35 Years of One Acts at Harvey
May 2022 Issue 5
By Sam Alexander
Featured in this issue: •
OP-ED
•
Harvey News
•
Reports
•
Sports News
•
Reviews
On April 22 and 23, in the Lasdon Theater, Harvey celebrated the 35th anniversary of The Harvey School’s One Acts. Thirty-five years hold a lot of history, so to learn the background of this tradition, The Pulse interviewed Mrs. Dianne Mahony, who brought the concept of student-written and directed one-act plays to Harvey. Mrs. Mahony said that the One Acts are based on a program from college she was involved in. She said she transferred and modified the college program to fit into more of a high school setting. Mrs. Mahony stated, “The One Acts are so important because they are world premieres. They are the new American theatre. There is something very exciting about having a student voice give a certain level of legitimacy.” When asked about how she feels about the tradition lasting for 35 years, Mrs. Mahony stated, “I am happy … happy it is still going strong.” The One Acts have become such a popular after-school activity at Harvey. Mrs. Mahony created a program that causes students to be excited about their own plays.
The Harvey School 260 Jay Street Katonah, NY 10536
It is a chance for young playwrights and directors to showcase their work. But since the beginning of the program, a lot of changes have been made.
Cast and Crew of the 2022 One Acts. Photo Courtesy of Ms. Virginia Holmes.
The Pulse asked Mrs. Mahony about the evolution of the One Acts, and she responded, “When we first started out, I insisted that the directors could not direct their own work. That has changed a little bit, as now there is much more directing of students’ own plays.” Another major part of this year’s performance is that the One Acts are back in the Lasdon Theater for the first time in two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mrs. Mahony expressed, “The One Acts are so resilient because even during that first year of the pandemic, when we were sent home early for Spring Break, we maintained online rehearsals and did a recorded Zoom version of the plays. But it is nice to return home to the theater.” This year, there were two plays written and directed by seniors Amanda Mohamad and Cody Siegel. The Pulse also interviewed both Amanda and Cody about their experiences with the One Acts during this historic year. Amanda’s play is about young love and having to overcome differences regarding family and background. Amanda talked about her process when it came to writing. She explained that during Mrs. Mahony’s Playwriting elective, “We don’t jump right into starting the script. We have to come up with the
basic situation and resolutions and establish what we want the audience to know by the end. The big bumper sticker message on the back of a car.” Amanda expressed that one of her favorite parts about the One Acts is the fact that it is practically a “Google Doc that comes to life.” She added, “Sometimes, I just need to sit back and say, ‘Wow! This is happening!’” The second student director this year is Cody Siegel. His play is about a torrid and dangerous romance. He stated that his favorite part about directing the One Acts is “watching the play take place right in front of me, like I am an audience member.” Cody continued, “Doing this production has inspired me to continue to do this work at the collegiate level and beyond.” The One Acts are so popular at Harvey because they give students a sense of leadership and the ability to express their voices. Thirty-five years ago, Mrs. Mahony gave students the chance to write and direct their own plays, and to this day, the One Acts program is still one of Harvey’s greatest traditions. Mrs. Mahony told The Pulse, “Every year is its own kind of magic.” This magic will grow as the One Acts continue to be a long-lasting tradition at The Harvey School.
OP/ED
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Cats Are Better Than Dogs Dear Editor,
The Pulse Staff Editor-in-Chief/Layout Amanda Mohamad Junior Editor Emma Galgano
Sam Alexander Grace Alpern Hudson Chris Jake Cremins Spencer Elkind Dan Gasch Dylan Gueli Bradley Lederer Jonah Weinstock
There’s hardly a person in the world who doesn’t love pets. We take those cute little animals into our families and try our hardest to give them luxurious and happy lives. Probably the two most common pets in the entire world are cats and dogs. One of the biggest arguments on the internet, and in real life, is which of these two is superior and makes the overall better pet. I would like to set the record straight. Cats are the better animal to have as a pet. As a cat owner myself, I can support this fact. I have owned six cats in my life, and currently, I own three: Ollivander, Loki, and Bean. I have probably gotten a new cat every three to four years, so I have a lot of experience with the animal. With that being said, there are a few reasons why cats are better than dogs. When it comes to being a more practical pet, it’s hard to argue that cats are NOT better. They don’t need to be walked and instead can use a litter box, which only requires occasional cleaning. They don’t require the constant attention that dogs do, and they’re much smaller, so they’re easier to clean up after. One fault I will admit to having cats is that they have a different sleep schedule, so they might be awake when the humans in the house are trying to sleep, but they still understand the human sleep schedule and will leave me and my family to our rest. However, it’s not the practical aspects of cats that make them superior. It’s the spiritual aspect of the animal. Humanity domesticated cats much more recently than they did dogs, who have served as pets since before agriculture was invented. As a result, dogs are incredibly loyal and devoted to their masters, having learned to be so over thousands of years. And in my opinion, that lack of loyalty and devotion makes cats better companions overall for two main reasons. First, cats are more independent. They do what they want when they want without regard to what people think about them. I’ve seen a common claim online that cats can understand 80% of human speech, but they simply don’t care.
Faculty Advisor Virginia Holmes
Spring 2022 Pulse Staff
However, that makes moments you share with cats even more special, since you know they have chosen to be with you. When one of my cats comes up to my room and sits on my bed, it warms my heart knowing that he wants to be with me at that moment. Often, when I’m feeling upset or worried, one of my cats comes up to me and rubs its head against my leg, which instantly makes me feel a whole lot better. The second reason is that cats have a lot more personality than dogs. Most dogs share a similar nature: they’re playful and energetic. Cats have much more variety in their characters. For example, one of my cats is more laid back, while another is more active. When we go away for a long time, one cat gets very angry at us, while another is happy to forgive us in exchange for food. Different personalities make each cat feel unique and special, more like people than animals. So, yes, while I understand that many people love dogs and enjoy the company given by them, it’s hard to argue cats are not the better animal. They have more personality and are easier to take care of than their canine counterparts. And even though I’ve never owned a dog in my life, I hope to do so one day to see if my opinion is correct. However, after that experience is over, I do not doubt that I will remain firmly on the side of the felines from my childhood. Sincerely, Spencer Elkind
My two-year-old cat, Bean. Photo Courtesy of Craig Elkind.
