October/November/December 2020

The Patriot Post

VOL. 24 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 AMERICAN HERITAGE PLANTATION

Our Election Pg 16

Pg 6 Trump Versus Biden Face-off

Pg 23 Teacher Mental Health

Pg 30 Winter Sports Preview (Photos/Bella Ramirez)

Staff

With many of us getting involved in politics early on due to keystone events like Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s shooting and Black Lives Matter protests, the outcome of our 2020 election has a clear impact on our views of whether there are fruits to political efforts or not. Despite generational divide and moral differences, America and its citizens of all ages must come together for our future. It may be difficult to sympathize with those of differing political opinions, but real change comes from compromise. We are entering a new administration and a chance to heal our divided country. Take the steps to hear one another, and perhaps we can become united once more.

This issue is dedicated to the future and wishing 2020 a hearty goodbye.

Virtual hugs and in-person elbow bumps,

The Patriot Post

the American Heritage student news magazine VOL. 24 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 Follow Our Socials

@ahspatriotpost

@AH_Athletics

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 standards of journalistic integrity. Any queries about our content can be directed to patriotpost@ahschool.com or to a staff member in room 25310.

With new posts on our online newspaper almost every day, the content doesn’t stop at the last page of this magazine.

Visit ipatriotpost.com for more information and subscribe for email notifications.

2 Welcome

Online Editor-in-Chief | | Kayla Rubenstein, 12

Asst. Editor-in-Chief | | Zoe Persaud, 12

Copy Editors | | Zoe Persaud, 12 | | Emily Anderson, 12 | | Sammy Rosenthal, 12

Sports Editor | | Sammy Rosenthal, 12

Dear Heritage,

@ipatriotpost

Editor-in-Chief | | Bella Ramirez, 12

Opinion Editor | | Jack Shechtman, 12 Entertainment Editor | | Emily Anderson, 12 Social Media and Business Manager | | Kayla Rubenstein, 12

Staff Writers | | Emma Remudo, 12 | | Eva Pierre-Antoine, 11 | | Joseph Richards, 11 | | Nithisha Makesh, 10 | | Kayla Giset, 9 | | Ellaheh Gohari, 9 Adviser | | Diana Adams

The Patriot Post is featured as an online pdf on Issuu for free.

American Heritage has 1,900 students and 141 faculty members

American Heritage School 12200 W. Broward Blvd.

Plantation, FL 33325 954-472-0022 ext. 3300 patriotpost@ahschool.com ipatriotpost.com

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 25310 or email it to patriotpost@ahschool.com.

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.

(Design/Bella Ramirez) Issue 2

Table of Contents

VOTES FOR TOMORROW: The older generation primarily determined the outcome of this election despite the youth holding a record turnout of 53%. Further, with race at the forefront of the election following June’s surge of Black Lives Matter Protests, minorities of all kinds (race, age, etc.) truly determined our election and our future.

(Photo/Bella Ramirez)

Page 5

Opinion

Editorial: Teach us how to vote Trump versus Biden face-off Distance learners are online too long Take a power nap Pop the pop culture politics

Page 10

News

News brief returns Introducing the business track Midterms moved to after Winter Break How Floridians voted Teaching amidst a pandemic

Page 13

Features

In Memoriam: Sophia Hurtado Aryan Ranjan Breaking down Florida’s amendments Student activists Tackling mental health When they were us: Mr. Ariew Everyone has a story: Kaitlyn Llerena Issue 2 (Design/Bella Ramirez)

Page 16

Cover Story

Biden’s Cabinet Our election

Page 26

Entertainment

Entertainers’ endorsements affecting elections How the Fine Arts department performs Spotlight: Omar Adada Planning pandemic parties Rocking the stage: “Unraveling”

Page 29

Sports

Winter sports preview Falling out: sports recap Running with the best Making waves at State

Table of Contents 3

Interested in more? Check out our content at ipatriotpost.com

Over 1200 articles

Over 25 archived print issues

Subscribe to our email list for daily news updates.

4 Online

(Design/Bella Ramirez) Issue 2

Opinion

Teach us how to vote

In this issue’s editorial, the staff implores administration to include voting literacy in their curriculum more to accommodate the already politically involved Gen Z.

T

hroughout protests across history, a particular solution arises: voting for change. Guaranteed by the 15th, 19th and 26th Amendments, U.S. citizens 18 and older, regardless of race or gender, may vote. Yet in a world where fake news spreads quickly and easily, knowing how to discern what each candidate stands for and how the voting system works are a necessary part of making an educated vote.

Voters’ education entails providing non-partisan, unbiased information.

Focusing more on the schematics of voting, schools should teach students more about their political system. In this curriculum, teachers can explain how to register to vote, how to read and submit a ballot and where to find information.

As citizens, one of our greatest responsibilities is to vote for our leaders.

However, the manner in which to do this isn’t always straightforward. With different voting methods and rules varying by state, it’s important for students to have a clear understanding of the voting rules in their state. Per Politico, Florida voting officials rejected more than 35,000 mail-in ballots this primary due to missed deadlines or technical flaws.

Although citizens can’t vote until they turn 18, many people begin developing their political views at a younger age.

While schools should not directly influence

a person’s politics in any way, they should teach students both how to register to vote (something Heritage does in the spring, according to Upper School principal Mrs. Elise Blum) and what their vote means.

National Honor Society hosted a voter registration drive Oct. 5, winning third place in a national contest to sign up voters.

“It would be really beneficial if schools could include more about voting education

2020 youth vote increased by 8 percentage points since 2016 Source: Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University

and a citizen’s civic duty in the education,” NHS president senior Naila Charania said. “No matter what capacity it’s done in, whether it’s a schoolwide assembly or incorporated into social studies classes, it’s important that people know the potential they have to influence their government.”

In eighth grade Civics, students learn about the voting system, and seniors expand upon this in American Government. While this is a solid foundation, schools should establish a curriculum that especially focuses on politics in Florida.

In a study conducted by CIRCLE, Tufts researchers found that “students who learned about voting procedures in high school are more prepared for voting today: they were more likely than their peers to know if their states had online registration, and at least 10 percentage points more likely to respond that they had seen information on how to vote by mail, and to state that they would know where to go find information on voting if their state’s election was shifted to all mail-in ballots.”

Today, discerning fact from fiction is increasingly more difficult thanks to the spread of information via social media (for more on this, check out the Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma”).

According to Media Literacy Now, media literacy entails decoding media messages and assessing the influence of said messages on feelings, behaviors and thoughts. Especially with political content, part of the voter education curriculum should emphasize how to extract the truth from a sea of misinformation.

While many organizations online provide free information on how to vote, schools should develop their own detailed curriculum for voter education.

As voter turnout, especially within the younger population, steadily increases, it’s important to ensure all eligible voters know how to make their voices heard.

Already Engaged SIGN, SEALED, DELIVERED: Senior Niko Kluver volunteered with Democrat Jen Perelman for her congressional campaign. Volunteering included putting up signs to help get out the vote.

(Photos submitted by Niko Kluver) (Photos submitted by Naila Charania) Issue 2 (Design/Bella Ramirez)

RING RING: Senior Naila Charania helped with the phone bank for Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign. Although Mucarsel-Powell ultimately lost, Charania made connections with other politically involved students like alumna Sofia Godoy.

Editorial 5

TRUMP Jack Shechtman | Opinion Editor pl235751@ahschool.com

W

hile the 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump has received a lot of criticism and backlash in the last four years,Trump would still do better at the forefront of our country than his counterpart, Joe Biden, because of his stance on the economy and foreign affairs.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, America’s economy flourished more than ever before. While a significant economic downturn hit the country shortly after the pandemic sweeped the nation, our economy has made a “V-shaped” recovery, thriving more than imagined. With Trump in office, the economy booms in all circumstances, something that would not be the case under the presidency of president elect Joe Biden.

Under the Trump administration, taxes are significantly lower, giving people and businesses more money to save, spend and reinvest into the economy. According to Business Insider, Trump cut the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%, will potentially cut taxes for the middle class and will leave up to 11 million dollars tax free in a family’s inheritance. Biden plans to make an increase in the top income tax rate, a social security tax increase and an increase in the capital gains tax rate from 20 % to up to 39.6 % for incomes above $1 million and slashing the tax exempt maximum in a family’s inheritance to around 5 million.

In the age of the pandemic, poverty levels are rising, unemployment levels are rising and money has become scarce for many people. While Biden’s presidency would favor virus lockdowns and businesses to remain closed to combat the virus, the current President believes in keeping the economy open under smaller capacity and safety precautions. If Biden had control, he would be heavily taxing American citizens, while also keeping them home, making it much harder to make money working and maintain a job, ultimately putting a lot of people in a tough financial position.

Trump’s efforts also help the economy by stressing the importance of independence in U.S. manufacturing and

6 Opinion

jobs. By putting an end to outsourcing overseas manufacturing, Trump has brought back thousands of job opportunities to working class Americans and made reliance on other countries. The stock market unquestionably flourishes with Trump as president, and will remain booming as his tax plan allows citizens to save more money, leading to a lot more potential investment in the market.

Another major reason Trump would do better than Biden in office is because of his involvemen in putting his foot down in the econmic conflict with China. In New York Post article, it explains how Trump will not allow the U.S. to continue being taken advantage of by China economically.

Not allowing China to have the upperhand in the global economy, Trump is committed to making sure China cannot abuse us in unfair trade deals and surpass

“

We will make America into the manufacturing superpower of the world and we’ll end reliance on China once and for all, whether it’s decoupling or putting in massive tariffs like I’ve been doing already. us as the largest growing economy in the world.

