PASSIONS
DANCE GARDENING WRESTLING ENVIRONMENT ACTIVISM SPEEDSKATING ROWING COSPLAY SONGWRITING HOCKEY MECHANICS PAINTING CARDS PERFORMANCE VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 MUSIC
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( KEENAN SCHEMBER )
IN THIS ISSUE...
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GAMERS
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COACHES
WE ARE 10
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SPEEDSKATERS
SONGWRITERS
ENVIRONMENTALISTS
Will Krane infuses intellect, strategy, and wizadry into the trading card game Magic the Gathering.
Mr. Ken Pauly displays his guidance, leadership, and ambition more on the ice than on any other surface.
Traveling all over the country for his sport, junior Gunnar Lundberg couldn’t be happier constantly skating laps.
Abbey McNeill has pursued her singing career in several aspects of her life: writing original lyrics andposting Youtube videos.
Audrey Jewett strives to achieve her environmental pursuits by contributing to the Save the Boundary Waters campaign.
GARDENERS
WRESTLERS
ACTIVISTS
COSPLAYERS
MECHANICS
Transportation director Judy Koski has a secret: she’s a gardening afficianado with a passion for growth.
Transitioning from life as a boxer to a wrestler’s schedule has been easy for sophomore Tony Theis.
Volunteering with major Minnesotan activist groups, senior Parker Breza is barely an adult, but already a pro.
Rachel Long exudes her creativity by participating in Cosplay: making unique costumes and embodying a character.
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Hunter Downey utilizes his car mechanic skills by working in a shop and tinkering whenever he possibley can.
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hi Reader, I have always desperately wanted a unique talent, something I can truly be proud of and showcase to the world in equally unique ways. I’ve wanted to love that talent, love it so much that it transforms into a passion rather than a skill. Whether it be juggling, or baking, or painting, or something super cool and athletic, I’ve always craved the thought that I could take something seemingly ordinary and, through my adoration for it, make it exraordinary. I can rollerblade and I can keep a tune when listening to the radio, but these are by no means passions. The only thing I can seriously consider a special gift for myself is a pair of skills most Americans can do and sometimes take for granted: reading and writing. As a kid, I started reading way earlier than I should have. In fact, my parents now tell me that I used to correct my kindergarten teacher, reading what she had written on the board ahead of her directions, then reacting angrily when she didn’t follow specifically what she wrote we would be doing. That love of reading and writing has grown over the years until I’ve reached the pinnacle of youth: senior year. Now that I’m an editor, I get to read all the time! Stories upon
STAFF
Editor-in-Chief: Hannah Scherer Photo Editor: Keenan Schember Graphic Editors: Ryan Applehof and Keara Clacko Content Editor: Jason Kang Editorial Assistants: Jackie Lawyer, Colin Sheeley, Madison Hicks, Sofie Madden Writers: Emily Anderson, Caroline Appleby, Elsa Beise, Emma Bird, Leo Driessen, Libby Grygar, Grace Gyolai, Madison Hicks, Kasey Desmond, Darragh Cutter, Frankie Vochko, Kate Janda, Rachel Lyons, Morgan Matson, Tommy McGinn, Josie Ross, Mary Kate Paulison, and Jimmy Youngblut. Photographers: Shannon O’Connor, Kendel Malcom, Meghan Ortizcazarin, Marley Rozman, Bella Szarsynski, Molly Flannery, Alexis Hoedeman Designers: Kat Behnke, Jeremy Livingston, Anna Von Kampen, Mark Ahern, Hanna Anderson Advisers: Jason Wallestad and Kari Koshiol
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stories of information with grammar just waiting to be fixed. I miss taking the ACT because I had so much fun (no joke, I’m this lame) taking the English portion time after time. I really don’t want to be an editor by profession, but the enjoyment I find in being able to read something, then critique it, is almost concerning. That’s what we tried to do with this issue. We wanted to find as many people as possible who were just crazy about something: a sport, an activity, an art—anything that gets their blood pumping. Their love for their passion should be visible in their face when you speak to them, which it was for each and every person featured in this magazine. No one in this magazine is bored by their passion. They take things as simple as a card game or gardening and turn them into a type of personal art form. I’ve never had an artistic eye, but watching Hunter Downey tinker with his car has convinced me that mechanics is parallel with painting in need for talent and skill. Dig in and enjoy these stories of people who care. Sincerely, Hannah Scherer (KEQ Editor-in-Chief)
PUBLICATION POLICY
KEQ is written and produced by the journalism students at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School. The views expressed in this magazine are the opinions of the writer and not necessarily those of the Knight Errant staff, adviser, or BSM administration.
VOLUME 2 – ISSUE 2 KEQ is produced with the support of anonymous donors. It is distributed for free to all BSM high school students. Benilde-St. Margaret’s School 2501 Highway 100 South St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416 Contact at email jwallestad@bsmschool.org.
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Writer: Caroline Appleby Designer: Hannah Scherer Photographer: Molly Flannery
MARI LARSEN: relaxation at an artistic level During class, I can easily spot a person accidentally doodling instead of taking notes. What she views as simple doodles, however, are seen as complex works of art to many. Senior Mari Larsen makes art––a hard feat to master––look easy. Larsen, like many of us, played with art when she was little but became more devoted at the age of ten. Both of her parents studied art in college and pursued it further following secondary education. “I have always done art and come from an artistic family. I started to get serious about art around age ten,” Larsen said. Larsen’s parents encourage her dream to continue art in the future. “My family supports my art immensely; they would prefer that I get a liberal arts education rather than going to an art school, but they believe that I should do whatever I’m called to do,” Larsen said. Larsen isn’t just a drawer. She works with many different forms. In addition to completing many art classes 4 mari/will.indd 2
provided at BSM including art and design, drawing, and graphic design, Larsen also works outside of school. “I work with things ranging from Photoshop, charcoal, oil pastels, traditional drawing, to digital design,” Larsen said. As one watches Larsen work, it is almost like breathing; she is so effortless in her work. Rather than worrying about the little mistakes, she continues to translate her emotions on canvas and, in the end, finishes an outstanding piece of art. For people with a passion like Larsen, the thought of having to stop is unimaginable. “I would miss a lot about it. I would miss being able to express myself and relax. I would miss the creative expression that goes along with it,” Larsen said. Larsen’s passion for art is a method of coping with the stresses of high school. Whether or not she chooses to continue her career after BSM, Larsen will always have an asylum of doing what she enjoys.
