The Razor - December 2018

Hopkins School 986 Forest Road New Haven, CT

Vol LXV, no. 2

www.therazoronline.com

December 13, 2018

Hopkins Unveils Plans for New Athletics Facilities Sarah Roberts '20 News Editor & Sophie Sonnenfeld '21

During the Friday, October 19 all-school Assembly, Head of School Dr. Kai Bynum unveiled the plans for a new track and softball field, marking a powerful advancement in Hopkins history. This news was met with intense enthusiasm from students, parents, and faculty alike, given that Hopkins has never had a track or dedicated softball field. With the energy and curiosity ignited by the prospect of the track and softball field, the Razor was able to speak with Bynum about the new plans and what this means for the community as a whole.

Bynum confirmed the track and softball field will be completed by August of 2019. “The contractor bidding is being done this week [The week before Thanksgiving break] so that the construction can be done by the fall of next year.”

Construction is on schedule and will begin within the next couple of months.

On The Hill, athletes, coaches, and the rest of the community have craved a track and softball field for years. Bynum commented, “Not having a track has been difficult for the program since its inception. We feel that we have a great location for it and just needed some support to make it happen.” Additionally, the idea for building both a track and softball field has floated around for a while on the Hopkins Board of Trustees, “Since I’ve been here I’ve seen these as projects that we want to do in addition to other things, but contributions and support from the community are what finally made this happen.” According to Bynum, generous donor families – who currently remain anonymous – gave the financial support for this operation: “Families who were determined to make it happen stepped up and it changed the conversation. This donation was granted specifically for the goal of creating a track and softball field.”

According to Dr. Bynum, this initiative was fueled by two main ideas: The first being the Hopkins Track and Field program is continually strong, and deserves a home on campus. In addition, building a track not only benefits Hopkins runners but also community health as a whole. “The track is also valuable for community wellness. During the day any Hopkins students, faculty, other programs and sports will be able to use the track for exercise. Our health and wellness curriculum will be able to use it too as we have just started to imagine all the opportunity this track can provide us.” Similarly, enthusiasm for the softball field stems from allowing increased and equal access to facilities for both baseball and softball players.

(Continued on Page 2)

Plans for new track and softball field, projected to be completed by summer 2019

Canned Food Drive Adopts New Name of cans.” Student Council representative of the Ju- the fence between the two names but mentioned how nior class, George Wang ’20, further explained: “The his “traditionalist side will always miss the original name CFBF intuitively makes sense. We currently do name of the Canned Food Drive.” While Sawyer To begin this year’s season of fundraising, not collect cans. Instead, we fundraise by collecting Maloney ’21 approved of the new name, he also deStudent Council President Samuel Jenkins ’19 sur- monetary donations.” Although at first he admitted scribed his appreciation for the tradition tied to the old prised the Hopkins community by changing the name to having a hard time grasping the new name, Wang name: “I think the CFD is easier, and more iconic.” of the fundraiser from the long standing Canned Food ’20 later stated, “ I think [the new name] accurately When asked about which name she preDrive, also known as the CFD, to the Connecticut represents what ferred, Victoria Aromolaran Food Bank Fundraiser, Madeleine Walker '19 Madeleine Walker '19 we are doing.” ’20 mentioned the “restrictive” or the CFBF. The anEven those who character of the original name: nual autumn fundraiser prefer the old “The old name, ‘Canned Food is intended to bring the name admit to Drive’ sounds like it limits our school together and the practicality fundraiser to donation of canned help the greater comof the change. goods, when in reality, we parmunity around HopAlthough Owen ticipate in a much larger way.” kins during the holiLamothe ’22 Sophie Sonnenfeld ’21, a Student day season. During the thought “the Council representative for the fundraiser, an informal name should sophomore class shared how the school wide competihave stayed the benefits of the new name stretch tion is held to see which same,” he acbeyond convenience and logic: grade will volunteer for knowledged the “I think the name change is imthe most hours. Durconvenience that portant and helpful as it describes ing the kickoff Assemour community participation.”

Lauren Seto '19 and Ashley Chin '19 sell waffles for the new name bly for the fundraiser, the Connecticut Food Bank introduced: To most of the Hopkins who Jenkins arrived at the “[the new name] Junior schoolers fundraise for the Connecticut participate in the fundraiser, the podium wearing a remakes more sense… People name change is not a big deal.

Food Bank purposed homemade canned food costume. To sym- know what it is from the start.”

Maloney ‘21, who volunteers bolize the switch, he triumphantly shed the costume While the name CFBF has increasingly around two hours each weekend, admitted how while as he announced the name change. As Hopkins does gained more support from much of the faculty and he “thinks the drive is the most efficient way to get not donate canned goods to the Food Bank, Jen- student body, other members of the Hopkins com- everyone in the school involved,” he “[doesn’t] rekins deemed it illogical to continue referring to the munity had a difficult time getting used to the switch. ally care that [the name] changed.” When asked fundraiser as the “Canned Food Drive.” Ella Zuse Lamothe ’22 touched on how the new name must about the importance of the name change, Zeus ’21 ’21, Student Council President of the sophomore overcome tradition when he explained that “everyone responded: “What really matters is that we work toclass, recounted how “[StuCo] thought a new name still calls it the CFD.” Robert Tulonge ’20 stated, “I gether as a school to help alleviate hunger and supwould stir up new excitement for the fundraiser.” prefer the original name because it has been around port the Connecticut Food Bank.” Gette also shared The Director of Equity and Community, since I have been at Hop and it’s what I’m used to.” a similar outlook: “In the end, it’s just a name.

Becky Harper, showed her support for the “logical” Hopkins Librarian, James Gette expressed he was on It’s still a great cause no matter what we call it.” decision: “it makes sense, we raise money instead Julia Kosinski '21 & Zoe Kim '20 News Assistant Editors

Inside This Issue:

News.................................1,2 Features............................3,4 Op/Ed...............................4,5 Arts...................................6,7 Voices................................8,9 Senior Wish List...............10 Sports...........................11,12

Page 10: Senior Wish List

Features, Page 3: Class of 2019 College Essay Hooks

Voices, Page 8: "Comfortable in my own skin" personal essay by Ella Fujimori '21

Sports, Page 12: Winter Sports Picture Page

The Razor: News

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December 13, 2018

Hopkins Unveils Plans for New Athletics Facilities rection. Along with gaining new members, Track and Field back part of the athletic fields, which has been a someContinued from page 1

“Building a softball field in many re- coach Julia Rowny hopes this track will advance the ex- what forgotten part of campus. He also hopes they will spects signals a sense of gender equity in the direction we perience of current track athletes: “Practicing the way one generate enthusiasm for the track and softball programs want to go in with our girls and boys sports regarding fields expects to compete always gives an athlete a mental boost. in general: “It will draw the energy out there, draw the and resources,” added Dr. Bynum, “The new Softball facil- These facilities will allow us to build a strong foundation people out there, and draw the kids out there in a new of core skills in our athletes and give them a real chance way that will be beneficial for the whole community.” ities will rival to try different kinds of events Although this initiative alone is already an exand possibly to see where their talents are!” tensive project to improve the Hopkins community, Byexceed the

Softball coach Angelina Mas- num explained this is just the beginning: “I think this alquality of the soia explained that she thinks “our lows us to realize the quality of the experience we want existing baseplayers will appreciate the fact that our kids to have across all of our programs. The success ball field.” their hard work is being recognized. and support of this planning hopefully will be harnessed

F o r By building a more recognizable to prompt additional campus projects and ignite some this coming presence, we are increasing our energy in wanting to accomplish other things too. We spring seaability to be an impactful group know there are areas in our arts, athletic, or academic son, the far on campus.” She also commented facilities that need some upgrades and this initiative sigfields will be that she is particularly excited to nals momentum in that direction that I hope continues.” “offline” with have “a visual reprelocations for sentation of the fact that interim fields we are serious about to be deterPeter Sachs women’s athletics.” mined in

Along with the the coming months. By Peter Sachs, one of the secuirty guards on campus, uses his drone to take coaches, the rest of Hopkins is just as exaeriel shots of Hopkins August, the cited by what this will fields will be open for use by anyone in the Hopkins community throughout the day. In the far field area, the grass mean for the school, even members of the field will be redone, with the track around it. The track will community who have moved on from The be six lanes with an eight-lane straightaway. There will Hill. Bynum even remarked, “I spoke with also be long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole vault an alum that ran track in ’59 who was excitareas. The shot put, discus, and javelin throwing will be ed to hear about this project. You get to see at an adjacent field. The softball field will have a dirt in- how many people the softball and track profield with permanent backstop, dugouts, and fencing, and grams have touched over the years, thus, unbrand new batting cages. There will be a storage building derstand the value of elevating the quality of Peter Sachs between the two for equipment such as hurdles and bats. experience in community wellness and equity.”

Bynum expects the track and soft The Hopkins Track coaches are enthusiastic about The far fields: The future location of the Hopkins track and softball field. how this addition will push the program in a positive di- ball field will attract a new energy towards the

Napping at Hopkins: Do Not Sleep on this Article Places to Nap Reasons not to Nap “Personally, I’ve never slept at school but I can understand why people do it. The senior section couches look comfortable for sleeping.” Sam Jenkins ’19

“The lower library is a great place to nap because it is always silent, creating an optimal sleeping environment.” Yash Thakur ’21 “I have [napped] in Heath, but it was a bad idea.” Nic Burtson ’20

“I don’t sleep at school. I don’t like sleeping in public spaces.”

Deniz Tek ’20

“If you can sleep sitting up, lower library chairs are the best. If you’re buds with the head advisors, they all have couches in their offices.” Izzy Melchinger ’21

“I do not sleep at school. Sleep is for the weak. Am I weak? No.” Livy Burdo ’21

“Go to the comfy couches in the library.”

