The Fourcast, February 2022 by Hockaday Student Publications

FOURCAST THE

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

11600 WELCH ROAD

DALLAS, TX 75229

FEBRUARY 9, 2022

VOLUME 72, ISSUE 4

WHAT’S INSIDE STUDENTS MANAGE FUNDS

MEHENDALE SCORES SCHOLARSHIP

A FASHIONABLE IMPACT

Students invest in stock market after anonymous donor gives $50,000 for real-world investments.

For her academic and athletic strengths, Leena Mehendale ‘22, is named a finalist for the 36th Annual Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship.

Guest writer Avani Haden shares the meaning and what goes on behind the scenes of the charity fashion show.

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hockadayfourcast.org

@hockadayfourcast

@fourcastnews

@hockadayfourcast

WOMEN WIN for the

How women excel in college and professional sports pg. 12-13

Illustration by Stella Sigurdsson

February 9, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

02news

“

I am so excited to see what the Metaverse will offer in the upcoming months and years.” Your World Today, p. 04

Commemorating Dr. King Assembly calls on community to unite By Hanna Asmerom | Staff Writer There are celebrations all over the country for Martin Luther King Jr. Day including parades, festivals and peaceful demonstrations. Hockaday follows suit and hosts the One Hockaday: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Day of Service. In 2017, Tresa

Wilson, director of Inclusion and Community, started the tradition to honor MLK’s legacy. “I try to find connections with the people that you see and the performances,” Wilson said. This year’s ceremony, on Zoom, had all the elements of a regular celebration.

Upper and middle school students perform “Because of You,” “Shine the Light,” and “We Shall Overcome” led by Dr. Raymond Wise, director of the African American Chorale Ensemble at Indiana University. “It was really meaningful to be a part of such an important celebration,” singer Ava Shipp said.

Freshman Anu Akingbade recites “Reflections on Building a Community,” a poem expressing the ideas of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was one of two poems presented to emphasize the power of unity.

After the assembly, students from all grades came together to decorate ceiling tiles for local schools. “The tiles are used to brighten up classrooms and keep students engaged and motivated throughout their day,” Director of Service Learning and Executive Director of the Institute for Social Impact, Laura Day, said. Photos by Hanna Asmerom and Tiffani Kocsis

Upper school dancers, led by seniors Elise Little and Anne Rubi, performed a routine to “Amen” by Andra Day. “We choreographed the dance to match the meaning of MLK,” Little said.

CORRECTION The supply chain graphic in the December issue was incorrectly credited. The work should have been credited to Meera Thamaran. The Fourcast regrets the error.

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news

February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

CHECKING IN WITH

LISA

FISHER

Omicron Hits Dallas

Ms. Fisher spells out what’s new at the Writing Center and more about her position as Director and Instructor. By Bennett Trubey | Staff Writer

New COVID-19 variant sweeps the United States

Q. What are some of the responsibilities you have as a director and instructor at the Writing Center? Junior Virginia Hohenshelt was one of the many students who had Omicron over holiday break.

By Katherine Grace Estess | Magazine Editor

arch will officially mark the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in some respects, not much has changed. The production and distribution of vaccines, public health standards and in-home isolations have been commonplace throughout the crisis, but a new challenge has come to the Dallas community. The Omicron variant of the virus has swept the United States since early December, and now accounts for about 95% of cases in the United States, according to National Geographic. However, those with the Omicron variant report milder symptoms compared to coronavirus and the Delta variant. National Geographic reports that as of January, adults with Omicron are less than half as likely to be hospitalized or put on a ventilator than their counterparts with other variants of the virus. Those fully boosted are 88% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to those who are unvaccinated, according to preliminary work by researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Omicron’s transmissibility is visible in the high case numbers in Dallas as of late. On Jan. 3, 2022, alone, there were 15,202 reported cases of COVID-19 in Dallas County, according to a report by the New York Times. This day represents the highest number of cases reported in Dallas County in one day since the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020. In addition to its high transmission rate, Omicron also has the ability to evade antibodies produced in the human body, leading to many breakthrough cases even in those fully vaccinated and boosted. However, vaccinated Americans have reported less symptoms than those who catch Omicron and are unvaccinated. Several Hockaday students and faculty have had to quarantine at home, as Omicron spreads around the Dallas community. “I got a random sore throat one day and got tested for strep, flu and COVID,” senior Jules Johnson said. “It was the last thing I thought I had,

A. I create our schedule; I also go into classrooms when certain teachers in English and history ask me or Dr. Cothren or any of the writing interns to go into classrooms during writing workshops to work with students. I also think of new programs for the Writing Center. Then I teach two senior seminars each semester as well. In the fall I taught Before “#Me Too” — two sections — and right now I’m teaching two sections of Contemporary Lit.

Q. What is new and upcoming this year in the Writing Center? Graphic by Abrea La grone

but the next day I woke up with an unimaginable amount of symptoms. It had been going around through my friends and sports teams.” During the holiday break in December, Omicron disrupted and affected travel plans for Americans. “I was traveling abroad, and I wasn’t feeling well and I had to take a test to get home and it came back positive,” junior Virginia Hohenshelt said. “I had to quarantine for five days before they let me come home.” This proved a common problem Americans faced after traveling abroad, especially as the United States requires a negative COVID-19 test before citizens can return home. Omicron hindered travel plans across the world, and the consequences of the variant translated as students returned from holiday break. Schools across the DFW area are handling COVID-19 protocols differently. Some schools, like The St. Mark’s School of Texas, remain maskoptional, while The Greenhill School is requiring all faculty and students to wear masks. Hockaday still requires masks and, as of Jan. 14, asks those who test positive for COVID-19 to quarantine for five days after symptoms appear. The CDC now says that people with COVID-19 can end their quarantine after five days if they have no symptoms, or if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine and other symptoms have improved. Quarantining comes with isolation from normal routines, friends and family. “I think it’s really important to reach out to people that have it to check in on them,” Johnson said. “Quarantine can get really lonely, so reaching out makes it a lot better.”

A. This year, some of the interns are working with Brighter Magazine to help them with content, editing, just anything that comes up. We got this contact through the Institute for Social Impact, who I love being across the hall from. We had a group of Interns who started Daisy Fiction Writers. They meet and discuss their writing and get feedback on each other’s writing. Last year we worked with Foster Elementary students in fourth grade and did some tutoring on Zoom, of course, and we’re trying to start that again this year. We’ve had a few challenges but we are going to do that. The interns are also piloting some writing workshops with Dr. Miskin’s eighthgraders this year.

Q. What is your favorite part about working in the Writing Center? A. Oh, absolutely working with students and getting them to realize that they can be great writers. Absolutely.

Q. Do you have any advice for students who

may want to pursue writing?

A. Do it. My advice is to just keep writing, just keep writing. Because even published authors work very hard at their writing. So, if you love writing, you should write. Q. What impact do you think the Writing

Center is making at and outside of Hockaday?

A. I hope that the impact of the Writing Center is that all students know where to go to overcome any writing challenges that they have. I hope that we can also have that same effect with schools that we work with through the Institute for Social Impact.

TIDBITS & TALES What’s new on campus?

Affinity Council Assembly

Upper School advisories tuned into Zoom to watch the Affinity Council assembly during conference on Jan. 13. The recently established council is composed of representatives from different affinity/alliance groups. They introduced themselves and their purpose and answered some frequently asked questions.

Social Impact Food Drive

Upper School advisories brought in canned food throughout the week of Jan. 24 for the annual Social Impact Food Drive. Foods like Peanut Butter, Sun Butter, Trail Mix, Goldfish, fruit juice and granola bars were packed in boxes and sent to the North Texas Food Bank.

Women in Business Assembly

Businesswomen Alysa Teichman and Alex Halbardier ‘04 spoke to Upper School Students during conference on Jan. 25. Upperclassmen gathered in the theater and lowerclassmen tuned in via Zoom to hear a roundtable discussion about women in business and leadership featuring the two Dallas-based entrepreneurs. Photos by Naz Soysal, Kailey Bergstedt and Hanna Asmerom

February 9, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

YOUR WORLD TODAY

THE

EMERGENCE OF A

NEW REALITY

The Metaverse and NFTs are reshaping the way people experience virtual activities. What does this mean for the world?

By Juliana Blazek | Features Editor

rom the largest technology companies to anybody with access to a phone or computer, society is gearing up to enter the next generation of technology, through the virtual world of the Metaverse. According to CNBC, 2022 is set to become the biggest year yet for the Metaverse, as companies such as Meta (previously known as Facebook), Apple, Microsoft and Google are all planning to release new products to allow people to access this new “world.”

What is the Metaverse? The Metaverse is a virtual world where humans can interact with each other as 3-D avatars. They can partake in numerous virtual activities, such as gaming, shopping, attending concerts and playing sports. According to the Wall Street Journal, people can be able to do almost anything in the Metaverse, from watching a UFC fight to walking on the moon. “The Metaverse mimics the real world through a simulated world that brings in items that you would actually see in the real world, whether it’s buildings or clothing,” Director of Technology Hubert Ham said. “There can also be social interactions on the Metaverse, so I think its potential could be very exciting.” Currently, a person can enter the Metaverse through their phone or computer, but the experience will be more immersive through a virtualreality headset. These headsets use special lens technology, cameras and motion-tracking controllers to fully immerse someone into the Metaverse.

New Technology According to Mashable, this mixed reality, called XR, is a combination of virtual reality and augmented reality. Technology companies are in competition to produce these immersive headsets, as Meta sells Oculus-branded AR/VR headsets whereas Microsoft and Snap Inc. sell augmented-reality glasses. Furthermore, Apple is rumored to be coming out with a headset that will allow the participants to immerse themselves in the VR world, but also see the real world and virtual objects simultaneously. “I am so excited to see what the Metaverse will offer in the upcoming months and years,” junior Josie Sinwell, member of the Investment Club, said. “The prospect of getting to not only experience everyday activities in this virtual way, but also be able to interact with people and feel like you’re right next to them when in reality they could be 100 miles away.”