Harvey News
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Two Jobs, One Day: Harvey Faculty Moms After a long day of teaching, coaching, proctoring, and all of the other duties that come along with working at Harvey, several faculty members go home to another job: being a parent. In honor of this year’s Mother’s Day, three Harvey faculty members and mothers describe their unique experiences of parenting while working at Harvey. Ms. Michelle Morris, the assistant to the Head of School, can be described by many students as their “school mom.” “I’m not a teacher, I’m not an advisor, I’m no one, but in a good way, so kids feel safe coming to me,” Ms. Morris told The Pulse. She continued, “You can come and get snacks or not get snacks. You can sit here and cry or not cry. People don’t worry about coming here as much because I’m not giving them a grade. And it’s awesome, because my kids are away, so I have my other kids here at Harvey. How lucky am I?” But after hanging with her Harvey family all day, Ms. Morris comes home to a family of her own. “I’ve been married almost 30 years to my husband John, and we have two kids, Maddie, who is 22, and Jack, who is 21.” Ms. Morris started working at Harvey in the development office in 1993, but in 2001, after having both her children, she decided it was time to say farewell to Harvey to be with her children full time. Little did she know that former headmaster, Mr. Barry Fenstermacher, would personally ask her to come back as his assistant in 2014. Ms. Morris’s advice to those struggling to balance their home and work life is to know that “family comes first, but it is OK to back off a little as your kids get older and show them that they aren’t the center of the universe, even though they are the center of your universe. Parents are people, too, and it’s important that kids know that their parents have other interests and other things that can fulfill them besides being a parent.” Ms. Carolyn Bean, Upper School English teacher, has three children of her own, ages 6, 4, and 9 months, and all of them were born while
By Amanda Mohamad
spending quality time with a newborn is so valuable.” However, when Ms. Bean returned to work after Thanksgiving, the Omicron variant had made its way to the United States and would soon sweep through the school.
The Visintainer women: Mom, Beth (left), and daughter, Maddy (right). Photo Courtesy of Paul Visintainer.
Ms. Bean has taught at Harvey. Raising young children while working full time is no easy feat, let alone doing it all during a pandemic. For Ms. Bean, motherhood particularly impacted how she teaches her English classes. “I feel my perspective has changed drastically since becoming a parent. Becoming a parent made a significant impression on me as far as being responsible for another life. I find myself considering my students’ perspectives more than ever in my classes, but I also understand the role of parents in the books we read in my classes much more than I did before,” Ms. Bean told The Pulse. With three young children, Ms. Bean says, “Every day is a mad-dash trying to get as much done while I’m out of the house.” Ms. Bean compares her school and home mindsets to an “on-off switch.” She says, “Home bleeds more into my school life than work bleeding into my home life. The expectations for parents are so high and make you feel you have to have your child doing so many things: different appointments, something active, something artistic, all of which you have to manage even if you can’t physically be there.” Ms. Bean’s newest addition to her family was born during a spike in the Delta variant of the COVID-19 pandemic. She told The Pulse, “Going on maternity leave this time around was a relief because I knew I could isolate for the first four months of my baby’s life. I didn’t have to go to-and-from work, where I could catch something and bring it back to him. Harvey gives mothers an extended leave, which I appreciate, because
“It’s important that I keep my household safe, especially for two of my kids who can’t be vaccinated yet. Even at school, I try to isolate myself and avoid big crowds to try and reduce the risk of getting COVID,” she says. Ms. Bean’s advice for balancing her work and family life is not to try to be perfect. “Know that some things, work or home, might fall by the wayside, and that’s OK. Don’t beat yourself up about it.” Assistant Head of Upper School and English teacher, Mrs. Beth Visintainer, raised three children: her son Daniel and daughters, Harvey alum Frannie, and Harvey English teacher, Maddy Visintainer (better known as Ms. V.) The Harvey community adores this mother-daughter teacher pair just as much as they enjoy working with each other. “I was so excited for Ms. V to apply to work at Harvey because I knew there was no better place for her to grow as a teacher. But as much as we are learning from each other, we still love to spend time doing non-related school things. We both love to travel, and Ms. V loves to hike, which she got me into, and we just like being ourselves around each other,” Mrs. Visintainer told The Pulse. Mrs. Visintainer’s advice for balancing work and home life is “to know that some days are better than others. Communication is major, and if my kids say they need to talk to me about something, I know I have to be there to listen and be open-minded. You have to find the time for that.” The Pulse thanks Ms. Morris, Ms. Bean, and Mrs. Visintainer for sharing their motherhood experiences. We love and appreciate them among the countless other Harvey faculty moms.
Mr. Zanar’s Journey to Harvey On Wednesday, March 30, The Pulse interviewed science teacher and assistant coach of the Harvey boys varsity tennis team Scott Zanar. While interviewing Mr. Zanar, The Pulse learned about his experiences before and during his time at Harvey. During Mr. Zanar’s childhood, he lived near Philadelphia, PA with his parents and younger sister. He attended public school and recognized his interest for science from an early age. Transitioning from high school, Mr. Zanar attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, also referred to as RPI, in Troy, New York. He majored in biochemistry and biophysics, but he realized that conducting research would not be his preferred job because he enjoys interacting with others. Yet, his “love of science” drove him to learn more within his chosen majors. During his interview, Mr. Zanar expressed his enthusiasm to cure cancer at one point of his
By Hudson Chris
life. Similar to Mr. Zanar, his wife has a profession categorized within the sciences. Conducting water testing in an environmental lab, she ensures that drinking water is suitable. Before coming to Harvey, Mr. Zanar taught in central Pennsylvania at an all-girls private school called Linden Hall School for Girls. Mr. Zanar described the academic environment as “high achieving” and “high stressed,” causing him to look “for something a little more student focused.’’ Mr. Zanar also aspired to teach where students were valued for their personality, in addition to their grades. Not being a fan of the city, Mr. Zanar sought to live further north and closer to nature. The nature surrounding our campus, in addition to what he described as the “overall atmosphere,” pulled him toward Harvey’s community. When The Pulse asked Mr. Zanar about his favorite aspect of Harvey, he stated, “I enjoy the community aspect and the interactions with
other faculty and with students.” As a biology teacher, he enjoys forming connections with his students, as well as helping them understand how their body functions. In addition to teaching biology, Mr. Zanar is the assistant coach of the boys varsity tennis team. While he admitted that he is not the most skilled tennis player, he expressed that “It’s been fun” and “enjoyable.” He is also pleased to see his development as a tennis player and coach as warmer weather approaches. Outside of Harvey, Mr. Zanar immerses himself in adventurous outdoor activities. Running, in particular, is a strong interest of his, as he runs a 5k, or approximately 3.1 miles, daily. Mr. Zanar, who also enjoys trail running, has participated in trail runs in the Adirondack Mountains that can last for over 20 miles. Mr. Zanar cont. on pg. 4.
