March/April 2019 by The Patriot Post

VOL. 22 ISSUE 5 MARCH/APRIL 2019 VOL. 22 ISSUE 3 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

(Photo/Angela Lin)

& Angela

Welcome to our final issue of The Patriot Post. Confronted with an increasingly image-conscious world, we dedicated our swan song to tackle the issue of body image and body positivity. As social media continues to dominate our lives, we often find ourselves inadvertently aspiring to unrealistic standards of beauty. We hope this issue both highlights the flaws in such standards and promotes acceptance beyond the superficiality of body type. We’d also like to say goodbye. We’re leaving our child, this magazine, in the capable hands of a new generation of editors, and we’re certain that they’ll continue to improve and strive for standards of journalistic excellence that we began working toward this year. To the Class of 2019, we know you’ll continue to make headlines far beyond the pages of this magazine. Thank you for giving us a newsworthy past four years, and we wish you the best of luck with everything you go on to accomplish. #postorroast

New

Dear Heritage,

Opinion/ Editorial 6 The Patriot Post is sold on a bi-monthly basis for 50 cents. American Heritage has 1,950 students and 160 faculty members.

the American Heritage student news magazine

VOL. 22 ISSUE 5 MARCH/APRIL 2019

The Patriot Post is an award-winning, student-produced hybrid publication that informs students about events, influences readers through editorials and entertains through features and reviews, all achieved through responsible reporting held to high journalistic standards. We strive to create content that adheres to the highest possible standards of journalistic integrity. Any queries about our content can be directed to patriotpost@ahschool.com or to a staff member in room 9114.

2 Table of Contents

Do you have a response to a column or article that was published in the news magazine? We accept and encourage letters to the editor by students, faculty or parents in response to any opinion pieces. Physically hand the response in to room 9114 or email it to patriotpost@ahschool.com. American Heritage School 12200 W. Broward Blvd. Plantation, FL 33325 954-472-0022 ext. 3300 patriotpost@ahschool.com ipatriotpost.com

Sports 21

Opinion Editor || Alyssa Herzbrun, 11th

Online Assistant Editor Features Editor || Kayla Rubenstein, 10th || Bella Ramirez, 10th Adviser || Ms. Diana Adams

Entertainment Editor || Maia Fernandez Baigun, 11th

t 18

Assistant Editors || Sloane Kapit, 12th || Kristen Quesada, 11th

News Editor || Kristen Quesada, 11th

men

Online Editor-in-Chief || Joanne Haner, 11th

Copy Editors || Amber Bhutta, 12th || Sloane Kapit, 12th || Olivia Lloyd, 12th

ain

Editors-in-Chief || Amber Bhutta,12th || Angela Lin, 12th

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(Graphics/Maia Fernandez Baigun and Wikimedia)

(Photos/ Theodore Rackauskas, Angela Lin, Weston Photography)

Sports Editor || Alex Becker, 12th Cover Story Editor || Sloane Kapit, 12th Business Editor ||Kayla Rubenstein, 10th Social Media Editor ||Maia Fernandez-Baigun, 11th Staff Writers ||Madison Lynn, 11th ||Emma Remudo, 10th ||Sammy Rosenthal, 10th ||Zoe Persaud, 10th

Editorial Policy

The Patriot Post limits opinion to opinion articles, columns and editorials. All editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff. Opinions detailed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of administration, faculty or the student body. At our own discretion, we will publish letters to the editor either in print or online at ipatriotpost.com. We reserve the right to edit these letters for grammar and layout restrictions and will not publish any content we deem libelous to any students, faculty or members of the community.

Table of Contents 3

2017-18

Hitting the high notes

Entertainment

enior year memorable

The Shuffle

BY AMBER BHUTTA

Celebrity activism

the

In an age when social media allows for facilitated expression of opinions, celebrity activism has become something of a mainstream trend. When President Donald Trump says something particularly outrageous, or the Women’s March arrives in Washington D.C., celebrities flock to their Twitters and Instagrams to make their opinions known. Through such acts, however, celebrities have drawn a fine line between legitimate concern for societal well-being and parading social activism as a new fashion trend. The phenomenon is particularly well-exemplified in the Trump administration’s recent move to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a policy that, as explained by National Public Radio, allows young people brought into this country illegally education and work opportunities. Currently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service puts that number of DACA recipients, or DREAMers at 800,000 people. Deeming DACA protections as “unconstitutional,” Trump has given the Department of Homeland Security six months to phase out DACA and Congress just as long to come up with an alternative solution. Considering Trump’s rocky history with immigration policy, DREAMers are understandably unhopeful. Celebrities across the board took to their social media platforms to make their outrage known, throwing around phrases such as “inhumane” and “misrepresenting American values” in a scramble to denounce Trump’s actions. But while such fervent reactions may influence opinions of social media followers, they also pave the road for warranted criticism: while many celebrities were quick to string together riotous statements and tack on an obligatory #defendDACA to the end, few backed their claims with ways to combat the issue. This gives celebrity activists an air of artificiality as their statements lead to little more than “likes” on social media. Academic Darrel West of the Brookings Institution researched the dangers of empty celebrity activism and explained that while these endeavors by famous people do end up leaving a wider audience more informed, they hardly ever reach the people who matter. “There will be more superficiality and less substance in our political process,” West said. Instead of just expressing your opinions into the void of social media to prove your political literacy, find out ways you can help. In the case of DACA, sign the petition organized by United We Dream, a grassroots immigrant protection organization, to show your support to Congress. Contact local Congressmen and women and show support for adequate immigration reform that doesn’t criminalize immigrants, and put the “act” in activism.

ke Photos Every hance You Get

3. Write a recipe book

Take a few minutes to sit down with your family and friends, and learn exactly what goes into the making of your favorite feelgood meals. You won’t regret doing this when you’re 2000 plus miles away from home, sick of eating ramen every day and are craving some comfort. Learning how to make some of your favorite childhood recipes is also a great way to spend time with the people who’ve mattered most to you these past few years.

(Photo/wikipedia.com)

2. Create a “second-aday” Film

With the help of “1 Second Everyday,” a free app on the Google Play and Apple Store, you can compile one-second moments of your days into a short video montage. If you begin this project on the day we return from break, and end on graduation (May 19), the final product will be approximately two minutes long. Fordham University sophomore Leila Witcher (Heritage ‘16) recorded her transition from high school senior, to college freshman in this way.

(Photo/clipart-library.com)

4. Make a Time Capsule (but don’t bury it!)

From my experience, boxes stuffed full of memories you’ve made with your best friend(s) make the best presents. Rather than dumping all of your high school memories into a hole in your back yard, keep them sealed in a cardboard box. Over the years this box can be mailed between you and anyone else who might have contributed to its contents.

Music:A1More than ‘Despacito’

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ATR OT O T COM ATR OT O T AUGU T

l know “Despacito” too e catchy song by Luis d Daddy Yankee was on y every station almost ur of the day for the maour summer break. Aco Billboard, “Despacito” st mostly Spanish song e Hot 100 list since the na” was released by Los

Del Rio in 1996. “Despacito,” which was originally written with only Spanish lyrics, was remixed to contain an English verse sung by Justin Bieber. Ironically, its popularity rose at a rate that was anything but despacito. Not only do the remixed and original versions of “Despacito,” rank second and third on Spotify’s Most

k Review: A L C E he Orient Express @

to capture the plot and s’ personalities while ue to the original novel, ew subtle changes necesmovies. ook unfolds with Hercuthe protagonist, boardnusually full Orient Exr running into the train’s an old friend. During night into the journey, is forced to stop due to now downpour. The folmorning, the callous milRatchett is discovered h 12 stab wounds. Poirot o the case and puts tocase with the clues left n open window, a handwith an “H” stitched into cleaner, a round match e one Ratchett had used arred paper with “Armwritten on it. The plot is y countless twists, turns suspects in every chapng “Murder on the Oriess” a truly beloved Agstie novel. e movie, Branagh fole bare-bones plot, tweakr elements such as the nd character appearance. changed the beginning

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currently takes piano at the Frost School of Music Preparatory program at UM. “I’ve been eyeing a few universities and conservatories and looking into their arts programs,” she said. “A career in music and performance would be a dream come true.” While she described the first piece she ever learned – Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro” (Oh My Beloved Father) – as “kind of a mess,” Altaji can no longer imagine a world without music. “When I’m studying a piece, writing, practicing… everything – music-related or not – seems to just fall into place,” she said. “It’s liberating.” If you’d like to hear Altaji perform, keep an eye out for news – she’s entering more competitions this year and might just get some more opportunities to serenade crowds. Who knows? Maybe we’ll even hear her at the talent show again this year.

Apple releases new products

Joanne Haner | Staff Writer pl184941@ahschool.com

Apple held its first event at the new Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, Calif. on Sept. 12 and unveiled a number of new products: the Series 3 Apple Watch, the Apple TV 4K, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, and the iPhone X. The keynote presentation began with the welcoming of the new theater and the beginning of Apple Park, the dream campus of the late Steve Jobs. Apple CEO Tim Cook, with help from other presenters, explained the various changes coming to Apple Stores, which will be converted to Apple Town Squares in cities where there is enough room to do so. These new town squares, located in cities such as New York and Paris, will include open plazas, genius bars, board rooms and “Today at Apple” workshops. The new Series 3 Apple Watch includes features such as a speaking Siri, an enhanced heart rate sensor and an enhanced display and speaker system. One of the main changes regarding the new Apple Watch is that the Series 3 watches are now available with a cellular card and can make calls like a cell phone. The revamped heart rate monitor was created in collaboration with Stanford Medicine and can help identify cardiac irregularities that can lead to stroke or heart disease. The pricing for Series 3 Apple Watch begins at $329 without cellular and $399 with cellular. Apple also unveiled the Apple TV 4K. Other than an updated chip and a better video output display, the Apple TV 4K is fairly similar to the original Apple TV. A 32 gigabyte Apple TV 4K is priced at $179. The most anticipated product from this Apple Keynote Presentation was the new iPhone.

Rather than releasing an iPhone 7S to follow its usual pattern, Apple skipped the S generation and released the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. The 8 is relatively the same size as the 7, but has an enhanced True Tone display. Simply by looking at the new phone, one can only tell the difference from the 7 by the new glass back. According to Apple, this is the strongest screen to ever be put on a smartphone and, thus, is the most durable iPhone ever. In addition to the iPhone 8 series, Apple released the iPhone X. Like the iPhone 8, the iPhone X has an A11 Bionic chip, which has six processor cores; the A10 chip of the 7 had four. All three phones also now have the ability to charge wirelessly, like the Apple Watch. The most notable difference of the X is its new display, an edge-to-edge screen. The home button has been removed and replaced with a virtual sliding bar. Instead of using Touch ID with a fingerprint, the X unlocks itself by using Face ID, Apple’s new facial identification system. Simply look into the smartphone to unlock it. An interesting detail about Face ID is that Apple specifically designed the program to not recognize a picture or mask. The front and back cameras of the X have been enhanced, and photos taken in portrait mode have new lighting effects. The new camera also enables its user to use their facial expression to animate any one of a dozen emojis, including the dog, unicorn, panda and pile of poop. Costs for the new iPhones begin at $799 for the 8, $899 for the 8 Plus, and $999 for the X, and are available with 64GB storage or 256GB storage.

Yasmeen Altaji | Staff Writer pl201311@ahschool.com

Hannah Ellowitz. “Each song tells a new and interesting story that can really resonate differently with each audience member.” One of the many highlights of the production will be a number featuring two talented dance students, senior Valeria Yamin and sophomore Israel Del Rosario, which Ellowitz said, “you don’t want to miss.” Rehearsals have not yet begun but, as always, three-hour rehearsals will take place almost every day after school until the date of the show. The cast is “super diverse and intimate,” and members are excited to work on this challenging, exciting new realm of musical theater. 35MM is targeted for ages 14 and up. The show runs from the Nov. 18-21. Gather your friends and your passion for the arts, and prepare for yet another production by the Fine Arts department.

Editor-in-Chief

“Despacito.” Similar to Bieber’s remix, a remixed version of “Mi Gente” overtook the original, this one with verses and harmonies from the iconic Beyonce. Spanish boy band CNCO joined Fonsi and Balvin on the charts when their hit song “Reggaeton Lento [Bailemos],” underwent some changes by British girl group Little Mix. Unlike “Despacito,” and “Mi Gente,” the original version of “Reggaeton Lento” did not gain much popularity and the remix received the most praise. The bridging of languages in remixes of these songs helps to open a passageway to the genre for non-native speakers of the language or people who may understand Spanish but never thought to listen to more than Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” at the occasional party.

(Photo/imdb.com)

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(Photo/Omar Altaji)

Theater’s fall flair With the new school year and coming of the fall, we must all bear witness to the impending seasonal crazes, but arguably one of the most exciting points of the impending season is the new Fine Arts department productions. First on the schedule is 35MM, an American song cycle that made its debut in 2012. It is considered a “musical exhibition” rather than the typical play; it contains a clever usage of multimedia which inspired the songs and music of the show. A song cycle is a collection of songs with similar themes or styles that explores different concepts. With this in mind, it is only expected that the scores are the main focus, since the song cycle style allows for a more personal connection with the music and story lines. “The music is incredible,” says cast member senior

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FEATURES

Editor-in-Chief

event on Feb. 14, 2018. I was so shocked and horrified and this motivated me to attend the March for Our Lives in Parkland. After the speeches, I began marching to the MSD memorial along with large crowds of people. I carried a sign that was given out at the march encouraging people to register to vote. I also chanted along with the crowds various slogans such as “Never Again,” “Enough is enough” and “Show me what democracy looks like” as well as many others. The chants helped keep me and the crowd to continue marching forward despite the heat. The march was extremely organized with volunteers giving out bottled water and a huge police presence was there as well to keep protesters safe. Looking back, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to

eritage volunteers at senior center

ho is passionate about theater ollege. Coutinho also dreams by Gabriela Coutinho)

Few have the opportunity to perform at Lincoln Center, but junior Gabriela Coutinho will for a Shakespeare monologue contest. This January, the English Honor Society and Dead Poets Society hosted a Renaissance Festival which featured the second annual schoolwide Shakespeare monologue competition. After winning last year’s school Shakespeare monologue contest, Coutinho came to the competition Jan. 20 experienced and ready to perform Tamora’s Act I Scene I monologue from Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus and Sonnet 116. She won first place and advanced to the regional contest.

Quizlet. But the mindless and dependin supposedly Make the tim out loud and those around sakes and you

Don’t let the statistics scare you away from technology. By all means, post heart emojis and supportive comments on your friends’ photos. Watch Instagram videos that make you smile before you face another school day. Study last-minute with

IPATRIOTPOST

(Graphic/Joanne Haner) PATRIOT POST NOVEMBER

OPINION

While currently moving toward a more equal future, American scouting organizatio allow both girls and boys to join. Read our political correspondent’s reasons w Asa Zaretsky | Political Correspondent pl224371@ahschool.com

organization ge other sex becaus the respective o more to do with tions than anyth Boys and g by experiencing ments, which co provide. A stud the U.S. Depar and Human S showed that gir grow up in sin ments become and violent. These benefi ed beyond the B would be good also developed to that of the Bo can provide boy unique experien both scouting or vance beyond th vides and into an

In a historic move, the Boy Scouts of America announced Oct. 11 that girls will now be included. The organization will begin to admit girls to the Cub Scout program and in 2019 the Boy Scouts will begin to allow girls to join fully. While co-ed programs had existed before, such as Venture Scouts, these programs were not on the scale of the main Boy Scouts programs. This major policy shift hits against decades of traditional gender divides. Despite this, there has been significant backlash from both conservatives and the Girl Scouts of America, who blasted the move as opportunistic. The common argument from both groups is that Boy Scouts should be for boys, and Girl Scouts should be for girls.

“i just go t pulled ove - Ambe

Letter to the editors: check your fa

10/10/17 1:54 PM

quotes

Students, speak up seems easy to say for most; how-

- Alex to Sammy

A resolution, however, exists: anonymous messages. Although Heritage has yet to implement a system of anonymous tipping, the Guidance Department would be open to the possibility. “If we have the facts that bullying is happening and that people can’t approach a counselor, we would definitely be very diligent about putting a system into place,” freshman and sophomore guidance counselor Ms. Ludy Joseph said. “There’s always something to be done.” Through this alert system, teens can bring attention to what is happening, anonymous “Whatwhile shouldstaying Tide PODs be used and out DOING of the limelight. for? LAUNDRY. Noththink Eating [students] will find thatis a ing“I else. a Tide POD every of the counselors so W BADoneIDEA,” the brand are tweeted serious having students feel on Jan.about 12, 2018. safe. The best thing to do isaddressed to tell In 2015, the brand someone. Telling someone can save a situation when toddlers looked a life,” Ms.brightly Joseph said. at the colored pods and

D17 A2

IPATRIOTPOST.COM ever, these two words can be the difficult2019 sounds for a teenager PATRIOT POST AUGUST 2016 most - MAY to make.

“While it can be a pain, turf is a little hotter which I think gets us in better condition.”

- Senior offensive lineman Zackary Zambrano

“On a wet turf it is harder to sion whether or not I should stunt. The girls’ shoes tend to g little slippery.”

