Heintges said. “I love doing that and going to games.”
To stay organized, the Hypewomen prioritize communication.
“We use our group chat every day,” Cohen said.
In the fall season, Cohen, Heintges and Lacsamana play field hockey, volleyball and cross country, respectively. As a result, each tends to cover mainly the sport they play, and Kapoor covers rowing and fencing.
The Hypewomen hope to provide fair coverage for all sports, making sure that every sport has support.
“We want to show that we love all the sports equally,” Kapoor said. “We want to make pep rallies big, and we want to make games big.”
One of their top priorities is also ensuring the athletes feel seen.
“We want to make the players happy,” Cohen said.
The pressure behind the pom-poms
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders highlight the reality of cheerleading
By Leyah Philip Opinions Editor
Striding down the football field, pom-poms in hand, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCCs) perform their signature “Thunderstruck” routine with beaming faces. Little does the crowd know that behind each smiling face are countless hours of training and relentless pressure to perform perfectly in the spotlight.
The DCCs, also known across the country as “America’s Sweethearts,” are a professional football cheerleading squad, known for their iconic kick line, stylish uniforms and intense tryouts.
Their new series—“America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders”—has gained popularity after its release on Netflix.
Many viewers have become obsessed with the show as it reveals the sport's intense physicality that not only the DCCs, but cheerleaders everywhere must maintain.
The show also addresses the stereotypes associated with cheerleading by spotlighting the strenuous hours of practice and complex jobs that the cheerleaders have. While many assume the girls are just dancers, the show delves deeper into how the cheerleaders must balance the sport with their professional lives.
St. Mark’s Cheer co-captain senior Betsy Johnson agrees that many people in the audience don’t realize how much work is put into their routines. Even though a simple five-minute routine might seem short, learning all the moves can take days.
“I feel like they touched on things that most people don’t know about cheer unless you actually researched how challenging it really is,” Johnson said. “You might look at it and think that it looks easy but in actuality, it shows the harder parts of it.”
work goes into cheer. During football season, cheerleaders’ schedules are packed. From waking up at 6 a.m. for practice to arriving at the game two hours early to set up, the team gets no rest.
Some Hockaday students participate in the St. Mark’s cheerleading program, but there are many misconceptions about their sport. They practice and perform mostly on the St. Mark’s campus, leading many people to overlook the fact that cheerleading is an official fall sport.
As a result of this, cheer co-captain senior Anne Cahoon believes that people discredit how much
“People assume we just stand on a sideline, but there’s a lot of behind-thescenes stuff that goes on that people don’t realize,” Cahoon said.
While not as intense as professional cheerleading, St. Mark’s cheerleading tryouts still incorporate rigorous conditioning into their practices such as running the bleachers and body weight workouts. However, out of all these conditioning routines, their annual three-mile run in August stands out as one the most challenging.
“Most of the games are probably 95 degrees Fahrenheit by the time they start at 7 p.m.,” St. Mark’s Cheer Coach Whitney McKenna said. “I think a lot of the workouts are based on getting adjusted to
the heat and making sure you have the right cardio levels to be able to jump around three to four hours at the game.”
After watching the DCC show, many criticized the team coaches, for the harsh rules and expectations they put on the girls. Yet McKenna believes there’s a good balance between rules and having fun.
“From the high school perspective, I want cheer to be a positive outlet, and I think a lot of that stems from the coach and the expectations you set,” McKenna said. “From my coaching style, I think the team knows that we have a mutual level of respect, so I don’t personally choose to yell.”
Cheerleaders nationwide draw inspiration from the DCCs by incorporating their signature high kicks and jump splits into their routines. The ability of both the DCCs and St. Mark’s cheerleaders to practice for countless hours and perform under constant pressure serves as a powerful reminder to skeptics, challenging the stereotypes that surround the sport.
“There are definitely stereotypes, but you don’t have to look like a cheerleader to be one,” Johnson said. “It all just depends on the work that you put in and that’s it.”
