WINTER 2017
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Hello. For 10 years, Jump Street has published and™ magazine, the regions only magazine written by teens for teens. High school interns write articles, collect and evaluate submissions, and design the layout for each issue of the magazine. and™ magazine is looking for interns and submissions, including written and visual pieces. To be considered for an internship or publication contact Jeff Copus, Art Education Director, Jump Street at 717.238.1887 or jcopus@jumpstreet.org
Students from throughout the entire Central Pennsylvania region submit their work for their peers to read, and have invested their time in writing pieces to benefit fellow students who follow the magazine. The exceptional work of teenagers contributes to the discourse created by journalism and art, as well as trains students to participate in the future, making it a necessary component of our local culture. We aspire to provide an outlet for students to express opinions, promote ideas, and share their art with readers throughout the region. I hope you enjoy the work of your friends and peers in our magazine, and that you are able to appreciate the unique artwork the teenagers of our area are able to provide. Sincerely, Megan Waardenburg Editor
AND MAGAZINE PUBLISHER Jeff Copus jcopus@jumpstreet.org COVER ART Jenelle Leib CONTRIBUTORS Megan Waardenburg, Julia Toth, Brooke Ryan, Morgan Hanna, Brilee Carey AND MAGAZINE MISSION STATEMENT 1. To provide opportunities to regional teens to participate in all phases of the magazine publishing process, from writing and editing to graphic design, photography and marketing. Area professionals will mentor the students, providing them with marketable and transferable skills. 2. To provide teens with a magazine that promotes healthy lifestyles and highlights the tremendous opportunities available to them in Central Pennsylvania as students and future employees. The views expressed by the contributors of and™ magazine are not necessarily those of and™ publisher or Jump Street staff. We feel that it is essential for teens to have a place to express their opinions about their world.
JUMP STREET 21 S 3rd Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 1.717.238.1887 www.jumpstreet.org Jump Street is a nonprofit community arts organization that is dedicated to developing education and economic opportunities in the arts for all ages. Jump Street uses the arts to provide valuable career education and transferable workforce development skills to young people. Additionally, Jump Street provides arts programs for youth and adults, arts-based community service programs, grants to artists, exhibitions, and technical assistance to artists and arts organizations.
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Thank you for reading our newest edition of and™ Magazine! As senior editor of the magazine, I strongly believe that displaying exemplary work from students in the area is imperative to fostering a love of art, and this is what we aim to do through our magazine. Many students have come to view writing as purely academic, and the restriction of writing to research papers and essays has made students associate it with tedious requirements. Through the production of this magazine, we encourage students to engage in diverse forms of writing such as poetry, short stories, or articles of interest. Writers and artists alike are provided the opportunity to share their work with their neighbors and peers, which is often not provided outside of educational institutions until college or beyond.
SENIOR EDITORS Miranda Hallas, Kya Wanner
Dear Readers,
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table of contents
table of contents
An Unlikely Sport by Brilee Carey // page 6 Sports Opportunities by Ben Egenrieder // page 8 TEDxHarrisburg by Megan Waardenburg // page 9
Why Language Education is Essential by Megan Waardenburg // page 10 Getting Ahead for AP Exams by Megan Waardenburg // page 12
A Time: A Short Story by Lydia Hulshizer // page 18 Operation Winter Break by Carrie McDonough// page 20 ‘Tis the Season to Stay... Inside? by Biridiana Lua // page 21 Running Wild: A Short Story by Lydia Hulshizer // page 22 African American Art Since 1950: Exhibit at the Susquehanna Art Museum by Megan Waardenburg // page 24
and magazine
page 16 // The Value in Classic Literature by Megan Waardenburg
page 27 // Adams County Chorus Festival by MyKenzie Hoffman page 29 // Poetry Out Loud Regional Finals by Megan Waardenburg page 30 // Early 2017 in Astronomy by Megan Waardenburg
winter 2017
table of contents table of contents
page 14 // 5 Local Coffee Shops to Try This Winter by Megan Waardenburg
AN UNLIKELY SPORT
Brilee Carey
Winter Sports. Most people think of the main sports such basketball, wrestling, or an indoor version of an outdoor sport such as soccer or field hockey. For me however, my mind goes to an indoor version of another activity that many people do not even consider a sport, marching band. One form of indoor marching band in indoor color guard, or indoor guard. Before you dismiss it, hear me out. Indoor guard requires immense skill, endurance, and effort to do correctly. When one looks seriously into this activity, they can see that indoor color guard should not be taken lightly.
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Indoor guard. Now, if you think of color guard as you see in a regular high school marching band, depending on how big your high school is, it may be something that just seems like a bunch of pretty people running around with colorful flags on a field. At some schools, students can join a color guard without an audition process as long as they are willing to learn and work at improving. For other more rigorous color guards, there may be an audition process before someone can join. The toughest schools may have two indoor teams, one for students who are ready to compete and a second team that is for students to learn and improve their skills. However, no matter what kind of team a person joins, it requires a lot of work, just like any other sport.
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Skills. Ever sport requires them, but what is so special about the skills used in indoor guard that it can be considered by some to be a sport? To be an active member of an indoor guard, a person must be physically fit. Many members do strength training outside of the guard to stay fit for the season. This helps them to be able to toss 6’ flags, rifles, or sabres high into the air with precise control of how many revolutions the object is doing, and with exact control of how high the object is going. Many guard members also do endurance training, which can help them to perform for up to ten minutes without
becoming tired, or flexibility training, which is sometimes necessary to be able to do certain tricks and tosses. Another underrated yet very important skill for an indoor guard member is to be able to portray the emotions of the show through just facial expressions and body movement. A guard member must be an actor almost as much as a member of a play. So if you’ve read this and think indoor guard might be for you, what else should you know? Just like any other sport, indoor guard is definitely a serious commitment. Many guards practice at least three times a week and have at least three competitions during their season. Also like many other sports, indoor guard has a risk for injuries. Bumps and bruises are not uncommon for members of a color guard, and concussions, while unusual, are always a risk. Color guard also requires more muscles than most people think, so if you decide to join, don’t worry if you’re sore for a few days. It should go away soon. Indoor guard is a wonderful activity to participate in. Not only will it build a person’s endurance and muscle, but it is quite possible that a person could meet quite a lot of new friends at an indoor guard. Don’t just take my word for it, go try it out for yourself!
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LOCAL SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES Ben Egenrieder Sports are a great way to relieve stress, build character, and develop your physical fitness. Schools do a great job at providing opportunities to students to play a variety of sports. The issue is too many sports get skipped over. Sports like handball, water polo, ice hockey, and many others are only played in a handful of schools, some sports like this are not offered at any schools. Ice hockey is a big passion in my family. My dad, brother, and I play in a league with our relatives and friends. My mom and sister ice skate better than 90% of the people in my school. Due to this passion, it is so depressing to me that no schools in the area offer ice hockey to their students. No schools in Adams County offer ice hockey. The closest school to offer ice hockey is Cumberland Valley.
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Ice hockey is even a pretty followed sport and a team sport, which makes it even worse that schools do not offer it. Think about all the less recognized sports like, snowboarding, competitive shooting, rowing, and so many more sports that kids have interest in, but schools forget about.