Harvey News
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Five-Star Cuisine at Harvey By Bradley Lederer
Harvey students have many choices during any given lunch period. To avoid the monotony of eating the same pasta or bagel each day, The Pulse recommends particular dishes made by FLIK Independent School Dining chefs that you absolutely should not miss out on trying. But first, how is each day’s menu planned, and what goes into the fabulous selections Harvey students, faculty, and staff get to partake in each day? To find the answer, The Pulse interviewed the new Harvey School chef, Chef Suchada Palmer. Chef Palmer, who has been a chef for 10 years, says that she loves to cook because she likes how she makes people happy with her meals. Chef Palmer says her favorite types of dishes are Southeast Asian.
Aside from the sausage and peppers, the Philly cheesesteak, and the Buffalo Mac and Cheese, there are a few other Harvey dishes that you should not miss. Most people think that the cheeseburger during school lunches is dry, but the cheeseburger at The Harvey School is seasoned and made with care, making it another great meal to try. The desserts during Harvey’s lunch are also very well made. The brownie that is prepared for lunch is rich and moist and is usually eaten with a fork rather than hands. Another good dessert that I recommend is the chocolate chip cookie.
Everything is freshly made from scratch in the Harvey dining hall’s kitchen, and nothing is frozen. When asked what she thinks is the student body’s favorite dish, she said that it’s hard to say what all the students think. She said she thinks the students like the fried rice that she makes, and I, along with many other students across all grades, would have to agree.
During lunch, there are many options to choose from when picking what to eat. Every day there is a hot food option, but if you don’t want that there are other options like salad, a bagel with butter, or even a sandwich. The drinks consist of seltzer or apple juice. Sometimes that apple juice is frozen, which is refreshing because it’s like a slushie drink.
Outside of school, Chef Palmer also likes to cook Southeastern Asian cuisine for herself and others. When determining what she thinks students want to eat, Chef Palmer said that she knew the students wanted different food from previous school years, so she spoke to students about what they wanted.
Some people bring their own lunch, but everyone is encouraged to help themselves to the food our FLIK chefs provide. The Pulse thanks Chef Suchada for her time and hard work that she puts into The Harvey School dining experience.
Chef Palmer said that she used to work as a private chef at a country club. She said that cooking for a country club is very different from a school. She noted that when cooking for the school, it is more about quantity, although the food is still very well made. In terms of menu items that you don’t want to miss, the sausage and peppers are excellent. Dan Gasch, a writer for The Pulse, stated in an interview, “The sausage and peppers is my favorite Harvey lunch, especially as a sandwich.” In addition to the sausage and peppers, Dan also stated that he loves the sweet and sour chicken and the Philly cheesesteak. He feels like the sausage peppers feel like a quality meal that he could eat at a nice restaurant, and the Philly cheesesteak makes him feel like he is in the stands at a sporting event, which makes him happy. For me, the sausage and peppers are also one of my favorites, and it seems to be a big hit during the Harvey lunch period. Another fan favorite also seems to be the Buffalo Mac and Cheese. Both are prepared to perfection. Compared to other schools, Harvey’s lunch is far better and much better put together.
‘ Mr. Zanar cont. from pg. 3
Even though he has not participated in many official races, Mr. Zanar has run a 5k and a half-marathon. He signed up for a marathon, but he was unable to run due to IT band issues and COVID-19 complications. Despite his lack of involvement in running competitions, Mr. Zanar enjoys the personal satisfaction of running, stating, “I tend to run for myself more than for races.” When asking Mr. Zanar about his hobbies and interests, he stated that he relishes “high adrenaline outdoor activities.” From rock climbing, to mountain biking, wet water kayaking, and even ice climbing with crampons, Mr. Zanar has been a true outdoorsman. Looking into his future at Harvey, Mr. Zanar hopes to introduce more outdoor education and activities for students. Because Harvey has an expansive and beautiful campus, Mr. Zanar aspires to add a rock wall and possibly mountain biking courses and trails. These additions
to the campus, according to Mr. Zanar, are a “dream of (his) over the next several years.” He also hopes to teach anatomy and physiology, and possibly sports physiology, as electives at Harvey. Mr. Zanar expressed, “I’m really passionate about science and biology, and I hope to instill and inspire that in my students.” Teaching these additional courses will allow him to branch out and connect with more students. Mr. Zanar quickly immersed himself into Harvey’s engaging environment. From initially describing himself as not being “much of a mall kid” during his childhood, Mr. Zanar discovered his keen interest for biology and enthusiastically teaches his students on a daily basis. Learning about Mr. Zanar’s curiosity for science and the great outdoors has been a privilege, and The Pulse and the entire Harvey community are excited about his contributions.
Mr. Zanar overlooking nature’s beauty while rock climbing. Photo Courtesy of Liz Zanar.