The Hypewomen jumping for joy
PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLI FORD
PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX
New school year, new roles Coaches stepping up during the 2024-25 year
By Cece Johnson and Anderson Rhodus Opinions Editor and Staff Writer
Abrand-new school year means some changes occur in the Upper school. Form I has transitioned from Middle to Upper School, the senior class has taken on their new roles as leaders of the school, and there are many new and returning coaching-staff members stepping up and taking on more roles in the Upper School athletics program.
Rowing
Maria Esway takes over as head coach. She has been with the rowing staff for the past five years and has coached for 25 years. Esway said she looks forward to the regional 5K events, as well as the 5K on the Charles River in Boston.
es, run on-land practices and always offer a hand to our head coach.”
Her goals for this season with the transitioning roles include requalifying at least two boats for Head of the Charles next year, welcoming the novices to the team and facilitating team culture with the novices even though they split practices between the fitness center and lake.
Volleyball
After working as the assistant coach for five years, Allison Camp steps up as the varsity head coach.
“Team enthusiasm and engagement during the past four weeks has been nothing short of inspiring,” Esway said.
Esway has strong goals for the team this year including developing leadership, organization, teamwork, and community skills.
“I’m passionate about building the mindset that rowing is a sport for life,” she said.
She plans to continue with many rowing team traditions like driving the novice bus to practice. It is where the best friendships are formed. She said her first group of Hockaday novice passengers, now seniors, stays a special group.
“They sang to and from the lake every day, and I started to quietly keep track of all their songs,” Esway said. “At the end of the year, I made a playlist for the team and every time I listen to it, it makes me smile.”
The rowing captains, Persia Brown and Elizabeth Truelove, also have increased duties while dealing with the transitions between head coaches.
“My co-captain and I are doing the most we can to help out. We often talk with our coach informally after practice and during sit down meetings so we can work around the lack of full-time coaches,” Brown said. “For example, we help prepare their launch-
“Coaching volleyball at Hockaday is being part of a family,” Camp said. “The athletes push me to be a better coach and to understand the game at a deeper level to support them and their growth.”
She said she wants to continue the family culture of Hockaday Varsity Volleyball and ensure that every athlete grows both as a player and a person. She also wants to focus on an SPC championship.
“We have so many amazing team traditions, from Las Vegas skits to tournament Bahama Bucks and our team bonding activities,” Camp said. “I truly believe that we have the strongest team culture out there and am so proud to lead such an incredible group of human beings.”
Fencing
The announcement for the new fencing coach is pending. The team is currently led by senior captains, Anya Ahuja and Shifa Irfan.
However, they have been working with Coach Johnson to ensure that they have a scheduled practice time and space.
“We have also been meeting with Coach Johnson to get updates on the search for a new coach, and to maintain the work and team culture of an established varsity team,” Ahuja said.
Usually, the fencing captains would collaborate with the head coach in a different way.
“We work with our head coaches to come up with fun ways to teach footwork, specific conditioning to help with agility, reflexes and stamina, and to make sure that everyone is learning the variety of skills needed for fencing,” Ahuja said.
Additionally, Ahuja said the team has been great at handling the lack of a head coach.
“Everyone has been very flexible with all the changes,” Ahuja said. “We are currently still having practice every day,
along with conditioning twice a week in order to give the girls a version of normal.”
She also spoke about how they are adjusting to this new normal as captains.
“Right now, my co-captain, Shifa Irfan, and I are leading practice and conducting workshops, teaching footwork and trying to give the girls a solid foundation of fencing so we can hit the ground running when a coach does come.”
However, the experience hasn’t all been easy.
“It has been difficult to maintain a semblance of normalcy because we are still student-led, but so far everything has been working, and I am confident that we are still a true, connected and experienced team,” Ahuja said. "It has also been a source of bonding for us.”
Looking forward, there is some exciting news regarding the coaching situation.
“In terms of plans, we are working with Coach Johnson to establish a timeline for new coaching staff and should hopefully have a coach within the next two weeks,” Ahuja said.