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Now comes the great news! Students can make opportunities for themselves and others to play the sports they are passionate in. Schools want to please their students and help keep them healthy. Due to this schools allow students to start clubs and extracurricular activities. Let’s say a student wants to start an after-school men’s volleyball team. The first step is talking to administration and the athletic director. They are there to help students and will want to help you get your club going. Once
the plan is set for your club, you need to get organized. Organizing a club might mean setting up time spots, teams to play, or even how to raise money for the activity if need be. Setting up a club takes up a lot of time and effort, students should be prepared for at least one full year to develop the club, due to the process and planning the club takes. The best part is, clubs like these are already set up for students. Some high schools and most colleges have clubs and intramural teams for students to participate in after school. All students must do is sign up and then they can participate. I have even heard of Quidditch (from the Harry Potter series, played like capture the flag) being offered at several universities. If students want to get away from school or do not feel like setting up a club, there are many other opportunities too. Look around for organizations that offer sports that interest you. For me Twin Ponds and York City Ice Arena are my saviors. I have played in several ice hockey leagues there and have loved it. They help me play a sport that is not offered to me and I am very grateful for that. Organizations like these are set up everywhere. If you are a great shot with your compound bow and want to try competitive shooting, look up local 3D shoots. Any sport can be found if you look hard enough or are willing to put in the work.
TEDXHARRISBURG
by megan Waardenburg
Most adults, when reflecting on their college experience, say the element of college they miss the most is the environment filled with opportunities to learn. As students, we take advantage of the extensive resources allocated to our education. Outside school, people don’t have nearly as many. Students and adults alike have taken to TED Talks, live talks recorded and shared online in videos from a company dedicated to delivering concise and effective talks focused on technology, entertainment, and design, by individuals who are passionate about their topics spreading an understanding of their ideas. Local events, called TEDx events, are organized by residents of the host city to allow locals to speak to their own cities. The organizer of TEDxHarrisburg, Ashleigh Pollart, took interest in TED Talks, and began the process of registering for the event. The process included obtaining a license, creating a committee of volunteers, and reviewing applications for speakers. Speakers were narrowed down based on their public speaking abilities, the fit of their topic into the overarching theme, and the combination of opinions from the committee. The list was narrowed down from approximately 65 applicants to 12, who were granted the opportunity to speak to the audience at the event. The common theme between all the talks was Harrisburg’s ability to thrive. “It’s what we want Harrisburg to do,” Pollart expressed in regards to her reason for choosing the theme. The goal is to encourage members of the community to aim for success. Harrisburg, in past decades, has been viewed from surrounding areas as dangerous or disappointing. On the contrary, Harrisburg is experiencing a renaissance, entailing a growth in culture from local art to improving education. The TEDxHarrisburg conference featured 12 individuals influencing and encouraging this movement in the city. Speakers ranged from educators to entrepreneurs, and from authors to pastors. The lineup represented a diverse selection of people contributing to the community in Harrisburg with a variety of professions and viewpoints. An emphasis was placed on professional development, as it often applies to workers regardless of their occupation.
Through watching TED Talks, students can discover their potential for success, and observe the success of others who had once been in the same position. Depending on the licensing at TED, there will likely be another TEDxHarrisburg next year, so make sure to keep an eye out before it sells out! TEDx has helped to gather innovative individuals from the area, so represent young adults and teenagers in the community by getting in events similar to TEDx. Visit our website for an overview of each talk, and a quick link to each talk.
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The TEDx event displays speakers who have committed to their work and succeeded in improving their fields. While most of us may not be in the workforce just yet, we can benefit from these talks, particularly those taking place in our own area, just as much, if not more, than adults. The speakers share stories of overcoming intense challenges and create influential programs and products. Being driven towards education is one of the most powerful traits a person can possess, and TED Talks provide students inspiration to devote themselves to learning both inside and outside of school. Pollart aims to inspire young adults and teenagers by posing her introspective question; “Where would I be today if I had learned languages instead of watched TV?”.
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WHY LANGUAGE EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL
by Megan Waardenburg
We all know a little Spanish. Maybe you know how to say hello in a few languages. Why is it that throughout the United States, very few people actually aim to become fluent in Spanish, much less any language? The language education system that is currently in place is adequate, but so few students take advantage of it and strive for fluency.
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Most of the time, students will fulfill their language requirements for their high school or college, which is often about two years, and opt for classes they believe will be more beneficial to their education. As a result of this, the US Census reports only about 1% of adults in the United States are bilingual. This rate is dramatically different than our European and Australian counterparts. The demand for multilingual workers in the international economy is increasing, and American students are at a disadvantage without comparable linguistic knowledge. In order to bring about the necessary change, we need to know why languages are imperative to the global community and instill a desire in students for communicating with people worldwide.
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Our language education system provides a quality path to fluency, but the issue lies in a lack of drive to attain language skills, as well as a bias in languages that are taught. What languages have you taken classes for in school? Which languages do you want to learn? Chances are, the answer is a European language. Most schools offer three main languages: Spanish, French, and German.
Across the country, 95% of language students are learning a European based language, according to The Atlantic. Of course, there is no issue with learning a European language, in fact it is encouraged. However, many African and Asian languages are being neglected despite their growing presence, and the huge numbers of people that speak them globally. There are more Hindi speakers in the world than French speakers, and more Arabic than German. A major catalyst to the mindset of focusing on these languages is applicability in daily life and difficulty due to divergence from the Latin alphabet. Most students are encouraged to take Spanish due to our proximity to Spanish speaking countries. The reality is that the global economy and rising need for diplomats require more diversity in language speakers. Alongside this, European languages are easier for English speakers to learn. Languages such as German and Dutch are the easiest, as they are from the same language branch. While Spanish, French, and Italian are a little harder, they all come from the common Latin roots. While learning different languages is difficult, the need for them is higher than ever. Achieving language proficiency rates as high as Europe is, of course, a great idea in theory, but not everyone is able to see the results of focused language study as easily as Europeans. It’s easy to dismiss language skills as being inapplicable to a number of professions, since most of North America speaks English.
In order to stay on top of language education, the easiest way is to enroll in your school’s language program. Speaking a language with others and receiving feedback is a huge advantage, and classes make this a necessity. Online programs such as Duolingo or Babble allow users to learn grammatical concepts and vocabulary, which is a great place to start. Ultimately, the best way to test your skills is to talk to a native speaker. They can teach you
colloquial phrases, pronunciations, and point out your mistakes. While it takes effort to learn new languages, it is not by any means impossible. In Europe, schools require students to take multiple years of multiple languages, and have a thriving language education field. Students are mostly offered courses in the languages of their bordering countries. Language teachers are in high demand, allowing more teachers to teach more languages. Students begin courses at ages as early as 6, while in the U.S. begin at about 12. The European language education system is enviable, but it exists out of dire need. Most European countries are about the size of individual states, meaning in order to communicate across borders, it is necessary to learn new languages. Our system was created out of minor need, making it less rigorous. Non-English speaking countries seem so far away from where we are, but the globalizing cultures and workplaces are showing us the dire need for multilingualism. Linguistic skills benefit our own brains and our own opportunities, but the effects of what we can do with them allows us to connect with others worldwide.
