Issue 2, Vol. 61

highlights IN THIS ISSUE

October 2020

BEWARE OF MISINFORMATION Page 12

GABLES RECORDS N’ COMICS Page 24

GLORIFYING THE GRIND

Issue 2, Volume 61 | Coral Gables SHS | 450 Bird Road, Coral Gables, FL 33146

h

highlights editorial board

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Adviser Business Manager Social Media Manager Content Editor Features News Opinion Sports The Scene Insight Online

Alexandra Torres Hanna Ebrahimi Aya Hamza Melissa Gonzalez Natalia Pallas Grace Rodriguez Marta Rodriguez Nataly Rabelo Alma Martinez Sharon Florez Sara Ebrahimi Arianna Peña Isabella Villarroel Isabella Morales & Gregoire Winston

staff writers Penelope Acevedo Camila Aitken Alexander Brazda Daniela Calderon Cristel Cantarero María José Cestero Natalie Falls Alia Gamez Emilys Gil Fernando Largaespada

DeeAnne Montero Alexa Orozco Dani Parra del Riego Addys Plata Olivia Rebull Alexandra Roa Marcela Rondon Rafael Sans Maya Shah Austin Yagoda

contributors Catherine Pasternac Rebeca Reinoso Alexander Gilling Elizabeth Kiely

Rafael Martinez Daniel Marrero Katherine Blanco David Kuper

David Pasternac Brigette Henriquez Indiana Harper

publication policy highlights is the official student-produced news magazine at Coral Gables Senior High School published and produced by highlights staff members. highlights has been established as a designated public forum for student journalists to educate and inform their readers on issues of concern to their audience and dissemination of news and ideas to the entire school community. As the producer of a scholastic publication, highlights subscribes to the responsibilities set forth by the National Scholastic Press Association Code of Ethics for scholastic journalists and advisers. According to Miami-Dade County Public School Policy, student media is not subject to prior-review by administration or district personnel and as such, all content is determined by and reflects the views of the student staff members only. highlights welcomes reader feedback. All letters should be addressed to highlightscghs@gmail.com with the subject line “Letter to the Editor.” highlights reserves the right to publish any letter sent.

2 preview

In this issue

pg.6

Courtesy of Marlom Augustin

features 4 7

Parenthood: a second job for teachers highlights’ quarantine playlist

news 9 School construction update 10 Meet the Miami-Dade Mayoral candidates

opinion 13 16

The problem with toxic masculinity Fast fashion in a capitalist society

sports 20 22

The gaming world at Gables Let’s talk sports with David and Rick Kuper!

the scene 23 26

Social distancing presents: drive-in movies Fusion food: eat all around the world

insight 28

When rise and shine becomes rise and grind

intro to fall

Rafael Sans / highlights

DISTANCED DINING: Students eat lunch socially distanced in the pavillion on Oct. 7, the first day back at school in-person.

Courtesy of Catherine Pasternac

VIRTUAL MENTORING: Seniors Catherine Pasternac, Daniela Parra del Riego and Daniel Fernandez mentor IB juniors about CAS.

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HILE IRRITATING TO SOME, the sounds of banging pots and pans at impromptu street parades in Miami are a tell-tale sign of a recent sports victory. Yet, as people of all ages flaunt their jerseys and create harmonious sounds of laughter, it is nearly impossible to distinguish the real fans from the bandwagoners.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, bandwagon fans — otherwise known as fairweathers — are a hoax. I’m kidding, but not really. Every night during the regular season, we real fans sit at the edge of our seats and pray that one of our players will give the post-win interview.

Losses in close matches haunt us for days, months or sometimes even years and wins make us lose sleep too, but for the

Emilys Gil / highlights

CREATING SPACE: Restaurants in Miami have come up with unique ways to socially distance, such as using shipping containers.

Rafael Sans / highlights

CLASSROOM SETUP: The classroom environment has a new look with required masks, desks three feet apart and more.

from the editors opposite reason. Meanwhile, bandwagoners sleep eight quality hours, waiting for a signal to escape their hibernation and begin showing their unwanted support.

The blatant remarks about how my team’s — the Heat’s — Golden Era is long gone begin to dissipate as these imposters try to cling on to the success I have suffered for (as the Heat’s self-designated benchwarmer) during the losing seasons. Since I was seven, I have watched — and evaluated — exciting new players, cheered through rebuilding years and marked game-days on my calendar. When bandwagoners say “who knew Tyler Herro was this good?”

I shake my head and think I did and you would’ve too if you would’ve just watched.

My message in writing this is clear: if you

don’t support the team during the regular season, you shouldn’t bask in all its glory during the postseason — or worse, when the team is on the verge of winning a championship (yes, “Heat fans,” I’m talking to you).

Do I take my love of sports too far? No doubt. But, it doesn’t take more than common sense to refrain from praising a team you once bashed. You don’t have to watch every game and you certainly don’t have to invest all your time studying the team in question’s next opponent. Just refrain from your entitlement and acknowledge that your actions — like your Instagram story posts — are annoying.

Sincerely, Hanna Ebrahimi, Managing Editor pictures 3

Double Duty Teachers share their challenges in balancing the online school dynamic and having quality family time

BY ALEXANDRA ROA, STAFF WRITER

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ALANCING MORNING LAUNDRY, packing school lunches and preparing lesson plans are just a few tasks some of the school’s teachers combat before their second full-time job begins. As the early Zoom meetings commence at 7:15 a.m., a quick change of roles from parent to teacher are set in motion.

When Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) announced the 2020-2021 school year would begin virtually, teachers

with younger children needed to make last minute adjustments to not only effectively teach their students, but also provide a supportive learning environment for their children.

According to an analysis done by the Brookings Institution’s Michael Hansen and Diana Quintero, 48% of all public school teachers have children living at home with them. This study incorporates young children who are in need of round-the-clock

supervision, along with teenagers who can be more independent. With a short window of time to plan for the school year, teachers with children needed to figure out a way to find a balance between their work and family life.

As the worlds of teaching and parenting collide, math teacher Rebeca Reinoso and history teacher Aaron Miller share how they are helping their students and their own children attain academic success.

AARON MILLER As the teacher of seven Advanced Placement (AP) classes and a coach on both the football and wrestling teams, long work days are no stranger to history teacher Aaron Miller. In light of COVID-19 restrictions, however, Miller is forced to balance teaching online school with parenting his five-year-old daughter Jordan, who is in kindergarten and his nineyear-old son Lucas, who is in the fourth grade.

Miller’s family is

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a/ highlight

Alexandra Ro

TEACHER TO PARENT: Aaron Miller and his children, Lucas and Jordan, enjoy quality time after school.

4 features

what he refers to as a ‘school’ family. His wife, who is a treasurer of a school, has not stopped going to work since the beginning of the lockdown. Working full-time, Miller’s wife is unable to be there to help the kids during school hours, leaving Miller accountable for solving whatever technological issues that his children encounter.

“When I finish lecturing, I go straight to them. Wherever they are, I just go to make sure they are doing alright, so it allows me to check on them about four times a day,” Miller said.

Every morning, Miller wakes up early and logs both of his children onto their Zoom classes. Although Lucas tends to be very self-sufficient, Miller has noticed that he sometimes has difficulty focusing. With this, he tells his son that whenever he is struggling to stay focused he should pick up a Lego and play with it in his hands. Jordan typically struggles with completing class/homework and logging on to her virtual instruction as she is not yet familiar with how to navigate through online-school technologies.

With mixed emotions, Miller is saddened that his daughter, who typically would be having a large amount of hands-on instructional learning in kindergarten, is missing out on that.

“[Milller] occasionally takes some time to help his daughter while we work but it hasn’t interfered at all with the quality of our education,” freshman Emily Kardijian said.

Throughout the day, Lucas has a notepad that he is able to jot down any questions that he would like to ask his dad after class. When Jordan has projects to do, Miller uses it as time to get the whole family involved. For example, Jordan had a school project that was meant to talk all about her, in essence, an “all about me” project. As soon as his wife got home and Miller finished up work, the whole family was going to participate in helping Jordan finish it as a way to spend quality time together.

“When their teacher says go outside, sometimes we will go in the pool for a little while and come back in. We try to do things like that as often as possible to incorporate some of that family time whenever we can.

Lucas also likes to play on his Nintendo Switch and Jordan likes to watch YouTube, so I think they use that time as a way to decompress,” Miller said.

As a parent, Miller uses his children’s frustrations with online learning to inspire him to be a better teacher and role-model for his students. He recognizes the importance of teaching hands-on and works to promote social engagement in the classroom so that his students can be excited to learn the respective content.

“We learn more by doing, we do not learn by listening, we learn by doing,” Miller said.

REBECA REINOSO When all is calm in the late hours of the night, math teacher Rebeca Reinoso stays up preparing for the next day. With three children — six-year olds Janelle and Jayden and fiveyear-old Jordan — in the early stages of elementary school, Reinoso spends her days juggling teaching and helping her children adjust to virtual learning.

Though maintaining this equilibrium would be a full day for the average person, for Reinoso, she has yet to finish. Balancing her roles of teacher and parent is continued by her after-school tutoring services and making dinner.

“A lot of people do not realize the parental side to teaching, especially with distance learning. I realized that a lot of platforms are not good for parents because at the end of the day, they have to help their kids. With elementary, it would be nice to have everything in one place, one Zoom code and a simple password that children would not have issues typing,” Reinoso said.

As a single mother, Reinoso and her children shared a tight-knit bond, but these past six months have made a significant difference. Thinking their connection could not get any stronger, to Reinoso’s surprise quarantine has brought them closer together. Never complaining about being close with her children, Reinoso has noted that if they do not know where she is, they tend to get worried.

Due to her children’s young age, they often need Reinoso’s assistance when logging on to their classes, completing classwork and homework. Reinoso finds herself helping her children while trying to understand the online platform herself.

“I think its been very challenging for teachers who have younger children. Mrs. Reinoso had a lot on her plate, but she did a

great job keeping in contact with us,” senior Sara Rabell said. “As students, we tried to support her by doing the best we could.”

With the time she gives her students to work on classwork, it leaves an adequate amount of room for Reinoso and her mother to help her children with whatever they are in need of.

“My mom is also a teacher, so when she is on her breaks and planning period, she tries to take one of the kids and help out with whatever she possibly can,” Reinoso said.

“

I LOVE TEACHING; I LOVE TEACHING PEOPLE MATH. THIS SITUATION IS NOBODY’S FAULT, NOT MINE, NOT THE KIDS, BUT IF I CAN MAKE THE BEST OF IT AND TEACH WHAT I NEED TO TEACH, WE WILL BE OKAY. REBECA REINOSO, TEACHER

family responsibilities and work are organization and planning. Treating virtual school days just like she would if her children were attending school in-person, Reinoso begins her preparations for the next day the night before by having the school lunches ready and having a plan for what she is going to teach her students in place. She also bought a cart with three shelves for each of her children to organize their backpacks, lunches and school supplies.

This way, her children can easily access whatever materials they need without asking her throughout the day. At lunch time, each child grabs their lunch box off the cart with their meals prepared from the night before to sit down and eat together.

“I came up with the idea that I am going to treat it like a regular school day. I have their lunches done the night before and I bought a cart that has three shelves, because I have three kids. In the cart they have their lunchboxes, backpacks, anything they need so that it is easy and accessible,” Reinoso said.

