Fall 2017
The Hebron Review
Fall 2017
Co-Editors Dylan Richmond ‘18 Pashynce Kibbe ‘18 Layout and Design Dylan Richmond ‘18 Pashynce Kibbe ‘18 Cover Photo Haomeng “Cara” Hu ’19 Runner-Up Cover Photo Brandon LaBombard ’19
Table of Contents 1 5 7 10 11 13 14 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 26 30 32
Persepolis: How the Graphic Novel Describes Marjane Satrapi’s Purpose in Writing Empowering African Women Through Art: Two Students’ Journey to Malawi The Rohingya Genocide The Eye of a Juggler Senior Trip Junior Class Trip Freshman Class Trip An Interview with Ben Bryce, Senior Class President Junior Class Council An Interview with Mr. Svensson New Teachers in the Arts Department: Ms. LaForme New Teachers in the Arts Department: Mr. Tholen Welcome, Mr. Sanchez-Moran! “Forces”: Writing Contest Winner “My Period Song, Period”: Writing Contest Winner “A Short Nail”: Middle School Writing Contest Winner Hebron Academy Writes Six-Word Stories
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Persepolis: How the Graphic Novel Describes Marjane Satrapi’s Purpose in Writing by Jake Bieler ‘18 After the CIA and British intelligence assisted Iran in overthrowing Mohammed Mossadeq, the prime minister of Iran in the 1950s, the Shah came to power. Retaining power for nearly 25 years, the Shah’s autocratic monarchy brought much wealth to the nation of Iran in nationalizing the oil industry; however, he fled in the face of the Islamic revolution in 1979. Since then Iran has been perceived by outsiders as following fundamentalist, terrorist, and fanatical views. Marjane Satrapi’s graphic memoir Persepolis was the schoolwide summer reading this year. Set in the 1970s, Persepolis defends the Iranian nation from the accusation of merely extremist wrongdoings as well as it remembers those Iranians who suffered through a complex and violent time in history. As a ten-year-old girl, Marji is forced to wear a veil to school by the government as they institute a cultural revolution. Marji’s French school is shut down, and the schools become divided between boys and girls. After protesting against these recently implemented rules, Marji’s mom’s picture is published in the paper, forcing her mother into hiding. Marji is born very religious and as a young girl is fixated on becoming the next prophet. Marjane often has conversations with God in which they discuss her plans for social and cultural equality. For example, Marji imagines a world where old people do not suffer from pain. Marji declares her plan to her friends and is laughed at; her teachers are concerned for Marji and notify her parents.
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When her parents confront her about her desire to be a holy woman, Marji refrains from telling them the truth as they are rather ‘puzzled.’ Some 5th-grade girls dream of being models, doctors, or teachers; Marji dreams of being the symbol of justice, love, and the wrath of god. Marji is a ferocious and curious reader, often learning about the history of Che Guevara, Trotsky, and Fidel Castro. One late night, Marji overhears her parents talking about the burning of a cinema in which 400 people were murdered by the Shah’s secret police. Marji’s first feelings of rebellion are ignited by this event, and she is determined to protest in the next demonstration, but her parents refuse to allow her. Her passion to develop her own thoughts and understanding about her nation's history and current events pushes her to learn more. Her father explains the rise of the Shah’s empire and how western influence allowed a foot soldier to rise to power as an emperor through British national interest in Iran’s rich oil fields. Marji develops a personal connection to the events as she learns that her grandfather was a prince before Reza Shah’s take over. She learns that her grandfather came to a new view on the nation’s issues and as a result was imprisoned for being a Communist. She attempts to emulate the feelings her grandpa had while he was being tortured. Marjane learns about the social order of classes when she is included in her maid’s love story. Mehri, the maid, falls in love with a neighbor. They write letters back and forth. Marji writes and reads the letters for Mehri since the maid is illiterate. Once Marji’s father finds out, he goes to the neighbor's house and tells the man that Mehri is just a maid (he thought she was a daughter of the household), and the man discontinues his interest in Mehri. Marjane is enlightened as to the social system and how class plays a powerful role in determining people’s lives.