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WILL KRANE: magic man People have passions that have been in their lives for years, where hours of practice have been used to fully perfect their activity. Some, however, find an activity they love later on, yet they nevertheless completely immerse themselves in perfecting their passion. Freshman Will Krane has recently found an activity that he loves: Magic the Gathering. This game was first created in 1993, but Krane only found it last year. “I am kind of happy that I had only found the game last year because most of the rules and the concepts of the game are sort of difficult to understand,” Krane said. Magic the Gathering is a trading card game in which each player is given a set number of cards, and on these cards are characters’ specific strengths and weaknesses. To win the game, one must use his or her strengths to attack the opponents’ weaknesses. “To explain it to people that don’t know how to play the game, Magic the Gathering is kind of similar to Pokémon, but with Magic the Gathering, it’s more about problem solving,” Krane said. Krane first experienced the game
because of dumb luck. “I was at my friend’s house and we really had nothing to do. When I saw the cards and the board all over the floor, I thought I’d give the game a shot,” Krane said. Though Krane is thankful he’s begun the game, Magic the Gathering is not something that only Krane enjoys. “My other friends saw me playing the game and kind of just ignored it, but once I finally convinced them to try it, they were having as much fun as me,” Krane said. Krane wanted to extend the surprise the game gave his friends to the rest of the BSM community. “Some of my friends and I thought it would be a good idea to start a club where students could just try the game out and play it after school. We went to Mr. Pettinger and, within a few days, my friends and I started publicizing the meetings with posters around the school,” Krane said. Because of his posters, Krane, as one of the leaders of the club, drew people into the its weekly meetings. The Magic the Gathering participants meet on Fridays for an hour and a half: “We meet in the commons at 3 o’clock and
then try to finish one game by the end of the meetings,” Krane said. So after hearing about this game, I decided to see why Krane was so passionate about Magic the Gathering by playing the game with the club members. Although the game is fairly difficult, Krane had no problem showing me the ropes as we went through the game. During the game, the high level of determination could be soon on everyone’s faces. Krane, although determined, looked calm as he strategically manuevered the game. “I like how the game can completely overhelm you. It’s as if I am actually in the game,” Krane said. The game, however, is not simply a fun activity. Krane has developed skills from the game that can actually help in his everyday life. “During the game, you have to think about tons of stuff at the same time. If you forget about one card, you can lose the game. The number one thing this game has taught me is to remain focused and that everything can be helpful,” Krane said.
Writer: Josie Ross Designer: Hannah Scherer Photographer: Bella Szarzynski
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coach ken Coaching a high school boys’ hockey team for twenty years has led Ken Pauly to experience the range of pride and failure, wins and losses, and many, many memories. It’s the relationships he’s gained through his passion, however, that he cherishes most. Writer: Libby Grygar Photographer: Molly Flannery Designer: Hannah Scherer
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A sea of red flashes across the ice––Ken Pauly constructively, and quite aggressively, comments on the boys’ play. Sitting in on a BSM boys’ hockey practice and watching them play in a game setting, it’s easy to see why head coach Ken Pauly receives so much respect and honor in the greater hockey and BSM communities. Who else would willingly work with a bunch of over-confident hockey guys? But for Pauly, it’s not about the awards or the recognition––it’s about the coaching. Pauly began his coaching career as a mere eighth grader going up against the big, bad ninth grade team in softball. “I put my team together, and I wanted to put together a team that would win. Ultimately, I put the best guys out there, and I put myself on the bench because I thought that they were better than me, and I wanted to win. I’ve always been the one that organized stuff, and I was always the guy on the team that was okay but never great. My contribution was to lead, to organize, and to support,” Pauly said, and to this day it is no different. What he experienced as an eighth grader was not soon forgotten and he began to expand his expertise from softball to youth football and to hockey. Although he coaches two different sports, the idea is the same. “Coaching is coaching, period. You call it coaching, but it’s actually teaching. It’s the same idea,” Pauly said. What sets Pauly apart from other coaches is his dedication to always improving as a coach and as a leader of a team. In order to stay current in any field, the way to achieve that is believed by remaining educated through books, seminars, and other methods. “I’m always reading coaching books. You’re always looking to improve because it’s
competitive and you want to do well,” Pauly said. Pauly’s education on coaching doesn’t stop at the tips and strategies found in books––through coaching he has explored psychology and discovered a deep interest within himself and the human brain. By his desire to better understand the players and students he works with, he has shown the utmost commitment to discovering how coaching and the adolescent brain can go hand-in-hand and techniques to garner productive results. “You find in a hurry that it’s not just about hockey––it’s about neuroscience; it’s about relationships,
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but Pauly offers a different, realistic approach which sets him apart from other coaches in a way that embodies his character. “The most rewarding thing is when we don’t win, when we don’t achieve our goals and guys still say it was such a rewarding experience and something that they’ll never forget,” Pauly said. During his twenty-plus year tenure at BSM, he has helped catapult the hockey program to one of the top in the state. Though there have been many proud moments, the 2012 state tournament quarterfinal win over Edina was the pinnacle. “It was such an electric game from start to finish. Add in the passion and emotion surrounding Jabby and how our kids and school responded to that–– well, it’s pretty tough to top that,” Pauly said. Pauly recognizes that coaching goes beyond the game and cherishes the relationships he has built with the boys and other members of the hockey community. “The deep connection and the really lasting relationships that are forged with the people you work with and the players you work with in terms of your fellow coaches regardless of whether or not your dreams came true [is the most rewarding]. That’s when you realize you’re trying to create something people want to be a part of, something that they’ll remember and something special,” Pauly said. Pauly’s twenty-year career at BSM has provided for great successes and terrible losses. His dedication and enthusiasm for coaching has not diminished and, if possible, grows stronger year after year he spends in the Red Knight community. “I think people are naturally enthusiastic and passionate, you just need to find something, some sort of outlet and for that coaching and hockey happens to be mine. But we all have a pretty small part in a pretty big world and you can always find something,” Pauly said.
You just need to find something, some sort of outlet. For that, coaching and hockey happens to be mine. - Ken Pauly about what kids are going through at this time,” Pauly said. He went on to explain that in order to be a successful coach the drive needs to be there from members of the team. “The great thing about sports and activities is you have a group that largely wants to be there and want to do well at it so you feel an obligation to be the very best you can be and to stay current,” Pauly said. Being a coach and a part of a program can come with some difficulties when success cannot be met. “We’re all trying to win state titles – that’s a worthy goal but a lousy purpose. And that’s ultimately not our purpose because you’re not always going to win,” Pauly said. In sports there is a preconceived notion that in order to be the best team, it is necessary to win the most games,
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s I walked down the track surrounding the skating oval, I couldn’t imagine why anyone would be there voluntarily. It was cold, dark, and late on a Tuesday night. However, as soon as the skaters entered the oval, I began to understand. There was something tranquil about the speedskaters gliding across the ice in a straight line. After each loop around the oval, they start to pick up speed, with their coach giving encouraging comments as they passed, or stopping them to fix their form. Junior Gunnar Lundberg described speedskating as “continually skating around in a circular motion.” He explained, however, that “there’s something exciting, exhilarating, and incredible about it,” and I started to understand this interpretation as I watched him skate. Lundberg is a part of club, Midway Speedskating, which is based at the Roseville Oval. With his club, he competes primarily individually. “I compete alone in the majority of my events, although there are some team skates,” Lundberg said. In addition to skating at the Roseville Oval, Lundberg often travels to different ovals to compete in other races throughout the U.S. and Canada, which can qualify him for more competitive races. “I’ve been to
a couple places a lot of times; I’ve been to Salt Lake City, Milwaukee, and Calgary. I participate in the American Cup Series, which usually has one meet at each oval, and at the end of the season, the points from all of the races are added up,” Lundberg said. Lundberg’s goals, however, go beyond success just in America. He recently participated in the regional junior world cup in Calgary for the first time. “[To qualify], there are time standards you need to meet. After you meet them, you get the go-ahead from the U.S. speedskating director, which means that you are able to be a representation of the U.S.” Lundberg said. Furthermore, he hopes to be able to participate in the junior world cup final, which takes place in Poland this January. “This is the big competition, where all of the countries come together,” Lundberg said. After that, however, he’s not sure what his goals will be. Committing to speedskating is a risky choice, and Lundberg isn’t sure what his decision will be. “It’s difficult because I would have to base my college decision solely on [speedskating], and it would really limit my options. Also, there are no scholarships for it,” Lundberg said. “If it were something I would pursue, it would purely be based on my passion for the sport,” Lundberg said. However, if Lundberg decided to
pursue other options, there would be a lot about speedskating that he would miss. “I’d miss the people that I’ve met through it and that feeling that I get when I skate a person best,” Lundberg said. Lundberg understands, however, that sports are so much more than just meeting new people. He knows that what he would miss the most would be that feeling of accomplishment and success. “[Speedskating] is a sport where you’re not really rewarded with fame or money, even if you’re really good at it, so the only real reward you get is internal. It’s just that fulfillment of yourself,” Lundberg said. And this fulfillment that Lundberg seeks can be found in doing everything he can in order to reach his goals. “The ultimate passion comes of course from the aspiration of one day going to the Olympics. But it’s also knowing what I want to do or learning lessons about hard work that lead to achievement,” Lundberg said. “I knew the dream was set in when I [skated] in Salt Lake City, which is an Olympic oval. On the back stretch, there’s a huge banner with a picture of speedskater and it says ‘Light the fire within.’ That was a moment for me, when I thought to myself ‘Wow this is something I have to stay with. This is something that really makes me happy,’” Lundberg said.