A philosophy that Reinoso chooses to exude is that if she remains positive and patient, her students will reflect that as well.

“I love teaching; I love teaching people math. This situation is nobody’s fault, not mine, not the kids, but if I can make the best of it and teach what I need to teach, we will be okay,” Reinoso said. h

To combat any issues, Reinoso also frequently encourages her children to participate orally in class discussions, even when on mute, while keeping an eye on them to make sure they are staying on task.

“I try really hard to have breaks in between my lessons, like classwork time,” Reinoso said.

“When my students are working on something, if my kids happen to have their computer issue at that time, it will not interrupt my students if it happens when I am teaching, I will just try to multitask and do Courtesy of Rebeca Reinoso everything at the same time.”

For Reinoso, the WORKING OVERTIME: Rebeca Reinoso and her primary factors in maintaining a healthy children Jordan, Janelle and Jayden celebrate balance between her their accomplishments through virtual learning.

features 5

THE REAL GFR Marlom Augustin’s passion for music has grown from YouTube diss tracks to owning his own label

BY FERNANDO LARGAESPADA, STAFF WRITER

L

OW-DIMMED LED LIGHTS AND a microphone create junior Marlom Augustin’s ideal setting for converting melodies and chords into music for the masses. In composing lyrical stories set to a beat, Augustin — more commonly known as GFR— has accumulated over 300,000 streams on his music.

Augustin is a songwriter, producer and rapper who owns and manages a music label, Modern Reality Records, which has signed artists like Lil Heat, Cuban Adrian and Psycho 17. By using platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, Augustin has been able to make his dream of becoming a musician into a reality.

Augustin first got involved in the music industry in 2016 after he and his friends made

diss tracks for fun. His love for making music and performing live grew rapidly. After seven months, he began making his first solo songs where he started rapping. He then stopped making disses and remixes and started focusing on making original music. His rapper name — GFR — is an acronym for “Gaming For Real.” Augustin previously ran a YouTube channel for gaming under this name, so he decided to keep it since he became known for it.

Augustin’s work is not exclusive to one genre as he delves into the worlds of Rap, Pop and Latin music. To start a song, producers CarsonBeats and WatAboutMe first send Augustin a sample beat. From there, he uses his emotions and connection to the beat to decide what genre he wants to tie into the song. When he gets to the lyric writing g Gillin r ande Alex Courtesy of stage, Augustin uses the beat to inspire him.

“I guess I’m what you call a hype lyrical rapper,” Augustin said.

By incorporating comedic lyrics at a fast rate and not using repetitive bars, Augustin works to ensure his audience can enjoy his music and react.

Some of his most recent songs include Side Story, Rebel, Boof and Cold Blooded.

“I wasn’t born from MODERN MIXES: Augustin audio engineers the a family with musical background or anything. newest production of Psycho 17’s song.

I just put in the work and

HOME TALK The highlights staff records what students are talking about during online class sessions.

6 features

practiced. You practice and practice and over time you become better,” Augustin said.

In 2018, Augustin worked with a producer from Texas, commonly known as “Redtynt,” who made him an entire beat pack with rapper and producer Pi’erre Bourne. Augustin used this beat to create his most popular song, “Nonsense,” which has accumulated over 120,000 streams.

“He is really underground but has a lot of connections,” Augustin said. “I started working with him and built a friendship.”

Augustin enjoys previewing his songs before he releases them to his followers. His fans love his snippets and when he shows them his process.

“I enjoyed the process of making it, as well as how it sounds,” Augustin said. “But I let [the fans] pick and choose what songs should be the singles and which songs they think are the best.”

In being an artist, Augustin has learned the importance of owning all of his own masters and reading through the contracts for all agreements. With his own label, he ensures that all his artists own their masters and make decisions they won’t regret in the future.

“That’s the point of my label and why I started it,” Augustin said. “This prevents artists from being dragged down by legal purposes and benefits from all the things a popular label would offer them.”

Augustin believes he can improve as a musician by bettering his flows, lyrics, bars and devoting time to his craft every day.

“I wouldn’t say I’m perfect, but after three years, I’ve definitely grown a skill for music. I would have never thought I’d sound the way I sound today,”Augustin said. h

“I drink a coconut water on Zoom meetings to look like I have my life together.”

“Wait, you cut off... How do you control the masses? It sounded like you said chlamydia.”

“K12 was used as a scam for MDCPS to reach 100k followers.”

“Even the vegans want to eat the rich.”

“I can’t tell if my teacher is bad at teaching or I’m bad at learning.”

“I can’t turn my camera on, I don’t have my eyebrows done yet!”

highlights Quarantine Playlist Tune into highlights’ top picks to help get students through the quarantine blues and into the groove Created By OLIVIA REBULL, STAFF WRITER Issue 2, Volume 61

P L AY ••• TITLE

ARTIST

Wonder

ALBUM

Shawn Mendes

Wonder

Dear April

Frank Ocean

Dear April

you broke me first

Tate McRae

you broke me first

Yo Perreo Sola

Bad Bunny

YHLQMDLG

Young Once

Sam Hunt

SOUTHSIDE

hoax

Taylor Swift

folklore

Maniac

Conan Gray

Kid Krow

Mac Miller

Circles

Good News

Put a Little

In the

Love on Me

Party

Niall Horan

Heartbreak Weather

Flo Milli

Ho, why is you here?

Rain on Me

Lady Gaga

Chromatica

Conversations in the Dark

John Legend

Conversations in the Dark

features 7

NEWS

highlights

BRIEFS

BY GRACE RODRIGUEZ, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER FIU AND GOOGLE TRAIN ENTREPRENEURS

COUNTY CIVILIAN REVIEW PANEL

BISCAYNE BAY MASS FISH MORTALITY

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL University (FIU) has partnered with Google to help train Spanish speaking entrepreneurs in growing their businesses. The collaboration, known as Grow with Google, will host free webinars.

Participants will learn to use programs such as Google Sheets, advanced web searching, search optimization, and Google Ads. “FIU has always had a large amount of Spanish speaking students,” FIU junior Daniel Martinez said. “Due to more Spanish speaking entrepreneurs graduating from FIU, the school’s reputation will ultimately increase.” h

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY (MDC) commissioners approved a plan back in August to begin an independentlyrun panel for Miami-Dade residents to report instances of police mistreatment and misconduct. A majority vote of 8 to 5 approved the independent panel.

Following this, a petition given in late May to begin the formation of the panel was signed by 7,700 residents in early June.

“The more people there are to help record and hold police accountable, the more they know that they won’t be able to get away with things any more,” junior Vivian Frederique said. h

THIS AUGUST, THOUSANDS OF fish were found dead in the Biscayne Bay area due to high sea temperatures and low oxygen levels, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Residents complained of a pungent smell coming from the water where the fish lay dead, shortly before pumps were installed in mid-August to try and revive the surrounding ocean area.

“Biscayne Bay is uniquely diverse with many endangered species,” senior and Gables Earth Co-President Ana Bermudez said. “These fish kills are detrimental to the state of Miami’s wildlife.” h

FOLLOW US ONLINE WILL CLIMATE CHANGE SUBSIDE? How has climate change and other negative factors impacted the future of degradation?

ADVANCING ABRAHAM ACCORDS Abraham Accords set stage for diplomatic ties between Israel, Bahrain, USA and UAE.

Instagram: @highlightscghs Twitter: @highlightscghs Facebook: highlights cghs

Scan to visit our online content!

5 12 26

OCTOBER, HIGHSCHOOLS BEGIN RETURN TO SCHOOL

OCTOBER, COLUMBUS DAY

OCTOBER, TEACHER PLANNING DAY MY STRANGE ADDICTION highlights members share some of their quirky and strange addictions.

MIAMI-DADE TENANTS GET A BREAK The relief plan will provide aid to more than 150,000 Miami-Dade households and families.

MY TEA, YOUR TEA, MIU’S TEA Miu’s tea is increasing in popularity, offering a variety of boba teas to choose.

8 news

UPCOMING DATES

CONGRATS Senior Mena Williams won the September 2020 Lift Award for music composition.

Only awarded to 100 students throughout the country, senior Imgard Bonheur was accepted to the Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse Amercia college preparatory program.

Construction, crowding and COVID-19 As the number of COVID-19 cases decrease, questions around the safety of returning to campus are growing

BY MAYA SHAH, STAFF WRITER

M

IAMI-DADE COUNTY (MDC) entered Phase II of the reopening plan on Sept. 14, leading MiamiDade County Public Schools (MDCPS) to announce the physical return of students to schools. This information has prompted concerns from parents, students and faculty about overcrowding given the on-going construction happening at school. With approximately 3,600 students and an inoperative building still in the process of remodeling, the question of how students could effectively social-distance to ensure safety still arises.

While many feel apprehensive towards the possibility of sending thousands to school in the midst of contruction, the school’s principal, Tony Ullivarri, expects construction of the new building to be completed by Oct. 26 and available for use once the final inspection is cleared. Other renovations such as updated stairwells and hallways have already been completed.

Along with these renewals will be directional signs for hallways and staircases, and signs reminding students of hygiene protocols and immediately reporting any symptoms. Additional cleaning protocols will be enforced and the number of students allowed in each classroom will also be limited.

There will also be new protocols for safe bus transportation of students. Face coverings will be required, seating will be limited to one person per row, there will be an installation of hand sanitizing stations at the entrance of school buses and increased sanitation

between morning and afternoon routes.

“I am hopeful for a safe return to school and an opportunity to interact with the students and staff once it is safe to do so,” Ullivari said. “I want to continue to build on

“

IT HAS BEEN HARD FOR ME TO ADJUST TO REMOTE LEARNING AND I MISS BEING A PART OF A PHYSICAL COMMUNITY NINA WALLEN, JUNIOR the traditions and excellence at the school.”

MDCPS Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced the staggered reopening plan via MDCPS social media, website and the televised school board meeting that occurred Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The first grades to return will be the youngest MDCPS students which includes Pre-K through first grade and all ESE modified curriculum students on Oct. 5. The remaining elementary grades will return along with sixth graders and high school grades nine and 10 return on Oct. 7. On Oct. 9 grades seven, eight, 11 and 12 will join physically. Students who

chose to attend physically will go on campus five days a week, while the remainder of students will continue with virtual instruction.

“I personally believe the school board was impatient when voting to reopen schools so soon and that in this decision the students and teachers’ health were not prioritized,” freshman Alessandro Moran said.

In July, a survey was sent out through the MDCPS parent portal on whether families preferred for their children to return to the campus or stay virtual during Phase II of the next school year until it is safe for everyone to return once again.

Those who have since changed their minds about returning to school physically have the option to switch to virtual learning.

As for the students who wish to convert from online to physical school, they will be placed on a waiting list and will be allowed to return to school based on the current capacity. If the July survey was not submitted, the student will continue learning from home. The MDCPS Student Portal and mobile app can be used to check which enrollment status a student currently has.

“Since I live with my grandparents I will not be returning to school in person to limit my chances of catching the virus, since we have such a densely populated school,” junior Princesa Madriz said. “I am glad I still have the option to continue my studies from home.”