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Marji begins to form her own opinions of the world after seeing the Shah flee to the United States. She feels that the United States is greedily desiring access to oil. Marjane goes through a period where she learns about forgiveness. Marji’s mother plays an intricate role in teaching her how to behave and contemplate the current state Iran is in. Throughout the book, Marjane’s relationship with God is complicated. There are times where their relationship is very intimate and dependent, whereas in other parts Marjane denounces her friend God and abandons her old perspective. At this same time in Marji’s life, bombs land and commence the Iran-Iraq War. Satrapi effectively conveys the non-extremist perspective in an illuminating way through Marji’s introspective thoughts and pictorial explanations. Using her perspective of herself as young Marji, Satrapi captures the concept of remembrance as well as accountability. Marji’s voice and thoughtfulness taps into the essence of vulnerability, cultural connections, and adolescent struggle, while discarding falsely preconceived renditions of Iranian culture. In an interview with Mr. Middleton about the summer reading, I hoped to figure out how a history teacher’s reaction to the book, particularly in respect to Iranian culture and prejudice, compared to the younger generation of students. Mr. Middleton felt that he was rather informed about Iranian history leading to the many events mentioned in the book. What Mr. Middleton was surprised about was how “quickly” and how “drastically leadership attempted to change the culture of the country.” An important topic of discussion, Marji’s response to the drastic change was one of demanding curiosity and mournful realization. Every time there was a shift in leadership and culture, Marji responded with constant inquiry, leaving her with an experience to remember.
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In an interview with student Ben Bryce, I asked him whether Persepolis changed his preconceived notions of Iran and its people. He noted that his views only changed “slightly” after reading Persepolis. Primarily, his views changed, he said, because any time a story is written from a first-person perspective, “it allows the reader to gain a [further] understanding.” Ben feels he holds a more informed modern opinion that is less reflective of what the media has to say, and more reflective of what the culture is like in Iran--an independent entity that still thrives despite some of the extremist cultures that pervade there today.
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Empowering African Women Through Art: Two Students’ Journey to Malawi by Rachel Brouwer ‘18 and Avery Jurek ‘18 On July 22, 2017, we left Logan Airport in Boston looking ahead to our 36-hour journey to Malawi, Africa. However, the real journey started in September of 2016 when we started our independent study in art that focused on developing an arts camp for Malawian girls. Throughout the 2016-2017 school year, the two of us set goals for the camp, learned how to write grant applications, created art focused on our core values, and explored different ways to fundraise. Yet it wasn’t until we arrived in Africa that we realized that all of our discussion and planning could not prepare us for what it would be like to be in Malawi with all of the incredible people we encountered. Malawi is a small country in Eastern Africa that borders Tanzania and Zambia. In a small village called Mpamila, we spent two weeks trying to break the Chichewa language barrier in order to aid local children in chasing their own personal dreams. It is common for a young Malawian girl to say that she wants to become a nurse when she gets older. However, this response comes from the preconceived knowledge that all Malawian women either become nurses or stay at home as mothers and wives. It is unrealistic, and often frowned upon in their culture, for a women to aspire to be something greater, someone of more success, than the male figures in their lives. As we spent more and more time with the village children, we got to experience how much they each had a dream of their own but thought they couldn’t achieve it because both financial and social support are lacking in the villages of the Ntchisi district. After a week of initial struggle, we finally realized our purpose, the impact we felt we needed to achieve: providing someone to relate to,
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and reminding the young people of the village that they each individually have the ability and strength to become whatever they desire to be. Through Janet Littlefield’s nonprofit organization Go! Malawi, all of the incredible young men and women we were humbled to meet have a chance at finishing school, something of a rare occurrence in that region of Malawi. Our goal for our camp wasn’t that we needed to get something out of it, it was that they needed to, and more important that they recognized that they wanted to make these big changes in their lives. Still, it wasn’t until we got back to the United States that we recognized what our trip truly meant. For example, we finally saw how much we take for granted in our everyday lives that would be considered a great gift for the young adults in Malawi. After we got home, we realized that we weren’t finished: we had to go back to our friends and to our purpose. We have seen the power of offering an example of independence and self-worth for the girls we met in Malawi to aspire to. We can’t wait to return to laugh with them again.