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Language education benefits students seeking a job in highly diverse fields, as well as students who pursue jobs requiring skills correlating with language teaching. Students pursuing any job centered around government, business, education, and entertainment are likely to use their language skills in work, and they can mean the difference between struggling for a job or having a thriving career. For other professions, language learning can improve knowledge of a native language, as well as mathematics. The linear script of languages such as Chinese and Turkish make it easier for students to count and understand arithmetic concepts. Language classes often consist of geography and history lessons concerning areas where each language is spoken, giving students an advantage when learning these concepts in other courses. Multilinguals benefit from their abilities in more ways than educational credentials. Speaking a new language provides travel opportunities, and allows people to experience other cultures first hands in more in depth ways than those who can’t communicate.
Top Ten most widely spoken languages: by number of Native speakers 1. Chinese 2. Spanish 3. English 4. Hindi 5. Arabic 6. Portuguese 7. Bengali 8. Russian 9. Japanese 10. Punjabi
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Getting Ahead for AP Exams by Megan Waardenburg
AP classes are difficult. They’re designed this way to push your limits and see what you can do. In order to succeed in them, students often need to change their study habits and methods. Most students won’t succeed on academic ability alone. Exams seem a long way out, but they will come sooner than they seem, but most first year AP students don’t know where to start.
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Try new study methods If you’re struggling with your current study method, perhaps it’s time to troubleshoot. Taking notes straight out of a textbook without organization works for some people, but it may not always be the most time efficient or effective way to study. One of the most widely used methods, Cornell notes, helps to organize notes in a legible format that makes it easier to review during test time. Reading the textbook as if it were a novel can also help you retain more information. Investing your attention in the content as if it were actually entertaining can help you remember more. Alongside this, try putting comprehension questions at the end of certain sections during your initial read through. Going back and answering them at test time
lets you know what you need to study and which areas you know well. Try new diagrams Though making diagrams seems rather tedious, but they are the best way to summarize material in a concise way to streamline the study process. Mind maps, or as we called them in elementary school, spider graphs, help to connect concepts for visual learners. Cause and effect diagrams can help aid comprehension of historical events. Though it may be time consuming, putting effort into making notes legible and neat can take you a long way. Reviewing notes before test time is a hundred times easier if you can read your own writing. Make it easier to focus If we’re being honest, so many of us set up our study space and get out a textbook only to open Snapchat after every paragraph. Though sometimes your phone can help you study by playing music or allowing you to ask other students about assignments, putting your phone away will help you get more done. If you’re really tempted, leave it in another room. If you’re tired of studying in the
Websites to help you focus
www.rainymood.com- plays rainstorm sounds to provide ambient noise www.forestapp.cc- blocks distracting sites and sets a timer for study https://tomato-timer.com- sets up a Pomodoro cycle for effective studying https://momentumdash.com- application to help organize tasks on your dash www.quizlet.com- user provided flash cards, practice tests, and games www.khanacademy.org- provides videos for reviewing common topics
Use apps and websites created for students Help yourself focus by playing ambient noise such as rain sounds or coffee shop sounds if you need noise to focus. Using programs such as rainymood.com, or Coffivity can keep the sounds going without disrupting your focus to make it replay. Certain programs can help time you and encourage more focused study time. Forest is an app that blocks websites and times progress by growing a virtual tree in the corner of your screen. Momentum is a chrome extension that tailors your home screen to your tasks. Technology is a huge distractor to productivity, but using it wisely can improve your study. Outside resources Specifically for AP courses, study books can help provide information the teacher didn’t cover, or refresh your memory on key concepts and examples. Companies
such as Barrons and Kaplan make study guides specific to each course, providing students with all the curriculum necessary to score well on the exam, as well as instruction on writing and open ended strategies. Online resources, though less credible, can provide a more understandable version of the material. Quizlet, a flash card sharing website, provides definitions for key terms in almost any course. Each set is created by students or teachers, making them more bearable than College Board’s resources. Of course, the widely loved Crash Course videos, filmed by John and Hank Green, are based on AP curriculum, but can help with any related course. These videos make the content more relatable, and certainly more memorable. Practice Essentially, very few students can succeed on an exam without putting in the time and effort to learn the material. Yes, being a genius helps, but work ethic can take you from scoring a 1 to a 5. Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher for practice tests or essay prompts, or for feedback for your essays or open ended questions. Making sure you’re on the right track in your writing is especially important around AP exam time when you have only 45 minutes for each essay. The night before your test, practice will have been the most helpful method you’ve used throughout the entire year.
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same place, try changing the scenery. Working at a coffee shop or library can help you focus more than your distraction-filled room. Even though it may be comfortable, avoid working on your bed at all costs. You will either feel tired when doing your homework, or you will not be able to sleep at night since your mind will begin to associate your bed with homework.
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5 Coffee Shops to Visit this Winter by Megan Waardenburg Coffee is great all year round, but winter is the best time to visit local shops in the area. Winter allows for more seasonal coffee and a better atmosphere in each shop. Central PA is home to tons of high quality shops, but the ones listed below are the ones I most highly recommend.
The Midtown Scholar ($) Midtown Harrisburg The Midtown Scholar used to be a movie theater in the 1920’s, but has since been renovated into a bookstore-coffeehouse hybrid. Located across from the Broad Street Market, it’s not difficult to get to the shop. Inside, there are shelves upon shelves of books ranging from Renaissance art to philosophy to media or film. Regardless of your interests, you’re guaranteed to find a book you can spend a few hours with. There are multiple levels of books, interesting artwork, and of course, wonderful coffee. The coffee and tea are all organic, and though there is not as much variety as many of the other coffee shops listed, it’s definitely high quality. If you’re looking for a shops to study at, this is the perfect option. The shop also hosts poetry readings, book clubs, meet ups, and other events you may be interested in if you’re a coffee shop dweller. You will like this coffee shop if: you love books (which why wouldn’t you?), quiet jazz music, organic coffee and tea, and meeting other book and coffee lovers. What I recommend: Chai Latte
Little Amps Coffee Roasters ($$) One in Uptown Harrisburg, Two Downtown There are three different Little Amps locations: one on Green Street, one on State Street, and the other on Strawberry Square. The shop is focused on the cultivation of the coffee beans, making for fresh tasting coffee. Each of the locations has a distinct classic coffeehouse atmosphere, as well as amazing coffee. Each shop sells coffee beans to bring home for people who prefer to drink from home. Music enthusiasts can also buy vinyl records at the shops.
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You will like this coffee shop if: you like vintage things, simplistic study spaces, and natural tasting coffee, and a generally aesthetically pleasing environment.
