LINDBERGH
future forward
Sponsored By: The Brooks Family
Editor’s Note
Hello Flyers! This past month, the Pilot staff has been working hard on our second issue of the school year. We invite you to read about the increase of interest in poetry as well as psychology club. Follow along as we talk about the American Dream, college applications, the Odyssey Club and recap Halloween. Finally, check out this year’s swim and Esports season, the upcoming Youth and Government election, and the annual Garden Glow event at the botanical gardens.
- Elizabeth Cleary, Editor-in-Chief
Pilot Policy
Pilot is a monthly newsmagazine published by students enrolled in the Pilot Publications class at Lindbergh High School, 5000 Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri, 63126. The publications office is currently located in Room 21.
Opinions of Pilot writers or the Editorial Board are not reflective of the opinions of the staff as a whole, the Pilot, or the administration. The Pilot welcomes responses and letters to the editors. These may be submitted by email to lhspilot@lindberghschools. ws or by signed letters brought to Room 21.
The Pilot reserves the right to edit submissions as long as their original intent remains unaltered, and to re-fuse to print material for any reason the Editor-inChief and adviser deem appropriate.
More information about our editorial policy can be found on lindberghlookup.com.
Increased Popularity of Poetry
Finding connection and expression through words
Staff Writer
Many individuals have discovered the transformative power of poetry, turning to it as a means of comfort and self expression. As the world grows increasingly complex, people are exploring many creative outlets to articulate their thoughts and feelings. To gain insight into this trend, English Teacher Sandra Olive shared her observations.
“I think my kids who write poetry are typically super thoughtful and really feel things super strongly and deeply. Those tend to be my students who feel like they have too many feelings to keep inside themselves and they need to get them out somehow,” Olive said.
This desire for genuine expression is reshaping the landscape of poetry, as noted by a recent article on Poetizer, an online social networking platform
“This year, authenticity rings louder than ever. There’s a growing hunger for poems that speak raw truths and personal narratives. Your story is singularly yours, yet it resonates with the universal human experience,” Poetizer said.
In this digital age, many young people are experiencing poetry through the lens of social media.
“I see poetry online all the time and I feel like I’m seeing it more, especially really sad poetry that people can relate to. Also, on social media I see others try to be poets and writers by sharing their work with everyone and it benefits them greatly,” 10th grader Robert Keating said
The accessibility of poetry has increased dramatically, largely thanks to digital platforms and social media, which have made it easier for poets to share their work and for readers to discover new voices. This shift has modified poetry, allowing diverse perspectives to flourish and reach wider audiences.
“As of 2024, poetry continues to attract a broad and growing audience, with increased readership driven by digital platforms and social media,” emphasized a current report from Whispers to Roars.
This leans towards the deliberation of a cultural moment where the power of words is being adopted like never before.
As more people engage with poetry, there is a growing recognition of the need for diverse voices and styles within the genre.
This diversity not only refines the aspect of poetry but also makes the art form more relatable and accessible. Olive illustrates the importance of this variety in her classroom:
“It’s so important for us to have diversity in our poets and in our styles because poetry can seem like this mystifying thing. Today, I said one thing about poetry in class and people started to talk about rhyming, and poetry can rhyme but it’s so much more than that. I think we need to have different types of poets for form as well as content,” Olive said.
In this changing environment, poets are not only exploring personal narratives but are also influenced by global conversations and cultural exchanges. As old boundaries disappear, many individuals are inspired by a wide range of experiences from different poets and styles. This mix of voices nourishes a dialogue that resonates with both personal and shared experiences.
“The poetic world is expanding beyond borders, with cross-cultural exchanges becoming a rich source of inspiration,” Poetizer noted.
As poetry continues to serve as a bridge between different cultures, it becomes a powerful tool for empathy and understanding. English Teacher Megan Roegner summarized this idea.
“Poems can be really great mirrors and windows; they’re easy to share, quick to read, and so they can help us understand ourselves better and help us understand others better,” said Roegner.