Impact on Businesses According to 101 Blockchains, the Metaverse is a digital environment that runs on the blockchain with VR/ AR technologies serving as its visual components. Therefore, within the blockchain, the Metaverse is a source for numerous business opportunities. The CEO of Ralph Lauren, Patrice Louvet, said in an interview with CNBC that his company is looking towards opportunities in the Metaverse as a way to attract the younger generation of shoppers. The retailer is considering buying real estate in that digital world, delving into the cross-section of e-commerce, gaming and social media. In addition to Ralph Lauren, Nike also bought a virtual sneaker company, RTFKT, last month and Gucci has already launched its own virtual experiences.

NFTs in the Metaverse Within the Metaverse, nonfungible tokens are becoming increasingly popular as a way to access the Metaverse and then show proof of ownership. An NFT is proven unique, and its attributes can be verified through the underlying information on its blockchain. “With NFTs, you can acquire an item to be used in a game or a virtual chat room and that would be something only you have,” Jaden Warren, an attorney at the NFT creation company Zelus, said. “The holder of the NFT will be able to prove that they are the owner of it Acquiring NFTs and it gives a sense of authenticity in The easiest way to buy an NFT the same way as having a high quality luxury item in the real world would.” is to visit a website such as Nifty One example of an NFT and Gateway or Makers place, make its use in the Metaverse includes an account using an email address purchasing a and then start Fortnite skin purchasing NFTs that only one with a credit ‘I don’t think we’ll person has, so it card. Warren experience the Metaverse possesses value mentioned the purely through our cell if the owner median value would ever want phones and computer of NFTs today to trade or sell screens, so with advances in is virtually it. There are also worthless augmented reality, you can unique pieces of because there be fully immersed.’ clothing that a are so many person can dress being created Jaden Warren that the their avatar with that is tokenized Attorney at Zelus, the NFT minimum value or limited in its creation company for an NFT is quantity. very low. There “I think are many NFTs that NFTs are that go entirely a massive trend, and more people unsold or that sell for low amounts will use them as technology becomes of money. However, Warren and simpler and more accessible,” Warren his team at Zelus created an NFT said. “As they get easier to use, people of an SMU football player who was will start collecting them more and being inducted in the Hall of Fame, they will start replacing in-game item allowing it to have popularity for systems and a mass adoption will start its purchasers would have exclusive to happen.” access to the NFT and admission to real-world events.

Graphic by Ela Guo

Future of the Metaverse According to the Wall Street Journal, the “full-fledged” Metaverse is still in process of being created and won’t be fully complete for a decade. It will be a costly production for technology companies, as Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company focused their money largely on VR/ AR in 2021, which took $10 billion from their annual profit, according to CNBC. With rivaling tech companies trying to get involved with the Metaverse, it is possible there will be various Metaverses attached to each company. In addition, the ARBR headsets still require technical work to limit their nausea side effects and are projected to be complete by 2023. “I don’t think we’ll experience the Metaverse purely through our cell phones and computer screens, so with advances in augmented reality and digital overlays in virtual reality, you can be fully immersed,” Warren said. “More of the world around you will know who you are, because it connects with your phone and identifies your digital persona, so it’s really about the information about you in the digital world becoming more and more important.”

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February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

news

The Life of Betty White Fans honor the late star who shone brightly By Harper Harris | Staff Writer

Betty Marion White was a beloved actress, comedian and American icon. Known for her expansive work in the entertainment industry, White was one of the first women to work in television, both as an actress and producer. White died on Dec. 31, 2021, just weeks before turning 100. Read on to discover some key events in White’s life, as she paved the way for future female actresses.

1922: White was born in Oak Park, Illinois.

1939: White began modeling, at only 17.

1986: White won an Emmy for Golden Girls.

1945: White starred in her first film, “Time to Kill.”

Betty White, fondly known as the “First Lady of Television.”

1953: White launched her first television series, “Life with Elizabeth.”

1976: White won her second Emmy for the same show.

1975: White won her first Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

1987: White won an American Comedy Award for the Funniest Female Performer in a TV series for Golden Girls.

2010:

2009: White got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

White hosted SNL as the oldest ever host and won a Daytime Emmy for her performance.

2021: White died Dec. 31, 2021 at the age of 99 (17 days shy of turning 100).

Photos from Flickr and Wikimedia Commons

LOOKING FOURWARD

Winter SPC Feb. 11-14

Honor Week Feb. 28-Mar. 4

Student Diversity Board Forum Mar. 4

Photos provided by Mary Grace Martin, Pixabay and Tiffani Kocsis

February 9, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

06arts & life

“

Return to Hogwarts” was a callback to our childhoods.” “Return to Hogwarts” Review, p. 8

‘Newsies’ proves newsworthy A spotlight on the St. Mark’s musical By Campbell Harris | News Editor The weekend of Feb. 3, the St. Mark’s and Hockaday students are performing in Disney’s Newsies. Read to learn more about the rehearsal process and the duties of costume crew.

balcony, drama in the black box, and the tarting Feb. 3 and running through Feb. 6, St. Mark’s theater whole show put together in the theater.” Hockaday girls did not just appear on put on “Newsies,” the Tony stage. Behind the scenes, senior Bailey Award-winning musical based on the New York City newsboy strike of Smith acted as the co-head of costumes. “Picking out outfits for people is 1899. The musical follows the story of newsboys and newsgirls who dream of a really fun,” Smith said. “It’s cool to be contributing to something bigger like better life and fight for justice. the musical.” When choosing “Newsies,” director Some of her duties included taking Marion Glorioso wanted to pick a show measurements, seeing who is on stage at that was energizing and inspirational. what time and buying She thought “Newsies” and renting costumes would be the type of for the characters. show that St. Mark’s “Picking out outfits for “This is the first and Hockaday students people is really fun. It’s year that St. Mark’s would come out to cool to be contributing has had a costume audition for. crew because usually “I’ve seen ‘Newsies’ to something bigger the director just does on Broadway, and it is like the musical.” it, so it was fun to such a powerful story show up and take about the power of the Bailey Smith charge of it,” Smith press,” Glorioso said. Hockaday Senior said. “The story behind this In the weeks musical shows that before the show, your voice matters and your story matters, and to get it out there Glorioso said the cast and crew were working to be performance-ready. is life-changing.” “We are continuing to learn St. Mark’s senior Xander Bowles had choreography, cleaning up and wanted to be in Newsies since he saw tightening things that we have staged, the movie as a kid. He has participated and they’re working to be off book,” in St. Mark’s and Hockaday productions Glorioso said. “We have the type of since the fifth grade and will star as lead students and the type of actors that will newsboy, Jack Kelly. rise to the occasion.” “It has always been a dream of mine to be a part of Newsies, so when we decided we were doing that show, I was super excited to audition and be a part of it,” Bowles said. Hockaday students were not able to perform in St. Mark’s musicals in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year Glorioso went back to how things were run pre-pandemic. “I’ve missed the Hockaday girls in the theater and to be able to direct them again is really exciting,” Glorioso said. Junior Brie Johnson was one of the Hockaday students featured in the musical and went to rehearsal every day after school to prepare for the musical. “What we do in rehearsal typically changes from day to day,” Johnson said. “If we’re working on dances we will run through the dance, and if we’re working on scenes, we will run through scenes from the top. We usually sing every day too.” She said rehearsing for a St. Mark’s musical is much different from a Hockaday musical. “It’s different being in the black box instead of in the theater,” Johnson said. “It’s also different doing everything in the black box instead of dancing in the dance

St. Mark’s seniors Xander Bowles and Owen Simon run through a scene during a rehearsal for ‘Newsies.’

Co-head of costumes Bailey Smith, a senior at Hockaday, looks through costumes for the cast.

Hockaday and St.Mark’s students meet together to run through a scene during rehearsal. Photos by Campbell Harris

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

arts & life

February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

Busting out the boots

Students flaunt their cowboy boots during JSB season By Elisa Carroll | Web Editor

Fuchsia Metallic Boots by Jeffrey Campbell “I got these pink metallic boots from Jeffrey Campbell because my dress is black for JSB this year, and I wanted to make it more interesting with a super fun color boot!” -Lea Whitley, Form IV

The Taylor Boots by Ferrini ““I love my cowboy boots because they add spunk to my outfits, and I feel like I am in tune with my Texas roots. I got them from Wild Bills for Christmas and I’m so excited to wear them to JSB!” -Jane Clark, Form III

Hockaday Split H Daisy Boots “My parents got my cowboy boots for me at the 2012 auction, and I used to wear them all the time when I was little! All the little details with the split H and the daisies make them a really cool item to have for all my memories of Hockaday.” -Lucy Roberts, Form IV

The Elaine Heartbreaker Boots by Miron Crosby “One of my favorite things about JSB is that we get to wear boots, but I like to stand out and wear colored ones. I got my boots from Miron Crosby, and they are very unique, so I know no one else will have them!” -Margo Washburne, Form IV

Photos by Elisa Carroll

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

In Memoriam: Joan Didion Beloved author, inspiration dies at 87 By Maddie Stout | Editor-in-Chief

oan Didion, celebrated American author and essayist, passed away on Dec. 23, leaving behind a rich legacy and inspiring countless young writers. Born in Sacramento in 1934, Didion began her career after winning an essay contest for Vogue magazine. Throughout her life, she explored a wide range of genres, including fiction, political journalism, creative nonfiction and screenplays. She was best known for her terse, precise writing style. I first read Didion’s “The Year of Magical Thinking” last summer. Written about her struggle with grief following the death of her husband and work partner, John Gregory Dunne, and the serious illness of her daughter, Quintana Roo Dunne, the book hooked me immediately. Didion was unapologetically honest in her writing, unafraid to discuss her emotions in a way unique for any writer, let alone a woman. She was painstaking with her word choice and observant enough to account for every detail — how could I not adore her? From then on, I devoured Didion novels and essay collections: “The White Album,” “Play It as It Lays,”

“Let Me Tell You What I Mean.” I couldn’t get enough; reading Didion feels like being transported to another world, like traveling directly into her living room while she entertains her casually famous friends or writes away on her typewriter. Some — namely myself — would consider Didion the “coolest” writer to ever live. Not only was she one of the leaders of “New Journalism,” a style encouraging journalists to insert themselves into their story’s narrative, Didion also was a style icon: her clothing could have appeared in Vogue just as easily as her work. As I have developed my own writing style and sense of self, I’ve often found myself looking back to Didion for advice (the use of “I” in this piece certainly comes from her). For a young woman hoping to Photos courtesy of Flickr write for a living, Didion has served as a perfect guiding light – the way she lived and wrote, so effortlessly herself, is endlessly inspiring to me and countless other people like me. Didion’s death was certainly devastating. I am forever looking to hear more from her. Still, I am certain her voice will continue to live on for generations to come – that’s just how “cool” she is.

