ID Volume 1, Issue 1 by Ladue Publications

MAGAZINE

ISSUE 1, VOL. 1 Ladue Publications January 2024 Ladue Horton Watkins High School 1201 S. Warson Rd. St. Louis, MO 63124

IDENTIT Y D

D D

MISSION STATEMENT ID Magazine seeks to provide the most accurate, relevant and important information regarding the identities of Ladue High School students and teachers. The staﬀ will work to ensure ID is racially, religiously and economically inclusive, and that the publications are held to professional standards and employ current design trends within the journalism field.

STAFF Editors in Chief

Josh Devine

Ishaan Pandey

Mac Huffman

Mason Eastman

Ryan Snyder

Rory Lustberg

Grace Huewe

Nyla Weathersby

Annie Zhao

Sylvia Hanes

Kelly Zhang

Staff

Lathan Levy

Celina Zhou

Madeline Awad

Alzhraa Mahmoud

Advisers

Ella Braig

Maya Mathew

Sarah Kirksey

Marie Demkovitch

Nitya Nara

Abigail Eisenberg

EDITOR'S NOTE The end-of-class bell rings, and students pour out of each classroom, merging together messily in quite possibly the most diverse amalgamation of people there is: a high school hallway. Students clump together as they locate their friends. If a straggler lags behind, they are met with a sea of faces they may have never seen before. Blank stares are exchanged, usually awkwardly. Most avoid eye contact. People know nothing about each other and are often too uninterested to learn, consumed by their own bubbles. In our inaugural ID magazine, we aim to represent Ladue’s broad community through stories of students and staﬀ’s unique identities. We feature a student who balances school with her modeling career, and a teacher through her immigration to the United States. We also focus on a student’s relationship with Judaism and sense of belonging as she transfers to diﬀerent schools.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ID aims to act as a bridge between people, creating an interconnected school community. We have had the immense privilege to learn about people’s identities, and we are so grateful to be able to share them through this platform. We hope that now, when you walk down the hallway, you recognize new faces, whether from a photo shoot or an interview. When your eyes meet, we hope you exchange understanding. Respect. A smile. Thank you for reading, and welcome to ID.

Mac Huffman design & photo editor in chief

Rory Lustberg managing editor in chief

Annie Zhao copy editor in chief

ID | WINTER 2024

POLICY Scan for our full policy

CREDITS

The Ladue Horton Watkins High School Administration agrees to allow the Panorama staﬀ to make content decisions and to operate as an open forum, provided they do not infringe on the rights of other students or create a substantial disruption at school as per the Tinker standard. The adviser will give advice to the students on staﬀ and play devil’s advocate concerning controversial or sensitive material, but ultimately, the students have final say in what is published...

Front and back cover by Mac Huﬀman. Editor's photo by Vincent Hsiao and photo illustration by Mac Huﬀman. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this production and our advisers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04-07 Model Off-Duty 08-09 In the Lab 10-13 Pageant Princess 14-17 Fearless 18-21 Kickin' it: Kung Fu Style 22-25 That's a Wrap 26-27 Prothro 28-31 Serenading Strings 32-35

‫הסיר‬

36-37 Hustler 38-45 Setting the Stage 46-49 Mapping Maritza 50-55 Where in the World Is Laura Iacone 56-59 Paint the Town Gray 60-63 Doing a Bit 64-69 Beyond the Boulder 70-75 Off-Key SPREAD DESIGN BY MAC HUFFMAN

Eva VonAllmen models professionally while balancing school written by

photos courtesy of

Kelly Zhang

Matt Seidel

EVA VONALLMEN

MODEL OFF-DUTY ID | WINTER 2024

ackstage is a whirlwind of activity and chaos, a place where months of hard work and artistry come to life. The models arrive hours before show time, familiarizing themselves with the runway, practicing their walks and running through their looks. Soon, they are whisked away for final outfit fittings, hair and makeup. Amidst the organized chaos, the atmosphere is filled with excitement and anticipation as everyone works hard to ensure the show is a success. Sophomore Eva VonAllmen first stepped foot into the fashion industry after getting scouted while shopping at Splash Boutique at 13. Once she turned 14, she oﬃcially joined the St. Louis-based agency Mother Model. Since then, she has modeled for several photo shoots and runways, including a fashion show hosted by Washington University in St. Louis. “I've always loved fashion even before I got scouted,” Eva said. “This is a really cool way for me to be involved in the fashion industry, but not necessarily needing to become this big name designer.” Eva's first big project was the Tribute Runway Show in Nov. 2022, the biggest annual fashion event in St. Louis. “Runway is just a surreal experience where you get to practice your walk, get hair and makeup done and then

Listen to the story and see more of Eva VonAllmen's work here

put [diﬀerent] outfits on,” Eva said. “It's just a really neat experience. I love that a lot.” The Tribute show was an especially proud moment for her father, David VonAllmen. “[Eva] had recently turned 15, and it was a big event with agents from modeling agencies all over the world,” David said. “There were agents from New York, Los Angeles, Milan, Paris and Tokyo. It was a huge crowd, [but] she just went out there and did it like it was no big deal. I thought it was fantastic.” As many would expect, being a part of the fashion industry as a teenager is something that can often attract the curiosity of her peers. “For me, it's not a big deal, I just see it as something that I do,” Eva said. “[However, there’s] just the pressure of trying to always look good and live up to these expectations.” David often expresses his support by showing up to Eva’s photo shoots and taking his own photo of her for fun. However, he initially had worries about her being able to maintain her education along with her modeling career and prospects. “I wasn't really in favor of it at first, but she has always gotten good grades,” David said. “She picks good kids to be friends with and never gets in trouble. I [think] she's earned the right to make her own decisions and this is something she wanted to do.”

SPREAD DESIGN BY KELLY ZHANG

Josie Buescher, a fellow model at Mother Model, has worked with Eva in multiple projects, including Tribute. Since Buescher is three years older than Eva, she oﬀers Eva words of wisdom about their agency and the industry in general. “Mother [Model] is very welcoming and supportive,” Buescher said. “I know that between other agencies or when you go to bigger markets like New York, there can be a lot of competitiveness. But at Mother, they've always worked to make a really uplifting environment.” Eva has only participated in three shows so far, but has one scheduled for November. During lunch or dinner breaks at fashion events, the models spend their free time hanging out and socializing with each other. “Eva has always been really sweet, and a nice face to see when you walk into a show,” Buescher said. “I think that she has a very promising future as a model and [is] very talented.” Despite her love and dedication towards modeling, Eva still has many other interests and passions outside of the industry. She plans to further her education in college while pursuing modeling, but has some uncertainties regarding the future toward modeling. “I'm hard on myself about my grades,” Eva said. “It's been pretty easy to balance so far, but that’s probably going to change as I get older and more modeling opportunities open up for me.” Recently, she has started researching possible colleges and majors she’s interested in pursuing, specifically within the field of chemistry. Eva took her first chemistry class in middle school. “Chemistry is one of those subjects that has really sparked my interest since eighth grade,” Eva said. “NYU definitely caught my eye because it has that major and obviously there’s New York Fashion Week. Many agencies have their home bases in New York.” Modeling has served as a stepping stone that allows Eva to further explore her identity and connect with other young women her age. Along with her ambitions within science, she has many aspirations she hopes to accomplish within her career as a model, specifically modeling for certain brands. “It would be such a cool thing in the future to be able to model something for Vivienne Westwood or Miu Miu,” Eva said. “I’d be honored to wear Coach and Dior among other designers, but that would be in the far future.” Caption: Sophomore Eva VonAllmen models at a photo shoot to expand her portfolio. Her main projects usually consisted of photo shoots with her agency, however her favorite part of being a model is walking runway shows. So far, she has walked several events, including the annual Tribute fashion show and the Fashion Design Show at Washington University in St. Louis. “[Preparing for] runway is a long process, but it's really worth it because it's always an incredible experience,” Eva said. 06

EVA VONALLMEN

ID | WINTER 2024

Eva VonAllmen

SPREAD DESIGN BY KELLY ZHANG

IN THE LAB written by

Marie Demkovitch

photographed by

Mac Huffman

Gabe Bernstein explores the environment through research

here is a certain calm at Tyson Research Center, where the once military base is now gone and full with new lush forest. Senior Gabe Bernstein walks to the huge barrels, peering inside to see the mosquito larvae swarming. His task is to bring them back to the lab, where the possibilities of his discoveries are endless. During the summer of 2023, Bernstein worked at two diﬀerent research facilities: The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Olivette and Tyson Research Center in Eureka. Bernstein participated in The Shaw Institute for Field Training (SIFT) in the past year. There, he received one week of training and from then on, completed research at 08

GABE BERNSTEIN

Shaw Nature Reserve. This summer, his application was selected to be part of the Tyson Environmental Research Apprenticeship (TERA), where he researched mosquitoes and their populations with a group of other high school students at the Tyson Research Center. “The mosquito team, we called ourselves the ‘skeet team’ for short, was very diﬀerent,” Bernstein said. “We kept these giant colony boxes of mosquitoes in the lab, and sometimes those mosquitoes got out, and it got a little bit nasty.” In the program, students were able to choose what they wanted to focus on with their research studies. For his particular research, Bernstein studied how many eggs mosquitoes laid depending on the type of blood that he fed to them. His hope was for the research to help preID | WINTER 2024

dict how mosquito populations would grow throughout an area. This would help prevent mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever. “It was definitely interesting to work with mosquitoes,” Bernstein said. “I’ve never done animal behavior before and experiments went sideways really quickly but all around it was pretty fun.” At Danforth Center, Bernstein researched for four weeks under an internship. The work was collaborative and research-based. The goal of the project was to find which crop type of sorghum takes the most carbon out of the air, which would hopefully manage and mitigate the effects of climate change to an extent. “It was pretty interesting to see how real research is done, seeing how that process works, seeing all the different steps and how much work really goes into just collecting data,” Bernstein said. Senior Ella Marks also worked at Danforth Research Center on the same project as Bernstein, as well as at Tyson Research Center studying the spread of a fungal pathogen in patterns of urbanization. She has been able to meet and collaborate with other researchers. “The idea of research is a lot prettier than what research actually is,” Marks said. “I love research, but it can be very physically demanding, especially census work.” Bernstein was only at the Danforth Center for a couple of years, and the research has been going on for longer. A lot of data collection and research will be needed on sorghum before they reach their goal. “They'd have to examine 100 different varieties of sorghum and see when they grew them over the course of a few years and what the carbon in the ground looked like after a bunch of testing,” Bernstein said. “It's a very long experiment.” Bernstein’s work from the past summer helped him establish what he was interested in. Being involved in impactful research from both research programs has transformed his understanding of environmental science. “It helped me narrow down my focus for what I wanted to go into,” Bernstein said. “[I know] which sides of plant science and ecological studies I didn't like and which ones I did, so that led me to sustainability.” Another reason for Bernstein’s interest in sustainability is his hobby of foraging mushrooms. The lasting impacts of climate change have made it difficult for him to not notice a stark difference in mushroom harvest. “[The amount of mushrooms I found] slowly withered, and it has bounced back a little bit but there were a few years where it was really bad,” Bernstein said. “There'd be no mushrooms. Some varieties I still haven't seen in a while.” Bernstein also takes a class called Sustainability Investigations taught by teacher Kelley Krejnik that was introduced to Ladue High School this year. Listen to the story and see the greenhouse

“We spent quite a bit of time on [climate change], because we talk about how that is one of the consequences of unsustainable behaviors, particularly looking at the impact into, for example, burning fossil fuels,” Krejnik said. “We talk about the costs and challenges of being resilient to changes and impacts that we expect will continue to become increasingly difficult to deal with.” Krejnik believes that living sustainably is one of the most significant challenges to people. She hopes that the class will bring forth new ideas to lessen the environmental impacts going on in the world today. “Being sustainable is about being aware of the impact that our choices have on those around us both currently and those who will come after us, and the ripple effect of those things,” Krejnik said. Krejnik additionally sponsors the club Student Action for Greener Earth (SAGE). Bernstein and Marks are members of the club and work to influence students to live more sustainable lives. “SAGE focuses on bringing more sustainable practices to our school,” Marks said. “We work on something called the Missouri Green Schools Quest, which is a competition where you make a project focused on sustainability and how you implement that at the school.” Ultimately, Bernstein’s research and interest in the environment has influenced his educational focus. Finding his career path became more easy after completing all the various types of research over the summer. “I've been interested in environmental engineering for a while,” Bernstein said. “At first, it was more ecological and plant science and then it went into mathematics, so I've found a nice niche in between there.” Marks also explains that Bernstein and her are interested in the same career path. Both of them strongly want to make a difference on climate change and are passionate about sustainability. “We've obviously grown up hearing a lot of bad news, and I want to be part of creating the good news and creating solutions to problems,” Marks said. Inevitably, the Earth’s environmental changes have led Bernstein to look at not only what it offers, but also how to change the world for the better. “Seeing our temperatures changing the seasons has inspired me to look at sustainability and climate change, and what the effects of [climate change] are,” Bernstein said. Caption: Senior Gabe Bernstein works in the school greenhouse. This past summer, Bernstein explored various research opportunities to finally recognize what science fields he would like to pursue. "[Research in the summer] helped me narrow down my focus for what I wanted to go into," Bernstein said. "I know which sides of plant science and ecological studies I didn't like and which ones I did." SPREAD DESIGN BY MARIE DEMKOVITCH & MAC HUFFMAN

TAYLA WEINSTEIN

ID | WINTER 2024

PAGEANT

written by

photographed by

photos courtesy of

Madeline Awad

Mac Huffman

NAM Missouri

Talya Weinstein competes in pageantry

PRINCESS Listen to the story and see more

SPREAD DESIGN BY MADELINE AWAD

he gym is filled with the sound of heavy lifters grunting, the smell of sweat lingering in the air and the constant whirring of protein shakes being blended. Amidst the gym rats and spin class moms, senior Talya Weinstein does her cardio by walking on the treadmill—in high heels. This unconventional workout is a regular occurrence for the beauty pageant contestant, who is preparing for a new level of competition: the National American Miss Pageant.

Getting Involved

Talya Weinstein had a strong start to her pageant career, placing in the top 10 in the Miss Teen Missouri USA competition, winning first runner-up at National American Miss Missouri, first place in athletic wear and winning Miss Congeniality at the Missouri USA pageant. She has since participated in several other pageant competitions, with her greatest achievement being qualifying for the Miss National Beauty Pageant in November 2023. During the summer after her sophomore year, Talya worked at a camp for children and adults with disabilities in Rhinebeck, New York. Interacting with the kids, she found herself connecting with young boys in particular and listening to their diﬃculties in making new friends. Inspired by her experience, she joined organizations such as Best Buddies, Special Olympics and Ladue Night Lights, which were aligned with her eﬀorts in helping children. “This is when I decided to make it my mission to make sure all kids, regardless of their abilities, have the opportunity to make friends,” Talya said. “In September, I heard about the power of pageant platforms. I enrolled in Miss Teen Missouri USA to gain a platform to advocate for children and adults with disabilities and also to expand inclusion programs across the state.”