Dani Rodriguez-Larrain ’23

“It would be fun, but then I wouldn’t get any work done.” Yaqub Bajwa ’22

“I personally don’t sleep at school. The buses are where it’s at.”

Drew Slager ’21 “I go to the couches in Upper Heath.” Madi Mettler ’21

Connor Pignatello ’19

“In the junior school, there’s not really any time to do something like that and there’s not enough freedom during the day to be able to.” Miko Coakley ’23

“Heck, yeah. Faculty reading room.” English Teacher Alex Werrell Brennan Gollaher ’19 sleeps off 15 grilled cheeses “I never have time to sleep at school so during the rough days I drink 3 cups of coffee a day.” Veronica Yarovinsky ’20 in the lower library.

Times to Nap

Napping Advice

“Before school. The lower lib chairs are always open.” Hannah Szabo ’21

“It’s easier with earphones in.” Adrian Horsley ’20

“Right after lunch, because you’re tired from all the food. Food comas.” Katherine Takoudes ’20

“I sleep at school all the time. I bring a blanket every day.” Sana Patel ’19 “It’s always easier to nap when you are snuggling with a friend” Julia Kosinski ’21

“I like sleeping at school in the morning because it gives me a burst Emma Cahill ’19 “Don’t tell your friends where you nap...”

Charlie Mason ’19 of energy for the rest of my day.”

Phoebe Schechner ’21 and Drew Slager ’21 show off their ability to JR Stauff ’19 Maria Cusick ’20 Cameron Michaelson ’19 is caught napping nap in almost any environment.

“I take five minute power naps during tests so I can stay focused.” Theodore Tellides ’19 “No H block - just naptime.”Arjun Aggarwal ’23 “I accidentally napped during A block once” Dania Zein ’21

with his eyes open

“I usually pull my hat down low and crash in the lower library arm chairs.”

Audry Braun ’20 “Drink coffee right before you nap so when you wake up you have a lot of energy.”

Sarah Roberts ’20

Features

December 13, 2018

Class of 2019 Senior College Essay Hooks

The Class of 2019 gives us a peek into their college essays, as they near the end of their application journey....

“It started with the dinosaurs” -Noah Schmeisser “Mud is far worse when it takes you by surprise” -Carter Richards “My earliest memories are of drawing farm animals with Crayola markers when I was in preschool, and I have been drawing and painting ever since” -George Kosinski “I have a superpower” -Jack Dove “By at least one conventional standard, I am not human” -Kara Amar “As an athlete, I’d always believed in the dictum of famed football coach, Red Sanders: ‘Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing’ ” -Sydney Hirsch “I was 14 years old when I first got charged by a bull” -Madeleine Walker “For the first twelve years of my life, my world was a glass bubble” -Nate Stratton “A gust of wind reddened our cheeks as we escaped into the depths of the marsh” -Tyler Cipriano “I had no idea how to ride a unicycle” -Chris Nields “My greatest hurdle, and ultimately my greatest motivator, was apparent the moment I was born: a severe club foot bent 60° inward attached to twisted bones from my knee down” -Ben Washburne “It took me five years, five schools, and two states to stay in one city” -Ellen Ren “One morning last July, I sat in an office building in downtown Hartford, afraid to answer the phone” -Noah Slager “As my tent began to tremble around me, I woke to an overwhelming wave of fear” -Emma Lipman

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“Loneliness is an epidemic” -Ben Nields “As I packed the last of my gear into the canoe, I could hear the Farmington River gently flowing past” -Zubin Kenkare “‘There’s like a 50% chance we’ll move...alright 70%...ok so maybe it’s around 95,’ my dad said to me sitting at the family dinner table” -Tamara Lillenbaum “‘You’ll learn to hate it here,’ Luis said” -Naomi Tomlin “I stood at the foot of the garage doorway as I watched in horror the sludge of fecal water splash around the cars like small, polluted waves” -JR Stauff “‘You know, farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.’ - Dwight Eisenhower” -Matt Stevenson “I look around the cafeteria and watch as my hard work is stained with tomato sauce” -Theodore Tellides “Since I was young, I’ve struggled with the color of my skin” -Lady Karen Asamoah “On my thirteenth birthday, I moved from Scottsdale, Arizona to New Haven, Connecticut” -Maddie Mulligan “I break a law of physics every week” -Fi Schroth-Douma “If you took a look inside my pockets on any given day you’d get a good idea of the kind of person I am” -Adwith Mukherjee “I want to be a mother.”

-Emma DeNaples “Standing outside on a summer evening, underneath strung fairy lights, holding my partner’s hands, I have never felt more free using my voice.”

-Katie Broun

In the Mood for Some Holiday Food Lily Meyers ’20 Features Assistant Editor Holiday food traditions can be a way to connect with family and friends, enjoy some of the extra free time during break, and, of course, eat some good food. Many students have favorite holiday foods or holiday food traditions that they look forward to, that are often confined to this exciting burst of the year.

Isabel Vlahakis ’19 enjoys baking and eating sugar cookies during the holidays. She said, “They’re rolled sugar cookies made from scratch. We put sprinkles on them, and we decorate Lily Meyers ’20

Nate Meyers ’20 enjoys latkes at a family Hanukkah party.

them. There are little different shapes, sugar cookies has also been a part of her like little angels, bells, and flowers. There’s family for a while. The family uses a recipe a rooster one. They are very colorful.” from her grandma, and the tradition of Carobaking them line Meury ’22 has “been loves “Mashed h app e n i ng sweet potato since before with marshI was born,” mallow, brown Vlahakis sugar, and ’19 said. maple syrup.

HoliIt’s my favorite day cooking because it’s reand baking ally good. We is also an ophave it every portunity to year.”

Grifspend time fin Congdon with friends ’20 also likes and family. to eat some- Tom Takoudes Nate Meything sweet, Katherine Takoudes ’20 and Chris Takoudes ’22 eat vasilopita to ers ’22 said, saying, “I “We make celebrate the New Year. like pumpkin latkes; they’re pie because it is unique to the holidays.” fried potato pancakes. I help my dad. We Not all holiday foods have to be grate potatoes and onions. We make a lot sweet. Charlotte Yin ’20 said, “My dad is because we have to feed our entire family.”

Chinese, so we eat hot pot every year, which Making them with his father is not the only is meat and vegetables and fish in chicken way he spends time with his family while broth, and we’ve done that forever.” This a enjoying them; “Usually on the first night tradition that has been in her family for a of Hanukkah we will do it for just our imlong time; she explained, “My grandparents mediate family, and then whenever we have started it with my dad.” our Hanukkah party, then we make them Similarly, Mila Koshov ’22 has for the entire family. We make them when had olivier salad with her family for as long we visit our grandparents in Florida as as she can remember. She said, “We have well,” he said. During the holidays, people our tradition of making Russian salad. It’s often bond with their families through Russian cold cuts, peas, carrots, pickles, cu- baking, cooking, or passing down recipes. cumbers, eggs, potatoes, sometimes apples.”

For Katherine Takoudes ’20, famVlahakis’ ’19 tradition of baking ily tradition blends with Greek tradition.

She said, “For as long as I can remember, my family has baked and eaten vasilopita on New Year’s Day. Vasilopita is a sweet and orangey cake without frosting, and it’s a Greek tradition to bake it with a coin inside. Then, when we cut it on New Years, the person who finds the coin in Veronica Yarovinsky ’20

Saira Munshani ’20 enjoys some tasty gingerbread cookies.

their slice has good luck for the new year.”

Holiday foods are a crucial part of winter and the holiday season for Meyers ’22. He values them because, “I love to eat holiday foods. They are a staple of the holiday season. The traditions bring the spirit of the holidays and they are something that we can all bond over.”

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December 13, 2018

The Razor: Features

Hopkins Students Review School Dances Izzy Lopez-Kalapir ’20 Features Editor Sam Mason ’22

Throughout the year, Hopkins hosts several school dances, including Homecoming, Yule, and Sadie’s.

Dances offer students an opportunity to socialize on campus while enjoying music and dancing together. However, it seems that there is a hint of dissatisfaction among a portion of students. The question stands: does the student body enjoy dances, and how can they be made better?

Serena Ta ’20 answered for herself in one word: “Sometimes.” Her response, though terse, most accurately sums up students’ divided opinions on dances. “I love getting out on the dance floor, and being in the moment with my friends,” said Kit Illick ’21. Others disagree; Eva Brander Blackhawk ’20 said, “No. I would much rather hang out with friends at someone’s house. I don’t really have fun at dances.”

This year’s Homecoming dance, the first dance of the year for the Upper School, was held in the gym.

This was a change from previous dances held in Heath.

Madeleine Walker ’19, Senior Class President, said, “The dance location was changed from Heath to the gym beEva Brander Blackhawk ‘20

Sara Amar ’19 and Eva Brander Blackhawk ’20 pose on the dance floor

cause there was an event going on in Upper Heath the next day, and there wouldn’t be enough time for...maintenance...to put the furniture back before it started.”

The majority of students attended the Homecoming dance; Walker reported that around 65-75% of the student body bought tickets. Some students found the gym provided a better venue for the dance than previous events in Heath. Illick noted that events in Heath had been nice but “the gym had more room.” Nick Wilkinson ’21 also enjoyed the change from Heath to the gym for Homecoming. He said, “It afforded fewer opportunities for sitting, which meant students had to get up and dance. I would like the rest of the school dances to be held in the gym.” Kenny Lu ’19 countered: “Heath on both levels works well. The gym feels a little too large, but with the right improvements could be made to work.” Students have also suggested that there should be a disco ball added to the decorations to add some extra lights, less faculty supervision, more advertising, or even a collaboration with other schools such as Choate, Hamden Hall or Hotchkiss for a cross dance.

At Homecoming a DJ played a variety of music, including works by Travis Scott, Fountains of Wayne, and Ed Sheeran. Colored lights flashed with the beat of the music. However, some students think that the music at school dances is not up to par. Fiona Li ’22 said, “The DJ lowkey played a bunch of songs I’ve never heard of. It’s a bit overwhelming.”