After the drastic changes that have followed the COVID-19 pandemic, many hope the return dates are a stride towards normalcy. h

by the numbers Courtesy of CoralGablesCavaliers.org

77.7% of the school’s students will not be returning to school

30 million dollars will have been spent when the renovations end

800

students requested to return to physical learning.

Compiled by Maya Shah/highlights

news 9

GET TO KNOW MIAMI’S

With the 2020 Miami-Dade County mayoral election approaching

BY OLIVIA REBULL, STAFF WRITER

REPUTATION Levine-Cava is currently a County Commissioner and has participated as a citizen to try to influence public policy to help children, families and communities.

VALUES

ote lla.v

During the pandemic, Levine-Cava believes in investing in the city’s healthcare infrastructure, expanding access to medical care and supporting healthcare workers. h

anie

THOUGHTS ON COVID-19

of D

Levine-Cava aims to help the economy rebuild on the principles of justice and equality. She hopes to do this by promoting small businesses and making investments in underserved communities.

CAVA

rtesy

AREAS OF INTEREST

DANIELLA LEVINE

Cou

Cava hopes to support Black Miami-Dade County (MDC) residents and empowering entrepreneurs throughout the community by opening small business accelerators, using available federal funds and matching private dollars. She is also dedicated to keeping water sources clean.

PARTY

DEMOCRAT

how can you get involved?

REGISTER TO VOTE

SUPPORT LEVINE CAVA

If you are at least 16 years old, register to vote at registertovoteflorida.gov

Sign up to volunteer for Commissioner LevineCava’s campaign by visiting daniella.vote.

Compiled by Olivia Rebull/highlights

10 news

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

g, familiarize yourself with the candidates and their qualifications

REPUTATION Bovo is a current County Commissioner for MDC. His colleagues in the Florida Legislature nominated him as Chairman of the Hispanic Legislative Caucus and he holds a leadership post as transportation chairman of MDC.

VALUES

BOVO

vebovo.com Courtesy of Ste

STEVE

PARTY STEVE

REPUBLICAN

BOVO

Bovo believes it is critical to ensure a stable relationship, with trust, between the public and law enforcement. Furthermore, his candidacy is based on conservative principles to protect taxpayer dollars, ensure transparency, fairness and fiscal responsibility.

AREAS OF INTEREST Bovo wants to research and implement new technologies to assist law enforcement. Bovo hopes to do this by expanding the use of police body cameras throughout the county by supporting municipalities to adopt or expand their practice.

THOUGHTS ON COVID-19 Bovo wants to ensure student safety by including ways to promote mental health on campus. He also wants to provide the faculty and staff of all schools county-wide priority access to COVID-19 resources. h

APPLY TO VOLUNTEER Thelastweekends.org features a step-by-step application to help navigate teens through political volunteering.

Alma Martinez/highlights

SUPPORT BOVO Commissioner Bovo’s website, stevebovo. com lists an email and telephone number available for ways to get involved.

news 11

STAFF- ED: Beware of misinformation

Public figures contribute to the unfortunate spread of misinformation through social media platforms as world affairs intensify

F

OR MANY, MISINFORMATION in the media is almost undetectable, as seemingly credible news outlets and social media accounts disseminate false information. In a society where everyone is becoming technologically dependent, it is imperative to be aware of the consumption of fake news.

The rapid growth of misinformation has the potential of having severe consequences for anyone on social media. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study led by data scientist Soroush Vosoughi found that tweets carrying false information were 70% more likely to be shared than real news, regardless of who users were following on Twitter. This number could easily drop if people were made aware of the importance of fact-checking their information.

“The main issue with misinformation is that it is used to deceive people into believing someone or agreeing with someone’s argument,” junior Jovahnny Garcia said.

“Misinformation in today’s society is a reoccurring thing because [of] how quickly information spreads and how it can be twisted for one’s own personal use.”

The threat of misinformation can come from individuals themselves — or more disturbingly, foreign groups motivated by the desire to have influence over major American affairs. During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the media exploded in disbelief when it was revealed by Facebook that a Russian-linked operation was spreading false propaganda aimed at swaying the AfricanAmerican population into favoring president Donald Trump’s campaign.

Moreover, teenagers who often depend on social media for fast news are the most vulnerable targets of misinformation because of their dependence on technology. When misinformation is put out on platforms that teenagers use on a daily basis, the truth being left out can only have destructive outcomes.

One of the greatest threats currently is in regard to the coronavirus, as false propaganda regarding potential vaccines and remedies are being shared by civilians and public figures alike.

According to a study conducted by a team of Oxford University researchers, the greatest sources of COVID-19

misinformation are influencers, celebrities and politicians. This is especially concerning as they have large platforms and the ability to reach millions within seconds.

Anyone can easily fall victim to this fatal irresponsibility that fails to take into account the grave consequences that health misinformation can bring. However, it does not take research to see the rampant

DID YOU KNOW?

A false story reaches people six times quicker than a true story.

Source: American Association for the Advancement of Science

ignorance currently existing in social media.

For instance, NBA All-Star Damian Lillard praised a controversial video of a fake doctor uncovering the “truths” of the severity of COVID-19. In retrospect, the significance of a retweeted post can influence those who remained uninformed of the deadly virus when the source is not fact-based.

Furthermore, news agencies usually considered reliable have been caught spreading fake

news. When addressing the Trump Administration’s relations with Russia, The Washington Post, The Telegraph and ABC News all reported that Russian hackers led

by Putin had taken over the U.S. electricity grid, an allegation that was debunked and was nowhere near true. If the media was not so insistent on publishing sensational news, embarassments such as this one could be avoided easily avoided, as they only create unnecessary panic and chaos.

Furthermore, Trump has also been caught spreading fake news. In discussing the pandemic, Trump stated that the amount of reported cases of COVID-19 would decrease as the warmer months would approach. This was quickly disproven only days after by Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

“The spread of the incorrect information can cause divisions between communities,” junior Jonathan Burgos said. “Awareness can be brought out by talking about the times that misinformation lead to serious or fatal consequences.”

Misinformation can corruptly persuade the choices of the people when it comes to making decisions that can greatly impact their daily life or in the long run. This can range from fake infographics for endorsements for public office, to health products or produce that can be dangerous or toxic.

The dangerous expansion of misleading information poses threats to the kids that are on the internet. This is why parents should go the extra mile to understand the influence of the internet and its mastered algorithms.

Social media platforms should begin to take responsibility for fact checking as well, considering the amount of people exposed to their product. No one can be truly safe from misinformation until the issue is given the attention it so urgently deserves. h

12 opinion Sharon Florez/ highlights

Boys don’t cry

As a new generation matures, the time has come to cease judging men based off traditional masculine ideology COMMENTARY BY ALIA GAMEZ, STAFF WRITER

B

OYS ARE raised to be commanding, strong and never to falter, while girls are taught to be meek and passive both physically and mentally.

To be considered real men, boys must unreasonably show apathy and take part in traditionally masculine aesthetics.

If one dares to break away from the standard, they risk being ostracized by the people around them. Everything around us, from our methods of entertainment to our cultural communities, contributes to imposing harmful stereotypes. While some men are shifting towards freely expressing themselves, the long-lived pressure to conform to the misogynistic norm has left men afraid to be open, only further internalizing their feelings and limiting their growth.

Often, patriarchal values are acknowledged to socially affect women, but there has been minimal conversation of its internal effects on men. Recently popularized in the 2010s, toxic masculinity has become known as a term to describe the negativity that results from conforming to some traditionally male behaviors. These behaviors focus on the glorification of strength and dominance as the features of the ideal man, both physically and emotionally. This superficial cultural standard denies men the right to be sensible.

Normal human behavior, such as crying, is looked down upon, as any emotion that displays signs of weakness are considered the opposite of how a man should act. In a similar light, men who take part in what is considered to be societably female — such as wearing makeup — are often labeled as gay in a derogatory manner or ridiculed for being deviant.

In recent years, men have slowly begun breaking away from the stereotypes thrust upon them. Household names like Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles can be found wearing jewelry, makeup, nail polish or even feminine clothing very often. Whether it be fashion week or a typical Tuesday, the pair are known for their eccentric outfits.

The stars have both spoken out about their dislike of traditional masculinity, alluding to the fact that there is not anything specific men need to take part in to be considered

masculine. Styles’ and Chalamet’s popularity among youth holds a lot of power and is capable of being a major vessel of influence to redefine gender norms.

Across the globe as well, K-pop sets an example of how excessive masculinity is not required to be loved and accepted by the

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GENDER IS EXTREMELY SUBJECTIVE AND ARBITRARY IN NATURE, SO REDEFINING ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS IS NOTHING MEN SHOULD WORRY ABOUT. THIAGO ABADSANCHEZ, SENIOR world. The recent popularization of breaking gender norms has started a trend that could have a lasting effect on societal standards.

“Guys shouldn’t be afraid of being judged and conforming to social standards from previous generations,” senior Thiago Abad-Sanchez said. “Gender is extremely subjective and arbitrary in nature, so redefining roles and expectations is nothing to worry about.”

Younger men are slowly becoming accustomed and open to new gender boundaries. As more experimental fashion tastes such as the gothic e-boy and streetwear become more common, boys are beginning to outgrow the traditionally expected t-shirts, cargo shorts and gym clothes. The freedom to wear expressive clothing has been long awaited for.

“I am very proud to see gender roles take a step into the inclusion of men with what is considered to be female,” senior Valeria Orjeala said. “I feel like most girls in our generation love people like Harry Styles and Jaden Smith, men who do not hate something inherently female.”

With masculinity’s distaste for emotion and need to prove dominance, the mindset that toxic masculinity produces can be fatal.

According to the American Psychological Association, men of all ages and ethnicities are less likely to seek support regarding their mental state. Even though in many cases men deal with subjects such as depression, substance abuse and stressful life events, many do not seek help in order to prove their emotional strength.

“Society dislikes when men express themselves with their emotion,” junior David Caldera said. “I am thankful that people are starting to go against the norm.”

In a society that has constantly perpetuated a harmful ideal, moving on from tradition will be a long journey. Even though it may take time, preventing harm towards the future generations from lack of emotional support, fear of expressing themselves and violence against others will be worth the effort in the long run. h

Sharon Florez/ highlights

opinion 13

TWO VIEWS: The billion dollar question

Billionaires’ wealth has reached insurmountable proportions, givin to allow one person to acquire an excessive amount of wealth. Sho COMMENTARY BY NATALIA PALLAS, BUSINESS MANAGER

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OST PEOPLE have at least once imagined, maybe even dreamed of, becoming a billionaire. Such wealth is incomprehensible to many, yet does that mean the ability to accumulate that amount of wealth should be eliminated? The desire to advance financially permeates society and removing that dream could lead to a decrease in innovation and the desire to work hard.

Radicating the possibility and status of becoming a billionaire overlooks inate human desire for wealth. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), many studies have found how small financial incentives motivate the brain, meaning money has the power to significantly change behavior — and for the better. Removing the incentive to become a billionaire would only discourage those who want to achieve more financial success, which in turn can make for a less productive society.

CNBC states that for workers making more than $150,000 per year, 68% of them were very fulfilled with their occupation. A significant decrease was shown with workers who made less than $50,000, as only 40% of them felt the same way. This supports the argument that money is a critical factor in motivating hard work. If billionaires did not exist, there would be less of an incentive to try to overcome one’s income level and strive for a better life.