BOOKS BY DIDION

February 9, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE ON THE SCREEN

reviews Harry Potter’s 20th Anniversary

Aadya’s Favorite Harry Potter Books

Two decades after releasing the first movie, the cast of Harry Potter returns to shed light on filming journeys stars

By Aadya Kuruvalli | Staff Writer

Twenty years have passed since the release of the first Harry Potter film, which came out in theaters four years after the publication of the original book by J.K. Rowling. To commemorate this milestone, HBO and the cast of the movies came together to create an all-new documentary celebrating the films’ legacy. “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” features the likes of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson along with their fellow castmates in the movies. For me and many other fans around the world, “Return to Hogwarts” was a callback to our childhoods, which were spent with the original movies. The documentary spans roughly 100 minutes and is unique in that it is more than just a compilation of cast interviews. To bring magic back to this film, clips and bloopers from the sets of the movies have been added in, sprinkling the interviews with a bit of nostalgia. An emotional rollercoaster, “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to

5 stars

By Libby Hill | Managing Editor

If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last sentence, “How to Murder your Life” is the book for you. I had heard bits and pieces of the story of infamous beauty editor Cat Marnell, but I was excited to hear the story from her perspective in this book. And let me tell you, her story is certainly a train wreck. I enjoyed every single page because it continued to keep me guessing. I could never anticipate what choice or

Hogwarts”, acknowledges both the good and bad times of filming. The stars spoke about how hard they find it to navigate in Hollywood’s artificiality and the bonds they made while filming. One of the biggest talking points surrounding the release of the new movie was the absence of author J.K. Rowling, who was not invited to the anniversary celebration due to her continuous controversial tweets about gender identity and transgender rights. Perhaps filming for “Return to Hogwarts” would not Photo provided by IMDb have gone as smoothly had she been there; many of the cast members, including star Daniel Radcliffe, have spoken against her transphobic tweets in the past. Although she might not have been there herself, the filmmakers still found

a way to include the author by adding interviews from 2019. As a fan of the books and films, I found the new documentary to be a great insight into the work both the cast and crew put into the movies. Seeing the cast reunited after 10 years of not being onscreen together is a magical experience for Potter fans from all around the world. The Harry Potter series has shaped millions of children. This new documentary tracing the hard work that went into the creation of the movies is a beautiful rekindling of the magic of the old films. Although there has been much controversy surrounding the series and its author, J.K. Rowling, nothing can erase the magic that raised a generation.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

BY THE BOOK

How to Murder Your Life

Book peeks into the life of a NYC beauty editor and her silent struggle behind the glamour

move she was going to make next. At 384 pages, it was surprisingly long for a book of this type. It definitely goes in-depth to each year of her life, but it works well - you need to learn all of it to understand! I found this to be a welcome read for me during a busy and distracting week. Reading a book about such a chaotic life, honestly, made me feel a bit better about my own. I was so invested in her chaos that I fell asleep thinking about it, trying to will myself not to keep reading into the night. The book starts during Cat’s tumultuous years at boarding school, and carries you through her young adulthood in New York City working for beauty magazines like NYLON, Teen Vogue, Glamour and Lucky. She’s living the dream - meeting celebrities, owning the hottest fashion items, and going to shows at

Paris and New York Fashion Weeks. Simultaneously, she is battling a severe drug addiction and is living an incredibly disjointed life. Cat has every opportunity to turn her life back around, but she continues to make one bad decision after another. It’s safe to say that Cat manages to ruin her life along the way, but “How to Murder Your Life” shows how she continues to rebound. While her family stops supporting her after a while, her friends and coworkers continue to rally around her, and she continues to save most of her public reputation by the skin on her teeth until a few particularly bad moments occur. As a self-proclaimed avid reader of memoirs, I incredibly enjoyed this book. If you need a nice distraction this week, I’d recommend you read this, too.

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arts & life

Sweet(green) dreams

stars

February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

New salad bar offers creative combinations 3636 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

By Caroline Bush | Staff Writer

Healthy meets hearty when DC-based restaurant offers its famous bowls to SMU students, spin-class takers and anyone else who finds themselves on McKinney Avenue in Oak Lawn for a quick meal. Founded by Georgetown business students in 2007, Sweetgreen brings a refreshing twist to salad serving with its large assortment of toppings, flavors and combinations made possible through its Chipotlestyle fast casual approach. Sweetgreen’s goal is to change the approach to healthy eating with scratch-made meals offered at the pace of a fast food restaurant. The company aims to go carbon neutral by the end of 2027, and its plant-based options and eco-friendly materials reflect its devotion to combatting the challenge of climate change. Upon approaching the restaurant, I was met with good vibes in its

os ot

Ph ll

ro ar aC

s Eli by

open, spacious floor plan with an added ambience from the green color scheme and modern art on the walls. While its indoor seating is not currently open due to COVID-19, I saw many customers enjoying meals at its outside tables on the nice night. Whether in the mood for a cool crunch on a hot summer day or a warm medley of seasonal flavors, Sweetgreen has it all for its customers with its two main offerings: salads and bowls. Its salads have your typical lettuce base with cool toppings, and its hot bowls capture the flavors of a home-cooked meal. After waiting in line for about 10 minutes, I stepped up to the ordering station, which was an assembly-line style. The server was kind and offered me three dressing options for my bowls: light, medium or heavy. I chose medium on all of the bowls and watched as she handmade each with its respective ingredients. They were out of some toppings I asked for, so I recommend going well before closing to avoid supply issues. I decided to start with one of Sweetgreen’s most popular salads called Guacamole Greens, a combination of the classic guacamole ingredients tossed together in a spring mix and finished with roasted chicken. When I took my first bite, I was immediately hit with the punch from the lime cilantro vinaigrette. The salad had a perfect ratio of lettuce to toppings, and the dressing complemented the flavors of guacamole nicely. I can see why this is one of Sweetgreen’s most popular choices, and I would most likely

order it next time I go. The next bowl I opened was a less popular option, the Chicken Pesto Parm bowl. While I was most excited to try this bowl as I am a lover of both chicken parmesan and pesto, I was disappointed with its dryness and overpowering amount of spinach. The flavor was good, and I appreciated the spice from the addition of Sweetgreen’s hot sauce. I think this bowl would have been better if they still had their spicy broccoli in stock, which I believe would complement the flavors in this dish nicely. Lastly, I had to try Sweetgreen’s most well-known bowl with a seasonal flavor that sticks around all year: the Harvest Bowl. I will admit I was not the most excited to try this one since I am not typically a fan of many of its components, including the sweet potato, roasted almonds and kale. Surprisingly, however, I was blown away by the way the apple, goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette perfectly brought the flavors together. It was like a warm hug when I took my first taste and an unexpectedly pleasant experience that made my trip to Sweetgreen worthwhile. All in all, I definitely recommend taking a trip to Sweetgreen. The variety of interesting flavors it offers bring its salads to a new level where customers can really have anything they crave. The bowls kept me full for a long time without being too heavy a meal when I sought something light and easy for dinner. One inconvenience I personally experienced was the long drive, as the restaurant is certainly quite far for anybody who lives close to Hockaday – especially during rush hour. Also, the salads were a bit on the pricey side, but for the amount of sustenance they give, I think it is worth it. If I ever find myself craving something healthy and delicious, I will certainly return to Sweetgreen to give its other options a try.

PESTO CHICKEN PARM BOWL

GUAC GREENS SALAD

Photos by Caroline Bush

FROM

CAROLINE’S Balsamic vinegar:

¼ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons highquality balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Salad:

KITCHEN

½ cup wild rice Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 large sweet potato, halved lengthwise and sliced into ¼ inch pieces crosswise (about ¾ pound) 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 ounces fresh goat cheese 1 cup lightly packed thinly sliced lacinato kale, from about ½ large bunch

1 medium golden beet, peeled, halved lengthwise, and very thinly sliced 1 small fennel bulb, trimmed, halved, cored, and thinly sliced 6 ounces roasted chicken or 6 ounces poached chicken, shredded 3 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled ¼ cup toasted almond, coarsely chopped

February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

AND FROM

HARPER’S THOUGHTS

Staff Writer Harper Harris loves pop culture – and she’s here to tell us what we should know right now.

S1 Ep. e’s Day,” “Valentin

Breakfast at Bisous Bisous Patisserie

TV marathon! Check out some of our 2 favorite episodes “Galentine’s Day,”

S2 Ep. 16

“First Date,” S1 Ep. 16 Essie, “Ballet Slippers”

Bake-off

Recipe

Ingredients

1 tbsp powdered sugar 1 cup whipping cream 1 package frozen puff pastry, defrosted 1/2 cup mixed berries

Essie, “Really Red” Essie, “Need a Vacation”

Instructions

Self care

Check out our recipe video here!

