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U TS ST DENT C FA DEC. 2017
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E Z VOL. 30 ISSUE 3 H C UR ICH HIGH S
A MATTER OF TIME
Students face the tests of time Page 8: Lasting love Page 10: Chasing the Zzzz Page 12: Holding onto time
Editor’s Note
Dear Readers,
We are pleased to present you with our third issue of Bear Facts this year. We have not
only added even more pages dedicated to our in-depth themed section of the magazine known as Spotlight, but we also added another section known as LZ Life. LZ Life is a section for any feature article unrelated to the theme of the magazine, but still provides
BEAR FACTS STAFF MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
megan monoson
content we believe students will find interesting and relatable.
With our December magazine arrival and many things coming to an end during this
time, we worked on discussing the ways in which time affects students’ lives. We discuss how time takes a toll on relationships, how the time of day people use technology affects them long term, how quickly trends can change over time, how memories make you feel differently over time, how what you care about changes over time, how to maximize your time, and overall how different aspects of life change with time.
We chose an hourglass when discussing how to incorporate a connecting element for
the Spotlight section to represent time in multiple ways. The hourglass not only shows time passing in general, but, depending on how you look at it, can also show time running out or time being seemingly endless — two aspects of time that we strived to portray throughout Therefore, you will see an hourglass incorporated differently into every story within
this section. Incorporating these aspects of time into one image as our cover was difficult, however, so we decided to have one of our sources from our first Spotlight article stare into the hourglass. Her interest in the hourglass could be interpreted in various ways, and we leave it to you to chose your own interpretation.
meggie furlong
SECRETARY/ BUSINESS MANAGER
rachel brauer
CO-SPOTLIGHT EDITORS
chloe faris ria talukder
SPORTS EDITOR
valerie multra
our various stories within Spotlight.
WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Thank you for taking your time to continually
STAFF WRITERS
adam cupples alice farsalas jackson farsalas parul pari emma brumage-kilcourse meghan warner
support our quarterly magazine as we strive to report interesting and relatable material. We hope
Sincerely,
BEAR FACTS STUDENT MEDIA
Lake Zurich High School 300 Church Street Lake Zurich, IL 60047 (847) 540-4642
Megan Monoson Magazine Editor-in-Chief
AMERICAN LITHO PRINTING
Cover design by Megan Monoson and Ria Talukder Cover edits by Chloe Faris and Ria Talukder About Us All decisions are made by the Bear Facts staff. The advisor is responsible for making recommendations based on school rules, applicable laws, ethical journalism, and other concerns. However, final authority rests with the staff. The Bear Facts staff strives to inform, entertain, and showcase high quality work to our readers. We always seek to uphold standards of journalistic integrity, acceptable ethics, and truth.
ADVISER
carolyn wagner
you enjoy this issue of Bear Facts.
530 North 22nd St. Milwaukee, WI 53233
Our Website Bear Facts is also published online at http://www. lzbearfacts.com. Online materials report daily news occasionally related to our print publication. Advertising To advertise in Bear Facts, please contact our editorial board at bear_facts@lz95.org. Prices vary on size and placement of the advertisement. For a complete editorial policy, please see our website.
Clarifications: Collin Rasbid was in charge of sound and light in a picture from Ria Talukder’s article from the Back to School issue. The advertisement for Culver’s was incorrect in issue two and has been corrected for this issue.
BEAR FACTS STUDENT MEDIA LAKE ZURICH HIGH SCHOOL 300 CHURCH ST.
LAKE ZURICH, IL
8.
22.
12.
26.
9. SPOTLIGHT
SPORTS 22
Polar Bears
Coping with regret
24
Sports Coverage
Visions of success
26
Basketball star
8
Committed to love
16
Sophomore schedule
9
Merry memories
18
10
Circadian rythmns
20
14
Trends’ expense
LZ LIFE 6
Breaking resoultions
News in Brief
photo from wbur.org
written by
Megan Monoson magazine editor-in-chief Meggie Furlong website editor-in-chief
Delanie Raca, Katie Pardun, Rachel Goldberg, and Sydney Wade Frank, serniors, cheer at the Coffee House theater fundraiser for Charity Bash.
Charity Bash honors Elyssa’s Mission
NEWS
Every year, Charity Bash is kicked off with an annual assembly to explain what the charity and its connection the the Lake Zurich community. Almost a half a million dollars has been raised in the past 14 years. “We want to get people excited about [charity bash]. There’s a lot of cool opportunities that, I think, can come out of this charity. It’s so much squeezed into a month, but, honestly, it’s so awesome,” Will Snyder, senior Student Council president, said. “There’s no way not to get involved in something. It’s cool. A lot of schools don’t do [something like Charity Bash], and I think this is kind of the big, unique events that Lake Zurich does.”
4
NEWS december 2017
LZ has been hosting Charity Bash for over the past decade, and this year all funds will go to Elyssa’s Mission, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and preventing suicide. 25 million Americans suffer from depression each year, and over 50 percent who ultimately commit suicide suffer from major depression, according to theovernight.org. The money Charity Bash raises goes toward helping Elyssa’s Mission spread awareness to prevent suicide, and the funds are needed because of some victims of depression and suicidal thoughts will not reach out for help. Charity Bash’s goal is to help fight those statistics. Read more at lzbearfacts.com
around the AREA
Photo by Jessi Stevens
Photo used with permission of commons.wikimedia.org
CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD
1
Celebrate the holidays by learning about different cultures too and go visit the Museum of Science and Industry’s “Christmas Around the World” exhibit. You will not only be welcomed by a fourstory grand tree, but you will also be able to view a forest of over 50 trees decorated by various volunteers from Chicago’s many ethnic communities: each tree representing a different culture with different customs. The exhibit is only open through January 6 through, so head on over. The exhibit is open every day of December except Christmas Day, and it opens at 9:30am. On the weekends you can even see live holiday performances. Come listen to holiday music and watch “snow” fall twice an hour at this annual event!
Decorating Party
Skating with Santa CHICAGO
2
Come to Maggie Daley field house on December 16 between 10am and noon to join the Skate with Santa event presented by Bank of America! You may bring your own skates or rent, but the event itself is completely free! Not only will there be skating at this event, but there will also be a holiday craft, a photo area, and other activities! Bring the whole family, and come skate at this fun-filled festive event!