Until then, Ahuja and Irfan plan to continue teaching the team everything they can, including using equipment to demonstrate, doing fun footwork games and teaching the intricacies and difficult moves of fencing.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDERSON RHODUS
Fencing captain Shifa Irfan coaches her team
Coach Esway
Rowers practicing on the lake
Camp coaches the volleyball team
Fair pay for gold Olympic athletes deserve fair compensation
By Anika Shah and Mary Elise Estess News Editor and Staff Writer
More than 15,000 athletes competed on the world’s biggest athletic stages this summer: The Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Only 2,364 of these athletes went home with a medal. Even fewer will find monetary returns for the
son and Katie Ledecky, rely on lucrative sponsorship deals to pay for training, equipment, gear, and competition fees.
Biles, for example, is sponsored by United Airlines, Visa, Powerade and more. So far this year, she has earned an estimated $7 million from her sponsorships, making her one of the highest paid female athletes in the world.
physical, emotional, and financial investments they made to reach the Paris Games.
The image of Olympic athletes is often one of glamour and glory. We see them on television, being celebrated for their perseverance and incredible athletic feats. We follow them throughout the games, smiling at the feel-good stories, laughing at the funny moments, and cheering for our favorites to win a medal.
What we don’t see, however, is the reality behind the scenes. Many of the athletes we cheer on train for years, often without sufficient financial support. Because of this, many athletes juggle their intense training with jobs or sponsorships to pay their bills.
More high-profile athletes like Simone Biles, Sha ‘Carri Richard-
Similarly, Ledecky's sponsorships by Athleta and Adidas put her yearly income from sponsorships at $5 million.
Additionally, the rise of social media has created “influencer athletes,” like Suni Lee, a member of the women’s gymnastics team, and Ilona Maher, a member of the women’s rugby team. Influencer athletes use social media as a way to raise funds to train for their sport. For example, Lee has made $3 million from her social media.
This disparity is even more pronounced when considering the earnings for athletes who are professionals outside of the Olympics. For example, LeBron James is one of the NBA’s most renowned players and receives a salary of $47 million a year, which is also bolstered by substantial endorsements and business ventures.
The reality for many other elite
athletes is far less glamorous. Many Olympic athletes do not have the high-profile endorsements or the financial security they bring and must rely on jobs to support their income. the majority of Olympic athletes struggle with basic financial needs, something that was displayed at the Paris Olympics this year.
American swimmer Nic Fink, a gold and silver medalist at the Paris Games, is an engineer who works remotely while training.
Lolo Jones, an American hurdler, could not afford to pay her rent, and relied on help from Snoop Dogg and Flava Flav. Flava Flav also supported members of the women’s water polo team who needed support with various expenses.
This financial instability not only affects athletes’ well-being but also hampers their ability to focus solely on their training and competition.
Olympic sports require a high level of commitment and focus that is difficult to achieve when worrying about rent or paying the bills. By ensuring a living wage through their sport, we should allow athletes to devote themselves entirely to their training and performance.
Let Lizzy Loose: Fencing Edition
In her last year at Hockaday, Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Truelove wants to let loose and try out as many clubs, sports and roles as she can. This month, she picked up the épée.
In my eight years at Hockaday, I have tried many sports. From D-team volleyball in eighth grade to medaling nationally on the varsity rowing team, I’ve spent hours becoming a coordinated, strong athlete. However, that all did next to nothing in my pursuit of fencing.
We’ve all seen them: shuffling about the small gym and on the occasional @hockadayathletics_ post (#underrepresentation). But, as most athletes believe, other sports don’t seem that challenging in comparison to your own. So, when I originally signed up for this, I didn’t anticipate sweating more in that sauna suit (the fencing uniform) than I do at my own practice.
Fencing is exhausting. During a bout, or an individual competition between fencers, each competitor remains squatting for roughly 10 minutes. They move forward and backward on a small fencing piste. To do this, fencers use complicated footwork that requires complete balance as they lunge, advance and retreat back to “en garde”the resting position.