Reports
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The Impact on the World
By Emma Galgano and Dan Gasch Ukraine’s sovereignty is being questioned as Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed the biggest war in Europe since World War II. Ukrainian nationalism and determination to remain independent have inspired the world. But after thousands of deaths and Ukrainian homes turning into ashes, the question remains: Why is this war happening, and when will it end? On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine. According to BBC News, Putin’s goal is to “demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine.” These claims and many other justifications made by Putin are completely unfounded. According to Britannica, Ukraine has only been independent since the late 20th century, after a long period of dominance by Poland, Lithuania, Russia, and the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics (U.S.S.R.). When the Soviet Union began to fall in 1990, the legislature of the Ukrainian S.S.R. declared sovereignty on July 16, 1990, and then official independence on August 24, 1991, by widespread approval in a referendum. Many speculate that the true motives behind the Russian invasion include reestablishing territories previously held by the Soviet Union. As Dan Bilefsy and Richard PérezPeña wrote in their Feb. 11 New York Times piece, “Mr. Putin appears intent on winding back the clock more than 30 years, establishing a broad, Russian-dominated security zone resembling the power Moscow wielded in Soviet days.” According to EuroNews, for the first time in history, the European Union is financing the purchase of
delivering arms to Kyiv worth 450 million euros ($502 million USD). Finland, who is currently applying to be part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is supplying weapons to Ukraine and will send 1,500 rocket launchers, 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 rounds of ammunition, and 70,000 servings of field rations. Germany will increase a military support fund for foreign countries to 2 billion euros, of which a large share will go to Ukraine to help it purchase weapons. Romania, which shares a border with Ukraine, is offering to treat wounded people from the crisis zones in its 11 military hospitals as well as sending fuel, bulletproof vests, helmets and other “military material” worth $3.3 million USD. Portugal is even giving Ukraine night-vision goggles. Ukraine is also receiving support from countries like the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Greece, the Czech Republic and even the United States of America. According to The White House, on March 16, 2022, President Joseph R Biden announced an additional $800 million in security assistance. Overall, this means that since the beginning of the Biden administration, the U.S. has committed $2 billion toward Ukraine. The new $800 million assistance package includes 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, almost 10,000 anti-armor systems and weapons, 25,000 helmets, over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition, grenade launcher and mortar rounds, and thousands of other weapons and safety materials.
ald’s and hundreds of others. As of April 19, 2022, over 700 companies have withdrawn from Russia, but 131 European countries the U.S. remain. These companies remaining within Russia have been widely criticized and have faced severe backlash from the public. American citizens protested the Russian invasion of Ukraine in front of the White House on Feb. 24, 2022. Photo Courtesy of ABC News.
The U.S. Department of Treasury stated that the U.S. had taken significant action to respond to Putin’s actions through economic sanctions. According to the treasury, these sanctions target the core infrastructure of Russia’s financial system. In addition, these economic actions will affect nearly 80% of Russia’s banking assets. According to CNN, the Biden administration has consistently ruled out the deployment of U.S. troops. “Let me say it again: Our forces are not — and will not — be engaged in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine.” Many speculate that the reason the White House has refused to deploy troops is due to the fact that Ukraine is not officially part of NATO, and President Putin’s warning that “anyone who would consider interfering from the outside” will “face consequences greater than any you have faced in history.”
Although many countries are in support of Ukraine, there are some that have backed or refused to condemn President Putin’s actions. In early March 2022, an emergency United Nations (U.N.) Security Council session was held. According to iNews UK, during this meeting, 141 countries voted to reprimand Russia for “its violent attack on its neighbor.” Although the large majority of countries voted against Russia, four countries, including Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria, voted in support of them. In addition, despite the concern of war crimes being carried out by the Russian army, China has continued to trade with Russia. According to Bloomberg News, “No matter how the international landscape may change, China will continue to strengthen strategic coordination with Russia for win-win cooperation, jointly safeguarding the common interests of the two countries.” Although the devastating actions that Russia has carried out are disheartening and hard to comprehend, the bravery shown by the Ukrainian people has proved what people are capable of when their freedom is threatened.
According to Fox News, various businesses have ceased operation in protest of Russia invading Ukraine. Some companies include Spotify, Twitter, Amazon, McDon-
Virgil Abloh’s Graduation On Nov. 28, 2021, Virgil Abloh, a pioneer of the fashion industry, died from a rare form of cancer he’d been battling for the past year. Most known for his creative genius and luxury brand Off-White, Abloh set the stage for the streetwear movement to take over luxury fashion. He was the first Black artistic director at the famous French fashion house Louis Vuitton, and he was known by most as a trailblazer for Black artists. As a pioneer of high-end streetwear fashion, or as he called it “the post-streetwear movement,” his influence is hard to miss. He helped bring along the collision of everyday culture and high society, making luxury brands more accessible to the everyday fashion fanatic. Virgil Abloh is the success story of a boy in his 20s who decided to let himself be creative, and he wanted everyone to do the same. As reported by Business Insider, Abloh was born outside of Chicago in 1980 to Ghanian immigrant parents. His mother was a seamstress, and his father was the manager of a paint company.
By Grace Alpern
Later, he attended University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering. In his senior year, Abloh took an art history class for the first time, in which he learned about Italian painter Caravaggio. In an interview with The Cut, Abloh said, “It flipped my head backward. I’d spent so much time thinking practical things.” From then on, Abloh was hooked. Later in the same interview with The Cut, the men’s fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman, Bruce Pask, recalled an event at Bergdorf’s for Off-White. Remembering the store being packed with young people, Abloh stated, “Oh, I’m going to hang with my kids.” When one of the teenagers at the event couldn’t afford to buy an Off-White T-shirt, Abloh took a sharpie to his own shirt and wrote “THIS IS AN OFF-WHITE T-SHIRT” across it in all caps.
Off-White’s many celebrity fans influence the culture of teenagers today. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, both friends of Abloh, appeared at his November memorial. A$AP and Abloh often collaborated in both fashion and music, having released a series of T-shirts in August 2017 with A$AP and his clothing line AWGE. If you mention Off-White among teenagers, you will likely get a response praising the brand and its rap cult following. Oscar Lo, senior at The Harvey School, recalls his first experience with the brand, saying, “When I was in middle school, that’s when Off-White was like really, really viral, so that’s probably the first real brand that got me into the streetwear culture. So, it actually means a lot, and then after seeing all the things that happened to Virgil, it’s pretty crazy to see how it’s just suddenly gone.”
Virgil Abloh cont. on pg. 6.