“Becoming a billionaire is very difficult and does seem unfair, but it would be even

YES

more unfair to take away that chance for other people,” junior Hannah White said.

It is no question that a billion dollars is an immense sum of money, yet so is 500 million or even 50 million. These milestones of wealth are arbitrary and there is no compelling need for the government to eliminate them. To confiscate such feats of wealth would just promote people taking their business to other nations or even turning to illegal methods of

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BECOMING A BILLIONAIRE IS VERY DIFFICULT AND DOES SEEM UNFAIR, BUT IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE UNFAIR TO TAKE AWAY THAT CHANCE FOR OTHER PEOPLE HANNAH WHITE, JUNIOR acquiring wealth. The fact that most will never accumulate such large quantities of money, does not mean the government should curtail the pursuit of that.

The debate about whether billionaires should exist stems mostly from the criticism of capitalist society. Yet, it is only in a capitalist society that one can overcome their past finances and climb towards a better tomorrow. Capitalism’s free-market propels the production of goods and services as well

as allows for economic freedom for one to choose their financial path. Any limitations not only border on a violation of the United States constitution but form roadblocks in a functional economic system.

Billionaires that have not inherited their wealth are typically those who have gained wealth through innovation in services and products that benefit society today. Take for instance, Facebook. According to Statista, the social media platform currently has around 2.7 billion current users and has helped people connect all over the world. This creation has spurred the invention of social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. A law or regulation prohibiting billionaires could be a deterrent to this type of technology and the thousands of jobs created by this industry. According to Forbes, “the top 12 billionaire job creators — all together worth more than $308 billion — have generated at least 2.3 million jobs globally.” Current daily life activities would seem unimaginable and likely more difficult without a smartphone or Google.

There is no denying that there are large economic disparities in the United States.

Pews Research Center compiled data showing how from 1989 to 2016 the wealth gap has broadened between America’s wealthiest and most poverty stricken families.

“Better quality education would decrease the economic strain placed on low-income communities while increasing their chances of succeeding,” senior Samantha Gazda said.

However, the solution to this unfortunate consequence should not be to eliminate billionaires as a whole. Instead, a more reasonable solution would be to reach a middle ground, in which there would be a higher tax on billionaires. Moreover, there h s h o u l d

by the numbers Billionaires have more wealth than 60% of the world’s population.

Compiled by Natalia Pallas and María José Cestero/ highlights

14 opinion

One in five U.S. households have zero or negative networth.

55.8% of the 2,604 billionaires in the world are selfmade.

Source: Oxham International, Federal Reserve, Wealth X, Pew Research Center

giving life to a public sentiment which questions how ethical it is h. Should the law continue supporting the formation of billionaries?

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COMMENTARY BY MARÍA JOSÉ CESTERO, STAFF WRITER

HEN THINKING OF A billion dollars, it is hard to grasp how large that amount really is.

One million seconds will give you 11 days, while one billion seconds will equal 32 years.

The average human-being spends about $5 million in their entire lifetime, so why should a billionaire be able to accumulate roughly 3,900 times more and most importantly, in such an immoral manner?

When the U.S. went into lockdown in March 2020, many people were concerned about generating an income while working from home. Businesses were forced to undergo layoffs and even closed due to the lack of foot traffic driving people to their business.

According to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRP), U.S. citizens faced over 20.6 million job losses since midMarch, which resulted in an unemployment rate of 14.7% — a number not seen since the Great Depression.

Unfortunately, these numbers do not apply to the nation’s billionaires, who collectively increased their net worth by $565 billion throughout quarantine, as seen in a report by the Institute for Policy Studies. For example, Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, hired over 175,000 workers during the pandemic.

However, a plethora of current and former Amazon employees have stated how their work conditions are absurd and cruel.

“I would rather go back to a state correctional facility and work for 18 cents an hour than do that job,” former Amazon employee Jim Lacewell said in an interview with The Guardian. “I’m sure Mr. Bezos couldn’t do a full shift at that place as an undercover boss.”

Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge the ‘charity work’ some

billionaires take on. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s (BMGF) works to aid developing countries lift themselves out of extreme poverty. Yet taking a deeper look at the foundation’s actions shows how it could be taking part in what is now known as neocolonialism — using economic or societal pressures to impose influence over other countries. BMGF is notorious for collaborating with corporations like Cargill, the biggest trader

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[BILLIONAIRES] LIVE A GOOD LIFE AND ALTHOUGH THEY COULD HELP THE ECONOMY IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS, THEY CHOOSE NOT TO EMELLIE FERRER, SENIOR in the production of soybeans, whose policies allow the monopolization of agriculture in countries where farming i s the main economic superpower.

According to a report done by Global Justice Now, Cargill is a heavy investor in Latin America where genetically modified soy crops have uprooted r u r a l

Overall, three in five of Americans say that there is too much economic inequality in the country today.

populations and caused severe environmental damage.

Now, with its collaborations with BMGF, Cargill will make its way into Africa, where fast-food chains will open, forcing farmers to be dominated by large buyers. This is just one of numerous examples of how billionaires indulge in charity in order to seem philanthropic, when behind the scenes, they are causing more harm than good.

Moreover, the world’s billionaires are hardly self-made. Billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg in his 2017 Harvard commencement speech, have stated that most of their wealth came to them through mere luck and the help of advancements set in place before them and as seen by Wealth-X, upmost of 30.9% of billionaries inherited millions of dollars in wealth. They are hardly logical motivational figures for wealth acquisition.

The richest family in the world, the Waltons of Walmart, makes nearly $4 million an hour, while the average sanitation worker makes $13.41, as stated by PayScale. Ruthless exploitation of labor was required to reach these astronomical amounts of wealth and as seen by a report by A Better Balance, employees called out the corporation for punishing workers that called-in sick.

“Since they are multi-billion dollar wealthy people, they don’t need to know society’s struggles,” senior Emellie Ferrer said. “To them, they live a good life and although they could help the economy in so many other ways they choose not to.”

Billionaires keep exorbitant amounts of money they do not need and rarely donate more than 1% of their wealth to charitable causes. Society must stop holding them to different standards just because they are wealthy. It is time to hold the rich accountable for their actions before society suffers irreversible consequences. h

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opinion 15 Sharon Florez/ highlights

Fashion in the age of online shopping

With fast fashion awareness on the rise, the gentrification of thrift stores has placed a halt on those who rely on them COMMENTARY BY MARCELA RONDON, STAFF WRITER

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HOPPING HAS never been easier.

With a click of a button, one can order absolutely anything. Many — specifically those from middle and upper classes — have been purchasing from thrift stores for sustainable reasons to counteract the negative environmental and social effects it has.

The rapid production of clothes by underpaid garment workers has been coined as fast fashion — retail manufactured quickly and for cheap, usually to keep up with demand and trends. Fast fashion’s negative effects, such as cheap labor and environmental harm, have recently been brought to light via social media.

Thrift stores are a haven for those who do not want to support the fast fashion industry.

They have a wide array of clothes, shoes and houseware, all for low prices. This is why members of the lower class often rely on thrift stores to purchase material goods. However, with increasing rates of financially stable people thrifting, stores have been raising their prices for more revenue and to keep up with demand. In fact, according to Thredup, a popular online resale company — 13% of the most active shoppers were millionaires, who don’t need to purchase second hand.

This raising of prices to appeal to the middle and upper class is known as gentrification, something that usually happens in neighborhoods to make them more appealing to the masses but is a less known term when it comes to fast fashion. By gentrifying thrift stores, those that depend on buying pre-used clothes and household items are negatively affected.

An estimated 16-18% of Americans consume from a thrift store during the given year, according to The Emerging Resale Market: Recommerce and Resale Industry Statistics and there are around 29% of Americans that are below the poverty line in the U.S. Many of these Americans rely on thrift stores to purchase apparel and other household items, but as prices are raised, it’s more difficult for them to purchase clothes and other items.

DID YOU KNOW?

Goodwill Industries made $5.9 billion in sales from more than 3,000 non-profit resale stores in 2017.

Source:

United States Bureau

Census

According to Discover Goodwill, Goodwill is a non-profit; they donate a majority of their earnings to charity, upwards of $0.85 for each dollar they make. Since they are a non-profit, they need to make more money to be able to donate money, while still keeping their stores afloat and adequately pay employees. Therefore, they raise their prices to keep up with the demand, harming their needier customers who cannot afford to buy from more expensive places in the process.

Capitalism harms the lower and working class through exploitation; workers are paid very little and are overworked. Capitalism only benefits those at the top of the social ladder, millionaires and billionaires with inherited wealth, according to Economics

Help. Those that own these large corporations only get richer and benefit more from cheap labor. This exploitation cannot be avoided — if cheap labor were to be done away with, then the lower and working class who also depend on cheap fast fashion stores will have to purchase from increasingly expensive and gentrified thrift stores.

To preserve wealth, many wealthy people are taking advantage of lower prices that many lower class citizens depend on. Those who can afford to purchase from higher end stores should leave thrift stores to those who need it. Even if the price tag is higher, by shopping from stores geared towards sustainability, wealthier people also have the potential to help combat fast fashion made with exploitative cheap labor. Reformation, Patagonia and Jenni Kayne are all known as sustainable online and local stores that utilize high quality materials and pay their American factory workers a livable wage.

“To end this there’s going to have to be a change in the industry or a change in laws that don’t allow this mass production and maltreatment of workers,” sophomore Micaela Montero said. “I think it’s important to hold companies accountable for their actions.”

Already, the displacement of lower class citizens puts them at a disadvantage for purchasing a home, enrolling in good schools and having a safe environment for their families. To have affordable clothing also be taken from them by the upper class is immoral and unfair. Citizens must work together towards pushing for capitalist reform and against further gentrification. Thrift stores must continue to be made available for people who need it and only through collaboration can any true change arise. h

opposable thumbs

16 opinion

Ants

Skydiving

“My only social interaction in the past six months.”

- Daniela Parra del Riego, Staff Writer

“Imagine your card declines while skydiving and they just cut your parachute.”

- María José Cestero, Staff Writer

Draco Malfoy “The new Timothée Chalamet.”

- Marcela Rondon, Staff Writer

The ugly truth about race

The unconstitutional and excessive favoritism towards white people must come to an end COMMENTARY BY CRISTEL CANTARERO, STAFF WRITER

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H I T E seconds of arriving at the scene. Once again, privilege has the pattern between race and privilege is shaped our undeniable. country since Christopher Fortunately, some are using their White Colombus colonized privilege for good. Major celebrities like America. Since then, Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid gave their people of color have been platforms to Black creators to share their forced to deal with undeniable injustices. stories and experiences with racism. During Nonetheless, it is no secret that many white BLM protests, White protestors would form a people experience privilege due to their race wall in front of Black protesters while giving and commonly, the social class they are often speeches in hopes of preventing police officers associated with. from shooting rubber bullets.

In 2019, actress Lori Loughlin, best known “I feel like it is difficult for certain for her role as Aunt Becky on Full House, White people to believe White privilege is was arrested for cheating her daughter’s way real because they refuse to acknowledge the into the University of Southern California fact that in our nation, it is easier to lead a (USC). Loughlin, a rich Caucasian woman, is prosperous life as a White individual than only facing two months in jail. On the other an African American one,” junior Lawrence hand in 2011, Kelley Williams-Bolar, a Stampino-Strain said.

