3.23 Best of March Issue by HiLite News

CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL NEWSMAGAZINE VOL. 85, NO. 8 BEST OF MARCH 2021

CHS community finds relaxation, mental health benefits through gardening, exploring outdoors

HIL TE

PAGE CADY ARMSTRONG, 22 TESSA COLLINSON

TABLE OF CONTENTS JAM 4 SPILL THE BEANS Learn more about Starbucks, its history as coffee company celebrates 50 years

10 JUST KEEP PLANTING

19 HUMANS OF CHS

11 PLANS FOR DAYS

20 SCOUT ME IN!

FEATURE

NEWS

12 SHAMROCK STYLE

6 NEWS BRIEFS

14 WOMANHOOD

7 CLUB SPOTLIGHT

16 SHADES OF COLOR

8 SUMMER SCHOOL

Summer school students, staff reflect on removal of AP summer courses

9 CHANGE OF COURSE

Students discuss their participation in the arts during Young Art Month

STUDENT SECTION 18 MOTIVATED MINDSET

Students describe impacts, influence of boy, girl scouting on childhood, life skills

COVER 22 IN FULL BLOOM

With spring starting on March 20, local students, staff share benefits of gardening

ENTERTAINMENT 28 SEASONS CHANGE

CHS show choirs adapt to unique competition season affected by pandemic

30 PINTERESTED?

Contact information: Mailing Address: 520 E. Main St. Carmel IN 46032 Phone: (317) 846 7221 Ext. 7143 Website: www.hilite.org Email: Staff members may be contacted by using their first initial and their last name appending @hilite.org The HiLite is a student publication distributed to students, faculty and staff of Carmel High School temporarily published online only due to COVID-19 via Issuu at issuu.com/ hilite. This issue is a collection of select content published online in March 2021, as indicated on each story. The paper serves as a public forum and two-way communication for both the school and the community. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are not necessarily those of CHS nor Carmel Clay system faculty staff or administration. Credentials: The HiLite belongs to the Indiana High School Press Association, Quill & Scroll and the National Scholastic Press Association. Advertising: Businesses may advertise in the HiLite if their ads adhere to guidelines. The advertising policy is available in Room C147 or at www.hilite.org/ads-info. Editor in Chief

Cover

Rhea Acharya

Kiersten Riedford

Tessa Collinson Josie Cruzan Calina He Lillian He Sarah Kim Gray Martens Grace Xu Wendy Zhu

Valliei Chandrakumar Shruthi Ravichandran

Edward Dong Riley TerBush

Chloe Sun

Managing Editors

HIGH NOTE Accents members practice choreography for their 1940s-themed shows. They will perform for senior living center residents and other community members in April and May. See page 28 for full story. MARISSA FINNEY PHOTO

Front/TOC/JAM News

42 AVOID THE RISK

SPORTS 34 TRAINING SEASON

43 KNOW YOUR WORTH 44 SEIZE THE AWKWARD

36 SPRING BACK

45 IT’S NOT A G(A)ME

38 EAT TO PLAY

PERSPECTIVES 40 A VIRTUAL SUMMER

15 MINUTES 46 SAY CHEESE!

Q&A with senior Grace Barney on portrait photography business

Sowmya Chundi Leah Tan

15 Minutes Litebox Ray Mo

Jim Streisel

Student Section

Christian Ledbetter

Adviser

Principal

Thomas Harmas

Superintendent Michael Beresford

Emily Sandy

@hilitenews

Increased female involvement in politics creates unique benefits, perspectives

Trainers, athletes discuss importance of training in shaping student athletes

Perspectives

Sam Hawkins Sarah Zheng Maddie Kosc

33 FRUITFUL TUNES

Aniket Biswal Daniel Kim

Web

Ads Team

41 BACK IN BLACKOUT

Sports

Cady Armstrong Christian Ledbetter

Feature

32 EPIDEMIC ENSEMBLES

Entertainment

@hilitenews

Responding to the HiLite: Letters to the editor will be accepted for the Best of April issue no later than March 29. Letters may be submitted to Room C147, placed in the mailbox of Jim Streisel, emailed to management2021@hilite. org or mailed to the school. All letters must be signed. Names will be published. (Letters sent via email will be taken to a student’s SSRT for them to sign). Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual and may be edited. Corrections and clarifications: None.

@HiLiteOnline

The HiLite strives to correct its errors. If you notice any inaccuracies in this or past issues, please contact management2021@hilite.org. RILEY TERBUSH, EDWARD DONG FRONT COVER ILLUSTRATION

JUST A MINUTE

BEST OF MARCH 2021

SPILL THE BEANS

This graphic was originally published online on March 30, 2021

In honor of its 50 year anniversary on March 30, learn more about Starbucks, its history RILEY TERBUSH, WENDY ZHU GRAPHIC

STARBUCKS, BUSINESS INSIDER, GOOGLE MAPS, VOX, FORBES, STATISTA, SEEKING ALPHA SOURCES

JUST BREW IT

1.5 fl oz espresso 95 mg caffeine

8 fl oz coffee 95 mg caffeine

Here’s how to make brewed coffee and espresso Form into puck

Finely grind

Coarsely or finely grind

REAP THE REWARDS Check out how Starbucks Rewards work

TO EARN...

Add hot water and pressure

Place into filter

per $1 spent: Pay with cash, credit or debit at the register or via the Starbucks app

Add hot water

per $1 spent: Pay with digital Starbucks Card or with a registered gift card via the Starbucks app per $1 spent: Pay with Starbucks Rewards Visa Card

REDEEM...

BOLIC SIREN SYM arn about Starbucks’ lo Le

Sirens have tails, but they are often depicted with two tails instead of just one. The Starbucks siren has one tail on each side

The face of the Starbucks company is a siren, a mythological creature who lures sailors with her singing

: Free drink customizing

25 50

: Free hot coffee/tea or bakery item

150

: Free drink, breakfast item or parfait

200

: Free salad, sandwich or protein box

400

: Free merchandise or bag of coffee

JAVA JARGON Learn some common Starbucks terms

Frappuccino: Coffee or creme-based drink blended with ice, often topped with whipped cream. Portmanteau of “frappe” and “cappuccino” Skinny: Used to describe drinks that are made with sugar-free syrup, nonfat milk and no whipped cream

The original logo was inspired by an ancient Norse woodcut. The company’s founders wanted to connect Starbucks with the nautical world

Refresher: Drinks made with fruit juice and caffeinated using Green Coffee Extract, which is taken from green Arabica coffee beans Blonde: Coffee blend with shorter roast times, mellower flavor, lighter body and higher acidity than darker roasts

founds espresso A STARBUCKS IS BORN 1985 Schultz bar Il Giornale inspired by

Take a look at the company’s journey

1971

Italian coffeehouses

The first Starbucks store Howard Schultz becomes opens at Pike Place Starbucks’ director of retail Market in Seattle 1982 operations and marketing

1987

1994 Starbucks opens 1998 Starbucks opens in its first drive-thru location

Schultz acquires, rebrands and begins expanding Starbucks

1996

grocery stores and launches starbucks.com

Starbucks opens a store in Japan, its first location outside of North America

HILITE.ORG

GLOBAL GROWTH

First international location in Tokyo

See how Starbucks has expanded since 2000 Number of Stores

30,000

U.S.

25,000

International

20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 2000

2003

2006

2009

2012

2015

Starbucks’ first location in Seattle

2018

First location with all employees fluent in ASL in Washington, D.C.

BREWED DRINKS MENU

As of 2020, Starbucks has locations in

Main Ingredients Brewed Brewed Espresso Coffee

Mocha Sauce

79 different countries

Drinks

Caffè Americano

Cappuccino

Espresso Shots Drinks*

Short (8 fl oz)

Caffè Mocha

Pike Place Roast

Caramel Macchiato

Flat White

Caffè Misto

Caffè Latte

Triple (2.25 fl oz)

Tall (12 fl oz)

Doppio (1.5 fl oz)

Grande (16 fl oz)

Solo (0.75 fl oz)

The My Starbucks Rewards loyalty program launches

2012

2014

Espresso 1 espresso shot = 0.75 fl oz

Venti (20-24 fl oz)

Indie Coffee Roasters

Trenta (31 fl oz)

2015

Roasted coffee Scan this to find your and aesthetic location in nearest downtown Starbucks Carmel location 4.7

Java House and Coffee Bar Coffee bar in Clay Terrace and Midtown Plaza with cold brewed coffee

4.6

*Ratings are from Google Maps

2017

Oprah Winfrey creates Teavana Oprah Chai Tea

Starbucks acquires Teavana and introduces its Refreshers drinks

= Starbucks = Java House = Indie Coffee Roasters = CHS

Espresso Con Panna

*Short is for hot drinks only; trenta is for cold drinks only

2009

See locations of Starbucks, local coffee shops near CHS

Espresso Shots

Sizes

Quad (3 fl oz)

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Foamy Steamed Vanilla Whipped Hot Milk Milk Syrup Cream Water

Lady Gaga creates Cups of Kindness collection

Starbucks reaches its 99% ethically sourced coffee milestone

2018

2019

Ariana Grande collaborates on Cloud Macchiato

Starbucks opens store with all employees fluent in ASL

NEWS

BEST OF MARCH 2021

NEWS BRIEFS CADY ARMSTRONG BRIEFS

March 10 & 11

GKOM Connection Sessions

March 12

Mr. Carmel Champions Together Event 2021

School Events

National Events

April 2-9 Spring Break 2021 (No School)

April 4

Easter Sunday 2021

April 17

Key Club Tree Planting event

MARCH 2021

March 17

March 2021 SAT Testing

April Fools’ Day 2021

Key

March 13

April 1

News Briefs were orginally published on March 8, 2021

CHENYAO LIU PHOTO

March 22 & 23

St. Patrick’s Day 2021

APRIL 2021

C.L.A.S.S. Award Ceremonies

April 22

Earth Day 2021

10 Read a story about Key Club’s upcoming tree planting event and how the club is preparing

April 27 & 28

GKOM Connection Sessions

LINE LEADER: Members of the Successful Leaders Club play games during the call-out meeting on Feb. 23. Successful Leaders Club aims to help students develop leadership skills, prepare for interviews and create achievable and realistic goals.

HILITE.ORG

CLUB SPOTLIGHT Cabinet, House of Representatives to host outdoor Dance Marathon on May 15 These Q&As were originally published online on March 16, 2021

Q&A

CHRISTIAN LEDBETTER Q&AS

JACOB YOUNG SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jacob Young, Dance Marathon chair and senior How does this year compare to others in Cabinet? We’re trying to make the most of it, but sometimes it’s sad. We always make the joke about what a stereotypical Cabinet month is but we haven’t done an event since October because (COVID-19) numbers rose. So, we had to postpone our events and we’re going to start having them again soon. It’s just been weird because we haven’t been as busy, we’re still trying to find other things to keep us busy.

How does one get into a Cabinet position? If you want to be in Cabinet, at the end of the year, we push out our applications for it. There’s a teacher recommendation, an interview and several steps to it. For kids that are wanting to take the first step, join House.

Is there anything I haven’t asked that you think readers should know? I think readers should know they need to sign up for Dance Marathon. So many people don’t, or they do their senior year and are like, ‘Why didn’t I do this sooner?’ It’s a fantastic time, you’re supporting a major cause. So readers, if there’s one thing they take away from this entire interview, sign up for Dance Marathon. It’s fantastic, and we want to see you there.

SAY CHEESE: Jacob Young, Dance Marathon chair and senior, poses with Izzy Brandt, former CHS student and cabinet member, for a photo at the FT5K. Young said that Dance Marathon has been postponed until May. JACOB YOUNG SUBMITTED PHOTO

Q&A

DREW MILLER SUBMITTED PHOTO

Speaker of the House Drew Miller What are some changes that are taking place for Dance Marathon? Normally, Dance Marathon is in the Freshman Cafeteria and the gyms, but now we’re moving it towards the football fields. That way it’s outside, there’s free flowing air and everyone can really spread out. Another thing is, it’s the second-to-last or three weeks before school ends, so that’s going to be a different feel.

What kind of activities does the House of Representatives do? House fundraises money all throughout the year for Riley Children’s Hospital. Their main job is to help promote and get people to attend these events, so for example, an event we had this past semester was the FT3K, so it was their job to promote on social media and get their friends to come to the event with them and just participate and it was successful. We had all 400 slots filled so it was a very successful event because of the House. We also just fundraise money for Riley Hospital for Children, that’s our main focus of this, fundraising money.

