Huntley HS Voice January 7 Issue by Huntley Voice

V the O I C E

January 7, Volume 25, Issue 6 Huntley High School

what it feels like

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

what it

FEELS LIKE

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

Inspired by Esquire Magazine, The Voice brings you an issue full of passionate and unique stories from individuals within the Huntley community. Due to divisions in our society that have become so prevalent in recent years, we hope by showing these pieces of ourselves we can re-learn acceptance.

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Camille Trisha Bajamundi

•••

to design the

COVER

’ve been doing art for as long as I can remember. It was all gradual. I always knew I liked art. [Age 9] was around the time I began looking at “how to do art” videos on Youtube. I’ve been taking it seriously and studying it since. I started with a lot of traditional art. So, using pencils and paper I gradually turned towards realistic art until I started stylizing it more. When I was younger, I used to sketch a lot and follow those video tutorials. I’d sit on the couch watching TV. and doodling on some scratch paper. Traditional art tends to feel a lot more messy, but more textured as well, especially when using charcoal or acrylic. I enjoy using rough paper and canvas because the texture usually shines through in the art. I think at the start I was inspired by my big sister. She would do a lot of art. She’s 16, so we have a two year age gap. [My sister] taught me quite a bit. It was always slightly competitive when we were little, but it was always fun. I used to watch a lot of cartoons too, and I’d always wonder, “How do these people draw that? How do they make that?” That inspired me to start making [digital] art.

different colors work together, so the colors on the cover weren’t inspired by anything specific. I just wanted to have the brightest colors and create the “cloud hair” idea. Usually for smaller drawings, I just start sketching. For this cover, I made a bunch of little sketches on a piece of paper and redid it on the computer. After I do the sketch, I usually leave it as a sketch, and then color everything in without shading. It’s kind of just blocks of color. Once everything is down, it kind of all looks messy, so that’s why I go in and make any changes and then do the details. Once I do the details, I finalize everything, make edits, and then focus on lighting. Lighting is very interesting. It helps you tell the story of the piece. When I’m done with everything, I put some [layer] filters on it. Using your whole arm to draw and not just your hand can help with the flow of drawing. I know it depends on the I started doing digital art about three years ago when I software, but my software has a lot of different brushes. But got my first [drawing] tablet. [It was my] own pen display I typically stick to the round brush, which is the basic brush, that you can plug into your computer. Digital art is just any kind of visual art you make on a com- because you can create the same images with the basic brushes that you can do with the textured brushes as well. puter. I personally make it by hand using a stylus. You can After completing this cover, I felt so good. And after use programs like Photoshop or Autodesk SketchBook. You can use any laptop or computer you have as long as you can hearing the news [about my winning,] it was like, “Oh! My art made it!” somehow connect it to a pen display. I wasn’t expecting [to win]. I kind of joined at the last minThe tablet is kind of big. It’s a little bit hard to get used to. When I started doing digital art, I used to put some type ute, thinking, “Do I want to join?” But I thought the theme was so interesting for an art piece. of plastic cover to add friction [to the screen] so it feels The button I use the most is “Control Z”: the undo butmore like paper. I removed that later on because it made ton. [One of the main challenges I face] when I make art is the screen a little blurry. It’s very smooth, similar to glass. I think that’s one of the main differences between digital and finding the time to do so. Homework and other activities can take up a lot of time, and a finished painting can also traditional art. For the cover, I used Krita, which is free drawing software take hours over a span of 2-3 days. I kind of have to balance it out. you can get on a laptop. My advice for anyone who’s interested in starting art is to The inspiration kind of came to me while I was making it. just create what interests you. If you enjoy it, it’ll be easier to I was staring at this blank piece of paper thinking, “What practice and consistently improve. does creativity feel like?” because that was the theme [for If there was another [art] competition, I would definitely the cover]. join. Sometimes, you just can’t think of anything. Sometimes, you have a lot of ideas going [through your head]. I wanted interviewed by amelia pozniak | photographed by leyla to create that feeling inside of the drawing. arroyo I’m interested in color theory, which is basically the way

After completing this cover, I felt so good. And after hearing the news [about my winning,] it was like, “Oh! My art made it!”

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2021

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Matt Breese

•••

MALE CHEERLEADER

started cheering in fifth grade at Huntley Cheer Association. Then, I was on JV my freshman year and have been on varsity for two years. I started cheering because it was mostly just a family sport. My cousin did it and my sister is on JV and she started in third grade. I originally started with power tumbling at Flight Club and I was really good at tumbling so I was like “Why don’t I cheer?” Then I tried it and I loved it. Power tumbling is what got me into cheer because it’s basically the same skills, consisting of running tumbling, trampoline, and double mini, that’s like a mini-trampoline. Running tumbling is the same as what we do at cheer and it taught me how to do all the skills that I do now. I did competitive power tumbling for seven years, but now I just cheer for the high school and I go to tumbling practice at Royalty Gymnastics, Tumble, and Dance. My favorite aspect of cheer is probably the sportsmanship the team has and how we’re all family. There’s really no drama and everyone loves each other. Everything gets better when I get to practice and it’s just a place to escape reality and have fun. I think having a boy on a cheer team is like a “wow factor” because it’s not really common to see a boy in cheerleading. However, I would say it’s becoming more common because there are a lot of teams that compete with girls and boys, especially colleges because they usually have a coed team and an all-girl team. There are definitely people who think it’s weird to see a guy in cheer. To me, it’s normal because I have been doing it for years. People say mostly positive things like “oh he’s in cheer, that’s cool.” I don’t think that it’s any different from me doing any other sports. It’s fun and I think that other guys should try it too because you have fun while doing the sport you love. Between sideline cheer and competition cheer, I prefer competition season because it’s more exciting. I look forward to it because I love performing in front of an audience, scoring well, and going to competitions. The competition season is the climax of the season, where everyone’s trying their hardest and [are most] dedicated. The main goal of the competition season is to be successful, score well, and we strive for hitting up routines. That’s when we do our routine and none of the stunts fall, nobody touches on the tumbling, everything goes right in routine, and that’s how we score well. Another aspect of competitions is we have to be very clean because that’s what the judges see and it can affect your score. Competition season lasts from the beginning of December to the beginning of February, which is state. It’s the competition where all of the teams in Illinois go and compete against each other. There are divisions: small varsity, medium varsity, large varsity, and coed. We’re in the large varsity division and it’s usually the most competitive because there are a lot of teams. Being a coed team is not the most common and we were coed last year, so that was pretty cool. To be coed you have to have two guys on the team. The day of the competition is full of nerves. You never JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

to be a

have a break to just relax because you know it’s the day and you have to perform. Even though I know I’ll be fine, it’s just the fact that I have to perform in front of hundreds of people. Before performing to get our awards there are a lot of mixed emotions, from nervousness to excitement. My favorite memory from cheer is probably getting third place at state last year, which tied everything together and all of our hard work that season paid off. It was just a big accomplishment for varsity cheer because it’s the highest that they’ve ever scored and it showed how much skill we have. It really surprised us because we were not expecting to do that. A lot of things keep me motivated during cheer. I think it’s mostly my family because they push me a lot. My team really pushes each other and it makes us successful. I also think about my future, like if I want to cheer in college, and that pushes me to be better. I would tell other cheerleaders to always try their hardest and never give up, because if you try your hardest, that could really get you places. Cheer is very competitive and I just love it so much that I don’t know what I would do other than cheer. Cheering is my life. Also, yes, cheer is a sport.

interviewed by jessy gone | photographed by leyla arroyo

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Cody Spence

•••

sually my days go by fairly normal. I wake up, go to school, go home, draw and create characters, talk to my friends, and sleep. It’s fairly regular, and I like it that way. But, it wasn’t always this way. I was born with ADHD and Aspergers, which made it hard to talk to some people. It took me a while to find people to talk to, sometimes it still can be, but it’s nice that I can talk to others. My closest friends aren’t even from this school. ADHD also messes with my ability to pay attention and do well in some classes, if I don’t take my medications. It can mess with my self worth as well, and it can make me feel worse around others sometimes. But luckily, I have people who can help me here, and they’re nice and understanding. While my disability is often an issue, I have had people to help me in my life and I am grateful for that. My interests, such as games or Anime, haven’t changed at all, with friends sharing them and giving me something to talk about with others without worrying. They’ve also given me things to do when I’m done with school or during. I like to watch and play a lot of things, and it’s really fun. It’s even inspired how I spend other free time, like drawing.

to be an ARTIST WITH

A DISABILITY

express. Sometimes it’s fun to make art from something you really like, no matter what that is. Character designs can be really good if you can think of everything about them, like certain details and their stories, like a character in a show you’d watch.

