The Knight Magazine October 2014 by The Knight News Blog

Break The Silence

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THE KNIGHT OCTOBER 2014

EDITORIAL BOARD

ADVISOR - ELISIA HARKINS-JAMES CO EDITORS NICK HALABY CAMERON DE MATTEIS LAYOUT EDITOR - JANET YEO BLOG EDITOR - KATHRYN BRACKEN SPORTS EDITOR-LAUREN CRITTENDEN ADVERTISING MANAGER VICTORIA MARTINEZ

STAFF WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS GABRIELA AVILA - COPY EDITING ALEX STEPHENSON - COPY EDITING EMILY GLENNON ANDREW GAVINET JEANNIE GONZALES

GUEST WRITERS Katie Schooley

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

4 22 14

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AIDS Walk 2014

Since the 1980s an estimated 36 million people have died of HIV/AIDS. Now, thirty years later, people around the world are still fighting to put an end to this disease. Here in Los Angeles the battle is fought through the annual AIDS Walk, an event that brings people from By Gabriela Avila across the city together for a common cause. This year members of our own Notre Dame community formed a team to participate in the walk, and I joined the volunteer team to help behind the scenes. The day of the AIDS walk was the most exhausting day I have had in a long time. I was up at 5 o’clock on a Sunday and spent the majority of the day on my feet, even during the hottest parts of it. The exhaustion did not really hit me until after the event, when I finally got home. During the walk I was too excited and amazed to think about how tired I was. The first thing that amazed me was just how many people had come out to show their support in the fight against AIDS. The biggest charity walk I’ve ever been to was the two day long Avon Breast Cancer walk, but this one was a close second. I was also excited to see such a wide variety of groups participating in the walk, from fitness clubs to fraternities and high school GSAs to religious organizations. I was amazed at all of the things said during the opening ceremony. From my volunteer station, far away from the stage, I heard the director of the walk speak inspiring words as he called the younger generations to carry on the work he has been doing for the past thirty years. The mayor of Los Angeles shared his dream of his daughter one day saying that AIDS used to be a problem, and everyone cheered to let him know that was their dream too. The thing that excited me the most, though, was the knowledge that members of my own school community were in the crowd as well. The Notre Dame walking team was put together by Junior Ruby Zalduondo, along with Megan Doyle and Charlie Hammell. “My friend created a team for her school,” Zalduondo said. “That gave me the idea of starting one for Notre Dame because it is a really important event for LA which not only benefits AIDS Project LA but many other local charities.” To help promote the walk Zalduondo posted flyers all around the campus with the hope that students would sign up to join the team. “A few people contacted me about the AIDS walk because of the posters wanting to participate. Unfortunately this cause hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves at this school. I think a lack of awareness and general misinformation about HIV/AIDS in our community attributes to this, but there are also more things I could have done to get the word out more effectively and sooner.” The team had no financial goal in mind, just the desire to educate people on the disease. They wanted any student who donated money to do so because they wanted to, not make it a requirement for joining the group. “Once people are more educated about the topic and begin to care about it,” Zalduondo said, “wanting to donate is a natural consequence.” While the AIDS Walk is done for this year there are still things every student can do to support the fight against AIDS. Donations are always being accepted at www.aidswalk.net. “Students can volunteer for local charities,” Zalduondo added, “like Project Angel Food, The Life Group LA, and the Valley Community Clinic which support AIDS Project LA’s cause.” If you were not able to make it to the walk this year, do not worry. It is called the annual AIDS Walk for a reason. Hopefully Notre Dame’s team will be back, bigger and better, for AIDS Walk Los Angeles, 2015. OCTOBER 2014

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UNIQUE ANIMALS By Jack McDermott

Having a pet is one of the greatest experiences anyone ever gets to have. It not only teaches you responsibility, but you also get a new friend for life. When you think of a pet, images of dogs, cats, fish, and so forth come to mind. These pets come to mind because they are some of the most common household pets you’ll find. It is hard to imagine people having any other pets than the common ones, when in reality people have animals such as lizards, turtles, and chickens invading their home. Crazy right? I know firsthand what it’s like to have a unique pet. Besides our two chickens, nine dogs, 3 lizards and 4 guinea pigs, my most interesting pet is my pig, Hank. Hank is a potbelly pig who wasn’t supposed to grow bigger than ten to twenty pounds. Now, he’s a full grown beast, weighing in at fifty to sixty pounds. We got Hank from a local farm here in Los Angeles. From the start, he was a lot of work. Although he was fond of everyone else, he never really liked me that much. As time went on, we did learn to live with each other. I started to realize having a pig was OCTOBER 2014

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one of the coolest things I’d ever get to experience. At the end of the day, he was a sweet pig and could be really adorable at times. He has a lot of cute habits we could never get enough of. Whether it’s him snuggling with us when we watch movies, or my siblings dressing him up in ridiculous outfits, he always makes us smile. Although very down to Earth, Hank is a very spoiled animal. He practically lives like us. He has clothes, he has his own room, toys, and so forth. Not to mention, he eats pretty much everything we do. He’s the most spoiled animal I have, even more than my dog Mitzy who gets her nails done and my chicken Coco Chanel who has a Louis Vuitton cage. Although things were difficult at first, my family has fallen in love with our pet pig. I couldn’t imagine our life without him. When we have to send him back to the farm, we will all be devastated. But for now, we’re going to enjoy the time we have with him so we can create memories that last a lifetime. It won’t be too hard to forget him though, especially since he’s left his bite marks in my leg!