BEST OF MARCH 2021

CLASSROOM CABINET: Justin Quick, social studies department chair, teaches his students about former U.S. President William McKinley. According to Quick, at CHS, Government, AP Comparative Government and Politics or AP U.S. Government and Politics are required courses for graduation. CHENYAO LIU PHOTO

SUMMER SCHOOL CHS to limit AP Social Studies classes this summer RAGHAV SRIRAM STORY

tarting

this

summer,

CHS will no longer offer summer school options of AP Macroeconomics, or AP Government and Politics— all courses within the social studies department— through Indiana Online Academy (IOA). According to Justin Quick, social studies department chairperson, this decision was made to ensure more equitable course offering across all departments. “(This decision) supports the curriculum and standard of Carmel High School with respect to Advanced Placement courses and teachers,” Quick said via email. “Furthermore, this decision does not prohibit students from taking their desired courses within a given school year. In fact, having these courses as senior-year options at CHS only amplifies the Transition to College Program (TCP).” But the decision doesn’t come with challenges. According to junior Maya Seshan, this decision affects her senior year class plans. “(Many students) made a brief four-year plan of which classes we

were going to take and planned all that out. I was (going to) take AP Government this upcoming summer because you can only take it after you take U.S. History,” Seshan said. While students like Seshan have to make adjustments, according to Quick, this decision does not affect the typical student at this school nor does it put any students at a disadvantage. Instead, Quick said this policy decision enriches student learning and creates fair and equal GPA opportunities for all students here at CHS. Still, Seshan said this decision puts students at a disadvantage. “I know this (decision) applies (to students in) all grades, except for seniors, but especially for rising seniors,” she said. “Some people decide to go on senior (TCP) scheduling and take only four or five classes, but there are others that have seven classes, so all of a sudden if they see they can’t take AP Macroeconomics or AP Government over the summer they will then have to eliminate one of their classes that they plan to take during the school year to accommodate for these new classes.”

BY THE NUMBERS

3 social studies classes offered for freshmen

8 social studies classes offered for sophomores

21 social studies classes offered for juniors & seniors

30 total offered social studies classes CCS SOURCE

Despite the changes, students who are pursuing the IB Diploma are still able to take the majority of previously available summer courses, including AP Government and AP Macroeconomics. Katie Overbeck, IB diploma department coordinator, said that this discrepancy is mostly due to larger IB requirements outside of the school district’s control. “Summer courses are not to give (IB students) an advantage in any way, it’s simply to check off the requirement for one semester of government and economics since it is a state requirement that we can’t get rid of,” she said. Inia Narayanan, a sophomore pursuing the IB diploma, said, “The thing about the IB Diploma is there are specific classes you have to take your junior and senior years. There are six specific groups, with these six classes you still need to fit in government and economics in order to graduate and it’s extremely difficult for students (pursuing the IB Diploma) to fit in these requirements without having H summer school as an option.” This story was originally published online on March 16, 2021

HILITE.ORG

CHANGE OF COURSE Carmel Marathon to be rescheduled for April 3

Q&A

These Q&As were originally published online on March 15, 2021 TODD OLIVER SUBMITTED PHOTO

ALLY HORWITZ Q&A

Todd Oliver, Carmel Marathon Race Director What do all the routes look like this year? (All of the distances) use the same finish line. The Midtown Plaza is now our first and largest official cheer zone. All four races will go past Midtown Plaza. (It) is now our first and largest official cheer zone. The city of Carmel is taking one of the cameras by the Palladium and turning it to point towards the runners as they finish. That camera will be streamed live in Midtown Plaza on the big screen. We’re super excited about it.

How do you feel about the decision to continue with the race this year? We’re super excited about the fact that the event’s coming back. It’s a big economic impact for the city of Carmel and, as everybody knows, things have been shut down for a year. So the spectators and the folks coming in to run will be visiting the restaurants and grocery stores and hotels. So that’s great news. It’s (also) very rewarding for the volunteers and sponsors. A lot of people felt empty with all of their training, and so now, with the training that they’ve been doing for the last 12 weeks, they will actually feel that feeling of going across the finish line.

RUNNING AWAY: Todd Oliver, Carmel Marathon Race Director, speaks to the runners at the start of the race at the Indy Women’s half marathon race on September 28, 2019. The Carmel Marathon, originally scheduled for April 2020, will take place on April 3, 2021. TODD OLIVER SUBMITTED PHOTO

Q&A

CADY ARMSTRONG PHOTO

Katie Kelly, cross country coach and social studies teacher Would you suggest that people participate in marathons? I definitely would. Marathon running has a lot of benefits for people in that it’s great for your health, but also for me, I love it because it’s an opportunity to listen to music or podcasts, or just listen to my thoughts for a number of hours and it’s a great opportunity to bond with friends.

ALLY HORWITZ Q&A

Do you think it was a good choice to host the marathon this year? I did several races through the summer and in the fall, where a lot of organizations within Central Indiana started to figure out how to put on races. And I think that it makes sense if you can do it safely and keep people separated from one another, because once you get out on the race course, people are really not very close to one another. So I think as long as they can provide opportunities for people to socially distance, and make sure that people are aware of their policies, then I think it can really work well.

BEST OF MARCH 2021

JUST KEEP PLANTING Serve Carmel, Carmel Key Club to host tree planting event on April 17 OLIVIA STOCK STORY

SUMMER TULLAI SUBMITTED PHOTOS

erve carmel and carmel

Key Club plan to host a volunteer event to plant trees on April 17 in association with Tree-Plenish. The event is organized through Key Club’s Serve Carmel initiative, whose goal is to bridge different CHS service organizations and coordinate local volunteer projects. Volunteers will plant trees that home and business owners can request through Tree-Plenish’s website. Those interested can also sign up to volunteer through the same page. According to Summer Tullai, Key Club officer and sophomore, volunteers must have a valid driver’s license or accompany someone who does, as volunteers will need to drive to plant trees in the requested locations. Home and business owners can pick up the saplings instead of having volunteers plant them as well. “We were interested in doing this event because we thought it would be great for the community and we have a lot of volunteers that would be interested in doing an event,” Tullai said. “Especially since a lot of the events this year can’t be outside LET IT GROW: Summer Tullai, Key Club officer and sophomore, poses for the photo. Tullai said she mainly organized the Key Club tree-planting event on April 17.

(Tree planting) helps everyone. It helps the environment, lets people have nice trees...helps Carmel be a better place. FRESHMAN GEORGE EMERSON because of COVID-19 restrictions, Serve Carmel became involved.” Freshman George Emerson said he plans to volunteer to help plant trees. He said this is his first time volunteering with Serve Carmel, but he has experience with both volunteering and planting trees. “It’s something I’ve done before. I’ve planted trees,” he said. “And I feel like it just helps everyone and it’s something I like to do, kind of. I don’t know how to describe it really, it’s something I like to do.” According to Tree-Plenish’s website page, people can buy eastern white pine, tulip poplar or eastern redbud saplings for $5, including planting. According to Julia Dong, Key Club officer and sophomore, people don’t have to be in Key Club to get involved. “I think anyone could be involved,” Dong said. “We wanted members of Key Club to do it, because it is a great opportunity to get in some service hours this year, especially since there are so few inperson opportunities. This provides a great in-person opportunity where you don’t have to be volunteering through your computer.” Key Club sponsor Allyson Ward said while Tullai talks to her about the event, Tullai primarily organized it. “Summer keeps me in the loop and listens to any suggestions I may

KEEP CALM AND PLANT ON: Summer Tullai, Key Club officer and sophomore, poses for the photo. Tullai said that the organization has already gathered seedlings for 1,000 trees.

Take a look at the cover story about the benefits of gardening and spending time outside as the spring season arrives

have,” Ward said via email. “The tree planting event is again, student run.” Emerson said he thinks the event will benefit many parties. “(The tree planting event) helps everyone,” he said. “It helps the environment, it gets people to have nice trees in their yard, hopefully be there for a really long time and make Carmel be a better place.” H This story was originally published online on March 22, 2021

GRACE XU Q&A

GRADING FOR EQUALITY: Principal Tom Harmas sits at his desk, holding the book Grading for Equity. He said that administration has been working throughout this year to make changes to the grading system so that grades are a true representation of a student’s learning and engagement throughout the semester. RHEA ACHARYA PHOTO

PLANS FOR DAYS Administration to navigate construction project starting in coming weeks, discussions surrounding next school year RHEA ACHARYA STORY

rincipal tom harmas said

he is currently working to finalize some of the details for the school’s upcoming multi-part construction project that will take place over the next couple of years. He said the first part of the project will start this spring with the transformation of the grass area across from Murray Stadium into a parking lot. According to Harmas, this will allow the natatorium renovations to expand into the space where the current parking lot outside of Door 21 now sits. Harmas said the next phase of construction will start in June and will focus on expanding and renovating the performing arts area and the Dale E. Graham Auditorium. He said he anticipates this phase to finish by the end of the first semester of the 2021 to 2022 school year. Due to this, he said administrators are currently working with the performing arts department to develop a plan for where the affected performing arts classes will take place during the renovations next semester.

Olivia Belcher, Philharmonic Orchestra violist and junior, said, “I don’t think there will be concerns with social distancing next year but it is still nice. When we have a full orchestra in normal years, it gets a little cramped in our rehearsals and even in the auditorium. The expansion will be a nice change.” She said although the construction may force the orchestra to relocate its rehearsals next semester, she thinks the benefits of the construction will outweigh the costs. She said, “In the past, we’ve had to rehearse in gyms with different acoustics on various occasions. I don’t think it should be that big of a deal.” In addition to figuring out the logistics of the construction, Harmas said he continues to discuss plans for the next school year, especially in regard to whether the instruction in the fall will be fully in-person or have virtual components. He said he has recently been invited to join the Virtual Options Study Committee, where he will help discuss various options for next year.

Scan this QR code to read a story about the upcoming construction and expansion projects CHS will complete in the next few years and their processes

He said, “I don’t make the final decisions. Only the school board with the recommendation of the superintendent will make those decisions. But looking at current trends, it looks very favorable that we’ll be able to go back full-time next year.” According to Harmas, within this committee, the members will also discuss the possibility of having some virtual or hybrid classes in future years for seniors—even if the rest of the instruction is fully in-person—to help strengthen executive functioning skills. Senior Melissa Su, a fully-virtual student, said, “I think being virtual has helped me improved my time management by making me more efficient. But in terms of the positive benefits of having optional virtual classes in the future, I think it depends. Some can improve their time management with virtual classes, but others can struggle H without the accountability.” A shortened version of this story was orignally published online on March 11, 2021

FEATURE

BEST OF MARCH 2021

SHAMROCK STYLE With St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, students, teachers talk about Irish culture, stereotypes at CHS CHENYAO LIU STORY

MAYLEE O’BRIEN SUBMITTED PHOTOS

espite growing up in the United States, senior Maylee O’Brien always felt connected to her Irish heritage. “A couple years ago, my family visited Ireland and it was probably my favorite trip of all time,” she said. “It was absolutely beautiful, and (it) allowed me to feel connected to my roots.” IB psychology teacher Peter O’Hara also said he felt Irish culture is an important part of his life. “In a very prevalent spot in (my) house, I have my coat of arms. We have my personal coat of arms on mugs. We celebrate our Irish heritage just by the way we carry ourselves in our discussions,” he said. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 34.5 million Americans

DID YOU KNOW? St. Patrick’s Day was created to honor its namesake who banished snakes from Ireland and taught the Irish about the Holy Trinity, represented by the three-leaf clover or shamrock. The snakes symbolized the conversions of Pagans to Christians. SOFTSCHOOL SOURCE

claim to have Irish ancestry, a number seven times larger than the population of Ireland itself. In fact, modern St. Patrick’s Day celebrations didn’t begin in Ireland but in America, as a way for Irish-Americans to remember their identity while staying patriotic to their new

SCENIC VIEW: Senior Maylee O’Brien poses in front of Kylemore Abbey, a famous historical museum in Ireland. O’Brien took a trip to Ireland in the summer of 2018 to visit. She said, ”This was my favorite location in the tour. The picture hardly captures the pure serenity of standing in the middle of such beauty.”

country. In modern times St. Patrick’s Day acts as a day to celebrate Irish culture. The holiday’s popularity and importance eventually led the U.S. Congress to proclaim March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1991. “St. Patrick’s Day is good because it brings (Irish culture) out to the forefront,” O’Hara said. “My grandfather would tell the story about how his father came from Ireland, and they were (coal) miners and did a lot of work on building railroads. They were able to work themselves up to being pretty prominent citizens. (St. Patrick’s Day) reminds everyone that (people from Ireland) had a big stake in creating our country.”

HILITE.ORG

Sadee Paulson, a sophomore with Irish heritage, said she believed St. Patrick’s Day is more of an American holiday than an Irish one. “I think that (St. Patrick’s Day) is definitely more of an American holiday because...everyone in America dresses up and (celebrates) for it, and I don’t think (the holiday) is as big of a deal in Ireland.” O’Brien said she believes there can be many stereotypes attached to St. Patrick’s Day or being Irish. “Drinking at pubs and eating a lot of potatoes are probably the most common Irish stereotypes,” she said. “Typically St. Patrick’s Day is associated with a lot of drinking. Additionally, this isn’t necessarily a stereotype, but also the leprechaun and his pot of gold.” O’Hara said he agreed that many of the stereotypes were present but also said he thinks not all of them are negative. “That people go out and drink too much is the biggest stereotype, and that’s not always true. But I don’t know of too many (stereotypes). Irish are pretty happy-go-lucky people, and so I don’t think there’s a lot of them. It’s one holiday where people tend to have fun, so there’s not a lot of negativity with St. Patrick’s Day.” Paulson said she agreed. “I feel like there are a few (stereotypes), but I’m not affected much by them. The only ones that I (am affected by) are about having red hair.” Computer science teacher Theresa Kane was born and raised in Ireland, and said she believes many stereotypes associated with the country itself were disappearing. “The Irish demographic has changed so much over the years that it is hard to find somebody who is purely from Ireland. There’s just been so many people coming into Ireland over the past couple of years,” she said. “It’s hard to attach a stereotype when the country for the past twenty or thirty years has been going through such rapid dynamic growth.” Despite the stereotypes associated with being Irish, St. Patrick’s Day has taken on many different meanings for those who celebrate it.