Black mother enrolled her daughter in an Miami has had multiple protests elementary school using a fake address, where white cops have been unreasonably given that she was homeless a t brutal and barbaric towards peaceful the time. She now faces protestors of color. One example 12 years in prison. is Alaa Massri, a peaceful According to ABC protestor who was News, when she arrested. Male cops was asked to pay a proceeded to take off $30,000 fine, she her hijab, take her responded that mugshot pictures she did not “think and publish them. they wanted Despite this horrific money.

They encounter, she wanted [her] to has continued be an example.” to attend The only outstanding protests and raise differences between Loughlin awareness.

Sharon Florez/ highlights and Williams are money and “When people from all race. backgrounds come together Moreover, Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year- and show their unity and solidarity for one old white male, traveled to a different state cause, it applies pressure to the people in to attend a Black Lives Matter (BLM) power,” activist Alaa Massri said. protest with an illegal possession of an Students under 18 who are unable to vote M&P Rifle. With this rifle, he shot and killed can still contribute by spreading awareness. three protestors. Police did nothing to stop They can listen to stories of discrimination Rittenhouse — even with bystanders shouting from Black people, educate themselves and that he was the shooter, police let him continue inform people about the existing injustices in to walk around the protest and even offered our country. him water.

Students can sign petitions organized “We all do stupid things at 17,” Donald by activists on TikTok. Students can also Trump Jr. said in an interview with Extra, a contact people in power. Demanding justice statement undermining Rittenhouse’s actions. proves to the government that the country is Somehow freely shooting is justified, but serious about change. As a country, we must Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old Black boy who collectively do everything in our power to was playing with a toy gun, was fatally shot amplify the voices of people of color (POC) and killed by Cleveland police officers within during this period of civil unrest. h

Sharon's Shenanigans My Favorite Word: Consent COMMENTARY BY SHARON FLOREZ, OPINION EDITOR

As an advocate for the most misunderstood word in the history of time, I am a faithful believer that with enough effort, anyone devoted enough can learn its meaning. In my life-long observation of the phenomena known popularly as “misogyny,” I have picked up on the greatest flaw in the education system: the failure to teach the meaning of consent.

For many, especially young men raised with patriarchal values, consent is a mere suggestion. However, according to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary definition, consent means “to give assent or approval: agree.” So, why is there controversy over such an explicit definition?

It is a matter of coming to an agreement — or simply not. I have come to believe that misogynistic ideals and rampant ignorance are jointly responsible for the high rates of sexual and verbal assault. For the education system to even prohibit the teaching of such an important topic is highly irresponsible.

In toddler terms: “yes” means “you may” and “no” means “you may not.” Misogyny has taught men to take advantage of situations where women are vulnerable, as if a woman’s friendly smile was permission to touch their body.

Women can do everything to prevent abuse and still be told that somehow their actions demonstrated consent. Amusingly enough, a woman has the right to change her mind and have that choice respected.

Recently, it has become a trend on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram for women to name activities they would partake in if they did not have to fear being sexually assaulted for one day. Answers as simple as going for a walk at night and being able to freely choose what to wear without fear were most common. What this says about current gender culture is that the underlying power given to women by the law’s requirement to “consent” is not respected by the patriarchy. Women’s ability and power to choose is an exaggeration and an impossible feat. But whether she’s in fishnets, a suit or a newborn’s overalls, consent means teaching men self-control, and that is a ridiculous thing to have to ask for. h

opinion 17

Let’s Talk Sports!

Hoping to express their love for sports, junior David Kuper and his father Richard Kuper release their sports podcast

BY DEEANNE MONTERO, STAFF WRITER

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NTRODUCING DAVID “DAK” AND Richard “Rick” Kuper, co-hosts of a father and son podcast called DAK and Rick’s Pod, where they talk about all things sports. Due to the cancelation of sporting events because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the junior created a podcast as an outlet to discuss his passion for sports.

Every Saturday, David uploads 30 minute podcasts on streaming platforms including Apple Music and Spotify. Although he covers all types of sports, Kuper primarily focuses on matches from his favorite teams, the Miami Dolphins and the Miami Heat.

“We try to cover everything sports and our tagline is “All Things Sports” because although we highly focus on Miami Sports [because] we are fans of the game, we also wanted to provide people who don’t know much about sports as a quick update so they can stay informed, [hence] why we started this podcast,” Kuper said.

Kuper developed his passion for sports from his father who is an avid sports enthusiast. Kuper would accompany his dad to every football and basketball game they had tickets for and bonded with his father through conversations about sports games and news. His father was his main inspiration in starting the podcast a n d motivates Kuper to voice his thoughts a b o u t athletes and games

18 sports sports 18

because of their shared goal of sports reporting.

Kuper intends to continue his podcast with his father even when the quarantine is over, hoping to further bond and expand their platform.

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TWO VIEWPOINTS ARE ALWAYS BETTER THAN ONE AS IT ALLOWS THERE TO BE A BIT OF CONFLICT AND WE CAN PRESENT EVERYTHING FROM MORE ANGLES WHICH MAKES IT MORE INTERESTING TO THE VIEWER DAVID KUPER, JUNIOR “Two viewpoints are always better than one as it allows there to be a bit of conflict and we can present everything from more angles which makes it more interesting to the viewer,” Kuper said.

Despite staying on track with his uploads, sports games being virtual have hindered the storytelling of a game and the ability to give live reactions. Of his current published works, Kuper’s favorite podcast is from when the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) were returning to action because it gave them the chance to talk about current sports rather than speculating about the future.

Kuper also covers

Courtesy of David Kuper

‘Quickfire News’ where he updates his listeners about what is going on in the sports world. As the sports world is slowly getting its rhythm again, Kuper’s goal is for his podcast to get recognition by professional athletes and the leagues they play for. He believes it will help him expand his audience by eventually featuring professional athletes on his podcast.

“I try to stay active and listen to a variety of sports podcasts, because at the end of the day we are trying to put the best product out there, so I try and use the best things to create an even better podcast,” Kuper said.

Kuper’s podcast has not only taught the public about sports but also about partnership and the skills involved with writing and creating content. Kuper’s podcast can be accessed on his Instagram, @DAKandRicksPod or on anchor.fm/dak-ricks-pod. In the meantime, Kuper hopes to become more knowledgeable in the media industry and become a more well-rounded person, alongside his father who hopes to grow the fanbase and teach others about sports.

“Having the opportunity to create something that is of interest and of value to my son and giving me the opportunity to spend quality time with him [helps create] a special bond and lasting memories with him,” Kuper said. h

Ways to workout at home

highlights shares three ways to work out at home while following social distancing guidelines

BY DANIELA CALDERON, STAFF WRITER

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HETHER IT’S EATING unhealthy foods or watching too much Netflix, the COVID-19

pandemic has heavily impacted the health routines of people all around the world. In light of limited opportunities to exercise

Scan this to check out video explanations of each workout!

publicly at gyms and sporting events, highlights suggests three ways to stay fit and healthy.

To build up your stamina and increase blood flow throughout your body begin your workout journey by warming up. Warming up will help prevent additional muscle soreness and risk of injury, promoting a better overall workout experience. Begin by jogging in place. Then, do jumping jacks followed by glute kicks, then proceeding to do a squat. This set of exercises should be 30 seconds each and repeated two times.

For the body weight workout, start out by doing a lateral jump.

Then, do the vertical jumps, deep squat and jump high, followed by front jump squats, land in a squat, and take two steps back.

After this, do burpees, go into a high plank, jump up then go back down, transition into push ups, then move on to shoulder taps.

Next up, do mountain climbers, then sit up crunch. This will be 20 repetitions per exercise in two or more sets. Finish up with fiveminute stretching of the glutes, legs, arms and back to ensure there will be no injuries.

For further instructions, watch the video explanations by scanning the QR code.

lde ron / highlights Ca

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liza beth Kiely

YOGA

CARDIO

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Yoga is a quick way to release stress and improve your quality of life. Whether you are spending time in your backyard or in your home, yoga is an adaptable workout that you can complete anywhere you are. Physically, yoga helps increase your body strength, improve your posture and develops your flexibility.

Vinyasa yoga, or power yoga, combines a variety of posture and balance exercises through a multitude of transitions.

For a step-by-step guide to vinyasa yoga with the school’s chemistry teacher, Elizabeth Kiely. Watch the video explanations by scanning the QR code. h

To increase your heart rate and help maintain strength, a cardio routine is a fast way to work out. Due to the safety precautions promoted by COVID-19, running is one of the most impactful yet attainable ways to workout. Students can develop their cardio routines around their houses, at local parks, beaches or large spaces which are available for running. Cardio exercises and activities have many health benefits including burning calories and appetite control.

For beginners, start by walking for four-minutes. Once you feel comfortable, run for a two-minute interval to build momentum.

Repeat a four-minute walking to two minute running ratio four times. The workout should last a total of 24 minutes and quantify to about one to one and a half miles.

For further instructions, watch the video explanations by scanning the QR code.

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WARM UP

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sports 19

BEYOND THE CONTROLLER Due to the popularity of digital sporting events, highlights shares the journeys of some of the school’s esports gamers

BY NATALIE FALLS, STAFF WRITER

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ROM THE POPULARIZATION OF new technology around the world, to having an outlet for competition, the sport of gaming allows players to enter new realities as they take the faces of avatars and combat new challenges. With an estimated

38 million fans worldwide according to CNN, gaming is so much more than the interactive and bold graphics, boss battles and ranking in the MVP system for earning the highest score; it is about the drive and thrill that they feel in the real-life adventures

that happen beyond the controller. For junior Katherine Blanco and seniors Rafael Martinez and Daniel Marrero, gaming has not only instilled a competitive drive but also the opportunity to engage with their peers virtually.

rafael martinez

Courtesy of Rafael Martinez

20 sports

Hungry for competition, senior Rafael Martinez loves all things competitive gaming. With a motivation to better his technique and develop his own unique gaming strategy, Martinez devotes his time and dedication to the sport daily.

Games such as League of Legends (LOL) and Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) are what quench his thirst for competition because they allow him to put his skills and original strategy to good use. Martinez enters each round of a game more determined than the last, as learning from his mistakes and developing a new game plan on the fly is what keeps him eager to put his skills to the ultimate test.

Gaming has not only helped Martinez keep his hand-eye coordination up to par, but his individual skills and capabilities as well. Being heavily involved in the sport has not only sparked Martinez’s creativity but his confidence as well, for now he finds himself able to conquer any task, whether it be online or offline.

“I enjoy these games because of what they bring out of me. Through these games I’ve grown as a person,

I’ve become more confident in my own skills overall. They bring out my creativity and as a writer that is a massive thing for me,” Martinez said.

Gaming has also impacted Martinez’s life by helping him branch out in terms of confidence and improve his skills, while also allowing him to connect and bond with others. For him, there is much more to competitive gaming than the rush of defeating your opponent, for gaming is community driven and allows for people to come together.

“Gaming has affected my day to day by being the thing that has connected to me with my friends,” Martinez said.

I’ve had the same tight-knit friend group since first grade. As time has passed we’ve grown apart slightly but our shared love for games as a pastime still keeps us together and it really does help build friendships and communal feelings.”

