r&b magazine, hillsborough high school, march 31 by HHS Today

[r&b] march 2015

the change issue 6 community 12 self 16 family 24 school

what’s inside community elia’s out New leadership is coming to the school district as MaryEllen Elia is removed as superintendent. Alterations to the district continue as her replacement settles in and makes changes of his own. Pages 6-7

it’s hard to explain Two students, who refuse to let labels define them, speak on why it’s important not to be boxed in by society’s labels of sexuality. Page 9

a neighborhood in bloom Over the past few years Seminole Heights has become one of the hottest spots in Tampa. Find out where to go for popular restaurants, interesting food and trendy clothes. Pages 10-11

a driving force For most teenagers, getting their license is a rite of passage, expected and normal. Often getting a car can change their lives. Read about how getting a car changed the lives of Alexi Lebron, Emily Rodriguez and Pamela Cortez. Page 12

moving away Saying good-bye to a friend is always difficult. Freshman Romel Felipe says good-bye to many close friends as he moves to Miami. Page 14

trimble’s transformation Senior Brittani Trimble discusses her difficult home situation and how overcoming it has changed her view of the world. Page 15

family

school

diapers and homework

graduated but not forgotten

Teen parents speak about managing schoolwork and parenthood. Page 17

The Hillsborough tradition goes back decades; most students graduated and spread out all over the country and the world. Some never left the Big Red family and are teachers and faculty now. Pages 24-25

tying the knot Most teenagers have fleeting relationships during their time in high school. Tyneisha Davis is different; she got married. Pages 18-19

self

daddy’s girl One student’s story of how she overcame the tragic death of her father. Read how Ally Abbhuel dealt with the event that changed her life. Pages 20-21

couldn’t see it coming The biggest change of the year came as a surprise. Hillsborough is getting a new principal and students speak about what qualities they would want in their new leader. Pages 26-27

a lesson in bonding Teachers who work together often become friends, but one chemistry teacher and one ESOL aide have become more like sisters. Page 29

opening

[r&b] editor-in-chief Ellie Rodriguez design editor John Veliz associate editor Samantha Votzke editors Annie Aguiar Ivy Bennett-Ford Katie Frost Dana Dinh Maria Roberts Kathy Xie contributors Sarvika Bommakanti Aliece Brown Bianca Cegatte Daniel Hamilton Alyssa Ierna Kacey Johnson Matt Lutton Aleesha Mundra Vijata Patel Denzel Pierre Monisha Pillai Amber Shemesh Shelby Shoup Tonje Skraastad Tegan Smith adviser Joe Humphrey, MJE R&B a supplement of Red & Black Hillsborough High School 5000 N. Central Avenue Tampa, Florida 33603 www.hhstoday.com

Cover design by Ellie Rodriguez

letter from the editor The letter from the editor was the last thing I wrote for the last magazine. Some things never change. Change isn’t an easy concept to embrace —it oozes discomfort, unfamiliarity and uncertainty. Frankly, that’s what makes it so important. Change means dipping your toe into the unknown, or often, diving in face first. It’s how we learn to broaden our comfort zone, to welcome risks. The thing about change is that we all like to think we can see it coming, that we can foresee the difficulties that lie ahead. As a meticulous planner with a color-coded agenda, I understand the motivation to try to plot any and all future endeavors as much as possible. Planning who will visit who on the weekends during college or what summer job to apply for help to make the unknown a little more known. Whether it’s a shift in perspective, a new car or moving up a grade, change is terrifying. It’s abstract and personal, and while I’m readying myself to miss a whole lot of people a whole lot, not everyone is doing the same. So, how do you show change? We struggled with trying to find the best way to visualize change on the cover. Often the most profound changes are the ones most difficult to see. It’s the changing of a name, the addition of an identity or the loss of a family member that is challenging to depict. At the moment, our staff is fixing to shift leaders as I step down and immensely qualified and talented editors take the torch. I’m excited to see what they will bring to this publication and how far they will take it. Our staff knows I’ve been apprehensive to sit down and read the entire magazine from cover to cover. Not because they haven’t churned out incredible, beautifully crafted stories and graphics, but because -- like seemingly everything else second semester -- I am forced to face the immense changes we’ve undergone in the past two years. It’s interesting to see what’s changed for all of us in the past weeks, months and years. Yeah, it’s cliché to put a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis on the cover. A monarch’s life cycle is in no way an unexpected, never-before-made comparison or progression. Over the course of 1,829 triangles and nearly 11 hours however, we wanted to portray this change in a different light. Known as low-poly art, this style of design basically means that the image is comprised of a multitude of tiny shapes.

And that’s why we did it. There’s a certain sense of wonder that accompanies witnessing someone’s growth; even more incredible, is the ability to see all the tiny, seemingly insubstantial components that have created a beautiful transformation. We often don’t notice how the friend who once went unheard at lunch now laughs and talks with ease. We glaze over the guy who’s stepped up, going from beinga lazy freshman year to an admirable senior leader. These most recent years have easily harbored the most change, and we’re often so involved in the microcosms of our own realities that we fail to see the magnitude of our collective growth. This magazine, by design, is intended to make us all look a little closer, to appreciate how far we’ve come and how much farther we’ll go. It’s our pleasure to bring you the following 32 pages of growth — from new cars to new principals, haircuts to weddings, citizenship struggles and everything in between. Happy reading.

opening

an admissions representative from the college of my dreams? No problem. Academically, I have been fully prepared on what to expect from college classes, but I won’t know how to handle the workload until I’m there. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program has successfully shown me what will come, but my ability to manage my time and study well hasn’t improved much. I procrastinate most of my assignments, like most students, including students in the traditional program. Many of us have procrastinated since the beginning of freshman year, despite knowing the detrimental effects on our mental health. Some students have gotten rid of the bad habit, others have completely quit and let senioritis take over; I learned how to procrastinate efficiently. I can put off my assignments until the last couple of hours and finish in time by organizing my work into a certain order. Anything I can finish during the school day, such as reading for English, is last on the priority list. Regarding my personal life, I’ve gained an understanding of how relationships develop. While not all friendships and romantic relationships made in high school are built to last, they all teach us more about ourselves and about how to maintain future relationships. It’s inevitable. We will all drift apart from some of our friends. While some people are betrayed, others lose contact after high school; maybe even stop trying to be friends because there is no longer an obligation. In proportion to a college campus, Hillsborough’s campus is minute, which limits how many people we see a day. We rarely ever see new faces in the hallways. Once we leave the campus, there’s a rare chance of us seeing another person unless attempts are made to stay in contact. After experiencing betrayal by a friend for the first

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time, I learned something new about people. I realized I can’t be everyone’s friend and some people are destined to hurt me some way. While I have figured out how to forgive and forget, there are instances where I know I’m about to lose a friend. The past four years have given me the chance to learn these lessons so I can make better decisions and mature for my future relationships. High school romantic relationships are supposed to help people get an idea of who they are and what they want with their future partner. The most important thing in a high school relationship is to learn more about oneself. Those who haven’t been a reri Ap lationship throughout these four years, like me, can still figure out what they want through second-hand experiences. Helping my friends through their problems has given me expectations of what a real relationship is. Romance movies are obviously unrealistic, therefore I can learn from others’ mistakes. Hillsborough has successfully made me feel prepared for the future, and soon I’ll be able to say high school wasn’t a waste of time. Never have I ever had more to look forward to. - Vijata Patel

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Oct

Never have I ever. That’s the game my friends and I played during our first lunches together. We were innocent freshmen, quick to think of things we had never done. If I decided to play the classic icebreaker game with anyone this year, I’m sure there wouldn’t be much to say. There isn’t much I won’t be able to handle personally and professionally because of the experience I’ve garnered in high school. Not only do I know how to handle myself in front of superiors and how to behave in a formal setting, but also I know how to take care of myself when I go to concerts or any social gathering. Once we leave these brick walls, those who choose the college path aren’t the only ones prepared for what will come. Others will be ready for the interviews and future relationships with important individuals such as an employer or recruitment officer. Some students will head straight for the workforce and they need to know how to handle themselves like adults immediately after high school. Former Hillsborough students I continue to contact do well in the workforce without heading to college or the military. Not all students will experience the same luck, but the possibility of succeeding is available because of the opportunities presented by the school. Due to the connections I’ve made with teachers throughout high school, I know how to be respectful with adults while being able to joke around with them. Teachers like Mike Mikulec and Sandra Grudic are people I’ll never forget. They guided me through high school and made sure I was prepared for what was being thrown my way. When I was stressed about the various assignments I had due or the huge test in math, I could count on several teachers to understand and help me. The respect I learned to give adults became imperative once I began applying for schools. I have an interview with

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As graduation draws closer, seniors are left with the worry that they won’t be prepared for life after high school. They will.

to be continued

are we ready?

Graphic by Vijata Patel Au

community

SDHC: under new management

Incoming superintendent Jeff Eakins and current superintendent MaryEllen Elia discuss educational issues at a Hillsborough County School Board meeting. Elia officially leaves the district on June 30 after a vote to terminate her passed 4-3. (Photo by Daniel Hamilton) against the termination. At that meeting, 71 people showed up to offer opinions on the matter. Most of them favored keeping the superintendent. The debate turned to the public perception of the board.“I know there are some people who don’t think public perception is important, but I do, because the public is who I serve,” Snively said. Elia’s contract was terminated at full price because the board failed to satisfy the “good and just cause” for termination. This clause says the contract can only be terminated at a smaller price if the board has a “good and just cause” for doing so and doesn’t call for her termination without reason or unpredictably. The payout of the termination of her contract will be around $1.1 million. Board members cited the contract in their decision to end it. Elia made a base salary of $218,000 a year, with raises proportional to the amount of the raises the teachers in the district get. She also Elia’s contract pay out is received bonuses for improvements in .039% student progress on state tests and parof the county’s budget ticipation in AP and IB classes. Bonuses and perks more than doubled her annual salary; she made $439,000 a year, according to Valdes. The board voted to renew her contact last August, with only two dissenting votes -- Valdes and Griffin. That was before the elections, when two new members joined the board. One of these new members, Harris, gave those opposed to Elia a majority. After the vote, some board members The School District of Hillsborough County This is the equivalent of said Elia’s management style contributhas a yearly budget of $5.76 ed to the decision to go a different direcper student $2.8 Billion tion. Some called it straightforward and Current freshmen have never been a part of a district that wasn’t under the leadership of MaryEllen Elia. Most students aren’t able to remember the name of the person who was superintendent of schools before her. All of that changed this month, when current Deputy Superintendent Jeff Eakins earned the position. The School Board is negotiating to make him the permanent superintendent once Elia officially leaves the district on June 30. Elia’s contract was terminated at a school board meeting on Jan. 20. School Board Chairwoman Susan Valdes introduced a motion to have the contract terminated several weeks earlier. The motion to terminate Elia received much political and public backlash. However, the board approved it by a vote of 4-3. Board members Valdes, Cindy Stuart (a Hillsborough High parent), April Griffin and Sally Harris voted for termination while members Dorthea Edgecomb, Melissa Snively and Carol Kurdell voted

direct, while others called it overly intimidating. “You have to know your audience and she was [an] extremely … difficult person to work with.” Valdes said. “Condescending, rude. You know, very confrontational. It’s not a good thing, because don’t our kids get in trouble for that?” Board members such as Valdes, Griffin and Stuart even temporarily ceased to have one-on-one board meetings with the superintendent, claiming these meetings would often display the same intimidation. Eventually, the meetings would be reopened, with the concession that the board attorney be present during them. Stuart recalled a time when the principal of a school was too frightened to admit that the Wi-Fi on her campus wasn’t working, under fear that she would get in trouble with the district. “Some of the other board members may have not appreciated her leadership style,” Snively said. “I did. I liked the fact that she was very direct. I liked that she was very achievement oriented, that she was very results oriented. Those things I can appreciate. When you’re running a district of this size, you have to have some of those leadership skills of that nature.” Ultimately, it came down to the preference of the majority of the board. Some board members also blamed Elia for “low employee morale” in the district. According to board members, this morale resonated in schools and was due to intimidating aspects of Elia’s leadership, which created an atmosphere of fear and cowardice. In addition, members attribute low graduation rates, a lack of attention to minorities, a deficit in the area of communication and an absence of transparency in terms of district issues to Elia. Many of the local politicians have spoken out on the issue, including Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. In a post on Twitter, Buckhorn posted a link to a

Q&A

community

with Hillsborough High parent and Hillsborough County School Board member Cindy Stuart

Q: What were your reasons for terminating MaryEllen Q: What will change in the district switching from Elia to Elia’s contract? Jeff Eakins? A: It came up as a ‘would you, if you had the opportunity?’ and A: Jeff and MaryEllen are like two different animals. They are very my response was I didn’t have the evidence at the time to make the decision. So, that was never my intention. But I have spent two and a half years, almost three years now, in this seat, and with constituents and students and principals and the staff at the district office and the superintendent. My evaluations that I did of her, I think, speak for themselves in that I was not happy with the way that certain things were handled from a board perspective and I didn’t feel that there was any movement to make any of that any better. There was no effort to change the way that the relationship with the board and the superintendent were working and I had stressed that multiple times in my evaluations, that board communications were my No. 1 priority, not just for me as an individual board member but for all seven board members to have a good working relationship amongst ourselves and with the superintendent and her staff.

very different people. I don’t want to be negative on MaryEllen. MaryEllen did some fantastic things for this district. I give her that. In my view, it’s time for new leadership. Jeff’s style is very different. It’s a very very different style of leadership. I think that is what is attractive to me as a board member. It’s more of a student first and finding ways to say yes versus ways to automatically say no. I think that Jeff’s leadership style is much more open. I think that he will be very open to ideas from the board, which, we’re in the community; we work for the people who voted us into office. Those people need to be recognized, those constituencies need to be addressed. Their needs need to be met, if they’re saying that they don’t want something in a particular area, then that should be considered.