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DON’T
Student Abbey McNeil has found a way to express herself, spending countless hours per week singing and songwriting on her piano. Although her future in music is unclear, she hopes to continue pursuing her passion for music and share it with others.
FORGET
Abbey opens the French doors leading into a room with large windows, sits down on her bench, and begins to write. She spends hours in the piano room––a room she calls her second bedroom––playing around with key patterns and matching them with autobiographical lyrics until they fit perfectly together. Quiet and reserved at school, Abbey enthusiastically pushed her composition books towards me when I asked about her music, eager to share the personal melodies she has crafted. Over the span of two years, junior Abigail McNeil has made over 200 recordings on her phone and filled up two complete notebooks with melodies, patterns, and poetic lyrics. She has even lost a pencil in the grand piano when becoming immersed in the writing process. Abbey’s interest in writing music stems from her foundation in learning how to play the piano and becoming inspired by how artists created simple musical arrangements to go along with their vocals. “I do remember an instance when my piano teacher introduced me to just playing chords on the piano. She said most artists play chords while they sing; I became hooked. I printed off tons and tons of songs with the guitar chords above them, playing the chords on the piano while I sang,” Abbey McNeil said. Abbey started to construct music by applying basic principles she learned on the piano and was inspired by singer-songwriter artists such as Sara Bareilles, Norah Jones, and Bob Dylan. “During the 60s and 70s, that’s when music was good and simple. That’s when artists created timeless music,” Abbey said. Abbey uses these ideals to personalize her music, which allows her to express her emotions through a creative outlet. “I love to write in general, not like novels or anything, but just a little something here or there when it comes to me. I write about things that have happened to me, issues that I notice, and anything that I’m feeling in that moment. Writing music allows me to convey my emotions in an artistic form that unleashes my creativity,” Abbey said.
Through trial and error, Abbey continues to refine her music until she comes up with a draft. She then consults with her father, who serves as her musical mentor. “My dad has a good ear for music. He played in a band when he was a teenager. When I started my music, my dad picked up the guitar again,” Abbey said. Although her audience to this point has mostly consisted of her relatives of her relatives, Abbey shares her music with the public by posting her most polished and favorite songs on her eponymous Youtube channel. Her songs “Waiting for the Movies,” “Don’t Forget,” and “A Shoulder to Cry On” have a total of 557 views. “Don’t Forget,” Abbey’s favorite piece, illustrates her emotions in an unconventional way. “This song called “Don’t forget”––it’s different. Sometimes I think that you don’t need words in your song to convey what you’re trying to put across because the music does that for you,” Abbey McNeil said. In the last two years, music has become an integral part of Abbey’s life. “I love everything about music, and I know that I’d definitely miss the feeling I get when I’m playing one of my songs. [I’m] reliving each moment of when I initially wrote each note along with each word; how they flow in tune with each other and have meaning to me in the contextual relationship with my song,” Abbey said. At the moment, Abbey McNeil has kept her music mostly personal, but she hopes to seize every opportunity – whether that might be recording her own album or starting a band. “My goal with writing my own music would be for me to go as far as I’m meant to go with it. I’ll always do it for fun and in my spare time, but whether or not I’ll write music and perform as a career, we’ll have to see!” After listening to her sing, I understand what is filling her head, I understand why she spends so much time practicing diligently in her piano room, and I understand her dedication and enthusiasm towards growing as a musician.
Writer: Emily Anderson Photographer: Marley Rozman Designer: Anna Von Kampen
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Audr
A STUDE The
birds sing. The sound of pristine water rushing over rocks is mixed with the scurry of squirrels hurrying up and down trees looking for food. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness contains the natural beauty Minnesota prides itself on. Unfortunately the ecosystem hangs in the balance between people visiting and enjoying the beauty and destroying it, and senior Audrey Jewett captures the elegance of the land through photography while fighting to protect the area she loves from pollution and destruction. It makes sense that Audrey’s family and countless others are drawn back year after year. “My cousins and I, when we got older, we could have let the tradition die out
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and done our own things. But, we made sure with our work schedules and everything that we made it up every summer and kept the tradition going, and the family going,” Jewett said. Growing a connection to a place such as the Boundary Waters isn’t hard; the authenticity of the area soon became a piece of Jewett. Last time Jewett visited Ely, she couldn’t help but notice the signs all over the town promoting campaigns to either save the Boundary Waters or drill sulfide mines. These mines were projected to be drilled in the BWCA’s watershed, both creating jobs and leaking poisonous acid into the BWCA, killing entire species of animals and making the water unsafe for human recreation
“I’m always going to be taking pictures; I can’t imagine my life without it,” ~Jewett
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Jewett knew she had to do something to prevent the pollution before it was too late. “My aunt and uncle live just outside the Boundary Waters and it affects their lives if this mining goes through. I could see the cause and effect and what it could do,” Jewett said. Jewett seized the opportunity to help save the BWCA from dangerous mining. She volunteered to work with Amy and Dave Freeman, a couple from Minnesota who planned to paddle over 2,000 miles to the nation’s capital in order to present a petition to stop the mining as well as their Save the Boundary Waters campaign. Her passion and dedication earned her the position as the Hennepin County Student Representative for the campaign. “They now ask me to do anything presentation-wise. If they need a volunteer, since I’m well versed on the issue now. I’m asked to can go to events where Dave and Amy are being represented. Any place where Paddle to DC has a booth I’m invited to
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Writer: Grace Gyolai Photographer: Keenan Schember Designers: Hanna Anderson and Keara Clacko
drey Jewett
UDENT TO TAKE A STAND come,” Jewett said. Jewett also understands that the more people knew about the issue, the more people would sign the petition, and the closer they could be to saving the ecosystem. “I just went and approached the theology department and said this is happening, and I want to do something about it. They totally took it on, and encouraged me every step of the way,” Jewett said. Taking pictures gives Jewett a way to capture the sheer awesomeness of nature while expressing her creativity. “Photography is sort of a release. A bunch of my friends can paint. I watch my friends create these paintings, and I’m like, ‘Well, I can take pictures,” Jewett said. Being able to express to people why she loves what she loves and materialize those feelings through her photos is a talent that helps raise awareness for the campaign. She plans to continue the skill and develop it. “I’m always going to be taking pictures; I can’t imagine my life without it,” Jewett said.