Not only has Trump done extremely well in maintaing the upperhand on China, but he has also restored peace around the globe. Trump was nominated for two Nobel Peace Prizes for his involvement in restoring relations between enemies overseas. More recently, Trump made peace between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, two countries who have been in constant conflict for years. This is huge for not only the Jewish nation, but also for the Middle East as a whole as less violence and more peace will be present in a highly

V.

(Graphic/Nithisha Makesh)

volatile region. In his early presidency, Trump also received a nomination for his efforts to bring reconciliation to North and South Korea. When was the last time Kim Jung Un made national news… exactly.

In addition to these examples of Trump’s effectiveness in negotiation with other entities, Trump has broken a 39-yearold streak of American Presidents either starting a war or bringing the United States into an international armed conflict With the leadership of the Trump administration, America will thrive with a better economy, better foreign relations, and a stronger set of principles.

(Design/Jack Shechtman) Issue 2

.S Nithisha Makesh| Staff Writer pl246981@ahschool.com

W

ith an effective vision striving towards reform, President elect Joseph Biden will change America for the better through policies supporting economic recovery, climate change, equality and immigration Even before the effects of the pandemic took a toll on the economy, the Trump Administration practiced economic policies that valued wealth over families, according to Biden’s campaign. Many families struggled and worried over their financial future.

To allow families to rebuild their financial situations, Biden plans to create millions of jobs that pay well, as well as providing unemployment insurance to those who don’t have jobs and economic Issue 2 (Design/Jack Shechtman)

BIDEN

aid to essential workers such as educators, so they aren’t laid off.

The Trump Administration has provided all the tools needed for big businesses to flourish; however, they don’t present that same kindness towards small businesses. To make up for the inequality towards small businesses, Biden will ensure that corporate companies pay their

“

You got billionaires in this country making $700 billion during this crisis. No one making less than $400,000 a year would spend a penny more in taxes under my proposal. rightful taxes and will aid small businesses financially, so they can get through the pandemic.

In addition to aiding the country economically, Biden wants to tackle the climate change emergency by proposing a Clean Energy Revolution; the innovation of clean energy sources can create new industries that lead to new jobs, boosting the economy and limiting the use of fossil fuels.

“Climate Change is the existential threat to humanity. Unchecked, it is going to actually bake this planet. This is not hyperbole. It’s real,” Biden said on an episode of the podcast “Pod Save America.”

Since climate change has created more of a global problem than a problem specific to America, Biden will make an effort to convince major countries to implement their own ideas to fight climate change, adding climate change into the foreign policy.

During Donald Trump’s presidency, he separated immigrant families by allowing his administration to lock up the children in detention centers and raid their homes.

Biden wants to keep America’s name as the nation of immigrants by implementing productive border screening tests and reinstating the DACA program to protect

Dreamers, undocumented immigrant children brought into the U.S. “[I] will continue to stand with DACA recipients, their parents, and their families at every step, and in November, joined by millions across this country, we will reject the President who tried to rip so many of our family members, friends, and coworkers out of our lives,” Biden said after the Supreme Court ruling that rejected Trump administration’s DACA claims.

The death of George Floyd, along with other innocent Black victims, sparked worldwide protests that proved the recurring issue of racism in America.

As a fighter for civil rights, Biden has continued to support the Black community throughout his career.

In order to ensure diverse employees in places of business, he will require companies to publicize their workforce diversity and provide federal grants to encourage employers to hire diverse employees. “[Biden] believes in an economy more vibrant and more powerful precisely because everybody will be included in the deal. An economy where Black, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander and Native American workers and families are finally welcomed as full participants,” his campaign proposal said.

Envisioning a new, inclusive America that deals with all groups of people equally and aims to solve major problems like climate change and the economy, Biden will make a righteous president.

Opinion 7

Are distance learners online too long?

Joseph Richards | Staff Writer pl234911@ahschool.com

E

ver since COVID-19 entered the United States, companies, businesses and schools changed significantly in the way they functioned daily. Many services had to be offered online, forcing employees and even customers to entirely transition their lives to the digital world from the physical one. This, of course, led to people having an increased amount of time being spent on their computer and cellular devices, with their screen time piling up after every workday.

Though services like school are essential and need to be consistent throughout the year, the excessive screen time as a result of it is not healthy. ABC News Network conducted a study prior to the COVID-19 outbreak that concluded the average high school teen spends seven hours and 22 minutes each day using cellular phones, tablets etc. This figure, of course, has inflated significantly since the pandemic, as it has forced us all to distance learn.

In our case at American Heritage, each session lasts 50 minutes for a total of seven

periods for the whole day. This results in us spending five hours and 48 minutes on classwork alone. Including recreational and studying/homework use, an additional estimate of two-four hours can be added to the five hour and 48 minutes. This results in distant learners potentially spending up to nine or 10 hours of their day looking at screens, which can cause repercussions and detriments to a person’s health.

The main damage includes the potential strain and damage of eyes. According

to Prevent Blindness, an organization dedicated to research on optical health, the extended use of screens at close proximities can lead to eye fatigue, damaged retina cells and the deterioration of the eye’s ability to focus on objects overtime. In addition to attempts to lessen and control screen time when not in school, the wearing of blue light computer glasses is also an efficient and stylish way to prevent eye deterioration.

According to Prevent Blindness, they are proven to significantly reduce the exposure to harmful rays emitted from device screens, saving the user from potential eye strain.

So to answer the question, yes, distance learners are online and focusing on screens for too long; however, there are ways to protect yourself. Be sure to just monitor and lessen the amount of screen time you use when not in school as much as possible; plus, at least try to invest in some blue light glasses to protect your eyes throughout the day.

(Graphic/Ella Gohari)

Why every student could benefit from a power nap Jack Shechtman| Opinion Editor pl235751@ahschool.com

E

ver heard of siesta in Spain? A daily routine in Spain and other Latin countries, Siesta exists as a break period during the hottest hours of the day in which everyone stops what they are doing, school or work, and takes a rest. While I am not pushing for Siesta to be adopted in America, I do think we could learn a thing or two from it.

Siesta allows productivity and overall happiness to flourish among society as people can refill on energy and feel good when fulfilling their daily duties.

Everyone can relate to the sucky feeling of trying to be productive when you are exhausted, and most of our student body can attest to the fact that they do lack an adequate amount of sleep.

While Siesta may not be feasible, the key to boosting performance in any of our daily activities lies in taking a power nap.

A common misconception that naps only make someone more tired can be credited

to the major mistake of most inexperienced nappers. A power nap should last a maximum of 20 to 30 minutes. Anything longer allows your body to fall into deeper sleep, causing you to feel more tired when woken up, while the power nap just allows you to relax, refuel, and wake up ready to go.

“

Siesta allows productivity and overall happiness to flourish.

A study put together by the American Psychological Association found that naps improve performance in areas such as reaction time, logical reasoning and symbol recognition, memory, and overall mood. “[The study also] found people who napped performed better on a verbal word-recall task an hour after waking compared with people who took caffeine or a placebo,” psychologist Sara Mednick said. “While caffeine enhances

alertness and attention, naps boost those abilities in addition to enhancing some forms of memory consolidation.”

After school, most students have other obligations they need to complete before they can go home and relax. Before completing any after school priorities, a short power nap will definitely help boost your productivity in working through your obligations. Students pile up so many responsibilities and get very little sleep. A power nap serves as a remedy to both of these issues. Even more applicable with distance learning, the ability to take a power nap significantly increases, and practicing this resting technique should become a repetitive method for every student able to take a nap.

NAP TIME: Senior Alex Soloman pretends to

take a nap in class, using his backpack as a pillow.

(Photo/Ethan Heim)

8 Opinion

(Design/Ellaheh “Ella” Gohari) Issue 2

Pop the pop culture politics Bella Ramirez | Editor-in-Chief pl237961@ahschool.com

W

ith America’s intense immersion in all things pop culture, it’s no surprise that celebrities and the entertainment industry will have a large hold on how we view politics. However, with an ex-reality television star as President for the past four years, our 2020 election (and politics in general) is getting consumed as entertainment. Although SNL and other late night television shows may profit off this, we need to readjust our perspective on politics if we want real change to occur.

Consider, for example, the proliferation of memes surrounding both candidates’ campaigns. Biden’s campaign team jumped immediately at the release of Trump’s tax returns and sold vinyl buttons for a cheeky $7.50 that read “I paid more income taxes than Donald Trump.” The team is well-known for its humorous merchandise that sells out quickly, like their fly swatters which read “Truth Over Flies” as a jab against the fly that landed on Vice President Mike Pence’s head at the Vice President Debate.

On the other end, Trump’s campaign exists exclusively in a viral state. While many of the things President Donald Trump says are appalling, to say the least, they allow him to stay in a world of high viewership.

With his experience as a reality television show host, he equates this to success. This would be fine if this warped idea of success stuck with only Trump.

“Everything [Donald Trump] does is based on television. So,

the events that he plans, the things that he does, it’s all about attention, it’s all about publicity. It’s all about drawing attention.

It’s gotten less and less about substance in terms of what he says and what the people want,” AP American Government teacher Dr. Jonathan Pedrone said. “I don’t think people want to hear about policy anymore. It’s just sound bites and clips and, you know, that sort of thing.”