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What I recommend: Uptown Ginger Brown
Juice and Java ($$) Mechanicsburg Juice and Java, formerly known as Smoothie Joe’s, is a casual cafe focusing on serving fresh food and beverages. This shop is a great place to look at local art or use the computers available to catch up on some homework. Since the cafe is not necessarily a quiet place, it’s the perfect place to meet with friends or a study group without disrupting anyone else’s quiet. You will like this coffee shop if: you like upbeat music, noisy cafes, drinks other than coffee, a variety in food options, and a relaxed, casual atmosphere. What I recommend: Strawberry Colada Smoothie (not coffee, but I promise it won’t disappoint) Game Table Cafe ($) Mechanicsburg In an age of technology, we have forgotten the enjoyment of board games. The Game Table Cafe is devoted to providing an environment to gather with friends around a game to learn new games and interact with other people. The cafe focuses on serving local and fresh food from full meals to coffee. Most days there are events or competitions for people who want to meet with other game enthusiasts. The workers are experts on nearly every game available, and can teach you how to play. If you’re looking for a cafe to unwind with friends and have some social time, this is the cafe to go to. You will like this coffee shop if: you like more energetic environments, playing board or card games, fresh local food, and a vibrant setting. What I recommend: Hazelnut Latte
Caffe 101 ($$) Boiling Springs Right beside the Boiling Springs Clock Tower and Children’s Lake, the environment of the cafe is relaxing and is a great place to watch nature while you enjoy your coffee. Before winter comes, people like to feed the ducks by the lake, which is an event in itself. The coffee options are not as abundant as some others, but it is just as high quality. As one of the less urban coffee shops, this cafe is a peaceful place to study or to have some quiet time to yourself. You will like this coffee shop if: you like quiet shops, nature surroundings, and small town independent businesses. What I recommend: Mexican Spiced Cocoa
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Whenever you find yourself wanting to get out of the house or to find coffee better than what you can make in the Keurig, try supporting local shops by going out to visit. Coffee shops can help you study, meet friends, or even just relax, especially during the winter months, so next time you’re looking for a nice place to go, try branching out from the closest Starbucks, and give some small shops a try.
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THE VALUE IN CLASSIC LITERATURE by Megan Waardenburg We all read our first classic novel around seventh or eighth grade. Maybe it was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Lord of the Flies, or Treasure Island; regardless of the novel, the experience typically leads students away from wanting to read classic novels. Most students complain that the plot is too boring at the beginning, the language is too complex, or there are just better books out there to read. Classic novels are regarded with such high prestige for good reason; they are often the stories with the strongest social commentary, the thickest and most original plots, the most eloquent writing, or the greatest effects on the world during their times. Though these impactful novels are essential to a well rounded education, students often struggle to understand or enjoy the story.
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The choices complex writers make often are incomprehensible to us, but students typically find it rewarding to fit the pieces of the story together. It’s easy to get lost in a sea of symbols, themes, motifs, and allusions when all you’re looking for is a plot. This is the primary reason students either love or hate The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Novels like Gatsby depend on the reader’s ability to understand symbolism in order to understand the plot. Students who enjoy interpreting these elements while others would rather stick to the plot. In order to ease your way into appreciating literature, try reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, or Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
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Distinct language can be difficult to decipher, and can scare students away from reading certain books. The most infamous pieces featuring this language are typically written by Shakespeare. William Shakespeare’s distinct Elizabethan era language is tremen-
dously difficult for 21st century teenagers to understand, but most students find the plots to be some of their favorites in English classes. To experiment with Shakespearean language, try reading Macbeth to start. On the other end of the spectrum, Mark Twain’s American southern dialect is difficult for students to read, since the spelling and colloquial terms are vastly different from the current dialect we speak. Sandra Bohrer, the AP Literature teacher at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School, claims that she sees the best results from students who are willing to decipher the words and immerse themselves in the setting. To start improving your ability to comprehend difficult content, try starting with And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, or Animal Farm by George Orwell. Though classic literature is difficult to understand, there are immense benefits to investing time in them, particularly for students. Students can easily improve their vocabularies through classic books. In particular, Shakespeare’s plays display nearly 2,000 new words created during his time. Reading commonly used English words in their origin can provide a greater understanding of our own language, and make it easier to use them in daily life. Classic novels allow readers to look at history from inside the minds of its most influential contributors. In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, readers learn about the Victorian era through the eyes of Austen’s non-conventional protagonist, or about the Middle Ages England through The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. Reading novels from distinct historical eras offer opportunities to see the society at the time in the purest primary sources existing. Novels such as A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and The Count
A significant number of stories we read and watch today are influenced by classic novels. Film adaptations of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,and The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. Modernized adaptations have grown into a major movie genre throughout the past fifty years. Popular animated movies such as The Lion King, which is based off of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and Easy A, based off of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, use these classic stories to tell the story to people who will likely never pick up the book. If the story is so compelling that an entire industry is focusing on telling them to us, why aren’t we putting effort into reading them? The stories we read allow us to see how far we have come as a society, or how far we haven’t come. Through retellings of these stories, people miss this historical
component of the stories, but still allow us to learn the same stories. Classic novels are hard to read; we all know it. The challenging task of completing a classic novel on your own is rewarding, but it’s generally difficult to know where to start. Just pick up a book, and keep reading. It takes willpower to keep reading when the story goes downhill, but it will be immensely rewarding to reach the point in the book where everything comes together. Discuss the story with other people, even if they’re not familiar with the book. Bohrer says she has had students create opinions they had never realized they held through discussing. Classic novels are not held in such reverence for no reason. I urge you not to dismiss novels due to a negative experience in school. We don’t look at a painting and rule out all other works of art due to one unfavorable piece of work. Literature is a form of art that expresses human experiences in a unique way, and it’s important that we make an effort to keep them alive. These novels are the best stories our society has had to offer throughout the history of the world, and we can all benefit from reading at least one.
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of Monte Cristo are some of the most popular for readers interested in history. Bohrer implores her students to embrace the idea that they are connecting with a story written by someone possibly hundreds of years ago, and reacting the same way others did during its time. The timeless nature of classic novels allow people from every time period to embrace the human experience from the same stories.
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A TIME by Lydia Hulshizer
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun: a time to be born and a time to die…
had in my head. The Brexton that was so perfect. So perfect that he was unrealistic. So perfect, but so flawed.”
I repeated it in my head, the poem the therapist had given me. It was the only thing keeping me together at this point in time. The only thing keeping me from bursting into flames and crumbling into ashes on the cold pavement of this desolate city street.
…a time to mourn and a time to dance…
…a time to plant and a time to uproot… It was a problem I had. A problem of trusting people, always looking for the best in them. My heart loved the idea of second chances. And third chances, and fourths, and infinites. Redemption. That was my problem, my fatal flaw. Believing in people. Horribly flawed people. Because when I had first looked into those blue eyes of his I had thought I had seen the sky swirled all together into one beautiful vortex. And now I realize…I realize they never were the sky, never were the waters that could cleanse your soul and make you whole again. They were ice, cold hard ice. Eyes that would pierce you through to the heart, numbing you to their painful intentions until it was too late. …a time to kill and a time to heal… I stared at him standing there on that dark, rain soaked street. There he was the glow of a single street light at the far corner illuminating his figure. There he was. The boy that had my heart and had thrown it to the wind. The boy that had kissed me with deceitful lips, and then stabbed me in the back. The boy that wouldn’t apologize. The boy that had lied straight to my face. The boy that told me I was the only one he wanted, but would not give up any part of himself to have me. The boy stuck in his ways. The boy who was slowly destroying me, and yet all I wanted to do was save him, keep his head above the waters I was drowning in. There he was. The boy who I would let do it over and over again if I could just keep him as mine. …a time to break down and a time to build up, a time to weep and a time to laugh…
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“I think I liked the idea of you,” I started. My voice tried to catch in my throat, claw its way back down, as if afraid of the wind dancing dangerously around us, but I dragged it upward and onward forcing it to march on into the storm.