Q: Were you worried about public Q: How do you respond to being called “petty?” backlash from the termination? A: I’m not going to negate that it may have looked petty, but any A: I don’t think that the investigative reother employee that gets terminated, there is not the outcry that, “My boss must have been petty because he fired me.” There had to have been things, and there were things for me, in the opinions of other board members going on that led us to a place that it was time for new leadership. This was not personal for me, I was angry about it, I was extremely emotional about it, I did not want to do this and I knew that we would catch a lot of “news flack” for it, but that’s OK. I knew also that it was the right thing to do and that we are going to turn a corner and have a better district because of it.

porting has dipped far enough into what the interworkings of the district are and to know that all of the things that happen behind the scenes or in one-on-one individual meetings with the superintendent to what our perspective is. I think anyone who has an employee who is not behaving appropriately has the right to terminate them. That should not really be the business of any other business in the community or any other elected official. -Daniel Hamilton

Washington Post article criticizing Elia’s ousting with the remark, “‘Nuff said. School Board elections in two years. Just saying.” The Washington Post called Elia’s termination the “blunder of the year.” Buckhorn also called out the four members who voted for the termination, calling the fact that they can’t get along “absurd.” The “coalition” of school board members against Elia has been called“petty” and some even went so far as comparing them to title characters from the movie “Mean Girls.” Valdes said the only way to respond to those comments, specifically those made by the mayor, was to not respond. “You don’t because Forrest Gump said: ‘Stupid is as stupid does.’ That was stupid of the mayor,” Valdes said. According to Valdes, the effect on the individual student will be nearly, if not completely, nonexistent. “Oh no, there shouldn’t be [an effect on students]

at all. The money isn’t coming out of the school’s budget. Each student has an allocation on the 20th day count,” Valdes said. Valdes boiled down the magnitude of the issue to the media saying: “All of this is sensationalism by the press. Before [Elia] was superintendent, we had a great district.Those that make the district are those in the schools.” Instead of searching nationally, the district voted 4-3 to negotiate a contract with Deputy Superintendent Eakins. The vote went the same way. Valdes, Harris, Stuart and Griffin voted for Eakins, while Snively, Edgecomb and Kurdell favored a search. Conversations during this meeting got heated among members on opposite sides of the issue. Griffin compared the search to a “dog and pony show” that would only be done to please a few people, while Valdes supported Eakins to “bring stability back to the community.” Snively responded by saying that the district “had

stability, until it was yanked out from under [the district].” Despite all the debate, the board still voted to negotiate a contract with Eakins and not conduct a national search. School board members are hoping that, with Eakins, things will change. However, some remain skeptical that change will occur. This is because Eakins was chosen by Elia as Deputy Superintendent, and as Elia’s second, he would have similar views on issues. Valdes does not see that as a potential problem. “[Eakins] is a completely different type of individual. His personality is the opposite spectrum,” Valdes said. “So I think that is why things will change because it’s important to treat people with dignity and respect at any level. I believe that if he has to make some changes that he’ll have no problems [doing so], and it will be done in a manner in which individuals will be respected.” -Daniel Hamilton

community

exchange, what a change Leaving one’s home country is certainly not easy. New friends, different cultures and strange traditions are part of this foreign world. Juniors Dakota Parker from Australia, Ai Hasegawa from Japan and Tonje Skraastad from Norway are exchange students who left their old life for new experiences and changes in the United States. Here are some of the changes they’ve gone through as students in an unfamiliar nation.

when the homeland isn’t home Moving to a different country is more than just a change of scenery, especially if you are living in constant fear. About 11.7 million people in the United States are at risk of being arrested or deported because they are illegal citizens. Because these undocumented immigrants live in fear of being discovered, they often live without the luxuries many Americans take for granted such as better schools and hospitals. For these people, “the land of opportunity” has some restrictions. One freshman, who R&B is leaving anonymous to protect his identity, moved to the United States from Honduras six months ago and has discovered a newfound fear of authority. In that time, he has learned to tread carefully and be cautious of everything he does in order to avoid unnecessary attention from the police. “It’s complicated,” he said through a student translator, “to not be able to do many things or have a license or legal papers.” The 16-year-old hasn’t even attempted to get his permit due to his fear of being discovered and says that, although he’s never driven before, he doesn’t think he’d be able to do so peacefully. On top of that, the student is unsure of the future ahead and, while he wants to go to college, he’s not sure he’ll be able to. When asked what he plans to do when he’s older, he doesn’t dream up ideas like any other teenager but instead says he’ll be joining his dad, who works in construction. “If I weren’t illegal,” he said, “I’d have more

Tonje Skraastad “I have become more accepting of other cultures. In Norway I was only exposed to the white Norwegian culture and this country is so culturally diverse. I really enjoy that and it has been a good overwhelming feeling to see the differences that exist in such a united country.”

Ai Hasegawa

possibilities and probably try to start a career.” Yet, even though he’s afraid, he remains positive and tries to keep the benefits in mind. “[In America}, I have a better future and a better education,” he said. His father, who also worked in construction in Honduras, has found more job opportunities since moving to the US and his family has found it easier to communicate now that they share this experience. Like most undocumented immigrants, this student hopes to become a legal citizen someday or at least have the official documents that allow him to experience the benefits he isn’t able to have now. He enjoys the United States, although it is different from Honduras, and has already made a couple of good friends. -Bianca Cegatte

Graphic by Annie Aguiar

“I’m shy, but before I came here I was more shy, like extremely shy. And now I try to become more sociable. I’m so impressed by myself.”

Dakota Parker “I have become more independent and more able to become friends with people. I feel more confident in just approaching people [and] wouldn’t change this experience for the world. Having to leave [this country] is gonna be homesickness all over again.” -Tonje Skraastad (Photos by Dana Dinh)

community

Junior Gia Jadick (left) and senior Kate Jones (right) both identify as having a fluid sexuality. (Photo by Kathy Xie)

won’t be boxed in Kate Jones has a reputation for having everything figured out. She excels academically as an IB senior, despite studying some of the hardest courses offered in the program. Constantly seen in class working furiously behind a cascade of golden hair, she takes the “dumb blonde” stereotype and shreds it to pieces. However, there was one part of her personality that stumped her for a significant period of her high school career. When confronted about her sexuality, Jones could only describe her feelings in one word: confused. “I don’t personally have an issue with the term bisexual itself,” said Jones, “but for me, [gender is] merely a quality like hair color or eye color. It doesn’t influence whether I’d like someone romantically. So I never seemed to fit correctly [into that label].” Jones now feels most secure by stating she has a fluid sexuality. But, the feeling of “not fitting correctly” arose during Jones’ freshman year, when she became aware of her romantic interest toward girls. At first, she ignored it, knowing she also liked boys, which was, in her words, “the normal thing to do.” But, once she found herself in a romantic relationship with a girl during her junior year, Jones knew the denial couldn’t continue. With the clarity of hindsight, it seemed her discomfort resulted not from knowing she was different, but from not knowing exactly why.

“I felt comfortable with [my sexuality] as long as I knew exactly what was going on and could explain it to someone,” she said. “But there were times when I had no idea how to answer the questions people would ask me. There was the degree of discomfort because of the not knowing.” After a moment of thought, she concluded with a laugh, “I guess I just like to know things.” Throughout high school, Jones became more accustomed to the notion that gender not playing a role her romantic preferences is not something to worry about. Now, she addresses the issue with the same matter-of-factness and confidence she gives any other aspect of her personality. “Looking back, I’d tell myself that I’m going to figure it out and to not worry so much,” she said. For junior Gia Jadick, who also identifies with having a fluid sexuality, the distinction is a little more abstract. “I can wake up one morning and be like, ‘Well, guys sound good today,’ and the next day I could think, ‘But then again, girls are OK too,’” she said. Both Jones and Jadick say by becoming confident in their sexual identities, they felt a significant change in how their peers perceived them, rather than any alteration on a personal level. When confiding in their friends about how they felt about gender in romantic relationships, the girls were faced with an air of disbelief. Jones, in particular, experienced her friends brushing off her fluid sexuality as a mere confused teenag-

er’s phase, instead of fully acknowledging her feelings with respect. “I remember after [a past girlfriend] and I broke up, I had a crush on a guy and mentioned it to some of my friends,” said Jones. “Then, they were like, ‘You like a guy, so that means you’re straight and this whole thing with [your ex-girlfriend] was a fluke, right?’” According to both girls, the most frustrating thing they face is when other people attempt to define their sexualities for them. They get automatically labeled as “lesbian” when in a relationship with a girl, and then labeled as “straight” when in a relationship with a boy. “It’s like going up to someone and saying, ‘Oh, your favorite color must be blue because you’re wearing a blue shirt today!’” said Jadick, “and it doesn’t work like that at all.” Jadick believes that the root of the problem lies in society’s tendency to compartmentalize. “They’ll say that a certain amount of people are gay, and a certain amount of people are straight, and you have to go into one of those boxes.” She moved her hands to form two separate squares. “There’s no in between, no matter what feels right to you! I think society needs to understand that there aren’t any boxes at all.” -Kathy Xie

community

community renaissance

Hill sbo rou gh Riv er

Over the years the Seminole Heights area has become a hotspot for new, trendy businesses, from restaurants to clothing stores, these new establishments have added life to the area. With the addition of these new places, Seminole Heights has turned into one of the most talked about neighborhoods in Tampa.

E Cayuga St

E Emma St

E Chelsea St

E North Bay St

N Suwanee Ave N Branch Ave

H I-275

E Mohawk Ave

Giddens St

E Hillsborough Ave

N Highland Ave

E Osborne Ave

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New Warehouse Apartments 4375 N. Florida Ave. Developer Wesley Burdette will transform the old warehouse on the side of Florida Avenue into 46 loftstyled apartments. Construction for this residential project began earlier this year. Burdette intends on keeping the original structure of the warehouse, but has made plans for a three-story atrium and space for a restaurant on the first floor. Construction should finish around September.

E Mohawk Ave

E Idlewild Ave

Seminole Heights Branch Library 4711 N. Central Ave. Same library, new look. With stained glass windows, new furniture and technology, the Seminole Heights Branch Library returned after two years of renovation planning and another for construction. The library has become more spacious with the addition of six meeting rooms, a snack room and a combined used bookstore.

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Vintage Post Marketplace 5206 N. Florida Ave. Vintage Post sells repurposed home wares, women’s clothing and gifts. Most items are either gently used or antiques of great quality. Vintage Post also offers a line of wnatural, eco-friendly chalk and clay paints for decorating homes. Furniture-painting classes are available for those wanting to experiment with paint samples and learn the latest in home décor.

N Florida Ave

N Central Ave

Graphic by Kathy Xie, Photos by Katie Frost, Kathy Xie and Cameron Fishback

Seminole Heights General Store 5420 N. Florida Ave. The rustic red shed at one of Tampa’s busiest intersections has turned into a permanent farmer’s market. The Seminole Heights General Store has been open since July, providing fresh fruits, veggies and live bait. It has transformed from barely decorated to a full out market, adorned with seasonal items from plastic hearts for Valentine’s Day to festive lights for Christmastime.

Jet City 5803 N. Florida Ave. Jet City offers all natural and organic espresso, baked goods and smoothies. Baked goods include options that are gluten-free or paleo (based off of what the early humans had eaten with the exclusion of dairy-products, grains and processed foods). With friendly baristas and a cozy atmosphere, Jet City brings the comfort of a small café to anyone who has a love for coffee.

Fodder and Shine 5910 N. Florida Ave. Recreating traditional Florida Cracker cuisine, Fodder and Shine puts a modern twist on historical foods dating back to the early 20th century. The restaurant opened in December, and with menu options inspired by Scottish, Irish, African and Spanish cultures, the food brings a sense of adventure to foodies near and far. -Aliece Brown

self

ready, set, go The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, and junior Alexi Lebron was excited. Some students long for the chance to get their license and drive, but getting a car isn’t always as great as it sounds. Students Lebron, Emily Rodriguez and Pamela Cortez recently got cars, but getting a car doesn’t only change how they spend their 20-minute drives to school. In addition to worrying about whether or not there was English homework, students with cars have to worry about how they’re going to pay for gas and insurance. With a car comes responsibility and maturity. Since kindergarten, Lebron’s grandma took him to school. Now that he drives alone, he’s left with a quiet car and an empty passenger seat in the morning. The pair began their daily commutes when Lebron was young and continued through to his first years in high school. Their morning ride became a custom, their conversation in the car a habit. At first, Lebron didn’t like driving alone, but now he finds it “liberating.” To him, it’s another step towards becoming an adult. Lebron didn’t hesitate to fill the empty passenger seat. “My friends have all asked me for rides … Of course I say yes, ‘cause they’re my friends,” Lebron said, “They see me as the same friend, but a little bit better.”

emily rodriguez For senior Rodriguez, getting a car meant no longer using public transit.

