The
Patriot Post VOL. 23 ISSUE 5 MARCH/APRIL 2020
The Anatomy of a
Pandemic
Staff Editors-in-Chief
Maia Fernandez Baigun,12th Kristen Quesada, 12th
Online Editor-in-Chief Joanne Haner, 12th
Dear Heritage,
Where to start... welcome to our last issue of The Patriot Post. These past few weeks have been all over the place, and, while we are extremely sad we won’t be able to sell to your rooms as usual, we hope our Patriot family is safe. In times like these, it’s difficult to predict the future or even what will happen next week, but with a little luck, we’re going to come out stronger than before; we will be the classes that survived this pandemic. In this issue, we cover the ups and downs that Covid-19 has presented societies all over the world with. We would also like to say goodbye. We’ve been parents to this publication for a year and we want to thank every single one of you who has ever taken time to read our articles. We leave this magazine in very capable hands and we know that Patriot Post will reach new levels of journalism. To the Class of 2020, we are with you during these tough times. We feel the same frustration you do, but we wish you all the luck in your future. #whoareweare! For the last time,
The
&
Patriot Post
the American Heritage student news magazine
VOL. 23 ISSUE 5/ MARCH/APRIL 2020
Assistant Editors Alyssa Herzbrun, 12th Bella Ramirez, 11th Zoe Persaud, 11th
Online Assistant Editor Kayla Rubenstein, 11th
Adviser
Ms. Diana Adams
Copy Editors
Kristen Quesada, 12th Joanne Haner, 12th Zoe Persaud, 11th
Social Media Editors Madison Lynn, 12th Noor Sukkar, 10th
Sports Editor
Opinion Editor Sammy Rosenthal, 11th
Alyssa Herzbrun, 12th Assistant Sports Editor Jack Shechtman, 11th
Features Editor
Emma Remudo, 11th
Entertainment Editor Bella Ramirez, 11th
Cover Story Editor
Maia Fernandez Baigun, 12th
Staff Writer
Emily Anderson, 11th
The Patriot Post is sold on a bi-monthly basis for 50 cents. American Heritage has 1,950 students and 160 faculty members.
Do you have a response to a column or article that was published in the news magazine? We accept and encourage letters to the editor by students, faculty or parents in response to any opinion pieces. Physically hand the response in to room 9114 or email it to patriotpost@ahschool.com.
2 Table of Contents
American Heritage School 12200 W. Broward Blvd. Plantation, FL 33325 954-472-0022 ext. 3300 patriotpost@ahschool.com ipatriotpost.com
News 7
Opinion 9
Cover Story 16
or
Features 15
Entertainment 22
sports 25 (Front Cover/ Maia Fernandez Baigun) (Photos and Graphic/Alyssa Herzbrun, Maia Fernandez Baigun, Joanne Haner, Bella Ramirez, Sammy Rosenthal)
Editorial Policy
Our Mission Statement
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.
The Patriot Post is an award-winning, student-produced hybrid publication that informs students about events, influences readers through editorials and entertains through features and reviews, all achieved through responsible reporting held to high journalistic standards. We strive to create content that adheres to the highest possible standards of journalistic integrity. Any queries about our content can be directed to patriotpost@ahschool.com or to a staff member in room 9114. With new posts on our online newspaper almost every day, the content doesn’t stop at the last page of this magazine. Visit www.ipatriotpost.com for more information, and subscribe for email notifications.
Patriot Post @ipatriotpost
Table of Contents
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Senior
Introducing the class of 2020. They’re strong, brilliant, hardworking, powerful and deserved a much happier ending to this chapter of their book. This is their farewell to heritage.
Kristen Quesada
Thank you to an amazing Co-Editorin-Chief and a stellar copyeditor that always keeps me up-to-date with the latest AP style guides. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish next and I’ll miss receiving my articles via paper plane. Love, Zoe
“All good things must come to an end” — the proverb I wish wasn’t true, especially in the case of The Patriot Post. Joining staff alongside three of my closest friends my sophomore year under the reign of my sister, Katie, I knew this would be a fun ride. New faces greeted me throughout the years and familiar ones kept me steady. Senior year — my turn to share the crown — felt like a constant pressure cooker, but we always managed to pull through. Maia and Joanne: Though we all knew each other since fourth grade, the three of us grew closer than ever during our time on staff. I love you both; never stop being angsty meme queens. Alyssa (Bubs) and Kayla (Sevie), I’ve loved walking together every single day from our various lunch spots to 9114 and spilling tea along the way. I know we will stay friends long after graduation. I love you both; don’t forget our future weekly FaceTime calls. To the future Editors-in-Chief: I knew you would both lead the staff one day from the second you joined. Your never-ending creativity, devotion to getting the best stories and general ways made it inevitable. I love you both; send me copies of every issue when I’m gone! To the rest of the staff: whether you’ve been here with me since day one or the beginning of this year, I could not be happier to have shared the responsibility of The Patriot Post with you. I love you all. Ms. Adams: though I was scared of you my entire first year on staff and still have not gotten used to your sarcasm, you are the best adviser and truly make 9114 feel like a second home. I will never forget your hugs throughout the years, whether for sending out an issue, to assuage my tears or just because. Thank you for everything. I love you, don’t forget me. <3 Katie: you’re the reason I’m writing this today. I was looking for something new and haphazardly joined newspaper because you said it was fun. Without you, I wouldn’t have written more than 200 articles, laid out more than 25 pages or met 20 new people who I will never forget. Thank you, thank you and thank you.
Maia Fernandez Baigun
Maia, you light up the room with your smile and always make me laugh. You make hard work a fun activity; thank you for being a mentor and making every day a little brighter. Love, Bella
4 Senior Farewells
I have procrastinated writing this piece for the last few days because every time I sit down to write, I find myself staring back at my empty Google doc. Truth is, I never thought I would have to write this farewell. Not because I doubted myself but because I don’t think it’s hit me yet that this is my last issue. I’ve learned life skills that I wouldn’t have learned anywhere else and have been exposed to a whole new world that has completely changed my view on issues in society. Newspaper has been with me through the highs and lows of high school and yet, I wouldn’t have it any other way. To Ms. Adams, Thank you for helping me grow. You’ve taught me to enjoy these surprises and overcome them. I know that it won’t be the same number next year, but room 9114 will always have a place in my heart and so will baby yoda. As much as you bully me, I know it’s all in good heart and I’ll definitely miss it. I will be forever grateful for all of the knowledge and wisdom you have bestowed on me, so thank you. To Kristen and Joanne, Wow, it’s been a year! From the rocky yet humbling beginnings with our first issue and then figuring out Monarch, it’s crazy to think about everything we’ve been through. Thank you for being there for my desperate calls of me freaking out over minor things. How funny is it that we’ve known each other since Lower School and we all somehow ended up in the same family? I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you, and I wish you both the best luck next year, wherever that may be. To next year’s EICs and the staff, I’m gonna miss you guys so much because we have such a tight-knit family, I know you’re going to take it great places. Thank you for bearing with us through the rocky transitions, the last-minute freak-outs and our unplanned fiestas. You guys never fail to amaze me and inspire me, but I know that, by handing Patriot Post down to you, you’ll do great things with it. To you, the reader, and to anyone who has ever bought an issue, thank you for supporting my dreams. Four years ago I would’ve never pictured myself in this position, but because of dedication and hard work, I am able to write this. I always found it difficult to say goodbye, so for now, I’ll say see you later. Thank you 9114 for always being my home away from home.
