The Fourcast, May 2023

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World class

Debaters ea r n recog nition at state, nationa l, inter nationa l levels

By Aadya Kuruvalli | JADE Editor

Throughout the year, members of the debate team have been competing in tournaments and bringing home top awards. Debaters spend their weekends dressed in business attire, speaking in front of judges on topics of worldwide concern, often competing late into Friday night and continuing early Saturday morning.

Juniors Sanika Agarwalla, Sidney Murray, Ariana Wang, Diya Hegde, Evita Nino, and Aarnah Kurella recently won second place at the prestigious International Public Policy Forum, a competition sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University. Agarwalla took home the top speaker award for her performance in the final round.

IPPF involved multiple rounds of debate beginning as early as October. However, instead of traditional oral debate, IPPF required debate teams to submit written resolutions on a specific policy topic in the “round of 64.” IPPF is the only global tournament requiring both written and oral debates.

“This year, the resolution was, ‘Is NATO an effective model for international cooperation?’” Agarwalla said. “The judges –who include past champions, journalists, sociologists, politicians – will read the essays and choose 64 qualifying essays out of all of them. From then on, half the teams move forward per round.”

Written debates continue throughout the tournament until the quarterfinals. The final eight teams then go to New York City to compete in the finals.

Hockaday was one of those teams, vying for the top prize of $10,000. Although they fell just short of the grand prize, they brought home $3,500 for the debate program. In addition, Agarwalla was awarded the inaugural John E. Sexton award for most outstanding speaker, as chosen by the judges’ panel.

“This was the first year they were

awarding that – it was in honor of Dr. Sexton, who was one of the co-founders of the International Public Policy Forum,” Agarwalla said. “This award was more than just about whose arguments had better evidence because I think the speaker award shows a more human part of debate, which is how well you can connect with the judges.” The judges for the forum arrived from all over the globe; the judges’ panels for Hockaday featured the owner of the Brewer Foundation, a Slovenian debate coach and Sexton, president of NYU’s law school.

“Aside from debating, my proudest moment was honestly just being in the same room as so many people who I’ve looked up to for so long,” Agarwalla said.

The competition also helped the team connect with people from around the world. Teams from across the globe competed in all rounds of the competition.

“Relationship building was more fun because we got to meet people from diverse backgrounds,” Agarwalla said. “I had a very long quasi-debate with someone from UWC Singapore, and the fact that we had such varying opinions on topics was really interesting because it added nuance to our conversation.”

Earlier in the spring, seniors Eesha Neunaha, Mili Pathak, Sherry Long, Meera Thamaran, and Ayla Sumer placed second at the state debate tournament. They faced highly competitive teams from both public and private schools throughout Texas.

To get to the state level, debate teams have to collect a certain number of points by placing in

After

other tournaments earlier in the year. In the fall season, debaters prepared for weeks ahead of their tournaments. Preparations began with the assignment of the prompts a week or two in advance. Debaters wrote their resolutions to debate at the tournaments, which typically began on Fridays. Later rounds would be held on Saturdays, when impromptu speeches and debates would be held until a winner had been selected.

The minimum number of points to qualify for state was 10. Besides the seniors, a team consisting of juniors Agarwalla, Aarnah Kurella, Evita Nino and Diya Hegde and sophomore Dithyae Devesh also qualified. The latter team made it to the top 16 at the tournament.

Throughout the year, debaters worked to qualify for higher

rounds. Ninth grade novice debaters attended the Bluebonnet World Schools tournament in Spring, Texas, with one team finishing in quarterfinals and the other in semifinals. The Bluebonnet tournament featured schools from throughout the United States as well as teams from Mexico, Canada and Italy. In December, freshmen competing at the Carroll Winter Classic advanced to the semifinals.

In addition to attending tournaments across the nation, Hockaday also hosts its own invitational debate competition. This fall marked the 45th annual Ed Long Invitational tournament, during which the school hosted hundreds of debaters for a weekend tournament.

Hockaday debaters set up and run this tournament themselves.

“Aside from debating, my proudest moment was honestly just being in the same room as so many people who I’ve looked up to for so long."

Sanika Agarwalla, Form III

Constance Melrose ’72, who debated at Hockaday, meets with Evita Nino, Ariana Wang, Diya Hegde, Sanika Agarwallla, Sydney Murray and Aarnah Kurella at the Harold Pratt House, the site of the IPPF tournament in New York.

the final round, the debaters gather for a picture with Thomas Ku, the team’s NYU ambassador and president of the university’s debate team, and Hockaday debate coach Dr. Chuck Walts. The team took second place in the IPPF global tournament.

Abortion pill ruling

Final decision still up to courts

By Aadhya Yanamadala and Caroline Ballotta | Staff Writer

The Supreme Court blocked restrictions on mifepristone on April 21. Mifepristone is the first pill taken in a two-pill treatment regimen for medicated abortions; a lawsuit brought by anti-abortion groups targeting the drug proceeds.

In an unsigned order, the justices granted an emergency request by the Biden administration to prevent a lower court ruling targeting the Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of the pill. As a result of the Supreme Court’s order, access to the drug will remain unchanged for now.

The lawsuit brought by the Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom appeared before Texas federal judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who is known for his anti-abortion views. He sided with the plaintiffs, issuing a preliminary injunction on April 7 suspending the FDA’s 23-year-old approval of mifepristone.

The Supreme Court has fully stayed Judge Kacsmaryk’s order, which means his ruling is temporarily blocked. The case was set to return to the fifth circuit May 17, and the ruling could set a precedent for how courts weigh medical evidence and scientific expertise in future FDA drug approvals.

Young Democrats President Diya Hegde said when she was happy when the Supreme Court stayed Kacsmaryk’s decision.

“But then I realized maintaining access to abortion pills should be the bare minimum for reproductive health,” she said. “It is somewhat upsetting to see how frequently access is challenged in the first place.”

Democratic politicians have strongly criticized Judge Kacsmaryk for his decision to block the drug from the market. Democrats and abortion-rights leaders have criticized Republicans supporting the decision, citing abortion rights as a crucial factor in recent elections.

Republican officials have largely avoided commenting on the ruling. However, Mississippi Republican Senator Cindy Hyde Smith tweeted that the ruling was “a victory for pregnant mothers & their unborn children.”

Hegde cited Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel about the oppression of women when responding to the ruling.

“Whenever cases like this come to the Supreme Court, I hold my breath and hope that our society will never reach the point of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’” she said.

The Kacsmaryk decision essentially turned back the clock seven years, before the FDA added a series of guidelines in 2016 that eased access to the pill.

Film Festival

Cultural festival

The restrictions would require mifepristone to be prescribed and dispensed only by a doctor and picked up in-person by the patient, who would have to visit the doctor three times during the medicated abortion process. Those rules would have effectively prevented patients from receiving mifepristone by mail, which has made the medication accessible for many patients.

The Supreme Court ruling has little impact in states where abortion is already banned. Neither mifepristone or misoprostol (the second pill typically taken in the two-drug regimen) has been legally available in these states since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year.

Libby Taylor ’96, a women’s rights advocate, argued the FDA was created was to evaluate drugs independently of political concerns.

“If the FDA starts being challenged, it starts to delegitimize people’s confidence in it overall,” Taylor said.

Young Republicans member Katelyn Hanna said a Supreme Court ruling on abortion pills could set a dangerous precedent.

“I’m really conservative, but when it comes to abortion, I believe that a woman’s body is their choice and they should be able to do what they want with their bodies,” Hanna said. “That extends to abortions by pill.”

Although reproductive rights groups celebrated the Supreme Court’s action to temporarily block the lower court ruling, they also noted it has no bearing on how the case will ultimately be decided.

“Who’s to say that there wouldn’t be other drugs that people would file suits against if this case worked,” Taylor said.

Students, faculty and parents came together April 7 to celebrate the International

an annual event representing the diversity of cultures of the school community.

Drama performance

College Fair

The Annual Film Festival, hosted on April 17 at Hockaday, featured work from 11 Advanced and three Intermediate Film students. The night included food, drinks and a viewing of each student’s work.

Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy Students and faculty decked out in their Chiefs gear while posing in front of the famous Lombardi Trophy. The Hunt family arranged to display the trophy April 25 in Hicks meeting hall.

Students from across Dallas packed into Penson Gym April 16 for a College Counseling event featuring representatives from over 150 colleges and universities.

Jessica Moran, a Form I drama student, performs in the play “Lend Me a Tenor,” a joint production with St. Mark’s which played April 28-30. Pulling off a full house performance with standing ovations.

Form I student Finley Starr poses with her solo statement piece, her red clay ceramic bowl, at the last Upper School Ceramics Exhibit of the year.

Festival,

Photo courtesy of Naviya Reddy

Photo courtesy of Emmy Roberts

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Jones

Photo courtesy of Anya Aggarwal

Photo courtesy of Anya Aggarwal

Photo courtesy of Abi Poe

Photo courtesy of Diya Hedge

Drag queen decisions

Two new Texas bills restrict drag performances

By Alexandra Dassopoulos | Arts and Life Editor

Among the 417 antiLGBTQ bills proposed in 2023, and reported by the American Civil Liberties Union, are Texas’ SB12 and SB1601, which seek to restrict drag queen performances. Despite supporters’ beliefs that this legislation protects children, critics have made claims regarding the vagueness of SB12 and the constitutionality of both bills.

Originally filed by Republican State Senator Bryan Hughes, SB12 passed the Senate by a 20-11 vote on April 5. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick made SB12 a priority for this legislature so Texas children won’t be “scarred for life by harmful drag performances.”

Under the bill, Texas businesses or individuals holding “sexually oriented performances” with minors present will be fined. Without explicitly using the word “drag shows”, “sexually oriented performances” refer to “visual performances” with someone nude or “exhibiting” as the opposite gender through “clothing, makeup, or other similar physical markers,” “sing[ing], lip sync[ing], danc[ing], or otherwise perform[ing] before an audience.” To be prosecuted, the performance must also “appeal to the prurient interest in sex.”

The bill reflects lawmakers’ intention to protect minors from explicit content. However, opponents of the bill have expressed that the wording seems vague, especially the “prurient interest in sex” clause. Although The Supreme Court has defined this terminology, Texas might have a wide interpretation for what the bill bans and what the Supreme Court has deemed as unwholesome sexual language or performance.

The Texas Tribune reported that recently, anti-drag sentiment has led many drag performances to be canceled, even if not sexual or intended for children. Therefore, not only might the possibly broad interpretation of SB12 affect drag queens’ ability to have performances, but it also discourages those who fear they might be wrongfully accused of breaking the law.

Form II student Georgia Fuller, a member of Hockaday’s Queer Student Union, believes that SB12’s wording endangers LGBTQ+ selfexpression. She believes the bill furthers stereotypes that queer people are violent or harmful to society. Fuller, therefore, feels that drag performers shouldn’t be explicitly targeted in bills like SB12, whose ultimate goal is to shield children from inappropriate content.

“I do agree that minors should not be exposed to very explicit,

sexual content – that can be unsafe,” Fuller said. “However, drag is not inherently sexual in itself, and the problem arises when we make it a sexual concept and when we make these laws that create stigma and fear surrounding it. I think the idea of drag and performing as the opposite gender should be taken out of the bill, if their aim is really to just protect children.”

In addition to SB12, Sen. Hughes also authored SB1601. This bill bans Drag Queen Story Hours at public libraries, which seek to encourage literacy among children. According to the Texas Tribune, Sen. Hughes didn’t clearly explain how this bill protects kids– but when violated, SB1601 denies offending public libraries state funding for the following year, a critical portion of their budget. Some Democratic legislators even proposed to only prohibit sexually explicit readings, but this attempt was unsuccessful.

As reported by the LA Times, Drag Queen Story Times can feature regular children’s tales or books with LGBTQ+ themes – meaning that both the presentation and content of drag queen readings could be reasons supporters have voted for this bill.

In regards to these readings, there has been an increasing political divide about the dissemination of LGBTQ+ culture to children. The Texas Tribune explained that some like Lieutenant Patrick believe this is “indoctrination.” Law in American Society and Government teacher Scott Bowman noted this controversy and how it connects to SB1601.

“There are people who argue that it’s critically important that

Georgia Fuller Form II

this [content] be included in public libraries, so kids can see examples of the whole spectrum of gender and sexual orientation,” Bowman said. “But it’s a point of great societal debate at the moment.”

Fuller said there is danger in not introducing kids to this kind of diversity.

“I think that there is definitely a fear of the unknown,” Fuller said. “So when we shun these performances, and we say, ‘Children shouldn’t be exposed to them,’ it creates this stigma and this fear and this dislike for the drag lifestyle, a lifestyle that is completely valid and acceptable.”

With such implications, Fuller feels that these readings allow children to associate books with queer people in a beneficial way.