Save the Boundary Waters As
Jewett continues to work for the Save the Boundary Waters campaign, she is also outlining a plan to continue fighting for her beliefs. “I’m hopefully going to minor in social justice. I’m not going to be able to always keep up this topic, but I always will be willing to advocate for the Boundary Waters whenever necessary. I want to keep advocating for things I care about, and possibly make a career out of it,” Jewett said. The campaign reached an important milestone on December 3: Dave and Amy Freeman arrived in Washington D.C. to present the petition to save the BWCA and hold a youth outdoor engagement fair coordinated by Wilderness Inquiry to raise awareness for water quality and wilderness issues. Due to Jewett’s introduction to the issue, BSM has added over 300 signatures to the petition, and raised even more questions about how humans interact with the natural world.
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Judy Koski: a green thumb
Writer: Rachel Lyons Photographer: Marley Rozman Designer: Hanna Anderson
If
art is the transformation of a blank canvas into something beautiful and original, then BSM staff member Judy Koski is a true artist. Instead of paintings and sculptures, Koski’s creative works are arrays of plants and flowers. Growing up on a farm in southern Minnesota, Koski has always had a love for gardening. But her interest in potting and planting is not just a hobby, but a staple in her life. “I like to learn about plants, try new ideas; I like to try to figure out what plants work well together, what looks good. It’s so satisfying, because when I’m out in my gardens, it’s very peaceful and relaxing to me.” Although Koski uses her pastime to escape to a quiet and calm environment, the potting and weeding is not an easy task. “When I moved into my house, it had all this landscaping rock everywhere, which I hate. I dug it all up and wherever I dug out rock I put a garden,” Koski said. Koski has dedicated hours planting her favorite flowers and creating gardens around her home. “I have
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a garden of coralbells and a lot of variety: daylilies and irises. I have another garden of lilies and peonies,” Koski said. Koski’s passion for gardening goes beyond her backyard. In addition to caring for the plants at home, she works at Bachman’s on Wednesdays and Sundays. She was introduced to the job opportunity when her son decided to apply to the floral shop. “I thought I might fill [an application] out too. I didn’t know what I would do when I retired and they called me in and hired me and didn’t hire him,” Koski said. The greenery expert works in the garden center with annual and perennial plants. “Right now I work with the Christmas trees, but I do a little bit of everything,” Koski said. Last year, Koski introduced new vegetation and lent her gardening services to Benilde-St. Margaret’s when the school sought Koski’s guidance about how to spruce up the curb appeal outside of the building. With the help of students, she placed pots in front of the main entrance and planted
flowers around the library. “I just clean up stuff and make it look a little more friendly and nicer. Somebody tells me about a spot they don’t like and I do something. We even planted some new trees,” Koski said. Although making the school more appealing was no easy work, Koski truly enjoyed the work and was eager to help out. “I had fun this summer when I had a couple of BSM students help me out in the yard by the [Haben Center] and I got the know the girls and share something with them,” Koski said. For Koski, finishing a garden is a great source of joy and personal satisfaction. “I can look at another person’s garden and appreciate it, but it’s not the same as knowing I had something to do with it. I like to create something out of nothing, you know, see the fruits of my labor,” Koski said. “I love the feel of dirt in my hands and the pleasure I get from looking at my work. I just love to get my hands dirty. It’s very comforting,” Koski said.
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ONE WOMAN SHOW
From playing eleven instruments to working backstage and acting onstage, Elyse Vandersteen is always pursuing her musical and performance-based passions. At age three, Vandersteen began to take piano lessons after she was inspired by watching her brother play––Vandersteen was often right beside him banging on the keys and attempting to practice too. What started as an act of sibling annoyance grew into a natural passion that encompasses a large part of her life. “I’m dyslexic so it English was hard, but music just clicked for me,” Vandersteen said. Not only does Vandersteen play piano, but she also has mastered violin, ukelele, and eight other instruments. For the most part, Vandersteen has taught herself these musical skills. She also enjoys basing her music on other pieces that she listens to. “I find myself practicing my instruments in my head at school,” Vandersteen said. Vandersteen is invested in her musical passion and could never begin to imagine losing it. “I want to pursue something I’m happy doing,” Vandersteen said. Music makes her happy and fills her with joy that can only come from music.
If Vandersteen had to quit her passion all together, she would miss hearing the music and listening to the unique sounds that one can create with their own two hands and a musical instrument. “I can’t imagine what it would be like if I was not able to hear the music anymore,” Vandersteen said. Vandersteen heavily invests herself in theater and the performing arts, combining her love for the dramatics with her love of music. Preceding her introduction to acting, she was told she should experiment with theater. “It got to the point where different people, like my hockey coaches, would say, ‘Oh, you should really get into acting.’ So I did. I like to jazz things up,” Vandersteen said. Acting quickly clicked for her, similar to her experience with music. While performing in the junior high productions after beginning at BSM, she saw kids running the tech booth and working on the set. Realizing that another artistic opportunity had appeared, Vandersteen went from simply performing onstage to working both on and offstage. Now, she works tech for junior and senior high shows as well as the St. Louis Park Community Theatre. Through this job,
she has met many people who have brought her to the backstage, inner workings of bigtime productions at the Target Center in Minneapolis. “It gave me a different view on how they run shows.” Vandersteen said. To justify the immense amount of time she spent working with the tech aspects of performances, she won two awards at ages thirteen and fourteen from Broadway Across America. Vandersteen assisted at the Orpheum Theater, where she shadowed fellow techies and learned the ropes about how to perform basic backstage techniques for major productions. Vandersteen finds her future unclear with regards to her passions, considering not attending college in order to maintain her genuine appreciation of the theater arts and music. “I always debate whether or not I want to go to college. I’ve already come so far without it, that I don’t really want it to hold me back and have most of my time go into that when I could be backstage,” Vandersteen said. From playing instruments to acting to running the lights and audio during plays, Vandersteen does far more than the average performer. She pushes herself to be the best she can be in a variety of ways.