Farewells
Thank you for always making me smile and for being there for me. I’m going to miss (and your amazing pages) so much!! Love, Kayla
Alyssa Herzbrun
I have learned many things in my three years of newspaper. For one, parties are not permitted on campus but bring on the fiesta! Most importantly, my future writing will never include an Oxford comma. What started as just another activity to expand my writing skills has become my extended family. To my fellow seniors: I will never forget our midnight trips to Wawa together and our last-minute dashes to complete our competitions. I know we will be friends for life. To Kayla, Zoe and Bella: I am so excited to see the amazing things you will do with the paper. I am sure you will continue to inspire the other up-and-coming staffers. To Emily and Emma: I hope you continue to gain as much from newspaper as I did for the last few years. Your kindness and compassion will serve the paper well. To Sammy and Jack: we would have no sports section without the both of you. I will miss your daily Sports Editor rivalry. To Noor: you always know how to make me laugh and are one of the best TikTokers I know. To Mrs. Hendricks: I value all of our conversations and plan to email often to hear a recap of the day’s events. And last but far from least, words cannot express how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me in the past three years. You have influenced not only my writing but my character and my passion for current events.
Joanne Haner
Thank you, Joanne, for showing me the ways of the online articles and helping me on my journey of achieving my lifetime goal of being the first to 100 online articles. It’s easy to see all the hard work and dedication you have both toward online and anything you do. I will be sure to mention you first in my speech at the reception. Love, Sammy
Thanks for bringing me laughter every day of school with your presence, and for all the fun memories we’ve made. I’m going to miss my TikTok buddy and a senior for my sophomore self to bother every day. Love, Noor
Walking into 9114 my sophomore year, I, like most of you, didn’t know what iPatriotPost was. I didn’t know I would find my passions there, either. From past and present staffers dealing with my math competition conflicts to the yearbook staff letting me invade their space before fifth hour every day, I couldn’t have come as far as I have without everyone involved in my journalistic career over the past three years. To Ms. Adams: Although iPatriot presents new problems each week, your constant faith in me helped solve each of them. Even though 9114 won’t technically be in the same location next year, the true spirit of 9114 is wherever you are. To Kristen and Maia: I’ve been friends with both of you since elementary school, and watching both of you grow into the stars you are today is astounding. You two are exceptional, both separate and together. To the rest of the staff: Thank you for making this last year memorable. I couldn’t be more confident in the future of i/The Patriot Post. Kayla, my mini me, I know you’re going to do great things, and I hope I’ve given you all the tools you need to succeed. Bella and Zoe, a truly iconic duo, I don’t know what to say except that you’ve got this. And Sammy, I know you’ll get that plaque soon. I will never forget almost getting tackled at football games and singing Big Time Rush songs at the top of my lungs, and I will never forget the effect newsmagazine has had on me. Thank you all.
Madison Lynn
When I started at Heritage my freshman year, I never thought that I would become a part of such an amazing close team of writers, photographers and just all around amazing people. I joined newspaper as a junior and the year was already as hectic as it could have been, however, when I became a part of the newspaper team, I felt like I had an outlet to express myself creatively with people who I really enjoyed working with. To Mrs. Adams, Thank you so much for pushing me to become my absolute best. Your support really helped me excel as a writer as well as a staff member in general. I could not have done it without you. To Maia and Kristen, I know that I needed more than a little help at the beginning of my Newspaper journey and you were both always there to help me. Kristen, you always helped me when I needed guidance writing or planning out articles. Maia, I called on you one too many times to help me with graphics and you never failed to answer my questions. Thank you both. To the staff, I sincerely thank you all for putting up with my energetic personality, to say the least. I will miss every one of you. You all contribute something special to the paper and I loved working with you all. 9114, sometimes my lunch room, keeper of the candy drawer and birthplace of the Patriot Post TikTok account, you will be missed.
Senior Farewells 5
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FRENCH NEWSPAPER GOES LIVE Joanne Haner |Online Editor-in-Chief pl1849412@ahschool.com
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bout five years ago, the French Honor Society (FHS) used to create one-page newsletters that members would write articles for in French. The newsletter disbanded, but junior Bella Ramirez revived it in a new and improved way. “From what I hear, every year, each of the [FHS] presidents who would run would want to bring back the French newspaper,” Ramirez said. “Nobody really knew how because there wasn’t anyone from publications or anyone who wanted to take up the job. It seemed like a great opportunity.” Even before joining FHS, Ramirez approached her French teacher, Dr. Celine Guillerm, about bringing the newspaper back to life. Upon joining FHS, Ramirez worked with vice president junior Melina Marin and president senior Elias Levy to help her with the project. Over the last eight months, Ramirez gauged interest from FHS members, organized a system for article assign-
ments and created the designs for “Le Patriote Parisien.” “Le Patriote Parisien” is an online newspaper that went live back in February. Ramirez considered a print newspaper, but, after contemplating necessary funds and layout skills, decided a website would better suit FHS. “It took me six months to find the time and guts to take up Wordpress,” Ramirez said. “The hardest part would have to be the staff page because I had to get everyone to comply.” Each staff member of “Le Patriote Parisian” doubles as a member of FHS and must write articles every month.
“Once we published, it was really cool. Everyone was putting it on their [social media] stories and following our [Patriote Parisien] accounts,” Ramirez said. “They’re getting the taste of deadlines and stuff, and they’re still experimenting with stuff that they enjoy while learning more about French.” Interested readers can read the student-created publication at lepatrioteparisien.com and follow their Twitter @FHSPatriote or Instagram @lepatrioteparisien.