A DIFFERENT KIND OF FRIGHT By Jack McDermott

It’s that time of year again! With Halloween just around the corner, kids of all ages are scrambling to find costumes for the terrifying holiday. Many kids, mostly teenagers, are more focused on getting their tickets for Horror Nights or Knott’s Scary Farm. Over the past years, haunted houses and mazes have become increasingly popular with people of all ages. The realistic life-threatening situations and frightening monsters attract many to these larger-than-life attractions. The most popular of these attractions would have to be Halloween Horror Knights at Universal Studios. The mazes and rides surpass any haunted house out there. But is there any other that can compete

with Horror Nights? To see if there is, a group of my friends and I went to two unique attractions that may have the right to contend with Horror Nights. We first went to Old Town Haunt in Pasadena. Being its final year, we thought it would be scarier than ever. When we arrived, we were escorted into what is called a “truly haunted” building. Turns out it wasn’t that haunted at all!! Although we had a few scares here and there, it wasn’t anything special. It was so bad, we left early to go get food at Lemonade and saw a movie instead. We decided to give Old Town Haunt one star out of five. Hoping to find a scarier attraction, we turned to Dark Harbor on the Queen Mary. Tickets being pretty cheap ($20 online), we didn’t expect that much. Boy were we wrong! It was almost exactly like Horror Nights. Walking through the once haunted ship, being attacked by realistic creatures, it was truly a horrifying experience. Also with the new a voodoo village and mazes, it was scarier than ever! The voodoo

village was the scariest. Having an irrational fear of dolls, I was terrified, grasping onto my friend Chloe for dear life. I made it out alive, but I’m still mentally scared from my trip through the village. Besides my mental turmoil, the food was amazing! It was high quality and fresh, something Horror Nights wishes THEY had! You could say it was “horrifically” fantastic. Amongst our group, we gave Dark Harbor five out of five stars! It is truly a great attraction and contends with some of the biggest haunted parks, even Horror Nights! It is truly a magical experience. So when you begin to plan for the Halloween season, make sure you put Dark Harbor on the top of your list!

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DIY Halloween Costumes By: Lauren Crittenden

Do you have a tight budget this Halloween? Do you still want to have a killer costume? Look no further! This edition will satisfy you and your wallet.

Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy Baby Blue Ivy

For Mermaid Man you’ll need green tights, black athletic shorts, an orange shirt, dishwasher gloves, and slippers. For Barnacle Boy you’ll need black athletic shorts, a red shirt, a blue bandana, dishwasher gloves, and to top it all off, a sailor hat. (Invisible boat mobile not included.)

For this costume you’ll need blue clothes (e.g. blue tights, blue shirt, whatever your heart desires…). You’ll also need ivy from an arts and craft store. You can either wrap your body in the leaves or use them as a belt. Finally you’ll need a binky.

Wednesday Addams

For this Halloween classic you’ll need a black dress (preferably with a white collar), black tights, black shoes, and your hair in two braids.

Orange is the New Black For this get-up you’ll need a set of scrubs (preferably orange or beige) and/or a grey shirt along with some black slip-on shoes. You can accessorize the outfit with a nametag and a token from your favorite character on the show (e.g. cat eye glasses, a book, a screwdriver, etc.)

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A Broken Home By Cameron de Matteis

“Embarrassment, anger, shame, and fear

of abandonment.” These are the words 24 year-old Kady Aldatz, Los Angeles native, uses to describe her childhood. “My first memory is of domestic violence,” confesses Kady. Kady began to vividly describe her first childhood memory to me, explaining that her father started to hit her mother across the face for making the wrong kind of salsa. A year later, her mother’s family forced her father to leave the house. Kady’s mother, who came from a household of extreme abuse, had her first child at 17 with Kady’s father, a man 25 years her senior. “She was looking for a father figure,” explains Kady because “her father would abuse his own children.” It wasn’t long before Kady’s mother got into another violent relationship; this time with a man named David. She admits that after this it only got worse for her and her siblings. “There was always fighting in the house. When we were sleeping we could hear the commotion. We knew what was going on. He was hitting our mom.” Around this time social workers started visiting Kady and her siblings at school. She is ashamed to admit that having a premonition that this would occur she trained her siblings on how to lie about what was going on behind closed doors. “I learned at a young age how to lie and how to lie very well.” Despite all the lies cops still harassed the family. “I remember vividly one night at 3 a.m. that a police officer woke us up by shining lights in our faces. He brought us in the living room and searched our bodies for marks.” Shortly after the incident Kady’s family got evicted and Kady and her siblings were forced to live in a van. While Kady’s brother suffered from depression, Kady found another outlet. “I was very socially active in school to cover up the shame and embarrassment I had from being homeless and coming from a home that was damaged,” details Kady. “I wanted to be normal. I wanted a normal life.” School became hard but Kady confides, “We never missed school. If we missed we knew that we would starve.” This was due to the fact