I started drawing back in elementary school, when an old friend named Olivia showed me some of her drawings of characters. I’ve thought about doing concept art for studios I like, and I’ve also thought about being a writer based on the stories of my original characters, but I don’t really know what I want to do for a career yet. It can be hard to live my life with ADHD and Aspergers. They can mess with how I talk to others, it can mess with how I do in school if I don’t have the right ways to help it, and it can even mess with how I think of myself. But with others in my life and interests, such as designs and stories of characters, it is a life that I’m fine with living. So, if you know someone who struggles with a disability and you see some interests of theirs that you also like, don’t forget to try talking to them or give them advice on how they can make friends. It can really help improve their life and give them someone to ask for advice, if they’re struggling. Same goes for you; you never know who might help

interviewed by connor considine | photo provided by cody spence; ribbon: public domain

I started drawing back in elementary school, when an old friend, named Olivia, showed me some of her drawings of characters and the stories she made for them. She’s actually a big reason I got into drawing character designs, since I liked the way she made character designs and stories about them. Even after she moved away I kept trying and improving at them. My current friends are also creative storytellers, and we make our own stories and give feedback to each other. Personally, I prefer drawing more creepy designs, based on more horrific ideas. Those are the ones that I can really get creative and test myself with stories and ideas that I love, my friends included. Drawing is a really hard process, and it takes a while to learn, but it can be so satisfying. I’d recommend it if you have a story or idea in your head that you really want to JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Degianna Skeate

•••

to be a

HAIR BRAIDER

t the start of quarantine, when everybody just thought it was just going to be two weeks, I knew it wasn’t going to be two weeks. I’ve been just really creative with hair since I was little, so I thought, why not make a business out of it? Why not do what you already like to do and make money off of it. And it was also a hobby, because I don’t play sports, and I’m not in extracurricular activities, or anything. So I think it was just about what I like to do and how to make money. So I mentioned what made me start it, it’s a passion, and it’s good to make money, save up for things like college, and a car, and just personal things that I want to buy for myself. Honestly, I learned every style that I can do in one night and just perfected it over time. I have doll heads that I practice on, family lets me practice on them, but the main hairstyles that I focus on the most are knotless braids, which are box braids just without the big knot at the top. I focus on knotless braids because I’ve gotten so fast at them. The simplest hairstyle takes me about 4-6 hours, it’s nonstop. I can definitely do other hair textures, it’s just the box braids, the weave, the synthetic hair is what I promote and it’s what I do the most, but I am able to do straight and curly hair types. I braid my friends’ hair a lot, my friend Victoria has straight hair. I do boys’ hair, mens hair, I can do it all. The cost of hair, products, combs, and all of the essentials that you need vary, so it can go from $50 to around $300.

bit on TikTok, just to get views and make it interesting for viewers that potentially want their hair done. Then to promote, when I do post on Instagram, I put a lot of hashtags so it reaches many accounts. I’ve done close to 100 clients’ hair. Where I’m at now, the money aspect isn’t as important to me. Everytime that I do somebody’s hair, as corny as it sounds, I love seeing the smiles and I love seeing the confidence boost, because when you have your hair done, let me tell you, your confidence boosts up. If you have a passion, you should really go for it because when I first started doing hair, I thought it was just going to be for family, nothing beyond that. But then people started coming to me and over time clients build up. You will get noticed if you promote your work and if you have confidence in yourself, just make sure that nothing stops you if that’s what you really want to do. If you know you’re good at it, and even if you’re not good at it, you practice and then you make yourself good at it. You will get better and better over time. I sound like my mom, but it’s true.

Everytime that I do somebody’s hair, as corny as it sounds, I love seeing the smiles and I love seeing the confidence boost, because when you have your hair done, let me tell you, your confidence boosts up. For other stylists, prices go up even higher than that. It’s just the fact that I’m either in my house or my mom’s shop. So I don’t have my own shop to be certified and get more clients out, but that’s the highest price that I’ve given out, $300. I would say on average I work four days a week. It’s self made, but my mom, she actually has her own permanent makeup studio. She started her own business, and then I kind of watched her and followed in her footsteps. She has a room in the back for me, but when that room is being used, I do it in my room or downstairs, and then some of the days I’ll do it at her shop. I post on my Snapchat, I do Instagram, I also post a little JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

interviewed by karolina perkowski | photographed by addison raistrick

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Taylor Casey

•••

’ve been kickboxing since I was in fourth grade. I started because my family and I used to do karate, but it got boring, so we switched to kickboxing and I loved it. It’s different [than other sports] because you only really have to worry about yourself. It’s just counting on yourself to win the match or just training and holding yourself accountable for training and keeping in check with that. I kickbox at Z’s Martial Arts, and they work with an organization called World Association Kickboxing Organization. It’s a big organization throughout the whole world of kickboxing, and there are certain teams within countries, so I represent Team USA. Sometimes there are also national ones, where I compete individually and reprezent Z’s Martial Arts. [I did] smaller competitions and I just gradually did those until I was comfortable. It’s just to get some matches in to prepare for the bigger ones. I would do one-on-ones and drills just to get comfortable and trained enough for the bigger fights. Big fights are not very often, they’re usually like every couple months. [A] huge one was international in Mexico and that was the Pan American Championships. Other countries, like Canada and Mexico, competed there. The cool thing about Mexico was getting a new experience because it was one of my biggest fights ever. It’s interesting seeing what people are able to do and how skilled they are. The type of kickboxing I do is called K-1, so it’s just like traditional kickboxing. You can knee and do things like spinning backfists, but you also have to fight fairly and don’t do anything illegal, like hitting the back of the head. There is so much to it, you have to work on nutrition, conditioning, and staying in your weight class. I don’t usually cut [weight] because I have a good weight class and I always have people that are within my group. To make sure I’m prepared, I am always asking the coaches questions and anything that I need to work on, they’ll help me with. The day before a fight I just eat properly, drink a lot of water, and just have the mentality of I can do this and I know what to do so I can win this. I’m always keeping myself in check and being mentally prepared. The day of a fight, I’m usually very nervous and my emotions are always changing. One second I’m excited and the other second I’m nervous. I make sure to get good food in, like a lot of carbs, because that’s instant energy. Usually during matches there are multiple fights happening, so I’ll watch some fights and that makes me really nervous because I think what would I do in that situation? I put myself in their position and I’m thinking of what will happen in the fight itself and be punching like in the air thinking about it. There’s so much adrenaline rushing throughout my body. When you get there, you just want to take it all out and do your best. During the fight, you honestly don’t remember what you’re thinking. Sometimes you’re just thinking about the end. The rounds are two minutes and you’re just pouring it all out and trying to incorporate technique and power into your fighting so you can win the round. It’s definitely exciting, but it’s also very hard and scary. Sometimes, I can get very scared, but I just know what I’m capable of and I keep