Photo used with permission of commons.wikimedia.org
CHICAGO
3
Celebrate the holidays with a Gingerbread House Decorating Party! Park Grill in Millennium Park will host this event on December 17. Sign up and come from 10:30am1pm or from 1pm to 4pm. Each ticket is 25 dollars and includes an entire gingerbread house! There will also be a hot chocolate bar and even a special brunch menu, so join the fun and come show off your gingerbread-making skills!
WinterWonderfest
ZooLights CHICAGO
4
Head to the Lincoln Park Zoo for their annual ZooLights! At this winter tradition you will see 3D displays of lights and maybe some animals too. This event will also have live ice-scultpure carving, a carousel, a train, a ferris wheel, Polar Journey experiences, free crafts for children, and much more! This free event opens at 4:30pm daily and goes through January 7. Come check out this lit event!
CHICAGO
5
While the snow falls outside, you could be inside at Navy Pier’s annual indoor winter carnival! This event known as Winter WonderFest includes activities like a toboggan tunnel, mini golf, a “snow tubing” hill, and ice skating! Open now through January 7, general admission is as low as 12 dollars to join this packed indoor familyfun event that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit!
NEWS december 2017
5
Bursting the Bubble making, breaking resolutions a yearly tradition Parul Pari staff writer
LZ LIFE
Go big or don’t bother! Over the years on New year’s eve, Luke Moore, senior, has been able to implement some drastic fitness related resolutions to bring changes into his life. “I used to lift a lot more freshman, sophomore, [and] some of my junior year. Freshman year I had a goal where I wanted to bench 135 pounds at a time, and then I’d move it up. I’d want to bench 155 pounds,” Moore said. “I got to where I could bench 210 pounds because I kept my goals to be at a slightly higher weight.” Although he has been able to stick with this fitness goal, Moore has had his own struggles in preservering through very unrealistic goals too. “There was one time in middle school when I was trying to do this muscle gain diet. I was 135 pounds in eighth grade, and I was on a diet for a bodybuilder that was 225 pounds. I was eating 6000 calories a day. It lasted about five days, and I felt horrible. I mean, I could have cut [the amount of food I was eating] in two thirds, and I would have been fine. Honestly, I’m surprised I even stuck to [the resolution] for five days!” The balance between setting a goal that is easy to meet and one that is extremely unrealistic to maintain, is one that Moore says he has been able to address by keeping realistic resolutions that will stick for at least three months. “It sounds super corny and cliche, but I think it’s important to accept who you are. There are always ways to better yourself,” Moore said. “You shouldn’t completely change yourself to something you don’t want to be to please everyone else.”
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LZ LIFE december 2017
STATS
Regular realistic resolutions In an attempt to further improve her lacrosse skills, Em Davison, junior, told herself that she would work on her technique every day, however she struggled in the process of executing the goal. “There was this one time that I made a resolution that I’d play lacrosse and do wall ball, where you take your lacrosse stick and a wall and pass back and forth with the wall, every single day,” Davison said. “But, I’m not that motivated, it’s cold, [and] I don’t want to be outside when it’s snowing, so that lasted two days,” In Davison’s experience, New Year’s resolutions that have lasted have been realistic, but her goal to play lacrosse everyday was not-thus causing it to be unmaintainable. “I think, for maintaining a resolution, [you have to] make it realistic because if it’s unrealistic it’s probably not going to happen. Reflecting on it every once in awhile and having easy ways you can check up on how you’re doing are key,” Davison said. “In FAME we talk about smart goals, and a resolution is similar to goals in that aspect because you need to have ways you can measure [each of them].”
72.6% of resolutions are maintained through the first week
44.3%
Small habits stick The promise to work out three to five days every week are types of resolutions that individuals like Brianna Miller, sophomore, have kept in order to lead a more healthy and fit lifestyle. “My New Year’s resolution is always to get fit. One year, I decided that I would become a gym person: I would go to the gym and meet my friends there,”Miller said. “ I just thought that would be so cool, and we could all support each other. I don’t even have a YMCA membership [though, so it didn’t really work out.” Miller’s experience with keeping a successful New Year’s resolution is based on how drastic the change of the resolution is going to be in one’s life. “I think it depends on whether the resolution is more casual rather than a drastic difference you want to make in your life,” Miller said. “People are going to stick to the small resolutions that they make, especially ones that they can actually achieve in the span of one year or can be maybe even a few.”
of resolutions are self Improvement or education related
21%
of resolutions focus on losing weight
Photos by Parul Pari
LZ LIFE december 2017
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Bear Facts explores...
SPOTLIGHT
MOMENTS OF TIME
Photo illustration by Chloe Faris
8
SPOTLIGHT december 2017
Lasting Love
senior couple battles the elements of time
Chloe Faris co-spotlight editor “I have things I know I have to do, and he has work. Most Within the second week of dating, she was ready to break of his things are in school, like being vice president of orchesup with him, but four years later the senior couple talks about tra, so [he is mostly busy during] and before school,” Savage their plan to continue their relationship in college. said. “We don’t have that many problems with after school “[Our relationship has] lasted this long because [we know things. It’s more like we don’t see each other in the morning that] the point of relationships is [to make] each other the best and weekends. If you’re not trying to put effort into the relaversions of ourselves,” Matt Mauleon, who has been dating tionship to hang then what is the point.” Nicole Savage since eighth grade, said. “If the other person After putting in effort from the beginning of eighth grade brings out the best in you, then that’s how the relationship will to now senior year, the couple currently talks about their future last a while because they have a significant impact on you.” plans in their relationship for the following year when they The couple brings out the best in each each go away to separate colleges. other by being each other’s opposites, “We are planning to try [to stay Mauleon said, which allows them to together], and if we don’t [then] we broaden their interests individually. know that we had a good time in com·mit·ment “We are different people, but at the our relationship and will always be noun same time, opposite attracts. It definitely friends,” Savage said. “Time is prethe state or quality of being works,” Mauleon said. “We have differcious because we are use to seeing dedicated to a cause or an ent viewpoints, but we don’t block each each other every day, but for next activity other out. Nicole likes country music, and year we will only be able to see each Oxford Dictionary I don’t, but I don’t block her [from liking other every two or three months, those certain things]. You have to be open which we know is going to be difto new things and ideas.” ficult. Right now we are trying our Mackenzie Brinn, senior friend of both Mauleon and Sav- hardest to make the most of our time. We are trying to spend age, was the friend to set the couple up back in eighth grade. By time with each other and family and just enjoy senior year.” being friends with both of them, she agrees that the difference Even with the couple going to different colleges from each between the two is what makes them work. other, Brinn believes the way the two work together will allow “I think that Matt is very outgoing. He is just a really funny this growing relationship to continue on in the future. person, and he is able to get along with so many people. Nicole “When they first got together they just had so much chemis like that too, but she is more reserved,” Brinn said. “When istry. It was incredible,” Brinn said. “They have so much fun they are together they can bring out the best characteristics in together, and they still bring out a lot of laughs and love within each other. I think that’s why they work so well together.” each other. For them to be together from eighth grade through The couple also attributes their working relationship to senior year, I honestly think they are going to be together so how they try to find time to spend together throughout the much longer. They truly work well together, and I am so happy week even though they are both busy, Savage said. I could have been there for them from the beginning to now.”