that David would steal the family’s food stamps and exchange them for money to buy drugs. Afraid and desperate the kids had nowhere to turn. “My dad was a gangster, like hardcore. We would lie to our dad because we were afraid our dad would kill David.” Instead the kids united together. “I took on the mother role,” recalls Kady. The family was eventually able to relocate to a small motel, where things took a turn for the worst. Kady remembers that one night social services traced them to the motel and unfortunately, her mother had been beaten very badly the night before. “She had two black eyes and marks on her neck from being choked.” Kady’s voice begins to slightly tremble as she mutters the next words. “They took us away.” Kady was only ten.

“It’s a cycle” Kady and her siblings were split up and put into foster homes, but with help, her mother was able to win the kids back in court. “That’s when we went to go live in the shelter.” Despite the tribulations Kady faced, she feels she handled it better than her siblings. “I had strategies tfor coping. I would talk to myself and say ‘get over this’ [and] I was really hard on myself and wouldn’t express anything I thought of as weakness. I told myself I needed to be strong for my siblings.” At the shelter it became evident how traumatized her siblings were. Kady’s older brother joined a gang. “He was looking for attention because he wasn’t getting it at home. He wanted to be accepted.” Soon enough her brother began getting physical with Kady, beating her up. Kady had now been abandoned by the one stable, loving person in her life. “He was the closest sibling I had and here he was doing the one thing he promised he would never do,” Kady grievingly admits. Shortly after leaving the shelter her mother got involved with a new guy and would leave the kids alone for weeks on end with no electricity and no money.

Kady remembers dropping out of high school Freshman year. “Someone had to take care of the kids,” states Kady. “Through it all, Kady continually reassured herself that ‘she would get it all back,’ but now admits “I lost a childhood.” Eventually the family was evicted again when Kady was 16. This time family intervened and Kady moved to Texas to live with an older sister. Kady saw a transformation in herself, which she credits to the difference of having a loving, nurturing home. She graduated high school with a 4.3 GPA. She shares that,“I had a drive to me,” and it was her resilience that allowed her to rise above her chaotic and violent childhood. When asked to reflect on how her situation has affected her, Kady gets somewhat upset. “There’s trauma you get when you see these things at a young age. Drugs. Violence. Even though I didn’t want to admit it I knew there were things wrong with me.” She comments, “I’m aggressive. I get very aggressive when I feel threatened.” And even now Kady struggles to forgive. Kady struggles to contain her emotions, as she admitted wholeheartedly that she still has resentment for her mother. “Because of her I had to grow up too fast,” shares Kady. Although she recalls always feeling like an old soul, she blames the stress for aging her. “There were nights I couldn’t sleep thinking about what we were going to eat the next day or if my mom was okay.” She remembers always yearning for a mother’s touch as a child, realizing now that her mother never knew love to be able to give it. Kady is currently doing amazing. As our time together began to come to an end, Kady triumphantly states, “I broke the cycle.” She’s right. She broke a vicious cycle and I could not be more inspired by her strength to do so. Her advice to someone going through a similar situation: “Do not bottle it up. Find someone to communicate with.” She also hopes that today’s youth will spread the word about domestic abuse and take care of generations to come. “Change starts with us,” closes Kady Aldatz.

I was introduced to Kady Aldatz through the Good Shepherd Center. For more information about how you or someone you know can get help you can visit: http://www.womenshelters.org/cit/ca-los_angeles OCTOBER 2014

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Which disturbs you more?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;End violence against women and solve only half the problemâ&#x20AC;? Which disturbs you more?

Which disturbs you more?

19 33 The girl

The guy

Guys who voted for the guy Guys who voted for the girl Girls who voted for the guys Girls who voted for the girls

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By Jeannie Gonzales In society, we can sometimes be extremely judgemental. We are quick to have an opinion on other people’s lives, but get defensive when someone comments on our own. The way we act towards abusive couples is no exception. People who are stuck in these abusive relationships cannot find a way out, and sometimes they do not even try to seek an outlet. Immediately, we criticize the person who was abused and challenge them saying, “How could you let someone hit you like that? And repeatedly? I would never let that happen to me.” If you place a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will immediately jump out. However, if you put a frog in lukewarm water and gradually turn up the heat, it will die a slow death. In the same way, if a man or woman treated their significant other disgracefully on the first few dates, that relationship would be severed. Instead, abusive relationships always begin wonderfully- they go to nice places, buy each other nice things, and make one another feel important. Going back to the frog, it is placed in wa-