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

to be a

KICKBOXER

pushing until there’s nothing left. [After a fight] I definitely always feel accomplished. I’m just happy to win or lose because I have all of the support of my friends and my coaches. They know I’ve trained so hard and I worked so hard to get where I am. Whatever outcome, I’m proud that I stuck with it and I was determined to get where I was. I’m very appreciative of my coaches. They give me so much advice and they’ve really helped me out. They see things in me that I wouldn’t even notice and it just helps me improve overall. They really helped make me the best fighter I can be.

interviewed by breanna burak | photographed by katie walsh

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Blake Bushue

•••

s one of the firemen of the Illinois Railroad Museum, I look back on how it all started. All those years ago as a little boy who stood in awe of the mammoth machines racing by in Rochelle, Illinois. Today I operate those iron horses. Ever since I was 12 years old, I have been a part of the train community. The Prairie State Railroad Club has been the start of it all, and it is still my train haven today. The club is more focused on steam tractors, and steam locomotives on a smaller scale. My grandfather assisted me in focusing on this smaller scale and bought me a 1/8 scale locomotive that has lasted for over 12 years now. Every summer I take my train out to the Threshing Bee over in Sycamore, Illinois. The Prairie State Club and myself set up an entire railway there where we offer rides with all of our engines. The train may not be the giant behemoths that rattle the ground, but it’s everything a train can offer in a little bundle. Later in my career at Prairie State, I would become president of the club for over six years. I enjoyed my time with the position, but it is now someone else’s turn to lead the club. My next step in my career with locomotives would be to join the Illinois Railroad Museum. I joined not too far off from when I became president of Prairie State, and IRM gave me the chance to operate and maintain full-scale trains. Through the great generosity of the IRM volunteers, I was taught how to be a fireman for IRM’s number five, the Shay.

to work with

STEAM ENGINES

give to not only IRM, but the community. Putting smiles of wonder on people’s faces takes me back to my younger days of watching locomotives race past me. It’s an amazing feeling, and I enjoy when others will come up to the cab and ask all of these questions like, “What does this knob do,” or, “Do these valves actually do anything?” With each time I run the Shay, I improve my skills and understanding of steam locomotives so much that one day, I’ll be able to pass on my skills of being a fireman to others who travel along the same journey. There has been a great social aspect to railroading, and I have made great friends over all these years. Some people I know go to religion, but I turn to railroading.

Operating these trains is a team effort, and every member is there to help hone each other’s skills and abilities with operating trains. Firemen can never let their guard down, and they must use good forward thinking and judgement. Being a fireman is laborious work too. The most important task is to maintain the boiler. I must make sure that the fire is burning the entire time. On top of that I have to keep track of water levels to maintain steam pressure. Shoveling coal while the firebox’s eternal flame heats the cab of the train forces you to give it your all. A mistake could lead to a fatal explosion. Sometimes you can get distracted or caught off guard by anything. Part of the job as a fireman is being able to respond to curve balls. Even the slightest change like burning a new shipment of coal can change the job’s routine. Once you get it down, it is very rewarding. At the end of the day, it is more than the personal satisfaction. It’s about furthering a worthwhile cause, and being a part of something bigger than myself. Operating these trains is a team effort, and every member is there to help hone each other’s skills and abilities with operating trains. Being the fireman gives me the ability to JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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interviewed by dylan palczynski | provided by blake bushue

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There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility. Inside of the dullest exterior there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy. -Mark Twain

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Xavier Giron

•••

am an Eagle Scout, which is the highest scout rank in Boy Scouts. To get here was not very easy whatsoever. I started when I was very young and was in the Cub Scouts. Once I grew older, I made it to the Boy Scouts where I began my journey. I decided to join the scouts because my dad was a scout too when he was younger and when he grew up he became a leader for the younger kids. There are also several benefits that apply in the real world from Boy Scouts. The different ranks that I and all of the other scouts have to progress through go from Scout Rank: Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. Once I progressed past First Class and became a Star Scout, I soon discovered that the Boy Scouts had become a much bigger commitment. Once I made it there, how far I was going to go, how fast I wanted to progress, and how eager I was to do my work for the scouts was up to me. Once you make it to Star Scouts, from then on you have to do a lot more like getting different jobs that help the scouts and learning more about your rank, tracking your progress and earning merit badges.

to be an

EAGLE SCOUT

make sure that it was clear who the beneficiary was. My favorite part of being in the scouts is the sense of accomplishment that I earned for eight years, being able to look back at what I did during that time, and how I impacted so many people. Since I am in college now, I plan on coming back and either being a leader of a troop like my dad here or somewhere else, and I will also put my kids into the scouts too. The scouts have changed my life for the better.

interviewed by shane mcguine | photographed by katie walsh

My favorite part of being in the scouts is the sense of accomplishment that I earned for 8 years. One of the best experiences with merit badges was when I had to get my cycling badge which was to ride 50 miles within 8 hours. This was one of my best experiences because it truly showed me how dedicated my dad was to helping me because he was there with me the whole way and had been supportive the entire time. This showed me why my parents wanted me to join the scouts and it put a lot of things into perspective for me. To make it to Eagle Scout, I had to earn some required badges such as cooking, first aid, and swimming. I have a little over 70 badges in total including the 21 that are required for being an Eagle Scout. I also was a patrol leader which meant that I led a younger group of scouts. I also had to put in a ton of volunteer work for my rank. One of the most important things that you have to do is complete a massive service project. What I chose to do was install the roofs on the top of the dugouts on a baseball field. I played baseball for 14 years and it was a field in Lake In The Hills, so the project was a great fit. Many other scouts have trouble with their projects because they procrastinate when they are going to complete them which then leads to a very so-so finished product. As simple as the project might seem to only have to put up two roofs on the dugouts, it was a lot more complicated than that. For one, I had to have tons of fundraising, which was imperative to get the materials for the project. I also had to wait on permits to build and had to make sure that what I was making was up to code. I had to get a welding inspector to come out and check what I made and I had to JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Navaeh Simmons

•••

to have

SIX YOUNGER SIBLINGS

y days are usually really interesting, but not because of my schoolwork, my friends, or how I get through my day, but because my family is quite large. And I don’t mean “large” in aunts, uncles, or grandparents, but large in my siblings. I have six siblings and one one the way. Having such a large family, it can be pretty stressful, crazy, and overall just an experience. But one thing is always constant; We are family. We care for each other, we can trust each other, and we always look out for each other. Being the oldest as a sophomore compared to a 2-yearold, they look up to me. Well, the young ones at least. It can really be a break, having my younger siblings that look up to me, sometimes literally. Other times it can be a bit annoying, especially when there are guests over. Sometimes I have to watch my siblings, either while my mom goes shopping for groceries or just for fun, and it can get a bit heated between them, fights, shouting, and crying. Being African American also gives some variety to our holiday season. Christmas is similar to most people’s holidays, but we put up an African angel instead of a traditional angel. We are also deeply religious, being Christian through and through. I do praise dancing, which is a type of Christian dance, and my siblings are all crazy dancers. My mom is also a pastor, and a choir director, which I used to be a part of, and she has her own dance team.