CRÉATRICE COLORÉ: Bella Ramirez created the logo for “Le Patriote Parisien.” Through this project, she earned a spot on the executive board for Congrès de la Culture Française en Floride, a statewide academic organization that hosts the annual French competition in Orlando. Ramirez hopes to branch out “Le Patriote Parisien” and create a community of French students. (Graphic/Bella Ramirez)
BEST BUDDIES TAKES PART IN VIRTUAL WALK FUNDRAISER BEST BUDDIES TAKES PART IN VIRTUAL Archbishop McCarthy High School Wwith FUNDRAISER and together had 47 curate the event toALK
Emma Remundo | Features Editor pl209912@ahschool.com
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chapter Heritage register.McCarthy High School to cuhe American members Emma Remundo | Features Editor Archbishop outbreak, Best Buddies club began of the of the In lieurate pl209912@ahschool.com theCOVID-19 event and together hadthe 47 mem14, March walk virtual a to planning their charity walk last event moved bers register. Instagram and Live Facebook on a.m. 9 October. he American Heritage chapter Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, or videoMarch organi- club Live. short walk share the Best Buddies be- Walkers the eventcould moved to a avirtual Best Buddies is anofinternational planning their charity walk a.m. on Facebook and Instaexplaining one-on-one walking Live creating of 9themselves picture14, ation focused on gan lastwith October. gram Live.toWalkers a short Buddies. Best share walk forcould people with intellectual why they chose elationships Best Buddies is an international orgavideo or picture of themselves walking exmedia social to videos disabilities. Walkers uploaded and developmental nization focused on creating one-on-one plaining why they chose to walk for Best with hashtags #mywalkforinclusion and “The goal of the walk is to raise as much relationships with people with intellectual Buddies. #bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk. money as we can for Best Buddies and to and developmental disabilities. organizathe what on pread awareness “The goal of the walk is to raise as Best said senior ion does,” much moneyand as we canBuddies for Best Buddies it’swhat the orme,on “For Goldstein. president Rose and to spread awareness work hard the of all of also a celebration ganization does,” said senior and Best of Rose Goldstein. “For and a celebration all yearpresident we’ve put inBuddies me, it’s also a celebration of all of the Best Buddies.” hardfor work putmembers in all year and a celevent, thewe’ve n preparation ebration of Best Buddies.” around walk a and planned a dance party In preparation for the event, members he park with buddies from Schott planned a dance party and a walk around Community Center. Goldstein partnered
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the park with buddies from Schott Community Center. Goldstein partnered with
Walkers uploaded videos to social media with hashtags #mywalkforinclusion and #bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.
(Graphics/Emily Anderson)
(Graphics/Emily Anderson)
News 7
HOSA CALLS OFF State COMPETITION Emma Remudo | Features Editor pl209912@ahschool.com
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he Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA) planned to attend the state competition April 2 in Orlando. At the Jan. 25 regional competition at Cypress Bay High School, 45 HOSA members qualified to move on to the state level. In preparation for the event, vice presidents of the club, juniors Roshni Mishra and Ashni Zaverchand, created weekly practice written exams for students to study. However, in light of COVID-19, HOSA canceled its state competition, ending the season for the club members. “We were extremely disheartened upon finding out that it had been canceled. Everyone worked really hard and put in the time to prepare for the competition so it was sad knowing that our long-awaited trip to Orlando was no longer happening,” Zaverchand said. Other HOSA members had similar reactions. “I am incredibly sad that states is canceled, especially since it is my first year
FIRST PLACE: Juniors Melina Marin, Angelina Kinney, Roshni Mishra and freshman Asher Lee competed at the regional HOSA Bowl Jan. 25. (Photo submitted by Angelina Kinney)
competing with HOSA. At this point all I can hope for is next year,” junior Jewel Kyaw said. Although the cancelation left many disappointed, it prevented a poten-
tially hazardous situation. As put by junior Sebastian Figueredo: “HOSA is all about health, and the healthiest thing to do was to cancel states.”
ROBOTICS COMPETITION CANCELED ON ARRIVAL Emily Anderson | Staff Writer pl238251@ahschool.com
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fter working on its robot since winter break, the robotics team could not formally attend the March FIRST robotics competition as it was canceled upon arrival due to the coronavirus pandemic. The team members had worked on their robot since Jan. 6. The team worked on the robot for more than nine weeks, often staying in the robotics lab until 10 p.m. on school days to design the robot and go out to its testing location for field tests. Members even came in on weekends and holidays. Senior David Mendez feels both disappointed and sad after the cancellation of the event. “We constantly worked until we iterated the robot into something that we felt confident competing with. I wired the entire robot by myself about three or four times in that period,” he said. With so much time and energy dedicated to the creation and function of the
8 News
robot, Mendez can’t help but feel frustrated, especially because it’s his senior year. “Four years of working with robots and learning from others’ mistakes had just gone down the drain. The entire senior class was tremendously sad about the work we had all just lost,” Mendez said. Seniors weren’t the only ones disappointed, however. Many underclassmen felt disheartened about the cancellation of the competition as well. Junior Zaneer Mitha felt as if all the work both he and his team put in to qualify for nationals went to waste. “I was very excited to experience the season and was extremely upset when we found out that I wouldn’t be able to,” Mitha said. Although the seniors won’t be able to compete in their last robotics competition, they were still able to make memories with their friends while doing something they love. As for the underclassmen, there is always next year.
NUTS AND BOLTS: Massimo Salafia, robotics team mentor, helps out with the technical work of the team’s competition robot. (Photo/David Mendez)
News
brief Zoe Persaud | Co-Assistant Editor pl238511@ahschool.com
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, organizations canceled several local, state and national competitions. Students lost opportunities for competition and team-building across the country. MAO State competition
ADDING UP: The Mu Alpha Theta (MAO) team took home several awards at the March regional competition at Cypress Bay High School. This marked the last competition of the season before the cancellation of the MAO state convention. That status of the national convention is unknown. (Photo/ Carolina Sardinas)
STN NATIONAL CONVENTION
ON THE AIR: The Student Television Network canceled its 17th annual convention, March 12-15, leaving attendees to find last-minute flights home from the Washington D.C. venue. The convention offered competitions in anchoring, editing and other broadcast journalism subjects. (Photo submitted by Lily-Rose Sheedy)
DCON
ROBOTICS Regional
GETTING IN GEAR: The Ninjineers Robotics team participated in the Tampa Roboticon with different workshop opportunities and technical challenges. The March regional competition, planned for March 11-14, would have allowed the team to move forward in state competition based on its performance. (Photo submitted by Erin Bryan)
BE THE KEY: The District Education and leadership Conference (DCON) brings Key Clubs from around the state together to celebrate a year of service. The April 2-5 event will no longer occur, but the organization will continue to help the community through service projects and donations. (Photo/Paula Mitre)
other canceled events Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA) State Convention (April 2-5) Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Convention (March 26-29) Florida Student Press Association State Convention (April 23-25) La Congrès de la Culture Française en Floride (March 12-14) THESPIaNS STATE CONVENTION (MARCH 18-21)
News 9
Gifted, ADHD, Learning Disability and Autism Spectrum evaluations Beth Pomerantz, Ph. D Licensed Psychologist Director of Psychological Testing at Hollywood Psychology Center
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Call for appointment at 954-854-5881
Opinion/Editorial
Editorial:
Environmental Contradictions
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ast year American Heritage pushed forward a new environmental initiative. Despite our claims of caring for the Earth, Heritage continually makes contradictory actions toward the environment. We are a plastic-water-bottle free campus and successfully pushed toward the use of reusable water bottles. However, due to our plastic utensils wrap and plastic backpacks we are not completely plastic free. “I know that safety is a big thing,” junior climate activist and president of Climate Change Club Aryan Ranjan said. “I just don’t think we can call ourselves a plastic-free campus until that issue [of plastic bags] is resolved.”