“Are you OPINION dumb?” Natural selection at its-finest Sl Rumor has it that Tide PODs are being discontinued. However, one of ourne oa News

Fear of judgment, retribution and victimization cause many teens to refrain from alerting adults of bullying in and out of school and online. As social media grows, it is easier for children to “roast” and call out others online 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. IPATRIOTPOST.COM PATRIOT POST FEBRUARY 2018 The lack of confidence teens experience in deciding whether to tell an adult usually stems from the question, “Is it really that bad?” Teens wrestle with this question, debating whether the |incident is Maia Fernandez Baigun Staff Writer bad enough to make the effort of pl212601@ahschool.com alerting the First,a superior it was and the getting cinnamon perpetrator and in trouble. The chaldifchallenge the gallon ficulty in not came only shedding light lenge. Then the hot pepper on the bullythe butbanana also on oneself as challenge, peel chalthe victim many teenagers to lenge, the leads fire challenge, the duct stay quiet and ride tape challenge and,it out. now,However, the Tide

IPATRIO

“The turf is free of divots, holes, and inground sprinkler systems that can do serious damage to the human body.”

- Cheerleading PATRIOT coach Calesta Sot POST FEBR

- Varsity boys’ lacrosse coach Chad Moore

- Junior running back Tyler Jone

“Turf is more slippery than gras

“Grass fields must be mowed and main- “I prefer natural grass over artifi tained on a regular weekly basis alone with surfaces allow for more natural fertilizing and lining, and this all takes many feel. As a midfield soccer player in playi hours to work on. Sometimes, grass fields sitive to any alterationHurri BY ANDR ball movement and surface feel. need reseeding which takes Anfor investigation by Tide quesand two teens have died fromdown de- a field prone to muscle and Socia joint weeks a time. There also a significant tioned the integrity of more the screentergentatingestion and theisAmeriConside play on artificial surfaces as opp water savings as turf fields do not need to can Association of Poison Control shotted tweet and because of the If each stu grass surfaces.” beCenters watered.” have received more than formatting of the tweet, it ap- individual,

“OMG What’s

staff writers is here to dispell that myth and provide the truth.

As I cannot string together a coherent introduction without tears blurring the page, I will instead use the wise words of Winnie the Pooh: “How lucky am I to have someCARRIE TRIES ACTIVISM: Features Editor Carrie Kuecks particithing that makes saying goodbye so hard.” pates in the March For Our Lives march in Parkland, Florida. There were thousands of other marchers from South Florida who participation. (Photo/ To Angela, my Co-Editor Yasmeen Altaji) and better half, how lucky march to stand from being able to vote. It is I am that the universeparticipate madein theyou the Taylor to my Swift. in solidarity with MSD and pronot something solely for colmoteenough changes being made in students or adults. This page doesn’t have space forlege-aged the dissertations national and state school secu- I would recommend trying to measures and gunlove reform.for findyou, something that talent matters I could write about myrity boundless your Activism is for everyone, even to you and get involved and if you are a you year or and two away takedesign action. and your dedication; without your prowess, this magazine wouldn’t exist. I cannot think of a moment of laughter that I haven’t shared with you or a depth of deDaniel Cantor senior eighth hour and are transportedthat via school They students have the opporspair you bus. haven’t pulled me out of with hugs and lefto interact with the older usually return by 4:15 p.m. enjoying two hours of tion and share a love over of afterPanera baguettes. From late night FaceTimes to early community service. and gardening. “It’s important Heritage nonsensical inside jokes (shut down!) dents plant herbs flowers morning Uberforrides, nd to the garden in order students to do things that make positive difference in people’s te a sensory-rich space to auncanny telepathy, you are my omnipresent silver linpatients. Junior Natalia lives, both for those other peoand so while that they appreciate and sophomore Viviana ing,ple and not spending every living moment with you e working to gradually their health, their mobility, their willyouth beandone the hardest things I’ve ever done, it’s a small their of education,” Dr. garden walls with natureCouper said. Healthy Heritage d murals. price to anpay to watch also has on-campus garden you change the world. I know we call e more people underhe importance of healthy it hopes to expand in the future. HEALTHY junior Olivia Lender and this a senior farewell, but toHELPS: you,Healthy thisHeritage willpresident never be goodd plants, the more people Right now, the garden is the sophomore Jana Kelly pull weeds out of the garden in the company of a patient otect those things, and home of growing carrot, tomato, Daniel Cantordie Seniorfor Centeryou. in Sunrise. (Photos/Joanne Haner) bye. Nochive, offbasil ense, but I atwould pepper, and purple er chance we have of livlthy lives and of protect- cabbage plants. To Ms. Adams, Volunteering at Daniel Can- my second mother, if home is where planet,” Dr. Couper said. tting young people into a tor is open to all students. Intheterested heart is, then students can emailI’d Dr. stay in 9114 forever if I could. Someto see how things grow es the chances that they Couper at julia.couper@ahhow, despite the endless carbs and borderline breakdowns ake healthy choices about school.com to find out when the Students who choose to next volunteering date is and I stumble in with, you always know how to make the world pate in the volunteering obtain the parent permission form. Healthy Heritage meets in Dr. Couper’s room, 9210, every other Monday.

forming substantive relationships in the flesh and blood,” Justin Worland, a participant in the study, said. By substituting physical relationships for virtual ones, we allow substantive relationships to lose value, too enraptured by the on-screen world to notice. The phenomenon not only leads to the deterioration of individual people, but also to the disintegration of entire social networks. Dr. Nicholas Christakis, who conducted a study on loneliness through generations, elucidates on the contagious properties of loneliness in an interview with the “New York Times.” “If you’re lonely, you transmit loneliness, and then you cut the tie or the other person cuts the tie. But now that person has been affected, and they proceed to behave the same way. There is this cascade of loneliness that causes a disintegration of the social network,” Christakis said. As we delve further into our virtual realities, brimming with relationships maintained by typing and word limits rather than actual conversation, we lose time that could be spent building more meaningful relationships with the people physically around us.

you go o o g you n v o np nd on h m w h how b gh you n db h u h n m ng p on my b nd nd n d w h my n h n ud m ng o T y o Sw ong n h n gh F T m mp omp u p o M m know ng x y wh you h nk ng nd o mu h mo I just “Sometimes You b F m m v y n gh o w d v hearing like Quesada) om wh v m o wh v you ov you o v really(Graphic/Kristen This argument is heavily idea that girls are more suited to archaic gender divides. The . It nd n w o you on m g n ov on d yflawed, f talk however, and relies moreel some activities and boys to oth- truth is that numerous boys and mys on inertia than on facts. The ers is simply false, and reinforces To K n M o nn nd my ff but I girls have tried to apply for the sounds bad Th nk you o k ng h wh w nd n on h lking” just like ta Amb nd d m d up o o w nd h p ng m k ou ne Eric Bazail | Guest Writer Slof oa them from history – it is remov- the grounds their inexcusable Figures such as Nathaniel Bedpl229711@ahschool.com m g n no y You h v ugh m how o ingov them from the literal pedestal bigotry, the fact that Confederates ford Forrest, who later founded Last month’s edition of “Hur- they have stood on for decades betrayed our nation should be the Ku Klux Klan, ha deserve to be “W te Guid nd ugh h ough v y ng u Andrew” on fundamentally ook ricane and itois recognizing the role that enough to preclude their histori- reviled and scrutinized by histo-ver floored me. The blatant disregard these individuals have played in cal legacy from being revered. rians, not honored and celebrated. letter hathatpptheseenchanges you w h wond h ou n you v exhibited b om who racism and bigotry in As the great freedom fighter I agree for basic h history in this fomenting ed to th column appalls me and motivates our nation’s history. Liu Xiaobo should not happen overnight. Ysaid,” hatred Rsociety’s EVEa once og h h v h b y o h ng me tohwrite thishoo on the The Civil War was I letter because fought for “destroys toler- Changing county, street, and C the ed E W “D ig record must be set straight. state ance and humanity, and blocks place names wouldgl have toes hap-?” a Do you have m m o p oud o o youFirstnd m Christopher o x states d rights. oThat ofButa forstatewhich e off, equating right? to allow a nation’s progress tol freedom pen over several years and admitg n A a column or Columbus and the Conquistadors slavery within its borders. Yes, and democracy.” tedly at a substantial cost, but We - Alex published in wh you guy do w h h m gis a grave n mistake ov you guy of historical George Washington, Thomas America has never been more the People must take those steps, can make yo interpretation that I have no in- Jefferson, and other Found- divided, and symbols of the op- or else the ghosts of our past will nd y nd h nk you o pu ng w hm o ingou by submitting terest up in discussing. But more Fathers were slave-owners. pression committed by one peo- continue to haunt us. An investthe editors.” importantly, misconstruing the Their conduct is unequivocally ple over another will only detract ment in our domestic tranquily nd you om up d h ng y on submission p opposing argument as wantingnto wh reprehensible and will remain from our healing. These monu- ity and common defense will alnext issue’s eradicate mention of Confeder- a blemish on their historical re- ments deserve to be in museums, ways pay itself back tenfold, so o you guy n pu on h quo w w is a fallacy k onh cords. n xHowever, their racism and not in public parks and places let us act now, before it becomes on ipatriotpo ates from history cally hand th the author’s part. Wanting to take disregard for the worth of other where they solely serve as a per- too late. fl gh hom you guy v n d m to room 9114 down monuments dedicated to human beings never led them to petual reminder of the racism and patriotpost@ these individuals is not removing commit acts of treason. If not on hatred their subjects espoused. p om you h h no goodby m o m “You’re like o y my own d gon nd on nu my duou ou n y w The athletic perspective: grass or turf at ch gRubenstein | Staff Writer a fis h on h p h o find my bu wQuesada y |find w their y abuse comes more abuse inKayla Katherine Co-Editormy with pl226461@ahschool.com pl208161@ahschool.com to others who, like them, do not try to wal Pro Grass Pro Turf hom o 9114 Help me. Such a statement speak up. k”

feel just a little more bearable. You’ve seen me at my worst and at my best, and in between your hugs, sage advice and loving bitmojis, you’ve changed my life in more ways than you could ever know; you teach not as a vocation but as a mission to impact lives, and for that I will never forget you. As surely as a compass needle points North, I know I will always find my way back to you and 9114. To Mrs. Hendricks and Ms. Molina, some of my fondest high school memories will always be our fifth periods spent laughing over sad salads and popcorn chips. Mrs. Hendricks, you’ve taught me to write thoughtfully and think bravely, skills I know will always empower me. To Kristen, Maia and the rest of the staff, while I will miss you, our fiestas and our impromptu dance parties, I know I’m leaving The Patriot Post in capable hands. You constantly continue to find new ways to inspire me, and I cannot wait to come visit and learn of all the things I know you have yet to accomplish. Please treat Ms. Adams like a queen, take care of my baby and cherish the time you have left. To anyone who’s reading this now, thank you. To anyone who’s ever picked up a copy of The Patriot Post, thank you. To shy, freshman me who worked up the courage to knock on the door to 9114 and timidly join the school newspaper, thank you for making the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.

Amber Bhutta | Co-Editor-in-Chief pl208261@ahschool.com

m at the Daniel Canior Center with Healthy ge leave school after

Amber Bhutta | Co-Assistant Editor pl208261@ahschool.com

The familiar scene of our car or bus rides to school in the morning hold almost universal similarities: us, with headphones plugged in or the radio buzzing in the background, scrolling through study utilities and/or social media on our phones or trying to catch a few extra minutes of sleep. Conversation with those around us seems almost unfathomable that early in the morning. Similar scenarios occur in countless other places, from the dinner table to parties, in which we are too absorbed in our own spheres to notice the people and things in front of us. However, while a certain dose of solitude is normal, healthy even, this type of quasiromanticization of over-introvertedness has led to a scientifically proven downward trend in mental health in the form of a hidden epidemic: loneliness. In 2015, Brigham Young University conducted data-analysis study and reported that subjective feelings of loneliness increase one’s mortality risk by nearly 30 percent. “More Americans are living alone than ever before, and technology like texting and social media has made it easier to avoid

Co-ed scouting organization

AMBER BHUTTA

ies: March(ing) For Our Lives

ailable at American Heritage and in South Florida, it can be overwhelming to decide r Carrie Kuecks will try various clubs and activities on campus and in South Florida.

eir lives in the Parkland g and called upon action ge gun laws and school eatures. I felt extremely and motivated to march ng such strong speechny given by people at or my age. speeches emphasized d to make #NeverAgain n not as a moment but ement and that comprorom both political parties be made going forward. er registration booths so present at the rally for adults like myself to beolitically involved in the ture. Parkland shooting hit ely close to home for well as many students culty of this school and chools in South Florida), ersonally know students ng MSD who had to nce the horrendous

dove straight into classical repertoire and has continued to develop her craft since then. She’s been playing classical piano for even longer (12 years) and often performs both piano and opera, as she did at annual year-end concerts at University School and in the AHS talent show the last two years. Though she usually sticks to opera when it comes to performances, she likes to practice jazz and certain types of pop occasionally, to offset the constant classical practice. “I’ll sing whatever comes to mind,” Altaji said. “Music is a blank slate. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.” While she is unsure whether she plans to major or minor in music in college, she

ANGELA LIN

Streamed Songs of 2017, but the original music video for “Despacito,” which can be found on Luis Fonsi’s VEVO channel, is now the most popular YouTube video of all time with more than 4.4 billion views. Recently, Luis Fonsi released another song with Demi Lovato called “Echame la Culpa,” which translates to “Blame it on Me.” The song, which contains Spanish verses from both Fonsi and Lovato, also has an English chorus sung by Lovato. Although the song is not as popular as Fonsi’s previous hit, “Echame la Culpa” is currently ranked at 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Back in September, Latino artist J Balvin released “Mi Gente,” which translates to “My People.” The song quickly gained momentum and made its way to the charts, much like

to give an introduction to Poirot and two other characters to develop character traits, something that is in earlier Christie books and therefore not needed in “Murder on the Orient Express.” Branagh also added something to the movie that the book lacked: racial diversity. Overall, Branagh captured what the book was meant to be while adding unique parts that made the movie have a fresh perspective. The book was given justice in the 2017 movie remake. Although the movie did not stay 100 percent true to the book, the additions created a modern cinematic marvel from an old favorite, one that will be a favorite for years to come.

Junior Yasmeen Altaji is on another level when it comes to music – literally and figuratively. As an opera singer, she can reach and hold notes higher than most singers even dream of reaching. Her nearly seven years of opera practice paid off when she got to share her talent with the world at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center in September, performing excerpts from classic operas, some Broadway scenes and her solo – Handel’s “Bel Piacere” (Great Pleasure) – for the Florida Grand Opera. Her former voice teacher worked at the Florida Grand Opera, and encouraged her to send in an audition video to the Youth Artist Learning Academy (YALA). Once placed in a group, she participated in a three-week-long opera “boot camp,” where she learned from “active professionals and experts in their fields”

in everything from costume design to dramatic interpretation of the literature to vocal technique. “I got to work directly with Robynne Redmon, a mezzosoprano and University of Miami (UM) professor. She helped me immensely for the concert,” Altaji said. The program culminated in a June performance, which was repeated in September at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. Altaji was lucky enough to be one of three YALA participants interviewed and featured in an “Opera America” article about the program. When Altaji started voice lessons at 10 years old, she

patriot post se

it’s difficult to avoid feelings of nostalgia. This transition in our lives is inevitable. Let’s not make the most of your time left as a high schooler.

you might be labeled m” of the group, but at and your friends will e memories to frame for ks or hang on your dorm h photos, the opportuniendless. Beyond posting Instagram to share with nds, or Facebook to share ly members, they can be o blank yearbook pages, to photo albums or pastrapbooks.

Andrew Kolandra Jr. | Co-Editor pl183941@ahschool.com

theft are often taken more seriously than victims of rape. But women are finally speaking out. The #MeToo trend began following the firing of former film studio executive Harvey Weinstein after he joined the seemingly endless line of men in Hollywood, politics and big business accused of sexually harassing, assaulting or raping women. Whether due to fear of social repercussion, or attacks by misogynists who blame them for ruining the “lives” of promising young rapists, victims and survivors of assault are often forced into silence about their experiences. If the recent outpouring of stories and support indicate anything, it's that sexual harassment is far too prevalent, but with every tweet, story and post we increase awareness of this fact. Change won’t happen overnight, but it certainly won’t happen if we remain silent. Conversation is the first step to healing. Let’s keep the momentum going. Notice to those who have been sexually assaulted/ raped: do not feel compelled to voice your experiences if doing so might put you in a dangerous situation.

WORKING AND HEALTH: Junior Natalia Ulloa, Healthy Heritage vice president sophomore Daniel Block, sophomores Victoria Molina and Deva Mark, junior Daniil Tourashev and sophomore Viviana Wei enjoy the work they’ve put into the garden at Daniel Cantor after a long day’s work.

fare to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Young Actors’ Summer School in London. All participants get the valuable experience of performing in front of distinguished judges as well as demonstrate their interest in Shakespeare and theater. “I’m extremely passionate about theater and literature so Shakespeare’s world is practically an ideology I work.” “I love immersing myself in his language through analysis and performance. I think the competition is an exciting opportunity for students to delve into the text and play with classical acting,” Coutinho said.

Asa’s Analysis

OPINION

selection at its finest

4 Senior Farewells

Choosing life skills one book at a time

pod challenge. As one of the more dangerous internet-fueled challenges, the Tide Pod challenge involves filming yourself (or a friend) biting into one (or more) Tide detergent pods. Enough people jumped on W this crazy bandwagon W to cause numerous life-threatening injuries and Tide addressing the situation publically.