ter that is at a comfortable temperature, and then, the heat is slowly turned up. Being a cold-blooded creature, its blood slowly adapts to the rising temperature. In the same way, people adapt to the changes in their relationship’s, thinking “He/She must be having a bad day,” or when their partner gets controlling, “They love me so much, and do not want anything to happen to me.” Officer Jeff, who has dealt with domestic abuse cases, mentions that “it starts off with the dominant aggressor belittling the other person, getting them to the point where they feel they do not deserve any better.” Soon, the victim of abuse begins to blame themselves, creating a never-ending cycle. Eventually, the heat is extremely high, and the frog’s blood is almost at boiling point. Just as in the relationship, “it begins with the small things. The abuser says little backhanded compliments that diminish the person’s self-esteem. Soon, the abuser has full control- cutting off the person’s contact with friends and family, so that the only person they have to rely

on is the abuser.” Finally, the water is at a full boil, and so is the frog’s blood. It is dead. And the person who was abused? They bear no resemblance to the strong, happy, confident person they were before the relationship. They are just empty shells, living to please their abuser. They live in fear- and just the sounds of their footsteps cause them to take cover. “People are afraid to leave these relationships. There might be children involved, they are afraid of being alone, or they are scared to lose the homelife they have grown so accustomed to.” Before you judge someone else’s relationship, take a step back and try to understand their situation. Do not get upset with friends or family who are in abusive relationships, because it is such a hard situation to get yourself out of. Support the men and women around the world who suffer from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. While leaving is not easy, there are things you can do to protect yourself and others. You are not alone, and help is available. OCTOBER 2014

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By Jeannie Gonzales

By the time you finish reading this paragraph, around 26 people- and with the given statistics, presumably all women- will be assaulted by their intimate partner in the United States. Women worldwide are more at risk for injury or death from domestic violence than from cancer, car accidents, war or malaria. However, despite the stereotypes that women are the only people to leave abusive relationships bruised and battered, around every two in five victims who suffer domestic abuse are men. Of these men, according to the NCADV. the risk is considerably higher for those who are in same-sex relationships rather than in heterosexual relationships. Domestic violence is not just a “women’s issue” but a societal issue around the world. It is often forgotten that abuse comes in many forms. Frequently, people do not admit they are being mistreated because of the belief that to be abused, you must be violated physically. The occasional fight in any relationship is generally expected, however, certain patterns continued over time can be a sign of non-physical domestic violence. This is a system of coercive behavior used by

1. Number of U.S. troops killed in Afghani stan and Iraq: 6,614: Number of women, in the same period, killed as the result of domestic violence in the US: 11,766 2. Number of women who will experience partner violence worldwide: 1 in 3 3. Percentages of people killed in the U.S. by an intimate partner: 30% of women, 5.3% of men. 4. Estimated number of children, worldwide, exposed to domestic violence everyday: 10,000,000 5. Worldwide, likelihood that a man who

one partner in a relationship to exert and maintain power and control over the other. Women’s Aid director Margaret Martin describes this as, “death by a thousand words. Emotional abuse is so corrosive. Always being put down, never being called anything but the most awful names.” No matter if a victim faces sexual, emotional, economic, or physical abuse, the victim’s self-esteem becomes low, they might start to internalize what the abuser is saying, which can lead to depression, anxiety and isolation. Domestic abuse can be seen all around the world, and in many places it is almost expected. Some may think women are treated like garbage in America, but what women experience in the US is nothing compared to what others deal with daily in other regions of the world. And honestly, the domestic violence issue towards both men and women in America is horrendous, making it even more heartbreaking to think that we have the better end of it. This is not to say that what occurs in the United States is to be pushed aside because it is “not as bad as it could be,” but we need to stop domestic abuse in America before it grows into what it could be.

grew up in a household with domestic violence grows up to be an abuser: 3 to 4 times more likely than if he hadn’t. 6. Chance that a girl of high school age in the U.S. experiences violence in a dating relationship: 1 in 3 7. No. 1 and No. 2 causes of women’s deaths during pregnancy in the U.S.: Domestic homicide and suicide, often tied to abuse 8. Domestic violence is both a national and a worldwide crisis. According to a 1100 UNICEF study, 20-50% of the female population of the world will become the victims of domestic violence

In light of Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, The Knight Magazine decided to take a stand against this issue. OCTOBER 2014

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THE ALUMNI CORNER DESIGNING HORROR