While the shuffling like a crab didn’t scare me off too much, the gear definitely succeeded. Most outsiders who’ve watched fencing are most fascinated by the blade, the épée. While the épée appears relatively thin and flexible, it can cause serious damage without proper protection. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test this theory on the other, unprotected Editor-in-Chief watching my practice (I’m waiting on the day).
When I say, “proper protection,” that includes underarm and chest plates, long socks, a thick jacket, a helmet and knickers (I couldn’t take myself seriously when suiting up, obviously). As for the helmet, you slightly resemble a mosquito, but it’s easy to see through. Also, many fencers wear shoes when practicing and competing to help their feet grip the floor when they advance and retreat. I highly do not recommend wearing your saddle oxfords.
I think any student-athlete at Hockaday will agree when I say fencing is one of the least marketed sports at our school. I’ve gained such respect for fencing and every Hockaday student who chooses this unique, overlooked sport out of the 13 that we offer.
Thank you to fencing captains Anya Ahuja and Shifa Irfan for letting me try out your sport. To the readers, I hope my experience inspired you, if not to try out the sport yourself, but to learn more about it. Or, if you just want to watch my failure, check out our Instagram, @hockadayfourcast!
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY BRADLEY SUTHERLAND
Swimming was one of the most popular events of the Games.
PHOTO FROM Pixabay
A potential (AP) problem
Diving deeper into why Hockaday does not weight GPAs
By Shreya Vijay Editor-in-Chief
AP? Honors? Social Impact?
It’s a situation we all experience during our time at Hockaday. The dilemma of which class to pick, and whether it will affect our admission into top universities, has been persistent in Hockaday’s history.
After speaking with several administrators, I discovered that unweighted grade-point averages (GPAs) have been the norm throughout our history. The philosophy behind this is to ensure that students are taking the courses they feel most comfortable in and are not feeling pressure to take ones just to boost their GPAs.
On a student’s transcript, courses marked with an “H” denote Honors courses, and courses marked with an “SI” denote Social Impact courses. While Hockaday submits a student’s unweighted GPA to
colleges, it is ultimately up to a college to recalculate GPAs based on its own philosophies. For example, schools like Stanford University do not include a student’s freshman year grades. Each university can choose to weigh Honors, Social Impact and AP courses differently; or not.
After checking in with the College Counseling Department, I found that the rumors are true: colleges all recalculate your GPAs.
So, in short, weighted or not, your GPA should reflect the courses and course rigor that
you are interested in. However, there is pressure imposed on students by parents and peers to take classes that everyone else is taking, even if they are not truly interested classes.
courses at Hockaday are particularly challenging, due to the rigorous course material
and the accelerated learning timeline in preparation for the May exam. This raises the important question: should AP courses be weighted at a higher level? If students are expected to take “risks” and choose
classes to challenge themselves, shouldn’t their GPA be weighted to reflect this?
I’d say the answer is no. Taking that “risk” by signing up for a harder class is more about the actual process than the result. Having taken some of the most rigorous classes at Hockaday, I can definitively say that the actual process of learning to study and becoming a better student is what I take away from the class, rather than the letter grade I earn.
We all spend the majority of our time in school, so why not take courses that we feel like challenge us? For some of us this is an AP, for others it may be an Honors or even a “regular” class. In a world where college admissions seem more random than ever, I say we take a step back and start doing what we actually enjoy, regardless of the end result.
GRAPHIC BY AMEYA INDARAM
Sit down and color
By Elle Myers Managing Editor
For the last couple of months, my “For You Page” has been filled with young girls visiting Sephora, their baskets full of Drunk Elephant makeup products, and posting “Get Ready with Me” videos, featuring at least ten different beauty products. While some say this influx of young girls in Sephora ruins the atmosphere of the store with the destruction of samples, the problem lies deeper: young girls are striving to look older and be older because of societal pressures placed on them by social media.