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“I think I liked the Brexton I
He wouldn’t even look at me, just stared at the raindrops bouncing off the cracked pavement. …a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing… “I love you,” I whispered. It was so quiet I didn’t know if he had heard me over the faint patter of rain. I was scared; scared to say those words because they are dangerous words. Words that could both heal or kill. They are like throwing all the cards of your soul out on the table, and asking to have all the hearts tour to pieces as you watched helpless without an ace to defend yourself. …a time to search and a time to give up… He looked up then, stared at me, and I saw fear well up in those blue gems. Those stormy eyes. Eyes that held so many memories. So many tragedies. “I love you,” I said again this time without holding back. I almost expected the world to shake in shock of my proclamation, but the rain just kept pouring down without interruption. “Annable please…” he begging, “Please don’t…” …a time to keep and a time to throw away… “But I need to love myself too because it was me. It was me that my heart beat for first, and if I stay with you then I don’t know
… a time to tear and a time to mend… I could see it there. The oceans were forming behind his crystal blues as the ice slowly melted into raging waves. “I love you. I will always love you, but I can’t do this anymore.” “Please don’t. Annable we can try again please…” “This isn’t what I want!” I screamed. My voice echoed down the empty street bouncing its way down and around all the abandoned residences as if trying to find a home. An open door. Somewhere safe. I couldn’t tell if it was just rain running down my face anymore, “Do you really think this is what I wanted?! This was never what I wanted! I just wanted you! That is all I ever wanted! But look where we are now Brexton, look where we are now! And whose fault is that?” He opened up his mouth to say something, but nothing came out, and for the first time I saw the boy that always had answers, absolutely speechless. …a time to be silent and a time to speak… “We are cursed. We both know it. It’s like the whole universe is against us. Every time it seems like it will be fine the world hits us with another sucker punch.” It was so true, but a truth neither of us wanted to fully except. “Annable please. You can’t. I need you,” he was grasping at straws, “Annable I…” “No!” I screamed, begged, “Please. Please don’t make this harder than it has to be. Don’t tell me you need me, that I am the only one for you. That we can make this right again because we can’t. We never could. Don’t tell me. Don’t…don’t tell me you love me too,” my vision was
blurring, “You have already hurt me enough. Brexton, you broke me. All this…” I threw my hands up in the air waving at the dark world around me, letting the rain pelt my upturned face, “…all this madness broke me, and if you did ever truly love me you would realize this is the only way. You can’t fix me. You never could fix me. Never could make me complete. I have to do that myself. Alone. You have to let me go.” …a time to love and a time to hate… He stared at me then, dropped his head and stared at the ground again. The rain droplets ran down his hood, racing each other, only to fall to their deaths at the brim. “Then go,” he said, his voice quivered ever so slightly, “Just go. Goodbye Annable Dane.” …a time for war and a time for peace… “Goodbye Brexton Beers.” And that’s when I turned and ran into the darkness before I could see the boy I loved, the steel wall I had known, crumble into a storm of tears after I had broken his heart to save him. To save all the people I loved. To save myself. You must understand, I was a time bomb ticking on to my own destruction one second at a time. And if I was going to blow to smithereens I would do it where I couldn’t hurt anyone else. Where I could do it on my own terms. I let the tears come as I ran, let them mix with the tears the sky was crying for us, because if we are honest fairy tale endings are in story books for a reason because that is what they are. Stories. Fantasy. Fake. Reality hurts. Good doesn’t always win. You don’t always get your answers. The prince doesn’t always save the princess. People die. Good people. True love gets broken because sometimes people are made to fall in love, but never be a forever. True love has its roots in time and time is unforgiving. So here we all are. Broken children running through time lost in its never ending chaos. All broken hearts and shattered memories fashioned into one beautifully terrifying mosaic. Sometimes you have to end one story of your life and close the cover on it. Sometimes you have to begin writing a new story hoping that fate has pity on you, and, perhaps, this time, in its pity it will give you an ending worth the time it took to get there. An ending that leaves your soul at peace. There is a time. A time for everything under this brutal sun.
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how long it will keep doing that.”
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Operation Winter Break by Carrie McDonough
You wake up one cold, wintery morning and peer out the window. The woods and grass are covered with a thick blanket of heavy snow. Trapped in the warmth of your home, you are stuck contemplating how you will spend the day. You grumble with boredom as you assume your position on the couch to watch the same movies you’ve seen on Netflix a hundred times. Presumably, this is how you’ll spend the entirety of your day, since there’s nothing else to do when it snows… Or is there? Make Your Own Christmas Gifts While snow days can be overwhelmingly boring if you don’t know how to spend them, the holiday season can provide you with plenty of ideas. Making your own Christmas gifts to give someone may seem childish but, with the right materials, you could brighten up someone’s day. All you need to create a personal gift for someone you love is a solid colored Christmas ornament, acrylic paint, and paintbrushes. This activity is appropriate for all ages and, if you have children, this is the perfect way to get their imagination active on a dull day. Whether you’re painting a cartoon character or a personalized design, your gift is guaranteed to be truly unique. If you want to add some glamor to the ornaments, just dip them in a little bit of glitter to give them a look that will surely sparkle amongst the lights on the tree. You don’t have to be artistic to make this special gift for someone!
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Activities for Small Children Snow days bring their obvious mix of fun and mischief for young children. From having snowball fights outside, to sledding down even the smallest hill in the backyard, kids are constantly on the go. However, if you want to avoid freezing this winter, there are other ways to keep your kids entertained inside. First of all, if they insist on laying on the couch in their PJs and watching movies, mix it up a bit and help them build a fort in which they can hide and play in. Building a fort for your children is as simple as gathering furniture, such as kitchen chairs, and arranging them in some sort of rectangular order. Next, you simply gather a collection of sheets and/or blankets and drape them over top of all of the furniture, securing them with clothespins where needed. Be sure to cover the entire thing, leaving openings only where your children need to crawl in and out of or where they need to see the TV from. Finally, gather some sleeping bags, pillows, and blankets to create a little “bed,” where the children can kick back and enjoy their favorite movie.
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Snow days should never be seen as boring or a hassle, not when there are so many activities to come up with and do. Whether you have kids or are just looking for a way to pass the time, there is an activity for you. You don’t have to be artistic or rich, just a little creativity and innovation will do. Hopefully with a few of these tips, snow days will become more enjoyable for you!
‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE... INSIDE? by Biridiana Lua
Jack Frost & Chill? My favorite pass time will always be sipping hot chocolate, under warm blankets, next to good friends, binge-watching movies on Netflix! The selection is wide from a 1954 classic of White Christmas to a Christmas special of Bob’s Burgers.
He Sees You When You’re Sleeping Ok, but honestly take a nap. Treat yourself with a couple extra hours of shut-eye. It is proven that sleep improves health and mood. These two factors are crucial around the season because we all need to spread Christmas cheer! There shall be no Grinches or Scrooges around the Christmas tree this year! It’s the Season of Giving
Sometimes, we all get a little more productive with some jams on! Why do you think stores and dental offices play music over the speakers? This year, blast the best Christmas tunes, and have some fun while tidying up the house for that Christmas party.