Martinez’s love for competitive gaming has helped equip him with confidence not only in the world of gaming, but in more areas he is passionate about, like creative writing and acting.

katherine blanco Fascinated by the immersive story lines, fantasy landscapes and dream-like settings, junior Katherine Blanco started gaming at six yearsold. Blanco is captivated by the new reality that video games create and it is this reality that keeps her coming back for more rounds.

Blanco finds that gaming is never boring because there is always a new adventure on the horizon. Games like Animal Crossing, Pokemon, the Legend of Zelda franchise, as well as Persona 5 and Stardew Valley are her favorite because she finds them to be casual, engaging and the perfect way to wind down after a long day filled with homework. In addition, gaming gives her an outlet to develop her reflexes and be recognized for her virtual achievements.

“I enjoy playing esports since it allows me to show off my skills in a team-based setting and usually at the end of the game it shows a sort of MVP system and a good play and if you can get one of those it feels very rewarding,” Blanco said.

Apart from being a great escape to her rigorous school schedule, Blanco finds that gaming has truly opened many doors for her.

As Vice-President of the school’s Wizards Club, she enjoys interacting with fellow gamers and views the club as her second family. Blanco’s love for gaming has led her to do some experimenting of her own and begin thinking about her future in terms of potential career paths.

“In [middle school], I tried making a game by myself for my friends. It was horrible. Since then, I’ve taken multiple programming and graphic design courses here at Gables and I’m planning on finding a career within the Computer Science-ComputerSoftware Engineering spectrum,” Blanco said. “While I don’t think I’ll ever [pursue a career in gaming] it has definitely led me to my love for programming and creating things.”

With an undying love for the sport, Blanco’s dedication to the gaming has led her to be creative and branch out into her passions.

Inspired by the world of esports and drawn in by the thrill of winning, senior Daniel Marrero has had a love for all things video games since he first picked up a computer.

Games in the Smash Bros series are just a few of Marrero’s favorites, because he grew up playing them and they were what first sparked his love for video games. Gaming brings him a sense of joy because when he is playing he is doing what he loves most. Marrero’s love for gaming has also allowed him to connect more with his peers as the President of the Wizards club at school. He enjoys being surrounded by fellow gamers and being able to interact with people who have similar interests as him.

“Daniel is the perfect example of an All-American rags to riches story. He began as our Pizza wizard and was able to work his way up, through dedication, to the archmage!

He has been a tremendously assertive leader and was instrumental in creating our e-meetings this year

via Discord,” club sponsor and history teacher Oscar De Armas said.

Not only has gaming instilled in him an undying love for the activity, but it has also helped Marrero learn how to think quickly and it has improved the speed of his reflexes.

“I have brought my love for gaming into other parts of my life by learning to multitask, think ahead of certain situations and be a fast decision maker which all comes back into my school life,” Marrero said.

Marrero hopes to give back and create the same video game magic that once fascinated him as a child, through pursuing a career in game technology or computer engineering.

“I would love to go into a career for game technology or computer engineering because of the fact that they bring me so much joy when I play them that I want to bring the same joy to people,” Marrero said.

Marrero’s passion for the gaming world has provided him with happiness and a motivation to be better. h

Courtesy of Katherine Blanco

Daniel marrero

Courtesy of Daniel Marrero

sports 21

Monopolization of sports

As changes are often being made to sports, owners and teams are losing sight of what sports are actually about

BY ALEXANDER BRAZDA, STAFF WRITER

W

HETHER IN-PERSON OR ON a television screen, many fans across the world pay thousands of dollars to see their favorite sports teams compete. While the high revenue garnered is critical in funding the expenses, business in sports results in the leisure activities becoming monopolized, directing the team owners and executives away from what really matters: winning championships and uniting fans.

According to Medium, fans are the primary financial contributors to sporting leagues. This is because the main goal of a sports team owner is to sell as many tickets as possible and maintain a large audience. There are many factors that go into achieving financial prosperity as a team executive, including securing athletic talent, obtaining advertisements and creating team merchandise. However, the monopolization of sports has decreased the purpose of large fan bases because fans are helping teams become more wealthy rather than supporting them towards winning championships.

“The monopolization of sports has taken away so much from not only the motivation to win championships but the pride to hold the [ball] in your hands,” senior Andres Arzola said. “At the end of the day, the money is a plus but it has taken away from the genuine and pure admiration from the game.”

According to CNBC, billionaire businessman and Dallas Mavericks owner

Mark Cuban stated that buying the team in 2000 never crossed his mind as an investment. Nonetheless, he evidently focuses on the finances of the organization, having dramatically increased the net worth of the team from $280 million to $2.4 billion in his 20 years as the owner. This is seen in how despite being ranked in the top ten teams for total net worth by Forbes, the Mavericks have only won one championship in the last two decades. They have also missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons. The same goes for the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors franchises, as they were the two teams that generated the most revenue in the 2019-2020 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, despite both missing the playoffs and being ranked at the bottom of their respective divisions.

“Mark Cuban is a businessman. He doesn’t care about the team just as long as they make the money and that’s what sports shouldn’t be about because they were made for people to enjoy not to bet or profit o f f

S

of,” senior Wilson Villaraga said.

Another issue that arises from executives monopolizing sports is the pressure put on local governments around the country to build stadiums and arenas, with threats to move teams if their demands are not met. According to Rodney Fort, Washington State University Professor and co-author of “Hard Ball: The Abuse of Power in Pro Sports Teams,” team owners have generated so much power and money from advertisement outlets and ticket sales that local politicians are often unable to deny their construction demands — and typically have no intention to do so. This all goes to show how far team owners are willing to go to preserve their businesses and generate more income.

“The monopoly power of leagues is at the root of essentially every problem that plagues pro team sports, from competitive balance to out-of-sight player salaries to the blackmailing of cities,” Fort said in his book.

As our country continues to move into the future of sports, owners and fans must decide if they would rather focus more on earning money for their teams or winning championship titles, because as of right now they are losing focus on the actual sport.

Ultimately, power must be shifted from the team owners to the people that make sports possible — the athletes and fans— to preserve the true value of sports. h

1 2 3

Sara Ebrahimi / highlights

22 sports

Social distancing presents: Carpool Cinema in Wynwood Drive-in theaters are rising in popularity again as they provide a safe way to social distance and participate in an entertaining activity

BY EMILYS GIL, STAFF WRITER

I

MAGINE THIS: CLASSIC FILMS are streaming on the movie screen as you and your best friend split a fresh bowl of popcorn. At Carpool Cinema in Wynwood, customers can have this exact experience by simply channeling their inner ‘60s kid from the safety of their own car.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Miamians have been searching for ways to spend time outside the house while remaining safe from infection. Safety is the biggest concern for the owners of Carpool Cinema, which is how the idea of a drive-in theater came to be. By providing quality entertainment while also strictly following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) protocols, it is a safe haven that distracts and protects individuals from what is occurring in the thriller that is reality.

“I think that with everything going on this is something that we all need in order to feel better about the current situation. No one wants to be at home, but no one wants to go out and get sick either, so this is a good alternative,” sophomore Emily Serrallonga said.

Located on 2418 NW St., Carpool Cinema offers a wide selection of throwback films from the 1980s and 1990s including Pulp Fiction, Back To The Future and The Terminator.

Carpool Cinema is open from Thursdays to Sundays. They offer two different screening times on every operating day, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to provide more people with the opportunity to come watch films. In order to listen to the movie’s audio, attendees tune their car’s radios to the station 88.5. In addition, subtitles in Spanish are offered to better accommodate the large population of Spanish speakers in Miami.

The ticket price is $45 per car, no matter the size or number of people inside. Parking is first come-first serve, except for SUVs and trucks which will be assigned to designated areas to avoid blocking the view for smaller cars. Customers are to stay in their vehicles at all times, unless a restroom break is needed, where staff will be there to guide customers.

All customers must wear a mask while being guided to the restroom.

Rather than a traditional movie theater, Carpool Cinema offers the privacy and silence that one normally would not get when sitting next to strangers. When customers are in their own car, they have the option to multitask and not feel the stress one would normally feel when trying not to make too much noise. Now, there is no reason to worry about chewing

popcorn or sipping the last bit of soda that is left a little too loudly.

What makes this drive-in theater special is their ability to create fun nights in a hands-off manner. Unlike a normal movie theater where every customer tends to have the same viewing experience, drive-ins allow those who attend the option of shaping their own adventure.

Customers can safely put their own spin on this retro tradition by having a date night with their significant other or inviting friends inside the car for a movie night. Attendees often customize the interior of their cars by adding blankets, pillows, stuffed animals and even tables.

Although Carpool Cinema does not sell their own food, they do offer VIP Food Delivery from three nearby restaurants — Back Door Monkey, La Tiendita Taqueria and The Dirty Burger. These restaurants will have a server deliver food to cars and are all available to order at www.carpoolcinemawynwood.com.

Carpool Cinema is a great addition to the new COVID-19 world, providing a break from the tension of quarantine without the risk of getting sick. With guaranteed isolation, tasty food and a broad selection of movies, this location is guaranteed to be the next big trend.

the scene 23

Rec rds n c mics On Miracle Mile, Gables Records n Comics is providing a wide array of music, comics and collectibles curated by two high school teachers

BY CRISTEL CANTARERO, STAFF WRITER

W

ITH COMICS FROM THE 1970s to a signed record of rap artist Eminem, Gables Records n Comics is the perfect place for people who feel they were born in the wrong decade. The store — located on 277 Miracle Mile — is the place for anyone who appreciates comics, music and more.

While approaching the store, customers are immediately greeted by a staircase decorated with vintage stickers from music artists and iconic comic characters like Harley Quinn. The passageway acts as a makeshift time machine as people immediately acknowledge the intergenerational ambiance.

To the right, customers are placed into the Marvel, DC Comics and Star Wars worlds all at once. There are Star Wars and superhero action figures and comic-related items starting at $1.99, while records from various cultures can be found to the front for as low as $8.

Gables Records n Comics has been in Coral Gables since 2012, when owners Johanna Garcia and Waldo Rodriguez decided to bring their shared love for comic books to life. They originally only sold comic books at this location and records at a second location, but now both product lines are sold exclusively together.

Both Garcia and Rodriguez are high school teachers — Garcia teaches French at the school and Waldo at Miami Senior High School — which is convenient for students given the owners have similar work hours. They are open Monday through Saturday from

2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Their experience as high school teachers helps them find items for the store that teenagers will enjoy and establish a better connection with customers “My personal favorite part [in the store] would be the Japanese anime,” Garcia said.

“

I LOVE THAT STORE, IT IS LIKE MY FAVORITE LITTLE CORNER OF CORAL GABLES. I BOUGHT SEVERAL SIGNED POSTERS AND I BRING ALL MY FRIENDS THERE WHENEVER I CAN. NICOLE GUFFORD, SOPHMORE The music collection at Gables Records n Comics is always

changing. The owners are continuously collecting new items to the point where customers come in all the time ready to buy the newest collections of vintage and modern records.

“I love that store, it’s like my favorite little corner of Coral Gables,” sophomore Nicole Gufford said. “I bought several signed posters and I bring all my friends there whenever I can.”