“I think that the people that read us stories are also a really big part of the way that we internalize them,” Fuller said. “I feel like any child will remember what their favorite book was, and which teacher read it to them in school. If drag queens are reading stories to little kids, those kids may begin to associate certain stories with diverse voices and backgrounds, which creates a positive connection.”

Fuller believes that, in addition to these connections, Drag Queen

Story Times allow children to better understand the LGBTQ+ community. Whether reading queer themed stories or not, Fuller thinks that simply being in drag exposes children to a different perspective, while also breaking down negative stereotypes.

“I think that when we have queer people reading to children and sharing their voice, kids can sympathize with other walks of life,” Fuller said. “Even if they’re not reading stories about the queer community, drag queens are still allowing kids to hear stories from those who express themselves differently, which can dismantle harmful stereotypes, like that drag queens are dangerous or predatory.”

On top of all of this opposition, reporters like Jon Stewart, allies and drag performers have argued that gun violence is more harmful to children than drag queens. Confirming this frustration, a 2023 CNN article revealed that guns are in fact the leading cause of death for kids in the U.S.

With ongoing debates in Austin, the futures of SB12 and SB1601 have not been secured. In order to become law, they must still pass in the Texas House of Representatives and receive Governor Abbott’s signature. As we anticipate the outcome of these bills, members of QSU hope to help those struggling.

“We’re working on trying to provide safe spaces and support for people in these hard times,” Fuller said. “It’s been very hard for even us here at Hockaday to know that there’s legislation being passed that is harming our community, restricting us and silencing our voices. As a community, we have to find ways to stand up for ourselves and show who we really are.”

Graphic by Emma Lin

“ We’re working on trying to provide safe spaces and support for people in these hard times.”

Inspiring action for Clean Air Month

EPA brings awareness to air pollution

By Caroline Bush | Editor-in-Chief

Poor air quality is an issue that is quickly worsening, but organizations are working to bring awareness to the problem. Each year, the American Lung Association promotes the observation of Clean Air Month.

The initiative began in 1972 as a week-long event, but, in 1994, it was designated for the month of May in 1994, according to National Today. The goal of Clean Air Month is to educate the public about the effects of air pollutants and why clean air is important to leading a healthy life.

The month is also a celebration of the improvements that have been made since its founding 40 years ago. The Clean Air Act was initiated by the observance of Clean Air Month in 1970, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued multiple regulations to reduce air toxic emissions since 1990, according to its website.

As part of Clean Air Month, the EPA partners with multiple federal and local organizations to celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week, which is May 1-5. The week includes different topics each year,

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but the 2023 theme is “Working Together for Clean Air.”

According to the EPA, the goal of Air Quality Awareness Week is to increase awareness surrounding air quality and encourage action among citizens to incorporate air quality knowledge into their daily lives. The EPA also provides information for people to learn about the causes of poor air quality and how to respond to different environments with poor air quality.

All Green Club president senior Charlie Hamilton said while air pollutants are a big issue, it’s important to remember big companies and big factories are the main contributors to the issue rather than the individual person.

“Being more conscious of what you consume and what you support in terms of brands and politicians and the laws that they’re passing for air quality has a much bigger impact than something like how far you drive your car every day,” Hamilton said. “Instead of feeling guilt or blaming yourself for these problems, just focus on what you can do.”

Graphic by Ava Shipp

Springing into choreography

Hockadancers choreograph end-of-the-year performances

By Sophia Lou | Staff Writer

Hockadance took to the stage April 25 for the annual Spring Concert. As per tradition for the Dance Department’s final performance at the end of each year, students led the entire production. The dancers themselves selected songs, dance styles, choreography and costumes.

Following the performance of the “Harlequinade,” students immediately jumped into choreographing their own dances, combining their creativity with the techniques they had learned over the course of the year. They had two and a half months to finish their pieces, perfecting the details right up until the moment they stepped on stage.

Dancers used feedback from the judges at ISAS to work through their pieces before bringing the final product to the Nasher-Haemisegger Theater.

“We watched our video from ISAS, and we were able to take all that material and work it into continuing to polish those particular pieces,” dance instructor Christie Sullivan said.

The complex process of choreography follows the order of choosing a song, coming up with the movements, picking a costume and then teaching the piece to the rest of the class. Students had the option of choreographing a dance themselves or working in a group.

Senior Maddy Grace Sporl performed her fourth spring concert this year, growing from her past concerts to create one final piece.

“Once you get out of your head, it’s an easy transition to go from

dancer to choreographer,” Sporl said. “Freshman year, I was in my head and I was really timid about the moves I did, about the songs I chose. I wanted to do something that was very by-the-book. As a choreographer you realize that you have creative freedom and you can do whatever you want.”

Dance teachers Alex Farrior and Sullivan are Hockadance alums. Through the spring concerts and choreographing for the ensemble during her time in Upper School, Farrior learned about building leadership and exercising her creativity, which fed into her career as a professional dancer. The opportunity for choreography the spring concerts provided was a highlight of her dance experience.

“Even though I don’t remember every detail, I remember the pride, the camaraderie and all the good energy that I felt being in this room [the dance balcony], and it really fed my passion for dance,” Farrior said.

Sporl said she felt empowered through her choreography experience, as she initially believed she could never choreograph a dance so easily.

“You can do a lot more than what you think you’re capable of,” she said. “And then you start, and you cross that bridge and you all of a sudden start flowing with choreography.”

She said the experience not only made her feel more confident as a dancer, but also as a person. The experience made her excited for college, she said, because the skills she learned leading a crowd, performing under pressure and completing a

Workshop

given assignment can be applied to her academic life, as well. Both instructors enjoyed watching the dancers during the concert as they showcased their creativity in the performance.

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“We’re really proud of them,” Farrior said. “The girls were proud of themselves, I could tell. They walked away with their heads held high for sure.”

Kate Stevenson ’23 Dallas

Junior Reese Dondero celebrates track and field’s SPC win alongside teammates.

Reese Dondero ’24 Fort Worth Country Day

Freshman Lily Roberts enjoys the class of 2026 Mother-Daughter Tea.

Lily Roberts ’26 Talley Dunn Art Gallery

Senior Kate Stevenson celebrates at senior Maddy Grace Sporl’s grad party with friends and flowers downtown.

Dance Lab performs a contemporary piece choreographed by members of the class.

Photos by Aadya Kuruvalli

II performs a lyrical dance choreographed by their class members.

One last splash Class of 2023 celebrates Senior Splash Day with water toys, friends

By Larkin Cloustin & Cece Johnson | Staff Writers

Laughter and the occasional squeal echoed across the ampitheater May 12 as seniors blast each other with water guns, carrying on the tradition of Senior Splash Day.

Splash Day, held annually in May, celebrates seniors’ college acceptances and concludes their school year.

The day offered a plethora of inflatables, from kiddie pools to bounce houses to 20-foot tall water slides. Seniors were encouraged to bring their own water guns or use the ones provided to douse their friends.

“The best part of Splash Day was spraying my underclassman friends and dumping a pool of water on Mrs. Jones,” senior Maddy Grace Sporl said.

The seniors decorated their “Hocka-skirts” with the colors, mascots and chants of the schools they plan to attend in the fall.

“I wanted to have a skirt that was personalized to me and showed my school spirit,” Jessica Aftergut said. “I planned it out in advance with my college colors and spent a few days putting it all together. It was so much fun!”

The day allowed seniors to celebrate their classmates and years spent at Hockaday while welcoming their futures away from the meadow.

Senior Emma Estrada dumps a water-filled kiddie pool on senior advisor Dr. Jeff Hulbert.

Senior Alexa Welch and sophomore Rayna Li share a wet embrace.

Senior Maddy Grace Sporl shoots a water gun.

Senior Jessica Aftergut reps her Syracuse skirt.

Senior Jane Clark smiles and pose with her friends and Dr. Tiffani Kocsis for a selfie to commemorate the moment.

Photos by Larkin Clouston

Enjoying English class

Students reflect on books they read this year

By Aadya Kuruvalli | Jade Editor

This year, Hockaday students read a multitude of books in their English classes. In addition, many changes were made to the English curricula to include books from all reaches of the world

Freshman Sara Gupta read works from the ninth grade curriculum such as Homer’s epic “The Odyssey” and Shakespeare’s play “Much Ado About Nothing.”

“My favorite was definitely ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’” Gupta said. “Acting it out made it an amazing experience. But my least favorite was probably ‘The Odyssey’ – even though it’s a classic, it seemed like it dragged on forever.”

Freshmen weren’t the only class to read Shakespeare. The sophomore curriculum also included “Much Ado About Nothing,” along with this year’s newest addition, Emily St. John Mandel’s “Station Eleven.”

“I really enjoyed reading ‘Station Eleven’ in comparison to most of the other books,” sophomore Dithyae Devesh said. “The plot was very fastpaced and it was super engaging and sometimes relatable.”

The 11th grade English curriculum focuses on American

POP CULTURE WITH HARPER

Editor-in-Chief Harper Harris is a pop culture fanatic, and she’s here to address what’s trending.

I heard my phone buzz only days after sitting in my floor seats at the Eras Tour. It was a news alert from People Magazine saying Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn had broken up after six years of dating. It is safe to say I was beyond shocked.

As a self-proclaimed Swiftie, I was shocked to see the news. I read the article in full, carefully analyzed the words and tried to make sense of what was happening. According to People, the pair broke up a few weeks prior to the leak, and the news came from a “source close to the couple.”

Since dropping her album “Reputation,” Swift has written countless songs about Alwyn – all pop love ballads. Besides being Swift’s boyfriend and muse, Alwyn also collaborated with Swift on her three most recent albums by writing songs under a pseudonym.

literature since the earliest colonial settlements. Because of this, juniors read a wide variety of books, from “The Scarlet Letter,” set in the 17th century, to “Interior Chinatown,” set in the current day.

“My favorite book this year was probably ‘A Mercy,’” junior LayoIsaacs Sodeye said. “But my least favorite was ‘The Great Gatsby.’ I just didn’t find any of the characters likable.”

5Another Harlow Hit

Rising pop star produces third album

stars

By Elizabeth Truelove | Features Editor

Following the massive success of his second studio album “Come Home the Kids Miss You,”

American rapper Jack Harlow released his third on April 28, naming it “Jackman.,” Harlow’s real first name.

To announce the release to his fans, Harlow maintained his blasé attitude by simply tweeting, “Jackman. My new album. Out this Friday – 4/28,” and revealed the album cover showing him in an alley in his hometown, Louisville, Ky.

While I enjoyed Harlow’s past albums, “Jackman.” has taken No.1 on my list due to the more hip-hop style throughout all 10 songs.

Continuing his lyrical theme of aspirations for his career, Harlow speaks about his rise to fame from childhood in the songs “They Don’t Love It” and “Ambitious.”

Maturing since releasing his earlier music at age 15, Harlow, now 25, approaches heavier topics from throughout his life with a new,

clearer mentality in comparison to his “party” album, “Come Home the Kids Miss You.”

My favorite song is “They Don’t Love It” due to its upbeat rhythm and how it perfectly displays Harlow’s assured confidence in what his future career holds. In the first

verse, Harlow even shares his goal of matching the fame of Eminem as he raps, “strivin’ to be the most dominant ever. The hardest white boy since the one who rapped about vomit and sweaters.”

On the other hand, my least favorite song on the album is “No Enhancers.” I, along with his other fans, already know Harlow can succeed in any catchy, slowertempo song, as seen in the fan favorite “First Class” on his last album. While the 10-song album length is perfect, I do not think “No Enhancers” is a necessary addition.

Lastly, even though I enjoy the hits he has produced in collaboration with artists like Chris Brown and Lil Nas X, I hope Harlow continues to produce more hip-hop style music like “Jackman.” on his own to make good on his aspirations.

In the meantime, I am awaiting his next iconic tour and will be ready to rap every lyric of his new album.

This is not the first time there have been rumors about Swift and Alwyn. Lots of tabloids tend to misconstrue their relationship with rumors about marriage, pregnancy or engagements. So, many fans were reluctant to believe the news about the split.

Some started to snoop around for evidence of the split. One of the biggest things found was that Swift changed her Eras tour setlist. During her first night in Arlington, she sang “the 1,” a song about lost love, instead of “invisible string,” a sweet song about soulmates. Fans also noticed Alwyn has not been at any of the shows, but some fans think since he is filming for an upcoming project, he is unable to attend the shows.

Swift recently deleted a video from her Instagram in which she talks about her relationship, making fans speculate the breakup is real. Also, Swift’s friends, including the Haim sisters, Ryan Reynolds and Gigi Hadid, have all unfollowed Alwyn on Instagram.

While Swift rarely posted photos or pictures of herself and Alwyn, she has made sure to erase any trace of their relationship from her social media platforms. I doubt she will comment on the split due to how private she has been about the relationship, but I think she has made it clear they are over.

I was reluctant to believe the relationship was over, but as time has passed, I am starting to believe the rumors. I hope Swift heals and continues to find happiness outside of her relationship.