Image from Stylist
Number of Posts with #poetry
Image from TikTok
Lily Donaldson
Brainwaves and Breakthroughs
Lindsey Pham | Graphics Editor
At Lindbergh High School, there is a group of students who have a passion for understanding the mind. That passion is channeled in the form of Psychology Club. Sponsored by Mrs. Saunders, the AP psychology teacher at Lindbergh, the club meets every other Friday during B lunch to dive deep into topics and ideas that most high schoolers rarely think about.
The club’s presidents, seniors Lavia Raof and Vivian Le, were fascinated by how the human brain worked when they both took the AP Psychology class at Lindbergh. Raof explained why she ran for club president,
“I liked the club a lot already. I was also taking the class at the same time, so I felt it was a good opportunity,” Raof said.
Under her leadership, along with Le’s, the club organized interactive activities that made psychology fun and engaging; such as analyzing crime cases and watching mind tricking videos. Le discussed her favorite meeting from Psych Club so far,
“My favorite meeting would be one from last year when we were planning stem night, we had lots of fun planning for it,” Le said.
As they work to put together each meet ing, Raof and Le set a time and place to meet up and discuss the next meeting plan. Le and Raof went over their process of planning meet ings,
“We ask our club members what they want to discuss and me and Vivian would meet up, reserch it, and make a slideshow highlightz it” Raof said.
Following after her Le inserted her in put,
“Most of the time, Lavia and I base our ideas off of stuff we learned when we took AP Psychology or the ideas our members give us. For some meetings, like our next one, we base it off stuff we see on the internet and try to involve a fun or interactive element to it,” Le stated.
As Friday rolls around, Psych Club will be in room 308 where one can hear case studies and analysis about the brain. Beyond their meetings, the Psychology Club makes sure the theories from textbooks are being applied in real life. Through their activities, they continue to bring awareness to different cases, create understanding, and foster a community where students can dive into a deeper understanding
An Apathetic America:
Since its initiation under the Truman Doctrine, the American Dream has promised assistance and stability economically, socially and politically to all American citizens. Though the dream’s true definition has varied from generation to generation, it has, for many years, upheld its value. Recent studies, however, have shown that the new generation, Gen Z, no longer displays the same interest in the American Dream’s ideals as past generations have. A recent survey that was sent out to the student body showed that well over half of the participants believed that the American Dream was either dead or in need of serious revision.
“Gen Z has come of age during a time of economic instability, including the effects of the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have witnessed or experienced job insecurity, rising costs of living and substantial student debt. These realities can lead to disillusionment with the traditional notion of the American Dream, which often emphasizes home ownership and stable employment,” said William Turcios (11). As newer and more difficult issues arise in our current society, it becomes irrational to view the solution to these issues as the decades-old, outdated American Dream.
Mira Schoewe Staff Writer
“A big part of [current] politics is, ‘Do you want to keep the American dream as it was for this thing that worked for what was then, or do you want to try and adapt this thing to the coming times?’ There’s this idea that what worked in the past should work in the present, but then there’s also technology, and we have global warming threatening our jobs and whatnot. We need to change and adapt to these circumstances,” AP Government student Theodore Kress said.
Another large concern held by interviewed students was the rapid rise of inflation and higher expectations caused by societal evolution. Only by pursuing certain degrees or pathways of education does it ensure an individual’s ability to get a job at all; even if the individual does get a decent job, it simply does not pay well enough to match the prices of items in today’s society. Additionally, many are still paying off student loans and other debts. Many other students who participated in the survey reported that their loss of interest in the dream has been mainly due to the lack of equality and opportunity for people of certain genders, minorities or other groups and how this has affected their ability to live comfortably in American society and obtain the same opportunities as others.
“I think young people are disillusioned with the concept of ‘the American Dream’, as many young people see it as unachievable. For many, it is. Not everybody can afford a college education, it’s much harder to make a living working and in the cases of social equality and merit, this is measurably false. I think [they] notice both, but in the second case, many people just don’t have the same social abilities as some. For example, the gender wage gap makes women disadvantaged compared to men; non-whites have a wage gap as well. In many places this is going even further backward; many anti-LGBTQIA+ laws are being passed, even in Missouri,” said Dylan Glois (10).