Reports
Page 6
What’s Up with Wordle? “Over the past few months, Wordle has become increasingly popular. It started with dozens of players to hundreds of thousands of players worldwide,” according to The New York Times. The game was created by Josh Wardle, a Brooklyn–based software engineer. Wardle’s partner had a love for word games. The game was originally created for the two of them. Since Josh created a word game, and his last name is Wardle, he combined the two words and called it Wordle. Wardle knew he was on to something big, and he was right. Wordle went viral in October 2021, and his game became a success. The game consists of a six-by-five tile grid. You have to guess a five-letter word within six tries. After guessing a five-letter word, the game will tell you whether the letters are in the correct spot. Millions of people around the world play Wordle, but why is it so popular, and why do so many people love it? A simple reason for this is that Wordle is a combination of two old school games, Hangman and Mastermind, but there is more. One of Wordle’s features is that you do only one word puzzle per day. Therefore, it’s not possible to become overly obsessed and jaded. The one word per day feature is the same for everybody.
By Jonah Weinstock
Wordle shows both how insecure and competitive we are. The game is not about sharing one’s intellectual gifts; it’s about being a better player than others. We do better than our competitors if we need fewer guesses. Therefore, this gives us insight that people think they are better than average.
Aden Yankwitt stated, “I got into Wordle because I saw a lot of my friends playing it. I like Wordle because I have a keen interest in words. I also like Wordle because I learn new words and increase my vocabulary. I like learning new words I never knew before and learning how to be intellectually challenged with the English language.”
The second outcome is that it takes us more tries, or we don’t get the word at all. Therefore, this is the opposite idea of people thinking they are better than average at anything we do.
The Pulse also interviewed junior Bennet Katzin about his experience with Wordle. Bennet stated, “I originally got into Wordle because some of my friends were playing it. I wasn’t very into it at first, but the more I did it, I slowly got better at it. I like Wordle because it’s a game that I never ever get bored of. The game is as quick as you want it to be. Usually I finish within several minutes.”
As human beings, we think that we are more exceptional in certain areas than others. According to Psychology Today, “93% of drivers think they are better than average. 43% of us live in a state of delusion It’s not just driving, it’s many other areas too. More than 90% of professors think they are better than average when it comes to teaching. 85% of teenagers think they get along well with others better than average.” This goes to show that people think better of themselves than they really are. This principle applies to Wordle, which may be why it is so popular. But, there is another side to the game, one that helps with vocabulary acquisition. The Pulse interviewed two Harvey juniors who play Wordle for these reasons.
Wordle started booming when people shared their results on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Sharing their results on social media is one of the key reasons for its popularity.
Bennet also stated, “I enjoy learning and understanding new words in the English language. There are many words that I don’t know. Each time I solve a word, I’m always expanding my knowledge of new vocab.” Overall, whether we do well, average, or neither, Wordle is designed to encourage us to keep on playing. Wordle is a fun game that we should try because it’s quick, clever, and it helps us learn new words we don’t know.
Photo of the Wordle game tiles. Photo courtesy by nj.com.
Virgil Abloh cont. from pg. 5
When Abloh died in November, Off-White seemed to have died with him. Many speculate that the brand will not hire a new creative director and instead will leave the brand as an ode to Abloh and his life. This would serve Abloh’s greatest goal for himself: to leave his mark on the creative space, inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers. Before his death, Abloh created a website called virgilabloh.com. Abloh created the site as part of his community service and post-modern initiative programs that serve to benefit those in the Black community without the opportunities to express their creativity. The site gives a detailed tutorial of how to create a brand and launch your career. Step by step, Abloh teaches whoever is willing and motivated about the inside information he learned throughout his career in the creative world. On Feb. 28, 2022, which was exactly three months after Abloh’s death, Off-White showed Virgil Abloh’s last posthumous collection for the brand. His collection was titled “Spaceship Earth, an Imaginary Experience.” Each model had the word “face” painted below each of their eyes, a signature for the brand, putting text in quotations. Models walked in new interpretations of the classic suit, oversized silhouettes, as well as turtlenecks with leather blazers, giving a sporty appeal to a more typically professional silhouette. The collection served as a celebration of Virgil Abloh’s life’s work, and it was a final send-off for his time with Off-White. As the class of 2022 graduates, Off-White graduates, too. As the Harvey seniors leave high school and enter the next stage of their lives, they venture on and explore new spaces in the world, carving a spot for themselves. While the seniors’ graduation takes place in June, Abloh’s brand OffWhite’s was this past February. He created a spot where there wasn’t one for himself and others like him in the world of fashion, forever marking him as the true visionary.
Singer Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky sitting front row wearing Abloh’s designs, at Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2019. Photo Courtesy of Stephane Feugere, Women’s Wear Daily.
Sports News
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Saint Peter’s: A Cinderella Story in College Basketball A college basketball team from Jersey City, New Jersey, called the Saint Peter’s Peacocks entered March Madness as a 15 seed, one of the lowest seeds a team can place in the tournament. No one expected anything from this team, as they have no ranked basketball players on their roster. However, they made it to the Elite Eight, making them the Cinderella story of the tournament.
By Dylan Gueli
Saint Peter’s is one of three teams that have ever advanced to the Sweet 16 as a 15 seed. The other two teams that made it are Oral Roberts last year and Florida Gulf Coast in 2013. March Madness started in 1939, so only three 15 seeded teams in about 100 years have made it to the Sweet 16. So, any team that made the Sweet 16 as a low seed should be proud. But Saint Peter’s took it one more step and made it to the Elite Eight.
Miracles happen, and this team went into their first game confident by beating the secondseeded team, the University of Kentucky. This achievement was sensational, as the number of students Kentucky admits is mind-blowing compared to Saint Peter’s. Compared to Saint Peter’s, the University of Kentucky scouts for basketball more, gaining lots of top-tier players and making them favored to win. Not very often, a 15-seeded team will win in the first rounds. They are pretty much expected to lose by all sports analysts. But not only did Saint Peter’s win the first round, but they also won two more games, putting them in the Elite Eight. They eliminated so many teams, and this run that they had was impressive. This type of Cinderella run does not happen very often. As March Madness is once a year, these student-athletes only have one chance to shine in this tournament. Usually, during March Madness, the lower seeded teams are eliminated in the first round, but some do squeak through. In their first game of the season, Saint Peter’s beat the University of Kentucky 85-79. Daryl Banks III had a sensational game, scoring 27 points, getting two assists, and bringing down four rebounds. Banks really helped his team take down their opponent in their first game.