Having such a large family, it can be pretty stressful, crazy, and overall just an experience. But one thing is always there, we are family. However, our family has also been through a lot. My mom is a single parent, my stepfather is divorced due to personal reasons. My biological father, however, I was finally able to see for the first time since I was younger, and I am happy to be able to see him again. I feel like some days our family is a blessing, having so many siblings, you might think that one of them could have had a problem. Be it a birth defect, or maybe one got gravely sick, but nothing out of the ordinary. I feel like we are also blessed to be together, and not be separated, or worse. We are all grateful to have that. For my mom, I can feel her stress. All of my brothers and sisters look up to both of us, and in a way, I am like their other parents. Always looking out and always loving, giving them the care that my mom sometimes can’t because she is dealing with another one of my siblings.

interviewed by calvin mcfalls | photographed by addison raistrick JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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Bill and Joy Nesta

NOTE: Bold told by Bill Nesta and unbold told by Joy Nesta

t was the Thursday before the Fourth of July [in] 2019, and it was around 1 p.m. I was in the lefthand lane. I was looking around [at] traffic and I don’t remember seeing a car on Church Street. We were going to Papa G’s for lunch [and] I knew that I was [wanting] to turn right on 47 to head north [to get to the restaurant]. I looked [at] Church Street and didn’t see anything. I was looking at the other people coming east on Algonquin. Then, I started checking my rearview mirror to see [what] was behind me because I wanted to move over [to the right lane]. While I was doing that, there must have been a car sitting at Church facing north. He started going across the street. I didn’t see him because I was looking in my

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

•••

to be in a

CAR CRASH

rearview mirror. As I got into the middle of the intersection, out of the corner of my eye I saw this car coming right at me. Fortunately, that 20 feet or so [from] when I finally saw it, I was going fast enough that it didn’t hit me right in my door, it hit right in the back part of the back door. I was within a 10th of a second of just having the car hit me straight into the driver’s side. In that one split second, all of a sudden you go from going straight, thinking you’re going to turn, to starting to slide, and then going upside down and sliding on the roof [of the car]. It all happened so quickly that you don’t have a lot of time to be thinking about it. Other than “Oh, I’m in trouble here.” That was kind of my thought at the point, What was yours? I was on the passenger side obviously. I did not see the

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE car at all. I heard a clunk crash kind of a [sound] where [he] hit the back. He started spinning us around. My first thought was I want to get off this carnival ride. It felt kind of like a carnival ride to me because normally you don’t just spin around in your car. We must have spun and gone up on the curb somehow to get the momentum to turn us over. I don’t know how that happened. I mean, we were going only like 30 or 35 [mph]. We scattered around, then turned over, and then skated about another half a block on our roof. [The] seat belts held us up nicely. Once we got to the side and we’re hanging upside down, really quickly I said “Are you okay?” He said, “I think so,” [but] we completely did not get a bruise. We weren’t there very long at all, but it felt extremely frightening, terrorizing. You’re helpless [and you must] rely on somebody to come by and stop to help you. We were both afraid to undo our belts [because we would be] banging our heads on the top of the car. The other thing was that the door would have been hard to open because you’re upside down. The roof had been kind of crushed a little bit so when they opened up the door it had to kind of scrape the cement. It was the door [that] actually kind of pinned [us] there. I remember when the man came to help me. He was so courteous that he said I’m going to have to touch you to unlock your seatbelt. I said I didn’t care. I immediately [asked] if someone was helping my husband. I was very worried about him. He said “Yes, somebody is going over to him.”

interviewed by arianna joob | photographs provided by bill and joy nesta

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

He got me out of the car and I stood right up. I might have been a little bit dizzy from being upside down and then you know the blood is rushing back to your head, but not [for] long. We hugged or whatever and thanked God [that] we got out of there. The nice people on the corner of Church and Algonquin on the northwest side came rushing out and brought us chairs and some bottles of water so we could sit, which I thought was so thoughtful. They said that [they see] accidents a lot, but they don’t always see cars flipping. I don’t think they saw that before, but they came right out and we were very appreciative. We called our daughter but we didn’t want to scare her because she was living [by] us at the time. I just said “Dad and I had a little bit of car trouble, could you come and pick us up?” She came down Reed Road and then had to turn and actually go by [the scene of the accident]. She was just about hysterical by the time she got to us and almost abandoned the car and ran over crying. [The boy that hit us] came over and asked if we were okay [and] he said he was sorry. I thought, well, that’s pretty impressive for the 16-year-old boy to take the initiative to go over because he didn’t know if we were going to slug him or what. I thought [it was] very impressive. We were just struck by how kind everyone was. The next day, I had nightmares that night. You kind of relive it. Yes, I [had nightmares] a couple of times. This was the second incident for me where a seatbelt saved my life. I would caution anybody, [including] young drivers, everybody, [to] wear your seatbelts. I mean, it saved my life twice.

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Joey Peterson

•••

started writing music in, I think, 2017-2018 and the first song I ever posted was heard by most of my friends. My brother was like “oh it’s not bad,” and I was super proud of it because it was my first ever song and it seemed like I did pretty decently. It was called “A Long Way Home.” It is very similar to my most recently posted song “Nevada” in the sense that you are trying to find your person and you would follow them wherever but that will lead to a long way home. Ever since then, I have been building and building and trying to do better in music. I would do little things every day, such as building a hook or a chorus or something along those lines. It got to a point where I would like it but I wouldn’t show anyone. I would continue listening to it and I would end up hating it. This cycle continued happening for a little over a year, so I would end up just starting over with whatever song I was working on. I have about 200 unreleased songs that are also just incomplete.

to make

MUSIC

I wouldn’t have even ever posted it if it weren’t for my other friend who is also a musician.

more of just how I could tie it to something else and make it meaningful overall and sound good. When I first started creating songs around 3 years ago, For “Nevada,” I thought it was a nice sounding word and I I would show some of my friends to get their opinion and thought why would I be going to Nevada? And the only reathey would just tell me it was trash and that I don’t know son I could think of was to maybe find someone or maybe what I am doing and that I shouldn’t be a musician because chase after someone which is why that is the first line of the I would never make it. I tried to take that in a positive way song: “Going to Nevada/I saw you and I thought I should and use it as motivation for everything else I wrote. I want to chase after.” The rest of the song just continues to base on be able to prove to them that I can do it and I can do it well. that meaning of wherever you go, I would follow you, help For my most recent song, “Nevada,” it took me about 2 you out, and be that other person for you. days to write. At the time, when I first heard the chords and I was able to complete the song in about a week, I would the sound of the guitar, it gave me a sort of desert vibe. It is say. For the next week I kept contemplating back and forth hard to write songs, especially the start of a song. I usually whether I should release it or not. I went back to that routine come up with a cool word or a saying and then just build off of listening to it and thinking I could do better and that of that. I don’t necessarily focus on the meaning behind it, it wasn’t good enough because I always feel like I can do better. I would make changes to it every day and it got to the point where it was like over done and over tweaked. I ended up just deciding to go for it and release it. I tried to get my friends to help make it known to people and I also posted it on my TikTok account, @uhlucky7, and it got a good amount of views. It wasn’t like viral or anything but it definitely got noticed. It blew me away. The first post got around 900 likes and then the video I posted the next day got like 800 likes and it just kept continuing and my most liked video was around 1.5 thousand. I wouldn’t have even ever posted it if it weren’t for my other friend who is also a musician. He showed me how to post my song because it was something new to me and kind of confusing. He gave me a lot of tips and I am very thankful for that.

interviewed by rayne zilch | photographed by alexis cobb JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Isabelle Hernandez

•••

t’s hard, but most of the time I’m pretty okay with it. I’ve never known not having two moms, but sometimes it gets to me. It’s not like I don’t wish for the parents that I have, but with all of the people around me it kind of makes it feel out of the norm. I feel like everybody can feel like that though. Before I lived here, I lived down in a different part of Illinois by Elgin. At that time, my mom Sherrie was unemployed because we had just moved here from Michigan, and I vividly remember the days when she would take me to the park and we would eat lunch with all of us together. My mom Kareen is Hispanic, and my other mom is white, so we would all take trips to the Hispanic market. I just remember eating pastries in the park, and I think it’s one of my fondest memories because it’s a time when we’re all happy. My parents actually built their house that we had in Michigan with my grandpa because he owned a construction company at the time, and it was kind of in the middle of nowhere with a really long dirt driveway. I remember we had an apple tree and my brother had a treehouse. It was different than here, but I was also 4 or 5 at the time. But they’re just like anybody else, they’re just normal parents. In this community, I don’t think I have ever met somebody who has same sex parents. It is especially hard on my parents because they have a really hard time connecting with other people’s families. For them, growing up in Michigan was surprisingly much better. It’s difficult to look around here because it’s difficult to relate to other kids, but at the end of the day my parents are awesome. It’s so awkward to tell others I have two moms, even though I used to feel like if people found out by accident it would be whatever. At this point when I meet someone I have to mention right away that I have two moms because it gets so confusing when people don’t know. Unfortunately, I have received judgement about my moms from others before. Not as much as my parents have faced,