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The Rohingya Genocide by Sophie List ‘19 Life at Hebron is fast-paced and all-consuming. It's easy to get caught up in the little things in our daily lives and forget about much larger, global problems. While we sit in our rooms complaining about homework or dining hall food, a full-fledged genocide is taking place against the Rohingya people of Myanmar. I don’t mean to attack any of us for being oblivious to the situation; I am just as guilty as the next person. I simply want to raise Mohammad Zubair awareness of an atrocity taking Photo by Anastasia Taylor-Lind @humanrightswatch place in our world as we speak. on Instagram In Myanmar, an ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Burmese military is taking place against the minority group, the Rohingya. More than half a million people have escaped Myanmar and are now seeking refuge in camps in Bangladesh. The group Human Rights Watch has been reporting live from the camps in Bangladesh and telling the stories of the atrocities people have suffered. They regularly post these stories to Instagram (@humanrightswatch), and I encourage you to view some of these. I know it's sometimes difficult to empathize with people who to us are just an idea on the other side of the world. In an attempt to paint a more human picture, let me share some of their stories as told by Human Rights Watch.
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Hasina is a 20-year-old woman who suffered immensely when the Burmese army came to her village. She watched as dozens of men were murdered as they attempted to escape. She tried to hide her infant daughter, but a soldier noticed and took her baby away; Hasina was forced to watch as he threw her baby into a fire. Other young children were beaten to death. The women were brutally assaulted before most, including her mother-in-law, were killed. Hasina and her sister-in-law were beaten unconscious and woke up as the house around them burned. They managed to escape, but they sustained serious burns; somehow they both made it to Bangladesh. 21-year-old Karima Khatun lost her husband and brother after an rocket-propelled grenade landed in their yard. She took her toddler son and ran. They were both shot by the same bullet; she survived, but her son did not, and she held her two-year-old in her arms as he died. 18-year-old Mohammed ul-Hassan is the sole survivor of a massacre that killed twenty-nine of his relatives. He was shot three times but lived and was able to make it to Bangladesh. 19-year-old Mohammad Zubair watched his grandfather, sister, and two brothers being murdered before he was shot two times himself. He also survived and made it to the camps. These people are survivors, but many more did not live. You may be thinking, “This is terrible, but what can I do about it?� True, it is not directly your problem. But I urge you to think again. If we allow these abuses and crimes against humanity to take place anywhere in our world without so much as lifting a finger to help, that is a problem. This is not a Rohingya problem, or a Burmese problem, or a Bangladeshi problem-- this is a human problem.
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Take five minutes out of your day to look at the United Nations Refugee Agency’s website and donate to help the displaced Rohingya if you can. Even the smallest donation will change someone’s life. If you are unable to donate money, help raise awareness. If all you can do is talk about it, that is enough to make a difference, and I implore you to do so. As Paul Rusesabagina said in his book An Ordinary Man, “[P]eople see this footage [and] say, ‘Oh my God, that's terrible,’ and [then] they’ll go on eating their dinners.” He was entirely correct about our tendency toward indifference when it came to the Rwandan genocide and many, many other atrocities. Let's not make the same mistake again.
by Simon Hwang ‘19
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The Eye of a Juggler by Alice Dang ‘20 Hebron Academy was excited to host Michael Menes, a contemporary comedian who has been juggling for more than thirty years all around the world. Menes introduced us to his latest performance, “The Eye of a Juggler,” which he was still in the process of perfecting. Menes began with some basic juggling using simple tools like bottles and balls. Then he skillfully played out a love story with scarves of different colors representing stages of a relationship. Menes was able to elegantly express the overwhelming feeling of love and the sorrowful pain of a break-up using his juggling skills, allowing students to be fully engaged in the colorful illusion. Menes doesn’t only let his audience watch his show, he encourages them to join in. Hebron student Alejandro Ferri volunteered for a role in a number involving balancing plates and ended up bringing laughter to the room as five plates spun in his hands. Besides being a performing artist, Menes takes interest in producing videos and screened some that he had filmed all around the world. For his final act, he used flashlights and translucent spheres to create an intense optical illusion that really played with the audience’s minds. As one of renowned mime Tony Montanaro’s students, Menes learned the craft of paying immense attention to small details while at the same time incorporating comedy into the intense physical performance which the Hebron community thoroughly enjoyed.