Donald Trump has now warped the political field so much that shock factor and viral behavior is equated to success, rather than the professionalism and policy we used to expect from political candidates. The Trump behavior epidemic

is why we received the “Presidential Debate” and have the Biden campaign clout-chasing with viral merchandise.

“

It’s had this adverse effect of people having this different outlook on politics... not as a way of passing policy and making change, but almost as like a game.

Christian Rodriguez, 12, campaign volunteer

The way we now see the election and its candidates in terms of views and retweets completely takes away the validity of our government. The White House should not be determined on how many Twitter followers you have (especially if they are mostly bots). Since this is a democracy, we need to take our power as the people back and give our future candidates a virtual time-out.

Rather than paying attention to either of their antics, we should only give attention to policy.

Without granting the attention that politicians desperately need to even get elected, we should only get candidates who take their job seriously. This isn’t to say politicians need to stop having personality, we just need to make sure that personality does not block actual work from getting done.

CAMERA READY: President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd at the

White House Christmas tree lighting ceremony. A former reality TV star, Trump is no stranger to the cameras. (Photo/Joyce N. Boghosian via Wikimedia Commons)

(Graphic/Ella Gohari) (Photos/Biden Victory Fund)

Issue 2 (Design/Ellaheh “Ella” Gohari)

Opinion 9

News brief

News

Zoe Persaud | Assistant Editor-in-Chief pl238511@ahschool.com

PTO Thanksgiving Drive

Empire Mock Trial: New York

T

he Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) partnered with Helping Hands to provide Thanksgiving meals for local families in need. The drive, conducted Nov. 14, collected 2400 bags of food, dramatically exceeding the original goal of 250 bags. The PTO reached out to other organizations such as Camillus House and the Children’s Diagnostics and Treatment Center to help evenly distribute the food collected.

(Source/Empire Mock Trial)

A

VUMUN

djusting for delegation amidst a pandemic, the Model UN team participated in the first virtual Vanderbilt University Model UN Conference (VUMUN). General Assemblies focused on general topics such as the World Health Organization (WHO), while Crisis Committees included historical events as well as fantasy topics from pop culture. The awards ranged from Verbal Commendation to Best Delegate.

T GIVING THANKS: Collecting donations from 10 a.m. to noon, the PTO used personal vehicles as well as a U-Haul trailer to transport the bags of food. (Photo submitted by

he Mock Trial team participated in the virtual Empire New York World Championship competition while adhering to proper safety protocol.

The conference, held from Nov. 12 to 16, consisted of opening statements, pre-trial arguments and witness cross-examination.

Streamed on YouTube and conducted through Zoom, the event included several rounds of competition and team-bonding events between groups across the globe.

Mrs. Elise Blum)

COMMITTING TO SUCCESS: The Model UN team won Best Large Delegations, and 21 of the 30 participants took home individual awards. (Photo submitted by Naila Charania)

Introducing the business track Emily Anderson | Entertainment Editor pl238251@ahschool.com

W

ith the interest of many students and parents, the new business program officially launched this fall as a pre-professional track. Mrs. Clavette Phillip, Program Director for the pre-professional business program, described the track as a “program designed with the quality of an Ivy League business school” led by “successful entrepreneurs, CFOs, CEOs and COOs from a wide range of businessrelated fields.”

Compared to the other pre-professional tracks on campus, the business track is similar in the fact that the program is taught by industry professionals. However, the track does have some differences.

“I would say the curriculum focus is different,” Mrs. Phillip said, “however, the program also has an interdisciplinary element that will seek to expose students

News 10

to the business component of programs such as engineering, law and medicine.”

The pre-business leaders try to expose students to as many professionals within the field as possible. Students also have the

“

Many students who didn’t know much about investing also learned a lot about the program by being surrounded by many experienced people,

Srihari Gotluru, 12 opportunity to participate in competitions led by business professionals. Senior Srihari Gotluru, president of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), explained

the importance of one competition, the Wharton Investment Competition, to students within the track. “[The Wharton Investment Competition] is a highly esteemed competition, so it was a great opportunity and a great way to learn about investing,” Gotluru said.

On its website, the Wharton Investment Competition is an online investment simulation designed for students and teachers. Students work in teams guided by a teacher or skilled advisor, teaching students about investing, industry analysis, company analysis, diversification, risk, communication and teamwork.

Currently, FBLA and the PreBusiness Society plan on working with a few upcoming organizations as service opportunities, including The Boys and Girls Club, the Young Investor Society and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA).

(Design/Zoe Persaud) Issue 2

Midterms moved to after Winter Break Kayla Rubenstein | Online Editor-in-Chief pl226461@ahschool.com

D

ue to the postponement of the beginning of school, midterms will now take place in January instead of before Winter Break. Because semesters must have approximately equal lengths, the two week delay prompted the need for second quarter to extend through the traditional exam review days and week.

In addition to the new exam schedule, students will now have the opportunity to exempt more exams.

As exams will occur in the beginning of the third quarter, some questioned the

effectiveness of testing students after a two week winter break. “I have had a few people who were concerned that this would mean students would have to spend the vacation studying, but I explained to them that I really don’t see that this is true,” Upper School principal Mrs. Elise Blum said. “In the past, when exams were in December, most students studied heavily the weekend before. In this case, we are giving you two and a half review days before break and then another review day after break where you will be able to review and study.”

Jan. 5, 2021 Periods 1 and 2

To help students, administration altered the original one exemption to three, so long as students have an A average.

Due to COVID, there is no attendance requirement like in the past. “This should lighten the load, as well, and provide more time to study for the exams you do have to take during that week,” Mrs. Blum said.

For seniors who have to submit first semester grades to colleges, as public schools in Broward County and many schools in the North follow a January exam system, there are no concerns.

Jan. 7, 2021 Periods 5 and 8 Jan. 6, 2021 Periods 3 and 4

Jan. 8, 2021 Period 9

How Floridians voted

D

espite its status as a battleground state, Florida’s presidential race was not as close as experts predicted, with its 29 electoral votes going to President Donald Trump by a margin of nearly 400,000 votes. While the central focus of this election was the presidential election, on the local level, 27 US Representatives, 21 state senators and 120 Florida Representatives were all elected to office.

Representing the majority of Broward County in Florida’s US House District 23, Deborah “Debbie” Wasserman Schultz was re-elected for her eighth consecutive time. Wasserman Schultz is a member of the Democratic Party, having previously served as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

The Democratic Party continues to hold a majority over the House of Representatives.

Elected for the first time in a tight race against incumbent Donna Shalala, Maria Elvira Salazar, who represents a part of Miami-Dade County in Florida’s 27th District, flipped the district red. Elvira Salazar is a Cuban-American Republican Issue 2 (Design/Zoe Persaud)

Ellaheh Gohari | Staff Writer pl236951@ahschool.com

who was previously a reporter on Spanish news programs Telemundo and CNN Español. Since she has not served in the

VOTING LOCAL: Each county has a different voting sticker. Featured here is one for Miami-Dade, which is in three languages: English, Spanish and French. More than 11 million Floridians out of a registered 14 million cast their votes on or before Election Day, paving the way for a new local government.

(Photo/Ella Gohari)

government before, it is unknown how she will vote on key issues that will arise in the future.

The Florida State Senate and Florida House of Representatives have held a Republican majority since 1995 and 1997 respectively. Broward County’s representatives in the Florida House — who are from Districts 92-105 — were all members of the Democratic Party save for two in 2018. This party affiliation has lasted in 2020, with every district except for 93, 105 and Republican-gain 103 electing a Democrat.

Florida State Senators have a 2-44 staggered system, meaning senators first serve for a two-year term, get reelected to a four year term and finally get re-elected for the last time to another four year term.

Republicans continue to be the majority in the Florida State Senate.

Since it is a census year, congressional districts will be changed, and funding will be divided up according to population. Time will tell how the new administration responds to problems and disagreements that will arise in the future.

News 11

Teaching amidst a pandemic

What was once an already challenging job has turned into a burden for teachers across the nation Kayla Giset | Staff Writer pl237191@ahschool.com

W

hile the pandemic has impacted the way students have learned for the past few months, it has also become routine for teachers to work longer hours in order to manage students both online and in-person. According to Brookings Magazine, in 2019 the average amount of time an American teacher would spend teaching, grading, and attending meetings would range from 40-45 hours per week. However, due to the current circumstances and technological additions to many curriculums, this number has increased by a large amount.

High school Mandarin instructor Mrs. Yadi Yu feels overworked and vulnerable when it comes to grading assignments and pleasing her students at the same time. “I definitely work over 10 hours a day, ” she said. “Teachers understand what the kids are going through; but on top of that, it has been extremely difficult to adjust to this new teaching method. As a teacher, I find it much more efficient to be in class with the kids because I teach a foreign language.

We, as teachers, have been trying our best to be lenient, but that contradicts the speed of our curriculum; I have never felt more stressed at any time in my life than this year.”

An immense amount of pressure has also fallen on administration, as the mental health of their teachers and students has become a priority.

“This is the hardest teachers have ever worked in their entire lives,” said Academy Principal Ms. Lana Buchalter.

“Most teachers are putting in minimum

The Socially-Distanced Setup: A unique setup is in place due to social distancing restrictions. To protect teachers, Heritage placed plastic sheets around their desks, and they are wiped down several times daily. Some teachers decorated their shields to make the environment more inviting, including Ms. Kelly Grady. Student desks are spaced out and sanitized after every class. (Photo/Ms. Lana Buchalter)

12-14 hour days. Compared to last March, even though there was still a lot of stress, everyone was online,

5+ hours grading and planning

12 Features

Sacrifices have definitely been made on the teachers’ parts, and they are putting their own needs behind everybody else’s. It’s a lot of work.”Students and teachers continue to adapt to this new form of education, and at times, the stress can get the best of anyone.