BY ASA ZARETSKY

Local Elections 2018: What to watch out for

Local elections are some of the most important elections that voters face, as the effects of what state senators, representatives, city councilmen and mayors do reverberate faster in our community than decisions in Washington, D.C. In light of this, many seats in Broward County will be up for elections this year, and it’s important to know what positions exactly will be voted on, as information on local election is far scarcer than for state or federal elections. From state senate to city council, Heritage students of voting age will have to choose between many candidates this August and November. Most of the State Senate and State House seats will not be in serious contention this year, as Broward is solidly Democratic and almost all of the incumbents are not term limited yet. However, House District 93, which stretches from Hollywood to Boca Raton, is facing a competitive election between Republican George Moraitis and Democrat Emma Collum. This district was a narrow Trump victory in 2016, and Democrats might have a chance of flipIPATRIOTPOST.COM it this November. In muB5 ping PATRIOT POST FEBRUARY 2018 nicipal elections, the cities of Cooper City, Coral Springs, Dania Beach, Davie, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Lauderdale Lakes, LauderCat. 3 hill, Margate, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Parkland, Rumor has it that Tide PODs are being discontinued. However, one of our Plantation, Pompano Beach, Hurricane Andrew Southwest Ranches, Tamarac, staff writers is here to dispell that myth and provide the truth. BY ANDREW (AJ) KOLONDRA Sunrise, West Park, Weston Maia Fernandez Baigun | Staff Writer “What should Tide PODs be used and two teens have died from deAn investigation by Tide quesSocialism ≠ happiness and Wilton Manors will be pl212601@ahschool.com for? DOING LAUNDRY. Noth- tergent ingestion and the Ameri- tioned the integrity of the screenConsider a class of 20 students. First, it was the cinnamon ing else. Eating a Tide POD is a can Association of Poison Control shotted tweet and because of the If each student’s grade on a test is having elections. Some have challenge and the gallon chal- BAD IDEA,” the brand tweeted Centers have received more than formatting of the tweet, it ap- individual, students know they will all positions up for voters, lenge. Then came the hot pepper on Jan. 12, 2018. 12,300 calls reporting exposure/ peared to be fake. be rewarded for studying. Some will some only have the mayor or Like many of the other “chal- study, and some won’t; each group city council. To learn morechallenge, the banana peel chalIn 2015, the brand addressed ingestion of the pods. Around 700 lenge, the fire challenge, the duct a situation when toddlers looked of these calls resulted in “moder- lenges,” the Tide Pods challenge will thus pass or fail based on the about the details on which tape challenge and, now, the Tide at the brightly colored pods and ate” or “severe” risk to the per- follows the same unintelligent and amount of work they put in – indiignorant guidelines. Just because vidual incentive. This scenario rep- candidates are running, check pod challenge. thought of them as food. Tide then son’s health, the CDC reported. As one of the more danger- began coating the pods in a chemiRecently, a fake tweet captured some people are unintelligent (and resents the central idea behind capi- out your city’s website. It’s ous internet-fueled challenges, the cal substance that would taste bad the attention of many. “We regret even stupid) does not mean that a talism: that humans run on incentive. likely that there will also be Tide Pod challenge involves film- to the toddlers. However, this does to inform you, we will be remov- brand should have to take responNow let’s say the grade on said primaries, or first rounds, for ing yourself (or a friend) biting into not seem to stop teenagers. ing Tide Pods from shelves start- sibility. Even though the tweet test is communal. All grades are av- most of these municipal elecone (or more) Tide detergent pods. The trend became more popu- ing February 1st. It’s been a good was fake, Tide has taken to social eraged and every student receives tions on Aug. 28, and given Enough people jumped on this cra- lar with the new year, and conse- run, but we can’t risk lives over media to discourage this challenge that new average score – say, a C – how low turnout these eleczy bandwagon to cause numerous quently, hospitals started seeing having clean clothes,” tweeted an and attempt to stop it. even though some students pass and tions usually are, it’s vital to life-threatening injuries and Tide more and more injuries related to anonymous user under the name some fail. Students would presum- vote. You don’t know if an addressing the situation publically. this challenge. So far, six adults of the brand. ably not study as hard next time if election will be decided by they knew that the reward for their work would be redistributed to those 2,000 or two votes sometimes, who put in less work, or none at all. and making an informed vote Kelly Taylor | News Editor spark individual interest inspires students depending on their in- classics, if students have no in- The hardworking students in the can seriously change your pl233383@ahschool.com deeper thoughts and connec- terests. Guided by teachers, stu- terest they will not get as much class eventually recognize their work area for the better. If you’re

ipates in Shakespeare monologue contest Natural At the Fort Lauderdale English-Speaking Union Shakespeare Monologue Contest, Coutinho won first place. As a result, she will advance to the national competition at the Lincoln Center in New York City on National Shakespeare Day, April 23. “I’m incredibly excited to perform at the Lincoln Center! I love working on my pieces and have a huge passion for Shakespeare,” Coutinho said. Based on student performances, seven to 10 students advance to the final round. Finalists compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to attend a summer drama program. First place winners are awarded a scholarship and air-

e?” Project Alive talent show the Juic -Angela

12,300 calls reporting exposure/ peared to be fake. be rewarde soccer player C - ingestion Athletic director Ms.Around Karen Stearns Like many- Junior of the midfield other “chalof the pods. 700 study, and of these calls resulted in “moder- lenges,” the Tide Pods challenge will thus p ate” or “severe” risk to theWper- follows the same unintelligent and amount of ignorant guidelines. Just because vidual ince thought of them as food. Tide then son’s health, the CDC reported. began coating the pods in a chemiRecently, a fake tweet captured some people are unintelligent (and resents the cal substance that would taste bad the attention of many. “We regret even stupid) does not mean that a talism: that to the toddlers. However, this does to inform you, we will be remov- brand should have to take responNow le not seem to stop teenagers. ing Tide Pods from shelves start- sibility. Even though the tweet test is comm W was fake, Tide has taken to social eraged and W The trend became more popu- ing February 1st. It’s been a good lar with the new year, and conse- run, but we can’t risk lives over media to discourage this challenge that new av quently, hospitals started seeing having clean clothes,” tweeted an and attempt to stop it. even thoug more and more injuries related to anonymous user under the name some fail. this challenge. So far, six adults of the brand. ably not st

“If you’re trash, then I’m trash” - Angela To Amber

Choosing life skills one book at a time Kelly Taylor | News Editor pl233383@ahschool.com

Assigned independent reading has taken root in attempts to encourage a love of reading in students. However, many students see independent reading as just another homework assignment to complete and may even come to resent it. A love of literature starts with a book that students love. As everyone has different interests and tastes in books, choosing independent reading novels should be allowed, at least to a certain extent. Some argue that given the opportunity to choose their own books, students will not pick challenging material. But engaging Win literary pieces that

spark individual interest inspires students depending on their indeeper thoughts and connec- terests. Guided by teachers, stutions as the students care more dents can make well-informed about their readings. Similarly, decisions about the books they if students read books that in- want to read. spire them personally, more With so many students choosmeaningful conversations will ing their own books, teacher income from what the students feel teraction in their pupils’ reading passionate about. becomes more complicated as Although the students they need to have read the books would not read the same books, in order to fully engage with thought-provoking conversations their students. Possible solutions could still take place in the class- that accommodate both teachers rooms as students have their own and students include allowing takes on literary aspects that may students to pick from a list of with options relate to other books chosen byWithbooks elections coming from up different genres that teachers have read. their peers. s Throughout the process of While this may hinder student picking their own books, teach- interest in some regards, at least ers looking to challenge their it would give them some options. Despite the instructionstudents shouldW recommend particular books for individual al and insightful nature of W

classics, if students have no interest they will not get as much out of the books because they do not have the same appreciation for the literary pieces in question. Nevertheless, studying classical pieces of literature can continue in the classroom regardless of student choices for independent reading books. Giving students the choice of what to read stimulates independent thinking and requires making an active decision as opposed to passively submitting to decisions made for them. Necessary for the rest of their adult lives, the ability to make decisions promotes independent thinkers and encourages students to not rely solely upon others.

One o Her age own vy ng or c y counc

Hours for hours Save to be safe superintendent, said the requirement had been “institutionalized for such a long time, that the students know this is an expectation ment serves as little more than the district has” of them. an obstacle keeping them from a “The only feedback is posishiny gold gown, a cap bearing a tive,” he said. ‘It connects the kids tassel and a diploma marking the to the community, and our kids finish line. This prompts some have told us that being connected administrators across the country is important.” Intent aside, students to question mandatory who fulfill their hour community service, requirements give using the rationale back to the comthat service hours munity and help have lost their true others, an activity purpose if students treat they may not have community service in the otherwise involved same way they treat a P.E. themselves in. requirement or mandatory Senior Karen Lu has Fine Arts credit. put in over 1000 commu“The community service nity service hours around boom began a while back, the school and the and it looked right and community. While felt real,” said Bruce J. she was originally Poch, vice president skeptical of the 320 and dean of admiscommunity service sions at Pomona hour requirement College in California. (Graphic/Kristen Quesada) for scholarship “Now it’s devolved into a students at Amerilot of kids just punching a ticket. It can Heritage, she eventually found turns my stomach a little bit.” community service becoming a While Poch may believe comprominent part of her life.

Amber Bhutta | Co-Assistant Editor pl208261@ahschool.com

For some students, the 120 (Photo/Faiza Bhutta) community service hour require-

S uden s compe e n Sou h F or da p ano compe on

The importance of developing good financial traits is essential to becoming independent. Read what our opinion editor has to say about opening a savings account. Kristen Quesada | Opinion Editor pl208162@ahschool.com

From birthday money to babysitting earnings, the likelihood is that most teens have some money in their possession. What to do with this money, however, is the big challenge. Instead of blowing all your money on material things, it may be wiser to put that cash into a savings account. Put in simple terms, a savings account is a bank account that earns interest over time. With this account, you can deposit money for safekeeping and withdraw funds when necessary. Deposited money can’t be misplaced or affected by physical disaster and is federally insured. Although interest is nor mally minis-

opposed to in a piggy bank at home. Savings accounts are often free to open, and with the accumulation of interest, you’ll be earning more money just for leaving it alone. A savings account helps set aside temptations that may make you waste your money and helps you plan for the future. As for why savings accounts are relevant to you, it’s important to begin saving from a young age. By saving money early on, you build an economic padding for your future self. Setting your money aside in a savings account gives you a sense of independence while also teaching good financial habits. The money in the account belongs to you, and tracking it yourself and p r o p e rly m a i n -

they knew work would who put in The hardw class eventu earns them the class av toms out. A ies, and eve io, at its m – and its co Most p doesn’t wo known U.S the platform the fall of th Democratic Bernie San on socialis communism Merriam munism as are owned able to all a as “any of political th tive or gove administrat duction and challenge y People not work. A tions, comm almost inte then, acco poll, do 35 still view so One arg likely lead countries a socialism. cited and study. Gall one with a tially asked and allowe or “no.” T Paraguay c happiest; no in the top tions will d eventually, the class ex The sim nomic syst nism and everyone p (where Sca capitalism ities betwe

tatistics scare chnology. By rt emojis and nts on your Watch Instaake you smile nother school minute with

Quizlet. But stop hiding behind the mindless chatter on the radio and depending on it to drown out supposedly awkward silences. Make the time to say something out loud and communicate with those around you, both for their sakes and your own.

IPATRIOTPOST.COM PATRIOT POST FEBRUARY 2018

NEWS

Behind the big plans

News Brief AP Art History

IPATRIOTPOST.COM PATRIOT POST NOVEMBER 2017

Features

C13

Dean Nolle takes theology Girls golf br

SPO

While many students know Dean Dean Nolle in the context of golf carts and visits to the Deans’ Office, few know of his passion for religions and pursuit of a degree in theology.

senior farewells Joanne Haner | Assistant Online Editor air conditioning; this new system pl184941@ahschool.com will cool the new buildings and

Advanced Placement Art History now counts as a Fine Arts credit toward graduation. Students looking to study art instead of creating it should look for it on the class registration lists. Anyone looking for more information should see Ms. Hughes in room 3218.