By Jeannie Gonzales

Story by Nick Halaby Layout by Peter Smith

This is the time of year that we all want to be scared. In other words, early autumn is horror time. For Notre Dame alum Rob Warner, that means it is the busy season. Warner is a part of the team that puts on the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, an annual attraction held at Griffith park. For Warner, going to work includes building, lighting and putting sound to some of our greatest nightmares. As it turns out, this ambition for fright was something that has been building in him ever since he was a kid. Warner started building and being a part of haunted houses before he was even in high school. As someone who had always loved Halloween, it was a perfect passion. As a student at Notre Dame, he was a member of the Irish Knight Band, where he would eventually become a trombone section leader. He was also a part of television production, which is where Warner learned a lot about the technical aspect of design. After graduating in 2002, Warner would go on to attend Cal State Northridge, where he would major in interior design while minoring in theatre design and technology. It was through a friend that he would get an interview with the group that puts on the hay ride, which he would eventually work on. Now, Warner is the technical director of the Haunted Hayride and is responsible for all the lighting, props, sets and sound at the event. “Basically, I am in charge of anything that isn’t an actor, makeup or costume,” explains Warner. Preparation for the event starts in January, where Warner meets with the other people who put on the hayride so they can determine themes and layouts. From there, the team starts the nearly 9 month process of creating the Hayride. It is an incredibly long

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The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride runs until Halloween and is open from Thursday through Sunday. For more information, go to www.losangeleshauntedhayride.com. process which is made more difficult by the fact that they do not have access to the actual location of where the event will be held until two weeks before it’s opening. “The hardest part is probably the lack of sleep,” says Warner, who would go on to say that at times, a work day can be stretched to 18 hours. As hectic as it is, Warner says that it is all worth it when he sees people talk about how great it was. “It is as close as I could get to my dream job,” he exclaimed. According to Warner, his ultimate goal is to get into designing theme park rides. For now, Warner is behind one of the more fun and most horrifying things to do around Los Angeles. For Warner, working on the hayride is a dream come true. As someone who has always loved both Halloween and design, there could not be a more perfect profession. Warner says that one of the best parts of what he does is that, “it’s a really unique experience. It’s something that you don’t do everyday.”

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8th Grade Visit Day

Middle schoolers got an inside look at the high school experience on September 26, 2014. As part of their visit day, eighth graders took a tour of our campus, visited classrooms, and ate lunch in the quad. As a parting gift, they received a Notre Dame Class of 2019 t-shirt. Visit day is a deciding factor for many of these kids, as high school will become their home away from home for the next four years. We hope the experience left them with a good impression of our school.

KNIGHT ROUND-UP

French-speaking, Hispanic food-loving yogis who recycle, rejoice! Notre Dame is home to every club to suit your needs. On September 24, 2014, hundreds of Knights gathered in the quad to sign up for one or more of the many clubs ND has to offer. Being a founder or an active member of a club in high school is something unique to add to your college resumĂŠ. So if sports are not your forte, consider looking for a club that speaks to you. If you missed Club Day, listen to the morning announcements regarding meetings, because many groups continue accepting new members throughout the year.

Club Day

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A Life of Service By Emily Glennon

Many find themselves disenchanted with the idea of community service, as our society teaches that something is only worth doing if you receive compensation. Gratitude is an amazing outcome of volunteering, but the ultimate goal is to fulfill the needs of others. So even if you may not necessarily enjoy your volunteer work, the point of it is to be of service to others. Los Angeles is home to hundreds of philanthropies and non-profits that rely on volunteers to accomplish their goals, so finding a place where you can be of use and have a good time doing it is not difficult. Giving yourself to others who are in need is an important component of the Notre Dame mission statement. It is easy to become overwhelmed with school work and extracurricular activities, leaving us struggling to fulfill the minimum 20/30 hours of service required for graduation. But if you find that place that fills your soul while helping others, you will find the hours pass quickly. In seventh grade, at the suggestion of one of my friends, I became a member of a local philanthropic organization, National Charity League. The goal of NCL is to foster positive familial and community relationships through service, leadership development and cultural experiences. Prior to joining, the only hours I ever completed were the minimum amount required by my school, and were usually done at home or through a family connection. Since dedicating myself more to the organization, I have branched out at the locations where I spend my time. Volunteering has also become more enjoyable and rewarding. Junior Katie Walker, through whom I found NCL, finds the knowledge she acquires through volunteering to be applicable in every aspect of her life. “The people I meet and help teach me to be thankful for what I have, and volunteering really changed my outlook about many things,” she says. Taking a break from school to devote time to a cause beyond yourself can be an escape from the stress of life. For some, volunteering is more than an obligation. As time passes, it can become more of a vocation. “I would say to look at volunteer work as an opportunity to make a difference and find a charity or philanthropy that you are passionate about where you can enjoy the work you put in and the people you work with,” says Junior Sarah Incerpi,who is also a member of National Charity League. She encourages people who do not enjoy volunteering to try to adopt another perspective. Rather than focusing on how much you enjoy it, notice how appreciative the people you help are. Taking a break from school to devote time to a cause beyond yourself can be an escape from the stress of life. OCTOBER 2014

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Measuring Up to Older Siblings By Alex Stephenson Most siblings have their ups and downs, and the siblings at ND are no different. Senior Charlie Burke, younger brother of ND alum Tyler Burke, has a close relationship with his brother. “We hang out a lot when he’s in town and I’m friends with a lot of his friends so we spend a lot of time all together,” explained Burke. At school, however, he has a lot to live up to. “When I enter a new class, the teachers often recognize my last name and will say how great of a student Tyler was, which makes me think I have to live up to high expectations,” Burke admits. He also added that many people have told him he should be