Writer: Elsa Beise Photographer: Shannon O’Connor Designer: Hannah Scherer
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he guys have just done pushups and pullups, but they now are on the ground, wrestling. Sweaty bodies are everywhere and two people are working hard to defeat each other. It’s obvious that they both want to win this match. Such is the scene in the BSM wrestling room during a regular practice after school. A look into this room gives a look into the life of sophomore captain Tony Thies in his natural habitat, doing what he loves the most. While the majority of high school students spend their time on a snowy afternoon playing hockey, basketball, or acting out a play, Tony Thies does something that distinguishes him from the rest––he wrestles. Thies is different than most high school athletes. In a high school athletic scene that stresses mastering your sport for many years, Thies is comparatively new to the world of wrestling, having just taken it up as a freshman after boxing. “I’ve been actually wrestling since when I started last year,” Thies said. While Thies has only been wrestling for a year, his previous experience in boxing has given him many skills that have made the transition to wrestling fairly easy to complete. “Since boxing was taken out of college sports, I just thought that I guess I’m gonna have to find something else that I want to do in college because I want to stay with it,” Thies said. “The transition was difficult at first, but it gradually got easier.” He was convinced by his friends that wrestling would be a good idea, but ultimately he took charge and decided to start the sport himself. “My friends said it would be really good for me and that I would enjoy it a lot, so I decided to try it,” Thies said. “I went to the meeting, signed myself up, and when I told my parents they were kind of surprised.” What is admirable about Thies is the reason that he wrestles. While most people play their sport just for the accolades they believe will come with success, he genuinely likes to wrestle and wants to have a great experience with his teammates. “[I wrestle because] it’s so much fun, what drives me [to wrestle] is my teammates and how it’s just usually always there,” Thies said. Because Thies has had such a great experience in wrestling and is now familiar with the sport, he looks to start participating in wrestling programs outside of the BSM season to further his success. “Out of school I’m thinking I might start joining some different programs to build my strength because last year I was participating in learning the sport,” he said. “Now that I’m
captain I think I am going to stick with it for a long time.” The sport of wrestling does come with costs. I see this as I take a look into the unbelievable amount of training that the team is doing, with sweat dripping and burning muscles, and I realize that this kind of work––along with the weight loss before matches––that is required on a daily basis makes this sport one of the hardest to stick with. According to Thies, it’s also one of the most rewarding sports to do, because the team members have built quite a lot of muscle. “We run sprints, [do] a lot of pull ups, a lot of upper body stuff and conditioning at the beginning of the season. [We also] practice skills of wrestling,” Thies said. The training, though difficult, prepares Thies for his competitions. He likes to think in an optimistic light before the matches, knowing that he has done everything he could do in practice so that he can take down his opponents during the match. “Preparing, I just put in my headphones, and listen to some music that gets me in the mood for wrestling,” he said. “I take a jog and think about what I will do that match and just always think about the positive things.” All of these elements of wrestling are so important to Thies that he wants to keep wrestling for as long as possible. If he had to give it up, he knows that the team aspect of the sport would be the hardest part to let go of. “[I would most miss] being with the team really, I would miss the whole team because it’s an awesome group of people,” he said. As long as he remains a wrestler, he has many remarkable goals that he wants to achieve before he departs from this sport. Based on what I saw from his work ethic and intensity during practices, I’m sure he will have no problem with achieving these. “The team goals for this season is to win team state, and personally my goal is to be the best captain I can be this season,” Thies said. From the long hours spent in the padded room training, to the routine before the match and finally the struggle to bring the opponent down during the fight, Thies is truly passionate about wrestling and plans on continuing to wrestle beyond college and into broader realms. “I want to wrestle as much as I can for however long I can––I just don’t want to stop really,” the BSM captain said. “I would want to continue it into college and possibly in the military too.”
Writer: Tommy McGinn Photographer: Bella Szarzynski Designer: Jackie Lawyer KEQ: THE PASSION ISSUE mag.indd 3
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even a.m. Friday morning, I enter the band room, grab my violin case, and take my seat in front of a music stand. As I unpack my instrument, others are already tuning their open A-strings, adjusting shoulder rests, or rubbing a small piece of rosin on their bows. Among them is freshman Nicole Dorn, one of the new additions to this year’s BSM high school orchestra. The term “new,” however, can sound misleading; Dorn, who has grown up in a musical family, has been playing the violin since third grade. “My dad played the piano. My brother and sister played band instruments, and my mom wanted me to play an orchestral instrument, so I chose the violin,” Dorn said. Before joining the program at BSM, Dorn had been a part of Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, one of the top youth music programs in Minnesota. Through GTCYS, she performed at several local communities, including the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul. Like many other Grammy Award-winning artists such as Joshua Bell and Sylvia
McNair, Dorn also stepped on the stage of Orchestra Hall. “I was in GTCYS for two years, but I stopped to join the BSM orchestra. We practiced once a week, and we would have performances. [Now,] I have practices twice a week, but I practice more than that to keep up with the orchestra music,” Dorn said. “In orchestra rehearsals, I like when all the instruments come together with people that share the same interest with you and make a connection through music.” Violin is not Dorn’s only musical pursuit; in fact, she started playing piano in first grade––two years before she grabbed the violin––and has participated in numerous recitals and family concerts ever since. “My neighbor is actually my teacher, and I take lessons from her. The recitals are through the lessons,” Dorn said. Like other highly-caffeinated teenagers, Dorn often finds it difficult to balance her musical endeavors with schoolwork and other extracurricular activities such as cross country and RKVC. “Sometimes I just don’t have the time to play the piano or the violin. But I try to incorporate it on weekends
where I don’t have sports,” Dorn said. Music allows Dorn to free herself from the heavy workload and serves as her asylum. “When I play music, it always gets me in a happier mood, and if I’m stressed out, it gets me in a better mood. It’s something to connect with. If I need a break from homework, I play the piano or the violin just to kind of give a break and a breather,” Dorn said. “When I am playing, everything else in my mind disappears, and I can think about the notes and the song that I am producing from my piano or violin.” Although Dorn is only a freshman, she hopes that she can continue her musical career for the rest of high school and later in college. “I would like to keep playing the piano and the violin because they are something you can do for the rest of your life, so I want to keep improving on that. And then maybe, in college, I can join a club in music or a orchestra,” Dorn said. Writer: Jason Kang Photographer: Alexis Hoedeman Designer: Ryan Appelhof
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Design: Ryan Appelhof Photo: Kendel Malcolm Writing: Jimmy Youngblut
Bust a Move It’s dark, the lights are old, the floor is springy, and the only sound is that of a large fan in the corner. Before the lights power up, before the sun has risen, junior Keenan Schember has stretched his muscles and begun to dance. The movements start off slow and accelerate with the beat and tempo of the music. Perfectly in time and perfectly defined, the words that would normally have to be spoken are known to him without utterance. His jumps are high and illustrated with precise form––he is at home. Schember, who trains in many forms of physical expression, has been dancing for ten years. “I started dancing when I was six. My sister’s friend danced, and she brought me to a “bring your friend dance class.” It was natural; I thought it was fun and then signed up [for] an all-guys class,” Schember said. From the start of his career, the art form has become something that Schember cannot live without. “I danced in the beginning because it was fun, and now it’s a necessity. I have to do it because I love it so much and I feel like if I didn’t I would be bored,” Schember said. “No one gets
how amazing it is; the feeling of being able to express yourself through something that only so few people can do is a feeling that I can’t imagine living without,” Schember said. Although Schember dances in a variety of styles, contemporary movement stands out to him because of its simplistic and personal tone. “My favorite type of dance is contemporary, and I would say you use the framework from ballet and jazz and add artistry to it. [Then,] you use the musicality to define it better. Do what you feel,” Schember said. Schember dances year round and is a former competitor. “Usually in January or February, you audition for a summer intensive. During the summer you’ll do a month long intensive all day from like 8 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. It’s good training, and it’s also great experience and preparation for when you’re actually in a company or you’re actually dancing for your career,” Schember said. In addition to training in the Twin Cities, Schember has traveled around the country and gained a unique perspective on dancing. “The past two years I’ve gone San Francisco and done a lot between the lines
of contemporary ballet. It’s four weeks, and, at the end of the month, we perform the dance that we’ve learned,” Schember said. “I’ve [also] traveled to LA the past three years. There are a bunch of places that hold workshops or classes every day for you to come in pay 12 dollars. The class is for like an hour and a half, and it’s convention style.” These experiences led Schember to pursue dancing after graduating from BSM. “I’ve started looking for colleges and talking to them about dance. So when I apply for a college, I have to apply to the college and have to audition for the dance school. My top three schools right now are University of Arizona, University of Southern California, and University of California, Irvine.” Keenan said. After college, Schember aims to create a company that combines both commercial and concert dance. “I think that the both can combine to make an even better dancing experience. I’ve had this idea in my head for a while, of creating a company that combines both [dance forms] and puts them into a setting. I would be the founder of the company when I’m 30, or 40,” Schember said.