Throughout the course of these next months, teachers will continue to put in long hours of hard work in order to manage both virtual and in-person students; with that in mind, it is essential that staff and administration are recognized for their immense efforts to make the school year as normal as possible in the midst of a pandemic.

130+ clubs to run

so that made everything a bit easier.

Now, it’s planning for the online kids, it’s planning for the in school kids, it’s planning to keep everyone engaged...some of them aren’t even leaving the house to go grocery shopping or taking time for themselves.

(Design/Kayla Giset) Issue 2

In Memoriam Sophia Hurtado Bella Ramirez | Editor-in-Chief pl237961@ahschool.com

A

nne Sophia Hurtado, senior and proud cheerleader, passed away from pancreatic cancer Oct. 30, 2020. Althouvtook a toll on her, her friends hope to remember her for her positive attitude, one that is often described as a ray of light. Her friend since they were threeyears-old, senior Tyra Wilkerson, explains that her optimistic attitude was one of her traits that stayed most constant.

"Obviously she's gotten much more mature and things like that, but she's always been the same ray of sunshine,” senior Tyra Wilkerson said.

To her friends, Hurtado was a sassy and sarcastic girl. The cheerleading team expounded on her longing to stay remembered as lively. Most of her friends’ favorite memories of Hurtado are of her cheering at football games or laughing after extracurricular events like the PreMed 5K on campus. However, other memories show Hurtado’s strength beyond her radiant energy.

“

She's been the same ray of sunshine.

Features

(Photo submitted by Gianna Clemente)

“I remember she came to practice late one day, and Coach Burns said ‘sometimes superheroes need help,’ talking about Sophia, and I think ever since that day, like, that's exactly what she's been. She's been an absolute superhero,” Clemente said. “She has helped me not only become a better cheerleader but she's helped me realize you really can't take life for granted and every day you have to live it.”

Hurtado dreamt of becoming a nurse practitioner because she felt she could relate to her prospective patients. She hoped that

She j u s t changed my outlook She has helped me on the world realize you really can't Kolby Fleming, 12 take life for granted .

“ “

Gianna Clemente, 12

through her sympathy, she would use her compassion to make patients feel better on an emotional level.

“She just changed my outlook on the world so much,” senior Kolby Fleming said. “She wakes up in a good mood. I've never been like that.”

Hurtado, in her “Cancer Chronicles” blog, exhibited self reliance and an ability

to bounce back from her hardships. In her post “Live Life,” she discussed her efforts to have more good days than bad days. Fleming described this mindset as something that stuck to Hurtado even before dealing with cancer.

Hurtado will be remembered for her unashamed sense of self, humor and, most strikingly, her ability to light up a room.

She will have her name set up in the oasis behind the 7000, a cheer corner set up in the stands and a tree planted near the 2500 to pay homage to her memory.

Tyra Wilkerson, 12

To read Sophia Hurtado's Cancer Chronicles Blog:

A Friendship Like No Other: Spirit Day at AHS calls for all students to show their Patriot Pride by wearing black and gold. Sophia is shown being celebrated by her classmates and friends in this snapshot in midst of celebration. (Photo/Bella Ramirez) Issue 2 (Design/Kayla Giset)

Features 13

(Photo/ Joanne Haner)

Aryan Ranjan Senior Aryan Ranjan explores environmentalism through activism Emma Remudo | Staff writer pl209912@ahschool.com

F

rom using reusable bottles to recycling plastic, many people have a bit of an environmentalist within them. For senior Aryan Ranjan, these little habits became a way of life.

Four years ago, Ranjan joined Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) after searching for environmental groups near his house. From CCL, Ranjan ventured into other environmental groups.

He now has a fellowship with Florida’s chapter of Our Climate, an organization fighting climate change.

Last year, Ranjan took his activism on

Breaking down Florida’s amendments

Ellaheh Gohari| Staff writer pl236951@ahschool.com

14 Features

campus when he gave a TedTalk titled “The Age of the Climate Crisis,” at American Heritage’s first TEDx event.

“For me, that’s always been a dream to give a TedTalk, so it was awesome to talk about my own activism and how other people could also join in,” Ranjan said.

The TedTalk also allowed him to recruit members into his club, the Climate Change club.

“We got a lot more people involved who didn’t even know we had an environmental activism club on campus,” Ranjan said.

Ranjan also met with Senator Marco Rubio’s staff for bipartisan climate solutions and monitored a National Climate Speaker

Series hosted by organizations such as Our Climate and ClimateXChange.

“The reason why I advocate so much is because I think it impacts all of us, regardless of what our differences may be. We could be anywhere on the planet, and it would still affect us in a big way,” Ranjan said.

Looking ahead, Ranjan plans to keep incorporating environmentalism into his life.

“I think politics and just activism as a whole are going to be huge for me in the future and through college,” Ranjan said.

12

Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections: This

amendment proposes a minor change in the wording of the Florida Constitution. “Every citizen of the United States… shall be qualified to vote” is the current wording, but the amendment suggests changing “every” to “only a.” The change in wording will not have an impact on the voting process of Florida, thus there are no benefits or drawbacks. This amendment was passed with 79% of the electorate voting yes.

Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage: Effective

Sept. 30, 2021, this amendment proposes raising minimum wage to $10 per hour. Moreover, each subsequent Sept. 30, minimum wage will be increased by $1. The increase will stop Sept. 30, 2026, at which point the minimum wage will be $15 and stay there.

(Design/Emma Remudo) Issue 2

Student Activists Students who fight for racial equality, animal rights and genocide awarness

Nithisha Makesh| Staff writer pl246981@ahschool.com

A

ctivism brings about change through the process of campaigning, whether it be social or political. To show their passion, activists attend protests, educate others, sign petitions and volunteer.

Three students consider themselves strong activists as they educate and spread awareness about their causes.

As an activist for equal rights for all people, sophomore Amari Porter has participated in two Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests, given Christmas gifts to teenage girls in detention centers who

were separated from their families and signed many petitions in support of Black victims.

“Growing up as a biracial young woman to a Black father and Albanian mother who have both suffered oppression, I have always been passionate about my activism,” Porter said.

An active member of the Black Student Union on campus, a club that teaches about Black traditions and struggles, Porter hopes to become a political figure and help reform the judicial system.

Acting as more of a hands-on-activist rather than one who attends protests and speaks out, sophomore Alejandra Abramson has volunteered at the Good Karma Pet Rescue of South Florida (GKPR) for four years.

“Service hours became a focus, only working once a week at the office hoping to achieve my goal of 30 hours by the end of three months,” Abramson said. “After beginning to work with them, I became passionate about the work instead of the hours.”

After a few months of working for the rescue, Abramson started fostering neonates, or puppies

5 2

under eight weeks, and has fostered over 20 different “aggressive” dog breeds and ensuring they go to good homes.

Stopping the discrimination towards bully breed dogs like pit bulls is Abramson’s main focus, as she wants to show others they are not the aggressive dogs they are stereotyped as.

Director of the Butterfly Project, senior Angelin Mathew, educates students about the Holocaust, modern day intolerance and advocates for human rights by spreading genocide awareness.

Through planning a series of workshops, the project board hopes to help students with their own activism projects and has made an archive of resources for future students to learn about past projects, modern day genocides and organizations where students can volunteer.

Limit on Homestead Exemption: Save Our Homes

(SOH) benefits protect homeowners from higher property tax. With those SOH benefits, if homeowners sellstheir home, they have two years, beginning Jan. 1, to transfer their SOH benefits to their new home. This new amendment suggests increasing that period from two to three years

Issue 2 (Design/Emma Remudo)

Veterans Who Had Permanent, Combat-Related Disabilities: Veterans who suffer from

combat-related injuries receive a tax discount for their property. However, once they die, the discount is no longer in effect. This amendment, which was passed with nearly 90% of voters approving it, will transfer the discounted property tax to the surviving spouses of those deceased veterans.

Features 15

Center Spread

Biden’s Cabinet Treasury Secretary

Secretary of State

Janet Yellen

Distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution, former chair of the Federal Reserve, former director of the National Economic Council Supported across the political spectrum, so highly likely to get confirmed. Supports carbon tax. If confirmed, she will be the first female treasury secretary.

Antony Blinken

Biden for President foreign policy adviser, former deputy secretary of state, former deputy national security adviser Moderate who often serves as intermediary between progressives and Biden. Served on National Security Council during Clinton administration.

Defense Secretary

Transportation Secretary

Lloyd Austin

Ret. Army general, 12th commander of United States Central Command First Black general to command an Army division in combat and first to oversee an entire theater of operations. If confirmed, he will be the first Black person to lead the Pentagon.

Labor Secretary

Housing and Urban Development

Secretary of California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, former California labor commissioner Began career fighting for Thai garment workers held captive in a Los Angeles sweat shop. History in advocacy for marginalized communities. A more progressive contendor for Biden’s cabinet.

Marcia Fudge

Ohio Congresswoman, former mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio Will likely seek funding for homelessness after pushing for a COVID-19 relief package and prioritize fair housing. If confirmed, she will be the second Black woman to hold the position.

Veterans Affairs Secretary

Denis McDonough

16 Cover Story

Former Obama White House chief of staff, former deputy national security adviser Regularly visits Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and consistently visited the troops with the Obama administration.

