23. Senior

EXPANDING HORIZIONS Senior Harper Gerardi travels to Austria for semester abroad

OVIYA SRIHARI staff writer

02.12.20 SPREAD DESIGN BY E. TURKIELTAUB 22 H iking, biking and skiing. Beautiful sightseeing. The last school bell of the day ringing at 1:30 p.m., releasing students to rolling, green landscapes framed by the snow-capped Alps. This was a semester in the life of senior Harper Gerardi, who spent the first half of her senior year studying in Austria.

Gerardi studied abroad during the fall semester through Greenheart International Exchange, a company based in Chicago that plans study abroad trips for students worldwide. The inspiration for her trip came from her aunt.

“[Harper] ... said to me, ‘I’m ready for something different. I don’t want to do another same old, same old high school experience,’” Harper’s mother, Debbie Gerardi, said. “So we texted her aunt, who’s done a lot of traveling … She said, ‘Well, maybe Harper could explore doing a study abroad program.’” Through Greenheart, Gerardi traveled to Vienna, Salzburg and Krotz, stayed with a host family in the rural region of Styria and also took a short trip to Dublin, Ireland with other members of her exchange program. Though she was initially apprehensive about missing part of her senior year, Harper decided senior year was the perfect opportunity to travel abroad and add to her high school experience. “I think that traveling during senior year was good because I’m older, and I feel like I’ve had a lot more time to mature,” Harper said. “I was really doing things all on my own. I had to ride the transportation on my own [and] figure things out as well.”

Being away for the first semester of her senior year meant Harper would miss events such as her last homecoming dance, football season and first day of school. Lizzy Feinberg, one of Harper’s close friends since middle school, missed her friend for half of their last year of high school together.

“At first I was thinking that [studying abroad] was sort of crazy — and she was going to be missing college applications,” Feinberg said. “But then when she told me all of her plans and how she already had a lot of it figured out, I was like, ‘Good for you.’”

During her time away, Harper experienced a whirlwind of different emotions. She first was in a sense of disbelief that she followed through with her plans to travel abroad.

“In three words, the trip would be independent, challenging and exciting,” Harper said. “Challenging … at times with the language barrier and just not really knowing what to expect — it was hard — then exciting because I was in a new country.” Aside from being an interesting experience, Harper’s time in Austria expanded her way of thinking. Feinberg noticed Harper’s broadened outlook of life gained from her time away in Austria.

“I think that it was cool for her to experience something on her own and take a step back from St. Louis and our whole friend group here,” Feinberg said. “She gets to come back and have a new perspective, and I think that it’s pretty cool … she now has a totally different way of seeing things.”

However, what Harper believes she will always keep from her time spent abroad — other than her newly-developed German skills – are the memories she’s made and the experiences she’s gained. Through travel, Harper made new friends, too.

“My best memory was [when] I got to go to Dublin with a bunch of other exchange students from all over the world,” Harper said. “I met people from New Zealand and Mexico and such. Everything was so green and beautiful. It was … an amazing experience, totally different than life in St. Louis. I’m really glad I got another view.” Senior Harper Gerardi stands in front of a mountain in Austria. Gerardi spent three months attending school in the country. “My favorite part was getting to see how different things are and how people live totally different lives than we do here,” Gerardi said. (Photos courtesy of Harper Gerardi)

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DISORDER ON THE COURT Ladue students compete with friends in community basketball league

Team Superlatives DOMENIC FENOGLIO sports editor T he FOBs came dressed in faded, white tank tops with their numbers and logo spray painted on their backs Jan. 25 at the Jewish Community Center in Creve Coeur. They warmed up to the sound of the Cantina Band from “Star Wars” played by the other team’s speaker. Fans for both teams gathered in two sets of metal bleachers adjoining the court while children played on the other half of the gym, oblivious to the game about to begin. While the game lacked the decorum of a schoolsanctioned sport, it contained all of the energy and spirit of one. The JCC Youth Basketball League serves as an alternative source of exercise and competition for those who do not play organized high school basketball. The FOBs are one of the many teams from different grades with players from Ladue in the JCC Youth Basketball League. The teams consist of closeknit friends who seem to care more about the joy of basketball than competition or the scoreboard.

“It’s not as serious, so you can have fun while playing,” senior Nahom Tadesse said. “There’s no pressure, and you’re with friends. Nobody cares if you play poorly.”

During the game, players did not argue, yell or belittle each other after a miss or turnover. Instead, the FOBs chose to continually pass to Tadesse until he finally made a three-pointer from the corner of the court – his first of the season. An all-out riot followed it, as fans rushed onto the court as if he had just made the game-winning shot. “It was exhilarating because everybody was so happy for him,” senior Elliot Loitman said. “There’s nothing better; everyone [was] having the time of their lives celebrating. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”

The closeness of the FOBs’ fans to the game, seated inches from the bench, and their constant involvement created a feeling of community for the team. As the game progressed, the final score

seemed less important than which team’s fans cheered the loudest.

“We have a lot of supporters who have our back through the best of times and the worst of times,” Loitman said. “They’re all very loyal. They always bring the noise.”

The team cannot help but joke around, on and off the court. This lighthearted nature is a common theme of the JCC Youth Basketball League, as shown by the FOBs’ opponents, who instead of last names on the back of their jerseys, wore nicknames like Bambi and Baby J. The FOBs have no hesitation to poke fun at themselves.

“My entire life, I wanted to go to the [NBA], so I decided to start off small, hoping a scout might come watch a game,” senior Isaac “Jando” Molina joked. “I heard the Kentucky coach might stop by.”

Amidst the joking and celebrations, the FOBs lost the game 48-13. Instead of sulking, they came away with their heads high, laughing. “When you have fun, you just can’t lose,” senior Eyob Tewelde said. “That’s why we’re undefeated.”

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“I’m raw. My friends are raw. Raw means I’m an animal; I’m wild; I’m raw.” Best Handles Eyob Tewelde

FAR LEFT: Senior Wasihun Gema argues a foul call from a referee Jan. 25. He was named one of the team’s leading rebounders. “I am very proud to have such strong teammates to play with,” senior Elliot Loitman said. RIGHT: Senior coach Tyler Benford draws a play during a timeout Jan. 25. The FOBs did not run a set offense; instead they chose to play freely. “We don’t have any practices, except right before games, so we don’t have many plays or anything,” senior Nahom Tadesse said. BELOW: The FOBs and fans gather together during a timeout call Jan. 25. They are coached by basketball players from Ladue’s varsity team. “It’s a lot of fun to coach basketball instead of play,” senior coach Frankie Goebel said.

25 LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM SPORTS “ Whenever I shoot, I shout, ‘Kobe.’ After his death it’s not going to be the same.” Best Teammate “ We just care about having fun. It’s great to get to play basketball together.” Elliot Loitman Nahom Tadesse Photos by Ginger Schulte Best 3-point shooter