Kane said she sees the day as a way to recognize Irish independence. “(St. Patrick’s Day) is an opportunity to spend time with friends and family, and to reflect on Ireland’s history. Ireland was once a colony of Great Britain, and in 1922, Saorstát Éireann (the free state of Ireland) was declared,” she said. “I normally, on St. Patrick’s Day, will get together with some friends and we watch a movie called “Michael Collins,” and that tells the story of how the Republic of Ireland achieved its freedom from Great Britain.” O’Brien sees St. Patrick’s Day as a day to celebrate her family’s ancestry. “I believe St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday focused on having fun while also embracing (the Irish) heritage,” she said. “Typically, my family will celebrate with a traditional Irish meal.” Regardless of the holiday’s Irish roots, O’Hara said he believed St. Patrick’s Day is meant to be a celebration for everyone. “I think most Irish have assimilated into America such that our culture in itself is not really exclusive to anybody,” he said. “On St. Patrick’s Day, everybody’s Irish and H everybody celebrates.” This story was originally published online on March 17, 2021

IRISH HERITAGE: Senior Maylee O’Brien posis for picture in the summer of 2018 at the Cliffs of Moher. O’Brien said, “I was especially excited for the Cliffs of Moher because they’re a site for ancient Irish legends and Harry Potter films.”

BLUE OR GREEN? See how St. Patrick’s Day originated in America contrasts with Irish traditions

1700s

461 A.D. St. Patrick dies on March 17

1500s 1961

Ireland is represented by a harp on a blue field under King Henry VIII

The Order of St. Patrick is represented by a light blue color

1762

Bars are allowed to open on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, formerly a day of abstinence and religious practice

1931

First official St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland

1792

Irish soldiers march through New York City streets to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day; the parade becomes official in 1848

The clover and color green become symbols of nationalism during the Irish Rebellion

JOSHIKA SATHYAMATHAN, RILEY TERBUSH GRAPHIC

HISTORY, TIME SOURCES

BEST OF MARCH 2021

WOMANHOOD Transgender students deal with women’s, transgender issues, visibility KRUTI SUBBANNAVAR STORY

PRETTY IN BLACK:

Junior Lana Black takes a picture of her outfit for school. Black says she will watch the film “Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels” by Chantel Ankerman for International Women’s Day 2021, as she believes in supporting female filmmakers by watching more of their content.

ana black, transgender girl and junior, often watches “The Watermelon Woman,” a 1996 film by Cheryl Dunye; it is one of her favorites. Black said she likes to watch films made by women as she believes more media representation would help women be recognized more. Representation for women and transgender people is more prevalent than ever during March. International Women’s Day was on March 8, and March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility. Jillian Escobar, transgender girl and junior, said it is important to recognize the messages the month stands for. Escobar said it is crucial to have a month that could bring to light issues faced by cisgender and transgender women and help spread the word about them. Black also said she believes the word should be spread.

LANA BLACK SUBMITTED PHOTO

Scan this to read about and watch “The Watermelon Woman,” a 1996 movie by Cheryl Dunyer

She said, “I think that women’s history should be celebrated every day, but it’s cool to have a day or a month to remind people to (remember women’s history).” Both Black and Escobar said they believe educating oneself about both women’s and transgender issues is important. They said learning the history of women, and transgender women especially, is helpful for those who consider themselves allies. “I don’t think people really can believe that these things are real, or that these people have existed forever, if they don’t actually see the history of it,” Escobar said. “I think it’s also good for trans women to see themselves in other historical figures and be like, ‘Oh, I’m not alone. It’s not just me.’” Amy Liptak, licensed mental health counselor, said she agreed with that statement. Liptak said celebrating Women’s History Month and days like International Women’s Day are important. “It is a day to give special attention to the role women play in our society, how those roles have changed and need to continue to evolve and change, and an opportunity to keep moving women’s rights forward,” she said via email. Liptak also said it is important to recognize that International Women’s Day is a day to be celebrated by transgender women as well, as it highlights that they are women, regardless of transphobic beliefs that transgender women are not women. “Excluding transgender women and not considering them to be women is extremely damaging to the transgender community, and prohibits transgender women from having equal rights, and to be seen and heard for who they are: women,” she said.

Black said women, cisgender and transgender alike, face many issues in today’s world. “Just too often, women and trans people get left behind in public discourse and there’s this idea that we don’t exist or that our issues don’t matter as much as men’s or cis people’s,” Escobar said. Black also said, as a transgender girl, sometimes things are harder for her at school. “(The biggest issue for women) is getting others to find us on an equal playing field and especially as a trans woman in Carmel, as many people don’t take us seriously, (and) kind of treat our existence as an aberration,” she said. For her part, Escobar said she has received uncomfortable looks from various faculty members when

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BREAKING BARRIERS Take a look at famous trans women throughout history

1969

Marsha P. Johnson helps instigate the uprising at Stonewall

she tried to use the girls restroom. Black said a common solution given by administrators when a student comes out as transgender is to use staff restrooms, which she said ended up with some teachers yelling at her for using the staff bathroom. Both Black and Escobar said “deadnaming” (calling a transgender person by their birth name after they have changed their name as part of their transition) is something that happens in the case of substitute teachers. Though it is not necessarily transphobic, Escobar said, many teachers don’t know better. Legal difficulties in the process of

1992

2003

Jennifer Finney Boylan becomes the first trans woman to write a bestseller, She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders

Althea Garrison becomes the first trans woman to be elected to a state legislature

Scan this to read CHS’s policies regarding transgender transitions

changing one’s name have contributed heavily to this problem. Black added that support from other women, especially in the transgender community, is an important way for women’s and transgender rights to advance. Liptak said, “I think it is very important for there to be a sense of solidarity and support between women. I think women already do a great job of this in many ways.” Escobar agreed, saying she has received a lot of support from peers, especially in choir. She said, “One of the words when I think of womanhood is ‘community.’

STILETTO HEEL:

Junior Jillian Escobar poses for a photo at her home. Escobar said she believes that every woman should be given the right to express themselves in any way they see fit, whether it be conventional femininity or not. She also expressed her love for heels by saying that “womanhood is the stiletto heel.” JILLIAN ESCOBAR SUBMITTED PHOTO

2018

UCNJ, THE PROUD TRUST, GLAAD SOURCES ARCHIT KALRA GRAPHIC

Daniela Vega becomes the first openly trans woman to present at the Academy Awards

It’s a community of women who have shared experiences and who are able to communicate about them, but everyone is different, so it’s a balance between community and individualism.” CHS social worker Mary Reese said the school takes seriously its role in helping any students who come out as transgender or non-binary. Reese said this included talking with parents and students to come up with a Gender Support Plan to further help these students in any way necessary. Reese said students are also assigned a staff point person to go to for all their needs and that the CHS Equity and Inclusion Alliance made up of staff members always discusses new ways to make these students more comfortable at school. Black and Escobar said the best way for other students to support their transgender peers is to educate themselves on transgender issues and not be insensitive. Liptak said, “With so much misinformation, hatred and intolerance in our society, it is critical that allies understand that language matters, asking someone their pronouns matters, and our behaviors matter. Accepting, embracing, and creating an inclusive society of all people is so important.” Escobar said, “(When) trying to define what exactly makes you a woman, if it’s not genitalia, what is it? I’m not entirely sure there are words for it, but there is a feeling, and somehow our brains just know, we all know how we feel, inside, about ourselves, somehow H we just figure our identity out.” This story was originally published online on March 31, 2020

SHADES OF COLOR Students share original art during Youth Art Month RAGHAV SRIRAM Q&AS

These Q&As were originally published online on March 21, 2021

Q&A

ART INFLUENCE:

Junior Yiling Li said she created this drawing for her AP 2-D Art Design portfolio called “Divided by Unity.” She said her inspiration for this artwork was the idea that “Perfection is an asymptote,” a quote from When Breath Becomes Air.

junior yiling li

What was your inspiration for this artwork? I tried to demonstrate how perfection could only exist as an asymptote by drawing connections with face-center cubic packing from chemistry. Despite face-center being the closest packing for lattice structures, it still doesn’t fit the entire cubic unit which demonstrates how even in the natural world, perfection is unattainable.

Why do you think art education is important? Art education is important because it teaches students how to visually communicate their ideas. This allows students to learn how to effectively convey their ideas and control what their audience sees.

YILING LI SUBMITTED PHOTO

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Q&A

GLAZED ART:

Senior Eads Fouché created these two pieces. The left piece was created in 2019 and is called Blue Coral. It was made with organic coral form finished in blue and white high-fire glazes. He said he is currently working on the piece in the right photo. "The biggest reason that art is important is because it expresses ideas and draws people’s attention to global issues," he said.

senior eads fouché

What is your inspiration for these two pieces of artwork? The piece on the left is inspired by two pictures I found. The ceramic pieces were from the Coral Bouquet by Elizabeth Shriver. The ceramic piece on the right was inspired by the works of Lynda Ladwig. Those pieces caught my attention because they were unique and I liked the movement that they created.

Why do you think art education is important? I think that through art you can learn a lot about your history, about different cultures... But also art really focuses on creative thinking and, actually, critical thinking skills.

EADS FOUCHÉ SUBMITTED PHOTOS

EXTERNAL INSPIRATION:

Freshman Jane Martens created this painting of a cat. Martens said, "I think I’ve been an artist my entire life but I only really got involved around seventh grade. And I got involved because a lot of my friends had just started doing art.” Now, she said she prefers sketching, but wants to try other media and has yet to try 3-D art.

Q&A

JANE MARTENS SUBMITTED PHOTO

freshman jane martens

How do you personally plan on celebrating National Youth Art month? I’ve been trying to sketch every day, just for as long as I can. And I think that for National Youth Art month, I’m going to try and focus on doing a different medium every day. Like, just today, I was doing some stuff with some inks. It’s not usually something that I do, but I think it’s important to explore.

Why do you think art education is important? We’re consuming a lot of media, but we aren’t really creating a lot. And I think that’s important in our happiness. I think that art is a good way of expressing yourself. Especially during COVID-19 times, that’s pretty important.

STUDENT SECTION

BEST OF MARCH 2021

MOTIVATED MINDSET Students, professionals discuss changes in motivation from going virtual SAUMYA SOMASI STORY

or sophomore tatum siebert,

motivation is an important goal in her everyday life. As a hybrid student and a “people-person,” Siebert said virtual days often unmotivate her from doing her school work. “When it’s like this assignment is due at 5 p.m., well it’s like I’m not gonna see anyone, and those are just pixels on a screen. I mean it says late but does it really mean anything? Versus when it’s in person and I feel like there are actual expectations from me and it feels a lot different,” Siebert said. Comparatively, junior Bill Qian has not felt unmotivated from moving to a virtual schedule. “There have definitely been times where I’ve felt like I just really don’t want to be here, but I think that has more to do with school than with transitioning online,” Qian said. “Honestly, sometimes it’s nice to get a break from constant school, and it eases the pressure of having school work.” Rob Kern, licensed mental health counselor, said he has seen decreasing motivation in students, where social interaction limited and a great portion of daily life is conducted online. “There is greater confusion and often times less clarity about educational goals with virtual education,” Kern said. “Families are being forced to renavigate how to structure athome learning, which often results in students feeling pressure.” Siebert said by interacting with people over the phone or through a call, she has helped retain some of the social atmosphere that comes with school. “(I try) to do things with friends, and working on things together kind of grounded me and it was like ‘well I can’t go on Instagram or my phone because my friend’s doing it too’ so then we’d both kind of keep each other motivated,” she said.