ASB President just because his brother was. “I try to ignore it for the most part,” says Burke, adding that it also works as motivation for him and doesn’t bother him too much. “I think it’s good sometimes because teachers will be really nice because they liked my brother,” he says laughing. Senior Eric Babajanian compares his relationship to older brother Patrick Babajanian, another ND alum, to college dorm roommates. “We have to tolerate each other, but we get along.” Unlike the comparisons made by teachers to Burke, Babajanian mostly compares himself to his brother. “It makes me feel like no matter how hard I try, it’s probably not going to meet people’s expectations of me. It’s like there’s this unrealistic quota that no one but I have to meet,” he says. This, however, does not affect his relationship with his brother at all. “My brother and I ignore these comparisons whenever we have the chance to see each other. Our time during holidays means so much more than seeing what I’m missing,” he comments. Junior Angela Neglio also has a close relationship with her brother Nathan. “We talk on the phone and text or Skype almost

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everyday,” she says. “Even with him in a different state, we are still as close as before.” Neglio sees herself being compared to her brother all the time by teachers, parents, and other family friends. “I played Water Polo Freshman and Sophomore year, and Nathan played for three years at Notre Dame. A lot of people said he was so much more aggressive, or more invested than I was,” she remembers. “He also did a lot more extra curriculars, so my parents always say I have to be like that and involve myself more like he did.” Neglio also notes that many people have said that her brother is a lot more talkative and outgoing than she is. Neglio, like Burke, also tries to ignore the comparisons. “We are different people!” she exclaims, reminding everyone that just because an older sibling was good at something, doesn’t mean that the younger one has to be good at it, or necessarily even like it. Some siblings are not affected by this conundrum at all. Junior Gee Guintu, younger sister of Senior Rae Guintu has a very close relationship with her sister. “I can tell her anything, and she probably knows me better than I know myself,” Guintu comments. When asked if she felt compared to her sister in any way, she simply answered back “There was never really any competition between us.” Guintu admits that sometimes they were compared because they would do the same activities, however, it was never negatively. Similarly, Junior Julie Chavando feels compared to her sister Diana, but “in a positive way.” Chavando says that she and her sister have many similar interests and can relate to each other a lot. “I look up to her, even though she is only a year older than I am,” she admits. “I ask her for advice about pretty much everything and she helps me with school and life in general. I can always count on her,” Chavando comments. “She is my best friend.” While her sister may set the expectations high in the academics department, Chavando always strives to do her best. “I have a unique take on what I do that distinguishes me from her in the eyes of our teachers,” she says. “I appreciate that she sets a good, positive standard.” Sophomore Jordan Williams is very close to his Senior sister Ryan Williams.

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“We have been close all of our life. We don’t really fight much, like other siblings,” he admits. When he was asked if he was compared to his sister, he also said no. “Every now and then, someone will ask if I do the same things she does or if I want to do the same thing,” says Williams. “Granted, most of the time I do the same sort of thing, but no one asks about that.” He also appreciates the fact that his sister has a good reputation. Siblings can be a blessing, but it can also be hard to live under someone’s shadow. Family is important, and it is essential to communicate with your siblings about anything you need to.

By Dania Torres, Guest Writer

Who can forget their first Notre Dame High School dance, possibly their first date, and the beginning of an unforgettable year? Ah yes, Froshbox. On top of hair and makeup, girls must think of a fun theme, creative outfits, food, and decorations for their table, all making Froshbox a unique and memorable experience, while the boys, with rose in hand, anxiously await to see where this blind date will take them. Despite awkward stares, silence, random comments, and the classic school talks, this first dance ends up being a highlight of the high school experience. What if we had the opportunity to relive this moment? Truth is, this was once possible in the long list of Notre Dame traditions, only with a slight twist: Senior Social. “Essentially it used to be the opposite of Froshbox in which the boys put together the dinner, while the girls were assigned a date,” explained Mr. Thomas, vice principal of student life. However, “it was cancelled about four years ago due to lack of interest; the last time [ASB] did this, only about 20 people showed up,” so it was time to end this student event. Some of our very own faculty members were students when this event was at its height. One of the math teachers, Mrs. Faber (‘94), recalls this evening as “extremely popular...everyone went to it.” She even shared that this night was better than the Freshman social because “everyone knew each other...all of [their] friends were there.” Her favorite part was “just getting to come,” giving the girls a break without the major responsibility and seeing “the creativity of the guys.” But would guys in this age be willing to participate? “If a big group of guys got together, then others would do it because they did it,” predicted Mrs. Faber. Mr. Kounalis (‘96), part of the English department recalls that, “it was cool.. [his] friends had fun, [although] the food was not nearly as good as when the girls prepared it,” remembering how some of his buddies went to McDonalds and got a bunch of Happy Meals. So would the current Class of 2015 be willing to