(Graphics/Bella Ramirez)

Julie Su

Eric Garcetti

Mayor of Los Angeles, ret. lieutenant in U.S. Navy Reserve Longtime supporter of Biden. Declined to endorse Clinton in 2016 until Biden decided not to run. Endorsed Biden in January when Biden was not leading in primaries.

(Design/Bella Ramirez) Issue 2

The likely leaders for our incoming administration White triangles designate definite picks via CNN and Politico.

Interior Secretary

Tom Udall

New Mexico senator, former New Mexico congressman Leaving Congress after 10 years in the House of Representatives and 2 terms in Senate. Hopes to rebuild the morale and staff in interior. Believes last two secretaries failed the department.

Agriculture Secretary

Tom Vilsack

President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, former Agriculture secretary, former governor of Iowa Served as agriculture secretary for eight years under Obama administration. Served as a top rural and agriculture policy adviser for the Biden campaign. Biden hopes to use his experience to tackle the hunger and farm crisis.

Energy Secretary

Ernest Moniz

President and CEO of energy Futures Initiatives, former Energy secretary Served as an informal adviser to Biden’s campaign on energy.

Holds attachments to fossil fuel industry. Highly likely to get approved by Senate.

Secretary of Justice

Doug Jones

Alabama senator, former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Led prosecutions against the Ku Klux Klan and worked on Biden’s first presidential campaign in 1988.

Health and Human Services

Xavier Becerra

California attorney general, former California congressman and state House member Spent nearly 25 years in the House of Representatives, sat on the House Ways and Means subcommittee on health issues. If confirmed, will be the first Latino to run the department.

Secretary of Education

Lily Eskelsen Garcia

Elementary school teacher, former president of the National Education Association Former Utah “teacher of the year.” Biden committed to choosing a public school teacher for the position and is leaning to someone with ties to education unions.

Commerce Secretary

Meg Whitman

CEO of Quibi, former CEO of eBay and Hewlett-Packard, former Republican candidate for governor of California Politico expects Biden to try to appoint a Republican as a move to unite the country, something highly criticized by the Progressive faction of the Democrats.

Issue 2 (Design/Bella Ramirez)

Homeland Security Secretary

Alejandro Mayorkas

Former deputy secretary of Homeland Security First Latino secretary in this department. Headed implementation of DACA.

Cover Story 17

DIVIDED WE FALL: The Trump administration marked a time of high politicization.

As each party deviates from the center, our country opens its door to unrest, as seen in summertime protests. Biden now states that, as President, he will work on reuniting the country.

(Photo/Bella Ramirez)

18 Cover Story

(Design/Bella Ramirez) Issue 2

Our election

Our future was in our teachers’, families’ and seniors’ hands. Can a divided country come together for tomorrow?

Bella Ramirez | Editor-in-Chief pl237961@ahschool.com

Voter suppression Due to the pandemic and the effects of redlining (discriminatory mapping to deny loans on typically minority groups) on voter districts, many voters were suppressed during this election. The New York Times suspects that the Republicans used voter suppression tactics in more diverse communities in an attempt to keep in control as minorities typically swing Democrat. The Pew Center for Public Integrity described these tactics as slowing down the mail, shutting down polling places in Black communities, opening more polling places in white communities and undercounting minorities in the census to have less representation in Congress.

The Public Integrity Institute also noted that 20 states added new restrictions on the right to vote after the 2010 election (two years into the Obama Administration).

As citizens began to shine a light on problems with voter accessibility, the government opened up more opportunities to vote. These opportunities resulted in slower counts in close elections like in Nevada and Pennsylvania. Due to Trump’s fearmongering toward mail-in ballots, those ended up becoming the key determiner in most state elections with 46% of votes coming from absentee or mail-in, according to Pew Research.

Florida primary March 17

Republican National Convention Aug. 24-27

Democratic National Convention Aug. 3-15

First Presidential debate Sept. 29

Making history Besides cheers throughout the streets of liberal communities Nov. 7 when Joe Biden was officially predicted to win the electoral college, the results of the election made history. With Joe Biden holding this election’s win, he also makes history as the oldest president to take office. Further, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be the first female, Black and South Asian American in such a high office. Her new position may open the door to greater acceptance of a woman in higher office, a prejudice that plagued Hillary Clinton’s run in 2016. Further, Biden is hoping to appoint more people of color and women in his cabinet than seen before, a clear play to prioritize representation from his diverse electorate. From an all-female media team to the possible first Hispanic to become Secretary of Defense, our incoming administration is set to become an administration of firsts.

Issue 2 (Design/Bella Ramirez)

First Vice Presidential debate Oct. 7 Second Presidential debate canceled Oct. 15 Donald Trump Joe Biden Town Hall Town Hall

Cover Story 19

(Photos courtesy of Getty Images,, Shutterstock, Pool Photo, AP, AP Photo, ABC)

W

ith the historic year of 2020, the people are both the winner and loser in this past election. No matter what party you identify with, there are clear pros and cons for everyone.

PINNING THE VOTE: As a swing state, Florida typically receives some of the most campaigning out of all the states. This year, Trump and Biden combined spent at least $264 million on advertising in Florida alone, according to Fortune.

Young people’s election The election of 2020 marked a historic voter turnout for young people. Compared to the 2016 election, the youth turnout increased by 8 percentage points, and their vote had more weight in the election than in previous years making up 17% of the total vote. This voting block specifically helped Biden gain his victory and may have caused certain states like Texas to split the vote more than usual during the vote counts.

According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), if only young people voted, out of 39 polled states, Trump would have won only 7 states and Biden would have won Florida by 30%. This is likely due to the shrinking non-Hispanic white electorate in younger generations as the population grows more diverse.

20 Cover Story

The New York Times suspects that if the Republican party wishes to stay relevant with the younger, more diverse electorate, they will need to expand their platform to become more inclusive the way the Democrats have. As a bureaucratic and oftentimes homogenous party, Republicans will either have to move their whole platform to prioritize race and inclusivity or become more factionalized like the Democrats with their progressive subgroups, as the young people of today become the main voting block.

(Design/Bella Ramirez) Issue 2

Third Presidential debate Oct. 22

Joe Biden is predicted to become the President-elect Nov. 7

(Photo/Bella Ramirez)

Trump files 16 lawsuits Nov. 13

Youth activism With 2020 marking the largest percentage of young people voting in history, publications around the world are looking into what is mobilizing the youth vote. Generation Z is often defined in the context of tragedy; Teen Vogue notes the main credits as: 9/11, school shootings, living through a pandemic, economic instability and racial unrest. Each of these key events impacts teens’ political socialization as they become more aware of the impact government and society has on them. Teen Vogue predicts that the marks of these events on Generation Z’s psyche and their determination to be politically active won’t fade, especially as more young people reach voting age.

“Young people are going to keep grinding on this work,” Sarah Audelo, executive director of Alliance for Youth Action said. “Young people should be seen as key allies and stakeholders in building that future and in governing moving forward.”

Issue 2 (Design/Bella Ramirez)

Florida Election Certification Deadline Nov. 17

Present Day

Electoral college meets to cast ballots Dec. 14

Cover Story 21

(Photos courtesy of Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, AP, Tampaf Bay 10, Chandan Khanna/Getty Images, Wikicommons)

Election Day Nov. 3

The future for Biden-Harris Biden’s ideas for “healing” from the Trump Administration and “building back better” are a clear attempt to unite the highly divided country. Biden’s catering to both parties forces him to take a more moderate stance and angers the progressive faction of the Democrats. Former “Bernie Bros” (people who pledged their vote to senator Bernie Sanders in the primaries) in particular are finding criticism in Biden’s cabinet and stances.

Despite Biden-Harris’s best intentions to unite, their inability to cement their side may subject them to criticism from both parties.

Why Key issues that brought people to the polls for the highest voter turnout in election history.

The future for Gen Z Biden-Harris notes in their education policy that they wish to double the number of psychologists, counselors, nurses, social workers and health professionals in schools. Biden also attests he will “defeat the National Rifle Association” by requiring universal background checks and banning assault weapons and highcapacity magazines. He also hopes to improve teacher diversity and eliminate the funding gap between rich and poor districts by including more funding for Title I schools.

Since most young voters voted for Biden, he has expanded his platform to accommodate more of their concerns, including climate change and forgiving student debt. With Generation Z’s experience in activism and rallies (pandemic or not), it’s likely that any concerns regarding his policy will be heard (even if ignored).

Already progressive teens in organizations like the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led activist group in favor of the Green New Deal, are criticizing Biden’s actions publicly on platforms like Twitter or even on news networks.

“We have got to be out on the offensive on day one,” Varshini Prakash, co-founder of Sunrise Movement, said to NPR.

A new year

COVID-19

Economy

Racial justice

Since the Supreme Court overturned the attorney general of Texas, Ken Paxton’s, lawsuit backed by 17 states (including Florida) that attempted to reverse the election by throwing out millions of votes, Joe Biden will definitively take office Jan. 20 on Inauguration Day. The election still continues until electorates cast and finalize their votes Dec. 14 to formally instate Joe Biden.

Media campaigns

22 Cover Story

(Graphics/Bella Ramirez)

Climate change

(Design/Bella Ramirez) Issue 2

Tackling Mental Health

Admininistration addresses teacher workload and stress due to COVID-19 Joseph Richards|Staff Writer pl234911@ahschool.com

T

here are many mental health resources available to students.

They have access to guidance counselors, wellness checks from the school and sometimes even breathing exercise breaks between periods. However, are there any school resources offered to the teachers to help them cope with these unprecedented times?