Showtime

Talya is familiar with all the chaos behind the pageant stage. A day at the pageant is not for the weak, beginning at 4 a.m. with an elaborate hair and makeup routine, followed by a flurry of pageant-related activities with her fellow contestants. The day is packed with dress rehearsals, a grand opening number, a sumptuous lunch and dinner and intense practice sessions. While these festivities are some of the best parts of the pageant experience, they are also both physically and mentally draining. “Pageants are very tiring and exhausting because each day I'm up, on average, 19 hours,” Talya said. “I woke up around 4:30 a.m. and went to bed around midnight. This was a big challenge for me competing in my last pageant.” These long hours and tireless practicing are sometimes overlooked in the pageant arena. When thinking of beauty pageants, the image that comes to mind is little girls in sparkling dresses prancing around on a stage, similar to 12

TAYLA WEINSTEIN

what Talya pictured when she watched pageant shows as a little girl. People think of the elaborate costumes, big hair, makeup and spray tans. While this is a fun part of the pageant experience, it is far more meaningful to Talya. “One of the biggest misconceptions in the pageant industry is that you're all considered by your looks,” Talya said. “However, every pageant girl has a platform or a community involvement project. For example, I'm currently working with the Missouri Best Buddies Board on expanding their inclusivity programs and creating a student advisory board. The judges are not looking for the most beautiful contestant, they are looking for who qualifies the most for this title.”

Bonding

Participating in pageants can often be accompanied by intense pressure and cutthroat competition. However, what makes this competition truly diﬃcult is not the rivalries between other contestants, but the pressure that contestants place on themselves to perform at their absolute best. From perfecting their talent to mastering the runway walk, pageant competitors push themselves to display the best versions of themselves. “The hardest thing for me at first is realizing your biggest competition is yourself and not the other girls,” Talya said. “Pageants are not all up in the air, and the judges don't just pick their favorites.” Boyd Weinstein, Talya's father, accompanies her to all of her pageants and is her biggest supporter throughout the entire process. Apart from spending quality family time together, watching Talya compete and explore her interests through pageants has strengthened the father-and-daughter bond to be like no other. “Pageants have enhanced an already close relationship with Talya,” Boyd said. “Seeing her so happy during the process has been wonderful for me.”

Pageant Passion

From family to friends, everyone can see the love that Talya has for pageants. Her friend senior Kingsley Eastman has seen and felt Talya's love for pageantry. “Talya talks to me about how she always knew she wanted to do pageants at a young age,” Eastman said. “She was always watching pageant videos and looking at all the dresses.” In addition to practicing for mock interviews with her pageant coach, Talya also dedicates six days a week to working out at the gym to maintain her physique. While hard work and dedication are key aspects of her performance, what Talya thinks is her biggest asset in every competition is her passion and love for pageants. “She works so hard and doesn't care what anybody thinks about it,” Eastman said. “That's so inspirational to me because you don't find something you love so much that often.” ID | WINTER 2024

When it comes to pageant contestants, several factors contribute to what makes a good one. For Talya, it's prioritizing exemplifying leadership and showing her personality through the interviews, helping her stand out from the competition and also making her a positive role model. By doing so, Talya can inspire younger participants to develop these same traits and become leaders themselves. “Pageant contestants should always exhibit leadership skills and confidence,” Talya said. “Especially being one of the older age groups, it's always a good idea to be a role model for the younger contestants.”

Mindset

Talya's dedication to her winning mindset has been the driving force behind her success in the pageant industry, despite being a relatively new contestant. “Talya only entered the pageant world this year at 17,” Boyd said. “Her journey has not only brought her joy, but also helped her develop strong interpersonal skills.” This unwavering passion has only grown since she has seen firsthand the diﬀerences she can make for young kids which is the main reason she started, by using her powerful pageant platform to spread awareness. “I always remind myself of all the progress I have made in just half a year of competing, which keeps me motivated to do better,” Talya said. Captions: Holding her most prized possessions, senior Talya Weinstein presents her sashes, gear and award pins from various National American Miss competitions over the course of the year. Talya first won Miss Ladue, then continued on to win Miss Saint Louis, and finally earned her spot to go to the national competition. Talya was excited to present herself in front of a national panel and got to see her pageant friends that she's made along the way who make the long pageant days easier. “Miss Missouri Teen USA was my favorite because I bonded with these girls on a diﬀerent level,” Talya said. “Most of the girls are very friendly and easy to talk to. I communicate with my pageant friends weekly.” (on pages 10-11) Talya Weinstein models with her father, Boyd Weinstein, in front of pageant judges during the Gown portion of the National American Miss Missouri competition. Talya is escorted by her dad to every competition as he has helped guide Talya through her pageantry experience. "My favorite memory from a pageant is being escorted by my dad during the gown competition at NAM Missouri," Talya said. (on pages 12-13) Talya Weinstein stands with her head held high during the Gown event. She did very well in the Gown event, aiding in her placement for the National American Miss in Miami."The most valuable lesson I've learned from pageants is to be yourself," Talya said. "The judges truly just want to know who you are by the end of the interview. The best way to stand out is to stay true to yourself." (on pages 12-13) SPREAD DESIGN BY MADELINE AWAD

FEARLESS LESS Fearless Brooks learns to appreciate the meaning and importance of his name

written by

photographed by

Annie Zhao

Lathan Levy

FEARLESS BROOKS

ID | WINTER 2024

ur own specific name carries a legacy of our culture, our history and our family. While it may be a simple word that differentiates us from another individual, our name is a constant piece of ourselves that accompanies us throughout our lives. A name is a piece of our identity. It is the most intimate word we immediately respond to or a conversation starter when meeting a new person. While some names could be short and sweet, a powerful name that carries deep significance is Fearless Christian-Soldier Brooks. Junior Fearless Brooks’ name was crafted by his parents, who poured their time and thoughts into its meanings. Described by his mom Joya Brooks, his first name Fearless means “to not be afraid.” With their spiritual background, his middle name is Christian-Soldier which illustrates that he “is to not fear anyone but God.” Lastly, his last name is the same as his father’s.

The Origins At first, Joya hoped her children would learn to love their names unlike her experience with her name. Growing up, Joya preferred to go by the nickname Gigi, named from her parents favorite French musical. But, she came to realize that her true name Joya, which means to bring joy, was a lot more beautiful. Listen to the story

“I know that the power of words can bring life or death into a situation,” Joya said. “I felt it was very important that all of my children's names had meaning and that they understood what their name meant. A person's name is something that stays with them forever.” Joya’s family comes from African and Native American roots. Thus, especially from those cultures along with their family’s spiritual belief, names are so important. Names bring meaning and names bring life into an individual, which is shown through their family's names. “My older sister’s name is BeLov’ed, which means to be [dearly] loved,” Fearless said. “My little brother's name is Courageous. So, I would say it’s a trend for us. My parents really wanted me to have a strong, powerful name.” Fearless’ traits of being daring and distinct is similar to the uniqueness of his name. For instance, his mother characterizes Fearless as an “old soul” and someone who is “dancing to his own drum beat.” Also, longtime friend since sixth grade junior Hiro Cockrell outlines him as a person who is “not scared to be himself and voice his opinion.” Fearless himself similarly defines himself by those beliefs people describe him as. “I believe in honesty,” Fearless said. “[It’s] a very important value that people should have. I don't try to sugarcoat anything for people, so I'm going to be very blunt with you about how I feel. I also believe in self righteousness. You [should] do things for yourself and be able to do that without causing problems for another person.” SPREAD DESIGN BY ANNIE ZHAO

"My name by itself makes me stand out." Fearless Brooks, junior 16

FEARLESS BROOKS

ID | WINTER 2024

Growing Up Living with a name as rare as Fearless comes with questions and curiosity. Some people couldn’t grasp the fact that his name was truly Fearless. Some people would probe endless questions or make jokes with his name. “As early as Pre-K, when adults would find out what my name is, they would often be confused or they would have questions and ask my parents questions,” Fearless said. “Through all of elementary school, no one would believe that Fearless was my actual name. So, when I was younger, I really hated my name.” Elementary school and middle school consisted of constant inquiries of familiarizing themselves with why Fearless was named Fearless or simply asking if that was his name. Constant repetitive questions drilled Fearless down. Constant skeptics annoyed him, as he retold the same story. “People [did] not believe me, like ‘Hey Fearless, are you really Fearless?’” Fearless said. “I'm like ‘Dude, are we really doing this?’ There's been a time where a kid didn't believe that Fearless was my name. He would not be convinced. So, I had to call my mom and have her tell him that this is my actual birth name. I did get an apology.” All these questions made Fearless cultivate negative emotions towards his name. But slowly Fearless learned more about his dislikes and likes, as a lot of his friends started getting into “Pokemon cards” and he joined them. This process of learning about himself made him find his people, so Fearless began to feel comfortable with himself. When Fearless displayed his true opinions and was unafraid to be who he is, this allowed him to make connections with similar individuals. “In sixth grade, I was terrified of making friends,” Cockrell said. “When I first met him, we would talk about how it's so annoying how people make corny jokes about our names, [which was] something we have in common. He was so chill, and I wasn't afraid of him as I was with most people in our school.”

Acceptance

From despising his name, Fearless now appreciates how his name enables people to get a glimspe of who he is. Similarly, Cockrell jokes about "being abundant," which is the meaning of her name. Her full name is Hiroko, named after her Japanese grandmother who immigrated from Okinawa after World War II. “I always kind-of felt like an outcast in middle school, that's how Fearless and I found each other,” Cockrell said. “[But], being diﬀerent and embracing that uniqueness is very powerful. Fearless very openly loves the color pink. I admire that he's willing to be himself and embrace his masculinity, even though it's not what society would typically deem [as] masculine.”

Although Fearless states that his biggest fear is “being forgotten,” this worry stays hidden in the back of his mind. He is surrounded by people who cherish him and therefore, feels a sense of belonging. This transition and being in high school presents a new stage in Fearless’ life. “I've gotten to the point of my life where I don't have a reason where I need to be uncomfortable around anyone,” Fearless said. “I don't get many questions about my name [anymore], because at this point, people know who I am. People know there's a guy named Fearless lurking around these halls somewhere. I can pretty much be comfortable in almost any situation now, because I am being my authentic self and I'm not lying about who I am.” Joya hopes that Fearless is continually aware of how his name is crucial to his identity. That soul that lives within each one of her children is what Joya hopes Fearless persists to love and nurture throughout his life. “All of my children are products of the hard work, blood, sweat equity and tears that my parents and my parents’ parents poured into us, trying to make a better life,” Joya said. “I never wanted any of my children to lose focus of who they are. If people call them by their legal rightful name, they are still speaking life into my children. No matter how upset they may be, they're still speaking Fearless into his life.” Now, Fearless exists by being unapologetically himself and content with who he is today. He feels completely at ease expressing his views. This was created from a process of learning to appreciate his name and discovering what his name truly means for him. Now more than ever, Fearless just loves being fearless. “As I get older and meet more people, every time people ask me about my name that gives me a chance to immediately show them how my personality works,” Fearless said. “My name wows people and causes me to shock them before they even know me. My name by itself makes me stand out and [makes me] unforgettable.” Captions: Junior Fearless Brooks recalls that due to the of the nature of kids, his elementary school peers often asked again and again if his name was real, if his name was actually his name. But, those children became high schoolers and the teasing became less. This was a reason that helped make Fearless comfortable with his name. "People who meet me aren’t going to forget me and [will] be like, ‘Wow, [your name] is interesting!’” Fearless said. (on pages 14-15) While writing “I am Fearless,” Fearless wears a handmade bracelet displaying his name, which showcases his appreciation towards his name. During high school, Fearless finally accepted the significance of his name. He felt proud and appreciative to have such a memorable name. “My parents gave me a solid, unique name that is an adjective and you can [find] my name in the dictionary,” Fearless said. (on pages 16-17) SPREAD DESIGN BY ANNIE ZHAO

Jin Zhang performs kung fu in Master Qi Kungfu School

KUNG FU STYLE

JIN ZHANG

written by

photographed by

Nitya Nara

Mac Huffman

ID | WINTER 2024

Listen to the story and see Jin Zhang's practice

SPREAD DESIGN BY NITYA NARA

hīfù hao" means “Hi Master” in Mandarin. This is the salute that sophomore Jin Zhang carries out at the start of every kung fu class at Master Qi Kung Fu School. After Zhang’s traditional greeting, he executes complex formations, fierce kicks and explosive punches. His body twists and turns with agility as he performs intricate moves with nunchucks: a weapon used in kung fu. Sweat glistens on his brows as he completes acrobatic flips, high-flying kicks and lightning-quick blocks. Instructors shout commands, guiding students to perfection, while the atmosphere boils with intensity and determination. The display of agility, focus and power during kung fu practice is what makes it Zhang’s passion. Zhang embarked on a new chapter of his life at the age of 10, when he and his family relocated to the United States from Beijing, China. Kung fu is a traditional Chinese sport which has developed over a long historical period. Although Zhang is not living in China, practicing kung fu allows him to be close to his heritage. He has dedicated three years of his life to the martial arts. “Chinese culture is usually overlooked by many,” Zhang said. “My ancestors dealt with a lot of conflict during wars. It is interesting to see how they were able to train these legendary soldiers who followed etiquettes in fighting back-to-back in the day.” The creation of martial arts not only requires skills sets and the foundations of techniques, but also artistry. However, many people may have a stereotype of associating fighting with martial arts. Zhang is connected to both the physical and the art aspect of martial arts. "Chinese kung fu monks can fight, [since] they know how to use all those weapons," Zhang said. "Martial Arts is more like an art form compared to actual fighting. So, during the competition, we don't really fight. So, there's less contact with actual fighting people." Despite having no prior competition experience, Zhang has gained plenty of performance exposure through his active involvement in numerous cultural events, particularly at the Festival of Nations. He dedicates an hour every day to the rigorous practice of kung fu to improve his technique. Preparing for the upcoming competitions has caused him to reflect on the challenges in his kung fu journey. “The most difficult thing is the details,” Zhang said. “Everyone can do the broad moves, but the details [are] what make the move look powerful and intimidating. Also, there are a lot of challenging moves, such as the flips, that are hard to do.” Sometimes, Zhang worries he won’t measure up to his master's high expectations or comparisons to his peers in the competitions. 20

JIN ZHANG

“The greatest challenge in every performance [is that] I get nervous before [performing],” Zhang said. “So, trying to calm myself down before the competitions is something that I [will] need to work on.” Zhang attends kung fu practice three days per week, which allows him to improve his martial arts abilities. Master Qi, who leads Zhang, has been practicing for 30 years and sees potential in Zhang. “[Zhang’s] strength is his power, being fast, focused and being dedicated to kung fu,” Qi said. “He practices kung fu on a daily basis and when he does he gives his best.” Although Jin has mastered some skills, there is always room for growth. “Jin needs to improve upon his hip mobility and flexibility and learn how to use his waist to do good moves and to make something look better,” Qi said. “You have to know the usage of your waist in these movements in order to do well in the competitions.” Zhang is not the only Ladue Student to participate in rigorous kung fu practices. He and sophomore Thomas Seidel have been friends for 5 years and their friendship extends past high school to kung fu class as well. Seidel has been doing kung fu for 7 years. “[Jin has] definitely gotten experience and skill,” Seidel said. “He's currently learning [how to] master a type of sword that is similar to a big stick with a blade.” Zhang deeply looks up to the legendary martial arts champions Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. They represent the Chinese heritage that has created many diffrent kinds of martial arts such as kung fu. “The desire to be stronger, to release the energy in my body and to build a powerful mindset is what keeps me motivated to master martial arts,” Zhang said. However, rigorous practice weighs upon Zhang because of injuries caused by nunchucks and many other weapons. For example, in July, Zhang was met with an ankle injury which took him around a month to recover from. Although it can be extremely difficult to balance out his injuries and practice, Zhang values the ultimate reward of martial arts. “The most rewarding part of kung fu is the connection with my own culture,” Zhang said. “The culture I get to experience makes me get stronger and healthier day by day.” Caption: Sophomore Jin Zhang performs his routine at the start of class, which can take up to two minutes. Zhang has performed at many cultural events like the Festival of Nations in preparation for upcoming competitions. Zhang utilized the skills and his experience from the cultural events, he feels more prepared for the upcoming competitions. “I am taking more private classes with my coach instead of a big class,” Zhang said.