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

to have

TWO MOMS

but I’ve had problems with teachers in the past. They’re just short with my parents and me. I had this one teacher back in elementary school when we would make crafts for Mother’s day. I wanted to make two Mother’s Day gifts because I have two moms. I saw other kids making two for their grandma, but my teacher said I couldn’t because I could only make one for one mom. It’s just little things like that. Although I’ve never had someone bully me about it, sometimes I get slightly rude remarks. There’s a difference between being genuinely curious and outright rude. So many people are so uneducated about parents in the LGBTQ+ community, so they ask things like how I was born, or if I just have two step moms. I really don’t mind educating people about the community, but some people are so rude about it.

When I do tell some people I have two moms, they just accept it and say it’s cool. Then there’s others who overreact and say it’s amazing. Some people ask how I was born, which in itself is a confusing thing to explain to someone who doesn’t even know anything about it to begin with. Then they try to assume things like my parents were married before and got divorced or they realized their sexuality later in life. That’s not how it works. I’m just telling them so that when I mention it they’re not confused, but there’s so many questions, and I’m not Google. Just search it up, educate yourself. I get a lot of people who assume that because my parents are lesbians, I was raised to be a lesbian. That is probably the biggest misconception about lesbians in general. That is not how that works at all. For the record, I am not a lesbian, and there’s obviously nothing wrong with that. My parents influenced me to be who I am, not who they want me to be. And they obviously don’t care if I am a lesbian. When I do tell some people I have two moms, they just accept it and say it’s cool. Then there’s others who overreact and say it’s amazing. I’m sorry, but it’s so average, find a happy medium to look at us the same. I wish people would understand that it’s not as taboo as you think it is to have two moms. I just want people to look at same sex marriages and opposite sex marriages as the same. Also, I want them to know that same sex couples have families like everyone else. It’s more common than you think.

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interviewed by sophia coronado | photographed by katie walsh

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Aurora Vedovato

•••

EXCHANGE STUDENT

ecoming an exchange student and leaving my home in Italy was a scary, but big opportunity that I could not miss out on. I didn’t have the idea to become an exchange student my whole life, but I thought it would be very interesting and fun. I thought it would be an opportunity to understand a little bit about what it is like to go to other places. Before leaving for America, I didn’t know how I felt. I didn’t immediately feel sad that I was going to miss my family because I knew that I would see them in a year. I was also going to live with a host family and I didn’t know what to expect. When I first arrived in America, I was immediately greeted by my host family. I got along with them well because the father of the family previously lived in Naples and knew how to speak Italian, so I related to them. I was also able to get along with the children living at the house, and some of them were around my age and went to Huntley High School. I felt so welcome and I am very thankful to be able to live with them. I met with my counselor to pick my classes in September, two weeks after I arrived in August. At first I was overwhelmed because the school was very big and I didn’t know my way around. When I first started school here at Huntley, I immediately realized the many differences in schooling between Italy and the United States. In Italy, we stayed in the same classrooms with the same classmates for the whole day. There was more of a focus in studying and reading physical textbooks and also we had to do many oral presentations. School in Italy was definitely more difficult, with a lot more work to do. Physical education was also different because back in Italy, we only had to do two hours a week, but here at Huntley, it is everyday, which is something that I enjoy and like.

I have no regrets and I am truly glad that I decided to become an exchange student. For anyone deciding to become an exchange student, I would say push yourself to do it. At first it was hard to adjust to school here at Huntley. I was very nervous, but also excited. The first day was confusing because there were so many different places to find your assignments. English was a bit hard because the teacher talked so fast and sometimes it was difficult to understand. I was also two weeks behind in my classes. I also had trouble finding my way around this enormous school, and I had to constantly have my phone out to see my schedule. JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

to be an

After two weeks; it was easy for me, as I acclimated into school life. Overall, the school year has been going great for me and I’m doing well in all of my classes. I also like going to school and being able to meet new people. I also like participating in clubs and sports after school. My favorites are Art Club and Culinary Club and it’s fun to be able to cook food and eat. I am also going to be participating in track. Unlike school in Italy, school here at Huntley is very fun because there are so many activities you can do outside of just the normal school learning. I have no regrets and I am truly glad that I decided to become an exchange student. For anyone deciding to become an exchange student, I would say push yourself to do it. I was able to learn so many new things, cultures, and people. I am enjoying myself at school and it has been a very pleasant experience.

interviewed by jacey sola | photo provided by aurora vedovato

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Certified Public Accountants

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Adi Anderson

•••

aking jewelry is something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I started with making certain thread bracelets, which were really intricate. And then I purchased a bunch of supplies to make earrings and just started making them. I started to make thread bracelets because my mom used to make them, and it’s just a pattern where you just keep knotting the strings on each other. It’s like the easiest pattern you can do so I just started out with that.

to create an

EARRING BUSINESS

Years ago when I tried to make earrings they [were] just what I wanted on an earring. It would be a charm from a bracelet or something like that. I used to work at a nursing home but I quit last year, so I could focus on my mental health in school and my grades instead of worrying about my job. School is a lot, especially with all the homework, so that is always gonna be a restriction and also having a social life. Most of the time I make my jewelry at night. I am mostly bulk buying charms from Amazon or AliExpress, but I have been thinking about making clay charms because I have everything for it. I just need to do it. I tried to get charms that I have not ever seen [before]. I have never seen the cloud charms, the little dinosaurs, all the colored little weird babies, or my favorite: mushrooms, I love those ones! I just thought those were so fun!

I would love to have an online store. I think that would be a lot better. It does really help with [stress and anxiety] because it’s meticulous and like, fast but easy, and it looks nice. Then earrings are just a little bit more annoying when they break or they go the wrong way and they just don’t look good. I was really wanting to [make earrings] for a while and they took so long to come in shipping. When I got it, I waited a day, and I just made as many as I could with what I had. After that I just like, was constantly making them. I do not have a lot of friends at school, so I just brought [my earrings] to my table. I was like, “Guys, look what I made. I might want to start selling them,” and my friends just started buying them, and then more people came over. And it made me realize that this is something I can actually do. I really did not think that people were gonna want to buy them. But I make [jewelry] that I would wear. It was just for fun. And then when people started buying them, I was like, “oh, people actually want these,” and I made a lot more. It was unexpected. The first pair I sold was a pair of the red mushroom charms, and on the first day, I sold 10 pairs. So like $50 on my first day. I sold out on my first day; it made me cry. I was overwhelmed with happiness. In the future, I would love to have an online store. I think that would be a lot better. And just figuring out how to reach people better.

interviewed by zoe hurmi | photographed by katie walsh JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Werner Juretzko