When I was younger, I wanted my naturally curly hair to magically turn straight because all my friends had bone-straight hair. Young girls today are not only influenced by their friends, like previous generations, but also by the opinions and comments of everyone on social media. In a 2024 article from Glamour Magazine, Don Grant, PhD, a media psychologist, claims that kids start to experience the parasocial effect at around 13 years old, causing them to look to friends for guidance instead of parents and teachers. Now, Grant includes social media influencers in the parasocial effect.
unattainable standard. When influencers edit their pictures, teens, especially girls, wonder why they do not look like them, not knowing that person edits their pictures.
Not only does this cause a strain on young girls’ psyche, but the use of products like Drunk Elephant can have lasting and irreversible effects on young skin. Drunk Elephant, ranging from $20-$130, is a luxury skin care line targeted for adults. Young girls are drawn to the brand because of its bright packaging and because it is constantly marketed by famous influencers. With harsh ingredients such as retinol glycolic acid and vitamin C, young skin can be damaged by Drunk Elephant. All in all, while trying to replicate their favorite influencer, they indirectly hurt themselves by trying to look older.
ELLE, NO!
Part 1: You're embarassing yourself, honey.
STOP! Before you send that long paragraph expressing all your grievances to your situationship or your most recent ex, please hear me out.
We have all been there: having a restless night and thinking the only answer is to send a long paragraph, all in hopes for them to apologize or understand where you are coming from. While those two responses would happen in an ideal world, we do not live in an ideal world.
When social media constantly pushes the narrative that beauty is defined by the shape of your butt, the size of your lips and the cup of your bust, impressionable girls take this skewed definition of beauty as the gospel and strive for this highly
Because young girls are rushing to be older, they take for granted their young and pivotal years of adolescence. We have all heard the cliché sentiment to “live in the moment,” and as I am working on my college applications, a moment that I have looked forward to all my life, I simply wish to return to primary school where my only worry about the future came from what I was eating for lunch.
While social media is embedded in everyday life, I hope young girls bask in the sun of their youth, not rushing to grow up and look like the influencers on social media.
STAFF STANDOFF
The illusion of maturity
By Anya Aggarwal Assistant Jade Editor
The teenage trend of wanting to look older is far from a recent phenomenon. While most of us had access to social media earlier than our parents did, the pressure to “adultify” the teen image didn’t just start with TikTok.
Looking back on movies like “Grease,” “The Outsiders” and “Rebel Without a Cause,” it is evident how slicked-back hair, leather jackets and heavy eyeshadow have long blurred the lines between youth and adulthood. Music videos by Madonna and Michael Jackson and alluring icons like Elvis Presley and Cher were legendary influencers who drove teens to dress for rebellion and sexual self-expression for decades.
Mini-skirts, bell-bottoms, electric blues and neon pinks from MaxFactor and Maybelline were no less a craze than Drunk Elephant, Glow Recipe or Laneige. The fact is, teen girls have been a targeted consumer group since before MTV, and the only difference is that today’s media can spread the news faster. Snapchat and Instagram may have accelerated the pace at which trends go viral, but young girls wanting to push
boundaries in the quest for autonomy is nothing new. Yes, TikTok algorithms are now loaded with teen girls looking and acting older than their age, but it’s important to recognize the potential gap between the real girl and the image she projects. The rants and raves of teens tasting freedom in the real world for the first time show how physical appearance can be the ultimate façade for emotional immaturity. Behind the filters and hashtags, many teens grapple with insecurities because they haven’t had the chance to grow up yet. Whether it’s “coquette” or “crop-tops,” trends are trends, and micro-trends are even more transient and fickle. Teenagers have always been drawn to the idea of looking more mature, and the desire to “want what you do not have” is precisely what drives them to be perpetual putty in the hands of the beauty industry. Adopting styles to look and feel more adult is a natural part of growing up. But growing up goes deeper than makeup, and sometimes we just need to allow ourselves to “trend” on the outside, so we can discover what’s enduring and authentic on the inside.
Instead of sending the paragraph, try writing how you feel in the Notes app and sleeping on it. I usually feel a lot better, and a lot less angry, after taking a nice nap. When I wake up, I realize there are more important things for me to worry about, like that one English paper I have been procrastinating. In addition, writing how you feel and NOT sending the note is therapeutic as it allows you to express your true feelings knowing that the note is for your eyes only.