ID | WINTER 2024

"The most rewarding part of kung fu is the connection with my own culture." Jin Zhang, sophomore

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THAT'S A

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Mason Eastman

Mac Huffman

Lizzie Esther pursues her love for videography

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LIZZIE ESTHER

ID | WINTER 2024

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LIZZIE ESTHER

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he simple word is illustrated in thick red dry erase marker across a whiteboard in room 1337. Why. The word, not a question nor a statement, was the prompt given to Broadcast Technology students for their final project. Mere moments after the students shuffled in, the classroom erupted into chaos, all sparked from the three letters. Despite the students' wishes for clarification, Broadcast Technology teacher Don Goble refused to give any insight as to what “Why” meant. Senior Lizzie Esther saw this one word as a window into a story worth telling, eventually creating a short film that would be known as “The Forgotten Leftovers of Meaningful Things.” From a young age, Lizzie had a strong affinity towards the arts. Her childhood passion laid the foundation for her matured love for videography, which she discovered her freshman year after taking Broadcast Technology. “The Forgotten Leftovers of Meaningful Things” captured her rekindling love for the arts in addition to a lost connection to an old pen pal, earning her Nation Academy of Television Arts and Science’s Mid-American High School Emmy Award, one of the most sought-after accolades in the junior film industry. “It was always a lot of fun; there was always something creative going on with Lizzie,” Lizzie's father, Jim Esther, said. “She would try to play the piano when she was 7 months old. She always tried to entertain us.” As many filmmakers know, the process of creating a film, from beginning to end, is strenuous. At the end of the day, after hours of filming and editing, Lizzie is able to press play and watch back her hard work, making all the effort worthwhile. “Being able to share someone's story is what makes all those struggles of audio, sound and a million different retakes worth it when you finally get to show them their story,” Lizzie said. "It's rewarding to be able to say, ‘Hey, your story is being told so everyone can hear it.'" Lizzie was naturally gifted with a talent in filmography, a art form that typically takes artists years to even begin to grasp. Her unflagging pursuit of knowledge and discovery of the world around her set her apart from the community of other highly competitive filmmakers all across the country. “Honestly, many student videos don’t blow me away like Lizzie's video did,” Goble said. “Typically [in their] last year, I will have a student who, if I've had them for many semesters, may come up with a video that grabs my attention. Because I'm such a harsh critic, I'm always looking for what they [can] do to get better, but Lizzie's video just immediately took my breath away."

Lizzie was born a visual learner, making videography and the arts a skill that came somewhat easier to her. However, there are many components of videography that aren’t in visual nature. “I remember as a young freshman, she was afraid of public speaking, so to hear her speak [in her film] with such genuine and authentic compassion and storytelling technique was really inspiring,” Goble said. Lizzie specializes in short films, where she is able to share people’s unique stories. However, high school videography is merely a step in Lizzie’s ultimate aim of sharing people's experiences well into her adult life. “I want to hear people's stories,” Lizzie said. “I want to learn about new cultures and new places. I want to hear about how people are. There are so many stories in our communities, in St. Louis. You could walk down the street and see [three different people] and they would all tell me a whole different story and perspective about life that I've never seen before.” The Emmy award ceremony was a once in a lifetime experience alone, yet Lizzie made sure the journey there was just as unforgettable. Driving to the ceremonies with her mother, Ellen Esther, they were able to spend their time catching up and doing some of their favorite things. “She had two wins last year,” Ellen said. “Both times, it was such a pleasant trip with her. [We were] listening to our favorite book that she grew up reading or some Taylor Swift tunes.” While winning the Emmy was an immense honor, the events to follow had an arguably longer-lasting impact on Lizzie’s professional career as a filmmaker. “If you can leverage this absolutely amazing award to get into the college that you want, which she just did, and have professional networking contacts all because she answered a one-word prompt with a beautiful video that was recognized by a five-state region is pretty incredible,” Goble said. One of the biggest struggles expressed by videographers is the discovery of unique angles. Finding the perfect person or idea to visually represent can be a daunting task. However, Lizzie choses to look at all of her films through the eyes of her subject, allowing her to produce authentic content. “Everyone has a different perspective on how they see the world and the hardest part about creating a film or creating videos is finding how you can write the story in your own words to illustrate how you see the world,” Lizzie said. Caption: Senior Lizzie Esther works in Ladue's film studio developing her film Nov. 20. Lizzie fell in love with the exploratory part of videography: telling people's stories. "[I like to] learn about different perspectives, stories and learn empathy for the world around you," Lizzie said.

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PROTHRO

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JOSH DEVINE

SLSG MEDIA

Triplets Balkis Prothro, Nephthys Prothro and Fauziya Prothro develop their own individual identities 26

NEHPTHYS PROTHRO, BALKIS PROTHRO AND FAUZIYA PROTHRO

ID |ID WINTER 2024 | FALL 2023

tick to The Status Quo" is not just the title of a catchy “High School Musical” song. It is also a phrase that describes the social normal. The status quo can be thought of as a line in which social conformity and one's identity are the same. When someone steps out of this line, it reveals a person with a unique identity. In today's world, it becomes increasingly hard to present oneself as separate from the status quo. However, junior triplets Nephthys Prothro, Balkis Prothro and Fauziya Prothro frequently cross this line with their own unique personalities and lives. Even though they share genetics, they cannot be associated as a single entity. “People do tend to mistake us often,” Nephthys said. “I get it, but at the same time, I'm a person too, not just a triplet. When people call us ‘the triplets,’ it feels like we're one person, instead of feeling like individual people." When their mother, Rosalyn Prothro, found out she was pregnant in early 2006, the last thing that she expected was that she would be having three new daughters in nine short months. Each of those three daughters would grow up to have their own personalities that diﬀerentiate themselves from each other more than looks ever could. “Each of them is unique in their own way, with their own ideas, passions and specific personalities that define who they are,” Rosalyn said. “I am so proud of how their personalities have developed over the years.” A common saying is that twins or triplets have something called telepathy, an ability to read each other's mind due to the strong bond of being born and going through life together. Although Balkis, Nephthys and Fauziya can't necessarily read each other's minds, the bond that they have is like no other. “[Being triplets is more than being siblings] because we are the same age and we do all the same things,” Fauziya said. “We are always together and are in the same grade. We were born together, and it's very much a deeper connection. I have other siblings, but we just understand each other a little bit more.”

Self Identity For their whole lives, Balkis, Nephthys and Fauziya have had to face a challenge many will never have to face: separating themselves from each other. “It is sometimes hard to stand out, because people look at us as one,” Nephthys said. “So if I do something good, people will just refer to it as, ‘Oh, it's the triplets.’ I won't get my credit for what I did, because it's just going to be the triplets.” Common things that can be used to define one's identity, like sports or clothing styles, are things that the three Prothro sisters share. This makes it even more of a chalListen to the story here

lenge to set themselves apart from one another and break the stereotypes of their similarity. “I sometimes try to have diﬀerent friends than my sisters, or we have diﬀerent music tastes sometimes,” Fauziya said. “I like to just try my own thing and see how I'm feeling by myself, not with my sisters.” Although sometimes wanting to be seen as separate from their sisters, Balkis, Nephthys and Fauziya use their similarities for their own good. In shared classes, their bond helps push them to strive for better. “Balkis and I are in the same Anatomy and Physiology class, and we had a competition about who can get the best grade on one of the tests,” Nephthys said. “We are always competitive with each other because it's fun. We always have somebody to compare things to.” Competition can sometimes be seen as a trait that drives people away from each other, creating hostile or unfriendly relationships. However, the Prothro sisters have been able to challenge each other and improve themselves and their work. “I try to do better in school," Balkis said. “I try to get the best grades because that satisfies me. If we are in a game, I always try to be better than them. I feel like it's more competitive between us three than it is between anybody else. If we want to beat each other out, I always feel way more motivated to do good.”

Out of the Shadow When a source of light is blocked by something in the way, a shadow appears. A person can be in a shadow, when someone else is blocking their shine. “It is sometimes [hard to have my own identity] because if one [triplet] is doing better, it's like you're in their shadow,” said Nephthys. “[Being in my sibling's shadows] happens very often, more than it should, and I feel like that's other people's fault, not any of ours. It's not necessarily hard to stand out, but diﬀerent.” At the end of the day, Balkis, Nephthys and Fauziya are always sisters. Despite issues and feelings surrounding individuality, the bond that they have trumps all other feelings. Their tight-knit relationship is one that will last their whole lives. “We have a great connection because we shared a room until we were 10,” Balkis said. “We were born together, so everything we do has been together. We are always together; we always have somebody to be around. Our bond is just special.” Caption: Juniors Balkis, Nephthys and Fauziya Prothro prepare for their upcoming season playing in the Elite Clubs National League with Saint Louis Scott Galigher. The Prothro triplets have played many seasons together on the same team, and found they have a special connection on the field. "I feel like we have an advantage on the field because we know each other," Fauziya said. SPREAD DESIGN BY JOSH DEVINE

tepping oﬀ the school bus, Adam Ye came face-to-face with an imposing wall of tan bricks. As Ye briskly walked along, icy winds howled through the frigid air. Then, he arrived at the door. Walking inside, he was met with a shower of golden light. A wave of enchanting music echoed through the cavernous golden hall, captivating and encompassing Ye into all of its musical glory. This was a field trip to Powell Hall, the home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, for Ye’s fifth grade orchestra class. Ye first started playing the violin when he was living in China in fourth grade. He didn’t 28

ADAM YE

practice much at first, but after moving to the U.S. in fifth grade and starting orchestra classes, he began to be more interested in violin. After six years of consistent practicing, hard work and care Ye has become the musician and violinist that he is today. “When I came here in fifth grade, [the orchestra teachers] wanted you to pick an instrument for orchestra class,” Ye said. “My mom said, ‘[If] you didn't really feel interested in the violin, we should pick something else.’ But I already had some basics, so I said, ‘It will make my life a little bit easier [if I continue with the violin].’ ” Continuing the violin allowed Ye to join Ladue’s orchestra classes and be exposed to St. Louis' music community, deepening Ye’s interest in the violin. ID | WINTER 2024

SERENADING STRINGS

Through the violin, ½§ù Ä Ōú½ĝ § ĝÄúĝÄ of belonging written by

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“St. Louis is also a city [with] a lot of musical aspects, which I think is great,” Ye said. “In orchestra, I realized I liked playing [with others]. We went to visit the symphony. That was definitely a big integration. [So], I slowly got more interested.” While moving to the U.S. brought Ye to a completely new environment, music was always something that he could connect to other people through. His musical style is a way for Ye to express himself as he adjusts to a different, foreign country. “I had a pretty loud, extroverted personality when I was back in China,” Ye said. “When I moved here, I became an introvert. I'm still an introvert, but I'm becoming a lot more confident. But my style has always been really confident. I always have a full sound, I use a lot of bow, I have a wide vibrato and I wouldn't say [my style] has changed that much. I'm always a really expressive person.” Ye is also dedicated to giving back to the community. He is currently the “unofficial leader” of Strolling Strings, an orchestral club inspired by Roma violinists who entertained and performed throughout Europe. “He is involved in Strolling [Strings] and he is our center,” orchestra teacher Twinda Murry said. “That's the musical leader but also the organization leader. We don't have an official president. He does a lot to encourage and motivate the younger students. He's given a lot of his time to work directly with younger students.” Ye also performs regularly, such as for the Tri-M Music Honor Society, a group he founed named the “Three Two Ones” and also with other classmates. One of these classmates is his close friend, junior Bohan Pan. “He's involved with everything music-related,” Pan said. “You can tell he truly loves playing the violin. He’s always happy to volunteer for Morning Music. He always takes every opportunity to participate. What's nice about him is when we have a performance, he'll take the time to run through every measure that you need to play, as many times as you need to to feel comfortable.” Being in a musical environment makes Ye feel much more relaxed. Music feels much more natural and enjoyable to him when surrounded by fellow musicians, even when rehearsals take up a majority of the day. “People call [music] a universal language,” Ye said. “Even though songs might be in different languages, it still gives off a meaning. It definitely is a liaison between people around the world.” Music doesn’t have a fixed form. It’s a creative form of art, and to Ye, that’s one of its most interesting aspects. “That's one of the cool things about it, being able to express yourself [in] tons of different ways,“ Ye said. “Chainsaw Man is rock style, something that's different to me I want to try. I've tried a little bit of jazz before, I've done jazz camp but obviously classical, or movie, or video game music. There's all sorts of different things that I can 30

ADAM YE

play around with and find myself.” Ye also constantly strives to improve himself. This can be in a variety of aspects, including dynamics, rhythm, tone, intonation, note accuracy and personal expression. “[My style], it's definitely been refined. I'm improving my skills and improving my expression,” Ye said. “Since I haven't been playing violin for that long, only about six years, it's pretty much the same, but definitely more refined than before. It's more complex. It has more nuance in it, which I am able to do now with my skills. Moving when you play, that's something I've always done a lot of, but similar to the way that my playing has evolved and refined, my movements [are] a little bit more deliberate and more stylistic, typically. That also connects to my playing style. I'm really expressive.” Ye’s performances are always technically precise, due to an unparalleled focus to details when practicing. There is a consensus from the people surrounding Ye that he is incredibly diligent. “He's extremely talented, and even more important than that he's extremely focused and an incredibly hard worker,” Murry said. “He sets goals for himself. And he works until he meets those goals.” The high standards that Ye puts on himself then translates to equally high standards for his demanding practice schedule, but he has recently had a hard time balancing school and music. “[My practice schedule] is changing a lot recently,” Ye said. “This year, my goal was two hours every weekday and three hours every weekend. I've not been able to achieve anywhere close to that, because I didn't realize I've had a lot of work. I'm definitely trying to practice more, [but] it's not enough and nowhere near close to enough.” Through his countless hours of practicing and constantly striving to improve, Ye has finally felt at home through playing music. The violin has given Ye something far more important than his ability to play: lasting friends, his music peers and giving back to the community, as well as a lifelong passion and skill that allows him to connect with people from all around the world through a universal language. “[When I play the violin], I feel like I'm more myself," Ye said. "I feel a sense of belonging with the instrument. I'm playing and I [feel] like I'm meant to do this. This is me.” Caption: Junior Adam Ye performs the violin in the Performing Arts Center. He has practiced and performed in many orchestras, including the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, Community Music School’s Preparatory Program, and the Missouri All-State Orchestra. Through his numerous performances, Ye has found an outlet for self expression through the violin. “The instrument shouldn't be a prison,” Ye said. “It should be a key, a tool for you to explore yourself.” ID | WINTER 2024

"People call [music] a universal language. It is a liaison between people around the world." Adam Ye, junior

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here did you go to high school?” Was it public or private? Religious or secular? In a city like St. Louis, where your choice of high school is treated like an indicator of your personality, your wealth and even your success in life, these categories can bear a lot of weight. For junior Audrey Roberts, Hebrew name Risa, this seemingly simple question has a complicated answer.