However, Siebert said it does not always work to keep herself motivated. “In November of 2020, it was really difficult. I felt like I was just kind of getting burned out. I tried so many things to make things easier or be more motivated but it felt like there was no end in sight, especially with COVID, I just felt alone.” Kern said feeling unmotivated is often inevitable, especially as life during COVID-19 brings its own set of unique issues. He said, “Motivation is a combined issue of our conscious and subconscious. It is not as easy as ‘flipping a switch’ and suddenly feeling motivated. As such, chastising ourselves for not feeling motivated will not suffice. Instead, as we treat ourselves with compassion we become self-advocates.” Qian said while social interaction was necessary to motivate him, he emphasized staying motivated by organizing his workload and prioritizing the things he needed to get done. He said, “I basically planned out my entire month to prepare me for everything I needed to get done so I had a visual of what I needed to get done. Checking things off (of my plan) was satisfying every time

BY THE NUMBERS

8,358 students across Indiana are fully virtual

schools in Indiana are 100% virtual

0.8% of students in Indiana students are learning virtually *these numbers are accurate to the 2020-2021 school year

STAYING ON TOP Check out the Pomodoro technique What is the pomodoro method? It is a study and work method that increases productivity How does the pomodoro method work? Sessions are made up of 25 or 50 minutes of work and either 5 or 10 minutes of break time Why is it called “pomodoro” method? Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s named the method after the tomatoshaped kitchen timer

and I started getting things done and planning ahead more.” Kern said he agreed there were a variety of techniques to stay motivated during periods where one feels unmotivated. “When a task begins to become bothersome, our increasing frustration or exhaustion can get our attention,” Kern said. “We then take a step back to carefully reconsider how best to proceed.” Siebert said she could see some positives that came from going virtual, especially as she said she had more time for introspection and thinking about her future. “In relation to motivation, I know that my worth is not just my grades. My worth is not just how I look. Like I’m a cool person,” Siebert said. “There are so many things to me that are more than just what college I get into and that has been really motivating. And because we aren’t always with other people, I appreciate the interactions a lot more. I appreciate the little things more.” H This story was originally published online on March 24, 2021

NCES SOURCE EMILY SANDY, KIERSTEN RIEDFORD GRAPHIC THE MUSE SOURCE

25 Minutes

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HUMANS OF CHS

Scan this QR Code to see more Humans of CHS

In light of quarantine anniversary, students recall activities on this day last year ELISE VARHAN, JASMINE ZHANG Q&AS

This Q&A was originally published online on March 18, 2021

junior zachary osborne

Lockdown happened around the end of our winter workouts for football. We were just getting ready to start spring workouts but we had to cancel all those due to the pandemic. This year, we’re able to do most of those workouts again as we’ve adapted to the disease.

sophomore averi weninger

The weekend everything got shut down, I was supposed to have a hockey tournament, but it got canceled last minute. I thought it was kind of weird that things were getting canceled due to a disease, but I didn’t think that it would last this long or be this drastic. Things have changed a lot since last year, which is definitely something I didn’t expect back in March. ELISE VARHAN PHOTO

senior chloe chui sophomore jaylen zachery

Last March 13 was pretty normal. I think that this year’s school structure is going better than last year’s because I got pretty lazy when everything suddenly stopped during shutdown.

sophomore emily waddell

I was at a volleyball tournament. I remember there was a bunch of talk about canceling school, canceling volleyball, which was a really big deal back then because we were in the middle of a season. For a while, life was pretty different, especially during lockdown, but things have been starting to get back to normal. ELISE VARHAN PHOTOS

Last March 13th, I was mostly preparing for ISSMA State, the ACT and Science Olympiad. Sadly, all three of those were canceled. Also, I was hanging out with a lot of people and getting home pretty late each day in general. A lot of things have changed since then. A lot of my interactions with people are virtual. In a way, I both like and dislike hybrid scheduling vs. virtual. Having a drastically different schedule each day makes it harder to have a consistent daily routine. CHLOE CHUI SUBMITTED PHOTO

BEST OF MARCH 2021

SCOUT ME IN! In light of National Girl Scout Day, students, leaders share benefits, impact of Girl/Boy Scouts DANIEL TIAN STORY

arch 12, national girl

Scout day, commemorates the day that the first Girl Scout troop was registered in 1912. Consisting of 18 girls in Savannah, Ga., the “Girl Guide” organization was founded by Juliette Gordon Low, who had met the founder of the Scout Movement, Robert Baden-Powell, when she lived in the United Kingdom. Low had envisioned a Scout Movement but for girls, leading to the establishment of Girl Guides, which later changed its name to the Girl Scouts of the United States. Allison Miller, a Girl Scout since kindergarten and freshman, said joining the Girl Scouts has helped her grow as a young person and improved her self image, confidence and social skills. “I think that scouting has influenced my character in many ways. It has improved my leadership skills and ability to help those in need in a more impactful way,” she said. “(Scouting) has also taught me to look after myself, which contributes to my high self-confidence and high self-esteem. It has also made me a more outgoing person. Scouting has benefited my social skills because of all of the opportunities to talk to new people and be in front of a crowd.”

Jenn Stumpp, Miller’s Girl Scout troop leader, said she loves to watch her scouts grow as leaders and as valuable members of society. “The last couple of events they have led, they have not needed me for anything,” she said. “I’ve seen them grow in maturity and responsibility, and I’ve watched them grow out of their awkward phases. Even though every member of our troop has joined us at a different time in their scouting journey, it has been very rewarding watching them grow.” Max Ahrbecker, a Boy Scout since first grade and senior, said the Scouts have taught him many valuable skills as well. He said he built a deck for his Eagle Scout badge. “Through leadership within the troop, I gained many important skills. Scouts helped me develop my public speaking and communication skills, and I am much more comfortable talking to new people,” he said. “It also taught me how to teach others new skills, something I consider very valuable. I also learned how to budget, plan and raise funds for a project.” Stumpp said she believes the Scouts are a great program. She said one of the reasons are the relationships her scouts create with one another.

SPEAK-UP!

EMILY SANDY SPEAK-UPS

How has Girl Scouts impacted you? “Girl Scouts has made me a better leader. It’s taught me many skills on how to be a supportive friend to other girls and work well with a team. I’m a camp counselor, so I get to guide girls and help them discover their potential.”

Junior Sarah Warf EMILY SANDY PHOTO

“Being a Girl Scout has taught me plenty of practical skills from first aid to money management, but more importantly, it builds my character. I’ve grown to be a more resourceful, considerate and hardworking person, and I have Girl Scouts to thank for that.”

Senior Mackenzie Misterka MACKENZIE MISTERKA SUBMITTED PHOTO

GIRL (SCOUT) POWER

COOKIE COUNT

In celebration of National Girl Scout Day, check out the history of the youth organization, percent of cookie sales

23% Other Varieties

25% Thin Mints

Scouts adapt to the techno1940s Girl Scout troops work to 2000s Girl logical age and encourage teach women survival skills during World War II

1912

Juliette Gordon Low founds the Girl Scouts

1960s

interest in computer science

Girl Scouts launch “Speak Out” and “ACTION 70” projects to fight for racial equality

9% Trefoils

11% Do-Si-Dos

ELISE VARHAN GRAPHIC GIRLSCOUTS.ORG SOURCE

19% Samoas

13% Tagalongs

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“I look at the fact that I have seventh graders connecting to sophomores in high school, and there are also some girls in my troop who are friends with seniors in high school,” she said. “They had all met because of Scouts. While I see the girls in my troop connecting and building relationships, I see the bigger picture of them connecting to other girls outside of my troop and connecting with society as well.” Ahrbecker agrees the connections were important. He said in his troop, he is someone everyone can talk to. “I am an introvert by nature, and I made many friends through Scouts,” he said. “Many of my current friends were involved in my troop. Everyone in my troop respects me since I am someone that they can look up to/ voice their concerns to without being mocked. It is important to me that everyone feels included and respected, so that they feel like Scouts is their safe place. The only way to truly understand someone is to get close to them and look at the world from their point of view.” Miller said she agreed and mentioned how she felt Girl and Boy Scouts are like a big family.

BY THE NUMBERS

58% of women elected for Congress in 2018 were Girl Scouts

2.5

MILLION estimated Girl Scouts worldwide

8.04 average score among Girl Scouts rating the organization 1-10 GIRLSCOUTS, FORBES SOURCES

“I joined scouts because in kindergarten, they had a booth and I had a lot of fun playing with the other scouts. To a 5-year-old, that’s all that matters,” Miller said. “I would definitely recommend scouting, regardless of Girl or Boy Scout. I believe (scouting) is a very flexible activity, and after one point, it’s just a big group of friends.” Despite supporting Scouts in general, Ahrbecker said he believes there are still some issues with the Scouts organization. He said he does not like how the Scouts blindly glorify America and how they require religious affiliation. “While it is good to recognize the privileges we have in America, it is important to see the negatives as well. Kids should be able to discuss issues such as climate change or (Black Lives Matter), while asking questions, voicing concerns and offering potential solutions,” he said. “Thinking about this at an early age will help people understand issues better and become more comfortable with change. I also don’t like the requirement of being affiliated with a religion. I feel like it is im-

SCOUT’S HONOR: Freshman Allison Miller (second from right) and members of her troop sit on a fallen tree along their creek stomp. Miller said that being involved in Girl Scouts has improved many important life skills for her.

ALLISON MILLER SUBMITTED PHOTO

portant to include all people regardless of religious beliefs.” Despite the Scouts’ nationalism and religious affiliations, Ahrbecker said he thought scouting changed him for the better, and he would recommend scouting. He said one impact was the development of his character. “The main moral code of Scouting is the Scout Law. Its 12 points include being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. I try my best to live by these principles,” he said. “I would recommend scouts to the readers since it teaches valuable life lessons and allows one to make friends and get outdoors. It was extremely important to me growing up and has influenced H my path after high school.” This story was originally published online on March 18, 2021

BEST OF MARCH 2021

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IN FULL BLOOM With March 20 marking first day of spring, students, staff share benefits of gardening, spending time outside CADY ARMSTRONG, TESSA COLLINSON STORY CLARE DIERCKMAN PHOTO

BEST OF MARCH 2021

ccording to sophomore

Josie Paxton, the changing seasons means she can once again go on long hikes and sit outside. Paxton said, “I spend a lot of time outside when the weather is nice... I go on a lot of hikes and just like to take it all in: the sun, the scenery, the grass and just kind of the life going on around you. Being around that and nature just makes me feel good and I just like being outside.” Paxton is not the only one who feels better after spending time outside. With the first day of spring on March 20, many begin to look forward to the warmer weather and spending time outdoors. According to a 2019 study by the Scientific Journals, doing so can be beneficial; the study found that individuals

Scan this to view a graphic on how to garden properly at home and at a community garden

ROOTS ON-THE-GO Learn about different plant-related mobile apps and search engines Forest is a productivity app that helps people combat phone addiction and focus on productivity Plant Nanny is a health app that reminds you to drink water by watering your own virtual plant JetPunk is a trivia site that donates 5% of its profits to planting trees when you take quizzes

EC SIA

Ecosia is a search engine that donates 80% of its profits to organizations that support reforestation when you use it SOWMYA CHUNDI GRAPHIC

TREES.COM, THE APPLE APP STORE SOURCES

who spent 120 minutes outside per week reported a significant increase in their sense of well-being as well as overall health. According to Outdoor Exploration teacher Derek Moser, these benefits are why he spends as much time outside as possible. “I really just try to get outside for a while every day. Getting fresh air and sunshine is just so important. There’s so much data that proves that it is so good for you,” Moser said. “Especially now with COVID-19, even more so because data is showing that it’s not spreading (as much) outside. I’m in higher spirits, a better mood and better health after doing so... Going outside, it is one of those things where there’s really no downsides to it.” Fran Rushing, AP Environmental Science teacher, said she also agreed that spending time in nature makes her feel good. “(Going outside) feels so very good and can help to relieve stress, sadness and frustration when life gets difficult,” Rushing said via email. “Playing outside just melts all my cares away and makes me feel like a little kid again. Even if I only take a walk around my property and breathe in the fresh air, it helps. Best medicine ever.” She said one of the main activities she does outside is gardening. “I keep a garden because I enjoy being outside, and taking care of the growing things gives me a good reason to go outside every day,” Rushing said. “I’m not the type that goes places to hike or look at nature very often, but I do love to be outside enjoying it at home.” Paxton said she also spends a lot of time gardening and raising plants. She said, “I started really getting into gardening one to two years ago. I really like seeing the plants grow along with you and what you’re capable of creating and taking care of. It is really interesting because once you kind of get to know the plants, you start seeing their personalities and it is fun to see them grow in their different ways.” Senior Daniel Tocci said he plans to start a garden as the weather grows warmer. He collected seeds from his

PLANT MOM: Sophomore Josie Paxton waters her plants, ensuring she gets to the ones she needs to each day. Paxton said caring for plants forces her to maintain a schedule, which improves her mental health since organization helps her feel better about herself. She said the toughest part about having plants is caring for them because they demand a precise schedule, especially some specific breeds of plants. CLARE DIERCKMAN PHOTO

garden last year for plants such as tomatoes, dragon roll peppers and cantaloupes and said that he plans to grow them to help his mental health. “Growing a garden definitely does help with mental health. It’s nurturing something and putting so much effort into growing these plants; the reward is so much more than let’s just say you buy some food at the grocery store and you just eat it,” he said. “There’s no sense of pride in just eating something from the grocery store, but once you grow it yourself, that gives you a sense of pride. That gives you a sense of confidence. If you put the effort into actually growing these crops, it definitely helps your mood when you actually reap your rewards.” For Tocci, this passion for nature and the outdoors has led him to pursue forestry as a career. “I chose to go into (forestry) because of the passion I’ve always had for nature. All of my hobbies involve (it),”

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he said. “It’s kind of cliché to say, but nature relaxes the mind… I wanted to work outside, so forestry will be great.” Moser said his appreciation for the outdoors also prompted him to take action. For him, this meant creating the Outdoor Exploration class, an elective Physical Education course offered at this school for all grades. “It took three years to get it approved but once it was, I just knew it was a class kids want to do, and something that’s really important,” Moser said. “From 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., you’re inside and sitting down. However, with Outdoor Exploration, you’re up and moving around outside and just learning in a different way. This class teaches important life lessons they can’t learn in a traditional class, and I just wanted a way to incorporate nature into kids’ lives since so much is spent inside.” According to a 2001 study conducted by the Environmental Protec-

tion Agency, the average individual will spend 87% of their time inside and an additional 6% in automobiles, totaling 93% of their lifetime. When averaged out, the time spent outside equals half a day per week. Further, with the increase in technology and its accessibility, it is likely that the amount of time people spend inside has increased since then. Tocci said he counteracts this trend by spending the majority of his summer outside. “I spend five or six hours a day outside during the summer. A lot of that is taken up by either hiking, fly fishing and occasionally kayaking and just really trying to get outside,” he said. Rushing, who owns three acres of land, said she also spends much of her free time outside, taking care of her property. She said, “Being outdoors just feels good to me. It improves

PLANT LIFE: Fran Rushing, AP Environmental Science teacher, works on her greenhouse garden with her grandson. She said gardening allows her to connect with her family in new ways. FRAN RUSHING SUBMITTED PHOTO

GROW GLOW: Fran Rushing, AP Environmental Science teacher, tends to the daffodils in her garden. She said tending to plants has been proven to boost mental health, and she said she has experienced the benefits herself. FRAN RUSHING SUBMITTED PHOTO

10 Read a story on Key Club’s tree-planting event to plant more trees in the city of Carmel taking place on April 17

my emotional and mental state every time. Even if I was in a good mood before I went out, it gets even better when I am out there breathing in the fresh air and feeling the sun on my skin and the dirt beneath me.” Paxton said she also finds benefits from her garden. She said while it may not directly correlate with her mental health, there are still lessons she learns from her plants.