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ot many people can motivate teenagers to climb out of bed earlier than usual to go advocate for change, but senior Parker Breza is no ordinary person. Every Tuesday morning, bright and early at 7:20, Breza confidently stands in front of the Justice Club and energetically pitches his ideas for change. Although the students he preaches to may still be half-asleep or hungry, Breza is wide awake, alive with passion. His energy electrifies the room, and soon, he has the members enthused and ready to tackle whatever social justice issue comes to light. “I like the quote from Paul Wellstone, which is ‘We all do better when we all do better.’ I think that people should care about how marginalized people feel because things change when you’re in that position. I think that we should recognize the
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humanity in all of us, that we’re all interconnected and all interrelated, and that when we all do better, we all really do better. We do better when the economy works for everyone, and we do better when the majority of people do well when we have positive social policies that lift people up instead of pushing them out. We all stand to benefit if people are treated fairly,” Breza said. For as long as Breza can remember, social justice has been a critical issue to him. “From a very young age I always believed that all humans are all equal. I didn’t always realize the way that we, as humans, make it so that we’re not equal, and I always wanted to figure out what we can do to change that. I knew that anything that didn’t make us all equal wasn’t right. At least from my point of view, if something’s not right, we should try to do something about it and
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change it,” Breza said. “The reason that people are so uncomfortable with the idea of social justice and equality is because there is this idea of privilege. People who are benefitting from privilege often don’t want it to stop. The easiest way to keep that position is to deny the idea of privilege, and say that you worked your way up. I understand why people don’t want to acknowledge the idea, want to stay at the top, and don’t want to break down these systems of oppression, but it’s inherently unjust. As just a person with humanity, I feel the call to do something about it.” Breza wants to use what he calls “his privilege” to make a difference in the world. “I realized that as someone who is so privileged in so many ways, it gives you a huge responsibility to do something with it. That privilege makes me very uncomfortable, as it should, because being privileged means that you’re so much better off than so many people,” Breza said. Breza can’t exactly pinpoint where his passion sparked, but he is certain that it had shaped his role both as a student and as an advocate for justice. “In seventh grade, I started to realize that human rights violations were a big deal, and that it was something that I didn’t like. I would say it wasn’t until going into sophomore year, when the whole marriage amendment came up, that I started to become involved with social justice issues and advocacy. I founded the Justice Club at BSM my junior year, where we worked on the pay gap between men and women,” Breza said. BSM’s rigorous, religious-based curriculum helped Breza fortify his passion
for justice. “It’s set up so that 11th grade is the year that social justice hits you. You have both Discipleship and American Lit, and both of those classes can be socialjusticey if you want them to be. The stars really aligned for me then and so that’s when I started to become more involved with racial justice issues. But the roots started long before that,” Breza said. “For me, there’s no religious connection to it. I’m not religious, but I know that I feel the way I do for a reason, and I need to act on that reason to change things.” Ask anyone. Breza is an advocacy powerhouse. He’s actively participated many organizations and clubs, including founding the BSM Justice Club, and spends much of his time focusing on social justice issues that he wants to see change. “I think that Benilde is such a privileged environment that we’re not exposed to a lot of injustices in our world, or don’t see them as directly as other people do. I think that’s a challenge to us, to look harder, because it’s harder to see, especially for people who don’t realize their own privilege. And it’s so important that they do,” Breza said. This past summer, Breza became very involved in LGBTQ equality and working for Outfront Minnesota, which is a LGBTQ advocacy organization. “I was an organizing and policy fellow with them, and worked a lot on endorsement stuff for seeing which candidates are LGBTQ friendly. I also
worked with the Minnesota DemocraticFarmer-Labor Party that summer, working to elect legislators that I thought worked for economic and racial justice as well as LGBTQ equity,” Breza said. “I was a fellow with both Outfront MN and the DFL, so I did at least 30 hours a week with Outfront, and probably more like 40, and 10-20 hours weekly with the DFL.” Breza continues to actively work with Outfront, specifically serving as a part of the leadership team for the Gender and Sexuality Alliances network. “I’m part of the leadership team to make sure that GSAs in Minnesota are connecting with each other. I’m also on Outfront’s Youth Advisor leadership team, which is working to plan a youth summit. They held one last year, and it’s basically where 400-plus kids get together and go lobby at the Capitol for LGBTQ rights, so I’m on that team to plan that summit this year,” Breza said. Although Breza could easily already be considered one of the most politically active students, the senior looks to add more to his plate. “The big issue that I care about a whole lot right now is transathlete justice, so I’ve been pretty active in working on that issue as well,” Breza said. Breza is very committed to his passion and wants to continue. “Justice-related stuff is what I want to do as a career, in some way working for the rights or marginalized and disenfranchised groups,” Breza said.
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Writer: Madison Hicks Photographer: Alexis Hoedeman Designer: Colin Sheeley
GEORGE TORVIK: row with the flow
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s I entered the Twin Cities Youth Rowing (TCYR) training facility, there were rows and rows of athletes on long machines, going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. The repetitiveness of the exercise seems almost deadly, but the power that these athletes are exerting radiates off like heat onto anyone who enters the building. This seemingly mundane activity is actually more difficult than it may sound; constant rowing and upper-body muscle building is what is needed for this slightly obscure extra-curricular activity. It is a different kind of sport, one that athletes are constantly improving on.