Kenzo Kimura | Staff Writer pl225601@ahschool.com

If you have recently walked existing 3000 building through Whether it be theater, math or by the side of the 3000 building the use of a water chiller. sports, everyone in life has a pasAlong with the construcnearest to the 2000 building, you sion. For some, these passions may have noticed the fence sur- tion of a new 3000 building will may turn into subtle interests, rounding construction machines come another building: the 2500 while for others it may become a new calling. As for Dean Nolle, and materials. Construction proj- building. The 2500 building will his passion sways toward a side ects began the end of December serve mainly as a practice area few students would expect: theolwith the demolition of the mulch for the Heritage robotics team, Shoe Drive ogy, the study of religious beliefs. playground and outdoor basket- the Ninjaneers. The Be The Change Growing up as an active EasThis new building will contain ball courts. (BETCHA) club sponsored ter and Christmas Eve church In the current construction a standard sized robotics coma donation drive of gengoer, Mr. Nolle became interestarea, a new gymnasium building, petition field, areas and cabine- TH E GROUND PLAN: The construction site of the new 2500 building located tly worn and new shoes in ed in studying the Bible in 2002 known as the 2750 building, is try for robot repair and areas for behind the 2000 building and to the right of the 3000 building where the basketball order to raise money for when he was living in Pittsford, courts used to be. (Photo/Kelly Taylor) in the works. The new building, spectators and club members. Project Alive. N.Y. “As a family, we attended With more teachers than classwhich will consist of three stories, The existing engineering lab and The second and third floor will The shoes collected in church every weekend,” Nolle will contain new practice courts, classrooms in the 7000 building become what so many students rooms, a new business track in the the bins around campus also said. As he began to read the coaches’ offices, the athletics of- will remain, as the new building have been waiting for: a dining works and a need for space, deBible, Mr. Nolle would ask the benefit micro-enterprises fice, a new weight training room is more for the use of the after- hall. The dining hall is planned to partments will be moved around. Pastor questions almost daily, and small businesses in deMath and science classes will school robotics team and engi- fit about 1,200 students. and 16 classrooms. fueling his interest of religion. veloping countries. Anyone This raises the question: what eventually change locations so The first floor of the building neering summer programs. “My Pastor challenged me, interested in more informa“We couldn’t find an appro- will happen to the pool and gym they are in the same building, the will house the offices, shower not what to believe, but to study, tion or in joining the club place for practice robotics we have now? The current pool business track will need a home, and locker rooms and soon-to-be priateIPATRIOTPOST.COM read and form my own thoughts should contact Dr. Mercedes PATRIOTlarge POST MARCH/APRIL enough by the2018 Engineering will be filled and become a ver- foreign language will move from within the confines of what a main basketball courts. “I think Torres in room 7202. IPATRIOTPOST.COM Lutheran believes,” Nolle said. it’s going to be really great for Department,” Mr. Laurie said. “It durous area for students to relax the upstairs 7000 and the English (Graphic/Joanne Haner) PATRIOT POST NOVEMBER 2017 By continuing his interest the school to have a gymnasium requires a clear span of 14 feet in between classes and during department will also move from throughout most of his life, Mr. Pre-Med 5K lunch, much like the quad or the downstairs 9000. that will seat 2,400 instead of in height.” IPATRIOTPOST.COM Nolle began to study theology and The Pre-Med Society will “I’m pleased with all of the beThe second and third floors the courtyard. The kitchen 400. We’ve outgrown the gym a 5K to 2019 raise money for going to put remain new buildings POST we’re AUGUST 2017host - MAY that I built in 1986 quite some of the 2500 building will also hind the gymnasium will PATRIOT the pediatric oncology unit time ago,” President Mr. William house softball and baseball and serve as a source of food for on the campus,” Mr. Laurie said. for the Salah Foundation those wishing to sit in the nearby “I think all of the changes we’ve batting cages. Laurie said. Children’s Hospital in Fort made have been an improvement Behind the 2500 building, stu- eating area. Behind the exterior of the botThen sounded another waiting, Geisser recalls the en-tomreform, Lauderdale Sunday, March The existing gym will become to one education environment.” it will can be hinder floor of believing the building a dents will have access to an area trance of the SWAT team morenewthese ” 4. Beginning at 8 a.m. in “When think withBY In an ideal situation, existing KATHERINE QUESADA tables and umbrellas to en- an elementary gymnasium and lisnacktragedies. bar. Similar to theI exrushed to the back of terrifying than lying in wait. of snack the movement NeverbuildAgain, joy their Sunset Park on Cleary Boulunches from the new brary for the Lower School. The freshmen would see all the new isting bar in the 3000 A final goodbye “We all thought it was theing,there immediately, seeking is obviously thewill fact have of that snack bar. levard, the event is open to existing Lower School library buildings by their senior year. the new snack bar As I write my final column for protection behind the shooter,” Geisser said. Geisserwindows I don’ttowant anyone to of ever have everyone. Pets are allowed. After the construction of the will soon call itself home to col- The rest of us will have to come allow the sale food the “Patriot Post,” I would like to esk, from which they was led out of the building andto hungry the thought ‘I’m going to die.’ I new 2750 building and robotics lege admissions and guidance back to visit and see the progress students. reflect on the process of writing reunited with her parents later The ee anything. don’tsecond want anyone go new what I practice lab are complete, the con- offices, which are currently dis- AHS has made. floor ofto the organization geared toward the Butterfly Project and end this series the same way ’t a conscious thought. that day. went through,”will Geisser ofit:a anew 50about meterhistory. pool persed throughout campus. 3000 building havesaid. eight struction other sex because the activities of I started story Contest Moving forward from thishigh school an understanding and “The thought is always, three-story building classrooms on thethis andMyanother the respective organization have first column about Native The Butterfly Projhoved themselves be- event has been imperative fornorth can’t to me. But start behind the current 3000 sidehappen of the building anditthedid. will more to do with personal inclinaAmerican historical sites a few ect invited students in acher’s desk,” Geisser Geisser, and she is a huge advo-weight These common sense regulations and next to the tennis training room on the south building tions than anything miles from campus introduced grades K-12 to create vicate for theabout Nevergender. Again move-end.are er and her classmates going limitofaccess to guns courts. The new 50-meter pool Kristen Quesada | Opinion Editor The thirdtofloor the buildyou to the history of our surBoys and girls also benefit which took place at night in the sual or written artwork for over an hour, until ment and a supporter of gun lawing,and protect students.” pl208162@ahschool.com replace land. the current pool lolike the our second, will host will rounding Now, for my last by experiencing co-ed environmedia center. commemorating peace. eam entered to escort by Ithe existing eight classrooms on the north side cated story, would like gymnasium. to tell you the Speech has been an integral ments, which co-ed scouting can Recently, the English departFrom the submitted ene building. The firstofstory of this three-stoof the building, but the south side history something dear to my part of every Heritage school ment pinpointed where students A study performed by tries, 10 winners will be ed, shaking andprovide. terbuilding willPatriot be home to show- year since the 1970s, motivating were speaking outside of the will have a new water chiller sys- ry heart: “The Post.” class was numbthe withU.S. Department of Health chosen March 18 to receive rooms Post” and coaches’ tem. Currently, all of the build- ers, locker “The Patriot was born many students to practice their and Human Services in 2001 speech contest and recognized d this classmate who a certificate of achievement for 1997 swimming and its tennis. ings on campus are cooled via offices October and made debut speaking skills in the hopes of showed that girls and boys who that with the extensive amount of ine hysterical mutterat the Butterfly Project Reto the student body as a 13 page winning the annual school con- presentation opportunities, such a gonna die. We’regrow gon- up in single-sex environmembrance Ceremony the 8x11 stapled and hole punched test. “We’ve always had the phi- large speech contest was no lonments become more aggressive ’re gonna die.’ under week of April 9. packet. The headlining story: losophy at American Heritage ger necessary. “We don’t have the violent. ” Geisser said. “Iand was The winners can also “HOMECOMING Yasmeen Altaji | Staff Writer Dramatic Scripts. WEEK: These Holire- that we do the speech contest be- purpose for the speech contest It was more like damThese benefits can be extendpaint their own ceramic butdays reflect at Heritage.” “The Patriot cause teachers and administration anymore,” Mrs. Hurtado said. pl201331@ahschool.com I kind of went numb sults the competition ed beyond the Boy Scouts, too. It terfly for the permanent mein fact, could have been feel very strongly that it helps our Literary and artistic schol- at Post,” of it. I had classmates “We have a huge speech and the regional level. Students would be good if the Girl Scouts morial mural in the Environnamed “Eye of the Pride,” “The students both in the research asreaking out. I focused ars took on a “Scholastic” who debate department that expands earned a “Gold Key” are also developed similar programs mental Education Center. Black and Gold Gazette,” or “The pect and getting in front of your ow to fight back toif that he of the Boy Scouts, so they challenge and submitted their eligible all the way into Lower School, to submit their entries Heritage Herald.” But, coming class and having to persuade us] did come in.” can provide boys with their own various works to the Scho- again at the national level. Mock Trial, Model UN, etcetera. Literary Fair down to a student body vote, “The heard six shots during ing a speech,” Mrs. Maryanne Students also have to present their lastic Art & Writing Awards unique experience. It’s time for Students who placed in Patriot Post” won by seven votes. hiding, and credits thescouting organizations to adHurtado, head of the English science fair projects, National competition. Students from both Back then, the black and white the school literary fair had HEAR MY ROAR: Marjory Stoneman Douglas survivor Alexandra Geisser ol for locking on beyond Department, said. all extracurricular backHistory Day projects and group vance the vides. The doors paper consisted of four staffers withold Newgender York’s diDistrict 16 Representative Eliot Engel at the March their work showcased the her protection. vides After andprotests This year, only junior high stugrounds entered in the compresentations in class.” into an inclusive future. us boys and and has greatly changed over 21 by Alexandra Geisser) week of Feb. 19 in the Uped like an eternity of for Our Lives campaign. (Photo/submitted Isabel Chamberlain: Silver dents and freshmen will have the petition, and many earned With new developments in pply for the years. Come the second issue, Noper School library. There was Key poetry chance to enter a speech competi- curriculum along with other cirsatisfactory results. vember/December 1997, the Post an Open House Feb. 20 from tion. All sophomores and juniors cumstances, the English departEntry into the competition took theBhutta: form of Gold a smallKey, booklet. Amber 6:30-8p.m. where parents are in regular and honors English will is simple: one merely has to ment recognized a change needed Personal Essay & Memoir Fast forward to June 2000, the invited to attend. still be required to give a speech, sign up by creating an account to occur. “What was happening Post took a more newspaper apUpper School students Gabriela Coutinho: Gold but there will be no progression with Scholastic Art & Writing was because of the caliber of the proach to printing and published wrote prose and poetry thaniel BedKey, Dramatic Script, Silto a contest. Junior high students and send in his or her work. students we have, everyone was a four-page newspaper; the headmath more interesting in Mu Alpha Theta, familiariz- tam was notified four months ver pieces, ranging from forKey, Poetry ater founded will have a separate competition The creation of the piece takes excellent and the only difference subjects to because later. Dismayed, Vedantam forgot liner, a story of $450 parking fee mal essays to free verse deserve be it re- ing him with the multiple choicea bit from freshmen. Freshmen will in whether one student would more effort. Olivia Lloyd: Silver Key, at St. Thomas High School. tain by ingenuity about the exam until he received poems and submitted their zed histo- to come problems on the AP exam. Every students have Short Story; Silverlater, Key,the pa- compete in a circuit of their own, progress or not is maybe if someAbout a decade olutions to problems. letteryear, around mid-February. “We see so many different the entries the week before d celebrated. Poetry, Silver Key, Drato compete per began to resemble more of allowing for more freshmen to one said ‘um’ in the middle of need to memorize lots types of questions in competitionsthe opportunity “I was pretty confusedinbe- matic Thanksgiving break. ese changes Gold Key, theiralready artistic heartsmy- what Script their speech while someone else see today, with color qualify for the contest. and no matter that I’m never surprised at thewhatever cause I had resigned Administrators, faculty Criticalyou Essay ntion, overnight. In the past, the progression desire; with more than 25 difdidn’t,” Mrs. Hurtado said. and more photographs. With 13 problems I’ve solved, concepts on the AP Calc exam. I self to the fact that I didn’t get it. and guidance counselors street, and of the speech contest began with ferent art and writing categoThis new system allows for staffers, the 2011 “Patriot Post” Flora Ranis: Gold ays a new one to do,” also try to get a perfect score dur- The letter arrived in mid-Februjudged first, second, third have to hapeach English teacher selecting a better speech experience for riesarytosocompete in, students Key, Poetry staff produced a 12-page paper aid. I was pleasantly surprised. ing competitions,” he said. Do you have a response to place and honorable menrs and admitthe best student speeches out of junior high students and ninth have a wide range of letter, options with a similar style to today’s paent in math allowed When I looked at the it had He also credits his teacher, a column or article that was tions for each category. StuAnna Yarashevich: Silver cost, but We to choose from –and, apparper. Currently, the Patriot Post is their classes to be sent to runoffs. graders while not taking anye AP Calculus ABpublished as Mrs. inPaloma Murray, the paper? You for tell- the date Dec. 20 on it, so it was Key, Short Story dents who received first place e those steps, to win Heritage stu-for produced by 18 staffers and prints From runoffs, the judging teach- thing monumental away from re. Preparing for can the make probably justin:lost in the mail ing him everything he needed toently, your voice heard will move on to the Broward our past will ers chose a certain number of stu- other high school students 20 pages of articles. s AB exam wasn’t diftwobrought months.”home a number remember ato“Letter get fulltocredit ondents Rosie Zeiger, Honorable by submitting County Literary Fair. An invest-for other No matter how many chang- dents from each grade to continue with their plethora of other of awards in categories span-pur- Mention, Poetry ms. preparing Vedantam hopes to the FRQs. the editors.” To get your stic tranquiles, one person stayed constant on to the final speech contest, speaking opportunities. ning from Critical Essays to antam did have an submission adsue math in college along with Unlike most students who republished in the ense willcompetition. alm math ceived a perfect score, who are another STEM field such as throughout the story: our beloved next issue’s newspaper and kcompeted tenfold, insoCalculus advisor Ms. Diana Adams. She usually told in October, Vedan- computer science. on ipatriotpost.com, physie it becomes has provided endless guidance to cally hand the response in the editors and staff and has dedito room 9114 or email it to A3 February -KT.indd 1 2/22/18 1:51 PM cated numerous hours of her time patriotpost@ahschool.com. to the success of this newspaper. Whether she is needed to stay a War. Instead of being drafted few hours after school or even into any division, however, Shaf- come to supervise on weekends fer was proactive, enlisting and and holidays, Ms. Adams is one S U B ST I T U T E becoming part of the Army Se- of the most dependable and influGOALS: Mr. curity Agency. Shaffer served ential women I have met here. Pro Grass Paul Shaffer ofNot only has Ms. Adams supuntil 1970. In 1971, he returned ten substitutes in n a wet turf it is harder to make a decito his hometown and joined the ported the staff and me throughout history classes, my time with the “Patriot Post,” police force. n whether or not I should have telling the girls students Mr. Shaffer currently teaches she has also been an amazing adstoriesand about nt. The girls’ shoes tend to get wetter a his time involved Honors and College Prep Ameri- visor, personally and a great exle slippery.” in the Vietnam can History. I asked Mr. Shaf- ample of leadership, one I strive War during the IPATRIOTPOST.COM fer what he believes students to follow in each role I undertake. Cheerleading PATRIOT coach Calesta Soto POST FEBRUARY 2018 1960s. (Photo/ think of him, at which point My journey to college and exploYasmeen Altaji) he turned to a student, seated ration into journalism will not be urf is more slippery than grass.” in the classroom and complet- the same without Ms. Adams, but ing an assignment, and frankly the lessons she has taught me will asked him the same thing. The stay with me forever. unior running back Tyler Jones As I say goodbye to the “Paad a band of his own. into radio broadcast. “I like mu- student responded, “Well… you triot Post” and room 9114, it is know everything.” ]prefer did a natural lot of opening sic… I love talking to people,” grass over artificial turf. Grass From his sensational teach- bittersweet, as this room and g-name rock and roll Shaffer said. “It was a natural rfaces allow for more natural movement and ing (and substituting) style to his these people have been my home as] The Doors, Black field for me to go into.” el. As a midfield soccer player, I am very send Blue Cheer.” His ideas were quickly altered impassioned history lectures, Mr. away from home As for the future ive to anywere alteration playing stylehedue to pirations noth- in when in 1966, received the Shaffer exudes a persona that cap- of the “Patriot Post,” stay tuned, BYnews ANDREW KOLONDRA ll movement and surface feel. that I am to next tivates the attention and earns the for the new Editors-in-Chief have he a high thatI feel he(AJ) was close tionordinary by Tidefor quesSocialism ≠ happiness quite the revamp planned. one to more muscle and joint soreness when e dreamed of going on the draft list for the IVietnam respect of his students. rity of the screenConsider a class of 20 students. ay on artificial surfaces as opposed to natural nd because of the If each student’s grade on a test is ass the surfaces.” tweet, it ap- individual, students know they will e. be rewarded for studying. Some will unior soccer player Chloe Laureano of the midfield other “chal4/25/18 1:45 PM study, and some won’t; each group de Pods challenge will thus pass or fail based on the e unintelligent and amount of work they put in – indiines. Just because vidual incentive. This scenario repunintelligent (and resents the central idea behind capies not mean that a talism: that humans run on incentive. ave to take responNow let’s say the grade on said though the tweet test is communal. All grades are avIPATRIOTPOST.COM has taken to social eraged and every student receives IPATRIOTPOST.COM PATRIOT POST MARCH/APRIL2018 rage this challenge that new average score – say, a C – PATRIOT POST AUGUST 2018 - MAY 2019 top it. even though some students pass and some fail. Students would presumably not study as hard next time if they knew that the reward for their work would be redistributed to those who put in less work, or none at all. With so m many activities available at Am American H Heritage and in South F Florida, it can be overwhelming to decide W w m dents have no in- The hardworking students in the IPATRIOTPOST.COM not get as much class eventually recognize their work what to do. F Features E Editor C Carrie K Kuecks w will try various clubs and activities on campus and in South F Florida. A4 PATRIOT w m POST MARCH/APRIL 2018 s because they do earns them nothing, and gradually lost their lives in the Parkland event on Feb. 14, 2018. I Carrie Kuecks | Features Editor ame appreciation the class average drops until it botshooting and called upon action was so shocked and horrified pl194961@ahschool.com pieces in question. toms out. At this point, no one studto change gun laws and school and this motivated me to atstudying classical ies, and everyone fails. This scenarAlongside thousands of safety features. I felt extremely tend the March for Our Lives ture can continue io, at its most basic, is communism other students, teachers, par- moved and motivated to march in Parkland. om regardless of – and its cousin, socialism. After the speeches, I began ents and community members, following such strong speechs for independent Most people know communism I participated in the March for es, many given by people at or marching to the MSD memodoesn’t work. As such, few wellrial along with large crowds of Our Lives in Parkland, Fla. For around my age. ents the choice of known U.S. politicians have run on The speeches emphasized people. I carried a sign that was this edition of Carrie Tries, I imulates indepen- the platform of communism since will be discussing my experi- the need to make #NeverAgain given out at the march encourence participating in the march carry on not as a moment but aging people to register to vote. and requires mak- the fall of the USSR. However, 2016 BY ASA ZARETSKY I also chanted along with the and protesting for the first time. a movement and that comprocision as opposed Democratic presidential candidate

C13

B5 Features

ivor’s journey izations?

Yasmeen Altaji | Staff Writer pl201311@ahschool.com

“My Pastor challenged me, not what to believe, but to study, read and form my own thoughts within the confines of what a Lutheran believes.”

In accordance with the saying “the harder you work, the luckier you get,” both the girls and boys golf teams lucked out at this year’s state championship tournament. After months of preparation, Patriot golfers attended the tournament walking out with an individual girls win, an overall girls team championship and a tie for second place. Sophomore Jillian Bourdage ended with the lowest score at the tournament and took home the individual title as girls class 2A state champion. In order to attend the state championship, a team has to place first or second at districts to advance to regionals and then place first or second there as well. State is a two-day event, with 18 holes each day. In a team golf tournament, five players play from each team, and at the end of the day the team counts the top four scores. To win at state, a team needs to have a lower score than the other teams because the objective is to get the ball into the hole touch-

- Dean Nolle

take courses in this field. “The more I studied, the more I became interested in what Scripture had to say. I found the historical part of it cool, too,“ Mr. Nolle said. Mr. Nolle started seminary in 2003 at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. He decided the timing wasn’t right with two young children and a newborn. He has taken all of his foundation courses and is now ready to get into the upper level course work. Although time is an issue, his determination stays alive. “I see myself studying and finishing my degree, but much of the politics that go on in the church on a daily basis I do not like,” he said. Although much of Mr. Nolle’s liking for religious studies

comes from his life in New York, the person who has stretched his faith and led him to examine what he believes in is a former Heritage student, Danny Prada, who graduated in 2007. “He might be the most compassionate person I have ever met.” Mr. Nolle said. “He has challenged me to think outside the box on what I read.”

TAKING THEOLOGY: Mr. Nolle will resume his studies this Winter term and hopes to finish in the next one to two years. As he continues to pursue a degree, Mr. Nolle immerses himself in new beliefs and studies. (Photo/ Weston Photography)

SLOANE KAPIT

uting organizations should dent’s reasons why below.

Alex Becker | Sports Editor pl215753@ahschool.com

After winning four straight state championships, the Lady Patriots soccer team seemed destined to win its fifth straight ring last season. Despite being the favorites to win the championship once again, the girls soccer team was defeated 2-0 by Merritt Island High School in the semifinals of the division 3A 2017 FHSAA Girls Soccer Championship.

Changing speech Sloane Kapit | Co-Assistant Editor pl216611@ahschool.com

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B5FEATURES

From special foods to team bonding U and everything in between, m ath the world partake in rituals for good luck on the field or court. traditions is even present within the athletics department here

Alyssa Herzbrun | One-Pager Editor pl231251@ahschool.com

Sports rituals are known to help boost camaraderie. For hundreds of years teams have engaged in rituals that strengthen morale and prove to be just plain fun. Teams may engage in various rituals such as chants or cheers. Like sports teams around the W world, Heritage teams also engage in entertaining and sometimes bizarre rituals. Some teams, such as the Florida Panthers and the Miami Dolphins, recite sayings to encourage great play and a winning spirit. Cheering on team members W helps to motivate them to per-

IPATRIOTPOST.COM PATRIOT POST AUGUST 2016 - MAY 2019

Ms. Adams: My life would not be the same without you. From Freshman 101 to Creative Writing to Newspaper to even Yearbook, for the last four years, you have always been the best part of my day. I will forever cherish the times you ask me simple sports questions and consistently find me doing non-publication-related work. Best of all, I will always remember the times you made me believe in my writing and myself when I didn’t. I will miss each and every one of you. Goodbye, 9114.

semifinals, mak an upset. A season late ing to move pa return to their ol However, the te approach to the As many coac their team to fo coach Cindy M ing her players and every day. “ guaranteed we m

form to the best of their abilities throughout the game. Some teams or players believe that superstitious practices such as eating the same foods pregame or having team members braid their hair in a similar manner will lead the team to victory. Some teams have developed rituals to promote team spirit. These rituals usually involve an element of fun. For example, the girls soccer team coach, Cindy Marcial, has team members grab fistfuls of grass. Ms. Marcial then showers teammates with the grass in an effort to spread good cheer and luck.