The food offered at Homecoming spanned a wide array of types including candy, cupcakes, cookies, Fruit Roll Ups, lemonade and soda. In Illick’s words, “They had it all.” Walker commented on the noshes and nibbles at Homecoming, “The snacks this year were incredible because we had so many generous parents who donated a variety of foods, from red velvet cupcakes to Capri Suns to chips.” The cuisine at last year’s Sadie’s was especially popular because it featured a chocolate fountain. “It was a mess to make and difficult to handle, but the work paid off and I think everyone enjoyed it!” said Katherine Takoudes ’20.

The question of whether or not dances are too infrequent is also up for debate. “Three is a solid amount,” said an anonymous senior. Lu said, “I wouldn’t complain if there were more dances; Term II especially feels like it has fewer breaks in the normal school schedule.”

For those who think the dances are too few in number or too

Student Spotlight: Will Hall ’19 Highpoint Pictures

Julius Herzog ‘20

Members of Boys Water Polo pose in front of one of the “We Think”themed signs found at this year’s Homecoming dance

large in population, there are also student-organized dances such as Pride Prom, organized by Sexuality and Gender Advocates, or SAGA, and the SURE dance, organized by Students United for Racial Equity. The SURE dance has featured fun themes such as Decades or Kaichella, and Pride Prom has offered and encouraged otherwise unconventional forms of self-expression like dressing in drag.

Since they are student-run, one can be sure to find a peer at the DJ booth running the music. SAGA was strongly suggested to send out a spreadsheet asking for song suggestions from students for last year’s dance.

They received over fifty responses, equalling close to three hours of song chosen by the attendees themselves.

Walker commented on student DJ of several past dances, Jeff Basta ’18, including last year’s SURE dance: “I always thought it was cool when Jeff Basta played songs that he made with other students like Caitlin Gilroy [’18].”

Fiona Li ‘19

Freshmen line up on a staircase to take pre-Homecoming pictures

Opinions/Editorials: The Pressing Issue of Global Immigration Olivia Capasso ’19 Editor-at-Large

Do you have any advice for other people?

Don’t be afraid to prioritize yourself above other things once in a while. Sometimes people get too involved with schoolwork or (for some seniors) college applications, and I think you shouldn’t be afraid of taking breaks and enjoying yourself every now and then.

Live a little.

If you won $10 million, what would you do?

I would probably live like an average upper-middle class person for the rest of my life, only without a job (because I would already have the money). First thing I’d do is get settled in a comfy yet affordable house, then start hobby hunting for something fun and uncostly to do. No need to burn the cash on mansions and lavish activities, then go broke a couple months later.

Would you rather be liked or respected?

Personally, I’d rather be liked. Somebody who respects you without liking you is an acquaintance at best, while someone who likes you without respecting you is just a rowdy friend. And I’d rather be around genuine friends than polite strangers.

Currently, a global conversation centers around the controversial crisis of immigrants fleeing their native countries and arriving on the shores of foreign nations in search of a better life. Most notably in Europe, Middle Eastern and African refugees arrive on boats by the thousands over the course of only a few days. Italy and Greece primarily bear the brunt of this tragedy. Most other European countries have shut down their borders and constructed barriers to prevent the arrival of these refugees to the European Union, leaving these vulnerable countries on the Mediterranean in desperate need of a more considerate approach in managing this pressing issue.

This year alone, nearly 84,000 refugees have reached Italy by sea, most of whom are either fleeing the wars in Iraq and Syria, or escaping poverty and oppression in Africa.

This catastrophe is not centralized solely in Europe. Recently, a convoy of immigrants convened in Central America, most of whom are from Honduras, in a unified march to the United States, because they are unable to live peacefully under their corrupt and dysfunctional government. The group began with over 7,000 people, all determined to escape the drug violence and gangs that strangle their political institutions and economy. These immigrants are moving in search of more fulfilling lives for their children; however, the United States government declared that the members of this caravan must first apply to enter the country in Mexico

before seeking refuge across the border.

In 2017, over 68 million people fled their homeland due to government corruption, poverty, war, and natural disasters, according to The United Nations Refugee Agency’s Annual Global Trends study. This immigration crisis is arguably the most pressing global issue today, and is in desperate need of a coordinated strategy in managing this mass displacement of individuals. In the near future, I hope to see a more involved approach on the part of the United States government in calling upon foreign governments to improve their management skills and abolishing their corrupt practices. The administrations of these problematic nations must reevaluate their financial, social, and political positions to ensure their citizens are not subject to violence and staggering rates of poverty.

Within the European Union, all countries must agree to disperse the placement of these refugees throughout the member states so that Italy and Greece are not drowned by the constant flow of the immigrants who arrive on their shores daily.

Refugees are fleeing their homes because they are no longer safe and secure in their native environment. The staggering number of individuals who feel threatened by their governments or no longer see a financial future for themselves in their home must be acknowledged, and the issue can only be solved with full cooperation by the leaders of all nations involved. There is no definite solution to the global influx of immigration, but it can only begin to be addressed if all institutions work in unison to end corruption and extensive poverty.

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

December 13, 2018

The College Essay Blues Today is the start of Winter Break. While many of you are about to

Razor’s Edge enjoy your winter holidays, I know seniors are about to enter a world of pain.

It is college essay time. I may be going against the mantra of the disillusioned senior, but despite their many annoying qualities, I think college essays are a constructive experience.

College essays are unusually cruel. They range from 250 to 650 words long, yet they take forever to complete. I’ll

“I have been driven to not include the whole truth and idealize situations in order to fit a prompt.” spend hours obsessing over the same 500 words, until my essay blends into a hazy conglomerate. jfhrjhOften these essays ask the applicant to write about a moment of growth. It can take the form of a challenge you have overcome, how you have contributed to a community, or what intellectually excites you. All questions try to probe at core beliefs and personality traits, and it feels impossible to wholly answer the prompt. I have been driven to not include the whole truth and idealize situations in order to fit a prompt.

Colleges say they want to learn about the true you, but I am rather skeptical. When I write about my time as a camp

counselor, am I going to mention that my lack of communication led to problems? What if I didn’t grow? What if I still wait till the last minute before sending urgent emails? Does a college really want to hear that? No. Instead they want to hear how I overcame adversity, how I was irresponsible initially but grew to become a better counselor.

Any negative attributes have to include some positive spin. For example, instead of mentioning how I can procrastinate for hours on end, I am compelled to say that I don’t meet with teachers enough. By saying this, I’m showing the admissions officer that I’m independent and have the determination to figure problems out on my own.

I’m not saying something truly negative The college process is a big game, yet colleges have the audacity to frame it as a holistic review of oneself.

“...they want to hear how I overcame adversity, how I was irresponsible initially but grew to become a better counselor. Any negative attributes have to include some positive spin.” ‘ I have found some positive side effects from the circus that is the college process; it requires selfreflection. As I constantly think about a multitude of prompts, I start to reconsider my role in various

communities and my core beliefs. Why do I do what I do? Why do I have certain beliefs? It’s nice sometimes to have an existential crisis.

If I can only include my cherry-picked positive attributes, I might as well make them nuanced.

This is easier said than done, though. The hardest

“In the midst of the ninth draft, exhausted and dejected, the answer will come.

Often this revelation is a subtle discovery, a reason behind certain quirks I thought were meaningless.” part of writing an essay is simply knowing what to say. I get stuck in this loop of writing and deleting as every answer I supply is not what I am actually thinking. In the midst of the ninth draft, exhausted and dejected, the answer will come. Often this revelation is a subtle discovery, a reason behind certain quirks I thought were meaningless.

To my fellow disillusioned seniors who have given up on the merit of school. Class is not meaningless, life is not suffering, and your essays are a means of self-discovery.

Who am I kidding? College essays are terrible and the prompts were created by monkeys banging their fist against keyboards. Enjoy the holidays.

- Theodore Tellides ’19 Editor-in-Chief

Stop the Culture of Comparison Katherine Takoudes ’20 Arts Editor After being admitted into Hopkins in sixth grade, I remember my dad telling me that my classmates would be a bunch of other Katherine Takoudeses.

He explained that just like me, my peers would have driven work ethics and a passion for learning; instead of standing out for being excited about school, I would fit

The Aftershave right in. To some degree, my dad was right: everyday, I am surrounded by passionate and inspired students who are deeply committed to the Hopkins community.

But in other ways, he missed the mark.

In seventh grade, I found myself surrounded by people who were the exact opposites of me. Living on the shoreline for my whole life, I met friends from towns I had never heard of, like Fairfield, Bethany, and even Wilton. Some of my peers had gone to private school their whole life, while I had always been at public schools. Others came to Hopkins with friends from their old school, while I came knowing only one person.

There were three-season athletes, students who had taken advanced math since first grade, and instrumentalists with a decade of experience. I struggled through the first few months, constantly questioning my abilities and comparing myself to the successful students I saw around me.

Ever since those first moments in seventh grade, all facets of my life on The Hill have been woven into this culture of comparisons. It manifests itself in all types of ways: with grades, sports, class levels, auditions, standardized tests, and leadership positions in clubs. Whether subconsciously or deliberately, we students create a culture of comparison among ourselves. We constantly evaluate ourselves against each other, magnifying others’ successes to tantalize our own.

It’s easy to fall into the cycle -- in person, with numbers, or on social media -- of comparing our own accomplishments, course loads, grades, athletic abilities, or looks to those of our classmates. We often come to one of two conclusions: we are either on top of the world or not doing nearly enough. Usually it is the latter, where we stress ourselves and others out with unrealistic expectations and feel discouraged by our abilities.

A less obvious comparison is the former, where we also differentiate ourselves for reassurance. I often see people

justifying their own “bad” grades by evaluating it against another student’s worse grade. Both types of comparisons cause one person to pit their own successes and failures against those of someone else, by zoning in on only one facet of each of their lives.