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George Torvik, a BSM junior, is a rower. An activity that isn’t often recognized by high schools, rowing––otherwise known as crew––found its way into George’s life four years ago, but not as most would expect. “My mom used to row in college, and I wasn’t doing anything in the summer so she signed me up, and I actually ended up loving it,” Torvik said. Though parental decisions aren’t usually embraced by their kids, this one stuck, and Torvik became a part of the TCYR Club, one of the few rowing clubs throughout Minnesota. He trains and competes with this club, and the club’s emphasis on teamwork is one of the many reasons Torvik stayed loyal
to the sport. His first season of crew was one to remember. As a newcomer to the sport, Torvik went into his first practice with zero expectations and limited experience. His first coach, also named George, changed that for him. “I went into the season not really knowing what would happen, but my first coach was amazing. Not only was his name George, but he just made me fall in love with the sport, because he was so passionate about it and his attitude towards everything just made me more excited about being a part of crew,” said Torvik. After becoming a part of the team, Torvik realized that it would require not only
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strength in the boat, but demanding training off of the water. Weight training is a crucial part of building the muscles needed for the swift movements rowers execute during races. Core and leg workouts are a large part of off-season training, as well as rigorous work on the ergometer–the piece of exercise equipment used to simulate the rowing movements. I felt fatigued just watching the workout, but it was nothing compared to the vast amount of weariness the athletes were feeling. With constant training off and on season, one might wonder how a rower can tolerate the constant pain, and why it doesn’t deteriorate them to the point of quitting. “The workouts are just part of the sport, and it may be difficult, but rowers just endure the pain because they love the rowing or the team so much. It’s all part of the experience, and you don’t really think about it,” said Torvik. All of the power and training is put to meticulous use, though; the races are a sight to behold. In a regatta, all of the boats line up, ready for a two kilometer race. The gun is shot and each crew furiously pushes themselves to be ahead of the line, and beat all other competing teams in the race. “All of your work is paying off, and everyone is fighting to be that top boat,” said Torvik. Racing is intense, competitive, and possesses all of the benefits of crew training; it is also the most beautiful thing about rowing for the athlete. The ability to glide across the water is purely based on individual strength and team endurance, but this drift across the open waters is what keeps these rowers coming back again and again. “Rowing is so different than any other sport. I think that my favorite part has to be just getting up ear-
ly, and being out on the water. If I ever had to stop, that is what I would miss the most,” said Torvik. Rowing is set apart from other sports because of this simplicity and beauty that accompanies it. Not only that, but the feeling of unity within the boat is a powerful presence that rowers are aware of. During a race, there may be yelling and movement, but there always needs to be a sense of coalition. “Rowing has taught me so much about hard work and determination, but also about what teamwork really is. When you are in the boat, you have to be totally in sync to succeed in the race,” said
Torvik. As of now, rowing is a passion that Torvik is looking into carrying out for a long time to come. Some of his college search has been molded around crew and whether a college has an NCAA Collegiate rowing program. “I plan on rowing in college. I’ve been looking at schools such as University of Wisconsin Madison and Michigan, because they have strong teams,” said Torvik. As a TCYR rower, Torvik is entering into his fifth season of crew this spring of 2015. He continues to train vigorously during the off-season, and will begin competing in the spring when the ice has melted.
photo courtesy of George Torvik Paddles cut swiftly through the clear water as Torvik and the Twin Cities Youth Rowing Team glides through a narrow bridge channel.
Fast Facts:
Rowing is one of the original sports in the Olympic Modern Games.
Regatta comes from the Italian Ventian word for “contest.”
Eight-oared shells are about 60 feet long, 1/5 of a football field.
The first modern races came from a competition between ferrymen on the River Thames in 1715.
A single shell can be as narrow as 10 inches across and stretch more than 27 feet long.
Oars can reach longer than 13 feet but weigh only 6 pounds.
The first intercollegiate rowing contest was between Harvard and Yale in 1852.
The average height for a male professional rower is 6’6” and 6’0” for a female.
Rowing as a sport can be traced back to Ancient Egyptian times when it was feature as a game during funerals.
Rowing is a total body workout and is one of the few athletic activities that involves all of the body’s major muscle groups.
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MASTER OF DISGUISE Ever heard of cosplay? Spend a minute with junior Rachael Long and you’ll consider yourself an expert. While doing her hair and applying her makeup for her character Nitori, Long had a twinkle in her eye and an unwavering smile on her face, and to me that is truly refreshing and almost inspiring. Cosplay brought out her dedication for her art and it brought out an inner euphoria that I’d never seen in her. There was such an ease about it; I could tell her passion wasn’t forced; creating and sharing her cosplays with people at conventions is what she was meant to do. For Long, living a life without cosplay wouldn’t be a life worth living. “I wouldn’t have a getaway in a sense. Some people have that through reading or something like that, but for me it’s like I watch a series and I really connect to this character and I’m like ‘This is a great character. I want to be this character.’ Then I can, and then people will just appreciate that and I appreciate it too. It’s a way that I can be someone else while still being myself. I’m not hiding myself in any way, but I’m more like expressing myself through someone else,” Long said. For Long, cosplay isn’t just a hobby or an activity, it’s a lifestyle. Whenever Long gets bored or doesn’t have anything to do, she’ll work on her upcoming cosplay or order pieces for the outfit online.
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However, this lifestyle of cosplays and conventions is completely unheard of to many people. “Cosplay is when you get really passionate about a show and you get really attached to a character, or you just really love a character, so you decide to cosplay them. It’s when you dress up as that character. Some people who are really good at it will make their own costumes, and it’s really impressive and really cool and cosplays can be from TV shows, video games, or anime,” Long said. Cosplayers attend conventions or “cons” held throughout the year to share their rendition of a character with the rest of the world either through competitions or by just meeting people. Comic Con and Katsucan, which is an anime convention held in Washington, D.C., are two of the most massive conventions for cosplayers. Long’s most recent convention was over Halloween, and now she’s looking forward to her upcoming convention over spring break in March where she’s will be part of a competitive dance group with other cosplayers including senior Mari Larsen. At these conventions, Long is free to be anyone she wants to be, and her range of characters is not limited in any way. “It’s kind of like a second home because everyone is really accepting and really welcoming because no matter what you look like; you can cosplay
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anyone. You’re never not the right body shape or not the right race or anything. It’s just like, you love this character; people will appreciate that,” Long said. The conventions are a way to help her relieve her stress, let go, and have a great time. “It’s just a way to feel happy because I can be this person and people appreciate that, and it’s not like ‘Your hair looks nice.’ They seriously mean it like, ‘I love how you did your makeup. That is seriously amazing!’ or ‘You look like you put so much dedication into this, I applaud you!’ And when they ask to take a picture with you, it’s really honorable because you know they’re appreciating your effort and knowing that you did put time into this. They love your passion,” Long said. Another reason that Long cosplays is because of the unconditional love she receives from fellow cosplayers who know nothing about her but approach her for pictures or to compliment her just because they love her cosplay. “It’s a good feeling when people appreciate you without knowing your faults or anything about you simply because they just see your effort and your love for this character and then they just feel that, and they appreciate it. It’s a really nice feeling,” Long said. Cosplay is unique because, unlike sports or other activities, there is no winner or loser. “With cosplay you win no matter what, because people love the character and they don’t really care about the quality, but if it is high quality, of course people are going to take more pictures, but still if you handmade it and you’re not the best at sewing or whatever they’re still going to appreciate it and be like ‘you did a really good job’ so there’s not like competition but overall everyone is just happy,” Long said. Long began cosplaying in high school, but she was first ex-