PLANT POSITIVES

Take a look at a few mental health benefits of plants • Boosts creativity by up to 15% • 79% of patients felt calmer after spending time in a garden • On average, having 10+ trees on a city block improves mood in ways comparable to a $10,000 increase in annual income • Depressed patients that had therapy in a forest setting experienced 20% to 30% higher rates of complete remission compared to those in a normal setting CHLOE SUN GRAPHIC PSYCHOLOGYTODAY, HILLSIDE, LIVEKINDLY SOURCES

“I have definitely learned a lot about acceptance because a couple plants that I have taken care of have died, and it is always hard when this happens because you have to accept that your plants aren’t perfect and you have to understand that it is not because of something you did wrong,” Paxton said. “I think that I’ve just learned lessons like this along the way from gardening, and I think that these have just made me grow and be a better person.” Until the weather becomes concretely warmer, however, Tocci said he continues to find new ways to spend time outside. “Spending time outside in the winter, you can still do stuff but you are definitely limited,” Tocci said. “I can understand why people don’t really want to go outside because even when it’s not sunny out (but) not freezing like it (was on Feb. 28)— even when it’s like that, it’s still really gloomy outside. There’s no green plants. Everything’s gray but you can still do stuff outside, even in winter. Just go hiking in the woods, walk around a pond or something.” Similarly, Moser said winter does not stop him from spending time outside either. He said, “I go outside a ton in the winter such as walking, hiking and shoveling snow. I run every morning outside unless it is negative 30 degrees. I really just try to get outside every day and think it is super important to spend as much time outside as you can. Even if it is cold, if you wear the right clothes, you can still go outside.” Paxton said that she is thankful because the cold weather does not prevent her from gardening. She said, “Even though the weather sometimes prevents me from going outside, I do most of my gardening indoors. In the winter, I am grateful for this because I can still keep my plants... Really, we’re at an age where everything is constantly changing, so it is really nice to have something that stays with you throughout (the seasons). Most of the time the plants grow and get bigger, and seeing this growth pro-

MARCH/APRIL GROWING See the plants with proximal growing seasons Seed indoors, plant later*: Cantaloupe (March 28 to April 4) Cucumbers (March 28 to April 4) Lettuce (March 13 to 28) Swiss Chard (March 13 to 28)

Plant seeds outside: Chives (March 28 to April 4) Dill (March 21 to April 4) Onions (March 28 to April 18) Parsley (March 28 to April 11) *For more plant data, scan the QR code on the right page vides a sense of satisfaction. It used to be little, just like my skill set, but then as I’m growing and evolving, they’re doing that too, so our progress is side by side.” Paxton said that this feeling she gets from taking care of her plants is why she recommends others to consider trying gardening. She said, “I would recommend trying out gardening. Even if you don’t think that you’re interested in it, people can change. Definitely go ahead and try it because it’s fun and really enjoyable once you get started.” Moser said he also encourages people to spend more time with nature. “Whether it is taking Outdoor Exploration or just going for a walk, consider increasing your time spent outdoors,” he said. “It really is fun, and you get so much out of it.”

DID YOU KNOW? Humans tend to feel more optimistic in areas with plants and nature. A survey on four San Francisco Bay Area hospitals claims 79% of patients said they felt more relaxed, and 25% felt refreshed and stronger after spending time in a garden. HILLSIDE SOURCE

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Some plants are started indoors as seedlings with controlled light and temperature. Ex: Basil, broccoli, cabbage

GETTING INTO GARDENING See the methods of garden starting, time frames for planting Plants bought at garden centers or started as seedlings can be transplanted into the ground or into bigger pots.

Some seeds are planted directly outdoors. Ex: Root vegetables, arugula, corn

RILEY TERBUSH GRAPHIC FARMER’S ALMANAC, PLANT MAP SOURCES

Plants come with tags that have care information, including: Hardiness zone*

Fertilization

Seed spacing

Watering

*Hamilton County plant hardiness zone: 5b (-15 to -10 degrees) to 6a (-10 to -5 degrees)

Scan this to look up the ideal seed planting and growing periods in Carmel for specific vegetable garden plants Furthermore, a 2017 study conducted by the American Cancer Society found that in addition to helping many such as Moser with their mental health, going on walks outside helps improve physical health. The study followed 140,000 adult Americans and found that those who walked for two hours a week had a 20% lower mortality rate than those who did not. Moser shared a similar sentiment and said that doing light physical activity outside can do much for cardiovascular health. “I think a lot of people are mindful of their physical health and weight, and losing or gaining and exercise is a part of that. It is hard to walk a mile when you’re just inside your house, so you have to go outside and do it there, so this is one benefit of (going outside),” Moser said. “More importantly than the weight thing is your heart and getting your heart rate up and taking care of your heart health, and working out outside can go a long way for PHONE-Y PLANTS: Scrolling through an informational plant app, sophomore Josie Paxton researches some of the plants she owns. She said gaining knowledge about the plants she has helps her better care for them. CLARE DIERCKMAN PHOTOS

(the heart). This can be something fun and should be enjoyable.” Paxton said she agreed, encouraging everyone to find their niche to make going outside a better experience. “Going outside should be something you want to do, so just try to avoid the mindset of thinking of going outside as a burden,” she said. “If you’re trying to go outside more, spend that time outdoors doing something you enjoy… It really is fun once you figure out what you like, so just take your time, relax H and enjoy the experience.” Spider Plant Overview

FAQs about Spider Plants

Chlorophytum Overview

ENTERTAINMENT

BEST OF MARCH 2021

SEASONS CHANGE CHS show choirs modify spring competition season EMILY CARLISLE STORY

MARISSA FINNEY PHOTOS

his year, most groups

and teams that compete or perform in any aspect have had to drastically change their plans of attack; the show choirs at this school are no exception. Last year’s show choir competition season wrapped up right as COVID-19 began to hit the United States and was cut short by one contest. This year, however, most choir students are preparing to not have any real competition season at all. According to showchoir.com, three out of the five competitions the Accents and Ambassadors had planned to attend are still set to happen, but the manner in which they will occur—and if the competitions will even happen at all—is still subject to change. Because of this, students involved in show choir said they are having to change their mindsets and become less competition-driven. Seth Jacobsen, member of Ambassadors and sophomore, said this year has been challenging for the choirs. Jacobsen said via email, “The pandemic has made [show choir] a lot more challenging since the only time we’re all together is at the after-school rehearsals. We’ve had to work a lot

SPEAK-UP!

harder this year, not only because we rarely see each other but also we wear masks the whole time during our three-hour rehearsals. I think COVID has also positively affected us, too. We’ve grown a lot closer with a lot less drama than usual. I think everyone is struggling right now and we can all relate to each other.” Kathrine Kouns, director of choirs and lead director of Accents, said she agreed with Jacobsen and said everything is up in the air. She said right now the choirs are adapting to new situations. Kouns said, “As of right now field trips aren’t allowed and we are not allowed to stay in hotels overnight and things like that. But even if that was not the case, I do not think it would matter. Right now every school that is hosting a competition is very up in the air as they deal with the regulations in their own districts. “We have no plan to participate in a virtual competition or perform alone for judges without being able to see and meet other show choirs,” she added. “I don’t think that is the purpose of show choir and I do not think it would be educational enough to be worth it. I’ve always said it’s not about the trophy, it is

SING IT OUT: Seth Jacobsen, Ambassador member and sophomore, does a vocal warm-up during a rehearsal for the upcoming Ambassadors show. Unlike the Accents, the Ambassadors will be putting on more of a traditional set this year and competing more.

about the experience, which just won’t be the same this year.” Due to recent circumstances, the Ambassadors attended one competition at Brownsburg High School on March 13, where they finished second; however, this was the only group that travelled to any competition this year. Even without a “true” competition season, the students involved in show choir at this school said they are doing their best to continue to perform and spread joy within the community. The Accents are planning a 1940s Great-American-Songbookbased variety show which will fea-

VALLIEI CHANDRAKUMAR, PALLEVI PILLAI SPEAK-UPS VALLIEI CHANDRAKUMAR, JULIA DONG SPEAK-UP PHOTOS

In spite of the unusual show choir competition season, are there any silver linings? We are still able to rehearse together once a week as a whole group, which is always a great time, as I get to see friends from the other cohort. I also think that learning songs and choreography at home has helped develop my music ability.”

Julia Dong, New Editions member and sophomore

“I feel like a lot of (the Accents) weren’t really sure if we were going to be able to perform at all and (of) what opportunities we would have. So, we do have a few performances coming up in public with people that can come and watch and that’s nice...”

Dakota Brown, Accents member and junior

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DID YOU KNOW? Show choir was originally called swing choir in which a group of people would combine choral singing with dance, sometimes within the context of a specific idea or story. OXFORD MUSIC ONLINE SOURCE

ture both solos and duets along with group numbers. Yumi Colombo, president of Accents and senior, said she loves the plans that are in the works and cannot wait to perform for an audience again. Colombo said via email, “The plan in the making right now is to create a performance for (members of the community) such as people in nursing homes and senior living facilities. We are hoping that if things are stable enough, in March or April we could put together a 1940s-themed set of sorts to perform in the parking lots as a way of entertainment for the elders in our community who

haven’t been able to see many visitors or enjoy live entertainment due to the pandemic. This is a chance for us to not only perform and share our love for music, but also a way for us to impact our community and give something for these people to smile about. We are hoping that the theme choice will help them reminisce about the days gone by.” While the Accents prepare their cabaret-style show, the Ambassadors are planning a more traditional set as of now, according to Jacobsen. He said he was excited to bring any aspect of performance to the community. Jacobsen said, “Just getting to perform on stage is very exciting to me. It’s literally my favorite thing to do no matter what the circumstances are. It’s a privilege just to be performing with this amazing group.” Even in times of stress and fear, life can find ways to produce joy in the midst of chaos, according to Colombo, who said she thinks it is more

important than ever to find what you love and do what makes you happy. She said, “Whether there are students who are in athletics, performing arts, clubs or they just come to Carmel High School for the academics, I want everyone to know that they should take every opportunity they can to create joy for themselves and those around them. Especially now, it is easy to see what we are missing out on this year and the unfairness of it all, but it is all the more worth it when you find things that you can still achieve. Don’t give up just because a pandemic kept you from your original plans. Make new ones worth H pursuing and all will work out. Scan this to read how the marching band and New Edition adjusted to COVID-19 This story was originally published online on March 18, 2021.

WORTH IT: Yumi Colombo, president of Accents and senior, rehearses after school for the upcoming community shows. The shows’ set will be 1940s-themed, and Colombo said she cannot wait to perform again.

Home Today Following

BEST OF MARCH 2021

PINTERESTED?

THE BASICS

With Pinterest’s 10-year anniversary since app launch, learn about social media site’s features, usage among students RHEA ACHARYA GRAPHIC

LATER , PINTEREST, RANKER, STATISTICA , TAILWIND SOURCES

Pinterest is a social media website and app where users can share images related to specific products or Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project ideas, especially related to food, outfits, crafts and homes

PIN IT TO WIN IT

ON BOARDS

Learn basic ways users can interact with pins

Learn about different types of Pinterest boards

Select which board you want this pin to be on

board name

Save

board icons preview the pins

Add this pin to selected board

Pins based on your interests appear on your Home Page

Share pin with a specific Pinterest user or through another platform

Visit original web page pin was found on

Report or hide pin or download image

Q&A

senior kylie mcpherson

NORMAL Users can categorize Saved pins into boards by placing each on one board

PRIVATE Users can have up to three “secret” boards that no one else can access

SHARED

Users can add other users to collaborate on a board and react to the board’s pins

Each of these types of boards can contain any number of sub-boards for further categorization Other users can access all your public boards directly through your profile

RHEA ACHARYA Q&A

KYLIE MCPHERSON SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Senior Kylie McPherson receives 30k monthly views on her Pinterest account

What do you use Pinterest for? Usually I look for things that are easy to make or recreate. Especially around the holidays, I’m really interested in fun food ideas. A couple Thanksgivings ago, I made brownies with a turkey design, and I’ve made cookies that look like spiders before. I also use Pinterest for room decor and outfit inspiration. Sometimes (my pins) influence what I wear because I can recreate looks with items I already have in my closet.

Why do you have a business account? It’s fun to see how many people look at (my pins) at different periods of time. One time, one of my pins got a lot of interaction in a short period of time. And I thought, “Oh my gosh, it’s getting so high. I’m like a celebrity.”