In reality, no two Hopkins experiences, no matter how similar they seem, are identical. Factors such as commutes, extracurriculars, jobs outside of school, family situations, education before Hopkins, and having older siblings at Hopkins all influence our performance at school. All students, teachers, and parents measure and define success on different terms, meaning demoralizing comparisons are created over materialistic and subjective standards.

As a junior, I have noticed this culture in the context of the college process. It comes up during conversations with friends at lunch, during advisor group, and even at my family dinner table as we compare how much we have done with standardized testing and touring colleges. People quantify their entire junior year into a list of grades, SAT and ACT scores, and number of AP courses, and then use those few guidelines to measure their success against others.

To some degree, comparisons can be healthy: they can motivate us to be better, stronger, or harder-working people.

The tendency to compare ourselves to others seems to be borderline impossible to avoid. It is integral to our growth, especially during our transformative years at Hopkins. Self-comparison, where our growth is not dependent on the work or standings of others, is especially beneficial and neces-

“Constantly weighing our own success next to the success of others begins to dictate who we are and what our priorities should be.” sary. But comparisons to others should not make us feel worthless and demoralized, especially when measured against our own arbitrary levels of what constitutes success.

We are often sucked into the comparison culture without fully recognizing its magnitude. Constantly weighing our own success next to the success of others begins to dictate who we are and what our priorities should be. Yet students can choose to opt out of this uroboros of the comparison culture at Hopkins.

Although it is difficult and takes constant practice, it is much more productive work than engaging in the destructive cycle of comparing oneself to others.

Editor-in-Chief: Theodore Tellides Managing Editor: Katie Broun News.......................................................................................Sarah Roberts, JR Stauff, Zoe Kim, Julia Kosinski Features..............................................Izzy Lopez-Kalapir, Connor Pignatello, Lily Meyers, Veronica Yarovinsky Op/Ed..........................................................................................Connor Hartigan, Saloni Jain, Simon Bazelon Sports....................................................................Audrey Braun, Alex Hughes, Teddy Glover, Anushree Vashist Arts..........................................................................................Ellie Doolittle, Katherine Takoudes, Leah Miller Voices........................................................................................Sara Chung, Saira Munchani, George Kosinski Editor-at-Large................................................Olivia Capasso, Noah Schmeisser, Ziggy Gleason, Casey Gleason Cartoonists................................................................................................Melody Parker, Arthur Masiukiewicz Webmaster.................................................................................................Nina Barandiaran, Arushi Srivastava Business Managers...........................................................................................Caitlyn Chow, Sophia Fitzsimonds Faculty Advisors..................................................Jenny Nicolelli, Elizabeth Gleason, Sorrel Westbrook-Wilson The Razor’s Edge reflects the opinion of 4/5 of the editorial board and will not be signed. The Razor welcomes letters to the editor but reserves the right to decide which letters to publish, and to edit letters for space reasons.

Unsigned letters will not be published, but names may be withheld on request. Letters are subject to the same libel laws as articles. The views expressed in letters are not necessarily those of the editorial board.

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Page 5

“Stress” by Arthur Masiukiewicz ’20

ARTS

Page 6

Battell Chapel Hosts Hopkins Music Ensembles ment Chair, shared his support for a cellist in Orchestra said, “You can Eleanor Doolittle’20 Battell Chapel: “While the choral really feel the difference. Maybe it’s Arts Editor groups have been performing in the because all the students are excited to On Tuesday, December 4, church for decades, it has only been go on winter break, but in technical Battell Chapel, Yale’s elaborate place three or four years that the Orches- terms, the music we play for the winof worship, was filled with melodious tra got to perform in Battell Chapel. ter concert is more magical soundmusic from Hopkins’ annual Music Orchestra used to perform with Jazz ing.” Har continued, “The concert of Winter concert. The performance Rock in upper Heath, and the hard- feels like the peak of the holidays for was a culmination of hard work and wood floors paired with low ceilings me before finally going on break afmonths of preparation put into each did not do the music justice. There- ter a busy winter.” Jackson Weisman piece of music. CC Rocco ’20, a choir fore, when we switched to Battell ’20, a clarinettist in Orchestra said, “The winter consoprano, said, “Batcert is more festive tell is super pretty and than the spring conhas great space for cert, but this year it singing as the sound also had a darker, is really resonant.” more complex tone.”

Emerson DelMonico The songs show’21, also a soprano, cased were careagreed: “In rehearsfully selected by als, we would talk Smith and Schroth. about how to make Schroth said, “I try the songs sound as to find a broad setrue to the way they lection of pieces that were intended to will give students be sung. Then, we in Choir the opporget to Battell Chatunity to express pel, and our singSteven Broun ’21 in many different ing sounds so much ways - some pieces better. The acoustics Concert Choir fills Battell Chapel with “Glow” from the 2018 Music of Winter Concert are slow and incredbring our songs to a different level.” Erika Schroth, Con- Chapel, the sound was so vibrant ibly beautiful, while others have an ductor of Concert Choir, enthused, and blended together perfectly.” intense rhythmic quality.” On the The annual winter concert Orchestral side, Smith said, “I chose “Battell Chapel is one of the best places to perform in New Haven. kicked off the holiday season, and music that required a decent amount It’s beautiful, has a lovely acoustic, got everyone in a festive mood. Lau- of practicing, and that was just diffiand can accommodate both the num- ren Gillespie ’20, an alto in Concert cult enough, without having anything ber of students involved in this con- Choir said, “The concert at Battell seem too daunting.” He added, “I alcert (over one hundred musicians!) Chapel really makes me excited for ways want to push the orchestra, but and the large audience that attends.” the holidays! I also really love that it not have them feel discouraged or Robert Smith, Director of is so close to our winter break so it incredibly frustrated with a piece.” (continued on page 7) Instrumental Music and Art Depart- kicks off the vacation.” Mei Har ’20,

Anon(ymous) Comes to Life at Hopkins Leah Miller ’20 Assistant Arts Editor

what life is like for some unfortunate people across the globe. While it’s emotional, it also teaches us that persistence and determination, two important life qualities, can lead to a better ending sometimes.”

One of the most noteworthy elements of the play is its basis on Homer’s

ary nerds attend! The parallels between Odysseus’ journey and a modern refugee’s story are compelling, and there are quite a few references thrown in for the Homer fans.” Each character and location Anon encounters is based on a plot point in the original Odyssey text. For example, Hel-

Amidst one of the more academically strenuous times of the school year, the Hopkins Drama Association once again took on the stage for a gripping theatrical piece from November 29 -December 1 with their production of Anon(ymous,) directed Leah Miller

by Hope Hartup.

A topical and modern adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, Anon(ymous) depicts the journey of a young refugee boy named Anon (Daniel Barber ’21) through the United States after he is separated from his mother, Nemasani (Zaryah GorThe cast and crew of Anon(ymous) smiles during a cast dinner. don ’19), at sea. Anon proceeds to meet a series of The Odyssey: the epic poem en of Troy is manifested in colorful characters, some recounting the tales of Od- Helen Laius, the elitist wife good-hearted, some mali- ysseus as he embarks on his of a politician, and Circes cious, as he seeks sanctu- ten year journey home from the nymph is represented ary in an unknown world. Troy. Much like a modern- by Serza, a flirtatious bar Anon(ymous) is credited day immigrant. Fi Schroth- owner. Even the cyclops

by Playscripts Inc. as a Douma ’19 expressed her gets a nod, through Zymontage-like ode to the im- allegiance to the historical clo, a maniacal and abusive migrant experience. Cast text: “I’m a fan of The Od- butcher. Lexi Zyskowski member Anand Choud- yssey, so this show is par- ’20 said “When I found out hary ’22 commented, “The ticularly exciting; I highly the play was based on The story of Anon is an eye- recommend that any liter- Odyssey, I was excited to opening one where we see

see it brought to the stage. I remember reading The Odyssey in eighth grade and it feeling so unconnected and distant. Now I feel like I understand the story better than I ever have before!”

Portraying these rich and perplexing characters proved to be a rigorous and unique challenge for many of the actors.

Elizabeth Roy ’20, who played Zyclo, stated “Anon(ymous) was a great experience for me because it allowed me to play a character that was out of my normal range, and let me play more than I have before.”

Erin Ellbogen ’19 expressed similar sentiments, commenting that “[Her] character, Calista, is unmistakably American; she has a certain way of viewing the world that differs greatly from mine.

Most of the play deals with exaggerated archetypes, but there are real people, good, bad, and misguided, behind each character. (continued on page 7)

December 13, 2018

Tabula Rasa: An Interactive Gallery Experience Saira Munshani’20 Voices Editor The concept of “tabula rasa” has been developed and considered all over the world, and it now makes its mark on Hopkins as the theme for the community art show this November to January in the Keator Gallery.

The term originates from the “tabula” that was often used when Romans took notes, and could become blank again by heating and smoothing the wax on it.

The exhibit at Hopkins celebrates the concept of “tabula rasa” and envisions the concept on the gallery walls.

Throughout the past month, students have been coming in and drawing various images and ideas, ranging from a favorite moment in history to Shakespeare jokes. Unlike past exhibits on The Hill, Tabula Rasa at Hopkins will have a closing reception, in addition to the opening one, to celebrate the creations of faculty and students.

The philosophical discussion around the concept can be traced back to Aristotle, who asked, “Haven’t we already disposed of the difficulty about interaction involving a common element, when we said that mind is in a sense potentially whatever is thinkable, though actually it is nothing until it has thought? What it thinks must be in it just as characters may be said to be on a writing-tablet on which as yet nothing stands written: this

Jemma Williams

Gisella Castagna ’22 sketches a greyhound in a raincoat during the gallery opening of Tabula Rasa.

is exactly what happens with mind.” He questioned the concept of the mind being a blank slate, and new experiences and interactions dictating what thoughts become, and that there is nothing until these experiences occur.