•••

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

PRISONER OF WAR

told by chrissy juretzko

y dad, Werner Juretzko was born on April 4, 1932, in a German area [formally known as] Upper Silesia. At the time, it was considered Poland. There were 10 children born in the same house, [all] in the same bedroom. World War II came when my dad was 13 years old and he was [in] the last front of the Hitler Youth. He was 10 years old at the time, as he marched down the road, bazooka in hand, his mother kept throwing crosses at him to bless him before he left, and that was the last time he ever saw her. So, he marched. Later, he was captured by the Czechs and thrown in a trust vacuum prison camp at the age of 11 in the Czech Republic. My dad escaped [from the prison. As he ran] a prison guard grabbed him and he started screaming in Polish “Let me go. let me go, let me go” because [at the time they were] killing the Germans. He was eventually released. So, my dad walked all the way back to Germany [from the Czech-prison] to get his sister Teresa. When he got back, he could not find [the rest of his] family because everybody was in hiding. [My dad and Teresa] lost everybody; they were all each other had left]. He and Teresa decided to walk west, trying to get captured by the Americans because the Americans would not execute them; they would just put them in a prisoner of war camp, it was their last resort. The Russians captured them. 16 Russian soldiers raped my dad’s sister and nearly beat him to death. She died. My dad buried her in a field and walked all the way to Mulhausen, Germany. He was unconscious for three days. He walked all the way back home. He had rags wrapped around his feet because there were no soles left on the bottom of his shoes [because of the amount of walking he had done]. He vowed at a very young age that he would get revenge. He would get revenge against the Soviets, because of what they did to his sister and what they did to him. So, he created a new life in Mulhausen. At the age of 19, [he] became a G-2 operative for the Galan organization for the Counter Intelligence Corps which later became a part of the CIA for the Americans. He became a spy at the age of 19, his alias name was Werner Marcus. He went behind many enemy lines where he belly crawled his way from West Germany into East Germany for three days taking pictures of airfields, counting how many planes, how many tanks, [and] how many officers-he would take pictures. It was all manpower. He was a very successful operative from the age of 19 to 23. [However,] at the age of 23, there were two gentlemen that were double agents that worked in Washington DC. They sold 200 files to 200 G-2 operatives. Within 48 hours, 200 of those G-2 operatives were captured and my dad was one of them. They captured my dad when he just got done with a mission, and he was in his hotel room with the film from the mission. He heard the KGB [all the shuffling and the rukkus] and he knew that if they would have caught him with that film, they would have killed him right there. So, he pulled

to be a

all the film [out of] the camera and ate it. And as he ate the film, his esophagus became all bloodied, getting all turned up [and cut]. My dad was sentenced to 13 and a half years in the infamous Brandenburg U-boat Prison, which is an underground prison. And he was tortured, every single day. Of those G-2 operatives from the 200 that were rounded up, 75% were all [found] guilty and they all [were guillotined]. In prison, they were so malnourished. They ate their boogers. They ate the wax out of their earlobes and out of their nose. They got two pieces of bread every day, they would eat it, [and] they would regurgitate it, [just to eat it again]. There was a slaughterhouse next door, and at the end of the day, they would scoop up all the guts and all the intestines and make soup. There were many torture chambers in the prison. One of them being, when you walked in[to the confined room], the door would close behind you [and you were left with barely three inches of space]. When that door closed, the ceiling of the room would close down to the top of your head, and you were stuck there [in a wall-sitting position] for three days. There was a room that was frozen, like a freezer, and you were not fed or given water, and left in there for three days. There was another room where they would give you 3 inches of space, and water [would] fill up to your neck. You were left there for three days. It was awful, but my dad survived. [After serving] his 6 and-a-half years, he was [later] traded [for another spy]. There was a bridge, one side with my dad and the prison guards, and the other side with the Americans and their prisoner. [My dad and the spy he was being traded for] walked across at the same time, not making any eye contact, and when my dad got to the other side of that bridge; his life was changed forever.

interviewed by grace helzer | photo provided by rita juretzko

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Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. -Soren Kierkegaard Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it. -Charles Swindoll JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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Allison Apmann

•••

t was my first day at Color Guard Camp. I had many feelings, but [I was] mostly scared and unnerved because I didn’t really know what was going on and a 6-foot pole was staring me down as I’m 4-foot 9-inches tall. These days were long and uncomfortable with a temperature a minimum of 75 degrees. All camps were outside, unless there was bad weather; then, we would practice inside. After many camps and long practices it was finally our time to show everyone what we had been working for. I remember getting butterflies. I had never performed in front of an outdoor crowd let alone a stadium full of staff, raider nation, friends, and family in the community cheering for you. I was so scared, but I definitely felt joy knowing that I helped make people happy during and after our performance. It was the best feeling knowing that I could do that again. During all of my freshman year season, I had amazing captains willing to help out and support the rest of our team when needed. They were great examples and I knew they had our backs. From being scared and nervous at my first camp freshman year, to becoming a captain and making it to my senior season, I was sad knowing it was my last camp. But, I knew I had to be happy and enjoy my time with this group of amazing people. I’m so glad I got to where I am now, even though there was a pandemic that caused a few bumps in the road. Having a leadership role gave me the opportunity to enforce all that I have learned from past captains to help and teach those to improve and succeed during the season. After years of performing and practicing, it was finally time for senior night. The last performance of my Color Guard career [was] in front of all the friends, families, and community that Huntley High School creates.

to be in

COLOR GUARD I recommend the incoming freshman who might be interested in Color Guard to definitely take a shot and join. It is super fun, you get to know a lot of people, it is an amazing sport, many members of the community love watching Color Guard, and you get an opportunity to bring happiness to those who support you. If you do end up doing color guard, the camps start around June and are two weeks long for eight hours each day with a lunch break that is an hour long and [the camp] has a snack break. It’s a lot, but you get through it. Don’t quit because it is a great chance for you to get to know more people and create unbreakable friendships.

interviewed by avery robertson | photo provided by allison apmann

I remember getting butterflies. I’ve never performed in front of an outdoor crowd, let alone a stadium full of staff, raider nation, friends, and family in the community cheering for you. I was sad. I didn’t break down crying at first. Then, a lot of underclassmen were giving me gifts and all these different items. And soon enough the waterworks began. There was a lot going on. The crowd cheering and supporting us, [and] the happiness that I got to be a part of [and share] was a once in a lifetime opportunity that’s for sure. JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2021

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Alexa Brown

•••

have a family of five including me. We are all very close with each other. Not one of us wouldn’t always be there for eachother. I have two older sisters. The second oldest sister is in graduate school getting her master’s degree as a speech pathologist. We are five years apart. Then my oldest sister is out of school. She graduated last year and now has a job and is a registered dietitian. Me and her have a seven year gap. I think I always knew that I was adopted because of my memories from the orphanage. I also just knew because I am a different race than my family. They also didn’t try to hide the fact that I was adopted from me. I was born in Chongqing. Before I was adopted my name was (sung-tair) and that is how you would say it. My parents learned how to say it from hearing other people saying my name. I was adopted when I was turning around five. There was never a label for open or closed adoption because most kids in China have been abandoned with no paperwork. My mom did tell me some of what they told her though. Apparently, I was with my bio mom for nine months after I was born. Then I was dropped off at a hospital and then went to the orphanage. In the orphanage, I have memories of other babies crawling into my crib in the middle of night. There were pictures of me on the playgrounds and me doing crafts in rooms with other kids. Also, in the few pictures I have, you can see me holding a piece of bread. I could only describe it as eating Hawiian bread, but I really loved it. When my mom came to get me she gave me a barbie doll that I constantly played with. I am very inspired by

to be

ADOPTED

my difficulties, I am always grateful to be here and don’t want anyone to think I am not. I haven’t really thought about if I ever wanted to adopt a kid when I’m older. I mean I love the purpose behind it. Helping kids be successful and getting them the same opportunities that I have, like being in a loving and supportive family. I think it’s always a great option to have, when you want a kid and are starting a family. I am honored to say that I was chosen by my parents to love me. I really wanted to be in their family.