Rodriguez says that her mom used to drop her off at school in the mornings. Rodriguez’s mom works at a restaurant, so after school Rodriguez would take the public bus back to the restaurant, and her mom would take her home. “[Getting a car] was pretty exciting ‘cause usually I have to take the bus and go the other way, but now I park in the senior lot and I can actually see my friends after school,” Rodriguez said. Even though she has to, Rodriguez loves taking her sister to school in the mornings; along the ride, they blast music to see who can sing better.

pamela cortez Cortez was eager. She wanted to “go everywhere and do everything.” That’s how she felt the first time she drove. “I’m pretty sure I had work that day, so I couldn’t do everything,” Cortez said. Cortez drives a small, dark blue Honda Civic. She says that her car suits her, “I’m really little and technically my seat is up all the way when I drive, and the car is already small.” Before she drove her car to school, she rode the bus home and her parents dropped her off to school in the morning. “I don’t have to really rely on my father or anyone to take me anywhere,” Cortez said. With Cortez’s newfound independence came additional responsibilities. She has to take her brother and one of her friends to school every day. Cortez and her friend have grown closer since she got her car. Cortez has a job. She started before she bought her car, but she had trouble arranging rides home

from work. “When I got the job and I didn’t have a car, I would have to let my ride know 10 minutes in advance. My boss would tell me, ‘OK call your ride.’ It would be inconvenient for me,” Cortez said. People tend to forget that having a car requires more than just a license. It requires gas and insurance, which Cortez pays for by herself. “I feel like I’m an adult, somewhat. Not really. I guess I kinda get the feeling like what it might be to pay for your insurance and get gas, and stuff like that. I don’t really like it. Sometimes it’s nice that I don’t have to ask anyone for a ride, but at the same time I have to put aside money for a phone bill, [and other stuff], and I can’t always go shopping,” she said. People treat her differently. When Cortez first got her car, people who wouldn’t normally talk to her, acted overly-friendly and asked her for rides. Regardless of the negative consequences getting a car can have, Cortez encourages teenagers to get their licenses as soon as they’re able to. Cortez says that getting a license makes things easier for students and their parents. She says that people who wait too long to get their license become more dependent on their parents and others, creating a hassle for them and other people. “I feel like when you get your car, you definitely change, cause you’re like: ‘Oh, I’m gonna give all my friends rides and do whatever I want.’ Turns out, I hate giving people rides and I have a lot of responsibilities, so sometimes things get put off,” she said. -Amber Shemesh

Pamela Cortez and (not) her Honda Civic. (Photo illustration by John Veliz and Amber Shemesh)

self

making the cut

Photos courtesy of Aleesha Mundra

I have dyed my hair since sophomore year. My hair is supposed to reflect a part of my personality and my long hair just did not do it. I tried everything, from getting an ombre to dyeing almost half of my hair blonde. Long hair is boring to me. It does look nice to many people but short hair has always appealed to me. The celebrities who cut off their hair are bold and they do not about what other people think of them. I have always thought about cutting my hair off but I have never had the guts to follow through on it. I thought that my face is too fat for the haircut and I would look boyish. Short hair is edgy, something my hair didn’t previously represent. At the time I did not know who I was. I did not know where I fit in. My long hair made me another person in the crowd. I did not stand out which isn’t like me. I want to embrace my uniqueness and not try to blend in. It was time for a change. My family was wary about the sudden

change, but supported me anyways. My sister came along for the ride to make sure I didn’t screw up and so that I did not accidentally ask the hairstylist to shave off my hair. I did not have a plan when I walked into the salon. All I told her was “I just want it off,” I have never done something this dramatic on a whim. Some people have a deep emotional attachment with their hair, that’s not me. I didn’t feel sad when my hairstylist cut off the first huge chunk of hair. If anything I felt nervous because I put so much trust in my hairstylist. I was just scared that her interpretation of what my hair should look like was the same as mine. When she was done, I hardly recognized myself. I looked mature. I had a bone structure. I looked different but in the best way possible. It was the best decision I made. My haircut made me find myself. I embrace the distinct characteristics of myself and I don’t try to hide it. -Aleesha Mundra

live to dye At times we need to do something, anything new to keep us sane. Ordering a different drink, taking an alternative route, or for the more adventurous, like senior Sam Paz, dying your hair. Around age 14, Paz picked up the brush and smeared black dye with the pungent smell of ammonia over her sandy blonde hair. In the beginning, her father only let her do natural colors, but today she sports a mop of purple blue and pink. Dying her hair hasn’t changed Paz, she “still dreads waking up at 6 a.m. every morning to come to school.” Although, her hair has impacted her family, when she first started with unnatural hair colors her family was surprised. But now her sister Anna Paz is in college and they are still as close as ever. “Getting a job wasn’t all that difficult,” said Paz. She’s now the manager of Downtown Skate, “as long as you go to the places that accept colored hair.” It’s thought that old people would glare and judge people who don’t

succumb to the ordinary. Paz, however has gotten compliments from many a grandmother and hardly any weird looks. Teachers at school seem to be more judgmental than those on the streets. “When teachers first meet me they usually think I’m some hippie who smokes pot all day,” Paz said. She assures she does not do drugs and once her teachers get to know her they grow to enjoy her company. The only life-altering change Paz has encountered is with clothes. “Outfits are so difficult to work with,” she exclaimed. She can no longer wear clothes the same color as her hair or sparkles (even though they are her favorite color) so she now tends to stick mainly to neutral colors to balance her look out. Confidence was never an issue with Paz when it comes to hair. To others her hair may seem abnormal but for Paz it is comfortable and natural. -Alyssa Ierna

Go to HHStoday.com to read Cade McCurdy’s personal account of a life-changing blackout (of his hair).

Photos courtesy of Sam Paz

self

malcolm out of middle It’s easy to scroll past post after post on Facebook. The useless, mildly creepy ads indicating an NSA processing of one’s search history; sorority pictures from a variety of college formals; dusty, unanswered Candy Crush invitations abound. Ethan Malcolm’s paragraphs about how he grew up without a father, and the description of difficulties he’s faced as he’s transitioned from middle school to high school, stand out amongst the chatter. Some changes are easier to see than others. His bandmates noticed almost immediately when Malcolm returned to band leadership camp at the end of summer of his junior year and had “shot up.” He’s always been tall, but now he was over 6 feet. He’s always been bullied, but now he handles it with his head held high and the mantra. “It’s just been a matter of always reminding myself of who I am and always keeping a sound mind that Im better than what many people may think of me. I can always strive to be the best I can be. That mantra isn’t going to change.” As he prepares to attend University of South Florida next year, he’s ready to change the way he approaches people. His mistrust of people is more than noticeable when he details how he feels about both friends and people he doesn’t know.

Not being able to control the circumstances is what hurts the most. One day you’re laughing with your friends and meeting new people and the next day you have to say goodbye. Sometimes change is an unwanted visitor who steals those closest to you. Romel Felipe, a former freshman, my ray of sunshine, now lives four hours away but he’s right at my fingertips. At the click of a button I can talk to him as if he’s sitting right next to me. But what if he needs a hug? How am I supposed to know if he’s upset? I just got to know him and now he’s gone and all I have left is are some texts from 280 miles away. Felipe now lives in Miami, after spending two years in Tampa going to school and making friends. After the construction project his father’s company was working on fell through, his family was obligated to move back to the house they left his eighth-grade year. Over spring break, he was forced to pack up the life he had in Tampa, letting his friends know one by one. His roots were just starting to sink into the new expanse of soil around him. It was not easy to accept, for him or his friends, including myself. More than once I

“I think I’m going to change in that I’ll hopefully be less antisocial,” Malcolm said. He posted on Facebook because he uses the social media platform as a way to vent. “Most of my stuff has all been bottled for most of my life, I really can’t talk to anyone. I really don’t know, it’s mostly a thing where I really can’t trust anyone,” he explained. He went on to say that since high school he’s worked on how to trust people and has realized that some people actually do care. Raised by his mother and grandmother, he was devastated by his grandfather’s death. In the eighth grade, he lost the only father figure he’d have, as his father died when Malcolm was around 4 months. “I remember it was a Sunday, I was waiting for my mom to make pancakes. Instead she walked in and broke the news. We had visited him almost every weekend,” he recalled. His grandfather’s death right as he was transitioning to high school contributed to Malcolm’s difficulties — in his first nine weeks he had received his first C. “High school really presented me with a whole new set of tasks, a bunch of hurdles I need to jump over to make it to the finish. I’ve embraced the

changes very much; I take things way more seriously now. Now I overwork myself.” His shifted mindset is one he plans on taking with him to USF, where he’ll be “pursuing an educational endeavor that extremely interests me. I think I’ll be much more successful.” -Ellie Rodriguez

Facebook is senior Ethan Malcolm’s place to vent about his life; “Most of my stuff has all been bottled for most of my life, I really can’t talk to anyone. “(Photo by Ellie Rodriguez)

bye, felipe

things that will change their future, like move four hours away from school and friends. Felipe, however likes to make light of the situation; “this is my fourth move. I mean I’ll have a lot more Instagram followers now … but I’ll have to be more outgoing.” Freshman Dayan Vizoso, another close friend of Felipe, said if he lost touch he would “go to Miami and beat the s--- out of [Felipe].” Felipe ate lunch with all of my friends and they feel his absence even though he only showed up a few weeks ago and sat down. “I feel like I was just getting to know [him] and then [he’s] like ‘peace out, whatever’. Also, you know, I was like ‘the new one’ then like [he] came along, so I have to go back to being the new one,” said sophomore Azra Korajcevic. Now there an empty seat at our lunch table and Romel Felipe says his goodbyes to Stephanie Barsoum. (Photo by Alyssa Ierna.) while some may not miss him as much as we do, at have reasoned that, “Yes Romel, it is possible for you least he will still have a lot of followers on Instagram. -Alyssa Ierna to sleep in my closet, there is plenty of space,” just because I didn’t want to see him leave. Teenagers are right at the cusp of independence, yet, though they may not want to, they have to do

trimble on the brink Brittani Trimble is no stranger to change. At 18, Brittani Trimble has overcome more difficulties than the average person. After a series of moves stemming from financial and housing issues and eventually residing in a homeless shelter for a period of time, She “became sort of a poster child for Metropolitan Ministries,” Trimble explained in a previous interview in May 2014. “My face is everywhere around there.” According to Trimble, her acceptance into the IB program at Hillsborough was the beginning of a new stage of life for her. She began attending Hillsborough at the same time that she moved in with her aunt, and stabilized her home life. Trimble felt uncomfortable with the people around her because of their different upbringings. She made judgments on her classmates based on the way they looked and acted. “[In freshman year] I saw everyone [in my class] as preppy, stuck up, middle class white people.” Trimble stated. “I had a bad mindset.” Trimble’s views have transformed since then. “If I’m not friends with you we’re acquaintances,” Trimble said. The change in Trimble is clear to everyone around her. “She believes in herself a lot more than she used to,” said close friend Ryann Welch. “It was really amazing to see her go through that.” Her views of the world have expanded in her years at Hillsborough. “I used to be so close-minded. Now I see more possibilities … I want to be wordly.” Trimble now plans to go into a field involving social work or public relations in the future. Trimble no longer lets her hardships prevent her from living a full life. “I’ve realized that everyone has problems. It doesn’t matter who you are, everyone has their own issues.” -Monisha Pillai

From left, Trimble greets friends Erin Strickland, Aastha Rajbhandarry and Ryann Welch at lunch. Trimble, pictured second from left, plans to remain friends with them when they all go to University of Florida together. (Photo by Ivy Bennett-Ford)

self

drawn to the moment Graphic by John Veliz Everyone has a vice, something they can’t resist, a habit they can’t break. But the word addiction, so apt for the compulsion to obsess, has a stigma: addiction is bad. But that isn’t always the case. For freshman Sydney Cabana, art is a form of emotional release. It is a hobby, a talent and a habit. In her first year of high school, her art has garnered recognition around Tampa Bay, so far as to admit her into the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. Cabana finds herself drawn to creating and drawing constantly, in class and at home. She loves drawing manga; she sketches it all the time. If she’s not paying attention in class, a forest of studies in miniature will appear in all the white spaces of her notebook. Cabana says she spends on average 30 minutes filling every spare white field of her school notebooks drawing, “whatever happens to come into [her] head” when she is in class. “Sometimes if I have a really good drawing [in a notebook] I’ll save it,” Cabana said. She says she saves all her school notebooks, and has since the first grade. She has a whole shelf full of them at home.