Due to the pandemic, teachers were immediately required to change gears and adapt to having online classes, which is now considered the new normal. Many of them have had to learn (and are still learning) about online voice call platforms like Zoom and to become familiar with apps like Google Classroom so they can receive their students’ work. The list of new requirements for them continues to extend as time passes. How have these sudden changes to the school year impacted their mental health?

Teachers have been impacted negatively; a lot of them feel anxious about the whole situation. Specifically, teachers are worried about administering certain class activities and wondering whether technical difficulties will prevent them from doing so, worried about getting used to operating completely new software in order to teach; and often worried about whether the message of their lessons is getting across to students online. The teachers obviously can’t monitor as easily during online

class; they could either be paying attention or sleeping.

Doctor Rincon, Principles of Engineering teacher and head of the PreEngineering Club, stated, “It”s very different. You know sometimes the students have slow Internet, and it stops them from doing class evaluations; then we have to try our best to be fair and give them makeup tests, which ends up being more work for us in the end. Additionally, we not only have to monitor the kids online but make sure the students in actual class are distancing and following protocol, which sometimes can eat out of our actual class time together; it’s a lot of multitasking and makes the situation more stressful. I mean the school is doing everything they can, and I’m sure good things will come out of this for everyone in the long run.”

According to the principal, Mrs. Blum, the school has hired assistants (like in the Lower School) who can help each department with a variety of tasks.

She explained tasks like creating test banks for online tests can be very timeconsuming and directly detract from the amount of time teachers have to put towards preparing an actual lesson; TAs or teacher assistants could aid in the process of completing activities like these, which aren’t necessarily related to the teaching of the actual course.

“We could also use the assistants to cover a period each week for each teacher to provide them with grading and planning time. Teaching concurrently is very time-

Senior Activities 4/23/21

4/29/21

4/30/21

Grad Bash

Senior Breakfast

Senior Prom

5/7/21

5/14/21

5/15/21

Senior Carnival

Senior Awards

Graduation

consuming, and most teachers report spending up to 5 or more hours a week extra (beyond what they did pre covid) to get through the planning, grading, and all the emails,” Mrs. Blum said.

In addition to implementing the use of assistants, administration also tries to alleviate the pressure on teachers in other ways. Mrs. Blum constantly encourages teachers to take care of themselves in the daily Teacher Announcements and even hosts contests for the best dressed teacher during Spirit Week and funniest at-home teaching bottoms as a way to have fun. It may be a rough time for teachers during this pandemic, but the school’s effort to help them is both apparent and appreciated.

(photo/ Nicole Mariutto)

THE A IN TA: Alumna now teacher assistant for the English department, Nicole Mariutto, on taking the job, “It’s very odd to be on the other side of the classroom! But it’s been wonderful to be back and connect to my AHS roots. The job can be tough, but I love the feeling of being able to help our incredibly hard-working teachers.”

You can find the rest of the senior actvities and their explanations using this QR code

(Graphic/ Joseph Richards) (Design/Joseph Richards) Issue 2

23 Features

When They Were Us:

Mr. Daniel Ariew

Jack Shechtman | Opinion Editor pl235751@ahschool.com

B

orn and raised throughout elementary and middle school in Blacksburg, Va., math teacher Daniel Ariew grew up in a world centered around education. Living with his brother and two parents, Mr. Ariew was exposed to teaching and education at a young age, as his dad taught philosophy as a professor at Virginia Tech, and his mom was one of the college’s librarians.

At the age of 14, Mr. Ariew and his family moved to Tampa because his dad got a job at USF. Through the influence of his parents, Mr. Ariew developed a passion for math and philosophy in high school and joined the competition math team.

“I like philosophy because mathematics uses similar critical thinking skills and logic to philosophy,” Mr. Ariew said. “You can kind of approach the problems with the same way of thinking.”

While Mr. Ariew practiced competition math and researched philosophy, he was also interested in high school theatre. He joined choir and participated in concerts and competitions on that team, as well as played an extra in a few school musicals.

Experiencing education through the public school system, Mr. Ariew felt he was ready for college earlier than most students.

“Public school wasn’t challenging me enough, so I left at 17 and went to USF,” he said. “At 23, [I] had two bachelor degrees in math and philosophy.”

Towards the end of his college journey, Mr. Ariew was undecided about what career to pursue. He planned to get his masters degree in math, when an opportunity came for him that seemed destined. Mr.

24 Features

Ariew was offered a scholarship and free cost to receive his masters, as long as he taught math in the public school system for two years.

“I never thought about being a teacher in high school. It actually wasn’t until I got a scholarship for my masters degree that I got the idea to become a teacher,” he said.

Teaching was appealing to Mr. Ariew because of something his mother had instilled in him at a young age. “My mother told me, ‘Teaching is like being an actor.’

I never got to act as much as I desired, being an extra in the school plays, but in class I like to bring theatrical parts to my teaching to emphasize important parts of the lesson,” he said.

After receiving his master’s in math, Mr. Ariew began teaching at Middleton High School in Tampa, Fl. After a few years of teaching lower-level classes and coaching the competition team, he attended a state math competition that Heritage ended up winning. Walking over to congratulate Dr. Radleigh Santos, Heritage math competition coach, he also asked if they had any job openings and fortunately, they did.

After nailing the interview with Heritage, he took the job and moved to Plantation. Over the course of teaching here, he has taught Pre-Calculus Honors, Calculus Honors, AP Calculus AB, and competition math.

“I was extremely excited about Heritage because they gave me a chance to teach math at a higher level than the one given to me in public school,” Mr. Ariew said.

HIGH SCHOOL PROM: Senior year Mr. Ariew dances at his high school prom with his date. Mr. Ariew loved acting and dancing as a high school student, and this transfers to his teaching style.

(Photo submitted by Mr. Daniel Ariew)

Mr. Ariew believes he fits in perfectly at Heritage, and has enjoyed his experience here over the last three years. He thinks that in order to be a good teacher, “especially with smarter students like Heritage kids who think they know everything,” it is important to keep your audience engaged and interested, just like acting.

“I teach math because I have a particular way of talking about math that most others don’t, and I think I make otherwise boring concepts more interesting than others could in the classroom,” he said.

As a high school teenager, Mr. Ariew never thought he would become a teacher; however, teaching combines many aspects of his interests and he truly enjoys furthering people’s understanding of math.

(Design/Eva Pierre-Antoine) Issue 2

Everyone Has a Story: Kaitlyn Llerena

Bella Ramirez | Editor-In-Chief pl237961@ahschool.com

F

or this issue’s EHAS, we used a Llerena’s favorite law class thus far is random number generator to pick Homicide Law but she is also considering a specific follower on our instagram going into family law to give children a account. Google spit out 422; after going voice. For Llerena, it’s all about being there down the list of followers and counting for the people.

I reached this issue’s subject: junior Besides taking Pre-Law coursework, Kaitlyn Llerena.

Llerena pursues her interests through Llerena immediately greeted me in Mock trial. All throughout her learning the Facetime call with a warm welcome process, she shares and compares details and bright smile. After giving her a few on cases with her father. questions to pick from and lead the According to her friends though, interview, she ran with one discussing her Llerena isn’t limited by her involvement passion: law. in Pre-Law. She focuses on excelling with “I love seeing justice being served. I think that’s just the greatest feeling of accomplishment,” I want to be part of the movement Llerena said. or part of the change that we see Starting off in the Pre-Law program in her freshman year, where society will eventually or can Llerena’s enthusiasm for law has eventually trust the system so much only grown. Although her technical and like actually rely on it and not origins for the craft started only worry about the corruption that may three years ago, she discovered her be occurring. passion through her father.

Kaitlyn Llerena, 11 “Well, my dad actually when her strenuous course load and making he was in Cuba, he was studying to be a everyone’s day just a little bit brighter. lawyer,” Llerena said. “When he came “She has given and still gives every here he didn’t have the time to or the friend and family member 100% no actual opportunity to sit down and study matter what,” junior Madison Maitre said. to be a lawyer, so he had to make a living “Although she doesn’t know how to crack for himself.” anything other than a dad joke, she is truly Llerena’s father, in turn, tried to lead one of the funniest people in my life (but her to his love of law. After learning more she’d say differently).

She just lightens about the law, she was hooked. the mood with her optimistic presence to “I kind of want to, like, seek out his ensure no one is having a bad day.” dream,” Llerena said.

“

Issue 2 (Design/Eva Pierre-Antoine)

To friends like Maitre, Llerena is best described as “smart, loyal, overly generous and hilarious.” To Llerena though, she just wants to be known as the person who makes change.

MORE THAN JUST LAW: Junior Kaitlyn Llerena and Iman Lakhdhir, pose on Heritage Brick. Many friends describe “Kaity” Llerena fondly citing her trustworthiness and kindness as key adjectives for her in Pre-Law and out.

“Kaity has shown me how to be a better person and she is always pushing me to ensure I do my best in school and all other aspects of my life,” junior Madison Maitre said. (Photo submitted by Kaitlyn Llerena)

25 Features

Entertainment

Entertainers’ endorsements affecting elections Ellaheh Gohari | Staff Writer pl236951@ahschool.com n the wake of the 2020 election, many celebrities are speaking out, using their large platform to endorse a candidate or party. This has led to a debate about whether celebrities, many of whom are famous for reasons other than politics, should share their opinion, especially since their fans can be influenced by what they say. According to a Patriot Post poll of 50 students, 68% of respondents know of a celebrity who has endorsed a candidate in 2020, while 88% say they are not affected by the celebrity’s thoughts. A study done by the Journal of Political Marketing found a different result.