SPOTLIGHT december 2017
9
Chasing the Zzzz
syncing up to the time of our body clocks
Ria Talukder co-spotlight editor
y nb
ratio
t Photo Illus
Before iPhones and modern day alarms, for millennia, humans depended on an alternative clock to start their day: their own bodies. Human circadian rhythms serve as a natural clock to guide you through your day, but the question arises: are we unintentionally working against them? “Humans [have] had an established circadian rhythm, but then we introduced factories, changed the workplace hours, [and] surrounded ourselves with artificial light and a workload that keeps us up until midnight,” George McNalis, AP Psychology teacher, said. “That’s why we are so obsessed with circadian rhythms. We’re trying to fix and understand the problems we created by messing with our body clocks because we are working against them.” As McNalis mentions, circadian rhythms are the body’s answer to the daily cycle between day and night. The ticking of this 24 hour cycle dictates when humans experience hunger, when we are more likely to have a heart attack,
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and the time of day we learn best, according to the American Academy for Sleep Medicine (AASM) says that. Messing up our established rhythms, as McNalis mentions, has the greatest affect on students aged anywhere from as early as 11 to 18. Teenagers sleep differently than their adult counterparts: most teens need at least 8 hours of sleep and according to the AASM, changes to their circadian rhythm during puberty tend to leave them feeling more tired in the evening, with only a later start time leaving students properly rested. “School starts at 7:55 most likely due to bus scheduling and other logistical reasons,” Sean Ginn, busy athlete and senior, said, “but there are many negatives to starting early — [one of] the most concerning being decreased focus on classwork and health problems.” Many educators worry about the negatives Ginn touches on caused by early start times, late school days, and busy after school schedules common with students like Ginn. Many teens are at risk of seriously damaging their internal clocks and their long term health. Aside from falling asleep in the middle of class, sleep deprivation contributes to a slew of problems pertaining to health and cognitive ability. According to the New York Times, a lack of sleep can lead to decreased brain power, mood disorders such as depression, suicidal thinking, and even a higher risk of getting into hazardous situations like car accidents.
“Our bodies are just like a machine. We need to rest in order to function normally on a daily basis,” Donna Nguyen, heavily involved sophomore, said. “I think that fighting against our body is damaging to our bodies because we’re not receiving the right amounts of replenishment that we really need to live a healthy life. If the healthy amount of sleep is 8 hours and we are not getting it, then we are basically running [like] a car with no gas; that has to hurt [us].” For these reasons, plenty of educators advocate later start times to help reduce the damage of working against circadian rhythms on students like Ginn and Nguyen. Because of their multiple honors and AP classes, along with participation in various clubs, Ginn and Nguyen extend their school days long after 9th period. Nearby districts such as Barrington and Stevenson have made the shift, starting school at 8:30am, and nationwide, many groups are lobbying to push start times to at least past 8:00am. “It makes sense why people want to start school [a little bit] later,” Nguyen said. “Waking up at 6:00am and going to sleep early enough to get 8 hours of rest is simply unrealistic with the amount of work that is given to us every night.”
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON’T SLEEP ENOUGH
• impaired cognition • higher levels of depression and anxiety • distruption of natural body clock • increased risk of breast cancer • higher risk of heart disease and high blood pressure
On the contrary, Ginn argues that later start times may have the opposite effect than intended. “On normal days cross country finishes around 5:30 and I’m usually home by 6:00, but on days where I have band or work, I don’t get home until nine to ten,” Ginn said. “Later start times
cir·ca·di·an
adjective a process recurring naturally on a twenty-four hour cycle, even in the absence of light fluctuations. Oxford Dictionary
means later end times, and then kids will be going to sleep even later, so I don’t think the problem is easily fixed just by starting school later.” Some find that the answer to helping teens sleep better is impossible but according to McNalis, the beginnings of solution for getting more sleep can be found within students and how they let their indivudal relationship with technology affect their sleeping habits.
“Technology has gotten so good that the artificial lighting can mimic daylight. Humans are designed for daylight, and when phones and computers are so good that they can trick the mind into thinking it’s sunlight, it messes up our body clock completely,” McNalis said. “The best advice I can give to someone that wants to sleep better is to put their phones away. They can go to sleep earlier, and this will help with at least some of the problem we face.” Nguyen and Ginn agree that the solution to the problem is not as straightforward as changing start times for school. Although pushing the first bell past eight o’clock may solve a part of the issue, both believe there are many other steps that can be taken for adolescents to get the best sleep possible, such as putting all of their technology away before bed. “Being aware of yourself and the way you work is a step in the right direction,” Nguyen said. “So, while schools are trying to figure out start times, students need to start putting their phones on the other side of the room, or not touch their computers after a certain time at night. I know that’s part of what keeps me up at night.”