Photos by Eva Rinaldi via Flickr and ColliderVideo via Wikamedia Commons

This year, freshmen read “The Odyssey,” sophomores read “Station Eleven” and juniors read “The Great Gatsby.”

Coffeehouse offers s’more fun

Shipp hosts first coffeehouse

By Lang Cooper and Leyah Phillip | Staff Writers

Welcoming students to summer camp, the blackbox was decked out with campfires, coolers and lanterns to create the perfect environment for the Fine Arts Board’s final event of the year: Camp Coffeehouse.

Students from St. Mark’s joined in to perform at Camp Coffeehouse, with talents ranging from singing and dancing to improv. Freshman Jessie Moran joined Hockaday-St. Mark’s improv this year and performs with her group every Coffeehouse.

“When performing with improv, it’s like you have to let your nerves go and just have fun with it,” Moran said.

Moran has also performed at previous events by singing some of her own music.

“Coffeehouses in general are just so fun, and there is really no judgment,” Moran said. “You just get up and you do your best and you have fun and it’s great.”

Sophomore Dithyae Devesh has been attending Coffeehouses since her freshman year. After watching her friends’ performances, she was inspired to showcase some of her talents and decided to play “Careless Whisper” on her saxophone.

At the latest event, the Fine Arts Board planned activities such as Tug-of-War and even the

as fine arts board chair

opportunity to pie a teacher, which students made sure not to miss.

“My favorite thing about Coffeehouse is watching my friends perform and I’m most excited to see Ms. Sullivan get pied,” Devesh said.

The newly-elected board chair, junior Ava Shipp, said she enjoyed organizing the event, as well as showcasing her talents alongside fellow students. Coffeehouses offer a way for students to share what they love, Shipp said.

“The mission statement for the Fine Arts board is about connecting arts with the students,” she said.

Shipp served as a Fine Arts Board representative her junior year. She said she has more responsibilities as she adjusts to becoming the board chair.

“As a representative, there’s more contributing to the process,” Shipp said, “while as the chair, you organize what all the representatives are doing and divide up all the jobs and activities.”

Shipp deemed the latest coffeehouse a success.

“It’s hard to find places to showcase more contemporary forms of art during school,” she said, “and Coffeehouse is a great opportunity to connect with other people, and for me, also to perform and share what I love.”

A digital creative outlet

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT LIN’S ART

Sophomore Emma Lin explores emotion in digital art

By Melinda Hu | Staff Writer

Watching her friends draw their favorite cartoon animals, 5-yearold Emma Lin was inspired to do the same. She then started taking art lessons and began delving into her artistry. Sophomore Lin has been drawing for 10 years now, and there are no signs of her stopping. Throughout her experience, she has explored different ways to draw, from watercolor all the way to digital art.

“I used to do a lot of watercolor or acrylic paintings, but during Covid, I kind of stopped,” Lin said.

Before COVID-19, Lin started to get into digital art after receiving her Middle School laptop. She mainly focuses on digital art now. Lin’s current art style emphasizes faceless human anatomy and outfits with pockets and many different layers. When drawing characters, Lin prefers a colorful fantasy look, but when she draws people’s outfits,

she likes to keep the color palette to mostly blacks, grays and whites.

To create a piece, Lin starts by sketching for one to two hours, making sure to perfect the sketch, and then she moves on to the coloring part. For Lin, coloring takes anywhere from three to six hours. To her, it is the hardest part because this is where she tries to find the style of the piece. While creating pieces of art, Lin finds the process both relaxing and stressful.

“I feel kind of relaxed, but also pressured because I want it to look good because you don’t want to spend time doing something that you feel like you’re going to hate in the end,” Lin said.

Lin thinks the most important aspect of art is that it can’t be replicated or redone. She feels that no piece of art can be exactly copied from the original piece. She thinks that art is important because of its

emotional value and what it means to people. Lin realizes that art is more than just something to look at, it holds a story and emotions.

“Art is creative and emotional,” Lin said. “When you look at an AI-generated piece compared to a piece an artist actually finished, the one the artist actually finishes is more deep but with the AI art; it’s more empty.”

Lin enjoys being an artist as she has the freedom to choose what she wants to draw and can take inspiration from other people’s art styles. She appreciates that art can be casual and whatever she wants it to be. Most of Lin’s inspiration comes from either Pinterest or watching other artists create pieces that make them happy.

“My motivation to draw comes from watching others create,” Lin said.

Photos by Ava Shipp and Tiger Yang

Junior Ava Shipp performs her cover of “Blown Away” by Carrie Underwood.

St. Mark’s juniors Winston Miller and Miller Wendorf perform “Agony” from “Into the Woods.”

MY NEW GO-TO: SALAD AND GO

An in-depth review of an under-rated restaurant

By Cata Littrell | Staff Writer

IIn business since 2013, Salad and Go has rapidly expanded to 83 locations nationwide. They became known for their affordable prices, fresh food and fast service.

I recently grabbed lunch at the Coit Road location and was amazed by the service. I was welcomed by an employee with a friendly voice and made polite chit-chat with my server while I waited for my salad. I thought the outside of the restaurant was a tad bland, but do not let it fool you. The salads speak for themselves.

I ordered the Thai Salad with Thai Peanut Dressing and roasted chicken and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the ingredients. The chicken was cooked perfectly, and I enjoyed the freshness of the carrots and bell peppers. But weirdly enough, one of the best parts of the salad wasn’t even the salad, but the container. With most salad places, salads are stuffed into small containers with dressing on the side, leaving minimal room to properly mix your desired amount of dressing. This salad container was huge. While there was

enough salad to last me a long time, there was plenty of empty space to shake up my salad with the dressing. Say goodbye to dry forkfuls or bits of lettuce drenched in dressing.

Though other places like SweetGreen and Snappy Salads offer a great selection of salads, such popular places come with longer wait times and a bigger dent in your wallet. While still offering the same freshness, Salad and Go is only half the price and a quarter of the wait. But not only is it more convenient, I find that the employees at Salad and Go are nicer than those I have encountered at other restaurants. The only negative is that Salad and Go does not offer the same aesthetic yet comforting atmosphere as SweetGreen and Flower Child.

Salad and Go brings healthy and affordable food to fast service, solving the issue of restaurants with good-for-you food taking

longer than unhealthy options such as McDonalds or Whataburger. The restaurant offers a wide selection of salads, soups, wraps and breakfast burritos. With over nine locations in the Dallas area alone, Salad and Go is the perfect place for a grab-and-go salad.

FUN AND GAMES: MAY EDITION

Photo by Cata Littrell

REVIEWS

Subtract and the Mathematics Tour

Ed Sheeran releases new album and kicks off tour in Dallas

By Shifa Irfan| Staff Writer

Ed Sheeran released his album “Subtract” on May 5, the day before the Dallas concert that started off his Mathematics tour. The album is the fifth in a series including “Plus,” “Divide,” “Equals,” and “Multiply.”

While following his usual style of guitar tracks and piano in the background, the new album takes on a more somber tone. During his May 6 concert at AT&T Stadium, Sheeran explained the album was his emotional response to the death of a close friend and to his own copyright trials.

The album includes 14 new tracks, all following a theme of remembrance and loss. Sheeran battled depression after his friend’s death and used this album to describe his feelings and navigate through the lows he had been going through. He also used the music he created in this album to respond to the plagiarism case he had been hit with at the same time.

Because the artist’s music usually consists of upbeat piano and violin tracks, it’s very clear how different this album style is for him. However,

the album is full of new ideas and effectively showcases Sheeran’s brilliant lyricism. Song like “Eyes Closed” and “Life Goes On” are enough to get you “in your feels.”

At the concert, he played three of his songs from “Subtract” — “Eyes Closed,” “Boat,” and “Salt Water.” Each one had the audience singing along in tears. I even shed some myself.

Though “Subtract” doesn’t follow his usual genre of upbeat music, it is thought provoking, and the songs are worthy of a place on your “crying in the shower” playlist. If you’re a Sheeran fan, I absolutely

recommend you give it a listen. For his opening acts, Sheeran invited Dylan, an artist from back home, and Khalid, a wellknown American artist. Both did incredibly well with their performances, and my friends and I loved hearing their music. Dylan’s electric guitar and Khalid’s smooth voice almost had the crowd cheering for more.

Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour set list consists of music from the five albums in the series and even one song from his “No.6 Collaborations Project” that is not included in the set of five, “Blow.” The crowd jumped and danced for “Galway Girl” and swayed

hand-in-hand for “Perfect,” a song that definitely garnered a few proposals from audience members to their partners.

Sheeran also played classics like “Castle on the Hill” and “Don’t/No Diggity” and even played collaboration songs such as “Own it” and “I Don’t Care.” Although Khalid could not come out to sing “Beautiful People” with the artist, a sad point that had to do with the recent plagiarism case, Sheeran still performed the song incredibly well, and Khalid is set to sing the song with him in the later tour dates.

Sheeran had the audience switching from screaming and jumping to dancing along with him, as he seamlessly transitioned from one song to the next, making the standing seats my friends and I bought completely worth it. Although I have never been the biggest Sheeran fan, I enjoyed the concert and knew enough songs to sing along.

I definitely recommend attending one of Sheeran’s concerts during the Mathematics Tour, but I also suggest making sure to listen to the set list for the best possible concert experience.

Guardians grapple with mad scientist

stars

Triology capper achieves grand but messy finale

By Anya Aggarwal | Staff Writer

The interstellar gang is back in the third production of the Marvel trilogy, starring Chris Pratt (Peter Quill), Zoe Saldaña (Gamora) and Bradley Cooper as Rocket the Racoon. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” achieves what it set out to do. It provides a stirring and heartwarming finale, but with dissociated themes that make it feel like too many ingredients in an overambitious mix.

Arriving six years after the latest installment, this edition begins in heartbreak with a drunken Quill still mourning the loss of his beloved Gamora who was killed by Thanos in the previous “Avengers Infinity War.” Not long afterward, Quill is reunited with Gamora. However, she appears as an alternate version, a new Gamora who comes back because of the allpowerful infinity stones, with no memory of Quill.

Quill can’t mourn very long though, because the Guardians must rally to save their friend Rocket, who’s dying because of abusive experiments performed by a mad scientist. Rocket’s story, which involves numerous other animal characters, forms the heart of the film. This movie really succeeded in its efforts to combine pathos, humor, impassioned action and a fantastic ‘70s-era soundtrack.

The villain, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), wants to create a

new, more evolved utopian society of hybrid human-animal species. As with most Marvel villains, he doesn’t think he’s evil, just misunderstood. Despite his attempts to create a flawless society in outer space, homelessness and bullying persist just as they do on planet Earth.

The movie doesn’t let itself get too serious. In one of its many comic moments, which have become trademarks of the “Guardians” series, I found myself laughing at a ridiculous exchange among the characters over which buttons to press on their spacesuits to properly communicate. The characters also make the cheesiest of jokes funny again in a pleasantly nostalgic fashion.

The action sequences are acrobatic, especially in the epic battle accompanied by the Beastie Boys’ classic “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” It’s no wonder the fate of the Guardians’ friendship and their entire society hinges on an iPod.

This installment really ups the stakes in terms of imagery and make-up effects, especially in worldbuilding, including Counter-Earth, which resembles a ‘50s-era suburb populated by the high evolutionary bizarre humanoid creatures. When Quill and his fellow Guardians land there, it results in some of the more surreal moments in any Marvel film thus far. The film’s wildly imaginative

visuals are a definite plus and kept me entertained.

But embedded in the levity of the storyline, there is certainly the deeper, heavier message of animal abuse, depicted through graphic visuals of animals without fur or limbs.

Rocket becomes a hero by rescuing other animals and showing that no utopian society is perfectly utopian. It is the imperfections in their society that gives it authentic character. Rocket’s journey from being captured and separated from his friends to finding a new family among the Guardians also shows how anything lost can be regained.

Writer-director James Gunn doesn’t fully succeed in tying all these threads together into a coherent whole. The storyline can be

overwhelming with so many plots at so many different times and places. Multiple viewings may be necessary to keep it all straight, but I wouldn’t go back for a second view. Having said that, the film did bring the trilogy to a satisfying close. I came away with some worthy food for thought about the line, “Be not as you are, but as you should be.”

Photo by Shifa Irfan

Sheeran performs at AT&T Stadium May 6.

ERAS EXCITEMENT

Hockadaisies enjoy Taylor Swift’s recent concert

By Emily McLeroy, Staff Writer

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour kicked off in March, selling out stadiums and breaking records. The concert consists of 44 songs from Swift’s different musical eras, and she sings for around three hours. Swift begins in her Lover era and transitions through the different phases of her musical career.

The performance’s music, costumes and special effects are impressive. With each different era having a new style, Swift goes through around 10 costume changes in the three hours. The special effects add a fun element to the concert, with the singer even diving into the stage at one point.

“It was the best night of my entire life,” freshman Fendley Obert said.