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Senior Class Trip by Eliza Beaudin ‘18 The Class of 2018 embarked on an adventurous senior trip to kick off the school year. Seniors started their first day gathering their sleeping bags, camping gear, and warm sweatshirts and heading for Bryant Pond 4-H Camp. Upon arrival the boys and girls were assigned to their mystic cabins in the woods, then explored the surrounding area while discussing upcoming activities. Despite the rock-like mattresses provided, the positive attitude from the seniors was contagious. Some icebreaker games were on deck as seniors gathered with their counselors and their teams for the trip and played the name games we all so love. Each day consisted of activities and tasks like canoeing, fire-building, shelter creations, and the fan favorite archery. A highlight from the first day of the trip was when Johann Bayrou, Justus "Kasperi" Niskanen, and Jakob Reinhardt successfully knocked over a 10-point buck in four shots. Students had chores each night, such as toting the leftover food and the compost from each meal to the compost bin (some of which goes to feed pigs). Each night before bed seniors enjoyed multiple toasting marshmallows and friendly conversation with new classmates and old friends.
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The final day was team challenge day, when each team would compete against the field to earn bragging rights for their squad. One pinnacle moments during the competition came when Ben English navigated his seven other teammates in a single canoe around an existing buoy in the middle of the lake without tipping over. The competitors were also shocked when Corbin Cashman looked to be a professional diver, earning his team just under 50 points in the diving portion of the day. In the end Frederick Hohmann and his team took the honors. It is important to note the clean-up effort by Bingkun Wang on team challenge day successfully earning his team a secure victory. (Each piece of trash collected by Bingkun earned his team an extra point.) As the trip waned, the seniors hopped on the bus back to campus with new friends, new memories, and a new camaraderie within the class.
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Junior Class Trip by Leah Bonis ‘19 While the other classes were away on overnights, the junior class spent time bonding and experiencing the extensive trails and opportunities that Maine has to offer. Juniors participated in community service, lending a helping hand to improve the lives of those outside of Hebron’s tight-knit community. “It's very important for us to reach out to those around us,” reflected Morgan Prentice, junior class president. “The community does so much for us and it feels really good to be able to give them something in return.” The class was also able to experience Maine's famous trails and hikes: half of the class conquered Blueberry Mountain, while the other half climbed Table Rock. “The good thing about doing such difficult hikes as a group is that we really bonded. We helped each other get to the top,” said Vedant Divekar, a class member from Mumbai, India. The trips not only brought the junior class closer together but helped them to appreciate the beautiful, albeit secluded, place that they have chosen to call home. Mr. and Mrs. Griggs, junior class advisors, noted that “it was great to bring the whole class on a challenging but beautiful hike. They were able to experience a wonderful day in the woods together.”
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Freshman Class Trip by Cora Younk ‘21 On August 31, the freshman class departed for an exciting overnight trip to Maine Huts and Trails. We spent time getting to know each other on the two-hour bus ride there and had a lot of laughs along the way. When we arrived we stopped for a short stretch and bathroom break. The hike up to the hut was around three miles, which allowed more time for us to learn about each other. We were given the challenge of finding out one fact about everyone in our grade, and though not many of us were completely successful, it was a good way to meet as many people as possible in this short amount of time. When we arrived at the hut, we were greeted by the delightful staff and got checked into our cabins. After exploring the cabins and the main lobby area, we met around the fire pit for fun games centered around learning each other's names. At the end of the icebreakers, we challenged a few people in the class of 2021 to try to name all 36 freshman, though few people succeeded. We then volunteered to help set the tables for dinner, clean up after dinner, and stack wood for the cabin staff. Stacking wood might sound boring, but a majority of us actually enjoyed doing it because it allowed us to bond with the people next to us. At dusk we gathered around the campfire and socialized for a couple of hours. We roasted marshmallows and sang songs. The next morning we got an energetic tour. They told us about their solar panels and how everything in the huts is designed to leave no trace of trash. We were also offered a short hike down to the waterfall. Most of the class went and had the opportunity of swimming in the water.