Discontentment with the Dream
The new generation is showing less interest in the American Dream
Studies conducted by research analysts at the Pew Research Center in Washington, DC, and the US Department of Labor have also continued to recognize the growing need for equality in our nation. As previously mentioned, society has, in many ways, been moving backward in terms of rights for women, minorities and the working class. The American Dream’s lack of prevention of these aspects have been a major cause of the disinterest seen in the younger generation.
“American ideals should prioritize equity, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their background, have equal access to opportunities and resources. This includes addressing systemic barriers related to race, gender, socioeconomic status, and other forms of discrimination. Emphasizing inclusion fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose within communities,” Turcios said.
This is a changing world, and with it, the American Dream requires reformation. It is of substantial importance to recognize that though the American Dream has proven itself in the past, the nation’s newer situation and issues require a newer solution.
“Initially, it wasn’t a dream that all people could, realistically, achieve. At the beginning of our country, we had a lot of social groups [where] it was very unequal for them. I think, pretty much, if you weren’t a white, land-owning male, you could not achieve the American dream… my belief, my dream, is that everyone in this nation today [will] have that dream, and if we don’t, that we are quickly rectifying the situation so that everyone can achieve it,” said US History Teacher Mr. Tim Deposki
Changes in poverty rates in different races since 2010.
1940s advertisement depicting the American Dream.
Steps Toward Steps Toward
students have started to navigate the process. Most applications officially opened on August 1, 2024, allowing students plenty of time to apply to the colleges of their choosing. Some students, however, are struggling with the timing of their submissions.
“I think some students wait too long to apply… It’s okay to apply to many schools, like Mizzou or Missouri state, at any time and get accepted, but you could miss out on scholarship opportunities, which is a big deal,” College and Career Counselor Katherine Keegan said.
The majority of scholarship deadlines fall on November 1, November 15 and December 1, meaning the window of opportunity for senior students is soon coming to a close. Applying for scholarships can be a typical struggle for seniors as the pressure to stand out among other applicants can be overwhelming and add to the long college application process.
“I feel like a broken record with how much I’ve talked about the things I do and my interests,” Karen Bose (12) said.
Not only are students navigating the application and scholarship processes, but many will also be wanting to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a form that determines if a student is eligible for financial aid.
In the fall of 2023, the FAFSA form underwent a renovation. The new form, however, contained a mistake, which resulted in delays in sending out student’s FAFSA information to schools.
“The new form was released months behind schedule, setting colleges scrambling to get financial aid packages out in time,” NPR said.
These complications are reported to be fixed for this year’s applicants.
“This year, they said that they will be ready to roll out the FAFSA on December first and that it will be ready, without any issues… but we’re just going to have to be hopeful,” Keegan said.
Anticipating the possible challenges, many students are feeling apprehensive about the FAFSA process.
“I’m worried about the FAFSA form not coming out on time again, because then you can’t make admission decisions until it is filled out,” Bose said.
Tomorrow:
As Juniors anticipate their own college application process, which is only a year away, there is a sense of optimism about the future of the form. “Hopefully, it’ll be a positive for them. Hopefully… people will have a better understanding of what the new FAFSA looks like and that all of the glitches will be worked out,” Keegan said.
Odyssey of the Mind
How the Odyssey Club came to be and
Meadow Roy
Staff Writter
In 2021, Math Teacher Sharon Henry had the idea of creating the Odyssey Club, originally a club that Henry was a part of during her high school years. She really enjoyed her time in the Odyssey Club and thought her students would, too. So, with the help of her Honors Geometry class at the time and a few others, she brought the Odyssey Club here to LHS.
“I brought it here because it gives kids a chance to be independent thinkers, critical thinkers and creative thinkers,” Henry said.