She described Swift as an icon, and really enjoyed seeing her perform live on March 31 in Arlington.

“There is no one else I would stand up for three hours at a concert for,” Obert said.

Her favorite moment of the concert was when Swift sang the song “Champagne Problems.”

“It was the best moment ever. The crowd got so loud and it was really emotional,” Obert said.

Sophomore Dylan George, who went to the tour on April 1 in Arlington, agreed.

“The concert was probably one of the best nights of my life and I will never get tired of watching her perform,” George said.

In a full length ball gown, Swift, sings “Enchanted” from her Speak Now era. Junior Sophia Braskamp inside the stadium at the Eras Tour before the concert starts.

Surrounded by red lighting, Swift is in her Red era album as she performs her song “22.”

Sophomores Grey Golman, Dylan George, and Erin Yuan wait inside the stadium for the concert to start.

Freshmen Fendley Obert and Lily Roberts getting excited for the concert outside the stadium.

Swift sings a song from her popular album, “1989.”

Photo courtesy of Sophia Braskamp

Photo courtesy of Leyah Phillip

Photo courtesy of Lily Roberts

Photo courtesy of Leyah Phillip

Photo courtesy of Leyah Phillip

Photo courtesy of Dylan George

1

AROUND

SUMMER SMOOTHIES

By Kailey Bergstedt | Photos & Graphics Editor

1 2 3 4

Check out these tasty smoothie and juice shops as summer approaches

Juice

Bar- 12050 Inwood Road, Dallas, 75244

Offering smoothies, pressed juices, açai bowls and wellness shots, Juice Bar creates unique drink combinations and presses its juices in-house, making a not only delicious, but also healthy after-school snack, as the shop is located minutes away from school.

2

JuiceLand- 5600 W. Lovers Lane #114, Dallas, 75209

Traditional bagel flavors like sesame, cinnamon raisin and blueberry, as well as a variety of bagel sandwiches, ranging from the bacon, egg and cheese to the classic lox, are just a few of the items this shop offers.

3 4

Pressed- 6025 Royal Lane #105, Dallas, 75230

One of the newer additions to the Preston Royal shopping center, Pressed is a great spot to pick up a fruity açai bowl or smoothie. Most notably, Pressed sells a wide variety of pressed juices and packaged juice cleanses that range from cucumber-celery to apple-pineapple juice.

Smoothie King- 5235 W Lovers Lane, Dallas, 75209

While Smoothie King sells the typical smoothie flavors, the mix-and-match combos set it apart. Whether you order an immune builder for a pesky cold, add protein to the chocolate banana smoothie after a practice or try their new smoothie bowls, Smoothie King has it all.

Photos by Elizabeth Truelove

You are never alone

By Alexa Muñoz | Arts & Life Editor and Elle Myers | Photo and Graphics Editor Illustration by Emily McShane

How the school supports students

Dr. Tiffani Kocsis wants to give students what she didn’t have at their age.

Kocsis, assistant head of Upper School, is interested in building trusting relationships with students to help them navigate high school. Growing up, Koscis said she had limited resources to help her learn about health-related topics.

While Kocsis said Hockaday could start conversations regarding sexual assault earlier and have them more frequently, she says the school does a good job of educating the students.

“I do believe that we do what we’re able to,” Kocsis said. “Our health program discusses assault and ways to protect yourself, and our self-defense class is top-notch.”

According to Kocsis, if a student reports to a faculty member that they have been sexually assaulted, whomever is told must notify Child Protective Services and Head of Upper School Lisa Culbertson or Head of School Laura Leathers, since faculty members are mandated reporters.

Upper School Counselor Ellen KaneyFrancis specializes in recovery from traumatic interpersonal violence experiences. She said the effects of trauma are varied and may be endured throughout life, and everyone deserves the opportunity to process their experiences in meaningful, affirming and healing ways.

“True consent in a relationship, and, specifically, in sexual intimacy, is freely given — no guilting or coercion of any kind — enthusiastic, and must be ongoing,” Kaney-Francis said.

“Ongoing consent” means regularly ensuring that your partner is in agreement and comfortable

with what’s happening at all times,” KaneyFrancis said.

Kaney-Francis offers support to victims through validation and education, which she said are simple yet powerful interventions.

Believing survivors and their experiences and explicitly saying, “I believe you,” are essential to demonstrating genuine, non-judgmental support. Talking about the various forms of sexual abuse, which can include rape, as well as the components of consent and self-care or medical care options is what Kaney-Francis does to educate sexual assault survivors.

Kaney-Francis said people do not have to be ready to call what happened to them “rape” or “sexual assault” to seek help and receive care. For survivors, it is important to find a place or person that will accept them at whatever stage of shock, grief or healing they are in.

While it is her area of expertise, if a student were to disclose an instance of sexual assault, Kaney-Francis would not engage in trauma therapy with them in her office.

“I would remain a safe person on campus should you need a quiet space to take a break or talk,” Kaney-Francis said.

Kaney-Francis said that for survivors, school is the place to be a student, and they deserve to have some ‘normalcy’ on campus, if at all possible. She recommends that they utilize outside resources to specifically address the traumatic event.

Ideally, school counselors are viewed as safe people to talk to about any significant events, including those that might have nothing to do

with campus life. Students often worry that it is “too much” to share with a counselor, but KaneyFrancis said counselors want to hear whatever students need to get off their chests.

According to Kaney-Francis, for a sexual assault survivor, the counselors can help alleviate the pressure of schoolwork if they deem it best for the student’s stage of healing.

“It can be nearly impossible to concentrate on or care about assignments when you’re trying to make sense of what happened to you,” KaneyFrancis said.

Students should know that any faculty or staff on campus will provide compassion and not blame when speaking about sexual assault.

Kaney- Francis is thankful that health classes explore the dynamics of healthy and unhealthy relationships and sexual abuse and assault. “We have to discuss consent.

I’m so glad Hockaday creates space for this,” she said.

Consent and sexual assault education

Upper School Health and Physical Education teacher Adaku Ebeniro is passionate about the curriculum’s lifelong lessons and argues Health is one of the most important classes a student will take.

“The concepts taught in health classes stay with a student for a lifetime and anything that will allow people to look inwardly and learn to navigate the highs and lows of life is a huge priority,” Ebeniro said.

To Ebeniro, consent means having a clear idea of your own and others’ boundaries and knowing when these boundaries are being crossed. She said it depends on confidence in who you are and not worrying about how people react to the boundaries you set.

Ebeniro said consent is taught at developmentally appropriate levels at Hockaday. It is first introduced in Lower School with an emphasis on boundary-setting in terms of physical space and verbal conversation. In Middle School, conversations of reproductive and sexual health begin, along with Texas’ laws regarding consent. Sophomore year, educators teach that consent is an active process; this means someone can change their mind at any time if they give consent and end up not feeling comfortable with whatever the activity is.

While Ebeniro believes discussing consent promotes conversations about it outside of class, she wishes the community had more

opportunities to do so.

“A lot of these concepts can’t be limited to one unit in a health class – it should be pervasive throughout all subjects, curricula and grade levels,” Ebeniro said.

When a student confided in Ebeniro about her sexual assault story, the first thing she did was make sure the parents and a counselor knew.

“Her parents were aware; she was in therapy, and I was happy she got the help she needed,” Ebeniro said.

Ebeniro said teaching about consent, sexual assault and victim blaming gets difficult. As a big proponent of therapy, counseling and any other healthy coping mechanisms, Ebeniro finds comfort in helping by making herself an available liaison and resource for students. However, she makes sure to keep a healthy distance from it to protect her own mental health.

“I try not to take too much on because I also have to release it as well,” said Ebeniro.

Upper School Self-Defense Instructor Jessica Jasper is another resource for students. She specializes in martial arts and protective services and teaches self-defense classes for Upper School students.

She teaches students how to accurately assess risks and introduces the five principles of defense to seniors: avoid being an easy target, trust your intuition, be aware of your situation, predict violence and defend yourself verbally.

Two additional topics students learn in the course are active shooter survival and vehicle safety. The bulk of the course includes learning effective martial arts techniques from jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai.

While the semester course is taught to seniors, Jasper teaches a unit of self-defense to sophomores, and she believes younger students would benefit immensely from the course.

“I think this course drastically lowers the likelihood of being targeted by abusers in the first place, assuming that the student has applied herself and understood the concepts covered,” Jasper said.

Jasper said students learn how to be a “hard target” by identifying what makes someone an easy target for abusers so, ideally, they never have to use their physical defense skills in the first place. They also learn how to identify violence or other types of abuse, allowing them to make a plan to avoid it.

“A lot of the students finish up the course with some really amazing martial arts skills – a few of them kick harder than I do,” Jasper said. “The goal, however, is to never have to use those skills except for fun.”

Student perspectives

Senior Meera Malhotra has completed all of Hockaday’s health curriculum since she came to the school in fifth grade. Malhotra remembers learning about period cramps and drug use in Middle School, but doesn’t remember much of the sophomore curriculum, as it was during COVID. In the self-defense course, Malhotra has learned how to defend herself in case of an attack and how to appropriately get out of those situations.

these classes to help navigate my outside relationships with others,” Malhotra said.

Junior Varsity Lacrosse player Caroline Warlick has participated in the OneLove Foundation with her team to spread awareness about abusive relationships. Through workshops, Warlick has learned the importance of communication in relationships and how that can affect the people she interacts with. In their workshops, Warlick and the lacrosse team learned to

identify the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships.

“I think it is so important to understand a relationship is never going to be perfect, but we should all have the ability to recognize if a relationship doesn’t feel like love,” Warlick said.

After the OneLove lacrosse game, Warlick hopes people reflected on the relationships they have and urges them to look at OneLove’s website, which provides resources for those in domestic violence situations.

Conversation with a survivor

The student in this article, who asked to remain anonymous, survived a sexual assault. She has shared her story to help other survivors know they are not alone and to spread awareness that this could happen to anyone.

Q: Where would you like to start? Would you tell me what you are able to remember about your experience?

A: I was at a party and I drank a little bit during it. I didn’t know anyone else there and a guy came up to me and put his arm around me. He asked me to come to his room and he pushed me onto the bed. Then it happened.

Q: Did you report the assault? And if so, were you scared to report him?

A: I was very scared to tell my parents because I thought they were going to kill me. When my dad found out the assaulter was 19, he wanted to press charges but I didn’t.

Q: Who or what helped you navigate and cope with this difficult experience?

A: Right after it happened, I started oversexualizing myself and I found that this is pretty common among other survivors. I also turned to partying a lot. It didn’t affect me in the way that you think it would because I wasn’t scared of men — I was more drawn to them, and often found myself doing more hookups and not anything deeper when I really wanted a relationship. My friends and talking to my therapist also helped me.

Q: Do you think consent from a girl’s perspective differs from a guy’s? In what ways?

A: Definitely. Often times I hear stories and the girl’s and the guy’s perspectives are very different. The girls say, “I didn’t want this to happen,” while the guys say, “She wanted it and she was the one that started it.” There is a thin line between consent and sexual assault and it depends on their state of mind. Nowadays you really have to ask the questions and make sure everyone’s comfortable.

Q: Where do you think this difference in perspective comes from?

A: I think it is based on the way people are taught and raised. Although the conversations can be uncomfortable, they are necessary, and without them, guys would think they can do whatever they want with girls. Parents and schools should teach both guys and girls about consent so they can learn what to do in situations like mine.

Q: Do you feel like the health curriculum at Hockaday helped you?

A: The class taught me a lot, like different types of protection and ways to handle

certain situations. My teacher offered real-life perspectives, which were super helpful.

Q: Can you give me examples of implied consent and what that means to you?

A: Consent comes in many forms, whether it’s straight-up asking or checking in while doing stuff. If you are comfortable, you can sit down and discuss what your boundaries are, what you want to do, and what you are not comfortable with prior to the experience. Consent means different things to different people so setting your boundaries with your partner is very important. Sadly, there will be people who don’t care about your boundaries so finding a trusted adult to talk to about boundary setting is fundamental.

Q: To you, what is victim blaming? Would you say you felt victim blamed after your experience?

A: The way my parents reacted was really hard because they are supposed to be the ones you trust.(One parent had a stronger reaction than the other.) I also fought with myself internally because I would compare myself to others who had it worse and think my experience wasn’t as bad. Society will also blame survivors with comments like, “You shouldn’t have dressed or acted this way.” It’s also hard as a teenager because you are still trying to figure out who you are and there’s a lot of pressure.

Q: What do you want to say to young girls who have experienced this?

A: Find people you trust and who really care about you because they will be the ones that stick by your side no matter what. Remember your worth and don’t let people define it. Sexual assault is never your fault.

Upper School fosters a community that educates and supports students as they navigate relationships, consent, self-defense and sexual assault.

Content warning: The following articles contain material covering sexual assault that may trigger some individuals.