posed to cosplay in sixth grade by her friend who is four years older than she is. “I loved seeing her get really excited when some of her pieces came in the mail; she would just start crying and be like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so excited.’ It’s so amazing that someone can get so excited that a hair clip came in the mail. That’s really cool that something that small could bring someone such happiness, and now I’m feeling that,” Long said. Costumes can be quite expensive if you buy them off of the Internet, so Long pushes herself and dedicates her time into personally creating breathtaking cosplays whenever she can. “My person has this jacket and it’s super intricate and I was like, ‘I’m not buying that $100 jacket,’ so I put on duct tape and I drew it on and people always asked me ‘you did that?’ and I’m like “yeah” and they’re like “That’s so cool!” and I’m like thanks, I literally worked for five hours to sharpie it on,” Long said. Long’s passion for cosplay has exposed her to fellow cosplayers at BSM and in the larger community across the country who share her passion. Even though Long may never see some of these people anywhere other than conventions, she maintains correspondence over Facebook and social media to exchange cosplay tips and keep the friendship alive. “Cosplaying has become a really big part of my social life because when you go to conventions, you usually go with friends and your friends know other friends, and there’s this huge amount of people you’re going to meet and become friends with,” Long said. Writer: Leo Driessen Photographer: Molly Flannery Designer: Hannah Scherer
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Writer: Morgan Matson Designer: Hannah Scherer Photographer: Meghan Ortizcazarin 1/16/15 1:07 PM
HUNTER DOWNEY: A MECHANICAL LIFE Taking the small act of tinkering with simple machines to a new level, senior Hunter Downey has developed a love for working with cars, engines, and anything mechanical. When senior Hunter Downey looks under the hood of a car, his face lights up. Instead of looking at 4000 pounds worth of junk, he immediately sees potential, adventure, and a work of art. For him, engines and mechanical upgrades are beautiful, and not just means for money, but truly a passion that he loves. Downey’s dream of becoming a mechanic started when he was a young child. “As a little kid I knew I wanted to be a mechanic. I would take apart vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers, and it was literally the funnest thing. However, my mother would yell at me constantly because I wouldn’t put them fully back together,” Downey said with a hard laugh. As his laugh faded out, he began telling a story of one of his first creations. “When I first started getting into mechanics, I stole my family’s old lawn mower, took it apart and created my own go kart,” Downey said. “It did not end well–I ended up crashing within the first ten minutes of driving.” The miraculous part of Hunter’s passion is that he is completely selftaught. “Well, the first book I learned off of was my old station wagon manual. I learned every part of my car, how
it worked, how the fuses were, how the computers were, so that was the basis of where I learned to operate cars, fuel and air mixtures, and combustion engines,” Downey said. Hunter’s passion has evolved into a thriving business, which he started two years ago with his father’s car parts business. Downey owns a garage in North East Minneapolis and tends to eight regular customers. “I work on cars in a way that when people want to update their car, and they don’t want to go to the mechanic and overpay. I just order you the parts and charge a flat rate of $20,” Downey said. Downey is now making roughly $4,000 a year, after all taxes and expenses have been paid. Not only does Hunter Downey fix machines, but he also builds devices through his knowledge of mechanics. His favorite creation: his own super charger. “With cars, there are three key components that you need: air, fuel and ignition. So, I created my own super charger, which allows for more air to enter the engine,” Downey said. “As you go faster, more air increases and the more power you get. They have been around for a while, but they are super expensive, not the greatest quality, so I
made my own out of aluminum instead of steel.” Downey surrounds himself with a community of people who share his passion. “I do it because I love being a part of the community. We can customize it any way we want, and it’s your own; it’s my way to express myself. I think that when people customize their cars, it’s like they are saying, this is me, and this is how I show up,” Downey said. Downey and his friends have used their passion for fun and have gone into rocketry together. “We started building rockets together a couple of years ago, and the thing is, nobody really wants to catch a rocket when it comes down, and nobody wants to build parachutes. So we added a fuse at the end, so the rockets would blow up and fall from the sky. So instead of metal tubes falling down, cardboard would, which is a lot safer,” Downey said. Downey’s passion will continue after graduating from BSM. “I have this entirely planned out. I want to go to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida, and do ROTC for air force. After college, I want to do aeronautical engineering in the Air Force,” Downey said.
KEQ: THE PASSION ISSUE hunter downey.indd 3
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“WORKING HARD FOR SOMETHING WE DON’T CARE ABOUT IS CALLED STRESS. WORKING HARD FOR SOMETHING WE LOVE IS CALLED PASSION”-LENNOX LEWIS “THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON ON EARTH IS THE HUMAN SOUL ON FIRE” - CHANGE FOR CHANGE. “THE THINGS YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT ARE NOT RANDOM, THEY ARE YOUR CALLING” - FABIENNE FREDRICKSON. “PASSION IS ENERGY. FEEL THE POWER THAT COMES FROM FOCUSING ON WHAT EXCITES YOU” - OPRAH WINFREY. “PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE THEIR CAPACITY FOR CHANGE. THERE IS NEVER A RIGHT TIME TO DO A DIFFICULT THING” - JOHN PORTER. “ANYTHING THAT GETS YOUR BLOOD RACING IS WORTH DOING” - HUNTER S THOMPSON. “FIGURE OUT WHAT LIGHTS YOUR FIRE, THEN CHASE THE MATCH” - ALLIE LEFEVRE. “IT DOESN’T INTEREST ME WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ACHE FOR––AND IF YOU DARE TO DREAM OF MEETING YOUR HEART’S LONGING. IT DOESN’T INTEREST ME HOW OLD YOU ARE. I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU WILL RISK LOOKING LIKE A FOOL FOR LOVE––FOR YOUR DREAMS––FOR THE ADVENTURE OF BEING ALIVE” - ORIAH MOUNTAIN DREAMER. THE ONES WHO ARE CRAZY ENOUGH TO THINK THEY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD ARE THE ONES THAT DO” - STEVE JOBS. “YOU HAVE TO GO WHOLEHEARTEDLY INTO ANYTHING IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING WORTH HAVING” - FRANK WRIGHT. “IF YOU DO SOMETHING OUT OF DUTY IT WILL DEPLETE YOU, BUT IF YOU DO SOMETHING OUT OF LOVE IT WILL ENERGIZE YOU” - MOTHER THERESA. “I WOULD RATHER DIE OF PASSION THAN OF BOREDOM” - VINCENT VAN GOGH. “DO YOUR THING. DO IT UNAPOLOGETICALLY. DON’T BE DISCOURAGED BY CRITICISM. YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO SAY. PAY NO MIND TO THE FEAR OF FAILURE. IT’S FAR MORE VALUABLE THAN SUCCESS. TAKE OWNERSHIP, TAKE CHANCES, AND HAVE FUN” - ASHER ROTH. ” “PEOPLE ARE THE PRETTIEST WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THEY REALLY LOVE WITH PASSION IN THEIR EYES” k.v.h. “MERAKI: (VERB) TO DO SOMETHING WITH SOUL, CREATIVITY, OR LOVE; TO PUT SOMETHING OF YOURSELF INTO YOUR WORK.” “WEAR YOUR PASSION. THERE’S WAY TOO MUCH TO LIVE FOR TO FEEL HOPELESS. GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO NEVER GIVE UP. GROW. PERSEVERE. EVOLVE” - DR. BRUCE LLOYD. “NO EXPERIENCE IS WASTED” - ORSON F. WHITNEY. “I HAVE NO SPECIAL TALENT. I AM ONLY PASSIONATELY CURIOUS” - ALBERT EINSTEIN. “THE MOST WONDERFUL THING IN THE WORLD IS SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS WHO THEY ARE AND KNOWS WHAT THEY WERE CREATED TO DO” - OPRAH. “IF YOU CAN’T FIGURE OUT YOUR PURPOSE, FIGURE OUT YOUR PASSION, YOUR PASSION WILL LEAD YOU RIGHT INTO YOUR PURPOSE.” “YOUR PROFESSION ISN”T YOUR PAYCHECK. YOUR PROFESSION IS WHAT YOU’RE PUT ON HERE EARTH TO DO, WITH SO MUCH PASSION THAT IT BECOMES A SPIRITUAL CALLING.”- V BACK COVER.indd 1
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