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. 2. Unfold the puff pastry and cut into hearts using heart-shaped cookie cutters. 3. Place the puff pastry hearts on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. 4. In the bowl of a standing mixer, whip the cream on medium- high speed for 2-3 minutes. Add powdered sugar and beat on high for 30 more seconds or until thick and fluffy. 5. Remove hearts from the oven and allow to cool completely. Slice hearts in half. Top the bottom half with whipped cream and berries, and place the other half on top to form a sandwich.

Dinner with friends! Check out our favorite places down below.

XOXO Dining Room

Rise no. 1

Sushi Sake

We watched Zendaya grace our Disney Channel screens as Rocky on “Shake It Up” and K.C. on “K.C. Undercover,” but now she has graduated to taking on a more mature and pur-poseful role as Rue in HBO’s Euphoria.” Disney Channel pushed kids away from drugs and alcohol, through their lack of shows including such taboo topics and the fact their demographic is young kids, but “Euphoria” is taking another approach to introducing drugs to teenagers. In “Euphoria,” 17-year-old drug addict Rue faces obstacles throughout the show to try and stay clean, while balancing high school. She fails to do this, and five days out of rehab she starts taking drugs again. Colorful hues, glitter and filming angles are only some of the ways the show makes drugs and alcohol look pleasing and irresistible to teenagers. Through acting and precise editing, the producers present to viewers the “euphoric” feeling that drug users feel when high. The show also explores addiction and how horrifying an addict’s life actually is. Rue is frequently shown crying and in physical pain during withdrawal, and she also is seen at meetings where other addicts share their stories. These scenes show raw, pure emotion about how addicts deal with temptations and show the other side of drug addiction. “Euphoria” does a good job of showing the really low points in an addict’s road to recovery, but the show cannot exhibit the lows without showing the highs of drug use, and the euphoric high users feel. A TV show cannot depict one’s full relationship with substance abuse, because everyone’s journey to recovery is different. For some teenagers, shows like “Euphoria” have influenced them to the point of following in Rue’s foot-steps and they started taking heavy, illicit drugs. According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, because of social media and the rise of teenage TV shows that cover drug addiction, teenage drug abuse has spiked since 2015. The entertainment industry glamorizes drug and alcohol use because the full story is not being told. TV and movies do not give you all of the facts when it comes to addiction and drugs. While “Euphoria” does a good job showing all the parts of addiction, every addict’s life is different, so it cannot show everything that happens in an addict’s life. The abuse of alcohol and drugs on social media is often portrayed as fun. Many TV shows, movies and influencers paint substance abuse in a positive light, making it seem necessary to use substances to be successful or cool. Many teenagers have fallen into the hole of addiction and are struggling to get out. The media needs to take accountability for misleading teenagers into trying heavy drugs, and it needs to show the full reality of teenage addiction to prove that being hooked on drugs is a real disease. I praise “Euphoria” for showing as much as it can, but nothing can truly parallel a real addict’s road to recovery.

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arts & life

February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

SLICKER 1

Valentine’s day delicacies Local bakeries offer captivating confections

Whether you’re hanging with friends, family, or a loved one, check out our favorite local haunts to fulfill your Valentine’s Day fixes.

Neuhaus Cafe 5959 Royal Lane #626, Dallas, 75230

A friendly cafe with a large selection of decadent chocolates and desserts, Neuhaus Cafe also sells hot coffees and serves breakfast until 3 p.m. perfect for Valentine’s Day brunch.

Cake Bar 3011 Gulden Lane Suite 117, Dallas, 75012

Empire Baking Company 5450 W Lovers Lane #132, Dallas, 75209

3 4

Cake Bar boasts a selection of 16 Southern-style homemade cakes. The bakery’s cakes, cookies and other treats can be purchased in-store, or pay a visit to the 24-hour Cake Bar Vending Machine for some late-night, individual slices.

This family-run cafe offers delicious sandwiches, salads, pies and pastries, perfect for picnics or tasty Valentine’s Day gifts.

Commissary 1217 Main Street, Dallas, 75202

Boulangerie by Village Baking Co. 1921 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, 75206

This charming location offers a bakery, market, deli and espresso bar in the heart of downtown. Commissary offers classic sandwiches and salads, refreshing gelatos, a large assortment of bagels, breakfast burritos and more.

Boulangerie is a French-inspired bakery well-loved for its artisan breads, delicious sandwiches, coffees and croissants. Buy some fantastic French goods to share with friends or just for yourself.

Bennett Trubey | Staff Writer

Photos by Bennett Trubey & Creative Commons

February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

WOMEN FOR THE WIN

By Jane Clark | Views Editor and Melody Hu| Arts & Life Editor Illustrations by Stella Sigurdsson

With the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing approaching, female athletes again gear up to challenge the male–dominated arenas. But regardless of the level they play, women in sports are making their mark while paying attention to their mental and physical health alike.

A HISTORY OF WOMEN IN THE OLYMPICS Once restricted, participation has grown through the years

omen were able to compete in the Olympics for the first time at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris. Of the 997 athletes at the games, 22 were women, and they were limited to five sports: tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrianism and golf. Although women were able to play in the games, they were restricted in every aspect, including media coverage,

what they were allowed to wear and the quality of their facilities. In 1921, a group of women protested against the restrictive Olympic regulations and formed their own Women’s Olympics, which lasted for four games. Later, in 1932, Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrikson became one of the first internationally-known female Olympians after setting four world

records and winning three medals. In 1960, over 20% of the Winter Games athletes were women, marking the largest percentage of female athletes at any Olympic game. The 2012 Olympic Games in London was the first time women were able to compete in all of the sports offered. The 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing will be a new record for female athletes, with over 45% being women.

HIGHLIGHTING WOMEN ON TEAM USA FOR THE 2022 WINTER OLYMPICS Chloe Kim: Chloe Kim rose to fame after becoming the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal in the 2019 Winter Olympics at just 17 years old. She is a six-time X Games gold medalist and is known for her perfect 100 point score. In the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics, Kim became the first American woman to win a gold medal in snowboarding and was chosen as the flag bearer for Team USA. Mariah Bell: Mariah Bell is the 2022 US National Champion in figure skating. Bell has medaled at the Internationaux de France and ISU Championships. She will be the oldest American woman to compete in Olympic singles skating since 1928.

Mikaela Shiffrin: Mikaela Shiffrin is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Alpine skier. She is tied with two other skiers for the most Olympic gold medals by an American for Alpine skiing. Shiffrin is the first and only athlete with wins in all six FIS Alpine Ski World Cup disciplines. For the 2022 Winter Olympics, Shiffrin is hoping to participate in every individual women’s Alpine ski race. Alysa Liu: Alysa Liu will be competing in her first Olympic Games this year. Liu is the youngest US women’s national champion, winning the title at just 13 years old. She is also the youngest figure skater to win two consecutive national titles. At just 16 years old, Liu will represent the USA with two other figure skaters.

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infocus

COLLEGE ATHLETES STRIVE FOR BALANCE ALUMS EMPHASIZE ORGANIZATION, MENTAL HEALTH

Alumnae who compete in college athletics find the difference between college level competition and Hockaday or high school club sports proves significant. However, they say they are well prepared and call on their established study habits and discipline to balance their lives.

Kate Clark Kate Clark ’21, track and field athlete at Boston College, says that Hockaday prepared her to balance school and athletics and she has been able to manage her time well. “I never have time to procrastinate so when I have time to be with my friends or do school work, I capitalize on those moments,” Clark said. A favorite part of BC track and field for Clark is being part something bigger than herself. “I love the idea of being on a team and working towards a common goal,” Clark said. For Clark, having a schedule to follow has been helpful because having practice fills up her day. Having the structure from her track schedule allows for Clark to still make time to be with friends and rest. “Getting my work done so that I have time to be with friends and decompress is really helpful for my mental health,” Clark said. She suggests high school studets who may be interested in playing college level sports ask a lot of questions. “Don’t be afraid because, in the end, this process is about you and if you don’t ask, you’ll never know,” Clark said.

ANNIE HERRING Annie Herring ’21, a rowing crew athlete at Brown University, said although it is not easy to balance academics and athletics, finding time for all of it including a social life can be very rewarding. “Time management and planning is crucial to my success,” Herring said. “If I know I have a super difficult week of training or a lot of races coming up, I try to plan out my school work so that I am not running into a situation where I am running myself down with too much work.” Her favorite part of the sport is her teammates because they remind her of how grateful she is to be alongside such intense, driven, and passionate people every day. “Not only are they my best friends, but they are also my biggest inspirations,” Herring said.

As an athlete, Herring makes sacrifices due to which extracurriculars she can participate in and she feels as though sometimes she misses out on the many opportunities Brown offers her. “There just aren’t enough hours in the day to participate in everything that I want to,” Herring said. Although stress can be overwhelming sometimes, Herring has access to numerous resources on campus to take care of her mental health. “Brown has 24/7 CAPS support and unlike many other schools, the athletic department doesn’t have designated psychologists for athletes, but the other mental health services are pretty robust so we are well taken care of,” Herring said. Although she does not know for sure what the future holds for her, Herring has goals for her rowing career and as long as it brings her happiness and fulfillment she intends to continue rowing. “I would love to follow in Teal Cohen’s footsteps and compete at the U23 world championships while I’m in college,” Herring said.

EMILIA CALLAHAN Emilia Callahan ’20, a field hockey player at Dartmouth, said Hockaday prepared her well and in times of stress she has access to tutors, academic advisors, a sports psychologist, and other resources that can help her manage her work. “Taking care of my mental health is something that I have definitely had to work on playing sports in college,” Callahan said. “I love our sports psychologist and I also think just taking time to be alone and focus on yourself every day is super important for keeping your mind in the right place.” Some advice she offers to potential college athletes is to cast a wide during the college recruiting process. “Don’t be afraid to email coaches even at schools that aren’t your ‘dream school,’” she said. “You never know where you will fall in love with, where the coach will be when it comes time to commit.” Callahan said she intends to play until she graduates , partly because her favorite part of playing field hockey at Dartmouth is the girls she spends time with. “We have become so close already and it’s so cool to all have a similar goal we are all working towards together,” Callahan said.