The more famous interpretation of “tabula rasa” stems from the philosophy of John Locke, where he claimed that the human mind at birth is a “blank slate,” and that all knowledge is attributed to sensory experiences. Locke’s theory eventually developed into his doctrine of “natural rights,” which is a combination of the concepts of free mind and human nature.

Visual Arts teacher Jacqueline LaBelle-Young said, “The idea of this show is to have people show up at the opening to blank walls and create the art on the spot.”

She explained that there are pencils, pastels, crayons, and other art supplies available for students to express themselves. One point that the Arts department emphasized was the importance of including all students, whether they are artistically inclined or not. LaBelle-Young added, “We’re hoping this is an opportunity for people to be creative in a free and open format, perhaps especially those who don’t identify as artists. We are all artists when we are small, and then sometimes that gets lost along the way.”

To help ignite creativity, the Arts department has provided different loose prompts throughout the room, such as “science,” and “stick figures.”

Julianna Lukacs ’20 said her favorite prompt was stick figures, and enjoyed the gallery because “it is interactive and something that the whole school can participate in.”

The community show has given students and faculty a space to create art, and they have already almost filled the entire space with imaginative drawings and concepts. Joss Aiken ‘22 “liked how we could represent ourselves,” and thought that the gallery “showed the larger community at Hopkins.” The gallery is open all day and members of Hopkins can show up at their convenience to draw on the walls up until early January when the show closes. Many students have already visited to add and observe. Olivia Wen ’20 said, “It’s been really interesting seeing the community show develop with the different types of expression students have to offer.”

The Razor: Arts

December 13, 2018

Page 7

Artist of the Issue: Ian Dailis ’20 Orly Baum ’22

Highpoint Pictures Ian Dailis ’20, finds inspiration in taking intricate photos of his surroundings. Dailis has been capturing photos of landscapes, the crew team and his cat for many years. He was initially inspired at age 10 by his father, who has always been a passionate photographer. “Since whenever I could understand how to take a

photo I was interested,” said Dai- ing point of a picture. “I like the it all because it provides joy for Ian also takes many photos of us lis. Dailis remembers teaching puzzle part of the photo- getting him and “because it’s an art.” bonding as a team during long himself to take a photo. regattas. His photo albums Ian Dailis ’20 include us playing hackysack The first photo Dailis remembers was in a botaniand boats taking group naps,” cal garden in California, said Theo Tellides ’19, one of near where his grandparIan’s teammates on the rowents live. The photo was ing team. It is often difficult of a flower he saw durfor the sports photographer to ing the trip. He got many get out to crew meets, so Daiflower photos that day lis seizes the opportunity to and this initial experience capture some amazing photos sparked his love for takfor his team. When Dailis isn’t ing photos of nature. He traveling or taking photos for captured his first photos the crew team, he enjoys phowith an old soviet camtographing his cat at home. era lens, which made the Photography spans photos look even more many different areas in Dailis’s intricate and beautiful. life: travel, school and even his Dailis’s most While taking pictures of his dad rowing at the Derby Sweeps and Sculls Regatta in June 2017, Dailis home life. Ever since teaching cherished photo is a porhimself how to photograph and noticed butterflies on the ground and began to capture their beauty. trait of the Los Angeles edit, he has used photography city skyline. He edited the photo the right settings to get the right Though many of his pho- as a creative outlet. Though phohimself as well. For Dailis, edit- photo,” Dailis says. He chooses tos are from trips or home, Dailis tographing images isn’t a freing is a huge part of how a photo to focus on accuracy rather than has photographed many of the quent activity for Dailis, when turns out. It was a self learning on the meaning of the photo or the pictures for the crew team in the he gets the chance to photograph, process for him. He really focuses message that it conveys. Though spring which are then often are the intensive process of taking on the detail in a photo and con- the editing process requires a lot featured here, in The Razor. “In the photo and editing it is what centrates on getting to the finish- of concentration, Dailis enjoys addition to taking action shots, makes Dailis enjoy it even more.

Anon(ymous) (continued from page 6) It’s easy to take the characters, and the play at face value, but after spending weeks with the intent of looking deeper, I think there’s a foundation of truth that grounds them in reality.

There’s a lot to learn from Anonymous’s portrayal of humanity.”

Anon(ymous) strays away from the typical experience one may expect to find on a routine jaunt to the theatre. Specifically, the technical aspects of the show are highly refined.

The tech crew worked closely with Hartup and technical advisor Abraham Kirby-Galen in order to nail down more advanced and numerous cues then what has been done in recent memory.

From advanced scene changes to innovative sound mixing, the core team of students and faculty advisors have worked closely to ensure the consistent and precise execution of the show.

Sound designer Sam Jenkins ’19 described the intense approach taken to his position: “Anon(ymous) is unlike any other show HDA has ever done with regards to sound; with over 100 sound cues and 6 speakers placed around the audience, the

sound takes you into the world of the play and covers almost the entire seventy minutes. Personally I’ve really enjoyed working with our sound specialist, JT, to design the soundtrack and make sure that the sound enhances the viewers’ experience.” Kara Amar ’19, who worked as lighting technician on the show, expressed her appreciation for the professionalism and collaboration on and off stage. She said, “Coming to the show late, I appreciate the professionalism of the cast and the dedication of Corinne Evans ’20 (Stage Manager) that allowed me to learn the show quickly, so I can do my job to the best of my ability.”

Though the running time for Anon(ymous) is only seventy-five minutes long, the cast and crew worked hard and tirelessly for weeks, including over the Thanksgiving break, to put together the production they loved. Lady-Karen Asamoah ’19 stated her appreciation and pride: “The cast is full of great people that I loved talking to and working with. The show came together very nicely and I am happy audiences got to see it!

Elizabeth Roy ’20

Lexi Zyskowski ’20, Leah Miller ’20, Margaret Toft ’21, and Sawyer Maloney ’21 lounge on a couch after rehersal.

Music of Winter Concert in, Haitian, Spanish, Pakpaknese, and there was even a piece by a Latvian composer in a completely inSome of the pieces were quite challenging. vented language! Some have sweeping, large expresJames Jeffery ’22, the pianist of Orchestra, elaborat- sive gestures, and others are much more intimate in ed: “We played a piece by early nineteenth- century nature.” Gillespie ’20 said, “I love the genres of mucomposer Josef Suk called ‘Scherzo Fantastique,’ sic that we sing, jumping from slow luxurious tunes which is probably among the most difficult pieces to upbeat songs that make everyone want to dance.”

Concert Choir also incorporated unique adI’ve ever learned. The key modulates in every direction every five seconds, and accidentals are the norm. ditions to their songs including the mouth harp, and However, spending hours practicing it has paid off, bongo drums. Rocco ’20, player of mouth harp, said, and watching every little piece of it come together “My favorite song is called ‘Vindo.’ ‘Vindo’ is basiis an amazing experience. One of the most relieving cally in a fake language that sounds a bit like Latmoments of my life was probably hearing that we vian. It’s definitely my favorite because I play the (the orchestra) knew this piece well enough to play mouth harp.” She elaborated, “I never really heard of it in our December concert.” Har ’20 agreed that her mouth harp [before], but it adds a really unique feel to the piece and it’s favorite piece Jody Rosenthal really fun to play!” was also “ScherMichael Christie ’19, zo Fantastique,” who performs on the “ My favorite bongo drums when part about it is not singing bass for the cello part, concert choir said, “I since it brings have minimal experiout the heart ence playing bongo and soul of the drums. I have done a piece. Also the couple workshops in mix of the vastly the past, but I have unique rhythms had no formal trainmake the Suk ing with the drums. super interestFor me, you listen ing to listen to.” to the music and T h e Smith and Schroth pose after the 2017 Music of Winter Concert the drums will tell “Hallelujah Choin Battell Chapel rus” has been a longstanding tradition for the concert you how they should be played. If you do it wrong, choir and orchestra to collaborate on. “People always you’ll hear it.” He continued, “While the bongo look forward to the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’” Weisman drums are definitely fun to perform, my favorite ’20 said. “It is the piece that Orchestra and Choir song is Ave Maria. It is such a powerful piece and combine on every year, and I always feel that it’s when sung properly; it is beautiful beyond words.”

The winter concert was a beautiful time a bit tough as we practice with Choir, but always a real crowd pleaser that closes the night out with a for Concert Choir and Orchestra to showcase their bang.” Schroth described her favorite piece: “All of impressive skill and hard work. Connor Pignatello the pieces have different challenges, but one that has ’19, bass section leader, said: “We sing really unique a special place in my heart is ‘Ave Maria’ by Franz pieces that can take a lot of practice to get right, so it Biebl, written in the middle of the 20th century. This was amazing to finally perform them, and get recogis on many conductors’ lists of ‘most beautiful piec- nition for our time and effort we put into the song.”