Junior Jewel Kyaw also understands the safety aspects of clear bags but believes there are different ways we can handle the plastic bags. “I feel like we’re really regressing because students are making an attempt to use reusable containers, reusable water bottles, and I feel like we’re really pushing back that progress,” Kyaw said. “You see people walking in with ripped up backpacks... and duct tape wrapped around their bags because they can’t get a new backpack.” We can offer a recycling service for clear bags and reinstating the senior bag drop for reuse. Clear plastic bags aren’t the only problem though. “I’ve seen kids have their [metal] spoons and their forks taken away and tagged and brought into the garage,” Kyaw said. “I haven’t experienced that but there have been multiple times where they have looked at me and said, ‘maybe try plastic or don’t bring them at all.’” Regarding on-campus utensils, we should use dispensers rather than the utensil com-
bo packages that use more plastic. Besides plastic, Heritage also contributes to runoff in the canal. At the end of every Upper School lunch period, the lunch staff dumps soap runoff into the canal. “This action makes everyone who sees it question whether we care at all about the environment. Many students have voiced this sentiment to me. It appears to be wholly hypocritical,” advisor for Healthy Heritage Dr. Julia Couper said. We can tackle runoff by implementing a gray water system. The Pre-Engineering Society can assist us and redistribute filtered used water into our sprinkler system for watering plants or a school garden. Heritage does not need to be synonymous to hypocrisy, there is still hope to become a truly environmental campus. “We can all start from wherever we are right now, and do at least one thing better. Once we grow accustomed to doing that one thing better, we should move on to the next goal. All of these tiny steps can add up to a massive change,” Dr. Couper said.
comments across Twitter and Tumblr in 2013, with some directed at her former bandmate Normani Hamilton. The posts show Cabello using racial slurs in regular conversation and in a set of angry tweets directed at Hamilton. She tweeted an apology after the comments resurfaced in 2019, six years after the original posts. The “#camilaisoverparty” trended for approximately one week before a new topic overwhelmed the media. Cabello released her second studio album “Romance” Dec. 6, 2019, which debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200, ending the year with a bang despite her supposed “cancellation” earlier that year. Such quick forgiveness of these celebrities perpetuates hateful behavior and allows them to ignore the consequences of their actions, simply because of their status. When controversy arises, influencers face waves of backlash for days on Twitter and type out a quick “apology” on the notes app before winning back their
redemption with an even larger following than before the incident. Celebrities should be held accountable for their actions, regardless of fame and fortune, because hateful comments hurt people, no matter where they come from.
Stopping cancel culture
Zoe Persaud | Co-Assistant Editor pl238511@ahschool.com
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ocial media allows users to present the best versions of themselves and their lives to the public, with only picture-perfect smiles and witty captions making it to their profiles. Such popular platforms allow specific people to gain massive followings and earn the coveted title of “online influencer.” However, the spotlight uncovers past actions that destroy the idealistic image of these influencers. Despite inexcusable actions, such as racist, sexist and overall hateful comments, fans still flock to their meet-and-greets and their followers continue to rise, wrongfully giving a person fame and power when they do not deserve such riches. The idea of rampant “cancel culture” seems daunting at first but tends to die down after a week in favor of a new controversy, leaving celebrities with a few rough days before enjoying the benefits provided by their adoring fans. Singer Camila Cabello posted several racially insensitive
(Graphics/Alyssa Herzbrun)
Opinion 11
society silences the majority Kristen Quesada | Co-Editor-in-Chief pl208162@ahschool.com
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eople often hold back what they really want to say in fear of “offending” another person. Social intimidation perpetuates this action of political correctness and thus hinders productive discussion. According to a 2016 Gallup survey, 54% of college students agree that, “the climate on campus prevents people from saying what they believe because others might find it offensive.” “Politics in a democracy is still based on getting people to agree with you, not making them
afraid to disagree,” New York magazine writer Jonathan Chait said. The Cato Institute found that conservatives are most likely to self-censor for fear of social backlash, with 70% agreeing that the political climate prevents them from saying what they believe. Even though more Americans identify as conservative than liberal, 35% to 26% according to a Gallup poll, conservatives still feel the need to hide their opinions, preventing necessary discussions between both parties.
(Graphic/Kristen Quesada)
Falling from the nest While society assumes students will become fully independent after college, sometimes, the best course of action for some is staying home
Alyssa Herzbrun | Co-Assistant Editor-in-Chief This includes buying a home, saving for pl231251@ahschool.com a rainy day or retirement, getting mar-
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raduating college used to mean living an independent life and learning how to support yourself. This no longer seems the case as more and more graduates move back in with their parents. According to TD Ameritrade, 50% of current college students plan to move back in with their parents. This number seems astronomical, but with student loan debt and the need to save for the future, young adults must wait longer to go off and spread their wings. One of the main reasons young adults choose to move back home is the student loan debt accumulated throughout college. According to Forbes, about 30% of these graduates not only delay moving out of their childhood home but also delay other important future milestones.
12 Opinion
ried and having children. The number of students who plan to live with their parents until their late 20s has doubled in just a few decades mainly because of student loans. According to the U.S. debt clock, the student loan debt reaches $1.6 trillion. Although having to move back in with their parents may seem undesirable, it is a smart move considering students pay off loans or even help their parents pay the rent. Expecting someone to leave college and jump right into the real world is incredibly unrealistic for many. It may take years until this trend reverses, but until then, graduates can pay off their loans, save for the future and continue to keep mom and dad company.
This is only furthered by self-isolation into groups that think the same, perpetuating the echo chamber effect. The Cato Institute reports that nearly two-thirds of Clinton voters believe it is “hard” to be friends with Trump voters while the inverse is opposite for Trump voters, given two-thirds do not think it is difficult to be friends with Clinton voters. This purveys a larger problem in America than friendship -- political polarization has seeped into social lives and created a politically charged atmosphere everywhere, making liberal “safe spaces” the very opposite of their namesakes, creating fear of social repercussions for expressing conservative views. Though conservatives remain a silent majority, this should not be the case. Instead of keeping political beliefs to ourselves and ostracizing opposing viewpoints, we as a nation must reevaluate our approach to conversation and allow a free flow of viewpoints without fear of repercussions. While unfavorable sentiments may not always be wanted, self-expression brings with it the right to offend. The lines of offense, however, have become blurred in a culture of political correctness and microaggressions. Society cannot live in a bubble where nothing is ever wrong, and we must encourage conversations about uncomfortable issues. Today’s sustained level of never before seen political polarization will only lead to the downfall of our democracy if the issue is not fixed soon. Discussion, whose most basic element is the exchange of ideas, often those which are differing, facilitates change and bridges gaps. The only solution is true, unadulterated discussion. We cannot cover our ears and shout louder when we hear something we do not like; we must talk through our differences, thus either persuading those who disagree, opening up room for a middle-ground or merely respectfully sticking to our own beliefs after legitimate discourse.