If you are all about donating and charity, take some time to sort through your closet and pantry. Grab a couple of boxes and just fill them with lightly worn items you no longer use. There will always be somebody in dire need for basic essentials during the Holidays. Sort through your canned foods, toss out the expired ones and box up the goodies which you might have never found a use for. What might be taking up space in your closet may be fulfilling somebody else’s.
I’m Dreaming of a DIY Christmas
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Time to load up that Christmas board on Pinterest and indulge in your artsy side. Instead of spending the big bucks this year, scrape up some cute things around the house and shove it in a mason jar. Shoved things in a mason jar always look super cute!
… which also means it’s the best season to spend quality time with family and friends. Dust off the Monopoly board, pull out the family albums, or watch those ancient family movies on the VCR from when Grandma was laughing and her dentures fell out.
All I Want For Christmas is For You to Pass the Ham
Whatever you do this season, just have fun. Spend time with your loved ones and don’t forget to tell them how thankful you are to be able to spend the holidays with them.
The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer is Singing Loud For All to Hear
“I got beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes, lamb, rams, hogs, dogs”, U name it! I am sure the most recent challenge that goes by #UNameIt will put you in the mood to cook away! Spend some time in the kitchen cooking up some of your favorite meals and desserts. After all, what’s better than a house full of food, family, and fun?
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The wind is blowing, the fire is burning, and it’s a winter wonderland outside. As fun as it sounds to build a snowman with Olaf and Elsa, sometimes it’s just too darn cold! I have compiled a list of the next 7 best things to do when it is snowing.
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RUNNING WILD by Lydia Hulshizer
I don’t know exactly how I ended up on the empty top level of a seven story parking garage, but here I was squealing around in circles in a beat up cherry red Toyota pickup truck, leaving skid marks across the concrete ground as I tried to learn now to control the stick shift. I am still trying to figure out how I ended up there, under the dark blanket of the night sky lit in patches by the city lights. I am not sure why luck had blessed me that night. Perhaps it was just Destiny having fun in her spare time, but I had ended up there next to the incarnation of a beautiful storm–a boy who was laughing hysterically, leaning his head out the window screaming the words to a song that shook the whole cab with a heavy bass as he willingly let me drive his muddy truck to its utter demise. I still am skeptical on how exactly the night had led us there, perhaps it had been Fate or maybe it was just God toying with our existence, but there I was having the time of my life. City lights have a hypnotic power to them. They make you think that anything is possible here is the metropolitans of America because America is the land of the free and freedom means running wild. So earlier, believing in the city lights, we had been doing exactly that– running wild. Sneaking into a late night movie, swimming in fountains, relaxing in the lounge of a fancy hotel we could never afford, crawling up onto the empty park stage, and performing our own concert for the few strangers still out under the stars. Just us pretending, self proclaiming ourselves king and queen of this wild world.
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And then we had ended up here, spinning around in circles pretending we were Nascar drivers peeling up the track.
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The truck had finally had enough of my amaturer driving techniques, and after a few laps of the empty parking lot, it had come to a stubborn stalling stop throwing us around in our seats. Samuel had just laughed and congratulated me on being the suckiest driver of a stick shift in the whole entire world, and then had opened the door
and tumbled out into the night air. I joined him running across the lot, racing each other to the other wall. We had come to the wall going full tilt, and stopped with screeching halts inches from the concrete, as if testing the walls encompassing the garage to see if they could handle the infinite amount of energy coiled up inside the both of us. Daring gravity, maybe, to see if it would propel us over the wall and over the edge to the certain end of the wild force living inside both of us at that very instant. We had leaned against that wall then laughing, trying to catch our breath, feeling the cold concrete of the wall holding us back from a brief experience of flight, not caring that our lungs were struggling for air, just living in the moment, glad to be alive. Alive and happy. Slowly as our breathing had become regular the giggling had stop, and we had stared down into the night, memorized by the lights flashing beneath us. We had watched in silence then, as car after car went through the intersection below us in a chaotic rhythm. “What do you think they are like?” Samuel asked me. “What?” I looked at him. He was leaning over the edge as if trying to figure out if he could survive the jump to the ground far below. “What do you think all those people in the cars are like? Like what are their lives like?” He answered, swinging his legs up on the wall and sitting down, his feet dangling dangerously over the edge. “I don’t know. I don’t know how you would ever know,” I said. I slide closer to him leaned out on my elbows, but stayed on the solid ground of the garage too scared to hop up to sit next to him. “Like there,” he pointed down at a man in a mini van stopped at the light, “I wonder what he goes home too. Probably has kids. Probably a wife. Probably works hours, and hours, and hours to pay off his suburban house with a mortgage that is way too high. Watches sports on TV for fun. Steady job he spent years in college to get. Making good money. He probably thinks he has his life together.
He glanced over at me and slowly I nodded staring down at the man, looking at him in a new light. “Typical life. Some call it the ‘American Dream’,” I said slowly, choosing each word distinctly, afraid to offend the world itself. “Boring,” he said what I was actually thinking, but scared to admit because that is how everyone lived these days. Almost as if we were all going through the motions. “Yeah,” I agreed, “Yeah I bet he never thinks to do things like we have done all night.” I watched the light below turned green and the mini van man cruised off to wherever his cookie cutter self had to be in his pinpoint schedule. “Yeah he would never do this.” Samuel pushed himself up to stand on the two foot wide wall daring the wind to push him off to his death. “Look at me world!” he yelled spinning around, dancing along the edge, “Look at me now!” “Sam!” He turned and stuck his tongue out at me like a little kid. “Look at me world! I am high on life!” he puffed out his chest challenging the sky. “Get down,” I laughed, “You are going to fall.” He looked down at me and then squatted so that his eyes were at the same level as mine from where I stood on the ground. His eyes were this hazel brown that made you want to trust him, made you want to believe everything he said. “You can’t live always afraid of falling Lyd because if you don’t learn to fall, well, then you never will learn to fly.” “But what if you don’t learn to fly before you hit the ground?” I challenged, raising an eyebrow in protest. “Well you better hope I am there to catch you,” he laughed so smoothly. A smile had unconsciously spread itself across my face, and then cautiously I had pulled myself to up to stand next to him on the wall, the only barrier between me and a tragic death. The wind had torn at me threatening to send me over the edge, and as if by instinct I had reached for his hand because
in that instant he had seemed so steady. So wild, but so real. Flying so free, but so down to earth all at once. Our fingers had interlaced, and he had squeezed my hand as if sensing my need for a point of security in this world that seemed to be flying around us at a million miles an hour. We had both stared out at the city skyline, entranced by the lights flickering on and off in the distance. Millions of lights out there, millions of people, trying to find what it meant to live. Trying to find something–something in the shadows and flashing lights to explain it all. “Do you know what you want with the future Lydia?” I breathed in the cold night air, “No.” “Not at all?” I thought, letting his question and lights of the city run through the streets of my mind in search of an answer that encompassed what I was feeling at that moment. “I want a life like this. This is what a true American dream is. This is freedom. Not caring just laughing, and not letting the world conform you. Just…” “Just not worrying about the future. Just living because we aren’t promised tomorrow,” he finished for me. “Yeah exactly,” I agreed, my breath frosting in the night air that had suddenly become frigid, “I don’t know what the future holds. Maybe I just don’t know. I don’t know a lot of things.” “Well maybe that’s ok.” He squeezed my hand again. “Yeah–yeah maybe it is.” We had stood there in silence staring out at the jungle call a city, soaking it all in until we each had a polaroid of those city lights ingrained on our memories. And then we had turned, jumped down from the wall hitting the ground running, racing back to the truck, away from the lights, and into a future we didn’t need to understand.