Through hard work, perseverance, and es of choral music ever.’ It requires so much from singers - an intense commitment to musical direc- dedication to their craft, students were able to share tion, tone, line, shape, connection to breath, and a their incredible talent. Jeffery ’21 raved, “Talented deep sense of ensemble. It’s been a fantastic chal- musicians are left, right, and center here on The Hill. lenge for the singers, and I think they have grown so I’ve never been anywhere like it!” Schroth remarked much through their work on that piece in particular.” how the passion of the singers and musicians made This year, Concert Choir had been working the performance exceptional, “Their compassion and hard to perfect their repertoire. Schroth commented, generosity makes the music come to life; singing “The oldest piece on the program (Handel’s ‘Hallelu- with other people is powerful - it’s really a reflection jah Chorus’) was written in 1791, and some are newly of the human experience and the possibilities that composed (Eric Whitacre’s ‘Glow’, Ola Gjeilo ‘Tun- emerge when people come together with a common dra’). Some were in English, and others were in Lat- purpose. It is a privilege to watch that take shape.” (continued from page 6)

Voices

Page 8

Comfortable in My Own Skin proud of my body when it’s not performing, when it’s just there. That disconnect between the two When I was 12 halves of my life and my years old I decided to doopinion on my body in nate my hair. I ended up each of them is frustrating. cutting off over 10 inches, I’m definitely in and I loved it. With my hair a better place now when barely reaching my shoulit comes to accepting my ders, putting my hair up body, but I for soccer was still get comso much easier. ments. I know A couple days my teammates after I got my and friends hair cut, I went probably mean out to a field to them as compractice. While pliments, but I was shootevery time they ing, I noticed a point out my mom watching thigh or back me from her muscles, it alcar. When my ways triggers dad arrived to that reflexive pick me up, she self-consciousgot out of her ness that I try minivan and so hard to keep came up to us under control. and told my dad It’s as if my lawhat a good bel as an athlete soccer player makes people she thought his think it’s okay son was. My Ella Fujimori ’21 competes against King during the 2018 fall season. to make undad quickly corsolicited comrected her, she apologized profusely, and wished they were skin- time, it seemed reasonable. ments about my body that we all laughed it off, but nier or thinner when in But when I started my first would be completely inapthe damage was done. I comparison to them, my year at Hopkins, things propriate otherwise. They was holding back tears muscly legs and shoulders shifted. All of a sudden assume that, as a female the whole ride home. felt huge. I started feel- the majority of my friends athlete, I must workout For a young girl ing pressure to look more were athletes. And when I because I want to look this already feeling the soci- like the girls I saw on my finally started to talk about way and thus I will take etal pressure to be more Instagram feed. The ones my insecurities my team- all their comments on how feminine, being mistaken with legs so skinny they mates and friends opened my body looks as complifor a boy was humiliating. had a thigh gap. The ob- up to me about their own. ments or even construcHonestly, I can’t blame that vious solution was to eat About how they felt un- tive criticism. But I don’t woman for her mistake. At less and count my calories. comfortable wearing dress- exercise to shape my body I tried to sup- es and high heels, how they and my body isn’t here for that point in my life, my multiple friends related to the struggles of them to look at, it’s here to wardrobe consisted solely port of athletic clothing, and I struggling with eating finding pants and shirts perform. Every workout was far more muscly than disorders that were tear- that didn’t exaggerate their I have ever completed in most girls my age, so I ing their lives apart, and muscular legs or arms. my entire life has been to can see why she made her watched innocent diets Suddenly girls were tell- improve my performance assumption. Regardless, turn into a mental disorder. ing me that they were jeal- in the sports that I love, not I made the conscious de- Besides, I needed food as ous of my thighs instead to change the way I look.

When I was cision to change my ap- fuel for my athletics, and of telling me they wished I couldn’t jeopardize my their thighs were smaller. younger, I only knew about pearance so it would never athletic performance for I have always one standard of beauty, the happen again. I grew my hair out, wore it down anything. So I turned to been proud of what my tall, skinny, flawless modwhenever possible, and what I considered my only body is capable of. I’m els that plastered the pages never ever got it cut short other option, covering up. proud of how much weight of magazines and flipped The only time I I can squat, how far I can their hair in tv commeragain. I started wearing makeup, styling my hair, ever felt normal was when kick a soccer ball, and cials. And I knew that I and choosing coordinated I had serious injuries. That how fast I can sprint up looked nothing like them. outfits that weren’t just sounds crazy but when I the field. But my whole But things have changed. mixing and matching my ended up with a signifi- life isn’t spent on the field Because if I know anything favorite sweatpants and cant injury that kept me or in the gym. I spend my it’s that my friends, teamsweatshirts. I would spend out of sports for several time at school, out with my mates, and athletic idols are hours in stores trying on weeks, I ended up losing friends, at parties, dances, not only talented but beaujeans, attempting to find weight, even though I was and hangouts. And it’s al- tiful at the same time. If the perfect pair that fit over no longer working out. My ways a little harder to feel they can do it, why can’t I? Ella Fujimori ’21 Campus Contributer

my thighs but weren’t too loose around my waist.

Before this turning point, things had been much different. None of my friends were serious athletes, and none of them looked like me. It was disheartening to hear them complain about how they

muscles deteriorated until I started to look normal.

But as soon as I was cleared and started training again I would quickly put all the muscle back on. Looking back it’s insane that I was that desperate to fit in that I didn’t mind being seriously injured, but at the

One Page Razor Winter Wins Songs of the Season The Meh List 1. Snow Days 2. Five Golden Rings 3. Yule 4. Three weeks on, Two weeks off 5. Skiing 6. Turtlenecks 7. Gingerbread houses

1. “All I Want for Christmas is You” Mariah Carey 2. “Music to My Eyes” - Bradley Cooper 4. “Under the Mistletoe” - Justin Bieber 5. A Star is Born Soundtrack

1. Snow delay schedules 2. Getting LOPped 3. Dangerous Forest Lot conditions 4. Exams after break 5. Awaiting college results

December 13, 2018

Infectious Stress Graley Turner ’20 Campus Contributer

I’m sitting in the hallway in the basement of Thompson and I’m about to have an anxiety attack. This is not an uncommon occurrence in my life, trying not to cry or freak out while I’m in public.

And as I open up to more people about the anxiety in my life, I realize that I’m not the only one. Most people, in fact, have experienced this feeling. And it’s most prevalent in my fellow students at Hopkins.

Which begs the question: what is it about Hopkins that makes us so stressed? Or better yet, what is it about school?

I had a friend ask me that a couple of weeks ago, as we were sitting in her car, finishing the last of our Starbucks drinks. And I knew the exact answer: everything. I mean, think about it: it is everything stacked on top of everything else that makes us so stressed.

For one, most of us are not in the best physical shape during the school day. We have to wake up early and go to bed at horribly late hours due to homework, and yet, we’re still expected to get between six and eight hours of sleep. This directly goes against our biology as teenagers; we’re supposed to go to sleep late and wake up late, but school doesn’t exactly allow us to directly follow this. I imagine that several of us are too exhausted at eight in the morning and hungry after an insubstantial breakfast and still overwhelmed from the day before. You can see, we’re not off to a very good start.

Next, there’s the fact that we are around each other all the time while in school. Now, I don’t know about everyone else, but the fact that everyone else is around me with their… presence is enough to send me into a anxiety attack.

And combine that with the noise everyone else makes all the time, not to mention the deafening sound of the heaters or air conditioners and the fans and the heels of teachers and students Graley Turner ’21 at work in Heath Commons. click-clacking down the hallway and up the stairs and just… everything. Yeah, there’s a whole lot of stimuli. It’s no wonder most of us are at the end of our ropes.

And then, of course, there’s the biggest factor: the competition. Have you noticed how it feels like we’re always in a constant competition: for smartest student, fastest athlete, most artistic, best grade on a term paper, best grade on a math test, best friend, best anything. Most of us are bending over backwards to impress, to be better than the person next to us. It doesn’t matter if that person is a friend or someone you’ve never talked to; you have to be better.

And you’re not just competing with the other students; you’re competing with your siblings, your friends, your parents, and most importantly, yourself. I’ve been told that your worst enemy is your own mind, and that is completely true. There’s always a constant pressure to do your best, but then, you can’t help wondering, “What if my best just isn’t good enough?” Stress lies in each of us, but it’s our mind that fosters it and makes it grow to a point that becomes unbearable.

Constantly, we’re struggling with the one thought that plagues us as high school students: “Am I good enough?” We start to care more about that one little question - and the competition that comes with it - rather than the people around us. And when several of us circulate the same negative energy, school becomes a negative place, a stressful place. I’ve had friends grow apart from each other because they’re too busy studying. I’ve seen fights break out and students break down simply because of a difference of grades or the built-up stress that comes from dealing with the school day. This overwhelming stress is infecting us with its self-doubt, its irritated mood swings, its back-breaking pressure to do well, and this stress is making us only continue to spread the negativity that surrounds us all.

Stress is not brought on by just one thing; it is a multitude of different factors that stack up one after the other until we reach our breaking point. But we can change this. We can all contribute to our community in order to make this a less stressed setting. We can take care of ourselves at home by attempting to get more sleep. We can find ways to decrease the stimuli all around us, or at least block them out. And we can all treat each other with more kindness, foster connections with each other, and focus more on our friends than our grades.

I don’t want to be sitting in the basement of Thompson, about to have an anxiety attack. Perhaps, one day, we’ll be able to change that.

Voices

December 13, 2018

Page 9

An Intangible Good: The Importance of the Connecticut Food Bank Fundraiser Burton Lyng-Olsen ’21 Campus Contributer

evolution of the CFBF. Originally the campaign, somewhat inaccurately named the Canned Food Drive, was funded completely by parent donations. Only in

As the days get shorter and the first snow falls, the Hopkins community enters a brief period of weekly working frenzy. During the weekends, however, many students won’t be found at home studying, but instead outside in the cold partaking in the annual Connecticut Food Bank Fundraiser campaign. Between frantically writing essays and cramming for tests, we are reminded to take time out of Katherine Takoudes ’20, Simon Asnes ’20, A;ex Schuster ’20. and Tomas Gordon ’20 fundraise outside Romeo and Caesar’s. our busy lives to think of those less fortunate than us. We recent history has storefront fundraising have all heard the numbers, the thousands been a part of the campaign. Storefront of meals supplied and the thousands of fundraising, which has now become a crupeople impacted. The Hopkins community is an immense force of good servicing cial aspect of the drive, currently almost doubles the yearly output of the fundthe Connecticut Food Bank and a blessraiser. The Connecticut Food Bank has ing for those who are food insecure. It’s even recently recognized Hopkins with evident that our efforts provide a great the Distinguished Philanthropic Award in service to the needy.

Schools in both 2017 and 2018.