Stellar summers Students’ plans take them from museums to mountaintops

By Hanna Asmerom | Web Editor and Mary Sutherland | Staff Writer

With the school year behind them, students embark on summer activities from jobs and internships to travel and adventure.

Junior Hayden Marchant will be working as a lifeguard at Sky Ranch, a faith-based camp in Van, Texas. Marchant said this opportunity is especially exciting because the camp is a place she has visited annually since she was a child.

She will be supervising kids under 12 and watching the pools and lakes on the campsite. She said she’s excited to ride on the camp’s boats and enjoy the summer outdoors.

“I am so looking forward to being a part of the Sky Ranch staff and meeting some really cool people,” Marchant said.

Junior Ryan Brown also will spend summer outside, at the United States Rowing Camp in Ohio. She will be a part of the Selection Development team with aspirations to move up to the High Development team competing at the World Championships.

Brown’s summer will be filled with rowing training twice a day and an athletic experience different from her normal day-to-day life.

“I am excited to experience rowing in a new way, with new athletes and coaches,” Brown said.

The camp is a culmination of much of Brown’s previous crew training, and she will compete in the Under 19 club national championships in July.

Pursuing her passion for hiking, junior Lola Barnard will be traveling to Tanzania to volunteer, learn and summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. She will begin her three week trip by interning as an English tutor and after-school caretaker in the local primary schools. She will be learning Swahili as well.

To prepare to scale the second tallest mountain in the world, Barnard has been focusing on cardio workouts and leg-strengthening exercises to account for the high altitude and strenuous inclines.

Junior Diya Hegde, a medalist in the Arts For The Future 2020 International Student Art Contest, is furthering her passion for art by being an exhibit guide for an art gallery in Coppell. She will be showing elementary school students the exhibits at the art center.

Her art piece “Narrow Escape” will be on display along with others from students in the area. Each month, the studio focuses on promoting a specific theme such as Black History in February or environmental protection in April. This summer, the center is thinking about a Pride Month theme.

Through art, Hegde said she has connected to issues personal to her, including the fight for women’s rights in Iran.

“I thought the art about women in Iran was super insightful, so I showed it to students who came to the exhibit.” Hegde said.

Freshman Kathryn Epperson will be spending four weeks of her summer studying espionage at the University of

Cambridge in England. She will begin the course by traveling around the United Kingdom before classes start.

“We will be traveling around Scotland and England, visiting historical sites like old castles and old battlefields,” Epperson said.

While studying, she will learn about international secret services, such as the CIA, MI6 and the KGB.

“I am planning to learn more about how governments gain information on other nations,” Epperson said. “That way, I can apply it to future studies in international relations.”

Freshman Louella Jacobsen plans to return to Action Quest, a three-week program living on a boat in the British Virgin Islands, which she experienced last summer. There, Jacobsen learned to sail, studied marine biology and got her scuba diving certification.

The program ends with a sailing competition between all of the boats, and Jacobsen remembers the excitement of winning last summer’s competition.

“I am returning this summer because Action Quest gave me lifelong friendships, and it is a nice getaway,” Jacobsen said.

Throughout the program, campers take breaks from the ocean and visit

Hegde will volunteer and display her

at

Arts

islands in the area, spending their days exploring and hiking. This summer, Jacobsen chose to attend the advanced sailing and scuba diving course.

Freshman Mischa Rutledge plans to explore her interest in law by interning at the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program this summer.

“I plan to help screen potential clients and case management working at their pro-bono clinics,” Rutledge said.

Rutledge hopes to gain exposure in

the field while also giving back to the community. The program will allow Rutledge to get first-hand experience in the field of law.

“I am really excited to gain exposure in law and see if it’s something that I’m interested in pursuing as a career when I’m older,” Rutledge said, “and also to see the different types of law out there and which ones I enjoy the most.”

art

the Coppell

Center.

Barnard poses with friends on hike. Her summer plans include training to summit Kilimanjaro.

Brown coxes a men’s eight for her team, Dallas United Crew

Marchant will lifeguard at Sky Ranch.

Photo Courtesy of Lola Barnard

Photo Courtesy of Diya Hegde

Photo Courtesy of Ryan Brown

Photo Courtesy of Hayden Marchant

H-Club handover Ambassador group wraps up year, plans for future

By Amitha Nair | Staff Writer

As the year comes to an end, H-Club is going through changes with members and leaders.

Starting in 2023, the head of H-Club is changing and with it, their regulations.

“I am taking over H-Club next year, we are going to be revamping a lot of the guidelines and requirements for the H-Club members over the summer and with the leaders instilling a mentorship program consistently,”

H-Club Sponsor

and returning members are reapplying for the club.

“[We are] just trying to bring community back to the school, and share the Hockaday experience with prospective students and families.”

“That is when we start doing the leadership applications so a lot of rising juniors, sophomores or seniors will apply and they will fill out a separate application for leadership and set up interview times with Ms. Fricker or the adults of H-Club,” senior officer Libby Warren said.

- Claudia Fricker H-Club sponsor

Claudia Fricker said. “We are also trying to bring H-Club to be more of a community club for the school, so they aren’t just sanctioned to the admissions department, but to other departments, as well, and interact with all three divisions.”

As usual, new applicants have started the process for the first time

Once members and leaders have been finalized, they will begin discussing and planning fall events, which will be announced in September.

The last event of the year focused on connecting potential students to H-Club members, to allow the school to give a welcoming feeling

With the help of the parent association, H-Club held an ice cream social on May 7 for new families to spend time on campus along with

some of the H-Club members to get accustomed to the environment.

“Being at the ice cream social was really exciting for me because I was able to see all of the eager new students who reminded me of myself when I was a new student,” H-Club member Madison White said.

Young radio host shares stories Ahuja balances broadcast, student life

By Shifa Irfan | Staff Writer

“Happy” by Pharrell Williams draws to a close as Anya Ahuja leans into the microphone, headphones comfortably covering her ears. She takes a breath before speaking with her slightly high show voice, “Happy Monday everyone!”

From the hours of work and years of commitment, it is clear that Ahuja has a deep passion for her position as a host on the station called Radio Caravan. The sophomore hosts her show, The Youth Spotlight with Anya, every Monday from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Central Standard Time.

As a radio host, Ahuja has a variety of different responsibilities ranging from creating content and delivering it to making sure the listeners are kept engaged for the prime-time hours –from 5 p.m. to around 8 p.m. – since her slot leads up to those hours.

Although she carries a lot of responsibility, Ahuja has learned how to manage her time and juggle her duties at the show with being a student. She attributes much of her success to the support people at the radio station.

“I receive a lot of support from my CEO and colleagues,” Ahuja said. “I am extremely grateful.”

Ahuja has been a part of Radio Caravan’s program since age 11, making her the youngest radio host in Texas. Through the show, she has met a variety of people and helped them share their stories with listeners.

Ahuja said her show has become a platform for youth to share their achievements, opinions and personalities in a way that elevates them. She focuses on stories geared toward benefiting youth, whether through

providing inspiration or the exploring new topics.

“My job is always changing, always evolving,” Ahuja said. “I started off by just doing a fun one-hour show where I would just talk about simple topics, but that has now blossomed into a diverse career where I have the opportunity to attend cultural events, host shows around the community and interview the talent around us.”

As an extension of her role as a radio show host, Ahuja has served as a Master of Ceremonies at events across the country. Her social media account, @rjanyaahuja on Instagram and Snapchat, allows people from the entertainment field to reach her. As

a result, she Ahuja often gets calls from people she only meets once at a show or event.

Once she started working as an MC, her work spread via word of mouth. She said her favorite MC event this year was in Chicago.

“There were cameras everywhere and there was a lot to manage, although I see it as a big step in my career in the entertainment field,” Ahuja said.

As a part of her role as an MC and radio show host, Ahuja has interviewed a variety of personalities for segments or events, giving her opportunities to meet and interact with different people.

She said one of her most memorable experiences was meeting with

Next year, H-Club will look different, but the underlying message will still stay for years to come.

“We are just trying to bring the community back to the school,” Fricker said, “and share the Hockaday experience with prospective students and families.”

spirituality and wellness coach Kiran Randhawa. The interview consisted of life advice and calming conversation about Randhawa’s journey with spirituality as a South-Asian woman.

“I felt very blessed to have direct access to this type of knowledge, and I’ve been able to keep in contact with her,” Ahuja said.

Even though the radio show can be time-consuming when it comes to scheduling interviews and finding a unique show topic every week, Ahuja said she values the knowledge and experience she gains through her role.

“To me, the Youth Spotlight has become more than just an extracurricular or an activity,” she said. “It’s now an extension of who I am and has really shaped and will continue to shape me even beyond high school.

“It has not only shown me the strength of my own voice but also the joy of uplifting others as well.”

Student ambassadors await prospective students’ families on MS Preview Day.

Ahuja works on her radio show, The Youth Spotlight

Photo Courtesy of Swetaline Ahuja

Photo Courtesy of Katie Doherty

“To me, ‘The Youth Spotlight’ has become more than just an extracurricular or an activity. It’s now an extension of who I am and has really shaped and will continue to shape me even beyond high school.”

- Anya Ahuja Form II

Welch Rd

AFFINITY GROUP SPOTLIGHT

Muslim Student Association

By Anjy Fadairo | Sports Editor

Although it has existed for years, the Muslim Student Association has begun making waves this year among the school’s affinity clubs.

Sophomore Faiha Khurram, an MSA leader, said the club has recently begun to grow because of the involvement of new leaders.

“Before there was no Eid celebration, and there were rarely any meetings throughout the year,” Khurram said. “I think we really accomplished a lot this year because we’ve had a lot more meetings.”

In fact, one of MSA’s biggest events this year has been the Eid celebration. The association hosted the school’s first ever Eid al-Fitr celebration April 27 to celebrate the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan.

The celebration, which attracted Muslim and nonMuslim students alike, was an opportunity for MSA members to share their religion with others.

“It was an amazing opportunity for us to make our culture accessible to others,” Khurram said.

Sophomore Anu Akingbade said while planning for the Eid celebration was a big load for students, the MSA leaders were happy with how it turned out.

“We had to be in communication with other affinity council groups to finalize things like budget and activities, “ Akingbade said. “But at the end of the day, it turned out really, really well.”

MSA members also went to the Lower School to talk with students about Ramdan and Eid. Akingbade, who has a sister in Lower School, said she was glad to clarify to the lower schoolers what Ramadan and Eid represent for Muslim culture.

Besides celebrating Eid and Ramadan, MSA leaders hopes to keep expanding in different directions.

“We hope to reach a broader audience by saying, ‘Yes, we are Muslim Association, but our goal is to educate and bring the light to issues like in the Muslim community and the Muslim diaspora,” Akingbade said.

Khurram said MSA is aiming for more regular meetings.

“Our mission is to shed light on Muslims: educating people on the core values of Islam, and the lives and culture of Muslims at Hockaday and in the American community,” she said.

Fantastic filmmaking

Film students display their works during film festival

By Melody Tian | Jade Editor

Poring over a piece of paper at her desk, sophomore Gretchen Jones writes a script. Over the course of a few weeks, she comes up with bits and pieces of ideas that eventually converge into a cohesive six-minute film.

On April 17, film students displayed their finished works for their families and Upper School students during the annual film festival in the Nasher-Haemisegger Theater.

“It was a really supportive environment,” Jones said. “We were all watching each other’s films and cheering each other on because we knew all the hard work people put into their films.”

Jones said her film centered around the feeling everyone has had when they find a celebrity entirely out of their realm of existence who somehow becomes a source of comfort. She takes this concept to the extreme and portrays a girl’s obsessive behavior after learning about her favorite actor’s death.

After shooting her film, Jones said she was not happy with her work. However, her perception changed at ISAS when she watched it for the first time after leaving it alone for a while.

“That was when I realized that this had potential,” Jones said. “I liked the variety of shots that I got, and I felt like it was really good work.”

HEARD THROUGH THE HOCKA HALLS

Our favorite quotes overheard in the hallways

By Shifa Irfan | Staff Writer

“I think the best internet sensation in the past 10 years is the whip nae nae.”

- Ava Shipp ’24

“The top is green to match his Irish blood.”

- Jada Beard ’23

Jones said around the same time, her work started getting accepted into film festivals, which helped her gain confidence in her work.

Her classmate, junior Phoebe Chen, said she wished she could improve on some of the editing in her film but really liked the lighting and cinematography. She created a film exploring the struggles of a teenage girl as she navigates the challenges of mental illness, school and her personal life, all while trying to meet her parents’ expectations.

“We weren’t given any limitations for the script,” Chen said. “It could be anything we wanted, so we had a lot of creative freedom.”

After she wrote her script, Chen participated in a table read, where the students in her class acted out their scripts and gave feedback to one another. Then, Chen created a shot list by planning out the progression of the film before finally casting and shooting.

Chen said she enjoyed presenting her film at the film festival and celebrating all the filmmakers.

“It almost mimics the feeling of when a movie goes through all the processes and finally gets released,” Chen said.