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After all of this fun, the next day we packed our bags and started the hike back down to the buses. And though not everybody knew each other, we all left with memories we’ll never forget and new friends that will last a lifetime. The trip to the huts is one of the highlights of freshman year so far, and I don’t think there is a single person who didn’t enjoy themselves even a little bit. Special thanks to the teachers that took us and the people of the Maine Huts and Trails for allowing us this experience.
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An Interview with Ben Bryce, Senior Class President by Madeline New ’18 A new student as our senior class president? This can't be true. But wait—it is! Benjamin Bryce is from a small town in Pennsylvania called Lancaster. In Lancaster he attended Manheim Township school, where he was also the senior class president. While there, he planned and held a very successful prom, was brave enough to deliver a speech at graduation, and left a long-lasting legacy through a class gift for which he led the fundraising. What will he do for the senior class when he is so new to Hebron? Ben is very confident that he will be able to generate ideas for successful fundraisers that will help us pay for our rafting trip, prom, and class gift. He understands that his “biggest struggle is not knowing the ins and outs of Hebron.” But, in his words, “the other class officers are awesome and helping me throughout the process as I am helping them by bringing unique perspectives and viewpoints.” Throughout the year he will be trying to find ideas to balance our girl-to-boy ratio. He believes that a healthy class balance is vital for a successful year. Ben is “so excited to work with the other three class officers. They are each super hard-working and are just as ready to make this year a huge success as I am.” Ben noted that the officers are working well together.” It looks like it will be a fulfilling year for everyone in the class of 2018.
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Junior Class Council by Morgan Prentice ‘19
The student council of the class 2019 consists of five members plus the class advisors, Mr. and Mrs.Griggs. Jasmine Li, Yagmur Kucukakyuz, Emma Xu, Touna El Yazidi, and I have the great opportunity to not only bring our class together but also to support our campus by leading our class to success. As a small group, we on the class council come together to brainstorm ideas for fundraising and events in order to give back both to Hebron and to the surrounding community. To start off the school year, the class of ‘19 sold a variety of sweets. For example, we embraced Halloween and gave students a chance to “Send a Boo” to their friends, which included Halloween treats and a message saying, “You’ve been Booed!” So far this fall, we have raised over $400. We give a big thank-you to everyone who helped out because these fundraising events are crucial to fulfilling our goals. We are working hard to enhance Hebron’s close community. We made sure to show our Hebron pride by cheering on our fellow studentathletes during their fall games. As we look forward in the year, we plan on holding other events to support local and national organizations in the hope that we can give back to our community and help others in need.
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An Interview with Mr. Svensson by Jasmine Li ’19 Most people may know Mr. Michael Svensson as the newest member of the science and math department at Hebron. Although the experience of both living in Maine and teaching honors math classes and chemistry at the same time may be challenging, Mr. Svensson has adapted to this different lifestyle quickly. This year, I have the pleasure to participate in one of his classes and got to know him during some of our conversations outside of the classroom. It has only been almost three months since Mr. Svensson moved to Maine with his son Nick, but he has already fallen in love with this place. “I really enjoy the relationship between students and faculty in this school. Since Hebron is a small community, every member of the group shares a strong connection with each other, and most students are comfortable enough to engage with their teachers even outside the classrooms,” said Mr. Svensson during the interview. Before moving to Hebron, Mr. Svensson worked as the business manager of The Grammar School in Putney, Vermont, where he met the current head of Hebron Academy, Mr. Marchetti. A few months ago, after a conversation with his old friend, Mr. Svensson took the risk of making the decision to move to Hebron to take a new position. “My previous experience of working in private schools are mostly related to finance, which also connect with my background as an economy major back in college; however, I
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always wanted to participate in a different role. I graduated from a private high school up in Canada, so many things around the campus remind me of the good old days!” While talking about himself, Mr. Svensson did mention some of the struggles he is currently facing and the ideas he still has not yet accomplished. Although it is not new to be involved in a private school community, teaching both chemistry and precalculus honors at the same time is definitely a challenge, especially the math class: “Since this is a honors level course, most students have great participation and impressive logical thinking skills. They can always find my mistakes while solving problems; the courses take me a significantly longer amount of time to prepare.” However, Mr. Svensson also mentioned that he enjoys having all the hard-working scholars inside the classroom: “Lumberjacks are all very thoughtful and integrated; I look forward to work with many more in the future.” Beyond his academic career, Mr. Svensson also continues to develop his role as a coach. During the fall season, Mr. Svensson joined a few practices of the cross country team and shared some advice with the athletes. In winter, he is looking forward to starting a squash team and potentially playing against some other schools around the New England area. He said, “Squash has always been something that I am extremely passionate about. In this case, I would also like to encourage the younger generation to participate since the Hebron Athletic Center provides members in the community an impeccable environment. With a squash team, students may also play against schools that are only in Maine, but also larger schools such as Phillip Exeter, Deerfield, etc.” In a short amount of time, Mr. Svensson has already brought bright spirit and cheerful passion to Hebron. In the future, we look forward to all the amazing things that he may bring to our community.