February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

February 9, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

14features

“

Honestly, no two days are the same in my office” —Tiffani Kocsis A Day in the Life, p. 16

Working the market

Donor gives $50,000 so students can experience real-world investing By Ambyr Baker | Staff Writer

ecently, an anonymous donor donated $50,000 to Hockaday with the specific purpose of giving students an opportunity to engage in real-world economics. “The donor’s goal was to get a group of students who will manage the $50,000 and invest into the real stock market with our CFO JT Coats who actually makes the trades,” said Laura Day, director of the Institute for Social Impact. To get the project off the ground, Day decided to engage seniors who already have foundational knowledge of economic principles. “We contacted students from AP economics or Breaking the Glass Ceiling to lead this project,” Day said. “We also invite any interested Upper School students to come and join the group.” Primarily a student-led organization, the group analyzes the current market, determines which stocks to look into and then, most importantly, decides where to invest. Already brainstorming ideas, senior Naz Soysal said she hopes the group will choose to focus their investments into sustainable resources. “It would be interesting for us to focus our investments into green technology versus fossil fuel companies,” Soysal said. “I think that is where the world is heading nowadays.” Kristen Blevins, AP economics teacher, emphasized the importance of having this real world application. “When you are handling real money, you act so much differently with it,” Blevins said. “Ms. Day and I

‘Because investing is such a male dominated field, it is simply inaccessible to young women; I think that getting that knowledge early on is really important’ Senior Naz Soysal Econ Group member are so excited to give students realworld experiences with that.” Day said the school will recycle all profits for future students to use. “Any money made over $50,000 will be used to help the school so it stays there forever,” Day said. “My hope is that kids, year after year, are going to learn from alums who actually do this as a job.” The stock market, although a widely accepted space for legitimate investors to come to buy and sell investments, has never been dominated by women, not to mention female students. “There is an obvious gap in women and men who are involved in finance and the goal of this is to close that,” Day said. “It starts with the younger generation.” With this opportunity, students will be able to build a portfolio even before they step out into the real world. With time, this group hopes to see more and more students get involved. “Our goal is that we start it this year and keep the ball rolling,” Blevins said.

During an Econ Club meeting, senior Naz Soysal learns how to identify profitable funds to invest in. Club members analyze the market to decide where to invest. Photo by Caroline Petrikas Photo by Caroline Petrikas

BY THE NUMBERS

number of students currently in the econ group

number of current student investors in the group

number of teachers guiding the group

Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives Jessica Epperson introduces guest speaker Connor Thomas at a January meeting. Photo by Caroline Petrikas Alum Connor Thomas presents real world experiences of managing money during an Econ Club meeting. Photo by Caroline Petrikas

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features

February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

The Cade’s Craze Dallas baker rises in popularity

By Maddie Stout | Editor-in-Chief

bucket of Raising Cane’s chicken, a bag of Twizzlers, an entire Thanksgiving dinner. What do these things have in common? Well, beyond just being kinds of food, these items have something else alike: they’re cakes, created by Dallas bakery Cade’s Cakes. Cade’s Cakes, founded in 2015 after founder and CEO Sam Cade graduated from the International Culinary Center in New York City, prides itself on being a uniquely-modeled bakery, willing to take on any kind of cake, no matter how unusual. Past customers include the New York Knicks, Mary Kay and Saturday Night Live, but Cade’s ties remain close to home and involved with Hockaday in multiple ways, from alumni connections to stock in the bookstore. Aurelia Han ‘18 first became involved with Cade’s Cakes while in Upper School, offering to work with the bakery during the holiday season, Cade’s busiest time of year. As the business grew rapidly each year, its influence extending further and further, Han eventually joined as a co-owner of the company. Although the Cade’s Cakes Instagram now boasts nearly 30,000 followers and fans across the globe, Han said that her favorite part of working with Cade’s remains its tight-knit community. “The people are definitely the best part, both my coworkers and the customers,” Han said. “I’ve met some of my best friends through it, and we have some very loyal customers who come basically every week. To keep up those relationships is pretty cool.”

One such customer, sophomore Dixey Piper Auer, appreciates Cade’s Cakes for the flexibility the bakery offers as well as its aesthetic appeal. “My family has bought a bunch of cakes from Cade’s over the years, and they are always super flexible about creating your ‘dream cake’,” Auer said. “It’s crazy to me how good the cakes taste while still looking super realistic.” For Auer’s birthday last year, she ordered a cake themed around Dallas coffee shop La La Land Kind Cafe. She asked for a cake that looked like a latte from the shop, but gave Cade the creative freedom to decorate the cup to her liking. “I absolutely loved my cake,” Auer said. “Cade’s is so unique because it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. [Sam Cade] takes people’s favorite things and

turns them into works of art.” Despite its name, Cade’s offers more than just cakes. The bakery’s website also promotes pies, cookie cakes and their own specialty “Cake Guts,” described as deconstructed cakes created to “make premium desserts easy — easy to eat, easy to store, easy to mix and match flavors and easy to share with others.” Cake Guts flavors range from Cosmic Brownie to Carrot Caramel, and they are available in a number of locations, including the Hockaday bookstore. Bookstore manager Dara Williams first heard about the Cake Guts from another Dallas private school, the Episcopal School of Dallas. “I originally heard about the Cake Guts from the ESD bookstore Instagram in October,” Williams said. “I reached out to them to figure out which flavors sold best, which were Chocolate Oreo and Funfetti, and we’ve kept ordering them since then.” Williams said the Cake Guts are extremely popular, and she is looking into purchasing more from Cade’s for the store. As the Cade’s business grows across the board, the company is looking forward, aiming to extend its reach even further. “The ultimate goal is to create a national dessert brand, since our brand is so unique,” Han said. “We’re hoping to have a storefront in Dallas this year, and then eventually expand that to other cities and expand our product line. There’s so many cool things we’re planning for the business.” Cade’s Cakes products are available for order on the bakery’s website, cakeyall.com.

February 9, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

Tiffani Kocsis Given Dr. Tiffani Kocsis’ many different roles and responsibilities, including serving as Assistant Head of Upper School, acting as Form IV liaison, teaching the Senior Health course, supporting the Affinity Council and Student Council and taking care of three children, she accomplishes many tasks in a day. Here’s a peek into Kocsis’s daily life and how she gets it all done. By Kailey Bergstedt | Staff Writer

Good morning! 6:15 A.M. RISE & SHINE | Kocsis often wakes up

any time between 6 and 6:30 a.m. but the time usually varies. “I have three kids so I am kind of on their schedule in the morning,” she said. After having her daily iced coffee and helping her kids get ready for school, she leaves her house. Sometimes she drops off her eldest two children, 10-year-old Kellen and 9-year-old Paige, at their school or drops off her almost 3-year-old Piper at the CDC.

8:30 A.M. SCHOOL DAY STARTS | Usually

arriving around 8:30 a.m., she sometimes helps with carpool but will arrive as early as 7:30 a.m. if she has a morning meeting. When not in meetings, she uses her morning time to check and respond to her emails, talk with students, prepare for the rest of her day or check students’ SchoolPass in the LLARC. On odd days, she will also walk over to the Science building to prepare for her Senior Health A period class.

4:30 P.M. WRAPPING UP | After teaching D

period Health 201 or working through Y period, Kocsis begins to wrap up her day and prepare for the next, typically not leaving school for another hour or so. This time can include responding to emails, meeting with teachers or anyone else she needs to meet with and finishing any leftover tasks from the day. “Honestly, no two days are the same in my office,” she said.

5:30 P.M. HEADED HOME | Kocsis

finally packs up her things and heads home, usually around 5:30 p.m. but sometimes as late as 6 p.m. Kocsis usually heads straight home to her husband, three kids, two recentlyadopted kittens and 11-year-old dog Miley. She spends the rest of her night making dinner, helping her kids with homework, going over lesson plans and checking her email one final time.

See you tomorrow! 1:35 P.M. TEACHING TIME | During both C period and G period, Kocsis teaches Health 201, the Senior Health course. “We just finished talking about eating disorders and will be moving into alcohol and drug use,” Kocsis said. Other topics covered are mental health, relationships and health care.

10:20 A.M. ADVISORY TIME | During the

20-minute period every day, Kocsis catches up with her advisory of 11 seniors in her office. “It’s a lot of chatter, a lot of laughter,” Kocsis said. “All of us use it as a nice, fun and bright spot of our day.”

12:00 P.M.

LUNCH TIME | During conference and

lunch, Kocsis does everything from helping assemblies run smoothly, attending Executive meetings and calling parents to meeting with students and faculty. Although she tries to grab lunch every day, “it does not happen too often because lunch is a really busy time in my office,” Kocsis said, “people come in to ask a question or have an issue I need to solve or something along those lines.”