The Odyssey Club is a community of students that comes together to solve problems, puzzles and riddles given to them. By working with each other and thinking outside the box, they find the solutions.
“We alternate thinking games and build games. One of our build games recently was spaghetti towers. I’ll give them a constraint, like build the tallest tower but it has to be freestanding, and then let them do whatever they want. So whatever they can think up using marshmallows and spaghetti, they can do. Our thinking games are normally puzzles and riddles, stuff like that where it’s thinking about the puzzle and finding out how to solve it,” Club President Sam Stryjewski (12) said.
Odyssey Club is not only fun for the members but also impactful to them as well. It is a safe place for the members to learn and grow together.
“I want to do research someday and I think it’s really important to be able to have these skills where you can think outside of the box and look for new solutions also. I think it’s just a community that we’ve built over time, so all the people in the club are very important to me, and I like seeing them grow and get better at these things,” Club Vice President Zach Ringhofer (12) said.
Odyssey Club meeting.
who they are
Henry said her favorite part of the club is the impact the Odyssey Club has had on its members and continues to have. This is evident due to its welcoming environment and caring members.
“Watching kids experience what I got to experience and the joy, the lack of judgment, the ability to think freely and creatively without being wrong because in this club there really is no wrong answer. Other students should join because it’s a fun and safe place to just think and have fun and try new things and fail and laugh at it and then move forward to the next thing,” said Henry The club’s official name is Odyssey of the Mind and it meets in room 156 every other Monday during B lunch.
“Everyone should join Odyssey. It’s amazing, come to our next meeting,” said Ringhofer (12)
An
Photo by Anna Waters (12)
An Odyssey Club meeting. Photo by Anna Waters (12)
FROM TRICKS TO TRIBUTES...
“We host a block party on Halloween and the majority of my family’s birthdays are in October, as well as my Dad’s birthday on Halloween, so we go all out. A fun and family tradition that we enjoy!”
Nicholas Ranciglio (9)
“I set out a box of candy with a sign that says ‘take one only’ - then I scare people who take more than one candy via my Ring doorbell. It’s hilarious!” Vihaan Choudhary (11)
“Although I don't celebrate Day of the Dead, officially, since I'm not Mexican, I always watch The Book Of Life on the day as a little something.” Margaret Kavanaugh (11)
“In my neighborhood, everyone brings out their fire pits into their driveways and it turns into one giant neighborhood party.” Gabrielle Kramer (11)
Senior Splash!
Seniors dive into their final Swim season
Elliot Lentz & Lilly Burrus
At Lindbergh, there are many different sports and activities to get involved in. One of these opportunities is the Swim Team, which began their 24-25 season this fall. Both athletes and coaches alike prepare for new and exciting experiences this season, with the boy’s team in districts and the girls team just beginning training.
The team welcomed a new coach, Ms. Hildestad, who started as both a Government and Psychology teacher and has now expanded to other areas at Lindbergh.
“I have been swimming all my life and I’m very passionate about the sport. Since coach Lombardo retired, I was able to take his spot. I wanted to get more involved with Lindbergh and the students and athletes here,” said Hildestad.
Many students of all grades participate in Swim, which offers coaches the chance to supply these athletes with different teaching and training experiences useful to each of them.
“We have some incoming freshmen and I’m excited to see what they can do in the water. I’m also excited to see our divers grow. We are supposed to get a new dive coach, so I’m excited to see what they can do on the board with more specific direction,” said Hildestad. “We have 11 seniors, so it should be fun to see them as leaders on the Swim Team this year and just to see everyone else grow in the water and their swimming.”
Even with much of the team being senior students, there are still many good learning opportunities that await them this season.
“It’s really rewarding seeing yourself getting stronger and developing throughout the year,” said Aiden Scheidenhelm (12), who joined Swim to help improve his skills on the Water Polo team.
Whether it’s a strong passion or just an en joyable pastime for them, joining Swim has helped many of the athletes improve themselves while also making the school experience a bit more fun.
“It provides a lot of relaxation and I really enjoy a lot of the training aspect too,” said Aubrey Bashwiner (12), who has been swimming since she was five.