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New Teachers in the Art Department: Ms. LaForme by Oliver Pittman ‘20 Ms. Celeste LaForme, or as my younger sister lovingly refers to her, “my hippie art teacher”, is a new addition to the art department. She was raised in New Mexico, where she spent her youth wandering the desert on horses with her sister. When she was younger, she competed as a gymnast, and she would love to teach some dance classes this year if anyone is interested. She discovered Hebron through a suggestion from the owner of a local art supply store, Hundred Aker Wood. Ms. LaForme teaches all of the middle school art classes and Advanced Studio Art 2D in the upper school. She is a professional artist who works mostly in paint; you can find her work on her website (celestelaforme.com), or see it in person in Lewiston during the L/A Art Walks. She has two daughters, Thistle and Swift, as well as two dogs and a cat. When she isn’t making art or spending time with her kids, she likes to be hiking, or just enjoying the outdoors. She is very excited to be here teaching art, and she can’t wait to get to know everyone.
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New Teachers in the Arts Department: Mr. Tholen by Oliver Pittman ‘20
Mr. Michael Tholen, perhaps better known as “Bear’s Owner,” found Hebron through Mr. Marchetti, who was headmaster at his old school. He teaches Studio Art 2D and 3D, as well as AP Portfolio. Before teaching here, he taught at a middle-grade school where he ran a farm and taught various classes. He loves to paint, and he built his own timber frame house. His dog Bear, a large white Great Pyrenees, spends his time lounging around the art building. Bear was raised on a boarding school campus, so he is very tolerant of the attention he gets. Mr. Tholen, who also coaches cross country running and alpine skiing, is excited to continue his work and his art at Hebron.
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Welcome, Mr. Sanchez-Moran! by Molly Skelton ‘21 This year Hebron welcomes Austin SanchezMoran to the English department. He is teaching American Literature as well as working with Mr. Middleton in the ninth-grade Humanities curriculum. He draws on a diverse background to bring his own experience as a teacher and writer to these classes. Mr. Sanchez-Moran graduated from Gettysburg College with a B.A. in Philosophy and earned a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from George Mason University. It was at Gettysburg College that he got his first taste of teaching. He later moved to California to work at the National Steinbeck Center developing curricula for local schools. He then had the opportunity to work in China, where he taught English and American history. Most recently he worked in Utah as an academic coach. Some of Mr. Sanchez-Moran’s favorite moments so far at Hebron have, in fact, come from outside of his classroom. He enjoys having conversations with students on campus and also coaching football. “Coaching football has grown to be something that occupies my mind, whenever I am not thinking about teaching,” he stated. Mr. Sanchez-Moran predicts a strong end to the season for the small but dedicated Hebron squad. Students and faculty alike are happy to welcome such an enthusiastic teacher to the English department, and to the Hebron Academy family.