AND //// AND
You know what I mean?”
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AFRICAN AMERICAN ART SINCE 1950: EXHIBIT AT THE SUSQUEHANNA ART MUSEUM by Megan Waardenburg
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The Susquehanna Art Museum, a small museum located on North 3rd street in Harrisburg, has been in the city since 1989. Ever since, it has been producing exhibits in its small space in an old bank building, and community based initiatives. Recently, Lauren Nye, Director of Exhibitions, coordinated a loan on an exhibit called African American Art Since 1950, which chronologically follows the progression of artistic expression in the African American community. Nye partnered with the David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland to find relevant pieces. David C. Driskell, the namesake of the center, is one of the most influential African American artists in the region, as well as an experienced professor. The majority of the featured artists worked with or were connected to Driskell himself.
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The featured art surrounds a few central themes relevant to the African American c o m m u n i t y during their time. The majority of pieces focus on the politics of identity in a country plagued by discrimination, while others focus on the internal and external struggles of dealing with racial tension, and the new voices being discovered in society with evolving rights. These themes are expressed through a variety of pieces including sculptures, paintings, photography, and video. With a mixture of well known artists such as Romare Bearden, and lesser known artists, the exhibit offers a diverse selection of pieces from the past 60 years. Beside most works are QR codes linking visitors to a webpage explaining the
story behind many of the pieces. One of the f e a t u r e d pieces, The Last Bar B Que by Margo Humphrey in 1987, captures A f r i c a n American family life through the lens of art history. Taking the idea of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, Humphrey maintains certain stylistic elements, such as the Renaissance halos, and the facial expressions of the people. Her painting retains much of the details from The Last Supper that have spurred conspiracy theories throughout the past 500 years. The fusion of European antiquity and present day African American culture creates a unique piece for the exhibit.
Lorna Simpson’s sculpture, III, displays three wishbones, each made from a different material. Most spectators interpret this to show the inequality for African Americans in achieving their goals. Simpson makes some wishbones easier to break than others to show how some goals are more difficult to achieve. William T. Williams’ painting from 1999, Deacon’s Day, depicts light coming through a stained glass window at a church. The painting reflects the importance of religion in the African American community, as well as diversification in styles of painting. As one of
the newer paintings in the exhibit, it provides an opportunity to compare the work to the early works from 1950. The art exhibit is beneficial to community members regardless of level of interest in art, preference of style, and field of work. The museum provides a diverse selection of paintings, sculptures, cinematography, collages, and prints. Artists or art enthusiasts with any preference can find a piece to grab their attention. Regardless of involvement in art, the museum offers insight for any personality. Anyone passionate about history can examine the historical significance of the exhibit, musicians can find pieces centered around music and its culture, and students can find new pieces to study. The exhibit strays from the misconception that art museums are for artists only. Whether you are interested in art or not, try visiting the exhibit to see what you find. The exhibit is special to Harrisburg because of its relevance to the area. Harrisburg has the highest African American population in the area, and the exhibit offers a way to examine the unique history of the community and to bring attention to the evolution of the subculture. Nye specified that the exhibit is
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Mary Lovelace O’Neal’s painting, She Wore Lime Green Jellies, displays one of the most interesting stories in the exhibit. O’Neal depicts life in Morocco during the 1980’s, one of the most restrictive countries in North Africa for women at the time. Most Moroccan women wore plain black burqas, and women appeared to be nearly identical from O’Neal’s point of view. She came across a woman wearing lime green sandals with her black burqa, inspiring O’Neal to create this painting. She was intrigued by this woman’s ability to express her personality through clothing despite the uniform clothing standards.
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not a “feel good” collection, but rather forces viewers to wrestle with the difficult aspects of the implications expressed by the artists. African American communities throughout the country have not had an easy history, and the exhibit makes no effort to mask the inequalities. It highlights them in order to increase awareness of the rough history and promote racial diversity in the Central Pennsylvania area. The Susquehanna Art Museum is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Tuesday through Saturday, and from 12:00 to 5:00 PM on Sundays, and admission for adults is $8. Get
involved in the artwork by displaying work in the vault. Buy a magnet at the front desk for $10, design it any way you want, and it will be displayed in the vault inside. Any group interested in visiting the museum can schedule a group tour for discounted ticket prices. The museum occasionally hosts lectures from artists, including Curlee Raven Holton, a featured artist in the exhibit and professor at the David C. Driskell Center, this past November where Holton discussed the work in the exhibit in depth. Admission is free during Third in the Burg events taking place every third Friday of each month. Aside from visiting opportunities, the museum will welcome any volunteers or applications for an internship. The Susquehanna Art Museum, though it is a small museum, is an essential institution in Harrisburg, and promotes creativity in the community. Support the museum by seeing this exhibit, contributing to their community ojects, and following their new work as the museum grows.
– Margo Humphrey, The Last Bar-B-Que, 1989, lithograph. From the collection of the David C. Driskell Center © 2011 Margo Humphrey – Mary Lovelace O’Neal, She Wore Lime Green Jellies from the Desert Women series, 1991, monoprint. From the collection of the David C. Driskell Center © Mary Lovelace O’Neal –
Lorna Simpson, III, 1994, mixed media. From the collection of the David C. Driskell Center © Lorna Simpson
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– William T. Williams, Deacon’s Day, 1999, acrylic on canvas. From the collection of the David C. Driskell Center © William T. Williams
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ADAMS COUNTY CHORUS FESTIVAL
by MyKenzie Hoffman
Every year, the Adams County Music Education Association holds the County Chorus Musical Festival for participating schools in Adams County. The festival encourages collaboration among young musicians in schools across the county and allows these talented students to come together to create beautiful music. It is a unique opportunity for the students to be able to perform with a diverse group who also share the same love for music. A guest conductor is brought in who chooses pieces for the combined choir to perform and works with the choir over the course of two days to create a blended sound that is performance-ready by the third day. While it is a challenging task to prepare over 150 students for a performance within 48 hours, the talents and dedication of both the students and the teachers involved allow for the process to run smoothly. The participating schools in Adams County include Bermudian Springs School District, Conewago Valley School District, Delone Catholic, Fairfield School District, Gettysburg Area School District, Littlestown Area School District, and Upper Adams School District. The venue changes every year as a different school is selected to host for each festival. This year’s festival was hosted by Conewago Valley School District. The 2016 festival occurred Thursday, November 17th through Saturday, November 19th. Practices on Thursday and Friday prepared the students for the concert Saturday. On Thursday evening, students from the seven different schools mixed together for the first for a quick, two hour practice to evaluate where the group was at and how the sound blended together initially. While it was a rough rehearsal after a long day of school, the group cooperated well to get through the repertoire. Though some felt well-prepared for concert that night, it was evident that there was a lot of progress that needed to be made by the group and long day of hard work ahead of them. Friday morning, the schools gathered once again in the Conewago Valley auditorium awaiting the arrival of the guest conductors. As the clock struck 9, the large group of students shrunk as the middle school students split from the high school students for the day to go prepare for their concert. The middle school guest conductor was Mr. Jay Althouse, director of Choral Music for Susquehannock School District and Artistic Director of the Bel Air Community Chorus. Mr. Althouse chose a repertoire for the middle schoolers consisting of six songs that showcased their talents.