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Features
meet the valedictorian and salutatorian Joanne Haner | Online Editor-in-Chief pl184941@ahschool.com
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n the final year of the Heritage valedictorian and salutatorian tradition, seniors Arnav Kumar and Carol Jiang earned the respective titles from their years of academic excellence. Kumar acquired a weighted grade point average of 6.10 over the past four years, while Jiang reeled in a 6.05. Kumar and Jiang, although with slightly varying GPAs, participate in many of the same extracurriculars. Kumar serves as president of the Linguistics team, while Jiang serves as vice president. Both are also members of the National Honor Society and Florida Youth Orchestra (FYO) and received recognition as Presidential Scholars. Kumar plays the bassoon; Jiang plays the violin and piano. Kumar played as a part of the Patriot Band his freshman year and Jiang for the school orchestra, but both have played their respective instruments from a young age. In addition to her membership, Jiang is also secretary of the Science National Honor Society and has been assistant concertmaster for FYO. Notably, both students are high-ranking members of the Mu Alpha Theta math team and share mathematics as their favorite subject. Kumar is a consistent member of the bowl team, with eight first-place trophies from regional, state and national conventions, and Jiang also has her fair share of awards. Within the team, Kumar has served as vice president of Alpha for two years, and Jiang is a teaching assistant for statistics. Mu Alpha Theta coach Mr. Richard Rovere has witnessed Kumar and Jiang grow throughout high school, from their days as freshmen starting out with the team to their final competitions as seniors. “They’ve always been polite and helpful. Carol has that quiet strength, and Arnav has that intensity,” Mr. Rovere said. “The strength of our program isn’t just mathematical ability, but also the relationships between our students, and I think Carol and Arnav are two of the best examples of that type of commitment.” As if that weren’t enough, the top two students from the Class of 2020 work community service into their individual schedules. Jiang utilizes
her musical ability in her volunteer work, playing violin and piano for patients in local hospitals. She is the school English nominee for the Silver Knight awards. For the past four years, Kumar has volunteered with the Special Olympics bowling team. He has an avid love for sports, as seen by his actions as football team co-statistician for the past two seasons. “[Being co-statistician] is a good way to blend my fascinations with math and sports,” Kumar said. In his free time, he enjoys watching sitcoms such as “The Office,” “Community” and “30 Rock,” although he attributes his academic achievement to his all-time favorite show “Spongebob Squarepants.” In his high-school career, Kumar has taken 17 Advanced Placement courses. “It’s an honor to receive such a prestigious recognition at such a competitive school,” he said. “Mr. Rovere always said ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,’ and I believe that.” As of now, Kumar is undecided as to the university he will attend, but he intends to major in statistics. Jiang has taken 15 Advanced Placement courses in high school, motivated by Kumar’s inspirational quote, “Why fail, when you can just not?” Jiang hopes to study mathematics in college and has been accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She also hopes to continue practicing her whistling skills. Next year, the Class of 2021 will move away from the valedictorian/salutatorian system, replacing it with recognition for the 10 highest-ranking students in the class.
MATHLETES: As officers of Mu Alpha Theta, Carol Jiang and Arnav Kumar help run the annual January regional competition that Heritage co-hosts at Florida Atlantic University. Their duties include presenting awards at the ceremony. (Photo/Joanne Haner)
COUNTING ON CALCULUS: Seniors Daniel Block and Kevelya Koppa (left), alongside Carol Jiang and Arnav Kumar, competed as part of the calculus team at the Rickards Invitational in November. The team earned first place at the competition.(Photo/Joanne Haner)
Features 15
Coping with Contagion Joanne Haner | Online Editor-In-Chief pl184941@ahschool.com
Coronavirus ,
scientifically dubbed COVID-19, quickly made a name for itself as the world’s latest pandemic. By the end of January, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency. Fast forward to the end of March and COVID-19 has infected hundreds of thousands of people and invaded every habitable continent, posing a threat to both national and global events, such as the Summer Olympics and presidential primaries. The disease attacks the respiratory system and spreads much like the common cold; however, carriers of the virus are often asymptomatic or take as long as two weeks to show symptoms. Like many other international students, Laurita Wong, a junior from the Boca/Delray campus and multicultural club leader, lives separated from her family in mainland China during this time. “[When COVID-19 was beginning], I was in contact with my family, but there’s so much stuff going on that it was hard to keep track. By January everything was basically contained, and it was mind-blowing how the government was actually building hospitals and calling for help,” she said. The situation in China went from building hospitals in a period of 10 days to lifting its lockdown on ground zero of the pandemic. However, the rest of the world continues to feel the effects of coronavirus, with the United States leading in coronavirus cases. Declaring a national emergency was only the beginning of a stream of
Jan 23: Wuhan gets cut off by Chinese authorities Jan 11: China reports its first Coronavirus death
16 Cover Story
precautionary measures the country would take against COVID-19. March 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised withholding gatherings of 50 people or more. In an email school president Dr. Douglas Laurie sent out at 12:30 p.m. March 13, Heritage students learned that they would not be returning to school indefinitely and would begin online classes via Google Meets as of March 30. “Everyone is day-to-day,” high school principal Mrs. Elise Blum said. “We feel that we actually came up with a pretty good online program, considering we did it all in a very short period of time.
Feb 7: dr. li wenliang dies of coronavirus
Jan 30: W.H.O. declares a global health emergency
Feb 23: cases in italy soar and towns lock down
Feb 21: coronavirus appears in iran from an unknown cause
“It’s going to be tough. Long-term, [the city] is clearly not going to collect as much revenue as we projected, so we’re going to have to make cuts.” -Nick Sortal, Plantation city council
We feel that we’ll still be able to deliver the curriculum and prepare the students for next year, and that’s our main concern.” With colleges substituting fly-in programs for virtual admitted students sessions and high school events canceled left and right, Class of 2020 students across the country aren’t living the senior year they expected. “I’m so sorry. I know you guys are smart, and you see the big picture and later on down the road what’s really important, but right now is right now, and this is supposed to be your senior year. It’s not fair,” Mrs. Blum said. From toilet paper shortages to dry hands from hand sanitizer, people everywhere are taking the necessary steps to avoid contracting the disease. Many non-essential businesses closed indefinitely, leading to an economic downturn. While the federal government withheld implementing a nationwide curfew, several states decided to take the additional cautionary measure, with select South Florida counties in the mix. “Residents’ finances, the city’s budget and business finances are what I’m really worried about. I can see big long-term problems,” Plantation City Council Nick Sortal said. “It’s going to be tough. Long-term, [the city] is clearly not going to collect as much revenue as we projected, so we’re going to have to make cuts. As a city, we try to make sure we have good quality of life.”
March 13: President Trump declares a national emergency Feb 29: the U.S. reports its first coronavirus death
In an attempt to keep the economy afloat, the U.S. Senate approved a $2 trillion stimulus package March 25. The largest emergency aid package the country has ever seen, the stimulus package aims to help small industries and major businesses. The details include payments to citizens, small business loans and loans for distressed companies, hospitals, unemployment insurance benefits and state governments. While careers in tourism may be in jeopardy, first responders are in high demand. Junior Kayla Myers’s father serves as a police officer and worked closely with other first responders who were in contact with the disease. He contracted the virus in mid-March, bringing it home to the Myers household in Broward, infecting Kayla’s mother with the disease as well. “It definitely made everything feel real, and I realized how dangerous the disease is for people who aren’t old,” Myers said. “My dad is 6 feet tall. He’s a big, strong guy, and it wiped him out. So, imagining my 90-pound sister with lung problems having to go through something like that is absolutely terrifying.” In order to take care of her sister and herself, Kayla stepped up her role in the household by making meals, doing housework and taking care of her parents as safely as she could. “It was really stressful for me. We knew immediately I was the next person to handle their roles,” Myers said. “[The housework] wasn’t so bad; it’s just the pain of not being able to express love, especially during such a scary time for them. I would sit on our patio and talk to them through the window, but obviously that’s not the same.” Since contracting the disease, Kayla’s parents’ conditions have improved, and they are able to return to their normal lives. In order to ensure quality of life and put this time of worry behind us, the CDC, federal government, state and local officials, friends and family urge us to practice good hygiene habits and practice social distancing. While this may be difficult for social teenagers, social distancing helps “flatten the curve” and stop the spread of COVID-19. We are living in the midst of a historic event. Governments are not treating COVID-19 lightly, and neither is Heritage. For more information and updates, check out iPatriotPost.com.