Drawing helps Cabana when she’s unhappy, when she needs an outlet. “The other day we were talking about food, and I [started] drawing all the food,” Cabana said. She even gives them faces. All of them have faces. Senior Daniel Saltares says running is his religion. He believed it has changed his life, that he is a different person because of running. And if he wants to go see a view of downtown Tampa from Bayshore, he has but to sling on his sneakers. Saltares joined the cross country team at the beginning of this school year to continue a habit he’d taken up in January 2014 when he began training for the Gasparilla Distance Classic. He began running to do something with his brother, whom he says he rarely sees because of their equally busy schedules. He had never trained for a race before. By the time the race rolled around, he couldn’t participate, had a band competition on the same day. When cross country stopped, he couldn’t stop with it, like it was “some kind of drug.” “I think specifically in that part of my life I was looking for something to make me better…that running was a way to push me beyond

my limits,” Saltares said. For Saltares, running mitigates the worry of an interminable day in IB and band. To train, he wouldn’t pay attention to how far he ran; he just knew that wherever he went, however far he traveled, he’d have to run all the way back. He ran with his friends all summer, running from Hillsborough to Tampa Catholic High School. This year, he ran a total of 25.5 miles for the Gasparilla races. While he admits that the endeavor seemed crazy, he wanted to be to say he’d done it. Over the weekend of Feb. 20-22, Saltares was surprised by the smiling faces of his family members and friends Gabriella Arfaras and Ally Abbuehl. “I run for moments, those moments that only last a few seconds … and knowing that [my friends] got up before seven on a Sunday morning to see me cross that finish line is indescribable.” If he wants to go see something, all he has to do is get up, and push down the road. Eventually, he’ll catch a glimpse of whatever he was searching for. It will be there for a moment, perfect and whole; then it will be gone. -Ivy Bennett-Ford

family

little siblings big changes That Thursday could have been a normal day. A normal day filled with homework. Out of the blue, my father announced our dinner reservations at Samurai Blue. My family and I got into the car and on the drive, I was panicking because lately he’d been talking about moving. “Are we going to move? Did I do something wrong? What’s happening?” I thought. These questions raced through my mind. Once at the restaurant, my father, out of nowhere, pulled out two jewelry boxes with envelopes attached. Even more confused, I tore open my envelope and opened it cautiously. Inside: a sonogram. Twelve years after the youngest arrived, our family was having a baby. Whether the news is delivered calmly on a couch or enthusiastically in a Japanese restaurant, finding out that you are going to be an older sibling for the first or even second time is absolutely life-changing. Freshman Tayler Brown also shares the experience of having a sibling over a decade later. When Brown was told that she was going to be an older sibling after 15 years, she was stunned. “They sat me down on the couch and they just basically told me that I’m going to have another sibling. At first, I was shocked because you know it’s a big age difference,” Brown said. However, she was mainly ecstatic about her family’s new arrival. Camryn, Brown’s younger brother, means the world to her and has made an immense impact on her life.

After he was born, Brown was finally able to establish a positive relationship with her mother. When Brown was 8 months old, she was given to her Great Aunt by her mom. Brown and her mother conversed over the phone, yet were never able to meet in person. After Camryn was born, Brown and her mother started to live together, a difficult feat at first. “Me and her just ended up together and then it just got hard, you know, for us at first, we were not really the best of friends,” Brown said. However, Brown always wanted a relationship with her mother and is grateful for the opportunity to have one now. Not only did her little brother mend the relationship between Brown and her mother, but also allowed her to view life in a differently. She expressed that she definitely wants to have children after seeing what his birth meant to her mother. Brown said, “I would definitely have kids because the joy it brought her [Brown’s mother], like, it changed her whole life. She used to be this bad person and do this stuff she wasn’t supposed to do and with him that made her change life around and now she’s trying to go back to school and do more of the positive things of life.” As an older sister to a now 10-month old baby, I can truly attest to these feelings. The greatest change that a younger sibling can bring -- especially one born after many years -- is knitting a family closer together.

Congratulations

It’s a boy!

Before Avishka was born, my family too was disconnected; everyone was busy with their own lives and no one really bothered with one another. Afterward, we were all thrown into this adventure together which allowed us to truly rebuild our family again. My aunts, who I never used to talk to, now FaceTime with me twice a day. Similarly, my grandparents came to visit all the way from India after hearing the news. Although most would assume that having a baby drastically changes everyone’s schedule, neither Brown nor I have been affected at all. “He goes to day care and I’m at school, and if my mom gets home from work and needs me to watch him, then I’ll watch him in my free time,” Brown said. At the end of the day, seeing that adorable little smile on his or her face is all one needs to be assured that all of the change is for the better. - Sarvika Bommakanti

Sarvika Bommakanti and her younger sister, Avishka, spend quality time together at home and the mall. The two are inseparable. (Photos courtesy of Sarvika Bommakanti) Graphic by Vijata Patel

family

changing as a student growing as a parent

17 Students Domani Davis and Cha’lyia Richardson both experience changes as they become responsible for their children

Cha’lyia Richardson At 14, teenage girls daydream of boys, think about homecoming dresses and talk about the latest celebrity scandal. At 15, they go to parties, practice driving and maybe even get their first job. Sixteen- and 17-year-old girls start planning for college or readying themselves for the outside world. Junior Cha’lyia Richardson, however, spent those years raising her 2-year-old son, Kayden Richardson. Every morning, Richardson gets not only herself, but also her son, dressed for the day. As her mother drives her to school, Kayden is picked up for daycare and both of them begin their day. “He goes to daycare from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. His daycare picks him up and drops him off.” Richardson said. She was only 14 when she learned she was pregnant. As soon as she began to show, she was pestered by strangers; everyone wanted to know every little detail of Richardson’s life. “It was miserable,” Richardson said. “I felt so fat!” Spending all her energy dodging glares and speculations proved to be more stressful than dealing with her actual pregnancy. Strangers asked to feel her stomach, teachers bombarded her with questions and Richardson could only close her eyes and wish she didn’t have to come to school every day. “I was dealing with it OK, but I just don’t want outsiders coming up to me and asking questions,” she

said. “Everybody wanted to know so I was like ‘No, I’m not pregnant. I’m just fat.’” Aside from the unwanted attention, Richardson found joy in being pregnant. She particularly loved when Kayden moved around, saying that it tickled, and found her cravings for corn starch and fruit comical. Fortunately for Richardson, Kayden wasn’t born until June 25, giving her an entire summer break to rest and get the hang of having a baby at home. She was glad that she didn’t have to miss class. By the time school rolled around she was already well into her baby routine. She gave up volleyball, track and other extracurricular activities in order to be home for Kayden and didn’t have as much time to hang out with her friends. “The first year he couldn’t really do much for himself. I couldn’t do anything and had to stay home every day,” Richardson said. Raising Kayden made Richardson mature in more ways than one. ”Before,” she said, “I was loud and ran around, but now I’m calm and I work because I have a responsibility.” Now that Kayden’s 2, he can talk and do more for himself, making Richardson’s schedule less packed. She still has to come straight home from school, but instead of having to care for all of the usual baby needs -- such as feeding, burping and changing -- Richardson and Kayden sit down and do their homework together,

Richardson jokes with her son, Kayden, while taking selfies. (Photo courtesy of Cha’lyia Richardson) joking and talking about their day. “He likes to play and talk to me. He’ll be doing funny stuff and cracking jokes a lot,” she said of Kayden. Richardson is proud and grateful for Kayden, saying, “He’s a blessing” and “seeing him grow up is fun.” “My life changed,” she said, “but not how I thought it would. I really love my little guy.” - Bianca Cegatte

Domani Davis

Davis celebrates a win with his son, Domani Jr. (Photo courtesy of Domani Davis.)

It was time. He was driving to school when she called and told him. Almost immediately, 16-year-old Domani Davis made a U-turn and raced to the hospital, hoping he would make it in time to see his son’s birth. And he did. In fact, it was almost as if his baby boy, Domani Davis Jr., was waiting for Dad to show up before coming out to meet his family. That was one year ago. Today, Davis, a senior, sees his son some weekends, caring and watching over him while juggling basketball, schoolwork and a social life. “He just does baby talk. It’s really frustrating because he cries and sometimes I don’t know what he’s crying for,” Davis said. On weekdays, Davis Jr.’s mother cares for him while Davis goes to school. But when he does have Davis Jr. at home, he has to constantly keep an eye on his son. “He’s really active,” Davis said, “so he walks around and just messes with things. So if I’m on the computer doing stuff like I gotta watch him.” To be a supportive father, Davis devotes much of his time and energy to his son which usually means he

doesn’t have as many opportunities to do the things he used to do, he said. During the pregnancy, Davis attended parenting meetings with the mother. Now, he supports her by spending time with Davis Jr. “I take him sometimes and just be with him,” Davis said. “Just being there for him is all she [the mom] really wants.” Although he still finds time to play basketball, Davis said he still doesn’t have as much free time as before. With a baby around, it’s become more difficult for Davis to make plans and hangout with his friends. As for the future, he said he plans on pursuing a career in basketball with the support of his family and the mother. He’s played his whole life, but in March, he scored a team-high 23 points and won the three-point contest at the county’s East-West All-Star game. “I’ll be playing basketball,” he said, “so I’ll probably be away most of the time. [The mother] supports me 100 percent and she knows that if I’m away, I’m away,” he said. - Bianca Cegatte

family

i do.

High school relationships are notorious for their short life spans. Couples last somewhere between a couple of months and a couple of days as they argue in the midst of reaching adulthood. Teenagers usually break up and make up at the drop of a hat. What they don’t usually do is get married.

Tyneisha Davis did. Senior Tyneisha Davis was shaking more than she ever had before. She was in the back room of the church as her family waited for her out front in a Winter Wonderland, surrounded by fake snow and cut up paper snowflakes behind a podium labeled “Bride’s family.” Six-inch stilettos adorned her feet so her white dress from David’s Bridal didn’t touch the ground. (Later, Davis would admit that the shoes were painful.) In a few minutes, Davis would exit the back room and walk down the aisle. She would see her boyfriend of two years, 2014 graduate Bradley Komsie, and start crying. She would hold her father’s hand as he comforted her and told her that she was doing the right thing. In a few minutes, she would legally be Tyneisha Komsie. But first, she had to deal with the shaking.

working with the military

Davis, the Battalion Commander (the highest student position) in JROTC, married to Komsie on Dec. 27. Komsie is currently in his Advanced Individual Training in Fort Gordon, Georgia, training to be a Signal Support Systems Specialist in the army. Davis will be going to Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on June 16, and then to Fort Huachuca in Arizona for her AIT. “I have choices to make due to the fact that Bradley is in Signals and we’re trying to stay together as much as possible,” Davis said. “He’s in a branch underneath Communications. I want to go into Intelligence, howev-

er, which is going to be kind of complicated. It’s hard to work around the military.” Davis hopes to go into cybercommunications, an intelligence-related branch of communications. The military is one of the reasons that Davis and Komsie got married; married military couples not only receive an extra paycheck stipend on their paychecks, but they can’t be separated for more than 12 months at a time. Davis has the right to sue the military if their time apart exceeds 12 months exactly. The couple won’t be together permanently until late January or early February of next year. Until that time Davis plans to graduate from Hillsborough under her given name out of respect for her parents. “A lot of people say ‘how can you be happy when you’re separated?’ but we’re taking what we can get because you have to work around the military,” Davis said. “I wouldn’t want Bradley to get in trouble because I’m going into the military so I have to know my boundaries. We’re happy to a point where we’re content with where we are right now because we know it’s going to get better.” Davis hasn’t seen Komsie since a few days after they were married. They talk every day -- Komsie has class from 3:30 in the afternoon until around midnight or 1 in the morning Monday through Friday, so Davis can only talk to him during school or if she stays up late. Davis says that she comes in tired every morning; Komsie likes to talk for hours and hours, leaving Davis with little time

to sleep. They talk about the future, about apartments, about moving out. Three weeks ago, they had an argument about money; Davis does admit that married life can be bittersweet. Davis says that being married helps her to see things as a wife rather than as a girlfriend. “You can be boyfriend and girlfriend forever, but when you’re married, you’re one,” she said. “You can’t just say ‘oh, I’m tired of you so we’re done.’ It’s nothing like that. You’re in [partnership] for life.”

absence

Davis and Komsie met when Davis was a freshman; while standing at parade rest at a JROTC practice, she passed out after locking her knees, cutting off blood flow. “I look up and all I see is blue eyes,” she says of their first meeting. “He’s smiling, and touching my shoulder and everything and asking me if I was okay. From there, I guess you could say the sparks started and we were inseparable from that day on.” Davis feels Komsie’s absence as she completes her senior year. “If I look to my left, he was either standing there talking to one of his friends, or he was at my right walking me to class,” Davis said. “Walking into my senior year, I was excited because it’s my last year.” She said that it was difficult without her partner in crime. Getting married hasn’t, for the most part, changed how her friends treat her. Now, they just have another

family “You can be boyfriend and girlfriend forever, but when you’re married, you’re one. You can’t just say ‘oh, I’m tired of you so we’re done.’ It’s nothing like that. You’re in that for life.” -Tyneisha Davis

way to tease her; “they’re like ‘I’m gonna call Bradley. You’re not doing your schoolwork,’ and I’m just like ugh,” Davis said. “I’m grown.” Sophomore Charlizia Spraggins was one of Davis’ bridesmaids and is a good friend of Komsie’s. Leading up to the wedding, the couple went to her for advice, asking her repeatedly if she thought they were doing the right thing. She did. Groomsman and sophomore Tyree Love echoed this sentiment; “Whatever they choose, they choose. That’s their choice as long as they can cope with it and understand the effects that go along with it.” When her teachers started finding out that she got married over winter break, Davis said it “got weird” as they started asking her why. “We’re still in a relationship,” Davis said. “We’re just bounded by a ring.” Davis’ economics teacher from last semester, Marcelino de la Portilla, wasn’t quite as supportive at first. “She definitely has a plan,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s age related, but keeping relationships alive these days is very difficult.”