Saint Peter’s basketball team coach Shaheen Holloway told his team, “Stay the course,” according to “The Spun” by Sports Illustrated, before heading into their game in the Elite Eight. As reported by the website Northjersey, a senior named K.C. Ndefo on the Saint Peter’s team said, “What we did was amazing, and this is brotherhood.”
Photo of the 2021-2022 Saint Peter’s team. Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated.
In the second game of the March Madness tournament, Saint Peter’s versus Murray State, the seven-seeded team in March Madness, no player had a stat line that stood out more than others. But, Saint Peter’s did indeed win, 70- 60, against Murray State. Saint Peter’s played their Sweet 16 game against Purdue University, the No. 3 seed in the tournament. Like the last game, Saint Peter’s ended up winning 67-64 in a very close game. The highest points scored in this game for Saint Peter’s was 14 points by Daryl Banks III. Even though Saint Peter’s lost 69-49 to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, only eight of the 64 teams made it this far.
In addition, the Saint Peter’s cheerleaders could not even come to St. Peter’s first game against Kentucky due to financial restraints. But according to athleticbussiness.com, the streaming company Peacock offered to help transport the Saint Peter’s cheerleading team to the game against Murray State. Peacock tweeted, “We’re getting you to the game. Can you be ready in a few hours?” Finally, after winning a few games, the cheerleaders get to come.” All in all, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch. Saint Peter’s did something sensational that only a couple of other teams have done in all of March Madness history. Let’s see if they can continue their success next year.
Wild NFL Offseason By Jake Cremins
Going into the offseason, a lot of players in the National Football League (NFL) were set to hit free agency, like superstars Aaron Rodgers, J.C. Jackson, Von Miller, Tyrann Matheiu, Odell Beckham Jr. and Chandler Jones. Because there were so many players entering free agency, fans were excited to see where each of these athletes would end up playing. After the controversy in Green Bay, the front office was able to get a deal done with superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers for four years, worth $200 million, making him the highest paid player in NFL history. Tom Brady said he was going to retire after his 22-year career in the NFL, but a little more than a month later, he unretired and returned to Tampa Bay for in quest of his eighth Super Bowl ring after falling short to the Rams in the NFC Divisional Round. Many players returned to their teams, but many also went elsewhere making this the craziest NFL offseason of all time. One team that had its eye on Rodgers was the Denver Broncos. The Broncos had quarterback (QB) issues for the past five years, and if they wanted to contend, they would need a superstar quarterback, so they began to look elsewhere. Seeing that
Russell Wilson was having issues in Seattle, Denver decided that it should go out and trade for Wilson. According to CBS Sports, the Denver Broncos acquired QB Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks in return for QB Drew Lock, defensive tackle Shelby Harris, tight end Noah Fant, 2022 first round pick (ninth pick), 2023 first round pick, 2022 second round pick (40th pick), a 2023 second round pick, and a 2022 fifth round pick. Wilson came off a poor season, and Denver is taking a huge risk in trading a ton of their future in hopes of making a Super Bowl run. This does not make a ton of sense because most of the Denver Broncos’ key players are all young players. As reported by Pro Football Sports on NBC Sports, the Chicago Bears decided to trade All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers for the Chargers 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick. This was a very cheap price for a player like Mack. During free agency, the Chargers also added another defensive star, former Patriots cornerback JC Jackson, to a five-year, $82.5 million deal per NFL insider Adam
Schefter. Signing a big-name corner to pair him alongside cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. was a great move by the Chargers front office. The Chargers re-signed wide receiver Mike Williams to a three-year $60 million deal. The Chargers are building a team that will be very intimidating to every team they face this season. The Las Vegas Raiders traded Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams from the Green Bay Packers for a 2022 first round pick and 2022 second round pick, per NFL insider Ian Rapaport. This is a smart move by the Raiders because they lacked a superstar wide receiver, and Vegas QB Derek Carr and wide receiver Adams played two seasons together in college at Fresno State, so they already have some chemistry. Having two of the best route runners in the NFL in Adams and Hunter Renfrow is going to create some problems for defenses this season. According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Las Vegas Raiders also signed former New England Patriot and Arizona Cardinal Chandler Jones to a three-year, $52.5 million deal. This is a great addition to the struggling Raiders defense because he provides great pressure, and when you add him to a defense with young defensive end Maxx Crosby, it will
create lots of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Miami Dolphins made a few splashes in this offseason, including a couple huge splashes via free agency and trade. The Miami Dolphins traded superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs in return for the Dolphins 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick, 2022 fourthround pick, 2023 fourth-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick. Miami also signed All-Pro left tackle Terron Armstead to a fiveyear $75 million deal reported by NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The Dolphins also signed two running backs, Raheem Mostert from the 49ers and Chase Edmonds from the Cardinals. NFL Offseason cont. on pg. 8.
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Welcome to the 1000-Point Club, Kira! By Emma Galgano
When The Pulse asked Kira who helped her achieve this goal, she stated, “My friends helped motivate me. But my parents and brother knew I was going to hit it.”