March 24: Tokyo olympics are delayed until 2021
March 17: France imposes a national lockdown
April 14: President Trump halts funding of the W.H.O.
April 8: Companies plan and start vaccine trials (Graphics/Maia Fernandez Baigun)
Cover Story 17
all about
Covid-19 (Graphics/Maia Fernandez Baigun)
sources Make sure to get important information and updates from reliable sources such as the W.H.O or the CDC.
Stay clean Wash your hands a lot, especially before and after meals with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer regularly.
Prepare. dispose trash properly Used tissues or wipes should not be left on surfaces and should be thrown away immediately after use.
Cover your Mouth When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
ACT. 6 ft
six feet apart
travel warnings
Avoid close contact with people who
If you have traveled to areas where the COVID-19 is circulating or have come in contact with someone who has it, seek medical attention.
avoid touching your face Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands as well as others’.
tiredness Along with muscle pain, patients also experience extreme fatigue as one of the
High fever A very common symptom is also a high fever that doesn’t go down. Fevers over 103º F are considered high fevers.
spray down Avoid sharing cups, plates and utensils and if possible, disinfect all surfaces touched frequently.
Symptoms. Difficulty Breathing In severe cases, shortness of breath in patients with COVID-19 is common.
Heavy coughing Along with shortness of breath, infected patients also experience coughing and dry heaving.
Muscular pain 18 Cover Story
lightheadedness and chills.
When They Were Us:
Mrs. Elise Blum
Have you ever wondered what your teachers were like in high school? In our bimonthly faculty profile, we take a trip back to the past and explore what teachers were like ‘When They Were Us’ (WTWU). Kristen Quesada | Co-Editor-in-Chief pl208162@ahschool.com
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hile students revere Mrs. Elise Blum in her current position as Upper School Principal, she couldn’t have imagined this in her own high school days. “I think it’s funny that I couldn’t wait to get out of high school and then I spent most of my adult life in high school,” Mrs. Blum said. “I definitely wasn’t a wild child, but I also wasn’t a by-the-book type. I don’t think anyone would have thought I would become a principal.” Her time at Staples High School in Westport, Conn. while growing up in the 70s was far different than the high school atmosphere today. “I don’t think I ever got in actual trouble for doing anything in high school, but I probably didn’t work as hard as I could have,” she said. “It wasn’t cool to be smart and work hard like at American Heritage.” Since she’d already completed all of the credits she needed to graduate, Mrs. Blum went to Washington, D.C., as part of a special program and interned for a congressional campaign in the second semester of her senior year with five other students from her school.
Only 17 when she left, she was nonetheless eager to get out of high school. “I was bored, done and ready to do something else, so when I heard that I could go and live in an apartment and work in Washington, D.C., I jumped at the opportunity. We were unpaid but worked like we were,” she said. Mrs. Blum held a job at a local bakery all through high school, eventually getting promoted to assistant manager. “I started out working in the front to selling stuff and ended up going into the back and did a lot of the prep. A lot of my friends worked there -- we all worked together,” she said. “When I was in high school, it wasn’t a matter of if you were going to get a job, it was a matter of when. It was just the ethic and mentality that I don’t think exists so much anymore.” Mrs. Blum and her friends called themselves the six-pack and would enjoy the Connecticut beaches, their favorite spot to hang out. Before the days of Life 360, it was a very different world and parents were more laid back. “Nobody knew where we were; we didn’t have cell phones, and if I went out, my parents didn’t know where I was or what we were doing,” Mrs. Blum said. “My nickname in high school was Elsie, because people would say my name [Elise]
wrong. So, everyone called me Elsie the cow and it turned into L.C., but I was super skinny in high school, so it was in good humor. My car, though, was a really old 1979 Pontiac Phoenix, and when you turned it off it would do this thing called after-knocking and it sounded like it was mooing. I pulled into the parking lot at school once and there were all these people there, and I turned my car off and my car mooed, so everyone was calling me Elsie and mooing at me. I was like, ‘Thanks, everyone,’” Mrs. Blum said. Mrs. Blum majored in sociology and education at Brandeis University and graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. “I was a total political junkie and loved all my social science classes -that’s why I became a social studies teacher,” she said. Growing up in a different generation, Mrs. Blum appreciates that she’s been able to witness how much student life has changed but wouldn’t change her own experience growing up if she could. “If my high school experience was different, I wouldn’t be where I am now, and I’m happy where I am now,” Mrs. Blum said.
Features 19
Back and better than ever: Documentaries
Entertainment
“While marketers funding documentary films and series is not a new phenomenon, the trend appears to have accelerated in recent years as marketers continue to see audiences turn away from ad-supported programming like traditional TV in favor of ad-free platforms like Netflix, and filmmakers see traditional documentary buyers, such as Netflix, spend less to acquire this type of programming,” writer Tim Peterson of Digiday said. The convenience of streaming platforms can explain why documentaries have made a comeback. Viewers and new content serve as the most obvious reasons for this rising popularity. The creation of new streaming
services (such as Disney Plus) forced Netflix to remove copyrighted shows, gave the platform ad no choice but to step up its game with new additions, including documentaries. From exciting TV series such as “Cheer,” with a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, to chilling docuseries like “Don’t F*** With Cats,” these types of shows have regained popularity in entertainment. According to CCN, “Netflix’s users continue to grow despite competitors as it penetrates international markets. Analysts see the stock popping to over $400.” Netflix’s broad audience and well-made content feeds into the docuseries hype.
Noor Sukkar|Staff Writer pl243541@ahschool.com he summer of 2019 sparked the slow resurgence of documentary series. “When I started, documentaries were like the spinach of filmmaking. Nobody cared about them. Nobody wanted to pay for them. They weren’t sexy. Now, we’re in this amazing golden era of documentary and nonfiction storytelling, that just keeps getting more interesting,” Morgan Neville, director and producer, said. His words put into perspective the direction that documentary series are taking. Many factors can be attributed to its rise, including streaming services such as Netflix. Indiewire calls it the “Netflix Effect.”