Posters of icons in entertainment history border all of the walls. Pins are scattered on the walls with many different characters and phrases starting at $2.99. For any Star Wars lover, Gables Records n Comics has signed posters, collectable action figures and even bobbleheads from the movies. For K-Pop fans, the store sells stickers that are five for $0.99 along with CD’s, keychains, lanyards and pins.

“We get a variety of ages here at the store, one time I had a 70-year-old man come into the store looking for music,” Rodriguez said.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gables Records n Comics has implemented some safety regulations to ensure customers can enjoy their time at the store while still being safe. These rules include required masks, putting on hand sanitizer before touching anything and no more than three people inside at a time.

For an exclusive look at the store and merchandise, the owners post to their Instagram page @gablesrecordsncomics to better connect with their audience. h

Cristel Cantarero / highlights

24 the scene

VAST COLLECTION: Owners Johanna Garcia Cristel Cantarero/ highlights and Waldo Rodriguez proudly display just a portion of the wide array of comics avaliable at Gables Records n Comics.

Cooling down with Mr. Cool

This parlor on 8th street is putting a unique spin on a popular trend, including boba in their rolled ice cream

BY PENELOPE ACEVEDO, STAFF WRITER

B

UBBLES BURST WITH FLAVOR at Mr. Cool’s rolled ice cream shop.

With an array of flavors to choose from, Mr. Cool Ice Cream offers customers a unique selection of two of the world’s favorite sweets: ice cream and boba tea.

With a vibrant interior— located on 10562 Southwest 8th Street — the restaurant proudly greets all lovers of ice cream.

Polaroid pictures of customers with their ice cream dominate one wall, while another showcases the Mr. Cool logo, a polar bear wearing sunglasses and with a cup of rolled ice cream in hand.

The restaurant was established after the owner and his friends took a ‘life-changing’ trip to Thailand in the summer of 2015. This trip motivated them to start their own business making rolled ice cream after seeing the country’s delightful cuisine.

The star of the menu is the rolled ice cream. Part of the experience of going to Mr. Cool Ice Cream is watching the employees skillfully make the rolled ice before the customers’ eyes.

The process for rolling the ice cream is as follows: first, they combine flavored milk and pour it onto a round ice pan. The ice pan is chilled, which quickly starts to turn the liquid mixture into ice cream. Other ingredients like nuts and candy are added, then the “ice cream chef” chops and mixes the ingredients until they are creamy. Finally, the mixture is spread thin and rolled into cylinders using a spatula.

The rolled ice cream flavors include sweet cream, vanilla, chocolate, coffee and mango. With that, customers can choose one of the several mixers of their choice, with flavors ranging from cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies, to caramel and lychee fruit.

“I always have a hard time deciding what to choose,” freshman Angelina Milan said. “There are lots of options and I love the menu.”

In addition, Mr. Cool offers multiple tea flavors that include Thai Tea Milk, Almond

Milk and Taro Milk. Prices for the teas range from $4.25 to $4.75 and extra toppings — such as tapioca, strawberry boba and mango boba — can be added for $0.50 each.

‘DIY’ ice cream Mr. Cool not only offers rolled ice cream they also offer a section of the menu called “Kitchen Food,” which includes sixpiece Seafood Gyoza (Dumplings) for $6.95, Shrimp Shumai for $6.95, Seafood Spring Rolls for $6.25 and Sweet Potato and Net Spring Rolls for $5.95.

With their proximity to the school and I WOULD DEFINITELY other high schools in Miami, Mr. Cool Ice RECOMMEND MR. Cream gets many teenage customers. Besides COOL ICE CREAM TO having a wide range of food, Mr. Cool Ice Cream is a great place to interact and make MY FRIENDS AND friends with people since the store is open all FAMILY. MY FAVORITE week.

PART OF THE STORE “About two dozen high school students come to Mr. Cool in one day. This number IS ALL OPTIONS FROM increases during the summer and special BUBBLE TEA TO ICE events in the area,” Xiao said.

CREAM AND MORE Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no available seating inside. Nonetheless, the ANGELINA MILAN, store offers “to go” packaging and still FRESHMAN encourages customers to write on postage notes to fill their wall “High school students’ top with drawings, memes and favorite ice cream [flavors] motivational phrases. at Mr. Cool are Oreo Secret, “I would definitely Strawberry Lady recommend Mr. Cool Ice Cream to and the my friends and family. My favorite part of the store is all the options from bubble tea to ice cream and more,” Milan said. “Currently my favorite drink is the lychee fruit with black tea boba [with] the cup of Oreos secret rolled ice cream.

But I think that ‘DIY’ is the best rolled ice cream if it’s your first time going to Mr. Cool because you can choose whatever flavor and topping you would like.”

With an appealing aroma, vibrant decorations and friendly staff, a visit to Mr. Cool Ice Cream can favorably overload the senses.

Customers should come with a big appetite as the large portions are Penelope Acevedo / highlights sure to satisfy. h STRAWBERRY SWEET: Strawberry flavored rolled ice cream is topped with whipped cream, sprinkles, strawberry boba, strawberries and strawberry pocky.

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the scene 25

FUSION FOOD FUEL Restuarants in Miami are combining flavors from around the world to create new and exciting meals for everyone

BY MARTA RODRIGUEZ, CONTENT EDITOR AND ADDYS PLATA, STAFF WRITER

F

USION CUISINE IS LOOSELY defined as foods that combines elements of culinary traditions that originate from different countries, regions or cultures. While immigration and trade patterns initially prompted the concept of creating hybrid dishes, chefs have begun integrating entire flavor pallets into their dishes, to offer

their customers different culinary experiences.

Through fusion cuisine people enjoy traditional dishes with a multi-ethnic twist, allowing them to experience new cultural and creative boundaries. Food fusion is now growing more and more mainstream in America, inducing compelling ways to make and think about food. It allows experimentation and freedom

in exploring a variety of tastes and textures.

Located in Miami, fusion restaurants like Artisan, Taco Tacu and Asian Thai Kitchen all provide their own unique spins on original dishes. While Artisan is a Latin-American fusion restaurant, Taco Tacu has both Mexican and Peruvian dishes in its menu and Asian Thai Kitchen offers pan Asian dishes.

ARTISAN: Spanish, American and Latin The name Artisan is representative of people who are skilled in making things by hand, especially when it comes to foods or drinks. When walking into Spanish, Venezuelan and American fusion restaurant Artisan, its name is reflected everywhere, from their hand-crafted furniture to their unique combination of Hispanic and American foods.

Located on 658 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, customers immediately gravitate towards Artisan as trending songs play over the speakers and the smell of burgers, arepas and sandwiches fill the air.

The restaurant is open on Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m to 10:30 p.m and from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Prior to opening Artisan in 2012, Venezuelan owner Fernando Lander went to culinary school in Barcelona while his wife, Idoya de Quintana and took up making pastries as a hobby. Their passion for cooking food was what gave them the idea to open up Artisan.

Living in the United States gives de Quintana and Lander opportunities to learn about American dishes and convert them into their own, which is what they did with the Artisan Burger. The burger buns are made from scratch, meat cooked until the customers preference, fresh tomatoes and lettuce placed

26 the scene

neatly above that and dripping cheese stack on top for $10. It comes with a side of Artisan fries, which are cut up thinly and sprinkled with salt.

“Having different cultures in our restaurant allows people to learn more about them and try new dishes, it also gives us room to experiment with a variety of different flavors,” Quintana said.

Dishes like the Artisan Burger with fries are some of their best sellers. If customers are craving Latin food, they can opt for their $7 arepas or their four tequeños for $6. Huevos Estrellados and Rancheros are famous dishes from Spain for $15. Naia’s Sandwich, a grilled panini sandwich with warm nutella and bananas and the Walnut French Toast are also some customer favorites, costing $6 and $10 respectively and are a delicious way to end a meal. The French Toast comes with fresh berries, crispy bacon, maple syrup and pralines.

“Sitting outside is the best part of the restaurant since we could enjoy the sun when it’s not so hot and it’s perfect during the pandemic,” customer Luis Lopez said.

In the midst of the pandemic, indoor dining has not been allowed to happen, which is when the outdoor seating was set up to be bigger. Customers are allowed to go in the restaurant while picking food up to take home.

“Friday nights at Artisan were one

of my favorites with bands playing and more people my age going there to hangout,” freshman Lucrezia Basauri said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the owners of Artisan to be prepared for the unpredictable and how fortunate they are to have outdoor dining, since a lot of local restaurants around them have had to close down.

Courtesey of Artisan

UNIQUE FLAVORS: At Aritsan, customers are served dishes like octopus with various vegetables.

TACO TACU: Mexican and Peruvian Neon green lights shine from the awning outside of Taco Tacu, surrounded by vegetation and small cacti center-pieces. The Mexican and Peruvian fusion restaurant opened in 2019 and is located on 3456 SW 8th St. Its tacos and sushi rolls mixed with Peruvian ingredients have fascinated customers throughout Miami.

Chef Oscar Garcia wanted to bring flavors from dishes like Fajitas de lomo saltado and pescado a lo macho to Miami. Having ingredients from different cultures gives Taco Tacu more dishes to experiment with. An example of this is their Arroz Chaufa al Pastor which has ingredients like fried rice, pastor ham, jalapenos and fresh veggies. Fried rice comes from dishes in Asia and the pastor ham is from Mexico. The combination of these ingredients create a very popular dish in the restaurant.

“One of the benefits of having a fusion restaurant is that we get people who want to try fusion dishes and those who want to eat food from their culture,” Garcia said.

Taco Tacu’s most famous dishes are tacos and fajitas, which retail for $3 and $14. Garcia’s favorite dish is La Fajita de Lomo Saltado, which is a combination of Peruvian and Mexican

food. The peppers alongside the red onions and steak come together and spice things up.

“It’s amazing how well they incorporate all the ingredients from Mexico and Peru into one dish. The tacos are mouthwatering,” customer Anna Castracanne said.

Taco Tacu’s menu is divided by tacos, specialty and traditional sushi rolls, authentic Peruvian and Mexican food, fusion plates and more. Their fusion plate section is filled with Mexican and Peruvian combinations as well as their take on sushi rolls. For those who love a good bargain, every Tuesday, Taco Tacu has $2 tacos. The appetizers vary from ceviche to burrito bowls and they are no more than $17.

Karaoke night is every Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. where customers can go and show off their singing talent. The tables in the restaurant are moved around, disco lights are set in place, the blinds are brought down and the music is turned on. The more open space allows for customers to dance with others and sing along to the beat of the songs.

“I went during Taco Tuesday and the tacos I had were some of the best I’ve ever eaten, I’m looking forward to coming back with

my friends,” junior Nicolas Goldstucker said.

Their business hours are from noon to 11 p.m. from Tuesday through Sunday. Taco Tacu was affected drastically by the pandemic, losing almost 50% of their usual clientele.

To make the restaurant as safe as possible, employees wear their mask constantly, clean the tables and surfaces. Since Miami-Dade County is now in Phase Three, Taco Tacu is preparing for indoor dining, while still being cautious. For those that cannot go to the restaurant, Taco Tacu is offered for delivery through Postmates and GrubHub.

Courtesey of Taco Tacu

LATIN FLAVORS: At Taco Tacu dishes like tacos are mixed with Peruvian flavors to create an amazing fusion.