PAMPERED PUMPKINS: Senior Kylie McPherson created home decor “spa” pumpkins with painted faces, hand drawn eyelashes and towels wrapped around their heads. McPherson said she got this idea from Pinterest and included this picture in the “Tried” Section of her profile.

This graphic was originally published online on March 14, 2021

@pinterest

You can follow other users, individual boards or specific topics, like jewelry

2412 followers 1053 following

Upload your own content and images

104.7k monthly viewers

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Save pins you have seen on Pinterest or other sites

Saved

Created

This is an example of a profile from a Pinterest for Business account

Add pictures of your attempts to recreate pins

Tried

AT THE TOP

Take a look at key differences between personal and business Pinterest accounts

See some of the most trending searches on Pinterest of 2020, how much they’ve grown since previous years

Learn more about Pinterest’s revenue

revenue in million U.S. dollars

450 400 350 300

Pinterest’s revenue comes mainly from the sale of ads through Promoted Pins that appear alongside other pins in all users’ feeds

250

In 2020, as COVID-19 spread worldwide, Pinterest revenues plummeted, but then recovered once people and businesses adjusted to quarantine

200 150 100 50 2016

2018 year

2020

* each user can block up to 1000 advertisers

Promoted By Advertisers

all promotion signs refer to pin directly above it

400% 300% 200% 100%

Feng Shui Decor

500%

Staycation

MONEY MOVES

600%

Indoor Microgreens

BOTH free to use for basic purposes can follow and be followed by other users

700%

Home Theaters

shows Saved, Created and Tried pins can pay more to turn Created Pins into ads see detailed viewer analytics and insights

Outdoor Cat Playgrounds

BUSINESS

only shows Saved pins can be upgraded into a business account for free at any time only shows number of followers and following

1990s Fashion

PERSONAL

yearly percentage increase in searches

IT’S PERSONAL

DIYOUTUBE Take a look at some famous Youtubers who make DIY products, similar to those you can pin on Pinterest Name: Lauren Riihimaki Youtube channel: @laurDIY Subscribers: 8.8 million Content: Posts videos showing DIY projects on room decor, clothing, school supplies and costumes that she makes at home

Name: Collin Keys Youtube channel: @Collins Key Subscribers: 22.4 million Content: Posts videos featuring DIY food art and sculpting, pranks, magic tricks and candy viewers can make at home

ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT

BEST OF MARCH 2021

EPIDEMIC ENSEMBLES Orchestra, band students prepare for ISSMA while following COVID-19 guidelines MICHELLE WAN STORY

JILLIAN MOORE PHOTOS

s issma (indiana state

School Musical Association) season begins, the CHS orchestras and bands at this school have been practicing and preparing for their competitions while taking precautions for safety against COVID-19. According to Maggie Hite, Festival and Sinfonia orchestra teacher, ISSMA performances will be virtual this year. “Students are to upload videos of themselves playing their instruments through the HeartOut app and judges will send their ratings and feedback,” Hite said. Samantha Walz, member of Wind Symphony 1 and sophomore, said there were two sessions of ISSMA this year which included submission windows for entries. She said the first session ended in November 2020 and the second one started Feb. 3 and ended March 3. PLAY YOUR HEART OUT:

Sophomore Samantha Walz practices playing her instrument in preparation for ISSMA. Band students must submit a video of themselves playing through the HeartOut app from Feb. 3 to March 3, in accordance with the new ISSMA procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Walz said she believes though ISSMA changed procedurally, her stress level has decreased because it is more comfortable playing in front of a device rather than judges. “ISSMA is also a different experience emotionally because it’s a little less stressful playing in front of your phone rather than in front of the judge, and we also get three attempts to record our performance,” she said. Walz said though her stress decreased during this year’s ISSMA season, she still prefers performing in front of judges because it allows her to be more involved. “I like the experience we got doing ISSMA virtual this year, but the experience you get by being involved in an audition/performance process even though it can be a bit stressful, it is still a great experience,” she said. Carolyn Jia, member of Concert Orchestra and freshman, said because of COVID-19 restrictions this year has definitely been an adjustment. She said the environment and procedures related to her private lessons have changed quite a bit. “Orchestra is different this year because we don’t have chairs and

we have to keep on our masks,” Jia said. “My private lessons are over FaceTime now and it feels uncomfortable taking lessons with my teacher through my phone. I also had to deal with feeling less motivated to practice as frequently as I did before COVID.” However, despite those challenges, Jia said she’s still looking forward to the ISSMA contest. She said, “It is a really good experience because it allows us to practice performing in front of someone and get very helpful feedH back from it.” This story was originally published online on March. 21, 2021

PATIENTLY PRACTICING:

Freshman Carolyn Jia plays her instrument in preparation for ISSMA. She practices independently, in private lessons and in Concert Orchestra so she can perform well in ISSMA, even though it is virtual this year.

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FRUITFUL TUNES Q&A with senior Alexander “Alex” Ferrell, guitarist of band “Plastic Fruits” RILEY LAFERRIERE Q&A

ALEXANDER “ALEX” FERELL SUBMITTED PHOTO

How did you decide on naming the band “Plastic Fruits”? We were trying to think of an indie band name, and we always had trouble finding a good name, and we were like, “Oh, Plastic Fruits, that sounds pretty indie and sounds cool,” so that’s what we went with.

Where do you find inspiration for your songs? Just listening to other artists like Wallows, Declan McKenna or Boy Pablo. A lot of indie alternative artists really inspired me to play music of my own and (made me) want to create my own music.

How has being in a band impacted you? It’s made me more creative in the aspect that I have to work with other people to put a project essentially together and then we have to talk to each other to make changes that are needed to make the song better.

What is your most memorable experience with the “Plastic Fruits”? We had someone come over to take photos for us, and he had a contact for us to meet to play live in the future. That was when we realized we could play live in front of audiences with our band after COVID.

What advice would you give to people who want to start a band? Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do (music) as a career or future. If you want to play music, you should play the music that you want to. If you’re interested in learning an instrument, definitely think of joining a band because one, it’s so much fun and two, you just get to play the music you want to. This story was originally published online on March. 23, 2021

RIPE RHYTHMS: Alexander “Alex” Ferrell (bottom), guitarist of band “Plastic Fruits’’ and senior, poses with senior Matthew Arnold and junior Townsend Wright. The band has music out on Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

SPORTS

BEST OF MARCH 2021

TRAINING SEASON In light of National Athletic Training month, students, trainers discuss importance of its role in shaping athletes HANNAH BAER STORY

essica frazer, athletic trainer and senior, has helped out with the men’s basketball teams and the women’s soccer teams. She said her responsibilities vary. “I am in charge of monitoring injuries that happened during practice since no adult athletic trainers are there and doing basic first aid and helping with injury ice,” Frazer said. “I also help around the training room when people come in needing certain things like the game ready or a heat pad.”

I definitely do think that seeing an athletic trainer is beneficial, and has personally made me a better athlete. SENIOR KATELYN CONLEY

March is National Athletic Training Month, but this month marks exactly one year since COVID-19 restrictions appeared. These restrictions carried over to the athletic trainers like Frazer. She said the trainers are now not allowed to travel with the sports teams they help, and she said this new change comes with its challenges. “Because we do not travel with the team this year, I’m not always sure of how an injury happened and I can’t be sure about what to tell the trainers and such,” Frazer said. Like Frazer, athletic trainer Chad Bergman said COVID-19 has affected his job in some ways. “COVID-19 has changed our job in a few ways,” Bergman said via email. “We continue to diligently clean our facilities while also making sure we adjust the numbers of people in the athletic training room so people can properly social distance. We also assist with the return to play pro-

BY THE NUMBERS

THOUSAND athletic training jobs as of 2019

16% projected in

employment for athletic trainers from 2019-2029

48.5

THOUSAND dollars is the median pay of athletic trainers as of 2019 U.S. BLS SOURCE

cess that the kids have to follow before returning to full athletic activity.” But those changes, according to Bergman, haven’t changed his main duties as an athletic trainer. Bergman said, “As an athletic trainer, your main duties are to prevent, care for and rehabilitate injuries that athletes sustain while participating in sports.” Bergman, who has been an athletic trainer for 21 years, also mentioned his favorite part of his job. He said, “The best part of being an athletic trainer for me is that I get to marry my love of sports with my willingness to help people. It is a win-win for me.” In addition, Katelyn Conley, varsity tennis player and senior, shared her experience about a recent injury and how an athletic trainer helped her. Conley said she tore ligaments and her paraspinal muscles in her back. To recover, she worked closely with the athletic trainers. “When I went to go see the trainer, the first thing they made me do was a ton of stretching,” Conley said. “I was at the point where my whole back was constantly tight and spasming eventually when they got that under control they used heat treatments and cryotherapy in order for it to basically not start spasming again. At this point in the treatment, I could barely walk, sit in a chair, etc. So when I got a little stronger they made me workout to some sense, since my core and back were not strong enough.” READY TO PLAY: Katelyn Conley, women’s varsity tennis player and senior, gets ready to return a tennis shot. She said she found the feeling of stepping back on the court after her injury to be the most rewarding. KATELYN CONLEY SUBMITTED PHOTO

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Overall, she said that her trainer really helped her. “I think my trainer really helped reassure me that I was going to get back to playing my sport,” Conley said. “I was really worried for a little bit that I was going to have to sit out for an extensive amount of time. (My trainer) also helped me heal quicker than what my doctor initially expected.” “The most rewarding feeling was stepping back out on the court for the first time since the injury,” she added. I wasn’t worried that I was going to re-tear anything and felt stronger/more prepared thanks to everything the trainer had done.” Conley also said her trainer impacted her personally.

TAPE IT UP: Athletic trainer Chad Bergman helps to adhere tape on an athlete to help prevent future injuries. Bergman said, Bergman said he likes his job as an athletic trainer primarily because it allows him to dwell on his love of both sports and helping others. LUKE MILLER PHOTO

TRAINING HISTORY Check out the history of the process of becoming an athletic trainer

“I definitely do think that seeing an athletic trainer is beneficial and has personally made me a better athlete,” she said. “Their job is to help you in any way possible and to get you back to where you were before you were injured. They educate you on how to be more cautious and take (care) of yourself before and after a workout.” Frazer said her favorite part of the job is seeing the teams play at games. “I love sports anyway, so the job is really fun for me, but it’s also really fun getting to watch them practice and get better throughout the season,” she said. She also said, “Training is a really big time commitment but it’s

The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) was founded, in Kansas City, Missouri. NATA establishes standard for professional athletic trainers.

1950

1997

(a) rewarding (job). It’s the same as being on the team in terms of time commitment at least for a normal year.” She said, “But if you like watching the sport, it can be such H a great activity.” This story was originally published online on March 12, 2021

DID YOU KNOW?

All athletic trainers must receive a bachelor’s degree before becoming a professional. Although this is the benchmark requirement, over 70% of all certified trainers also have a master’s or doctoral degree. ATHLETICO SOURCE

The NATA Education Council was founded, which determined competenices that should be taught in athletic training schools.

BELLIN HEALTH SOURCE ANIKET BISWAL GRAPHIC

1881

Harvard University hired first athletic trainers for their football team. They only gave rub downs of the players.

1969-1989

Certification processes were introduced for athletic trainers, including the Board of Certification (BOC) exam.

36 B E S T O F M A R C H 2 0 2 1

BOUNCING BACK Athletes, coaches consider challenges in spring sports after long hiatus due to COVID-19 JILLIAN MOORE STORY

chool administrators can-

celed most spring sports last year due to COVID-19. Coaches and athletes have had to adjust to limited practice times and limited access to sports facilities while athletics phase back in. As this year’s spring sports season begins, most athletes said they have practiced independently to ensure they perform well. Sophie Morgan, softball player and sophomore, said despite COVID-19 closures, athletes must still put in a large time commitment individually in order to improve. “I make sure that I stretch every night because I’m not flexible. I go to batting lessons once a week, catching lessons once a week. I make sure to do at least a 30-minute workout every day, so usually when I’m bored in between school,”

she said. “I watch a lot of college softball to see what they’re doing and then see if I can try to implement that into what I’m doing.” Daniel Cunningham, baseball player and junior, said closed facilities made practice more difficult. He said he and his teammates struggled to find available baseball fields. “When the places are closed, obviously you can’t really get better if you can’t play. So especially if it gets cold outside, you’re only limited to how the weather is outside, which makes it a lot tougher to practice and get better,” he said. Women’s track coach Aaron McRill said practices have had to change to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions. “We still have a large number of athletes on the team, but we are able to break them down into

BY THE NUMBERS

300

collegiate sports programs canceled or suspended amid pandemic

180

THOUSAND students who receive a sports scholarship each year NCSA, NCAA SOURCES

much smaller groups within the team. We all just need to be conscious of spacing and social distancing,” McRill said via email. Morgan said these COVID-19 guidelines have also affected recruitment and caused college coaches to go virtual, which is not ideal in terms of exposure to recruiters. “In-person recruiting for (Division 1) isn’t supposed to happen until June or July, I’m pretty sure. They don’t really have camps anymore on campus, and that’s mainly how softball players get recruited, is at camps,” Morgan said. “So it’s been very difficult to put yourself out there and be known by college coaches, especially when they don’t really want to travel far for the showcases. So it’s hard to be seen.” Cunningham said since the cancelation of spring sports last

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BATTER UP:

Sophie Morgan, softball player and sophomore, prepares to hit a softball during Nationals in July of last year. According to Morgan, COVID-19 safety guidelines have caused many coaches to recruit virtually which is not ideal gauging an athletes performance. SOPHIE MORGAN SUBMITTED PHOTO

year, he has felt pressured to perform well this season, as he now has fewer remaining opportunities for recruitment. “(Recruitment has) definitely been a tough thing because colleges couldn’t get out last year, which is obviously one less year that they can see you… so then it puts more pressure on how you do this year versus having more of a two year outlook,” Cunningham said. However, McRill said he disagreed, and said despite challenges colleges have worked hard to focus on the athletes. He said, “Most colleges have been pretty good about keeping up PITCH PERFECT:

Daniel Cunningham, varsity baseball player and junior, practices pitching indoors. Cunningham said practices have been more difficult during the pandemic due to more baseball fields and training facilities being closed. LUKE MILLER PHOTO

with recruits. I thought there would be a disconnect, but I feel like both athletes and recruiters have been a bit more purposeful about the process.” Morgan said one challenge COVID-19 poses—mainly not having opportunities to bond with teammates—has had a large impact on her softball team. “You’re not supposed to see your teammates outside of softball. So it’s been really hard to get to know your teammates well over the season. My team is just now starting to get to know everybody,” Morgan said. “So it’s really difficult to come together when you’re not really supposed to be around each other.”