“It’s lookin’ slim.”

- Courtney Buford ’26

“Vosotros doesn’t exist to my country.”

- Morgan Bowers ’26

Senior film student Skylar Maier titled her film “Normal”

Khurram and Akingbade

Creating change through yoga

Junior Anisha Sharma aims to help community

By Jessica Boll | Staff Writer

With the plethora of tests, papers and projects due in these final weeks of school, stress is rampant, but junior Anisha Sharma has devised a unique way to deal with that stress.

Four years ago, Sharma developed a passion for yoga while combating an eating disorder — a hurdle 11% of female high schoolers face. A veteran of creating social change for the Dallas community, Sharma used her love of yoga to develop a custom curriculum currently implemented in both nursing homes and elementary schools in DFW.

Once every two weeks, Sharma goes to Harrell Budd Elementary School to teach elementary school students how to manage their emotions through yoga exercises.

“We’re trying to teach them healthy coping mechanisms when they’re younger, which is why yoga is so important in younger kids,” Sharma said.

During her classes, she teaches yoga poses such as the downward dog, side planks and the pigeon pose — a class favorite among the energetic students.

One of the most difficult parts of getting social impact ideas up and running is reaching out, Sharma discovered. After having pushed through the six-month process of emails, rejections, and more rejections, Sharma advises anyone who is interested

in starting a venture of their own to be prepared for rejection.

She also emphasized the importance of establishing trust and validity when reaching out.

“If I was a random person trying to start a yoga program, it wouldn’t have worked,” Sharma said. “I had to show that I was certified and give my certification to these people.”

Though the process was long and challenging, Sharma said the important thing was seeing both excitement and the benefits of yoga.

“It’s nice seeing how they’ve been using what I’ve talked about in their actual lives outside of class,” she said. “It’ll be like, ‘Yeah, my sister broke my Xbox Remote, and I wanted to hit her, but I did my breathing and I didn’t hit her.’”

So how can students apply yoga techniques

in their day-to-day lives to manage stress?

“Deep breathing is always the best thing in the world,” Sharma said. “These times are really fast-paced, but taking 10 minutes to stretch your legs out will also help.”

In the coming year, Sharma said she plans to make her yoga class a social impact club to get more Hockaday students involved.

Let’s talk about it Health program works to promote sex education

By Caroline Bush | Editor-in-Chief

From Lower to Upper School, health class covers a wide variety of subject matters to prepare students to take care of their bodies and minds. One specific topic the program emphasizes is sexual health.

Health teacher Melinda Nuñez said the building blocks for sexual health education begin in Lower School with homeroom teachers emphasizing the importance of boundaries and safe spaces. The formal health education begins in fourth grade, where students have a one-day conversation about puberty and the menstrual cycle.

Throughout Middle School, the program becomes more comprehensive each year with classes in fifth, sixth and eighth grade. In eighth grade, students begin to learn about healthy relationships and decisionmaking surrounding sex.

“Health education research tells us that kids need information two years before they face that issue,” Nuñez said. “Some parents might think it’s too soon to talk about sex in sixth grade, but it’s necessary to introduce students to those topics before they get in that situation.”

Sophomore year consists of a one-semester Health class, with about a quarter of the class covering relationships and sex-ed topics. Finally, during their senior year, students will take a 2-week, more in-depth course on the same topics.

“A common theme in all of the classes is we

try to create an environment where the girls feel free to ask any question they want,” Nuñez said. “A lot of them will ask their questions out loud, but we also have an anonymous question option in case they don’t feel comfortable asking it in front of the class.”

This question-answer model allows students to feel more familiar with asking questions, so when they go outside of the health class, they can comfortably turn to a trusted adult about those topics.

Junior Madelyn Neuhoff has learned from Hockaday’s health program since fifth grade. She said she feels health educators gave her a good foundation and created a safe space where she and her peers didn’t have to feel awkward discussing topics related to sexual health.

“I’m grateful that Hockaday gives us the opportunity to learn about this stuff starting

when we’re younger,” Neuhoff said.

Nuñez said the importance of sexual health education lies in knowing how your body works, which in turn allows students to make better, more informed decisions later on in life regarding relationships, since they will know what they are and are not comfortable with and how to take care of their bodies.

Specifically for kids in high school, sex-ed gives them the knowledge to navigate a new world – one with new opportunities, different social constructs and a need to discover one’s identity.

“Sexual health is not just teaching the ‘birds and the bees,’ like how to use a condom and that abstinence is the only 100 percent way of not getting STI’s,” Nuñez said. “It’s also healthy relationships, boundaries and communication.”

Director of Health Services Erika Herridge said many parents believe if you talk about sex, more kids will have sex – but that’s not necessarily the case. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corp., sex-ed actually tends to delay the onset of sexual activity.

“The goal of sex-ed is to open up a conversation about sex and how to protect yourself which ultimately is what we want — to protect teens from STI’s and pregnancies,” Herridge said. “From a health perspective, it is very important for adolescents to get that education, because it really is health-related.”

Students learn about healthy relationships during health class.

Anisha Sharma teaches yoga to an elementary school class.

Photo courtesy of Anisha Sharma

Photo by Elizabeth Truelove

Riding inspires writing

Maya Bakshi: equestrian and author

By Anya Aggarwal | Staff Writer

Clad in a simple T-shirt and jeans with a tomboy haircut, Maya Bakshi sits crisscrossed, leaning against her locker, deep in the solitude of her thoughts as she types away on her Surface Pro. Judging from the quiet composure of her face, no one would guess she jumps over hurdle fences, mounted on her horse before spectatorsjudges included - every chance she gets.

With accuracy, strength, and elegance she traverses cross-rail jumps almost as quietly as she types. If anything is true of Bakshi, it is her talent for finding a voice, through the art of understatement.

In her free time, Maya is also working on a story for a novel.

“I like to take the time to listen and understand where other people might be coming from and to learn about their different points of view, keeping in mind that there are so many stories and so many sides to every story,” she said.

Having grown up around horses and dogs at a family-owned ranch, it turns out Bakshi has an uncanny knack for understanding creatures who don’t have a voice.

“It was really just a hobby of mine,” Bakshi said. “I enjoyed teaching my dogs and my friends’ dogs different obedience and agility tricks and I realized I was really good at it. Then, I started to enjoy the connections I was making with them. Like we had our own language.”

Falling in love with riding

Bakshi fell in love with her first horse, Irish Mist, who she’s known since she was only 8 years old.

“Every summer I would ride him, bathe him, and brush him after our lessons which is how we really bonded,” she said. “Now I’ve leased another horse named Usher for six months.”

Irish and Usher are both Dark Bay horses, so dark brown they almost look black.

“I love how majestic my horses look,” she said. “It makes me even more appreciative of their silence.”

Seeing her own reflection in her horse’s eyes, she feeds Irish special grains and seeds and one can even see the hint of a smile on the horse’s face.

As she munches on her own lunch, a favorite outdoor meal of pulled pork and an iced Coke, Bakshi’s eyes follow the two horses playing in the pasture of wildflowers and white bark trees. Their dark black manes starkly contrast with the bright beams of sunlight.

“I began to understand the connections humans and animals make and even the connections horses and dogs make with each other,” she said. “It’s something most people can’t understand.”

That’s what seems to motivate Bakshi in her writing. Her passion for animals has led her to think more about advocating for people who may not be able to do that for themselves.

“In my fictional writing, I’m able to come up with certain scenarios and adventures for characters who may be facing different difficulties or disadvantages or obstacles,” she said. “Sometimes I write about people who are disabled, but sometimes it’s even just someone who’s heard some really crushing news and how they overcame that.”

Building empathy

She brings that same empathy to her horses.

“I always talk to my horses even while we’re showing,” Bakshi said. “Though they don’t know English words, they can always tell what you’re trying to say, and they know exactly what you’re feeling, sometimes even before you do.”

With a power like that, Bakshi said she feels it’s crucial to speak up for others and channel a voice for people who might have not realized they had one in the first place. It isn’t a surprise that Maya has overcome some pretty tough obstacles herself.

“For a couple of months, I had a series of rides that weren’t so great – I lost my confidence for a while and

almost stopped riding, just temporarily,” Bakshi said. “But my horse, and the connection I had with him… I felt like I couldn’t just leave him like that, so I got right back into it.”

She won the Two Foot Six Division as if she had never stopped riding.

“Building connections with horses is the most important thing, it’s all about the time you spend with them, and you realize how special they truly are,” Bakshi said.

She said jumping competitions are as much a bonding experience as they are a competition.

“Jumping is a great way to build confidence between me and my horse,” she said. “Every time I jump with my horse, I must connect not only with my horse’s body, but also with his mind. We have to become one together in order to win.”

As rewarding as it is to win, Bakshi knows it’s the bond with these animals that keeps her devoted.

“It’s just a really exciting and fun activity to do with my horses and I enjoy every minute of it,” she said.

Finding her path

Her friend Sara Gupta said Bakshi makes riding seem effortless.

“When she performs hunter jumps on her horse she goes over like a natural,” Gupta said. “It’s her poise, not how fast she’s going over, but the elegance she does it with that makes her win.”

Gupta said she thinks Bakshi is destined for Olympic fame for her riding and Ivy league ranks for her writing, but Bakshi has other plans.

“I don’t always consider taking the same traditional

paths as other people,” she said. “In fact, it’s funny, every time we drive to the ranch, we lose our way, and if it weren’t for one landmark white steeple church, we’d be wandering for hours,” she said.

Bakshi hopes to go into veterinary medicine or biological engineering, but also continue her writing to advocate for people or animals as part of leaving behind something bigger than herself. In 10 years, she hopes to have completed her novel incorporating the nuances of riding and its biological aspects.

“To be honest, I would rather explain a simple idea complexly than a complex idea simply because I would want to thoroughly express the idea and not risk expressing all of its dimensions for the sake of simplicity,” Bakshi said.

That doesn’t mean she’s going for elaborate or exaggerated, but rather, it’s the subtlety of her message she wants to channel to allow the weight of the message to come through.

At any given moment, one can find her sitting in the hallway with her laptop, typing away, for hours. She doesn’t care if anyone is sitting with her or not, because she’s sitting with her story.

Back at the barn, she enjoys the quiet of her horses the most. She listens, rides, and writes. Under the open sky, in the expanse of the grassy fields, she revels in the quiet connections that come from being with her horses.

“If there’s anything I’d rather be doing, it’s listening to the horses at the ranch when we’re not competing or doing much else,” Bakshi said. “Sometimes I don’t know what story I want to write, and then I’ll hear it.”

Students learn about healthy relationships during health class.

Photo by Elizabeth Truelove

SPC recap

All varsity teams place among top five at tournament

By Sarah Moskowitz | Staff Writer

The varsity lacrosse, track and field, golf, softball and tennis teams competed in the spring Southwest Preparatory Conference Championships, with two teams earning first place, one walking away as runner-up and two finishing in fifth place.

“Everyone showed out,” senior co-captain Lola Isom said. “People placed when it wasn’t expected and got points when they weren’t seeded to.”

Track and field prioritized bonding this season.

“At the end of practices, we broke out with ‘one, two, three, family’ to reiterate the bond and build a sense of community,” senior co-captain Caroline Petrikas said.

The team also used breakfasts, dinners and training in the fitness center to become closer.

“We are each other’s biggest fans,” Isom said.

Because of the stressful nature of track, Isom and Petrikas said they strove to keep the team energized and minimize tension.

“We’d bring speakers to the meets and blast super loud music,” Petrikas said. “We had dance parties and although we wanted to win, it was important that we weren’t putting pressure on ourselves.”

During the tournament, track and field created memories as they spent time together at the hotel.

“It was really nice to see everybody come together, and even though we weren’t all best friends before, we became very tight,” Petrikas said.

Isom and Petrikas said they are grateful they ended their last season on a win and left a legacy for track and field.

“Everyone wanted to do their part to help the team, and it’s really encouraging to see everybody come together,” Petrikas said.

Golf

Golf finished as runner-up in the SPC tournament after competing in Houston April 17-18.

Lacrosse

Varsity lacrosse won the SPC Championship for the second year in a row, defeating St. Andrew’s Episcopal, Kinkaid and ESD. The lacrosse team played in Dallas on April 26 and 27.

In preparation for SPC, lacrosse focused on offensive plays as well as special defense and ran during daily practices. Additionally, the pressure to defend the 2022 title motivated the players.

“When we were on the field, we played with a lot of determination because we really wanted that title,” senior co-captain Mia Carley said.

Throughout the season, team breakfasts, dinners and time spent together at school enabled lacrosse players to bond, which translated to their cohesiveness and ability to work well together on the field. Lacrosse also stayed focused on improving their game.

“We had to remember to still play our game because we still have teams to beat as people are going to come for our title,” senior co-captain Grace Hoverman said.

With the team’s 2023 slogan, “level up,” the players felt a responsibility to keep pushing themselves and expanding their skill sets.