ASIAN THAI KITCHEN: Pan-Asian Walking past Asian Thai Kitchen, the smells of ginger and garlic waft onto the street from the small take-out window. Through a window one can see cooks pacing back and forth in the kitchen, tossing woks full of noodles, stirring pots of soup and chopping a variety of vegetables. With a simple glance at the menu, customers are met with a variety of foods from pad thai to udon noodles.

Asian Thai Kitchen is bringing pan-Asian fusion to Miami for an affordable price.

Dedicated to their love for making Thai food and sharing their culture with others, this family-owned business was started back in 2015. The four owners of this restaurant, who just so happen to be sisters, worked at a handful of Miami’s Japanese and Thai joints before striking out on their own with delightful renditions of classics. Such dishes include a spicy, fragrant Panang curry which is rich with the earthy, citrusy flavor of lemongrass and coconut milk.

“The best thing about having an Asian fusion restaurant is that even though we are

more experienced with making Thai food, we have employees who have worked in Japanese restaurants so we try to incorporate that into our food. Our food is very similar so I can eat Japanese and Korean food for months because I can adapt,” manager Nila Manorat said.

Divided into the subsections Appetizers, Salads, Noodles & Rice, Specials, Thai Entrees, Soups, Noodles Soup, Japanese, Desserts and Peruvian Corner, this menu is loaded with all the favorites including pad thai, satay, gyoza, soups, salads and a small selection of Peruvian food for those so inclined.

Located at 1981 SW 8th St, they are open from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and close at 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Their prices range from $2 to $21.

“We were looking for a good Thai restaurant in Miami and came across Asian Thai Kitchen among the long list of Thai restaurants in Miami. The menu is surprisingly extensive and is very moderately priced,” customer Pablo Hernandez said, “overall,

this is the best Thai food I’ve had in years.

The portions are generous and plentiful, the flavors are authentically Thai, the prices are very fair and the service is fast and attentive.”

Because of the pandemic, the restaurant has taken precautions and currently has no indoor dining. To order one can simply call them at (305) 646-2999, order on their website.www.asianthaikitchenmiami.com, use a second party platform such as Uber Eats or order at their door. Employees wear their masks, never taking off even while cooking. To them their priority is to remain safe while still sharing their culture and food with customers and keeping them safe. h

Addys Plata / highlights

THAI TASTE: The Woon Sen Pad Thai is made with clear noodles and gives customers a variety of options for meat.

the scene 27

When Rise and Shine becomes Rise and Grind Success is never cheap, but when the cost outweighs the benefits, it may be time to reevaluate your strategy

by Dani Parra del Riego

Isabe

28 insight

lla Villa

rroel/ hig

hlight

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N THE SURFACE, THE path to success seems simple: wake up, work from sunrise to sunset as hard as possible to build a desirable future, go to sleep and repeat the next day. Working people around the globe are willing to continuously sacrifice today for a better tomorrow — yet tomorrow never seems to arrive. This is hustle culture and it might just be Gen Z’s downfall.

With increasingly difficult classes and standards that seem to be rising indefinitely, the pressure to always be on one’s A-game has never been greater. Hustle culture — the idea that a person only has value if they work non-stop — has redefined success for many.

Just like the definition for success has become streamlined, so has the path to reaching it. While the term is abstract and has a different meaning and

value for everybody, a concerningly large number of people subscribe to the idea that success means pouring all their time into ‘work’ and no time into themselves. In a steadily more connected world, comparisons are inevitable. Social media has enabled

“

“WE CAN ALL BENEFIT FROM A LITTLE MOTIVATION TO GO FOR A RUN, DO OUR HOMEWORK OR TAKE ON A NEW PROJECT, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT THAT THIS PRESSURE COMES FROM YOU.” ABIGAIL FELAN, JUNIOR people to set new standards for themselves — standards that require work beyond what is healthy. While someone’s ideal future can look an infinite number of ways, the archetype of a successful individual

is one who attends a prestigious university where they study law or medicine to eventually work for a profitable organization. More often than not, profit takes prescedence over the According to a survey conducted by the American Institute of Stress, 61% of students that seek counseling do so because they feel symptoms of anxiety that result from high expectations. Stressors such as increased workload and additional commitments only add to the already stressful task of becoming independent and learning how to thrive in a new environment, according to The Haven at College, a University of Southern California (USC) publication.

Instead of stepping back and recognizing healthy boundaries, students often continue to work hard in hopes that achievements and accolades will make up for deteriorated mental health, which has proven to be fatal in the worst cases.

Hard work makes the reward even more satisfactory, but not everyone is willing, or able, to sacrifice it all. The performative aspect of hustle culture removes meaning from hard work and leaves accomplishments to be nothing but a hull of their former selves.

“We can all benefit from a little motivation to go for a run, do our homework or take on a new project, but it’s important that this pressure comes from you,” junior Abigail Felan said.

students speak up

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“I DO THINK IT IS GOOD TO PUSH YOURSELF TO BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE SO YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOUR HIGHEST POINT, BUT ... IF YOU PUSH YOURSELF TOO HARD, YOU’LL END UP WORSE THAN WHEN YOU STARTED.” -David Pasternac, sophomore

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“I KNOW PEOPLE THAT WORK 24/7 AND BARELY SEE THEIR FAMILY, [GO OUT] WITH THEIR FRIENDS OR EVEN TAKE A VACATION FOR THEMSELVES.” THEMSELVES.” -Indiana Harper, senior insight

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“COMING FROM A LOW-INCOME FAMILY, I DO FEEL A PRESSURE TO PERFORM BETTER THAN THOSE AROUND ME IN ORDER TO BE SEEN AS EQUAL.” -Brigette Henriquez, senior

by the numbers highlights September of Grind

surveyed 300 students in 2020 regarding the effects Cluture on their daily lives.

68.7%

of students feel that Grind Culture has had a negative effect on their mental health.

63.7% of students believe that Grind Culture is toxic.

70.3%

of students feel excluded if they do not “succeed” due to society’s standards.

67.7%

of students focus more on reaching a goal rather than enjoying the journey.

87%

1

lights

30 insight

Ambition has resulted in some of humanity’s greatest achievements. From landing the first man on the moon to the invention of life-changing technologies, the desire to improve living conditions has resulted in countless positive outcomes. The seemingly endless struggle to reach success, however, is nothing new.

Greek mythology gave us Sisyphus, the man who was condemned to spend eternity rolling a boulder up a mountain only to start over the next day. While this is an ancient example, it rings true today: sometimes, the benefits of hard work pale in comparison to the effort invested into it, especially when the work is done to satisfy others.

Hustle culture distinguishes itself from genuine ambition in that the desire to do well is intrinsic, meaning that it is an internal force, while hustle culture relies on extrinsic, or external, pressure to do well and stand out in a certain field. When driving oneself to extreme measures does more damage than good, experts emphasize the need to reevaluate strategies to be “successful.” Cortisol, the stress hormone, allows for the body to react quickly in life-or-death situations in short bursts. According to the Mayo Clinic, however, cortisol in large bursts is linked to high blood pressure, high blood glucose and even impaired formation of long-term memories.

“I believe in being the best that I can be regardless of how the public feels about me. The morals instilled in me are what drive me,” sophomore Alexis Gonzalez said.

Finding a healthy work-life balance needs to be a priority, but it has found itself at a distant second to success. The constant push to work has caused many people’s mental health to deteriorate.

Various studies, conducted over the years, ranging from social experiments to well-funded researchers hired by the most prestigious universities, have concluded the same thing: grind culture kills.

Students are not getting enough sleep, eight in ten college students report frequent stress, according to the American Institute of Stress and the amount of youth seeking help is growing at an alarming rate.

Yet, instead of recognizing the severity of the pressure to succeed, the constant grind and subsequent burnout is often glamorized. From hashtags such as #riseandgrind to the romanticization of the symptoms of burning-out, the idea that a person’s worth is directly correlated to the amount of work they can produce has devastating effects on society. This is seen in how working long hours is correlated with lowered productivity and creativity, according to a 2017 study published by Oxford University titled “Impact of Working Hours on Sleep and Mental Health.”

Isabella Villarroel / high

of students feel that there is a societal pressure to be the best.

no escaping the grind

ISSUES WITH grind culture Being overworked looks different for everybody. Some may live for the thrill of pulling all nighters and being committed to countless causes, while others may view this as a sign of not having reached their full potential.

One of the more prominent aspects of hustle culture is the comparison that is constantly pushed onto everyone who buys into the idea. Subscribers to this ever-growing culture are often instructed to give their 100% all the time and while putting in maximum effort is critical for a sense of success, hustle culture creates the additional pressure of making sure that one’s 100% is the same as or more than someone else’s.

Comparisons breed toxic competition while raising the stakes

of any failure, making hustle culture even more unhealthy.

Even within the arts, a more creative and generally relaxed field, artists are dissuaded from expressing themselves unless they reach certain standards. Youth with aspirations to pursue a creative career are often told it is not a feasible option since creative fields are statistically less profitable. Even if art is pursued as a secondary source of income, the idea that a hobby is only worth it if it is profitable results in further streamlines the definition of success and limits diversity.

“There’s a grind culture within art — how much art you need to produce and of what quality to make a living. There’s a pressure to make money off of your hobbies,” senior Malika McKenney said.

IMPORTANCE OF BALANCE With such a complex issue that is so deeply ingrained in all parts of life, finding a way to slow down days is not an easy task.

Psychologists and lifestyle experts around the globe have been trying to find, although temporary, solutions to help deal with the stressors that come with the constant grind. While reducing workload and responsibilities is not always easy for everybody, there are small actions that can be taken to better manage the pressure to perform.

Here at Gables, the AIM after-school initiative began in 2018 and has since provided free yoga and mindfulness lessons after school for all students. Virginia Ansaldi, a former teacher at the school, and co-founder Derek Waddy have taken their mission to help students develop healthy stress-management habits to schools all over the district after they began the program at our school. AIM implements techniques from Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a movement that started in the 1970s that has since flourished. Based on seven core qualities (nonjudging, patience, beginner’s mind, trust, not striving, acceptance and letting go), the movement and related practices proactively help those who need it manage the stressors of everyday life.

“Already from the name, you can tell [MBSR] proposes a

solution to the constant grind… All of [MBSR’s core qualities] seem to go against our modern day grind culture,” Ansaldi said.

Success requires a particular mindset, one that cannot be achieved with the pressure that comparison inflicts. The best way to counteract a toxic environment is to create a healthier one. Another effective way to counteract stress is to create a social support system filled with people who place ambition and the desire to succeed second to your wellbeing. Being socially integrated into a group has been directly correlated to lower rates of stress, depression and suicide, according to an article

by Kendra Cherry from the Very Well Mind Psychology team.

“Grind culture has affected me by helping me to stay in a healthy state of mind and be able to improve my work ethic. If you ever need to take a break, do so. Always make sure your mental health is right before anything else,” senior Alcuris McKoy said.

Escaping the constant grind isn’t always simple, but recognizing the problem is a good starting point. Buying into hustle culture does not yield the results that it promises and it can cause irreversible damage. Instead, building safe, healthy and sustainable daily practices will lead to the very same successful life that grind culture falsely promises. h

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lightbox Students who chose to go back to school in person look at those who chose to stay at home on the Promethean board. Schools opened for freshmen and sophomores on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and opened for juniors and seniors on Friday, Oct. 9.