For now, all Davis and Komsie have is their phone calls and the occasional visit. She’s relieved that he has enough leave to take her to prom, but after that they won’t see each other until next year. “Wisdom comes with age. The experience that I’ve had with Bradley, specifically … it’s only been four years, but it’s been a very, very long four years,” Davis said. “People have their doubts that you have to be mature to be married, that you have to be 25 or older to be married or something like that. I can understand, but underneath the circumstances that Bradley and I were under, it was either together or separate.”

together

Davis has all of her requirements to graduate; she only has one academic class and has JROTC four times day. “It could be going better,” Davis said. “I wish he was here with me.”

Left: Newlyweds Tyneisha Davis and Bradley Komsie hold hands on the day of their wedding. Davis and Komsie were married over winter break. Right: A uniform-wearing Komsie places his hands on Davis’ shoulders. Komsie is currently training for an Army job in Signals and Davis is JROTC’s Battalion Commander. (Photos courtesy of Tyneisha Davis)

-Annie Aguiar

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transitioning after tragedy Her dad, her singing partner, her confidant. Gone. Finding her dad in the swimming pool after hours of searching, Ally Abbuehl greeted her best friend at the door. A little over a year later, the shock still hasn’t worn off. Ally and her dad were inseparable. From childhood to adolescence, the duo was joined at the hip. “We were the chores people,” she joked with a small smile on her face. A frequent father-daughter activity, cleaning the house was a favorite past time for them both. “We would always just blast country music while we were vacuuming.” The common cleaning tune for the pair was “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker, a feel-good country song they both loved. A stay at home dad and University of Wisconsin grad, John Abbuehl previously owned a “bowling alley/ bar and knew everyone,” as Ally described it. After moving to Tampa when Ally was 6, he attempted to open his own restaurant but things didn’t pan out. The Abbuehl parents heavily stressed education and that rubbed off on Ally. Nearly done with the IB program, she is consistently an honor roll student, balancing all the rigorous course work even in such a difficult time. “He was the one I talked to about all my schoolwork. He knew how hard I worked and was always so proud.” Coming home, her dad would be there every day sitting at his desk, always ready to ask about her day. “My mom worked all the time so I would see him first every morning and every afternoon. He understood how hard [the program] was and was baffled at the amount of time I spent on homework. He would always pick up my backpack and say, ‘Oh my gosh! This is not physically possible, this is ridic-

ulous,’” Ally recalls, eliciting a slight chuckle. He hated tardiness. Ally laughs and smiles when she recalls his advice. “The groans you would hear when me and my mom took so long to get in the car,” Ally said of her dad’s hatred of tardiness and advocacy for manners. Her dad also stressed the importance of being humble. “He would always tell me ‘No bragging, be humble.’ At birthday parties, he would always say we could open the presents later, not in front of other people.” Though her dad did commit suicide, she has a hard time expressing that it wasn’t for the reasons people usually associate with suicide. “That’s why I never talk about it with anyone, it’s just I feel like if I said that he committed suicide, I would fear that people would think that me and my mom weren’t good enough and he cared less and didn’t love us because that was not the case at all,” Ally said, “It was more for financial reasons though [I’m] not sure about the specifics.” “He loved me more than anything.”

friendship is the best medicine

She couldn’t tell most of her friends herself. “It was hard for me even to say out loud because it

was such an emotional time.” Jessica Thornton is the only friend that she told everything to, face to face. Her friends and tablemates heard about it at a gathering in senior history teacher Tom Paloumpis’ room, where Thornton told them what was going on. “All of [my] friends were crying and came over that night to comfort [me]. I told them that ‘I haven’t had a fresh apple in a week!’ And then they came over with fresh apples and sandwiches and good food [for me].” Many IB teachers also expressed their sincerest condolences with cards immediately after news spread. “I remember opening [the cards] and crying because the teachers were just so supportive and gave me a little, glad you’re back greeting. I appreciated the slight condolences.” Thornton quickly became her shoulder to cry on and Ally doesn’t know what she would have done without her. “She was there through all the problems. She would never sugarcoat or mask it or give false hope but [say] it sucks, its hard; it’s going to make you upset but you’ll get through it.” “No one should have to go through grief alone,” said Thornton, whose friendship with Ally began over a love of puns in their sophomore English class.

family “Pretty much the entire foundation of our friendship is based on our mutual love of puns. [We] laughed all the time at our stupid puns,” Thornton said. Having to talk about such an emotional and life changing experience, “knocked down a final hurdle to [where] we [could] literally talk to each other about anything,” Thornton said, “I just had to be there for her and listen to her.” Helping her overcome her summertime anxiety were the new friends she made on cross country.“[It] moved me back into my social routine.” “My friends make [me] laugh and [they’ve] helped [me] be happy again.”

beyond the classroom

Already close to Nicole Richardson, Ally became closer with her psychology teacher of two years, who recommended Ally to the school psychologist, Dr. Evelyn Hernandez, to get help and advice. “I was there to listen and be a friend,” Richardson said, “I’ve gotten closer and look out for and check in with her.” Ally was already a stellar student in psychology class, so Richardson didn’t observe any noticeable changes in her demeanor. “She showed remarkable resilience in the situation. [She was an] outstanding student before and continued to be an outstanding student.” From what she learned in psychology class and from Richardson about mental illness, Ally became more aware of the nonchalant references to suicide, especially in social media. “I have a whole new understanding [of mental illness] and how it affects people when you don’t even know it.” What angers her most is the phrase “kill me now.” “It’s so insensitive and easy to say, like a reaction. It shouldn’t take knowing it happened to someone close to you to make you realize that it’s wrong.” From her experience with suicide and learning about it in psychology class, Ally is ready to tackle the tainting of mental illness by social media. “[I’m] hyperaware of all these terms and I want to change the view towards suicide,” she said.

a changing reality

‘[It’s] weird to have one less person.” Now home alone until her mom comes home from work, Ally has had a hard time coming to terms with her father figure being gone from her life. “The hardest thing to grasp is not seeing him there every day and not seeing him anymore.” Subtle changes began to take place right after it

happened, only noticeable to those very close to both Ally and her mom, Holly Abbuehl. She and her mom had to learn how to sell items on Craigslist, something that her mom “didn’t like to do at all.” The spring and summer following his passing, Ally drew into herself and wanted to be close to her mom. “I had this irrational fear that I would lose my mom too. I never wanted to leave her side. I didn’t feel like hanging out with anyone.” From this tragedy, Ally and her mom have become closer than ever. “She’s one of my best friends. We’ve grown so close and I tell her everything.” The two had a girls weekend in New York City this past winter. For her mom, who was married to her husband for 34 years, it was an especially difficult period. “I found my greatest strength through Ally,” she said, also expressing worries about living alone after Ally leaves for college. “I will move into the dorm with her,” she said jokingly. All of this massive change happened right before her senior year, a time that Ally previously anticipated. “Losing a parent especially at this time is the worst and is so hard because it’s a crucial developmental stage where seniors are getting ready to go and make a huge life decisions about universities, it’s hard to not have that person around to help you,” she explained. As the school year began, Ally focused on her academics. “For a while it was just school, school, school, that’s really all I did. School was a distractor for me because I didn’t feel like hanging out with people and was anxious all the time. All I focused on was school and homework.” This continued dedication to education did not go unnoticed by her mom. “She remained strong and very focused on school,” she said, extremely proud of her daughter for keeping it all together. The anniversary of his death was Feb 10. Over a year later, Ally is reconnecting with friends, while remaining diligent about school, although she can’t help but think about the milestones her dad will miss out on. “He’s not going to be there to walk me down the aisle or see me graduate. It was an immediate thought because my dad always took such pride in me and was there for everything. He was so supportive of those big events.” Determined to make her dad proud, Ally

21 hopes to attend the University of Wisconsin this fall, her dad’s alma mater. “Our family [has] always loved that school and we are big supporters of the sports teams there.” Ally is currently waiting on a decision from UW that is expected to come in late March. Whatever life throws at Ally next, she knows that her dad will always be with her as she continues to adapt to the changes in her life. “It’s so crazy to think how much happier I am now than I was a year ago.” -Katie Frost Top: Ally holds one of her favorite photos of her dad, who was “a people person.” (Photo by Katie Frost.) Bottom from left to right: Ally hugs her father as a little kid at his birthday; the duo getting close when Ally was just weeks old, visiting Ally’s maternal grandparents in Freeport, Illinois. (Photos courtesy of Ally Abbuehl.)

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surviving cancer “Everything is fine. The doctor said that everything was okay and the tests came back negative. Please don’t worry.” With tears in my eyes, I disconnected the call, a feeling deep in my gut told me that everything was most definitely not fine. My sister was crying in the corner, a mix of quasi-relief and sadness bringing her to tears. Here I was, at a church mission in North Carolina. When my younger sisters and I arrived home two weeks later, I wished I had been wrong about that call. My mom had Stage 1 breast cancer.

jumping to conclusions Being my usual pessimistic self, thoughts of a world without my mom brought me to tears that first night back. My dad was also being tested for cancer the same week as all this was happening. Relief washed over me as the results for prostate cancer came back negative. Mind you, all of this chaos was happening weeks before my senior year. Hopefully the best year of high school, I was going to start my last year thinking about a world without either of my parents. Living up to my nickname as our family’s Debbie Downer, my thoughts immediately went to the worst case scenario. Calming me down was my mom, who kept reminding me of the chances of recovery from this early stage of cancer. A short time later, my dad’s test results came back. Negative. My dad was clear of prostate cancer, saving me from more heartbreak and him from a life threatening illness. One devastating situation avoided, just one to go.

surviving senior year During my humdrum happenings at school, my friends would start discussing the hardships of multiple college applications and IA deadlines, a constant reminder that I was still a student. At lunch, while they were happily munching away, discussing crew captain duties and the newest video games, I was checking in with my mom about her treatments, which happened to be at the same time. Coming home from school, she would be sprawled on our couch, nausea and headaches inhibiting much activity, treatments draining all of the energy that made

Photo courtesy of Katie Frost her a great mom. Instead of breezing by, senior year moved along like a slow, agonizing crawl, plagued with deadlines and the stress that any run of the mill teenager would feel. My mom was still enduring her grueling radiation treatments, making the year drag by even slower. As the months drudged on and my 18th birthday came and went, the holidays were rapidly approaching. Noticeable to family only, my mom was much weaker, no longer playing tennis with her friends. Instead she would be at home. I had always respected my mom for what she does, working a 9-2 job as a bookkeeper, as well as being a mother of three frustrating and hormonal teenage girls. This, however, paled in comparison to her accomplishments this fall. Juggling mom duties and daily cancer treatments, you would never know that she had breast cancer. She always made time to give us much needed advice, the way only she could, as she had done for my whole life. Barely having time to adjust to these changes, my favorite holiday of the year rolled around again.

Thought I was upset about it being my last Christmas while I was living at home, there was good news about Mom’s cancer for the first time in five months.

preparing for independence The cancer was gone (at least for now). She still has to take medicine and get checkups frequently, but the tiring radiation treatment that she had to endure was now over and the Frost family life could return to normal. Now as the end of the year is approaching and as I prepare to leave for college in the summer, the possibility of my mother’s breast cancer returning is enough to shake me to my core. As a result, I’m going to stay a mere two hours away at the University of Florida. As a result of my family’s experience with cancer, I grew to be more independent and responsible, facing a new reality that I never crossed my mind. My mom was the one who beat cancer, but my family and I were the ones who survived. -Katie Frost

Frost

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homesick

Linking arms and smiling for the camera, sophomore Dachel Sanchez (far right) and her family pose for a photo to send to other family members living in Cuba. (Photo courtesy of Dachel Sanchez.) Florida used to seem like a yearlong vacation. Now it is an unfortunate reality. For Dachel Sanchez, Louisville, Kentucky has been home for her since she was 7 years old. It still is. Even though she is physically here, her thoughts and heart are back in the Bluegrass State. The move has led to a different family dynamic and new adjustments to help everyone in her family work together. Sanchez’s family of five had to move to Florida in the summer of 2014, so her mom Mildrei Castellanos could take care of Sanchez’s grandma Caridad Diaz. Two years ago, Mildrei tried to move the family to Florida in order to take care of Diaz. “[My] mom couldn’t stand not being able to help,” Sanchez said. However, Sanchez’s father ran his own construction company and had to finish a project before the family could move. Now Sanchez’s family of eight lives in one house. She hasn’t adjusted to Florida yet and doesn’t know if she will. “I don’t feel like I fit in,” Sanchez said. Sanchez vividly remembers her first day in Tampa. Her family had just driven almost 12 hours total. They got out of the car and were greeted by Sanchez’s grandma, grandpa Andres Castellanos and aunt Mailen Castellanos. Right away, Diaz knew her son-in-law and daughter. Then she approached the grand kids. She knew Daniel, Sanchez’s older brother and Daria, Sanchez’s 13-year-old sister. Sanchez was the only one who was forgotten. “She doesn’t remember me. She remembers her daily routine, my grandpa, my mom and my aunt, but not me,” Sanchez said. Diaz, 60, has been diagnosed with an unclassified case of Alzheimer’s disease. She has been sick for six years and the doctors have yet to come to a conclusion.