THE CIRCADIAN SCHEDULE 12pm- mid afternoon crash
10am- most alert time of day
7am- body is trying to wake up
2pm- body has it’s best coordination
6pm- body gets its peak of energy
10pm- body starts to tire and makes melatonin
SPOTLIGHT december 2017 11
Holding onto time
how the relationship with your parents changes throughout high school Megan Monoson magazine editor-in-chief
Although only four years of your life is spent in high school, some believe that these four years make up a significant period of growth where students’ relationships with others change — especially the relationship with their parents. For Finnley Jessogne, sophomore, and her mother Allison Hoops, they believe their relationship has most significantly grown through their communication within Jessogne’s first year and a half experiencing high school, and that the relationship also changed as Jessogne faces bigger issues now than in middle and elementary school. “Now there’s bigger kid issues that you’re asking for advice [on], and you’re asking for help versus the elementary school issues, which are really not that big of a deal [Talking about these issues] has definitely played a role in us getting closer,” Hoops said. “[There are] kind of just those natural things that come up as you get older. Even if [Finnley] thought she could handle it by herself, we were close enough that she wanted my opinion and she wanted some help or guidance.” The natural things Hoops refers to include more mature conversations her and Jessogne have had as she’s matured since entering high school. This communication is the key to their relationship, and Jessogne says that simply talking with her mom more now continues to help them become closer. “I think it’s grown just through talking more, and now that I’m getting older I’m spending more time with her because I’m driving,” Jessogne said about the time the two spend together fulfilling Jessogne’s permit requirements. “It makes me feel good to know that I have someone that I can talk to about all of this stuff because sometimes my friends aren’t the most trustworthy people. I can’t talk to my siblings about all
12 SPOTLIGHT december 2017
of this stuff because they don’t understand because they’re all younger. My mom has been through all of this stuff, like all of high school.” This time Hoops and Jessogne spend together in the car is Hoops’ favorite because the two have short windows of time when it’s just the two of them in the car after dropping off Jessogne’s siblings and they get to talk about each other’s days. Also through this timing of conversation as Jessogne drives alone with her stepdad, she believes that this relationship has grown. “I feel like [my relationship with my stepdad] has grown too because of driving, and I tell my mom stuff and she tells him stuff,” Jessogne said. “It’s more of an indirect growth rather than just a direct growth. When it’s just me and my mom, I’m more comfortable. I feel like we can talk about more personal stuff than rather when my siblings or stepdad is in the car. I think it’s just different because I’m closer with my mom, and I feel like I can’t talk to my stepdad about as many things because he doesn’t know everything that’s going on.” Hoops also believes that Jessogne is more comfortable talking with her stepdad than her biological dad. “I think sometimes she’s more comfortable talking to [her stepdad] because he is here all the time versus her dad who she [sees] every other weekend. They’re close and everything, but he’s not there for the ins and outs of her everyday life,” Hoops said. “I don’t even know if it’s comfortability. It’s more to catch her [biological] dad up on the entire story takes longer [...] versus here her stepdad already knows the whole backstory because he’s [...] heard her talking about it, so I think some of it is convenience that he’s already here and he
re·la·tion·ship
noun the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.
Oxford Dictionary
knows what’s going on.” Despite the fact that Jessogne is more comfortable talking with her stepdad than her biological dad, according to Hoops, one of Jessogne’s friends has been able to see the change in her and Hoops’ relationship first hand over the years of being friends and hanging out with one another. “I think her and her mom have gotten closer [because] she always is texting her mom, and she tells her everything,” Krista Wohler, Finnley’s close friend for the past five years and sophomore, said. “Before, she didn’t tell her as much as she does now: she’s more open now. I think she just didn’t really talk about how she feels about certain people.” While Hoops agrees that Jessogne has opened up and is more comfortable talking with her now than before, Through this increase in communication between Jessogne and her parents as she gets older, Hoops claims that communication has been the key in her and Jessogne’s relationship with one another.
Photo illustration by Megan Monoson
“I would definitely say our relationship has grown the most with communication. I mean, when they were little [and] you asked ‘how was school’ all you got was ‘fine’ or ‘good’ [...] versus now even just generic questions like that [are different because] she wants to share. [...] She’s more willing to tell me about things that happened,” Hoops said. “She was just in here earlier asking me about homework, [saying], ‘this doesn’t make sense,’ and that’s the same thing with stuff that goes on in her life. [...] Now she’s sitting on the couch, and that turns into a bunch of conversations about other things. These conversations are where Jessogne talks about things she does not mind her whole family hearing; however, in these more in-depth conversations Hoops has with Jessogne one-on-one in the car, Hoops says she feels like she’s now talking to her daughter like an adult because the timing is finally right not only regarding Jessogne’s age, but also where and when the two are able to talk. “I would definitely say as she’s older now it’s like talking to an adult, and you can have those grown-up conversations and more like a friend conversations that you can’t have with a little kid,” Hoops said. “I know that sometimes we’re having conversations that she doesn’t want to hear or that she doesn’t want to partake in, but that kind of goes with the territory: as you get older you have to have more of those ‘uncomfortable with your parents’ conversations. That’s our job.”
SPOTLIGHT december 2017 13
Trends of the time
long lasting or money wasting?
Meghan Warner staff writer During teenage years, many students try to “fit-in” to feel popular, and one of the ways some try to accomplish this goal is through clothing trends; some believe, however, that through trends, society all together is seeing less individualism. “I do not believe in trends. I do believe in individualism, creativity, and risk. You will never stand-out if your objective is to fit in,” Izzy Pombo, senior model with close to 5,300 followers on Instagram, said. “There are many trends, and one of the most commonly seen is through clothing. Individuals seek to feel accepted and fit in, thus, we see less individualism and more of the same aesthetic throughout
Photo illustration by Meghan Warner
14 SPOTLIGHT
our society. The concept of fittingin is so romanticized. Our objective should never be to fit-in. We are not puzzle pieces.” Most people also believe that one major way these trends begin and are spread is through different forms of social media, according to senior student Vince O’Brill. “Social media definitely has an impact on most trends because it has taken over our lifestyles. A majority of today’s people cannot survive without social media or the use of technology,” O’Brill said. “Most information is passed around through the web regarding celebrities, new clothing, and new technology releases.” Both O’Brill and Pombo believe that the idea of the celebrity lifestyle influences many people in today’s society - mainly because normal people aspire to be physically like celebrities. “I think that trends have to do with marketing: the disillusion of making people think if one buys an object they will instantly become happy,” Pombo said. “Even though a lot of us know that isn’t true, we still fall for it. But, after [some time], our joy from that material possession fades, and all we are left with is another ad telling us that this ‘new’ object is what will ‘truly’ make us happy.” With the joy found in
trend
noun a general direction in which something is developing or changing, a fashion. Oxford Dictionary
these trends seeming to fly by quickly, O’Brill also believes that this could have something to do with the major shortening of teenager’s attention spans. “I feel like [trends] have quickly passed because people noticed how absolutely ridiculous they were. Also, if no one was to partake in the trend, then it would quickly fizzle out,” O’Brill said. “I think, over time, people lose interest in [trends] - causing them to completely forget about [them].” Experiencing the desire to splurge on new clothing items herself, Lauren Mandal, senior, agrees that the shortening attention spans are a definite effect for these fast moving trends. “You spend all this money on new outfits and fashion, just for it to fly by really quickly. Once one trend is over and done with, you feel the need to go out and buy the next one. Then frankly, over time, this money adds up,” Mandal said. “The time of trends sticking around seem to be getting shorter and shorter due to attention spans shortening, making it harder to keep up.” This desire to splurge causes many teenagers to spend their money on clothing items they truly may not even like or that will probably not even physically last, according to Mandal. The question that still remains to many is: are these trends worth the money or the risk of your individual style?