“There is definitely stress that for every team we play, they will play their best game, so we need to level up and play ours,” Hoverman said.

Overall, Carley said she was thrilled with lacrosse’s SPC performance as it was a culmination of their hard work throughout the season.

“I’m really proud because I feel like we played one of the best games we’ve ever played. That was really fulfilling,” Carley said.

Track and Field

Track and Field walked away as back-to-back SPC Champions after competing in Fort Worth April 28 - 29.

After losing team members to injury, track and field athletes stepped up to do their part for the team.

To prepare for SPC, the team practiced nine holes at Brookhaven three times a week.

Traveling around Texas throughout the season allowed the team to grow closer and enjoy memorable times together.

“We had great team dinners, and on the bus rides, we played games, listened to music and did karaoke,” senior Asha Gudipaty said.

During practices, the golf team broke into groups and talked with teammates.

“Our practices are unique because we get to go off in groups and play on the course,” Gudipaty said.

Aside from the runner-up trophy, golf gained experience adapting to fluctuating weather.

“The first day of SPC, we played in brutal sun, whereas the following day, we played in the rain,” Gudipaty said. “The rain was a big challenge because we had never played in that type of weather before.”

Reflecting on SPC, Gudipaty said the team bonded further in the hotel as they watched shows and enjoyed spending time together.

“I’m satisfied with our season and how we did,” Gudipaty said. “It felt nice to end on a good note for my senior year.”

Softball

Softball earned fifth place in SPC after playing Kinkaid and Greenhill. Softball competed in Fort Worth and Dallas April 27-29.

In addition to practice, softball relied on games as a primary source of preparation for SPC.

“We were scheduled to play against teams that were out of our league in order to see where we stood with them, to know better how we would stand at SPC,” junior co-captain Sofie Santana said.

Before SPC, softball focused on defense, the parts of the game that were most detailed and coming together as a team to support each other.

“During SPC, we became really close by spending

time together at the hotel and at meals,” senior cocaptain Maia Hartley said. “We had a ‘no phones’ rule at dinner, which allowed us to focus on spending time with the team.”

Although softball lost its first SPC game, this pushed them to embody their team word “fight” to defeat Greenhill for fifth place.

“I think the initial loss was a wake-up call that allowed us to get focused,” Santana said.

Hartley said the team chose “fight” as the team word to motivate everyone to be their best self. Reflecting on softball’s SPC performance, Hartley said the team demonstrated an immense amount of fight and a desire to win.

“Everyone was really excited during our last game and I’m happy that we ended on a win,” Hartley said. “The whole team played really well.”

Tennis

Tennis finished in fifth place after an initial loss to St. Stephen’s Episcopal and subsequent wins against Episcopal and John Cooper. Tennis competed in Fort Worth April 27-29.

Throughout the season, the tennis team’s daily practices allowed them to win the majority of their matches and become a supportive community.

“We played both singles and doubles to get a feel for hitting all the strokes, practiced footwork and went to the fitness center on a weekly basis,” senior Caraday Martin said.

The tennis team used the motto “energy is everything” to keep them motivated during SPC.

“Our motto pushed us to do our best in the matches and stay energized early in the morning,” Martin said. Tennis incorporated a restful week right before SPC to ensure they were not stressed or overworked prior to the tournament.

“We did a pickleball tournament with our parents to bond more,” junior Sophia Fowler said.

Additionally, the team grew closer through dinners and breakfasts. Although they faced a loss at the start of the SPC tournament, they said it only motivated them to work harder and win the rest of the matches.

“We were disappointed with our results in the first match, but we converted our mentality from focusing on the loss to going and watching everybody else and staying supportive, positive and happy,” Fowler said. “We had been playing really well, so we wanted to prove that this loss did not define our season.”

To Fowler, the most memorable part of SPC was winning the last matches on Friday and Saturday.

“I feel like we played our best, and this has been the most fun season yet,” Fowler said.

Photo courtesy of Anika Shah

Photo courtesy of Mia Carley Lacrosse captains Mia Carley and Ava Tribolet show off the team’s championship trophy after the SPC victory.

The golf team celebrates taking second place in SPC.

Athlete spotlight: Alyssa Anderson

Junior javelin thrower breaks school record

By Kailey Bergstedt | Managing Editor

Junior Alyssa Anderson raises the javelin up near her head, draws her arm back, takes several quick steps and hurls the seven-foot metal spear forward. Anderson is one of two javelin throwers at Hockaday and recently broke the school record with a throw of 99 feet 3 inches, landing her a spot in the top 10 high school javelin throwers in Texas.

Javelin throwing is not an SPC event and was removed from most high school competitions several years ago, but some meets allow the event in an exhibition forum, meaning participants can use these scores for summer or club track. Anderson became interested in throwing javelin while training for a heptathlon last year.

“It definitely required getting used to at first, but javelin has become one of my favorite events,” Anderson said.

She primarily learned how to throw javelin from Adaku Ebeniro, the Throws Coach for Varsity Track and Field. The two usually practice throwing javelin together once a week and recently traveled to the Nick Finnegan Spring Invitational in Houston, where Anderson set the new school record and a personal record.

“She’s been working really hard in the weight room which has a direct correlation with her success in the javelin,” Ebeniro said. “You can tell by her work ethic that she’s resilient and always keeps her goals in mind.”

Anderson also competes in the 100- and 200-meter sprints, shot put, high jump, long jump and various relays for the varsity team and a club team called Primetime Elite in the off-season. She contributed 42.5 out of the team’s 180 points at SPC and medaled in four

different events.

“I was out with a hamstring injury for almost all of last season, which made it even more rewarding for me to come back this year and place in so many events and contribute to our win at SPC,” Anderson said.

To help her recovery, Anderson spent four or five mornings a week in the weight room or working on her field technique.

“My favorite thing about track is that it is both an individual and a team sport,” Anderson said. “At the end of the day, it’s not just your own points that matter, it’s also everyone else’s points that add up and allow us to truly win as a team.”

Anderson said she looks forward to next year when

she will get to lead the team as one of the captains and the new track will be finished.

“Hopefully, we will be able to win another SPC Championship and really finish our senior year out with a bang,” Anderson said.

Head Track and Field Coach LaBoris Bean expressed similar hopes for next year.

“I’m also looking forward to seeing Alyssa continue improving as an athlete. She is definitely eager to get started and make the best out of next season,” Bean said. “She’s already broken one school record and I could see her having at least three more.”

Victorious volleyballer Avery Jackson Junior wins USA Volleyball Junior Female Athlete of the Year Award

By Anika Shah | Staff Writer

Waiting for the serve, Avery Jackson stands ready on the volleyball court, her eyes on the ball.

Junior Avery Jackson has had a game-changing year on the volleyball court. She led Varsity Volleyball to second place at fall SPC this year, and her club and beach teams were both very successful. Adding to her list of accolades, Jackson was recently named USA Volleyball’s Junior Female Athlete of the Year and will be presented with the award later this month.

Jackson attributes many of her wins to the strategic part of volleyball, which she said is her strength on the court.

“I don’t think many people pay attention to the strategic part of sports, and I think that that’s where you can really capitalize,” Jackson said. “Know that you don’t always have to be the hardest hitter, you just have to

place the ball the best.”

Allison Camp, the assistant Hockaday Varsity Volleyball coach said “She plays a position that requires her to read the game in multiple ways, and you can watch

the level of understanding of the game she has. She is required to understand and read the game well and pay attention to the other side of the court”.

After being named the winner of USA Volleyball’s Junior Female Athlete of the Year, Jackson also feels reminiscent. She is not playing right now due to surgery and is in the rehab process, which she said makes her eager to get back on the court.

Jackson’s teammate sophomore Campbell Trubey said she is a major part of the team dynamic on the Hockaday Varsity Volleyball team.

“Avery is so fun, super approachable and super close with everyone,” Trubey said. “She’s really thoughtful and kind. She’s going to be a great captain next year, and I’m looking forward to everything she is going to do for the team because she really puts her all into it.”

Daisy Domination

Anderson prepares to throw a javelin at a meet.

Anderson proudly displays her medals post-SPC.

Jackson jumps for the ball during a game

Photos courtesy of Alyssa Anderson

Photo courtesy of Avery Jackson

Photo by Mary Sutherland

Photos by Matt’s Photography

Regatta recap

Crew competes in championship regattas during spring season

By Shreya Vijay | Opinions Editor

The rowing team recently competed in the Texas Rowing Championships regatta and the Central Youth Championships regatta. Texas Rowing Championships, or “states,” was in Waco’s Tradinghouse Lake Reservoir and Central Youth Championships, or “centrals,” was in Oklahoma City, on a 2,000 meter straight course on the Oklahoma River.

Texas Rowing Championships

Fifteen boats raced on Saturday, 14 qualified for finals on Sunday and seven were top-three finishes.

The race was not the biggest of the season, but it served as practice which decided some priority boats for the next race. Some rowers also experienced “beach launching” for the first time, the process of launching and setting down the boat while in the water rather than on the dock.

“You have to get in the boat while you’re wet and it was really awkward,” novice rower Cortney Buford said, “The water was quicksand; I took a wrong step and my foot was halfway gone.”

On top of that, the weather was a challenge for the team. Due to the high winds and whitecaps, the team couldn’t practice row when they arrived at Waco on Friday, and the Sunday finals were canceled.

Despite the weather conditions and environment, Lily McKenna, next year’s co-captain, said it was a good racing experience.

“Honestly, the race was really good,” McKenna said. “Even though we didn’t get [first, second, or third], we were fighting it out. It was a well-earned fourth, so it was really nice.”

Central Youth Championships

Thirteen Hockaday boats raced on Saturday, 13 qualified for finals on Sunday and eight were top-three finishes.

For some rowers, this regatta represented the final opportunity to compete in the season, while for others it presented a chance to earn a spot in the Youth Nationals regatta.

Additionally, time trials provided a unique experience in that competing boats raced 30 seconds behind each other instead of racing concurrently in one heat. Junior Angela Fan said that was an advantage for her boat.

“Hockaday is slow off the start, but we maintain speed throughout the whole race,” Fan said. “In the time trial you’re not thinking, ‘Oh we’re so behind them,’ so you don’t slow down.”

However, the rowers faced difficulties with the weather during the regatta.

“Dealing with the weather, not

only on the water but on land, was challenging,” McKenna said, “I’ve unloaded so many trailers the past four days, and there was a lot of confusion and frustration with all the moving parts and things changing.”

The winds on Sunday during the finals were gusting to 30 mph, so many races were scratched in order to prioritize bigger events with older rowers who qualified for nationals.

Despite the weather, novice Maddy Nguyen said the rowers did well.

“We were all syncing really well and it was really consistent throughout the race,” Nguyen said.“During our training we erged a lot, suffered a lot, cried a lot. And now we get to go to Florida for nationals, that is our reward. It ain’t over yet.”

Though the season is nearing the end, the team is still preparing and planning for future regattas and seasons. Abby Grace McGowan, looking forward to being captain

Varsity lacrosse athletes advocate for cause One game, OneLove

By Shreya Vijay | Opinions Editor

The OneLove Foundation is a national organization that intends to educate teens about healthy and unhealthy relationships. The foundation was created in memory of Yeardley Love, a lacrosse player at the University of Virginia who was murdered by her boyfriend three weeks before her graduation.

Club presidents Ava Tribolet and Grace Hoverman learned about the club their freshman year. They aim to spread awareness about relationship abuse in the Hockaday community, and they also participate in regular conferences with other groups in Dallas, such as the National Charity League (NCL).

Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach Molly Ford-Hutchinson shares

a personal connection with the OneLove foundation. Ford played lacrosse with Love in high school, and she later got involved with the foundation when she moved to Dallas.

“There was an opportunity to start some OneLove mini lacrosse tournaments, and that’s how I got involved with the foundation in Dallas,” Ford said.

“Spreading awareness is so important for these young women. I’m so proud of the lacrosse girls for continuing to make sure this club succeeds at Hockaday.”

Ford and ESD Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach Maggie Koch started the tradition of the Hockaday-ESD OneLove game at ESD last year, but this year the seniors took over the planning.

“The main focus is awareness,” Tribolet said. “We want to make people aware of the foundation’s connection to lacrosse.”

next year, said she hopes to improve training in the upcoming season.

“I really want to maximize training in the off-season,” McGowan said.“When we don’t have practice, I really want to get the whole team together and give everyone a feeling of self-accountability in their training. So that’s a big hope.”

Fan reflected on her progress not only in speed, but also mentally.

“I’ve been working on having more confidence in myself and believing that you can finish and can make this boat go fast,” Fan said.

Buford compared her first regatta this year and her last, both in the Oklahoma River.

“I remember when we first came to OKC, we were really struggling, but now our form looks completely different because we’ve improved so much over the course of these five months that we’ve been rowing,” Buford said.

the Upper School wrote on slips of paper answering the question “How can I love better?” The students hung up their responses on the fence near the fields before the senior night game.