Harvey School junior Kira Ortega is officially the sixth Harvey School student to join the 1000-point club. Kira’s work ethic and determination have allowed her to achieve one of the most exclusive achievements in Harvey sports. Kira started playing basketball when she was 4-years old. She stated that her father wanted her to try a variety of sports when she was younger, and basketball just stuck. Kira was in eighth grade when she and her twin brother, Kirk Ortega, came to Harvey . She immediately became involved in the girls varsity basketball team, and in just eighth grade, she scored 427 points and broke the record for the highest-scoring season. The 2022 girls varsity basketball team was coached by head coach Mike Duignan and assistant coach Felicia Peterson. The team made it to the semifinals of the HVAL playoffs. Kira was a prominent force on the team and was awarded MVP of the season. When Kira was a ninth grader, she became team captain along with two seniors, Kathyrn Ogg and Lucy Gold. Unfortunately, when Kira was a sophomore, Harvey School winter sports were canceled due to COVID-19. Luckily, Kira was able to play basketball in her junior year. On Feb. 14, 2022, in a home game against Oakwood Friends School, Kira scored her 1000th point. Before the game, Kira continued her tradition of praying before games, and from there, she was ready to make history. In the first quarter of the game, Kira confidently stepped to the free-throw line, and seconds later, became the second female to become a member of the 1000-point club. Kira told The Pulse that “the whole gym went silent, and the only thing you could hear was the sound of the ball dribbling. NFL Offseason cont. from pg. 7
The Dolphins are trying to surround the current Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with as many weapons as they can. Tagovailoa has yet to prove himself in the NFL, and a lot of people consider him a bust, as he was the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, but with these new additions, Tagovailoa is given the weapons on offense to excel. Assuming that Tagovailoa is the starting quarterback for Miami, he might be able to thrive in this high-powered offense, take this team to the next level, and prove himself as a good starting quarterback. The reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Los Angeles Rams, had a few key pieces hitting free agency this offseason, including wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., cornerback Darious Williams, center Austin Corbett, and linebacker Von Miller. Beckham is still unsigned to this day, Williams signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Corbett signed with the Carolina Panthers, and Miller signed with the Buffalo Bills. Despite all these players signing elsewhere, the Rams signed some replacements, including linebacker Bobby Wagner and wide receiver Allen Robinson II. The Rams also lost offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth due to retirement. The Los Angeles Rams traded away wide receiver Robert Woods to the Tennessee Titans for a 2023 sixth-round pick, according to NFL insider Ian Rapaport. Some people may know they signed some good players, but they did lose a lot of key players, and their chances to repeat as Super Bowl Champs will regress massively.
Kira is the second-fastest basketball player to reach this accomplishment, as it only took her three varsity seasons. She is also a two-time NEPSAC All-Star and HVAL All-League basketball player.
The 2022 Girls Varsity Basketball Team celebrating Kira’s 1000 points. Photo Courtesy of Harvey Communications.
She continued, saying, “I felt so nervous. It wasn’t even out of happy excitement. It just would have been so embarrassing if I didn’t score this shot.” After the game was over, Kira dedicated her game-winning basketball to her mother. Kira stated, “My mom is not a sports person, so it felt good to give it to her.” When The Pulse asked Kira if she was surprised that she scored 1,000 points, she stated, “To be honest, when I first started basketball, I knew I was going to hit 1000 points. But at the same time, you feel very old being on a team for so long. I felt like a veteran.” Just from Kira’s statistics, it seemed like a no-brainer that she would score 1000 points, as she averages 19 points per game.
Kira told The Pulse that if she were to give advice to girls learning to play basketball, she would say, “The sport that you’re getting into isn’t the easiest, so you have to be thick skinned, and you also have to be able to work hard and work with people. Also, get out of your comfort zone.” Impressively, despite her spectacular accomplishment in basketball, Kira is also a star softball player. She is an HVAL All-League player and was selected for Western New England Prep School Girls Softball Association All-League honors. Kira told The Pulse, “I decided that I want to go to college for softball.” Besides athletics, Kira is also a fantastic student and artist. Kira’s accomplishments on and off the court have been remarkable. The Pulse would like to wish Kira congratulations on becoming a member of the 1000 point club.
, Kira shares this career mark with Ricky Hicks ‘15, Tré Wilson ‘11, Tyrone Foster ‘93, Julia Mallon’ 18, and current Manhattan College men’s basketball coach Steve Masiello ‘96. After a heart-breaking Super Bowl loss, the AFC Champions Cincinnati Bengals had offensive line problems. The Rams’ pass rush was able to get to their quarterback Joe Burrow and sack him. The Bengals needed to upgrade their offensive line if they wanted to get back to the Super Bowl. They started by signing offensive guard Alex Cappa, then signed center Ted Karras, and they finally made the biggest move of their offseason, signing offensive tackle La’el Collins. This was the Bengals biggest weakness last year, and now that they have made significant upgrades in this category, it will hopefully help bring the Bengals back to the Super Bowl. To many NFL fans, this offseason has been a complete shock with big named players who were not set to hit free agency but heading elsewhere, like Deshaun Watson, Davante Adams, and Tyreek Hill, just to name a few.
Photoshop of Davante Adams in his team’s new jersey. Image Courtesy of @nfl Instagram.
Reviews The Dark Knight returns in “The Batman” A Movie Review by Dan Gasch DC Comics’ new feature film “The Batman,” directed by Matt Reeves, was released in theaters March 4, 2022. “The Batman” portrays the story of a younger Batman/ Bruce Wayne still finding his way in Gotham City. The film has received a massive amount of worldwide attention. As of March 29, 2022, “The Batman” has earned $672.8 million at the box office. The movie stars Robert Pattinson as Batman, Paul Dano as the Riddler, and Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman. The film also benefits from supporting cast members, including Colin Farrell as the Penguin, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, Jeffery Wright as Jim Gordan, and Andy Serkis as Alfred. Although “The Batman” depicts a younger version of the caped crusader than seen in past films, it is not an origin story. During the opening scene, viewers are taken right into the action, when they are introduced to the movie’s main antagonist, the Riddler. The scene depicts this villain brutally murdering the mayor of the city. The Riddler’s main motive is to unmask the truth about Gotham’s rich and powerful public figures. After the Riddler murders someone, he leaves behind cryptic messages for Batman and the police to solve. The character of Batman is very well done in this movie. Robert Pattinson portrays a different interpretation of Bruce Wayne than previously seen on camera. Wayne is a grounded character who is clearly disturbed by his childhood. The movie is accurately titled because Wayne is donning the Batman suit for the large majority of the movie. Right from his opening scene, Batman is shown as a formidable fighter. The fight scenes in this film are outstanding as Batman is often shown taking on multiple threats at once. The sound effects during these scenes are outstanding, making every punch or kick feel real. The action in this movie is not limited to just fight scenes. One of the most memorable sequences of the film, and my personal favorite scene, is of a car chase between Batman and the Penguin, another villain in the movie. The car chase is so over the top that it feels like something out of the pages of a comic book. Yet, it still manages to have a realistic element to it. Some of the most interesting scenes in “The Batman” depict Commissioner Gordan and Batman teaming up to try to solve the clues that the Riddler has left behind. Despite not knowing who he is under the mask, Gordon clearly trusts Batman, and the two make a very intriguing crime-solving duo.