Merry memories student recalls most memorable Christmas
mem·o·ry
noun something remembered from the past; a recollection. Oxford Dictionary
Jackson Farsalas staff writer Photo by Carolyn Wagner
Imagine waking up on December 25 all by yourself. It is the crack of dawn, and you rush down the hall to wake your parents upon this Christmas morning. They break out the old video camera and record your reactions to the entire event. According to some, these memories will most likely be the fondest memories from celebrating childhood holidays. “The first Christmas I can remember was a great one,” Tara Peterson, senior, said. “I woke up really early, ran into my parent’s room, jumped onto the bed, woke them up screaming ‘Merry Christmas’! I don’t remember all the presents I got that year but the one I really remember was a stuffed animal bunny: I really, really loved [that bunny].” The first Christmas Peterson remembers was when she was six years old because she received an unforgettable gift on an unforgettable snow capped day. “The reason I remember it so well was because it had snowed the night before, and I remember going out and playing in the snow on the 24th,” Peterson said. “[The snow] was the fluffy white kind of snow; great for just enjoying the outside on a cold winter day.” After looking back on the past, Peterson thinks on the importance of snow
on Christmas and of who is most around her on the holiday especially since this upcoming Christmas is the last one at home before she goes to college. “I really love my friends and family, even more so around the holidays. They are what makes these memories memorable and what really makes the holidays special,” said Peterson. “The presents are great and all but the time with friends and family are most important [to me at this point in my life].” Looking to the future Peterson thinks of holidays as an adult, perhaps with children of her own waking her up on Christmas morning like she did to her own parents. “When I’m older I think this holiday will be even more awesome because I will have even more people to spend time and make memories with,” Peterson said. “And I want to make this holiday as special and magical like the one’s I had when I was a kid.” Christmas is not about presents or sweets, according to Peterson, but about family and, more importantly about the memories with loved ones, and as one ages the present one receives on Christmas will not be material items, it will be loving, special, and magical memories that will be there to replay over and over again.
SPOTLIGHT december 2017 15
Conquering Time
a day in the life of Mikey Stefaniu Adam Cupples staff writer
He’s in three AP classes, four Honors classes, and seven clubs. Balancing these commitments with athletics, volunteering, spending time with family and friends, along with free time, it is evident that sophomore Mikey Stefaniu’s daily schedule is nothing to laugh about. “Last year, I took a study hall and I took classes that didn’t really challenge me,” Mikey said. “I did well in them so I thought this year would be a good year to challenge myself among the other extracurriculars I have, so my parents urged me to take three AP courses. At first, I thought it wasn’t a great idea because I was going to be swamped with homework, which I still am, but in the long run, it’ll be worth it.” To get a clear picture of what a typical day for Mikey looks like, here is a normal school day, period by period. 7:15- Before School “I usually am exhausted when I have to arrive at school early in the morning,” Mikey said. “[To solve this], I’ll set my alarm exactly an hour and ten minutes before I have to be at school. That way, I can have that nasty wake-up at 6:10 am, and I can just hit the snooze button. I’ll be out of bed by 6:25, after getting some time to tone my exhaustion down.” Even though Mikey says he does not initially enjoy waking up early in the morning, he acknowledges that he enjoys taking time out of his day to help out with extracurricular activities. “Anything that takes out of my time to help out in clubs, I’ll greatly do,” Mikey said, about his early morning Student Council meetings. “[For Char-
16 SPOTLIGHT december 2017
ity Bash], we had one school day where we had to take a huge chunk of time out of our classes to help plan the event. This was a big planning commitment.” 7:55- 1st Period In Dan Strickler’s Health class, Mikey spends most of the class period writing down Power-point notes and receives a perfect score on a nutrition pop
con·quer
verb to successfully overcome and take control (a problem or weakness). Oxford Dictionary
quiz at the end of class. 8:44- 2nd Period “I think that Spanish has been a big step up from last year,” Mikey said. “I’ve taken Spanish since second grade, so I’ve grown pretty accustomed to it. I took Spanish II Honors going into freshman year, and I didn’t find it incredibly challenging. Señora Towne has been a great teacher because she always pushes her students and makes us use 100 percent Spanish throughout the class. I think it’s a step up from what I expected it to be, but I enjoy the challenge.” 9:33- 3rd Period After Megan Bajor finishes the “A Tale of Two Cities” background notes, Mikey volunteers to read parts of the first chapter out loud. “He has a great attitude, he always
pays attention, and he works well in a group,” Bajor said. “He’s a very positive influence to the rest of the class. He participates, but more so, he has great eye contact and you can always tell that he is engaged with what’s going on. He has a good work ethic and I foresee a lot of success for him in my class.” 10:22- 4th Period As Andrea McKendrick starts a presentation, Mikey sits up straight with a grin on his face, acting very comfortable while he attentively takes notes. “He participates on a daily basis, he answers the hard questions, and he always seems interested [in the topic at hand],” McKendrick said. “I think that he is motivated, interested, and willing to give hard material a try. I definitely believe that if there’s a student who participates in class and is motivated to succeed, which is one of Mikey’s qualities, that diffuses to the rest of the class.” 11:11- 5th Period “I think lunch plays a big part [in helping me to stay motivated],” Mikey said. “Since it’s right in the middle of my day, I use lunch as a time to mentally transition between the two halves of my day and like I said, ‘If you prepare yourself for what’s coming up in the upcoming hours, you’ll be ready for it.’” 12:00- 6th Period Andrew McCurley goes through the day’s notes, and Mikey asks and answers questions as they develop, most of which relate to the next day’s quiz. “I remind myself that [taking tough classes now] will be a good investment for my future,” Mikey said. “I see my
friends taking the same classes and I think, ‘Stick it through with them, it’s not going to hurt to take up a heavy workload.’ You also have to know your capabilities so you don’t overwork yourself. If I can do that, I’ll stay motivated.” 12:49- 7th Period Upon arriving in Honors Chemistry, Bethany Tollberg mentions that since today’s class will serve as an introduction to the next unit, but they will mostly be note-taking. “When you see the immediate benefits of your success in school, it builds the pathway to achieve success in the future,” Mikey said. “I feel that if you do things to the best of your abilities today, it’ll open up a wide range of opportunities for you to strive for in the future. That is my motivation because high school is a place to find what you love to do and what you’re good at. When I’m motivated by trying new things, it tells me what’s the best thing to build my life upon in the future.” 1:38- 8th Period In Julie Gyarmaty’s AP Environmental Science class, Mikey reviews an exam and asks Gyarmaty questions. “[I look] forward to [APES] because we’re undergoing a soil unit right now where [the class] is very hands-on with the materials,” Mikey said. “It’s interesting because you aren’t just learning concepts, but you’re actually applying these topics in real life. I’ve always loved getting my hands dirty for a little school assignment because it makes the concepts much more engaging for me.”