Photos by Kailey Bergstedt

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features

February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

Advocating for shopping small

One year later, student still working to support local businesses By Hanna Zhang | Copy Editor

ncouraging people to step out of the comfort of online and big-box shopping and to move to small business shopping was the biggest challenge senior Siddhi Bansal faced in the early stages of her organization, ShopUnityy. That was the spark that inspired her to begin crafting Instagram posts explaining the importance of shopping locally and to start interviewing small businesses and meeting with their managers. Bansal founded ShopUnityy in December 2020 with the aim of encouraging the community to shop at small local businesses in the neighborhood, especially those affected by the pandemic. She created the name from the words “shop” and “community,” the word “unity” signifying the integrity and solidarity among community businesses and conveying the idea of the entire community interweaving to support itself. “Even though I’d heard that businesses were failing after hearing from my family friends that they had to shut down their own, I didn’t perceive the severity,” Bansal said. “Over the next few weeks, I researched about the role of small businesses in our community and read about their vitality for our economy. “Learning more about this pervasive problem and the thousands of businesses that had met a fate similar to that of my family friend’s enterprise, I decided to start ShopUnityy.” As the founder of the organization, Bansal creates Instagram posts about small businesses in the Dallas area, using statistics, facts and government initiatives to educate the city about shopping small. She also conducts small business tours, where she discusses ground-level issues with business owners and managers to gain more insight into their problems and what she can do to help them. “Although many people may not realize this, small businesses are especially important to enriching a city’s economy,” Bansal said. “Not only do they create jobs and contribute to city development, but they also

play a crucial role in sparking innovation and healthy competition.” Besides these posts and tours, Bansal has spoken on the “Youth Spotlight with COVID Change Agents” radio show, where she talked about her journey with ShopUnityy, the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses, the effect of current mandates and policies on revenues as well as ways people can help revive the economy. She has also been interviewed by a variety of local magazines, including the Voyage Dallas Magazine, where she collaborates with the rest of the organization to spread awareness about the vitality of shopping small.

‘After one year, I think ShopUnityy has evolved not only in terms of its reach but also the way it is working towards solving the problem and fighting the common big-box mindset.’ Senior Siddhi Bansal Founder of ShopUnityy “Having reached over 10,000 people in Dallas, I look forward to creating the large-scale impact I aspired for when I first started ShopUnityy,” Bansal said. Business leaders from small businesses like Village Burger Bar, Metta Gluten Free and T-Post have worked with ShopUnityy to spread the word and advertise their products through samples. After ShopUnityy followed Metta Gluten Free on Instagram, Abha Ahuja, the creator and seller of Metta Gluten Free flour, reached out to Bansal and requested a shoutout on their page as a small local business. The post for Metta Gluten Free has now reached over 50 likes.

Bansal visits Village Burger Bar to speak with the restaurant manager about ShopUnityy and its purpose. Photo by Siddhi Bansal

“The brief engagement with ShopUnityy was a good experience,” Ahuja said. “Their objective to support local small businesses is definitely a good cause. I would be happy to collaborate with them again in the future when the opportunity arises.” Although Bansal is the only one running the organization at the moment, she is working with people in Houston and other states to expand ShopUnityy and recruit members. “Small businesses are also particularly helpful in providing opportunities to minorities and increasing community health due to the support that local businesses give to other local businesses,” Bansal said. “When I visited some of these businesses again after the tours, I was delighted to see them thriving rather than trying to survive.”

HOCKA-HISTORY A look back into our past

Valencia Yarbrough during her first year at Hockaday in 1970 Yarbrough’s senior portrait in 1977

First Black students to attend Hockaday Valencia Yarbrough ‘77, one of the first Black students at Hockaday, returned to teach second grade in 2017.

Each issue, The Fourcast browses Hockaday’s archives and chooses a moment to look back on. This month, we talk with one of the first Black students to attend the school. By Olivia Garcia | Business Manager

Valencia Yarbrough and her classmates show off their white blazers. Yarbrough would go on to graduate in the spring of 1977.

Although Hockaday is now known for its inclusive community and prides itself on its diverse student body, it was not until 1968 that the school welcomed its first African American student, Lili Josette Kirven. Shortly following Kirven’s arrival, Valencia Mack Yarbrough arrived at Hockaday in 1970. The enrollment of Kirven and Yarbrough, along with other African American students, signified a cultural shift that would set a precedent for years to come. Throughout her childhood, Yarbrough’s mother and grandmother instilled in her the importance of education. To Yarbrough, knowledge was power, and Hockaday was the pinnacle of the education system in Dallas. With this in mind, she left her elementary school and entered the sixth grade as a Daisy, graduating in 1977. “The fact that I was an African American at a predominantly white school was not the overarching factor in my life,” Yarbrough said. “At the time, I was just a student trying to get my work done.” During her enrollment, Yarbrough was an active member of the community. Among many other activities, she was involved in the Boarder Buddy program and studied abroad in Germany. “At Hockaday, learning was active,” Yarbrough said. “Learning was fun.” After graduating, Yarbrough continued to stay in touch with her classmates. At her later reunions, Yarbrough has had the opportunity to talk honestly about the dynamics of being at Hockaday in the 1970s. After open conversations with other African American alumni, Yarbrough realized that though she

Yarbrough and her senior classmates

did not experience racial discrimination firsthand at school, some classmates had different experiences. With this realization, she was able to reflect on aspects of her time at Hockaday that she couldn’t grasp as a child. “The utopia that I felt here might not have been as idyllic as I imagined,” Yarbrough said. However, Yarbrough still reflects fondly on her time at Hockaday and said she is grateful for her education and the women she met. After teaching at St. Mark’s for 19 years, Yarbough returned to Hockaday in 2017 to teach second grade. Now, in a full circle moment, Yarbrough is able to shape the future generations of Hockaday students. “As a child, I wasn’t exposed to books that felt relevant to me,” Yarbrough said. “Now, as a teacher, I get to share books about children from a variety of backgrounds.” By reading books like “The Midnight Teacher” and “Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story,” Yarbrough said she hopes to make her students more knowledgeable and accepting of other people. “We need to start understanding at age seven and eight, that people are different and all need to be respected,” she said. By the time Yarbrough graduated in 1977, there were a total of 12 African American students enrolled at Hockaday. “Having just 12 African American students did not reflect the diversity of our city,” Yarbrough said, “but it did show that there was movement afoot and change was underway.”

February 9, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

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18sports

“

I’m looking forward to joining a positive environment of dedicated girls. Meet senior Brooke Adams, p. 20

Mehendale named O’Brien finalist Senior earns student athlete-scholarship By Remy Finn | Sports Editor

Senior Leena Mehendale is honored as a finalist for the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship Award, a $30,000 scholarship presented each January to an exceptional senior student-athlete.

n early January, senior Leena Mehendale learned she had been selected as a finalist for the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship, a $30,000 grant presented each January to an exceptional senior studentathlete in North Texas. Scholastic achievement, community service, character, leadership and varsity sports participation are all taken into account in the selection of finalists. Mehendale is an All-Southwest Preparatory Conference performer in soccer, cross country, and track, and serves as a team captain in all three sports while also playing club soccer for the Sting Dallas soccer club. Mehendale is also a three-time recipient of the President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award, the president of the Hockaday Social Impact Board and the founder of run2learn, a nonprofit organization. Mehendale attended the luncheon announcing the recipient of the 36th Annual Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship. Head of Upper School Lisa Culbertson attended as one of Mehendale’s guests alongside several other mentors and coaches from her lengthy academic and sports careers. Although Mehendale was not awarded the winning scholarship at the luncheon, she earned a $2,500 scholarship for her status as a finalist alongside Tyler Nguyen, Hailey Tucker and Luke Moore. Kennesdale senior Kenaj Washington ultimately received the 36th Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship. Each school in the North Texas area nominates one student to the Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship pool, from which only five finalists are selected. From there, out of the finalists, there is one winner. At the Fort Worth Club luncheon, the finalists gathered for the announcement of the winner. “All of the other finalists had such interesting and incredible stories, and I hope to stay in touch with them in the future,” Mehendale said. “Honestly, I was not expecting there to be so many people present, but it was great to see how big of an impact this foundation makes.” As head coach of varsity soccer, Rodney Skaife knows Leena well from her four years on the varsity team and attended the luncheon. “At first when I didn’t hear Leena’s name, I felt kind of disappointed,” Skaife said. “It can be easy to compartmentalize the competition

“All of the other finalists had such interesting and incredible stories, and I hope to stay in touch with them in the future.” Leena Mehendale Davey O’Brien Scholarship Finalist down to just five people, but I had to recalculate my mindset since the scholarship selected students from all over North Texas.” Allison Campfield Taten ‘89, a previous winner of the prestigious award, said she was enormously thrilled to learn Leena was a finalist. “On top of Leena’s extraordinary talent and dedication in the classroom and in her many sports, Leena has been a genuinely caring person all the many years I have known her,” Taten said.

Mehendale poses alongside the other four finalists for the award, all from North Texas schools. Photo provided by Leena Mehendale

Senior Leena Mehendale receives her finalist award, joined by Rodney Skaife, Laura Day, Laboris Bean, Lisa Culbertson and Kim Pondrom. Photo provided by Leena Mehendale

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February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

sports

Self-defense timeline shift

AND IN

REMY’S

Curriculum to remain in place By Caroline Petrikas | Photo & Graphics Editor

Introduced to the curriculum as a graduation requirement in 2003, the self-defense course is intended to offer seniors life skills to prepare themselves for the world outside of Welch Road. However, this school year, self-defense has encountered some delays and adjustments. Originally planned to begin in the fall semester with the revamped senior health program, students only took two classes before holiday break, returning to learn the class was being temporarily paused. While the curriculum will remain the same, the timeline has been delayed, and self-defense will be a 10- to 12-day unit that takes place during health blocks in the second semester, department chair of Health & Physical Education Melinda Nuñez said. With the delayed timeline, some students were worried they would be less prepared for senior spring break, senior Eleanor Lockhart said. They also had questions about the plan to resume self-defense sessions. “We want as much transparency and communication as possible, but at the same time, understand that the administration may not be able to tell students everything,” senior Ananya Sharma said. Before the self-defense class paused, they spent their two sessions prior to holiday break discussing the body’s different panic reactions: freeze, fight or flight. Striving to better understand their body’s natural reaction, students plan to use that knowledge to better defend themselves. “I’m interested to see how I would react in a simulation because I want to train my brain to control those reflexes, to become more confident in my abilities and to de-escalate situations,” Sharma said. Students hope resuming self-defense will help prepare them for college and fill the gaps in their education needed for the

“real world.” “Though school covers a lot of the topics that we’ll need to be successful adults, it lacks inclusion of a lot of crucial life skills – like doing taxes, getting a job and networking,” Lockhart said. “Hockaday’s self-defense curriculum patches one of those holes, allowing us to feel more prepared when we leave our Dallas bubble and enter the real world.” Although self-defense teaches physical defensive skills as well, 60% of the class focuses on recognizing and avoiding situations where a person might be at risk. Students learn their voices matter, to take ownership over their bodies and to be prepared beyond physical precautions, equipping themselves to notice warning signs, Nuñez said. “My expectations are to learn to physically defend myself, but also to recognize the warning signs of a dangerous situation before I find myself engrossed in it,” Lockhart said. Self-defense teaches students how to be responsible for friends and others in future situations where anything could happen because it allows them to feel more in control, Alex Rabin ’20 said. “The most important thing I learned in self-defense was how to say no, in all situations,” Rabin said. “It’s really important to be prepared for anything that could happen in college, and it’s one of the most helpful and eye-opening classes I’ve ever taken at Hockaday.” Encouraging students to conquer their fears and speak up, self-defense does not shelter students from reality. “It’s a super good experience especially for people who are slightly reserved and have never screamed in their lives or actually had to fight someone,” Rabin said. “When you get in the self-defense room, you can’t do that. You have to be bold.”