Let’s take a moment to put yourself in their shoes. What would you do if you received an incredibly long text from your ex? Most likely, you would skim, laugh and finally share with your group chat. With that, sending a paragraph will not only have you receiving disgruntled looks from your friends who told you not to press send, but you will also have your ex's entire group chat laughing at you.
For those of you still not convinced, let me put this frankly: you will look stupid.
For it to come to this point (and trust me I have been there), they have already shown their true colors. A good person and a good person who is right for you will not have you questioning your self-worth or crying into the late hours of the night. Sending a paragraph detailing every ounce of how you feel will not accomplish your goal of him caring about you. They did not care, they do not care and they will never care.
Like my dad always says, “go solve a math problem.” I promise you will find solving the math problem easier than deciphering the inner workings of your ex's mind.
Turn on Chappell Roan’s “Casual” because, at the end of the day, that’s all your relationship was to them.
STAFF EDITORIAL
FEDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Elizabeth Truelove & Shreya Vijay MANAGING EDITORS
Elle Myers & Danya Risam-Chandi COPY EDITOR
Alexa Munoz
WEB EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Jessica Boll & Anjy Fadairo JADE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Amitha Nair
ASSISTANT JADE EDITOR
Anya Aggarwal NEWS EDITORS
Audrey Liu & Anika Shah ARTS & LIFE EDITORS
Larkin Clouston & Melinda Hu FEATURES EDITORS
Sarah Moskowitz & Aadhya Yanamadala SPORTS EDITORS
Lang Cooper & Emily McLeroy OPINIONS EDITORS
Cece Johnson & Leyah Philip PHOTO, GRAPHICS & CASTOFF EDITOR
Mary Bradley Sutherland BUSINESS MANAGER
Shifa Irfan STAFF WRITERS
Caroline Ballotta, Sophie Cho, Jenny Chu, Siena Ebert, Mary Elise Estess, Elizabeth Farrell, Juliette Friguletto, Ai-Vy Ho, Emilie Illum, Katie Ma, Aanya Naini, Anderson Rhodus, Sophia Salem, Aneeka Tansen, Alina Zheng FACULTY ADVISER
Kristy Rodgers
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Fourcast is written primarily for students of the Hockaday Upper School, its faculty and staff. The Fourcast has a press run of 500 and is printed by Midway Press. It is distributed free of charge to the Hockaday community. The staff reserves the right to refuse any advertising which is deemed inappropriate for the Hockaday community. Opinions will be clearly marked and/or will appear in the views section. Commentaries are the expressed opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of The Fourcast staff, its adviser or any other member of the Hockaday community. The Staff Editorial on the Opinions page reflects the position of The Fourcast staff, but not necessarily the position Hockaday administration or community. The Fourcast staff determines the content of each issue and strives to work as independently as possible in producing the student newspaper, but the content is subject to prior review by the Head of Upper School, the Communications Director and other members of the Hockaday leadership team. Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and should be addressed to the editors-in-chief. Only signed pieces will be published. Corrections and clarifications from previous issues will be found in the news section. Questions or concerns should be addressed to Editors-in-Chief Elizabeth Truelove (etruelove25@ hockaday.org) or Shreya Vijay (svijay25@hockaday.org).
The staff editorial is an unsigned piece representing a consensus of opinion among members of The Fourcast editorial board regarding a current issue.
Schedule switch speculation
An in-depth look at the daily schedule changes
For the past two years, the Upper School schedule has seen many changes. During the last school year, we first encountered the threeclass period system, where each class was 100 minutes long.
Further changes last year included an earlier start time of 8:45 a.m., the change from Conference period to Whatever I Need (WIN) period and the end of most half-days and Y-Periods (or Study Hall).
This year, the schedule has changed once again. However, the process has not been without its drawbacks, particularly in terms of communication.
One improvement was the transition from 100-minute classes to 85-minute blocks. We believe students will be more engaged in class due to the more manageable time frame.
Another positive development is the shift back to the 9 a.m. start time. Although small, the increase in the amount of rest students receive is monumental.