The varying grade levels of the team also allows for students to learn skills and techniques from one another and build friendships.
“It’s fun getting to see my underclassmen grow and messing with them,” Scheidenhelm said.
Some swimmers, such as Aubrey, plan to continue swimming into college, and there are many opportunities for these swimmers to earn money to pay for it.
“While I’m not sure which of our swimmers would be interested in swimming outside of high school and applying for scholarships related to swimming, they are available for various levels of swimming at many schools. Every swimmer on a D1 swimming program is eligible for a full or partial scholarship. Additionally, D2 swimmers can receive scholarships,” Hildestad said.
With this being the Senior’s last year, they are doing what they can to advance their skills while also having fun.
“It’s my last season,” said Bashwinder. “I can spend it with all my friends again.”
LHS Swim Team after a competition. (@flyers_aquatic)
Competition and Collaboration
The impact of LHS teamwork in Esports
Hunter Whitehead Staff-Writer
Esports started in September, and it has been going strong with the current season’s Overwatch team already having had some matches. The Overwatch team has already found success against other schools. While the Esports season has been smooth sailing so far, there is the potential for difficult matches in the future, according to Luca Egizi.
“The biggest challenge members face is adapting to the game,” Egizi said.
This is a photo of one of the LHS Esports teams (lhsflyersesport X account)
Esports involves playing video games in a competitive setting. Different games result in many different Esports leagues and teams. The Lindbergh Esports Club has five teams for both jv and varsity, and separate teams play separate games. Two teams play in each season and, outside of that season, members train to become better in their respective games.
“We have a total of five Esports teams, two during the fall, those being Rocket League and Overwatch. Spring- Super Smash Bros, League of Legends and Valorant,” Coach Keith Loveless said.
In the Esports club, all the games are heavily teambased, such as Overwatch, Rocket League and Valorant. Due to this, team members must always work together or risk losing the match. In Esports, it can be difficult to be a good teammate without first practicing together. Some of the ways Esports members practice their teamwork are through memorizing callouts and brainstorming strategies.
“The most difficult part of being a good team member during a game is the ability to listen to your team and play to benefit and support my teammates,” Egizi said.
Esports is constantly changing due to new updates for games or unseen strategies and that means competitive players always have to adapt to changes. For most, the best way to adapt is to work with a team. For games like Overwatch, teamplay is the factor that decides who wins most games. This means that players must listen, learn and practice with their teammates to get an edge on the competition. There are many different challenges at other schools. Esports teams employ individual play styles and strategy that can be very hard to overcome and, in many cases, the only way to beat a good team is to support and be supported by your teammates. Esports members’ dedication to teamplay and individual skills results in LHS winning many competitive matches.
“Students have to continually communicate with each other before matches about who is going to play each round, what maps would be preferred and what characters make the most sense. When they are in the game, they have to play as a team in order to be effective,”Coach Brian Jacob said.
The Esports environment can be difficult without people skills but, at the same time, Esports teaches many people how to communicate well with others. Esports also comes with many opportunities such as scholarships.
“Plenty of schools can and will pay part of your tuition to go there and play for them if you are good enough,” Egizi said
There are many reasons Esports is difficult but it’s also extremely beneficial through helping others with communication skills or a college scholarship.
“The team has to work together and adapt to pick the best characters and strategies to adapt to what the enemy team is doing,” Jacob said.
This is a photo of the LHS League of Legends Esports team after winning the state championship (St. Louis Call Newspapers).
Voices of the Future
Youth and Government students take on leadership roles
Lily Andre Staff Writer
Being a few months into the school year, many clubs have had multiple meetings under their belts. Youth and Government have met several times this year to prepare for their annual mock government convention.
Every November, a group of Lindbergh students and teachers travel to Jefferson City to participate in Missouri YMCA Youth and Government, a statewide program that is designed as a student-driven simulation of state government. Many schools across Missouri come together at the Missouri State Capitol for the Lewis Convention to demonstrate their version of a state democracy. Participants can partake in debating legislation in committees, trying a case before student judges as attorneys or serving a role on a media team that covers the event.