fort into [this class], but it has been very challenging for me,” Mikey said. “It is just a whole new genre of information that I have never experienced before. It definitely has been a bit of a struggle, but I believe that once I get used to it, I will be able to conceptualize it.” 3:11- After School “Towards the end of the day, I am thinking about what my after school schedule looks like, what time I will be able to go to the gym, when I have to start my homework, while planning out social events, along with other things. Over the course of a school day, that is usually what I am thinking about.” After the school day ends, Mikey works out, and then heads home to finish his homework, eat dinner, and hopefully find free time. The next day, he does it all again. Same schedule every day. Even though this seems ove r w h e l m ing, Mikey is able to works through it with a smile, knowing that he has conquered time.
2:27- 9th Period Mikey’s last class is AP Computer Sciences with Ann Heltzel, a course known for being difficult. “I have been putting a lot of ef-
17
OUR VIEW
Living with Regret
Everyone has a different relationship with regret that may be unhealthy if handled incorrectly. It is important to avoid the different extremes of handling regret early on in life, especially as a teenager.
The Bear Facts Staff believes... Many adults are able to recite the mistakes they have made in their life, including their high school experiences, but these regrets should not define who they are as people or be forgotten to allow them to grow in the future. According to Psychology Today, regrets are the choices we wish we could change resulting in unhappiness or disappointment. This type of intense weight on someone’s shoulders could affect their mental health and take control one’s life. Some regrets can change the rest of a person’s life but regrets should not define who they are as a person. This could be a sports injury that derails a dream career as a professional athlete someone’s regrets or a teen pregnancy that affects someone more personally. Even with these experiences with decades of healing and dedication, people with these regrets can move past them and be successful considering success is subjective. Not allowing regrets to consume someone’s life is important, but researcher Neal Roese from Psychology Today found in his studies of younger
18 SPOTLIGHT december 2017
Why is regret important for people to improve in life?
people that teens favored regret because its “informational in motivating corrective action.” Regrets can be reminders for people not to repeat mistakes, which is necessary to grow. “Regret can be a positive thing; you can learn from it,” Tim Dowling, psychologist, said. “If you regret doing something, hopefully you take something from that and avoid doing the same mistakes over again, you hold onto it for too long and your start obsessing over it, it could keep you from fully living your life. Regret itself isn’t a bad thing, but it could be if it gets out of control.” Some people do not use regrets to motivate but to tear themselves down. Impressionable teens are, at times, raised to remind themselves of their mistakes constantly or to let go of them completely. These extremes can be influenced by different traditional or religious beliefs that are not questioned because of generational norms. “Without feeling regret, you’re bound to get yourself in trouble because you don’t have those thoughts holding you back from doing something
MATI DUDEK,
McKENNA WALSH,
“Regret is important so they can learn from their mistakes and look at their past to help drive them to become better people in the future.”
“When you regret something you’re less likely to make that mistake again because you are more aware of the conciquences of that mistakes because of the actions you previously made.”
freshman
sophomore
THE PROBLEM
68%
of LZ students have regrets regarding choices they have made.
Art by Ria Talukdar
dangerous or harmful to yourself or others,” Dowling said. “A person living without regret may feel fine, but they’d be affecting others in negative ways. They may find themselves in a rough spot because they’re not learning.” Some households force an extreme side of dealing with regret that affect teens and how they handle what they are going through. There is a certain need to reminding everyone to think of how they are affecting others for some religious people which can put a lot of pressure for teens to feel constant guilt for some of their regrets. At this extreme, teens are most likely not learning from their regrets. They worry more about how they are viewed by their parents or role models than learning to gradually move on and improve as a result of their mistakes. This method instills fear instead of motivation so they stay stuck in their past, according to the Huffington Post, and some of the reasoning for continuing it comes from ignorance. On the other end, some parents, although
STEVIE PISAREVSLAYA, junior “When people feel regret they have an idea in their head that he or she shouldn’t do it again. So if someone doesn’t feel regret for something, of course they’re going to do it again.”
EVELYN LAMB, senior
“I think regret inspires you to take risks and chances in the future that you might not have before. It pushes you out of your confort zone which helps you become a better person.”
they have good intentions, teach their kids to forget every regret they have. This way of life may be as detrimental to a teen as the other extreme. The mentality this kind of lifestyle creates can lead to repeating past mistakes and possibly feeling unmotivated to succeed at desired dreams. According to The Guardian, a “live today like there’s no tomorrow” mentality can be beneficial to a point, but someone may not learn from their past or regret what they did not do in the future when they are older and can no longer do it. Some people consider the “no regrets” lifestyle to be the middle ground which is the healthiest way to live. This can be true for the people who can still grow as a person. A middle ground when dealing with regret should be ideal and sought after in order to have a healthy and fulfilling life. Everyone’s definition of this is unique to them but should always be the healthiest, least life consuming it needs to be for them. Mistakes should be for the past and self improvement should be for the future.
AARON TOWNE, PE teacher
“In sports, you might wonder if you could have worked harder because you didn’t get the results you wanted. You can use regret as motivation to hopefully take you to the next level.”
22%
of LZ students never talk to others about their regrets or feelings of guilt
41%
of LZ students feel that their regrets affect how they move on in life only a little
THE SOLUTION Having regrets is normal; it is important that teens find a healthy way to cope with them and are able to move on in life. Source: Bear Facts Student Media survey of 54 students.