Growing Up at Mirowitz

Before high school Roberts attended Mirowitz, a pluralistic Jewish day school that welcomes different kinds of students with varying personal connections to Judaism. Roberts practices Reform Judaism, and belongs to Central Reform Congregation. Reform is one of the three major movements of Judaism. As a Reform Jew, Roberts observes a more inclusive, modernized form of Judaism. During her time at Mirowitz, she was exposed to many different synagogues such as B’nei Amoona, a Conservative synagogue attached to Mirowitz. “[Mirowitz] would have keynote speakers come in every Shabbos, and it would be a different rabbi from different temples,” Roberts said. “So I heard from a lot of different people, and it gave us exposure to the different perspectives of rabbis and the different aspects of Judaism.” By hearing so many distinct voices in the Jewish community, Roberts gained an expansive view and understanding of the Jewish religion. She was able to explore what Judaism meant to others, as well as what it meant to herself. “It opened my eyes to the pluralism in Judaism, which is very important to me,” Roberts said. “There are so many different types of Jews at Mirowitz that you [are] able to find how you [can] be Jewish and what parts of Judaism fit into your life.” Because of the small class size and student-to-faculty ratio, Mirowitz gave Roberts opportunities to discover her identity, even outside of religion. The hands-on learning style of Mirowitz meant that students got a more personal learning experience. Roberts’ graduating class only contained 10 students. “We did a lot of interactive studies and I'd say that influenced my learning because it raised me to be very competent in my beliefs and my values, because that was something that I exercised from a very young age,” Roberts said. “I think that also made me become very comfortable in public speaking and being outspoken.” Roberts and her siblings did not originally attend Mirowitz because of its religious component. Her parents 32

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initially liked the intimate learning style and extra support, but grew to appreciate its religious community. “My parents fell in love with the Jewish side of it,” Roberts said. “They saw a new side of us come out, and they found that we were a lot more aware of the world [and] our part in it."

Switching to Whitfield Unfortunately for the Roberts family, Mirowitz’s program ends after eighth grade. When looking for new schools, they used the knowledge they’d gained from Mirowitz to guide their search. Roberts found that Whitfield School had many of the qualities she was looking for. “Whitfield was very community oriented,” Roberts said. “One of the things that I loved about Mirowitz was how close everyone felt, and I loved walking down the halls and recognizing every person. That was something that was very special to me.” While Whitfield provided the community that Roberts was looking for, she was lacking the Jewish culture that she’d experienced every day during her time at Mirowitz. Because of her involvement with Mirowitz, Roberts had not regularly attended her temple or gone through the CRC Hebrew school program. “[The transition to Whitfield] was really diﬃcult because I relied on Mirowitz a lot for my sense of Judaism,” Roberts said. “For the first four months I was at Whitfield, I felt very lost in my Jewish self, because I no longer had my school to align with my identity.” Roberts tried to find new ways to bring Judaism into her life. Luckily, she was able to find a new Jewish community at Whitfield, where she took a leadership position. “We had a great Jewish Student Union club that I was able to get involved with,” Roberts said.“It was my way for me to bring my Jewish identity to school and have a connection with my peers.” One person Roberts has met through JSU is Sam Zitin, the Associate City Director for the club. He facilitates meetings at many diﬀerent schools in the St. Louis area. Zitin has supported Roberts through her transitions from Mirowitz to Whitfield, and eventually to Ladue. “Our goal is to encourage Jewish teens to take responsibility for their own journeys,” Zitin said. “Those that do [tend to] have the best long term connection to their Jewish identity, to their culture, to their history, to our land.” Zitin’s role in the club is to guide meetings, but not to control them. JSU is student-driven, and relies on student participation and leadership to ensure that each student walks away with something meaningful. “JSU is open to everyone regardless of their background or faith,” Zitin said. “I try to make sure that everything we do is from a Jewish lens, but with a universal message so everyone can take from it regardless of their background.” ID | WINTER 2024

āòúí risa:

excellence, grace & beauty

Audrey Roberts unpacks her Jewish journey through different schools

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Transferring to Ladue

"I knew that I would be able to find [my faith and culture] anywhere because it's so strongly rooted within myself." Audrey Roberts, junior

AUDREY ROBERTS

Coincidentally, while three generations of Roberts’ family had attended Ladue, her transition to the district ended up being entirely because of luck. Her family inherited her great-grandparents' house in the Ladue district, therefore opening up the opportunity for Roberts and her siblings to attend Ladue. “My family and I are very big on fate and chance,” Roberts said. “We thought it was a really interesting way that God opened that door for us. It's been very special for [my grandfather] to see me having a great experience so far, because that's how he remembers Ladue being for him." During the summer of 2022, Roberts had the opportunity to take the Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey, a JSU-funded five-week pilgrimage to Israel that allows students to connect to their Jewish identities and the land of Israel. “If you had told me six years ago that I spent a month and a half in Israel with some of my best friends, I never would have believed you," Roberts said. "But if you just open yourself up to the experiences, I think you'll find a lot of beautiful things in the community. [JSU connections] opened up the opportunity to go to Israel, which opened up the opportunity to meet great people and learn new things.” On her trip to Israel, Roberts and the other participants shared many bonding experiences, and one of the people that Roberts connected with was junior Bella Soyfer. Their bond deepened this year when Roberts began attending Ladue. Soyfer has been attending Ladue’s JSU meetings since her freshman year. This year, she and Roberts joined the club’s leadership council. “[JSU has] given me a sense of [the Jewish community] at Ladue,” Soyfer said. “It's just a fun place to share ideas and learn new things about Judaism.” Using prior experience from being president of Whitfield’s JSU, Roberts was glad to be given this new opportunity to lead. Throughout her many transitions, her Jewish culture has remained a constant that’s helped shape her sense of identity as she’s grown. “I think it's one of those things that if it's a priority to you, you'll find space for it anywhere you go,” Roberts said. “I knew that I would be able to find [my faith and culture] anywhere because it's so strongly rooted within myself.” Caption: Junior Audrey Roberts wears a necklace with her Hebrew name on it. She's worn it every single day since she got it on her trip to Israel two years ago. She inherited her Hebrew name, Risa, from her grandmother, who passed away shortly after she was born. “It's really special for me to carry on her memory,” Roberts said. "Sharing a Hebrew name with her makes me feel more connected to her."

ID | WINTER 2024

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veryone has a piece of film that they keep close to their hearts, once in a lifetime videos that leave a lasting impression on the viewer. People remember the story of the video, and how it related to them, but rarely notice the small details. This doesn’t apply to junior Stephen Song. He focuses on all of the details, the careful angle and timing of every shot and makes sure their culmination leaves an impression on the viewer. Videographers like Song are the reason these films are so impactful, building a mountain of small details working together to create a masterpiece. From helping his boss at The Caramel House, a smallbatch sweets shop, record a TikTok to creating a videography business and earning an income, Song has worked hard on his craft of filming. When he was younger, he knew he had a deep-rooted connection with creativity, but he couldn’t figure out his niche. “Ever since I was a kid, I really enjoyed art,” Song said. “This is a creative outlet for me. I really enjoy filming. [The] iMovie trailers really got me started. I used to mess around with [iMovie] as a kid, so that's where I really discovered videography. Since I was a young kid, I've always been inspired by art, and I always felt like I had to express myself in one way or another.” In the summer after his freshman year, Song’s passion began at Restoration Community Church, located in Maryland Heights. “I got a camera from my church,” Song said. “I decided to start messing around with it.” At first, he focused solely on photography but didn’t find it to be an enjoyable task for himself, so he began to explore videography. As he started working, he slowly but surely gained skills and experience. Song spent all of his time filming. Each project takes around a day to finish. For sports, the filming process takes around two hours, and the editing takes anywhere from three to five hours. “You only get better by practicing and getting those reps in,” Song said. “It's really important to not give up easily and to not take it so seriously. Just picking up the camera and every day shooting [a video]. It doesn't have to be anything big. Just shoot [a video] and you will get better.” During Song's film beginnings, a friend of Song’s asked if he was interested in filming a sport for him. Song agreed, starting his enthusiasm for sports videography. “I have a friend named Ben Manlin who runs a basketball page on Instagram,” Song said. “He saw my films and asked me if I wanted to come with him to a basketball game. Ever since then, I've filmed basketball a lot. That translated into football this fall, so now I'm filming a bunch of football players across the St. Louis area. It's just been fun.” 36

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As Song began shooting sports, Manlin assisted him in anything that he needed. He took Song to basketball games in buildings that Song couldn’t enter by himself, and answered any questions that Song had about videography or anything sports related. “Stephen probably is the most [detailed videographer],” Manlin said. “I feel like I've [been] taking him under my wing a little bit over the past few years. It's my duty to really help out Stephen cause he's really good at what he does. He has very big potential in the whole St. Louis videography game.” Song has covered a wide variety of themes in filming such as sports, music and business promotion, but this time he took on a new challenge, helping Manlin film a personal project. “He helped me out with my college video of me explaining what I do,” Manlin said. “I didn't really publicize it, but I sent it to colleges and everything.” Song has been taking commissions for videos for his business, and created a football practice montage for junior Grisham Ravindranath. “He's amazing,” Ravindranath said. “He knows what he's doing angle-wise, the type of music [and] stuff like that. I was really surprised, I was excited and I was shocked. [The video] was crazy.” Song’s business has been up and running for about a year and can be found online at stesongfilms.com. He charges about $100 per video. “I've only filmed three music videos,” Song said. “That was just with a friend. But I've done the most sports mixtapes. I've probably filmed around 30 or 40 since last year, so it's been a lot, but it's been fun.” Song believes that film is the best path for him, and it’s one that he enjoys enough to pursue in the future. “In a couple of years, I hope to see myself really making an income off of this and hopefully finding a stable job,” Song said. “There’s a lot of possibilities, [like] going into college and majoring in film, [or] finding some media program to better my skills.” As a videographer, Song often has a lot to do, including running his videography business and balancing school. He always remembers who counts on him and who's supportive of his career. “A lot of my friends and people around me have been really encouraging,” Song said. “[People have] seen my stuff, and that's motivated me to try to get better. [It’s] really fun for me to do.” Caption: Junior Stephen Song films a video for Ladue’s varsity football team. He's been filming for about two years. He started filming on his phone but transitioned into a professional camera. He believes that anyone can start videography, or anything else they want to do. “It's less about your equipment but more about what you can do and maximizing what you have,” Song said. ID | WINTER 2024

HUSTLER Stephen Song turns his passion into thriving business

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Ishaan Pandey photographed by

Lathan Levy Listen to the story and see Stephen Song's work here

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AMELIE LOCK

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SETTING THE

STAGE

Amelie Lock hones her craft and voice on stage

Listen to the story

written by

photographed by

Celina Zhou

Mac Huffman

SPREAD DESIGN CELINA ZHOU

starkly lit stage stands out against a backdrop of shadows, draped in red and gold in a dimly lit theater. All eyes are set on a bright-eyed little girl, her chin raised high and smile stubbornly wide as she beams out at the tightly packed seats, triumphant. “May we entertain you?” she sings, less a question and more a command, while newsboys in sailor blue fan out around her, clapping and dancing to her tune, just as caught in her orbit as the audience is. Welcome to "Gypsy." In 2018, freshman Amelie Lock made her debut at the Muny in their rendition of "Gypsy: A Musical Fable." In "Gypsy," Lock plays Baby June, a young child star whose mother pushes her on stage until she breaks and elopes with one of her newsboys, however quickly disappears from the stage after the first act. Lock, who has been acting since she was 9, mirrors June in some ways but differs in even more. While her mother, Laurie Lock, is a former actress who once performed on Broadway, Lock was always given space to develop interest in acting on her own. “I was actually born in New York, and [my mom] didn't really want me to go into acting at all because it's definitely a crazy business,” Lock said. “But when I was 9, I saw a couple of shows. Music was very much a part of my life, and my family was very musical in general. I immediately wanted to audition. I started begging my mom and she eventually [said], ‘Okay, if it's really what you want to do.’ So I auditioned for my first show when I was 9, and it took off from there.” Developing an organic interest was vital for Lock to cultivate a genuine love for the arts and performing, and she’s grateful for her mother’s support. “She just didn't want to push me into it,” Lock said. “You hear so many stories of kids whose parents started them super young. They end up burning out, or it's really not what they wanted to do, especially in an industry that can be so difficult at times, particularly because of the amount of rejection that you will inevitably receive. My mom from the beginning [said], ‘There'll be so much rejection but you just can't take it to heart.' She's always been drilling into me that it's not me as a person that they're saying no to.” Lock has learned to be resilient towards rejection, particularly during the auditions process. “We'll audition for hundreds of roles that we won't get,” said Lock’s acting coach Michael James Reed. “If you take all of those things as defeats, you're probably not going to stick around at this business. What Amelie has already proven to me is that she kind of understands the game. She understands that even though you didn't get 40

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a role, you can still walk away from it with a positive attitude, and with an understanding that you just weren't right for the role. That's one of the hardest things that actors when I work with, whether they are 8 years old or 15 years old or 55 years old, have trouble adjusting to. [Amelie] has shown a great capacity already at her young age to understand that element to this business.” Entering the world of acting plunged Amelie into a world of music, drama and stage lights that also drew her into other aspects of performance. “Immediately, I found a love for singing and musical theater and all diﬀerent types of music,” Lock said. “So that put me into voice lessons, where I learned more about the voice and how it works and fundamental things with vocals and singing. I love to sing. There's something about how obvious it is when I grow in my voice lessons versus in my dance lessons. When I'm able to hit that one note, it's the best feeling in the world.” Still, acting remains at the heart of Lock’s love for performance. From auditions in New York City, self tapes recorded at home and musicals at the Muny, her passion for being onstage endures in all forms. “I've just had a love for this for a really long time,” Lock said. “When you constantly want to work at something and do something, then it's going to stay with you. I always say that I could never do what I do if I didn't love it because—take the Muny as an example: I am there so much that if I did not absolutely love it, I would be done. It's such a time commitment and it's a lot to put your mind and body through but I love every second of being on stage.”