The boys team show the bleaching their the season begi The boys g Brandt Moser, t of rituals to a w W the team wins t onship, he prom school sporting to him by his te All membe performing th only will the but also be br gether to play a tions among te own custom fo continue everm

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Copy Editor

Carrie Tries: March(ing) For Our Lives

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bmitting to decithem. Necessary their adult lives, ake decisions prodent thinkers and dents to not rely ers.

I never thought this would happen. Any of this. I never expected to join the school newspaper. I never imagined enjoying my time on staff. I never thought I would be good enough to be Sports Editor. I never anticipated writing a senior farewell. And I never thought it would be so hard to say goodbye. But, like always, I was wrong. The past three years have been a whirlwind. I went from a sophomore in the corner who never spoke to a senior in the

corner who rarely spoke. And while my main job was to open the door, 9114 has always felt like home. To the newspaper staff, thank you for putting up with me. Though I never turn articles in on time, take pictures or know the difference between a newspaper layout and a newsmag layout, you have all made me feel like part of the family. Thank you for forcing me into the pictures I always resented taking. Though I hated the poses, I know I will always look back on those times fondly.

The team was off to a great start in the tournament winning the first two rounds by a combined score of 15-0. A quarterfinals win was a bit tougher to come by, as the team only managed a one goal victory over North Fort Myers High School. The Lady Patriots were absolutely stunned by Merritt Island, who would go on to be named champions. The Lady Patriots were undefeated on the season going into the

D17 D16

ALEX BECKER

Alex Becker | Sports Editor pl215753@ahschool.com

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To the staff, Thank you guys for laughing with me. I can honestly say that there has not been a day in which newspaper has not completely brightened my day. That is because of all of you. Your energy, your excitement, and positivity have inspired me so much these past two years. I’m so excited to see what you guys will do with the magazine next year. To Ms. Adams, I can never thank you enough. Thank you for welcoming me into this room with open arms. Thank you for always being here for me and being someone that n v o h m up wh n m h v ng b d d y don w n o m g n my d y w hou you hug nd o ou you m n onfid n y y h w k ng n o 9114 h fi d y o my un o y w h b d on m d o h gh hoo

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My newspaper experience actually began quite late into my high school career. I was nervous as a junior walking into a room that many staffers had graced since freshman year. However, newspaper met and exceeded all of my expectations. To Amber and Angela, First off I want to say thank you. Thank you for welcoming me from the very beginning. Thank you for teaching me everything: Amber for everything I know about journalism and Angela for everything I know about graphic design, your passion. I look up to you both not only for your dedication, but also for your genuine kindness and support. You guys have shown me the meaning behind putting your mind to something and accomplishing it and becoming such important people in my life throughout the process.

GIRLS GOT GA victories. (Photo/

Lady Patriots soc

Co-Assistant Editor

The Q Concept

ing the ball the fewest number of times. Seventy-two is “par” and a good score is considered at or under par and anything under 80 is considered above average. When the whole team advances to the tournament, one’s score is counted toward an individual title and toward the team if the score is in the top five. While the entire girls team won the tournament, Bourdage additionally won an individual title as state champion,Weidenfeld earned fourth place and junior Alena Lindh got 12th place out of the more than 50 competing in their class ranking. Members of the team have their own personal coaches, and students practice individually. Unlike other sports, golf takes four to five hours each round and an event like state takes two days, making the whole tournament eight to 10 hours of rounds. “It’s really hard to balance missing all this school and working on your game in preparation for this event,” Lindh said. The boys achieved quite the comeback at this tournament. Near the end, the boys were in

OLIVIA LLOYD News

Mathletes win back-to-back titles

Bernie Sanders based his platform on socialism, which many claim is communism with extra steps. Merriam-Webster defines communism as “a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed” and socialism as “any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.” I challenge you to spot the difference. People know communism does not work. And as dictionary definitions, communism and socialism are almost interchangeable terms. Why, then, according to a 2016 Gallup poll, do 35 percent of Americans still view socialism favorably? One argument for socialism that likely leads to this is that Nordic countries are the happiest, thanks to socialism. That comes from an oftcited and confusedly worded UN study. Gallup conducted a simpler one with a similar goal; they essentially asked people “are you happy?” and allowed them to respond “yes” or “no.” This approach resulted in Paraguay coming out on top as the happiest; no Nordic countries placed in the top ten. It is likely these nations will drop lower on the list as, eventually, they bottom out, just as in the class example. The simple truth is that no economic system is perfect. Communism and socialism end up with everyone poor and no one happy (where Scandinavia is heading), but capitalism leads to economic disparities between rich and poor. Which

On a hot and sunny day, I grabbed my sign, water bottle, phone and a couple of friends and participated in the March for Our Lives on March 24. Pine Island Road was blocked off for the march. Prior to the march, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD) students, teachers, parents and Parkland community members gave emotional, heart-wrenching speeches about the 17 innocent students and teachers who

Olivia Lloyd | Staff Writer pl229501@ahschool.com

mises from both political parties need to be made going forward. Voter registration booths were also present at the rally for young adults like myself to become politically involved in the near future. The Parkland shooting hit extremely close to home for me (as well as many students and faculty of this school and other schools in South Florida), as I personally know students attending MSD who had to experience the horrendous

crowds various slogans such as “Never Again,” “Enough is enough” and “Show me what democracy looks like” as well as many others. The chants helped keep me and the crowd to continue marching forward despite the heat. The march was extremely organized with volunteers giving out bottled water and a huge police presence was there as well to keep protesters safe. Looking back, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to

nature and gardening. Students plant herbs flowers and tend to the garden in order to create a sensory-rich space for the patients. Junior Natalia Ulloa and sophomore Viviana Wei are working to gradually W fill the garden walls with natureinspired murals. “The more people understand the importance of healthy soil and plants, the more people will protect those things, and the better chance we have of living healthy lives and of protecting our planet,” Dr. Couper said. “Getting young people into a garden to see how things grow increases the chances that they will make healthy choices about food.” Students who choose to participate in the volunteering program at the Daniel Cantor Senior Center with Healthy

community service. “It’s important for Heritage students to do things that make a positive difference in people’s lives, both for those other people and so that they appreciate their health, their mobility, their youth and their education,” Dr. Couper said. Healthy Heritage also has an on-campus garden it hopes to expand in the future. Right now, the garden is the home of growing carrot, tomato, pepper, chive, basil and purple cabbage plants. Volunteering at Daniel Cantor is open to all students. Interested students can email Dr. Couper at julia.couper@ahschool.com to find out when the next volunteering date is and obtain the parent permission form. Healthy Heritage meets in Dr. Couper’s room, 9210, every

Asa’s Analysis Ms. Adams,

you have been my guiding light throughout high school, helping reveal to me my passions and fostering forcing me to think deeper and ex-

Do Guns Make my Safer? love of journalism by People Studies Aren’t plore beyond the surface. Allowed

My decision to join newspaper senior year seemed impulCARRIE TRIES ACTIVISM: Features Editor Carrie Kuecks participates in the March For Our Lives in Parkland, Florida. There were A common talking sive but was actually not. Ithousands had wanted tomarch join junior year, To point theof staff, although I was only here for one year, I have of other marchers from South Florida who participation. (Photo/many conservative politicians is Yasmeen Altaji) of more guns but I felt like I had alreadyparticipate committed myself to my activi-that the presence become so connected to all of you, and I will miss all your idin the march to stand from being able to vote. It isin a particular area will make the area safer as its residents Freshmen (Theta) compete in Ge- they are in. Each division has six take on Buccholz, their rival, who in solidarity with MSD and pronot something solely for colties, and to deviate from yearbook and my other things wouldwill be able iosyncrasies and personalities. And thank you for putting up to properly defend ometry and Algebra 2, sophomores topics students can choose from in- they finally beat at the National mote changes being made in lege-aged students or adults.themselves against any criminal Just like most sports, the road to (Alpha) compete in Pre-calc and cluding integration in Mu, complex Mu Alpha Theta competition over national and state school secuI would recommend trying to activity. There should my be no fearobsessive seem erratic. with copy My memories offunctions shrieking juniors and seniors (Mu) comnumbers in Alpha, and in the summer. states for Mu Alpha Theta consists editing. rity measures and gun reform. find something that mattersfor law abiding civilians to get of long practices and teamwork. pete in Calculus and Statistics. Theta. Open topics are available for “The competition between our locked and loaded, they point Forty-eight students traveled to Each student must take an indi- Alpha and Mu students. Activism is for everyone, even to you and get involved and team and2 Buccholz’s team is exAfter realizing my profound love of journalism, I finallyout, because Taylor watching Joanne and Maia do the Just Dance it’s criminalsSwift, and the DoubleTree if you are a year or two away take action. Students also had to take the tremely tight. It’s either us or them Hotel at Universal vidual test and topic tests that relate the deranged who kill with guns. Studios to attend the annual Florida to their division. ciphering test which consists of 10 winning by one point in each comworked up the will to take the plunge and join newspaper, and Liberals, on the other hand, routine of “Girlfriend” and Thelearning I had messed individual test consists of free drastically response questions, each quespetition. We hope to claim the state Association of Mu Alpha Theta argue that guns don’t make peo- State Convention from April 19- 30 multiple choice questions that tion with a three-minute limit. title again,” said Mu Alpha Theta safer, and that the presence 21. Students participated in several students have to answer in an hour. required me tests, students advisor Mr. Richard Rovere. I can easily say it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Theple up the easiest page I could possibly layoutBesides make simultaof more guns in a particular competitions such as ciphering and The topic tests are formatted the also have the opportunity to parMr. Rovere’s wishes were fulAt the Daniel Cantor senior eighth hour and are transmake it more likely that a topic tests. same as the individual test. How- ticipate in math relays, the hustle, filled as Mu Alpha Theta took people andbus.learning experiences I’ve had in 9114area smile and cry. will lovetakenewspaper forever and miss shooting neously or suicide could occur. via school They center, students incredible have the oppor- ported ever, students two topic tests scrapbook, poster competitions and home first place overall, with BuStudents are sorted into I three One might think that the federal divisions: Mu, Alpha and Theta. or more based on which division many other activities. Students will chholz close behind. tunity to interact with the older usually return by 4:15 p.m. government has commissioned fundamentally you all more than you can possibly know. hours of me forever. population and have share a love of after enjoying twoshaped studies on this matter, and it MATH TEAM SWEEPS STATES: Heritage mathletes won big, with first place wins in Alpha and Mu Ciperhing, Mu Individual and sweepstakes. (Photo/Joanne Haner) Angela Lin | Co-Assistant Editor pl215051@ahschool.com

Healthy Heritage volunteers at senior center Joanne Haner | Asst. Online Editor pl184941@ahschool.com

In a world where we never have to leave our homes to access what lies beyond our walls, the importance of the outdoors and nature is often lost. Clubs such as Healthy Heritage work toward educating our generation about the natural beauty of the world. Originally created as the Let’s Move club in 2013, Healthy Heritage, sponsored by chemistry teacher Dr. Julia Couper, is an organic gardening and food club. The main goal of Healthy Heritage is to get people outside to connect with the earth and everything in it that does not require batteries or electricity. This year, the Healthy Heritage club has implemented a new service project open to all members at the Daniel Cantor Senior Center in Sunrise. The club takes about five to eight

could resolve this argument through such research. However, that’s not been the case for more than 20 years. In 1993 a study funded by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) found that in households that owned one or more firearms, the rate of homicides increased significantly. In response to this first of its kind study, the NRA backed a bill in 1996 called the Dickey AmendHEALTHY HELPS: Healthy Heritage president junior Olivia Lender and ment which prevented federal sophomore Jana Kelly pull weeds out of the garden in the company of a patient dollars going to research and at Daniel Cantor Senior Center in Sunrise. (Photos/Joanne Haner) studies about the effects of gun law reform and how to prevent gun violence. Twenty-two years later, the American Psychological Association, American College of Preventive Medicine and numerous other medical associations, as well as the sponsor of the amendment himself, former Representative Jay Dickey, have called for its repeal. The WORKING AND HEALTH: Junior Natalia Ulloa, Healthy Heritage vice amendment works well, conpresident sophomore Daniel Block, sophomores Victoria Molina and Deva servatives rebut, by preventing

Mock trial states: team suits up at states

Kristen Quesada | Opinion Editor pl208162@ahschool.com

After placing sixth place out of approximately 20 competing schools across Florida, the mock trial team finished its season. The mock trial state competition occurred in Orlando March 1315, comprised of teams from each Florida county that sent one. States is the second competition in the three-competition bracket. First, a team must win first place in its respective county competition as Heritage did to qualify

for the next level. The winning county team then advances to the state competition where it represents the entire county. The winner of the state competition then competes in a national competition which includes teams from all 50 states and certain territories. The AHS team had eight participating members with three lawyers and five witnesses since teams are allotted slots for six to eight students per team. The TERRA Environmental Research Institute from Miami won

first place; leaving AHS as top 6 out of 20 schools. “TERRA was the most proficient team we went against since they were very technical with their objections and arguments in competition,” senior Nicolas Sweet, lawyer and captain of the mock trial team, said. “We did well, we left everything out there. You win some, you lose some. I’m happy with our progress and will enjoy my retirement. I learned a lot and wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Although the mock trial team won’t be able to compete in nationals this year as it did last year, the students learned from this experience and have become more ready to take on next year’s competition. “I thought the team was absolutely amazing. Although I’m disappointed that we couldn’t compete in nationals, there’s always next year,” sophomore Jack Baker, an alternate witness, said.

Amber Bhutta | Co-Assistant Editor pl208261@ahschool.com

submission to FLREA in hopes of receiving selective invitations to compete with their brief. “For me, writing the brief involved two steady weeks of constant editing and review with the coaches,” junior and Moot Court member

oral argumentation and mock rapidfire question and answer sessions. “Moot Court is very erudite in the way it functions,” Bazail said. “It requires a lot of deep analysis and requires a different type of quick thinking and style. I enjoy Moot

Court because it provides me a great educational opportunity, it challenges me to learn about complex legal situations and ultimately, it tests me in so many ways.”

OPINION

IPATRIOT PATRIOT POST FEBR

Natural selection at its finest

Rumor has it that Tide PODs are being discontinued. However, one of our Hurri staff writers is here to dispell that myth and provide the truth. BY ANDR

Senior Farewells 5

Moot Court competes at first round of competition After submitting its briefs to Florida Law Related Education Association (FLREA), nonprofit that runs Mock Trial, Moot Court and other social studies competi-

(Photo/Isabel Mitre)

Maia Fernandez Baigun | Staff Writer pl212601@ahschool.com

First, it was the cinnamon challenge and the gallon challenge. Then came the hot pepper challenge, the banana peel challenge, the fire challenge, the duct tape challenge and, now, the Tide pod challenge. As one of the more dangerous internet-fueled challenges, the Tide Pod challenge involves filming yourself (or a friend) biting into one (or more) Tide detergent pods. Enough people jumped on this crazy bandwagon to cause numerous life-threatening injuries and Tide addressing the situation publically.

“What should Tide PODs be used for? DOING LAUNDRY. Nothing else. Eating a Tide POD is a BAD IDEA,” the brand tweeted on Jan. 12, 2018. In 2015, the brand addressed a situation when toddlers looked at the brightly colored pods and thought of them as food. Tide then began coating the pods in a chemical substance that would taste bad to the toddlers. However, this does not seem to stop teenagers. The trend became more popular with the new year, and consequently, hospitals started seeing more and more injuries related to this challenge. So far, six adults

and two teens have died from detergent ingestion and the American Association of Poison Control Centers have received more than 12,300 calls reporting exposure/ ingestion of the pods. Around 700 of these calls resulted in “moderate” or “severe” risk to the person’s health, the CDC reported. Recently, a fake tweet captured the attention of many. “We regret to inform you, we will be removing Tide Pods from shelves starting February 1st. It’s been a good run, but we can’t risk lives over having clean clothes,” tweeted an anonymous user under the name of the brand.