Her brain was scanned and they showed that Diaz had multiple seizures in different areas of the brain. Diaz once possessed a great memory, but it has gotten worse over time. She could tell she was becoming forgetful, but couldn’t make it stop. To help her memory, she put pictures up all around the house to try and remember people. Diaz became hostile because she couldn’t comprehend much. She didn’t know if she ate or not, but she unsuccessfully tried to go about her daily routine. Diaz tried to dry clothes in the microwave and kept cooking because she couldn’t recall if she already made food. Diaz’s family does their best to help her, but not control all of her actions. Diaz remembers cooking for her husband and doing his laundry. She used to clean a lot, so she remembers to clean certain parts of the house at specific times during the day. The family works to find common ground and let Diaz go about her day undisturbed, unless she needs assistance. However, it has become a challenge when Diaz needs help. A few months ago she could say phrases, but now she can’t talk at all. “Now we just kind of know if she needs something, like when she stands up,” Sanchez said. Diaz won’t eat dinner without her husband, so if she is hungry, or if dinner is ready, she pulls him to the bathroom. Her husband used to always shower before dinner, so she pulls his shirt until he follows her to the bathroom so he can shower and then they can sit down together. Diaz also used to try and leave the house by herself. She could say phrases to let people know she wanted to go to the grocery store, or shopping, but now she can’t. For the first four months Sanchez lived in

Florida, her grandma would try to leave almost every day. Now, the family has locks on all of the doors and Diaz hasn’t tried to leave at all. “Either the Alzheimer’s is getting worse, and she has less of a drive to do what she wants, or it’s getting better, and she understands she can’t go,” Sanchez said. Diaz’s Alzheimer’s has impacted the entire family. “It just makes me really sad. She doesn’t deserve to be like this,” Sanchez said. The house is full of tension between other family members who just want to help. They disagree on how to take care of Diaz but are all devoted to finding out what is in her best interest. The entire family helps take care of Diaz and wish es to see her the way she was before the onset of her disease. “She used to laugh a lot and always wanted to make other people happy,” Sanchez said. Watching her grandma and remembering how her life used to be only makes living in a new state harder. Sanchez still talks to her grandma like she will be able to reply, as if Diaz will say they should go shopping, or ask to do Sanchez’s hair like when she was little. But she knows Diaz won’t be able to. Sanchez can’t tell how her grandma feels or even have a conversation with her. There is little she can do and a lot she wishes she could. Sanchez hopes that once her family moves into her own house there will be less tension and she will be more comfortable. For Sanchez, Florida is not home. Instead it’s where she has a sick grandma who she cannot truly help, a school that is not really hers and a house she doesn’t call home: “[I miss] my friends, my house, the routine I used to have.” -Tegan Smith

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kicking it old school There is a popular rumor that Hillsborough High School started out as a livery stable in 1885. It sounds romantic, as if the first students learned arithmetic and spelling among snorting, sweating horses and plenty of old-timey carriage traffic. Hillsborough actually began as a part of Tampa School No. 1 in 1882, under the guidance of Principal Marietta Cuscaden. With 133 years of history, it has seen more change than most. The “livery stable” was actually Hillsborough’s fifth home, and the current building is its eighth. Most of Hillsborough’s history, now organized and researched constantly by alumni historian Rex Gordon (Class of 1984), was foggy until 2003. It was then that the Rosetta Stone of Big Red history was uncovered: literally, it was a stone, the cornerstone of a building on Highland that over the years had been the home of many schools, including Jefferson High School and now D.W. Waters Career Center. The stone contained a time capsule, written in 1911 by a girl named Doris Hill. “People don’t believe the story,” Gordon said. “I just wanted to take pictures of the school, and I saw that and I was like, ‘Can I read it?’ And it was just too accurate.”

The time capsule demystified the early years of the school. Contemporary history, however, is equally hard to track. “History just gets messed up,” Gordon said. New facts are always coming to light, and Gordon’s book, “History of Hillsborough High School” is a constant work in progress. It may be cliché to say “the only constant is change,” but the phrase certainly applies to the Big Red.

fond memories

Plenty of high school students wear their letterman jackets, team sweatshirts and other clothing items with school logos on them, outside of school. Usually, only HHS students will be approached by random strangers, be they sweet old ladies or young adults, because the strangers want to tell them that they went to the same high school, 10 or 50 years earlier, and they loved their time here. “I was so happy here,” Gordon said about his memory of high school. ”The school looks very much the same,” said Alumni Association board member and former president Charles Harkness (Class of 1960). “It really takes you

back. When you go into a class, or when the bell rings, it’s very much the same. [It is]a little louder [now], but still very chaotic. Well, we didn’t yell across the hall.” Today, every classroom has a computer in it or a cabinet full of laptops. One of the clearest memories for Gordon was taking “computer math” and keyboarding classes on enormous, slow computers. “The rise of technology was this big thing for us … What was cool was, we could see [the technology of today] coming. Kids can see the future in a way, their imagination is unlimited.” Gordon, now a jeweler, recalls arguing with a teacher about the future of computers. “I wish I could tell him I was right!” he said jokingly. Of course, the most universal Hillsborough High School memories are of football games.The first football game was played in 1907, when the game looked very different: players in leather helmets and the Terrier mascot had just been chosen. Yvonne Rotolo, member of the Class of 1969 and current elementary school science teacher, recalled the Thanksgiving Day Hillsborough vs. Plant homecoming game. “It was big event-boys dressed in suits and girls wore fancy dresses. Corsages were given and you mostly attended with a boy that asked you to the game. The night before, there was a huge bonfire and a huge pep rally and there was also an old car that the boys were given permission to smash.” Now, the homecoming game itself is not so formal -- in fact, what today’s students normally wear everyday was what Rotolo wore on “Slop Day.” “Everyone got to wear jeans, T-shirts, etc.,” she said. But that day for Rotolo was not memorable because she and other seniors were dressing down. It

school was also the day of her first encounter with the boy she would marry seven years later. “As I was talking to one of the cheerleaders, Carol Berry, we noticed a group of rowdy boys, Larry Rotolo included, running with a huge trash can full of water right toward [us.] Well, the cheerleader had the skill of leaping over a hedge and did not get wet- I on the other hand got drenched and I had to go home and change since I wore a white T-shirt.” The Rotolo name can still be seen today on the clock tower memorial plaque: Sam Rotolo, Larry’s cousin, is one of the young men who died fighting World War II to whom the tower is dedicated. Member of the Class of 1986, Darlene Fabelo, who is now the second vice president and PR manager for the Alumni Association, noted a big difference between the games of 2015 and the games she remembers. Spirit “was much more alive and exciting back then. I’m not saying that there isn’t school spirit now, it’s just that it seems like students seem less involved. The one thing that hasn’t changed is the band! The Big Red Band always delivers on the field.” Harkness and Rotolo mentioned basketball games used to attract more students than they do now. Gordon offered a differing opinion on student activity. “I think [students] have more active groups now. You have more causes; we didn’t have big causes like Relay for Life.”

hillsborough in the future

“There are two types of people in the world: Terriers, and people who wish they were Terriers.” This is a favorite saying of Harkness, and many Terriers would most likely agree that it’s true. “We [the alumni] would like see more students embrace the legacy of the Big Red,” Harkness said. “We would like to see more students take advantage of the academics.” Gordon hopes to one day have a display dedicated to the school’s history, and Fabelo hopes that one day IB and traditional students will be less divided. All the alumni spoke about their alma mater with pride. “We were proud to be a Terrier,” Rotolo said. “We lived our lives knowing we attended the most majestic high school in the world.” Gordon spoke about tradition. “We’ve always had a sense of tradition here. Even when you can’t define what traditions there are. We’ve always been an ideal for excellence, we’ve always tried to be the best, and a lot of times we’re the first. To me, that’s what it’s all about. You strive to be the best, you don’t give up. And it’s never, ever been easy for Terriers. “Terriers always want to be the best,” Gordon continued. “We usually are, too!” -Samantha Votzke

Opposite page: Hillsborough High School has changed its appearance over the years. This photo shows renovations in 2001 versus the appearance of the courtyard today. (Photo and graphic by John Veliz) From left, bottom of page: Rex Gordon, Class of 1984, grins in chemistry class. A chemistry class at Hillsborough circa 1942. Yvonne Rotolo, Class of 1969, poses for her senior photo with a self-described “poofy-flip hair-do.” Photos courtesy of Rex Gordon, USF Digital Archives and Yvonne Rotolo

Marcelino de la Portilla was just a boy when he first saw it. He was bicycling down the street with his friends at night, not even in high school yet, just a middle schooler (or junior high student, back then). “I didn’t even know what it was,” he said. “I just knew that I liked what I saw.” He smiles now as he recounts asking one of his friends what this large, cathedral-like building was. “Hillsborough High School,” his friend replied. Economics and psychology teacher de la Portilla would return years later after graduating from Hillsborough in 1981. He’s been a teacher here for 11 years, and said that when he came back, it felt like he was coming home. de la Portilla, like multiple teachers, has returned to Hillsborough after finishing his time as a student here. For Autumn Widdoes, returning was especially significant; she replaced one of her own former teachers. After IB English teacher Sylvia Sarrett retired at the end of the first semester, Widdoes succeeded her, teaching sophomores and seniors. After graduating from Hillsborough's IB program, Widdoes attended Florida Atlantic University's Honors College and received a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Philosophy with a focus on literary theory and film criticism for her undergraduate degree. For graduate school, she attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and received her master’s in performance studies. Before returning to Tampa, Widdoes lived and taught high school in Okinawa, Japan while running a performance theater company called TASK. Widdoes says parallels do exist between the class she teaches and the class she took as a student here; "Overall, yes, it’s very similar. There’s some differences to the books but overall, like, several of the books I’m teaching I read." For HOPE and weight training teacher and 1996 graduate Joe Sipp, some

returning terriers thing stayed the same as well; his old football coach is still here. Head football coach Earl Garcia was Sipp’s coach when he was a student-athlete. “He’s still short,” he said. “He worked our butts off. I remember when we first got here, not a lot of kids know about this, we had three a day practices. We practiced once in the morning, full pads, in the afternoon, full pads and in the evening, full pads. For three weeks straight.” After graduating with a 3.5 grade point average, Sipp received a full athletic scholarship to USF. He played football for four years at USF as part of the original Bulls team. He went on to play Arena Football for the Orlando Predators for two years. He returned in 2004 to start teaching. “I thought it’d be the perfect situation, perfect opportunity for me to come back and give back to my alma mater and do great things here,” Sipp said. Sipp said being from this area helps him to relate to students. “I know how they’re thinking and how they’re feeling,” he said. “I grew up in these same neighborhoods that a lot of our kids grew up in.” Over the years, a lot has changed at Hillsborough. New administrators, new teachers, new students. But according to de la Portilla, some things stay the same; “It’s just as pretty today as it was back then.” -Annie Aguiar

moving on, moving forward

As Hillsborough transitions to new leadership, it’s important not only to remember how Principal Johan von Ancken has transformed the school, but also how working within the Terrier family has altered him. From tardy sweeps to the neon bathroom vests hanging in every classroom, the influence of von Anckenis more than noticeable. Over the past two years von Ancken believes he has brought an increased emphasis on “consistency” and “rigor” to Hillsborough. He says his arrival has helped the administration to follow through on rules and procedures more consistently and has brought “a change in perspective” to the system. These changes are noticeable in the senior privileges which the principal said had probably “been taken advantage of in the past.” His goal is to provide seniors with the privileges he believes are rightfully deserved while still “[implementing] things the best way possible,” and ensuring they are not abused or taken advantage of. The changes to school life and Hillsborough administration were not one sided. According to von Ancken, Hillsborough pride leaves a lasting impact on everyone who walks the halls. Upon entering Hillsborough and joining the ranks of principals who have passed through he has learned “the truth of Hillsborough.” “The pride transforms you; it becomes part of your DNA,” he said. “It’s chemical.” He has worked in many schools and this perspective allows him to appreciate the uniqueness of Hillsborough culture he explained. von Ancken’s intentions were not to force on the students a change in pace or a few new rules. He intended to foster a culture of higher education and to emphasize learning. He aspired to ignite a transformation in attitude and mindset not unlike the changes he has experienced along his journey to becoming a member of the Terrier community. He remains positive about the future of the school. “This isn’t me wanting to leave [the student body]; this is a swapping of leaders. One thing I’ve learned is you don’t know what’s going to happen from one day to the next. I will miss the Big Red.” -Maria Roberts

Principal von Ancken leaves April 27 for a job at the district office. (Photo by Dana Dinh)

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cordell isom, 10 “One thing would be trying to get a better understanding of the students… The new principal could be more involved in pep rallies and assemblies.”

hailey dansby, 10 “I think that they should work harder to prevent fights and violence and also help to integrate the traditionals and IB kids.”

school yamilee corujo,11

“There should be more time for lunch or more evenly split lunches. People go back to class still eating because the line was so long and they didn’t have time. I had c lunch before and it was too many people.”

lea baddoura, 9

“It’d be nice if they improved discipline in the halls. It’s really annoying when people yell and bang on doors during passing period.”

change of face

Students and faculty were shocked when the district announced a switch of principals. Johan von Ancken, principal for the last two years, and Maria Gsell, principal of East Bay, were slated to swap jobs as of April 27. Nearly two weeks later, it was annonuced that Gsell will remain at East Bay and while von Ancken will still be leaving, his new position will be an administrative role downtown instead of at East Bay. Students and faculty responded to the change and made some of their own recommendations. jose rosario, 10

“There needs to be changes to the sign-in policy. My mom drives me to school every morning and can’t get out of the car to sign me in, so it’s an unexcused absence.”

anita tippin, 11 “I want them to have open campus for lunch, sitting in the courtyard and better lunch options.”

janele munguia, 9 “I think they should promote for better food, and they should hire professional chefs to cook for us.”

tom paloumpis

philip packard

“I would like to see traditional go to the IB block schedule. They would have two reading classes then, one each day and for 90 minutes and that would give the kids more opportunities to read and stretch their reading skills the same with writing skills, the whole thing… I think it will help a great deal. I would hope that they would protect the history and traditions of Hillsborough High School. Probably the most important aspect for any principal is to be able to listen, and see if they can use that information. They have to be flexible.”