“It’s a great way to just take five minutes of your day and think about what you can do to show people you love them,” Tribolet said.

The game also honored the recent passing of ESD junior Logan Betts, placing additional emphasis on the importance of fostering healthy relationships.

In 2017, lacrosse players started the OneLove chapter at Hockaday.

As part of their game, lacrosse players, coaches and members of

“Spreading awareness is so important for these young women,” Ford said. “I’m so proud of the lacrosse girls for continuing to make sure this club succeeds at Hockaday.”

Photo by Helen Liu Lily McKenna, Sophia Clavenna, Caroline Stevens, and Emery Stehel row across the water.

- Molly Ford, Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach

Absolutely pointless or altogether powerful?

How Hockaday can avoid the convoluted messaging on APs

By Danya Risam-Chandi| Features Editor

AP: These two letters are the holy grail to high-achieving high school students across the country. These two letters are so prevalent they are used as a measurement not only for your intelligence but also for how hardworking you are, how focused you are, how successful you will be and the list goes on. Some people might as well count the candles on their birthday cake by the number of APs they have taken.

For any ordinary high school student, AP courses are available in practically every subject from humanities to sciences and foreign languages. However, Hockaday is not an average school.

Hockaday girls are focused, driven and passionate but will not have a dozen APs on their transcript. This is due to the fact that Hockaday prides itself on its rigorous courses, which are designed to be more effective, in depth and rigorous than the AP courses taught at other high schools across the country.

Some Hockaday students do not believe colleges will understand their lack of AP courses and in order to compensate, they study the classes themselves. Hockaday does, however, offer almost every AP test students could take. Hockaday describes our honors courses as “equal to and more often exceeding the level of expectation and depth of study required by

College Board Advanced Placement course,” on the school’s public profile, which is sent out with every college application. This prompts the question: why bother to offer AP tests at all?

If Hockaday wants to prove that we do not need AP courses, shouldn’t the only AP tests offered be for courses taught at Hockaday? How is it any better for students to self-study for classes as they succumb to a false pretense that colleges need to see AP classes and test scores on a college application? If Hockaday wants to send clear messaging on AP courses, then they should try to discourage students from selfstudying these courses, rather than facilitate testing for courses the school does not provide.

I agree that many students fall prey to the false narrative that the number of APs they take will greatly impact their futures. However, I also feel that it is necessary for students to understand what AP classes will truly help them and which ones are simply a waste of time, unnecessarily tearing away at their peace of mind and sense of self-worth. If Hockaday’s main goal with its limited number of AP courses is to provide classes it believes are more or equally challenging than our own, the school should maintain a clear and obvious stance on the topic. What’s the first step? The end of AP tests for courses Hockaday does not offer.

Danya Risam-Chandi Features Editor

One step forward, three steps back Trans athlete ban undermines equality

By Melody Tian | JADE Editor

In the past century, human rights activists have made significant progress in the movement for LGBTQ rights. From the election of the first openly LGBTQ American in Congress to the legalization of gay marriage, the Gay Rights Movement has come a long way. However, despite these milestones, the LGBTQ community still faces persistent challenges and discrimination.

On April 20, Texas House Republicans passed a bill that would bar transgender women and girls from participating in athletic programs designated for women. This bill, disguised under the pretense of promoting fairness at competitions and protecting the rights of biological females, is part of a larger movement of legislation designed to push a clear political agenda against the LGBTQ community.

Sports should be about bringing people together and building a sense of community, especially at high school and collegiate levels. Transgender athletes, like other athletes, deserve a chance to play the sports they love without feeling excluded. Barring trans athletes from participating in sports teams solely based on their gender identity goes against the fundamental principles of athletics itself. Furthermore, if lawmakers truly cared

about protecting the rights of female athletes and maintaining fairness in sports, they would have given equal attention to enacting other legislative measures.

For instance, equal pay for female athletes is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed. Even in the present day, female athletes are paid significantly less than their male counterparts. Yet, this issue has been continuously swept under the rug by the same policymakers who approved the recent trans athlete ban.

The harmful implications of the recent ban on the LGBTQ community cannot be overlooked. For a group with an already higher chance of depression and suicide, this bill sends a dangerous message to transgender youth: their rights don’t matter, and their identities aren’t valid.

Just in the past year, there have been numerous bills introduced against the LGBTQ community. Legislation targeting drag shows and censoring curriculum are just a few examples of the recent efforts to undermine the progress toward equality and acceptance.

It is time for society to recognize and respect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their

Melody Tian JADE Editor

gender identity or sexual orientation. By standing against discriminatory legislation such as the trans athlete ban, we can work toward creating a more inclusive and accepting society.

“Some people might as well count the candles on their birthday cake by the number of APs they have taken.”

Changes intend to alleviate stress among students

With debates quickly arising, the new schedule is a serious point of contention for Upper School students. Recently altered to exclude the January term, the ’23 - ’24 schedule still aims to eliminate homework time, reduce stress and prioritize sleep for students. Despite legitimate concerns for how next year will look, I believe the schedule change is necessary, reflecting revelations about students’ mental health and productivity.

The seven-day rotation is one of the primary benefits of this schedule. For those who hate having math tests or English papers due in the morning, like myself, it offers more flexibility for assignments.

While students are worried they might not be able to keep track of the rotation, they can easily access it through OnCampus – and if St. Mark’s boys can figure it out, we can, too.

Adding to the benefit of the schedule are 100-minute classes. With additional class time, students will have greater access to teachers and more time to start or complete assignments during school, instead of at midnight the night before.

time or brain breaks during class to combat this problem.

As far as free periods, WIN, or “What-I-Need,” is just like Y-period, but longer. Therefore, students have greater time to, again, consult with teachers, hold club meetings or work on group projects in person. Not only does WIN happen every day, but it is right after lunch in the schedule. According to the ISM presentation, this time of day has been proven to be the worst for in-class teaching, so students will likely be more productive with this time as a work period.

PRO ALEXANDRA DASSOPOULOS

There are also designated WIN periods during the rotation for Assemblies, Social Impact projects, and Form Meetings, making it so these gatherings are not as limited by complicated scheduling conflicts and are more predictable. This also ensures we won’t have more than one school gathering per day.

Assemblies held during WIN are guaranteed not to last more than 30 minutes – and although some ceremonial assemblies and Fine Arts concerts last longer, the majority stick to the constraints. Therefore, even with school gatherings, WIN still provides a generous amount of work time.

HOT

“The parking lot superiority complex has got to go.”

- Charlotte Lauten ’24

Some students have speculated teachers will use this additional time for activities besides homework. But as Head of Upper school Lisa Culbertson clarified, teachers will distribute the work over the course to allow for homework time. Additionally, some students are concerned about maintaining their attention-span for 100 minutes, but teachers may incorporate stretch

WIN is not a win

With all new things, issues can arise and alterations can be made. As we carry out this new “experiment,” teachers and students discuss whether the changes are actually effective at balancing school, extracurriculars, and social lives. For now, I am optimistic about the new schedule and its benefits.

“ I don’t get how Timotheé Chalamet is hot. His face is shaped like a bicycle seat.”

- Carys Braun ’25

New year, new schedule DAISIES’ TAKES STAFF STANDOFF

Rotating schedule will not deliver on promises

With the announcement of a new schedule comes a fair share of excitement and concern. Among the items on the seven-day rotating schedule are 100-minute classes and the What-I-Need (WIN) period.

The administration contends that fewer and longer class periods will give students time for homework and questions, promising teachers will not extend their curriculum to fill the extra minutes.

WIN, a universal free period, is meant to give students time to finish assignments and meet with teachers. In the assembly, the administration also promised that the Form Meeting, Assembly and Social Impact WINs listed on select days would not exceed their 30-minute limits, guaranteeing us ample time to work or study.

The schedule is intended to honor our time, presenting a healthy solution to overwhelming piles of homework and poor school-life balance.

However, I don’t believe the schedule will deliver on the administration’s intentions. The school can’t provide for student wellbeing nor improve our learning experiences with promises that are not backed by policies or rules.

assemblies will not go over 30 minutes could fall through without a rule enforcing that limit, as we’ve already seen this year.

The administration acknowledged the several hours students reported they spend on homework, even citing a 2013 study by Stanford professor Denise Pope which concludes that more than two hours of homework each night can harm students’ mental and physical health.

CON

BENNETT TRUBEY

However, no rules or policies have been announced to limit the amount of homework teachers assign or the extensions of curricula. This leaves the administration’s citation of the study as nothing more than a fun fact. Rather than a schedule that guarantees long classes, burnout and heaps of homework, a rotating schedule with four 75-minute classes a day and strict policies limiting assembly times, for example, could still give students time to stay on top of assignments and enable us to learn energetically and effectively.

“Annie’s

“Room temperature coffee is better than iced or hot.”

- Ava

While the number of classes would drop and students would have more time to ask questions, will still result in tired students popping open another Celsius to get through their 100-minute classes. Additionally, the school’s promise that WIN

I appreciate that the school has recognized the severe imbalance in students’ schedules and their attempt to accommodate us in the new plan. However, for the schedule to function as the school intends and help students regain more of a work-life balance, it needs to be more carefully evaluated.

Bob ’23

Mac and Cheese is better than Kraft.”

- Reese Dondero ’24

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Caroline Bush & Harper Harris

MANAGING EDITOR

Kailey Bergstedt

COPY EDITOR

Bennett Trubey

JADE EDITORS

Aadya Kuruvalli & Melody Tian

WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Hanna Asmerom

NEWS EDITOR

Amitha Nair

ARTS & LIFE EDITORS

Alexandra Dassopoulos & Alexa Muñoz

FEATURES EDITORS

Danya Risam-Chandi & Elizabeth Truelove

SPORTS EDITOR

Anjy Fadairo

OPINIONS EDITOR

Shreya Vijay

PHOTO, GRAPHICS & CASTOFF EDITOR

Elle Myers

STAFF WRITERS

Larkin Clouston

Shifa Irfan

Cece Johnson

Anya Aggarwal

Caroline Ballotta

Lang Cooper

Melinda Hu

Cata Litrell

Audrey Liu

Sophia Lou

Emily McLeroy

Sarah Moskowitz

Leyah Philip

Anika Shah

Mary Sutherland

Aadhya Yanamadala

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, but the content is subject to prior review by the head of Upper School, the communications director and other members of the Hockaday leadership team. Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and should be addressed to the 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 Caroline Bush at CBush24@hockaday.org or Harper Harris at HHarris24@hockaday.org.

STAFF EDITORIAL

fTime for a new perspective

There’s more to life than college admissions

In pop culture, being an American teenager means hanging out with friends, discovering yourself, and truly beginning your life - all without stress.

In real life, however, a major part of our teenage years is applying to college. While this obviously prompts stressors during our final year of high school, with increasingly competitive admissions, the stress of college prep has begun to hit students earlier and earlier.

In addition to the burdens of our social and academic lives, we also must traverse the halls of high school with the knowledge that one day, admissions officers will scrutinize every footstep we leave behind. Simply put, excess stress isn’t good for students and is only getting worse.

The American Psychological Association found that teenage stress levels rival those of adults. Oftentimes, the anticipation of college admissions only makes this stress worse. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has referred to college admissions as a “tremendous pressure” on youth.

Some believe complaints about the stress of college admissions are unwarranted or a sign of an overprivileged country. They are correct.

We are, in fact, privileged enough to worry about our grades and extracurricular activities instead of our safety or whether we will have food to eat for dinner. However, in the midst of a

rampant mental health crisis in America and around the world, it’s critical that life become less stressful.

Many argue the holistic admissions process, the American system of considering factors such as essays, transcripts, and extracurricular activities, is the most effective way to reduce bias in admissions, but some express their desire for a lottery system of admissions instead, to combat inequality and alleviate stress.

Until changes are made to the system, if ever, what can students - those who this stress directly impacts - do about this?

All we can do is our best. It’s critical that we don’t compare ourselves to others but instead do the things we love to the best of our abilities.

Although it often doesn’t feel like it,

SUMMER VACATION

Only a few more days until summer break! Warm weather, vacations and days free of homework await.

there is so much to life besides getting into a specific college. Besides, those who choose to pursue further education have more choices ahead.

Especially now that society is becoming better informed about mental health, we urge those in charge to look for ways to improve the college admissions process. Until then, we should aim to live our lives in a way that makes sense to us — regardless of who’s watching.

CLASS OF 2023 GRADUATING

Students and faculty will be sad to see the class of 2023 leave, but we know how hard they have worked and celebrate their accomplishments.

Some seem to love the Daisy, while others are not the biggest fans of its creepy smile and eerie stare.

The end of the year means crunch time — the last chance to raise grades before final reports come out.

The staff editorial is an unsigned piece representing a consensus of opinion among members of The Fourcast editorial board regarding a current issue.

We love it, We love it not

Illustration by Carys Braun