participate? “I think it would be a great idea,” shared Senior Peter Griffin. “Guys would go all out. They’re really competitive at sports, so this would be another challenge to take on.” Griffin states that “being older, the Senior Social would be more memorable.” Without the Freshmen timidness, the students would actually enjoy their time with the people they have come to call their family. Out of 30 Seniors surveyed, 93% of them thought this event would be a great idea. Senior, Mike Ramos also agrees that it would be “a good time to get closer with classmates,” since he still keeps in touch with his Froshbox date, and “it’d be interesting to know who [they]’d be matched with.” So what do the girls think of all this? Senior, Ary Burgoyne says she “would definitely participate because [she] thinks it would be funny to see what the boys come up with,” as well as, Senior, Sabrina Agbabian who is curious to see “how they would prepare.” However, fitting in Senior Social during the year would be another event added to the never ending list of Senior stress.”The end of the year has gotten so much busier, compressed with AP tests, all sorts of awards ceremonies, plays, and there’s really not much time to do it,” Mr. Thomas explained. Ramos thinks it would be a good idea to hold this dinner “before Homecoming, around the time the Freshman have theirs.” On the other hand, Agbabian suggests that the beginning of the school year is “pretty hectic with college apps.” Because of everyone’s rigorous and busy schedules, Mr. Thomas predicts that the Senior Social “was nice for a while but it probably won’t be coming back.” It’s all a matter of planning and the Senior class’s initiative to pursue this event if it’s something they would like to bring back. As Griffin established, “Senior social would make everything come full circle,” just another chance to grow as the ND family we are and share the final moments as a Notre Dame Knight.

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Beating the Odds OCTOBER 2014

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Notre Dame High School has about 1,200 students and quite frankly, it is nearly impossible to know everyone on a first name basis. It is difficult enough to try to remember everyone in every class. However, there are some stories that everyone ought to know about, especially the ones that overcame tremendously difficult obstacles. Junior Quinten Lepak beat the odds of cancer survival. Quinten was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia on August 9, 2002. He was just four years old. He got treatment every single week at the UCLA Hospital in Westwood. His family found out that he had blood cancer after he came back from camp. Upon his arrival back home, he had a very long lasting nose bleed that caused his mother to be concerned. After examining Quinten, the doctor diagnosed him with his cancer. His treatment was a long and arduous process that lasted for over three years. The initial treatment was that he had to get surgery to place a porter cap in his chest. This device was a way to draw and test Quinten’s blood. The porter cap was also a method to give him medicine. “I had to take a series of spinal taps in my back to draw blood. I had to take thousands of pills and I had regular checkups, sometimes even for months at a time,” said Lepak. The most painful experience was probably the spinal taps. “The doctors told me to kick and scream as much as you want because it’s going to hurt.” Spinal tap is a medical procedure where a needle is inserted in the spine in order to check on the blood. One can only imagine how unbearable it was for doctors to not even comfort a four-year old. But being as positive as he is, Quinten remembers that after every shot or, he would be able to pick a toy out of the toy chest. Being diagnosed with cancer at a very young age took a bit of toll on the Lepak family. “My sister and I were really young so we didn’t know what was going on. I eventually figured it out though.” His sister Delaney Lepak, Class of ’14, was only six at the time her brother was diagnosed, and so

she was very confused at the situation. Delaney said, “It was scary to know that your best friend at the time was dying.” Their father was there to comfort Delaney so that she would not feel different from the other kids. Quinten’s mother was a great person to rely on. “My mom was really sad at first, but she was always there by my side in the hospital and everything that came with it,” Quinten reminisced with a smile. Someone is typically cancer-free after five years no treatment. Quinten has been cancer-free since October 7, 2005. He had a big celebration with his family and friends that day for overcoming a tremendous obstacle. Quinten is now part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This foundation funds research to help find cures for these diseases. The survival rate for leukemia was 60% in the 1960’s and today it has reached to a 96% survival rate. Quinten speaks about his treatment and his story during meetings. “I encourage them to raise money for the four percent [of leukemia and lymphoma patients] that might die,” said Quinten. Quinten has been able to live a normal life ever since. He plays the trumpet in the Irish Knight Band, runs cross-country and track, is a school ambassador, and even acts as the Junior Class President. “[Having cancer] makes me feel thankful for what I have now. I live a normal life now. I don’t have to go to the hospital every week and I get to hang out with my friends on the weekends.” Although we go to a big school, we should all make an effort to get to know a few people. Everyone has a story and they can be inspiring. Like Quinten’s story. He has overcame a disease at at very young age and he was and is very positive because of his experience. Thank you Quinten for telling us your story. If you would ike to know more about leukemia or lymphoma, visit www.lls. org. If you have or know anyone with a story that should be shared, email the Knight staff at newspaperknight@gmail.com.

“[Having cancer] makes me feel thankful for what I have now.”