An investigation by Tide questioned the integrity of the screenshotted tweet and because of the formatting of the tweet, it appeared to be fake. Like many of the other “challenges,” the Tide Pods challenge follows the same unintelligent and ignorant guidelines. Just because some people are unintelligent (and even stupid) does not mean that a brand should have to take responsibility. Even though the tweet was fake, Tide has taken to social media to discourage this challenge and attempt to stop it.

spark individual interest inspires

students depending on their in-

classics, if students have no in-

Choosing life skills one book at a time Kelly Taylor | News Editor pl233383@ahschool.com

Socia

Conside If each stud individual, be rewarded study, and will thus p amount of vidual ince resents the talism: that Now let test is comm eraged and that new av even though some fail. S ably not stu they knew work would who put in The hardw

Opinion/Editorial

Editorial: No CAP on success

Year One Team Project and Presentation Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation End-of-Course Exam Year Two Academic Paper

Presentation and Oral Defense

Four AP Courses Taken Throughout High School

(Graphics/Alyssa Herzbrun)

Opinion/Editorial

hough many of us perceive Advanced Placement (AP) as a way to boost GPAs exclusive to core classes, the College Board offers an interdisciplinary option that makes AP classes accessible to a broader demographic of students: AP Capstone. The College Board developed the AP Capstone Diploma program in response to, according to the program website’s home page, “higher education professionals who saw a need for a systematic way for high school students to begin mastering these skills before college.” To fulfill the AP Capstone requirements, students must take AP Seminar, typically as a sophomore or junior, and then take AP Research the following year. In both courses, students complete research projects, write academic papers and create a presentation about their findings. AP Seminar includes an individual and a team project, both of which include a written paper and verbal presentation, as well as a final, essay-based AP exam that assesses students’ abilities to think using an interdisciplinary approach. In AP Research, students develop their own research question in a field of their choosing and conduct a year-long research project to address that question. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000-5,000 words and a presentation with an oral defense, during which students answer questions from a panel of College Board evaluators. Upon completing AP Seminar and AP Research and scoring at least a three on both AP exams, students must also have scored at least a three on four other AP exams of their choosing during high school in order to receive an AP Capstone Diploma. As science research advisor and biology teacher Mrs. Leya Joykutty explained, the AP Capstone program has applications in her pre-existing research program, for which students currently receive an honors credit. “[My students] all go through such a tremendous, in-depth process for their projects,” Mrs. Joykutty said. “But, because of the sheer number of students I have in the research program, not everyone can go to every competition and be successful. They deserve something more than a regular honors credit for all of that work.” Through AP Capstone, research students who already complete a competitive science project and write an academic paper can adapt their efforts to fit the program’s requirements and earn an AP credit for the time and labor they invest in their projects. The College Board does not limit possible research topics to the sciences, opening doors for students who would prefer to research topics in the humanities. As such, beyond promoting interdisciplinary thinking, the AP Capstone program caters to students whose interests and abilities fall into a niche outside of conventional core subjects that most other AP classes focus on. This widens access to the overall AP program, allowing these students to reap the GPA and college admissions-related benefits of taking an AP class while simultaneously exploring a topic that interests them. “I think that AP Captstone offers possibilities in humanities research as well as in science,” AP English Literature and Composition Mrs. Ashley Hendricks said. “There’s high-level analysis of not only literary texts but media texts happening at the university level, giving a broader range of students access to pursue their interest at a higher level and earn an AP credit.” Ultimately, AP Capstone has applications in expanding pre-existing opportunities and creating new ones, making it an important and necessary addition to our curriculum that administration should consider.

Time to change bus rules

Students are subject to rules that micromanage their lives. They deserve the right to decide which side of the bus aisle they sit on, no matter the gender. Olivia Lloyd | Copy Editor pl229501@ahschool.com

the bus much later than me and still expect an open seat waiting for him while I had to double up. very day, nearly 600 students use the bus as transporHead of transportation Mr. Wayne Lenoff described the tation to or from school. Depending on where each procedures bus drivers must go through to ensure student student comes from, it can take up to 30 minutes or safety. “Drivers receive the same training school personnel more each way. If students take the bus twice a day, Monday does, as far as safety, security, fire and customer service,” Mr. through Friday, that’s nearly five hours or more they spend Lenoff said. Additionally, the buses are all equipped with on the bus each week. Calculating that for each school year cameras that Mr. Lenoff and administration can access. adds up to a significant amount of time They routinely pull camera ...not allowing [students] to sit footage at random to make sure spent on the bus. For all this time students spend riding the bus, they may be on the same side is excessive and students and drivers are following accustomed to the difficulty of trying to takes away their freedom to make protocol. With all the measures in secure the prime seat. place to make sure students are their own decisions as growing safe, administration and the bus During the time I spent riding the bus, I preferred a seat by myself, but I young adults. department can allow students to understood this was not always practisit on the same side of the aisle cal. I was willing to share, but not at my own expense and while not jeopardizing their security. another’s gain, as in the gain of a boy who did not have to Administration will likely not do away with the single-genshare a seat. The separation of a boys’ side and a girls’ side on der per seat rule, but at least boys and girls should be allowed the bus meant sometimes I had to double up while a boy had to sit on the same side of the bus. Though seemingly inconsethe luxury of sitting by himself. quential, the 600 students who ride the bus daily care about While obviously I could not always expect a seat by myself, their ability to choose where they sit. I struggled to not feel a little upset when I looked across the Additionally, developing adolescents need to learn to aisle to the empty seat on the other side of the bus when I was make their own decisions and think independently. With all shoulder to shoulder with another bus buddy. The school polthe rules they must abide by as youth, although many of the icy of prohibiting boys and girls sharing a seat has its roots in rules are for their own good, they have limited right to think a legitimate reason, but not allowing them to sit on the same for themselves and see how they can manage without others side is excessive and takes away their freedom to make their always telling them what to do. Micromanaging students does own decisions as growing young adults. not give them the opportunity to see how they fare without so The policy originated in response to an incident from many personal regulations. more than 10 years ago in which boys were inappropriately Students do not have the liberties to make all the decisions harassing girls on the bus. To prevent further incidents from that adults do. That is why we care about our small and simoccurring, the bus company put in place a rule that prohibple right of deciding where to sit. As functioning members its boys and girls sitting together. A similar incident has not of society and members of our school community, we should occurred since the implementation of the rule, according to choose which side of the aisle to sit on. Dean Nolle, but this does not necessarily mean it is the result (Graphic s/Ambe r Bhutta of the rule itself. Although the policy could be skewed as pre) cautious, it rather serves to divide boys and girls unnecessarily. From personal experience, I have seen disparities in how many male and female students ride each bus. In my case more girls rode the bus than boys, sometimes leaving empty seats on the boys side while nearly every girl had to double up on the opposite side. If someone in the minority group tried to sit in an empty seat on the other side, this created a situation of entitlement, in which the boy could not help but feel miffed when a girl took a seat that should be his. A boy could stroll on to

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Opinion/Editorial 7

Freedom of (hate) speech Kristen Quesada |Co-Assistant Editor pl208162@ahschool.com

ree speech forms the foundation of America, so much so that the framers incorporated its protection into the very First Amendment, preceding all others. However, in recent years, one particular type of speech has raised questions regarding its legality: hate speech. Hate speech is defined as abusive or threatening speech or writing that expresses prejudice against a group based on attributes such as race or religion. While many complain hate speech creates a fearful and unsafe environment and may even incite violence in some cases, government interference to ban hate speech altogether would create a far more dangerous precedent. A vivid example of hate speech can be found in the 2015 Charleston church shooting. According to online logs, the goal of the shooter, Dylann Roof, was to ignite a race war between blacks and whites. Although there is no clear start to his white supremacist beliefs, what is abundantly clear is that he closely followed an incendiary website which reinforced dangerous stereotypes about black people, defended segregation and glorified the days of the Confederate States of America. The world may never know if his victims would be still alive had websites like the one he followed were not allowed space on the Internet. On the opposite side of the free speech spectrum, hate speech has become increasingly limited all across Europe — especially Germany. In 2018, Germany tightened its grip on free speech, requiring social media networks to remove “illegal” posts within 24 hours and imposing fines up to $60 million if they fail to do so. Merely posting strong insults, unproven accusations or discriminating against groups for gender, ethnicity, religion or nationality can break Germany’s stringent hate speech laws.

(Graphics/Alyssa Herzbrun)

8 Opinion/Editorial

This online censorship that can result in punishment by law sets a very alarming precedent for government infringement on free speech in Europe, one that we cannot allow to spread to America. Although hate speech may make people uncomfortable, it becomes a slippery slope for citizens’ fundamental rights to speak their beliefs. If people cannot speak their minds, no matter how heinous their words, the undoing of a free society turns imminent. Part of individual autonomy includes allowing people to think or speak what they want to, regardless of whether others strongly disapprove. Regardless of whatever side of the political spectrum, people should recognize the danger of limiting free speech. America was founded on freedom, and every American is guaranteed natural rights, including the right to state their point of view and opinions, as per the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Limiting this in any regard degrades the basis of American freedoms and values in an irreversible way.

News

Fighting Cushing Syndrome Kayla Rubenstein | Assistant Online Editor pl226461@ahschool.com

tragedy has befallen longtime English teacher Mrs. Maryanne Hurtado and her family: Sophomore Sophia Hurtado, diagnosed with Cushing Syndrome and a rare type of pancreatic tumor, now faces a long and costly recovery. Jan. 30 saw 16-year-old Sophia rushed to the hospital with severe symptoms, such as dangerously high blood pressure, where doctors diagnosed her with Cushing Syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic: “Cushing Syndrome occurs when your body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol for a long time.” To battle this, Sophia receives treatment in Boston at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center. Feb. 25 brought the first round of surgery. “Sophia had a sixhour surgery to remove her adrenal glands. This helped to reduce the effects of the Cushing Syndrome. She is recovering and waiting to be cleared by the surgeon so she can begin chemotherapy,” Mrs. Hurtado said. “We feel very fortunate that she is being treated at Dana-Farber, one of the top cancer centers in the country.” To help raise both awareness and funds, the Heritage community has banded together. Set up by the English Department on behalf of Mrs. Hurtado, the GoFundMe page has a goal of $50,000. On this page, which as of April 5 has raised $41,000, past and present students as well as faculty, family members and friends, offer donations and words of encouragement for the long journey Sophia faces. Mrs. Carol Gedan, former assistant to the Upper School principals and alumni coordinator, decided to contribute to the cause through her Etsy soap company, Bonnie’s Bubbles. Mrs. Gedan sells her handcrafted bars of soap for $15 each, with all $15 going to the GoFundMe page. For the fundraiser, Mrs. Gedan stumbled upon a scent she believes perfectly fits the situation. “I make the soap for fun, and when I came across the fragrance name, ‘A Mother’s Love,’ it was a no-brainer. I had to get to work,” Mrs. Gedan said. On the product’s page, found at bit.ly/SophiaStrong, Mrs. Gedan describes the scent as a very light fragrance with essences of peonies, day lilies, apple blossom, hyacinthia and soft bergamot, suitable for everyone. Currently, the soap is available only for preorder. As for in-school efforts, multiple groups contributed to the GoFundMe page, such as NHS, which donated $1,000. The SOAR club, drawn to Sophia’s story through two of the officers’ friendships with Sophia through cheerleading, raised $304 through its bake sale. Other than bake sales, junior and senior class advisors Mrs. Jessica Miliffe and Mrs. Krisynda Cicos hosted a kickball fundraiser April 23 on the softball field. For $2 per player, teams of nine to 12 competed in the tournament. Additionally, a concession stand selling pizza, cold drinks and chips helped bring in more donations.

“The advisors have been talking about having an event like a kickball tournament for a while now and when students started talking about doing something to help Sophia and her family during this hard time, we thought it would be an activity that not only would Sophia participate in if she were here but that she would also get excited about and want to encourage others to attend,” Mrs. Cicos said. She credits Victoria Molina, junior class president, with the idea. In addition to the clubs, Sophia’s JV and varsity cheer teammates sell ribbons, an idea spearheaded by varsity cheer coach Calesta Soto. “The cheer team decided to sell ribbons for Sophia because it was an easy and low-cost way for students to show their support toward Sophia,” Kayla Myers, sophomore cheer captain, said. For $2 a piece, students can purchase these ribbons, styled in blue and yellow as tribute to Cushing awareness. As of March 11, the team has raised $976.36 of its $1,000 goal, according to Coach Soto. The money will go directly to the GoFundMe page. Outside of financial assistance, the cheer team offers Sophia a more personal support system: friendship. “We want Sophia to know that we are cheering her on and can’t wait for her to return to cheerleading,” Coach Soto said. “Sophia appreciates all the support she has gotten from everyone. She is especially thankful to her cheer sisters and her friends. She brought several of the Heritage-themed gifts with her to Boston,” Mrs. Hurtado said. The Hurtado family can rest assured that they have the support of the school. From the ribbons to the soap to the GoFundMe page, the community has banded together to help Sophia in her fight against Cushing Syndrome. “First, our entire family, but especially my husband Juan, Sebastian, Sophia and I are very grateful for the emotional, financial and spiritual support we have received from so many in our Heritage family,” Mrs. Hurtado said. “Your continued support is greatly appreciated. Both Sophia and I are homesick for our Florida home (Graphic/Kristen Quesada) and hope to return soon.”

CHEERING HER ON: On the field, Sophia supported her cheer friends. Now, her cheer friends support her. From left to right: Tyra Banks, Sophia Hurtado and Lena Stubbs. (Photo/Alycia Cypress)

News 9

Bella Ramirez| Features Editor pl237961@ahschool.com

News Brief

NHSMUN

fter taking a chance by bringing more novice competitors, Heritage won the Award of Excellence at National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN) in New York. Select representatives had the opportunity to speak at the United Nations. Senior Satya Alagarsamy discussed climate change and equality for his allotted 45 seconds. “The 300 million people who will be displaced by climate change by 2050 are real people,” Alagarsamy said in his speech. “They are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters just like every single one of us.”

Humanities Conference

rs. Ashley Hendricks’s AP English coordinated a Humanities Conference the last week of April. The event imitated Humanities Conferences in colleges, in which academics propose their papers for publishing. Seniors volunteered to lead discussion of specific aspects of humanities studies including poetry, comics and film. “Mrs. Hendricks inspires me every day in her class, and I’d say she’s successfully made me realize my love for literature through her class,” comics chairperson senior Gavin Grnja said. “I’m just genuinely excited to expand on previous works I’ve written ... and learn other people’s perspectives by attending the conference.”

FBLA

uture Business Leaders of America (FBLA) attended the state conference March 22-24. “Everyone has their specific event. We know what we have to do, and honestly, we want to go in there and win,” sophomore Daniel Di Marcoberardino said. “We want to do better than the previous year and enjoy the process.” Seven Heritage competitors qualified for the June national competition in San Antonio.

FUTURE LEADERS: FBLA competitors assemble to take photos at the competition convention center. (Photo/Mr. Marc Shaw) ROLE MODELS: The team gathers outside the United Nations building after several students gave speeches inside the UN. (Photo submitted by Kenzo Kimura)

(Graphic/Olivia Lloyd)

FAMAT State Convention

he Florida Association of Mu Alpha Theta (FAMAT) held its state convention in Orlando April 11-14. Students compete in a variety of topics in their specified categories, taking tests such as Alpha Applications to Differential Equations. “I’ve been going since high school so it’s like a blast from the past,” math teacher Mr. Daniel Ariew said. “It’s the most fun of all year. It’s a lot of math, but it’s definitely the most efficient competition of the year.” Heritage walked away with second place overall.

AMAΘZING: Following the award ceremony, the team displays the trophies it won over the course of the convention, with the seniors in front. (Photo/Joanne Haner)

10 News

ARISTOCRATIC: Senior co-presidents, Saaketh Vedantam and Vladyslav Oleksenko, execute their signature pose. (Photo/Joanne Haner)

Chorus Goes to Carnegie

ixed Chorus and A Capella performed at Carnegie Hall as the featured choir April 5-8. The group features students from all grades and due to their consistent delivery, the choir gets invited back almost every other year. “These trips impact me by giving me amazing memories with my friends and allowing me to have great experiences such as performing on stage at Carnegie hall,” first-time Carnegie attendee sophomore Cole Holifield said.

BREAK A LEG: Following their performance, the singers get together on the Carnegie Hall stage located in New York City. (Photo submitted by Cole Holifield)

Paws for a cause W

ho usually comes to mind when you think of those who keep us safe throughout our everyday lives? Police and medics are suitable answers. But, what about their furry “sidekicks” they train to track criminals, detect substances, and maintain order in our society: police dogs. After these dogs retire from their days in action the officer who has trained and served with them during their time on the force usually adopts them. However, in most cases, when these police dogs retire and begin to get sick, it becomes harder for their owner to pay for their companions’ medical bills. When Ms. Nikki Laurie, Pre-Law and Law Internship Honors teacher, and her son Jackson Laurie, a fifth grade student at Heritage, heard of this dilemma from VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital, they were immediately interested in solving this problem. This led them to come up with the idea for the K-9 Project and Gala. “[Jackson] has a huge passion for art, and he has a huge passion for animals, so we decided to collaborate and come up with a fundraiser to raise money through original works of art for dogs,” Ms. Laurie said. Ms. Laurie was able to bring this project to American Heritage, since she represents American Heritage School on the executive board of The Sheriffs Foundation of Broward County. “One hundred percent of the proceeds from this event go toward the funding that will pay for 50% of whatever health care needs these dogs will have when they are retired; whether it be medication, hospitalization or surgeries,” Ms. Laurie said. This year was the second Annual K-9 Gala. The Gala took place April 6 in the Black Box Theater accompanied by refreshments and h’orderves. The actual process and putting together of the gala included many people such as art students and Pre-Law students. The art students created various artworks throughout the year (usually dog-themed) as well as prints they presented at the gala. The art students submitted about 120 pieces of artwork for this year’s gala. Along with this, junior Sarah McDonald painted a picture during the actual gala that the buyers bidded on, ending with $625 as the final bid. The Pre Law Society

helped to advertise the event to potential art buyers as well as selling the tickets to the public. They also volunteered at the actual Gala selling and handling the art pieces. Last year, the K-9 Gala raised about $32,000. This year, the goal was to reach $50,000. Ms. Laurie had already raised $28,000 in donations from the gala’s contributing donors such as Lipton Toyota of Fort Lauderdale, BrandsMart U.S.A. and inWESTON Magazine. After the selling of the artwork and final auction along with the sponsor donations, their total amount raised was about $37,000. “This is a great cause for a great organization, everyone loves dogs and I just can’t think of a better way to give back,” Ms. Laurie said. PAINT, PAWS, REPEAT: (Right) “During [the K-9 Gala] I had a lot of people asking me to paint for them and then they will pay me directly. It made me feel professional,” Junior Sarah McDonald said. (Below) Many speakers from the night talked about the K-9 project, how it started and its purpose.