Meet the Cast When you think of showbiz, there’s a few images that come to mind. The glitz, the glamor, the drama—and the dirty underbelly that’s hidden by all the lights. “The industry, with the way that people are acting in auditions and all things like that, can become very competitive,” Lock said. “There's a stigma around the industry as not [having] the best people. Often, you'll see the ugly side of things and the ugly side of specifically Hollywood or LA. There's things like nepotism, things in audition rooms that are just completely unfair. What I fell in love with was getting to play and step into a diﬀerent world, but I don't know that that's what's always showcased in the business.” But for Lock, there's still a joy in walking into an audition room and performing for not just an audience, but also for fellow artists and crew members—a joy that’s difficult to replicate anywhere else. “Once you're actually in the audition room, it can be really rewarding,” Lock said. “When I'm just seeing people being so unsupportive and competitive, that's something that I have trouble with. But once you're in the audition SPREAD DESIGN CELINA ZHOU

room and once you're actually doing the show, I always see the beauty in it.” In her time working with actors, directors and screenwriters, Lock has found that even despite the competitive nature of the art, the people in it are more multifaceted than the characters they play. “The community is a huge part of why I'm drawn to acting,” Lock said. “When I'm in a rehearsal environment, even with professionals, these amazing people who I've looked up to for so long, everyone goes out of their way to be kind to you.” In her early years, Lock often relied on the guidance of older mentors who supported her through her struggle with balancing her work, developing her craft and grappling with being in the industry. “Without a lot of my mentors, I would definitely not be where I am,” Lock said. “Especially when I was 10 or 11, when I was just starting out, I had so much going on in my life with dance and with school and I was just working out the kinks of how to balance it all. People would just be helping me with things like that.” One mentor in particular, Reed, has watched Lock grow from an amateur to a skilled actress. “One of the great things about Amelie is that both her as a person and an actor are very much alike,” Reed said. “She is filled with a great positivity and she seems to exude a joie de vivre that really comes across both in her performing and in the way that she interacts with people. It's been fun to watch her kind of grow up over the last five years, to watch her just continue to be that joyful person, that joyful girl that I met years ago. But I’ve also watched her mature and to be able to hold her own.” For Leah Alrutz, the Viva Voce a cappella group adviser, who sees Lock at least once a week for rehearsal, the influences her mentors have left on her are clear. “[Amelie is] a very professional student,” Alrutz said. “A lot of student actors, singers and performers don't necessarily have the life experiences of seeing a lot of the performances that she's done. She's had big performances in St. Louis, and in New York on professional-level stages. You can just kind of tell that diﬀerence in the student that has had a lot of that experience already before [performing in] a normal choir concert or in a musical. She definitely stood out.” Beyond direct guidance, Lock has also matured greatly from being immersed in rehearsal and working environments with professionals and industry veterans. “There are so many specific people who have helped me but there's also so much that people have said oﬀhandedly that have really stuck with me,” Lock said. “I've gotten to work with so many directors, especially at the Muny; it provides such an amazing view into what the professional world looks like. I've worked with people who you would just never imagine and gotten to listen to 42

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SPREAD DESIGN CELINA ZHOU

AMELIE LOCK

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the little things that they'll say and do during rehearsals. So in a way, I can think of them as mentors because I still think about the things that they said.” Lock’s peers have also provided her a space for growth and opportunity. Sophomore Adaeze Loynd has known Lock since the sixth grade, working with her through auditions, dance performance and a cappella singing. “We definitely bounce oﬀ of each other's energy,” Loynd said. “She's one of those people who will always give me pointers and tips on upcoming auditions. Then when I see opportunities that I think Amelie would love, I'm able to give her those as well. It’s helped us grow as actors and performers.” Despite the competitive environment that auditions and competitions can inspire, Lock and her peers strive to weed out any toxicity between them. “Although you're going into a room where you're supposed to be the best in the room, she's super supportive of me and I can be supportive of her without the interference of, ‘Man, I hope I get this role and she doesn't’,” Loynd said. “Either way if she does and I don't, I’ll also be happy for her, and I know that she'll feel the same way for me.” Among her castmates, whether adult or child, professional or amateur, Lock has found lifetime friendships and many sources of inspiration and joy. “The people in the shows change the way the show is as an experience,” Lock said. “If I'm working with an amazing cast, I'm gonna have a great memory with the show, even if I'm playing the smallest role in the world.”

The Next Act

Beyond the stage lights, the costumes and the crowd— what happens behind the scenes? “I sacrifice tons of events and typical teenager things—a lot of the time they're sleepovers,” Lock said. “A big part of what I do is my voice and so I can't lose my voice. There will always be something that comes up, and my voice is my instrument, so it's really important that I keep that healthy. Sleepovers before an audition, or hanging out with friends and being too loud are oﬀ limits.” Despite the sacrifices she’s made and the parts of her social life she’s had to give up, Lock remains secure in herself and her work in her daily life. “I enjoy what I do, and I hope that there's something of a respect for it at this point,” Lock said. “There are definitely some people that will make jokes or whatever, but I don't really care at this point. I'm working on a national scale sometimes, so I'm not super worried about whatever this one person says to me. I've been doing stage work enough that it's second nature now.” Her journeys on and oﬀ-stage have not been easy ones, and balancing her work along with other interests sometimes became a struggle for her.

“There was a period where I felt very overwhelmed and almost wanted to stop everything,” Lock said. “For self tapes — which are recorded auditions where I have to memorize sides — I have to tape it multiple times because I'm a perfectionist and I want it to be the best that it can be, but sometimes I would just want to be done. My mom would be super tired and I'd be super tired, and a lot of the time I was just thinking, ‘I can't do this.’” Still, her interest persisted, and now that she’s in high school, Lock approaches a crossroad. With the industry in constant flux, whether it be because of flimsy labor laws, a subjective market or the shaky role that A.I. is beginning to play, stability in a theatrical arts career is often almost impossible to guarantee. For many people on the edge, it becomes a choice between passion and security. “I want Amelie to be happy and I want her to find contentment in her life, whether it be in performing or anything else,” Reed said. “If Amelie goes on and has great success and gets what she wants out of this career, terrific. If she has the revelation at age 20 that she wants to do something else, then I applaud her for making that decision. I've realized that Amelie could do a number of things very well. If her future turns out to be in the entertainment industry, I think that the industry will be better for it.” Lock plans to continue her passions as she is and make meaningful decisions when the right time comes. “I'll probably pursue [acting] and see where it takes me,” Lock said. “If I get to my junior or senior year and I want to do it, and everyone's telling me to do it, then I'll pursue it. If not, then I can always [do] a minor in it, and maybe I'll go to a couple auditions. Doors will always stay open to the industry.” Despite all the uncertainty that comes with a new phase of her life, Lock’s love for her craft remains. “I still have dreams of acting and singing in these huge projects,” Lock said. “Performance is my first love. I have tons of other interests, but I don’t think I’ll ever step away from it.” Caption: Freshman Amelie Lock rehearses in the high school's Performing Arts Center. She has acted in various environments, from massive open-air theaters like the Muny, to competitive audition rooms in New York City, to her own bedroom on tape for send-in auditions. No matter the environment, she strove to perform at her best—to treat acting as the art form that it is instead of a job in an industry. "There were are a lot of auditions that I'm super proud of, and I think that any actor that you'll talk to will say the same thing because so often we get really close to a role," Lock said. "I think that any actor that you'll talk to will say the same thing. Tens of thousands of people submit for every single call that we get, so there are so many auditions that I'm proud of my performance for, even if I don't get the role." SPREAD DESIGN CELINA ZHOU

n a house in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, small hands push a window open. Then another. Then one more. With each push, the house livens, dewy air and soft light filtering in. The little girl props the front door ajar, completing her morning routine. She pauses outside. Cocks her head. Listens. The song of the day slowly greets her. An mix of neighbors chatting and cars rumbling floats through the house, punctuated by a staccato of bird chirps and dog yips. “Maritza,” her mother calls. And so, the day begins. Spanish teacher Maritza Sloan lived on the North Pacific side of Costa Rica until she was 21. She is one of four children in her family, two brothers and two sisters. Growing up, her father traveled weekly for his job. “I grew up seeing my dad Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays,” Maritza said. “He was working with a company that was in charge of putting electricity in, so he was always in diﬀerent parts of the country. Sometimes he was farther away so he [came home] every other week. My mom was a seamstress, so we spent more time with my mother than my dad on the weekends most of my life.” Though Maritza and her mother talk on the phone almost every day now, when Maritza was a teenager, their relationship was not without its challenges. “[I had a] very controlled life,” Maritza said. “My mom, especially being by herself most of the time, always felt like she had to protect her two girls. When my husband and I were dating, we were chaperoned the whole time. He had to come home and ask my mom permission to date me, and there was always somebody around us. We were never by ourselves. It was a very traditional way for people in Costa Rica [for] my age at the time. Things are not the same anymore, but I think about my husband and how weird this must have been [for him].” Maritza’s husband, John Sloan, grew up far from Costa Rica. He lived on a farm in central Illinois and completed his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After graduating, he joined the Peace Corps and served in Guanacaste, where he learned Spanish and met Maritza while living in her neighborhood. “I’d sit out on the street and play my guitar at night,” John said. “This was before [the] internet and everything. I got to know [Maritza’s] brother first, and then he invited me over to their house, and that’s how I met Maritza.”

The First Move After dating for about a year, Maritza and John moved to the U.S. and got married. They first lived in Texas, where Maritza learned English and started her new life. Maritza is the only person in her family to live in the U. S. “I was always lucky that I came here for love,” Maritza said. “I married my husband, so he was always teaching 46

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me things about [United States] culture. Also, I was a very independent woman. So from day one, I knew I had to get behind the wheel and start driving and doing those things that I didn’t do in Costa Rica, [like] learning the language [and] going to school. I wanted to finish my degree, so I knew I had to do that as soon as I got here. There was no time for me to waste.” Soon, Maritza and John moved to Oklahoma, where John completed his PhD and Maritza completed her undergraduate education at Oklahoma State University. This was also where Maritza began teaching for the first time, spurred by her positive experience learning English. “We went from the South to the North, back to the South and now the Midwest,” Maritza said. “Every place I went [was] like a window. You start seeing and learning different ways of living, even in this country. Life in Texas was completely different than life in Oklahoma. And so was life in Minnesota. They all have given me different perspectives of life and [allowed me to] meet different people. I have friends all over.”

Parenthood While they lived in Texas for the second time, Maritza and John had their daughter, Christina, causing Maritza to reflect on her own childhood. “When Christina came, it was very easy to go back to the Costa Rican way [of], ‘Don’t do this. Don’t do that,’" Maritza said. "I had to learn very quickly [that] we’re not in Costa Rica anymore. I didn’t go and spend nights at my friend’s house, so it was something that I needed to learn with my daughter. [To] not be afraid to ride your bike and fall. We were so protected by my family.” One of John and Maritza’s main priorities while raising Christina was creating a bilingual household. Christina, now teaching kindergarten for the first time in Urbana, Ill., has used her Spanish skills to further her connections with Spanish-speaking students. She appreciates the doors that being bilingual opens. “It was really great because I got to learn both languages at once,” Christina said. “My mom would speak to me pretty much only in Spanish and then my dad would speak to me in English. My mom would make me respond in Spanish, but as I got older, she would talk to me in Spanish [and] I’d respond in English. I always grew up listening to both and then in the summers, we would go to Costa Rica for about a month so I got to practice a lot there as well with my family.” John is equally appreciative of the benefits of Christina’s bilingual upbringing, specifically her connection opportunities across Costa Rica and the U.S., both through travel and through family. “It’s not a big deal for [Christina] to go to another country and speak Spanish,” John said. “It’s natural for her to do that. And essentially she is part of two diﬀerent culID | WINTER 2024

written & photographed by

Rory Lustberg Maritza Sloan creates a home in St. MăĬÝĝ ĻÙÝòÄ ĖÄōÄ·ĦÝúÓ ăú ÙÄĖ ìăĬĖúÄŁ from Costa Rica to the United States

MAPPING

MARITZA Listen to the story

SPREAD DESIGN BY RORY LUSTBERG

"In our house, you always hear music in different languages." Maritza Sloan, teacher

MARITZA SLOAN

ID | WINTER 2024

tures: the culture in the United States and Costa Rica. For her, it’s natural, because that’s what she’s always known.”

Comparison As Christina grew up, their family would travel to Costa Rica to visit Maritza’s family about once every two years for Christmas. The trips were rich in experience for the whole family, especially Christina, who witnessed lifestyle and cultural differences between the two cultures she'd been raised alongside. “I made some friends in the neighborhood,” Christina said. “I would play soccer with them. And it was really a great experience, because even as a little kid, I got to see what a different part of the world is like and what life is like for them. They don’t have air conditioning, for example, and it’s hot there, so that was something I had to learn. Not everyone always has all those conveniences that we have here. Seeing what other people live like was eye opening.” As Christina grew up, Maritza began to observe differences in their independence levels. She attributes these differences to the way they were raised: Christina with more autonomy than Maritza. “I feel like I’m very strong and not afraid of doing things, but my daughter is a very strong woman,” Maritza said. “If she had to travel from Arizona to St. Louis by herself driving her car, she would do it. I don’t feel like I want to do that. I want to have somebody with me driving that long distance. She’s very independent. I am independent, but I’m more cautious about things, and I think she’s more [of a] risk taker.” As Christina grows, she has reflected on her life compared to the life her mother had at her age. She sees their differences, which has motivated her to widen her lens of the world and help where she can. “[Maritza] always told me about her experiences,” Christina said. “When she was a little girl, she grew up very poor, so they didn’t always have the same things that I had as a kid and she would help me understand that I have privilege and I’m lucky that I have the things that I have. That’s why we need to help others that don’t have those things. When we have a lot, it’s good to give back.”