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Trials

by Andrew Gavinet and Tracy Tanusi

50% of all American marriages end in divorce. That leaves millions of kids reeling with the effects of it. I am one of them, and like millions of others out there I have dealt with the effects that divorce can bring upon you. Depression, anxiety, and guilt are all symptoms that can follow a teenager during a parents separation. If not treated properly, these symptoms don’t just last in adolescence, they can last a lifetime. That’s the scary thing about divorce, most of the time it has absolutely nothing to do with the children in the family and yet we see that more than not they bear the brunt of the emotional burden for it. Being an only child made my family’s divorce tough for me since I was the only one in my family to have to deal with the emotional outpouring from both my mom and dad. To this day I love both of them. seeing them talk badly about each other still hurts me. Now when it happens I can open up and talk to them about it. However as a shy kid in the 5th grade, I could barely talk to the person next to my desk, let alone talk to my dad about why my family was being broken apart.

I felt guilty over my moms remorse and started eating bags of popcorn and chips more frequently since I didn’t want to burden her with having to cook for me. remorse and started eating bags of popcorn and chips more frequently since I didn’t want to burden her with having to cook for me. Time with my dad was limited due to his busy work schedule and even the small amount of time we shared together was quiet and remorseful. I became introverted and quiet, the freedom and confidence that made up my entire childhood had left me in 2 months.

Separation One of the biggest symptoms that divorce children have is the feeling that they grew up quicker than they would have expected. At 12 years old I knew it to be true, envious of the carelessness and fun my classmates around me while i felt that i ahd to become the man of the house. “That’s not terribly uncommon,” says Deborah Lowe a licensed childhood therapist in Westchester with a masters in MS. “A lot of children feel guilt and blame after a divorce because most of them feel that if they had been better to their parents then maybe this would not have happened. The effects of divorce are life long and I myself didn’t work through the feelings of guilt and blame I had as a child whose parents divorced and it came back to me as an adult when my own marriage ended in a divorce” said Lowe. When asked what is the best way to help out with a teenager affected by divorce, Lowe said, “You need to have a neutral person to go to. Someone who is unbiased and can help you talk through your guilt and pain. That’s the important thing about the traumas of divorce. You have to process and talk about your negative feelings in order to turn them around.” It is by no means easy, and unfortunately some symptoms of teens in divorced families include self-harm, depression, and shame. If you are or anyone you know is experiencing these symptoms please contact divorceandteens.weebly.com for help.

Thankfully with the help of family and friends, I managed to get past my problems. It took six years, loads of therapy, and crying with my parents but I’m finally happy with where I’m at with myself for the first time in a long time. Yes my parents still fight and a rough estimate suggests that it’s been probably 3 years since they spoke to each other face to face. Despite all of the back and forth, fighting, and hate they still have for each other I have miraculously found a way to love both of them with all my heart. Divorce changes you as a person but it doesn’t need to define you. It took me years to figure that out. Hopefully you will learn it sooner. OCTOBER 2014 THE KNIGHT 22

Kate Schooley and Tracy Tanusi Looking for a new furry friend or a creature that will provide constant companionship, protection, and will improve your mood? Look no further than your local animal shelter! October is national AdoptA-Shelter Dog Month and the ASPCA says the perfect way to celebrate “is by adopting a shelter dog of course!” According to the American Humane Association, the purpose of Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog month is to “encourage people to adopt a rescue or shelter dog and experience the joy of what the dog can bring into their lives.” Pet stores or breeders may be common places to search for a new dog, but animal shelters contain thousands of lovable companions in need of a home. Shelters have endless varieties of dogs, where you are sure to find your perfect pet match. Even if you want a certain breed, a simple Internet search will reveal breed-specific rescue groups. Although a common

misconception is that the reason these dogs are in shelters is because something is wrong with them, the reality is often different. In reality, these dogs come from all over with many different circumstances. Sometimes they are simply abandoned or very treatable problems made the former owner give up on the dog. “Animals whose families are no longer able to care for them are wonderful pets as they are already socialized into a family,” says Alison Schooley, former Burbank Animal Shelter volunteer, who owns many rescued pets. Mistreated dogs are rehabilitated in programs at shelters but may still need proper care and love to bring them out of their shells. “People are worried about adopting shelter animals because of what they think might be problems, however well-run rescue organizations will be totally honest

different types of owners such as families or an older couple, so there is no need to worry,” says Schooley. Many people want to own an adorable puppy, which shelters have plenty of, but might not realize how much work puppies require. However, shelters have an abundance of calmer, older dogs who have harder times finding homes but are just as loving. Shelter dogs come in all ages, types, and have their own unique personalities. Want to help a shelter dog in need but aren’t ready for the commitment of adoption? No worries. Fostering animals, donating to a shelter, or volunteering at a local shelter are all great ways to give back. Get out there and celebrate Adopt-AShelter-Dog month, because there are so many reasons why shelter dogs make amazing pets and best friends.

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