“The Danielson rubrics for evaluating teachers. The process is faulty, intimidating, distractive and interruptive.”

vivian fiallo “We need more school spirit. It’s what makes a school successful.”

xeena brigante, 12 I want them to allow senior privileges for next year’s seniors. Skipping the lunch line with their senior IDs, getting to leave class at 2:50, nothing crazy. The years before us had senior privileges. We expected them and we were disappointed. We want the future seniors to have a good senior year.

while we’re talking about change... Originally, this spread was about the changes von Ancken put in place during his time as principal. When we got the news von Ancken was leaving, Maria Roberts wrote an extensive profile about the incoming principal, Maria Gsell. We then got the news that Gsell wouldn’t become our principal after all. Though she’s staying at East Bay, we’re still publishing the Gsell story on our website, hhstoday.com.

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facial expressions don’t always reveal her feelings.

how life experience prepared her Gsell believes the greatest preparation for becoming a principal was motherhood. She explained that her abilities are the culmination of her life experiences not just the result of a college degree. “There’s a difference between book knowledge and experience. I’ve had many great leaders.” The principal explained how the support of her husband help her to achieve all that she has in the past few years. She said she was inspired by many extraordinary leaders who helped her along the way. “I was at Plant with Jim Hamilton and he kept telling me ‘ you could run a school’ and eventually I believed him. And now here I am.” She plans to enter Hillsborough the same way she entered East Bay and Plant and Lenard: as an observer eager to serve the student body. “I have a servant’s heart” Gsell said. “I live to serve my students, my faculty, the custodial staff, everyone.”

observing before acting

Meet Maria Gsell Principal Maria Gsell is working in her office at East Bay High School, where she has worked for the past two years. She will soon be the new principal of Hillsborough High School. (Photo courtesy of the East Bay website)

aria Gsell is a student-oriented administrator, a dedicated principal for East Bay High School, a band fan, an enthusiastic leader and a grandmother of two. And soon, she will be the new principal of Hillsborough High School. During an hour long phone interview over spring break, Gsell shared her sentiments regarding this change in her life and in the lives of her students both old and new. She plans to begin as an observer, embracing this transition and the changes that will come with it. On April 27 Hillsborough will welcome the new prin cipal to the Big Red Family.

working her way up Gsell worked her way up the ranks, to her current seat in the principal’s office. She started out as a secretary and has only been working for the past 8 1/2 years in school administration. “I’m older than most in my position, because I started out later. I enjoyed doing that, because I didn’t have to give up time with my family since my kids were off at college,” Gsell said.

Family is very important to her, Gsell would go onto explain, emphasizing that “my school is an extension of my family. My students are so important to me.”

fostering student relationships She was eager to ask questions and learn what Hillsborough is like from a student’s perspective. Gsell explained her desire to be open and get to know the student body as a whole as well as individually. “I want to get to know the students’ stories. I love learning your stories.” True to her word she was full of questions about what it’s like to be a senior and the best parts of Hillsborough from a student’s perspective. “I’m a very student centered person. I’m all about what is best for my kids” Gsell explained.

being a secret band geek Her excitement to embrace the new opportunity has led her to prepare for this transition with plenty of studying. “I got myself a map of Hillsborough, and

I’m studying up for my first day.” Gsell continues to prepare by “stalking Hillsborough internal (an email bulletin board for employees), as well as finding out as much as I can from Twitter and other media….” “Oh I just got Goosebumps” said principal Gsell immediately after hearing about the Big Red Band. “Do you think I can find videos of them on YouTube? I’d love to watch their performances” Gsell asked. This quickly lead to the revelation for her love of school spirit, specifically school bands. “My one regret in life is that I didn’t join drum line. I love the drum line” said Gsell. Her enthusiasm for school spirit has bolstered over the past three years at East Bay as the football team won districts for the first time in 30 years and the school pep rallies have been featured on Bay News 9 two years in a row. Gsell reiterated her desire to encourage school spirit in high school, explaining how much she enjoys attending school events as well as being present in the halls amongst students. “I’m told by visitors that I smile in the halls. I’m a hall-walker, not an office person.” Gsell laughed explaining that sometimes when she is thinking she appears angry to others and stressed that her

Gsell’s approach when she first begin her administration will be to step back and observe because she understands the importance of “learning the systems of Hillsborough.” “No one informed me that there’s something that needs to be changed.” Gsell plans to continue with normal Hillsborough life, asking the opinions of multiple people before making changes, and only fixing what is “non-negotiable” in her eyes. She plans to come to Hillsborough and work with the administrative team and faculty closely in order to create the best environment for student education possible. Her relationship with the student body at East Bay has allowed her to pave the way for Johan von Ancken. “I spoke with the Student Government and I told them that he was my friend and I expect them to treat him them the way they would treat my friends.” Her high expectations of her students will not stop at East Bay as Gsell plans to foster a relationship with SGA at Hillsborough and embrace many of Hillsborough’s traditions.

who is Principal Gsell? A couple questions with the principal quickly became a heartfelt conversation about her late husband who passed during her time at East Bay, and how her dedication to the high school helped her pull through such a difficult time in her life. “The staff helped me get through such a difficult time in my personal life and I will miss them all.” A self-deemed “talker” principal, Gsell said “if you want to get to know me just ask me about Michael and Meredith. My heart is a cut out of their two faces.” Her grandchildren are her inspiration that she basis her decisions regarding student treatment off of. “I like to think how would I feel if Michael and Meredith where in this lunch line or walking in these in this hall? Would I be comfortable? If so then I’m doing my job right.” Gsell explained that she desires to help foster an administrative team that treats all students with respect as well as being fair. The sort of team that she would want disciplining and helping her beloved grandchildren, Michael and Meredith. Gsell explained that her love extends “to every person I meet” as she takes on a high school much larger then her last one. She plans to approach Hillsborough as a new opportunity just as she did with Plant, Lenard, and East Bay.` “I keep piece of each school in my heart. What I’ve learned in my life is that you can’t fill up your heart.” She plans to add Hillsborough to the collection very soon.

-Maria Roberts

moving on, moving forward

s Hillsborough transitions to new leadership, it’s important not only to remember how Principal Johan von Ancken has transformed the school, but also how working within the Terrier family has altered him. From the dreaded tardy sweeps to the neon bathroom vests hanging in every classroom the influence of von Anckenis more than noticeable. Over the past two years von Ancken believes he has brought an increased emphasis on “consistency” and “rigor” to Hillsborough. He says his arrival has helped the administration to follow through on rules and procedures more consistently and has brought “a change in perspective” to the system. These changes are noticeable in the senior privileges which the principal said had probably “been taken advantage of in the past.” His goal is to provide seniors with the privileges he believes are rightfully deserved while still “[implementing] things the best way possible,” and ensuring they are not abused or taken advantage of. The changes to school life and Hillsborough administration were not one sided. According to von Ancken, Hillsborough pride leaves a lasting impact on everyone who walks the halls. Upon entering Hillsborough and joining the ranks of principals who have passed through he has learned “the truth of Hillsborough.” “The pride transforms you; it becomes part of your DNA,” he said. “It’s chemical.” He has worked in many schools and this perspective allows him to appreciate the uniqueness of Hillsborough culture he explained. von Ancken’s intentions were not to force on the students a change in pace or a few new rules. He intended to foster a culture of higher education and to emphasize learning. He aspired to ignite a transformation in attitude and mindset not unlike the changes he has experienced along his journey to becoming a member of the Terrier community. He remains positive about the future of the school. “This isn’t me wanting to leave [the student body]; this is a swapping of leaders. One thing I’ve learned is you don’t know what’s going to happen from one day to the next. I will miss the Big Red.” -Maria Roberts

Principal von Ancken prepares for his transition to East Bay. He leaves as soon as testing ends. (Photo by Dana Dinh)

school

advanced replacement

Students in AP Language are on their third teacher of the year. Why all the turnover? What would cause these teachers to pack up their pencils and take a departure to a new facility? Opportunity. Original teacher Shay Cowart left a few weeks into the school year to take a job at Plant High School. She was replaced by Samantha Caldwell, who stayed until the end of the first semester before moving to a job teaching middle school in Pinellas County. “I won’t have to worry about getting harassed in the halls by students,” Caldwell told her students on her final day. As a student in first period AP Language, I was appalled that my class received a new teacher on the third week of school. When it happened again, right in the middle of the school year, it was the opposite of serendipity. Left without a teacher – again. This change dramatically altered var-

ious things, especially in a college-level class. Every teacher has a different teaching style, evidenced by their work ethic. Cowart was a very hands-on teacher who enjoyed doing activities involving a student’s creative ability. Caldwell was extremely persistent on teaching us subjects that could prepare us for college. She taught us a lot of life lessons and she pushed us every day to try harder and to test stronger. The newest teacher, Sandi Ancona, arrived a week after Caldwell departed. At that point, I was flabbergasted that we were on our third teacher, a third atmosphere, a third style. Ancona enjoys book work and group assignments, and she is a very understanding teacher. Talking to classmates who dealt with the change helps explain how this swap really affected the AP program. “We truly had to adjust and adapt to all the different teaching styles and learn what kind of teachers they are,”

She tossed and turned the night before she went to college. Excited and nervous at the same time, Kaylina Muniz prepared herself for her first day at Hillsborough Community College while her former classmates prepared themselves to return to Hillsborough High School. Muniz is in a kind of gray area: she’s taking college courses but still hasn’t graduated from high school. She’s in HCC’s early admission program, which allows students to dual enroll. Students in the program attend two semesters at HCC during which credits go toward both their high school diploma and a college degree.

Illustration by Gia Jadick said junior Heidy Valdivia. “I really liked Ms. Caldwell and was devastated when she decided to go.” She states that Cowart was really nice but she left so soon, so students really didn’t get to find out what type of teacher she was. “I was really angry. I feel as if the teachers don’t want to teach here because the school is so terrible which leaves us students hopeless,” Valdivia said. AP Language wasn’t the only class affected. Other English classes also

had to adjust to new teachers along with programs such as the Student Government Association, which Caldwell sponsored. Ancona sympathized with the students. “I think it’s much more difficult for the students than it is for us teachers to go through this change, as teachers we go through this every year and sometimes more but for a student they really develop strong bonds with their teachers,” she said. -Kacey Johnson

jumping ahead

In order to qualify for the program, students must be high school seniors with authorization from their principal, have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.5, achieve certain scores on the SAT, ACT or PERT and submit an application. She takes two classes at the HCC campus and three online classes along with Humanities, Psychology, English, College Algebra and Human Nutrition. “Some of them are a lot of work, but I feel like I’ve definitely learned a lot more at HCC,” she said. “College Algebra has the most work.” Muniz will receive her high school diploma in the spring with the Class of 2015. “To be honest, I was just kind of tired of the whole Hillsborough thing,” Muniz said. “At HCC, I feel that they want to teach and I’ve learned so much more than from being at Hillsborough.” Muniz only attends class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (“I have so much free time.”) After graduating, she wants to go to either University of Florida or University of Central Florida. Junior year was basically Muniz’s senior year; “Last year I knew I was going to do HCC, so I made it my senior year.” She was her class pres-

ident in student council last year. She went to prom last year. Muniz said that because of her having many senior friends, it was her senior year. However, it’s not as if the connection between her and Hillsborough is completely severed. Seeing the Facebook posts and tweets of friends still in high school hurts, according to Muniz. “It sucks a little bit because I feel left out,” Muniz said. “Like, I should be there, but I already moved on with that part of my life.” As for her fellow students at HCC, Muniz expected to make friends with “a whole bunch of people,” but found that to not be the case. “Everyone at HCC is just there for education. They’re not going to talk,” she said. “I think people value their education more because they have to pay for it there.” (Florida residents pay $100 per credit hour, or about $300 per class for those courses, according to the HCC website). Muniz says that, by jumping ahead to college, she’s made the right choice; “I definitely think that I’ve gotten more out of coming to HCC.” -Annie Aguiar