SPOTLIGHT december 2017 19
On personal excellence
does the rhetoric around college empower? Emma Brumage-Kilcourse staff writer
It is the essential question of educational debate: what does it mean to empower students? Do students have enough of a role in their own learning and planning for the future? While Lake Zurich boasts its college enrollment rates, the school’s positive traits may just be a function of demographics alone. Carl Krause, Lake Zurich’s college and career counselor for eight years, says that students often deal with many obstacles in pursuing what they want as a career. Parents are often extremely involved with their children’s academic lives, he said, and this can have a negative effect on their growing independence and development into adulthood after their graduation. “I think students are mature enough to be a little more independent and not necessarily needing to go to the same place where their friends are going or [even] where their parents went,” Krause said.
20 SPOTLIGHT december 2017
There is also the tunnel vision of a dream school to consider. According to Krause, students often have a feeling of being set in stone and are willing to do whatever they can to get into a particular school. When this is the case, students obsess over the idea of a dream school or schools that might not be feasible, according to Krause. “College is different for everybody,” he said. “We have a lot of students who go right away to a four year university, which is great, but any kind of post-secondary education I consider college. So even if a student is going to go do a certificate program to do wind turbine maintenance, I think that is college for them.” The Oxford English Dictionary gives two definitions of the word “success” — accomplishment of an aim or purpose, or attaining fame or wealth. We like to think that by emphasising success, we are encouraging students to achieve their purpose, but we should consider this: are we just trying to make students achieve conventional markers of success? Success, after all, is subjective. Another reason to question conventional measures of success is that the implications of the idea that schools with lots of students who go to college are more “excellent.” Our stuccess rate may just be a result of the makeup of our student body rather than anything about LZHS itself. According to US News and World Report, LZHS is only 15% “minority” and 15% “economically disadvantaged” (who are eligible for reduced price or free lunch), and 74% of suburban kids go to college versus 61% for rural kids, says The Atlantic magazine. We need a broader vision of what it means to achieve personal excellence and need to construct strategies aimed at allowing students more freedom in discovering what that is for themselves. Additionally, students need to look outside of the Lake Zurich ideals. Success in this community differs from success in the rest of the world and the fact that some of the statistics we boast about may result from demographic factors needs to be considered and acknowledged. Today’s society sometimes fixates on the importance of college, and many students feel an intense pressure to go to the perfect school — a pressure increased by the ambitious mindset of a school like Lake Zurich. However, there are opportunities available outside of four year colleges, and students can create their futures to fit whatever narrative they please, regardless of what might be our society’s re-defined ideal of excellence.
survey says:
TIME AFFECTS YOU
Source: Bear Facts Student Media survey of 54 students.
Valerie Multra sports editor
How much does technology affect your sleeping patterns? “The blue light from your phone really affects you before you go to bed, so when you finally put it away it takes a long time for your brain to calm down and adjust and get ready for bed,” Lara Zuk, senior
“I didn’t really appreciate my family as much as I did when I was younger because I didn’t really know how much they cared about me. Now they fly in all the way from France or drive from Michigan just to come see me which means a lot just to spend a day as a family,” Anna Yoon, freshman
54%
of students say they don’t let myself get too distracted but do lose some sleep because of their technology.
Has your perspective on the winter holidays changed over time? “Definitely as a child, Christmas was more materialistic and gift-based, but now that I’m older and my sister is in college it’s nice to have her back and be as a family,” Kaleigh Heisterkamp, freshman
Do you believe that your relationship with your parents has changed since you entered high school?
46%
of students surveyed say they think their relationships with their parents has grown positively in high school.
“I used to spend a lot of time with my parents, like we would do more family activities, but now I have different priorities and more responsibilities,” Sarah Monoson, sophomore
37%
of students say their perspective has changed in multiple ways since they were kids.
“I think there is value of giving presents, it is not just about the consumer product type of thing, it’s like knowing your friends and family well enough to get them something to give back for all they’ve done for you ” Rachel Lee, sophomore
SPOTLIGHT december 2017 21
Polar Bears of Lake Zurich
dedicated athletes run through winter Valerie Multra sports editor
SPORTS
Through snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, one group of students run outside in an average temperature of 17°F while other sports practice inside during the winter. Members of the boys and girls cross country team do not stop running despite the dramatic changes in weather even after the season is over. Between the end of the cross country season (November) and the start of track (January), a group of runners called Polar Bears meet daily after school to stay in shape for the offseason, even if that means running in extreme weather conditions. “I always think it’s funny to
watch when people leave the building compared to when they come back [and] the change they went through over the course of one run. Whether it be their faces are frozen, their fingers are frozen, [or] their hair is frozen, they come back and they are still smiling and still happy they went out and ran,” Drake Heisterkamp, senior cross country and track runner, said. “They have no regret on their face at all even after they are freezing.” Battling this weather takes a lot of dedication, and Heisterkamp believes that the team’s motivation for training in the offseason stems from the support from their own team as
Hayley Burk, freshman, Emily Burns and Jillian Baffa, juniors, running after school for Polar Bears. Members of Polar Bears meet daily after school to train in the offseason.
22 SPORTS december 2017
well as their personal ambition. “We’re always trying to push each other, help each other, and make each other stronger and faster. We suffer together in the cold, in the snow, [and] through hail, ice, and falling over,” Heisterkamp said. “But, we definitely help each other, push each other, and make sure we’re staying on top of our mileage so none of us get lazy. [We’re] making sure everyone shows up on time and gets to practice daily, making sure people still train.” It’s about choice and not a requirement, according to Heisterkamp, and no one is forcing these polar bears to do anything. Mark
Photos by Valerie Multra
Year-Round Running
The Polar Bears run many of the routes used by the cross country and track teams. This map reflects some of the common routes used throughout the year.
Jake Baffa senior “You set goals for yourself and achieve them by running. That’s what makes the miles worth it.”