(Photo/Theodore Rackauskas)

Madison Lynn| Staff Writer pl235031@ahschool.com

News 11

Features

Like, Comment, Subscribe

157K

@linaglows 119K Followers

Zoe Persaud | Staff Writer pl238511@ahschool.com

ocial media plays a major role in the life of the modern teenager. Some use social media to connect with friends and family, while others use it to build their platforms, create original content and gain an audience. These “influencers” entertain their audience with their content while developing their brand. One of the influencers on campus, is freshman Angelina Iuzvik who runs a beauty account on Instagram under the handle (@linaglows). The account consists of various makeup tutorials and themed looks. Iuzvik also hosts giveaways in order to give back to her growing audience. She currently has more than 119,000 followers on Instagram. “Instagram helped me build my platform, confidence and self-esteem,” Iuzvik said. “It’s a place for everyone, starting from people who want to share their Snapchat selfies, to government sharing their pictures in the White House. That’s why it’s so easy to find your audience, who supports and loves you, because of who you are.” However, Iuzvik is not the only influencer on campus.

@zachdishinger 24.6K Followers

Junior Zachary Dishinger founded the makeup company “Formula Z Cosmetics.” There Owen Lynch on are several social media acYoutube counts dedicated to the mes5.8K Subscribers sage and brand of the company such as the Formula Z Cosmetics YouTube channel and Facebook page. Dishinger’s personal Instagram account (@zachdishinger) and the official Formula Z Cosmetics account (@formulazcosmetics) have a combined followers count of more than 24,000. The company recently expanded from online sales to a pop-up shop in New York City and a presence in Bloomingdale stores across the country. Dishinger also uses his following to promote a positive message and partner with the Trevor Project, a national organization that provides crisis and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. “I choose to use my voice and my company to inspire others to stay true to who they are, to step out of their comfort zone and to be unconditionally accepted,” Dishinger said. Sophomore Owen Lynch also takes up the role as a student influencer. His YouTube channel “Owen Lynch” features videos about shoes and clothes. The channel has accumulated more than 5,000 subscribers since Lynch began seriously uploading videos two years ago. “I think any social media platform, especially YouTube, is the best way to build a personal brand,” Lynch said. Social media changed the nature of the average influencer, but also allowed students to use their voices and reach a broader audience - Junior Zachary Dishinger to spread their messages.

“I feel I’m a part of a cultural revolution spearheaded by young people who believe in fighting for what’s right.” 12 Features

(Graphics/Bella Ramirez) (Photos submitted L-R by Zach Dishinger, Owen Lynch and Angelina Iuzvik)

STANDARDS REDEFINED The growing body positive movement seeks to understand why people feel the way they do about their bodies and break down systems that shame and stigmatize people’s bodies. Olivia Lloyd | Copy Editor pl229501@ahschool.com

hether or not we know it, the conversation about our bodies permeates nearly every aspect of our lives. From Alicia Keys going makeup-free on camera to social media activists such as Megan Jayne Crabbe (@bodyposipanda), body positive advocacy surrounds us. The concept encompasses subjects ranging from sports culture to body hair to the cosmetics industry. The most obvious aspect of body positivity seems to be the conversation revolving around accepting your body no matter its size. Many people have experienced some degree of either internal or external negativity surrounding the size of their body. For many, this arises due to the disparity between their perception of their body and the societal standard of what constitutes a desirable body, whether that standard metric is pounds, pants size or something else. Based on a poll of 200 Upper School students, roughly half said they have experienced some form of body shaming. Nearly a quarter of students polled reported having gone on a diet, for reasons ranging from eating less meat to being overweight and unhappy. “I am Hispanic, and in Hispanic culture, people have this idea that everyone must have a

perfectly curvy but

thin body,” freshman Brianna Burke said. “Sometimes I am told I am either getting too curvy and I need to be skinnier, or that I am too skinny and need to be curvier.” Shaming can range from insulting acne to claiming someone “looks” unhealthy. “My metabolism is very fast so even though I eat a normal amount, I still look very thin,” seventh grader Zoe Weissman said. “People have told me I look like a skeleton or like I have anorexia.” As a result of extremely high expectations that society promotes, young people have not only endured others’ shaming but they internalize that themselves. “It was mostly me shaming myself,” eighth grader Sofia Tobon said. “I would just see a picture of

myself and just think ‘wow I’m fat.’ I barely even do it now though.” Chronic immobility, combined with poor diet and lack of exercise, have fatal consequences. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans, claiming 635,260 lives in 2017. In the same year 80,058 people died of diabetes. However, body positivity does not mean complacency with an unhealthy lifestyle. Accepting your body does not inherently mean resisting change. The movement advocates for appreciating what your body is and what it can do rather than what your body is not. Only when people come to terms with that can positive change, if any change at all, take place. Blogger Jessica Torres of the Hip Latina advocates for the body positive movement. “Before I found body positivity I knew nothing about healthier eating habits and saw exercise as a punishment because of my ‘bad’ diet choices,” Torres wrote. “I hated my body, so I never took care of it. As I learned to appreciate my body I learned to treat it better. That meant being active for pleasure and discovering other food options that didn’t hurt my body. How do you take pride in a body that you hate? When you learn to love your body you take better care of it.” Although it may motivate someone to achieve a physical goal, such as getting more toned or losing 15 pounds, self-loathing cannot ultimately help someone become healthier. Health encompasses not only body mass index (BMI), but also mental and emotional well-being.

Cover Story 13

jawline

This type of negative reinforcement works like quicksand. Suddenly, you are not toned enough, or you are still fat after losing 15 pounds, or you really need your abs to pop in order to “achieve” your goal. Your expectations, as well as your satisfaction with your body, slip farther and farther out of reach. Saying that plus-sized or fat people exist and deserve a place in media representation will not encourage people to start eating poorly or stop exercising. Using models that reflect the variety of people in a population will not, realistically, make people “let themselves go” or “inspire” them to become overweight. When we look at people, we can only glimpse a mere fraction of everything going on in their lives. We cannot understand their health from their appearances. Someone underweight who has an eating disorder is not necessarily better off than someone overweight, but society will accept one rather than the other, claiming the larger person is unhealthy and deserves stigmatization. Various commercial industries take advantage of people’s insecurities and foster negative body image: the diet industry, the beauty industry, the fashion industry. The diet industry takes in roughly $70 billion annually, profiting off of insecurities and guilt. The beauty industry markets products designed to emphasize beauty and allow self-expression while also suggesting people do not look attractive without cosmetic products. Historically, the fashion industry disproportionately represents

slim women and masculine, seemingly-athletic men. By inundat-

abs 6 feet or taller

muscular

14 Cover Story

ing consumers with images of perfect-looking people who do not reflect the majority of the population, the fashion industry establishes an unrealistic ideal. Body positive advocates call for advertising that uses more plus-size and disabled models and does not so severely edit or retouch photos. When adolescents grow up seeing only a certain body type represented in media, they may believe all bodies should look one way. “I still feel insecure about my body because I am tall, and all tall

girls are skinny. I can’t help but compare myself

to models at my age, who were all a lot prettier than I am,” seventh grader Anastasia Smolentseva said. “I feel like I have a big stomach, fat thighs, fat arms and big calves. I do swim, and I am athletic, but that doesn’t change the way I feel.” Misrepresentation adversely affects youth and their appreciation of their bodies.

The body positive movement does not intend to shame people for their choices. It is alright to want to wear makeup or to shave

or change how you eat. If adapting eating habits will make someone emotionally and physically healthier, the body positive movement will not stand in the way. The movement merely asks people to reevaluate decisions they used to make without considering why and to take marketing and societal norms with a grain of salt. If they choose to not change their ways, at the very least, body positivity helps them understand they must make these decisions out of appreciation and acceptance of their body and not because of external pressures. The modern bopo movement has its flaws. It tends to exclude athletes, men, differently-abled people and people of lower economic means. This movement must include people who have not been part of the conversation. Cultural standards cannot and should not account for all the variations in people’s individual lives that make it all but impossible to live up to the collective image of what we should look like. Junior Daniel Rivera described the body shaming he has experienced.

(Photos and Graphics/Angela Lin)

“I am a transgender man. Along with severe dysphoria, I often get comments from people who know that I am trans,” he said. “It either comes from a place of malice or ignorant curiosity. Maybe

‘What’s in your pants?’ ‘Your body looks so feminine,’ even comments about my backside.” both. I hear comments such as

Socioeconomic status comes into play here as well. People within minority groups have a higher rate of obesity than non-minority people, according to CDC statistics. In lower income communities, which most often consist of minority communities, processed foods are more affordable, contributing to increased prevalence of obesity. To assume that obesity is a choice as a result of laziness or disregard for health and appearance discounts the invisible forces in many people’s lives. It also goes to further prove why we should not judge

other people’s health based on appearance or a number on a scale. It rarely tells the whole story. Even the most seemingly-fit people experience body shaming and pressure to appear a certain way. Studies by the National Institutes for Health showed a higher rate of eating disorders among athletes versus the rest of the population. The study concluded that “the prevalence of EDs is higher in athletes than in controls, higher in female athletes than in male athletes, and more common among those competing in leanness-dependent and weight-dependent sports than in other sports. A collaborative effort among coaches, athletic trainers, parents, physicians and athletes is optimal for recognizing, preventing and treating EDs in athletes.” Other studies have subsequently concluded that athletes who participate in aesthetic sports--figure skating, dance and swim to name a few--are more likely to display disordered eating patterns and low self-esteem about their bodies. Sophomore Samantha Stevens attested to this claim. “I am a part of a dance company outside of school, and as a

high cheekbones clear skin, no makeup

hourglass figure

dancer, like any other athlete, there

is always pressure to have a certain body type in order to fit in,” Stevens said. “I used to feel

like I didn’t measure up, but over time I’ve learned to work with the body I have and love myself as I am.” This also applies to sports such as weightlifting and wrestling. At wrestling matches, sometimes competitors weigh-in, eat for the first time in several days and then vomit because their bodies are not accustomed to food. During a tournament at Monarch High School,

limiting their caloric intake in order to get to the desired weight class. two Heritage wrestlers experienced the consequences of

“People who are trying to get to a lower weight skip meals,” junior Noor Oweis said in response to a second Heritage wrestler throwing up after a match. “Some of these guys are eating their first meal in two days.” Dancers to boxers to non-athletes all face pressure to live up to arbitrary standards that revolve around appearance rather than health. In order to counteract both internal and external body shaming, we must recognize body shaming and also identify the biases we subconsciously have. Once we understand why our preconceived notions exist, we can learn to dismantle them. This allows us to address body shaming when it occurs and to develop more progressive opinions on the value of our own bodies and others’ bodies. The body positive movement has a simple statement. All bod-

Not simply attractive bodies or skinny bodies or hairless bodies, but all bodies.

hairless

ies deserve respect as a fundamental right:

Cover Story 15

When They Were Us:

Coach Lori Rembe

TEAM PLAYER: Coach Rembe plays basketball with the team and even got offers from many recruiting colleges. (Photo submitted by Coach Rembe)

Have you ever wondered what your teachers were like in high school? In our monthly teacher profile, we take a trip back to the past and explore what teachers were like ‘When They Were Us’ (WTWU). Maia Fernandez Baigun | Entertainment Editor pl212601@ahschool.com

ome people love the arts and giving back to the community while others find passion in playing all types of sports. For coach Lori Rembe, these activities were all what made her high school years such a success. Originally from Sioux City, Iowa, Coach Rembe attended East High School and is the youngest of eight siblings. Because her family was extremely athletic and extremely tall (Coach Rembe stood at 6 feet 2 inches by the end of high school) Coach Rembe was a multi-sport

Features 16

athlete, playing volleyball, basketball, softball and track. She also competed in AAU track meets every summer and won several national titles in her age division for discus and javelin. Because travel teams and clubs did not exist at the time to make a single sport a year-round affair, Coach Rembe had many options when it came to choosing sports to participate in. “Most of my childhood memories involve sport competitions, either watching siblings or competing myself. That’s what we did as a family. My dad had coached all of us to some extent in just about every sport and the one thing [all of my siblings] did in high school was throw the discus and shot put.” Even though athletics obviously made up a huge part of her high school career, Coach Rembe was also a member of the Girl Scouts as well as the president of the Red Cross chapter in her hometown. Additionally, she played the clarinet from the end of her elementary school years through the beginning of her high school years and was part of the marching band for her school. Coach Rembe was also involved in the arts, and as her father was a carpenter, she often worked with wood and painted, leading her

WINNING SMILE: Coach Rembe smiles for her basketball portrait. (Photo submitted by Coach Rembe)

to pursue her art major in college before switching to an education major. Coach Rembe had the interest of college coaches, receiving offers across the United States for basketball, volleyball and track. Finally, Coach Rembe and her twin sister both accepted an offer for volleyball and track at Bowling Green State University, but a year later they both transferred to Memphis State University. While at MSU, Coach Rembe won a conference title in discus while setting numerous team and individual records in volleyball. This took her to compete in the Final Four for volleyball at the N.I.T. College Championships, where her team finished third. As soon as she graduated from MSU in 1992, she was hired as an assistant coach for the university’s women’s volleyball team. Coach Rembe, currently the Curriculum Department Chair for Physical Education, is working on finalizing a student and teacher manual for every PE course offered as an elective. She keeps busy coaching the Broward College Women’s Volleyball team, which broke into the top 10 for the region, something that had not been done in more than a decade. Coach Rembe continues to work on spreading her love for physical education and encouraging students to follow a path to a healthier and more active life.

Guiding Students’ Futures

Students frequently underappreciate college counselors because they are simply unaware of what it takes to get into college.To find out everything counselors do behind the scenes, read below. Kristen Quesada | Co-Assistant Editor pl208162@ahschool.com

FSU Duke Oregon

Northwestern

(Graphics/Alyssa Herzbrun)

hile the college process is very intensive for students, counselors have to put in just as much work when helping students navigate every step of the way. Each of Heritage’s seven college counselors manages between 50 and 60 students. Although students have a degree of understanding that college counselors have a hefty task to fulfill when helping seniors apply to colleges, it’s difficult to gain a full perspective from the outside. College advisor Mr. Erik McLeod provides students with some insight into the world of college counseling. Mr. McLeod used to be on the board of admissions for different colleges but eventually decided to “switch to the other side of the desk” and guide high schoolers through the college process. “I think it’s important for students to know how much time and effort we invest on behalf of our students,” he said. “We really want you guys to succeed. We work diligently here, at home and on the weekends to make sure that you guys find your college fit and end up where you need.” Each counselor writes a personalized letter about each of their 60 students while looking at the student in the context of their transcript, standardized tests, activity list, teachers’ letters and any interactions with the student. “All my letters are written from home where I have no distractions. I get out my coffee and my laptop and just work through them,” Mr. McLeod said. “I look through a student’s complete file and generally any context I can reflect on that can make a student stand out.” Meanwhile, at other larger schools, “a lot of counselors will simply check the ‘I don’t have

time to submit a letter of recommendation’ box on the form,” Mr. McLeod said. “Our students are always going to receive a detailed, substantive letter of recommendation. We [the college advisors] all collectively take pride in the quality and substance of our letters.” In order to properly advise students, college counselors need to stay on top of admissions trends. To do so, the counselors travel to several different conferences every year, making connections with thousands of other counselors to discuss trends, concerns and issues. They also visit colleges every year and communicate with those who are in charge of reviewing student applications. “We have good, transparent relationships with college directors,” Mr. McLeod said. “We’re fortunate in that Mr. Laurie supports us and gives us the resources necessary to keep up with those admissions trends.” While writing recommendation letters and advising students may be a part of their job, students should still be grateful for our counselors as it is a much different scenario at other schools. “The biggest advantage is that we have the time to advise, whereas students who go to a large public school may have one college advisor assigned to 700 students,” Mr. McLeod said. “We have all the time in the world to help [our students], and time equates to success.” Heritage invests in its college counselors to give its students the best chance for success in the realm of college admissions. However, in addition to investment in conferences and college tours to better equip its college advisors, the most important aspect of college advising is the college advisors themselves. It is not just their jobs; they truly wish to see their students prosper. “We advocate for our students and want the best for them, so we work hard for that,” Mr. McLeod said.

(Photo submitted/Mrs. Sharon Bikoundou)

Features

Entertainment

The

of new heroes Bella Ramirez | Features Editor pl237961@ahschool.com

he typical Hollywood hero changed in the age of “Black Panther” and “Captain Marvel.” American comics started in the 19th century as accompaniment to newspapers. Since then, their popularity soared to become an integral piece of American culture. Despite their universal appeal, the first superheroes only served to represent white men. The industry started off with Mandrake the Magician and then followed with Superman four years later. Fast forward to February 2018, when “Black Panther” hit theaters. Now, children and adults alike could view a strong cast of people of color on screen, both men and women depicted as powerhouses worthy of the coveted title of “hero.” Since then, all types of heroes are debated in terms of representation. With new recreations of classic comic book superheroes appearing constantly on the silver screen, audiences began to challenge the idea that heroes like Superman are “supposed to be a white man.” This led to Michael B. Jordan rumored to allegedly make the final casting call for DC’s newest adaptation of Superman last year, according to ComicBook.com. Despite the project falling through the cracks, this still led to more discussion about heroic representation. March 8, 2019, “Captain Marvel” premiered, thus striking more conversation for more representation. However, more critiques arose against the historic Marvel movie. Some viewers claimed the piece held “toxic feminism,”and exalted women above men in a detrimental style. Critic reviews slashed the movie and an uprising on Twitter even called for a boycott of the

18 Entertainment

film. Women and men came together for the #AlitaChallenge, in which partakers boycotted “Captain Marvel” and saw “Alita: Battle Angel” instead. The premise of the challenge involved completely boycotting “Captain Marvel” because of “man-hating” lead actress Brie Larson. Larson gained this title by criticizing the patriarchal system on her platforms. Many proponents of the film argue Larson and the film’s label of “toxic feminism” is only present because of its support of strong leading women. Heroes are changing every day. Even with Marvel’s latest release of the “Avengers: Endgame,” viewers can see the demographic transition through the years of the Avengers team as a whole. The original team consisted of five white men and one white female. Now, there is a diverse group of heroes, both of background and gender, taking the role of “Avenger.” In order to have more representation in who is considered a hero, viewers need to show interest in films that represent everyone so comic book writers continue to produce heroes who reflect the melting pot of the world. “Consequently, it’s up to comic book writers to keep pushing the envelope and create her o e s who represent a larger number of the population,” Diego Galcia, college writer for “Study Breaks” said. In order to see more representation, the industry must cater to all.