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(Graphics/Bella Ramirez) (Photo submitted by Daniela Dominguez)
Esquire’s Must-Watch Documentaries e: r Insid “Kille ind of The M n Aaro z” ande Hern
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“Convers ations with a Kil ler: The Ted Bundy Ta pes”
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A Film By Beyoncé”
Diversity past the mirror
Kayla Rubenstein|Online Assistant Editor pl226461@ahschool.com iversity comes in all shapes representation in the movies so them, but even how they view themselves,” and forms, including race and widely watched. Carlos Cortes, author of “The Children gender but also extending into “When 97 percent of our media is 0.05 Are Watching: How the Media Teach socio-economic background, age, phys- percent of the population, we start believ- About Diversity,” said. ical abilities and political and Media representation has helped me learn to love myself despite religious beliefs. As important as the push for of the negativities I might face in my daily life. diversity in race and gender is, in -Daniela Dominguez, junior order for movies and TV shows to truly claim complete diversity, they ing and getting a skewed idea of what soci- R E F L E C T I O N : D a n i e l a must include characters from all different ety really looks like,” nationally acclaimed Dominguez is impacted by bibackgrounds. Name one movie that has psychotherapist Merrill Littleberry said. sexual and Hispanic representaall three: racial diversity, characters with “What we need is a picture of this [diverse] tion in media. These characters help her embrace her backdifferent sexual orientations and proper audience because this is what society ground and feel seen. “Seeing representation of disabilities. Notice how looks like.” representation in people I look difficult it is to procure one? The idea of the majority of movies and up to, like friends or celebrities, It’s no secret the media has a pow- TV shows representing a select physical gives me a sense of validation erful impact on viewers’ perceptions of type doesn’t benefit anyone. “Minorities and comfort,” Dominguez said. themselves and others, especially among realize—supported by research—that the teenagers. However, not everyone has media influence not only how others view Entertainment 21
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obscura: Ashe Maia Fernandez-Baigun | Co-Editor-In-Chief pl212601@ahschool.com
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s the days get longer and warmer, our minds start to wander to summer days. California native Ashlyn Rae Wilson, known as Ashe, captures this sensation with her pop writing and vintage vocals. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Ashe frequented cafes in Nashville before being discovered by Swedish producer Ben Phipps, who asked her to cover his track “Sleep Alone.” In 2016, Ashe released her single “Can’t Hide,” which rose to No.1 on both the U.S. and Global Spotify Viral 50 Charts. Working toward her debut EP, which she released in 2018, Ashe described it as “so much more genuine and authentic’ in an interview with Culture Collide. The EP, titled “The Rabbit Hole,” features seven
tracks ranging in melodies from outgoing and peppy to more slowed-down. She received both positive and negative feedback from critics and with this in mind, Ashe released her second EP, “Moral of the Story: Chapter 1.” During that time, it remained an album with the same positive feedback, but Ashe needed to be “discovered” by the public. In 2020, this came true. When the Netflix original movie, “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” featured her track “Moral of the Story,” (co-written with Finneas O’Connell) her number of listeners and fans grew immensely. The track reached No. 2 on the U.S. and Global Spotify Viral 50 Charts and racked more than 37 million streams on Spotify. As of March 2020, the audio has been used in more than 283,000 videos on TikTok.
A H o u s e DJ-turned-lyricist, Ashe has grown alongside her music and provided another point of view in her assurance that everything will be OK. Although it is not easy to share such delicate details as Ashe does in her songs, it is safe to say that many people are thankful she did.
A look into the college audition process Joanne Haner | Online Editor-In-Chief pl184941@ahschool.com
Generally, students prepare two musical pieces, one contemporary piece and or most students, the college appli- one pre-1965, two contrasting monologues cation process concludes with that (dramatic and comedic) and a classical final “submit” button. For perform- monologue. Senior Kierann (Katie) Haring arts students, however, that process mon applied to 19 schools, 17 of which lasts well beyond application submission held auditions. and into the audition process. “I’m super picky about what I perWhile different schools have varying form. I picked out my pre-1965 piece timelines, the overall journey for a year in advance because I went to a performing arts students vastly summer workshop in New York. I went differs from that of non-arts through tons and tons of pieces to find applicants. Students my monologues. [One of them] is super who hope to obscure, and I ended up doing my AP continu- literature project on it, which helped me develop my character and make a great study- story for colleges,” Harmon said. ing the After selecting their pieces, students perform- then move onto the pre-screening stage of ing arts at the process as early as August or Septema collegiate ber. During pre-screens, students submit level prepare performance videos of their selected piece. audition pieces This year, several schools introduced around April of a system similar to the Common Applicatheir junior year. tion for the pre-screening process, allowing students to focus more on fewer pieces. All BACKSTAGE: Senior of this takes place in addition to academic Julietta Peiretti attended applications. Academic deadlines genersummer programs at NYU ally take place after pre-screen deadlines, Tisch before applying this giving universities from October to March year. (photo submitted/ to notify applicants if they have
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Julietta Pieretti)
passed the pre-screening process and can move on to in-person auditions. Senior Julieta Peiretti received her Early Decision to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in mid-December as an aspiring drama major. NYU expected two contemporary monologues, and since they receive so many applicants, omit the pre-screening process and skip directly to the audition portion. “I tried choosing challenging pieces that made me stand out among others. It’s also important to choose characters that show the biggest range of your capabilities, as well as making sure the piece has a good, driving character arc,” Peiretti said. Since Harmon passed all of her prescreens, she had to audition in front of representatives for each of these schools. Fortunately, events such as Unified exist, which gather several schools in one city for college auditions over several days to minimize student travel costs. At these auditions, applicants sing two or three songs and perform one or two monologues, depending on the school, in addition to a dance call. Once this stage of the process concludes, students finally hear back from universities in late March.
Entertainment 23
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Locked In At State
Sports
Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com
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hile those who closely follow Heritage football may know sophomore Jaeden Kinlock as a linebacker for the Patriots, those among the wrestling team know him as their only qualifier for the 2020 state competition. Kinlock, who sported a 30-4 record by the season’s end, lost only one match in the regular season, one at regionals and two at state. After placing first and second in the district and regional tournament, respectively, Kinlock secured a spot in the state tournament. While the 195-pound sophomore athlete was unable to clinch the title, he remains thankful for having represented Heritage at the state level. “I’m extremely blessed to have been able to make it to the state championships as a sophomore and surrounded by endless support from my teammates, coaches and friends,” Kinlock said.
Though the outcome was not the main goal in his mind, Kinlock said that while he “had a successful season,” there’s “always room for improvement.” “Going into the next wrestling season, I plan to focus on techniques and moves that can help improve my game as well as working hard during the football season to get stronger, faster and more agile,” he said regarding his plans to take his wrestling to the next level. With this past season seeing the dual-sport athlete place his name among the top wrestlers in Florida, Kinlock will hope to continue the success heading into the next wrestling season, both for himself and his team as a whole. “I hope that I was able to bring more attention to wrestling at Heritage so that we can build the program and have more state qualifiers next year,” Kinlock said.
FEELING VICTORIOUS: The referee raises Kinlock’s hand to signal the victory. This was his final match that qualified him for states
(Photo submitted by/ Jaeden Kinlock).