I was born in Chongqing. Before I was adopted my name was (sungtair) and that is how you would say it. mom. How she wanted to help someone and give them a better life and I’m lucky she chose me. I am grateful everyday that I am here with opportunities of being successful. She helped me be tough and grow my self confidence throughout me growing up. I eventually wanted to talk about the legal situation with my adoption. I eventually reached out to my aunt and her husband because he is a lawyer in Chicago. They said that finding my biological parents was going to be a long process, but not impossible. But that lost my interest and I knew I had to let it go. I think everyone in their life has felt out of place. I have definitely struggled with this and sometimes wondered why I was left, but I also try to remember that I am not alone. I try to remember that this struggle is very similar to many other peoples and I’m not much different. Even though I have had JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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interviewed by ava brancato | photographed by leyla arroyo JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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Samantha Castaneda

•••

to be a

HOMECOMING QUEEN

was originally not going to go to Homecoming since most of my friends weren’t going, but my older brother, Sam, said that what he regretted most about high school was not going to [his] Homecoming and Prom. He bought my ticket so that I would go and experience it. To this day, Homecoming was one of my favorite nights ever. Basically, [it started when] I was in American Government, and my friend Donna said she voted for me for Homecoming Queen. [At the time,] I didn’t think anything of it. I thought it was a joke. She started telling our [other] friends to vote for me. Also, our Spanish teacher, Ms. Texidor-Krause, was telling everyone in her classes to vote for me because I would be the first Hispanic winner. I really didn’t encourage people to vote for me. I kind of just went with it, and people just started voting for me. Then, I got the email that I was in the top five. I thought it wasn’t real. I refreshed my whole email to make sure it was [addressed] to me. The first thing I did was tell my mom. I texted her “Estoy entre las cinco finalistas para ser reina de Homecoming.” She said she was proud of me. When I got home, she gave me the biggest hug. I told her that I really did not believe I was going to win, but I was proud that I made it. I remember as a little girl seeing the Homecoming Court and always thinking it must feel so cool to be there. For the parade, I felt confident on the float. I also liked how I wasn’t lonely because some of my friends were on it.

believe in, when it will only hurt one or the other. [Although this happened,] I will never stop being proud of where I am from. [As for the game,] I was really nervous to go. When I was younger I was bullied, so I was scared of what could have happened. I walked with my mom and dad. My dad called off work and drove four hours to be with me. They called my name and my parent’s name, and all my friends screamed [from the stands]. All the screams in the stands made me so happy. It put things into reality. My family is really into football. My brother played football, and my sister is [currently] playing football. So, I am really close to the game. [Although,] I felt kind of out of place because the other girls were wearing dresses, [whereas] I I remember seeing my mom’s eyes water, [while she was] watching me throw a lot of candy from the float. My dad was wore jeans and my brother’s [football] jersey. Being Homecoming Queen may be a lot of little girls’ not able to go, [but] he watched it live with all of his work dreams, but it can be nerve-wracking at first because there friends. My dad was really proud. He works a lot, so, when I are lots of stereotypes that can come with it, like being a got nominated, I called him right away. certain size or wearing the right things. The parade was one day before Mexican Independence I literally showed up to the Homecoming game with a Day. So, being one of the first Latina winners, I brought my jersey, jeans, and Converse, but I was myself, and that’s what Mexican flag and lifted it proudly. mattered. Some [people] weren’t happy about that and threw things at the flag. When they threw things [at] something so important, it made me sick. Not physically, but why would interviewed by amanda sarrol | photo provided by you throw something at something you don’t like or don’t samantha castaneda

Being Homecoming Queen may be a lot of little girls’ dreams, but it can be nerve-wracking at first because there are lots of stereotypes that can come with it.

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Tasha Lama

•••

was 9 years old when I emigrated from Colombia to the United States with my mom and little brother. When our airplane first landed at O’Hare Airport, a snowstorm was pummeling the windows, and my mom said the snow was [the United States] welcoming us. When I walked out of the airport, I was shocked because I had never seen so much snow in my life. I was excited to come to the United States because my mom and I would always come during the summer to visit my aunt, who had lived in Florida for many years. We always visited her and would constantly go shopping at the mall or drive to Disney World. The main difference between Colombia and the United States [that I have noticed] is the diversity. Colombia is somewhat diverse, but it’s nothing like here in the United States. Here, you meet people from other parts of the world and from other countries, over there everyone is mostly Colombian. It was pretty hard to find friends of any other descent besides Colombian, so coming to the United States where you’re surrounded by people from different origins has been so amazing. Honestly the first few months I was here, it was kind of hard getting used to the lifestyle because it’s so different. The cold weather lasted for longer than I anticipated. I thought snow only fell in December and January, but it fell until April, when we first got here. It was cold until May, so that was a shock because all my clothes were like shorts, skirts, and dresses. The larger issues did not rise until I began going to school. The second I went to school, I found it incredibly hard to communicate with other students because of the language barrier. My teacher sat me next to other students who spoke Spanish, but they would [never] talk to me because they were ashamed to speak anything besides English. This made me feel like an outsider, especially because [at the time] I didn’t know as much English as I do now. The way they teach English in Colombia differs drastically from the United States. All I ever learned was the basics [like] how to introduce myself along with some basic words, but I wasn’t ready to be in a classroom setting.

To any other immigrants, my biggest piece of advice is to not be afraid of being yourself because it’s not fun pretending to be someone you’re not. In school, my teacher would speak basic Spanish to me in front of the class, probably because she thought I didn’t understand any English. I felt incredibly embarrassed, because several other kids JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

to be a

COLOMBIAN IMMIGRANT

would be like “Wow, she has to speak to Tasha in Spanish? What person doesn’t know English?” Another struggle was transportation. We didn’t really have a car, so we would have to walk everywhere. It was kind of funny because my mom [and I] would walk to the grocery store all the time carrying groceries in our backpacks. We lived very close to Target and Jewel Osco. We would take a couple backpacks with us because we didn’t have a car. Sometimes, my aunt would drive us if the weather was too cold. But when she was at work and we needed to go get groceries, we would layer up in all of the long sleeve shirts and coats that we had. We would just walk to the grocery store and everyone would just kind of look at us like we’re weird, but you got to do what you got to do. Luckily, by the end of fourth grade, I had met a few friends and my English skills had improved greatly, so I did feel more comfortable here in America than at the start of the school year. The most surprising thing that I learned after immigrating to the United States was the blatant racism that I would face every day. I thought that racism didn’t really exist as much here based on the stereotype that America was this perfect country, but I quickly realized that this wasn’t the case. My biggest struggle in terms of adapting was not being able to see my family over breaks and holidays. Everyone would talk about being excited to see their cousins over winter break or over summer break, and I knew that wasn’t a possibility for me, because traveling costs a lot of money. At the time my mom couldn’t buy plane tickets for us to see our family and friends back home in Colombia, so it was really hard. It’s still really hard being away from my family because my cousins and I were really close. I hung out with my cousins every single day. I would go and have lunch over at my grandpa’s house every single day. Since that wasn’t like a possibility for me any more, it was really hard because I really missed my family and the friends that I had over there. To any other immigrants, my biggest piece of advice is to not be afraid of being yourself because it’s not fun pretending to be someone you’re not. By being myself and embracing my heritage, I’ve become much happier, and I have come to realize how proud I am to be Colombian.