What needs to be given voice, But what difference is $40,000 or however, is a side effect responsible for $80,000 to me if I don’t see a penny of it? often underestimated benefits. It’s an The great impact on me by asking others overlooked good that can’t be measured to donate perhaps then is intangible, a nor presented on a giant check, and only phenomenon best described anecdotally. after a hundred hours of fundraising, it’s It becomes illustrative to me of a sense an effect that I understand. By sitting of community.

It is a community that outside a store with a table and a jar, I’ve includes those who politely decline to opened myself to reach out for the help donate, but also those who take time out of complete strangers. With every new of their day to stop and give.

It includes person you meet, you share a brief interaction. These interactions are usually forget- the Starbucks manager who buys us hot chocolate every week and the penniless table and generally a little awkward, but homeless man who gratefully thanks us can sometimes be surprisingly moving. for help during one of the lowest points in Imbued in the act of service is a personal his life. It includes the people who pause gain and exposure to community. and ask “Aren’t you cold?” and the many To fully appreciate this bymore who pretend our table doesn’t exist. product, it’s worth briefly examining the

No matter the outcome though, through volunteering, you choose to become an active part of this small storefront community.

acknowledging a group of fundraisers outside of Cafe Romeo: “Their smiles, positive attitude and perseverance have impressed New Haveners as they walk on Orange Street, many of whom stopped and reached into their pockets to experience the joy of giving.” By volunteering your time and your body to the cold, you remind the passing people to give back, a message that resonates especially well during the holiday season. I urge the inspired reader not to donate fifty dollars themselves but to collect one dollar Sean Bahamonde ’20 kisses a dirty collection jar. from fifty people.

And as much as the people you Although the value to the Connecticut meet may impact you, you too impact Food Bank may be the same, the latter them. When you sit outside and raise fosters the spirit of service and goodwill. money for the hungry, you show to those The direct influence you have on the around you that hopeful youths in the community may be (quite literally) small community care about helping those in change, but the cumulative impact of brief need. One particularly moved passerby personal interactions you share with othwrote to the New Haven Register in 2015 ers can not be measured so easily.

In Memory of Seniors Who Lost Their Privileges First they LOP’ed the truants, and I did not speak out because I did not cut class.

Then they LOP’ed the traffic violators, and I did not speak out because I did not park in faculty spots.

Then they LOP’ed the tardy students, and I did not speak out because I arrived on time.

Then they LOP’ed me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

- Theodore Tellides ’19

Voices on The Hill: What Makes You Think of Home?

“Having all of my older siblings home and sitting down for dinner together” - Coco Fath ’19

“Fire in the fireplace” - Sara Chung ’19 “The smell of burnt cookies” - George Kosinski ’19

“Family picture, cozy blankets, family” - Saloni Jain ’19

“My mom” - Teddy Glover ’19

“The comfort of my bed” - Olivia Capasso ’19

“Talking to my brother” - Audrey Braun ’19

“My dog greeting me” - Tim Sullivan ’19

“Opening the unlocked bathroom door and my brother yelling to get out” - Theo Tellides ’19

“A nice chicken dinner” - J.R. Stauff ’19 “The smell of snow in the air, cinnamon, and animal hair on my clothes” - Sophia Colodner ’19

“Same as above” - Alex Hughes ’19 The smell of dogs” - Sarah Roberts ’20

“Buying a new Christmas tree and putting up ornaments with my family” - Noah Schmeisser ’19 “Dead house plants” - Saira Munshani ’20 “A warm cup of tea and a buche de Noel, a christmas cookie, around a crackling fireplace.” - Connor Hartigan ’19 “The sounds of Christmas piano music” - Katie Broun ’19 “The sun shining through the leaves of a forest, warm blankets, and those whom I call my friends” - Alex Harrison ’19

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Senior Holiday Wishlist I wish...

Leul Abate - To have a key to Lovell Kara Amar - For my dog, Congo, to participate in our graduation ceremony with me Sara Amar - For a senior-class sleepover Lady-Karen Asamoah - To get Wednesdays off Elise Aslanian - To play a school-wide Kahoot in Assembly Nina Barandiaran - For a shuttle that takes you back and forth from Siberia Zachariah Blake - That I could find the motivation to complete the math homework I am doing Chris Borter - To pay for Kyle’s surgery to give James his pancreas Audrey Braun - For Ayuka to pick up my Facetime calls Katie Broun - To have a Shakespeare Rap Battle with Mr. Drummond Kenly Burton - For a first date with Kyle Meury Liv Capasso - For Minjae to love me as much as I love him Eliot Carlson - To wear a scarf to school and not get bullied for it Clare Chemery - To sit in the Malone elevator for an entire day Ashley Chin - For “The Grams” group chat to go on forever Caitlyn Chow - To get the granola recipe from the kitchen staff Michael Christie - For world peace Tyler Cipriano - To be loved Sophia Colodner - To be a member of every single Hopkins ensemble at the same time Emma DeNaples - To have Kenny Lu serenade me with a Disney love song Paige Devoe - To have panini presses at lunch Jamie Donovan - To be back in AP Bio Jack Dove - To one day be as athletic as Aaron “Kleem the Dream” Kleeman Erin Ellbogen - For a cafe rewards card for buying so much coffee Maliya Ellis - For an ice rink Coco Fath - That Tim Sullivan would stop asking me to hang out Gigi Fulginiti -For people to stop mixing me and Liana up Francine Giaimo - To bring my dog into school for a day Brennan Gollaher - To have another meat truck at Hopkins Zaryah Gordon - To DJ a dance Doug Guilford - For people to stop calling me Jordan William Hall - For at least one decent song at Prom Devaughn Hamm - To bring my pet goat to school Lien Har - To adopt Chuck’s beagle, Molly Alex Harrison - For people to realize that we’re all human beings Connor Hartigan - For free donuts at the Cafe Beth Hartog - To have that pizza party with Mr. Thornburgh that he promised us in F block AC1 Sydney Hirsch - “Peace, love, and harmony. Wait, potatoes!”

-Dr. Gries Alex Hughes - For Charles Mason’s beard Cyrus Illick - For two squash managers Amber Jaffe - To go a full semester without falling down the stairs Saloni Jain - To get more sleep Priyanka Jain - To not have to take the swim test Rob Jaques - For another grilled cheese and curly fries day Aaron Jaynes - For ski team to be considered a true Varsity sport Sam Jenkins - For the ticket table to be moved back downstairs in Heath Zubin Kenkare - To bring an actual goat onto campus for Homecoming Minjae Ko - For Liv to love me as much as I love her George Kosinski - For Mr. Werrell to be a Track Coach

December 13, 2018

Sara Kranzlin - To get JSchool snack everyday Catey Lasersohn - To use my parking spot Ben Levine - For there to be no modern language requirement Raven Levine - To have an actual, fun, non-academic class trip Tamara Lilenbaum - For money Emma Lipman - To have Bring your Dog to School Day Sarah Lopez - To have a fun class trip Kenny Lu - To watch Mr. Sacchetti race against Rocco in a sprint Savir Madan - To bring back freshman Yuki Cam Maquat - To be able to play a sport for my school Charlie Mason - To play Yoony Kim in a game of chess Kyle Meury - To give James my pancreas Cam Michaelson - To be back in AP Bio Bruno Moscarini - For Pritchard’s red pants Maddie Mulligan - To take a picture with my friends on the Thompson balcony Margaret Mushi - For someone to actually come to the Writing Studio while I’m there for once Thomas Noto - For the sweet release of graduation Melody Parker - To be intimidating to the freshmen Sana Patel - That Caroline would stop asking Spirens to sing High School Musical Siraj Patwa - To do a flip off of the Malone balcony Connor Pignatello - To watch Brennan eat 15 grilled cheeses in one sitting Rob Pitkin - To grow a beard like Savir Carter Richards - To see Will Hall swordfight again Elena Savas - To teach Kai Bynum to flip off a diving board at Assembly James Schaefer - To get a pancreas from Kyle Noah Schmeisser - For a new weight room Katrina Schmier - For ski team to have a female captain Nick Schoelkopf - For Mr. Werrell to sing opera to me Fi Schroth-Douma - For the U.S. to reaffirm its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement Eliz Schutte - To have sushi at lunch Brian Seiter - For Noah Schmeisser and Thom Peters to read a Bible verse together in front of the whole school Lauren Seto - For bubble tea days at Hopkins Jordan Shand - For people to stop calling me Doug Owen Sherman - To prevent Kyle from giving James a pancreas Elliot Siegel - For my senior wish to come true Ethan Silver - For People To Use Tinyurl With Acronyms More Ayuka Sinanoglu - For Aud to stop Facetiming me Noah Sobel-Lewin - To have a beard as beautiful as Charlie’s Devon Spiars - For a hammock in the Thompson atrium Josephus Robertus Stauff - To never get an “R” on a test Hannah Stelben - For everyone to bring a reusable water bottle (especially for sports) Matt Stevenson - For whole milk to replace skim milk in the cafeteria Nate Stratton - That my senior spring will be easier than trying to think of something better to write for this quote Tim Sullivan - For Coco and Sara to hang out with me Theo Tellides - To play surviv.io squads with sevies in the lower library Liana Tilton - For people to stop mixing me and Gigi up Naomi Tomlin - To use the faculty bathroom Caroline Viselli - For Spirens to sing a High School Musical song Isabel Vlahakis - To bring my dog to school Madeleine Walker - To bring my smallest chicken to Hopkins so she can make friends Ben Washburne - To park in a visitor spot every day Alex Zhang - That the old promise of a new Hopkins performing arts center be fulfilled Morgan Zippo - For someone to listen when I tell a story about camp

SPORTS Athletes of the Issue

December 13, 2018

Caitlyn Chow: Aquatic Adversary Juan Lopez ’22 Caitlyn Chow ’19 has been a powerful force within the Hopkins Girls Swim Team for four years.