COURT In the past few weeks, varsity soccer has ventured outside of the boundaries of the Southern Preparatory Conference to play both Keller High School and the Southlake Carroll Dragons. Both of the opposing teams are part of the 6A Conference, so the final score of the games does not count towards the SPC Conference. Hockaday also recently played for a 1-1 tie against the Ursuline Academy of Dallas, who won their 28th ever TAPPS State Championship in 2021. Varsity Coach Rodney Skaife said the increased difficulty in competition allows the team to better develop their skills for SPC games. “It heightens the level of play while also allowing the team to play in a situation that isn’t as pressurized, but is about developing as a player,” Skaife said. The varsity team played its first counter game on Jan. 11, earning an 8-0 win against Fort Worth Country Day. Captain Leena Mehendale said the team is looking forward to upcoming games during the next few weeks. “I think that playing teams from other conferences allows our team to gain experience and better our soccer-playing abilities,” Mehendale said. “When we play teams from TAPPS or any of the bigger conferences, we get to push ourselves to be better and match up against different players.”

Varsity soccer jogs back after scoring against Grapevine Faith, which is not in the SPC. Photo by Mia Salvodelli

CAPTAINS’ CORNER

BROOKE ADAMS, swimming

ANANYA SHARMA basketball

LEENA MEHENDALE, soccer

“We had a very successful season with lots of personal bests and goals reached. We have won every dual meet and we have a strong chance to come out on top.”

“The first half of our season was incredible, including a win against the notoriously difficult Dallas Thunder. We’re now entering our counter season and we are ready to dominate.”

“Soccer is having a really successful season so far. We have had over 13 different goal scorers, and each person on the team has made an incredible impact in our games so far!”

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

Photos by Mina Raj

February 9, 2022

Sophomore Anisha Sharma shoots for three in a game against Greenhill. The team has been focusing on the basics to prepare for Winter SPC.

Freezing out the competition

Junior Sarah Connolly battles a Greenhill Hornet for the ball. Varsity soccer looks for a repeat of its 2020 SPC performance.

Varsity teams prepare for Winter SPC

By Lacy Green | Staff Writer

ince the beginning of the Winter Sports season at the end of November, varsity basketball, soccer, swimming and diving have been fighting for their spots to compete for the SPC Championship. Within the past few weeks, the teams have been preparing for the long-awaited tournament during the second week in February. Basketball and soccer will compete Feb. 10 through Feb. 12. Swimming and diving will participate in the final meet Feb. 11. As of press time, varsity basketball held a 8-13-0 record after competing against both SPC teams and top 6A Texas Alliance of Accredited Private School division teams, and are currently 3-2 in SPC play. Senior Kendall Marchant, a team captain, said these games have helped bring out their strengths and better prepare for SPC. While Marchant has identified their strengths, she also recognizes the areas the team is working to improve leading up to the competition.

“We are working on better ball movement and improving our fullcourt press,” Marchant said. “With teams like ESD and Greenhill having strong outside shooters and ballhandlers, it’s important for us to figure out a way to stop easy layups and drives.” Varsity basketball coach Melanie Horn-Foster identified areas the team is focusing on during the week leading up to the tournament. “We are continuing to work on confidence, communication and keeping the energy up throughout the game,” Foster said. The team does not know its ranking going into the tournament, but they are taking steps toward a high seeding. “I am so incredibly excited for SPC, especially since we were unable to compete with South Zone last year,” Marchant said. “We hope to win North Zone, and beating Casady was a very important step in that process.” Similarly, the varsity soccer team has had a winning season while playing multiple top-level TAAPS and University Interscholastic League teams. As of press

time, they held a 13-1-2 record on the season and were 2-0 in SPC play. Senior Leena Mehendale, a team captain, said she believes the team is a strong contender for the SPC Championship because of the work they have been putting in throughout the winter season. “We’ve been competing and practicing hard all season and have strong team chemistry that helps us both on and off the field,” Mehendale said. Overall, the varsity soccer team is eager to defend its championship title from the last Winter SPC tournament in 2020. “The varsity soccer team is feeling super excited and ready for SPC tournament play,” Mehendale said. Although the varsity swimming team will not be participating in a tournament-style competition SPC weekend, they are preparing for a meet at the Arlington ISD Natatorium. They currently hold a 3-0-1 record, competing against SPC, TAAPS and UIL teams. “This season we are focusing on doing

the little things right,” varsity swimming coach Bobby Patten said. “We have a very competitive team this year and hopefully attention to the details will see every swimmer have big improvements and lifetime best swims.” At the other end of the pool, varsity divers have been preparing on their own to participate in the diving meet, also at the Arlington ISD Natatorium. So far they have participated in two meets, at Jesuit and Hockaday, both of which they have won, with senior captain Fiona Chen placing first. “We always encourage one another when going for new dives and cheer each other on afterwards,” Chen said. “I think because most girls on the team are new to diving, there is a motivation to improve and learn new dives.” Varsity diving coach Sierra Thain also noted the team’s special bond. “A big strength the team has demonstrated this year is the team camaraderie,” Thain said. “Everyone is supportive of each other and it’s great to see everybody cheering each other on through the good and bad.”

ONE TO WATCH Daisies to keep an eye on

MEET

Brooke Adams

Adams and her Dallas Mustangs teammates gather poolside after a successful meet. Photos courtesy of Mary Grace Martin

By Libby Hill | Staff Writer

Brooke Adams, a senior swimmer for both Hockaday and her club team Dallas Mustangs, has been swimming competitively for the past 15 years. She has committed to swim at the University of Texas next fall. Adams, a captain of the school team, said it has been great to get back to meets similar to those before COVID-19. “Upcoming, we have SPC, and we’re

trying to win this year,” she said. Hockaday Coach Marylyn Toledo, who swam for UT, described Adams as talented, motivated and hard-working. “It will be sad to see her go, but I can’t wait for her to keep chasing those dreams at the University of Texas — especially as a Texas swimming alum myself.” Adams said she’s excited to see what the next few years will look like for her.

“I’m looking forward to joining a positive environment of dedicated girls and getting to swim together,” she said. “That’s why I love Hockaday swimming so much — everyone is always so supportive of each other.” Adams will be teammates with Summer 2020 Olympian Lydia Jacoby, who won two medals in swimming: the gold in the 100 meter breaststroke and the silver in the 4x100 meter

medley relay. Jacoby is from Seward, Alaska, and was the first swimmer to represent the state of Alaska on a U.S. Olympic team. University of Texas women’s swimming is ranked second in the nation for the 2021-22 season and has been in the top rankings for the past few years nationally. In 2020, over 13 swimmers from the team qualified for the Olympic trials.

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21views

February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

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“

Apologies – when done correctly – should acknowledge wrongdoing, claim responsibility and work to mend damage done.”

Social media apology effectiveness, p. 22

Putting COVID safety first

Continuing mask mandate a prudent decision By Melody Tian | Staff Writer

or almost two years, masks, hand sanitizers and Zoom have become the norm at school. After going through periods of quarantine and distance learning, it seemed as if we finally settled into our lives being on campus. A few months ago, there was a decrease in COVID-19 cases throughout the United States, and COVID-19 rules and protocols at school have also become more relaxed. In November, Hockaday’s Health Department decided our school would transition to mask optional on Jan. 18. Masks have become such an integral part of my life that it seemed almost unimaginable that I might be saying goodbye to them so soon. However, as the highly contagious Omicron variant emerged and COVID-19 cases surged, Hockaday decided to hold off on going mask-optional. Hockaday’s decision to put their students’ health and safety at the forefront demonstrates the flexibility needed in this everchanging time. As the pandemic has dragged on, I have witnessed students not fully covering their noses and mouths with their masks and teachers forgetting to give reminders to those students. As a member of the Hockaday community, I think students should respect this rule as well as remind the people around

“Hockaday’s decision to put their students’ health and safety at the forefront demonstrates the flexibility needed in this ever-changing time.” Melody Tian Staff Writer them so we can not only protect ourselves but others as well. Two ways to be even more cautious during this time are getting booster shots and opting to wear N-95 masks. Booster shots have been shown to increase the antibodies in people’s systems and wearing a N-95 mask is much more effective compared with regular face masks. If COVID-19 cases continue to rise, I hope Hockaday will consider providing the distance learning option once again. Even though it adds difficulty to the already complicated process, the health of both students and faculty should be the

Junior Carmen Duque-Diaz wears a mask while studying in the library.