Alongside these roles, Youth and Government members can further their participation by applying for leadership positions to fulfill at the Lewis Convention in the following year. Students can take on the part of a judge, committee chair, floor leader and many other positions that pertain to their branch. Members can also create a campaign and run to serve as a Presiding Officer at the convention.
Roles such as Governor, Attorney General and Speaker of the House are filled to lead students through their duties at the state conference. Tim Deposki, one of the Youth and Government club sponsors at LHS, highly recommends that students who are interested in the program apply for these positions to pose more of a challenge and further their experience in public speaking and leading large groups of people.
“I encourage students to apply for leadership roles because I want them to challenge themselves and I want them to see that they have the ability to be a leader,” Deposki said.
In recent years, Lindbergh has seen an increase in students running for leadership positions in Youth and Government. Many students have been inspired by upperclassmen who have previously campaigned or served in a leadership role to represent LHS at the Lewis Convention.
“I never want to make students feel like they have to go out of their comfort zone. I know that a lot of them push themselves because they’ve seen previous Lindbergh students run or they want to run with their friends, which is really cool,” Deposki said.
Junior RJ DelRosario has been campaigning for the role of Attorney General at this year’s convention. The position is focused on the judicial branch, presiding over the duties of student judges. Seeing other Youth and Government members at LHS campaign for Presiding Officer roles has led
him to want to do the same.
“My big inspirations were former Governor Megan Manaj and candidate Brooke McKenney, who are amazingly talented and hardworking individuals who put so much into the program. I hope to do the same,” DelRosario said.
Campaigning is a crucial part of partaking in a Presiding Officer position. The process often starts months in advance, and many Youth and Government members are able to find ways to interact with other students across Missouri. Many candidates use social media to properly display their goals and desires as a potential Officer at the convention. With this, one of Youth and Government’s most emphasized attributes is giving students the opportunity to participate in a mock election. After candidates get a chance to share their ideals with everyone, all members are encouraged to vote for who they believe would best represent the convention.
With it being an election year, Missouri Youth and Government works to ensure to highlight the importance of participating in the electoral process and voting.
“Our mission is to prepare students for responsible leadership in the American democratic process by providing guidance, training and experience in the theory and practice of determining public policy. Democracy must be learned by each generation,” Missouri YMCA Youth and Government said.
Club Sponsor Tim Deposki helps a student prepare for the Missouri YMCA Youth and Government Lewis Convention.
Winter Wonderland A Magical Evening at Botanical Gardens
Staff Writer
The Garden Glow at the Botanical Gardens is a highly anticipated event, featuring over two million lights. The Garden transforms into a place where friends and families can make heartwarming memories. Senior Rachel Branham recalled attending the event her freshman year.
“It was so much fun and so pretty walking through all the lights and seeing the pretty structures with everything lit up. The ambiance was amazing and you felt like you were walking through a winter wonderland. The atmosphere was fun and very festive,” Branham said.
There are various activities to partake in, includ ing the “Dine and Glow,” a dinner at the Garden’s restaurant, Sassafras. Other activities include Private Fire Pits where up to 20 people can enjoy the warm fire with some hot cocoa and s’mores, as well as the general concessions which include a variety of snacks and beverages. There are a few different locations throughout
the path: The Blizzard Bar, Central Axis concessions tent, Candy Cane Bar and Café Flora. Every year there are new affairs that the Botanical Gardens incorporates into their show to create a new experience for returning guests. A former Botanical Garden employee, Crystal Kunst, shared some of her favorite activities that she has witnessed and partici pated in.
“There was an activity that was for peo ple to write down their wishes on a list so they would come true and I thought that was really cool. A lot of people partic ipated in that. There was also a photo booth and the vendors gave out the photos for free. The beverag es, like hot cocoa, were really yummy and awesome to stay warm during
Image from Botanical Gardens Website