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“Forces”—Writing Contest Winner by Sophie List ‘19 Over the course of my life, I have gone through many phases, made and lost many friends, and grown and changed so much. Throughout my entire life, there has been one constant: my anxiety. The first time I can remember feeling anxious was when I was four years old and getting dropped off at my first day of preschool. I sobbed when my dad left, and I don't think I stopped until I went home. Gradually I have learned to cope with my anxiety. Part of that is knowing that it will always be with me and ultimately I can never get rid of my anxiety; however, I can continue to work on how I let it affect my life. Anxiety has been one of the biggest forces in shaping my life. My anxiety is the reason for many missed opportunities. It's a daily struggle and one that I like to pretend I don't have. It's confusing, and half of the time I don't understand why I'm anxious. What is the problem? There isn't one. I get anxious when I compare myself to my brother. I get anxious that my life is not going to amount to anything. I get anxious when I'm going to be late to class or when I have to speak in public. I get anxious when I go to the doctor. I get anxious when I think about the fact that I have anxiety. Sometimes I get so anxious I feel like I need to be institutionalized. Then it passes and I pretend it never happened. It's definitely not the most healthy way to deal with it, but I'm working on that. I've never liked to talk about my anxiety for two reasons. I don't like feeling vulnerable, and my anxiety makes me feel like there is something wrong with me. My mom has a friend who is a bit of a hippie. She believed that your past life influences your life now. For example, if you drowned in your past life you'd have a severe fear of drowning in this life. She said that I must have been an orphan in my past life and that's where my anxiety came from. I immediately embraced that philosophy because it took the blame off myself.
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The anxiety wasn't my fault, and there was nothing wrong with me! It was terrible parents in my past life that made me this way. I quickly abandoned that philosophy, however, because my "parents" weren't around for me to blame and I still had anxiety. It's taken me a long time, but I've come to accept that it's not my fault and it's just part of who I am. At the same time, there have been many positives from being an anxious person. It's part of the reason that I have done well in school. I don't procrastinate because it makes my anxiety worse, and when I sit down to do my work, it has to be good. Granted, this can at times be a nightmare but overall it is a good thing. Another positive is that because of my anxiety I empathize with people more. If someone I absolutely despise is getting teased or is going through something rough, I immediately feel for them. Instead of seeing them as "that guy who was mean to me in freshman year,� I see him as a human being who is hurting. I see my humanity and my struggles reflected in him and I want to help. My anxiety has also shaped my career path. My dream job is to be a journalist for Human Rights Watch. Right now they are working mainly in Myanmar trying to raise awareness for the genocide of the Rohingya. Every time I consider a different occupation there's that little voice of anxiety in my head who tells me that anything I do is worthless and selfish if I'm not helping people who need help. Generally I try and tell that voice to shut up, but in this case it is right. I think I will always feel guilty if I'm not in a position where I'm helping people in need. I always picture myself or my loved ones in the position of people like the Rohingya and get anxious that no one would help us. I know this sounds confusing. Trust me, I don't really understand it either, I just know that because of my anxiety I need to do something that helps people.
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My anxiety has been a lifelong rollercoaster of ups and downs. It has made me stronger because of the daily struggles I face, but it has also made me miserable. It has made me feel as though there is something wrong with me, but it has also forced me to confront this thinking head- on. I have become a more empathetic and caring person because of my anxiety. There is still a lot more progress that I have to make in order to make my day to day life easier. I understand now that my anxiety is a force that is out of my control, but it is up to me how I let it affect me.
by Thekla Jubinville ‘20
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“My Period Song, Period”—Writing Contest Winner by Alice Dang ‘20
The first time I had my period was also the first time I knew about period. It felt like putting together a jigsaw puzzle I never thought I would play. Pieces would fall into place as I look at the ending result. I see all my friends, Whispering to teachers, Hands clutching a bag of secrets. Faces flushing, eyes fluttering. I would always question it for as long as I could remember Until it was my turn to whisper to the teacher. I see my aunties, Chattering to my mom. “Has she had it yet?” they asked As if my “it” was something so forbidden, so improper It cannot be said out loud. I would always question it for as long as I could remember Until I heard my own voice lowering day by day. The first time I had my period, I didn’t know it was a period. I felt nauseated, It was like a crime scene and I was the victim. I asked my mom and she said: “Don’t worry honey, you’re having it”
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To be in an environment, Where “period” was hid under the tongue for the sake of dignity “Menstruation” only came out once in a while to make it less “inappropriate.” Ends up leaving girls lost in their own bodies, Ashamed of their own cycle and holding it like a flaw. I did not understand, But I obeyed anyway. And just like that, I grew up with this fear in my palm, Wrapped inside a plastic bag Then clumsily squished in the sleeve of my shirt. My eyes lurking behind to the non-existing stain on my pants. My feet rushing to hide behind the door. I learned my period was a taboo that scares teenage boys away. Hearing about my “period” was like losing a “99-day snap streak” to them. When I hear “Are you on your period?” Or “Is it that time of the month again?” I can’t help but groan Yes, the only explanation To my dissatisfaction towards animal extinction and human discrimination Is my uterus shedding its lining monthly for 50 years.