Duality The merging of two diﬀerent cultures is evident in Maritza and John’s home. Though Maritza may not still hear the same harmonious song of Guanacaste each morning as she opens her windows, her songs now come from a small speaker on her kitchen counter, playing music from Costa Rica and a variety of other cultures. “We have had the opportunity to travel a lot, not only in the United States, but in other countries,” Maritza said. “So in our house, you always hear music in diﬀerent languages. There’s always some Italian, French, Spanish [or]

English music [playing]. Same thing with the cuisine. Our house is very diverse when it comes to food. I cook a lot of Costa Rican food and a lot of food from the United States.” Christina’s musical preferences have also been broadened by the way she was raised. “My taste in music is very wide because I love all the songs my mom would listen to, all the Spanish radio and the Spanish pop songs, but then I also love my music here in America and my American pop music. And then my dad grew up here in the United States but his family came from Ireland, so [I] even like some Irish folk music." Going forward, John and Maritza hope Christina will hold on to the traditions and values she grew up with. “I hope if [Christina] has children someday, that she would raise them bilingual as well, [and] that she always maintains her contacts with both cultures,” John said. “[I hope] she does go to Costa Rica after we’re gone [and] that she’ll always maintain that contact with her family in Costa Rica. I’m sure she will.” Through all her travel experience, both within the United States and outside, Maritza has learned about a variety of cultures and people. She never takes her opportunities for granted, and encourages others to see new places as an open window of possibility. “Have a very open mind about the world,” Maritza said. “You do not understand something until you see it. Once you are there, you learn and you understand. Nobody’s telling you [and you] can form your own ideas. That’s one thing that I am very grateful [for]: that I had this opportunity [to see] the world and how people live.” Caption: Teacher Maritza Sloan works in her home office on a presentation for the College Board. She teaches AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Spanish Literature and Culture and Spanish 4. Maritza began teaching Spanish in 1993, and now works for the College Board grading AP tests. Maritza was inspired to teach by her own learning journey. “When I was learning English, I really liked the process of learning another language and being fluent, so I wanted to do the same with students,” Maritza said. (on page 46) Maritza takes a break from preparing for the next day's class to enjoy a slice of homemade cake with her husband. Of all the AP Spanish Literature works she teaches, her favorite is “Don Quijote de la Mancha,” by Miguel Cervantes, a 126-chapter book showcasing the comical adventures of a self-proclaimed cowboy. Consequently, student-gifted Don Quijote books and statues populate her house. Maritza is very close with her students, and also leads National Spanish Honor Society. “When I was in Oklahoma, I had the opportunity to work in a center with teenagers that had diﬀerent kinds of issues,” Maritza said. “Most of them were issues with delinquency. I was teaching them and that's when I got the passion for teaching.” (on page 48). SPREAD DESIGN BY RORY LUSTBERG & MAC HUFFMAN

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS

LAURA IACONE? Laura Iacone travels the world, living in three different countries Nyla Weathersby

Laura Iacone

. a • • , • • • • . n n t • • o r • t • r • u • • • • • • , , e r • , • • n e , • • • • • n • • g • n • • a , • o i • o O • a • • , • • • • . n n t • • o r • t • r • u • • • • • • , , e r • , • • n e , • • • •

here are you from?” She takes a deep breath, warming up to tell the complex story of a seemingly simple question. “I’m usually pretty open about [my life abroad],” freshman Laura Iacone said. “My favorite thing ever is seeing people's faces when I tell them that I’ve lived in China, South Africa and that I’m Brazilian.” Laura was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and lived there until she was 5 years old, then moved to China and lived there for three years. After that, she moved to South Africa, where she remained for four and half years before eventually settling in St. Louis, Missouri, where she hopes to stay for the entirety of her high school career. “You get to experience so many situations that people who don't travel around get to do [and] get to see how the other half lives,” Laura said. “Living in Africa, we got to do a lot of community service, which I feel like is so handson. Everyone knows about poverty, but when you see it in front of you [and] when you are surrounded by it, it gives you more perspective and helps you become more grateful for everything that you have.” Each country has its different experiences: the food changes from place to place, the customs too, along with the people. But for Laura, one thing remained constant everywhere she has been. “By living in both places, I got to experience culture,” Laura said. “There's so many different communities. It helped me understand people more and get a different perspective and a different view on life and people's values, and [also] how culture can affect how someone acts or how different cultures do different things compared to what my family would have done.” Laura’s first few years began in China, where she was surrounded by industrialization and had less of a warm, hospitable community where she could forge long-lasting relationships. But she eventually moved to the nature-filled country of South Africa where the community she longed for thrived. “I was just really young when we lived in China,” Laura said. “It was such a great experience [and] I was super grateful for all the travel that we got to do while we were there. I got to learn Mandarin and it was very fun. But I was just super young, so I didn't really get to experience everything that I got to experience when I was in Africa. I got to go out more with my friends and I got to expand my friendships more.” Because of Laura’s father’s job, her family can travel extensively. Renato and his wife, Cibele, started their journey in Brazil and have been traveling since. Listen to the story and see more of Laura Iacone's journey

“I work in a multinational company,” Renato said. “I started my work in Brazil. That's where me and Cibele are from. I moved to [the] U.S because of work, then to Pittsburgh. Then from Pittsburgh, we moved to China and then South Africa. Now [we are] back to [the] U.S. in St. Louis, but it's all about work.” Renato made sure that Laura was well equipped to handle new environments: learning the customs, finding new activities to partake in and engaging in the community. Learning the language of the new country was an extremely important aspect of life Laura had to master. “We can take for granted that people understand [us] just because we use the English language,” Renato said. “We can't take it for granted that people really understand what you mean and what you want. Listening and watching was the key thing.” Cibele also prioritized her children’s ability to communicate with others. This was to avoid the diﬃcult experiences she had experienced due to her limited ability to speak English while living in America. “I never studied English,” Cibele said. "Our first experience was here in America. For me, it was very hard in the beginning, especially because of the language. When I came to the U.S., I didn't know how to introduce myself because I didn't know how to speak the language. Since then, I [have been] studying constantly, so of course now I speak English but I have some pronunciation issues, like accents.” Laura has learned many languages during her travels around the world. “I speak Portuguese and English fluently and Spanish, [which] I'm pretty good at,” Laura said. “I'm not fully fluent yet, but I'm working on it. I used to know Mandarin really well. But after we left I didn't practice it anymore, so I don't really remember much of it. I was also learning French at one point, but not anymore. So, I speak three languages.” Laura’s ethnic background provided her an additional connection with more cultures around the world. “Both of my parents are from Brazil,” Laura said. “So I have Brazilian culture and everything. I got to connect with not just diﬀerent communities due to the country, but I [also] got to connect with many other Brazilians.” Even with Laura’s Brazilian heritage, she deeply values her initial roots of where she was born, the U.S. She takes her American culture everywhere she is. “My brother and I, even though we're Brazilian, we always [say], ‘No, we're definitely American,’” Laura said. “We celebrate [the] Fourth of July and St. Patrick's Day.” Laura kept her American dreams alive while abroad, going as far as to dream of American schooling. “One of the things that I've always talked to my parents about was wanting to be in the U.S. for high school because I wanted that high school experience,” Laura said. SPREAD DESIGN BY MAC HUFFMAN & NYLA WEATHERSBY

LAURA IACONE

ID | WINTER 2024

“I [said], ‘Guys, if I don't get to experience high school in the U.S., I will be running away from home. I will be swimming across the Atlantic Ocean to get there because I need to.’” Abroad, Laura was a part of private institutions for education due to the lack of proper public education in the places where she lived. But in her private schools she found a community she could feel represented in. “At my old school in Africa, it was very diverse. There were a lot of people who were just like me, who would move around a lot,” Laura said. Even though Laura treasures her experiences, she ultimately is uncertain about her future, not knowing exactly what will happen at any given moment. “Leaving things behind and having to restart every few years was really hard at the beginning,” Laura said. “Especially when I moved from Pittsburgh to China, because I was still so young and I was still super attached to my childhood friends. From China to Africa, I was just mad at my parents all the time, because I didn't want to have to keep leaving. But when we moved from Africa to here, I was really grateful to be coming back, because it's tiring to keep moving around all the time.” Laura isn't the only person concerned about her circumstances. Her parents also harbored some concerns of their own. “They were mostly scared about the part of us moving around so often. Having to leave everything and [fearing we wouldn’t] have a home in a sense,” Laura said. “Having places that we've been to all over the world and communities around us in so many diﬀerent places but never having a true foundation except the four of us. Something that they were definitely worried about was recreating friendships again and adjusting again, because that's a really big thing to [do, especially] at such a young age.” Cibele uses her own experiences of being an immigrant to guide her children toward a seamless transition. “We always have problems with diversity,” Cibele said. “Being an immigrant, it's even more like you need to [act] like you are a guest in that country. We need to respect and be open-minded for every type of diversity, not just language, food or culture. Sometimes the way they eat [and] the way they dress are diﬀerent [than] the way you do from your original country.” Even though Laura moved out of Pittsburgh when she was a toddler, she continues to strengthen her bond with the city by returning back to visit. “I have [the] most attachment to Pittsburgh, just because I was born there, grew up there and made so many friends that I'm still friends with today,” Laura said. “We see each other every Thanksgiving, and I used to go every summer to go visit them. So, we created a non-blood family. [Pittsburgh is the] place that I most identify with. I know that it'll always be a safe space for me to come back

to.” Having experienced life in different countries growing up might have been a challenge, but for Laura, forming connections with the people she met along the way helped significantly with adjusting from place to place. “My major concern was to teach them that [relationships] are not temporary, because you will live two to three years in different countries and easily forget about who your friends were,” Renato said. “Because as you introduce new friendships you can end up forgetting about your past. [But] I'm trying to keep relations with their previous friends. So you have to consider keeping the friendships [alive]. It doesn't matter if you are in the U.S. or in St. Louis or in China or in South Africa today, but we have to take advantage of social media platforms.” Even though family can come in all shapes and sizes, blood or chosen, the bond between a family is strengthened with connection. Imagine being the new kid on the block. Daunting, right? But imagine being the new kid in a different country—the already daunting task becomes especially grueling, but the assistance of Laura’s family eases this to a more bearable level. “I got to get so close to my parents, because of them telling me about how they never had these opportunities,” Laura said. “We're really close. I'm really happy that we have such a good relationship, because a lot of my friends don't have close relationships with their parents. I can tell them anything [and I know] that they'll still support me." Cibele is more than proud to be able to provide her children with the experiences she could only have dreamed of. Cibele has ultimately been shaped by her experiences abroad being exposed to the different cultures of the world. “My personal experience during these 16 years living abroad was marvelous because we can learn a lot about diversity,” Cibele said. “We can shape you in the culture you are leaving, understand the others, the differences, the cultural differences, the food, the language, especially the culture because every country has a different culture.” Cibele’s and Renato’s achievements have given their children, Laura specifically, wings to fly. “I would tell myself that everything will be okay, and that I was gonna make so many great friends,” Laura said. “And I wouldn't lose contact with my childhood friends. We're still best friends and we talk every day. [Also] that I'm going to learn so much in the next few years and then it's a valuable experience that I'll never forget.” Caption: Laura showcases her childhood through family photos. She and her family have taken trips to locations such as Paris, South Africa, Florida, Egypt, Denver and Bali. "It gets to a point that sometimes you're just really overwhelmed,” Laura said. “You never know the next time that you were going to move." SPREAD DESIGN BY MAC HUFFMAN & NYLA WEATHERSBY

• 6 CONTINENTS • 35 COUNTRIES • 95 CITIES

Canada • Toronto

Midwest U.S. • Columbus, OH • Kansas City, MO • St. Louis, MO

Northeast U.S. • Morristown, NJ • New York City, NY • Pittsburgh, PA

Western U.S. • Carmel, CA • Denver, CO • Honolulu, HI • Los Angeles, CA • San Diego, CA • San Francisco, CA

Southern U.S. • Atlanta, GA • Charlotte, NC• Clearwater, FL • Baytown, TX • Key West, FL • Miami, FL • Orlando, FL • Panama City, FL • Rosemary Beach, FL Mexico • Cancún El Salvador • San Salvador

“My favorite thing ever is seeing people's faces when I tell them that I’ve lived in China, South Africa and that I’m Brazilian.”

Bahamas • St. Martin

Cayman Islands • Cayman Islands

Jamaica • Kingston

Haiti • Port-De-Paix

Brazil • São Paulo • Rio De Janeiro

Laura Iacone, freshman

LAURA LACONE

ID | WINTER 2024

MAPPING LAURA'S TRAVEL JOURNEY Portugal • Averio • Cascais • Coimbra • Lisbon • Porto • Sinatra France • Paris • Versailles Switzerland • Basel U.K. • London

South Korea • Seoul

Egypt • Aswan • Cairo • Luxor

United Arab Emirates • Abu Dhabi • Dubai Oman • Muscat

Sri Lanka • Colombo • Galle Zambia • Livingstone Botswana • Chobe Namibia • Sossusvlei • Swakopmund • Walvis Bay • Windhoek

Japan • Osaka • Tokyo Hong Kong • Hong Kong

China • Beijing • Chengdu • Sanya • Shanghai • Suzhou

Thailand • Bangkok • Phuket • Phi Phi Island

Cambodia • Phnom Penh Philippines • Boracay • Manila

Maldives • Malé Seychelles • Dibu • Mahe Mauritius • Port Louis La Réunion • St. Paul

Singapore • Singapore Malaysia • Kuala Lumpur • Penang

Indonesia • Bali

Zimbabwe • Victoria Falls Mozambique • Bazaruto • Vilankulos South Africa • Cape Town • Clarens • Drakensberg • Durban • Johannesburg • Kruger • Pilanesberg • Sun City

Macao • Macao

Australia • Brisbane • Gold Coast • Melbourne • Sydney

“We need to respect and be openminded for every type of diversity, not just language, food or culture." Cibele Iacone, mother SPREAD DESIGN BY MAC HUFFMAN

GRAY BAKER

ID | WINTER 2024

PAINT THE TOWN G R AY

written by

photographed by

Alzhraa Mahmoud

Mac Huffman & Shaily Sharma

Gray Baker breaks down her art career and personal connection to the arts Listen to the story and see Gray Bakers art exhibit at STL CAM

SPREAD DESIGN BY ALZHRAA MAHMOUD

aint drips oﬀ a large, thick brush, each droplet hitting the ground softly. Plop. The scene has been constructed with long sheets of crinkled brown craft paper taped to the walls, and hung loosely from the ceiling. Broad, messy strokes of black, blue, yellow, red and white come together to form half-completed images. The floor is littered with brushes, newspaper and broken bits of plaster. A small bottle of white paint sits lonely in the corner amidst the chaos. A group of tourists creep into the makeshift gallery and examine the girl as she layers ink, charcoal and paint to create her piece. Her chocolate brown hair is cut short at the nape of her neck and sits floppily above a set of furrowed brows and squinted eyes full of focus. She pauses for a moment, takes a step back and inspects her work. What next? This past summer, junior Gray Baker participated in several summer art intensives at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, the St. Louis Contemporary Art Museum and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy. Through displaying an art installation in Chicago, Baker has just started to dip her toes into the world of professional art. “I first started seriously considering art as a career path once I hit middle school and realized how much time I wanted to devote to it,” Baker said. “Once I was in eighth grade, I was set on working really hard at this, and paving the path required to do this as a career.” Baker’s love and background in art started much earlier than middle school. At first, it was a simple hobby and something to do for fun.