(Graphics/Maia Fernandez Baigun)

OBSCURA

(Photo/RollingStones) (Graphic/Emma Remudo)

obella ila T aV

Ro sal í

Maia Fernandez-Baigun | Entertainment Editor Best New Artist at the 2017 Latin Grammy legend José Miguel “El Chiqui” Vizcaya, Awards, Rosalía found herself back in the Rosalía bases her tracks on the traditionpl212601@ahschool.com

f an artist could fit every color into a single song, Barcelona’s Rosalía Vila Tobella would be the artist to do so. In the shadows of Gaudi’s city, Rosalía has passed unnoticed for a couple of years, but with her newest album, El Mal Querer, the 25-year-old’s time in hiding might be up. With her strong Spanish roots, Rosalía’s flamenco-inspired songs burst with vibrancy and life. Dancer, actress, singer and songwriter, Rosalía began her career in 2013 when she worked as a duo with Juan Gomez in the 2013 Panama International Film Festival and at the Festival Grec de Barcelona for the contemporary dance work De Carmen. She then became the leading voice for Ano Espiritu 2014 in her home city, Barcelona. However, her big break did not come until the late months of last year. After being nominated for

studio working on her second full-length studio album, El Mal Querer, which roughly translates to Toxic Love. Her video for “Malamente,” the first single from this album, has racked up 20 million views in just three months since its release, while the follow-up, “Pienso en Tu Mirá,” has clocked more than 15 million views in about onethird of the time. The album itself combines the rhythms and melodies of traditional flamenco with elements of modern R&B and pop in the form of growling bass, whispers and cuts of breaking glass. The main concept of all original songs revolves around what Rosalía describes as a love “turned upside down.” Apart from her rapidly rising album, Rosalía has also managed to break away from the all-too-familiar-reggaeton-and-dembow style Latin music which has dominated the charts within the last year. Having studied flamenco for eight years under Spanish

al guitar, handclap beat and lively melody drawn from the flamenco she grew up listening to. She took this style and collaborated with Colombian reggaeton producer, J. Balvin, producing a flirtatious and sparkling song called “Brillo.” “Brillo” combines this traditional yet modern, like many of her songs, still has a romantic guitar track with snaps and the occasional clap. Rosalía also stresses femme power, but not only in her music. In her close, all-woman support team, she includes manager Rebeca León, her mother and her sister Pilar. Together, through Rosalía’s image, the sisters convey their vision of strong femininity. As for the future, Rosalía has been working on many more songs with popular artists such as Pharrell and film projects with Oscar-winning writer and director Pedro Almodóvar. If you want to follow her on her journey, you can visit her website https://rosalia.com.

Entertainment Brief Zoe Persaud| Staff Writer pl238511@ahschool.com

R. Kelly Cook County police force in Illinois arrested American rapper Robert Sylvester Kelly, otherwise known as R. Kelly, on March 1. The artist is facing 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse which qualifies as a Class 2 felony. Kelly posted bail on March 9 but r e m a i n s u n d e r investigation.

Luke Perry

Billie Eilish Tour

Actor Coy Luther “Luke” Perry, age 52, passed away from a stroke on March 4. His acting career consisted of roles such as Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210 and Fred Andrews on Riverdale. Perry’s death occurred just months before his planned wedding with Wendy Madison Bauer.

Pop music artist Billie Eilish announced tour dates for her album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” The North American tour begins in San Francisco, Calif., on May 29. Eilish also plans on performing at the Coachella music festival.

(Photo/BBC, HelloMagazine.com, Fox News)

Entertainment 19

SPOT LIGHT

Joel Barnes

Maia Fernandez Baigun | Entertainment Editor pl212601@ahschool.com

riends usually impact your life, and for senior Joel Barnes, this saying applies. Almost four years ago, Barnes was introduced to the architecture world through one of his good friends his freshman year. Though it was not through art and design, he quickly fell in love with his construction course. When he moved his sophomore year from his home state New Jersey to Plantation, he brought his newfound passion into the classroom of Architecture I. Even though his previous experience in construction had little to do with sketching, tracing, outlining and many of the other vital aspects of architecture, Barnes took architecture upon entering Heritage. He enjoyed the course so much that he decided he wanted to focus on his skills as an architect to fabricate unique designs. After his introduction to the architecture course, Barnes also took 2D animation. Although his passion was not as strong as in architecture, he still enjoyed it very much. “[The class] really helped me come up with ideas for designs, which I used in later projects,” Barnes said. Most of his inspirations come from real life and the buildings he often visits such as churches, strip malls and other commercial buildings. Barnes says that because everything has the ability to become tangible, his work remains realistic and possible-to-create in the future. This, however, is not the only reason why he chooses to continue his path in architecture.

(Photos submitted by Joel Barnes)

20 Entertainment

“I feel very accomplished knowing that the things that I do can be made into reality, and they can help people,” Barnes said. Not only does he apply this with paper, pencil and ruler, but he also takes this mentality out into the community. As the president of the Chick-Fil-A leadership club, safety manager of the Robotics club and co-president of the Marine Biology club, Barnes makes sure to stick to his ultimate goal of helping people. Earlier this year, Barnes was also nominated for the Silver Knight award in the arts for his rendition of a church. Despite his initial surprise, Barnes wants to thank his teacher Mr. Reid for pushing him to design to the best of his abilities. “He has really helped me on this journey, and I think he is an amazing teacher,” Barnes said. “He brings out the best of my design abilities.”

SILVER WORTHY CHURCH: Barnes was nominated for the Silver Knight Award in the art category. Above is part of his application for the Silver Knight’s honor.

Sports

Swing Alex Becker| Sports Editor pl215753@ahschool.com

fter a 5-1 victory over Land O’ Lakes in last season’s state championship, the Lady Patriots softball team now resides as the second winningest team in Florida with eight state title trophies. Only two away from tying Naples with 10 titles, the Lady Patriots hope to shrink the gap this season. With a 11-7 record, the Lady Patriots have started this season on track. The team’s offense is potent batting in 6.83 runs per game on a team batting average of .370. However, despite the team’s high on-base percentage of .438, the team has left 59 runners left on bases so far this season. On defense, the Lady Patriots have held their opponents to three or fewer runs in 10 of the 18 games so far. The team has only allowed 72 runs in total thanks to the team’s stingy 1.91 earned run average and 100 strikeouts. Senior pitcher Amelia Saviskas, a Lynn University commit, leads the bullpen with 43 strikeouts to only 24 hits.

for State Despite the team’s success so far this season and in recent years, the Lady Patriots make sure they don’t get ahead of themselves. With eight new players since last season, this Lady Patriots team knows it doesn’t deserve anything. “We don’t think about what we have won in the past,” senior first baseman Jordyn Griffith said. “This year’s team has won nothing yet, no state title. Last year’s team did. That’s our mentality. We cannot get ahead of ourselves because of what we have earned in the past, instead, we focus on this season and work toward getting a title.” Griffith, a Columbia commit, has batted in eight runs this season including a home run against Monarch in a Patriot 12-1 victory. While the team does its best to keep its victorious past out of its mind during the season, the Lady Patriots breed success. Though the success can’t be duplicated, the cause is no secret: coaching. “The reason the softball team is so successful is because of our amazing coaches,” junior Sara Soterakis said. The team’s experienced coaching staff continues to teach the girls

BATTER UP: Freshman outfielder Kylie Sacks practices her swing in the on-deck circle moments before stepping up to the plate. (Photo/Weston Photography)

throughout the season, as opposed to just working on the same skills every day. “Our coaches help teach us important skills throughout the season, like having a plan at the plate, watching the pitcher to pick up on her habits and the importance of ‘small ball’ bunting,” Griffith said. At the center of the staff, coach Marty Cooper celebrated his 600th career victory on Feb. 25 after a 5-0 shutout win over Coral Glades. While the milestone highlighted the night, Cooper still kept his mind on winning the state title. “This happened to be a nice night for me, but there’s a lot of work to do this year and we’re looking to get a state championship. That’s what our goal is,” he said. With only about a week until the district tournament, the Lady Patriots state title is in sight. If history is any precedent, the Lady Patriots should be back in Vero Beach this May. However, according to Soterakis, the team needs to polish up a few things before then. “Confidence plays a huge role when it comes to states and I feel if we have confidence then we will succeed and get that ring,” she said.

Sports

Air Force to be reckoned with

From the Bench

Sammy Rosenthal | Staff Writer pl218212@ahschool.com

BY ALEX BECKER

Top 10

This is my last column. After two spectacular years, From the Bench will come to end. While this is the most devastating news to ever be written in The Patriot Post, it has been my job throughout my time writing this column to keep an upbeat mood. So, instead of sulking about the end, I will remember the good times FTB had. Without further adieu, I present to you the top 10 best things about From the Bench. 10. Free Range- This column is written by me, for me. I don’t care if you like it or hate it. I choose what it’s about and don’t tell anyone until after it’s written. 9. Compliments- As we all know, not many people read this column, which is great because that means the only feedback I hear is positive. 8. Amber Bhutta- Without her this column would have Oxford commas, the devil of AP Style. 7. My headshot- The picture was taken before sophomore year. Good thing I got one more picture of myself before Taco Bell started selling breakfast. 6. College admissions- I can confidently say this column is the sole reason I got into college. 5. Humor- I think I’m funny. Most people disagree, including real journalistic professionals who told me, “I wouldn’t call it funny.” Thanks for your feedback gentlemen. 4. Censorship- You may not know this, but we are not allowed to print whatever we choose in The Patriot Post. In fact, I have had multiple jokes cut out of my columns for being “anti-semitic” and “crossing the line.” 3. Fat jokes- (See #7) 2. Sports- This column allows me to write about the one thing I actually enjoy discussing. If I was stuck writing another Op/Ed piece on the benefits of sleep, I would probably have quit newspaper years ago. 1. Not sports- This started out as a sports column where I would give serious opinions on pressing sports issues. As you can tell, that is no longer the case. Instead, I talk about nonsense. Nothing makes me more happier than nonsense. The last two years have flown by, and while I’m excited to graduate, I will miss writing this column. It is unclear whether or not there will be a sports column next year. Let’s pray for a half court heave.

22 Sports

ive-star recruit and long snapper senior Frank Melgarejo saw his longtime dream turn to reality when he received an offer and announced his commitment to the Air Force Academy. Though Melgarejo easily committed to the Academy when presented with the offer, the five-star recruit had to maintain a strict work ethic in order to draw interest from college scouts. Remaining disciplined, having time management skills, setting high goals for himself, and growing his passion for the game helped him gather recognition, but his main motivation derived from his faith, family and teammates. “I became passionate for football when I was 10 years old,” Melgarejo said. “I love the brotherhood, the feeling we get from winning games and us coming together when we lose.” In his junior year, Melgarejo decided to take up competitive weightlifting to help him bulk up for the football season. Though Melgarejo viewed weightlifting as merely a way to bring his football career to another level, he enjoyed further

NEW THREADS: Melgarejo suits up in his Air Force Academy uniform, which he committed to February 25th. (Photo submitted by Frank Melgarejo)

strengthening his bond with his teammates. “Football has been part of my life and weightlifting helps me get strong,” he said. “It’s a good feeling when your school and teammates support you to lift heavy weights.” Melgarejo, whose recruitment stock as a long snapper has grown with each year of his high school career, received offers from schools such as Alcorn State University, Northern Illinois University, Florida Atlantic University and Texas State University before ultimately deciding to attend the Air Force Academy. “It was a blessing to receive an offer to Air Force because it was my dream to join the Academy [since] I come from a military family,” Melgarejo said. “The biggest factor for choosing the Air Force Academy would be the high level of education, the opportunities offered, the ability to continue playing football at the next level and accomplish my dream to become a pilot and being able to serve my country.” Looking back on his high school career at Heritage, Melgarejo plans to utilize the lessons he has learned over the years from his mentors to help him along his path to accomplish his major goals in life. “Being a student athlete at Heritage allowed me to grow by learning many life skills like time management, strong work ethic and individual and team goals between school and sports,” he said. “The coaches I want to thank the most are oach Edd Perry, coach Patrick Surtain, coach Travis Spiva and coach Stearns.” With his dedicated spirit and desire to compete to the best of his ability in any challenge that he faces, Melgarejo has developed a profound work ethic that he will put to good use at the Air Force Academy and should prove to serve him well both on and off the field.

(Graphic/Sammy Rosenthal)

Sverdlov’s road to the top

Sammy Rosenthal| Staff Writer pl218212@ahschool.com

continued to practice, his love for the game enior Mark Sverdlov always had a and overall skill grew, Sverdlov said. “Tennis growing passion for tennis that he has basically been my entire life, and I couldn’t says started in his childhood. As he picture what I would be like without it.” Sverdlov’s special talent for the game not only allowed him to emerge victorious in a variety of tournaments growing up, but also to experience success in recent competitions. For the past two years, Sverdlov has competed in the USTA (United States Tennis Association) Boys’ nationals in Kalamazoo, Mich. He played for the USTA New England section and finished second for all ages in his section. Sverdlov also played one International Tennis Federation (ITF) qualification tournament DOUBLES TROUBLE: Mark Sverdand one tournament in the main draw. lov (left) showcases the award he won after Despite the success in his tournament play finishing as a doubles finalist in a level two throughout his career, Sverdlov did not receive national tournament. (Photo submitted by a national ranking; instead, the prodigy beMark Sverdlov) came a five-star recruit. “I was homeschooled

last year so becoming a five-star meant all the time I put into tennis and fitness was finally paying off,” Sverdlov said. “My coaches and I were so happy that my results were becoming visible so quickly, but we knew there was still a lot more work to put in.” Sverdlov’s dedication to perfecting his craft eventually gained him enough recognition to earn the ranking of 58th in the country. Though he did view such a ranking as an honor, the tennis star believed he would have received a higher rank had injury not plagued him. “It wasn’t a bad ranking to have, but I know I could’ve done better,” Sverdlov said. “I had some injuries that held me back from competing as well as I could’ve, but I’ve beaten kids top-20 in the country. When I was ranked 58th, I was playing very well. I just had a few things to touch up on, and I could’ve had a much higher ranking within months.”

Kayla in Sports: Batter (not) up! Kayla Rubenstein| Online Assistant Editor pl226461@ahschool.com

ports may not come to me easily, but “borrowing” things from my younger brother, Dylan, comes like second nature. Dressed in his white stirrups and practice jersey (unbeknown to him at the time), I attempted to participate in a baseball practice. Although my brother (partially) joked about disowning me as a sister if I failed miserably, he did teach me a bit on how to properly swing the bat and, at minimum, make contact with the ball. With his vote of confidence and the mini garage lesson, I felt prepared enough for practice the next day. Leg bouncing up and down while I waited for my turn in the batting cages, I mulled over my brother’s advice. When my turn came to hit off the tee, coach Brandon Sedell, head coach of the JV team, lent me a helmet (definitely not a bad idea given my slightly clumsy track record), and one of the players offered me his bat.

Swinging the bat the first few times made me realize why I left my brother to sports. However, 10 swings into my turn, I finally got the hang of it, not only making contact but also actually hitting the ball down the middle. Feeling a wave of confidence after the tee round in the cages, I readied myself for the next part of batting practice: soft toss. When my turn came up and Coach Sedell pitched the ball softly to me, I am proud to report I made contact with the first five balls, hitting them either down the middle, slightly to the left or to the ground. After the batting cages, varsity coach Bruce Aven brought me over to the catchers to toss the baseball around. Swapping the helmet for a glove, I practiced “pitching” the ball to catcher Kolbe Aven, a junior. While tossing with the catcher, Coach Aven came up to me and demonstrated the difference between a rising fastball and straight fastball. As much as I would like to report that my pitching improved, in reality, Kolbe had to reach a bit to catch my wild pitches.

The coach now instructed us to receive the ball and throw behind us to second base. Surprisingly, this drill came to me the easiest out of the previous pitchers’ drills. With the ball soundly hitting the glove of the person covering second (go me!), my confidence from the first bit of batting practice returned. Afterwards, I returned to the batting cage and continued to take turns batting. Each turn I got better and better. In the end, batting practice became one of my favorite parts of practice. Although I certainly don’t see myself playing baseball professionally, this experience showed me a different side of the sport. My time with the baseball team easily became one of my favorite “Kayla in Sports,” although my right shoulder and arm were a bit (read: very) sore for three days after. From this experience, I can confidently say that while I may not be the next Derek Jeter, I at least know how to dress the part. (Photos/Maia Fernandez Baigun) (Graphics/Zoe Persaud)

Sports 23

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