“Some celebrities are well-known and liked by only some people, and it is among these people we should expect them to have political influence,” study author David Jackson said. In other words, celebrities that are well-liked by their fans have the potential to sway their opinion.

I

Celebrities can also affect other decisions, such as whether or not to vote.

During the last few weeks of the election, singer Ariana Grande took to Twitter, urging her fellow Floridians to register to vote before the deadline. Not long after the tweet was posted, the voting registration website crashed due to an excess of users trying to access it. While it is not confirmed that Grande’s actions were the reason for the crash, it is very likely that her viral tweet played a part in it according to CBS Miami reporter Jim Defede Students are divided on whether or not celebrities should promote a candidate. “[Endorsing a candidate] informs people who may not be educated about their options when it comes to voting. It also brings to light the impact of voting and sometimes even helps people find their voting centers or find out who they should vote for based on what they believe in,” senior Olivia Malkin said.

Others disagree. “I think it is an abuse of [the celebrity’s] status and they need to stick to what they’re good at. It is also dangerous because there are people in this country that will believe anything celebrities say. People need to be free to form their own options without the help of celebrities,” senior Matthew Newman said.

Ultimately, each voter has to decide for his or herself whether or not they trust celebrities to provide accurate information about politics.

Freshman Junyi Xiu watches one of her favorite YouTubers, the Try Guys, endorse Joe Biden for president in a recent video. Though the Try Guys have never officially endorsed a candidate before, they felt it was important to share their opinion for the 2020 election. “The Try Guys proudly endorse Joe Biden for president and we encourage everyone to get out and exercise their right to vote ahead of or on Nov. 3,” the Try Guys said in a statement.

(Photo/Junyi Xiu)

Zoom Curtain Call

How the Fine Arts Department Performs in the Age of COVID-19 Bella Ramirez | Editor-in-Chief pl237961@ahschool.com

T

o comply with CDC guidelines, our Fine Arts department cannot perform in person; however, they are still coming up with other ways to perform.

In the theater department, for each show, Mr. Johnpaul Moccia and Mr. Brian Lovejoy are planning to record each actor’s part individually and have a production company edit the production together for distribution at a price online. This led to tech students learning how to storyboard and plan logistics for filming. Senior John Eastep found himself merging his background in filmmaking with his work in theater tech.

“There’s still a lot of learning going on, because we’re not trying to make films, we’re

26 Entertainment

still trying to make it theater, so it’s not like cutting and changing angles. It’s like one take one shot of the whole thing, but we’re just trying to find the balance between,” Eastep said.

Since the actors are each getting their portions filmed separately, they now act to themselves rather than to their typical large audience or partners.

“So when I’m performing, you can only see my eyes and the things that I do with my hands and things I do with my body,” junior Julian Villegas said. “There’s a lot of little things that place a limit on acting and in theater in general.”

The band also adapted their curriculum to concurrent learning with fewer live

performances and a transition to watching online performances for honors credit. The fine arts department is continuing to come up with ways to allow expression concurrently.

PASSIONATELY PERFORMING: With the fine arts department dealing with the stress of concurrent practice, some extracurriculars, such as Tri-M music honor society, are trying to create spaces for artists online to express themselves. Senior Daniela Prieto performs with her guitar at Tri-M’s first virtual open mic night Oct. 23. (photo/ Rebecca Chiet)

(Design/Emily Anderson) Issue 2

Sp tlight: Omar Adada “Omar isn’t on his way to being good. He’s on his way to being great.”

Nithisha Makesh| Staff Writer pl246981@ahschool.com

A

fter joining band in sixth grade, junior Omar Adada fell in love with music, as it has a limitless potential that allows him to create and learn anything. Influenced by one of his best friends, Adada decided to try out the saxophone. Noticing the rich golden color and delicate engravings, the instrument entranced him, he said.

At 12 years old, Adada was beyond excited when he picked up the saxophone for the first time, but that excitement disappeared once he heard the awful noises that came out. However, he took this as a challenge, dedicating several hours of practice a day towards his music, to improve his skills.

“I prefer the alto saxophone primarily because the sound that I envision in my head when I think of what I want to sound like is closest to that, as it plays with a rich tone while also retaining a certain brilliance that the other saxophones don’t have,” he said.

Issue 2 (Design/Emily Anderson)

Although Adada’s primary instrument is the alto saxophone, he also possesses talents playing the clarinet, soprano saxophone and piano; still finding value in his other instruments.

“He’s an extremely motivated [and] driven musician and is always looking to improve,” junior Sophia Nguyen, one of his friends said.

“

[Music] teaches you commitment, hard work and leadership, all while allowing you to create something beautiful.

“It’s evident in the way that he plays that he really loves making music, and I think that’s really admirable.”

Through his hard work, Adada made All-County for two years, a program that gives instrumentalists an opportunity to play challenging music with a large ensemble at the county level. He aspires to get into All-State this year, a similar program to All-County, but at the state level, through refining his sound and technical abilities.

“He’s a good guy who wants to be good at playing the saxophone. He’s put in a lot of work during quarantine, and his improvement has blown my mind,” band teacher Ms. Kimberly Imerbsin said.

“Omar isn’t on his way to being good.

He’s on his way to being great.”

Adada takes part in numerous musical extracurricular activities such as Jazz Band, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Pit Orchestra.

Because he tries to incorporate music into his life as much as possible, he also plays with out-of-school ensembles including PRACTICING PERFECTION: Adada played “Allegro,” by Joseph Hector Fiocco, on alto saxophone for Solo and Ensemble, an annual performance opportunity for students to perform pieces and receive feedback from judges. (Photo/Omar Adada)

The Macy’s Great American Marching Band and The Youth All Stars Ensemble.

In addition to playing in many ensembles, Adada gives lessons to his fellow saxophonists.

“When it comes to the saxophone, you’re never done learning because there are infinite possibilities to create music because it is such a versatile instrument,” he said.

Music has changed Adada’s life, presenting him with life-long friends, building his confidence and teaching him skills like discipline and time management.

“Another aspect that draws me to music would be the way that it has shaped my life as a whole. My three best friends are all saxophonists who I’ve grown close to through my pursuit of music,” Adada said.

Although he is unsure about his career, he knows music will always play a major role in his life whether as a professional musician or working in a field that focuses on how music affects people.

As for college, Adada plans to major in two fields, one of which is music. “[Music] teaches you commitment, hard work, leadership, all while allowing you to create something beautiful,” he said.

Entertainment 27

Planning pandemic parties

Emily Anderson| Entertainment Editor pl238251@ahschool.com

A

s the holiday season approaches, many families and friends look forward to spending time with one another. However, plans for the holiday season might have to be altered due to COVID-19. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when planning a holiday gathering during the pandemic. tAim for more outdoor activities

According to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities.

Indoor spaces tend to have poor ventilation, and when multiple people gather within an enclosed space, it poses many health risks. If you are not able to host an outdoor celebration, the CDC recommends opening windows and doors if the weather allows.

Limit the number of guests While this may be hard for those with larger families, it is crucial to the health and safety of those around you. If your celebrations seem to be growing larger than safe, try switching over to virtual meets and hangout apps. While they do not provide the same experience as a live party, it eliminates the risk of infection. Some apps even provide games and activities for the groups to do, keeping the party alive.

Reduce using communal resources

When planning a celebration, it’s hard not to think of food. However, sharing meals is going to be a little more challenging this upcoming holiday season. The CDC suggests that individuals avoid self-serve food or drink options. Instead, have

guests either bring their own food or have one individual serve the food. That way, multiple people are not using the same utensils and risking the spread of the virus.

Always wear your mask While this tip may seem obvious, it is incredibly important. Wear your mask at all times when attending a gathering. If you are eating or drinking, make sure you stay at a safe distance from other people to ensure that you stay safe. The CDC also recommends that you “avoid singing, chanting, or shouting when not wearing a mask and within six feet of others.”

Rocking the Stage: “Unraveling”

(Graphics/Nithisha Makesh)

The Fine Arts department produces “Unraveling” as the Fall Musical Zoe Persaud| Assistant Editor-in-Chief pl238511@ahschool.com

T

he Fine Arts department continues to perform with the production of the new rock musical “Unraveling,” in true the-show-must-go-on fashion. The musical, inspired by South Florida-based siblings Rossella Lamendola, Matt Annati and Renata Annati of alternative pop/ rock band China Doll, follows three main characters who form a rock band after escaping their violent home situation.

Their situation soon turns grim when the siblings find themselves surrounded “by the very thing [they] fear most,” according to the “Unraveling” website.

Other than its local origins, the new performance parameters set “Unraveling” apart from previous productions.

“Recording is a long and tedious process. If there is more than one person in a song, first we record a rehearsal track.

That track is sung by everyone in that number, all wearing masks and at least six feet apart. So if everyone is in the number there is one original reference

28 Entertainment

recording and eight individual recordings not counting retakes,” said head of the Fine Arts department and “Unraveling” director Mr. Johnpaul Moccia.

After the initial recordings, students individually enter a sound studio and listen to the reference track to sing their part without a mask. The sound team listens to the recording in a separate room to ensure quality before sending the files off to the sound mixer. The sound mixer layers these recordings to make the final recording used when actors film their scenes. The full video of the performance will be released Jan. 8-11 via pay-per-view link.