A Personal Connection “When I was in second grade, I had a friend group,” Baker said. “We all had this idea for a story and my spelling was not that good, so I was the [illustrator]. I would do all the pictures for this book we were writing. I was so engrossed in the story, in the characters and designing them. I wanted to show people how I viewed this world. I think that was the start of consciously being aware of how important [art] was to me.” Since her younger years, Baker’s art style and creative process have changed. As she becomes comfortable with branching out into new themes, Baker has started to experiment more, especially with abstraction. “She’s so curious about everything,” artist and art teacher Daniel Raedeke said. “[Baker] doesn’t have the filter that a lot of students do where they’re trying to give themselves permission to explore diﬀerent mediums, ideas or themes." Baker has participated in theater, writing, sculpting and fiber art weaving all of these skill sets into her artwork and process. 58

GRAY BAKER

“I'm just as much a painter as I am a crocheter,” Baker said. “They all influence each other so strongly, and to me, it's very important that I incorporate all of these aspects into my work.” Other areas of Baker’s identity also influence the themes Baker expresses in her art. Being young, female and queer has recently led her down the path of exploring gender identity and the overarching societal construct of womanhood within her artwork. “For me, queerness means my experience with the people I love and the way I interact with gender doesn’t align with how I am expected to be, Baker said.” In my home, there were never any expectations on how I was supposed to perform gender or love. Both of my parents were very intentional in creating a radically accepting environment, and I’m thankful for that. I was given the space to explore and interact with what it means to be a girl in a way that has allowed me to be critical of the expectations that [society places on] girls.” Themes of motherhood, sexualization and domestic labor were the guiding concepts in her Chicago art installation in August, titled “This is not Supposed to be a Representation of my Home.” Her work evokes the irony of how the home, a seemingly comfortable place, can also be a site of abuse for many women. She explored how domestic labor is oftentimes undervalued because of its association with women. Unlike a typical art display that someone would see in a gallery, people were able to walk in and see Baker as she was making the piece at all of its diﬀerent stages of completion. “It honestly felt very vulnerable to be observed and walked around while in the process of creating the piece,” Baker said. “I tried to not look at the people entering or engaging with the space, and to also block out thinking about them as much as I could, but that feeling of being a performer was an intentional part of that.”

Going Pro The transition from the high school art classroom to having her art on display at galleries is a major step for Baker as she dives into professional art. However, this isn’t without its qualms. Baker is “still figuring out how [she] feels about” parting with her art through a monetary exchange. During the Early College Program at the SAIC, professor Benjamin Pearson taught her about functioning within the art industry. Pearson believes that even in a “professional” setting, the value of art extends beyond its financial value. “[Through art] you can understand yourself as more expansive,” Pearson said. “You have more interests than you know yet, and you have a say on matters that you might not think you do. The work you make always has appeal to someone else given that you are the product of the society in which you live.” ID | WINTER 2024

Another roadblock for aspiring artists is that the general public can hold negative views about the arts that potentially stifle creativity, making a career in art all the more daunting. “There’s a lot of artists, especially younger ones, who are so scared to be labeled as pretentious,” Baker said. “There is this really common thread of people who aren’t engaged in the art world who think it’s just for money. If you’re a young artist, you’re not making millions of dollars oﬀ of that. It’s just for you; it’s just to share. People should not be afraid of expressing pure emotions like that, so I try to not let people who aren’t engaged in art influence the things I create.” While art may seem to be an unpredictable career to some, it requires the same rigor as a nine-to-five. Pouring one's heart into an art piece is analogous to the physical labor in a construction job or the education required in STEM jobs: they both have a basic internal skill set. “[You need] single-mindedness, focus [and] hard work [to succeed in this field],” Raedeke said. “You really have to work. It's always the artists that work a lot and do it every day. Those are the ones that are going to be most successful. [Gray] is always coming up with ideas, [and] always sketching in her sketchbooks.” So, with all the societal norms, hundreds of hours of sketching, and somewhat intimate nature of an art career, it can seem unclear why some would choose this route in life instead of keeping it as a hobby. For Baker, it’s all about creating emotional connection. “For me, art has the ability to take these complicated experiences and feelings, and present them in such a vulnerable way,” Baker said. “You have to see it; you have to listen. When artists are able to be vulnerable with their life experiences, it creates this emotional space that is so hard to replicate. I think to really create change at the emotional level [is] to understand others.” Captions: Senior Gray Baker stands in front of her Chicago art installation for the SAIC titled, “This is Not Supposed to be a Representation of my Home.” For hours upon hours, she painted, sketched, sculpted and crocheted all of the pieces that became the final product. “Once I was finished with that installation, I remember sitting down and my whole body being exhausted,” Baker said. “It was very mentally taxing to be in that type of creative mindset that intensely, while also being a quite physically demanding process.” (on pages 56-57) Baker works on one of her recent pieces in Mr. Raedeke's room for AP Studio Art. She studied her work, continuously making small, almost imperceptible changes, as she worked to build out the piece to fulfill her vision. Her eyes are fixed, immersed in the process. “I love being engrossed in something so intensely,” Baker said. “Creating is such an emotional and thoughtful process. I honestly can’t see myself doing anything else.” (on pages 58-59) SPREAD DESIGN BY ALZHRAA MAHMOUD

MAXWELL CRANE

ID | WINTER 2024

4. Start again

3. Overthink it, scrap it

2. Sit with it

1. Have an idea

DOING A BIT

This is how a bit is born. Maxwell Crane works towards his future in comedy and video production

Listen to the story and see Maxwell Crane's work

written by

photographed by

Ella Braig

Mac Huffman

SPREAD DESIGN BY ELLA BRAIG

t takes senior Maxwell Crane no longer than a week to develop a proposal for a sketch comedy script. First, he must stumble upon an idea, which more often than not, he deems as unsatisfactory after mulling it over for an hour. However, every few months, he comes across an idea that’s too compelling to ignore.

The Setup

Crane’s fascination with comedy revealed itself in the fourth grade when he hosted “Late Night With Maxwell,” a web series formatted like a traditional talk show. Per special permission from Broadcast Technology teacher Don Goble, the series was filmed and edited in Ladue High School’s TV studio. “Comedy has been something I've been interested in since I was really young,” Crane said. “I watched a lot of comedy movies as a kid and that's definitely what sparked my interest.” Despite this, Crane credits his enrollment in Broadcast Technology courses for what first inspired him to consider a career in comedy writing. In Broadcast Technology II, he had the opportunity to execute his first sketch. “My first real project that I had creative control over was a 60-second parody of an Apple announcement where they announced the phones,” Crane said. “But instead of the phone, it was me. So, it was me in a white void with the panning shots, and it had all the new features, like [being] waterproof, and I dumped a cup of water on my head.” As a senior in high school, Crane continues to create videos with support from his teachers, including Video Technology Coordinator Marteana Davidson. “[Crane is] a jack of all trades, because he is able to work in front of the camera, behind the scenes [and] write,” Davidson said. “Not all students are able to do that.”

The Build During his junior year, Crane created a concept for a TV pilot episode using Ladue’s filming space. His video, “A Few Bits of Advice,” begins with an introductory sketch in which Crane, playing a fictionalized version of himself, haphazardly attempts to fool his teacher into thinking that he completed a 500-page script. However, back in the reality, this is actually far from the truth. "I think comedy is best when it imitates real life," Crane said. "Because the root of comedy is people being able to relate to it. You need to have an expectation if you're going to have a punchline that subverts the expectation." While Crane's proof of concept pilot is composed of primarily lighthearted content, he doesn't shy away from depicting the negative aspects of comedy writing. Following the opening sketch, he performs a monologue for an enthusiastic audience. As the crowd showers Crane with 62

MAXWELL CRANE

ID | WINTER 2024

praise at the end of the segment, the scene cuts to his present self observing the clip in a dark room as a hauntingly brooding, faceless critic taunts him, claiming that the audience was laughing out of pity. “The best way I [know] how to do comedy is through relating and creating stuff based on my own life, because you can only write what you know,” Crane said. On the set of a major film, there are hundreds of production assistants on standby. However, due to the limited number of people available to assist him, Crane wore many different hats when creating his pilot episode. In addition to writing the video, he also served as the director, set up lighting and storyboarded all of his shots. “It's just such an interesting experience because you get to be hands-on with all of these different things and you learn how every single step of the process works,” Crane said. “Being able to do [several aspects of video production] gives you a better grasp on all of it.” Despite taking ownership of a large portion of “A Few Bits of Advice,” he had help from a few of his fellow Broadcast Technology students, including senior Carter Chuquimia, who has been enrolled in the class for two years and acted in the video's concluding sketch. “He’s not the type to settle for an okay scene when it could easily be done better, which is something I admire about the guy,” Chuquimia said. “This mindset in [the comedy] industry is crucial, and I can absolutely see it benefiting him in the long run.” Oftentimes, Crane uses his videos as catalysts for sharing his life experiences and memories that are important to him. For instance, in his most recent film, “L’dor V’dor,” which is Hebrew for "from generation to generation," he explores his personal connection to Judaism. For Crane, creating universally relatable content is a priority. “If everyone can relate to [my videos], then there's already a set expectation,” Crane said. “Being able to pull from my own life and exaggerate that and make it something that's not only funny, but something that I can put my own experiences into was a fantastic experience.”

The Punchline In 2023, “Script Shenanigans,” one of two sketches featured in “A Few Bits of Advice,” earned Crane a nomination for a Mid-America Emmy Award for High School Writer. The announcement was made while he was in the middle taking an AP test. So, it was only until he finished the test and he had access to his phone, Crane was able to feel all the good words and congratulations. “I was sitting at lunch and I was looking through my email, and I see the Mid-America Student Emmy Awards in my email,” Crane said. “I was like, ‘Oh, I forgot they released that today. I have to click on it.’ The minute I click on it and my Wi-Fi ends up connecting, I get all these texts from my mom and Mr. Goble with the screenshots.”

As for what’s next for Crane’s career, he is taking any opportunity to gain further recognition for his work, including the videos on his website: Under Construction Productions. Additionally, he is currently in the process of applying for film schools, as well as building a portfolio that showcases his abilities and expertise. Later in life, he hopes to work as a writer for television. “The big thing [colleges] look for is storytelling because they can teach you all the technical stuﬀ later,” Crane said. “That's not a problem. But storytelling is something that’s not very easy to teach.” Long gone are the days of “Late Night With Maxwell,” but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of Crane’s success. Hopeful of what’s to come, Crane is astutely aware that he’ll have to work hard for a flourishing career in comedy. “Comedy is so competitive and so tough,” Crane said. “The best [thing] you can do is put yourself out there and get noticed by the right person.” Captions: Fine-tuning a script for his Broadcast Technology class, senior Maxwell Crane goes through the four steps of his writing process. Prior to drafting a sketch, he has to stumble upon an idea that is, in his eyes, worthwhile. Before he struck gold with "A Few Bits of Advice," Crane conceptualized a variety of projects that were scrapped before they were even written down. "I have an idea, and I think about it for an hour and I hate it," Crane said. "But every so often, [around] every month or two, I'll have this idea where I'll be thinking about it in the back of my head for a week. Then, there'll be that moment in the week where it becomes fully formed and I have to get it on paper."(on pages 60-61) Top: Preparing to crack a joke about octopi, Maxwell Crane sits at his news desk. At an early age, Crane expressed an interest in creating videos that make people laugh. “I was friends with Mr. Goble’s son in [fourth] grade and I wanted to do a talk show," Crane said. "So, I came into the studio and we made ‘Late Night With Maxwell,’ which is fun.” (on pages 62-63) Middle: Maxwell Crane introduces the interview portion of “A Few Bits of Advice.” The video followed Crane’s attempts to learn more about writing comedy. “There's an interview with a comedian and then there’s sketches with exaggerated versions of myself trying to figure out how to navigate all of that,” Crane said. (on pages 62-63) Bottom: Maxwell Crane performs a monologue in “A Few Bits of Advice.” Behind the scenes, Crane worked to create an entertaining script, which called for him to act in each segment of the video. Serving as the writer and director, acting was just another hat he got to wear during the pilot's production. “He's very passionate about what he wants to do and he has a clear vision of the projects that he wants to produce,” Davidson said. “Based on all the things that he's done [from] elementary school to [high school], he's a driven young man.” (on pages 62-63) SPREAD DESIGN BY ELLA BRAIG

JULIA DE LA PAZ

ID | WINTER 2024

Julia de la Paz chases rock climbing passion written by

photo courtesy of

videography by

Maya Mathew

Phuc Nguyen & Jason Chang

Lizzie Esther

Listen to the story and watch Julia de la Paz climb

SPREAD DESIGN BY MAYA MATHEW

little girl scales the tree in her backyard. Reaching for the branches above her, she pulls herself higher and higher. Finally, she settles on a wavering branch where she can gaze at the lush grass below her. She inhales the refreshing air around her and sighs with satisfaction. “Julia, get down from that tree!” her mother shouts from the ground. The girl lowers herself from the tree until her feet begrudgingly touch the ground. She bitterly trudges inside her house. This was the beginning of senior Julia de la Paz’s rock climbing journey. Julia de la Paz was the first climber from St. Louis to win the USA Climbing: Bouldering Youth National Championship. She has competed in the World Championships for youth competitive climbing and bouldering as well. She has been climbing competitively since the age of 6, and now, she can’t imagine her life without it. “I've definitely found my community through climbing,” Julia said. “My entire life is centered around the sport.” After gaining 11 years of competitive climbing experience, Julia has cultivated a positive mindset when climbing for competitions. “When I first started, I didn't really know what was happening,” Julia said. “I was just excited to climb and get on the wall. I didn't really know enough about it to be nervous. By the time I [got older], I had already competed so much that I [didn’t feel as] nervous by the time I got to that point.” Along with teaching her how to manage her nerves during a competition, Julia’s climbing journey has aided her in developing her overall character. “Climbing has helped me gain a lot more confidence,” Julia said. “[It] shapes a lot of who I've become as a person.” Julia has developed a deeper understanding of the value of innovation in climbing as well. When she competes in higher-level competitions, these skills will be essential for her personal success. “[You should be] able to look at a climb and figure out how to do it in the most eﬃcient way possible, as opposed to trying to brute your way through it and pull hard,” Julia said. “The best climbers are the smartest climbers, the ones who are able to get to the top of the wall using as little force as possible.” Julia’s coach, Meghan McDonald, has been teaching Julia for almost two years over Zoom and is one of the coaches from a training team named CLMB IQ from Denver, CO. She has enjoyed witnessing Julia’s use of analytical thinking during practices and competitions. “She's one of the most creative climbers I've worked 66