Another benefit is the increased free time students have outside of class. The STAT period gives students more time to meet with their teachers.
Despite these improvements, these changes have their drawbacks. For example, while the 70-minute STAT (Structured Time for Academic Tasks) period on even days is useful, we question STAT’s effectiveness on odd days when it’s 30-minutes long. After a long day of classes, it is difficult for students to make any substantial progress on their work. A student’s ability to finish work during that period is also hindered due to the heaviness of their workload. Students are not allowed to use this period for club meetings or social impact, rendering the 30-minute period even more unhelpful.
Another drawback is the reduced time for social impact during WIN. The WIN period is 35-minutes long and follows the lunch period on even days, which is not enough time for students to be able to go to their social impact places and make it back. Without the ability to leave during lunch time, students will not make it to their classes on time. Another option for students is to grab a to-go lunch and leave during the lunch period. However, waiting for each member of the
social impact trip to get through the line and back to the car would eat into time meant for the actual trip. Furthermore, might contribute to distracted driving if the students attempt to eat while driving due to the lack of sit-down time to finish lunch.
One concern throughout the past years has been the lack of communication from administration regarding these changes. The schedule overhaul, which started in the 20222023 school year, was accompanied by sporadic and insufficient updates. Communication about the new schedule began with a survey in September 2022 and periodic emails that outlined various aspects of the scheduling process. Key updates included the move to a seven-day rotation and the introduction of a WIN period, but these were often communicated without comprehensive context or direct engagement with students.
back-to-school communications over summer.
Regarding this year’s schedule, we received four emails with updates before getting the Backto-School information. An email on April 6, 2023 provided a breakdown of the new schedule but didn't delve deeply into the rationale behind each change. The emails sent on Feb. 2, 2023 and March 27, 2023 focused on calendar adjustments and in-service days rather than directly addressing the daily schedule's impact on students.
For this year’s schedule change, we received a total of four update emails. An email on Oct. 24, 2023 had information about the delay of J-Term until the 2025 – 2026 school year and dates for Parent Coffees, once again leaving students with little communication. On January 30, the link to the 2024 – 2025 calendar was sent in an email that also stated that more information would arrive in the
Assistant Head of School Randal Rhodus '97 emailed adjustments to schedules – like the 9 a.m. start time and the continuation of the seven-day rotational schedule – almost four months later, on May 3. It stated that more information would be released during the summer with the rest of back-toschool information. Laura Leathers, Head of School, sent an email to the community with a survey to gather strengths and areas for growth. We have yet to hear back about the results of the survey and how Hockaday will use that
Although multiple emails stated information would be shared in back-to-school communications in the summer, that was not shared until Aug. 13. By then, preseason had started for most fall athletes, students had already ordered books for their classes and families had been waiting for three months.
The consistent lack of clear and timely communication raised concerns about the transparency and effectiveness of the scheduling process. Despite administration’s efforts to keep the community informed through emails and webinars, the frequency and depth of these communications did not always meet the needs of those affected by the changes.
While the new schedule has introduced several beneficial changes, including manageable class periods and a revised start time, it has also highlighted the need for improved communication.
GRAPHIC
BY EMMA LIN
Student Life Spotlights
A glimpse of recent Upper School events
By: Mary Bradley Sutherland Photo and Graphic Editor, Social Media Manager
"This season has started off strong with cooler weather than last year, more morning practices and bonding events like pool parties and pickleball," junior Gray Damonte said.
"Approximately 90 dresses were donated by Hockaday students for the Dress Swap this year," sophomore Kasmira Kuloor said. "I recieved so much positive feedback from students and faculty on the importance and relevance of the Dress Swap."
"It was so exciting to start our first social impact club this year," junior Izzy Hu said. "It was fun to see other girls just as passionate and excited about Passion for Fashion as we are!"
"It was very bittersweet to see all of the girls I have grown up with and spent the majority of my life with at Senior sunrise," senior Anne Cahoon said. "I know that my time with them is coming to an end."
SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD
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