Chow came to Hopkins in ninth grade and immediately knew that she wanted to swim as a Hilltopper: “I started to swim when I was eight and I only started because my sister swam. However, I knew I wanted to swim because it relieves all the stress that I have and relaxes me.”

Chow battled a lot of struggles in her career as a swimmer at Hopkins. “I was diagnosed with tendonitis in both of my shoulders in tenth grade and in my ankle my senior year. The tendonitis made it really hard to swim again once I got better because swimming is a sport in which you need to constantly practice in order to continuously get better. Tendonitis made me skip practice for a whole month and skip parts of sets in practice so I would not further injure myself. I felt like I was not getting better at swimming but I worked hard and constantly dropped time every year despite my multiple injuries,” she said.

Head Coach Chuck Elrick said, “She worked hard even with her tendonitis. Most people would stop but [Chow] worked hard and used a pool buoy so that she could keep practicing. She always wanted to get faster and be the best that she could be.”

Chow’s teammates and coach said that her love and dedication for the sport leads to her successes and excellent leadership of the team. Co-Captain of the Girls Swimming team Beth Hartog ’19 said, “I think that [Chow] really shines as a swimmer in relays during championships and big meets. Sometimes, swimming can feel really individual, but when someone else is counting on you, you feel required to try harder than you ever thought possible.

[Chow] has the team in the back of her mind at all times during a meet and through-

sometimes, my co-captains and I organize mock meets so that the team can practice

Peter Mahakian out the season in general, so I think when she gets up to race with other people behind her, her competitive spirit and her talent really shine through.”

Elrick agreed, “Swimming is an individual sport, in that, there is one person actually competing but a team sport because of the motivation the team needs to give the individual in order for them to do their best. [Chow] sets a really good example by motivating her teammates to do the best that they can.” Not only has Chow earned a varsity letter the past four years, but she also placed fifth in last years Bud Erich Championship.

As a Co-Captain of the Girls Swimming team at Hopkins, Chow tries to make practices as fun as possible for her team by making sets as enjoyable as possible: “I try to make sets that aren’t just swimming non-stop. Instead,

Owen Sherman: Winning Wrestler

Nick Hughes ’22 Alex Hughes ’19 Sports Editor

“[Sherman’s] work ethic is amazing. He’s always looking to help out our teammates.”

Peter Mahakian

Caitlyn Chow ’19 at the 2018 Bud Erich Swim Meet their skills in a competitive environment. We try to get our team into the meet spirit which is really fun because everybody cheers everyone on.”

Hartog described how Chow can lead her time with both an iron fist and an open heart, “I think [Chow] does a really good job of determining when to be a friend and when to be a leader. She always knows the right time to step up and lay down the law when necessary but still maintains great relationships with everyone on the team.... I know that I always feel free to talk to her and I think that sentiment is consistent throughout the team. No matter what, she can give you advice and help you out when you reach out.”

With Chow’s successful career on The Hill and her love for the sport, she hopes to continue swimming after high school.

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Owen Sherman ’19 prepares for his wrestling match Owen Sherman ’19 is one of the Boys Varsity Wrestling captains this year.

Sherman first started wrestling his freshman year, “eager and ready to learn” said Head Coach Adam Sperling.

Having never wrestled competitively before, he came into the sport with little skill. According to Sperling, Sherman had “heart [as well as] grit and determination…but most importantly, he stuck with it.”

Sherman did not come into the sport as an impressive wrestler. “[I had to] work the hardest, and be the most mentally tough,” Sherman explained. His work ethic and leadership were appreciated by everyone on the team. Teammate Hudson Berk ’21 expanded, stating, “[Sherman] is always looking to improve and help the team,” while Co-Captain, Doug Guilford ’19 added,

Sherman has learned that nothing is impossible: “I’ve learned that even if you feel tired and you can’t move, you still have more to give. Once you get over that mentally, sure wrestling becomes easier, but so does life in general.”

In previous years, Sherman has found a high level of success, even making it to the State Championships.

Sherman recalled: “In sophomore year, I was able to place 4th at states, and the next year I got 6th. I was really proud of my placement for sophomore year.” Junior year of wrestling, Sherman had a injury on his ankle that cost him a higher placement in the States Tournament. Even though Sherman is proud of his placements in previous years, he has different ambitions for this year: “I just want to be able to feel personally satis-

fied with how I do.” Sherman wants to place well this year, but he “[doesn’t] care if [he] goes 0 and 30 in the season, as long as [he] feels satisfied with how [he does].”

Although, he stated that he “would still like to win.”

While Sherman has been an avid wrestler and a true force on the team, he has suffered multiple setbacks due to injury. In freshman year, Sherman suffered a rough injury to his neck. He stated, “In one of my first few matches, I landed on my neck and I got a bulging disk, so I couldn’t wrestle at all my freshman year.” His injury still affects him, sometimes causing his back to become numb. Junior year, he received multiple injuries during the season: “I had a concussion junior year, I was out for a week or two. [I] also hurt my foot pretty badly and later my ankle. I always have had knee problems too.” He added, “Wrestling in general is a physical sport, so [you] have to okay with getting hurt, while also staying healthy.”

Sherman also voiced the environment of the wrestling room: “We’re a pretty serious team, but I also think we have a lot of fun. Coach Ayer makes a lot of funny jokes, and Coach Campbell is one of the funniest guys I know.” While having fun is a big part of wrestling, he did not forget the fact that the team is also focused: “I think [the team] is pretty focused, but if there’s a joke here or there, Sperling is okay with it.” Coach Sperling also plays music as they practice: “Some of the songs he plays, he plays them every year, and it is like a team tradition” Sherman is excited for another season of wrestling and has high hopes for the team: “[I] definitely think everyone will be able to help out the team, and hopefully, we can win at the same time.” Although he does not plan to wrestle in college, Sherman hopes to make the best of his last season as a wrestler at Hopkins.

Hopkins Fanclub Announcements

Some Upcoming Games Include

January 7 - Boys Varsity Squash vs Darien at 4 pm January 9 - Boys Varsity Squash vs Brunswick at 3:30 pm January 12 - Boys Varsity Basketball vs GFA at 4 pm January 28 - Girls Varsity Basketball vs Hamden Hall at 4 pm January 28 - Boys Varsity Basketball vs Hamden Hall at 6 pm January 30- Varsity Wrestling vs Hotchkiss at 3 pm

Hopkins Fanclub Head Aaron Kleeman ’19 got “legitimately rowdy” with the student section at the Varsity Volleyball FAA Championship Game. Did you?

Be on the lookout after Winter Break for emails from Hopkins Fan Club about what to wear!

Follow us on Instagram @hopkinsrazor for production insights, previews, and more!

Page 12

The Razor: Sports

December 13, 2018

Winter Sports Preview: The Season Ahead Girls Varsity Indoor Track

Boys Varsity Wrestling Captains: Owen Sherman ’19 and Doug Guilford ’19

“The wrestling team is poised to do some damage this year. We have big guys like Tyler “Meatball” Cipriano and literal hunk Brandon Smith, so we’re competitive at all weight classes for the first time in many years. We also coerced a lot of talented new freshman into joining the team.

If we put our minds to it, we can kickoff a dynasty that will last awhile.” -Theo Tellides ’19

Captain: Maliya Ellis ’19

Girls Varsity Swim and Dive Captains: Beth Hartog ’19 and Caitlyn Chow ’19

“We gained some incredible new talent for our team this year which I am really thrilled about.

As every swimmer and diver continues to put in 100% effort each practice, I am hopeful that we can achieve an impressive regular season record and place well in our championship meets come February and March.” -Chow ’19

“The outdoor track season is coming up fast, and [I am] very excited! This will be our second year with our new coach, so we’re hoping to build upon last year’s results. We don’t have a track (yet), but we’ll make do with what we do have — a grass track, some hurdles, and a whole lot of spirit.”

-Ellis ’19

Boys Varsity Squash

Captains: Cyrus Illick ’19 and Savir Madan ’19

“We’re the best team on campus, no doubt. This year we’re setting our goals on [being in the] top ten in the country. With our new coach and a good team I think we can do it.” -Illick ’19

Varsity Fencing

Captains: Liz Bambgoye ’20, Nick Schoelkopf ’19, Walter Erenhouse ’19

Girls Varsity Basketball Girls Varsity Squash Captain: Abby Mills ’19

“I think we’re looking good this year. Practices have already been more intense and competitive which is great. As far as goals go, I know we all really want to beat Hamden Hall and other teams like Masters, KO, and Greenwich Academy that were tough losses for us last year.” -Mills ’19

Captains: Catey Lasersohn ’19 and Ashley Chin ’19

“We’ve got some strong returning members so hopefully we’ll be able to train the new kids well.”

-Kenny Lu ’19

Boys Varsity Indoor Track

Captain: George Kosinski ’19 and Nic Burtson ’20

“We don’t really know what to expect this year, but this team has so much positivity and I know we all will support each other through every point and every match.”

-Chin ’19

“Although the indoor season is mostly a warmup for the outdoor season, we’re excited to run outside, have fun, and hopefully do well in our meets.” -Kosinski ’19

Varsity Ski Team

Captains: Aaron Jaynes ’19 and Tim Sullivan ’19 *The Ski Team has been so busy shreddin’ nonstop gnar that they were unable to provide a quote for this issue. We are sure they’re in for a great season, though.*

Boys Varsity Swim and Dive Captains: Noah Schmeisser ’19 and Brian Seiter ’19

All Photos Courtesy of Peter Mahakian

“We have some really talented swimmers this year, so we’re looking forward to a great season.”

-Schmeisser ’19

Happy Holidays from the Razor!

Boys Varsity Basketball Captains: Colin Gernhardt ’20, Michael Lau ’20

“This year we hope to improve and build upon last year. We’re excited to get to work with the new coach and rebrand the Hopkins basketball program. This year we hope to stay competitive in the FAA and win some exciting home games for the home crowd.”

-Gernhardt ’20