A Love for Lifting: Emma Wong Jack Shechtman | Assistant Sports Editor pl235751@ahschool.com
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hile it is common to associate heavyweight lifting with masculinity and boys trying to get a summer beach body, many girls also work out in the gym just as hard. Junior Emma Wong has been consistently working out for almost a year, leading her to a new passion in life. “I started going to the gym over a year ago, but I wasn’t very consistent. Things changed about 10 months ago when I asked my friend to teach me how to lift, and I’ve been lifting ever since,” Wong said. Staying in a routine and consistently working out in order to reap the benefits of exercise can be challenging. To remain active in the gym, Wong believes having motivation becomes extremely important. “When I first started at the gym, I was mostly interested in being healthier and for my looks, but I always seemed
Photo submitted by/ Emma Wong
to lose motivation,” Wong said. “When I started lifting, the gym became something fun I would look forward to in my day as a way to relieve stress. Nowadays, I’m more motivated to get stronger than anything else.” While Wong used to go to the gym and just run on the treadmill, her routine has changed drastically. “Right now I’m doing a powerlifting program that follows an upper/lower body split, with upper days focusing on my bench press and lower days focusing on squats and deadlifts,” she said. Right now, Wong’s workout regime is solely for her enjoyment, as she doesn’t play any sports. Although that may change as she continues to get stronger and stronger. “Lifting is my main focus so I’m hoping to start competing in powerlifting meets when my numbers improve,” she said.
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B ac k to B ac k to B ac k Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com
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or the third consecutive year, the varsity girls basketball team traveled to Lakeland and secured the victory in the FHSAA Class 5A State Championship game to bring home another banner to Plantation. The Lady Patriots, who went 25-4 on the year, tore through regionals and the state semifinals to reach the state championship, where they defeated the second-seeded Pine Forest Eagles 51-33 to take home the crown. “The biggest factor was the chemistry on the team,” junior forward/center Tatyana Wyche said on the win. “We are all sisters, and we all came together to win. It’s very exciting to be part of the three-peat state champs.” Tatyana Wyche and her sister, junior forward/center Taliyah Wyche, dominated down low for the Patriots for the whole season and played a major role in
With two straight championships under their belt, Coach Greg Farias and the Lady Patriots clinched their third consecutive title in the Class 5a Girls State Tournament the team’s ability to complete the threepeat. Through 28 games, Taliyah Wyche averaged 19 points/14 rebounds while Tatyana Wyche produced a statline of 15 points/17 rebounds before the two combined for 47 of the Patriots 51 points in the state championship. Junior guard Daniella Aronsky also helped carry the Patriots to the promised land, averaging 13 points and dishing out 10 assists per game on the year. “[The championship] means a lot because we have worked so hard for the last three years,” Aronsky said. “It is so nice for our hard work to pay off.” At the helm for the Patriots, coach Greg Farias led the team to total averages of 75.6 PPG, 48.3 RPG, 24.7 APG and 8.3 BPG, all of which finished well above the national average. “[My] overall thoughts for this season is that it was putting in the hard work to show that we are true contenders in spite of those who wanted
FINISHING STRONG: Tatyana (2) and Taliyah (00) Wyche stand tall versus Pine Forest in the state title game, where the twins combined for all but four of the Patriots’ total points in the victory. After securing their third straight championship, the forwards both committed to play at the University of Florida in college. (Photo/Charles Trainor Jr.)
26 Sports
us to fail,” Coach Farias said. “[We] are looking forward to building on this legacy and developing the younger players who have big shoes to fill.” The Patriots will head into the offseason with a third ring in their collection and will look to add a fourth one in the 2021 campaign. “It’s unbelievable that five years ago, before I started, the girls basketball team was the only one at Heritage that had not won a state title,” Coach Farias said. “We have put in blood, sweat and tears to get to this point and our legacy is based on a team and family effort. Completing the three-peat shows [our] commitment and growth.”
Stepping into the Spotlight Sammy Rosenthal | Sports Editor pl218212@ahschool.com
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After a strong season, this up and coming freshman running back duo will look to dominate the backfield for years to come
aunched into a sizable role following the graduation of former Heritage backs Tyler Jones and Lavelton Williams, freshman running back Mark Fletcher (right) received the second-most carries by the team’s backs and will look to build on his season in the coming years as one of the Patriots’ top rushers. “I plan to continue to work hard and stay focused,” Fletcher said in regards to how he plans to improve his game. “The life I live motivates me. I want to be in a greater situation than I am right now.” In the 2019 season, Fletcher converted 37 carries for 319 yards and two touchdowns through nine of the team’s 12 games. His carries as a running back ranked second only to Heritage’s top rusher and current senior Carlson Joseph, who racked up a total of 104 carries during the year. Fletcher also doubled as a strong pass catcher out of the backfield, hauling in 14 catches for 188 yards and three touchdowns. With Joseph graduating, though, Fletcher will seek to help fill the vacancy
in the Patriots’ backfield come next fall. The young halfback has already received offers from numerous schools, such as the University of Minnesota, Toledo and Tennessee.
(Photos/Alycia Cypress)
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s for fellow freshman running back Jerry Dinkins (left), another strong season seems to be awaiting in the future. In his freshman year, though he only received 25 carries in just seven games, Dinkins made the most of his opportunities, finishing the season tied for the third most rushing touchdowns on the team with three. “I plan to improve my game by just working out and just working on the little things; keeping my body in shape, studying my plays, getting faster and stronger,” Dinkins said. Dinkins will look to assume a larger role next year, forming the other half of the sophomore running back duo heading into next fall. “My family really motivates me to do better every day and it always helps me because every time I step on the field I think about what my dad or mom said,” Dinkins said. “Me knowing I can get my family that big time life, meaning they are not working anymore means that I need to work harder on the field and in the classroom.”
Kayla in Sports: Trouble keeping track
(Photo/Maia Fernandez Baigun)
Kayla Rubenstein | Asst. Online Editor-in-Chief pl226461@ahschool.com
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ecovering from two broken wrists, I decided to get back into “Kayla in Sports” with a sport that didn’t put direct pressure on them: track. As someone who avoids running like the plague, I nervously anticipated whether or not I would pass out during the twohour practice. I began practice with a “light” three laps around the track, pretending like I wasn’t already winded. Alternating between jogging and stretching, a group of athletes and I warmed up as we awaited coach Greg Barnes’ instruction. After a break, during which I guzzled water like I had run a marathon instead of three 400-yard laps, both the boys and
girls teams convened to work on muscular stretches. Coach Barnes must have seen my rosy face as he had me do a simplified workout. Rather than complete the typical beginner’s practice of 10 sprints back and forth intermixed with ab work, I proudly ran back and forth six times and evaded the dreaded crunches. To a beginner, Coach Barnes recommends evaluating your personal interests. “You really have to like running because track is nothing but running. If you don't like running, this is not the sport for you cause it's all we do,” Coach Barnes said. “Practice consists of running; everything is running. For a beginner, it's going to be tough.”
And Coach Barnes was right; as I went to sit down the next day in class I discovered soreness in places that hadn’t been in the three months I’ve taken a hiatus from working out because of my injury. My practice with the track team truly enlightened me on the phrase “my sport is your sport’s punishment.”
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