On Saturday morning, both choirs grouped off for last-minute rehearsals to perfect their pieces for the concert later that afternoon. After a morning of hard work, the students, their teachers, and the guest conductors all gathered for a delicious banquet prepared for them. Once the students were done socializing and getting dressed up for the concert, the middle school choir kids took their places on the stage with Mr. Althouse to showcase what they had achieved in the last three days. The high school choir then made their way to the stage and stood in mixed voice parts to challenge themselves even further and demonstrate the skills they had improved on throughout the festival. Both choirs did an immaculate job and extracted thunderous applause from the crowd. The high school choir even received a standing ovation after singing through their repertoire. With a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction, this year’s County Chorus Festival for Adams County was a complete success.
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The guest conductor for the high school choir was Mr. Jonathan Kraemer, artistic Director of the Brandywine Singers, Director of Choral Studies at Immaculata University, and choral director of the West Chester Area School District. He chose a repertoire of eight diverse songs in an array of style from lyrical, spirituals, and renaissance-style music. With Mr. Kraemer’s expertise, the high school choir was able to pull off these difficult pieces beautifully within three days.
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Poetry Out Loud Regional Finals by Megan Waardenburg Poetry is a form of writing that most students like to write, but not read. It allows people to reflect on their own thoughts, comment on social issues, and express their beliefs eloquently. However, it is rewarding to read the poetry of writers who have published their work throughout history, and to read them out loud. Poetry Out Loud is a nation wide competition that allows high school students to compete in reciting poetry. Recently, a Regional Final was held in Harrisburg for students in Central PA to compete with one another, and send a select contestant to State Finals later on in the year.
Hershey High School, and Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School.
Participants must be in 9th to 12th grade, be a citizen of the state for which they are competing, and must begin at the lowest level competitions, working their way up to National Finals. Participants represent their high school throughout the course of the competition.
Poetry Out Loud brings the importance of poetry to the spotlight, and leads high schoolers to immerse themselves in appreciating it. Students who participate are able to speak publicly, build self confidence, and learn about poetry throughout history and our current generation. Because of this event, high school students nationwide have been able to display their talent for poetry, and lead others to pay attention to its relevance in our current literary
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Students are judged on a series of elements of their performance. Their physical presence and body language indicate their familiarity with their piece, and help them to come across as authentic to the audience. Their volume and articulation are judged to show how easy it was to understand their piece. The dramatic appropriateness determines how well their performance encapsulates the emotion of the poem, making sure students don’t overdo it or ignore it altogether. Participants also must demonstrate an understanding of their poem, as well as the overall performance of each contestant.
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At the Regional Championship on Tuesday, February 7th, students from Cumberland, Dauphin, and Schuylkill counties participated to advance to State Finals. Students represented Blue Mountain High School, Camp Hill High School, Carlisle High School, Central Dauphin High School, Covenant Christian Academy, Halifax High School,
At the end of the competition, Ava Wendelken from Carlisle High School placed first, winning the opportunity to compete at the Pennsylvania State Museum on March 6th. Ava recited “Sonnet 55” by William Shakespeare, “Lunar Baedeker” by Mina Loy, and “Planetarium” by Adrienne Rich. Each contestant came prepared with multiple poems to recite, and contributed to a major event helping to highlight the arts in our region.
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Opposite: Brenna Beck (L), Hershey High School, Regional Runner Up, Ava Wendelken (R), Carlisle High School Regional Champion; Above Left: Hannah Kulbitsky, Blue Mountain High School. Above Right: Sydney Diggs, Camp Hill High School. Above: Regional competitors and school coordinators.
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EARLY 2017 IN ASTRONOMY Megan Waardenburg Once students finish their Earth and Space science courses, the interest in astronomy tends to become less prominent. However, this winter will provide exciting things to see in the sky from meteor showers and comets to eclipses. For the rest of December, Mercury, Venus, and Mars will all be visible in the sky, Mercury close to the horizon line, Venus slightly higher, and Mars close to where Polaris is visible. The main constellations visible in December are Aries, Cetus, Eridanus, Fornax, Horologium, Hydrus, Perseus, and Triangulum. Using a skymap app can help you to locate each one on clear nights. On January 1st through 10th, the quadrantids, sometimes known as bootids, meteor shower will be visible from North America.They peak on January 4th, so be sure to look out for them! Most meteor showers peak for about two days, but the quadrantids only peak for a couple of hours. The meteors are often associated with Asteroid 2003 EH1 which takes about 5 and a half years to orbit the sun, so take the chance to see them while you can!
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Late January to early February, Comet 45P/ Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková will be visible from the Northern Hemisphere. The long name comes from the Slovak astronomers who discovered it in the late 1940’s. It will experience its next perihelion (the point where its orbit is its closest to the sun) on New Year’s Eve, so watch out for it to enter our skies this winter.
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February 10th and 11th, a penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible on all continents except Australia (sorry, Australia). A penumbral lunar eclipse takes place when the moon enters the Earth’s outer shadow, called the penumbra, as opposed to the inner shadow, called the umbra, which causes a total lunar eclipse.The moon will appear to turn orange or red, but it can still be difficult to find based on the time of day.
In early March, comet 2P Encke will be visible from most of North America. The comet is named after the German astronomer who was able to predict when it would be visible, as opposed to its founder . The comet reaches perihelion on March 10, so pay attention during the days following. This comet may be a little harder to see, but it will be back in only 3.3 years. On April 16th to 25th, the Lyrids meteor shower will be visible from the Northern Hemisphere. The meteors come from the Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which only orbits the sun every 415 years. It will next be visible in 2276, so the Lyrids are the closest we can get to the comet. They will most likely peak around the 22nd or 23rd, so watch out for them, since they are likely to be bright this time! They are around annually, so if it’s too bright or cloudy, there’s always next year. From April 19th to May 26th, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower can be seen from anywhere on the planet. The meteors come from 1P/ Halley’s Comet, which orbits the sun every 75 years, so it will be visible again in 2061. The meteors will peak on the night of May 5th and morning of May 6th, and will likely be low in the horizon. At the end of April, Comet 41P/Tuttle– Giacobini–Kresák will be visible worldwide. It’s named after its original founder, an American astronomer, and its re-discoverers, both French and Slovak. It will reach perihelion on the 13th of April, but won’t likely be very bright, since it began to dim in the late 20th century. Though most of these events are relatively minor, they help us to learn about what exists past what we can see on a daily basis. Very few people go on from high school to study astronomy, but being able to know what you can see in the sky can help anyone to pick up stargazing as a hobby.
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