Scan this to read a story about spring athletes reflecting on their 2020 season

Still, despite these restrictions McRill said most students feel grateful to have a season and comply with COVID-19 restrictions well. “We are truly lucky in our school and state to be having sports. We should never lose sight of that. So, social distancing and wearing a mask are small prices to pay to be able to have a season,” McRill said. Morgan added she will do everything she can to keep spring sports in session and hopes all students at this school work to keep numbers of COVID-19 cases low for this purpose. “I think I can say this for all of the spring sport athletes. All of us are really trying to make sure that the cases don’t rise. We really would like a season, since the winter sport athletes or fall sport athletes got their season in,” she said. “We really would like a season, so we really want all of the other athletes and everybody else to please keep wearing masks and keep doing COVID guidelines so that we can have a season.” Cunningham said he agrees, and said he has practiced hard for the opportunity to play in the spring season. “It’s been unfortunate. It just makes you realize how much you can’t take these things for granted, how you have to capitalize on these opportuniH ties when you get them.” This story was originally published online on March 14, 2021

EDWARD DONG GRAPHIC VERYWELL FIT, FORBES, NASM SOURCES

FITNESS HIATUS Learn about effects of detraining for aerobic, anaerobic fitness

Anaerobic Detraining Body shifts energyintensive fast-twitch muscles to slow-twitch

Fast-twitch: for quick, powerful bursts Slow-twitch: supports endurance BEFORE

Muscles are mosaic of slow and fast-twitch

AFTER

Loss of muscular strength

Aerobic Detraining AFTER 3 to 4 WEEKS: Capillary density in lungs/muscles fades AFTER 1 WEEK: Red blood cell levels return to pre-training levels Reduced oxygen delivery and endurance

38 B E S T O F M A R C H 2 0 2 1

EAT TO PLAY Female athletes, coaches share experiences with body image, expectations of what athletes should look like

OLIVIA MCKEE PHOTOS

ily rose, varsity women's

track and field team member and junior, has only had one experience in which someone approached her about her weight. Rose said, “I’m a very skinny person and as a runner, that’s just natural. My body has grown into being a runner’s body. I had a coach one time, a female coach, come up to me and say, ‘Hey Lily, I’ve noticed that you’ve gotten a lot smaller since last year and I’m just concerned, making sure that you’re eating and everything.’” However, while Rose said experience was only an isolated occurrence, people's expectations of body image have hit close to home for athletes like Evie Taller, women’s cross-country and track team member and junior, who said she has seen firsthand the pressure—and the body confidence issues that result—for athletes like her feel to look a certain way. “We (athletes are) kind of expected to be more sort of thin,” she said. Those expectations for female athletes have led to some making harmful decisions in order to lose weight and be thinner, sometimes culminating in the development of an eating disorder. According to recent interviews of Division I athletes conducted by Women's Health, almost 15% of those interviewed stated they have had an eating disorder. That number reached as high as 32% with rowers. Additionally, 35% of respondents said they believed at least one of their teammates has an eating disorder. For her part, Rose said she has noticed some athletes on the crosscountry team dealing with issues with body image and not wanting to show their own body.

EATING AFFECTS Eating disorders affect 1 in every 11 people in the United States. Take a look at how this data breaks down. 19.1 million women (66%) female athletes: 3%

28.8 million Americans

KAITLYN LOPER STORY

*Information is based on 2019 data Compulsive Exercise- 3% Diabulimia- 5% Bulimia- 6% Other- 7% Anorexia Nervosa- 9% ARFID- 14% Co-occurring disorders- 25% Binge eating- 28%

9.5 million men (32%) male athletes: 1%

Non-Binary/Other: Not enough data (2%)

WARMING UP: Lily Rose, varsity women's track and field team member and junior, runs a lap as a part of her warm-up. Rose said she thinks cross country has developed a supportive culture to help any girls who may be struggling with body image issues.

“Something that I noticed is that, during the summer for crosscountry, we have the option to run without a shirt and just have our sports bra. There are some days

Bulimia- 3% Anorexia Nervosa- 4% Compulsive Exercise- 4% Diabulimia- 6% ARFID- 18% Binge eating- 20% Co-occuring disorders- 22% Other- 23% NATHAN HUANG GRAPHIC ANAD, NEDA SOURCES

where if it’s really hot, it’s almost like ‘why would you not take off your shirt?’ I don’t really judge anyone upon it,” Rose said. “I feel as though the atmosphere from

HILITE.ORG

"I have seen a lot on social media recently that has represented a lot of different body types and I appreciate that." LILY ROSE, VARSITY WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD TEAM MEMBER AND JUNIOR middle school to high school is quite different in that we are mature adults and we’re not going to be ‘objectified’ by taking off our shirts. I see a little bit in some freshmen, typically towards the beginning of our season in the summer, where they’re really hesitant to take off their shirts or they do only on certain days.” According to Melanie Pulley, swim coach for Carmel Swim Club and Carmel High School, some of those issues come from female athletes unfairly comparing themselves to other athletes. “I think they see people who are professional athletes or someone who is more elite than they are and they feel there's a necessity to compare themselves to that athlete. And it's a whole thing working on self confidence,” Pulley said. Rose said, rather than perpetuate an unrealistic idea of what a “healthy” woman looks like, social media has shown girls with a variety of body types. “I have seen a lot on social media recently that has represented a lot of different body types and I appreciate that,” she said. “I think that allows for so many of our younger girls to be like, ‘I can tailor my body to the way that it is.’ Being healthy looks different for everybody and of course, you know what’s healthy for you and what isn’t. I think social media has allowed us to see that healthy can look different ways.” Rose added that the crosscountry team has developed a supportive culture to help any girls

who may be struggling with body image issues. “I would probably say that everyone around you is there to support you,” she said. “If you see the amount we cheer for (other runners) on their times and how they do with a sport, that is just as much how we support them in everyday life issues. We love to call our team a family because we spend so much time together that I am proud to call all of those girls my sisters. “I spend so much time with (my teammates) that to feel self-conscious in my mind, although natural, is almost silly,” she added, “because there is absolutely no way that I can imagine

LIVING FREELY:

Evie Taller, track and field member and junior, runs a mile time trial during practice with two other runners. Taller said she recommends her teammates to not worry about what other people think of them, and to live for yourself.

anybody looking at another girl on our team and saying ‘Wow, she looks that way? Why?’ It’s just not part of our culture on our cross-country team. It’s something that does not happen.” Ultimately, Taller said she has some words of wisdom for any of her teammates who feel like they do not look as they should. “You don’t need to worry about what other people think of you,” she said. “Don't worry about what you look like—let how you H (perform) speak for itself." *Additional reporting done by Austin Guo This story was originally published online on March 16, 2021

PERSPECTIVES

BEST OF MARCH 2021

A VIRTUAL SUMMER CHS decision to remove online summer courses disrupts rising seniors’ schedules; option should continue for Class of 2022 HILITE STAFF EDITORIAL

tarting this summer, this

school will no longer offer AP Macroeconomics or AP Government as courses that can be taken online during summer session through the Indiana Online Academy (IOA). From now on, students will be required to take AP Macroeconomics and AP Government during the school year to meet graduation requirements. Administrators said they came to this decision after considering learning environments and recognizing that students learn better in in-person settings. However, this sudden change poses many challenges for current students, especially current juniors, as they now must change their future schedules in order to accommodate two mandatory classes. The Class of 2022 is most affected, as rising seniors in that class are now required to take AP Government during their senior year. This may alter their original scheduling plans, which may have included the summer school option, as students were only aware of the change for a few months before they met with their counselors. Therefore, we suggest the school continues to offer online summer courses specifically for rising seniors to accommodate this sudden change in plans.

OUR STANCE The school should continue offering online summer courses for incoming seniors who were unprepared for the new class changes.

A change like this will help ease several problems. First, with the option to still take the two AP courses virtually over the summer, the class of 2022 would be able to follow longterm scheduling plans they decided on to follow before. If they have not yet taken AP Macroeconomics and AP Government, they may have to remove one semester of courses from their 2021-22 schedule, a change being made very late in their high school career. Additionally, current students following this year’s virtual learning plan are already taking classes online, many of them being provided through IOA, so virtual learning is inevitable now. All students at this school have experienced virtual learning from last March’s change in circumstances, so taking AP Macroeconomics and AP Government virtually would not be very different from students’ current learning environments. We understand the administrators’ decision as in-person learning is more beneficial than virtual. However, AP Macroeconomics and AP Government are still available virtually for individuals who are pursuing an IB diploma, so the decision to allow IB students to still take the courses while removing that option for other students is unfair. To combat this discrepancy, we suggest the virtual classes be opened to nonIB students in the Class of 2022, as the change is too sudden for them. To be clear, the HiLite staff still supports the decision to remove these classes from the IOA in future years, as in-person learning is more beneficial to students. However, the sudden announcement of this change is

unfairly difficult for current juniors. In order to avoid problems like this, in the future, administrators should make announcements about changes in course requirements and offerings much earlier. Similarly, there should be more communication between counselors and students to ensure that all students are aware of decisions and changes. These changes, both big and small, can make the scheduling and class enrollment process run much smoother while allowing students to make the best academic decisions. H

Read a story that explains why administration chose to remove AP summer course options this year and how students were affected by these changes

This editorial was originally published online on March 16, 2021

COURSE OF ACTION Check out this survey of 315 CHS students How were you planning to take Macroeconomics before the new changes?

39%

25% 12% 24%

Regular AP Summer AP In-school Not sure

How were you planning to take Government before the new changes?

35%

28%

26%

11%

Regular AP Summer AP In-school Not sure SOWMYA CHUNDI GRAPHIC

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BACK IN BLACKOUT Politicization of climate change is detrimental, need to implement long-term solutions like rebuilding energy infrastructure LEAH TAN COLUMN

tions from being implemented and only further politicized the issue of climate change. No longer is climate change treated with the bipartisan attention it needs. According to an analysis by Climate Central, major outages in the United States have more than doubled over the past decade and the trend doesn’t show signs of stopping. The culprit? Our outdated energy infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers rated our energy infrastructure a D+ in 2017, saying most of the infrastructure is exceeding its 50-year life expectancy, but change has yet to happen. According to Forbes, as much as $2 trillion of investment would be needed to finance the modernization of our energy grid, which is why many politicians hesitate to take action, but America can’t afford to stall anymore. I guarantee the cost will be absolutely worth it. Upgrading our infrastructure would not only help us avoid many of the devastating blackouts by rebuilding

ENERGY ETCHINGS

BIG FAN BY THE NUMBER

11.4%

it to withstand more extreme conditions, but would also enhance and encourage our use of renewable energy. In order to use the energy collected on solar panels, for example, we must have infrastructure that can store it in milliseconds to prevent it from being lost. Unfortunately, our current grid is incapable of processing such clean energy efficiently, but with modernized infrastructure, we can do just this, encouraging the use of cleaner energy and mitigating the impacts of climate change. It’s time for the United States to stop tiptoeing around the issue of climate change. Going to Cancún won’t solve your troubles. Natural disasters will get worse from here and long-term fixes are the only way to stop it, starting with rebuilding our infrastructure. H

of this nation’s energy comes from renewable sources like wind and solar energy

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Leah Tan at ltan@hilite.org

BORNENGINEER SOURCE

This column was originally published online on March 16, 2021

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD GRAPHIC U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION SOURCES

Solar energy is thermal energy converted to electricity that is between 11 to 15% efficient

Natural gas is a form of energy that creates methane gas when used; it is 80% efficient

Costs of Energy Sources in the U.S.