Photo by Melody Tian

priority in this decision. As we move forward in this difficult time period, we should mourn the deaths and losses that resulted from this dark time while also trying to focus on the good things. COVID-19 has taken countless innocent people’s lives and separated numerous families. However, if we simply choose

to discard these two years then it would be two precious years of our lives wasted. Rather, we should see it as an opportunity to spend more time with family, reflect on where we are in our lives, learn to appreciate everything we have and most importantly, become even stronger once we come out the other side.

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February 9, 2022

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

THE

STAFF STANDOFF

Can apologies on social media be effective?

We Love It, We Love It Not

Staff members debate how apologizing on line affects fans, members of public

PRO:

CON:

Lea Whitley | Castoff Editor

By Anna Gum | Editor-in-Chief

The lesson has been learned time and time again by young influencers and old icons alike (James Charles, Trisha Paytas and Morgan Wallen, to name a few): apologizing on social media is hard. We all know the feeling as media consumers: scrolling through Instagram and reading something infuriating, feeling the spur-the-moment urge to start a war against an influencer in the comments section. As an influencer, I’m sure it feels daunting to try to appease the anger from fans and haters alike with one simple video apology. The talent to make these apologies feel genuine is rare, which is partially the reason I believe social media apologies have such a bad reputation. Not all social media apologies are fake and ineffective, though. If an apology video meets my criteria, it can be used as a force for good for both influencer and consumer and can serve as a great lesson-learning tool. The most important aspect this statement must have is sincerity. If an influencer is genuinely sorry for something they’ve done, this truth will be seen, even through the phone screen. Without sincerity, all hopes for growth from the apology are flushed down the drain. Apologies also should be brief. Beating around the bush makes the sincerity factor go down immensely. If an influencer briefly states what they did wrong and why they are sorry, the consumer in me knows they at least understand in a nutshell where they went wrong. Lastly, truly effective social media apologies should include how the influencer plans to grow and change from their mistake. Will they take classes on a topic they addressed disrespectfully? How will they work toward personally fixing this mistake? An apology that entails these three elements can be effective and leave a lasting impact on everyone involved. Mistakes and subsequent apologies are an important part of life. Something about your favorite influencer doing something upsetting but owning up to their wrong is honestly comforting. It’s something I don’t believe should be taken away from anyone despite the complications of technological barriers.

James Charles: YouTuber, makeup artist and creator of a heavily controversial social media apology. Addressing accusations that he had sent inappropriate messages to underage boys, Charles took to Youtube with a video entitled “Holding Myself Accountable” in April 2021. Despite the video’s title, it – along with countless other social media apologies – lacked sincerity, accountability and resolution. Social media apologies are simply not effective. Apologies – when done correctly – should acknowledge wrongdoing, claim responsibility and work to mend damage done. In theory, social media provides an ideal platform to effectively spread such messages to a large audience. In reality, it allows celebrities and influencers to save face while avoiding their mistakes altogether. First and foremost, most apology videos lack authenticity. From tears to out-of-character language, some don’t even attempt to hide the fact that a PR team wrote and directed the entire script. This inauthenticity is disrespectful and reveals a lack of regard for the wronged party. It is one thing to make a mistake, it’s another to ignore those you hurt and refuse to work toward understanding. And while many claim to take responsibility, such as James Charles’ “Holding Myself Accountable,” their blatant grasps for sympathy actually beg to be acknowledged as the victim rather than the wrongdoer. This presents a larger problem. When people focus on handling the negative attention, they fail to understand the implications and consequences of their actions. And without an understanding of the mistake, they cannot do better in the future. Apologies mean nothing without a change in behavior. No number of click-bait crying videos can protect the kids Charles harassed. Until people worry more about bettering themselves and less about their Instagram follower count, we cannot progress from our mistakes. Instead of hiding behind a screen and the guise of a quick fix, we need to abandon social media as the primary method for apologizing and confront our actions.

Winter Break The four-day weekend coming up has the Daisies excited for a nice break from homework!

WinFo With lots of planning by Activities Board and Student Council, students are excited to take their dates to winter formal!

Valentine’s Day Feb. 14 is approaching and students are excited to hang out with significant others or friends.

Omicron More students are out of school with the new strain of COVID and we miss having everyone in class.

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February 9, 2022 | THE FOURCAST

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Message behind ‘Don’t Look Up’ Film terrifyingly mirrors the world of denial we live in STAFF STANCE

he plots of many major films revolve around scientists being ignored, and the new Netflix film “Don’t Look Up” is no exception. The film explores how the public, the media and especially politicians react when faced with threatening and inconvenient scientific facts that are threatening and inconvenient. In fact, the message from this movie directly mirrors our world today, so we should pay attention to the facts. In the film, Michigan State professor Dr. Randall Mindy, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ph.D. student Kate Dibiasky, played by Jennifer Lawrence, make a crucial discovery about the fate of the Earth and attempt to persuade the president and media to take action to save humanity. They discover a comet around 5 kilometers wide that will hit Earth in six months and wipe out all life. During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans trusted politicians over credible scientists and doctors. These Americans fell into the trap of believing politicians’ lies, which they said for their own political gain. Former President Donald Trump told the American people the virus was a hoax

while doctors were trying to save people fighting for their lives. In the film, Mindy and Dibiasky warn President Orlean, played by Meryl Streep, about the urgency of the dire situation. Orlean brushes off the warning

because she believes it is fake. She thinks the disaster will not happen because it is not 100% certain, only 99.89% certain. This mirrors politicians’ reactions to the pandemic because some did not realize or admit how dire the situation was. These politicians were shown hard evidence from scientists and doctors that the virus could kill, but some continued to say COVID-19 was a hoax and masks were not needed. At the end of the film, while Orlean is spreading lies to the public, she knows the truth about the fate of the world but chooses to save only herself. This directly correlates to how selfish politicians are today. While Trump got vaccinated, he continued to tell his supporters what they wanted to hear: vaccines do not work and COVID-19 does not threaten lives. Some may agree with these politicians and believe not getting vaccinated and not wearing a mask is the right thing because they accept the idea COVID-19 is not real or harmful. “Don’t Look Up” is a wake-up call because it parallels the false narrative created by some politicians and media outlets. We should not ignore the message of the movie, but actually listen to what is being said. We should trust medical professionals and scientists because they know what is right when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Time to make a fashionable impact GUEST WRITER: AVANI HADEN Get ready for the fashion event of the year! I’m honored to co-chair the fourth annual Hockaday Charity Fashion Show and continue the tradition of Hockaday students supporting women’s charities. The idea for a charity fashion show began in 2018, as Emma Roseman ’20 and Varsha Danda ’20 wanted a fun way to give back to the community. The first show took place at Hockaday in the spring of 2019, where they raised over $2,000 for charity. Each year has seen a new group of volunteers add their creative talents to the show. Last year, due to the pandemic, the show pivoted to an online presentation and was again an incredible success. Everyone who has participated describes it as a fun and inspirational experience. This year the show will again benefit Genesis Women’s Shelter, a nonprofit organization aiding women and children who are escaping domestic violence. This year we will also return to an in-person show and hope to continue to grow our donations. The Hockaday Charity Fashion Show is all about making charity fun and accessible for everyone. The fashion show is a glamorous way to be a hands-on

part of giving to an important cause. Students from Lower School through Upper School may sign up to be models in the show and strut their stuff — catwalking for charity. Some lucky St. Mark’s boys will be modeling, too. Everyone will have the chance to experience the thrill of the spotlight. The models will showcase carefully selected outfits on loan from the Genesis Shop, a thrift shop whose proceeds benefit the shelter, to raise awareness and promote the shop here in Dallas. Taking part in the show will be an exciting and fulfilling experience as well as a great confidencebooster for the models and a chance for personal growth. Together we will be lifting spirits for an important cause while highlighting the joys of a life of service and charity. Who wouldn’t love some glitz and style when it’s for impact and purpose. Planning the show is quite an undertaking, and we are so excited to have an amazing group of volunteers to assist us with everything from styling to marketing to social media. The fashion show website (www. HockadayFashionShow.org) has been updated this year. Through the website, we are

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Anna Gum & Maddie Stout

MANAGING EDITOR Libby Hill

JADE EDITOR

Katherine Grace Estess

WEB EDITOR Elisa Carroll

COPY EDITOR Hanna Zhang

BUSINESS MANAGER Olivia Garcia

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Lea Whitley

NEWS EDITOR Campbell Harris

ARTS & LIFE EDITORS Zoya Haq & Melody Hu

FEATURES EDITOR Juliana Blazek

SPORTS EDITOR Remy Finn

VIEWS EDITOR Jane Clark

CASTOFF EDITOR Lea Whitley

PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR Caroline Petrikas

currently accepting donations for the shelter and tickets for the show are on sale for $25. This year the show will be at the Statler Hotel March 27. We are hoping to fill all the seats with family, friends and anyone who would like to support beautiful (and handsome) models walking for a cause. Please go online to get your tickets and make a donation – all proceeds raised directly benefit the shelter. We hope you will join us for this sensational, fun and powerful experience.

Scan to see the Fashion Show Website:

ASSISTANT SECTION EDITORS AND STAFF WRITERS Lacy Green Ambyr Baker Hanna Asmerom Kailey Bergstedt Caroline Bush Aadya Kuruvali Melody Tian Bennett Trubey Harper Harris

FACULTY ADVISER Julia Copeland

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 1,500 and is printed by Greater Dallas 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 Stance on the views page reflects the position of The Fourcast staff, but not necessarily the position of the 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. Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and should be addressed to the editor-in-chief. Only signed pieces will be published. Corrections and clarifications from previous issues will be found as designated in the news section. Any questions or concerns should be addressed to Editors-in-Chief Anna Gum at agum22@hockaday. org or Maddie Stout at mstout22@hockaday.org.

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February 9, 2022

Art by Sarah Roberts

By Lea Whitley | Castofff Editor

castoff

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