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When “it” comes, it is another trial of fear and terror. It is the unsettling fire pit in my stomach, The non-ending back pain, the excessive bloating. And every sneeze would send a chill down my spine! It would feel like a bad week. It would make you wish you weren’t a girl. But honey, remember We are emerging from our cocoon, shedding the pain, And stretching into a butterfly. We are women, girls, females. Veins and blood pumping in our bodies, Radiating waves of heat. We are strong, we are alive. We are beautiful. So I stopped carrying my body parts in my pocket like a used tissue. Instead I wear them like a jewelry, a necklace, A gift my mother has given me When she put her hand on her belly and sang me a lullaby. Period is not a shame anymore. It is giving my best friend “the look,” knowing we have synced again. It is the neverending rewards of an ice cream sandwich after a long day. It is lying in bed and acknowledging The existence of my body, Flesh and meat in front of my eyes. I’ve never been more in love with my body at that moment. You might say I’m a narcissist, But what’s the fault of respecting yourself and giving it the love it deserves?
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So when someone asks me, “Is it that time of the month?” I will look at them in the eyes and smile broadly Yes, it is that time of the month When I shine so brightly I will blind your judgmental eyes. My voice so loud it will make yours shut. I breathe out the love in the air and suffocate you slowly. My body glowing indefinitely to the rhythm of my heartbeat. Hips swaying, feet dancing, I shall not let your opinion get into the song of my life.
by Delano Brown ‘18
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“A Short Nail”—Middle School Writing Contest Winner by Oliver Gumprecht ’ 24
This poem describes how I feel about my life, specifically scary problems like death and disease.
I am a short nail holding a loose board of my family to the ground. I am pounded and pounded on, that pounding is the hammer of stress. I don't go farther in. When I am pounded on I eventually shatter. When I shatter I yell, which pops my family out of the ground. We have to be pride and bent back to where we can be safe together.
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by Oliver Pittman ‘20
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Hebron Academy Writes Six-Word Stories
As part of the annual National Day on Writing, Dr. Oakes and Writer’s Block have for the past three years encouraged Hebron students, faculty, and staff to share short stories--very short stories, in fact, with only six words. It’s been said (though it is probably merely legend) that Ernest Hemingway once claimed he had written a perfect short story in just six words: “For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.” In recent years, the six-word story has become a popular genre, and the Hebron community was once again eager to give these quick pieces a try. Below are some of the standout entries for this year’s Six-Word Story Festival in three categories: fiction, memoir, and “Life at Hebron.” FICTION "Genie, make me beautiful!" Nothing changed. Bekarys Alimov Then the Skittles were taken away. Grace Kenneally ‘18 Modern horror story: “WiFi went out!” Olivia Newell ‘21 Don't you realize the turtle's missing! Mr. Flynn
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MEMOIR Summer Camp: "Heads up! An arrow!" Mr. Middleton Touch hearts and souls, not people. Lily Irish ‘19 You will see what you want. Brian Tobin ‘18 I was sure that I could. Mr. Svensson Stay focused.... Look at that cloud! Mr. Brouwer What Mainer doesn’t like lobster? Me. Olivia Newell ‘21
“LIFE AT HEBRON” Hebron Academy, where legends are born. Aarti Singh ‘20 Mist rises through brilliant autumn colors. Mrs. Drown Can I have a breakfast sandwich? Emma Xu ‘19 Sunset over Mt. Washington--Hebron happy. Ms. Ridley We want more Lumberjacks like you! Mrs. Middleton
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