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Gas

Wind energy is a clean energy source that is between 50 and 59% efficient

Solar

Energy from coal is 40% efficient but is one of the largest environmental abusers

Annual cost per ton in USD

Learn more about different forms of energy

Wind

settle, the issue of the Texas blackouts have become less prevalent in the news, but the actual situation is far from becoming “less prevalent.” Rather, the blackouts have only highlighted a larger issue in America that needs to be tackled. After the blackouts began, Gov. Greg Abbott immediately took to Fox News and blamed the use of renewable energy. Soon after, many were repeating the same claim that Texas’ reliance on wind energy was the sole cause of such devastation, consequently using it to support their pro-fossil fuel stances. In reality, however, the halt of wind power was insignificant: according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, wind energy only makes up 7% of Texas’ entire power supply. The larger issue instead was in the failure of the power grid system, highlighting the flaws in America’s energy infrastructure. So no, simply put, renewable energy isn’t “less reliable” than non-renewable sources. Yet, the consequences of such a narrative being thrown around has prevented actual long-term solu-

Coal

s brutal winter storms

BEST OF MARCH 2021

AVOID THE RISK Wearing helmet is crucial for staying safe; students should prioritize safety over image ALIVIA ROMANIUK COLUMN

ccording to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 857 bicyclists were involved in a fatal accident in 2018, the highest number since 1900. The majority of these deaths involved major head injuries, and 97% of the bicyclists who died were not wearing a helmet. With March being National Brain Injury Awareness Month, people should remember the importance of helmets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) have been on the rise over the past few decades, with about 150 Americans dying of TBIs every day. We have been taught since day one wearing a helmet can save your life, yet at our age, wearing a helmet is often considered dorky. The negative stigmas surrounding wearing helmets often cause teenagers to ditch them. It is easy to reason the odds of getting into an accident are low. However, not wearing a helmet turns the odds against you, as you are up to 85% more likely to survive a major TBI when wearing a helmet, according to Cleveland Clinic. When I was younger, my friends and I would always ride our bikes together, and it was a given that we would wear helmets. However, according to a 2019 study by Michigan Medicine, one in five parents say their child never wears a helmet while biking. I have seen this decrease in the community, especially on the Monon. A common misconception is that wearing a helmet isn’t necessary unless on the road. While the Monon for example is safer than roads, there are several major street crossings that can make it just as dangerous.

Twenty-first century helmets have been designed to absorb most of the impact from a fall, reducing the chances of a skull fracture. Before sold to the public, helmets must go through a strict certification process, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The level of regulation we have means that we should not be comparing bicycle deaths to 1900, when helmets were merely made of leather.

SAFETY FIRST BY THE NUMBERS

89%

CUE COVID

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Alivia Romaniuk at aromaniuk@hilite.org This column was originally published online on March 11, 2021

SAUMYA SOMASI GRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE

COVID

of bicycle fatalities occurred at or near intersections

COVID COVID

51%

COVID

decrease in chances of TBI when wearing a helmet HELMETS.ORG SOURCE

Scan this to read about other forms of helmet safety

It is crucial for students to take the responsibility of wearing a helmet. Just as it is normalized in sports, helmet-wearing should be normalized whether riding a bike, skateboard or any other form of H recreational transportation.

2.2M+ Confirmed COVID

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KNOW YOUR WORTH Women’s influence in politics unprecedented, should continue because of its benefits KIERSTEN RIEDFORD COLUMN

ow more than ever women have earned prestigious political positions. Not only has the increase of women in Indiana’s politics been present, most recently with the election of United States Representative Victoria Spartz this past November, but also on a national scale: 13 out of 33 proposed positions on President Joe Biden’s cabinet are women. This is a record-breaking number. Most notably, Biden’s own Vice President, Kamala Harris, is a female. Additionally, Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics states there are currently 143 women in the U.S. Congress, 17 more female members than there were in 2019. In addition to the influx of female political leadership in the U.S., the increase is also present globally. In organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), National Public Radio (NPR) announced Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former twotime Nigerian finance minister, was appointed on Feb. 15 as the next director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO). She will be the first female leader of the organization, a huge milestone. Ultimately, the increase in female representation in the United States government and around the world appears to be positive and could serve to be important in conversations surrounding the concepts of reproductive rights and women’s health. First the U.S. has been divided on the issue of reproductive rights,

but historically it has mainly been men in politics who make the ultimate decisions as to what a woman does with her body. With an influx of women in positions where they can vote on these issues, we have a better opportunity to understand where women in today’s society stand on these controversial topics. As for women’s health, one of the specific issues involves menstrual products and their availability to women. Currently, Indiana is one of 31 states that have a “tampon tax,” which places a luxury tax on tampons rather than classifying them like produce or sales-tax-free items. There have been multiple attempts in the past (such as the vetoed tampon tax relief bill in 2016) to reduce or eliminate taxes on menstrual products, but so far, perhaps due to misrepresentation of females in political offices, it has been difficult to receive those reliefs. While the outcome of women being in office may not change the ultimate decision on the various reproductive and health issues that have previously been dominated by male representatives’ opinions, having female representatives allows the conversations to have a female perspective be brought to the table. H

QUARANTINE BLUES WOWZA! One year since the start of quarantine? I must have gotten a lot done!

Panicked Fed koi at the when koi pond every event in 2020 was cancelled

BE BOLD

Stayed up late every night

Laid in the sun for hours

THAT’S what I have to say for a whole year? Not a good story for my grandkids

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Kiersten Riedford at kriedford@hilite.org This column was originally published online on March 14, 2021

EMILY SANDY GRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE

BEST OF MARCH 2021

SEIZE THE AWKWARD With National Awkward Moments day on March 18, students should learn to welcome awkward moments, not be ashamed of them RILEY LAFERRIERE COLUMN

y face turns beet red as I get nailed by the soccer ball coming straight toward my face. I try to mask my embarrassment, but feeling the eyes of my peers surrounding me makes me feel even more awkward. It’s clear that this kind of awkwardness has long been the trademark of the teenage experience. And although March 18 is National Awkward Moments Day, it’s obviously not the only time we can encounter this type of humiliation in life. From group projects to bad hair days, it seems almost impossible to escape the awkward stigma that surrounds the high school years. Even worse, there are hundreds of ways to experience social discomfort within our lives; however, despite the root of awkwardness, one thing remains the same: it’s commonality. Many times in my own life, I resort to looking down at my phone screen or standing quietly when I recognize the chance for social embarrassment. And when I do get involved in awkward experiences, it is not uncommon for me to make peace signs or blush. What I, and others, sometimes fail to register, however, is the normality of experiencing uncomfortable situations. Furthermore, the inability to accept awkwardness doesn’t make us anymore “perfect,” and actually can make us miss multiple chances. One particular period of awkwardness avoidance is seen in the first and last couple minutes of class. During this time, many people whip out their phones and try to steer clear of making eye contact with their peers. I’ll be the first to admit I do this, too. Other times, however, our awkward-

ness is more unavoidable such as BY THE when we trip or misspeak. NUMBERS When we are faced with awkwardness and possible embarrassment like in those situations, it’s important to remember that awkward experiences can make us squirm, but it’s even more of millennials critical to recall it’s a natural experience are not all humans encounter. And while these confident are only a few examples of potentially in face-toawkward moments, the fear of embarface social rassment can hold individuals back situations from bigger possibilities in the future. So what if we welcomed these awkward instances instead of avoiding them? For starters, we could learn more advanced communication skills of millennials and come to understand one another said they better. By recognizing the humanbelieve their ity behind awkwardness, we can also lack of social come to love ourselves more even skill has when we feel embarrassed. And there hindered their are so many other benefits to reap if friendships we find the motivation to become the best version of ourselves through our uncomfortable moments. SWNSDIGITAL SOURCE

65%

40%

MUSIC RUINED

THAT’S AWK! Yes, the social pressures we face are numerous and seem insurmountable, but because fear of embarrassment only seems to distract us from reaching our full potential, we should try our hardest to accept it as a part of life. H The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Riley Laferriere at rlaferriere@hilite.org This column was originally published online on March 18, 2021

JOSHIKA SATHYAMATHAN GRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE

Song becomes popular on TikTok Wow isn’t this song great?

Listening to a favorite song once in a while

Not anymore

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IT’S NOT A G(A)ME Investing in stock market has become mainstream trend despite its current volatility; people should take stocks seriously again RAGHAV SRIRAM COLUMN

ast month’s buzz associated with GameStop and AMC and their stocks has died down for now, but for a moment it felt like everyone was glued to their phones tracking these two stocks. Of these people, a subsection was inspired from what they saw on the news to start investing. These people were inexperienced and new to the stock market, and while it’s amazing to see new people joining and getting involved in this money-making industry, it just might not have been the best nor the right time to do so. Stocks like GME (GameStop Corporation) are incredibly volatile, and it was outright dangerous for people to invest. While seeing their stock prices spike up hundreds of percentage points made the stock incredibly attractive, it was obvious this was unsustainable and the stock crash was inevitable. This is exactly what happened, and when the stock market reopened the following Monday, hundreds of thousands of people saw heavy losses. I do sympathize for those who lost money. GameStop’s stock looked like it was going to continue to rise, and it would have been impossible to predict Robinhood and other brokerages would limit the purchase of GameStop’s shares. With that said, many people made outright horrible investment decisions. When you invest you should never put the majority of your money into one stock, yet with GameStop many people invested their life savings under the impression they would get their money back and more. This investment with no risk assessment may have been caused by influencers. People saw influencers investing in these companies and thought to themselves, “Why shouldn’t I invest as well?” Influencers must realize that they

“I LIKE THE STOCK” Take a look at growth graphs of “meme stocks,” such as GME, AMC and NOK GameStop Corporation (GME) as of March 8, 3:30 p.m. $400

$347

$300

NOT A JOKE! have great power over the general public. What happened with GameStop illustrates that when it comes to investing, it is important to get your advice from credible sources and not from the first person you see on your feed. Moving forward, as an investor myself, I recommend those who are new to the stock market industry to invest small amounts of money at first and consult resources such as Yahoo Finance and Investopedia when making their financial decisions. Hopefully, what happened with GameStop reminds the public that the stock market isn’t a trend, and that people can lose thousands of dollars within the blink of an eye. The shorting that happened with GameStop and AMC isn’t a fluke and is bound to happen again in the future. I just hope when it does, thousands of people do not lose their retirement money like they did with GameStop and AMC that they H worked so hard to earn. The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Raghav Sriram at rsriram@hilite.org This column was originally published online on March 18, 2021

$200

$192.7

$100

Jan 2021

Feb 2021

Mar 2021

AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) as of March 8, 3:30 p.m. $20

$19.9

$15 $10

$9.18

Jan 2021

Feb 2021

Mar 2021

Nokia Oyj (NOKj) as of March 8, 3:30 p.m. $7

$6.55

$6 $5 $4 $3 Jan 2021

$3.89

Feb 2021

Mar 2021

Each stock peaks in early February due to the influx of r/WallStreetBets, a Reddit forum for stock investors and users buying in, which skyrockets each stock in a mechanism known as a “short squeeze” DANIEL TIAN GRAPHIC CNBC, MARKETWATCH, ROBINHOOD SOURCES

15 MINUTES OF FAME

BEST OF MARCH 2021

SAY CHEESE! Q&A with portrait photographer, senior Grace Barney CALINA HE, MADDIE KOSC Q&A

GRACE BARNEY SUBMITTED PHOTOS

How did you get involved in photography? I don’t really know how I initially got started because I got my first camera when I was 10 years old so I’ve always liked taking pictures of friends and everything. But it wasn’t until one of my friends actually reached out to take senior pictures that I actually started getting interested in the business side of it.

How would you characterize your photo style? I like shooting backlit, all-natural light, like shooting outdoors, and I have a really warm and light editing style.

What is your photoshoot process? I choose a location first usually and then the outfit is kind of chosen around that. So it just depends on the model’s style and what they like best, whether that’s nature or industrial. I usually shoot about two hours or so before sunset or after sunrise and it usually takes around an hour and a half. I pick all the pictures I like, narrow it down to about a hundred, and then edit with Lightroom.

BEHIND THE SCENES: Senior Grace Barney

READY TO EXPORT: Seniors Gretchen and Anna

CALINA HE PHOTO

GRACE BARNEY SUBMITTED PHOTO

takes portraits of her friends. Barney said she started photography as a hobby but later turned it into a business.

Moore pose for a shot. Barney took this photo and edited it with Lightroom.

What is your favorite part of taking portraits for others? My favorite part of taking portraits is getting to know every subject and every model and just kind of talking to them throughout the whole photoshoot process. I also like the creative side of it and just getting to pick how the lighting looks and how the composition of the picture looks and then creating a final picture.

Has your view of photography changed since you turned it into a business? It definitely has changed. It’s actually a little bit more stressful because you’re trying to please someone else rather than just taking pictures for yourself. Also, I think that I’ve improved throughout it so that’s also a change that has happened. This Q&A was originally published online on March 20, 2021

SMILE: Senior Grace Barney poses with her camera. Barney said her clients find out about her business through word of mouth. CALINA HE PHOTO

Scan this to read an online story about students participating in photoshoots during quarantine

LITEBOX

BEST OF MARCH 2021

A CHILLY VICTORY Micah Hartsock, Icehounds gold team member and senior, holds the Hoosier League Tournament trophy after defeating Hamilton Southeastern’s team 5-2 on Feb. 21. “Everyone is doing their part,” Hartsock said. “This win was a great stepping stone going into the state tournament.” LUKE MILLER PHOTO

This photo was originally published online on March 17, 2021

3.23 Best of March Issue

Articles inside

MOTIVATED MINDSET

WOMANHOOD

SHAMROCK STYLE