The movie’s score, which was composed by Michael Giacchino, adds to “The Batman,” with many scenes gaining suspense and excitement thanks to the music. In particular, the Riddler’s theme music perfectly represents the character, as it is creepy and mysterious. The music is often played quietly before the Riddler attacks one of his victims, warning the audience that something bad is about to happen. Nirvana’s hit song “Something in the Way,” which played during The Batman’s first trailer, is played to completion twice throughout the movie. As stated by Screen Rant, “Nirvana’s ‘Something in the Way’ perfectly complements Gotham & the caped crusader, heightening Reeves’s vision of his dark, grim world.” It has been well documented that “The Batman” experienced complications throughout production. Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, production on the film was held up multiple times. Despite the troubles Matt Reeves and the rest of his crew experienced, the film does not feel choppy or pieced together. The cinematography is spectacular throughout the movie as every scene is visually compelling regardless of what is happening. After seeing “The Batman” multiple times, I can easily say that it is not only one of my favorite Batman movies but also one of my favorite comic book movies ever. One concern for many viewers, including myself, going into the movie was its very long running time. “The Batman” is nearly three hours long but feels like a two-hour movie because of its intriguing plot and thrilling twists. “The Batman” succeeded in not only introducing Batman fans to a completely new take on Gotham City but also bringing them right into a story that keeps them guessing.
Robert Pattinson as The Batman. Photo Courtesy of @thebatman Instagram.
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A World of Waves and Water A Resort Review by Spencer Elkind biggest habitat by far is The Dig, located in the lobby of the Royal Towers. The entire bottom portion of the lobby is filled with windows into the Ruins Lagoon at The Dig’s center. While staying there, I even got to snorkel in the Ruins Lagoon, which was a truly beautiful experience. Unfortunately, the massive manta ray that used to inhabit this reef was released back into the ocean.
The iconic Royal Towers is the hub of the entire Atlantis resort. Photo Courtesy of the Hotel Management Network.
Located on scenic Paradise Island, a small patch of land connected to the island of Nassau in the Bahamas, Atlantis is one of the most well-known resorts in the world. With six hotels and several other marvels of entertainment and engineering, Atlantis has more than earned its spot as a premier tourist destination for all of mankind. Having just visited Atlantis, I can say it lives up to its hype in spades. When Atlantis originally opened in the late 1960s as the Paradise Island Hotel, it consisted of two towers: The Coral Tower and the Beach Tower. During the 80s, they were repurposed as individual hotels, and a third hotel called the Royal Towers was opened to serve as the new hub of the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort. Over the last 20 years, the number of hotels has doubled, with the luxury Cove Hotel and family-friendly Reef Hotel opening in 2007, as well as the Harborside Hotel in 2017. Altogether, Atlantis has over 3,800 rooms and is capable of hosting up to 10,000 guests. I stayed at the Royal Towers Hotel, which remains today the center of the entire mega-resort, containing a large casino and many of the resort’s restaurants. In addition, The Royal is specifically designed to look like the lost city of Atlantis, with a massive entrance hall, flowing water, and ancient hieroglyphs adorning the walls. And to cap it all off, the Royal is also home to the legendary Bridge Suite, which has been consistently ranked one of the top five hotel rooms in the world for over a decade. Located right outside The Royal is the main attraction of the mega-resort: The Aquaventure Water Park. This in-house water park is home to over a dozen pools, a 1.6-mile river filled with rapids, and a multitude of slides. Standing in the center of the water park is the famed Mayan Temple, which drops thrill-seekers via either the six-story Challenger slide or the winding Serpent Slide. Both slides pass through a lagoon at the base of the temple full of sharks and fish. The marine habitats like the shark lagoon are the true highlight of Atlantis. There are 14 of them, containing a total of 50,000 animals from 250 unique species. The
Smaller pools and ponds are dotted throughout the resort and filled with unique species. Just outside the Royal West Tower, where my family was staying, a small lagoon was filled with turtles. A larger ray habitat sat at the entrance to the water park, and anyone eating at the Lagoon Bar and Grill can be surrounded by sharks, barracuda, and sawtooth fish in the Predator Lagoon. The most famous habitat they have is, of course, the Dolphin Cay. Located just outside the Cove, Dolphin Cay was founded after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to take care of 14 stranded dolphins. Since then, they have grown the habitat to include more dolphins and sea lions, both rescued and purchased from around the world. Guests can enjoy a variety of activities alongside the second-smartest animals on Earth, including snorkeling, kayaking, or just relaxing on the nearby beach. The final highlight of Atlantis is the food. With over two dozen different restaurants, cafes, and snack huts, there are plenty of options when it comes to deciding where to eat. The Royal Towers features one of the famed Nobu restaurant locations scattered throughout the world. The nearby Marina Village has a host of other options, including the Seafire Steakhouse for dinner, breakfast at Murray’s Deli, and a restaurant that for some reason is called Frankie’s Gone Bananas! My family went to many of the restaurants over the course of our stay, but the best one of The Cove’s restaurants, Fish. Fish is the creation of José Andres, a world-famous chef who is currently helping provide meals for the refugee crisis in Ukraine. Guests at the restaurant can feast on cheddar biscuits and can help stabilize the Bahamian ecosystem by eating fried lionfish. This is a fitting restaurant to have a home inside the Cove, a hotel that during the course of our stay, even attracted the British Royal Family. Combining breathtaking visuals with near-endless possibilities, Atlantis has more than earned its spot as one of the premier destinations for tourism. No matter what kind of person you are, you’ll definitely find something to do in Atlantis. Anyone who wants to have an amazing experience should absolutely consider this legendary megaresort.