“It’s been a super eye-opening experience for me actingwise as well, because the acting is intended to be a lot more natural than stage acting,” said sophomore Diane Li about her role as Ava, one of the main three siblings. “The show is definitely a tear jerker to watch, and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I enjoy being in it.”

TUNING UP: As part of the recording process, Li follows sheet music while singing during an individual session. “Everything must be very meticulously counted out for the music to sound in sync,” Li said about the new performance process.

(Photo/ submitted by Cole Holifield from WAHS)

(Design/Nithisha Makesh) Issue 2

Winter sports preview

Sports

Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com

Girls Basketball

Wrestling

H

aving won three consecutive championships, the varsity girls basketball team will look to secure a fourth straight ring as they head into the 2020-2021 season, despite the challenges Covid-19 has posed to the team’s preparation over the summer.

“The virus has been difficult because we couldn’t do too much work during the summer,” head coach Greg Farias said. “Led by Dr. Laurie, the administration and the athletic department came up with ideas for us to be safe and be able to get our workouts in scheduled times and remote learning ideas. It has really helped, and it’s really giving us a big advantage to put in the work.”

In a year surrounding such uncertainty, the Patriots will look to continue to rely on senior guard Daniella Aronsky, who finished last season averaging a team-high 10 assists per game; she has played a key role in each of her three championship runs in as many years. “It would be amazing to be able to win a state championship with my teammates every year I have been in high school,” Aronsky said. “It would be even more special this year that we are able to win a championship and have a season in these uncertain times.”

LOCKING DOWN: Aronsky defends Cemya Brooks of Southeast High School en route to the Patriots’ semi finals victory last year. Through 28 games in the 2019-2020 campaign, Aronsky, ranked the 36th overall guard in the 2021 class, averaged 13 points and 3.6 rebounds, placing her among the top at her position nationwide. (Photo/submitted by Charles Trainor Jr. Issue 2 (Design/Nithisha Makesh)

CULTURE: The Patriots celebrate their district title victory in the 2019-2020 season.

Coach Goodman plans to continue to follow the team’s culture to return the team to a deep playoff run. “Every season we look to build upon our Patriot Pride Tradition,” Coach Goodman said. “It’s an ingrained culture which has been passed down from our returning players to our new players with each passing year.” (Photo/Karen Stearns Twitter)

Last year, only junior Jaeden Kinlock qualified for State from the wrestling team; this season, head coach Matthew Burnett plans to bring more Patriots to the biggest stage.

“We had a lot of young [wrestlers] who performed well during the season,” Coach Burnett said. “As of now we have one wrestler who is ranked second in the state in the preseason.”

Kinlock, a Max Preps Wrestling Athlete of the Year award recipient, looks forward to taking on a difficult schedule this season, improving on his craft, and “making a name for American Heritage wrestling.”

Boys Soccer

Coming off of a season that saw the varsity boys soccer team fall in the regional semifinals round of the playoffs, the team will aim to capture their third state championship in the last four years this upcoming season.

“I’ve really enjoyed the team’s attitude and their willingness to compete from our core nucleus returning players to our new players,” head coach Todd Goodman said regarding how the team has looked in practice. “As with every year, team chemistry and cohesion needs to be developed. Once everyone’s on the same page and trusts our system, their teammates and themselves, then their talent will be showcased.”

Relying on their culture, the former Coach of the Year recognizes what will have to change from last season as the Patriots try to get back on track.“Composure, discipline and focus will always be our main ingredients towards competing for another state title,” Coach Goodman said. “Now with that being said, a little luck always seems to help as well.”

You can find the rest of the article online

WRESTLING FOR THE TITLE: Kinlock takes down an opponent in a match from the 2019-2020 season. In that season, the junior wrestler was named to the Broward County Wrestling Second Team All-County, and he will look to carry his momentum into the upcoming year. “I’m already one of the strongest and quickest wrestlers in the state, so I’m simply going to focus on the little things,” Kinlock said.

“The mindset going into the season is that my opponents will never win because I will always refuse to lose.” (Photo submitted by Jaeden Kinlock)

Sports 29

FALLING OUT

Recapping the six seasons fro

Returning to the top (Ph oto /

Jay Wi m

bro w)

Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com

O

ne year after falling victim to the Northwestern Bulls in the Regional Finals, the Patriots find themselves back in the State title game since the team clinched back-to-back banners in 2017.

Throughout the first four games of the FHSAA Football State Championships bracket, Heritage’s defense has proven the catalyst in punching the team’s ticket to the State Semifinals after shutting out Palm Bay, holding Northwestern to three points in their revenge game, allowing 14 points to Rockledge, containing Eau Gallie to 18 points, and giving up 13 points to Jesuit.

On the offensive side of the ball, sophomore quarterback Blake Murphy, who missed five games during the regular season with a collarbone injury, returned in time for the playoff run, but it has been sophomore running back Mark Fletcher shouldering much of the load thus far.

Across 12 games on the season, Fletcher has rushed for 1278 yards and has also found pay dirt 10 times, with three of those scores pushing Heritage over the Commodores in the Region Finals.

In the most recent win versus Jesuit, though, it was senior kicker Chris Maron’s game winning field goal as time expired that secured the Patriots’ spot at State.

“I think the most important thing is turnovers,” head coach Pat Surtain said on the keys to the Patriots’ playoff run so far.

“We’ve been able to hold on to the ball on offense, and the defense has done a terrific job of taking it away. Also, I think we’ve been able to find an identity, which consists of being able to be physical on both sides.”

The Patriots will look to finish out the season as champions Friday, Dec. 18, when they travel to Tallahassee to clash with the Rickards Raiders for the title.

Coronavirus, Fitzgerald worked to overcome this past season’s obstacles, earning the title of District Champion and placing third at the regional meet on her way to her new PR. “As a coach, Ashley's performance was superb at the state meet, and she persevered throughout the whole season, especially considering the challenges we had with Covid-19,” assistant head coach Damion Sutton said. “She went into the state meet ranked 29th, but everyone that was ranked above her were not in South Florida, so we understood that they might have had a longer season because they were not under quarantine as long as we were. I knew given the right conditions that she would run really

well because she is very talented and will go out and fight hard no matter what.”

While Fitzgerald remains proud of accomplishing her goal this year, she will begin to set her eyes on a new one heading into her sophomore season.

“My mindset for next year would be to set new goals and challenges for myself,” Fitzgerald said. “I always want to get stronger and faster, but it takes time. Running a PR at State this past season has made me ready for new challenges and goals that will come along with next year’s season.”

Running with the best Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com

T

hough the varsity cross country team proved unable to clinch the state title, freshman Ashley Fitzgerald (pictured right) finished off the competition in 9th place and with a new personal record (PR) of 18:56.40, placing as the top freshman in the meet.

“This was my second opportunity to attend the state championships,” Fitzgerald said. “It was an amazing experience to run on the Apalachee Park course with so many other talented runners.”

Despite facing difficulties for the team in terms of preventing group practices and competing in local races due to the

30 Sports

(Photo/American Heritage T&F/XC Twitter) (Design/Sammy Rosenthal) Issue 2

OF SEASON

om fall sports amid Covid-19

Making waves at State Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com

A

fter a total of 11 Patriots from the varsity swimming teams qualified for the State Competition Nov. 14, seven swimmers medaled fifth in the individual competitions, and the boys and girls teams finished eighth and 25th, respectively.

In the girls 200 free relay, senior Olivia Mason, junior Eva Pierre-Antoine, senior Felicia Taylor, sophomore Wynona Brinkmann finished 14th, and in the girls 400 free relay, Mason, Pierre-Antoine, Taylor and sophomore Amari Porter finished 12th.

As for the boys, senior Jiehoon Lee placed fifth in the 100 butterfly and the

100 breaststroke with his personal best times, and senior Benjamin Gomez del Campo placed 15th in the 200 freestyle with his second fastest time. Senior Daniel Watson also placed top 15, finishing in 14th in the 200 individual medley. In the 200 free relay, sophomore Kirill Prikhodko, senior Nicolas Rossi, Watson and Lee and in the 400 free relay with Prikhodko, Rossi, freshman Rithvik Marri and Gomez del Campo all medaled fifth.

“I am very at peace with how I finished off my high school swim career,” Watson (pictured below), who won both the District and Regional individual titles on his way to State, said. “I made finals in an individual event and I was a part of our top five relay in the state of Florida. I think relative to the season, too, I closed this chapter exactly how I wanted to. I wasn’t hitting my times or feeling good in the water during the regular season, but I just trusted the process, and the higher powers did exactly what they needed to do. I’ll be able to cherish my medal and, over everything, the memories I created.”

Despite having to face the struggles of staying in shape amidst the challenges of COVID-19, in his final season of high school swimming, Watson made sure to make the most of his time.

“Swimming is everything,” Watson said. “ It will always be my first true love, and all of the hard work I have had in my life has come from swimming. Waking up at 4:45, long talks with Coach Tan, becoming way too comfortable with lactic acid, the bus rides, the banter, controlling the aux and the 99% of everything in the process is what was really life changing, and what I’m really taking away from it.

School always came first, but I did school so I could swim. I managed to stay energetic throughout the day because I was excited to go to swim practice after school. Now I float all day through school already having gotten my work in for the day. My big thing is staying in the moment, focusing on the task that’s at hand, and now I get to move on and start the next task. I’m excited.”

Scan the code below to read about the other fall sports

(Photo submitted by Daniel Watson)

Issue 2(Design/ Sammy Rosenthal)

Sports 31