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interviewed by sean kovach | photographed by amanda hoglind

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Isabel Muradian

•••

was diagnosed with ADHD and autism September of last year. When quarantine hit, it was like the mask I had been wearing for all of my life fell. I no longer had daily social interactions with people and it was really hard for me to adjust. This is what caused my mom to start noticing my unusual behavior. I didn’t even know I had a problem to begin with. I just thought I was just a quirky, weird kid. And so she started looking at different clinics and everything that tests for things like ADHD, OCD, autism, the whole spectrum of it. We just wanted to check every possibility out. She started looking in May. The only reason I got an early test in September is because someone cancelled and we were offered their spot. The first time I talked to a psychiatrist my mom and I just sat there. We told her everything about me growing up, how I’ve always had a hard time telling jokes and sarcasm. I also explained my 8-year phase of only wearing jeans because that was the only texture I could stand. When I touched something like velvet it felt like my hand was burning. My diagnosis finally gave me the explanation I had been seeking for so long. It was really hard for me growing up. All of the kids at school already knew how to joke with each other and understand social cues. In first grade I really wanted to be friends with these two really cool girls. Whenever I was around them I would act really well mannered to try my best to fit in. No matter how hard I tried to act like them, they ended up bullying me because I did not get their jokes. They were my first bullies. The bullying continued in middle school where they would call me autistic. I find it kind of funny actually, because years later I got diagnosed with autism. The only time I haven’t struggled with bullying is high school. I feel like in high school, I started accepting that a lot of people didn’t like me. High school was much better because I just started separating myself from those people. Which obviously ended the majority of the bullying. Obviously, there’s still some stares and rude comments and everything. But it’s not the majority of my experience. Really I just need basic accommodations for my autism in my everyday life. Like in conversations. If someone says a joke, or someone says sarcasm, and I take it seriously, I just need someone to be like, ‘Oh, hey, it was a joke,’ or ‘Oh, hey, sorry. It was sarcasm.’ And then I’ll be like, ‘Oh, it was? Sorry.’ It also impacts my own speech because I don’t hear the tone in my own voice sometimes. It’s not enough for me to pick up on it. So there have been a lot of so I’ve had instances where people told me that I was being so rude. But what I was hearing, I was completely monotone. I didn’t have any tone in my voice, and I didn’t know how to correct it. My diagnosis has not played a large part academically. The only time I have ever struggled academically was my sophomore year during quarantine. My ADHD doesn’t play a huge part in my life anymore, now that I have medication that works. It doesn’t affect me as much as it did, because obviously the medication doesn’t

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

to have

AUTISM

make everything go away. What really helped me adjust to high school was marching band. It is the main reason why I have friends right now. People have long term friends since first grade, second grade, and middle school. I don’t really have those. I’ve never really had a best friend connection with anyone. Marching band is the one place where I’m just accepted for who I really am. When you see someone acting differently than the social norm, or doesn’t understand social cues, try to be nicer to them. Don’t focus on their behavior. If they need help then be a good person and help them. Just be kind to people, it costs nothing to be nice to others.

interviewed by lindsay hunter | photo provided by isabel muradian

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Anonymous

•••

riving to Bloomington every day is something I never saw myself doing a few years ago, but I also didn’t think that I would be given a second chance on my education. Alternative Learning Opportunities Programs, or ALOP, is giving me the opportunity to walk across the stage with all of my former classmates and friends. ALOP is different from Huntley because it is only focused on getting your missing work done, and the goal is only the diploma. There aren’t any sports or clubs or anything that a normal highschool might have, but I don’t need those anyways. I know ALOP is benefiting me because it is teaching me to work harder than I ever have in school in order to graduate. I was behind on credits at Huntley, and the credit recovery courses were either full or wouldn’t be enough for me to graduate. There are so many people around Huntley that have gone through the same academic struggles that I have, and they should know that they have other opportunities to graduate. I am able to work through my classes quickly, and teachers specialize in making sure that my needs are met. Something else that I like about ALOP is that I am able to arrive at school later than I would have to at Huntley. The toughest thing about ALOP for me is that I don’t get to see the same friends that I had at Huntley anymore. I have, however, made more friends with similar backgrounds and experiences as me. ALOP has been eye opening, both academically and socially. The facility itself is on par with Huntley, and there are many opportunities that apply to different interests. English

JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

to go to

ALOP

and Language Arts provides opportunities for practice with interviewing skills and learning valuable life lessons from both teachers and guest speakers. For example, Don Black, Program Director at Jammin’ 98.3FM in Milwaukee virtually spoke with us about music, life, and perspective. We are also able to volunteer at food banks to give back to the community. We had a day dedicated to the Midwest Food Bank where we packed boxes to give back. As far as work load goes, I personally have not had a hard time getting my work done on time and doing well on tests.

I know ALOP is benefiting me because it is teaching me to work harder than I ever have in school in order to graduate. At Huntley, homework was a struggle for me, and that got me off course. At ALOP, homework is not something I struggle with anymore. Overall, I know that ALOP has provided me an opportunity that many don’t get. It has taught me to value my future, support my community, and stay productive. The environment is entirely supportive of the students within the school. The staff unites the students together and develops us into our full potential.

interviewed by matt o’connell | photographed by amanda hoglind

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WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Dylan Kozar

•••

to be a

MECUM AUCTION FANATIC

ars are all I’ve ever known and it’s all I’ve ever done. I’ve tried sports and I just never took an interest. Both my parents work for Mecum Auctions, also known as car collecting. My dad is on the consignment team and my mom is a part of the bidders department. The consignment team is the team that gets the cars, talks to the people, and gets them a spot at the auction. If someone wants to sell their car, they’ll call one of the people on the consignment team, tell them everything about the car, and decide which auction to put it at, where, and what day. My mom is on the social side of things. If someone wants to buy a car, they go to her, they sign up, and then they’ll be able to go look at the cars. And then if they want to, buy one. My dad has worked there since they started in 1988. So, I’ve been going to the auctions since I was in a stroller. erships and body shops growing up. So eventually, my My first time in a real car was when I was 8 or 9. I think the brother and I began taking after my dad, who took after my grandfather. My dad also made “The Youth Program.” He did so in trying to not only get younger generations into the world of these older vehicles but also, to keep the history and the livelihood going. This 100% is going to be a profession of mine. It’s what I’m always doing anyway and whatever I can get my hands on, I guarantee you I’ll love it. An MCC class I’m taking right now is called Autos 100 and first time I drove manual was around the same time and if I it’s kind of a beginners course. We’re just doing basic stuff: remember right, it was in a 1990s Toyota Tacoma. But, my jacking car parts, steering, suspension; went over all of that. first time driving on the road, with people, was when I was Right now I also work at Discount Tire where I mainly 12 years old. change and balance tires and fix flats. I picked that job so At our house, there’s my truck, which is a 76 F 250, my that I’m closer to home; it doesn’t involve traveling, unlike dad’s truck, my mom’s car, my brother’s truck, my grandpa’s working with my parents does, and it’s something in the Model A in the garage, a 1981-82 DeLorean, and a 1989 automotive industry. Corvette Challenge car. So, you could say it’s a bit crowded. No matter what, I find myself always coming back to a Going to auctions with my parents lets me appreciate the motor. If it runs, moves, stops, and goes, I’m there. past more. I’ve just always been around older stuff. I mean, I practically drive stuff that’s 50 years old on the daily. And, it just makes me happy to see that kinda stuff still on the road and that it’s not forgotten. When I say I go with my parents to auctions, I’m there but I actually don’t see them as much as you’d think. When I go, I’m on the photography and videography side of things. I will upload and take photos of the cars that the sellers have yet to upload so at least there’s something online. So, when people are bidding on the cars and they’re not at the auction or they’re at home online, they still have something to look at so they know what it looks like. Walking into an auction, first you would go either register a bid or get a ticket. Every car that’s being sold is on display. They’ll be inside or outside, under tents, so you can walk around and look at whatever you want. And then the main auction will be going on and it’s very loud. Everything happens kind of quickly because of the auctioneers. My dad always likes to say, even if you’re not into cars, it’s still an experience to see how it’s put together and how it runs. The main reason I love cars is because of my dad. He’s always been into cars because his father worked at deal-

Going to auctions with my parents lets me appreciate the past more. I’ve just always been around older stuff.

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interviewed by brooke hamann | photographed by brooklyn tracey JANUARY 7 ISSUE 2022

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WI FL

photo by Jake Habel interviewed by Gabriella Whitfield