school

colleagues by chance, sisters by choice By the time she was in her 30s, Tammy Crosby had changed plenty. When she worked at a printing company at University of South Florida while she earned her degree, she in no way anticipated a life-changing sisterhood. Nearly 15 years ago, she met Carla Jimenez. A smiling office assistant at Martin Lithograph, who “wouldn’t shut up,” Jimenez worked in the same office as Crosby, but they each existed in a universe completely alien to the other. They’ve changed a lot in the past 15 years. Crosby is now a nationally board certified chemistry teacher with a master’s in secondary education and two sons. Jimenez is now an ESOL aide, engaged and on track to graduate from St. Petersburg College in fall 2015. Their relationship, however, has not changed much. The two have gotten closer in the last seven years or so according to Crosby, as their lives have begun to align. “She saw something in me, said I needed to not procrastinate, that I needed to go to college. She’s my sister, my mentor. She inspires me. Now I’m graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fall 2015,” Jimenez said. Jimenez currently works in classes with large percentages of ESOL students and helps out by translating and making students feel more accommodated. Crosby and Jimenez are working together fifteen years after working at Martin Lithograph. Middle She wants to work full time at HHS as an ESOL teach- left: Both teachers dine at Oxford Exchange downtown. Middle right: The two pose for a selfie while in er. Their friendship has weathered their shifting lives, as NYC. (Middle two photos courtesy of Jimenez and Crosby, top and bottom photos by Ellie Rodriguez) was the “newbie” while Crosby was a junior at USF. Crosby said. “She makes better decisions, sees her they’ve followed different directions. Still, “at 5:38. Everyday. I’d call her,” explained Crosby wasn’t thrilled when Jimenez started after first next steps better than she used to. When I met her it’s Jimenez. The two only had around 20 minutes to talk thinking, “you can keep your 19 year old hips in that like she was a little girl.” Crosby argues that she’s just passing on the sisteronce they no longer both worked at Martin Lithograph, other office!” Crosby laughs, saying that she had to ly support she received when as a result of conflicting commuting times and hectic focus as she had “the influence of change didn’t come she started here. She met Shaa 3 year old, a schedules. full-time job and from one person, it came from just being ron Leto in 2003 before she That went on for years. started at Hillsborough and Jimenez would call Crosby crying, complaining “I schoolwork.“I saw here. I’ve done a lot of growing.” she would go on to meet Judy her being so dedihate this job. I need to graduate.” It’s obvious that Crosby and Jimenez could never cated. She saw something in me, said I needed to not Charlton in 2007. “They’re the big reason why I felt so confident in pass for blood relatives. Jimenez’s olive skin, brown procrastinate,” Jimenez admits. Jimenez is as quick to point out that Crosby “is my directing Carla,” Crosby said. “The influence of change hair and mildly perceptible accent sharply contrast Crosby’s light, slightly freckled complexion and dark oldest sister,” as Crosby is to interject that sisterhood didn’t come from one person, it came from just being here. I’ve done a lot of growing.” black hair. Still, their twin smiles reflect their appreci- was a hard concept for her to grasp. Since she’s been here, Crosby’s seen the school Crosby, who only has brothers, didn’t fully comation for what the past 15 years have brought to their prehend the idea until Jimenez’s first day at HHS this undergo just as many changes — new administration relationship. “The beauty of it is we worked together before, and year. “I cried. I had a sense of sisterly pride, a sense and a “total shift in focus, requirements for science are working [at the same place] again and it just feels of pride that was equal to when your kid has an ac- classes and the types of kids showing up to class.” Her love for her job however, hasn’t changed. “This like it’s meant to be,” Crosby said. Their closeness complishment. At that moment for the first time I had is evidenced by their banter; they finish each other’s personal pride as opposed to just motivational words was the only career I ever knew I’d have. It’s always been the destination,” Crosby said. Jimenez echoes her sentences, lovingly correct each other and beat one and support,” she said. Today, Crosby shrugs off Jimenez’s compliments. sentiments; she said that the best part of the teaching another to the punch. “We finally get to both be doing what we love, working --” Jimenez grins, Crosby cuts Her sincerity is practically palpable when looks Crosby is watching the look of realization on students’ faces, in the eyes and says “It’s all because of you. I couldn’t and the insight that someone can’t take away that unin, “together.” derstanding. They met while working at the printing company at have done this without you.” -Ellie Rodriguez “[Jimenez has] changed tremendously though, USF, making business cards and brochures. Jimenez

school

programmed to win

The club’s main focus is on building, creating and designing one thing: robots. When the Robotics club began, it had 5 members and one robot. Now it participates in competitions around the world, has 52 members with various skills and makes up to five robots in one year. Since Robotics began, it has grown tenfold, and although it was a male dominated club before, the club is now split almost evenly between boys and girls. “When I started there was only a handful of girls, and now it’s basically 50-50 between the boys and the girls,” said senior Amanda Organ. “It’s grown as a club in regards to the social en-

vironment within the club. It used to be just a bunch of smart kids,” sponsor Marian Manganello said. Now the club includes more artistic people who help with the visual aspects of robot design, fulfilling the artistic needs of the club. Senior Chayla Vasquez said that “it’s a club where you can really be yourself.” The rise in artistic ability has distinguished Hillsborough from the other competitors. Competitors automatically recognize Hillsborough’s team by its logo, a three-headed Hydra with a cat head in the middle and two monster heads on the side. “It sets us apart from other teams because we do some unique T-shirts and buttons,” Manganello said. The artistic creativity has also helped with decorating robots to create higher quality design. The FIRST program, the group that hosts Robotics competitions, has become more inclusive. In 2007 Hillsborough usually only had encounters with people in America. Now they face off with teams as far as Turkey, Japan and Puerto Rico.

hanging by a string With increasingly low numbers, scheduling problems and recruiting difficulties, the Orchestra program has done all it could to survive. Many of orchestra’s problems stemmed from lack of diversity; less than a quarter of the students are in the traditional program. “I don’t want to blame [the lack of students] on IB but that’s one of the main reasons for it,” said senior Vinny Ruia. With the IB program’s demands, many students found it tough to sacrifice their JA and dropped the class. The low student count was the first of many obstacles. With only around 25, everyone was put into one class. Subsequently, students in the same class had different ability levels. During class time, some students have to practice separately. At the beginning of the school year, Kim Mieder established an Orchestra Open House in order to recruit musicians. The Orchestra

Open House provided opportunities for those who wanted to participate in orchestra but could not take the class. Students could come to the orchestra room Wednesdays after school for sessions. Attendees were required to sign up for orchestra after participating in the Open House for one year, and could receive CAS hours for participation. There were high hopes for the program, but the turnout was low. “It was just hard to get the word out,” junior Madison Stuart said. According to Mieder, nothing has been finalized, but if more students drop the class, it won’t be offered at all next year. “I think it was inevitable … because of the size [of the program], it’s not sustainable.” Ruia said. -Monisha Pillai

The club recently obtained a blue ribbon award in recognition of its volunteer work around the community. The robotics team has taught about robotics across the Tampa Bay area, speaking to tech students and kindergarteners, and it has also completed other various service projects the area. Manganello speaks highly of the students participating, and always mentions that it’s the kids -- not her -- who handles the projects. “They design it, build it, test it and they redesign. Design, build, test, redesign, rebuild, retest,” Manganello said. The Robotics team strives to complete new challenges and create better robots. “We’ve always kept a very high degree of enthusiasm,” said senior Keon Sahebkar. -Denzel Pierre Freshman Isabelle Hall (far right) and other members of the robotics club work on constructing robots. In recent years, Robotics has grown in size and success.(Photo by Denzel Pierre)

band to bass The band room wasn’t unfamiliar to junior Robert Wood. For two years he played clarinet, practiced, learned new music and made unforgettable memories with his fellow bandmates -- all in that one room. But halfway through last year’s marching season, Wood decided to take a different route in his music career: he traded his clarinet for a bass drum. Wood was uncertain about the switch, even though the clarinet section of the band had more than enough members. It meant leaving behind all the friends he had made in band to learn an entirely new instrument. “At first it kinda stunk because I knew a lot of people in band,” Wood said. “But everyone in percussion was very welcoming.” Wood also had to get used to playing a drum. Since becoming a member of drum line, Wood has improved his musicianship, which has allowed him to work

on skills such as rhythm technique in order to keep tempo with distinct pitches. “I mean it wasn’t too bad” Wood said. “As long as you’re able to hit a drum you’ll be fine” As the weeks went by, Wood became more familiar with the weight and noise of the bass drum. While the other drummers were used to the percussive sounds, Wood wasn’t, and he’s the only member who occasionally wears earplugs. “Some days, playing feels glorious and [stress relieving]; others it’s just a big ol’ pain in the back,” Wood said. After the experience Wood has had in percussion so far, he plans on remaining a member for the rest of high school. “I enjoy percussion,” Wood said. “Once you get to know everyone and learn how to work together as a single unit, you become part of a very close-knit family.” -Aliece Brown

last words

tearing down walls

A gay guy, a future oncologist and a woman walk into a bar. No, this isn’t a joke. But these three have something in common: all three make change and affect others. For senior Marquez Gonzalez, high school meant never submitting to other people’s prejudices. Junior Olufunmilayo Daudu believes she has the power to connect Hillsborough’s students with colleges and careers in the medical field through her club, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). Senior Erin Strickland does not see herself as a great agent of change. But she hopes that her presence helps to educate others about what being transgendered means.

tears you down Three years after finding his place in Hillsborough’s trumpet section in freshmen year, Gonzalez is the president of the Gay-Straight Alliance, an on-campus group devoted to finding a peaceful forum for people of any sexual or gender orientation. Because of his involvement in the club, Gonzalez has come to see himself as a change agent. “Being a change agent is making the world change for the better – working towards making it better,” Gonzalez said. “I want to make that change by bringing awareness to people who don’t know what issues are plugging the world.” He tries to combat the bewilderment of his peers where he can; he started with the cafeteria, and online chat rooms. “It tears you down,” Gonzalez said of the process of fighting this ignorance. “I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.” Recently, Gonzalez counseled his friends not to let the hardness of the world drag them down. “You’re not going to change them,” said Gonzalez of the LGBT community with which he identifies. He believes that this is all part of his God’s plan, and that it must mean we can only change, that there is only forward.

indivudual and unique Daudu says her favorite part of volunteering at St. Jospeh’s Hospital was going to visit a small girl with cancer named Ava. Every time she would visit, Ava would light up and demand Daudu sit and paint her nails; as Daudu tells this story, her face lights up as well. “I am individual and unique,” said Daudu. Though she doesn’t think she is a big proponent of change, she stipulates that a change agent must ”have the ability to inspire.” She says she wants to help people because she likes it; she has started on her journey to helping people enter the medical field with HOSA. “If the whole medical field is a world,” said Daudu, “then HOSA is a playground which provides an opportunity to explore.” Daudu and her HOSA colleagues visited USF this year. She said it gave the club members and opportunity to experience elements of the medical field hands on. Daudu says deep down, she wants to make change because “we’re [all] blessed with so many opportunities.” She believes that since we have the opportunity to sleep in a bed every night, to know comfort, we “should reach out.” She and her family volunteer with Metropolitan Ministries regularly.

From top to bottom, senior Marquez Gonzalez, junior Olufunmilayo Daudu and senior Erin Strickland. (Photos by Aleesha Mundra and Ivy Bennett-Ford.)

how to change Being a woman is not something which happens overnight. Erin Strickland is in the midst of transitioning into a woman’s body by way of hormone replacement therapy, a process which could physically take up to five years. During an interview in November, Strickland revealed that she was transgender; she had been struggling with her identity for almost her entire life. She had only recently come out to her friends and family. She said then that “[her] goal is not necessarily to help the world understand the complex nature of gender identity,” merely to educate, to set an example. She said also that her predicament was one which engendered questions to which she wanted answers. But she does not consider herself a great change agent, or an innovator. “I haven’t consciously done anything to further change,” said Strickland. While she may defer the label of change, Strickland has made a concerted effort to set a good example for others. According to Strickland, she has only tried to let people “know who [she] is.” She welcomes questions from anyone, and has been able to answer a few from curious students. Right now, though, she is mostly concentrated on making her own transition. -Ivy Bennett-Ford

last words

“talk about a

change

in your life...”

jared jensen, 12

Even though my attire screams FSU, my dream school wasn’t necessarily FSU. It was actually UF, and since I wasn’t accepted into that college, it sort of bummed me out and so I started looking at my other options. FSU is sort of a good school for what I want to study -- I want to study criminal justice, and there’s a good program there. It’s sort of cool to see how plans change for the better, sort of. Now, I’m going to a school where I can study and get a good education for what I want to major in. My dad went to UF. I grew up loving the Gators,

watching every football game, basketball games, all that sort of stuff. My friends have been supportive. They were bummed out too -- they found out about the news that I didn’t get into UF because most of my other friends got in. They’ve encouraged me to pursue my dream and stuff like that. I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do with my UF merch yet. I got a lot of friends that sort of need some UF stuff so I might give it to them.

lenir lacour, 11 I have been dating my girlfriend for a year now. It’s been like 11 months, 10 months. I met her when I was 15 and now she is going to college. I am going to be a senior while she’s in college, and it’s four hours away in Jacksonville. We have to be in a long-distance relationship and I feel like that’s hard. She’s already been accepted to the University of North Florida. I’m going to go there, if it works out. UNF has a really good art program, so I’m going to go there for graphic design. Next year, the most we’ll see each other is three times a month, not even. Probably most likely once a month and twice if I can get a bus there. Now, I see her

five or four times a week. She’s not just my girlfriend, I do everything with her. I’ll miss everything about her. She’s going right before we get back from summer break. I’m probably going to cry. As I’m moving couches, I’ll be crying. We’re gonna have ramen Skype dates. We’re both going to make dinners and have Skype dinner dates, or whatever. It’s stupid, but it’ll work.

henry lay, 11 Going from IB to traditional has been an interesting change, to say the least. Things are much easier in the traditional program, though I have higher level courses. It’s a similar vibe, but easier workload, basically. I met some interesting people. There are more interesting people in the traditional program. Very interesting. Transition wasn’t terrible -- it took me a while to get used to the schedule, but other than that it’s pretty easy. I miss the people from IB. I fit in better there, I think.

Hanging out with people is different. I just get to make jokes all the time about their workload. It was a little weird, for a while. I’ve made some friends, but it’s not the same.

-As told to Annie Aguiar