JULIA DE LA PAZ

with,” McDonald said. “She has a lot of instinct [and] intuition, and a lot of confidence trusting that intuition, which isn’t true for everyone.” McDonald has been able to watch Julia demonstrate perseverance in competitions, such as during Julia’s last national competition. “She was struggling a little bit [with] a problem,” McDonald said. “She's usually incredibly composed, but she had a moment of utter frustration. It was actually nice to see her talk to herself a little bit, like ‘Let's go Julia. Let's do this.' While she didn't successfully get that problem, she took that energy level to the next boulder she got on which was [extremely] hard. Watching her facial expressions when she decided that it was doable, even though it was really hard, was a great memory of that recognition of confidence in herself.” Julia has been able to prove her dedication to rock climbing through her rigorous schedule she uses to train for competition. “I climb six to seven times a week,” Julia said. “I train at the climbing gym [for] probably around three hours a day and then train at a weightlifting gym [for] two hours a day. So I'm typically working out about five hours a day and six days a week, depending on competitions and periodization.” Julia has not only been able to demonstrate her dedication towards climbing through her training schedule, but also demonstrated her commitment through the online lessons that she takes with her coach as well. “[Working remotely with a coach] takes a lot of personal motivation,” McDonald said. “It's hard to be consistent when you don't have your peers pushing you, so the fact that she shows up and does every single thing I ask her to do [proves that she works her hardest] all the time.” McDonald feels grateful to have watched Julia grow both as a climber and as an individual, even through virtual lessons. “She's gotten physically stronger, but also mentally stronger,” McDonald said. “Her confidence in her ability to do moves that she once would have thought were impossible has just skyrocketed and she's been able to bring [that confidence] to competition and training. You can see it in the way that she approaches climbs and competitions.” Without the passion that she has for it, Julia would not be able to dedicate herself as much to the sport. One of the main things that has fueled her interest in climbing is the variety of diﬀerent climbing styles. “There's a lot of diﬀerent ways you can dedicate yourself to the sport, whether it's indoor climbing, outdoor climbing, competition climbing, bouldering, sport climbing or speed climbing,” Julia said. “It's never boring. There's always something new to explore and push your limits with.” ID | WINTER 2024

"She has a true love of the sport and a love of movement. That's going to transcend the competitive piece for her." Meghan McDonald, coach SPREAD DESIGN BY MAYA MATHEW

Julia’s sister, freshman Addie de la Paz, has been rock climbing for seven years. She currently climbs at Upper Limits Rock Climbing Gym. “[Julia is] the one that got me into it,” Addie said. “She [had] been climbing for a while and eventually, I thought I would give it a shot. I've really liked it ever since.” Addie has been able to witness her sister’s dedication towards climbing as well. “[It's been amazing to watch] her get older and become so focused and passionate about the sport,” Addie said. After committing so much time and energy to rock climbing throughout her life, Julia hopes to continue competition on the elite circuit. She also plans to align her climbing interests with her academic and career paths. “I plan on majoring in kinesiology, which is the study of movement in [a] sort of biological context,” Julia said. “I'm [going into] pre-physical therapy. That career would go hand-in-hand with my goals in the sport. Getting an understanding of injury prevention, training [and] eﬃciency would be very beneficial to my career.” Addie believes that rock climbing will continue to be a major aspect of Julia’s future. “Climbing will always be a big part of her life,” Addie said. “It always has been since a really young age and that's something that she really can't lose. Her passion and her excitement will never really die.” Julia intends to keep it that way. “I am applying to schools mostly in the Rocky Mountain area, that way, I end up living in a place with a large climbing community and a lot of facilities [with] access to outdoor climbing,” Julia said. “I plan on climbing for the rest of my life.” Captions: Senior Julia de la Paz climbs in the Red River Gorge. Julia did the Snooker 5.13a route. "Topping out a boulder is always super exciting," Julia said."There's a lot of satisfaction that comes with getting all of the pieces to flow together and to find that success." (on pages 1 and 3) As part of the Elite Series for USA Climbing, Julia scales the walls during the 2022 YETI National Championships. She placed 15th in the competition. "I'd [definitely] like to continue competing on the elite circuit [in the future]," Julia said. (on pages 64-65) Julia competes in the 2023 Youth National Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah. She earned 7th place in bouldering and 12th place in sport climbing. "Recently, I've been competing on the adult circuit," Julia said. "I'll be competing at the national team trials in February [or] March." (on pages 66-67) In the Upper Limits Climbing Gym, Julia refines her climbing skills. She practiced there with her sister, Addie, and friends in the climbing community. "The climbing community is really small, so it's super tight-knit," Julia said. "Everybody is really supportive of each other. We're all trying to be better climbers together." (on pages 68-69) 68

JULIA DE LA PAZ

ID | WINTER 2024

SPREAD DESIGN BY MAYA MATHEW

Jack Finney discovers his passion for piano on a nontraditional path written by

photographed by

Grace Huewe & Ryan Snyder

Mac Huffman

JACK FINNEY

ID | WINTER 2024

OFF-KEY Listen to the story and watch Jack Finney perform

SPREAD DESIGN BY GRACE HUEWE & RYAN SNYDER

s his hands dance across his piano, the power of the music takes control over the room and all of its contents. The notes ingrained in his head provide a map for the artwork that he generates. Once junior Jack Finney removes his hands from the piano to conclude his piece, it’s no secret to all those close enough to hear his music that the talent that Jack possesses sets him apart. Jack’s complex musical connection entails perfect pitch: a musical talent where a person is able to recognize the pitch of a note upon hearing it. It expedites the process of learning music substantially. “I'm still developing perfect pitch, but I noticed I could hear something and play it back,” Jack said. “It's nice because you can play any song and you don't have to keep repeating it to learn how to play the song.” Only 0.01% of the world’s population possess perfect pitch. Although perfect pitch is a natural gift, it requires lots of hard work and rehearsing to maintain it. “It takes a lot of practice to develop it,” Jack said. “I couldn't just hear something instantly and know what note it was. I had to develop that skill.” Jack transferred to Ladue from Saint Louis University High School at the beginning of second semester. However things didn't go as planned once he transitioned. “About two to three weeks [into my time at Ladue], I was sitting across from one of my friends at lunch,” Jack said. “I started talking to him and all of a sudden, I completely forgot his name. I had no idea where I was. It was the most strange thing.” Jack Adams, who was sitting across from Jack during this incident, was unsure of what to think of the situation. “We all [said], ‘You sure you're okay?’” Adams said. “Because he was new to the school at the time, we thought he just forgot it, because he hasn't been here that long.” The rest of the day was somewhat of a blur for Jack. After school, he vomited several times and was rushed to urgent care, where he lost consciousness. “I wake up [in the hospital], and there's this guy over me and he's crying and I'm really confused,” Jack said. “He's asking me, ‘Jack, what is my name? Jack, what is my name?’ My next memory is this woman is over me. She gets up and she yells across the room that I'm shivering. I have no idea who either of these people are. It turns out that they were my mom and my dad.” In early January 2023, Jack was diagnosed with viral meningitis, an infection of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. He spent the next two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit in critical condition. “This guy is talking to my parents and all of a sudden my mom yells and is on her knees crying,” Jack said. “What the doctor told my parents was that I only had a 72

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30% chance of living. They didn't think I would make it because my brain started bleeding and they couldn't get it to stop.” Joan Steuby-Finney, Jack’s mother, stayed in the ICU day and night. She slept on a recliner, watching over him, just as her parents did for her when she had been sick. “When I was 22, I had bacterial spinal meningitis that almost killed me,” Joan said. “It’s much easier to be in the bed than it is to watch someone be in the bed. To watch him go through it as a mother and to not be able to fix it was excruciating.” Jack was in the ICU throughout all of his hospital stay due to the severity of his disease. He warranted the attention of many distinguished neurosurgeons in the area. “The neurosurgeons would come in every hour and ask questions,” Joan said. “Many days [Jack] would get his name, but he wouldn’t know where he was or who the president was. That’s pretty devastating because it’s one thing to have a child that broke an arm, but it’s diﬀerent to have a child whose brain is damaged. When he started to figure out where he was, we thought it was like he was Einstein. That was the first glimmer of hope that he was going to make a recovery.” Once Jack began to regain his mental awareness, the outlook on his situation changed drastically. Although the infection had a 30% survival rate, Jack stayed persistent. “Somehow, I was able to push through and my brain started to progress and started to heal,” Jack said. “Then, it eventually stopped bleeding. They didn't have to do any brain surgery at all, and ever since then, I've just been progressing.” Miraculously, Jack survived his battle with meningitis and was released from the hospital February 2023. “[After I got out of the hospital], I didn’t really have anything to do,” Jack said. “My dad asked if I wanted to play an instrument. I [said], ‘What about the piano?’ So we went to Costco and found a piano that was on sale. We bought that and I learned the song “Up” within ten seconds. Since then, I’ve just been learning new songs and posting them on the internet.” Before his diagnosis with meningitis, Jack had no connections to perfect pitch and few ties to music in general. Jack’s newly discovered abilities were no secret to his peers. As he further progressed, it was clear that he had much more than just talent. Jack was a musical prodigy. “My perspective changed when I quickly picked up “Moonlight Sonata,” which is one of the most challenging piano pieces of all time,” Jack said. “I picked it up within a couple of weeks, and it usually takes people years. Ever since then, I’ve just been working on mastering perfect pitch.” Although no one quite understands it, Joan is grateful that the experience resulted in this musical phenomenon. “A part of his brain got unlocked that wasn’t unlocked ID | WINTER 2024

before,” Joan said. “It’s like this part of a highway, a bomb went oﬀ, so now you can’t go down that pathway anymore. His brain has created all these new pathways and Jack’s success with piano is the end result of it.” Jack never anticipated his passion for music stemming from an experience as daunting as meningitis. Even though Jack's journey to discovering his love for music was not ideal, the benefits that came out of it have forever changed his and his family's perspective on life. “It’s given Jack a level of maturity that he couldn’t have gotten any other way,” Joan said. “It’s not really the road you would ever ask for, but it’s the silver lining.” The variety of music genres that Jack listens to have also expanded ever since his passion for piano began. “I was a big rap guy [before I got sick],” Jack said. “I still listen to J Cole and [Playboi] Carti, but other than that, it’s become kind of boring. I’ve expanded my music taste. I’ll listen to 80s rock, Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, and other artists I probably wouldn’t have listened to before.” Jack’s refuge in music continues to skyrocket each day. Practicing and his commitment to piano fuel him more and more each day to not only improve his skills, but also to develop his identity through his love for music. “[Music] allows me to express my emotions with people,” Jack said. “I definitely think that I can express my identity through music.” Although Jack is not fully sure where music will lead him, he can’t imagine a future without piano. “I would love to play for the symphony, but that's definitely a very challenging profession,” Jack said. “If not, I would just love to play [piano] on the side of my job.” Jack's individuality has become largely more complex through his unique experiences since his diagnosis. Music has become a forever guidance for Jack and provided him with a new outlook on life that he lacked before. “Don’t take anything for granted because tomorrow is not guaranteed,” Jack said. “Try new things [and] be open-minded because you're only given one life." Captions: Junior Jack Finney lies in a hospital bed during a battle with viral meningitis. Jack spent 15 days in the Intensive Care unit fighting the meningitis where he lost and later regained substantial memories. When Jack’s brain began to bleed and the doctors gave him a 30% chance of survival. “My brain is still permanently damaged,” Jack said. “I'm creating new neural pathways in my brain and I'm starting to remember more and more things” (on pages 72-73) Jack practices the piano in his living room. He possesses perfect pitch, a rare musical talent that roughly only 1 in 10,000 people have. Jack committed at least an hour most days to perfecting his piano skills. “Through music, I'm able to show oﬀ some skills that I've been practicing,” Jack said. “I can also connect with my audience emotionally.” (on pages 74-75) SPREAD DESIGN BY GRACE HUEWE & RYAN SNYDER

"Don't take anything for granted because tomorrow is not guaranteed." Jack Finney, junior

JACK FINNEY

ID | WINTER 2024

SPREAD DESIGN BY GRACE HUEWE & RYAN SNYDER

Adam Ye

Jin Zhang

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Jin Zhang

Balkis Prothro

Jack Finney Lizzie Esther Laura Iacone Balk is Prothro Julia de la Paz Adam Ye Fauziya Prothro Balkis Prothro Jin Zhang Nephthys Prothro Stephen Song Julia de la Paz

B a l k i s P r o t h r o Julia de la Paz Jack Finney G a b e B e r n s te i n Talya Wein stein Fa u z i y a P ro t h ro Fa u z i y a P ro t h ro B a l k i s P r o t h r o A u d r e y R o b e r t s Gray Baker St e p h e n S o n g G a b e B e r n s te i n M a r i t z a S l o a n Nephthys Prothro Julia de la Paz Amelie Lock Maxwell Crane Talya Wein stein Talya Wein stein Fauziya Prothro Lizzie Esther Laura Iacone G a b e B e r n s te i n Balkis Prothro G r a y B a k e r Adam Ye Jin Zhang Adam Ye Jack Finney B a l k i s P r o t h r o Stephen Song Maxwell Crane Talya Wein stein Balkis Prothro J u l i a d e l a P a z Maritza Sloan Adam Ye G a b e B e r n s te i n Eva VonAllmen Fa u z i y a P ro t h ro B a l k i s P r o t h r o Stephen Song B a l k i s P r o t h r o S t e p h e n S o n g M a r i t z a S l o a n Nephthys Prothro Talya Wein stein Adam Ye Jin Zhang M aritza Sloan Talya Wein stein Fa u z i y a P ro t h ro Fearless Brooks M a r i t z a S l o a n A u d r e y R o b e r t s Gray Baker Adam Ye Jin Zhang Eva VonAllmen Eva VonAllmen Fearless Brooks Maxwell Crane Talya Wein stein Adam Ye Fearless Brooks L i z z i e E s t h e r G a b e B e r n s te i n Eva VonAllmen Talya Wein stein M a x w e l l C r a n e Balkis Prothro Jin Zhang