Photo used with permission of www.google.com Photo illustration by Emily Vaselopulos
Santi, sophomore cross country and track runner, agrees that members choose to run outside in the cold and suffer together. “I [choose] to go out and run in the winter because a lot of the guys do it, and when you see everyone else you just decide to join them because it’s something you and all your teammates are working together on to go do,” Santi said. “The best part is probably the challenge: you’re running a lot and going in the cold weather doing something that you normally wouldn’t.” The challenges that come with Polar Bears not only include the harsh weather and getting to practice, according to Heisterkamp and Santi, but motivating yourself in the
first place. “The most challenging part is actually showing up to practice [when] you have no obligation to go [and] no obligation to get better,” Heisterkamp said. “No one is making you get any better at this sport. It’s all about what you want.” Without a coach, newer members lack motivation even more and it’s hard for them to go to practice, according to Heisterkamp. Although it is not a requirement, newcomers do not realize that without training in the offseason they will lose skill along with everything they have built up. According to Jillian Baffa, junior cross country and track runner, you can not slack off if you want to reach your goals.
“My motivation is thinking about all the times I want to achieve and [seeing other] really talented runners who [are] super crazy fast,” Baffa said. “My goal is to one day go to state with my team, so staying in shape during the offseason really helps that.” Though the offseason comes with challenges, Heisterkamp agrees that it really helps to stay in shape even if Polar Bears have to run in extreme conditions. “We have this team quote and it goes: When it’s too hot, cold, snowy, or rainy, it’s just right for us. We do things that other people can’t and won’t do,” Heisterkamp said. “It is something we get to do together as a team, and there’s a fun aspect in it.”
Lukas Troutman junior “What motivates me to run every day is that every run gives me a chance to improve and become a better distance runner.”
Ashley Lueder sophomore “My motivation for running in the winter is to improve my skills and maintain consistent mileage because it boosts my confidence in my abilities.”
SPORTS december 2017 23
Sports Coverage Valerie Multra sports editor 1. The varsity dance team performing their hip hop routine that placed 1st and 3rd for their pom routine at the Mundelein invitational. Upcoming Event: December 17 invitational at Warren Township High School. 2. Kristi Skoby, senior varsity bowler, rolls the ball down the lane during bowling practice at Brunswick Zone. Upcoming Event: December 16 invitational at Vernon Hills High School. 3. Grace Kinsey, senior varsity basketball player, searches for a teammate to pass the ball to in their victory over Libertyville 54-36. Upcoming Event: December 16 game against Grayslake Central at Home.
Photo by Rachel Brauer
24 SPORTS december 2017
1.
Photo used with permission of Isabella Christopherson
2.
Photo by Meggie Furlong
3.
Photo used with permission of Robert Tucker
Photo used with permission of Ron McKinney
5.
Photo by Emma Brumage-Kilcourse
6.
Photo by Adam Cupples
7.
4.
4. Will Tucker, sophomore varsity basketball player, shoots the ball against Waukegan for a 62-57 loss. Upcoming Event: December 23 game vs. Niles North at Niles North High School. 5. Emer O’Leary, junior and varsity cheerleader, does a toe touch as she practices for her first competition. Upcoming Event: December 16 invitational at Rolling Meadows High School. 6. Colin Davern, senior varsity bowler releases the ball at a match against Mundelein. Upcoming Event: December 19 match against Glenbrook North at Deerfield Brunswick Zone. 7. Josh Goldberg, senior varsity wrestler, sizes up his opponent from Zion-Benton. Upcoming Event: December 16 quad against McHenry at McHenry East Campus.
SPORTS december 2017 25
At the height of her career
basketball player demonstrates success
Zobel’s attitude has not gone unnoticed by girls varsity basketball coach contributions by Max Feldman & Ruby Lueras Chris Bennett, who names Zobel as one At over 6 feet tall, more than 9 inch- of his most valued players this year, sayes above the average American woman, ing she and senior Grace Kinsey have McKenna Zobel, senior basketball play- “worked extremely hard to improve their skills. They’re both team leaders.” er, has stood out from the beginning. “When I was little I was really tall According to Bennett, a leader on his and my parents wanted me to try bas- team must have not only a foundation ketball,” Zobel said. “At first I hated it of how to play the game, but she must because I fell on the court and started also have great leadership skills to incrying, but I kept going and ended up spire her teammates. Although players’ really liking it. This was because I was goals are to win, the mindset they have is also critical to meeting their goals so much taller and good at it.” Zobel started playing basketball even if they go through losses. Bennett “probably in kindergarten,” but admits says both Zobel and Kinsey possess this that she does not remember the exact mindset as four-year senior varsity basyear because “it was forever ago.” She ketball players. has been playing ever since “mostly just “They lead by example in practice, and that translates to them being very because of the team,” she says. “They’re like my family. I’ve grown good players out on the floor,” Bennett up playing with them in middle school, said. “Great players continuously show and, like I said, from kindergarten. their teammates how to do things, like We’ve just grown up together and we practicing hard and leading with their always have so much fun together it’s [direct] voice as well as their effort. As definitely a family atmosphere,” Zobel a coach, when kids give great effort, it makes you give great effort to do the said about her teammates. But she also credits her helpful best that you can for them.” coaches for being just as essential and Along with practicing hard, the desire she has to give her best effort is what important to creating the team family. “The coach [Chris Bennett] is tough, makes Zobel a standout player and off but he’s definitely gotten better this year, the court, too, according to her friends. I think. He’s just really tough on me “[McKenna is] passionate, caring, as a player because he knows I can do positive, and motivated,” Laura Zborobetter,” Zobel said, however added that vsky, friend and senior, said. “As a friend, [she] always is positively encour“he’s definitely chilling out this year.” Part of the shift in the coach-player aging people surrounding [her] to be dynamic, according to Zobel, may be happy with their own lives.” But Zobel says that people don’t aldue to herself as well. “They haven’t changed, I kind of ways see those characteristics about her just changed by myself a little bit. From because of how she looks. freshman to junior year I’ve struggled “When I was little people would be with them not understanding me. afraid of me, just because I was tall,” They’ve yelled at me all the time. But Zobel said. “But my friends would be come to this year, it’s my last year, so like, ‘yeah she looks scary until you I’m just going to have fun playing and meet her,’ just because I was so tall.” just have fun with the team and hope- Zobel, however, encourages others not to be afraid to talk to her. fully we will win a couple games.” Alice Farsalas staff writer
26 SPORTS december 2017
Photo by Alice Farsalas
McKenna Zobel, senior, practices basketball for the varsity team she has been on for the past four years. Zobel, who is 6’1”, says that her height has been both an advantage and challenge for her throughout her life.
“If you need somebody to talk to, I will always be there to listen, even if I don’t know you. I will try to give my best advice. I’m a friendly person, so don’t be afraid of me. My height is... the only scary thing about me.”
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